Around the World in 80 Books discussion

And here are the 12 countries randomly assigned to me for 2020:

Bahamas ☑
Turkey ☑
Belarus ☑
Sudan ☑
Sri Lanka ☑
Bahrain ☑
Austria ☑
(North) Macedonia ☑
Romania ☑
Costa Rica ☑
Spain ☑
Djibouti ☑

Are there repeats? Sure, a couple. But there are also some good new ones to visit. I'll continue to read one a month.

Coincidentally, the first book I read this year will mark off one of these 12 countries, so that will be: Spain

January

Random Country #1: Spain

Curiouser and curiouser: Spain is the largest producer of olive oil in the world, providing almost 45% of the world's supply.

Book read for Spain: Poems of Arab Andalusia by Cola Franzen

Is there olive oil in this book? Wine, yes. Fruit, yes. Flowers, yes. Olive oil, no. Maybe it doesn't sound particularly poetic in Arabic?

Not so random excerpt from page 27:
If white is the color
of mourning in Andalusia,
it is a proper custom.

Look at me,
I dress myself in the white
of white hair
in mourning for youth.

Did I enjoy the book? Yes, the poems were quite insightful, and I enjoyed the collection.

So for next month's country, I am currently reading a book from Syria. The closest country to Syria remaining on the list above is: Turkey

February

Random Country #2: Turkey

Curiouser and curiouser: Turkey introduced coffee to Europe, and coffee is such an integral part of Turkish culture that a law used to exist stipulating that a woman could divorce her husband if he didn't provide her with enough coffee.

Book read for Turkey: Memed, My Hawk by Yaşar Kemal

Is there Turkish coffee in this book? The villainous Abdi Agha spends some time in coffeehouses, but I really don't remember much coffee being quaffed in this book -- it was more often milk, tea, water, or sherbert.

Not so random excerpt from page 292:
In the Chukurova and the Taurus Mountains Memed's adventures were repeated, much exaggerated, from mouth to mouth, everyone supporting Memed's cause. The mountain people, in spite of the danger they incurred, were ready to protect him against all his enemies at any cost.

Did I enjoy the book? This was an enjoyable folktale, even if it did ramble a bit at times.

So for next month's country, I am currently reading a book from Italy. The closest country to Italy remaining on the list above is: Austria

March

Random Country #3: Austria

Curiouser and curiouser: The Austrian funeral industry is attested to be the largest per capita in Europe; Austrians plan for their funerals by joining "death associations" to ensure their arrangements will be paid for.

Book read for Austria: The Old King in His Exile by Arno Geiger

Is there a funeral in this book? I really shouldn't say, but death and life is certainly on the mind of the author, as he shares his experience learning more about his father as his father develops Alzheimer's.

Not so random excerpt from page 143:
My father's intention was indeed to live a little longer. He was absolutely clear about that.

Did I enjoy the book? Yes - this was a beautifully written work by a son celebrating his father's life. Highly recommended.

So for next month's country, I am currently reading a book from Botswana. The closest county to Botswana remaining on the list above is: Sudan

April

Random Country #4: Sudan

Curiouser and curiouser: Sudan is considered the food basket of the Arab world, with over 45% of the arable land in the Arab world.

Book read for Sudan: The Translator: A Tribesman's Memoir of Darfur by Daoud Hari

Does food or arable land come up in this book? Starvation does, as does reminders that Darfur sits atop an aquifer that would provide much irrigation for arable land; unfortunately it was desired by the government of Sudan.

Not so random excerpt from page 102:
"Daoud, we have been hearing all about you. It is so good to see that you are alive. you had some trouble yesterday with the rebels."
Darfur is like that. News travels fastest where it seems to have no way to travel at all.

Did I enjoy the book? You can't enjoy genocide. It was awful and senseless to read about, and the government of Sudan that committed such atrocities against the people of Darfur deserves what punishment it receives.

So for next month's country, I am currently reading a book from Kenya. The closest country to Kenya remaining on the list above is: Djibouti

May

Random Country #5: Djibouti

Curiouser and curiouser: Djibouti's Lake Assal is the lowest point in Africa, and is saltier than the Dead Sea.

Book read for Djibouti: Transit by Abdourahman A. Waberi

Does Lake Assal come up in this book? Yes, the ill-fated boy Abdo-Julien reminisces about the lake, with its bitter waters and extraordinary salinity.

Not so random excerpt from page 59:
Let's not forget that we never accepted the domination of the colonizers. Even when faced with a fait accompli and the law of the strongest, we resisted silently, secretly.

Did I enjoy the book? No. Haven't ever been a big fan of stream-of-consciousness writing, and this did nothing to change my mind. What I learned of Djibouti I learned obliquely.

So for next month's country, I am currently reading a book from Laos. The closest country to Laos remaining on the list above is: Sri Lanka

June

Random Country #6: Sri Lanka

Curiouser and curiouser: Sri Lanka was known in Persian as Serendip, from whence the English word serendipity is derived, thanks to a Persian folk tale.

Book read for Sri Lanka: Madol Doova by Martin Wickramasinghe

Does Serendip or serendipity come up in this book? The Persian name Serendip does not, but one could make the case that serendipity turned the two young rascal protagonists along a path to maturity once they landed on the eponymous island.

Not so random excerpt from page 75:
"This was a thick jungle when we came here," I said. "No one ever came here. You couldn't go ten feet from the waterside because of the thick undergrowth. We had to fight the jungle and we have worked like slaves for two years to grow all this."

Did I enjoy the book? I did. The early stories were a bit rough, possibly due to translation, but overall the story of young mischief-makers who learn life lessons was quite enjoyable.

So for next month's country, I am currently reading a book from Algeria. The closest country to Algeria remaining on the list above is: (North) Macedonia

July

Random Country #7: (North) Macedonia

Curiouser and curiouser: Mother Theresa was born in Skopje (then Üsküp) in North Macedonia (then the Ottoman Empire).

Book read for North Macedonia: The Legend of Kalesh Andja by Stale Popov

Does Mother Theresa make an appearance in this book? No -- it would be rather hard for her to make an appearance in the 16th century. But the Ottoman Empire is quite at work.

Not so random excerpt from page 14:
Thus did the Mariovans frequently boast: "Whoever would not be a slave, let him flee to us, there is freedom." And, in fact, many dissatisfied people settled in Mariovo and raised up new families there.

Did I enjoy the book? Yes -- it was quite an adventure, and I was pleased to see there was some justice as recompense for misdeeds. This is a historical ethnic group I likely would not have ever known about without reading this book.

So for next month's country, I am currently reading a book from the United States. The closest country to the US remaining on the list above is: Bahamas

August

Random Country #8: Bahamas

Curiouser and curiouser: The Bahamas is the only country in the world with a marching band on its currency.

Book read for the Bahamas: The Day is So Long and the Wages So Small: Music on a Summer Island by Samuel Charters

Is there a marching band in the book? Perhaps -- definitely at least one band, complete with trumpeters, for August Monday celebrations. Don't know if they ever marched, though.

Not so random excerpt from page 153:
In the stillness, when he stopped singing, I realized I was crying.

Did I enjoy the book? I did -- it was great to delve into the world of ethnomusicology on a remote island so close and yet so far from modern civilization at the time. I only wish I could have found some of the recorded music online to appreciate the book even more.

So for next month's country, I am currently reading a book about the Crimean War, which took place in then Russia, now Ukraine (though occupied by Russia). The closest country to the Crimea remaining on the list above is: Romania

September

Random Country #9: Romania

Curiouser and curiouser: The first castle lit entirely by electricity can be found in Romania (Peles Castle)

Book read for Romania: Mihai Eminescu: Poezii alese / Selected Poems by Mihai Eminescu

Are there castles with electricity in the book? No. But there is a princess who loves the Evening Star.

Not so random excerpt from page 40:
Thus, the tragedy of Ceasar's death would live forever, yet be seen as new only in different places. Everywhere, the murder is something that isn't -- it becomes and grows, fades and is gone, returns again... without end.

Did I enjoy the book? I did, even if several of the poems didn't seem to be breaking new ground. I do understand that Eminescu is one of the most revered authors in Romania.

So for next month's country, I am currently reading a book from Malta. The closest country to Malta remaining on the list above is: Belarus

October

Random Country #10: Belarus

Curiouser and curiouser: The world's largest dump truck, which can carry a 450-tonne load, is manufactured in Belarus.

Book read for Belarus: My Life by Marc Chagall

Are there dump trucks in this book? Nope. But if Marc Chagall had painted one, I'm sure it would be brightly painted.

Not so random excerpt from page 139:
When I saw their smiles, I was sure they understood me.
Their Communist leaders appeared to be less satisfied.
Why is the cow green and why is the horse flying in the sky? Why?
What has that to do with Marx and Lenin?

Did I enjoy the book? I did. It was fairly short, and gave clear insights into an artistic temperament, for all its faults and brilliance. The text gave a clear sense of place and time, and the accompanying sketches were a nice touch.

So for next month's country, I am currently reading a book from China. The closest country to China remaining on the list above is: Bahrain

November

Random Country #11: Bahrain

Curiouser and curiouser: The Bahraini ambassador to the United States is the first Jewish ambassador from any Middle Eastern Arab country.

Book read for Bahrain: The Pearl Thief by Noor Al Noaimi

Are there Jewish ambassadors in the book? Or any ambassadors at all? No. Just a kid trying to make his way on the streets of Muharraq.

Not so random excerpt from page 30:
"But this is not just any pearl. It is sweat and fear, hope and excitement, all entrapped within it. Give me a fair price, and you'll gain much more from it."

Did I enjoy the book? Yes. It was a short story, but it gave some good insights into the pearling heritage of Bahrain, as seen through the eyes of a boy who yearns to advance in life and support his parents.

So for next month's country, I have only one country left, so it doesn't matter which country I'm currently reading a book from (it's Sri Lanka). The only country remaining on the list above is: Costa Rica

December

Random Country #12: Costa Rica

Curiouser and curiouser: Costa Rica lays claim to a scientist who discovered the remedial properties of penicillin before Dr. Alexander Fleming.

Book read for Costa Rica: Years Like Brief Days by Fabián Dobles

Does penicillin appear in the book? I don't remember it by name, but the narrator's father is a US-trained and highly skilled small country doctor dedicated to serving the poor.

Not so random excerpt from page 82:
To our warm valley, yes, when the swallows had returned to the church and I thought Papa was dying.

Did I enjoy the book? No, not really. It was short, but it was long and peppered with incoherent storytelling which takes time to follow. I didn't care for it at all.

So that was an inauspicious end to another trip around the world and the sun. As usual, this has been a fun challenge, though.