Around the World discussion

Share what book you're currently reading and which country/countries you're traveling in.

My first for 2020 is There Was Still Love by Favel Parrett, set in Australia and Czechoslovakia (largely before the Velvet Revolution). I've been looking forward to it for a couple of months, but held off because I wanted it for a challenge in another Group.

In Hungary with Iza's Ballad by Magda Szabó.

I’m in India/U.K. with Koh-I-Noor: The History of the World's Most Infamous Diamond.

I'm in Namibia with The Elephant Scientist by Caitlin O'Connell.

I’m in Scotland with The Lewis Man by Peter May

I’m time-travelling in Russia with Mastering the Art of Soviet Cooking: A Memoir of Food and Longing. Currently in the 1920s, I’m learning so much and not just about the cuisine. I can’t believe I’ve never heard of the Pale of Settlement until now! Doing lots of online research along the way.

I’m following in Andrea’s footsteps but a couple of decades behind...Just finished the prologue of Mastering the Art of Soviet Cooking: A Memoir of Food and Longing - I am loving the writing and anticipating heading into Soviet 1910s - to learn, not to live, that is!

BTW, who else loves the use of commas? IMO it’s a totally underused and underrated punctuation mark. Love that Anya von Bremzen makes good use of it.

I’m also in two timelines taking me to France and the U.S. with Paris Never Leaves You and my ears are in Sri Lanka with A Disobedient Girl.

Lilisa wrote: "I’m following in Andrea’s footsteps but a couple of decades behind...Just finished the prologue of Mastering the Art of Soviet Cooking: A Memoir of Food and Longing - I am loving th..."

I heart the Oxford comma. Its relatives are also all right with me.

All hail the comma - a sure guide through a long sentence!

Shall we start a Comma Fan Club? 😂

Can I join too?!?

Lol sorry, that was to the Comma Fan Club. It's right up my alley.

What Rusalka? We already signed you up for Mastering the Art of Soviet Cooking: A Memoir of Food and Longing :-) — but yay, another comma fan!

Lilisa wrote: "Shall we start a Comma Fan Club? 😂"

Why, yes! Plus, it is a highly prestigious and selective group of folk who seek to join, lol.

I'm in India with one of my favourite authors, Dinah Jefferies. Before the Rains https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...

Lilisa wrote: "What Rusalka? We already signed you up for Mastering the Art of Soviet Cooking: A Memoir of Food and Longing :-) — but yay, another comma fan!"

Lol ;)

I'm in fantastical Russia with The Bear and The Nightingale. http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25...

Right now I'm reading a delightful who-done it by Rys Bowen called Heirs and Graces part of the series with Lady Georgiana Rannoch, the plucky young woman who's something like 34th in line to the British throne and finds herself in the most intriguing trouble as she takes us to places like her castle in Scotland, a wedding in Transylvania, Nice and London. Loving every minute of this book and the Audible version with narrator Katherine Kellgren is beyond reproach!

Anna wrote: "Right now I'm reading a delightful who-done it by Rys Bowen called Heirs and Graces part of the series with Lady Georgiana Rannoch, the plucky young woman who's something like 34th ..."

This series sounds fun!

I’m in dystopian Japan with The Woman in the Dunes by Kōbō Abe, and in Argentina with Claudia Piñeiro’s Betty Boo.

I’m in India with Poonachi: Or the Story of a Black Goat and in the U.K. with The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz.

Speaking of Churchill, anyone watched the series The Crown? Really liked John Lithgow in the role of Churchill.

I am reading The Wolf and the Watchman by Niklas Natt och Dag. It is a Swedish historical murder mystery. It is quite good so far, but I get that Stockholm might have been smelly in the late 18th century, most centres of population were, the author doesn't need to mention the sh*t on every page.

I'm in Japan with The Aosawa Murders by Riku Onda and I'm utterly mesmerized, while still not particularly liking present tense or a narrator that breaks the 4th wall. I'm also still in a long-ago Sweden with Gösta Berling's Saga by Selma Lagerlöf.

Val wrote: "I am reading The Wolf and the Watchman by Niklas Natt och Dag. It is a Swedish historical murder mystery. It is quite good so far, but I get that Stockholm might h..."

I've wanted to read this for awhile, and picked up a used copy a couple of months ago, but my GR friends seem utterly split on it. It's either a 1 or a 5, nothing in between. Perhaps one's sense of smell explains the bifurcation. lol

Lilisa wrote: "I’m in India with Poonachi: Or the Story of a Black Goat and in the U.K. with The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz. ..."

Yes - athough we're in the middle of Season 2, so not so on top of it. I resisted Lithgow in the role for awhile, but he won me over with the painting episode.

Carol wrote: "I've wanted to read this for awhile, and picked up a used copy a couple of months ago, but my GR friends seem utterly split on it. It's either a 1 or a 5, nothing in between. Perhaps one's sense of smell explains the bifurcation. lol"
It depends how distracting or off-putting you find his obsession and the general gruesomeness. When you read it, do not do so while cooking or eating (unless you and your entire family are on a crash diet at the time).

Val wrote: "Carol wrote: "I've wanted to read this for awhile, and picked up a used copy a couple of months ago, but my GR friends seem utterly split on it. It's either a 1 or a 5, nothing in between. Perhaps ..."

well.... we could all stand to lose some weight, so .... Thanks for the good advice, Val.

Now I am really interested, Val.

I thought John Lithgow was actually a really good Churchill in The Crown. I just finished the latest season over Christmas.

I am late to the party with the Ava Lee books, but reading The Water Rat of Wanchai at the moment. So far it's taken me to Canada, Hong Kong, Thailand, and now we are on our way to Guyana.

Not sure I where I will count this for at the moment, we are a bit all over the place.

Rusalka wrote: "I am late to the party with the Ava Lee books, but reading The Water Rat of Wanchai at the moment. So far it's taken me to Canada, Hong Kong, Thailand, and now we are on our way to ..."

Oh I love kick*** Ava Lee! I have read all but one. Jetting all over the place is what also makes it fun, besides her dexterity with a handy gun, knife, and martial arts, and, most importantly, brains! What’s the verdict? Thumb up or down?

Rusalka wrote: "I thought John Lithgow was actually a really good Churchill in The Crown. I just finished the latest season over Christmas."

I did too! Glad Carol was able come over to our side! :-)

Carol wrote: "Val wrote: "Carol wrote: "I've wanted to read this for awhile, and picked up a used copy a couple of months ago, but my GR friends seem utterly split on it. It's either a 1 or a 5, nothing in betwe..."

Lose a little, ahem, yes!

Carol wrote: "Lilisa wrote: "I’m in India with Poonachi: Or the Story of a Black Goat and in the U.K. with [book:The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Bl..."

Yes, that was well done!

Rusalka wrote: "I am late to the party with the Ava Lee books, but reading The Water Rat of Wanchai at the moment. So far it's taken me to Canada, Hong Kong, Thailand, and now we are on our way to ..."

I have never read a book in this series, but have an ARC to read and own two. I’m not sure what’s held me back, since these books seem like something I’d love. You’re inspiring me to finally meet Ava Lee!

You’re all making me think it must be about time I returned to Ava’s world too!

Rusalka, I’m pretty sure I claimed that one for Guyana. It may well be the only book that has taken me there so far. (Didn’t tempt me to visit IRL though...)

Andrea wrote: "Rusalka, I’m pretty sure I claimed that one for Guyana. It may well be the only book that has taken me there so far...."

That is a very good point. Let's see how long I join Ava there for.

Heh I am enjoying it now. The first chapter had me worried, as with the introduction to Ava you could very much tell it was written by a man. Which is not to say that men can't write female characters, but those characters do spend more time explaining their breasts than us ladies think about them in real life lol.

But besides that little faux pas, it's been otherwise a pretty fun ride so far.

Rusalka wrote: "Heh I am enjoying it now. The first chapter had me worried, as with the introduction to Ava you could very much tell it was written by a man. Which is not to say that men can't write female charact..."

Ain’t that the truth? Also tiny waists....

Uh huh.

Today I'm heading back to India - Bangalore specifically - with The Milk Lady of Bangalore: An Unexpected Adventure.

Andrea wrote: "Today I'm heading back to India - Bangalore specifically - with The Milk Lady of Bangalore: An Unexpected Adventure.

[bookcover:The Milk Lady of Bangalore: An Unexpected Adventure..."

Interesting - you’ll have to report out!

Sounds interesting, Andrea! I add it to my list to check it out.

I'm in Bulgaria with Garth Greenwell and Cleanness.

I'm in Malawi with The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind: Creating Currents of Electricity and Hope. Also just found out that Netflix has made this into a movie.

I'm in Berlin, Germany (with frequent side trips to Poland) with Pavel's Letters by Monika Maron.

I am simultaneously in Mozambique and Lebanon respectively with The First Wife: A Tale of Polygamy by Paulina Chiziane and The Day Nina Simone Stopped Singing by Darina Al-Joundi.

Currently reading “Three Daughters of Eve” by Elif Sharaf. It is set in Istanbul, Turkey. Istanbul is one of my favourite cities, I fell in love with it way back in the early 90’s. I’m about one third way through it and enjoying it so far.