Around the World discussion
note: This topic has been closed to new comments.
2012-2024 Discussions
>
Where in the World Have You Been?!?! (Book Finished and Review Linked)
Finished The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo Saturday but will have to do review later dealing with power blackout ...
Susan wrote: "dealing with power blackout ..."Bummer!
Question: have you encountered books where the exact location is not known? For example,A Bend in the River is set in Africa, and it mentions Uganda as being nearby, but the country where the story is set has no name. Then there are the "fantasy" or "future" lands.
I used his place of birth, but it is an issue in many books. One reason I. use author nationality.
I did encounter a book where the location wasn't given by the author. So I tried to figure out the location from internal evidence. After I posted the review, the author told me that he had been purposely vague, but he thought that my educated guess had been correct.Fantasy lands are in another realm of existence. I wouldn't consider them as appropriate for this challenge. I think Around The World means our world. I do read fantasy that takes place elsewhere, but they don't count for me.
I do think that if a book takes place in the future on this planet, but the boundaries of nations have changed you might be able to figure out where it takes place and use it for this challenge.
Jody wrote: "Question: have you encountered books where the exact location is not known? For example,A Bend in the River is set in Africa, and it mentions Uganda as being nearby, but the country where the story..."Re A Bend in the River--I haven't read it, but a country on the coast near Uganda could be Kenya,Somalia or Tanzania. I would compare what I can find out about these three countries to how the country in Naipul's novel is portrayed. Is there any content about the history of the country? What are the names of the African characters? What are the names of villages mentioned? These could be clues. There might also be cultural clues.
Shomeret wrote: "I did encounter a book where the location wasn't given by the author. So I tried to figure out the location from internal evidence. After I posted the review, the author told me that he had been p..."Yes, good point. I was wondering about this when adding a book to my list, but it wasn't for this challenge.
I used Someone Knows My Name as part of my journey. When the book starts, the action occurs somewhere in West Africa where specific countries haven't yet been delineated. Therefore I labeled it 18th century West Africa.
Mod
I think it's all about what you think is still within your own rules.
Rusalka wrote: "I'm using a couple of Sci fi books and am going off the author Solaris (Poland), the setting The Windup Girl (Thailand), or the culture Midnight Robber (Jamaica).I think it's all about what you t..."
I would use a science fiction novel or fantasy novel that takes place in a specific country where I haven't been for this challenge if I found one that I hadn't read that interests me. Perhaps the latest Cemetery of Forgotten Books novel might qualify.
Mod
Mod
I think it's hard not to!! Sounds like I need to check it out. Thanks for the tip ;)
Hope you're enjoying The House of the Spirits. I loved it when I read it, and never knew people wrote books like that!
Just left WW2 Berlin (Germany) where I read City of Women (my review here). Now I'm returning to Chile with House of Spirits which is SO IRONIC since many people fled to Chile after the end of WW2. My reason is just reading, not war crimes.
Just left India where I read A Fine Balance. My review is http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/.... Highly recommended.
I am finally leaving Russia where I spent centuries of historical changes in Russka: The Novel of Russia. Great book, but I'm exhausted. Here is my review:http://coldread.wordpress.com/2012/07...
I was reading The Lemon Tree: An Arab, a Jew, and the Heart of the Middle East, but was sidetracked when I heard about and became intrigued by Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen. It's a wonderful book, very inspiring! Chris does a wonderful job of describing the passion and joy of running. I am now researching training programs! My very brief review of the book is here: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
Sharon wrote: "I was reading The Lemon Tree: An Arab, a Jew, and the Heart of the Middle East, but was sidetracked when I heard about and became intrigued by Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Gr..."Watch out--you'll be registering for races soon. Welcome to the club. Did you get Chia yet?? And I recommend Vibram FF KSOs...
Beth wrote: "Sharon wrote: "I was reading The Lemon Tree: An Arab, a Jew, and the Heart of the Middle East, but was sidetracked when I heard about and became intrigued by Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathle..."Ha! Oh yes, been eating Chia for a little over a year and bought Vibram KSOs last month - even before reading the book - so you can see how ready I was for it! I actually started on the couch to 5K training a week ago, but alas, I have shin splints !@#$%^&* That wasn't part of the plan!! So now I'm icing and resting, and researching. Please do share any wisdom you may have... I so want to run!
Mod
Saving Fish from Drowning, stupid book *grumble grumble*
Rusalka wrote: "*grumble grumble* http://rusalkii.blogspot.com.au/2012/...Saving Fish from Drowning, stupid book *grumble grumble*"
I didn't care for this book, either. Amy Tan can (and has done) better than this!
Suzanne wrote: "Rusalka wrote: "*grumble grumble* http://rusalkii.blogspot.com.au/2012/...Saving Fish from Drowning, stupid book *grumble grumble*"
I didn't care for this book, e..."
It was my least favorite of her books.
Mod
I didn't care for this book, e..."
It was my least favorite of her books.
Oh thank goodness. You know that feeling you get when you abandon a book and you wonder if you are the only person not to have got it/liked it? However, that feeling has not stopped it going straight into the "For the Bookshop" pile.
I have to admit that reading that book tainted my good feelings toward Tan; after that I don't think I read anything more by her.
Mod
I didn't have high hopes either as I said in another thread, but I had to attempt it so I could read something I already had on my shelf. But if I sell it/donate it, I can get another book!!
I just left South Africa and a gold mine. There's love, scandal, all the information you ever need to know about the inner workings of a gold mine, and of course greed. "Gold Mine" by Wilbur Smith
Gaeta1 wrote: "Didn't really care for it, either. (it was a book group read for me). Lots of things were just "off" in that book."Thanks everyone for the information. This has been on my shelf for a while. Maybe i won't even try. Or if I do, I now know to give up early if it's not working.
Mod
Apparently some people really loved the book, so I suggest give it a try and see what you think. But at least you know that if you abandon it, you're with some good company. And if you stick with it, let me know how it ends ;)
Will do! I noticed among my GR friends. 2 people rated it 4 or 5 and 2 people rated it 2, so ther's quite a split. I have so many books ahead of it, don't know when it will come up for reading.
Jenny wrote: "I have to admit that reading that book tainted my good feelings toward Tan; after that I don't think I read anything more by her."Amy Tan has only written one book since, Rules for Virgins. Interesting that it's only available as kindle, ebook or audiobook.
Edit - just looked at Kindle and it is classified a "Kimble Single" and is 43 pages long.
I'm wondering if I should just put it in my sell bag. I have so much to read--it's not like I'm hurting for reading material.
Wow. what a useful thread! I think I'll definitely give this one a pass.
Just finished The Weight of Water by Anita Shreve which I was reading for Orange July. Didn't realize when I started it that so much of it would be set in Norway, so I have made it into a Norway read, and picked up a little ground in the challenge unexpectedly. My review is http://bethslistlove.wordpress.com/20...
Just completed my book for Chile, The House of the Spirits and my review is here..http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/....
I've finished Sold, which is my 31st read for this challenge. Review at: http://www.goodreads.com/review/...
I finally posted my review of Unbowedby Wangari Maathai, my Kenya book at http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...I learned so much about Kenya's history and culture. It was a great choice.
Now I'm caught up with posting reviews because I just posted my last completed read which is my Saudi Arabia book, Kingdom of Strangers: A Novel, a mystery by Zoe Ferraris. I thought it was interesting and insightful. I learned more about Saudi Arabia than I had expected.
My review is at: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
I traveled around the world from Ethiopia to Sweden to Austria to Brooklyn to South America to France and back to Harlem with Marcus Samuelsson in Yes, Chef: A Memoir (my review here).I returned to Chile for the third time this year to read The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende. My review is here and my cake/coffee is here.
Then, on a sidetrip to read a classic sci-fi novel, I found myself in Sri Lanka with an inventive ruler in The Fountains of Paradise by Arthur C. Clarke. My review is here, but in another week I'll also link you to the SFF Audio podcast discussion. I'd recommend it for someone needing a break from literary beasts!
Having just read The History of Love, which was my selection for Poland, I must say that this book really doesn't take place in Poland. In fact, it's about people in the New York City area, and some of them came from Poland. At any rate, I was sad to leave because this book so moved me, it is now on a very short list of all time favorite books for me. My review is here:http://coldread.wordpress.com/2012/07...
Jenny wrote: "I traveled around the world from Ethiopia to Sweden to Austria to Brooklyn to South America to France and back to Harlem with Marcus Samuelsson in Yes, Chef: A Memoir (my review here).I returned ..."
Did you count Yes Chef as Sweden?
Janice wrote: "Did you count Yes Chef as Sweden? .."I did, because that is his upbringing and he is known for still incorporating Swedish elements into his cuisine.
Janice wrote: "Jenny wrote: "I traveled around the world from Ethiopia to Sweden to Austria to Brooklyn to South America to France and back to Harlem with Marcus Samuelsson in Yes, Chef: A Memoir (my review here)..."I heard a great interview with him on NPR (think it was Fresh Air--produced here in PHilly!)
I've just finishedThe Book Thief for Germany and my review is at http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
Yeah! I finally finished another book for this challenge. I'm leaving Indonesia and The Persimmon Tree behind. I've also broken the 3-star rut I found myself in. This is my 3rd 5-star book of 2012!http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
I chose Glue by Irvine Welsh for my Scottish read - but it was a large novel and took me awhile to get through. Then I went overseas for real (and visited Highgate Cemetery!) and was so busy I didn't read much. Then home again and I finished reading Barbara for Fareo Islands. I'm now in Greenland and have just been chasing polar bears!
Judy wrote: "I'm in Spain catching up with Fermin and the Sempere family in Carlos Ruiz Zafon's newest, 
The Prisoner of Heaven."Oh Judy. I'm jealous! I've been saving Shadow of the Wind for this challenge, and I'm glad another Zafon has come out in the meantime.
Yrinsyde wrote: "I chose Glue by Irvine Welsh for my Scottish read - but it was a large novel and took me awhile to get through. Then I went overseas for real (and visited Highgate Cemetery!) and was so busy I didn..."Oooh! Highgate Cemetery! How was that? I enjoyed its role in Her Fearful Symmetry.
Recently went from Lithuania into Russia in
. Listened to Lena, a 15yr olds' memoir of survival, in the time of Stalin's rule in 1941 AND for the next 12yrs!! EXCELLENT READ
This topic has been frozen by the moderator. No new comments can be posted.
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)
More...
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)
More...
http://tometravelling.blogspot.in/