Around the World discussion
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2012-2024 Discussions
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Where in the World Are You?!?! (Currently Reading)
I'm still reading Bloodlands: Europe Between Hitler and Stalin which goes slow, because after having read some ten pages I have to put the book away, because what Timothy Snyder reveals is beyond normal people's imagination. I thought I knew something about what happened in the extermination camps of the Nazis, but Snyder brings so much more knowledge.
Gaeta1 wrote: "Sylvia wrote: "I'm still reading Bloodlands: Europe Between Hitler and Stalin which goes slow, because after having read some ten pages I have to put the book away, because what Timo..."I agree, it is a great book, but what the author is revealing is so devastating, that after having read for a while I have to stop and think things over again.
Started Island Of Wings, set on St. Kilda in the Hebrides (Scotland)... Also on the Orange Prize longlist.
Judy wrote: "I am getting ready to start In the Time of the Butterflies."Are you? Eager to hear thoughts.
I'm with former Yugoslavian, Dubravka Ugresic at the Berlin Zoo looking at the contents of a Walrus's stomach. Yep, you read right. The Museum of Unconditional Surrender
Judy and Mikki, I plan to read both of those someday but In the Time of Butterflies is the only one on my list for the "52" challenge right now.
Jenny wrote: "Started Island Of Wings, set on St. Kilda in the Hebrides (Scotland)... Also on the Orange Prize longlist."Fancy bumping into you here in this remote place. I'd be interested to hear your thoughts, as the characters in the novel are based on real individuals that had a significant impact on the island way of life and will crop up later on in my book. By all accounts the minister was like John Lithgow's character in Footloose, and banned dancing and celebrations.
Spending time looking back at the Spanish Civil War with Soldiers of Salamis, and I've decided to take a side trip to Chile with Taratuta and Still Life with Pipe: Two Novellas
Judy wrote: "You know, Sue, I was just thinking...In the Time of the Butterflies, you could find them on the Island Of Wings, but now there's more chance of finding them in The Museum of Unconditional Surrender. Do you agree? ..."Yeah, but they'll be pinned down on trays.
Judy wrote: "Poor little butterflies..."Such a shame. ;/
I guess I'll continue to watch butterflies in the wild.
Sue, Judy is a little saucy isn't she?
I'm in New York again. I'm reading Cooking The Books by Bonnie Calhoon. It's a good cozy.
Cooking the Books
Cooking the Books
I'm looking forward to reading Alvarez. The various reviews are very good (though they don't mention any specifics about pinning those butterflies down, Judy, tho I guess the government did).
Sue wrote: "I'm looking forward to reading Alvarez. The various reviews are very good (though they don't mention any specifics about pinning those butterflies down, Judy, tho I guess the government did)."Ahahaha! Nice one, Sue!
Mikki wrote: "Sue wrote: "I'm looking forward to reading Alvarez. The various reviews are very good (though they don't mention any specifics about pinning those butterflies down, Judy, tho I guess the government..."I did have to think a bit for that one Mikki!
I'm still in Africa, but have moved on to some lighter reading with Palace Walk and Morality for Beautiful Girls. It's nice to have a break from the stress of civil war, murder and starvation experienced in the last two books I read.
Gosh, I need a job that allows me more time to read! I'm 3 books behind, and my Kobo broke today, so I won't be able to read on the go as easily. (those ereaders are just so portable!). I've just gone through my shelf of real actual physical books, and settled on The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. It's long enough that it won't help me catch up, but I've been wanting to read this for some time now. Maybe it's a good thing the Kobo is out of commission for a bit of time!
Still in Palestine, in the area around Ramallah, with Palestinian Walks: Forays into a Vanishing Landscape. This is a nicely written book with beautiful descriptions of the desert flora and landscape in the early pages. My delay in reading is strictly due to me, not the book.
I took a sidetrack for a while reading a book about medieval cathedral building in France. In the meantime I continue with Bloodlands: Europe Between Hitler and Stalin which I've read for 77%.
I did a good deal of The Lemon Tree which is absolutely a great book to read. I learn a lot about the Middle-East and its development during the years when I was still a kid.
Sylvia wrote: "I did a good deal of The Lemon Tree which is absolutely a great book to read. I learn a lot about the Middle-East and its development during the years when I was still a kid."Isn't it a great book Sylvia! Glad you're liking it.
Sue wrote: "Sylvia wrote: "I did a good deal of The Lemon Tree which is absolutely a great book to read. I learn a lot about the Middle-East and its development during the years when I was still a kid."Isn't..."
You said I should read it. Thanks for the recommendation. It's really great to read about what happened in the Middle-East when Israel was founded as a independent state and what went wrong from the beginning. I pity the Palestinian people who have lost their houses, their property and their homeland. I wonder, but I hope, that it will be possible to found an independent Palestinian state as well.
I've been evaculated from St. Kilda, along with the rest of the population, and taken flight with a dashing Frenchman in Wind, Sand and Stars by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. We're heading to the deserts of Libya, but I feel it won't be plain sailing all the way.
Well I just left Switzerland with my stay at Hotel du Lac. Can't say I am any wiser on the culture of that country. I am enjoying my stay in Riyadh with Girls of Riyadh or to Israel with Homesick. I can't decide.Okay I am not sure what is wrong with Goodreads to day. I was trying to say I was contemplating going to Serbia with the Internationals or to Israel with Homesick. For some reason it did not like the link for The Internationals by Sarah May.
I'm currently traveling back and forth between Morocco and the United States with Skeletons on the Zahara: A True Story of Survival and Lonesome Dove. They're both really good so far. Also very hot!
One book which I wanted to re-read is Heidi. I put in on my reading list for Switzerland.I'm still learning a lot about ancient Egyptian Art. Still reading Bloodlands: Europe Between Hitler and Stalin which I'm reading for Ukraine, but Poland, Russia or Belarus would also be a possibility as the book covers that area.
On my way to the Channel Island of Geurnsey to reflect on the past with Mr. Ebenezer Le Page who is a very old man, but don't ask how hold because he doesn't know. His mother recorded his birth date on the front page of the big Bible, but only put down the day and month, forgetting the year.The Book of Ebenezer le Page
Mikki wrote: "On my way to the Channel Island of Geurnsey to reflect on the past with Mr. Ebenezer Le Page who is a very old man, but don't ask how hold because he doesn't know. His mother recorded his birth da..."Mikki, I'll be curious what you think of this. It's a book I'm interested in too.
I am in Korea learning lots from "Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea". The author makes it very easy to read, understand and connect with the people. (i'm sorry I do not know how to link my books yet)
Dee wrote: "I am in Korea learning lots from "Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea". The author makes it very easy to read, understand and connect with the people. (i'm sorry I do not know how to l..."I'm reading that one soon too--good to know you're having a positive experience with it so far!
Judy wrote: "Warnie, how are you liking Skeletons on the Zahara: A True Story of Survival?"I had a little trouble getting into it for the first 50 pages or so, because that part's mainly background info. But as soon as King actually started telling the story of the shipwreck and what happened to the men from there, I got totally sucked in. It's a weird combination of fascinating and absolutely horrifying, and King's done a great job of describing things for the most part. I'm definitely planning on reading the first-hand accounts at some point though. Anyway, yeah, I'm about halfway through and it's really good so far!
Judy wrote: "I'm traveling back to China with Waiting by Ha Jin. It was helpful to have read Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China first as it gave a more in-depth look at Maoist China. This book doesn't give mu..."My book club will be reading
Waiting this year. You'll have to let me know what you think of it!
Sue wrote: "Mikki, I'll be curious what you think of this. It's a book I'm interested in too. ..."
Gaeta1 wrote: "It is also my England choice--if I ever get oot of 8th century Kyoto."
Not sure why, but it's giving me difficulty from the start -- not too engaging. Will give it another 50 pages before deciding.
Sue wrote: "Mikki wrote: "On my way to the Channel Island of Geurnsey to reflect on the past with Mr. Ebenezer Le Page who is a very old man, but don't ask how hold because he doesn't know. His mother recorde..." Have you ever been to Guernsey? It's a lovely island. My husband and I celebrated our tenth anniversary of our wedding there. Lots of nature and a beautiful little chapel completely made of broken china. I have to check my photo albums and see if I can show you an image of it.
O, yes, Sylvia, please show me an image as I've only seen Google images (which are gorgeous). The chapel sounds amazing!
Sylvia wrote: "Sue wrote: "Mikki wrote: "On my way to the Channel Island of Geurnsey to reflect on the past with Mr. Ebenezer Le Page who is a very old man, but don't ask how hold because he doesn't know. His mo..."Never been there Sylvia. I'd love to see a picture too. I've been to London and a few places in England and Ireland but I'd love to travel throughout Britain.
Mikki wrote: "O, yes, Sylvia, please show me an image as I've only seen Google images (which are gorgeous). The chapel sounds amazing!" I'll have to check the negatives of the images I took and they are somewhere in box at the loft so please give me time to fight spiders, rats, mice and cockroaches. :) :) :) Oh, and a lot of cobwebs and dust!!!
I'm supposed to be in Scotland with The Stonor Eagles but they fly around a lot! We started in Scotland on the Isle of Skye. Then we flew to Norway. The human in this story grew up in England, though his grandfather came from Scotland. I hear that the eagles are going to fly to Iceland. I'm getting jet lag!
Sylvia wrote: "Mikki wrote: "I'll have to check the negatives of the images I took and they are somewhere in box at the loft so please give me time to fight spiders, rats, mice and cockroaches. :) :) :) Oh, and a lot of cobwebs and dust!!! ..."Haha, all that for little ole' me?
I'm feeling a bit like Christmas, and not just because of yesterday's snow flurries!I just finished The Complete Persepolis, and am waiting to see what I'll be reading next. The choice will be determined for me once I discover if the parcel pick-up notice I found in my mailbox is for my repaired Kobo (in which case I'll pick up 1493: Uncovering the New World Columbus Created or if it's my order from Powell's books, in which case I'll be reading Liquid Jade: The Story of Tea from East to West
I can't wait to find out which it'll be!
Liquid Jade: The Story of Tea from East to West it is! I bought a couple whole wheat croissants on the way back from the post office, brewed a cup of Oolong tea, and am settling in for an exploration of the events and history about one of the world's favourite beverages. I'm looking forward to what promises to be an interesting journey!
Sylvia wrote: "I took a sidetrack for a while reading a book about medieval cathedral building in France. In the meantime I continue with Bloodlands: Europe Between Hitler and Stalin which I've read for 77%."Sylvia, what's the name of the book about medieval cathedral building in France?
Sharon wrote: "Sylvia wrote: "I took a sidetrack for a while reading a book about medieval cathedral building in France. In the meantime I continue with Bloodlands: Europe Between Hitler and Stalin which I've rea..."It's this one:
The Cathedral Builders Of The Middle Ages. It's a small paperback, but the illustrations are marvelous. I hope to finish it by tomorrow, so you can read my review.
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Around the World
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I've put aside 1493: Uncovering the New World Columbus Created for now, which may explain why I'm so lukewarm about Lawrence. I was loving 1493! Not the first time I wish I could read two books at the same time! (I mean, I often have two or more books on the go, but with one set of eyes.... )