Task #5: A book set in or about one of the five BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, or South Africa)

[Jessica]

I read The God of Small Things for this one. I liked it mostly, it was interesting for sure. It takes place in India.

[Caleb]

An Excess Male was a bit of a challenge to get through for this one. It explored the potential of a future matriarchy in China, although realized in a really strange way. Anybody else read this one?

[Elizabeth]

I read Pashmina by Nidhi Chanani, which I loved. The main character is Indian-American (her mother came to America from India when she was pregnant with her), and parts of the story are set in the USA reflecting Indian culture, parts are set in an imaginary representation of India, and parts are set in India.

I also recently read a book about the Komagata Maru, which covered some Indian history and focused on Indian people, but was primarily speaking about Indian immigrants in Canada. I wanted to read something more properly about India or set in India for this task. (or about the other qualifying countries, but again, more properly about or set in)

[Karen]

I read The Woman Next Door for this one and highly recommend it! It was poignant and funny, and I learned a lot about South Africa, a country I know relatively little about.

[Wellington]

I read The Case Of The Missing Servant by Tarquin Hall for this challenge. It was a cozy mystery that was a lot of fun.

[Britany]

Finished by Lisa Ko --

Right down the middle for me.

My Review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Yrinsyde]

I read The Kreutzer Sonata and other Stories by Tolstoy and I was horrified by it. A man gets away with murdering his wife because he becomes jealous and he blames her for his feelings and actions. The other stories are of a morallising manner but they are interesting because they reveal what life was like for serfs in 19thc Russia. My opinion of Tolstoy has suffered now because I think he was a religious zealot and an idiot.

[kimberly]

I read Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood for this one. SO GOOD. Highly recommended if you're looking for a book to fulfill this task or if you just want a good book in general! I was really surprised by how much I liked this.

[Maureen]

also fits Celebrity Memoir! (I read it for that category). I agree, it's a wonderful book.

[Deb]

I read three set in India: Girls Burn Brighter, Widows of Malabar Hill, and Padma Lakshmi's memoir (only partially in India). I recommend Girls Burn Brighter though it's a tough read.

[Maureen]

I read Do Not Say We Have Nothing by Madeleine Thien, and loved it. It is a story about the relationships between young musicians before, during, and after the Chinese Cultural Revolution. It was beautiful and heart-breaking.

[Steph - Auburn Librarian]

I read Cry the Beloved Country. Sad and beautiful. And scary that we can still draw parallels.

[Rachel]

I'm currently reading The Unexpected Son, which is set in India.

[Doris]

I already had this one ticked off my list, but I just now finished another book that qualifies: The Romanovs: 1613-1918 by Simon Sebag Montefiore, which, of course, takes place in Russia.

[Milena]

Doris wrote: "I already had this one ticked off my list, but I just now finished another book that qualifies: The Romanovs: 1613-1918 by Simon Sebag Montefiore, which, of course, ..."

How did you like it? I am reading it now for Popsugar. More importantly, how long did it take you?

[Tammy]

I read The Painted Veil and realized it would work for this, as it is partially set in China and one topic is a cholera epidemic there. It also takes place in England and Hong Kong. It was good, but funny because the cover is from the movie, which is a scene that never happens in the book.

[Teresa]

My second book in this category was Prey Of Gods, set in South Africa. I really liked it.

[Tracy]

I tried to use something that has been sitting collecting dust on my shelf for this task since I found the choices a little overwhelming. My final pick? Waiting by Ha Jin

[ThePhoenixian]

I read Pelagia and the White Bulldog by B. Akunin, set in a beginning of the 20th century Russia. A very enjoyable mystery novel.

[Mya]

Tracy wrote: "I tried to use something that has been sitting collecting dust on my shelf for this task since I found the choices a little overwhelming. My final pick? Waiting by Ha Jin"

I read that a few years ago. It's an interesting book. I didn't love it, but I liked it. And I really liked the exposure to more Chinese culture - I'm fascinated by national differences in how people think about things like relationships, society, class, education, governance, etc. I'll be curious to read what you think of it. :)

[Octavia]

I just realised that I can tick this challenge off with a book I read back in January! Anna Karenina by Tolstoy, which is of course set in Russia. It took me ages to get through, I remember that, and though one day I do intend to wade my way through War and Peace, it will not be in 2018. There are only so many giant explorations of misery I can be expected to read in one calendar year.

[Tammy]

I read Finding Gobi: The True Story of a Little Dog and an Incredible Journey, a very enjoyable book about ultra-marathon running, a very cool dog, the bond between runner and dog, and the challenge of bringing the dog from China to the UK. At first it seemed like I might not learn much about China, but by the end I realized I had learned quite a bit about the country!

[Mya]

Just finished São Paulo Noir, a collection of stories set in São Paulo, Brazil. I didn't enjoy most of the stories - they tended more towards brutal & misogynistic, & I prefer my noir to be dark & clever - but it was an interesting glimpse of the largest city in Brazil. A couple stories mentioned roads & parks & such, so I spent some time looking at maps of the city, looking at neighborhoods & tracing routes. São Paulo is freaking HUGE. (Which makes sense - at 12 million plus people it's the largest city in the Americas, & one of the largest cities in the world. But I think I would find it overwhelming to visit.)

[Aly]

Y'all got any shorter books that fit this prompt? I'm running out of time and want to still fulfill it.

[Bobby]

Aly wrote: "Y'all got any shorter books that fit this prompt? I'm running out of time and want to still fulfill it."

I read The Hour of the Star by Clarice Lispector in one sitting. I didn’t intend to, but it was only 81 pages, and once I started I couldn’t put it down. If you decide to read it, the Benjamin Moser translation is far superior to the earlier one by Giovanni Pontiero.

[Aly]

Bobby wrote: "Aly wrote: "Y'all got any shorter books that fit this prompt? I'm running out of time and want to still fulfill it."

I read The Hour of the Star by Clarice Lispector..."

Great! Thanks so much!