Where in the World Are You?!?! (Currently Reading) Showing 51-100 of 1,227

[[deleted user]]

I'm in Switzerland, where Stephen Batchelor has arrived from Dharamsala, India and is now preparing for a visit from the Dalai Lama and engaging in Jungian sandplay analysis. I'm just reading Confession of a Buddhist Atheist for fun, though--it's not one of my 52.

[[deleted user]]

That's why I have to make friends on the Internet.

[[deleted user]]

And sexy.

[Anne]

Judy, don't you think that this group has the best comedy routines? Take this one, for instance.

[Julia]

Chrissie wrote: "Re: Kristin Lavransdatter

I would recommend reading an edition translated by Tiina Nunnally. The book is available as three separate titles on Kindle - but the translator is different ..."

Kristin Lavransdottar is amazing - I'm reading it in a German translation, but it's truly outstanding not only in lenght, but it's one of the book which make you go back in time, which you savour and read more like a delicious cake. Of course, there are some parts I'm enjoying less (normal in an almost 1000 pages book), but overall it's a book I love to go back to and I'll be sad to let go of.

[Chrissie]

Julia wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "Re: Kristin Lavransdatter

I would recommend reading an edition translated by Tiina Nunnally. The book is available as three separate titles on Kindle - but the trans..."

Julia,I would really like to read KL! if you are interested in a Swedish tale that compares check out the series that beginns with The Emigrants and continues with Unto a Good Land, The Settlers and The Last Letter Home. All of these were made into films in about the 1980s. All Swedes read these books by Vilhelm Moberg. Another Swedish classic is Selma LagerlöfThe Wonderful Adventures of Nils about a boy that travels all over Sweden on the back of a goose. It is all about different folt tales of different regions and of course the geopgraphy of Sweden.

[Anne]

Judy wrote: "Anne wrote: "Judy, don't you think that this group has the best comedy routines? Take this one, for instance."

That's not the howling of the wind sweeping down your Rocky Mountains, that's me lau..."

D)

[Janice]

Judy wrote: "That's not the howling of the wind sweeping down your Rocky Mountains, that's me laughing!"

Hmmm... and here I thought it was an avalanche! (running and ducking)

[Louise]

Hello! I'm from Denmark :-) Off to start making a list!

[Mikki]

Julia wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "Re: Kristin Lavransdatter

I would recommend reading an edition translated by Tina Nunnally. The book is available as three separate titles on Kindle - but the trans..."

Julia, I've been putting this book off for years. Did you find it in the beginning to be a laborious read or were you engaged from the start? I've just gotta do it!

[Anne]

Mikki,
I know you didn't ask me, but I just have to say that I found it laborious at time, but overall really worthwhile. Are you finding the beginning laborious? I read it a while ago so I don't remember finding the beginning particularly laborious. No more so than other long novels.

[Anne]

Louise wrote: "Hello! I'm from Denmark :-) Off to start making a list!"

Welcome Louise. Have a good time making your list. You are aware of our Master List and our recommendations by country, I hope. Great tools for list-making.

[Janice]

Hi Louise. Welcome!

[Mikki]

Anne wrote: "Mikki,
I know you didn't ask me, but I just have to say that I found it laborious at time, but overall really worthwhile. Are you finding the beginning laborious? I read it a while ago so I don..."

See, that's what I'm afraid of. Sometimes if books don't woo me enough at the start I get bored. It's kinda like the same thing with men! ;D

[Anne]

Mikki wrote: " See, that's what I'm afraid of. Sometimes if books don't woo me enough at the start I get bored. It's kinda like the same thing with men! ;D "

Well, as for the book, give it a try. As for men, all I can say is hahahahahahahahahahaahahahaahah.

[Louise]

So far I HAVE to try and make a list with unread books I already own. Hmm I have 600-700 unread titles on my shelves, so maybe I'll be able to do it :-) (Although all your lists are very inspiring and will no doubt at some point add to my tbr piles... :-)

[Anne]

Louise: "(Although all your lists are very inspiring and will no doubt at some point add to my tbr piles... :-) "

No doubt about it. D)

[Janice]

Louise wrote: "So far I HAVE to try and make a list with unread books I already own. Hmm I have 600-700 unread titles on my shelves, so maybe I'll be able to do it :-) (Although all your lists are very inspiring ..."

That's what I did. My goal is to read those first.

[HannahN]

Suzanne wrote: "I just love this idea. Right now I'm in Cambodia reading First They Killed My Father. I'll post my complete list once I get it together:)"

Hi Suzanne, I'm in Cambodia also! :)

[Darrell]

Continuing my head start on 2012, I've finished the second book on my list, the entry for Spain, Winter in Madrid by C.J. Sansom. My review (5 stars): http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

[Julia]

Mikki wrote: "Anne wrote: "Mikki,
I know you didn't ask me, but I just have to say that I found it laborious at time, but overall really worthwhile. Are you finding the beginning laborious? I read it a while..."

Haha, that's a great comment.....Love it...And well, I didn't feel that the beginning was particularly lenghty, it's the whole book. Even though I just had to give it five stars in the end for the pure sweep and pity I felt for finally putting this book away after more than six weeks spent there in Norway with Kristin and her friends, there were parts which dragged. Of all three books, I liked the second one best, particularly Simon was a character I tremendously enjoyed. For me, it as also the tome in which everyone got more of an edge in character, and that's what kept me interested quite until the end. The people in the book - especially Kristin and her husband - are far from perfect, she's often aloof and hard, very selfish sometimes. She's not the heroine I most loved ever, but she was interesting and well-drawn as were most of the people around her. Also, the minute details just deserve every hail Sigrid Undset ever got. Still, I think one needs to be in the mood for this book. I just felt the need to sometimes withdraw into a completely different world, and that's what this book did for me. Now for a change, I've started to read a much shorter novel with a completely different style, very precise and poignant, not epic in any way.....Maybe just wait for the right time to delve into a tale of love, passion, guilt set in a completely realistic, well-researched historic Norway.

[Chel]

Mikki wrote: "Julia wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "Re: Kristin Lavransdatter

I would recommend reading an edition translated by Tina Nunnally. The book is available as three separate titles on Kindle - bu..."

This is a very engaging book from the start, imo. I highly recommend the Tiina Nunnally translation. She has won many awards for translation of the Scandinavian languages.

[Chel]

I'm from Wisconsin.

[Darrell]

I've finished and reviewed Ali and Nino: A Love Story -- loved the book. I'm listing it under Azerbaijan, but it could also be listed under Iran. Highly recommended.
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

[Constance]

I was born in Florida and live in Switzerland. I am a citizen of both countries.

[Cjandres]

I literally just came back from the Philippines. I must start updating my challenge list.

[Shomeret]

Well, I'm physically in the U.S. but I was in Japan in the 19th century this evening while reading The Printmaker's Daughter for this challenge. I finished it and let's see if I can do a link to the review rather than copying and pasting. Shomeret's Review of The Printmaker's Daughter

Then I read the first chapter of my third book for this challenge and now I'm in 12th century Mongolia. It's the same continent as Japan, but I've time traveled back 700 years. The book is Genghis: Birth of an Empire by Conn Iggulden which is the book of the month for Historical Fictionistas.

[Shomeret]

I'm leaving Genghis Khan's Sea of Grass for other pastures today. Here's my review of Conn Iggulden's book. http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

I'm taking a break from the challenge with a few books that take place in the U.S. Since I live there, I'm not including any books that take place in that country in my challenge reads. But if anyone wants to know where I'm heading tonight, it's New York.

[Lesley]

I read Genghis: Birth of an Empire some time ago and really liked it, so am reading #2 in the series for this challenge and will probably go on to read the rest some other time.

[[deleted user]]

Costa Rica: The Birds of Costa Rica: A Field Guide

[Gussie]

Physically, I'm in India.
Literally, I'm in 1920s Soviet Russia - The Master and Margarita

[Julia]

Hey Navdeep, how are you liking The Master and Margarita so far? For me, it was quite a challenge, even though in the end absolutely worthwhile the read. The satire is to-the-point, even though I sometimes had the feeling that I missed out on some aspects. But I was reading this also while travelling in the Ukraine, and after seeing Bulgakov's birthplace in Kiev it was kind of a must. Still, I didn't find it the easiest "holiday read"....

[Vicky]

I'm reading [Book:The Opposite House|6277226], which is mainly set in London, however it is a story of a Cuban immigrant, the child of exiles from the Castro regime, a black woman pregnant by her white Ghanaian boyfriend. It is interwoven with a tale of a Santeria orisha (spirit/saint) who lives in the magical opposite house, which opens its doors into London on one side and Lagos, Nigeria on the other.

[Gussie]

Julia wrote: "Hey Navdeep, how are you liking The Master and Margarita so far? For me, it was quite a challenge, even though in the end absolutely worthwhile the read. The satire is to-the-point, even though I s..."

Hey Julia, I'm actually liking it quite a lot and I've only read a 150 pages or so yet. I love the slapstick satire and it's unlike any other Russian book that I've read. I'm not sure I understand the allusions, symbolism and the whole story right now but I'm intrigued enough to keep reading. You're right - it's not an easy holiday read. I keep getting distracted by other trivial pursuits. :P
And reading a book from the country that you're visiting, what a wonderful idea!

[[deleted user]]

I am back to Lesotho.

[[deleted user]]

Navdeep wrote: "Physically, I'm in India.
Literally, I'm in 1920s Soviet Russia - The Master and Margarita"

I too am a huge fan of Russian books! There's nothing like it anywhere else. I'll be doing some serious Russian readings with another group. Always nice to see a Russian book lover!

I too am from India (originally) but not live in Sri Lanka.

[Gussie]

Shanez wrote: "Navdeep wrote: "Physically, I'm in India.
Literally, I'm in 1920s Soviet Russia - The Master and Margarita"

I too am a huge fan of Russian books! There's nothing like it anywhere el..."

Huzzah! Another Russian books fan! I was 14 when I first picked my dad's dog-eared, USSR-published The Insulted and Humiliated and never looked back. There's something about their writing that makes me want to leave everything else and just read their books. :D

[Julia]

Hey Navdeep and Shanez, interesting that you two are from India and so much into Russian literature - has anyone of you read The Namesake? The main character is a boy of Indian origin who grows up in the States and is named after Gogol (partly because of his father's love for this author)....I have to read more Russian literature, I loved Anna Karenina and everything I've read so far by Fyodor Dostoyevsky, but there's so much still to discover...

[Gussie]

Julia wrote: "Hey Navdeep and Shanez, interesting that you two are from India and so much into Russian literature - has anyone of you read The Namesake? The main character is a boy of Indian origin ..."

Hey Julia. I have read The Namesake but except for the Gogol part, the story didn't appeal to me, mainly because I am a bit tired of the whole Indo-nostalgic theme that Indian-origin authors keep using to attract readership. I actually preferred its movie adaptation (a very rare instance) to the book because it was pretty well made with Aashima's character being much stronger than what was portrayed in the book.

I'd also only read Dostoyevsky and Tolstoy till I picked up Bulgakov. I've read a few of Chekhov's short stories but yet to read a whole proper collection. I want to try Maxim Gorky and Vladimir Nabokov next.

[Beth]

Ok, I'm still finishing up last year's 36 country tour. I'm in Cairo almost half way through Palace Walk by Naguib Mahfouz. It took me a few chapters, but I'm definitely hooked now. Physically I'm right outside Philly (much less exciting) and will be heading to NJ today to see rest of my family, who are congregating at my sister's.

[Vicky]

The Opposite House by Helen Oyeyemi
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

[Julia]

Navdeep wrote: "Julia wrote: "Hey Navdeep and Shanez, interesting that you two are from India and so much into Russian literature - has anyone of you read The Namesake? The main character is a boy of ..."

Interesting view of The Namesake, I get your point even though I quite liked the book and its view of how people lose orientation for a while when they leave their original country. You're right, the film was a really good adaptation. I'm not sure which one I enjoyed better - they were definitely "en par" which is rare in films/movies.

I've read Lolita and I was kind of disappointed in it - maybe I had expected a far longer book? I don't know, there was something which didn't really match my expectations, but that's maybe a problem such famous books have to face. Still, I'd be interested in more Nabokov and Gorky must be interesting to read as well.....

[Julia]

Last book I've read for this challenge (and also out of interest, of course): Mema by Gabonese author Daniel Mengara - very good African literature. I've read some African authors last year and this is one of the books I've enjoyed most - very simple in language, short and a fast read, but very accurate on African reality. The opposition of villagelife and the modern style in the city, old traditions, oral literature - it covers a lot in just 120 pages and the tribute to motherhood (Mema means my mother) is just lovely to read and everyone everywhere can relate to that. Recommended!

[Suzanne]

I just finished When the Elephants Dance, and really enjoyed this look at life in the Philippines during World War II. For my review, visit:

http://coldread.wordpress.com/2011/12...

[Julia]

Barry wrote: "Julia wrote: "I've read Lolita and I was kind of disappointed in it - maybe I had expected a far longer book? I don't know, there was something which didn't really match my expectations, but that's..."

Thanks Barry, that's good to know - maybe Lolita has just had such great impact because of the scandalous topic? I have to admit I've read it such a long time ago that I can't say anymore what really disappointed me, it was just not a very special read, but I'll check out the books you've recommended, they sound really interesting. I tend to like short stories better and better anyway. I used to avoid them in favour of novels, but nowadays I sometimes think that some authors are just at their best in this genre.

[Gussie]

Julia wrote: "Navdeep wrote: "Julia wrote: "Hey Navdeep and Shanez, interesting that you two are from India and so much into Russian literature - has anyone of you read The Namesake? The main charac..."

Despite its really disturbing theme, I've always wanted to read Lolita. However, every time I've come close to picking a copy at the book store, I've had to drop it in disgust because of the five irritating words on the rather unimaginative cover - "Now a major motion picture!"

I mean, even if there IS a movie based on it, a book's cover doesn't need to be ruined with that declaration. >.<

[[deleted user]]

Okay, now I just left Lesotho with
Singing Away the Hunger: The Autobiography of an African Woman.

[Beth]

Thought you guys would enjoy this. Not a commentary on the book, except in that I wouldn't put it down when my lids were drooping. Husband took this photo when he came to bed:

Really want to get out of Egypt before 2012, so I can start fresh!!!

[Suzanne]

Love the photo, Beth! Reminds me of...ME!

[Shomeret]

Suzanne wrote: "I just finished When the Elephants Dance, and really enjoyed this look at life in the Philippines during World War II. For my review, visit:

http://coldread.wordpress.com/2011/12......"

Thanks, Suzanne. I just picked up When The Elephants Dance at the library today.