Around the World in 80 Books discussion
Getting to Know You
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Introductions
Howdy, Y'all. My name is Jonathan and I live in the great country of Texas ;). I have been reading since I could talk, and in the last 6 or 7 years I have read about 1000 books. Will read anything good except for romantic nonsense.
Hi, Jonathan. Welcome to the group. Can you recommend some good books set in Texas?
Jonathan wrote: "Howdy, Y'all. My name is Jonathan and I live in the great country of Texas ;). I have been reading since I could talk, and in the last 6 or 7 years I have read about 1000 books. Will read anything ..."Howdy, Jonathan! Welcome to the group!
Judah wrote: "Hey Diane. It's a pleasure to meet you. I live on the south side of Atlanta. Yes, I'm a sectional hiker. I started hiking the AT some years ago, and I'm slowly making my way north. I've started try..."Looks like my trek on the Appalachian Trail will be postponed until next year. I broke my leg today. :(
Hello everyone! My name is Mikael Varg Langli, living in a tiny town called Moss in a tiny country called Norway! I'm rather new to goodreads, but so far the entire community seems wonderful to me. Reading is a passion of mine, as well as writing Norwegian litterature. The rejection slips keeps on coming from the publishers, but I don't mind. The passion still burns as it ever has and always will. I read just about everything by every writer all over the earth, but what truly turns a book into a page-turner for me, are the ones with the elements of adventure, romance, drama and above all else (to me) the people who struggle and stand on the edge of what many would consider "normal" in today's society.
Hi, Mikael. Welcome to the group.Diane, that is not good news. I hope it was a simple fracture that will heal quickly.
Hi all you adventurers! I am Lori and thought this would be the perfect place to park my interest in books from all over the world. I am a spiritual concierge and finally settled in Sedona, Arizona after living in Central America for thirty years. I love books from Latin America and anything about ancient cultures. I just finished my non-fiction spiritual memoir which takes place in El Salvador which I realize now is a place with few entries in the literary world. Sounds like a fun group to hang out with and certainly find some good books around the world!
Lori wrote: "Hi all you adventurers! I am Lori and thought this would be the perfect place to park my interest in books from all over the world. I am a spiritual concierge and finally settled in Sedona, Arizona..."Hi, Lori! Welcome to the group! I have never lived in Central America, but have had the pleasure of visiting it a few times. I have always had positive experiences. There really are few books from these countries and fewer that are translated to English. I hope that changes soon.
Thanks for the warm welcome Diane. I look forward to getting to know you. Have a great day!
Hi Lori, welcome! Because you lived in Central America for 30 years, I thought I'd introduce myself and my memoir "The Coconut Latitudes: Secrets, Storms, and Survival in the Caribbean." My family lived in the Dominican Republic for 20 years. My memoir was published in 2014 and has garnered two national awards. I think you'll like it. I lived in the D.R. from the time I was a few weeks old until I was 19 - so all things Latin American appeal to me. More info on my website: www.ritamgardner.com
Hi Rita, nice to meet you! Congratulation on all of those prestigious awards. I will head over to your website now. Hope you have a chance to visit mine as well which is www.lorimorrison.com. My memoir is quite a ride through a spiritual awakening that I had in the middle of a volcanic lake that I lived on. Crazy!! I am now following you, hope you can stop by my profile and do the same. Great to connect. Lori
Hi there!My name is Adam, I am 13 years old and from Toronto and I LOVE to read, in fact, I've read more Russian literature than my English teacher. Don't underestimate my reading prowess, I am a crazy reader, like most people here. I also love travelling and love finding books from around the world. My life goal is to read a book from every country.
So anyhoo, I'm so happy to be here!
Hi, Adam. Welcome. I live in Toronto and am way older than 13, but I love to read too-including the Russian authors.
Adam wrote: "Hi there!My name is Adam, I am 13 years old and from Toronto and I LOVE to read, in fact, I've read more Russian literature than my English teacher. Don't underestimate my reading prowess, I am a ..."
Hi, Adam! Welcome to the group! Your reading habits are very impressive. Let me know if I can be of help in your search for books from each country.
Hi everyone, I live in Midlothian, Virginia which is a suburb outside of Richmond. I love to travel, anywhere is great, but out of my country is always preferred. My family are lovers of all things Disney so we travel often by Disney Cruise Line and Disney Adventures. I am pleased that by the time my children are grown they will have traveled the world. I am excited to have found this site and look forward to taking part in all monthly reads and challenges.
Hi Jenni, I was in Richmond a couple years ago for my niece's graduation from the U of Richmond. Welcome. Go Spiders!
Adam wrote: "Hi there!My name is Adam, ...My life goal is to read a book from every country. ..."
Hi Adam, One of my reading goals is to read a book by a writer from 50 countries. I'm at 36 countries now and soon to start one from Albania for #37. Welcome. You're a lot younger than me so you can probably reach 100 or more if you keep trying.
Jenni wrote: "Hi everyone, I live in Midlothian, Virginia which is a suburb outside of Richmond. I love to travel, anywhere is great, but out of my country is always preferred. My family are lovers of all things..."Hi, Jenni! Welcome to the group! I have always wanted to go on a Disney Cruise.
I am new to this challenge, just signed up. My name is Debbie, avid reader, from Sacramento, CA. Not sure where to go from here. Any help would be appreciated.
Debbie wrote: "I am new to this challenge, just signed up. My name is Debbie, avid reader, from Sacramento, CA. Not sure where to go from here. Any help would be appreciated."Hi, Debbie. Welcome to the group. There are actually several challenges, but the most popular is the around the world challenge. There are several "tracks" depending on your desired level of involvement. The rules can be found in this thread:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/group...
I would recommend either starting as a Circumnavigator (no time or minimum book commitment) or a Tourist (times with low book commitment). To begin, start a topic titled with your name in the above folder.
Thank you so much, Diane, for your help. :) I'm going for the Circumnavigator, "Rogue Traveler". So, I can add books that I have already read this year so far?
Debbie wrote: "Thank you so much, Diane, for your help. :) I'm going for the Circumnavigator, "Rogue Traveler". So, I can add books that I have already read this year so far?"Yes, you may add books back to January 1 of this year as a Rogue Traveler.
Hi there, my name is Kat and I'm a semi-professional immigrant.I've lived in 4 different countries, and I'm not sure yet whether I'm going to add another to that.
I found this group because I decided to read my way around Europe, with one book for every country. Hopefully I'll find some good recommendations here.
Kat wrote: "Hi there, my name is Kat and I'm a semi-professional immigrant.I've lived in 4 different countries, and I'm not sure yet whether I'm going to add another to that.
I found this group because I de..."
Hi, Kat! Welcome to the group! I hope you will discover the books you need to read across Europe.
Hi Kat, welcome to the group. Consider 'The Reign in Spain' by Galician author W. Kristjan Arnold for your read on Spain. Good luck reading your way around Europe! Tom
Hello, I just joined your group hoping to find some recommendations for great books. I'm a teacher living in Spain and a book junkie with eclectic interests, although I'm getting pickier as I get older about what I´ll devote my time to. I've lived in several countries and love stories or historical literature with international settings, which is what attracted me to this group. It is so difficult to find people with similar reading tastes to your own; I am hoping to discover some.
Hi, Kat. I live in Spain and loved Arturo Barea's The Forging of a Rebel. It is his personal memoirs of growing up in very poor Madrid of the 1920's-'30's and becoming part of the resistance in the Spanish Civil War. It´s very personal and vivid, though it describes some bleak times. After it was translated to English, the original was banned and destroyed in Spain, so the Spanish version is now actually a translation, so I didn't have to feel guilty reading it in English instead of slogging through with my imperfect Spanish.Also, Mathilde Asensi wrote a fictional trilogy about pirates during the Golden Age of Spain in the 1500's. Don't know if it´s translated into English but they are very good and fun as well as historical.
John wrote: "Hello, I just joined your group hoping to find some recommendations for great books. I'm a teacher living in Spain and a book junkie with eclectic interests, although I'm getting pickier as I get o..."Hello, John! Welcome to the group!
John wrote: "Hello, I just joined your group hoping to find some recommendations for great books. I'm a teacher living in Spain and a book junkie with eclectic interests, although I'm getting pickier as I get o..."Hi John,
I'm happy to recommend Switzerland to Alaska: Just to Die by a favorite author of mine (!) ---a true story about a Swiss artist who determined to travel to the end of the earth to challenge his spirit...and revive (find?) his soul...
you can find out more about it at: www.kriswilliamsauthor.com.
And if, after reading it, you let me know how it speaks to you, I would be doubly blessed!
Hi! I'm Alix from Minnesota and I just finished school, so after 4 years of not having much free time to read, I am basically devouring all the books I now have the time for. I'll read pretty much anything as long as my attention span lasts, but I won't read teen/ young adult books. I've never been able to stand them and have read VERY few (the rare exceptions with reasonably good writing styles and story lines).
Hi! Happy to be a member of this group since I enjoy reading books about different times and places. I live on the Big Island of Hawaii and retired from teaching English at the University of Hawaii last year. My first novel, Veil of Walls, about an American girl trapped in 1960's Iran was published in April. I am working on my second novel.
Alixendra wrote: "Hi! I'm Alix from Minnesota and I just finished school, so after 4 years of not having much free time to read, I am basically devouring all the books I now have the time for. I'll read pretty much ..."Hi, Alix! Welcome to the group! Happy reading!
Patricia wrote: "Hi! Happy to be a member of this group since I enjoy reading books about different times and places. I live on the Big Island of Hawaii and retired from teaching English at the University of Hawaii..."Hi, Patricia! I am so envious of where you live. I used to live on Oahu a long time ago. My grandmother graduated from the University of Hawaii. I wish you much success with your novels.
Thank you, Diane. I have lived here for over 26 years, but will retire to the mainland. Travel is too difficult and life is very expensive here for two retirees.
Diane wrote: "Alixendra wrote: "Hi! I'm Alix from Minnesota and I just finished school, so after 4 years of not having much free time to read, I am basically devouring all the books I now have the time for. I'll..."Thank you! I'm happy to have found this group. Looks much more interesting than the last one I was a part of to be honest haha.
Hello, I'm Ruth from Devon in the UK and I love to read books set in or by authors from other countries. I enjoy authors such as Hemming Mankell, Carlos Ruiz Zafón, Gabriel García Márquez amongst others. I like to read in Spanish but I'm so grateful for the excellent translators who allow me access to cultures and languages I've not studied. This looks like just the group for me. Since we're 7 months through the year I'll begin with a tourist challenge and see how I get on.
Hello, Ruth! Welcome to the group! Those are some of my favorite authors as well. I hope you will find many new authors to love here, as well.
Hello! I am a teacher from Chicago. I am interested in learning about different cultures and places.
Hi, Jennifer. Welcome to the group. I have learned about so many good books since joining this group and goodreads in general.
Thanks Diane, I'll enjoy finding new writers here.
Jennifer wrote: "Hello! I am a teacher from Chicago. I am interested in learning about different cultures and places."
Hello, Jennifer! Welcome to the group!
Hi Ruth, check out 'The Reign in Spain' by Galician author W. Kristjan Arnold. Highly rated and entertaining book on 20th century Spain. Right up your alley!
Tom wrote: "Hi Ruth, check out 'The Reign in Spain' by Galician author W. Kristjan Arnold. Highly rated and entertaining book on 20th century Spain. Right up your alley!"Thanks Tom, I'll look out for that
Hello dear friends,I'm from California. I'm looking for a literary GR group because I read books that stand a good chance of being remembered 50 years from now. Seems like a rare species these days, but that's how I read (and write)! I love magical realism--film, lit, and art. Right now I'm reading THE LAST DAYS OF MAGIC. Ireland is "the battleground for a conflict fought between ancient magical beings and the powerful human institutions of church and state that seek to exterminate them." Happy to meet you!
Robin wrote: "Hello dear friends,I'm from California. I'm looking for a literary GR group because I read books that stand a good chance of being remembered 50 years from now. Seems like a rare species these day..."
Hello, Robin! Welcome to the group!
Hello! My name is Melissa and I am an American-Brazilian living in Florida, though I'm about to move to Geneva, Switzerland next month to begin my master's in International Relations. My focus is in Conflict and Security with a focus on gender or environment, so you can see where my passions lie! The books that I read are usually centered around those themes. In addition to reading I drink copious amounts of tea (usually when reading, but never Bigelow), hike U.S. National Parks, study languages (English, Portuguese, Spanish, and French. Italian next!), bake goodies of all kinds, and travel (the hostel life is for me).
I joined this group years ago but never became active in it because I was overwhelmed by the threads and activity. Today I decided to stop ignoring my notifications and do something about it! How do I navigate this exploding page? Where do I begin? Thanks for the help : )
Mel wrote: "Hello! My name is Melissa and I am an American-Brazilian living in Florida, though I'm about to move to Geneva, Switzerland next month to begin my master's in International Relations. My focus is..."
Hi, Mel! Welcome to the group! I am very envious of your studies abroad. There is a lot of information here and it can be overwhelming. A lot of it is reference material to help you find books set in different parts of the globe. Most of that can be found in the bottom half of the main page or on the bookshelf. More recent information and current activities, such as books of the month and current discussions are closer to the top. There are several reading challenges to participate in (located in the middle of the home page), if you are interested. I am not completely familiar with the themes you read most, but maybe if you give me more information about the types of books you are seeking, I can point you in the right direction. I recommend perhaps looking at the folders one at a time and seeing if there is anything that will spark your interest.
Diane wrote: "Mel wrote: "Hello! My name is Melissa and I am an American-Brazilian living in Florida, though I'm about to move to Geneva, Switzerland next month to begin my master's in International Relations...."
Hi Diane, thanks for your comment! I am itching to hop on the plane already. :) I realized that the discussion boards are collapsable, so that helps for playing around with the page and see what there is here. I just made a new to-read bookshelf on Switzerland based on the suggestions here! Almost all genres and subjects interest me (though I tend to give more emphasis on reading women authors), so this page has already helped quite a bit--- thanks! If I can get my hands on these books in Switzerland I will definitely hop on the next book of the month.
Mel wrote: "Diane wrote: "Mel wrote: "Hello! My name is Melissa and I am an American-Brazilian living in Florida, though I'm about to move to Geneva, Switzerland next month to begin my master's in Internatio..."
I'm happy you have found some treasures here. There are more books set in Switzerland in the bookshelf, as well. I think I will start a thread devoted to female authors. That's a great idea.
Around the World in 80 Books
Books mentioned in this topic
Tales of the City (other topics)Round Ireland with a Fridge (other topics)
A Dead Man's Tale (other topics)
22 Murders: Investigating the Massacres, Cover-up and Obstacles to Justice in Nova Scotia (other topics)
Cuba: An American History (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Frederick Forsyth (other topics)William Harrison Ainsworth (other topics)
Jules Verne (other topics)
Carl Sagan (other topics)
Fyodor Dostoevsky (other topics)
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Hi, Hanin! Welcome to the group!