Coffee & Books discussion

I have set myself the task of reading novels by authors from 80 different countries. I'm not going to go back in time as this is about the books I read from now.

1. England
The Bone Season Samantha Shannon

2. Scotland
Fleshmarket Close Ian Rankin

3. Austria
Chess Story Stefan Zweig

This is a real hot book. The author is only 21 and plans 6 other titles. This book has already been picked up to be made into a movie and The Today show selected it as it first book club selection. Hope you enjoy it.

After reading Chess Story by Stefan Zweig, I did a bit of research. Zweig was a very famous author in his own time, but one who was unknown to me. His story is somewhat sad. I've written about it on my blog, http://gorkachc.blogspot.com.au/2013/...

A little update as I've read some more but not had much time to post recently.

4. Australia
The Stone Key Isobelle Carmody

5. USA
Dance Hall of the Dead Tony Hillerman

So far it has all been a bit Anglo-Saxon but that will change soon

6. India
The Accidental Apprentice Vikas Swarup

7. Afghanistan

A Thousand Splendid Suns Khaled Hosseini

8. Ireland

Ancient Light John Banville

I'm now 1/10th of the way through, but a lot of obvious choices for countries have been used up

9. New Zealand

The Luminaries Eleanor Catton

10. Lybia

In the Country of Men Hisham Matar

I'll batch the first 10 books from 5 continents now. :D

Europe:
1. England
2. Scotland
3. Ireland
4. Austria

Asia:
5. India
6. Afghanistan

Australasia
7. Australia
8. New Zealand

N. America
9. USA

Africa
10. Lybia

Coming soon:

Canada
Germany
France
Zimbabwe

And I intend to read some Gabriel Garcia Marquez soon as well, sad to hear of his death a little while ago. That will be Columbia.

11.Germany

The Dwarves by Marcus Heist.

I've never read any Germany fantasy fiction before and really enjoyed it :)

12. Columbia

Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

That's my first South American author, and there was a sense of the parochial about the book setting the scene for the love and passion that dominates.

13. Japan

The Guest Cat by Takashi Hiraide

This is a beautiful read which makes the reader think of Japanese values about family, work and green space. Of course, it is also about a cat :)

I've just started a new challenge with my wife. We're going to read novels set in places where we've travelled to over our 20 years of marriage. Off the top of my head, here's some places, so if anyone knows of any good novels set in these places, then recommendations would be great :)

New York
Montreal
Utah (Western States)
Boston
Hong Kong
Malaysia Kuala Lumpur
Tuscany
Canary Islands
Amsterdam
Salzburg
Budapest
New Zealand
Sydney (all around Australia)
England (just about everywhere!)

I've just finished a beautiful short novel by Spanish author Francesc Miralles. Translated to English it was excellent and I can't imagine what it would be like in Spanish.

Amor em Minúscula

I'm now moving on to Iraq!

This year has been a tough year, with my Dad dying earlier this year. I haven't felt much like updating anything here, nor involving myself in challenges. I've read to escape more than ever, but hopefully will be ready to share in this great community again in 2016.

Wishing you all a merry Christmas and the best for 2016.

I'm sorry to hear that Carl. Hope you have a peaceful Christmas, thinking of you. Best wishes of the new year.