Around the World discussion

Ok - I sort of lost track a little last year and didn't go close to meeting my 52 book challenge, but I did collect an impressive pile of relevant ATW books. My plan for this year is to work though what I own that meets the very loose criteria of not being set in Australia, USA or UK. i.e. I'm setting the bar nice and low this year.

Any plan works Tanya! :-) enjoy.

1. Nigeria The Man Died: Prison Notes of Wole Soyinka 12.1.15
Nobel prize winner, Wole Soyinka's writings from his time prison and solitary confinement during the Nigerial civil war. A fairly intimidating but very insightful and beautifully written book.


2. Nigeria Treachery in the Yard: A Nigerian Thriller 11.1.15
Detective / police procedural set in Lagos where the detective comes up against curruption and organsied crime.

3. South Africa Present Darkness 28.1.15
I really enjoy this series about a police detective in 1950's South Africa. The sense of time and place at the beginning of the apartheid era is as much part of the story as the strong central characters.
I'd recommend this series to anyone who enjoys a good detective story.

4. Argentina The Mad Toy 17.2.15
Interesting story of rebellion and life on the streets set in 1920's Buenos Aires. Beautifully written.

5. Saudi Arabia Where Pigeons Don't Fly 17.2.15
I seem to be following a bit of a theme. This was another story of a young man rebelling against the environment in which he lived. Interesting cultural insights although slightly muddled at times.

6. Laos The Coroner's Lunch 09.3.15
This is the first in a series about Dr Siri, a 70 year old coroner in Laos during the 1970's, the period immediatly after the Vietnam War when the Pathet Lao (Laos communist party) gained control of the country. Interesting and entertaining 'detective' story.

7. Sudan The African Equation 21.3.15
German taken hostage and held in Sudan. This is the second book I've read by Algerian author, Yasmina Khadra. I like his writing so will look up some more.

I see the other one you read was What the Day Owes the Night, which I also read and liked his writing style. Which one did you enjoy more?

Rusalka wrote: "I see the other one you read was What the Day Owes the Night, which I also read and liked his writing style. Which one did you enjoy more?"
I've rated them both a 3 star, so they're both in the 'good, but not outstanding' category. I liked the setting and plot more in What the Day Owes the Night , but The African Equation made me think more as there are strong themes around poverty, racism and first world/3rd world interactions. Like you, I like his writing style as well so am quite looking forward to reading more of him. I think I have another couple of his in the bookshelf ...

Hmm thanks for sharing. I've definitely added it to my list. I stupidly looked him up on Booktopia... I've hidden my credit card for my own good ;)

Rusalka wrote: "Hmm thanks for sharing. I've definitely added it to my list. I stupidly looked him up on Booktopia... I've hidden my credit card for my own good ;)"

Sometimes, that is all you can do, Rusalka! LOL!

My Mum used to tell me to get a credit card only for emergencies, and to wrap it in plastic and then freeze it in a container of water in the freezer. That way, you had to wait for the water to defrost before you could purchase something, and had a cooling off period to rationalise/change your mind/become realistic.

I do think of this every now and then when I go on a tipsy book buying binge at 2am.

8. Niger Harmattan 22.4.15
Young girl in rural Niger navigates school, breakdown of her family, marriage and poverty. Well written, although a little preachy (I think every possibly issue is touched on).

9. Liberia Allah Is Not Obliged 2.6.15
Young Malinke boy from Ivory Coast becomes child soldier in Liberia and Sierra Leone. The actual story is a little bland, but provides insight into civil war, religion and culture or region.

10. Laos Thirty-Three Teeth4.11.15
I love this series - mysteries set in a blend of Laotian culture, hill tribe mysticism, communism and the seventies told with wit and humour.