Around The World in 80 Books 2020-2023

[Angela]

I have recently read Housseini's third novel And the Mountains Echoed which also takes place mainly in Afghanistan. It reads rather like a collection of short stories with interconnected characters, rather than focusing on one main character. I found it quite hard to get into, as it felt a bit disjointed what with the large cast and the time-shifts, but it all made sense and came together eventually. I think it's one to read in large chunks!

[Ian]

Karen wrote: "Ellen wrote: "Ian wrote: "I'm exhausted by your travels Ellen - will you be leaving Asia soon?"

Sorry Ian, not quite- I still plan to read a book from Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and I ..."

I loved both those books Karen. Great choices.

[Ellen]

Karen wrote: "Ellen a good one set n Afghanistan is Kite Runner by Khaled Housseini. Have you read it yet? Or A Thousand Splended Suns was even better. Our reading group is on Kite Runner at the moment and readers are loving it. Most are going on to read A Thousand Splendid Suns too! ..."

Yes, I read the Kite Runner last year. Thanks for the recommendations! Anyone got a recommendation from Pakistan for me (I realise that was left off my list!)?

I've read another couple to add to the map again, for Africa: The Alchemist by Paul Coelho which I'm going to put down as Egypt on my map. I enjoyed this one and am interested to read some more by this author now. I did write a little review but won't bore you with that here! I also read The Limpopo Academy of Private Detection by Alexander McCall Smith. I've read so many of these books in the past and frankly they get a bit boring after a while. This time I got a bit fed up with the characters endless philosophizing and was wishing for a but more action! But anyway, gets me a pin on the map for Botswana!

[Ian]

Ellen wrote: "Karen wrote: "Ellen a good one set n Afghanistan is Kite Runner by Khaled Housseini. Have you read it yet? Or A Thousand Splended Suns was even better. Our reading group is on Kite Runner at the mo..."

I chose The Alchemist as a giver on World Book Night a couple of years ago. I enjoyed it - an interesting allegorical tale. Well-written I thought.

[Ian]

Ellen wrote: "Karen wrote: "Ellen a good one set n Afghanistan is Kite Runner by Khaled Housseini. Have you read it yet? Or A Thousand Splended Suns was even better. Our reading group is on Kite Runner at the mo..."

For Pakistan - what about The Reluctant Fundamentalist. I loved it. Unusually written. The narrator is a young man who talks to an american in a Lahore coffee shop - all the conversation is from the perspective of the young man. A great read

[Ellen]

Thanks,Ian, that sounds like a good read.

[Angela]

Ian wrote: "Ellen wrote: "Karen wrote: "Ellen a good one set n Afghanistan is Kite Runner by Khaled Housseini. Have you read it yet? Or A Thousand Splended Suns was even better. Our reading group is on Kite Ru..."

You could also try Kamila Shamsie's novels which are based in Pakistan e.g. In the City by the Sea or Kartography.

[Ellen]

Angela wrote: "You could also try Kamila Shamsie's novels which are based in Pakistan e.g. In the City by the Sea or Kartography"
Thanks for the recommendations- I will see what the library has!
I've just finished reading Damon Galgut's In a Strange Room which I am going to pin to Lesotho, Africa (the setting for the main part of the first journey in the book). It's written in a very interesting way - the author is writing about himself, sometimes in the first person and sometimes looking back as narrator, but both often inter-changeable in the same paragraph. I found it a little disorientating at first until I got used to it. I'm a little unsure what I actually feel about the book in the end- I think I need a few days to mull it over (I know it was a good book because I feel affected by it!)

[Ian]

Ellen wrote: "Angela wrote: "You could also try Kamila Shamsie's novels which are based in Pakistan e.g. In the City by the Sea or Kartography"
Thanks for the recommendations- I will see what the library has!
I..."

I read that a couple of years ago Ellen and really enjoyed it. I agere it is a bit troubling and it stayed with me for a while afterwards as a consequence. Sign of a good book I think - makes you ponder. Added to the map - I'm chanibg tghe colour of the tag so we can see quarter by quarter where people have been

[Ian]

Just finished The Master and Margaritaby Mikhail Bulgakov. Been meaning to read this for years and finally got to it - not a disappointment. I loved this book. Written in Stalin's Russia, teh novel was only published in the 1960s - you can see why - biting satire underneath a surreal story. The Devil, together with several sidekicks visits Moscow and mayhem ensues. The Master is a novelist struggling with mental illness. Margarita is his lover (though she doesn't feature much until the second half). A remarkable work, apparently many of the characters would have been recognisable at the time - whci hpresumably is why teh author didn't publish. Stalin wasn't famed for his tolerance after all.

Themes of darkness and light, faith and belief, intrsansigetn bureaucracy and corruption, a lot of imagery, magical realism, tempestous weather and a plot that almost borders on slapstick at times. A fantastic read - I'd recommend it if you like satire, ideas and surrealism.

[Alison]

I have finally finished reading 'The Girl Who Saved the King of Sweden' by Jonas Jonasson. I think would class as a marmite book - and I loved it. It's very quirky, funny (had me laughing out loud in places) and different. Whilst the scenarios are so improbable, it still made for a good read. Obviously this is Sweden on the map Ian!

[Alison]

I have just finished reading 'Daughters of Iraq' by Revitel Shari-Hirowitz. What a lovely, touching book which tells the story of two sisters who fled from Iraq to Israel back in the 1940's. The story is told through the story's of Farida (one of the sisters) and Noa (niece of Farida) in present day Israel, and through the diary of Violet (sister of Farida and mother of Noa) who has died of cancer. I really enjoyed this book which was beautifully written and feel I ought to research more about that troubled time in Iraq's history.

[Ian]

Alison wrote: "I have just finished reading 'Daughters of Iraq' by Revitel Shari-Hirowitz. What a lovely, touching book which tells the story of two sisters who fled from Iraq to Israel back in the 1940's. The ..."

Sounds really moving. I shall add Daughters of Iraq to my list

[Ian]

Alison wrote: "I have just finished reading 'Daughters of Iraq' by Revitel Shari-Hirowitz. What a lovely, touching book which tells the story of two sisters who fled from Iraq to Israel back in the 1940's. The ..."

Sounds both interestign and moving. Added to my list and to the map (markers are green for the second quarter)

[Ellen]

Daughters of Iraq sounds good- have added it to my to-read list too.

I have just finished reading The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, set in WW2 Germany. An excellent read, quite different from other WW2 books I've read.
I've also just finished Restaurant of Love Regained by Ito Ogawa, set in Japan (I know I already have a Japan pin in the map having read a Murakami but I almost want to discard that one in favour of this one!) A real foodie's dream of a book. I confess to drooling a little at some of her descriptions! And a lovely story even without the food.
I am now back to Asia reading Amitav Ghosh's The Hungry Tide, set in the Sundabans, Bengal. At the moment I am about a third the way through and entranced- I can barely tear myself away from it so I hope it lives up to it as I read on!

[Kathy]

Ellen, I read The Hungry Tide a few years ago and it sticks in my mind as such a wonderful, haunting novel. I hope you continue to enjoy it.

[Sue]

I have finally finished Americanah. Found the subject matter thought provoking. Although the book is set in America and Nigeria am claiming Nigeria as the country is never far from the story.

[Carol]

Ellen wrote: "Daughters of Iraq sounds good- have added it to my to-read list too.

I have just finished reading The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, set in WW2 Germany. An excellent rea..."

The Book Thief was a film on the TV a few weeks' ago. Very unusual.

[Ian]

Carol wrote: "Ellen wrote: "Daughters of Iraq sounds good- have added it to my to-read list too.

I have just finished reading The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, set in WW2 Germany. An..."

The Book Thief made me cry when I read it some years ago. A moving book

[Angela]

Ellen wrote: "Daughters of Iraq sounds good- have added it to my to-read list too.

I have just finished reading The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, set in WW2 Germany. An excellent rea..."
I loved The Book Thief, hadn't even realised it was intended as a Young Adult novel until recently. Haven't seen the film yet, but I know the reviews were not very good.

[Ellen]

Just finished reading The Hungry Tide, set in the Sundarbans, Bengal. It's mostly set in Indian Bengal so I suppose it'll have to be on the Indian side rather than the Bangladeshi side! I very much enjoyed it- definitely a five star book for me. It's amazing the amount of research authors must put in to write a book like that- they certainly earn their reward!

[Ian]

Ellen wrote: "Just finished reading The Hungry Tide, set in the Sundarbans, Bengal. It's mostly set in Indian Bengal so I suppose it'll have to be on the Indian side rather than the Bangladeshi sid..."

Looks great - on my list to read and added to the map

[Carol]

Ian wrote: "Ellen wrote: "I have read another couple towards this challenge: The Bone Peopleby Keri Hulme is set in New Zealand, Whangaroa in the North Island and various other places. It's an ab..."

Re: L'Etranger. I also enjoyed it on a rereading.
Meursault is often acutely sensitive to what is happening in his environment, but he does not understand the people who inhabit it. He feels the heat at the funeral of his mother, but no distress that she has died.
Camus chose well the word l'Etranger' to describe him.
He exists in the society which surrounds him, but he does not really play a role in it. It is as if he is regarding life through a window. He is not really there. He does not conform to its laws, or its principles. His spirit is free. He floats like a butterfly through life. And he will be punished for it.

[Carol]

Have just finished Around India in 80 Trains by Monisha Rajesh. I liked it, but felt she was unduly critical of many of the people she met. Would have preferred more description of the scenery, and less tart observations of her fellow passengers.

[Ian]

Carol wrote: "Ian wrote: "Ellen wrote: "I have read another couple towards this challenge: The Bone Peopleby Keri Hulme is set in New Zealand, Whangaroa in the North Island and various other places..."

It is a wonderful book. I studied it for French A Level and then reread it a couple of years ago and it had lost none of its intensity.. I'll add to the map, together with the Monisha Rajesh book.

[Carol]

Have just started the Ken Grimwood novel, Replay, set in the US. It's not quite my taste, but will finish it.

[Ellen]

Just finished Michael Gruber's The Good Son, set in Pakhistan (Lahore). It is kind of an espionage/terrorism tale. Some very interesting characters and some very interesting ideas on Islamic jihad and terrorism. Unusual to have a book of this genre throw up ideas that make you think! The premise is that an American-Pakistani psychologist sets up an international conference to discuss peace solutions to the pakhistan/afghan terror problem. However the few delegates get kidnapped in northern Pakhistan on the way to the venue. The woman's son just happens to be military special agent and so works to rescue the hostages... it sounds a bit lame but actually the story is very impressive with lots of twists and turns and interesting background I wouldn't have been able to predict. I will use this one as my Pakistan book but I am planning to read The Reluctant Fundamentalist too.

[Ian]

Ellen wrote: "Just finished Michael Gruber's The Good Son, set in Pakhistan (Lahore). It is kind of an espionage/terrorism tale. Some very interesting characters and some very interesting ideas on..."

I loved The Reluctant Fudnamentalist - a really unusual style. Hope you enjoy it. I think you will.

[Ellen]

Yes, just finished The Reluctant Fundamentalist. I did enjoy it. It was an unusual style- written like a one-way conversation - and I loved the ending (what happened next?!!). Thanks for the recommendation, Ian!

[Ian]

Ellen wrote: "Yes, just finished The Reluctant Fundamentalist. I did enjoy it. It was an unusual style- written like a one-way conversation - and I loved the ending (what happened next?!!). Thanks..."

My pleasure - as you say, very unusual style. Glad you liked it

[Sue]

My Bank Holiday treat! Scandicrime for Norway. Jo Nesbo's Blood on Snow. Good but short and not Harry Hole. So many kinds of snow and more about sturgeon than you ever need (or want) to know!

[Ian]

Sue wrote: "My Bank Holiday treat! Scandicrime for Norway. Jo Nesbo's Blood on Snow. Good but short and not Harry Hole. So many kinds of snow and more about sturgeon than you ever need (or w..."

Ive only read one Jo Nesbo book - his first Harry Hole - and it was awful so hope this one is better! I'll add it to the map.

[Sue]

Oh no! I love Harry! :)

[Ian]

Sue wrote: "Oh no! I love Harry! :)"

The one we read in our reading group was The Bat. I gather it was the first and possibly least accomplished of his Harry Hole books. Am afraid I didn't like it at all. Put me off reading any more of his - rescue him and I might give it another go - what do you like about the series?

[Sue]

The first one I read was The Snowman which Ithik is no 5 in the series! They weren't translated chronologically. I admit some of the early ones are extremely violent and I do skim that preferring to concentrate on human relationships. The more recent books have less extreme violence and I think are much better for it. To understand Harry you need to have read them all! Blood on Snow is different. It was strange not being attatched to the main character at the beginning. Here you have a flawed criminal instead of a flawed detective. I find the scandicrime genre shows a side of Scandanavia we don't often hear about, particularly when the books are written by economists etc. Mind you Jo Nesbo was a footballer and rock star before a writer. Perhaps you'll put this new one -far down - on your list?

[Megan]

I listened to Jo Nesbo on the World Book Service podcast (thanks Ian for getting me onto that!). I found him very interesting. He was talking about his book The Redbreast and how his Dad had influenced this book (he was a Norwegian Nazi). I loved the Snowman, not so keen on The Bat so am going to give The Redbreast a go. What is your favourite Sue?

[Sue]

I really enjoyed Phantom and the follow on Police. They aren't (as) violent as the earlier ones. Enjoy. Will search outvthe podcast!

[Helen]

I have read many of the Jo Nesbo books, I think The Snowman was probably the book that I liked the most so far. It sounds like a 'Jane Austin' debate Ian ! :-)

[Ellen]

Another couple to add to Asia: A friend in a thousand by Pratibha S. Manaen, set in Nepal. This is a book I had to add to Goodreads myself. I lived in India and Nepal until I was 9 yrs old and my parents still work in Nepal doing English teaching and teacher training. So this is a book my Mum brought back- it's self-published, written in English, in aid of a small foundation that promotes female literacy in Nepal. It is probably aimed at young adults/older children, I would say. It is the story of a young village girl who wants to go to school and covers the period of the revolution in Nepal (from a villager's perspective). It was very interesting and has some lovely line drawings of typical Nepali village scenes which complement the text. It is actually quite well written considering English is the author's second language. If any one's interested in it I can get you a copy via my Mum (my local distributor! lol!) but I don't think you can find it on Amazon, even with the ISBN no.!
The second one I've just finished is Chinaman: The legend of Pradeep Mathew, by Shehan Karunatilaka, set in Colombo, Sri Lanka. This is a story all about Cricket! If you don't know much about cricket or like cricket a little then I would advise you to steer clear! The story is interesting but I got bogged down a bit I all the bowling statistics, batting averages and endless test results etc. There are a number of line diagrams trying to explain the different spins put on the ball by bowlers but even so I got a bit lost. The underlying story is written like an autobiography and follows a cricket fanatics obsessive investigation into the disappearance of an obscure but brilliant Sri Lankan spin bowler. I think I'm going to take a break from this challenge for a bit now!

[Carol]

Are we just having one book per country? If not, then I've started reading Sally Cabot Gunning's The Widow's War, set in New England, USA, in the 18th century.

[Ellen]

I think you should be allowed different states in USA- it's practically a continent in terms of size and diversity anyway!

[Carol]

Ellen wrote: "I think you should be allowed different states in USA- it's practically a continent in terms of size and diversity anyway!"
Yes, really agree.

[Ian]

I've added two books to this challenge - Moon in a Dead Eye, set in South of France and HHhH, set in Prague. The first is an odd novella about a gated retirement community. Acutely obseerved characters but didn't set me on fire. HHhH I've commented on before elsewhere - the remarkable story of the assassination attempt on Heydrich, Himmer's right hand man in the SS and "Protector" of Czedchoslovakia, Bohomia and Moravia. KNown as the Blond Beast - he was responsible for the final solution. A gripping and very unusually structured book - a five star from me

[Ian]

Sue wrote: "I really enjoyed Phantom and the follow on Police. They aren't (as) violent as the earlier ones. Enjoy. Will search outvthe podcast!"

The World Book Club podcast is, in my view the best book related progamem around.

[Ian]

Ellen wrote: "Another couple to add to Asia: A friend in a thousand by Pratibha S. Manaen, set in Nepal. This is a book I had to add to Goodreads myself. I lived in India and Nepal until I was 9 ..."

Dont blame you - you must be exhasted - you've covered a lot of ground!

[Ian]

Carol wrote: "Ellen wrote: "I think you should be allowed different states in USA- it's practically a continent in terms of size and diversity anyway!"
Yes, really agree."

One book per country in the main but I agree, for the USA, we should allow one per state.

[Alison]

I recently finished 'Rose of Sarajevo' by Ayse Kulin. This book is set during the Bosnian war and about the first third of the book includes a lot of setting out the historical background of the war - much of which I was horrified to realise I didn't fully understand at the time! I enjoyed this book, whose main character is a journalist, and it covers the horrors of the atrocities undertaken at the hands of Milosovic well from a family, work and country perspective.

[Kathy]

Alison wrote: "I recently finished 'Rose of Sarajevo' by Ayse Kulin. This book is set during the Bosnian war and about the first third of the book includes a lot of setting out the historical background of the w..."
Sounds interesting, Alison, but I guess pretty harrowing?

[Alison]

Yes, in places Kathy. The author didn't cover up the horrors of the war and its impacts on the Bosnians and the Serbs who had been living in harmony for decades - and the changes to the face of Europe left as a result.

[Kathy]

It does sound like a fascinating read (when I'm feeling brave!)