Around the World discussion

I'm starting my year with The Infatuations by Javier Marías, set in Madrid, Spain.

Here is the thread to talk about what you've started for 2014!

I have the first two on my list:
Lesotho: Chaka by Thomas Mofolo
Slovenia: Alamut by Vladimir Bartol
edited to include links to the books and authors.
I have a few other books to finish reading first.

Happy New Year everyone.

I'm starting the New Year fairly close to home, and reading a book set on Lewis in the Outer Hebrides. The Black House by Peter May, is the first part of the Lewis trilogy, of which I've already read the second part, but it worked as a stand-alone and was so good that I wanted to return.

I'm finishing up in Italy with The Midwife of Venice and am moving on to Jamaica with Pirates!. Both are audio books and I am loving the narration of the second book. I've just started it but can't wait to hear what is going to happen!

I started on The Golem and the Jinni in audio. Very good so far.

I am currently in Egypt with The Book of Saladin. This is a multiple country book, so I expect to be doing a great deal of Middle East travel. I started this book before, but had to return it to the library. I am determined to finish it this time. I love Tariq Ali's perspective.

I'm starting the new year with The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty. It's set in Australia.

Shomeret wrote: "I am currently in Egypt with The Book of Saladin. This is a multiple country book, so I expect to be doing a great deal of Middle East travel. I started this book before, but had to return it to the library. I am determined to finish it this time. I love Tariq Ali's perspective."

I have read some of his novels and I love his perspective too. I learnt a lot of Islamic history and he wraps it up in some good stories.

I'm in sunny Morocco with The Caliph's House: A Year in Casablanca - just a few chapters in and enjoying it.

Jenny wrote: "I'm starting my year with The Infatuations by Javier Marías, set in Madrid, Spain.

Here is the thread to talk about what you've started for 2014!"

Be interested in what you think of it Jenny.

Jennifer wrote: "I'm starting the new year with The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty. It's set in Australia."

Jennifer - It's on my list to read - heard good things - hope you're enjoying it.

Also started The Luminaries set in New Zealand. so I can space it out since it will be a slower read.

I just left Belgium with the The Angel Maker and now I'm in Afghanistan with The Dressmaker of Khair Khana: Five Sisters, One Remarkable Family, and the Woman Who Risked Everything to Keep Them Safe.

Although I'm behind on reviewing 2013, I;m actively in South Africa with Zoo City.

As an Aussie we hear lots of terrible things about Johannesburg, and rightly so, and honestly the rest of SA. But they have a good rugby and cricket team. Can't all be bad right?

Nice to have a speculative but honest voice.

I am in the UK with The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry.

Jo Ann ☃ wrote: "I just left Belgium with the The Angel Maker and now I'm in Afghanistan with [book:The Dressmaker of Khair Khana: Five Sisters, One Remarkable Family, and the Woman Who Risked Everyt..."

Hi Jo Ann, How did you like The Angel Maker? I am about to start it, so would love to hear your opinion of it. Thanks!

For our light holiday read, my in-person international book club is reading A History of the World in 6 Glasses. So far it has touched on beer, wine, spirits, and coffee, which has touched on Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, Italy, USA, Caribbean, and Yemen!

I thought it would be fluffy and it is but I'm still learning quite a bit.

I had to set aside The Book of Saladin because it's due very soon and I don't think I'll be able to finish it over the weekend. It makes me think which causes me to read it more slowly. So I renewed it, but that means it's going to the bottom of the library book pile. There is now nothing due soon.

So I'm back in Vienna with Guises of Desire my Kindle read about Bertha Von Pappenheim, the first psychoanalysis patient. At this point, Bertha seems very mentally healthy, but possibly not by the standards of late 19th century Vienna. That would make this book similar to the short story "The Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman.

Krittika wrote: "Jo Ann ☃ wrote: "I just left Belgium with the The Angel Maker and now I'm in Afghanistan with [book:The Dressmaker of Khair Khana: Five Sisters, One Remarkable Family, and the Woman ..."

It wasn't a bad read, just more on the quietly,
creepy side. The ending was a bit bizarre though.

I'm starting this year's travels in WWII Italy with Elsa Morante's hefty History

I'm heading to Ireland and started listening to: A Week in Winter.

I am about to start reading Het gym, a book set in the Netherlands and focusing on the Surinamian community there.

I'm not quite there yet (still at the beginning in Indiana), but it looks like I'll be heading to Micronesia with The People in the Trees. I've actually been to Palau so that's what I'll picture while I'm reading this.

And here's a curve ball: Tartine Brown Bread is obviously a cookbook and not a novel but I'm going to throw it into this mix since I'm reading it and baking from it and it has bread notes from Denmark and Sweden and Austria and Germany and France and Mexico.
If anybody's interested in starting to bake bread from this book, Chad Robertson includes the basic instructions for his exceptional sourdough (naturally-fermented) bread in this volume, so you don't have to necessarily start with this book: Tartine Bread (but I did).

Daisy, I just started The People in the Trees too. Since it is an imaginary island, I was thinking of counting it for somewhere more obscure in Micronesia....

Jenny wrote: "Daisy, I just started The People in the Trees too. Since it is an imaginary island, I was thinking of counting it for somewhere more obscure in Micronesia...."

Maybe it was on your shelf that I found this. So far, it's interesting. What do you think?

Rodolfo wrote: "I'm starting this year's travels in WWII Italy with Elsa Morante's hefty History"

This sounds good. How's it going?

Daisy wrote: "Jenny wrote: "Daisy, I just started The People in the Trees too. Since it is an imaginary island, I was thinking of counting it for somewhere more obscure in Micronesia...."

Maybe ..."

I'm not very far so far, still setting up the memoir. I'd love to hear more about Palau, when you said that I read it as Papua, and Palau is a likely candidate for this.

I'm bopping between China (the Valley of Amazement) and India (The Case of the Missing Servant.)

Jenny wrote: "Daisy wrote: "Jenny wrote: "Daisy, I just started The People in the Trees too. Since it is an imaginary island, I was thinking of counting it for somewhere more obscure in Micronesi..."

Before I went to Palau, I'd never heard of it. It is (I am told) more beautiful than Tahiti. It's known as a fertile snorkeling ground (not my thing). I went there for work one time and though I prefer a colder beach climate (maybe northern Germany? where you could wear a sweater?), the beaches here were pristine and the water as blue as a cliché.

Daisy wrote: "Before I went to Palau, I'd never heard of it. It is (I am told) more beautiful than Tahiti. It's known as a fertile snorkeling ground (not my thing). I went there for work one time and though I prefer a colder beach climate (maybe northern Germany? where you could wear a sweater?), the beaches here were pristine and the water as blue as a cliché. ..."

Wow, I never get sent such interesting places for work. I did a semester project on Papua New Guinea once and wow, it didn't make me necessarily want to go there. :)

Bonnie wrote: "I'm bopping between China (the Valley of Amazement) and India (The Case of the Missing Servant.)"

Bonnie - I've read both and would be interested in what you think of them. Have you read any of the Vish Puri books before? You're the second person recently who's mentioned reading one of them. I think his character is hilarious!

In Faroe Islands with Barbara.

Lilisa wrote: "Bonnie wrote: "I'm bopping between China (the Valley of Amazement) and India (The Case of the Missing Servant.)"

Bonnie - I've read both and would be interested in what you think of them. Have yo..."

Puri is new to me, and so far very enjoyable. I am interested in India, so love all the references to foods and such. Also the mystery is one you care about finding the answer to. Not loving the Valley of Amazement as much. I don't like the whole courtesan culture, although I do find the Chinese history interesting.

Bonnie wrote: "Lilisa wrote: "Bonnie wrote: "I'm bopping between China (the Valley of Amazement) and India (The Case of the Missing Servant.)"

Bonnie - I've read both and would be interested in what you think o..."

My thoughts run pretty parallel to yours I've read three or four of the Vish Puri books and have enjoyed them. I gave the Amy Tan 2 stars. I just can't seem to connect with her writing and I've decided she's not for me.

Getting ready to brave the chill in Iceland with Burial Rites

Lilisa wrote: "Getting ready to brave the chill in Iceland with Burial Rites"

I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

I started on The Golem and the Jinni thinking I was going to Syria, but it seems more and more that I have landed in New York. I am enjoying it so far...

Diane wrote: "In Faroe Islands with Barbara." Diane, I'd be interested to know what you think of it. I read it in 2012 for this challenge.

And it looks like I will be reading Exile in Ireland too, since it just came in from the library e-book holds and I have 2 weeks. So my other hard back/paperback choices will have to go on hiatus for a few days. It's quick- a crime thriller- # 2 in the Garnet hills trilogy. I have already read 1 and 3 due to library availability.

Yrinsyde wrote: "Diane wrote: "In Faroe Islands with Barbara." Diane, I'd be interested to know what you think of it. I read it in 2012 for this challenge."

I liked it. I actually liked it better than I thought I would. I am glad to finally have gotten around to reading it. It was on both my 2012 and 2013 lists and got put off both times.

Currently in the wilderness of Norway with Growth of the Soil by Knut Hamsun.

Rosana wrote: "Lilisa wrote: "Getting ready to brave the chill in Iceland with Burial Rites"

I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

I started on The Golem and the Jinni thinking I..."

Lilisa wrote: "Getting ready to brave the chill in Iceland with Burial Rites"

Read about 30 pages yesterday and was enjoying it until sleep took over. Will get back to it later today.

Already straying from my 2014 list and in the Pacific Northwest in the U.S. with Where'd You Go, Bernadette, although I have finished two books that were on my list, so not doing too badly!

Lilisa wrote: "Getting ready to brave the chill in Iceland with Burial Rites"

I want to read this one, since so many of you enjoyed it, but I probably won't count it for Iceland as there are a few Icelandic authors out there:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-24...

Val wrote: "Lilisa wrote: "Getting ready to brave the chill in Iceland with Burial Rites"

I want to read this one, since so many of you enjoyed it, but I probably won't count it for Iceland as..."

Interesting article - one out of ten people in Iceland is a writer - that's amazing. Thanks for sharing Val.

Currently in Australia with The Husband's Secret hmmm, I'm having doubts....but let's see.

I'm heading to Antarctica - started Berserk: My Voyage to the Antarctic in a Twenty-Seven-Foot Sailboat. Just 25 pages into it but so far I'm intrigued.

Lilisa - how far are you into The Husband's Secret? it took me about a third of the way through to get really interested.

Jan wrote: "I'm heading to Antarctica - started Berserk: My Voyage to the Antarctic in a Twenty-Seven-Foot Sailboat. Just 25 pages into it but so far I'm intrigued.

Lilisa - how far are you int..."

Jan - I just finished The Husband's Secret and, to be honest, I was disappointed. I agree it took quite awhile to get interesting, for me it was about the half-way mark; storyline wasn't bad but I was definitely not wowed by the treatment or the writing style. On the positive side, I do get to check off my Australia book!

Rosana wrote: "Lilisa wrote: "Getting ready to brave the chill in Iceland with Burial Rites"

I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

I started on The Golem and the Jinni thinking I..."

Rosana - forgot to mention - I finished Burial Rites and like you, I did very much enjoy it. My review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Lilisa - there is always that positive side. I decided not to use it for my Australia book because it really could have taken place anywhere. I did not get a sense of the country at all - that was the disappointing part for me. Same was true for The Rosie Project which I really enjoyed. So I'm going with something different for Australia. I'm waffling between Gifts of the Peramangk and A Town Like Alice.

Jan wrote: "Lilisa - there is always that positive side. I decided not to use it for my Australia book because it really could have taken place anywhere. I did not get a sense of the country at all - that wa..."

Jan - you are absolutely right re: the setting, it could have been anywhere, including a sterile movie set. And, aargh, about The Rosie Project - I have that to read too - thanks for the heads up. A Town Like Alicewill definitely give you a feel for Australia and so will The Thorn Birds - one of my all-time favorites. Gifts of the Peramangk sounds really interesting - must add it to my list.