Around the World discussion

Every year we look back and share the best and worst reads of the year for each of us - ready, set, go!

So far in 2021, these are my favorites:


The Island of Missing Trees - Cyprus
Madonna in a Fur Coat -Turkey
The Power of Geography: Ten Maps That Reveal the Future of Our World - various regions
Facing the Mountain: A True Story of Japanese American Heroes in World War II - Germany, France, Italy, U.S.
Ten Women - Chile

Least favorite/disappointing:

Least favorite: A Recipe for Daphne - Turkey
Most disappointing: The Madness of Crowds - Canada

Oh come onnnn.... it's not even my birthday yet!!

That said, this is my favourite thread of the year. Cannot wait to see what everyone's picks are.

Rusalka wrote: "Oh come onnnn.... it's not even my birthday yet!!

That said, this is my favourite thread of the year. Cannot wait to see what everyone's picks are."

Lol - when’s your birthday?

Hah Saturday. But my mum's birthday is the 10th Dec, and my brother's is the 12th Dec. So unwritten rule in my family is you do not discuss Christmas or New Years until the 14th.

Still, though. There are weeks! Also, tell me all the books!!! (I am okay with my cognitive dissonance)

Anything could happen in the next 6 weeks, but so far these are my ATW picks for 2021:

Best
Still Life - Italy
A Gentleman in Moscow - Russia
Tsarina - Russia
All My Mothers - Spain
Homegoing - Ghana
Americanah - Nigeria
The Three Burials of Lotty Kneen - Slovenia

Rather forget
Mexican Gothic - Mexico (but could have been anywhere)
The Sanatorium - Switzerland
Plus a few others that tried to teach me lessons with sledgehammer levels of subtlety.

Dishonorable mention
This is a PSA for one that didn't qualify for my ATW journey, but might for yours: Catch Us The Foxes - Australia. I thought it was not only bad, but also offensive in some respects. One I resented spending time on.

Andrea wrote: " Catch Us The Foxes - Australia. I thought it was not only bad, but also offensive in some respects. One I resented spending time on."

Ohhhh... that looks borderline. I am glad you warned us. I would have been sucked in with the setting of Kiama otherwise.

Rusalka wrote: "Hah Saturday. But my mum's birthday is the 10th Dec, and my brother's is the 12th Dec. So unwritten rule in my family is you do not discuss Christmas or New Years until the 14th.

Still, though. T..."

December is a busy festive month in your family! Advance birthday wishes for your birthday on Saturday! 🎈🎂🎉

Thanks lovely :D

Yes, very very busy 2 months. That's only my family (discounting the nephew's birthday the other day), not even Lexx's (brothers, brother in law, mum), and a heap of our good friends. It's a busy time of year!! I blink and it's January as it's a whirlwind.

Adding Rice, Noodle, Fish: Deep Travels Through Japan's Food Culture to my 2021 favorite list.

Best:
A Spare Life by Lidija Dimkovska (North Macedonia, formerly known as Macedonia)
When We Cease to Understand the World by Benjamin Labatut (Chile, only because the author is from there, arguably the content is much more about Europe and the states, but a truly fantastic read)
The Actual Star by Monica Byrne (Belize - speculative fiction in its best form)
Mud Sweeter than Honey: Voices of Communist Albania by Margo Rejmer - difficult reading but so well done
Sovietistan: Travels in Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan by Erika Fatland

Worst:
Embers by Sandor Marai (Hungary/Slovenia) forced my way through but so boring
Death Fugue by Sheng Keyi (China) - bailed on this one, the male gaze (written by a woman!) was just so obnoxious and the story was going in surreal circles, my least favorite kind of circles.

Jenny (Reading Envy) wrote: "Best:
A Spare Life by Lidija Dimkovska (North Macedonia, formerly known as Macedonia)
When We Cease to Understand the World by Benjamin Labatut (Chil..."

Great to see that Sovietistan: Travels in Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan is one of your best reads for 2021, Jenny. I’m going to move it up on my reading list!

Lilisa wrote: "Great to see that Sovietistan: Travels in Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan is one of your best reads for 2021, Jenny. I’m going to move it up on my reading list."

It is very good but I did read other books in between the countries of focus, because some of the experiences in those places is pretty oppressive, and some difficult topics like bride kidnapping!

Jenny (Reading Envy) wrote: "Lilisa wrote: "Great to see that Sovietistan: Travels in Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan is one of your best reads for 2021, Jenny. I’m going to move it up on my re..."

The joys and travails of reading!