Around the World discussion

Hi all!

In 2014 I read 52 books set in 52 different countries, this year I want to do something slightly different.

I will focus on 5 countries and will read a number of books related to those countries. I'm not sure how this will happen exactly, but I'm thinking along these lines:

- Read a certain number of books (say 3) related to country X AND
- These 3 books should be published in three different decades OR
- These 3 books should approach a certain topic OR
- These 3 books should have a different form (like one non-fiction, one fiction and one memoir)

I'm still thinking about which countries I'll choose and which books I will pick, so I'll keep you posted when I figure that out :-)

Country 1: North Korea
Book 1: The Aquariums of Pyongyang: Ten Years in the North Korean Gulag
Book 2: Without You, There Is No Us: My Time with the Sons of North Korea's Elite
Book 3: The Orphan Master's Son

Country 2: US
Book 1: ✓ Reizen zonder John: op zoek naar Amerika ★★★
Book 2: ✓ Dogging Steinbeck: How I Went in Search of John Steinbeck's America, Found My Own America, and Exposed the Truth about 'Travels with Charley' ★★★★
Book 3: ✓ Travels with Charley: In Search of America ★★★★
Bonus: ✓Cannery Row by John Steinbeck ★★★★★

Country 3: South Africa
Book 1: ✓ Disgrace by J.M.Coetzee ★★★★
Book 2: ✓ Agaat by Marlene van Niekerk ★★★★
Book 3: ✓ Homing by Henrietta Rose-Innes ★★★
Bonus: Triomf by Marlene van Niekerk CURRENTLY READING

"Country" 4: North and South Poles
Book 1: Expeditionen: Min kärlekshistoria by Bea Uusma
Book 2: The Birthday Boys by Beryl Bainbridge
Book 3: The South Pole By: Roald Amundsen

Country 5:
Book 1:
Book 2:
Book 3:

Sounds like a great idea, An. Looking forward to see what countries you pick and how you are going to do it. Have fun!

Sounds intriguing An. Like Cherie, can't wait to see what you decide!

I really like this idea. Good luck.

Cherie wrote: "Sounds like a great idea, An. Looking forward to see what countries you pick and how you are going to do it. Have fun!"

Thanks! Have fun with your Australia challenge!

Jayme wrote: "I really like this idea. Good luck."

Thanks. Good luck to you, too!

I have chosen my first country: North Korea. I read Barbara Demick's excellent Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea last year, and would like to read more.

The first book I've chosen is an account of the imprisonment of Kang Chol-Hwan and his family in a North Korean concentration camp, The Aquariums of Pyongyang: Ten Years in the North Korean Gulag

The second book is Without You, There Is No Us: My Time with the Sons of North Korea's Elite a memoir of the author’s stint as a visiting English teacher at a North Korean ­university.

I'm still looking for a third book. I would like it to be fiction. Does anyone have tips?

P.s. I haven't read these books yet. Will update when I have.

Check Out Tony's Reading List here, last year he read more than 25 works of Korean Literature, it was his main focus for the year.

He's also on twitter @tony_malone if you want to ask for a few recommendations.

Have you read The Orphan Master's Son? I also read Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea last year, and it prompted me to go out and buy this novel, although I haven't actually read it yet so I'm recommending with caution! It does sound good though.

Claire wrote: "Check Out Tony's Reading List here, last year he read more than 25 works of Korean Literature, it was his main focus for the year.

He's also on twitter @tony_malone if you want to ask for a few re..."

Indeed, will look that up and see if he has some North Korean literature in that list.

Andrea wrote: "Have you read The Orphan Master's Son? I also read Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea last year, and it prompted me to go out and buy this novel, although..."

Funny you mention The Orphan Master's Son. As soon as I had posted my last comment I googled "North Korean fiction" and that book indeed came up immediately. I think it's a strong contender to become my third book (conveniently, my local library has it).

I've had The Ginseng Hunter and Jia on my TBR list for some time now.

I've read The Orphan Master's Son. My short review if anyone's interested: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show.... I read it some time ago and made reference to having a willing suspension of disbelief. Given recent events I may have to edit that. It's a different sort of book but rather interesting. I would recommend it.

Sounds like a good idea, An. I suggest you read books authored by native people for each country, and even that one must be careful whether the author has an agenda to promote. For example I have seen some people who read about Somalia select Ayaan Hirsi Ali's books. I can't think of a more inappropriate book selection.

Thanks everyone for your comments and suggestions. The Orphan Master's Son it is.

I loved The Orphan Master's Son but I know from reading it in a book club that it isn't for everyone. If you decide it isn't for you another suggestion (translated from the Korean) for a novel is Another Man's City.

Jenny (Reading Envy) wrote: "I loved The Orphan Master's Son but I know from reading it in a book club that it isn't for everyone. If you decide it isn't for you another suggestion (translated from the Korean) for a novel is [..."

Thank you for the suggestion!

Claire wrote: "Check Out Tony's Reading List here, last year he read more than 25 works of Korean Literature, it was his main focus for the year..."

Thanks for the reading list and the twitter address, Claire.

An wrote: ...I will focus on 5 countries and will read a number of books related to those countries. I'm not sure how this will happen exactly, but I'm thinking along these lines:..."

I like your challenge, An.

Reizen zonder John: op zoek naar Amerika ★★★
(Book 1/17)

I've chosen a second country: The United States of America.

I was listening to an audiobook this week, of Geert Mak's Reizen zonder John: op zoek naar Amerika. Geert Mak is a Dutch author who travelled the same route as Steinbeck did in Travels with Charley: In Search of America, and in this book he reflects on the history of America and on the merits of Steinbeck's book. I found it very interesting, so I've bought another one that does the same thing, Dogging Steinbeck: How I Went in Search of John Steinbeck's America, Found My Own America, and Exposed the Truth about 'Travels with Charley'

Finally I will read Travels with Charley: In Search of America.

An wrote: "... Dogging Steinbeck: How I Went in Search of John Steinbeck's America, Found My Own America, and Exposed the Truth about 'Travels with Charley'..."

I really admired Travels with Charley. Very interesting the later books published about the original title you've discovered. I wonder what they have to say :)

Asma wrote: "An wrote: "... Dogging Steinbeck: How I Went in Search of John Steinbeck's America, Found My Own America, and Exposed the Truth about 'Travels with Charley'..."

I really admired Travels with Char..."

Especially that subtitle "how I exposed the truth about Travels with Charley" is intriguing!

Geert Mak was a little critical of Steinbeck's book which he claims is not of equal quality throughout, and he also mentions that Steinbeck rushed through the last legs of his trip. I have no idea if that's true - I'll have to read it myself to find out!

Oh interesting project! I own Travels with Charley but have not yet read it. I have a bit of a Steinbeck block that I hope to overcome one day.

Jenny (Reading Envy) wrote: "Oh interesting project! I own Travels with Charley but have not yet read it. I have a bit of a Steinbeck block that I hope to overcome one day."

I have Grapes of Wrath here somewhere, but never read it. Maybe I will after Travels.

My third country will be South Africa.

I'm currently listening to the audiobook of J.M.Coetzee's Disgrace, a book written in English.

My second book will be Agaat by Marlene Van Niekerk, originally written in Afrikaans. (I also have her book Triomf)

The third book I haven't chosen yet. Maybe a short story collection, like Homing by Henriëtta Rose-Innes, or Fools And Other Stories by Njabulo S. Ndebele.

Disgrace by J.M.Coetzee ★★★★
(Book 2/17)

I finished my first South Africa book, Disgrace by J.M.Coetzee. Very impressive. I'm going to continue with South Africa, with Marlene Van Niekerk's Agaat. I think the two will be quite complementary.

Agaat by Marlene van Niekerk ★★★★
(Book 3/17)

My second South Africa book, Agaat, was interesting from a psychological perspective. For this challenge, it was also interesting to see how the story of farmer wife Milla and her black maid Agaat develops against the backdrop of many shaping events - Apartheid, the Angolan war, the 1990's political developments,...

I look forward to reading the short story collection Homing as my third book on South Africa. As I have Van Niekerk's Triomf on my shelves as well, I'll read it as a fourth book. And maybe I'll add Fools And Other Stories as well. There's a lot to be discovered here.

An wrote: "Asma wrote: "An wrote: "... Dogging Steinbeck: How I Went in Search of John Steinbeck's America, Found My Own America, and Exposed the Truth about 'Travels with Charley'..."

I really admired Trav..."

Hi An,
I both read and listened to Travels with Charley and can confirm that the author did seem to rush the last chapters of his story. It does not have the same laid back feel at the end as it did at the start. I think he was feeling a little rushed, maybe homesick. It did not make a huge difference to the story, it was still good and a fun read. If you get a chance to do it in audio, pick a version with Gary Sinise (CSI:New York)as the narrator. His voice is wonderful!
Enjoy,
Cherie

Cherie wrote: "An wrote: "Asma wrote: "An wrote: "... Dogging Steinbeck: How I Went in Search of John Steinbeck's America, Found My Own America, and Exposed the Truth about 'Travels with Charley'..."

I really a..."

Interesting, thanks. I'm looking forward to Travels, and also to Cannery Row. I heard good things about it.

I love your approach to ATW this year! You have some interesting books already on your list and I can't wait to see what else you decide on!

Suzanne wrote: "I love your approach to ATW this year! You have some interesting books already on your list and I can't wait to see what else you decide on!"

Thanks! The ATW project is a little on hold while I finish another reading project but I sure look forward to digging into this in the coming weeks and months.

Not a country, of course, but as a fourth choice I've added the Poles. So far I have chosen two books. One about an expedition to the North Pole, one to the South Pole. Both ill-fated. Both fascinating.

Nice going An.

Love the Poles idea. I have a couple of books on my TBR list that would fit that choice!

Lilisa wrote: "Nice going An."

Just adding books for the moment, not reading yet :-)

Suzanne wrote: "Love the Poles idea. I have a couple of books on my TBR list that would fit that choice!"

Oh, if you have any particular recommendations, let me know.

An wrote: "Suzanne wrote: "Love the Poles idea. I have a couple of books on my TBR list that would fit that choice!"

Oh, if you have any particular recommendations, let me know."

Not sure if it's to your taste, but one of my favourite novels is set in Antarctica: Nikki Gemmell's Shiver. (Also partly set in Tasmania, where I am originally from.)

Here are some of I was thinking of:

In the Kingdom of Ice: The Grand and Terrible Polar Voyage of the USS Jeannette
Alone on the Ice: The Greatest Survival Story in the History of Exploration
North To The Night: A Spiritual Odyssey In The Arctic

Andrea wrote: "Not sure if it's to your taste, but one of my favourite novels is set in Antarctica: Nikki Gemmell's Shiver. (Also partly set in Tasmania, where I am originally from.) "

Oh man, I just gave this away. I didn't realise it was an Antarctic book.

Thank you Suzanne and Andrea for those recommendations on books set on the North/South Pole!

Homing by Henrietta Rose-Innes ★★★
(Book 4/17)

Finished with South Africa, or at least with the three books I had originally picked out. I don't know if Homing brought me additional knowledge about the country but some of the short stories were very good. I especially liked the last story, Poison, an eery, apocalyptic story.

I decided to add a bonus book, Triomf by Marlene van Niekerk, which I'll start on right away.

Cannery Row by John Steinbeck ★★★★★
(Book 5/17)

Wow wow wow, what an amazing book. I read a library copy but I need my own - I'll never stop reading this.

Dogging Steinbeck: How I Went in Search of John Steinbeck's America, Found My Own America, and Exposed the Truth about 'Travels with Charley' by Bill Steigerwald ★★★★
and
Travels with Charley: In Search of America by John Steinbeck ★★★★
(Books 6 and 7 of 17)

I'm now a John Steinbeck fan.

I'll consider the US as closed for this challenge, but I have more Steinbeck and another road trip novel - Blue Highways - waiting. Fun.

Oops, got side-tracked a little here. Even though I haven't finished (yet), this reading challenge gave me a lot of excellent books. I've been reading more Steinbeck, I finished Blue Highways, got a taste for travel writing, ...
I guess I'll have to finish this next year!

Hope you do join us again next year, An. It's an ongoing project for the most of us :)

Rusalka wrote: "Hope you do join us again next year, An. It's an ongoing project for the most of us :)"

For sure!