30.5 - mstan's task: Stranger in a Strange Land

[Dee]

just found this one (because somehow I ended up with the british version of the book

The Keeper of Lost Causes was released as Mercy in the UK - it fits within the whole Nordic Noir - Girl with the Dragon Tattoo kind of books

[mstan]

Sassafrass wrote: "ok, I am trying this challenge for the first time, but I have some questions.

For part A: does time period matter? I am thinking of doing It Happened One Autumn which is set in Eng..."

Hi Sassafrass, time period doesn't matter for option A. It Happened One Autumn is fine for the task.

For Option B, Blaze of Memory doesn't work. The two different titles need to already be in the same language.

[mstan]

Dee wrote: "just found this one (because somehow I ended up with the british version of the book

The Keeper of Lost Causes was released as Mercy in the UK - it fits within the ..."

Dee - this works for Option B!

[Dlmrose, Moderator Emeritus]

This info might help for B
Mysteries with name changes

[Usako]

Then Option B needs to be updated to say only English titles because the original title in Swedish translates to Men Who Hate Women -- two different titles.

[mstan]

Usako wrote: "Then Option B needs to be updated to say only English titles because the original title in Swedish translates to Men Who Hate Women -- two different titles."

Thanks Usako. Dlmrose will be helping me to edit the task description so it's clearer.

[mstan]

Hi everyone, the task description has been revised for Option B. I'd like to clarify that you can also read a book with two non-English titles, e.g. you could read a book that has two different titles in German.

Please let me know if you have other questions :)

[mstan]

Dlmrose wrote: "This info might help for B
Mysteries with name changes"

Great link Dlmrose. Thanks.

[Sue]

Thanks DLMrose. That link will be very helpful.

[Joy Marie]

Just wanted to check if the book Interred with Their Bones also published in the UK as The Shakespeare Secret will work for option A & B. Jennifer Lee Carrell was born in Washington D. C. and the book is set in England, Spain, and the US.
Thanks!

[mstan]

Hello Joy Marie, I am OK with 'Interred with Their Bones' for either option though slightly more inclined to it for Option B as I can't quite tell from the description if it is 'predominantly' set in other countries (but since the UK is a 'significant' part of the plot because of Shakespeare, I'll take it).

Do note though that you'll need a second book for this task. Hope this helps!

[Christina]

Would Stolen: A letter to my captor work for A. She was born In Wales and the story takes place in Australia.

[mstan]

Christina wrote: "Would Stolen: A letter to my captor work for A. She was born In Wales and the story takes place in Australia."

Hi Christina, yup it will work. I've been meaning to read that myself, for another task.

[Sera]

Is non-fiction acceptable for a? I'm thinking specifically about US writer, Barbara Demick 's book .

[mstan]

Sera wrote: "Is non-fiction acceptable for a? I'm thinking specifically about US writer, Barbara Demick 's book ."

Hi Sera, non-fiction is definitely acceptable. I think this sounds like a great book and I am adding it to my own tbr list!

[Kathy G.]

Would Murder on the Orient Express work for A?
Set in Yugolavia and she was born in England.

Thanks.

[Sera]

mstan wrote: "Sera wrote: "Is non-fiction acceptable for a? I'm thinking specifically about US writer, Barbara Demick 's book ."

Hi Sera, non-fiction is definitely acceptable..."

Thanks so much! I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts on it.

[KarenF]

Another option for B for Urban Fantasy readers - Midnight Riot (in the US) was released in the UK as Rivers of London.

[Stacie]

I am wondering if To Timbuktu: Nine Countries, Two People, One True Story will work for A. Looks as if the author is from the US and the book takes place in several countries outside the US

[mstan]

Stacie - To Timbuktu: Nine Countries, Two People, One True Story is fine for A!

Kathy G - Murder on the Orient Express is great for A too. I like that one very much myself :)

KarenF - thank you for another suggestion for B; I'll add it to the list.

[Dee]

for A - Purge - she is Finnish and the book is set in Estonia

[mstan]

Dee wrote: "for A - Purge - she is Finnish and the book is set in Estonia"

That looks absolutely fascinating (and yes, it works for A). I have added it to my tbr list!

[Dee]

thanks! i'm trying to finish up my around the world challenge (80 books set in 80 different countries) that ends on Sep 30 and I have 12 more countries to fit

[Lisa]

I own a book or rather I own two copies of the same book published under different titles that should work for Part B (Cultural Shock). The title and cover switch fooled me into buying it twice. I hate when that happens. Just wanted to confirm it works for Part B.

Under a Blood Red Sky
The Red Scarf by Kate Furnivall

[mstan]

Lisa wrote: "I own a book or rather I own two copies of the same book published under different titles that should work for Part B (Cultural Shock). The title and cover switch fooled me into buying it twice. ..."

Hi Lisa, yes, that would work for B, but what a frustrating thing to have happen!

[Deedee]

J.M. Coetzee also fits: (author: born in S. Africa/ moved to Australia/ books set in S. Africa)

Does it matter when he wrote the book? If he wrote a book about S. Africa while living in S. Africa and then moved to Australia, would that fit this task? Or would it only be the books he wrote about South Africa after he moved to Australia? Thanks!

[mstan]

Deedee wrote: "J.M. Coetzee also fits: (author: born in S. Africa/ moved to Australia/ books set in S. Africa)

Does it matter when he wrote the book? If he wrote a book about S. Africa while livin..."

Hi Dee, I'll take it even if the author wrote the book while living in the country itself. That's because it's hard to verify sometimes exactly when the author penned his ideas down, or when the book was written before it was published.

[Chris]

How about Abraham Verghese's Cutting for Stone for Option C? He was born in Ethiopia and the story is set there, but he has lived in the U.S. for a long time.

[mstan]

Chris wrote: "How about Abraham Verghese's Cutting for Stone for Option C? He was born in Ethiopia and the story is set there, but he has lived in the U.S. for a long time."

Hi Chris, that works for C.

[Dee]

I'm assuming a book about someone who volunteers for the Peace Corps would work for A...specifically - The Ponds of Kalambayi - volunteers and ends up in Zaire

[mstan]

Dee wrote: "I'm assuming a book about someone who volunteers for the Peace Corps would work for A...specifically - The Ponds of Kalambayi - volunteers and ends up in Zaire"

Dee - yes, that would work!

[Dee]

thanks! starting my second iteration of around the world in 80 books (set in 80 different countries) and trying to fit in as many as possible

[Sandra]

Would The Book Thief by Markus Zusak work for Part A? He was born in Australia and the book takes place in Germany.

[mstan]

Sandra wrote: "Would The Book Thief by Markus Zusak work for Part A? He was born in Australia and the book takes place in Germany."

Hi Sandra, yup, it's in the approved list.

[Susan]

Will Falling Leaves: The Memoir of an Unwanted Chinese Daughter by Adeline Yen Mah work for C?

[mstan]

Susan wrote: "Will Falling Leaves: The Memoir of an Unwanted Chinese Daughter by Adeline Yen Mah work for C?"

Hi Susan, yup, that would work.

[April]

Will Sarah by Marek Halter work for A?

Halter was born in Poland and the setting in Middle East

[mstan]

April wrote: "Will Sarah by Marek Halter work for A?

Halter was born in Poland and the setting in Middle East"

Hi April, yup that works!