UK Book Club discussion
Around the World in 80 Books
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Em's Around the World in 80 Books
Nearer to home at the moment, am in Ireland with
by Joseph O'Connor. Well over halfway through this book, it is excellent but is unusually narrated, it's a book to read slowly and for me, in a peaceful location without interruptions. I didn't take it a single word when I tried to read it on the poolside of kids swimming lesson yesterday, had to re-read it at bedtime as got totally lost!
24. From Aberystwyth with Love by Malcolm Pryce (Wales)Picked this up on Kindle store, bit strange to begin a series at book 5 but I don't think it detracted from my enjoyment in anyway. Amusing alternative reality version of Aberystwyth, it transfers the Chandler-esque type noir to the west coast of Wales - a light hearted, enjoyable read.
25. Ghost Light by Joseph O'Connor (Ireland)Joseph O'Connor writes in beautiful, lyrical and expressive prose, a book to dwell on and read carefully. A blend of fact and fiction, his interpretation of the character of Molly Allgood as a fierce, talented, witty and somewhat lonely woman is one who will stay with me for a good while.
26. Salmon Fishing In The Yemen by Paul Torday (Yemen)A light-ish, easy read which manages to marry a sweet, philosphical story of grand visions and ahievements with political satire. Takes the form of emails, letters, reports and diaries.
Em wrote: "26. Salmon Fishing In The Yemen by Paul Torday (Yemen)A light-ish, easy read which manages to marry a sweet, philosphical story of grand visions and ahievements with political satire. Takes the ..."
Em
I loved this book
I was on holiday so may helped but could not put it down
I think just ending let it down
Bob
Yes Bob, it was a bit of a flat ending wasn't it?So I haven't been anywhere for a while but I'm on my travels again, going to Sweden, started
Let the Right One In by John Ajvide Lindqvist. Saw the film already (the Swedish one) and it was an interesting take on the vampire genre so looking forward the the book.
I've got the film sat on the Sky box waiting for a moment to watch it. Also got the book buried away somewhere (we're packed up to move house so it's a bit chaos, as well as managing a new baby ;-) Intend to read it one day soon :)
Finding time is always tricky! How old is. Your baby now, boy or girl? My neighbour just had her 3rd son on same day their dig had 13 puppies!
We exchanged contracts (selling husband's house) on day my daughter was born! Isabelle came a couple of weeks early; she's 3 and half months now. She obviously not going to understand Christmas but she has been enjoying the lights and has turned into a TV addict :) Bit small for books just yet :)
Mod
I liked dig lol
Phone again! I must have fatter fingers than I thought.My daughters (now 8) were a bit early too - I had a pile of books ready to pass 6 weeks maternity till Oct 5th and didn't I end up having them on Aug 30th? Really? Not very thoughtful of them!
They were four months for their first Xmas but as you say, fairy lights and telly flickering is high entertainment. This year, they've asked for I-pod Touches - I liked the baby toys better.
A dodgy 27.
Comfort and Joy by India Knight (Morocco) - the book covers three consecutive Christmas celebrations and the final one is set in Morocco! I'm counting it unless I come across a better one for this country...
28.
Let the Right One In by John Ajvide Lindqvist (Sweden)I'm back on the plane now, reading The Paris Wife by Paula McLain for France.
29.
The Paris Wife by Paula McLain (France)I like this sub-genre, a bit like Ghost Light, I'm going to call it literary- fictional-biography.
A very interesting book, narrated from the perspective of Ernest Hemmingways first wife, it offers a taste of Jazz age Paris. It begins with the giddiness of falling in love, follows her life with a talented but troubled man and ultimately, the break down of their marriage.
Mod
I think you've about summed it up Ian! The Paris Wife is narrated from the perspective of his first wife and as she loves him, she looks upon his behaviour with kind eyes but the reader is left in little doubt that he's a difficult character.30.
Jasmine Nights by Julia Gregson (Turkey)The book travels from Cardiff to London to Egypt and Turkey but I'm going for Turkey since I've already got an Egypt on my list.
Nights at the Circus has just moved to St Petersburg and looks like we're here for a while so with luck, I will have a book for Russia or Siberia soon...
31.
Nights at the Circus by Angela Carter (Siberia)A book of three locations - beginning in London, the large middle section is set in St Petersburg then finally we end up in Siberia!
Em intrigued. What did you think of this book?
Not an easy question Bob! It's set at the turn of the 19th Century and tells the story of a winged aerialist called "Fevvers" and an American journalist who interviews her.
Mainly based in the theatre or cirucs but with deviations to brothels, freak shows, prison and many other places - there are a lot of fantasitcal elements which makes this a good choice of magic-realism when that comes up on genre challenge.
I loved it but I could totally see it going either way - I think the book is extraordinary and loved her style but it's not a book you can skim, it took me a while to read it because I felt I had to read every word. I don't imagine anyone can create an atmosphere and build a scene in quite the way that Angela Carter does.
32.
Let the Northern Lights Erase Your Name by Vendela Vida (Finland)About an American woman who goes in search of her family in Lapland among the Sami people. I thought it was a short but poignant story, I have to say I was immediately drawn in despite the brevity - a Kindle bargain I'm glad I took the chance.
33.
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller (Greece)Fabulous book! Ancient Greek mythology - Gods and Heros, what's not to like?
Mod
I'm ginger in all but hair colour so Greek like sunshine just burns me! You'll find me in the shade.Anyway, I've gone to Russia for some snow and a climate my skin tone can manage...
34.
Night Watch by Sergei Lukyanenko (Russia).
Mod
I'm on my travels again... a few chapters into
Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie which is shaping up to be excellent book - puts me in mind of Cutting for Stone which I also loved and it will count for Nigeria.
I read 'purple hibiscus' on my around world trip Em and it was brilliant as was 'half yellow sun' so I'll look out that one, she is developing into a significant author. Enjoy your trip!
35.
Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld (Austria)Also, a bit of UK and a bit of Switzerland but I really can't afford to be too fussy or I'll still be working on this challenge when I'm 90.
Think I have that on my kindle and don't think I've done Austria..
Em wrote: "Now, I'm in Israel...37.
The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ by Philip Pullman (Israel)"Not sure about reading this one - it sounds interesting but has had some poor reviews. Let me know what you think Em
I think its one that divides opinion... I'll be somewhere in the middle.
Fence sitter! Or as my kindle fire translated that - gene diet. Not sure what it (the Fire) means mind.
think i'll make my own ind up on this one then and add it to the list. Being careful to avoid an splineters from fence sitting obiviously.Helen - is you kindle fire telling you to read
? for a gene hunt diet?
Although the book is about Maori spirits only a relatively small amount of the book is physically set /in New Zealand, the rest taking place in London...38.
Kehua! by Fay Weldon (New Zealand)
Mod
So frustrating, I'm a bit stuck as been back to Spain
Winter in Madrid, back to Egypt
Moon Tiger and now I'm back in Afghanistan
And the Mountains Echoed - I need to go somewhere new!
Mod
Mod
I'm sold! I'm going to try to read Music and Silence AND The Girl with Pearl Earring because I think it's set in Holland. Added bonus that they're set in 17th Century as I really want to read then both!
I loved The Girl with the Pear Earring - don't watch the dvd. I've got same countries syndrome too! The Hosseini has just arrived at the library but been there too!
Sue wrote: "I loved The Girl with the Pear Earring - don't watch the dvd. I've got same countries syndrome too! The Hosseini has just arrived at the library but been there too!"Found copy in charity shop today. Which rather messed up resolution for no book buying in January
Robert wrote: "Found copy in cha..."
know the feeling! Mine tends to be reserving library books and buying them for 1p (+2.80pp) when they don't have them!
When I started the challenge, I thought, "Oh, great! I've got loads of books set in Africa." Then I looked more closely and realised they're all set in the same three countries, basically. D'oh.I was thinking about reading Music & Silence already on the recommendation of a friend -- I think that might have to be my 17th century choice!
Great, I'll have someone to discuss it with!
UK Book Club
Books mentioned in this topic
The Drunken Forest (other topics)In Patagonia (other topics)
Like Water for Chocolate (other topics)
Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood (other topics)
The Danish Girl (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Gerald Durrell (other topics)Bruce Chatwin (other topics)
Laura Esquivel (other topics)
Marjane Satrapi (other topics)
David Ebershoff (other topics)
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A facinating book, insightful too however, I felt it was too brief - I wanted to know and understand more about Tibetan life and culture."
I read this earlier this year, and enjoyed it....I agree it was a little short, but fascinating....I had no idea about the lives of these people before I read tis book.