Boxall's 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die discussion

Use this Topic to discuss books you’re reading or that fit the 3rd Scavenger Hunt task.

For this one, I read Cry, the Beloved Country, set in South Africa, by Alan Paton who was born and lived all his life in South Africa.

I'm using A Town Like Alice by Nevil Shute which starts off in England, then Malaysia, but is mainly in Australia. I loved this book.

Debbie McGreevy wrote: "I'm using A Town Like Alice which starts off in England, then Malaysia but ends mainly in Australia. I loved this book."

One of my favorite books. There is a 1981 miniseries of the book which was really good.

Going to read Gabriela, Clove and Cinnamon this month anyway, so that's fortuitous (Brazil is 90% below the equator so I'm counting it lol)...also double dipping as the "B country" book, but will undip if I read another.

Karen wrote: "Debbie McGreevy wrote: "I'm using A Town Like Alice which starts off in England, then Malaysia but ends mainly in Australia. I loved this book."

One of my favorite books. There is a ..."

I will have to check it out. Thanks for letting me know. :)

Karen wrote: "Debbie McGreevy wrote: "I'm using A Town Like Alice which starts off in England, then Malaysia but ends mainly in Australia. I loved this book."

One of my favorite books. There is a ..."

I wasn't sure if this book would count. Although Neville Shute wasn't born in Australia, he spent his later years there and this book was written long after he had immigrated there with his family.

Debbie McGreevy wrote: "Karen wrote: "Debbie McGreevy wrote: "I'm using A Town Like Alice which starts off in England, then Malaysia but ends mainly in Australia. I loved this book."

One of my favorite book..."

I think it definitely fits. This is from the 2016 edition of Boxall's 1001 Books -- "A Town Like Alice has all the elements of a great love story and was written when the British-born author had just embarked upon a love affair of his own -- with his new country, Australia."

I highly recommend One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez

Poisonwood Bible: Congo

Amanda wrote: "Going to read Gabriela, Clove and Cinnamon this month anyway, so that's fortuitous (Brazil is 90% below the equator so I'm counting it lol)...also double dipping as the "B country" b..."

I also read Gabriela, Clove, and Cinnamon as the author was both born in a country south of the equator and wrote about a country south of the equator. Some of the previously mentioned books were written by people who were born north of the equator.

I'll try Oscar and Lucinda by Peter Carey.

Debbie McGreevy wrote: "I'm using A Town Like Alice by Nevil Shute which starts off in England, then Malaysia, but is mainly in Australia. I loved this book."

I also really enjoyed this one. Thanks for the tip!

It has to be A Town like Alice. first read this over 40 years ago

I just finished Faces In The Water by Janet Frame - New Zealand is the author’s birthplace and the setting of the novel.

Facundo: or Civilization and Barbarism by Domingo Faustino Sarmiento

July's People by Nadine Gordimer is set in South Africa, which is where Nadine Gordimer is also from. I read this in July and it's a short read that I ended up giving 4 stars to.

Although she hasn’t lived there for years, she was born in Ethiopia, so I read The Shadow King - Maaza Mengiste. I honestly believe this book would have won the Booker Prize almost any other year, it was just up against the admittedly excellent Shuggie Bain.

I just finished reading A Question of Power by Bessie Head of Botswana/S Africa (born in S Africa).
Botswana happens to also start w/ letter b and she is a person of color but I'm using other books for those hunt items.

Kirsten wrote: "I highly recommend One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez"

Colombia is north of the equator though, but not by a lot (I've been there).

Irem wrote: "Poisonwood Bible: Congo"

It's set in Congo. The author though was Barbara Kingsolver, an American.

My "B" category was filled, but I used Dom Casmurro for this one. Set in Brazil.

Working on Voss by Patrick White for this one. It's set in Australia.

A work that I read this year that would fit is 'Waiting for the Barbarians' by J.M. Coetzee (South Africa -> Australia).

I wonder, does the The Grass Is Singing by Doris Lessing count? She was technically born in Iran, but spent like 90% of her childhood in the then-South Rhodesia and set the book there. It is cheating, but by such a small amount I have to wonder if it would still count.

Otherwise Gabriela, Clove and Cinnamon as mentioned, or some of the ones by Patrick White would do it, although my book they're bricks of books! :S

Andrew wrote: "I wonder, does the The Grass Is Singing by Doris Lessing count? She was technically born in Iran, but spent like 90% of her childhood in the then-South Rhodesia and set the book there..."

Your challenge. Your rules. A similar exception was in the "B Country" category. Check out that thread to read about it. If you are okay with making the exception then I say go for it.

For this task I'll read Life and Times of Michael K by J.M. Coetzee. The author was born in South Africa and the book is set in South Africa too.