Around the World discussion
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2012-2024 Discussions
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Where in the World Have You Been?!?! (Book Finished and Review Linked)
I never thought I would say this, but I am very happy to be leaving London after finishing Wolf Hall which I listend to on audio and did NOT enjoy at all. It was only sheer dogged determination that made me finish it. (http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...). I'm not going far though since my next audio selection is Dubliners. I've never attempted Joyce before, but for some reason thought I ought to try it. It's only 8 discs long, so not a huge long-term commitment either way, and it seems more manageable than Ulysses or Finnegans Wake: A Facsimile Of Buffalo Notebook Vi. A.
Judy and Sue, thanks for the congrats. I finished and gone fishin', carefree leisure in "Wild Swans".
Wendy wrote: "I never thought I would say this, but I am very happy to be leaving London after finishing Wolf Hall which I listend to on audio and did NOT enjoy at all. It was only sheer dogged d..."How nice to use audiobooks and great fun you managed to listen to them. I tried to work with audiobooks, but I can't keep focused on the narrator and after a while my mind starts drifting or I even fall asleep. So I work myself through my 500 and more pages books, because I love big volumes. :) Lots of fun with the
Dubliners
Sylvia wrote: "Wendy wrote: "I never thought I would say this, but I am very happy to be leaving London after finishing Wolf Hall which I listend to on audio and did NOT enjoy at all. It was only ..."I only recently gave audio books a try. I only listen in the car so it's easier to focus on them. If I tried to listen to them at home I don't think I would get much out of them since there would be too many distractions.
Wendy wrote: "I'm not going far though since my next audio selection is Dubliners. I've never attempted Joyce before, but for some reason thought I ought to try it..."Wendy, I'm not laughing at you, but I'm laughing because you and the prize-winners are not working out this year! Dubliners should be better. I've only read "The Dead" though I really enjoyed it and keep meaning to get to the others. I'll be reading your updates to see what you think. Fingers crossed!
Mikki wrote: "Wendy wrote: "I'm not going far though since my next audio selection is Dubliners. I've never attempted Joyce before, but for some reason thought I ought to try it..."Wendy, I'm not laughing at y..."
Yes Mikki, I have made Anne promise to talk sense into me the next time I get the bright idea to even try another of those Booker time-sucks. Definitely over hyped Gaeta!
Judy wrote: "Will you have a review, Wendy, for Wolf Hall?"Not sure why the link I posted initially didn't come through, but it looks like you found it anyway Judy. Here is another attempt to get the link into this thread -- http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
Finally got finished with The Snow Leopard, and what a tedious read it was. Still interesting however. Review is here: http://www.epinions.com/review/The_Sn...
Rebecca wrote: "Finally got finished with The Snow Leopard, and what a tedious read it was. Still interesting however. Review is here: http://www.epinions.com/review/The_Sn......" Seems a wonderful book to me. I have added it to my TBR list and have ordered the book immediately. I like your review and it encourages me to start reading as soon as I have received my copy
Just came out of Italy with History: A Novel. It ws good, although perhaps a bit overly inclined to dwell on things I found it had no reason to dwell on, and skip things I would have liked to see.
I recently departed from Fance and Aquitaine upon finishing Queen Defiant: A Novel of Eleanor of Aquitaine -- my review is here (http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...). Now I am in Venice and Malta with The Midwife of Venice which I am about halfway through and am really enjoying. If anyone is looking for a good book for Italy, then I recommend this one.
Just left New Zealand's mental health hospitals in the 1950s. Bleak place, but great book: Faces In The Water. Mikki, saw you liked it too. My review is on my blog: http://bethslistlove.wordpress.com/20...
Beth wrote: "Just left New Zealand's mental health hospitals in the 1950s. Bleak place, but great book: Faces In The Water. Mikki, saw you liked it too. My review is on my blog: http://bethslistlo..."Nice review Beth. Not sure if I'm up for such a harrowing read right now but I'll keep it in mind. I did see the movie of her life, including hospitalization, (can't recall the name at the moment) and I remember it was very good.
Sue wrote: "Beth wrote: "Just left New Zealand's mental health hospitals in the 1950s. Bleak place, but great book: Faces In The Water. Mikki, saw you liked it too. My review is on my blog: http:..."The movie is called An Angel at My Table, which is also the title of the third volume of her autobiography.
Beth wrote: "Just left New Zealand's mental health hospitals in the 1950s. Bleak place, but great book: Faces In The Water. Mikki, saw you liked it too..."I did enjoy it very much. So glad to see that you were finally able to get your hands on a copy and enjoyed it as well.
The audiobook version of Frame's Owls Do Cry includes several interesting essays at the end on her life and writing.
Left Ireland's ghastly industrial schools with The Whipping Club (review) and barely escaped North Korea with Nothing to Envy (review, highly recommended!).
gck wrote: "Left Ireland's ghastly industrial schools with The Whipping Club (review) and barely escaped North Korea with Nothing to Envy (review, highly recommended!)." Thanks for the recommendation. I've added
Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea to my TBR list. Two of my GR-friends marked it as to-read as well.
gck wrote: "Left Ireland's ghastly industrial schools with The Whipping Club (review) and barely escaped North Korea with Nothing to Envy (review, highly recommended!)."Thanks, gck, Nothing to Envy has been on my radar for a while.
Anne wrote: "Sue wrote: "Beth wrote: "Just left New Zealand's mental health hospitals in the 1950s. Bleak place, but great book: Faces In The Water. Mikki, saw you liked it too. My review is on my..."Thanks Anne. An Angel At My Table it was.
I have departed Venice and The Midwife of Venice. My review is here (http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...). Now I am in Iran with Things I've Been Silent About which has been sitting on my shelf for quite some time and I am glad to finally be getting to it. I read Reading Lolita in Tehran several years ago and enjoyed it, so am looking forward to reading this one by Nafisi as well too.
Finished with Last Train from Cuernavaca, my entry for Mexico, and the longer review is here: http://www.epinions.com/review/Book_L...
I have completed my visit to China withWild Swans: Three Daughters of China. My review is here: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
Just left Sicily with Little Novels of Sicily (my review).You can also read about the traditional cake made in Sicily for Easter in my baking blog.
I finished my sojourn in Lithuania, a fun but rather long stay with Polish Gentlefolk. I then went to Riga (Latvia) and had an exciting time with detective Kurt Wallander. After that I needed a contemplative rest stay on one of the tiny islands in the Gulf of Finland - a perfect end to a long Indian summer.
I have finished Homer's Iliad which I found interesting to read. I made a review and leave Greece to complete my journey in Italy.
The end of my journey in Italy, more precise Rome has ended when I finished Secretum I read the ebook version, because I cherish the copy the authors signed last year. They hoped I'd be one of their future fans. Well, I certainly am. More about the book in my review.
Made my last stand in Australia with The True History of the Kelly Gang by Peter Carey. Review to follow soon as I've just moved house again (second time in two months) and the broadband isn't up and running yet.
I have departed from Dublin and Dubliners and my review is here (http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...). Can't say I'm sorry to be leaving Joyce. Now I am in New York and will be there for quite a while since I'm listening to New York: The Novel and it is 30 discs long. Could take a while.
Just left China--specifically 1937 Nanking, and it was a sobering and harrowing visit. The Rape of Nanking details both the atrocities committed by the invading Japanese who slaughtered hundreds of thousands and the efforts of a couple of dozen Westerners who saved hundreds of thousands--led by a local Nazi Party leader who Chang calls "the Oskar Schindler of China." This isn't always an easy book to read--or look at--there are disturbing, graphic photographs included. At one point I was moved to tears. But it's about an important event too many wanted the world to forget. I'm glad Chang didn't let them. Review link below:http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
Next I'll be in India with Salman Rushdie's Midnight's Children. I'm excited--the opening is captivating.
My review of True History of the Kelly Gang by Peter Carey. This book won the Booker Prize in 2001, and a host of other awards.
Vicky wrote: "My review of [Book:True History of the Kelly Gang|2132025] by Peter Carey. This book won the Booker Prize in 2001, and a host of other awards."Sounds like a very interesting book, Vicky!
Just snuck in Weighed in the Balance by Anne Perry for Italy. Part of the action took place there and I didn't have a scheduled book for Italy so I decided to count it. Here is my review: http://bethslistlove.wordpress.com/20...
Wendy wrote: "Now I am in New York and will be there for quite a while since I'm listening to New York: The Novel and it is 30 discs long. Could take a while. ..."Hey Wendy, you should drop by for a visit while you're here. I'll make lunch! ;-)
I have been hanging around Japan for a while now reading various books, but am not certain which to use for the challenge. The most recent, The Cape and Other Stories from the Japanese Ghetto is written about the Burakumin which is a caste of outsiders. Here's my review though I do plan on reading some non-fictional work about this group because these stories didn't delve that deeply within the culture.http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
Mikki wrote: "Wendy wrote: "Now I am in New York and will be there for quite a while since I'm listening to New York: The Novel and it is 30 discs long. Could take a while. ..."Hey Wendy, you should drop by fo..."
Sounds good Mikki -- I'm always happy to have someone feed me something I didn't have to cook myself :-)
I'm continuing on my tour of African countries, having just finished The Zanzibar Chest. This book is amazing! If you need a book for Africa, this is the one! It takes place in Tanzania, Kenya, Somalia, Rwanda, etc., so you have your choice of countries to pick from. Here's my review: http://coldread.wordpress.com/
Wendy wrote: "I have departed from Dublin and Dubliners and my review is here (http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...). Can't say I'm sorry to be leaving Joyce. Now I am in New York and wi..."I loved this book! It think it's Rutherfurd's best:)
Suzanne wrote: "Wendy wrote: "I have departed from Dublin and Dubliners and my review is here (http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...). Can't say I'm sorry to be leaving Joyce. Now I am in N..."This is my 3rd Rutherfurd book, and I agree that it is really good! I read
The Zanzibar Chest several years ago and really enjoyed it too. Glad you are also liking it!
I am reading Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea. I find it extremely well written. It is one of those books that makes reading history anything but dry. Why? Because along with the historical facts you are shown the lives of particular North Korean people. I have read many books since posting here, having already read 23 books for the challenge. I have been putting my reviews in a comment box at the end of my own list. I have given both The Sacred Willow: Four Generations in the Life of a Vietnamese Family and The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down: A Hmong Child, Her American Doctors, and the Collision of Two Cultures four stars. Here are my two reviews:
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
It is great to read these two books together, one concerning Vietnam and the other Laos. I had written in my private notes to myself for both of these books the following: ABSOLUTELY MUST READ!
Do yourselves a favor. Read these books. I love reading about people who live in countries I am not well acquainted with. What about you? None of these books are fiction. They are concerned with the lives of real people.
I already know now that "Nothing to Envy" will be equally good.
I just finished Things I've Been Silent About (http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...) and am leaving Tehran without much regret. I am now quite ensconsed in NYC between my current audio book of New York: The Novel which I am really enjoying listening to on my drive to and from work each day, and last night I started reading The Darlings: A Novel which is also set in NYC. I think I was drawn to this book because it is written by someone who has escaped the legal profession. It is probably a pretty light read, but I think it will probably be relatively enjoyable. It's still a little early for me to tell though.
Not spectacular but I finished Little Women which I read as a visit to America in the 19th century. Although not quite my style I appreciate the book and put it in perspective with the time in which it was written. That's what I also say in my review
I have left Vietnam (Hanoi) reading Camilla Gibb's The Beauty of Humanity Movement. My review is here:http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
Just finished a visit to my home country of Canada, reading The Diviners. Still digesting, so no review just yet! Though I will say that this book seems to have knocked my Kobo out of action. Luckily, I do have paper versions of books lying about, so I'm actually off right now to go pick my next read while the e-library gets repaired!
Warnie B. wrote: "I visited Azerbaijan with Ali and Nino: A Love Story: review (5 stars!)My visit to Japan was cut short--I just couldn't finish 1Q84. Back to the drawing board for Japan!"
I've got IQ84 on my to be read list. Your comments are inspiring me to wait a bit as well! Probably a good winter read. Summer, i need things I can pick up and put down more easily that it sounds reasonable for this book... will you try it again, or are you done with it altogether?
Got out of France (and Hungary) with The Invisible Bridge, and out of Sweden with Gösta Berling's Saga.
I have left NYC w/ the completion of The Darlings: A Novel (http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...) and have hopped across the pond (again) with Londoners: The Days and Nights of London Now--As Told by Those Who Love It, Hate It, Live It, Left It, and Long for It since I need to get ready for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee and the Olympic games coming up this summer.
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Around the World
Books mentioned in this topic
The Orphan Master's Son (other topics)Kino: A Novel (other topics)
True: A Novel (other topics)
Secretum (other topics)
Secretum (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Eduardo Galeano (other topics)Coleridge Cook (other topics)
Tomas Tranströmer (other topics)
Gloria Whelan (other topics)
Michael Morpurgo (other topics)
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The buzz was good on this one. What did you think?"
I didn't think the book was very good. not terrible, but not good.