Em's Around the World in 80 Books

[Robyn]

I better get started! :)

[Em]

No rush! I've got three on the go so will be a week or two before I get to it.

[Em]

40. Music and Silence by Rose Tremain (Denmark)

Halfway there... yay!

[Robert]

well done much harder than first thought would be

[Paulfozz]

Congrats on reaching halfway Em!

[Kate, Moderator]

Well done on reaching the half way mark!

[Andrew]

Well done em, all downhill now.

[Ian, Moderator]

Nice one Em.

[Sue]

Well done Em!

[Robyn]

40! I can only dream.

[Em]

Thanks everyone! I've lined up Girl with a Pearl a Earring next so hopefully will have another country soon, think it's set in Netherlands.

[Helen]

Half way fan fare.

[Em]

41. Girl With a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier (Holland)

[Em]

Sample
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[Sue]

Looking good, Em.

[Em]

Thanks! Slow but sure...

[Robert]

Em wrote: "41. Girl With a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier (Holland)
Em. What did you think in the end?

[Em]

I thought it was a fascinating concept for a novel, I can't believe I haven't read it before to be honest. I found it atmospheric, I was intrigued by Griet from the outset, I enjoyed seeing events unfold from her perspective - an observant, intelligent and artistic voice. It was 5 stars for me. What did you think?

[Robert]

Em wrote: "I thought it was a fascinating concept for a novel, I can't believe I haven't read it before to be honest. I found it atmospheric, I was intrigued by Griet from the outset, I enjoyed seeing events..."
Easy 5 star. It made me go to national gallery to see the 2 Vermeers there. Was little disappointed in them though
In saying that picked lots out on pictures as described in book. I.e. the Delph tiles,musical instruments and the Windows which took such decisions whether to clean or not

[Sue]

I have just started a different Vermeer one, Girl in Hyacinth Blue which traces the ownership of a painting. Robert -shame you didn't like the Vameer's that much - I love his paintings. Particularly how anyone can paint transparent materials the way he does is amazing.

[Robert]

Sue wrote: "I have just started a different Vermeer one, Girl in Hyacinth Blue which traces the ownership of a painting. Robert -shame you didn't like the Vameer's that much - I love his painti..."

It was just the faces really. Just did not seem to hold up to rest of picture. Lot of other Dutch pictures were better. And there are 2 Rembrant self portraits in adjoining gallery and they are pretty good!!!!

[Robert]

Sue wrote: "I have just started a different Vermeer one, Girl in Hyacinth Blue which traces the ownership of a painting. Robert -shame you didn't like the Vameer's that much - I love his painti..."

Put this on to read list. Like the look of it

[Em]

Darn it! I'm reading Thérèse Raquin by Émile Zola but I've already counted The Paris Wife by Paula McLain for France!

[Helen]

Only said yesterday, repeat visits. At least it's France.

[Em]

A new country! I've nearly finished...

42. The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet by David Mitchell (Japan)

[Helen]

Does your passport need renewing?

[Em]

There were delays at the passport office, I'm back in business now!

[Em]

43. The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera (Czech Republic)

[Em]

Oh dear... I've been all over the place but not very many new countries!

44. The Child Thief by Dan Smith (Ukraine)

[Em]

A cheeky one but I've read and it darts left and right across the globe but I feel it should count for something... I'm chosing... Tahiti.

45. The Wave: In Pursuit of the Rogues, Freaks, and Giants of the Ocean by Susan Casey (Tahiti but also Hawaii, California, Mexico etc. etc.)

[Ian, Moderator]

Tahiti....a good chice Em. Was Dan's any good? I loved his first but then was disappointed by his second one probably 'cos I liked the first one too much.

[Em]

I enjoyed it, different to others as post-war setting so has more historic aspect and Ukraine setting is very vividly described - I'd say it was worth a read.

[Sue]

Butting in, I read it a bit ago and really enjoyed it. Very atmospheric.

[Em]

Yes Sue, it was atmospheric and quite tense. Also, not short on characterisation - the father, the narrator is key but his sons and some other peripheral characters also strong - male ones stronger than female but it is predominantly a story about fathers and sons.

[Helen]

I read his Big Game, saw the film too.

[Ian, Moderator]

Em wrote: "Yes Sue, it was atmospheric and quite tense. Also, not short on characterisation - the father, the narrator is key but his sons and some other peripheral characters also strong - male ones strong..."

Read it, loved it...5 stars.

[Em]

At last.... a new country to add to my list.

46. We Need New Names by NoViolet Bulawayo (Zimbabwe)

[Em]

Another new country (I think!)

47. Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood by Marjane Satrapi (Iran) which I thought was good, not my usual type of read being a graphic novel but change is good, right?

Typical, I've just started The Danish Girl by David Ebershoff but I've already been to Denmark. Shame.

[Helen]

But you're well into the second half :D

[Em]

Ooooh I just started reading Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel... Mexico, here I come!

[Helen]

You're as bad as me at this!

[Em]

I know, i started strong but have floundered! As well as going back to the same counties time after time, I fall victim to books set in undisclosed locations that might be in South America or somewhere in the Middle East. That's not helping my cause either!

[Helen]

I've revisited plus I read fantasy.

[Em]

48. Like Water for Chocolate (Mexico)
49. Galapagos by Kurt Vonnegut (Ecuador)

Baby steps...

[Em]

50. The Power by Naomi Alderman (Moldova)

Ooohhh I missed one!

[Sue]

Em wrote: "50. The Power by Naomi Alderman (Moldova)

Ooohhh I missed one!"

Always a bonus! 😀

[Liz, Moderator]

I read that and I didn't think about it - silly me - I'd better go back and add it....

Making good progress btw :)

[Em]

Hardly rapid progress! Iain’s been round twice at least!

[Ian, Moderator]

Must have gained that 2nd i without noticing. Balloon lag maybe.

[Em]

51. In Patagonia by Bruce Chatwin (Argentina)


52. The Drunken Forest by Gerald Durrell (Paraguay)