Around the World discussion

Hi Everyone! It looks as if we are well into our travels which is exciting to see. As ordered by "The Big Cheese", I am creating a new thread solely for reviews. We will continue to use "Where in the World Are You?!?!" to post current countries being visited and the books being read. Hope that this simplifies things!

Happy Travelling.

St. Croix (USVI) [unincorporated US territory]: Divers Information on the Romantic History of St. Croix: From the Time of Columbus until Today

My reviews are brief and there are no spoilers. I just left Italy. The author is Italian writing about a Frenchman in the 1800's who travels to Japan repeatedly to buy silkworms as part of the silk trade of that era. There are terrific romances involved and a stunning moment of revelation. This is a brief 93 page work that was terrific, powerful, and concise in its use of language. Ultimately, it is a love story. I gave it 5 out of 5 stars. The book is Silk.

What's the book?

Mikki, isn't there already a review thread? If "Where in the World Are You?!?!" isn't being used for reviews anymore, its heading needs to be changed to omit "(Post Reviews / Links to Reviews in this Thread)".

Sho wrote: "What's the book?"

I added the link to my post, thanks.

I just left Croatia, or some other unnamed former Yugoslavian country. The review for The Tiger's Wife is here. If you follow the links to the blog, you can also see the Croatian cookies I made while I was there! I'm packing my things and heading for the South Pacific!

Sho wrote: "Mikki, isn't there already a review thread? If "Where in the World Are You?!?!" isn't being used for reviews anymore, its heading needs to be changed to omit "(Post Reviews / Links to Reviews in th..."

Yes, Barry will be editing that thread to remove the heading regarding posting reviews. This way everything will be separate and easier to navigate people's reading journeys.

Great. That makes good sense.

Jenny wrote: "I just left Croatia, or some other unnamed former Yugoslavian country. The review for The Tiger's Wife is here. If you follow the links to the blog, you can also see the Croatian cookies I made w..."

Great first blog on The Tiger's Wife and the pepper cookies! Great start and with a 5-star book!

I just left Australia ("Mascara" -- a very strange book) and am in South Africa via the Night Library.

I started in South Africa with summertime by Coetzee and have now flown onto Switzerland with might train to lisbon by Pascal Mercier (noting that I am trying to go via where the author was born rather than where the book is based)

Argh, confusing! Can this thread be used only for reviews, links to blogs, and comments on them, and posts like the two above be put in the other thread then? Will make it easier to find things.

My Cuba selection: The Opposite House by Helen Oyeyemi
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

My Jamaica selection: Small Island by Andrea Levy
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Both of which acutally turned out to be set mainly in London.

I just finished my first ATW 52 read: The Oracle of Stamboul. My review is here.

Barbados: Frank Collymore: The Man Who Loved Attending Funerals and Other Stories

Getting confused by all the different threads.

I have been to Russia - Crime and Punishment- Review here - http://reviewingshelf.wordpress.com/2...

China - Snow Flower and the Secret Fan- Review here- http://reviewingshelf.wordpress.com/2...

Botswana - The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency- review here - http://reviewingshelf.wordpress.com/2...

@Pragya, I like your blog and great reviews.

Vicky wrote: "@Pragya, I like your blog and great reviews."

Thank you so much, Vicky.

Taiwan [Republic of China, disputed]: Fred Lobb: Taiwan Folktales: Proverbs, Folk Sayings, and Folktales from Taiwan

Ooops--I think I put my link in for the first review in the wrong place. My first finished book was Smith's The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency, set in Botswana, which I found an enjoyable light read:

http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

And I now just finished Hochschild's King Leopold's Ghost, on the Belgian Congo, about which I felt more mixed--important story, but I thought Hochschild's biases were intrusive and left me not entirely trusting him.

http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Just left Argentina The Disappeared by Gloria Whelan! I'll post the link to my review later.

I've been to Canada and it hasn't been such a good start for me unfortunately.
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

I was in France in War Horse by Michael Morpurgo I enjoyed my stay even though it was in WWI.

Miss Wednesday wrote: "I've been to Canada and it hasn't been such a good start for me unfortunately.
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/..."

As a Canadian, I'm rather surprised at the number of people who chose The Handmaid's Tale. I'm sure that has more to do with my approach to the challenge than the appropriateness of this novel. Yes, Margaret Atwood is a famous Canadian author. My approach is more of the setting of the book, and there are lots of books that portray Canada better than this one.

If you want a quick but fulfilling read, try I Heard the Owl Call My Name.

I can't wait to make or have someone make and eat Jenny's Croatian Pepper Cookies that I saw on her blog. They look tasty!!

Janice wrote: "Miss Wednesday wrote: "I've been to Canada and it hasn't been such a good start for me unfortunately.
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/..."

As a Canadian, I'm rather surprised at the ..."
I was going to read the Handmaid's Tale but then I remembered that I disliked it a lot....

Chel wrote: "I can't wait to make or have someone make and eat Jenny's Croatian Pepper Cookies that I saw on her blog. They look tasty!!"
Let me know what you think! :)

As for me, I was headed to the South Pacific but ended up on a layover in Dublin when the ARC of A Greyhound of a Girl came available. I decided to read it instead of Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha. Review is here. Baked good comes tomorrow. :P

Just left Trinidad/Central Africa with A Bend in the River by V.S. Naipaul. My review is here, along with a teaser about my next book.

I was in ancient Greece with Hetaera--Suspense in Ancient Athens. Here's my review. http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

It was a disappointing stay.

I was in New Zealand via Janet Frames Faces in the Water. Difficult subject matter (mental breakdown), but informative and beautifully written -- descriptive and lyrical.

http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Janice wrote: "Miss Wednesday wrote: "I've been to Canada and it hasn't been such a good start for me unfortunately.
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/..."

As a Canadian, I'm rather surprised at the ..."

Well firstly I've been wanting to rad this book forever and this challenge seemed a great opportunity to do it. HAd I looked for a book that depicts Canada better, I surely woulnd't have chosen it but I'm rather interested in reading authors that are generally thought to be important at the moment. And Atwood surely counts among them.
I've also been to Canada (it's a wonderful country) and I don't think reading any book will ever equal really being in a country, so that's not my number one priority in choosing books.

The Handmaid's Tale is a classic every woman should read, in my opinion. And it is nice to throw a little dystopia into the mix for the year, the imagined future of a country rather than historical fiction, and Atwood is such a standard!

I was in Egypt for Apricots on the Nile: A Memoir with Recipes by Colette Rossant.
I loved the recipes, but otherwise I wouldn't read it again because it lacked all kinds of descriptions (for smells, tastes, emotions, ...) and either the author is really not interested in politics or other things or she didn't want to put it in this book, because I now know nothing more about Egypt during the 1940s than I did before. (My review is here).

I'm now heading to Norway ;).

Janice wrote: "If you want a quick but fulfilling read, try I Heard the Owl Call My Name."
I'll definitely try that, I love the name ;).

Gaeta1 wrote: "Thanks, Raindrops--I was wavering between "Apricots" and several other books for Egypt as I have loved Rossant's food articles. This will make my final selection easier."

I'll read her recipe books, because I loved the recipes. But I wouldn't read another novel.

I visited Azerbaijan with Ali and Nino: A Love Story: review (5 stars!)

My visit to Japan was cut short--I just couldn't finish 1Q84. Back to the drawing board for Japan!

Warnie B. wrote: "I visited Azerbaijan with Ali and Nino: A Love Story: review (5 stars!)

My visit to Japan was cut short--I just couldn't finish 1Q84. Back to the drawing board for Ja..."

I've been wanting to get to

Ali and Nino: A Love Story for a while now. Glad to hear it is good. You should check out The Orientalist: Solving the Mystery of a Strange and Dangerous Life which is aobout the author. I most unusual story!

Currently I am in Ethiopia on my audio book w/ Cutting for Stone and in Palestine w/ the book I am reading w/ In Search of Fatima: A Palestinian Story.

My visit to Japan was cut short--I just couldn't finish 1Q84. Back to the drawing board for Ja..."

Didn't you like it? Just asking because I'm planning to read it, too.

Wendy wrote: "Warnie B. wrote: "I visited Azerbaijan with Ali and Nino: A Love Story: review (5 stars!)

Glad you liked Ali & Nino. This is my pick for Azerbaijan. Nice review, btw.

Miss Wednesday wrote: "My visit to Japan was cut short--I just couldn't finish 1Q84. Back to the drawing board for Ja..."

Didn't you like it? Just asking because I'm planning to read it, too."

I didn't, but it seems to be one of those books people either absolutely love or absolutely hate. And more people seem to love it than hate it, so don't be put off by my negative experience! It was my first Murakami book, so he may just not be my cup of tea.

And yeah, I'm looking forward to reading The Orientalist: Solving the Mystery of a Strange and Dangerous Life, Wendy! Sounds like that guy had quite an interesting life!

Definitely let me know what you think of it when you get to it. Glad you are planning to read it too.

Gaeta1 wrote: "I've been meaning to read Frame since "An Angel at my Table", but I've wanted to read The Bone People for even longer; she's my fall-back if I can't get through my selection.."

Gaeta, I wavered between the two also. Still plan on reading The Bone People at some point.

Warnie B. wrote: "I didn't, but it seems to be one of those books people either absolutely love or absolutely hate. And more people seem to love it than hate it, so don't be put off by my negative experience! It was my first Murakami book, so he may just not be my cup of tea."

Add me to the list of people who absolutely loved it! But it is a bit much to squeeze in on this challenge. I found myself wanting breaks between the books of the book (it was originally published as 3).

Jenny wrote: "Warnie B. wrote: "I didn't, but it seems to be one of those books people either absolutely love or absolutely hate. And more people seem to love it than hate it, so don't be put off by my negative ..."

Yeah, it might have worked out a little better for me if I had done that. Maybe once I've had some time away from it I'll get curious about how it ends and try to give the second half another chance! :)

Went to NYC last night in ... will have to write my review later still thinking about how I feel about it.
Also did a trip to Afghanistan in and I have to write that review too. I didn't like this book at all.

A short, representative Japanese novel is Mishima, The Sailor Who Fell from Grace With the Sea. Plenty of Japanese literature available in English, though.

Kimberly wrote: "Also did a trip to Afghanistan in and I have to write that review too. I didn't like this book at all."

No? That's disappointing. Was it the language, the plot? I'm still going to order it, so let's trade thoughts later.

Mikki wrote: "Kimberly wrote: "Also did a trip to Afghanistan in and I have to write that review too. I didn't like this book at all."

No? That's disappointing. Was it the language, the plot? I'm still goin..."

Mk :) I won't spoil it incase you like it.

Sho wrote: "A short, representative Japanese novel is Mishima, The Sailor Who Fell from Grace With the Sea. Plenty of Japanese literature available in English, though."

Oh, that looks really interesting--thanks! Looks like my library has it, so I'll definitely give that one a try!

My entry for Japan: Shizuko's Daughter, alas, it didn't quite work for me. Longer review here:
http://www.epinions.com/review/Shizuk...