2018 - Where in the world are you? (Currently reading)

[Diane]

In Singapore with The Oddfits by Tiffany Tsao.

[Lilisa]

Leslie wrote: "Carol wrote: "I'm not sure where I am yet, but it's a good place. Reading The King is Always Above the People: Stories by Daniel Alarcón. It appears to be comprised o..."

I read Miss Burma last year and enjoyed it.

[Lilisa]

Carol wrote: "I'm in Turkey with Liar's Candle: A Novel by August Thomas (a new woman author). It's a debut and it shows, from time to time, but the local details, the food, lan..."

Interested to hear what you think when you're done reading...love books set in Turkey.

[Stephanie]

Diane wrote: "Currently in Bosnia and Herzegovina with Death and the Dervish by Meša Selimović."
Please let me know how you like it- I am currently reading People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks which takes place in Bosnia and Herzegovina as well. This coming summer I am actually traveling to Macedonia, Bulgaria, Serbia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina so I am trying to read a bunch of books that take place in those countries. If anyone has any suggestions please feel free to let me know!

[Diane]

Stephanie wrote: "Diane wrote: "Currently in Bosnia and Herzegovina with Death and the Dervish by Meša Selimović."
Please let me know how you like it- I am currently reading People of ..."

It was a very good book. I highly recommend it. Another author I enjoyed from Bosnia is Ivo Andrić. Here are a few others from those countries I have read and liked: The Cellist of Sarajevo (Bosnia - non-Bosnian author), Cousins (Macedonia), Everything Happens as It Does (Bulgaria), East of the West: A Country in Stories (Bulgaria), Street Without a Name (Bulgaria), The Tiger's Wife (Serbia), Garden, Ashes (Serbia), Under the Yoke (Bulgaria).

[Beth]

Heading to Greece with Captain Corelli's Mandolin

[Stephanie]

Diane wrote: "Stephanie wrote: "Diane wrote: "Currently in Bosnia and Herzegovina with Death and the Dervish by Meša Selimović."
Please let me know how you like it- I am currently ..."

Thank you so much for that list! I am looking forward to delving into all of those before my trip. The only one I had on my list was THe Tiger's Wife- I have heard of Ivo Andric- Have you read his Bosnian trilogy? Have you read Geraldine Brooks book People of the Book?

[Shomeret]

I am in Dahomey with the book that the protagonist is reading in Will Do Magic for Small Change by Andrea Hairston. The protagonist is in contemporary U.S. but she is reading about a woman warrior fighting the French in late 19th century Dahomey.

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

Stephanie wrote: "Have you read Geraldine Brooks book People of the Book?..."

One of my favourite books from one of my favourite authors.

I became a little bit obsessed with Bosnia a while back. There are a couple of war-time accounts that I found fascinating; Letters from Sarajevo and Zlata's Diary: A Child's Life in Wartime Sarajevo. I've kind of gotten over the obsession now, but another on my TBR is Rose of Sarajevo by Turkish author Ayşe Kulin, which is meant to be quite good.

[Diane]

Stephanie wrote: "Diane wrote: "Stephanie wrote: "Diane wrote: "Currently in Bosnia and Herzegovina with Death and the Dervish by Meša Selimović."
Please let me know how you like it- I..."

I have read part of the Bosnian Trilogy, not all of it. I have not read People of the Book yet. It has been on my TBR forever. I don't know how close you will be getting to Slovenia, but I have read the most fantastic book - A Day in Spring by Ciril Kosmač. I highly recommend it.

[Diane]

Currently in South Sudan with Beneath the Darkening Sky by Majok Tulba.

[Stephanie]

Andrea wrote: "Stephanie wrote: "Have you read Geraldine Brooks book People of the Book?..."

One of my favourite books from one of my favourite authors.

I became a little bit obsessed with Bosnia a while back...."

I actually rescued a puppy in Montenegro July of 2016 and we had to go into Bosnia in order for me to get paperwork that would be accepted at the border crossing in Croatia. I had no intention of visiting Bosnia- but my one day trip for my dogs papers turned into me extended the stay for 3 days which was as long as I could without missing all of Croatia. However, I fell in love with the little bit I did see of the country and vowed I would go back. So this summer I will be spending 5-6 weeks there. Have you been?
LOVING People of the Book- her other books are as good? She is a new author to me.

[Stephanie]

Stephanie wrote: "Andrea wrote: "Stephanie wrote: "Have you read Geraldine Brooks book People of the Book?..."

One of my favourite books from one of my favourite authors.

I became a little bit obsessed with Bosni..."
BTW, where are you from? You spell favourite like my boyfriend does .

[Beth]

Diane wrote: "Currently in South Sudan with Beneath the Darkening Sky by Majok Tulba."

Let me know how you like it. I am going to need a South Sudan soon.

[Carol]

I am in England with Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz.

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

Stephanie wrote: "BTW, where are you from? You spell favourite like my boyfriend does ...."

Haha I'm one of the Australian members of the group. Geraldine Brooks speaks with an American accent these days, but she actually grew up here, in Sydney, where she trained as a journalist. She was a foreign correspondent for many years, so I started off on her non-fiction before she started writing novels. They are all good, but I have a soft spot for Year of Wonders and People of the Book.

I haven't travelled in the former Yugoslavian countries, as that whole region was off-limits for such a long time during my days of exploring Europe. Maybe one day!

[Stephanie]

My boyfriend is based in Perth when he is not in the USA with me. He is originally from Scotland though but has been in Perth for 20 something years. THanks for all your info- you have been so helpful- so excited to actually sit down and read some of these beauties over the weekend.

[Stephanie]

Diane wrote: "Stephanie wrote: "Diane wrote: "Stephanie wrote: "Diane wrote: "Currently in Bosnia and Herzegovina with Death and the Dervish by Meša Selimović."
Please let me know ..." I am going to try and make it to SLovenia as well- I will add this to my list - thanks so much!

[Diane]

Beth wrote: "Diane wrote: "Currently in South Sudan with Beneath the Darkening Sky by Majok Tulba."

Let me know how you like it. I am going to need a South Sudan soon."

It is very violent, which I suppose is understandable given the subject matter. It is, however, more graphically violent than I anticipated.

[Leslie]

Just started a book whose action occurs in Nigeria last night and am really enjoying it. Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe.

[Carol]

Leslie wrote: "Just started a book whose action occurs in Nigeria last night and am really enjoying it. Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe."

I want to read this this year!

[Rusalka]

I've been away for a few days, so catching up on all the posts.

Not book related, but Stephanie, you adopted a dog in Montenegro? So did you get it all the way back to the US?

I really enjoyed Geraldine Brooks' non-fiction book before all the novels Nine Parts of Desire: The Hidden World of Islamic Women. That one is one of my favourite books.

[Lilisa]

In France with Napoleon: A Life - will be there awhile as it's a bit of a chunkster. Also heading back to the U.S. with Lucky Boy.

[Shomeret]

I'm in Canada with Glass Houses by Louise Penny.
I just started it.

[Leslie]

I just read one from Ireland The Happy Prince by Oscar Wilde

[Beth]

Now also in Israel with The Secret Chord by Geraldine Brooks. Going to read this one before Corelli, since it was loaned to me by a friend and I don't want to hang onto it too long. Also I just love Brooks.

[Carol]

I am in various unspecified locations in south and Central America with The King is Always Above the People: Stories by Daniel Alarcón.

[Diane]

I am in Uzbekistan with The Railway by Hamid Ismailov.

[Lilisa]

I'm in Iran and the U.S. with Funny in Farsi: A Memoir of Growing Up Iranian in America - chuckling and enjoying it.

[Shomeret]

I am in dystopian China in "A Pocket Full of Dharma" by Paolo Bacigalupi which is a short story in Diverse Energies edited by Tobias Buckell and Joe Monte. This is an anthology of dystopian fiction with diverse protagonists.

Previous to this I was in dystopian Japan with "The Last Day"
by Ellen Oh in the same anthology.

I'm not a fan of dystopian fiction, but I'm interested in diverse protagonists.

[Leslie]

I just finished Christ Comes to the Indians by Brother Raymond Papenfuss, C.S.C. which is the story of the Apostle to South America, Saint Louis Bertrand. This biography is a young adult book that chronicles his life's journey from Valencia, Spain to South America including the Caribbean. I very much enjoyed it. There aren't many books on this man.

[Yrinsyde]

I'm reading Forever Foreign - a book about foreign settlers in Japan. It is based on the papers of my husband's grandfather held in the National Library of Australia. He and his wife spent most of their lives in Japan.

On a different topic, has anyone read the My Friends series by Jane Duncan? Set in Scotland and Jamaica. I love them!

[Rusalka]

Shomeret wrote: "I am in dystopian China in "A Pocket Full of Dharma" by Paolo Bacigalupi which is a short story in Diverse Energies edited by Tobias Buckell and Joe Monte. This is an anthology of d..."

Oh I liked that one. It's in Pump Six and Other Stories as well.

Will have to check out the collection.

[Rusalka]

Yrinsyde wrote: "I'm reading Forever Foreign - a book about foreign settlers in Japan. It is based on the papers of my husband's grandfather held in the National Library of Australia. He and his wife spent most of ..."

Oh awesome! I'll have to check it out. Is it sold through the NLA? I could duck over one day.

[Leslie]

Just wrapped up The Dead by James Joyce which traverses Ireland and England.

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

Yrinsyde wrote: "has anyone read the My Friends series by Jane Duncan? Set in Scotland and Jamaica. I love them! ..."

These escaped my notice when I was younger, but I'm curious to take a look now. Is the Miss Boyds the first in the series? Or can you jump in anywhere?

[Carol]

I am in 1934 England with Portrait of a Murderer, one of the British Library Crime Classics, by Anne Meredith. It is superb.

[Hesper]

In Estonia with Purge. It's been on my TBR far too long.

[Yrinsyde]

Rusalka wrote: "Yrinsyde wrote: "I'm reading Forever Foreign - a book about foreign settlers in Japan. It is based on the papers of my husband's grandfather held in the National Library of Australia. He and his wi..."

It's in the NLA catalogue, but not in the Bookshop catalogue that I could see. You could order it though... unless you have a NLA library card?

[Yrinsyde]

Andrea wrote: "Yrinsyde wrote: "has anyone read the My Friends series by Jane Duncan? ..." These escaped my notice when I was younger, but I'm curious to take a look now..."

I think you can start anywhere. They go back and forth in time and location. I think the Miss Boyds was the first published...

[Beth]

Currently back and forth between Scotland and Sudan (in memories) in The Translator by Leila Aboulela

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

I’m in France with The Reader on the 6.27.

[Diane]

In Canada with Emily of New Moon by L.M. Montgomery.

[Stephanie]

Rusalka wrote: "I've been away for a few days, so catching up on all the posts.

Not book related, but Stephanie, you adopted a dog in Montenegro? So did you get it all the way back to the US?

I really enjoyed G..."
Been away as well- just saw your message- Yes! I did - she traveled through 10 countries with me and made it back to USA- just needed microchip and rabies shot ( in that order) and EU pet passport which I got over there through Vet. She is a great pup- we will be traveling around the world together for a year starting MAy 10th- she is a great travel companion.

[Stephanie]

Beth wrote: "Now also in Israel with The Secret Chord by Geraldine Brooks. Going to read this one before Corelli, since it was loaned to me by a friend and I don't want to hang o..."
Let me know how you liked that one- I love her as well.

[Carol]

I'm in Sweden with The Chosen by Kristina Ohlsson.

[Rusalka]

Stephanie wrote: "Yes! I did - she traveled through 10 countries with me and made it back to USA- just needed microchip and rabies shot ( in that order) and EU pet passport which I got over there through Vet. She is a great pup- we will be traveling around the world together for a year starting MAy 10th- she is a great travel companion.."

NAwww... that's love :D For an Australian this is a pretty unbelievable concept, but I'm glad you guys found each other and are still travelling!

We like vicariously living through people's real life travels too. What's the plan?

[Rusalka]

Carol wrote: "I'm in Sweden with The Chosen by Kristina Ohlsson."

Ooo this series looks good.

[Val]

I have started reading The Ventriloquist's Tale for another group and realised that it might be relevant for this one as well. The author, Pauline Melville, was born in Guyana and (most of?) the book is set there.

[Carol]

Rusalka wrote: "Carol wrote: "I'm in Sweden with The Chosen by Kristina Ohlsson."

Ooo this series looks good."

I'm 1/4 of the way in and believe it's a winner, Rusalka. Plus, it's led to interesting research/reading (albeit Wiki) on the history of Jews in Sweden (gotta love the 1800s, in particular, when they were permitted to live in only 3 named cities and lived under the weight of other commercial and occupational limitations specific to their community, as well).