7. A book set in a country that fascinates you

[Sara]

I suspect you all are going to have some really interesting suggestions here.

[Riley]

do you think Antarctica counts?

[Sara]

Kristina wrote: "do you think Antarctica counts?"

If it counts in your mind then it counts!

[Kelly]

Considering I just binged War & Peace on Netflix, I'll definitely be picking a historical fiction book based in Russia from this list for this prompt!

[Kenya]

I've been on a Russia kick for awhile now, so going with The Bear and the Nightingale. Other good Russia books are Firebird and Deathless.

[Christine]

Am I being a Horrible American if I'm most fascinated by my own U.S.A.? I'm thinking about how much I enjoyed American Gods and American Elsewhere and wondering what else is out there that addresses our weird cultural mashup in a whimsical way.

[Stephanie]

any ideas for fiction books set in Japan? I can only think of memoirs of a geisha but would prefer something set in the modern pop culture of japan

[Stefanie]

Stephanie wrote: "any ideas for fiction books set in Japan? I can only think of memoirs of a geisha but would prefer something set in the modern pop culture of japan"

I'm eyeing Japan as well and there is a whole Goodreads page for it: https://www.goodreads.com/genres/japan
I can recommend Haruki Murakami, he is a contemporary author with loads of published books to choose from. And of course there is always Manga if you're interested in that.

[Chrissy]

Maybe I just have my crabby pants on, but "fascinates" is really irritating me as the verb in this prompt. It feels like the goal is exoticism?

I have no idea what I'll pick, maybe something set in whatever country we choose for our next vacation. Top possibilities are Brazil, Scotland, Malta, or maybe Japan.

[Rachel]

The Girl with Seven Names: A North Korean Defector’s Story
Memoirs of a Geisha

[Marilyn]

Stephanie wrote: "any ideas for fiction books set in Japan? I can only think of memoirs of a geisha but would prefer something set in the modern pop culture of japan"

The guy I live with swears that Shōgun is the best book he has ever read !!! It isn't modern, but ....

[Nicole]

I am obsessed with Ireland ever since I visited a couple summers ago, so I'm probably going to read something set there.

Maeve Binchy has many novels set there, including some like Chestnut Street, A Week in Winter, Minding Frankie, and Tara Road, among others.

Also, In the Woods, which is the first book in the Dublin Murder Squad series by Tana French. It looks like there are currently six books in the series.

[Rebecca]

Stephanie wrote: "any ideas for fiction books set in Japan? I can only think of memoirs of a geisha but would prefer something set in the modern pop culture of japan"

It's dystopian, but I highly recommend Battle Royale. My husband reads very little, and even though it's over 600 pages, I think he tore through this in about two days.

[Victoria]

I really enjoyed Ghost Bride which is set in China/Malaya.

[Christine]

Stephanie wrote: "any ideas for fiction books set in Japan? I can only think of memoirs of a geisha but would prefer something set in the modern pop culture of japan"

The Town Where Only I am Missing (and following volumes 2-8)

I watched the anime of this story and it was not only fascinating and beautiful, some of the plot points really highlighted some cultural differences between Japanese and Western storytelling for me.

[Alta]

Stephanie wrote: "any ideas for fiction books set in Japan? I can only think of memoirs of a geisha but would prefer something set in the modern pop culture of japan"

For something more modern, try Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami.

Also, if you enjoyed Memoirs of a Geisha, you might try Geisha of Gion. This was written by one of the real-life Geishas that was interviewed by Arthur Golden for Memoirs of a Geisha. She felt like the book was an inaccurate depiction of the Geisha life, and felt like she was misrepresented. She actually sued Golden and they settled the case out of court. This book is her story about her life as a Geisha, and her life after retiring.

[Fannie]

I'd like some suggestion for something scottish. This is a place that I would love to visit one day.

I already read Outlander.

[Sara]

Fannie, you could read The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley. It's a great book!

[Fannie]

Sara wrote: "Fannie, you could read The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley. It's a great book!"

Thanks, I just added it to my list.

[Tytti]

There are a few good non-fiction books about Russia, our dear neighbour, that have come out in the past few years. There is always something going on there... Maybe I'll read the memoirs of a Finnish guy who moved to Leningrad and started studying at a theatre academy there as an 19-year-old in 1991 and of course without knowing any Russian. Now he is a big star in Russia and recognized everywhere, but people have written in their reviews that it's a surprise that he is even alive now, after all his adventures... He was robbed several times, starved there etc.

[Ashly]

I love Japan.

I'm planning on reading these anyways The Monster on the Road Is Me, Daughter of the Sword, and The Last Leaves Falling.

Other Books set in japan
Ink
Gadget Girl: The Art of Being Invisible
Tokyo Heist
Penance
A Clean Kill in Tokyo
Tokyo Black
Jet Black and the Ninja Wind
Stormdancer
Strange Weather in Tokyo
The Name of the Blade
The Nakano Thrift Shop: A Novel
Cash Crash Jubilee
The Housekeeper and the Professor

[Kara]

Kristina wrote: "do you think Antarctica counts?"

South Pole Station is a good book set there

[Wendy]

The country I immediately thought of was Iceland!

Jar City
Silence of the Grave
Burial Rites
Independent People
The Saga of the Volsungs

[Nadine in NY]

I've always been interested in Ireland (and, because that's where most of my ancestors come from, I'll probably be reading something Irish for the "ancestry" category too). I'm planning to read the fourth book in Tana French's mystery series:

Broken Harbour

[Diane]

Alta wrote: "Stephanie wrote: "any ideas for fiction books set in Japan? I can only think of memoirs of a geisha but would prefer something set in the modern pop culture of japan"

For something more modern, tr..."

I absolutely loved Memoirs of a Geisha. I have never heard of this one. Definitely putting it on my must read list.

[Simant]

For me it's France just because of Paris :D
So I'm going with Anna and the French Kiss

[Elizabeth]

Does anyone have a suggestion for Egypt?

[Molly]

River God for Egypt. or any of the Wilberforce Smith series that goes along with it. GREAT books

[Tytti]

Elizabeth wrote: "Does anyone have a suggestion for Egypt?"

The Egyptian

[Sara]

For anyone interested In Japan, I listened to the audio of “The Housekeeper and the Professor” recently and it was very good!

[Nadine in NY]

Elizabeth wrote: "Does anyone have a suggestion for Egypt?"


I loved Elizabeth Peters's historical/archeological/romancey mystery series!! Book one in the series: Crocodile on the Sandbank. (I still haven't finished this series, because I don't want to get to that point where I have no more Elizabeth Peters books to look forward to.)

[Stina]

I don't know that I'm fascinated by any country. I guess I'll go with Italy, since I hope to travel there in the not-too-distant future. Surely I already have a book set in Italy.

[Jessica]

I am going to read, "A Farewell to Arms" by Hemingway.

[Megan]

Stina wrote: "I don't know that I'm fascinated by any country. I guess I'll go with Italy, since I hope to travel there in the not-too-distant future. Surely I already have a book set in Italy."

Yes, this. I can't say that any country *fascinates* me, but I do love the Tudor period in England, so I think I'll go with a book set then.

[Nikky]

I'm not really fascinated by a country but I've always wanted to visit new York so I've gone with I heart New York also means I have a light fun read on my list!

[Trina]

Nicole wrote: "I am obsessed with Ireland ever since I visited a couple summers ago, so I'm probably going to read something set there.

I've chosen Ireland also Nicole!! Although sadly I am yet to ever visit, I have read a number of novels and seen a variety of films in which it serves as not just the backdrop, but almost like a supporting character. The rolling hills are breathtaking and the characters captivating (I imagine anyway!) Someday soon I hope to go to Ireland with my husband and live out my own imaginary romantic story with him (he's not the most romantic man so it will mostly be within my own head haha).

I've chosen If You Could See Me Now by Cecelia Ahern. I thoroughly enjoy Love, Rosie by her, another book set in Ireland, Dublin specifically.

[Chinook]

I’ve yet to meet a country that didn’t fascinate me (I enjoy travelling to places most don’t, like East Timor, Togo and North Korea), so this is basically a free slot to me. I am always trying to diversify my reading by reading authors from other countries.

Probably I will go with Beyond the Rice Fields because it’s the first English translation of a novel from Madagascar.

[Lindi]

Iceland has always fascinated me, it seems so mysterious!

Going with Burial Rites. It's been on my radar for the last couple years.

[Rachael]

I've always wanted to go to Jamaica, and actually went and worked there for a month a couple of years ago, so I've picked The Book of Night Women by Marlon James

[Jackie]

I am also a person who struggles to identify a country that "fascinates" me. But I do love to travel, so I might pick a country that I've never been to/don't know much about and do a little armchair traveling. Maybe somewhere in SE Asia...

[Jacqueline]

If Australia fascinates you then maybe
A Town Like Alice by Nevil Shute
We of the Never Never by Jeannie Gunn
Picnic at Hanging Rock by Joan Lindsay
They're a Weird Mob by John O'Grady

[Ronni]

Chrissy wrote: "Maybe I just have my crabby pants on, but "fascinates" is really irritating me as the verb in this prompt ...

Me too, Chrissy! Partly because it's hyperbolic, partly because it's vague. (I can't tell if this means I'm not easily fascinated or fascinated by too much.)

[Johanna]

Kenya wrote: "I've been on a Russia kick for awhile now, so going with The Bear and the Nightingale. Other good Russia books are Firebird and Deathless."

I LOVED The Bear and the Nightingale! I used it for the prompt a book about a mythical creature this year.

[Johanna]

Alta wrote: "Stephanie wrote: "any ideas for fiction books set in Japan? I can only think of memoirs of a geisha but would prefer something set in the modern pop culture of japan"

For something more modern, tr..."

Have you read The Street of a Thousand Blossoms. Not modern, but I loved the story when I read it. Kind of historical fiction.

[Judy]

Nadine wrote: "Elizabeth wrote: "Does anyone have a suggestion for Egypt?"


I loved Elizabeth Peters's historical/archeological/romancey mystery series!! Book one in the series: [book:Crocodile on..."

I was going to suggest the same series!

[Charlsa]

There are many countries that fascinate me. Scotland, any Caribbean island, Brazil, Jordan, and Israel to name few. I think for this prompt I'll read Mossad: The Greatest Missions of the Israeli Secret Service. It looks like a fascinating read about the world's best intelligence agency.

[Darlene]

Rebecca wrote: "Stephanie wrote: "any ideas for fiction books set in Japan? I can only think of memoirs of a geisha but would prefer something set in the modern pop culture of japan"

It's dystopian, but I highly ..."

I agree, that one is fantastic!! I highly recommend the audiobook, just for the pronunciation of all the Japanese names alone!

[Душица]

Russia-Doctor Zhivago

[Olivia]

The Daughters of Ireland will be the one I read.

[Emily]

I'm really fascinated by Scotland so I'm going with The Pearl Thief by Elizabeth Wein (Code Name Verity is one of my all time favourites).

I also considered The Island House.