2016 - Where in the world are you? (currently reading)

[Carol]

I'm in Iceland with Arnaldur Indriðason's Into Oblivion, and it's mighty bleak (in a good way).

[Lilisa]

And still in Samoa with Leaves of the Banyan Tree and with the classic Rebecca in in the U.K.

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

I'm about halfway through Fields of Gold, which is, I think, Fiona McIntosh's first historical fiction novel after making the transition from the fantasy genre. Set in the 1920s, so far we have spent a little bit of time in Rangoon, then a brief stop in Madras (Chennai), before landing in Bangalore* and the Kolar Gold Fields. I'm really enjoying it, but I notice that nobody I know has read or reviewed it on GR, so perhaps it's not that well-known.

* I wanna go to Bangalore!!

[Val]

I had not heard of it and it seems to be difficult to find in the UK, there is just an audio version and one expensive second-hand paperback copy on Amazon.

Andrea wrote: "I wanna go to Bangalore!!"
In the 1920s or now Andrea?

[Claire]

I'm in Korea with Han Kang's extraordinary Human Acts

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

Val wrote: "In the 1920s or now Andrea? ..."

Haha, yes probably in the 1920s!

[Claire]

And I'm also in the Renaissance period of Florence, Italy with Tome 1 of a wonderful Japanese manga I'm reading with my daughter by Kei Ohkubo (reading it in French) Arte, tome 1

[Lilisa]

Hesper wrote: "Taking a side trip to India with Mahabharata: A Modern Retelling. It's kind of a door stop, but it might be the most accessible English language version I've encountered. It practic..."

A huge undertaking Hesper - enjoy the epic - it's fascinating. I've read abbreviated versions of parts of the epic. Amazing that it was written so long ago and endures to this day.

[Hesper]

I am so far! I've read abbreviated versions of it before (though the one I remember best is an illustrated kids version lol), and always meant to get around to the whole thing. Having The Palace of Illusions on my tbr since forever helped motivate me, although finding this particular retelling was great incentive.

[Lilisa]

Have that one on my TBR list too, Hesper. Maybe after the Mahabharata, the Ramayana will beckon you!

I'm in Egypt with The Map of Love and in the U.K./India with Monsoon Memories.

[Carol]

I'm in Scotland and 19th century Dagestan, ­Chechnya and Circassia, with The Kindness of Enemies. So far (page 128), it's excellent and I'm reminded again of my relative ignorance of Asian history.

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

I'm in Burman with Elephant Company: The Inspiring Story of an Unlikely Hero and the Animals Who Helped Him Save Lives in World War II. It's the March pick for my in-person book club.

[My Book Strings]

Carol wrote: "I'm in Scotland and 19th century Dagestan, ­Chechnya and Circassia, with The Kindness of Enemies. So far (page 128), it's excellent and I'm reminded again of my relative ignorance o..."
I was curious about this book. I hope you continue to like it; I've added it to my TBR shelf.

[My Book Strings]

I'm in India now with The White Tiger. I've only just started listening to it, but so far, I find it pretty funny.

[Sara]

I am in Spain/ Morocco with The Time in Between, which I started last night and got 20% done as the story rather move fast. I hope to finish it by the weekend.

[Joy]

I'm in Croatia with Girl at War by Sara Nović. It's a fast read that I'm really enjoying.

[Lilisa]

I'm in New Zealand with In the Land of the Long White Cloud.

[Josie]

I'm in Ghana with Ghana Must Go by Taiye Selasi

[Carol]

My Book Strings wrote: "Carol wrote: "I'm in Scotland and 19th century Dagestan, ­Chechnya and Circassia, with The Kindness of Enemies. So far (page 128), it's excellent and I'm reminded again of my relati..."

I did, very much so - at least the historical portion. Here's a link to my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... If you read it, let me know what you think.

[Lilisa]

Sara wrote: "I am in Spain/ Morocco with The Time in Between, which I started last night and got 20% done as the story rather move fast. I hope to finish it by the weekend."

How are you enjoying The Time in Between Sara?

[Carol]

I'm in Japan with Keigo Higashino's A Midsummer's Equation.

[Lilisa]

I'm in India with The Mountain of Light and in New Zealand with Song of the Spirits. Over the weekend I started and finished Isabel Allende's The Japanese Lover. Set in the U.S. it's very different from all the other Allende books I've read. There's mixed reviews about her latest, but I enjoyed it - 4 stars.

[Sara]

Lilisa wrote: "Sara wrote: "I am in Spain/ Morocco with The Time in Between, which I started last night and got 20% done as the story rather move fast. I hope to finish it by the weekend."

How ar..."
I enjoyed it a lot, and definately recommend it.

[Lilisa]

Sara wrote: "Lilisa wrote: "Sara wrote: "I am in Spain/ Morocco with The Time in Between, which I started last night and got 20% done as the story rather move fast. I hope to finish it by the we..."

Glad you liked it. I enjoyed it too - it was a 4-star read for me.

[Nurul]

I was in Indonesia last week, with Ayah. It is supposed to be a fun journey with comedy, but I shed tears. Many of Andrea's works has been translated into English as well, you might want to check this author out.

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

I'm reading New-Generation African Poets: A Chapbook Box Set edited by Kwame Davis. So far it's great and many of the poets have videos online to enhance the experience.

[Sara]

I am in Afghanistan with When the Moon is Low and in Australia with The Thorn Birds. I am 70% done with the Thorn Birds, and was thinking about how has time have changed from 1920's when this family saga begun.

[Rusalka]

Hi All. sorry I've been quiet recently. I'm finally on my holiday in the Caribbean and WiFi has been a bit spotty. Heading into the States tomorrow so hopefully I'll be a bit more stable until I get home.

I just picked up The Savage Altar last night by Asa Larsson for Sweden. But strange reading about snowy Sweden in the middle of the Trinidadian heat. but hopefully it'll be a fun one. will let you know!

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

I'm in Mali with The Cruelest Journey: Six Hundred Miles To Timbuktu by Kira Salak. I previously read her book about her solo trek across PNG

[Lilisa]

Rusalka wrote: "Hi All. sorry I've been quiet recently. I'm finally on my holiday in the Caribbean and WiFi has been a bit spotty. Heading into the States tomorrow so hopefully I'll be a bit more stable until I ge..."

Hope you're having a great time on your vacation Rusalka. Safe travels and whereabouts are you headed in the U.S.? Still lugging around that 900+page book? :-)

[Yrinsyde]

I'm still here too! Caught up with some other books but will return very soon to this challenge. My next read is a collection of short stories about night markets set in Taipei. I'm off to Nth America in May - mostly Toronto (work) and NYC. Where are you atm Rusalka? Safe travels!

[Carol]

I'm in India, in 1837 no less, with The Strangler Vine by M.J. Carter and in 1977 Laos with Anarchy and Old Dogs by Colin Cotterill. They're both wonderful, at the 40 - 50 page mark.

[Kirsten]

Rereading Under the Tuscan Sun prior to going to Italy at the end of this year. I loved this book the first time round, and am enjoying is just as much the second. It's refreshing to read a book which is full of light, rather than some of the darker stories I've read recently.

[Lilisa]

The Strangler Vine sounds interesting, Carol. Alas, Colin Cotterill hasn't done anything for me yet :-). Kirsten - For some reason I haven't read Under the Tuscan Sun even though it's been highly popular - one of these days I'll add it to my tottering TBR list. Enjoy the re-read and dream of Italy - I'm sure you're waiting in anticipation for your trip! I was there last fall and I could have stayed there at least a few more weeks, which still wouldn't have been enough.!

[Carol]

I am in Belgium with On Black Sisters Street by Chika Unigwe.

[Patricia]

I am in Bangkok reading The Sea, Identity and History: From the Bay of Bengal to the South China Sea edited by Satish Chandra and Himanshu Prabha Ray, looking for insights into how Southeast Asia and India interacted and influenced one another's material cultures.

[Carol]

I am in the US - in Harlem in the early '50s with A Rage in Harlem by Chester Himes and in contemporary Mississippi with Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter by Tom Franklin.

[Lilisa]

In the Middle East with Excellent Daughters: The Secret Lives of Young Women Who Are Transforming the Arab World.

[Sara]

In pakistan with I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban and learning so much about history and culture of Pakistan.

[Carol]

In Japan with In the Miso Soup. I expect it will be a dark, wild and brief stay.

[Shomeret]

I am currently in France with Gone to Soldiers, a multi-country World War II saga by Marge Piercy that follows a number of character perspectives. When I started reading it on Kindle I didn't realize it was 800 pages. Some characters are more interesting than others, but it is engaging me.

[Lilisa]

I'm up in the mountainous Himalayas in Nepal/Tibet with Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mount Everest Disaster.

[Rusalka]

I'm bouncing between the Dominican Republic and the States with The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao

[Sara]

I am in Egypt withThe Egyptian, a very long, but a very good book!

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

I'm just back from my visit to Nepal and over the past few days I've been dipping into Monsoon Love and Other Nepali Stories. Dreadful writing and editing, but the stories are kind of engaging and a bit funny. I wasn't sure I would finish reading it, but I'm over halfway now (point of no return...)

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

I'm in Ecuador with The Potbellied Virgin - I'm leading the discussion for my book club and had to do a lot of research!

[Shomeret]

Jenny (Reading Envy) wrote: "I'm in Ecuador with The Potbellied Virgin - I'm leading the discussion for my book club and had to do a lot of research!
"

Thank you for letting us know about The Potbellied Virgin, Jenny. I'll be requesting it through ILL as soon as I can.

[Carol]

Jenny (Reading Envy) wrote: "I'm in Ecuador with The Potbellied Virgin - I'm leading the discussion for my book club and had to do a lot of research!
"


What a cool find. Added to TBR now ...

[Carol]

I am in Egypt -- in 1941 -- with Khan Al-Khalili by Naguib Mahfouz . Very good so far

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

Shomeret wrote: "Jenny (Reading Envy) wrote: "I'm in Ecuador with The Potbellied Virgin - I'm leading the discussion for my book club and had to do a lot of research!
[bookcover:The Potbellied Virgin..."

I should warn you that my book club leader disliked it enough to try to replace it but I'm liking it. Not many books from Ecuador!! It's dense but once you sink into it it goes more easily.