2016 - Welcome and introductions!

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

Emm wrote: "Hello! I'm Emm and I live in the US (Ohio, to be specific). I just stumbled upon this group. I've actually been working on an on-going challenge to visit various places around the world which I've ..."

Hi Emm, very nice to have you along! Some of us have been working on this challenge for years. :)

[Lilisa]

Andrea wrote: "Lilisa wrote: "and we're not shy about "stealing" from each other, so go for it! ..."

Yes, I already stole the Bangladesh title from Emm, but I also noticed it was one of your favourites Lilisa, s..."

Goodreads doesn't like me sometimes! My earlier message didn't come through...so here it is again. In response to Andrea's comment on the Bangladesh book that she "pinched" from Emm's list, Andrea - take a look at What Lies Between Us - set in Sri Lanka. Both Emm and I rated it pretty high too!

[Hardcover]

Hello, everyone! My name is Sarah and I have a blog called Hardcover Hearts. I am an American but was raised in Mozambique, Africa. Traveling in real life is very important to me, as much as traveling by reading books in translation from around the world.

I am spending the month of June digging into my TBR of African literature. I have been hoarding these books for a while and now it's time to dive in. Here are some of the books I am going to try to get to this month:
- We Need New Names by NoViolet Bulawayo
- Tram 83 by Fiston Mwanza Mujila
- Confessions of the Lioness and The Tuner of Silences by Mia Couto
- The Famished Road by Ben Okri
- All Our Names by Dinaw Mengestu
- The Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
- and lastly, I want to finish listening to the epic audiobook of Long Walk To Freedom: Autobiography of Nelson Mandela by Nelson Mandela. (It's so intense that I need to stop for a while to absorb, rebalance and then pick it up again.)

I have read many other books but I am especially interested in Southern African writers, and newly discovered or newly translated works. If you have any suggestions, even if I may have read it before, please let me know.

Thanks!

[Lilisa]

Hi Sarah - a warm welcome and thanks for sharing a bit about yourself. That's an impressive list of books - I've read Adichie and Mengestu and Couto are on my to-read list. You may want to check the groups's Bookshelf for books set in Africa although we're not very good about adding books there, myself included! I will have to go over to that string and add my recent reads. Also, Goodreads has great lists by setting, genre, you name it. And, others may have great suggestions as well. Happy reading.

[Rusalka]

Welcome Sarah! I agree with Lilisa, that's a good looking list for June. Hope you enjoy them and let us know what you think and discover. And no doubt more suggestions and books will wriggle on to your TBR from the group as well.

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

Lilisa wrote: "You may want to check the groups's Bookshelf for books set in Africa although we're not very good about adding books there, myself included! I will have to go over to that string and add my recent reads...."

How does the Bookshelf work Lilisa? Can anyone add to it? What are the criteria?

[Lilisa]

Hi Andrea - any member can add books to the Bookshelf. On the group home page, on the right hand side you'll see Bookshelf - click on the link, which will take you to the page. On the lehpfthand side you'll see Add Books and you can search for books to add. If the book is already on the Bookshelf (which means a member has already added it) it won't let you add it - but if it's not, click on Add To Group. It'll then ask you to choose a folder based on geographic regions, e.g. Europe, Australia/Oceania, etc. you should also add your name in the Discussion Folder so we know who added the book. Hope this makes sense. I encourage everyone to add books read to the Bookshelf - it's a great resource when you're looking for books. It used to have sub folders for countries, which was even better, but I'm not sure - they seem to have disappeared and now the folders are essentially by region. - still good for browsing though. Shout if you have questions.

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

Lilisa wrote: "Hi Andrea - any member can add books to the Bookshelf. On the group home page, on the right hand side you'll see Bookshelf - click on the link, which will take you to the page. On the lehpfthand si..."

Great, thanks. Just added one and seemed to work ok. A good little project for me to work on over winter.

[Hardcover]

Thanks, everyone for the warm welcome and tips! I appreciate it.

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

Hardcover wrote: "Hello, everyone! My name is Sarah and I have a blog called Hardcover Hearts. I am an American but was raised in Mozambique, Africa. Traveling in real life is very important to me, as much as travel..."

Hi Sarah! I feel like I'm stalking you all over literary social media lately but I swear I have been in this group from the beginning! Your experiences will be very valuable here. I'm trying to finish up Africa this year (at least for the first time, right?) so I might ask you for advice along the way.

[Hardcover]

Jenny- are you sure I'm not stalking you?! Ha!

[Lilisa]

Andrea wrote: "Lilisa wrote: "Hi Andrea - any member can add books to the Bookshelf. On the group home page, on the right hand side you'll see Bookshelf - click on the link, which will take you to the page. On th..."

Good - I have this vision of you in a comfy chair in front of a fireplace in the library surrounded by books working on this fun project! Meanwhile, us folks in the northern hemisphere will be sweltering...enjoy!

[Rusalka]

Hah. After this weekend of an east coast low, I'm sure Andrea and I are envious of your sweltering. I've never seen such constant, consistent, cold rain. My girls (chickens) came into the laundry at 11am and just sat there for 5 hours and brocked at the rain all day, they were so over it. The duck thought all his Christmases had come at once.

[Lilisa]

Chortling, Rusalka! The duck had better watch it - Christmas is not too far off...although is it turkey, goose or ham for Christmas Down Under?

[Rusalka]

Lilisa wrote: "Chortling, Rusalka! The duck had better watch it - Christmas is not too far off...although is it turkey, goose or ham for Christmas Down Under?"

Turkey or ham traditionally, but it's too hot so we usually go seafood.

He's 11 years old though, 12 by Christmas, so he's too old to eat. He's also been told (loudly) on many occasion that he's lucky he's a bantam and is too much trouble to pluck and then eat for the amount of meat on him. Mind you, my rule is also don't eat people you know, so he is safe.

He's so happy with all the rain though. Quacking and running all over the place.

[Lilisa]

Rusalka wrote: "Lilisa wrote: "Chortling, Rusalka! The duck had better watch it - Christmas is not too far off...although is it turkey, goose or ham for Christmas Down Under?"

Turkey or ham traditionally, but it'..."

Guess he's safe then! What's his name? He's quite mature :-) what's their life span - hoping it's long so he'll be around to continue quacking and running about the place.

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

Rusalka wrote: "Hah. After this weekend of an east coast low, I'm sure Andrea and I are envious of your sweltering. I've never seen such constant, consistent, cold rain. My girls (chickens) came into the laundry a..."

Yes, but luckily I was participating in a read-a-thon over the weekend, so I relished the excuse to stay indoors. Today, however, I have woken to a sunny, clear day - hope it holds!!

[C.]

Hi, I'm Chris, and was an Air Force Brat! My dad was career AF, and we moved about every 18 months-2 yrs.

I totally loved it as a kid. The last place we were stationed before he retired, we also stayed the longest -4yrs. Minot, ND, which I hated, but met and married my GI hubby there.

Lived in the Cotswolds/Midlands area of England for two years. It was one of my favorite places, along with~ Cheyenne, Wyoming, and Tucson, AZ.

I was born in Kellogg, ID where my maternal grandmother lived, while my dad was stationed at Spokane,WA.

Had family in WA,ID,WY, MT, and my dad's parents in WI.
With 30-day leave every year, we visited family, and our country's National Parks.

After my Kentucky husband finished his 4 yrs. in the AF we ended up in north central Ohio in '68 , and have been here ever since. His family lives in KY, and IN, but we buried our roots in OH. Now that he is deceased I would prefer to move back west, to escape humidity and for warmer less snowy winters. My grown son wants San Diego, CA, but I like green in my landscape, and the COL is insane there, plus no water, so I am thinking more Boise, ID.

I love reading about other's experiences in different cultures and countries.

I am especially interested in western US, the UK, and New Zealand.

Some of my favorite reads featuring other countries are~

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

Welcome Chris! I loved the Cotswolds during the brief time I spent there while in college.

[C.]

Hi, thank you Jenny! I loved it when the gypsies camped in an orchard down the road from our cottage, oh how I loved their music! This was in '55-'57'. We also visited London several times. Awesome city and I love the architecture in England.

[Rusalka]

Lilisa wrote: "Guess he's safe then! What's his name? He's quite mature :-) what's their life span - hoping it's long so he'll be around to continue quacking and running about the place."

Sorry Lilisa, haven't been on much this week due to work.

His name is Madesco, which we usually shorten to 'Desco, which is Latin for "I get wet". His brother who got eaten by a fox a few years ago was Kade, which meant "from the wetlands". Bantam ducks live for about 13-15 years if they don't get eaten (by humans or predators), but there was a big white duck that lived in a monastery with some monks a couple of towns away that got to 30-something years old.

I don't think he'll get that old, but he's happy chilling in the backyard at the moment.

[Rusalka]

Welcome Chris. Lovely to have you with us. Sounds like you have lived in some pretty amazing places! I also love the Cotswolds. Not sure if you do the twitter thing, but there is a great account I follow of a Cotswold sheep farmer. Not sure if he has a website if you're not a twitter fan, but you'll be able to check out his page here https://twitter.com/herdyshepherd1

Edit: I woke up this morning and realised that the sheep farmer is in the Lake District, nowhere near the Cotswolds. Don't think about British geography at 2am is my advice. You may still like the account though!

[Lilisa]

Cool, Rusalka! My best to Desco and may he live to be more than 30! Thanks for the 101 on Bantam ducks and the photo - he's a handsome dude :-)

[Lilisa]

Hi Chris - welcome! you've lived in a ton of places - how fun. Reading about different cultures/countries is what we do here, so you're definitely in the right place here!

[Katherine Stargazing]

Hello :)
I am Kate, I am 16 and I am from the Czech Republic. Mostly I read sci-fi, fantasy or young adult.
I really like the idea about traveling the world in books :)

[Rusalka]

Welcome Kate! Hope you have fun travelling with us. I asked a question last year about translated sci-fi and fantasy suggestions. Have a look in there and see if you find any good reads. Otherwise look forward to seeing where you travel with us :)

[Katherine Stargazing]

Rusalka wrote: "Welcome Kate! Hope you have fun travelling with us. I asked a question last year about translated sci-fi and fantasy suggestions. Have a look in there and see if you find any good reads. Otherwise ..."
Thank you! I will :)

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

Shanna wrote: "Hello!! Im new to the group. Since it is the end of 2016, I will be starting for 2017.

I'm thinking to start here in the U.S. I'd like to travel to all 50 states this year. Ill start in Texas and..."

Welcome!

[Lilisa]

Shanna wrote: "Hello!! Im new to the group. Since it is the end of 2016, I will be starting for 2017.

I'm thinking to start here in the U.S. I'd like to travel to all 50 states this year. Ill start in Texas and..."

Welcome Shanna! Have fun on your journey through the U.S. I love the idea of ending in Hawaii!

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

Shanna wrote: "Thanks for the welcomes! Im so excited to get started! Im starting to think all 50 states maybe be a little much. I guess I have some time to think about it lol"
Well, it doesn't hurt to be aspirational. I have been working on reading a book from every country and state for four years now. I feel like I'm farther than when I started! Ha.

[Allison]

Hi! I have enjoyed all your links to the books and places you've visited! I am in the process of making my own list for this upcoming years challenge, and I am running into a problem that I was wondering if anyone could offer some advice! Our library, and Amazon don't seem to have many of the books that I am trying to choose! (I'm in the U.S.) How do you guys go about getting your books?
I am so looking forward to this, so any feedback would be appreciated!
Thanks! :)
Allison

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

Allison wrote: "Hi! I have enjoyed all your links to the books and places you've visited! I am in the process of making my own list for this upcoming years challenge, and I am running into a problem that I was won..."
I spent a few months/years collecting.... there are so many countries that starting with what you can get and keeping an eye out for the others is a pretty good strategy.

I'd also check with your library to see if you could get them to order some either through interlibrary loan or permanent. I was a member of paperbackswap for a while and found some that way, also checking places like thrift books.