Devon Book Club discussion
Book Club Challenge
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Around The World in 80 Books 2020-2023
Ian wrote: "Angela wrote: "Just completed Canada by the Pulitzer prize-winning author Richard Ford. An amazing beast of a book which chronicles the build up to, and fallout from, an event which..."Piapot sounds ideal as, according to Wikipedia, this settlement has become run-down since the 1950s and is virtually a ghost town apart from a hotel - which sounds very like the place in the novel.
Ellen wrote: "Cephalonia (Kefalonia?), Greece: 
Captain Corelli's Mandolin by Louis de Bernières. I actually listened to this one as an Audible audio-bo..."Had to read and illustrate this for my degree course, absolutely loved it, illustrations weren't up to much though!
Ellen wrote: "Cephalonia (Kefalonia?), Greece: Captain Corelli's Mandolin by Louis de Bernières. I actually listened to this one as an Audible audio-bo..."I read this book years ago and really enjoyed it, and have read a few of de Berniere's other titles -would also recommend Birds Without Wings. I am also looking forward to reading his latest offering The Dust That Falls from Dreams.
Angela wrote: "Ellen wrote: "Cephalonia (Kefalonia?), Greece: Captain Corelli's Mandolin by Louis de Bernières. I actually listened to this one as an Au..."I have been wanting to read at least one of his novels for a while. Is there one you recommend for me to start with? (Or is that an unfair question?!)
I read this some years ago, and once I had got through the Italian campaign, absolutely loved it. Sadly, the Italian campaign was quite long!
Kathy wrote: "Angela wrote: "Ellen wrote: "Cephalonia (Kefalonia?), Greece: Captain Corelli's Mandolin by Louis de Bernières. I actually listened to th..."Hi Kathy -
Captain Corelli’s Mandolin
was the first de Berniere novel that I read, and it encouraged me to look out for others by him, so this one would be a good start. I didn't get on with his South American one's - the weird magical realism was a step too far for me!
Angela wrote: "Kathy wrote: "Angela wrote: "Ellen wrote: "Cephalonia (Kefalonia?), Greece: Captain Corelli's Mandolin by Louis de Bernières. I actually ..."Thanks Angela. Then I shall add this one to my scary TBR lists.
Florence, Italy: a classic by E.M. Forster
A Room with a View. I found it a bit dull and insipid at first but the plot got more interesting and gripping as it went on. A farce about over-stuffed Victorian manners and romance! Fairly enjoyable in the end :-)
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A Room with a View. I found it a bit dull and insipid at first but the plot got more int..."Yes, it is one of those quiet reads that slowly builds but is worth it in the end. It is some years since I read it but I remember enjoying it - more than I did the film, but that is often the way.
North Dakota, U.S.A.:
The Round House by Louise Erdrich. The story is about a native American woman who is brutally attacked and raped and the after-effects on her and her family. The story is narrated by her 13 year old son as he tries to come to terms with the situation and help his mother. There is a lot of interesting stuff about (in)justice and jurisdiction on the reservations... a very good read.
Ellen wrote: "North Dakota, U.S.A.: The Round House by Louise Erdrich. The story is about a native American woman who is brutally attacked and raped and the aft..."I was going to read this for another challenge but went for The Beet Queen, which is one of her earlier ones, instead. I really enjoyed that one too. Now to put your one back on my tbr list! :)
Sue wrote: "Ellen wrote: "North Dakota, U.S.A.: The Round House by Louise Erdrich. The story is about a native American woman who is brutally attacked and rap..."Yes, I enjoyed her writing so I'm definitely going to try and read another of her books at some time - so thank you for the recommendation!
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The Round House by Louise Erdrich. The story is about a native American woman who is brutally attacked and rap..."Hi Sue - you can use one book for more than one challenge - I'm generous like that! I'll add this to the map
Just finished reading
by Colm Tóibín for a book group. It is partly set in Enniscorthy, Co. Wrexford, Ireland and partly in Brooklyn, New York (hence the title!). I'm claiming it for Ireland.
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by Colm Tóibín for a book group. It is partly set in Enniscorthy, Co. Wrexford, Ireland and partly in Brooklyn, New York (hence t..."Consider it done!
My former book club leader is of irish decent and brought Colm Tóibín to the attention of the group. Have loved his more recent novels and am working through the older ones. Saw Fiona Shaw in The Testament of Mary a couple of years ago and the version I saw at the Barbican had little resemblance in staging (and acting) to the one she saw in Dublin!
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We saw him at Hay this year - he was hugely entertaing, very astute and an extremely likeable man. I was inspired to read his work (haven't yet
but intend to) and will start with The Testament of Marymyself.
Well ToM is short but by no means my favourite and doesn't really encompas the themes he usually tackles - home, sexuality, identity to name but three. But very well written. Be interestedgo see how you get on.
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I'll let you know when I get to it
Brooklyn I thought this was a great book. I have also read a collection of his short stories The Empty Family: Stories, and found him to be very entertaining in an interview about Nora Webster - another title to add to the TBR list!
Another island read to add to the map: set in Black Rock, Tobago (Trinidad and Tobago): Black Rock
by Amanda Smyth. I'm on to the Orkney Islands next!
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by Amanda Smyth. I'm on to the Orkne..."Wow - I thnk that means you are about half way towards completing this challenge. Do you read through the night?
Ian wrote: "Wow - I thnk that means you are about half way towards completing this challenge. Do you read through the night?..."No not normally, but I sometimes find it difficult to get back to sleep if I wake in the early hours and then a good book and a cup of tea works wonders! I think I have clocked up 54 books with the 2 I am about to add so well on the way to completing this challenge by the end of the year :-)
So The Italian Chapel, Lamb Holm, Orkney Islands:
"The Italian Chapel" by Philip Paris. This was an interesting true story of the Italian POWs that build an amazing chapel in their camp on Lamb Holm during WW2. Unfortunately I found the writing clunky and passionless so didn't enjoy the book very much- I felt the story could have been much better written which was a shame.Also Colombia, S America:
"One Hundred Years of Solitude" by Gabriel García Márquez. This was the second time I have read this one and I have to say I still hated it the second time around! I suspect this is one of those "marmite" books: you either love it or you hate it (I'm in the latter camp). It certainly made a bit more sense to me after I looked into some of the underlying history and the book as an allegory (the Wikipeadia article on it is very helpful) but still gets a very low rating from me!
I have visited the Italiam chapel and it is lively especially the materials the people had. Shame about the book, which I think I had on my wish list! Well done on your travels. I have tried the GGM one a couple of times and just cannot get into it!
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Oh no. Now I am going ot have to ban you from the Book Club. One Hundred Years of Solitudeis one of my all time favourite books. I love the allegory and the cyclical nature of events, the opening is brilliant, the imagination and imagery is so wonderful, the characters live for ages after finishing - oooh teh superlatives I could throw at this book. I think, as you say, Marmite - most of our reading group didn't like it. I just think that Marquez was a towering figure and I love his work.
Another few to add to this challenge:
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer set in Guernsey (obviously!) during WW2. I was trying really hard to be more discerning about handing out 5* ratings Ian, honestly I was, but I couldn't help myself with this one- a really good 5* read! Then on to Torshavn, the Faroe Islands with a book that wasn't on Goodreads until I added it (found a 2ndhand copy on amazon after a google search for Faroe authors and books!):
Why Don't You Have Wings to Fly With? by Marianna Debes Dahl. This turned out to be a rather dull children's book but short and sweet and set in an interesting place... my copy is back for sale on amazon if anyone's interested I'll let you have it for just the postage (I only gave it 1* so don't bother unless you want an easy read for this challenge!). Then down to Africa with a detective/crime novel set in Ghana, the first Detective Darko Dawson novel:
by Kwei Quartey. A slow start but picked up nicely towards the end. And finally one for Canada, Saskachewan:
Etta and Otto and Russell and James by Emma Hooper. A lovely book- I didn't think the idea was very original (Forest Gump springs to mind, and Harold Fry's Pilgrimage etc) but the novel is fun and quirky- I loved that one of the main characters is a coyote and I won't tell you which (who can talk, at least in the mind of one of the others!). Well worth a read.
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I heard Elif speak at Hay this year and thought she was very impressive in many ways. That inspired me to read this book (which is her latest) and I loved it. Set in 16C Istanbul it is based on the true story of Sinan (the eponymous Architect)and his apprentice Rajah. At the outset Rajah is a very accidental keeper of an exotic white elephant, Chota. He becomes apprenticed to Sinan and, over his lifetime is involved in many wonderful buildings. But alongide this is range of colourful characters, historical context, war, mystery, love, relationships, mythology and an engaging narrative. I will certainly read more and heartily recommend this one.
I enjoyed reading Honor by Elif Shafak earlier this year. This book is set in recent times, mainly in London, so a very different setting and time-frame. I am looking forward to reading more of her novels - she is a very talented writer.
A couple more for this challenge: Mozambique: Scribbling the Cat
by Alexandra Fuller. Set partly in Zambia as well. The story of the author's travels with an African soldier. A bit disturbing in parts.South Carolina, U.S.A: The Invention of Wings
by Sue Monk Kidd. I listened to this as an Audible audiobook and the narration was superb. This is a fabulous story based on the true life of the first female American abolitionist placed alongside the fictional voice of one of the family's negro slaves. Well worth a read and I am intending to read more by this author in the future.
Hong Kong/China.
I love this author. The library listed this as crime but it is so much more. An American is murdered whilst doing business in China. An unofficial investigation reveals parts of chinese history and explanations of the chinese psyche. As well as the healing process after death. His first book The Art of Hearing Heartbeats was set in Burma for anyone who wants to visit there.India.
One of the Booker longlist. Desparately sad but skillfully told story of a child escaping violence seen from her adult perspective when she tries to come to terms with it.
I have recently completed The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides - an intelligently written coming of age love triangle involving three graduates from Brown University, Rhode Island, USA in the early 1980's.Following a recommendation from Ellen, I am now reading The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Schaffer. Thanks Ellen, I'm really enjoying this one!
Angela wrote: "...Following a recommendation from Ellen, I am now reading The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Schaffer. Thanks Ellen, I'm really enjoying this one! ..."
Glad you're enjoying it too :-)
I've just toiled my way through 2 rather long books. The first was another by Louis de Bernières set in Turkey:
Birds Without Wings. Some of the characters end up in Captain Corelli's Mandolin (CCM) which is interesting. However, I didn't enjoy this book as much as CCM because there are just too many characters and it's too long. He tries to tell the life story of almost every occupant of the whole village. So I found it rather hard going and difficult to keep up with the story. You never bond with the characters like you do in CCM.I've also just finished the marathon read that is The House of the Spirits
by Isabel Allende. This is set in Chile, although it's never explicitly named. It's of the same genre as Gabriel Garcia Marquez's 100 Years of Solitude- lots of magical realism and epic family saga. But I enjoyed this much more than Marquez (I found the characters more believable if that's possible). I have to say, the more I read of Latin American novels the more I am deciding it's not really my thing!
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..."
G..."
Really interesting choices Ellen. Ive read Birds without Wings but not The House of Spirits (though Isabel Allende is on my list). I really love Gabriel García Márquez so if Allended is better then she must be wonderful. I am a latin american fan! I love the surrealism.
Another few to add to this challenge:The Passport
by Herta Müller set in a german village in RomaniaKing Solomon's Mines
by H. Rider Haggard set in unnamed inner Africa but I've put it down for South Africa as that is where their journey starts. It's a classic and well worth a read.
A Meditation on Murder by Robert Thorogood. Set in the fictional island of Saint Marie in the Lesser Antilles, Carribean. The basis for the BBC crime drama TV series "Death in Paradise" which is filmed on Guadeloupe, where Deshaies doubles for the fictional town of Honore. So I've pinned this to Guadeloupe on my map.
Aleppo, Syria: The Boy From Aleppo Who Painted The War
by Sumia Sukkar. Quite a disturbing story of the Syrian war through the eyes of an autistic teenage boy.Tonga, South Pacific/Oceania:
Kisses in the Nederends by Epeli Hauʻofa. Set in a remote island community this is a humourous look at trying to get treatment for a painful anal disease in a community where medical care is limited to witch doctors and bush medicine. It started off a bit disgusting, the kind of humor that would appeal to 10 year old boys, but actually ended up being quite interesting and thought provoking too. It seems the author wrote it after a similar experience in the islands himself.
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by Sumia Sukkar. Quite a disturbing story of the..."Gosh - those are two very different books! Added to the map
Koutiala, Mali (West Africa):
Monique and the Mango Rains: The Extraordinary Story of Friendship in a Midwife's House in Mali byKris Holloway. The true story of a young American woman who worked in a rural village in Mali as a Peace Corps volunteer for 2 years, and her friendship with the local village midwife. Inspiring but tragic story.
Just completed My Brilliant Friendby Elena Ferrante, set in Italy,the first in a trilogy that tracks the lives of two friends growing up in a poor district of Naples.
Sri Lanka.
not particularly deep but some lovely descriptions.
So here's one from Iceland.
crime story, first of a series. Enjoyable, if longwinded, story about a female cop in the days leading up to the banking crisis.
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crime story, first of a series. Enjoyable, if longwinded, story about a female cop in the days leading up to the banking crisis."I make that about 25 books Sue - you are going great guns
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That looks demanding, Sue, but I like those kind of books. I like to read and gain insight and it is good to be reminded of the despair so many in our world face every day. We are very lucky not to know that experience. Thanks for sharing this one. Id be interested to know more about what you took from it, how well written it is etc?
Ian wrote: "Sue wrote: "Algeria Harraga. Bleak with some humour. Glad i live here and understand why so many more do."That looks demanding, Sue, but I like those kind of books. I like to read..."
Beautifully written. I think I read somewhere that she is a poet and banned from her country. I took from it the resilliance of people and what they will do for a better life.
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That looks demanding, Sue, but I like those kind of books. I ..."
Thanks Sue - I've added to my list
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It is a great book! Such sparing use of language but absolutely right Angela beautufully written. I am reading The Goldfinch at the moment - which i think you have read -also a great read.