Reading with Style discussion

Please ask questions about the Winter sub-challenge in this thread.

A map for reference. Please not the territories and dependencies listed on this map are not valid for BtE2.

Some of the rules/expectations have changed since first introduced to this group, but for those who are curious, here are a few links to the first round of Backpacking through Europe:

How to Play

Itineraries

Kate S wrote: "A map for reference. Please not the territories and dependencies listed on this map are not valid for BtE2."

The map link isn't hot.

Here it is. Kate will update her post shortly.

https://www.infoplease.com/atlas/europe

What nationality applies for Peter Pomerantsev? He was born in Kiev in 1977. At that time Kiev was part of the USSR, but is now in Ukraine.

(PS I'd quite like him to be "Russian".)

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Here it is. Kate will update her post shortly.

https://www.infoplease.com/atlas/europe"

Thanks! :)

Lagullande wrote: "What nationality applies for Peter Pomerantsev? He was born in Kiev in 1977. At that time Kiev was part of the USSR, but is now in Ukraine.

(PS I'd quite like him to be "Russian".)"

We can give you born in Russia. However, he has become a citizen of the UK. Therefore, you can use both books set in Russia AND books set in the UK.

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Lagullande wrote: "What nationality applies for Peter Pomerantsev? He was born in Kiev in 1977. At that time Kiev was part of the USSR, but is now in Ukraine.

(PS I'd quite like ..."

Yippee! My book is set in Russia. Thank you.

I'm wondering if I can claim Some Experiences of an Irish R.M. or its sequel for Ireland, assuming they are set in Ireland. The first-named author was born in Greece but of an Irish military family. When she was one year old the family returned to Ireland where she grew up. She seems to have travelled around a lot as an adult, but was living in Ireland again when she died.

Rosemary wrote: "I'm wondering if I can claim Some Experiences of an Irish R.M. or its sequel for Ireland, assuming they are set in Ireland. The first-named author was born in Greece but of an Irish m..."

She will qualify as Irish citizenship, so if the setting is Ireland that will work.

Are nonfiction books acceptable?

Owlette wrote: "Are nonfiction books acceptable?"

Yes, as long as the 2 of 3 requirements are met.

For France:

The House of Binding Thorns (Dominion of the Fallen #2) is set in Paris though the book is fantasy and the city itself in ruins like post apocalyptic sort of tale; is this ok?

Author, Aliette de Bodard, is noted to have dual citizenship (US & French)

So that's 2 of 3, right?

Tien wrote: "For France:

The House of Binding Thorns (Dominion of the Fallen #2) is set in Paris though the book is fantasy and the city itself in ruins like post apocalyptic sort of tale; is t..."

We've got her as US/US, so she won't work for anything in Europe.

ok, np, France should be easy, right!

Tien wrote: "ok, np, France should be easy, right!"

Yes, although I don't know how many speculative fiction authors you might find.

I think I will be leaning heavily on the updated spreadsheet; very helpful.

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Tien wrote: "ok, np, France should be easy, right!"

Yes, although I don't know how many speculative fiction authors you might find."

oh no, it doesn't have to be spec fic. I've mostly actually planned for crime (about half, I think). I just didn't feel like classics since I'm trying to tackle War & Peace with a friend just now.

Tien wrote: "I've mostly actually planned for crime "

Lots of good things there! (I note Fantômas is free on the Kindle.)

Owlette wrote: "I think I will be leaning heavily on the updated spreadsheet; very helpful."

These are the authors read by the group and for whom we have collected information we'd use. You're never restricted to these authors, of course.

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Tien wrote: "I've mostly actually planned for crime "

Lots of good things there! (I note Fantômas is free on the Kindle.)"

ooh, thanks! I forgot I actually have that already!

Tien wrote: "Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Tien wrote: "I've mostly actually planned for crime "

Lots of good things there! (I note Fantômas is free on the Kindle.)"

ooh, thanks! I forgot I actualy have that already!"

Yay!

I am guessing that Mikhail Bulgakov is accepted as Russian even though he was born in what is now Ukraine. According to Wikipedia, his nationality is considered Russian.

Bea wrote: "I am guessing that Mikhail Bulgakov is accepted as Russian even though he was born in what is now Ukraine. According to Wikipedia, his nationality is considered Russian."

We are carrying him as Ukraine/Russia. As long as the setting is either of those, you can use him for either country.

(There is an author list in the Quick Links with this information.)

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Bea wrote: "I am guessing that Mikhail Bulgakov is accepted as Russian even though he was born in what is now Ukraine. According to Wikipedia, his nationality is considered Russian."

We are carryi..."

Thanks, Elizabeth.

Just realized that José Saramago was born in Portugal but is listed as a citizen of Spain. So if I want to use his book in this sub-challenge, I have to find one of his books that is set in Portugal. The Stone Raft is described as a magical realism novel When the Iberian Peninsula breaks free of Europe and begins to drift across the North Atlantic, five people are drawn together on the newly formed island-first by surreal events and then by love.. Will The Stone Raft count as being set in Portugal? If not, I'm looking at The History of the Siege of Lisbon

Anyone have guidance about whether Seeing or All the Names are set in Portugal?

Thanks!

Jose Saramago was a Portuguese writer who lived in Portugal most of his life, and is buried in Portugal. He moved to Spain after marrying his second wife who is Spanish. I haven't seen anything online saying he was ever a Spanish citizen. I have All the Names in my bookcase so I was checking him out too. I guess it's up to the mods to say whether he is Portuguese or Spanish.

I know it is not the best source, but Wikipedia has his nationality as Portuguese

I am chosing Skylight because I thought his citizenship was unclear.

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "We are carrying him as Ukraine/Russia. As long as the setting is either of those, you can use him for either country."

So does anyone know how much of The Master and Margarita is in Russia? GR has it as Jerusalem and Moscow.

Bea wrote: "Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "We are carrying him as Ukraine/Russia. As long as the setting is either of those, you can use him for either country."

So does anyone know how much of [book:The Master a..."

My recollection is that it would pass the 75% needed (set in Russia). I read it 4 years ago though, so maybe a more recent reader could comment.

Deedee wrote: "Just realized that José Saramago was born in Portugal but is listed as a citizen of Spain. So if I want to use his book in this sub-challenge, I have to find one of his books that ..."

He was probably one of the early entries into the database, and perhaps before I'd gotten better about checking these things. I now think he should be Portugal/Portugal and will "fix" him. Therefore, you can read him for Portugal, regardless of the setting for his books.

Bea wrote: "Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "We are carrying him as Ukraine/Russia. As long as the setting is either of those, you can use him for either country."

So does anyone know how much of [book:The Master a..."

We will accept this as set in Russia. (Some people rate this as 5 stars. I note Rosemary rated it 1 star with the comment "Rarely have I read a book I disliked more." I couldn't finish it.)

As part of our Countries of the World Challenge, do we have a list of the books that qualified for each country? Also I know there was once a link to a Goodreads Group that had books listed by country but can't remember what it was called.

what are we doing about authors that are born in countries that we once a part of Russia but now are independent, such as Ukraine? What about authors born in the former Yugoslavia? Do we need to find out which part of Yugoslavia they were born in and then see which country that place is part of today?

Just to be sure, Nationality is separate from Citizenship? So if an author was born in Paris to two German parents, Germany would be nationality? but not someone who was born in Paris but moved to Berlin and changed their citizenship, right?

Rebekah wrote: "As part of our Countries of the World Challenge, do we have a list of the books that qualified for each country? Also I know there was once a link to a Goodreads Group that had books listed by coun..."

Yes, we do. Here is the list of "countries still to go" which has a link to the spreadsheet.

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Here is a link to the group that has lots of global lists.

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Rebekah wrote: "what are we doing about authors that are born in countries that we once a part of Russia but now are independent, such as Ukraine? What about authors born in the former Yugoslavia? Do we need to fi..."

For this and the next question, it's better to ask about a specific author if that author is not already on the author list in the Quick Links post.

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Deedee wrote: "Just realized that José Saramago was born in Portugal but is listed as a citizen of Spain. So if I want to use his book in this sub-challenge, I have to find one of ...He was probably one of the early entries into the database, and perhaps before I'd gotten better about checking these things. I now think he should be Portugal/Portugal and will "fix" him. Therefore, you can read him for Portugal, regardless of the setting for his books. "

Thanks for checking! :)

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Rebekah wrote: "what are we doing about authors that are born in countries that we once a part of Russia but now are independent, such as Ukraine? What about authors born in the former Yugoslavia? ..."

The one I was looking for was there, Boris Akunin born in Georgia. Thanks
But was I right about nationality? The parents are of a country, or is it citizenship?

Rebekah wrote: "But was I right about nationality? The parents are of a country, or is it citizenship? "

We do the best we can, but each country has it's own laws regarding citizenship.

Boris Akunin is already on the list in the Quick Links thread as Georgia/Georgia.

Another question. How do you get to Malta?

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "We will accept this as set in Russia. (Some people rate this as 5 stars. I note Rosemary rated it 1 star with the comment "Rarely have I read a book I disliked more." I couldn't finish it.)"

This book has been on my TBR for quite a while, so I will give it a go. I suspect it is like a lot of Russian books...you either love them or hate them.

Rebekah wrote: "Another question. How do you get to Malta?"

We have no routes to Malta. You'll have to skip that country.

Ok

Bea wrote: "Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "We will accept this as set in Russia. (Some people rate this as 5 stars. I note Rosemary rated it 1 star with the comment "Rarely have I read a book I disliked more." I c..."

I hope you like it, Bea. Lots of people seem to. I may have been in a bad mood that day :)

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Rebekah wrote: "Another question. How do you get to Malta?"

We have no routes to Malta. You'll have to skip that country."

Is Sardinia the same answer as Malta? Reeds in the Wind

Karen Michele wrote: "Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Rebekah wrote: "Another question. How do you get to Malta?"

We have no routes to Malta. You'll have to skip that country."

Is Sardinia the same answer as Malta? [book:R..."

No. Sardinia is a political region of Italy, and you could use it for that country. Malta is its own country.

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Karen Michele wrote: "Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Rebekah wrote: "Another question. How do you get to Malta?"

We have no routes to Malta. You'll have to skip that country."

Is Sardinia the same an..."

Oh, I see, great!