Rusalka's 2018 Random Roaming

[Rusalka]

Challenge dates: January 1, 2018 - December 31, 2018
Genre: Any genre. Books chosen may be by setting or by native/resident author
Page length minimum: No minimum page length

Here is the catch: You will not be choosing your own destinations. The ATW80 Randomizer will choose your countries for you. You may trade in a country you do not want to read, but it will cost you an additional 5 countries. Once you have read all of the countries in your initial list, you may consult the Randomizer for a new list, if you choose.
--
I chose 10 countries to begin which are:

Seychelles = Journey to Death
Micronesia = The People in the Trees
Iran = The Complete Persepolis
Trinidad & Tobago = Miguel Street
Russia = Pelagia and the White Bulldog
Montenegro = The Coming
Malaysia = A Most Peculiar Malaysian Murder
Gabon = Tropic Moon
Laos = Disco For The Departed
South Sudan = Songs of a War Boy: The bestselling biography of Deng Adut - a child soldier, refugee and man of hope

[Diane , Armchair Tour Guide]

Loved Persepolis and Disco for the Departed. Master and Margarita was also very good, but it went way over my head.

[Rusalka]

Heh maybe I should read it first in the new year while I am on holidays still. Thanks Diane, was very happy with these first four.

The others are harder, but I have some books arriving in the next week that should start plugging these gaps. And my friend from Trinidad who is an English/Literature academic is visiting this week, so I am not letting her go without a list of recommendations!!!

[Rusalka]

Finally off the blocks with

Laos - Disco For The Departed



Dr Siri is just a wonderful, different, refreshing protagonist in the world of police procedurals/murder mysteries. I hope I am as sharp, spritely, and still not tolerating any bullshit when I am 72.

[Mome_Rath]

Great choice for Laos! The Dr. Siri Paiboun mysteries are a lot of fun, and I enjoy Siri's interactions with such a motley crew of characters.

[Viv]

I have Laos on my random challenge and was thinking of going with this series too - good to hear it's so good!

[Rusalka]

Mome_Rath wrote: "Great choice for Laos! The Dr. Siri Paiboun mysteries are a lot of fun, and I enjoy Siri's interactions with such a motley crew of characters."

Completely agree. These books just make me smile.

I read a book about the royal family in Laos, their imprisonment, and the background and history of Luang Prabang a few years ago called Bamboo Palace: Discovering the Lost Dynasty of Laos, which gave me heaps of info for context for this Dr Siri read.

[Rusalka]

Viv wrote: "I have Laos on my random challenge and was thinking of going with this series too - good to hear it's so good!"

I definitely recommend them, Viv. If you're happy with some fluffy reads and a murder mystery or two, then pick one up :D

[Mome_Rath]

Rusalka wrote: "I read a book about the royal family in Laos, their imprisonment, and the background and history of Luang Prabang a few years ago called Bamboo Palace: Discovering the Lost Dynasty of Laos"

That sounds fascinating. I'll have to see if it can be found at any local libraries.

Also, for Viv, I second Rusalka's recommendations on the Dr. Siri mysteries. They give great insight into Laos in the late 1970's.

[Rusalka]

If you can't find it, you may be able to find another of his that was more widely circulated, called The Carpet Wars: From Kabul to Baghdad: A Ten-Year Journey Along Ancient Trade Routes.

This is still one of my favourite books, even though I read it about 15 years ago. Absolutely fascinating following the carpet trail by a Australian journalist, so the writing is really accessible.

[Rusalka]

Coz he's a journalist, not coz he's Aussie. But, you know, ;)

[Mome_Rath]

The Carpet Wars is at my local library, and it sounds like a fascinating topic. I have seen some amazing carpets throughout the Middle East; this might provide some context into where and how they are created. Thanks for the recommendation!

(And yes, Aussie writers are skilled!)

[Rusalka]

Oh excellent! I hope you enjoy, now I have talked it up lol

[Rusalka]

Malaysia - A Most Peculiar Malaysian Murder



An outcast, older, Sikh, Singaporean detective goes to Kuala Lumpur and makes a nuisance of himself. Similar in theme to the Laos read. Didn't think about this and space them out... Ah well, enjoyed them in the meantime.

[Roselyn]

Diane wrote: "Loved Persepolis and Disco for the Departed. Master and Margarita was also very good, but it went way over my head."


I am feeling the same way about Master & Margarita.So i have DNF ed it for now.

[Rusalka]

Roselyn wrote: "Diane wrote: "Loved Persepolis and Disco for the Departed. Master and Margarita was also very good, but it went way over my head."

I am feeling the same way about Master & Margarita.So i have DNF ed it for now."

Oh man. I didn't get to this while on summer holidays. Maybe Easter weekend reading? No idea when my next holiday will be before December. But sounds like this will definitely need some head space. And will make sure I let you guys know what I think.

[Rusalka]

Trinidad and Tobago - Miguel Street



A book of short stories set on one street of Port of Spain (the capital of TTO) over 10 years or so over WWII. Lots of characters, lots of things going on. Remarkedly upbeat in the face of all of this. Very Trinidadian.

[Rusalka]

Gabon - Tropic Moon



Do not recommend. In the same vein as Heart of Darkness, but with more alcohol. White boy goes to Africa, melts-down figuratively and literally, everything goes to hell.

[Rusalka]

Seychelles - Journey to Death



Another do not recommend. Brit goes to colony for holiday. It's hot, we may mention that a bit. There are lots of unneeded naps and lies. Could have been solved in 20 mins, not 2 weeks.

[Rusalka]

Montenegro - The Coming



I've read this so you don't have to. While better written than the book above, and more original, still not worth it. Weird church history in a book that isn't the crime noir it claims to be.

[Rusalka]

Iran - The Complete Persepolis



Compared to the other two reads, this was a joy. A feisty, honest kid growing up in Iran who experiences a revolution, which is particularly oppressive to her liberal family. Follows her journey through the revolution to her schooling in Europe and her homecoming to Iran. Fantastic look at the immigrant, particularly as an unaccompanied child immigrant, but also at a world you know changing.

[Rusalka]

South Sudan - Songs of a War Boy: The bestselling biography of Deng Adut - a child soldier, refugee and man of hope



Hard but good biography of a child solider in South Sudan who manages to escape to Australia very early on for Sudanese refugees, and the struggles he has here and in Africa. Huge amount of respect for the fight Deng has had to be one of the best in his profession in Australia, working for those who don't always have a voice, and being nominated for Australian of the Year for doing what he does. Amazing man.

[Rusalka]

Micronesia - The People in the Trees



An American doctor accompanies an American anthropologist into a Micronesian island to document the people of the remote tribes who live there. Who knew there was a Nobel Prize winning discovering hiding there too. But the book excels in moral dilemmas, in the jungle and back home. And has a horrid protagonist. So if you can deal with terrible people and moral grey/bordering black, then go for it.

[Rusalka]

Russia - Pelagia and the White Bulldog



Nuns. 18th Century Russia. Murder. Manors. What's not to love?!
Moralising and lectures on the state of people and philosophy, that's what. When the author leaves that aside, fun book. When he dabbles with that for 50 pages I want to poke my eyes out with a spoon.

[Rusalka]

And whilst some terrible and fantastic books where consumed on this challenge, I am glad to say it is the only one I finished for the year. That is, I started a few and fell short on them, but finished this one.

Thanks Diane, I think this is an awesome idea and a good challenge. And view reading some duds completely part of the fun. Starting this year's thread tomorrow!