Book Snails Book Group discussion

Is there a book written by a foreign author that you've been meaning to read?

Is there a great book from (or about) another country that you've really enjoyed?

Would you be interested in a personal challenge of reading a book from every country in the world (written by foreign author and/or set in another country, it's up to you) ?

Maybe you can select 4 countries each year (one for each season), and find a book from those countries to try this year.

Here is some inspiration:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/4...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hh09x...

https://ayearofreadingtheworld.com/th...

https://wondrousbooks.wordpress.com/2...
(thanks to Jeanette https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/2...)

Please share with us any book gems you find from other countries!
~~~~~~~~

So far we have suggested books from or about the following countries:

Poland
Iceland
Ecuador
North Korea
Scotland
Russia
Puerto Rico
Egypt
Norway

Thanks for creating this thread, StarMan! I'm definitely interested in this topic, as I love reading about different cultures and enjoy books that are set in different countries/regions and/or written by foreign authors.

Not sure about reading a book from every country in the world, as that seems impossible to accomplish for me, but incorporating a wider range of countries in my reading repertoire is definitely doable. As it goes right now, my TBR list already includes books from more than a dozen different countries (either set in those countries or the author is from that country and incorporates some cultural references in his/her works).

I'll try to occasionally pick a random country and mention one or more random books either from, about, or set in that country. Feel free to correct me if I make a country/book error. Please add any any relevant books you'd like to my lists.

I'll start with...


P O L A N D


Coat of Arms

Some random titles from or about Poland:

(view spoiler)[
Non-Fiction / Travel: White Fever: A Journey to the Frozen Heart of Siberia
by Jacek Hugo-Bader, Antonia Lloyd-Jones (Translator)



Non-Fiction Bestseller: The Zookeeper's Wife
by Diane Ackerman
(Note: Now a major motion picture)



Fiction / Short Stories / Cultural: The Street of Crocodiles by Bruno Schulz, Celina Wieniewska (Translator)



Science Fiction: The Cyberiad
by Stanisław Lem, author of Solaris



Historical Fiction/Romance: Push Not the River


and

Poland

(hide spoiler)]

Feel free to suggest more titles about Poland!

StarMan wrote: "Is there a book written by a foreign author that you've been meaning to read?

Is there a great book from (or about) another country that you've really enjoyed?

Would you be interested in a person..."

Super idea!

Bkwmlee wrote: "Thanks for creating this thread, StarMan! I'm definitely interested in this topic, as I love reading about different cultures and enjoy books that are set in different countries/regions and/or writ..."

Hope you find several books that help you diversify your reading life!

Remember that we have a 2017 Diversity Challenge as well. You can set a goal here: https://www.goodreads.com/challenges/...

(Of course, reading globally is just ONE of the many ways to diversify your reading!)

Good luck!

StarMan wrote: "I'll try to occasionally pick a random country and mention one or more random books either from, about, or set in that country. Feel free to correct me if I make a country/book error. Please add an..."

You got this thread down, StarMan! Did I mention lately that you're a great asset to our group?! ;-)

Allison wrote: "Bkwmlee wrote: "Thanks for creating this thread, StarMan! I'm definitely interested in this topic, as I love reading about different cultures and enjoy books that are set in different countries/reg..."

Thanks for the reminder on the Diversity Challenge, Allison! I was actually thinking about how best to categorize the books that I've read so far (and will be reading in the coming months) related to the "around the world" theme (or some variation of it). This challenge is the perfect way to keep track of those books for me! :-)

StarMan wrote: "I'll try to occasionally pick a random country and mention one or more random books either from, about, or set in that country. Feel free to correct me if I make a country/book error. Please add an..."

Thanks, StarMan! I just added a few of those books to my TBR list! :-)

I C E L A N D



A few books from Icelandic authors, or about Iceland:

(view spoiler)[


Burial Rites by Hannah Kent
(historical fiction / murder mystery)


The Blue Fox
(fiction/fantasy/magic )


Iceland, Defrosted
(travel/memoir)


Viking Age Iceland
(non-fiction/history/mythology)

(hide spoiler)]

For more suggestions, see:

https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...
and
http://www.reykjavik.com/top-5-icelan...

~~~~~
RELATED: a book about Iceland and several other Nordic countries:


The Almost Nearly Perfect People: Behind the Myth of the Scandinavian Utopia

I just read a great book set in Denmark!

Thriller/magical realism: The Quiet Girl
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

(Sorry, I can't figure out how to do the link with the book title on my phone!)

Also, this is a great idea, reading around the world!

Hannah wrote: "I just read a great book set in Denmark!

Thriller/magical realism: The Quiet Girl
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

Thanks for sharing, Hannah. Sounds like an interesting read.

Here's one of the paperback book covers (English language):

Today we bring you...

E C U A D O R



I'll be lazy and point you to some existing GR lists for books from or about Ecuador or other South & Central American countries:

https://www.goodreads.com/search?utf8...

But I'll point out one non-fiction/exploration/history/biography book that caught my eye:

or
The Lost City of Z

It's also been made into a movie that appears to be highly rated:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1212428/

~~~

Does anyone have a recommendation for a specific book or author from South America or Central America?

Jorge Luis Borges is one of my favorite Latin American authors!Jorge Luis Borges

    N O R T H    K O R E A



Some books set in Korea, by Korean authors, or about the country/area:

(view spoiler)[


My Holiday in North Korea: The Funniest/Worst Place on Earth
(Non-Fiction, Travel, Humor)


In Order to Live: A North Korean Girl's Journey to Freedom
(Non-Fiction, Memoir/Biography)


The Orphan Master's Son
(Fiction, Historical)


North Korea
(Travel Guide, 2014)


Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea
(Non-Fiction, History, Cultural)


The Cleanest Race: How North Koreans See Themselves and Why It Matters
(Non-Fiction, history, cultural, political)


The Tears of My Soul
(Non-fiction, biography, story of a female 'James Bond' from North Korea)

~~~~~

10 Gripping Novels by North Korean authors:
https://theculturetrip.com/asia/north...
(hide spoiler)]

LIST (More books on North Korea):
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...

► Please comment if you wish to recommend any books about this country, or by native authors.

Timely choice, thanks StarMan! I've added quite a few of these to my TBR.

Here's an interview that In Order to Live: A North Korean Girl's Journey to Freedom author Yeonmi Park did with Hong Kong English-language newspaper SCMP: http://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/books/a...

Tiny bookstore on the go in France

http://inhabitat.com/nomadic-booksell...

I love this! What a great idea. :)

S C O T L A N D



Some random titles:

       


50 best Scottish Books

GR books tagged as "Scotland": https://www.goodreads.com/genres/scot...

BBC vote: Top 10 Scottish books

10 Contemporary Scottish Authors

► Do you know any good books by Scottish authors, or books set in Scotland? (I also understand it's quite a popular setting for time-travel romance tales, for some reason ;)

R U S S I A   (Russian Federation / Российская Федерация)

 

1) Here's a 2017 bestseller (historical fiction) that's based on a Russian folk tale:
The Bear and the Nightingale


Read an interview with author Katherine Arden: http://www.unboundworlds.com/2017/10/...


2) Books available in Russian or English, published since ~2000 (GR List):
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/4...



A bookshop in St. Petersburg


3) 10 Russian novels to read before you die:
http://offtheshelf.com/2014/10/10-rus...


4) Greatest Russian novels of all time (GR List):
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...

► Anyone want to contribute the name of a really good Russian book or two?

P U E R T O   R I C O



Puerto Rican authors: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/3...

Books set in Puerto Rico: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...

And some random selections:

(view spoiler)[

Stories from Puerto Rico / Historias de Puerto Rico (short stories)


The House on the Lagoon (historical fiction)


Fodor's Puerto Rico (travel guide)


The Latin Deli: Prose and Poetry (poetry)


Rita Moreno: A Memoir (memoir)
(hide spoiler)]

E G Y P T



Popular books by Egyptian authors: https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...

Random titles set in Egypt or by Egyptian authors:

(view spoiler)[

The Heretic Queen (historical fiction)


Crocodile on the Sandbank (mystery)


Utopia (fiction/SF/dystopia)


Ancient Egypt: Pyramids and Pharaohs: Egyptian Books for Kids (kids book)


The Egyptian Book of the Dead (history/religion)


Death on the Nile (mystery)


Antony and Cleopatra (Shakespeare play)


Vertigo (mystery/political thriller)
(hide spoiler)]

► Can you suggest an Egypt book that we might enjoy?

This is a really neat thread! Thanks, StarMan!

N O R W A Y



Some popular or recommended books by Norweigan authors, or books set in or about Norway:

Lonely Planet Norway
Sophie's World
The Son
The Orange Girl
Kristin Lavransdatter

others:

The Ice Palace,   Out Stealing Horses,   Naïve. Super

Let us know if you have a Norweigan title to recommend!

Snails, please feel free to post your own country-book thing here, or even just a quick recommendation for a book from (or about) a particular country.

I'm just randomly picking places, but many of you are far more knowledgeable about these things than I am, or are more widely-read.

Do any of you Snails want to recommend some books set in a particular country, or by a specific non-USA author?

And a question:

Who is your favorite American author, and why?

I would highly recommend Blindness by Jose Saramago. Though the country the book takes place is unspecified the author is Portuguese. It’s about a viral outbreak of blindness and the country’s attempt to cope with it while society suffers an extreme breakdown. It was an amazing unputdownable book.

My consistently favourite author is John Steinbeck. A very close second would be Cormac McCarthy. John Irving has written several books that I loved.

Sherry wrote: "I would highly recommend Blindness by Jose Saramago.."

Thank you, Sherry. Sounds like an interesting sci-fi/dystopia title :)

A group of us read it together and we were all blown away by it.

Well, I'll kill 2 birds with one stone. 😊

My favorite author...Ernest Hemingway, and I highly recommend his book, the classic Old Man and the Sea, set in Cuba. You have to love old Santiago and his courage and perseverance!❤

He's always been my favorite author since I was in high school. It's shameful, though, that I haven't gotten through all his books.🤦‍♀️

Reading across the USA (a book for each state):

https://www.goodreads.com/blog/show/2...



How many of the listed books have you read? Did you enjoy one especially?

I have read exactly none of them, but a couple are on my 'Want to Read' list.

I've read The Fireman by Joe Hill and loved it.😊

How have I not noticed this thread?!
In another group I'm in I am doing a random around the world travel challenge and a USA road trip challenge. I have yet to tackle all 50 states in a year but once I got about halfway. If anyone is interested in reading for states I'll post where I've been.
For the world travel though, my first random country was Denmark. I read Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow.
I post a link to my review on our book reviews thread but i will say the author really used Copenhagen as a setting. I could practically walk those streets without a map.

Alabama - Alice in Zombieland
Alaska - The Seal Wife
Arizona - The Terranauts
Arkansas - Shakespeare's Champion
California- Daisy Jones & The Six,
Romancing the Null, All the Birds in the Sky, Sourdough
Colorado - Rock Chick Reawakening, Knight
Connecticut - The Understatement of the Year
Delaware
Florida - Ten Tiny Breaths, Lucky Suit
Georgia - Blood Heir, Magic Shifts, Georgia Peaches and Other Forbidden Fruit, Hell Fire
Hawaii
Idaho - Justice Calling
Illinois - Dandelion Wine, Black Wings
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas - Dorothy Must Die
Kentucky - Iron and Magic
Louisiana- The Axeman's Jazz, A Confederacy of Dunces, The Veil, Broken Soul, Every Dead Thing
Maine - Dark Hollow, It,The Will
Maryland - Kindred
Massachusetts - The Illness Lesson, Underneath It All
Michigan - The Sleuth Sisters, Libriomancer
Minnesota - Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder, Full Blooded
Mississippi Confessions of a Failed Southern Lady, Club Dead
Missouri - Gallows Hill
Montana - Moon Called, Vampire Academy
Nebraska - The Professional: Part 1, Eleanor & Park
Nevada - The Immortalists
New Hampshire - A Separate Peace, The Fireman
New Jersey - In the Unlikely Event, Two for the Dough
New Mexico- A Bad Day for Sunshine, Summoned to Thirteenth Grave
New York - A Tree Grows in Brooklyn,Archangel's Kiss, Taming the Beast, Hide and Seek, Cotton Comes to Harlem
North Carolina - Where the Crawdads Sing, Spider's Bite, Love in Mid Air
North Dakota
Ohio - Halfway to the Grave, The Good, The Bad and The Undead, The Bluest Eye
Oklahoma - book:Ready Player One|12359421]
Oregon - One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, The Wicked Deep
Pennsylvania - Five Total Strangers, Pretty Little Liars, Such a Fun Age
Rhode Island
South Carolina - The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires, The Kingdom
South Dakota - Her Dakota Man
Tennessee - How to Survive a Summer, Blood of the Earth, Curse on the Land
Texas - News of the World,From Lukov with Love, Learning to Love, Wildfire
Utah - The Six-Gun Tarot
Vermont - From Twilight Till Dawn: Great Vampire Stories
Virginia - The Diva Runs Out of Thyme
Washington - The Orchardist, Blood Bound, The Iron Hunt, Succubus Blues
West Virginia - Junkyard Cats, Sleeping Beauties
Wisconsin
Wyoming

I've got the following on my list for this year:
New York - The Light Between Us
New Mexico - A Good Day for Chardonnay
Washington - Where'd You Go, Bernadette
Georgia - Southern Spirits

The ones in bold are those that I thought used the settings particularly well in the story.

Authors of Korean Heritage
(20% off select books at Powells.com):

https://www.powells.com/featured/read...