Around the World discussion

I didn't manage to read 52 books last year (I read 29 books.), but I had a lot of fun.
This year I will focus on Europe and the Middle East (will add other reads, but won't plan them), and will post my finished reads here.
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1 USA (Oregon)/Cambodia: Children of the River by Linda Crew, 3*.
2 Cambodia: The Disappeared by Kim Echlin, 5*.
3 Portugal: Nachtzug nach Lissabon (Night Train to Lisbon) by Pascal Mercier, 4*.
4 Spain: Ich bin dann mal weg. Meine Reise auf dem Jakobsweg (I'm off, then) by H. Kerkeling, 3*
5 France: Das Lächeln der Frauen (The Ingredients of Love) by Nicolas Barreau, 4*
6 UK: The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling, 4*.
7 North Korea: The Orphan Master's Son by Adam Johnson, 4*
8 Cambodia: Dogs at the Perimeter by Madeleine Thien, 5*
9 Lebanon: Jasmine and Fire: A Bittersweet Year in Beirut by Salma Abdelnour, 4*


10 India: The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga, 2*
11 Ireland/Italy: Two Lives by William Trevor, 5*
12 Iceland:, Reply to a Letter from Helga by B. Birgisson, 2*
13 Iraq: The Yellow Birds by Kevin Powers, 5*
14 USA (Alaska): The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey, 4*
15 USA (Washington): Magic Hour by Kristin Hannah, 5*
16 Norway: The Faster I Walk, The Smaller I Am by Kjersti Skomsvold, 2*
17 Sweden: Astrid and Veronika by Linda Olsson, 3*
18 Pakistan: Trespassing by Uzma Aslam Khan, 2*


19 Denmark: Number the Stars by Lois Lowry, 5*
20 Pakistan: In Other Rooms, Other Wonders by Daniyal Mueenuddin, 4*
21 Spain: The Return by Victoria Hislop, 2.5*
22 Germany: Familienleben by Viola Roggenkamp, 2*
23 Malaysia: The Garden of Evening Mists by Tan Twan Eng, 5*
24 France: Blackberry Wine by Joanne Harris, 2*
25 Pakistan: The Wish Maker by Ali Sethi, 4*
26 Poland: The History of Love by Nicole Krauss, 2*
27 Lithuania: Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys, 5*


28 USA (Louisiana): Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys, 4*
29 Belarus: Tolstoy and the Purple Chair: My Year of Magical Reading by Nina Sankovitch, 4*
30 Spain: Marina by Carlos Ruiz Zafón, 5*
31 Cambodia: In the Shadow of the Banyan by Vaddey Ratner, 4*
32 Chile: Daughter of Fortune by Isabel Allende, 3*
33 Russia: Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah, 5*
34 USA/Japan: Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford, 5*
35 Medieval England xP: The Time Traveller's Guide to Medieval England: A Handbook for Visitors to the Fourteenth Century by Ian Mortimer, 4*
36 USA (Florida): The Dry Grass of August by Anna Jean Mayhew, 3*


37 Colombia: Delirio by Laura Restrepo, 3*
38 Morocco: Storyteller of Marrakesh by Joydeep Roy-Bhattacharya, 5*
39 UK: Atonement by Ian McEwan, 5*A Year In The Merde
40 Wales: Sixpence House: Lost in A Town Of Books by Paul Collins, 4*
41 France: A Year In The Merde by Stephen Clarke, 3*
42 Turkey: The Oracle of Stamboul by Michael David Lukas, 3*
43 India: Boys Without Names by Kashmira Sheth, 4*
44 UK: John Saturnall's Feast by Lawrence Norfolk, 4*
45 Cambodia: The Road of Lost Innocence by Somaly Mam, 5*


46 France: The Cleaner of Chartres by Sally Vickers, 4*
47 Russia: City of Thieves by David Benioff, 5*
48 Germany: Der Geschmack von Apfelkernen by Katharina Hagena, 3*
49 Australia: Oscar and Lucinda by Peter Carey, 4*
50 USA (New Hampshire) A Separate Peace by John Knowles, 4*
51 Czech Republic/Italy/... The Prague Cemetery by Umberto Eco, 2*
52 Netherlands Postcards from No Man's Land by Aidan Chambers, 3*

Hi Silver Raindrops!

I browsed through you list and I want to thank you since I added a few to my shelves. ParticularlyThe Ten Thousand Things looks special. I smiled when I saw you have Astrid Lindgren's book The Brothers Lionheart. I have spend most of my life in Sweden. Lindgren is very special to the Swedish people. She started a children's hospital and on Skansen there is a children' s museum all about her books. She was quite the national figure, always standing up for children and she had such spark.

A Tale of Love and Darkness is super.

Currently I am reading Mosaic: A Chronicle of Five Generations. I had it on my list for ages and then it came out in Kindle, and I simply could not wait until next year. I have not been disappointed. Clearly this is a four or five star book. It is long. There are many family members, but each one becomes a person with a particular character so you have no problem identifying with each one. The author doesn't draw them in rosy hues, but in realistic shades. So it is nice that this is on your list!

Hi and welcome! I have added you to the master list. It will continue to morph and change, so if you make a change, let me know or just leave a comment on this thread. I keep tabs on it. It doesn't matter as much if you decide *not* to read a book, as it might be a good idea still for someone else. But if you add something, do let us know!

Chrissie wrote: "Hi Silver Raindrops!

I browsed through you list and I want to thank you since I added a few to my shelves. ParticularlyThe Ten Thousand Things looks special. I smiled when I saw you ..."

I've seen the movie of the Brothers Lionheart countless times since I was a child but I've cried so much, I couldn't bring myself to read the book as well. I thought this might be a good opportunity to try again (plus, I wanted a Swedish book that was no crime mystery ;) ).

I wasn't sure about "Mosaic" but if you say it's good then I'll keep it. It was a bit odd, I couldn't come up with any book about Poland, and it's not that far away from where I live in Germany. I felt a bit guilty that I couldn't think of anything to be honest ;).

Jenny wrote: "Hi and welcome! I have added you to the master list. It will continue to morph and change, so if you make a change, let me know or just leave a comment on this thread. I keep tabs on it. It doe..."

Thank you :).
Will do ;).
By the way, did you realize you list Burma/Myanmar twice? I just noticed it.

Gaeta1 wrote: "Hey, you're the only other person who is thinking about reading Apricots on the Nile: A Memoir with Recipes besides me."

Lol! I was thinking about something else but then I saw it on the master list and thought it would be perfect. I love the middle eastern kitchen and I can't wait to try the recipes myself :).

I. Am. An. Idiot.

I completely forgot about two novels that are already on my to-read-shelf.

So I'm leaving out Denmark and Hungary (I'll leave it in the list though). In are the following:

Bahrain The Meeting Point

Jamaica The Long Song

Mosaic: A Chronicle of Five Generations is good but tis lengfth is daunting. I have written some of my views as I read it here: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/... No spoilers. My worries were unfounded. I have zero problem with the switch in times. None, whatsoever. :0) You do have to bre willing to read a long book, but it is rewarding. I have read about 75% so far.

If the length is daunting you might instead consider Anya which is also set in Poland. Here is my spoiler free review on that: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Thanks so much.
Length is no problem, I'm a fast reader ;). I chose "Mosaic" because it spans a lot of time, and since I've learned about Polish history in school and heard about it from older family and friends, I thought it might be interesting to read a book from another point of view.

By the way, thanks for writing spoiler-free reviews ;).

Well, then definitely, if you do not mind length, go for Mosaic.

Hooray, that's our first pick for Bahrain.

Hi Silver, thanks for the note on my page - you have a great list. Maybe we could do a buddy or group read on Half of a Yellow Sun. I think there are others reading it too.

Kristen wrote: "Hi Silver, thanks for the note on my page - you have a great list. Maybe we could do a buddy or group read on Half of a Yellow Sun. I think there are others reading it too."
I'd be up for that.

Jenny wrote: "Kristen wrote: "Hi Silver, thanks for the note on my page - you have a great list. Maybe we could do a buddy or group read on Half of a Yellow Sun. I think there are others reading i..."

Me too!! There are also a lot of people reading A Fine Balance (not me, sadly, because I've already read it). Can't we do reading groups for every country. That would be easier than for every book, and one could also compare different books.

Jenny wrote: "Hooray, that's our first pick for Bahrain."

Lol. You're welcome ;).

Changing my choice for Afghanistan to Born Under a Million Shadows, just because I already own it ;).

Check! I added to my list from my shelves at home too!

Changed my choices for Australia (to Mutant Message Down Under) because I didn't like the other one ;), and for Iran (to The Blind Owl) because I love owls ;).

Think I'll change a few others as well, since some are quite elusive ;).

Will post my reviews here as soon as I've written them ;).
So far I've read my book for Italy (The Course of Honor) and loved it, but haven't written the review yet ;).

I don't want you to be disappointed! with "The Blind Owl". You will meet no owls. Zero.

I know a tremendous book about owls, but it is set in the USA. You could just read it on the side. Check it out if you love owls. I guarantee you will love the book: Wesley the Owl: The Remarkable Love Story of an Owl and His Girl. And here is my review, if you are still unsure: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/.... I adore when Wesley takes a bath and the episodes at Caltech.

I hope you seriously meant you wanted to read it b/c you love owls.....

Chrissie wrote: "I don't want you to be disappointed! with "The Blind Owl". You will meet no owls. Zero.

I know a tremendous book about owls, but it is set in the USA. You could just read it on the side. Check it..."


lol. I know it's not about owls; I just like the title. And think that if someone uses owls in the title, it can't be that bad ;).

I've read Wesley, and I love it (cute pictures, too). I've also read the Legend of the Guardians (The Capture) :).

But I'm up for any other owl book if anyone would like to suggest one ;).

Nice, I wasn't so sure if you really did want owl suggestions!

I love owls too. Wesley was a fun book to read. :)

Post-christmas cleaning and ordering of the list ;)

I've added two books by Guy Gavriel Kay (The Lions of al-Rassan for Spain and Under Heaven for China), and while I know this is fantasy, he describes historical periods very accurately and his books are far more fun to read, so I'll count them anyway ;).

I changed my choice for Morocco to Weizenhaar: Ein Sommer in Marokko, because it's one of my favorite books, and I'll be reading it next year anyway because I read it every year. More than once. ;)

Changed the choice for the USA to The Help because of an upcoming group read.

Changed and added several books in French (Inch Allah, Tome 1 : Le Souffle du jasmin for Palestine, The Bastard of Istanbul for Turkey (reading it in French), L'enfant de Noé for Belgium) because I've become quite fluid and would like to keep up the training ;).

Other additions and changes are just because of christmas ;).
New countries: Bangladesh (A Golden Age), New Zealand (The Colour), Dubai (The Sand Fish: A Novel from Dubai).
Changes: Syria (The Calligrapher's Secret), Albania (The Concert), France (either 1000 Years of Annoying the French or A Year in the Merde).

Happy new year full of reading everyone ;).

Great list SilverRaindrops! You're the only other person I've seen who has The Colour for New Zealand.

That's because I own basically every book by Rose Tremain - and should really start reading them. I debated with myself over The Road Home for Poland, but felt it was a bit far-fetched since it's set in the UK and not on the continent.

Is The Colour an authentic book for New Zealand? Have you heard something about it?

I have three Rose Tremain books but The Road Home is the only one I have read.

I only found The Colour looking for a book based in NZ, but I've heard nothing else about it!

Kat wrote: "Great list SilverRaindrops! You're the only other person I've seen who has The Colour for New Zealand."

Actually Kat, I have this too for New Zealand. I have heard great things about the author.

So, I've decided to read two books for both India and the USA, since I've already read the ones for Italy and Morocco before 2012 started.

Currently, I'm reading The Help.

Chrissie, we could do a mini-group-read, maybe others would want to read it too.

SilverRaindrops wrote: "So, I've decided to read two books for both India and the USA, since I've already read the ones for Italy and Morocco before 2012 started.

Currently, I'm reading The Help.

Chrissi..."

That would be fun, it is just that my life is kind of hectic right now. All sorts of unsolved questions. If we just put it off a while? I prefer smaller group discussions over larger ones, so I like your idea of an informal mini-group-read.

That's alright, I've got another 51 books to read before that if you want ;).

SilverRaindrops wrote: "That's alright, I've got another 51 books to read before that if you want ;)."

Yeah, me too....... and what if I have to stick in more?

I'm okay with putting it on hold for a while. So you can just tell me when you want to start and I'll keep it on my shelf for the time. It's not like I'll die of book deprivation any time soon ;). (And it's not like I don't have anything else to do either ;)).

That is perfect! If you get ancy and feel you want to read it, drop me a line. This is in fact one book I am very much looking forward to.

I have heard great things about the author Rose Tremaine. Music and Silence, set in Denmark under King Christian, is suppose to be good, but I have read The Royal Physician's Visit and the setting is similar. I wanted something different so I chose The Colour. What if it is not as good?! I really enjoyed TRPV! translated by Tiina Nunally. She is a great Scandinavian translator.

Music and Silence is set in Denmark? I didn't realize this, that's awesome. Guess what I'll read as well ;). I've heard about The Royal Physician's Visit, but I already own the other one. I'm going to move this year, so I'll do mostly owned books ;).
I wish I could speak one of the Scandinavian languages. They all sound so pretty to me ;).

No, no, no! the French language is beautiful. But I demolish it. I speak it so badly.

I have The Colour on my reading shelf too. Drop me a line when you two start reading.

Chrissie wrote: "No, no, no! the French language is beautiful. But I demolish it. I speak it so badly."

I love French. Reading several of my books in French. And am going to visit a friend in France this year ;).

Don't worry about speaking it badly. Most French people are happy that you're making the effort and will help you with anything.

Pragya wrote: "I have The Colour on my reading shelf too. Drop me a line when you two start reading."

Will do, Pragya ;).

SilverRaindrops wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "No, no, no! the French language is beautiful. But I demolish it. I speak it so badly."

I love French. Reading several of my books in French. And am going to visit a friend in Fran... Don't worry about speaking it badly. Most French people are happy that you're making the effort and will help you with anything. "

Exactly! The French just want you to try and speak their language. I like the French personality! I adore Brittany best. THAT is where we go all the time. What is good about Belgium is that it is close to many other countries. :0)

Where in France are you going? Maybe I have been there..... It is so much fun reading a book about a place you have visited.

Pragya, that would be nice if you read with us.

Chrissie wrote: ""
"

SilverRaindrops wrote:

Will do, Pragya ;)."

Thank you. I would love to read with you.

Chrissie wrote: "SilverRaindrops wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "No, no, no! the French language is beautiful. But I demolish it. I speak it so badly."

I love French. Reading several of my books in French. And am going t..."

I'm going to Strasbourg to visit a friend (closest to the German border ;)), and a friend and I are going on a holiday with a car but we haven't decided yet where we're going. Either the Provence or the Auvergne. We'll see how much time we have. I'd love to see Carcassone.

I love Provence. This sounds terribly fun. enjoy!!!!! I love the way the French people are proud of their country and do their utmost to retain its beauty, both its culture and their landscape.

I'm finished with my first book. by Collette Rossant for Egypt.
Not as great as I though it would be; 3-star review can be found here.

Visited 3 out of 54 places

Finished with by Jostein Gaarder for Norway
Sadly, no improvement at all. 2-star-review here.
So sad, because I love all the other books Jostein Gaarder has written.

Visited 4 out of 54 places

Judy wrote: "SR, after reading Apricots on the Nile: A Memoir with Recipes you should join in on the January food challenge in the group Janice and I moderate called You'll Love This One. Its set ..."

Judy, I'll check it out. Sounds great.

Read by Günter Grass for my own country, Germany.
Not recommended at all. Seriously.
2-star-review here.

Finished by Kathryn Stockett for the USA.
Took a looong time to get into, but was worth it in the end.
4-star-review here.

Read by Tove Jansson for Finland.
Lovely book. Would really recommend it.
4-star-review here.

Visited 7 out of 54 places

And another two are done.

by Rafik Schami for Syria. I originally intended to read one of his books, but then I heard an interview with him and decided on this German audiobook. I've given it 4.5/5 stars, the review wouldn't be much help to English-speaking people though. However I would recommend his other books for Syria, in particular The Dark Side of Love and The Calligrapher's Secret.

by صادق هدایت (read: Sadegh Hedayat) for Iran.
It described someone going crazy, and while I would not want to read it again, I have given it 4 stars in my review here.

Visited 9 out of 54 places.

I've had a few days of intense travelling ;).

by Rose Tremain for New Zealand. Although it is rather slow and transports a lot of melancholy, it shows the madness of the Gold Rush and, most importantly, it makes you want to see New Zealand for yourself. My 4.5-star-review is here.

by Kashmira Sheth for India. I love her books; she has a beautiful way of telling a story for young adults and teaching them about traditions and values without being overbearing or annoying. 4.5-star-review here.

by Paulo Coelho for the author's home country, Brazil. Borrowed it from my mum. Not as good as I thought, and actually I'm happy that I didn't pay any money for that. 2.5-star-review here. If anyone can direct me towards a good book for Brazil, I'm all ears.

Visited 12 out of 54 places.

Ignoring the old posts - because I don't want to sift through them for now, and my list has changed dramatically since then - here is the new list :). With reviews. Details later :).

I can recommend my books for Iraq, Argentina, and Italy. (And for Serbia, if you don't mind some myths coming true.)

Around the World in 52 Books
Jan 1 - Dec 31, 2012
Progress: 28/52

AFRICA
1) Congo Not Untrue and Not Unkind
✔2) Egypt Apricots on the Nile: A Memoir with Recipes read in Jan, review here
3) Ethiopia Cutting for Stone
✔4) Kenya Burn My Heart read in Oct, review here
->5) Nigeria Half of a Yellow Sun
->6) South Africa A Quilt of Dreams: A Novel


ASIA
->7) Bangladesh A Golden Age
8) Burma (Myanmar) The Glass Palace
->9) Cambodia The Disappeared
->10) China Years of Red Dust: Stories of Shanghai
✔11) India Keeping Corner read in May, review here
✔12) Japan The Housekeeper and the Professor read in May, review here
13) Malaysia Evening Is the Whole Day
✔14) Pakistan Season of the Rainbirds, read in May


AUSTRALIA
✔15) Australia Mutant Message Down Under read in July
✔16) New Zealand The Colour read in May, review here


EUROPE A-M
17) Albania The Concert
18) Armenia Dreams of Bread and Fire
✔19) Austria Vienna read in August
20) Bosnia The Cellist of Sarajevo
->21) Denmark Rasmussens letzte Reise
✔22) England Sherlock Holmes: The Complete Novels and Stories, Volume I read in July
✔23) Finland The Summer Book read in Feb, review here
✔24) France Die Frau meines Lebens read in June
✔25) Germany My Century read in Jan, review here
26) Greece/Macedonia The Golden Mean
✔27) Iceland Iceland's Bell read in Sept, review here
->28) Ireland Das Regenorchester Roman
✔29) Italy Ein Weinberg in der Toskana - Wie mein Traum wahr wurde read in June


EUROPE (N-Z)
✔30) Netherlands Girl With a Pearl Earring read in May
✔31) Norway The Castle in the Pyrenees read in Jan, review here
->32) Romania Zaira
->33) Russia The House of Special Purpose
✔34) Serbia (Yugoslavia) The Tiger's Wife read in Sep, review here
✔35) Scotland Travellers read in May, review here
->36) Spain The Alhambra
✔37) Turkey Liebende read in June
->38) Ukraine Everything Is Illuminated
->39) Wales The Green Bridge: Stories from Wales


MIDDLE EAST
->40) Afghanistan Born Under a Million Shadows
->41) Bahrain The Meeting Point
42) Dubai The Sand Fish: A Novel from Dubai
✔43) Iraq The Sirens of Baghdad read in Sep, review here
✔44) Iran The Blind Owl read in April, review here
✔45) Israel A Tale of Love and Darkness read in Sep, review here
->46) Lebanon Jasmine and Fire: A Bittersweet Year in Beirut
47) Libya In the Country of Men
✔48) Morocco The Caliph's House read in September
49) Palestine Mornings in Jenin
->50) Saudi Arabia Finding Nouf
✔51) Syria Murmeln Meiner Kindheit finished listening in April
✔52) Yemen Salmon Fishing In The Yemen read in June


NORTH/MIDDLE/SOUTH AMERICA
✔53) Argentina The Disappeared read in September, review here
✔54) Brazil The Alchemist read in May, review here
->55) Colombia Delirio
->56) Jamaica The Long Song
->57) Mexico Like Water for Chocolate
✔58) USA The Help read in Jan, review here

I like it too, specially the book covers on it. Makes it very colorful.