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Book Club Challenge
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Around The World in 80 Books 2020-2023
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Sue
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Dec 19, 2015 02:56PM
Sweden
Absolutely loved this book set in Swedish Lapland in 1717. Settlers face hardships and the investigation of the murder of one of them forms the basis of the story. Superstition, history and religion all play their part.
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Absolutely loved this book set in Swedish Lapland in 1717. Settlers face hardships and the investigation of the murder of one of them forms the basis of the ..."Youre on a roll. Looks very atmospheric - another for my list
Switzerland. Hausfrau. Well Anna is not a typical swiss hausfrau. Reading the reviews, this is a marmite book. It had something but although i wanted all to turn out well for Anna there was enough introspection ...... Think a far more explicit Madame Bovery.
Mod
Intriguing. Do you know, confession time - I've not read Madame Bovary - how terrible is that. On my list but I've never got to it for some reason. Must do in 2016
Ian wrote: "Sue wrote: "Switzerland. Hausfrau. Well Anna is not a typical swiss hausfrau. Reading the reviews, this is a marmite book. It had something but although i wanted all to turn out wel..."Well, that is truly terrible :). I read it again whilst in Rouen a few years ago. Love it.
Mod
OK. Part of my New Years Resolution 2016 will be to read it
Hope you mean Madame Bovary and not Hausfrau!
Mod
Haha. Yes, Madam Bovary
Happy Christmas everyone!I'm posting my completed map as I finished this challenge yesterday in Suriname (Suri-where? I hear you ask...!) with
Hummingbirds in My Hair: Adventures of a Diplomatic Wife in the Caribbean, an interesting memoir of life in the Caribbean from the wife of an ambassador who was posted to Suriname for a few years and then Trinidad.Here's my map with all 80 countries I visited marked: https://www.mapcustomizer.com/map/Ell...
I am looking forward to relaxing with a nice easy book unrelated to a reading challenge now!
Mod
I'm posting my completed map as I finished this challenge yesterday in Suriname (Suri-where? I hear you ask...!) with [bookcover:Hummingbirds in My Hair: Adventures of a ..."
Wow! Very impressive - I didn't expect anyone to complete in a year. Your top 3? If that's possible. I'd love you to post them on the "Best Reads of 2015" thread . I think I'm only 12 countries in so a way to go yet, though I'm enjoying the challenge
Ellen wrote: "Happy Christmas everyone!I'm posting my completed map as I finished this challenge yesterday in Suriname (Suri-where? I hear you ask...!) with [bookcover:Hummingbirds in My Hair: Adventures of a ..."
Double wow!! Some interesting titles there. I would also be interested to know which you enjoyed most. Well done.
Armenia.
. This was just so good and a first novel. Of course, it covers the genocide but the narrator is a young turk. Lots to think about here.
Russia: White Nights - Fyodor Dostoyevsky. Boy meets girl novella. My reading has mainly consisted of 'modern' and 'crime' recently, so it took a while to get used to the language. Cleverly plotted.
Mod
I love Dostoevsky but havent read that one - another for my list
Mod
Fantastic - well done. I'll add to the map tomorrow
India - Calcutta in the 1960's. Slowly edging forward with this challenge, having just completed The Lives of Others by Neel Mukhergee. A fantastic read - one of those books that I didn't want to finish, it was over 500 pages so it took me a while!
Angela wrote: "India - Calcutta in the 1960's. Slowly edging forward with this challenge, having just completed The Lives of Others by Neel Mukhergee. A fantastic read - one of those books that I ..."This is my current read, too! Took me a while to get the hang of all the relationships, but it's definitely worth persevering with.
I'm obviously a late starter with this challenge, but I don't think it's going to be a hardship - I love reading novels set in unfamiliar settings.
Mod
Don't worry, Pene - think it is going to take a number of us quite some time to finish it - though Ellen cracked it in a year!
Hi Pene - glad you're enjoying it too. I really like this challenge and its travel opportunities!
Mod
The Narrow Road to the Deep North
A Tale for the Time Being
Just a Little Run Around the World: 5 Years, 3 Packs of Wolves and 53 Pairs of Shoes
and here is the updated map if you'd like to check it out - getting great world wide coverage now - and they don't include all Ellen's Titles which she posted separately
https://www.mapcustomizer.com/map/Rea...
Kyrgyzstan :
. Quite a lot of violence in this one. Kept thinking this is more for men (very sexist I know!) But if the country is really like this then it's off my holiday list. Hopefully someone will have been and tell me it's amazing. However, I have ordered the next in the series so it couldn't have been that bad! About a part of the world I know nothing about so was interesting.
Mod
. Quite a lot of violence in this one. Kept thinking this is more for men (very sexist I know!) But if the country is really like this then it's o..."Hi Sue - good to know that the challenge is alive and well - I'm still on it too but haven't updated my posts - must do that over the weekend.
Interesting how we ascribe gender interest to certain books - from your description it isn't one that I'd be reaching for. I like more subtelty in a book. I'm reading Knausgaard, Karl Ove at the present - the first in his memoire/novel wonderfully addictive. Like a modern day Proust
I've just started reading The Last of the Vostyachs by Diego Marani, an Italian-born author. The novel is set somewhere in the Finnish/Russo/Artic area ... I think, and not sure yet of the period. I have not read much, yet, and I have not read any background to the novel, other than the fact that it has been recommended by those I trust ... such as Michael Orthofer at 'The Literary Saloon'. I don't want to know more, but it is amazing so far. A lone man [the 'last' of the Vostyachs] who was from an inuit-type community, but then imprisoned for years in a labour camp, has been surviving alone since release, and then meets a linguist ethnographer ... I know coincidence and doesn't sound like much ... but it's fascinating. The language and images, and the talk of language, and its loss, and the gaining of others v imposition. I was so impressed I immediately got Marani's 2nd novel New Finnish Grammar from the libray. I will add more when I've read more, but after the utter 'meh' of One Day next Rdg Grp book, this was heaven.
Mod
That is such an interesting book. Thank you for telling us about it - I'll be fascinated to know what you think as you read more. I've just added it to my reading list.
Those sound really interesting DrMama. I'm adding The Door by Magda Szabó for Hungary. It has taken me a long time to read this although it's not very long. Found it very difficult to relate to the characters. Must admit it did get better as it went along. Quite a lot of snatches of Hungarian history mentioned in passing and I have not read a storyline quite like it before but quite a depressing book.
Hi Ian,It might be a while before I get back to you. This one has been on my Kindle for a while, and after my first few pages I immediately ordered 'New Finnish Grammar' from Devon Libraries. Unfortunately, it came straight away, I already have about 8 books out, and someone else has just called in 'New Finnish...' . So, I have to read 'New F' before finishing 'Vostyachs ... as well as trying to plough through my other library books.
I really have to learn from this, as I am too fond of clicking 'reserve' as soon as I see that Dev Libs have a book that I want to read, want for research, or just want to take a look at. Plus, the reservation fee has just gone up by 50%. I do want to support 'Libs Unlimited' but this was a bit of a surprise. I get through a lot of books, and hardly any are in my local library. But will let you know how I get on with the Maranis!
Sue wrote: "Those sound really interesting DrMama. I'm adding The Door by Magda Szabó for Hungary. It has taken me a long time to read this although it's not very long. Found it ..."Hi Sue,
I might take a look at that - if ever I get through my current backlog (see my note to Ian!). Something else that you mentioned made me look at you other book comments and they all sound fascinating, some I've heard of and lusted after ... but there are just too many. I need a long beach holiday, with nothing to do but read, sleep, eat, swim.
Mod
We all need one of those!
Mod
Ian wrote: "Completed Knausgaard's A Death in the Family - the first in his My Struggle series - see my post on recommendations. A wonderful book. Set in various locations in Norway but I chose Bergen"Gosh, that seems a quick read Ian. I am cursed with being a very slow reader. Plus, I now find that I don't remember things so well, especially if I'm not keen on the work. I have to leave our Rdng Grp books until the last thing. If I read them straight away, but they make little impact, I can't remember anything by the time the meeting comes around. I keep telling myself to write notes, but invariably forget that, too!
Mod
I read early each day over breakfast and late each night before sleep - so 40- 50 pages a day is doable. This is one I read more slowly - it merits it. So much to think about (see the quotes in the recommendations section. I used to keep notes but have slipped up - must get back to it as a discipline
DrMama wrote: "Ian wrote: "Completed Knausgaard's A Death in the Family - the first in his My Struggle series - see my post on recommendations. A wonderful book. Set in various locations in Norway but I chose Ber..."Me too! I have to finish the book the day before book club day or I'm lost!!!
Here's one for Tokyo: Sputnik Sweetheart by H Murakami, our RG choice for the month. A quick and quirky read, populated by the usual Murakami array of oddball, disconnected and essentially lonely characters. Think I now need to read something less unsettling and more uplifting!
Hi Angela, Does your RG choose its own books, or are they sent by 'the Library'? We all tick a list every 6 months or so, but I would love for us to read a Murakami, and I don't remember him being an option. Last time, I couldn't help thinking that the list was getting very bland.
It was from the library list, so worth checking it out.
Mod
Ian wrote: "Finished Signs Preceding the End of the World earlier in the week. Set on the Mexico/US border, it tells he story of Makina, a young woman who illegally crosses the border in search..."Hi Ian, This novel (novella?) has just won the 'Best Translated Book Award' in New York. Michael Orthofer reported it, a few days ago, on his site 'The Literary Saloon'. He also gives it an 'A-' elsewhere, in his review - which is high praise from MO. I hope to get round to it, but I'm already reading too many! I'm still astonished at your reading speed ... I think I'm just a slow reader. Still halfway through 'New Finnish Grammar' as well as ploughing through Cicely Hamilton's biography, and CSPeel's account of living through WWI for 'work'. I ought to have another look at David Nicholls' 'One Day' before Reading Group, but I've decided life's too short - though I really should attempt to analyse why I did not like/enjoy/get anything from ... reading it.
Mod
Interesting - thank you for that. I can see why it would win an award - very cleverly translated. I'm not that fast a reader really - this was only 100 pages - I read 40-50 pages a day over breakfast (I'm an early riser and usual breakfast alone) and before sleep. I can be a bit of a skimmer if a book doesn't merit close reading. I read One Day when I was unwell last year and got through it pretty quickly. I thought it was an OK story but didn't do much for me either really. Your reading sounds like it needs a lot of concentration.
Croatia.
Good story about conflict in the Balkens. Action switches between Croatia and US.
Mod
Good story about conflict in the Balkens. Action switches between Croatia and US."Sounds emotionally charged - did it give any kind of different perspective on the conflict?
Not really Ian. I thought it was going to be like the Sarajevo one but that was for the most part narrated by ana as a child. That was bad enough but only a small part of the book. More about coming to terms with the past. Worth going on your tube pile!
Mod
Thanks. Ill add it to the list.
The Cellist of Sarajevoby Steven Galloway- an excellent novel about the Balkans conflict, which I read some years ago now.
If anyone is interested in reading any Indonesian-based / -authored books, then take a look at today's post at Michael Orthofer's 'Literary Saloon'. He has posted a link: '12 Indonesian books you should add to your reading list' to titles in 'The Jakarta Post'. http://www.complete-review.com/saloon/Happy Reading!
Mod
Thanks for that Carol
Italy: Early One Morning by Virginia Baily. Really enjoyed this read - lovely descriptions of Rome, which bring the city to life. Set during the 1940s and 1970s, the locations swap between Italy and Wales as sixteen year old Maria searches for the truth about her father.
Sweden: Italian Shoes by Henning Mankell. Read as Reading Group monthly choice. It left me feeling generally underwhelmed and uninspired to read anything else by this author, even though his Wallender novels are very popular. Enjoyed the description of a frozen Swedish winter, increasingly loathed the main character - an ego driven mysoginist in my opinion!
Australia - Sydney: The Secret River by Kate Grenville. Another Reading Group choice, which was ok but didn't inspire me to read any other books by this author. A story about the early white settlers in Australia, which begins in early 1800's London and follows the transportation of the Thornhill family.
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