UK Book Club discussion

1. India An Atlas of Impossible Longing - Anuradha Roy
2. China The Good Earth - Pearl Buck
3. USA The Private Lives of Pippa Lee - Rebecca
Miller
4. Ireland The Wyvern Mystery - J Sheridan le Fanu
5. Albania Broken April - Ismail Kadare
6. Sweden Roseanna - Maj Sjowall & Per Wahloo
7. France Little Boy Lost - Marghanita Laski
8. Norway Nemesis - Jo Nesbo
9. Denmark The Library of Shadows by Mikkel Birkegaard

10. Germany The Riddle of the Sands - Erskine Childers
11. Congo The Poisonwood Bible - Barbara Kingsolver.
12. Estonia Purge - Sofi Oksanen
13. Finland Sculptor's Daughter - Tove Jansson
14. England Oranges are not the only Fruit - Jeanette Winterton
15. Japan The Sailor who Fell from Grace with the Sea - Yukio Mishima
16 Burma The Road to Wanting by Wendy Law-Yone
17. New Zealand The Wives of Henry Oades - Johanna Moran
18. Mexico Like Water for Chocolate - Laura Esquivel
19. North Korea Pyongyang: A Journey in North Korea
- Guy Delisle
20. Argentina Heart of Tango - Elia Barcelo
21. Cuba The Old Man and the Sea - Ernest Hemmingway
22. Poland 22 Britannia Road - Amanda Hodgkinson
23. Russia Snowdrops - A.D. Miller
24. Italy The Master - Colm Toibin.
25. Egypt The Alchemist - Paulo Coelho
26. Cambodia The Road of Lost Innocence - Somaly Mam
27. Sri Lanka Monkfish Moon - Romesh Gunesekera
28. Pakistan In the Name of Honour - Mukhtar Mai
29. Liechtenstein - Ludmila - Paul Gallico
30. East Germany Visitation - Jenny Erpenbeck
swapped for Latvia The Dogs of Riga- Henning Mankell
31. Iran Persepolis -Marjane Satrapi
32. Spain The Carpenter's Pencil - Manuel Rivas
33. Tibet Sky Burial - Xinran
34. Greece The Thread - Victoria Hislop
35. Yemen Salmon Fishing in the Yemen - Paul Torday
36. Scotland Gillespie and I Jane Harris
37. Bosnia-Herzogovina Steven GallowayThe Cellist of Sarajevo
38. Canada Dorian AmosThe Good Life: Up the Yukon Without a Paddle
39. Australia Cocaine Blues Kerry Greenwood
40. Romania House of the LostSarah Rayne
41. Azerbaijan - Ali and Nino: A Love Story
42. Rwanda - A Sunday at the Pool in Kigali
43. South Korea Lark and Termite
44. Lithuania - Between Shades of Grey
45. Brazil - State of Wonder
46. Hong Kong - The Man in the Wooden Hat
47. Ethiopia - The Garbage King
48. Austria - Waiting for Sunrise
49. Jamaica - Wide Sargasso Sea
50. Hungary - The Book of Summers
51. Turkey - The Bastard of Instanbul
52. Nigeria - Half of a Yellow Sun
53. Thailand - Catching the Sun
54. Laos - The Coroner's Lunch
55. South Africa - Philida
56. Chile - Memoirs
57. Wales - Submarine
58. Lebernon - Oranges in No Man's Land
59. Portugal - pereira maintains - Antonio Tabucchi
60. Palestine - A Little Piece of Ground - Elizabeth Laird
61. Iceland - Last Rituals- Yrsa Sigurðardóttir
62. BotswanaWhen Rain Clouds Gather- Bessie Head
63. Kyrgyzstan Jamilia - Chingiz Aitmatov -
64. Tanzania Admiring Silence-Abdulrazak Gurnah
65. Afghanistan The Taliban Cricket Club- Timeri N. Murari
66. Morocco The Caliph's House: A Year in Casablanca - Tahir Shah
67. Angola The Book of Chameleons- José Eduardo Agualusa
68. Ukraine Everything Is Illuminated: A Novel by Jonathan Safran Foer Summary & Study Guide
69. Bangladesh A Golden Age- Tahmima Anam (Goodreads have Rehane Haque)
70. Croatia The Hired Man - Aminatta Forna
71. Haiti The Enigma of the Return. Dany Laferrire
72. Bularia East of the West - Miroslav Penkov
73. Zimbabwe We Need New Names - NoViolet Bulawayo
74. Peru La hora azul/ The Blue Hour - Alonso Cueto
75. Paraguay The News from Paraguay-Lily Tuck
76. Venezuela The Sickness- Alberto Barrera Tyszka
77. Mozambique A Treacherous Paradise - Henning Mankell
78. Tahiti (French Polynesia) - Frangipani -Célestine Hitiura Vaite - Nadifa Mohamed
79. Somalia The Orchard of Lost Souls - Nadifa Mohamed-
80. Sudan An Honourable Man- [author:Gillian Slovo|53028

That is an interesting list Sue

Thanks Chris. Looking at my tbr pile (which grows increasingly taller! and I'm not even going to mention my kindle) think it's off to Burma next. I have wanted to find out more about there for a while as I have relatives who were born/lived/ died there.

I like the look of The Library of Shadows myself, but since I have well and truely burst the book budget this month, I might have to wait until next month before buying more!

I shall be investigating some of your list Sue

I have The Library of Shadows on my bookcase I got my copy from a charity shop.

Sue....I enjoyed The Riddle of the Sands, I've always meant to look at what else he has written.
You've given me some good ideas for Scandinavian countries, especially The Library of Shadows.

Now, I didn't say I liked all the books I have read lol!! Susan, I chose Roseanna as I only finished it at the weekend and the authors are credited with being the originators of what we know of as Scandi-crime (which for the most part I do like). I didn't like Riddle of the Sands - found it too slow - have bought the dvd but not had a chance to watch it yet because most people really enjoy it - again supposed to be the forerunner of James Bond.

Yes, I've heard that, and I've watched the movie on TV....if it's the same one, it was ok, slightly dated but worth watching.
I quite like watching the movie versions of books I've read, but sometimes feel slightly annoyed if they leave too much out!

Lynne - The Book Squirrel wrote: "I have The Library of Shadows on my bookcase I got my copy from a charity shop."

Really enjoyed Library of Shadows - basic premise reading gives you superpowers :)

Dave wrote: "Lynne - The Book Squirrel wrote: "I have The Library of Shadows on my bookcase I got my copy from a charity shop."

Really enjoyed Library of Shadows - basic premise reading gives yo..."

Will they make me stay awake to have a G&T tonight as I have the next 3 nights off!

Lynne - The Book Squirrel wrote: "Dave wrote: "Lynne - The Book Squirrel wrote: "I have The Library of Shadows on my bookcase I got my copy from a charity shop."

Really enjoyed Library of Shadows - basic premise r..."

Yes they will!! But sadly like all superpowers they'll require you to where you underpants on the outside :P

Enjoy your nights off sounds like you deserve them :)

@ Dave Not sure about the underpants on the outside but slowly getting a bit bleary eyed after 2 very large Moscow Mules - or is it lack of sleep!

Got sidetracked somehow - probably got on the wrong plane! - and ended up in Japan with Yukio Mishima's The Sailor who fell from grace with the Sea, a rather strange little book (so far).

Lynne - The Book Squirrel wrote: "@ Dave Not sure about the underpants on the outside but slowly getting a bit bleary eyed after 2 very large Moscow Mules - or is it lack of sleep!"

@Squirrel Oh Vodka and ginger beer sounds nice - hope you've recovered enough to enjoy your days off.

@Dave, sadly back at work tonight and I was too tired to enjoy my time off! I have finished the vodka and the ginger ale though!

Charity shop find: Small Wars by Sadie Jones - set in Cyprus :)

Ordered Yukio Mishima's The Sea of Fertility, it's on the 1001 list, what did you think of him, understand he commited suicide with a sword in the traditional way.

15. Japan The Sailor who Fell from Grace with the Sea - Yukio Mishima
I had never heard of him before I picked up this book. From the blurb I expected a japanese Lord of the Flies, which it wasn't. There were beautiful descriptions of landscape and sea. I read a little about him half way through and read the rest as being written by a 'troubled soul'. Interesting ideas but somewhat chilling.

16 Burma The Road to Wanting by Wendy Law-Yone
I hope it is ok to add this as Burma as the story is told from over the boarder in China. However many of Na Ga's reminiscences are of her early life in Burma and they have made her what she is now. A sad tale of a young girl who survived.

17. New Zealand The Wives of Henry Oades - Johanna Moran
Can I count this? A Lot of the action takes place in New Zealand before moving to America. In any event I really enjoyed it so nothing lost if I can't. Based on a true story Henry ends up with 2 wives and brings the wrath of USA religious morality/ legal system on his head.
Is Kashmir a country for the purposes of this journey? Do hope so as it looks like I've found a choice of good reads.

Hi Sue......the basic rule I'm working to is that the country should be where most of the story takes place. Unless I know the book, this is your call on inclusion or not. Kashmir is still just part of India.

18. Mexico Like Water for Chocolate - Laura Esquivel
19. North Korea Pyongyang: A Journey in North Korea
- Guy Delisle

20. Argentina Heart of Tango - Elia Barcelo
A short novel which was engaging, despite a lack of knowledge of tango!

Sue wrote: "18. Mexico Like Water for Chocolate - Laura Esquivel
19. North Korea Pyongyang: A Journey in North Korea
- Guy Delisle"

I'd never read any graphic novels until Guy Delisle - really enjoy his stuff!

21. Cuba The Old Man and the Sea - Ernest Hemmingway
I kept this to read whilst at the sea side (well Bristol Channel, which was in the wake of hurricane Katyia was pretty choppy!). It was interesting but I'm sure I missed loads of meanings - there was a half remembered film version in my head! The description made me feel as if I was with him although at times it was TMI for a veggie!

22. Poland 22 Britannia Road - Amanda Hodgkinson
I loved this book. It is set in Ipswich but alternates flashbacks of their (separate) lives in Poland during WW2. The behaviour of their child reminded me of some of those who had recently arrived from Kosovo.

I am a fan of Lefanu (I once, foolishly, read "Green Tea" traveling on a night bus after a late shift!)
I know he was Irish, but he set a lot of his books in England (and Europe) and I had always assumed that The Wyvern Mystery was set in England. My copy isn't to hand, so I can't check why I thought that; but I do think that "wyvern" is often used as a mascot or symbol in England.
However, you have made me wonder if I could count "Styria" as a country!

Oh perhaps it was Jacky - I read it a bit ago. I'll have a look a 'swap' it if necessary. My oh is from Somerset - the wyvern is its symbol (won't mention cricket!). That is the only le Fanu I have read but I will try another one.

Uncle Silas is set in Ireland, and Wylder's hand moves around northern Europe (if I remember rightly).
My "Irish" book (Northern Ireland, so I'm thinking about adding one in Eire as well)was Ian Sansome's The Mobile Library - a real LOL book (he was a half-Irish, half-Jewish librarian from London; she was a half Chinese woman with a secure job at the council: it was a stand-off). It was one of those humerous books that I most love - poking fun at follies, whims & inconsistencies, but celebrating their warmth & humanity.

Thanks Jacky. Those look interesting - not read any of his. I'll swap Le Fanu for
4. Ireland The Forgotton Waltz Anne Enright
I really didn't enjoy The Gathering but the reviews of this one were so good I thought I'd give her another go. Interesting, sad. Might try another of hers when my travelling is done!

Sheridan Le Fanu, In a Glass Darkly, brilliant collection of gothic horror short stories.

I'm quite 'into' short stories at the moment so thank you for that!

23. Russia Snowdrops - A.D. Miller
Excellent descriptions of place - won't forget the leather padding to disguise steel doors - but didn't particularly enjoy the storyline.

Have been completely sidetracked lately. Ended up reading two books set in Berlin: Alone in Berlin by Hans Fallada - incredible for the atmosphere of fear in 1940s with all the different groups and how people got dragged in for questioning. Hand the World Down - Lloyd Jones set now - a rather strange book about a girl from Africa who becomes an illegal immigrant for her own purposes (no spoilers here!). Soon I will visit Afghanistan!

24. Italy The Master - Colm Toibin. This tells the story of Henry James. It is centred on Rye but has beautiful descriptions of his, and his friend', time in Venice and Florence. Not my favourite Toibin but an interesting read.

25. Egypt The Alchemist - Paulo Coelho

26. Cambodia The Road of Lost Innocence - Somaly Mam
One of the most depressing account of inhumanity I have ever read. The author is amazing to have survived and an inspiration.

27. Sri Lanka Monkfish Moon - Romesh Gunesekera
A small book of short stories. I was going to read another Roma Tearne but this caught my eye. Interesting read but I'm glad I already had some understanding of the political situation (much from reading her books) - which is never far from the stories.

28. Pakistan In the Name of Honour - Mukhtar Mai
Eyeopening is the only way to describe it. Explains the reasons behind the stories that occasionally get reported as well as her own traumatic one.

29. Liechtenstein - Ludmila - Paul Gallico
The legend of Saint Ludmila and the cow how really wanted to lead the herd down from the mountains and how she achieved her ambition. A very short story but quite delightful with line drawings depicting the events.

Oh no!! Missed out no.11. Currently reading The Poisonwood bible for Congo - shall be there for some time!! Thought I was going to reach a milestone with it!

11. Congo The Poisonwood Bible - Barbara Kingsolver.
Thought provoking. A good story well told!

Sue wrote: "11. Congo The Poisonwood Bible - Barbara Kingsolver.
Thought provoking. A good story well told!"

I ordered a copy of this to read at the library. Glad you enjoyed it. I read The Lacuna by Kingsolver last year & once I got into I enjoyed it.

I hadn't made the connection between The Lacuna (not read that one yet) and The Poisonwood Bible!

Sue wrote: "11. Congo The Poisonwood Bible - Barbara Kingsolver.
Thought provoking. A good story well told!"

Good to hear as I have it on my kindle to read as well

I'm planning on reading The Poisonwood Bible soon. Glad to hear that you enjoyed it, most people seem to have enjoyed the story, so I'm looking forward to it.

30. East Germany Visitation - Jenny Erpenbeck. I saw elsewhere that we can count East/West Germany separately. I enjoyed this - thought it was an original style (that did take a bit of getting used to). It's the story of people who lived around a lake in the years before and after WW2.
Current in Iran with Persepolis.

31. Iran Persepolis -Marjane Satrapi. Another graphic novel showing the Islamic revolution from a child's point of view. The first of a series. Interesting, thought provoking and incredibly sad.