Project One - Countries of the World Discussion Thread

[Tien]

Thank you, I've seen that one but I can't source it and I don't really want to buy... *sighs*

[Kate S]

This thread may be of interest, Tien:

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Tien]

Thanks, Kate! can't source any of those either :(
oh wells...

[Sam]

My library has A Fish Caught in Time, but it's hard to tell from the description whether enough of the book actually takes place on Comoros to count. The blurb talks more about South Africa.

[Kate S]

"The first two-thirds of the book read like a suspense novel, with international politics and intrigue mounting as the search for the Coelacanth heats up in the waters surrounding the Comoros."

I found this in a member's review. I am not sure it will qualify, but it sounds like a book worth considering.

[Sam]

Hmm l may need to try to find a slot for it then! Regardless of the setting, it sounds pretty interesting.

[Valerie]

Even though I haven't really contributed anything of consequence to this project, I'm really glad we are doing it! I'd never even heard of the Comoros Is.; and I would love to read about the rediscovery of the coelacanth! Fun and educational :).

[Amanda]

Countries marked in green have 3 books logged, so i won't be adding any more. Orange means we have read from that country, but I will add more books until we hit 3.

[Connie]

Could you please add The Jacaranda Tree by H.E. Bates to the spreadsheet for Myanmar? Thanks.

[Valerie]

I think I forgot to include the country when I posted this book:

The Unbearable Lightness of Being

Czech Repbulic

[Karin]

Mr Norris Changes Trains is set in Germany over 90 percent of the novel. It's based on people the author knew when he lived in Berlin.

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Karin wrote: "You may already know this, and I can't tell from that tiny map what European countries you have, but Mr. Norris Changes Trains is almost entirely in Berlin, Germany."

There is a spreadsheet, last post in the thread with the map. Amanda has also crossed off countries in the list in the other posts in that thread.

[Karin]

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Karin wrote: "You may already know this, and I can't tell from that tiny map what European countries you have, but Mr. Norris Changes Trains is almost entirely in Berlin, Germany."

There is a spre..."

I just edited my post, because I remembered the list of countries in the other thread and Germany is not crossed off, BUT I forgot about the spreadsheet and it's been marked. Sorry!

[Amanda]

Connie wrote: "Could you please add The Jacaranda Tree by H.E. Bates to the spreadsheet for Myanmar? Thanks."

I know I added this one before, not sure how it disappeared :(

[Amanda]

Valerie wrote: "I think I forgot to include the country when I posted this book:

The Unbearable Lightness of Being

Czech Repbulic"

Thanks, it had multiple locations so I wasn't sure if it was over 50% of anywhere.

[Amanda]

Karin wrote: "Mr Norris Changes Trains is set in Germany over 90 percent of the novel. It's based on people the author knew when he lived in Berlin."

Yep, already had this one.

[Valerie]

Amanda wrote: "Valerie wrote: "I think I forgot to include the country when I posted this book:

The Unbearable Lightness of Being

Czech Repbulic"

Thanks, it had multiple locations so I wasn't sure ..."

The other countries only have brief appearances. I would say it is set in Czech Republic for 75% or more.

[Kathleen (itpdx)]

I just posted a book, Tree of Smoke by Denis Johnson that is over 50% set in Viet Nam.

[Tien]

Saw this article this morning and thought it may be of interest for this project :)

22 Ambassadors recommend the one book to read before visiting their country

[Deedee]

I've finished 2 books that are "Countries of the World":

Russian Federation -- The Charm School (1988) by Nelson DeMille (cold war thriller set 99% in Russia)

Sweden -- A Man Called Ove (2012) by Fredrik Backman (set in a small Scandinavian village but in one part they mention that the characters are speaking "Swedish" so I infer that the small village is in Sweden)

I'm also currently reading another Russian book:
Caught in the Revolution: Petrograd, Russia, 1917 – A World on the Edge (2017) by Helen Rappaport

[Connie]

This must be the weekend for reading Russian books. I finished Envy by Yury Olesha, set in Moscow, Russia.

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Learned of a book today that takes place in Serbia.

The Exiled by Kati Hiekkapelto.

[Amanda]

Tien, can you confirm The True Story of Hansel and Gretel for Poland ?

[Amanda]

Amanda wrote: "Tien, can you confirm The True Story of Hansel and Gretel for Poland ?"

And could you also confirm A Golden Age ? I am guessing Bangladesh ?

[Amanda]

Amanda wrote: "

And could you also confirm A Golden Age ? I am guessing Bangladesh ?"

Don't worry, I needed to keep scrolling ...

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Amanda, you have me marked for having read for Serbia. But I didn't read that book, I just posted it here as a suggestion for others.

[Amanda]

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Amanda, you have me marked for having read for Serbia. But I didn't read that book, I just posted it here as a suggestion for others."

Thanks Elizabeth, about to try to catch up, so I will fix that now.

[Amanda]

The map is looking fabulous - so many countries!

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

If you haven't gotten to Karin's post #678, please note that The White Woman on the Green Bicycle takes place in Barbados. (I recall 100%.)

[Valerie]

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "If you haven't gotten to Karin's post #678, please note that The White Woman on the Green Bicycle takes place in Barbados. (I recall 100%.)"

Actually, it takes place in Trinidad! Another good island nation to get! :)

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Valerie wrote: "Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "If you haven't gotten to Karin's post #678, please note that The White Woman on the Green Bicycle takes place in Barbados. (I recall 100%.)"

Actually, it ..."

Thanks for the correct. My memory was definitely faulty!

[Amanda]

Nope, not there yet. I did everything up to my last post, and I use that as my marker otherwise I am sure I would miss a lot more ;)

[Tien]

Amanda wrote: "Tien, can you confirm The True Story of Hansel and Gretel for Poland ?"

yes, 100% Poland!

Thanks for your your hard work, Amanda :)

[Amanda]

Starting from the rear tonight as I can't find my place ...

Karin, is Beartown set in Sweden ?I could assume, but it doesn't specifically say, so it could be anywhere.

[Amanda]

Jayme, how does I'll Push You: A Journey of 500 Miles, Two Best Friends, and One Wheelchair work for Spain ?Over 51% ?

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

Most of the book, they are in Spain for the Camino de Santiago which is a 500 mile trek

[Amanda]

Thanks Jayme, added to the spreadsheet.

Spreadsheet is updated, and I will fix the map later. Another couple of countries added to the list!

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

The map is getting bluer and bluer!

[Karin]

Amanda wrote: "Starting from the rear tonight as I can't find my place ...

Karin, is Beartown set in Sweden ?I could assume, but it doesn't specifically say, so it could be anywhere."

Yes, it is set in Sweden. Talented players there dream of going to North America to play in the NHL.

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

What is the difference between the countries highlighted in orange and green on the spreadsheet?

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Jayme(the ghost reader) wrote: "What is the difference between the countries highlighted in orange and green on the spreadsheet?"

Although for some countries members of the group will read many titles, the plan is to enter only 3 titles per country, and those are highlighted in green. The orange countries have at least one title claimed, but not yet three.

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

Okay, I thought it was something about having three books read for one country, that country was completed.

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Jayme(the ghost reader) wrote: "Okay, I thought it was something about having three books read for one country, that country was completed."

One book gets the country done, but the spreadsheet also offers titles if people have a personal challenge going.

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

ah okay

[Cat]

This looks interesting / useful as a resource: https://the-digital-reader.com/2017/0...

[Valerie]

Cat wrote: "This looks interesting / useful as a resource: https://the-digital-reader.com/2017/0..."

Interesting infographic!

[Karen Michele]

I haven't read as many books for this project as I expected to this summer and I've been away from Internet on my annual Montana trip, but I did read Book Lust to Go: Recommended Reading for Travelers, Vagabonds, and Dreamers by Nancy Pearl, and found lots of books I'm interested in reading. I ordered my own copy so I could plan for fall!

[Amanda]

I keep looking at the infographic and thinking I have read The Crocodile by Vincent Eri when I did a global reading challenge on FB years ago, but I deleted the group when I got too grumpy arguing about whether books were assigned correctly, so I can't be sure. At the time Oceania was very difficult to access books for, much more difficult than Africa which was hard enough.

I am very glad that accessing books has become much easier over the years.

[Connie]

Karen Michele wrote: "I haven't read as many books for this project as I expected to this summer and I've been away from Internet on my annual Montana trip, but I did read [book:Book Lust to Go: Recommended Reading for ..."

I own Nancy Pearl's book too, and have it filled with sticky notes left from an "Around the World--80 countries" challenge a few years ago. It's a great book, and includes some hidden gems that I hadn't heard of before.

[Valerie]

Karen Michele wrote: "I haven't read as many books for this project as I expected to this summer and I've been away from Internet on my annual Montana trip, but I did read [book:Book Lust to Go: Recommended Reading for ..."

Thanks for the recommendation! (Especially after Connie's comment! ).