All About Books discussion

I felt so inspired by all of your challenges that I had to set one for myself too.
I wasn't going to post it at first, but then I was having a hard time finding all the books that I wanted, so here it is, hoping for your suggestions to fill in the blank spots.

This is going to be an EU Countries Challenge. I'll try and read at least an author for each Country in the European Union.


Belgium (1952)
Marguerite Yourcenar - Novelle orientali - October


France (1952)
Candide - Voltaire - June
The Red and the Black - Stendhal - June
Villa triste - Patrick Modiano - June


Germany (1952)
Cornelia Funke - Inkheart - March


Italy (1952)
1. Terra! - Stefano Benni - January
2. La classe non è acqua - Antonio Caprarica - February
3. Dimentica il mio nome - Zerocalcare - May
4. La ferocia - Nicola Lagioia - May
5.La profezia dell'armadillo - Zerocalcare - May
6. Via Ripetta 155 - Clara Sereni - June
7. Sei personaggi in cerca d'autore - Luigi Pirandello - July
8. Terra ignota: Risveglio - Vanni Santoni - August
9. La mala aria: Storia di una lunga malattia narrata in breve - Alessandra Lavagnino - December

Luxembourg (1952)
Hugo Gernsback - Ralph 124C 41+: A Romance of the Year 2660 - February


The Netherlands (1952)
Tim Krabbé - The Vanishing - September


Denmark (1973)
Karen Blixen - Out of Africa - December


Ireland (1973)
Colm Tóibín - The Master - July


The United Kingdom (1973)
1. American Gods - Neil Gaiman - January
2. The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency - Alexander McCall Smith - February
3. Roverandom - J.R.R. Tolkien - March
4. Alice nel paese delle meraviglie - Lewis Carroll - March
5. Far from the Madding Crowd - Thomas Hardy - May
6. Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch - Terry Pratchett & Neil Gaiman - May
7. Chocolat - Joanne M. Harris - June
8. V per Vendetta - Alan Moore - June
9. The Lollipop Shoes - Joanne Harris - June
10. The Casual Vacancy - J.K. Rowling - July
11. Neverwhere - Neil Gaiman - July
12. The Uncommon Reader - Alan Bennett - July
13. Mort - Terry Pratchett - July
14. How to Train Your Dragon - Cressida Cowell - September
15. Anansi Boys - Neil Gaiman - November
16. Lady Susan - Jane Austen - December


Greece (1981)
Anabasi - Elleniche - Xenophon - March


Portugal (1986)
José Saramago - Blindness - January


Spain (1986)
Carlos Ruiz Zafón - The Shadow of the Wind - May


Austria (1995)
Gioco all'alba - Arthur Schnitzler - November


Finland (1995)
Paasilinna Arto - Piccoli suicidi tra amici - March


Sweden (1995)
Per Olov Enquist - Il medico di corte - April


Cyprus (2004)
Lawrence Durrell - Bitter Lemons of Cyprus - July


Estonia (2004)
Jaan Kross- The Czar's Madman - October


Latvia (2004)
Czesław Miłosz - Road-side Dog - April


Lithuania (2004)
Sinfonia di novembre e altre poesie - O.V. de L. Milosz - December


Poland (2004)
The Last Wish - Andrzej Sapkowski - August


Czech Republic (2004)
Tom Stoppard - Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead - September


Slovakia (2004)
Tre cavalli bai - Margita Figuli - October

Slovenia (2004)
Boris Pahor - Necropoli - December


Hungary (2004)
Ágota Kristóf - The Notebook, The Proof, The Third Lie: Three Novels - March


Bulgaria (2007)
Dimco Debeljanov - La leggenda della principessa traviata e altre poesie - November


Romania (2007)
Mite Kremnitz - Roumanian Fairy Tales - October


Croatia (2013)
Dubravka Ugrešić - Baba Yaga Laid an Egg - December


The road so far



27/27

Good luck on your challenge.

Here is a list for Ireland if you don't want to read Joyce, https://www.goodreads.com/places/6-ir...

For Ireland there is also Samuel Beckett.

For Hungary I would recommend Sándor Márai. I have read Embers and Il sangue di san Gennaro and loved both of them.
There is also Ágota Kristóf, her's Trilogia della città di K. was something amazing.

Thank you! Very helpful :)

Great challenge! Looking forward to seeing how the countries fill up!

dely wrote: "...There is also Ágota Kristóf, her's Trilogia della città di K. was something amazing. "

The more I look into it, the more I want to read it.

I've read the books you've listed for Ireland and Spain just this year and really liked them both. Good luck with your challenge :)

Giorgia wrote: "The more I look into it, the more I want to read it."

It is one of those books that will go under your skin and in the stomach. You don't only feel emotions, they overwhelm you, they crush you. And all this not only because of the happenings of the story but thanks to the writing style and the perfect use of every word. Books like this are rare, it is very powerful.

I second every word by dely on the The Notebook, The Proof, The Third Lie: Three Novels by Agota Kristof

It's really quite exciting to start a challenge :)

1. ITALY Stefano Benni - Terra!
2. UK Neil Gaiman - American Gods

Have you found and read the third volume of Kristin Lavransdatter?

yes! It's as bad as the previous two. The style is much better in the English translation. I think I gave the book 2 stars... or even 1, I don't remember.

Giorgia wrote: "It's really quite exciting to start a challenge :)

1. ITALY Stefano Benni - Terra!
2. UK Neil Gaiman - American Gods "

Please do Elianto by Stefano Benni!! It totally is his masterpiece in my opinion, followed by Timeskipper and La Compagnia dei Celestini

Very creative challenge. I'll watch your progress!

Elisa, I've already started reading Terra!
If you recommend it, than Eliana will definitely be my next Benni read :)

Monica, thank you! I'm a little worried because the eastern European part of this challenge has pushed me towards more tragedies than I set out to read, I'll have to balance them with some comedies!

Elianto! Not Eliana - damned auto correct!

Elisa wrote: "Giorgia wrote: "It's really quite exciting to start a challenge :)

1. ITALY Stefano Benni - Terra!
2. UK Neil Gaiman - American Gods "
..."
I do agree!

American Gods - Wonderful read! 5 stars.
The concept is great: centuries of different people migrating to the US have brought there many different gods. Today they get by, facing the wave of new gods, more modern and technological, but a war is coming. In the midst of it all we find Shadow, our brave hero who has to make sense of this clash of past and future, while figuring out why it's all happening to him.

Terra! Disappointing. Benni is known for his short stories and in this "sci-fi" novel he doesn't seem able to move over the short story structure.
The story is set in a future where the aftermath of wars has left the Earth radioactive and frozen. A message from A space pirate bringing hope of a new inhabitable planet prompts the 3 main international coalitions to a race of who will conquer the planet, but first they have to find it.


Oh, I followed your suggestion and bought Elianto.

Giorgia wrote: "American Gods - Wonderful read! 5 stars.
The concept is great: centuries of different people migrating to the US have brought there many different gods. Today they get by, facing the w..."

I've been back and forth about trying this one by Neil Gaiman. Finally added it to my reading list.

Monica wrote: "Giorgia wrote: "American Gods - Wonderful read! 5 stars.
The concept is great: centuries of different people migrating to the US have brought there many different gods. Today they get ..."

That's great! I'll be curious to know your opinion when you read it ;)

3 - Portugal José Saramago - Blindness

I couldn't put Blindness down, even though it's not an easy read.
The story starts when a man goes suddenly blind, then the doctor he consulted, then the doctor's other patients, until the government declares this to be an epidemic and decides to detain all the sick people and those who have been in contact with them in an abandoned asylum, with the military guarding the building so that no one can escape.
The first part of the book takes place inside the asylum, where people have to adapt to blindness and to a society with no rules, because what's the point of good conduct or morales when no one can see you. I'll spare you the disgusting misery and squalor and atrocities the poor blind inmates have to cope with.
There is one person though who does not go blind: the doctor's wife. She is the main character and yet she is identified not by any trait of her personality or appearance, but she is defined by her husband, which to me doesn't make sense. I'd like to ask the author why two of the 3 women in the story are known as "the wife of" instead of being called after something in their own right.
The second part takes place after the whole country has gone blind and a fire causes the blind inmates to escape the asylum. Outside they find a society in chaos, where people's main concern is finding food and shelter. It is not just a return to a pre-electricity world, because everyone is blind, so even the simplest tasks are impossible now. The doctor's wife is the saviour of the group. She guides them and faces a world of horror to protect the others.
Will everyone stay blind forever? (view spoiler)[ No, people will regain their sight. It wasn't a disease per se. There was nothing wrong with their eyes or a neurological lesion or inflammation. Their blindness was a state of being, it was like a necessary hell to go through before one could come out purified. However I don't think everyone will come out a better person. Awful awful awful things have happened, people are scarred forever, they have done, witnessed or withstood so much that they have changed, but I can't say if for better or for worse, and some I think will just go back to their old behaviour. The doctor's wife never got blind. It would have being intersting to know why, or at least that this question be raised. It is not, ever. Put this too under the " questions for Saramago" pile. (hide spoiler)]

Blindness was made into a movie, starring Julianne Moore and Mark Ruffalo. Moore is one of my favourite actresses (and I hope she'll get that very deserved Oscar this year).
Here's a link to the film trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Px5LB...
It looks interesting.

I loved Blindness too, Giorgia, when I read it last year, it's one of those books that stays with you after you read it, doesn't it?
Thanks for the movie link

absolutely kiwi!

Giorgia wrote: "Blindness was made into a movie, starring Julianne Moore and Mark Ruffalo. Moore is one of my favourite actresses (and I hope she'll get that very deserved Oscar this year).
Here's a link to the fi..."

Giorgia, I agree with you about Moore, a fantastic actress! Also, I haven't read Saramango yet, but I've been intending to. Several of his books sound good!

4. Luxembourg - Hugo Gernsback - Ralph 124C 41+: A Romance of the Year 2660

5. Italy - Antonio Caprarica - La classe non è acqua


Gernsback's Ralph 124C 41+ is a total bore, and I need to be focused while reading The Luminaries, so I am indulging myself with some good gossip, thanks to Caprarica and his book about british aristocracy. Perfect for reading while on the bus to the library or while cooking.

6. UK - Alexander McCall Smith - The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency

Not that great actually. The cases Mma Ramotswe has to solve are really boring. She is the only well developed character, with all the men seeming more like stereotypes than real people. They're almost all cheaters or liars... or taking advantage of other people... or diminishing women.

I liked those books when I read them, that was a few years ago though

Heather wrote: "I liked those books when I read them, that was a few years ago though"

Me too. It's time since I last read them

Giorgia wrote: " 6. UK - Alexander McCall Smith - The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency

Not that great actually. The cases Mma Ramotswe has to solve are really boring. She is the only well..."

I agree, I read a few books in the series, but was not won over by them. So many people I know raved about them though.

I really wanted to like the no.1 ladies detective agency because I thought the idea was great and I don't know any other book with a strong female African lead ( I must admit that I haven't read many books set in africa and than they're usually about Egypt or the main character is a European or American). I'll give alexander smith Mccall another change though, maybe I'll like 44 scotland street better.

Giorgia wrote: "I really wanted to like the no.1 ladies detective agency because I thought the idea was great and I don't know any other book with a strong female African lead ( I must admit that I haven't read ma..."

I definitely preferred The Ladies Detective Agency to 44 Scotland Street but it's worth a try. I find them to be nice, quick, easy reads so even if you don't like it you haven't had to ivest a huge amount of time and effort!

La classe non è acqua (#Class isn't water#) is a nice non fiction book by Italian journalist and expert of all things british Antonio Caprarica. The tone is light but among the pages of vices and eccentricities of the British Upper Classes there's also space for reflection upon the role that aristocracy has played in the history of the Uk, how it still shapes the political class and what the monarchy means to the british people.

What I liked best was looking up online the stately homes that are mentioned in the book. I already knew of Glamis castle, Balmoral and Sandringham and Hiclere Castle ( I have a soft spot for Egyptian displays and Downton Abbey). I've taken notes of the places I didn't know before and I'd love to visit some of them someday.

Here's a selection for your viewing pleasure ;)
Arundel Castle http://www.britainfromabove.org.uk/si...

Ickworth https://farm7.staticflickr.com/6107/6...

Alnwick castle http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/a...

Drumlanrig castle http://www.wilde-thyme.co.uk/sites/de...

Blenheim Palace http://s1239.photobucket.com/user/Vis...

longleat castle http://www.soyouregettingmarried.com/...

Madresfield Court http://todhunterearle.com/wp-content/...

and the list goes on and on!!

Giorgia wrote: "La classe non è acqua (#Class isn't water#) is a nice non fiction book by Italian journalist and expert of all things british Antonio Caprarica. The tone is light but among the page..."

Wonderful pics! Me too, I like to look on the internet when I find interesting places in books but I do it only if I have time and if the book is interesting.

one of the things I like best about ebooks is that you can find all the highlighted passages neatly ordered in the notes section. so when I want to check up the places mentioned in the books I find them all quickly. I can't do this with paper books because I always lose track of the things I wanted to check up on. The thing is that I constantly loose bookmarks and I hate to... fare l'orecchio alle pagine ;P ... fold the upper angle of the pages.
Do you have a system to remember the highlights?

Giorgia wrote: "one of the things I like best about ebooks is that you can find all the highlighted passages neatly ordered in the notes section. so when I want to check up the places mentioned in the books I find..."

I do agree!

Giorgia wrote: "one of the things I like best about ebooks is that you can find all the highlighted passages neatly ordered in the notes section. so when I want to check up the places mentioned in the books I find..."

Do you mean in paperback editions? I underline also in them, I have no problems to write or underline in books. Sometimes I have a sheet of paper where I write down the things I want to look for on the internet but only with very long books (like Kristin Lavransdatter).

Giorgia wrote: " I can't do this with paper books because I always lose track of the things I wanted to check up on. The thing is that I constantly loose bookmarks and I hate to... fare l'orecchio alle pagine ;P ... fold the upper angle of the pages.
Do you have a system to remember the highlights? ..."

I don't mind dog-earing (that's the idiom for turning down the corner of the page) pages personally, you could try using Post-its. They should be harder to lose than bookmarks, and you could jot a few notes on them to remind yourself of why you were marking that page.

thanks Leslie!
by the way, dog-earing is a lovely expression.

Giorgia wrote: "by the way, dog-earing is a lovely expression."

It is indeed!!! BUt I never does that to a book!

Finally finished Ralph 124C 41+: A Romance of the Year 2660 This book was awful. I absolutely do NOT recommend it.

7. Hungary Ágota Kristóf - The Notebook, The Proof, The Third Lie: Three Novels

O.O

wow.
I've finished the notebook. To dely and Jenny : the book is everything you've said it was... it's gut-wrenching. It is also a great book. Thank you dely for making me aware of its existence!
Moving on to the proof tomorrow.

Giorgia wrote: " 7. Hungary Ágota Kristóf - The Notebook, The Proof, The Third Lie: Three Novels

O.O

wow.
I've finished the notebook. To dely and Jenny : the book is everything yo..."

:D

I'm glad you liked it! It's really an amazing book.

edit: I realized only now that you have read only the first part! It's not yet finished, you will see...

I've now finished part 2 "the proof" and I'm very confused. Are Lucas and Claus the same person!?!?

Giorgia wrote: "I've now finished part 2 "the proof" and I'm very confused. Are Lucas and Claus the same person!?!?"

I won't say anything, of course! :P

The Notebook, The Proof, The Third Lie: Three Novels is a great book. The first part shocked me the most and I think it's the hardest to read. By the end however the feeling of horror was replaced by sympathy for the characters. I think that more than a book about war and political repression it's a story of loneliness and survival. The end was terribly sad.
I gave it 5 stars because I think it's brilliant. The style adapts wonderfully to the feelings of the characters and their experiences and it's always nice to read a great translation.

Giorgia wrote: "The Notebook, The Proof, The Third Lie: Three Novels is a great book. The first part shocked me the most and I think it's the hardest to read. By the end however the feeling of horror..."

I agree. I considered it also a book about bewilderment (smarrimento) both of the character and the reader.

8. Finland. Piccoli suicidi tra amici - Arto Paasilinna .

A group of people come together to talk about their lives and their desire to commit suicide. They decide to die together in a spectacular way, like driving with their bus down a cliff. They end up travelling through Europe, forging friendships and romantic relationships, facing many adventures together and finally realizing that life isn't as unbearable as they previously believed, quite the opposite, it's exciting and full of undiscovered joys.