15. A book by an author from a Mediterranean country or set in a Mediterranean country

[Katie]

I'd really like to read a book set in or preferably by an author from an African Mediterranean country. Does anyone have any recommendations?

[Bonnie G.]

Katie wrote: "I'd really like to read a book set in or preferably by an author from an African Mediterranean country. Does anyone have any recommendations?"

If you like historical fiction you might want to try The Moor's Account.

[Ira]

I was thinking of reading something of Nikos Kazantzakis. The two books that interest me are The Fratricides and Zorba the Greek. I am half greek and I feel bad for not having read more of his books as they are considered classics in Greece. The one thing that worries me is that they may be a bit heavy, especially the first one since it is about the Greek civil war.

[Pam]

Katie - You night try Sand by German author Wolfgang Herrndorf. It’s set in North Africa (I think in Tunisia). The country is never mentioned but the village is. It’s a literary thriller but also a mystery. I found it in the German Literature (nonfiction) section at the library. I would be reluctant to recommend it to most people but I think you might appreciate it. It’s certainly different than any other thriller I’ve read. I’ve read that Germans loved the book more than Americans did.

[Trish, Annular Mod]

I may well read a Montalbano book, by Andrea Camilleri - I do love that series.

I've already read My Brilliant Friend this year. I'll admit, I didn't really enjoy it - I suspect its not my kind of book. But it is lurking as a backup.

[Jean]

What are you reading for this category? Death in a Strange Country by Donna Leon
- Does the setting or author fulfill the prompt? The setting.
Which country are you using? The book is set in Venice, Italy.

[Beth]

Like a few others I'm continuing on with Elena Ferrante's Neopolitan Novels. I loved the first book last year and have been itching to get to book 2 - The Story of a New Name - so will be picking it up for this category.

[Pam]

- What are you reading for this category?
I read an ARC of Spies of No Country: Secret Lives at the Birth of Israel

- Does the setting or author fulfill the prompt?
Setting. Also, the author now lives in Israel.

- Which country are you using?
Palestine/now Israel, Syria, and Lebanon

[Jean]

What are you reading for this category? Death in a Strange Country by Donna Leon
Does the setting or author fulfill the prompt? The setting, Venice. The author was born in New Jersey but has lived in Venice, Italy for 25 years.
Which country are you using? Italy

[Sophie]

I’m going to go with The Labyrinth of the Spirits, the fourth (and apparently finals) book in the Cemetery of Forgotten Books series by Carlos Ruiz Zafón, which are all set in Barcelona.

[Sophie]

Katie wrote: "I'd really like to read a book set in or preferably by an author from an African Mediterranean country. Does anyone have any recommendations?"

It’s not from Northern Africa, but I just thought of The Attack, which is set in Israel and Palestine. I read it when I was 18 and it had a bit impact on me back then. Maybe I should actually reread it. 🤔

[Beth]

Katie wrote: "I'd really like to read a book set in or preferably by an author from an African Mediterranean country. Does anyone have any recommendations?"

Not sure if it meets your criteria, but I am currently reading (and enjoying) The Map of Salt and Stars. It is set in part in northern Africa, with the sections of the book titled Syria, Jordan/Egypt, Libya, Algeria/Morocco, and Ceuta. And it is written by a Syrian-American author.

[Nathalie]

I've chosen Paris-Austerlitz by Rafael Chirbes for this challenge.

The author is from Spain, and the setting in the book is located in Paris, but that's not a particular Mediterranean part of France, so I'm going for my choice based on the author, so country is Spain.

[Emily]

I just finished reading The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue and I was thinking of counting it for this--it is partially set in Spain and Italy. The author is definitely not Mediterranean though.

EDIT: Right after I hit Post, I realized this book would count for the journey prompt. I'm going to use it for that and read something that better fits for this prompt.

[Samantha]

- What are you reading for this category? Circe
- Does the setting or author fulfill the prompt? Mediterranean setting
- Which country are you using? LOL, I am reading it for the book of the month and hadn't really thought about this. I think she spends time on on an island near Italy but she is part of Greek mythology so maybe Greece.

[Edie]

Katie wrote: "I'd really like to read a book set in or preferably by an author from an African Mediterranean country. Does anyone have any recommendations?"

I can recommend Tangerine is set in Tangiers, Morocco.

[Marie]

Just finished My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell. It's set on the Greek island of Corfu, a not-quite-100%-true memoir of some of the author's time there as a child.

[SadieReadsAgain]

What are you reading for this category? Answer Me
Does the setting or author fulfill the prompt? Susanna Tamaro is Mediterranean, and the stories are set in her home country
Which country are you using? Italy

Review
This collection of stories is pretty harrowing, I don't think there is a ray of sunshine in any of them. But that isn't necessarily a bad thing. Each story hooked me in with its rich telling and I felt for each of the protagonists (or, for those around them). These stories explore the line between love and hate, betrayals by those meant to love us, of the darkness of men and the complexities of motherhood. They touched me deeply, and the sadness of them has stuck with me. Sometimes, that's just as important as stories that lift you.

[Sue]

I have just read Somewhere Home by Nada Awar Jarrar, who is from Lebanon. It is about 3 women who have long since left Lebanon, but dream of home - I really enjoyed it.

[viemag]

Try Donna Leon's Commissario Brunetti Series..I just finished her latest, Unto Us A Son Is Given, It is set in Venice, Italy and very enjoyable.

[Shelley]

I went with Last Train to Istanbul which switched between Turkey and France. It was about Jewish Turks who immigrated to France and their need to get home in the 1940s. I thought it was beautiful and so emotional. I read it during the Dewey's 24 hour Read-a-thon, which was good in one way because I couldn't put it down, but bad in that I was so upset before and after. Had to do a silly book cleanse before moving on. Totally recommend!

[Kim]

What are you reading for this category? The Light in the Ruins by Chris Bohjalian
- Does the setting or author fulfill the prompt? The setting
- Which country are you using? Italy in and after WW2

[Sara]

- What are you reading for this category?
The Birth of Venus
- Does the setting or author fulfill the prompt?
The setting.
- Which country are you using?
Florence, Italy during the Renaissance.

[Jill]

What are you reading for this category?
I read The Enchanted April by Elizabeth von Arnim

Does the setting or author fulfill the prompt?
The setting

Which country are you using?
Italy.

[dalex]

For this topic I read Girl at War by Sara Nović, which is set in Croatia. This coming-of-age story relates the experience of young Ana during the Yugoslav Wars in the 1990s and her attempts as an adult to find peace with her childhood memories. It is truly an exceptional book, relating a horrifying harrowing tale in a simple manner that is no less emotionally moving for its sparsity. A truly memorable and conscious-raising book.

[Aimee Dars]

I decided to read Athenian Blues for this week. Both the author and the setting fulfill the prompt (Greece).

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

I noticed that The Great Alone is shelved on the ATY bookshelf for this prompt, but I'm not sure how it fits? Since it's set primarily in Alaska?

I'm getting a bit desperate when it comes to this prompt (the couple that I wanted are either not tempting me anymore or aren't available at the library), so I was just curious.

[dalex]

Emily wrote: "I'm getting a bit desperate when it comes to this prompt."

I would highly recommend Hunting and Gathering by Anna Gavalda, which is set in France. I love this book so much!

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

dalex wrote: "Emily wrote: "I'm getting a bit desperate when it comes to this prompt."

I would highly recommend Hunting and Gathering by Anna Gavalda, which is set in France. I love..."

This looks really great! Thanks for the rec!

I posted in Spiveys book club on Facebook, and there were some great recommendations, so I figured I'd pass them on:

- A Voice in the Wind (and the whole trilogy) (Israel and Italy)
- The Shoemaker's Wife (Italy)
- The Vacationers
- Exit West (maybe?)
- A Season for the Dead (Italy)
- From Sand and Ash (Italy)
- Girl at War (Croatia)
- This Must Be the Place
- Beneath a Scarlet Sky (Italy)
- The Lost Vintage
- The Tuscan Child (Italy)
- Salt Houses
- A Pigeon and a Boy (Israel)

I'm leaning towards Salt Houses, Beneath a Scarlet Sky, or The Shoemaker's Wife!

[Laura, Celestial Sphere Mod]

I'm not sure why The Great Alone was placed here. It definitely doesn't fit, although it's truly fantastic so I would fit it in somewhere else if you're interested in reading it :)

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

Laura wrote: "I'm not sure why The Great Alone was placed here. It definitely doesn't fit, although it's truly fantastic so I would fit it in somewhere else if you're interested in reading it :)"

I have it down to read for sense of place, but I was willing to move it since I felt a bit frantic about finding something to fill this prompt. But thank you for confirming that it does not fit!

[Christy]

I just started An Unnecessary Woman for this one, set in Beirut, Lebanon. So far it is just delightful! There is a lot of literary name-dropping, but I enjoy that so I consider it a feature rather than a bug. :-)

[Celia]

- What are you reading for this category?
The Leopard Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa
- Does the setting or author fulfill the prompt?
Both
- Which country are you using?
Italy

[Brittany]

- What are you reading for this category?
Involuntary Witness
- Does the setting or author fulfill the prompt?
both
- Which country are you using?
Italy

[Pamela, Arciform Mod]

I'm reading Circe for this week- I kinda assume everyone would be reading it!

[Adriana]

I'm going to read Circe by Madeline Miller for this category

[Milena]

Pamela wrote: "I'm reading Circe for this week- I kinda assume everyone would be reading it!"

I definitely would if I hadn't read it last year.

[Allegra]

I just finished Waiting for Bojangles (French author, France and Spain settings). I loved it. A beautiful book about a different kind of life.

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

I ended up reading Salt Houses by Hala Alyan, which started in Palestine but also travelled to France and a few Middle Eastern countries.

It may be stretching the prompt, just a little, because Palestine doesn't technically border the Mediterranean, but I think it featured the sea enough to count.

It was VERY good! And it would work for the multigenerational prompt as well.

[Rose]

My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante
Takes place in Italy and was a nice start to a good trilogy.

By the way, I agree that Salt Houses is very good!

[Karissa]

What are you reading for this category? My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante
Does the setting or author fulfill the prompt? Both
Which country are you using? Italy

[Adriana]

Just finished reading Circe for this category! I know lots of people love it and it's become very popular but it wasn't my kind of book. It did get a bit better near the end but still only 2 stars for me.

[Irene]

Adriana I wasn't a huge fan of Circe either, for me it was ok but not as great as some people think it is. If you want to try a different retelling of Greek mythology from the point of view of a woman I think The Silence of the Girls is better than Circe.

[Sarah]

I read The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang.

I didn't pick it for this category, but it was set in France so it fits!

It is a beautifully drawn graphic novel about acceptance and being yourself!

[MN]

I read Lawrence Durrell, Justine for this prompt, set in Alexandria, and Egyptian city on the Mediterranean coast. It's the first of four novels comprising the Alexandria Quartet, and I'm keen to read the other three. The prose is magnificent.

[Andrea]

For this task, I read Lent by Jo Walton. It centers around Florence, Italy.

[Jackie]

What are you reading for this category?
An Unnecessary Woman by Rabih Alameddine

Does the setting or author fulfill the prompt?
Setting

Which country are you using?
Lebanon

Just started reading it so I'll respond when I'm done.

[GailW]

What are you reading for this category?
What to Do about the Solomons by Bethany Ball
Does the setting or author fulfill the prompt?
setting
Which country are you using?
Isreal

[Marilyn]

- What are you reading for this category?
*Just finished reading FALLING IN HONEY: HOW A TINY GREEK ISLAND STOLE MY HEART by Jennifer Barclay.

- Does the setting or author fulfill the prompt?
*Yes. One of its setting (the focus of the memoir) is the Greek island of Tilos. Also there are scenes in Rhodes.

- Which country are you using?
*Greece.

Loved the book! Gave it 4-stars and wrote a review here on GR. Travelogue in some ways, yet one woman's story of falling in love with an island for its beauty, welcoming inhabitants, and peaceful environment - which she needed!

[Ashley]

- What are you reading for this category? Night Train to Lisbon
- Does the setting or author fulfill the prompt? Setting
- Which country are you using? Portugal