Around the World in 80 Books discussion
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Introductions
Lisa wrote: "I think it captures the essence of the book perfectly, although since I saw the movie first, it probably conditioned how I read the book. I remember leaving the theater feeling unsettled, which is ..."Cool. I did see parts of the book I have already read featured in the trailer. They did a good job with picking the characters and depicting the setting.
Hello - I'm Jim from Winnipeg MB; this group was recommended to me by a friend who, like me, was looking for a group in which one could engage in open discussion with a minimum of poking and prodding by bossy moderators. I think this might be the place!
Jim wrote: "Hello - I'm Jim from Winnipeg MB; this group was recommended to me by a friend who, like me, was looking for a group in which one could engage in open discussion with a minimum of poking and proddi..."Welcome to the group, Jim! I'll try not to poke or prod too much! ;) Happy to have you here, and a big thanks to the friend that recommended you!
Diane wrote: "and a big thanks to the friend that recommended you! "Um, that would be me. Jim befriended me in another group, so I thought I'd return the favor by introducing him to this one.
I did warn him that he'll have more suggestions for his to-read list than he'll ever be able to manage. At least that's been my experience since joining!
Greetings from Manila! My name is Wen-Szu. Short version of how I got here. From Taiwan originally, grew up in the US, moved to Beijing a few years ago to open up Auntie Anne's Pretzels in China, currently in Manila since my wife (who is from here) will be giving birth to our 2nd child in the coming weeks. Love to travel, love to write, and love to read.
Wen-szu wrote: "Greetings from Manila! My name is Wen-Szu. Short version of how I got here. From Taiwan originally, grew up in the US, moved to Beijing a few years ago to open up Auntie Anne's Pretzels in China..."Congrats on the birth of your child! I love Auntie Anne's Pretzels! They are the best pretzels ever!
Hello Poeople!I am from England...and I work in a library. I love reading, and also travelling, got back from Paris couple of weeks ago, was awesome!! Going to Spain at the end of this month! Can't want to explaor more books from all over the world! :)
Vix!!
Good morning! I am from Oregon City, Oregon & I am GR friends with Dee, which is how I found your group. I probably won't be participating a lot until next year, but I've already starting thinking about my 2013 reading challenges (I'm, ummmm, organized that way) and this looks like a really fun one.As a total aside, I am currently listening to the librivox recording of Verne's Around the World in Eighty Days. I want to do the trekker version, so it is going to require some planning!
Diane wrote: "Shirley wrote: "Good morning from Banning,Ca (near Palm Springs).Phases of my life
Born in Denver, Colo and moved to Ca in the 50's.
Married in 1961 and widowed in 2009 and they said it would nev..."
Was always an old soul.
Vikki wrote: "Hello Poeople!I am from England...and I work in a library. I love reading, and also travelling, got back from Paris couple of weeks ago, was awesome!! Going to Spain at the end of this month! Can'..."
Welcome, Vikki! You work in the perfect place to find treasures from around the world. Have a wonderful time in Spain!
Mayhem wrote: "Good morning! I am from Oregon City, Oregon & I am GR friends with Dee, which is how I found your group. I probably won't be participating a lot until next year, but I've already starting thinking ..."Hi, Mayhem, and welcome to the group! I'm so glad you will be joining us for our 2013 trip around he world! Dee is a great resource for finding books in those hard-to-find countries!
Hello to everyone, have just joined this group as it combines 2 of my favourite things - travel and reading - I love to do both! Love reading about places I've been and new places to go and places to think about. I'm currently living in Sydney - and have mostly travelled in Asia and around Australia and love learning about people and places. S
Diane wrote: "Mayhem wrote: "Good morning! I am from Oregon City, Oregon & I am GR friends with Dee, which is how I found your group. I probably won't be participating a lot until next year, but I've already sta..."I started my country planning and will match books once I schedule the itinerary.
Red wrote: "Hello to everyone, have just joined this group as it combines 2 of my favourite things - travel and reading - I love to do both! Love reading about places I've been and new places to go and places ..."Hello, Red! Welcome to the group!
Hi folks, I'm Jason. I joined this group because I like literature from all over the globe. I'm an avid reader and a student. I hope to stumble upon some great books because of groups like this one. :)
I think you will get great books from the shelves... you must visit them. Beware your tbr pile will overflow.Welcome and hope you have time between classes to visit often.
Jason wrote: "Hi folks, I'm Jason. I joined this group because I like literature from all over the globe. I'm an avid reader and a student. I hope to stumble upon some great books because of groups like this one..."Welcome to the group, Jason!
I am new here! I am a 23 year old Norwegian girl who currently lives in Nepal and interns for the Norwegian Embassy in Kathmandu. I love reading books from all around the world - currently reading "Half of a Yellow Sun" from Nigeria. Can anyone give me some tips how to "start" the challenge or where I should begin? I know that the year is almost over, but how do people usually make their list, and do you guys "only" do 80 books a year, or more, or what? Thanks! :)
Karoline Tufte wrote: "I am new here! I am a 23 year old Norwegian girl who currently lives in Nepal and interns for the Norwegian Embassy in Kathmandu. I love reading books from all around the world - currently reading ..."Welcome to the group, Karoline! You can start the challenge at any time and read as many or as few books as you like. Just start a new topic with your name here: http://www.goodreads.com/topic/group_.... You can add books to our topic as you read them. There's no need to come up with a list of books to read ahead of time.
Marianne wrote: "Hi, Marianne, here,I particularly like books about Italy, especially Sicily, a much neglected island as far as travel writing goes. In form, I like travel memoirs the best :)
MGP"
Hi, Marianne! Welcome to the group! One of my favorite books is set in Sicily: The Leopard by Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa.
Marianne wrote: "Hi, Marianne, here,I particularly like books about Italy, especially Sicily, a much neglected island as far as travel writing goes. In form, I like travel memoirs the best :)
MGP"
You may be interested in books by Giovanni Verga and Leonardo Sciascia: both Sicilians and both wrote about Sicily.
Marianne wrote: "Thanks dely! I have read both authors :)MGP"
Yes, I had this presentiment seen that you like to read about Sicily but tried the same to give you the suggestions :D
Diane wrote: "Welcome to the group, Karoline! You can start the challenge at any time and read as many or as few books as you like. Just start a new topic with your name here:..."Thanks! Yeah I should start a thread, I am just a bit unsure on where to start and would love some start-up tips, like what route should I do (frequent flyer, trekker etc.) and should I do planning or just go with whatever book interests me? Hmm.
Hello. Glad to have found this group. It looks fun. I'm Anne, I live in France (near Toulouse), and love to spend time in southern Colorado, and I like China too. That actually reminds me of the author Peter May who has a mystery series set in France, and another in China. I like his stuff. I love mysteries and thrillers in general, so much so I started a digital-first publishing company to translate French ones. It's called Le French Book.
moshimoshineko wrote: "Hi there! I'm Tania - Portuguese, honorary Brit and currently studying in Copenhagen. I've loved reading and travelling from a really young age. I found out about this challenge a week ago and dec..."
Welcome to the group, Tania!
Anne wrote: "Hello. Glad to have found this group. It looks fun. I'm Anne, I live in France (near Toulouse), and love to spend time in southern Colorado, and I like China too. That actually reminds me of the au..."Welcome, Anne! I love the name of your publishing company! What a fabulous idea!
Diane wrote: "Anne wrote: "Hello. Glad to have found this group. It looks fun. I'm Anne, I live in France (near Toulouse), and love to spend time in southern Colorado, and I like China too. That actually reminds..."Anne,
Your company is a wonderful concept. I realize that you specialize in French books, but if you ever have time to squeeze in something for your own pleasure from other parts of the world, might I humbly suggest something from the Balkans, i.e., my own Literary Thriller, Kiss of the Butterfly.
Kirkus Reviews wrote: "In the glut of vampire-themed novels now on the market, Lyon’s debut stands out… skillful… authentic… fascinating… inspired… Lyon executes it perfectly... vivid... engaging... highly promising... sophisticated..." https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-re...
Best
James
Hi Everyone! I'm Laurel from the UK. Have just joined and am looking forward to trying this challenge - am going to wait til Jan to start though as I think I've left it a bit late for this year!
Hi, everyone! My name is Sera, and I have been wanting to do an around the world challenge for awhile now so I'm pleased to have found you. I just joined yesterday and am learning my way around the site. There is so much great information to be found here. I am looking forward to participating in the challenge that starts in January.
Welcome Laurel and Sera! I am so pleased to have you travel with us around the world in 2013!
G'day allMy name is Sally, I live in Australia, and I am new to this group - I have been 'reading around the world in 80 books' as a personal challenge for a few years now - got a bit bogged down and pushed it to one side (easy to do with personal challenges - LOL) I have kept track of my countries and books - have done well with Europe and Africa - stalled when I turned to South America and realised I didn't like any of the books at the public library - am making a concerted effort to start up again.
Hubby and I are off to Europe for a non-armchair traveller tour next year and I have gathered books set in the 6 countries we are visiting - hoping to have them finished by June. The countries included in the tour are: Hungary, Slovakia, Austria, Germany and The Netherlands. The last country is Belgium where we are departing for our long trip back to Australia.
Sally906 wrote: "G'day allMy name is Sally, I live in Australia, and I am new to this group - I have been 'reading around the world in 80 books' as a personal challenge for a few years now - got a bit bogged down..."
G'day, Sally! I am so glad that you will be "traveling" with us! I really envy your European trip. What a wonderful group of countries to visit!
Hi everyone. I'm a single woman living in north western New Jersey with my six cats (4 of which were unexpected kittens born exactly 59 days after I moved to my new place). And yes my female was pregnant when I moved...surprise. Anyway, I'm one of those people who has more books than sense - over 3000 in a one bedroom apartment (17 bookshelves lining every wall) plus at least 1500 ebooks. (It's a good thing I don't smoke...talk about a fire hazard.) I don't ever have to worry about running out of stuff to read. I also frequent my local library for new releases that I don't want to purchase.
I will pretty much read anything except non-fiction which I only read if forced to by challenge conditions. I recently joined an Around the World in 80 Days challenge and someone posted a link to this group. I read a lot (about 300 books per year) but they mostly center around the same places- US, UK, China, Australia and Africa so I thought maybe this group would get me reading about other parts of the world.
I don't have time right now to join any of the challenges since I'm working on the SRC Fall Challenge but that'll be over at the end of November and I should be able to include some of the new worldly books in the winter challenge. I will be joining the annual challenge and the US Road Trip since I do this one in a couple of groups.
Barbara ★ wrote: "Hi everyone. I'm a single woman living in north western New Jersey with my six cats (4 of which were unexpected kittens born exactly 59 days after I moved to my new place). And yes my female was p..."Wow, someone with more books and cats than I have! I'm impressed. Hopefully you'll be able to use a bunch of those books toward the challenges. I will caution you, however, that a side effect of this group is a rapidly expanding tbr pile. Glad to have you join us!
Hi, I joined today as I love reading books from all different countries. I was excited to see the around the world in a 1001 books category. This would be something I was really interested in joining in with. I was already planning to read 10 1001 books from countries which connect (where possible) so this is greeat motivation.I won't be joining in with the states challenge but hope to participate in some of the group reads.
Katrina wrote: "Hi, I joined today as I love reading books from all different countries. I was excited to see the around the world in a 1001 books category. This would be something I was really interested in joini..."Welcome, Katrina!
Katrina wrote: "Hi, I joined today as I love reading books from all different countries. I was excited to see the around the world in a 1001 books category. This would be something I was really interested in joini..."Welcome to the group, Katrina!
Diane wrote: "Wow, someone with more books and cats than I have! I'm impressed. Hopefully you'll be able to use a bunch of those books toward the challenges. I will caution you, however, that a side effect of this group is a rapidly expanding tbr pile. Glad to have you join us! "I've definitely noticed the ever growing TBR. Mine went from a small pocket sized notebook with maybe 100 books in it (before I discovered GRs) to over 6000 books (4000 of which I actually own) since Feb 2009. Even as fast as I read, I can't ever make a dent in it but I'm not complaining. Reading is my passion. Though I like to read more than I like to discuss what I've read. lol
Hi, I'm John, from Highlands of Scotland.
Hi everyone! Completely new to the Group part of Goodreads, so this will be a learning process for me. I joined this group as it is my way of virtually traveling. I have always enjoyed books that include the chance to learn more about a culture and place. I am always looking for book suggestions. Have an amazing day!!
Welcome to the group, John and Debbie!
Hello, I'm so excited to join this group! I love reading books thematically by country and by state, so I thought this would overlap with my reading this quite well.
I have a question for everyone, in case you've covered this country already. I'm traveling to Vietnam in January and want to read some books on/about the country before going. Any suggestions?
Thanks!
I have a question for everyone, in case you've covered this country already. I'm traveling to Vietnam in January and want to read some books on/about the country before going. Any suggestions?
Thanks!
Rebecca wrote: "Hello, I'm so excited to join this group! I love reading books thematically by country and by state, so I thought this would overlap with my reading this quite well.I have a question for everyone..."
You might look at the groups' shelves by country. So many to choose from.
Hi I'm new to this forum but thought the idea was wonderful. Looking forward to the challenge.
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)
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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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Christine Lahti is wonderful as Sylvie, and Bill Forsyth has an offbeat kind of humor (he directed "Local Hero" and "Gregory's Girl" -- both charming, and much lighter fare) that works with Robinson's rather bleak view of the world.