Around the World in 80 Books discussion

What book did you just finish?


I have recently finished Crabwalk by Günter Grass and The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne. I have to say that I was a bit disappointed by The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. Several things about the book really bugged me, especially the extreme cluelessness of the main character. I have a 9-year old son who is a bit on the naive side for his age, but NOTHING like Bruno!

I agree Diane. Haven't read the book but thought the same about the film. Just finished The Latehomecomer: A Hmong Family Memoir which was interesting even if I couldn't count it towards my world trip (my version requires the country to be the primary location), so although it starts in Laos and goes via Thailand, most of it is set in Minnesota.

Ian wrote: "I agree Diane. Haven't read the book but thought the same about the film. Just finished The Latehomecomer: A Hmong Family Memoir which was interesting even if I couldn't count it towards my world t..."

Oh, wow, I didn't know that. I had it slated for my Laos book, too. For whatever reason Laos is a difficult country to find books from.

Diane - have you read The Coroner's Lunch - its a mystery series set in 1970's Laos

Dee wrote: "Diane - have you read The Coroner's Lunch - its a mystery series set in 1970's Laos"

I haven't. I actually own it, but can't seem to get around to reading it. Too many books, too little time... Did you like it?

I gave it 3 stars which is an i liked it, will probably continue the series if I get a chance, but not going to rush out and buy it

Dee wrote: "I gave it 3 stars which is an i liked it, will probably continue the series if I get a chance, but not going to rush out and buy it"

I can't believe I haven't read a book from Laos yet.

lol...i think that might have been one of the first ones I read...its been a while since I visited asia, so I might have to swing on by that area

Dee wrote: "lol...i think that might have been one of the first ones I read...its been a while since I visited asia, so I might have to swing on by that area"

I seem to zero in on the really obscure countries and overlook the countries with tons of authors and books. Can you believe I still haven't been to Iceland?

ohhh, some good authors out of iceland - i think a read a Quentin Bates - but it had a touch of first in the series weakness, I need to get his second one...

you haven't been to Finland either...James Thompson!!!

Ian wrote: "I agree Diane. Haven't read the book but thought the same about the film. Just finished The Latehomecomer: A Hmong Family Memoir which was interesting even if I couldn't count it towards my world t..."

Ian, I know you are also particpating in another world challenge with slightly different rules, but feel free to count the book for this challange if you wish. The book need only be partially set in the country claimed.

Thanks Diane, but happy to stick to the rules I set in my own UK group. Must be some good Vietnam war era novels set in Laos, although I think the US stayed out of there mostly except for trying to bomb it back to the Dark Ages ....just need to find them.

I just finished After and Dog on It, both on audio - one for the car and one on my phone (great for bedtime). After was an interesting listen that made me think beyond the headlines, I'd recommend both.

If you plan on reading a book from Chechnya, I highly recommend The Oath by native Chechen, Khassan Baiev. Tough subject matter, but very amazing book.

I just finished Milan Kundera's The Unbearable Lightness of Being. Funnily enough, its been two days since I finished it and I still cant make out how i feel about it. I definitely think its a 'must read' though!

Sumanya wrote: "I just finished Milan Kundera's The Unbearable Lightness of Being. Funnily enough, its been two days since I finished it and I still cant make out how i feel about it. I definitely think its a 'mus..."

I can't believe I still have not read it yet. I have owned the book for years. I saw the movie a long time ago and really enjoyed it.

Diane wrote: "Sumanya wrote: "I just finished Milan Kundera's The Unbearable Lightness of Being. Funnily enough, its been two days since I finished it and I still cant make out how i feel about it. I definitely ..."
Diane, if it makes any difference, I enjoyed it although it has left me confused a bit. So i would urge you to read it. Also, I suppose when you own a book you always think you can get to it at any time. And then your prioritise other books over it.

Sumanya wrote: "Diane wrote: "Sumanya wrote: "I just finished Milan Kundera's The Unbearable Lightness of Being. Funnily enough, its been two days since I finished it and I still cant make out how i feel about it...."

That is so true. I need to stop borrowing books fro the library and read the books I have at home.

I have started and finished yesterday Beside The Sea by Véronique Olmi.
It is a very short read (roughly 100 pages) but it is really worth to be read. It talks about a mentally disturbed and depressed mother and her strong (but sick) love for her two children. It is really a good book.

dely wrote: "I have started and finished yesterday Beside The Sea by Véronique Olmi.
It is a very short read (roughly 100 pages) but it is really worth to be read. It talks about a mentally disturbed and depres..."

That sounds like a very interesting book, but I fear that I have a suspicion of what the ending would be.

Diane wrote: "That sounds like a very interesting book, but I fear that I have a suspicion of what the ending would be. "

I will not add spoilers but don't read the synopsis, they are full of spoilers.
Though we can presume the end it is a good read because we enter the mind of this mother and we feel her anxiety, her anguish, her desperation and her disease and we can't blame her. It is very good written, I felt choking a lot of times during the reading, everything is claustrophobic; I felt the rain in my hair and on the skin (it always rains in the story, from the beginning). Even if we can understand how it ends I liked reading it and had however tears in my eyes at the end. It is a little masterpiece.

dely wrote: "Diane wrote: "That sounds like a very interesting book, but I fear that I have a suspicion of what the ending would be. "

I will not add spoilers but don't read the synopsis, they are full of spoi..."

I will definitely look for it. It sounds amazing.

Another short but pleasant read: An Apology For Idlers by Robert Louis Stevenson.
Remember, idleness is not a vice!

dely wrote: "Another short but pleasant read: An Apology For Idlers by Robert Louis Stevenson.
Remember, idleness is not a vice!"

I am all for short and pleasant reads!

Diane wrote: "I am all for short and pleasant reads!"

Above all for a whole morning by the hairdresser!
Didn't want to bring War and Peace :D
But now I will continue with it.

Diane wrote: "dely wrote: "Another short but pleasant read: An Apology For Idlers by Robert Louis Stevenson.
Remember, idleness is not a vice!"

I am all for short and pleasant reads!"

And I am all for idleness!

Sumanya wrote: "Diane wrote: "dely wrote: "Another short but pleasant read: An Apology For Idlers by Robert Louis Stevenson.
Remember, idleness is not a vice!"

I am all for short and pleasant reads!"

And I am al..."

Me too!

Make that 3, although not keen on the being at the hairdresser though.......

I've recently finished Stolen Harvest by Vandana Shiva, an Indian critique of genetically modified foods. Although it is ten years old, there is good information in it. Followed it up with Food Fray (2009) by Lisa H Weasel, a cell biologist at Portland State University. (If we are supposed to discuss fiction, my apologies...still haven't read the rules)
Claire

Frank Reade

cool graphic novel about inventions and adventures

Earlier this week I finished Whispers of the Dead by Simon Beckett which I truly enjoyed. This was my second book in the David Hart series. I had first listened to Calling of the Grave and as this is the fourth book in the series I thought I better read in the third one next. So I'm working my way down

Finally, I have finished War and Peace.
I am dead.

dely wrote: "Finally, I have finished War and Peace.
I am dead."

lol. That is quite the accomplishment. I hope to tackle it next year.

Diane wrote: "dely wrote: "Finally, I have finished War and Peace.
I am dead."

lol. That is quite the accomplishment. I hope to tackle it next year."

Good luck! :D

Well done dely.....what next Crime and Punishment?????

Ian wrote: "Well done dely.....what next Crime and Punishment?????"

Already read :D
I am reading Resurrection by Tolstoy.

Glutton for Russian punishment....enjoy.

Ian wrote: "Glutton for Russian punishment....enjoy."

Yes :D

Here's a funny around the world combo - I read a Jane Austen Mystery - Jane and the Ghosts of Netley by Stephanie Barron, set in the time in Jane's life where she lived in Southampton. So I enjoyed it finished and just randomly picked something else off my shelf. A book by Graham Hurley, Angels Passing, set in -- you guessed it -- Southampton but 200+years later. It was like accidental time travel!

I just finished Pearl Buck's The Good Earth. Written about 80 years ago, pre-revolutionary China, this story describes the life of a farmer and his rise to land-owner to landlord and all the trials and tribulations of a life in this time and place. Terrible place for women!!! Beautifully written.

I have finished Resurrection!

I don't know what to read next. After War&Peace and Resurrection I need a light and easy read.

I finished up The Fragile Edge: Diving and Other Adventures in the South Pacific last night - when it came to the diving descriptions it was brillent, but I started to feel at a few times that I was being lectured to about environmentalism - but that didn't really surprise me...

I finished both Pavel & I by Dan Vyleta and Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt. Not sure what I will be reading next either.

Currently I'm reading a book by Aatish Taseer: - a book that will take me from Turkey to Pakistan, but I would like to read or listen to something light and easy beside the book I'm reading now.

Finished by Linda Leaming. Loved it! It is really interesting and shows great insight into Bhutanese culture. I highly recommend it. Plus, it is only $1.99 on Kindle. And it is a quick read.

Diane wrote: "Finished by Linda Leaming. Loved it! It is really interesting and shows great insight into Bhutanese culture. I highly recommend it. Plus, it is only $1.99 on Kind..."

I also loved this book, friends got irritated with me telling them about it! A best read for 2012.

Shannon wrote: "Diane wrote: "Finished by Linda Leaming. Loved it! It is really interesting and shows great insight into Bhutanese culture. I highly recommend it. Plus, it is only..."

It's one of those lesser known gems. I especially liked reading about her husband's first visit to the US and his reactions to things. Very cute.

i just finished up The White Mary: A Novel - I liked it overall

I just finished "Sarah's Key" by Tatiana de Rosnay. It was quite hard for me to get into, which was strange. But I did get into it in the second half.

I enjoyed the Danish mystery/thriller The Boy in the Suitcase. I couldn't put it down, and stayed up half the night reading it. It's set in Denmark and Lithuania.

I just finished WILD by CHERYL STRAYED. Enjoyed every page of the book. Miss it. Finding it hard to settle down again. I wonder what her next book is going to be about. Will it be nonfiction or fiction? This one is a memoir.