Melanie’s Comments (group member since Mar 09, 2017)

Melanie’s comments from the The Read Around The World Book Club group.

Yes, I had to buy a bind-up of the first few books.

I thought it would be silly to split this in half.

You have made me all really happy this month, I think this is the livliest and most interesting conversation we had about a book in a while. So thank you.

I really loved this book, I have read books from that region before but only ever by male authors so it was great to read a woman. I don't have really much to add, but loved all your comments.

That sounds exciting, I am going to start today :)

Final thoughts

We are reading:

Island of Shattered Dreams
by Chantal T. Spitz, Jean Anderson (Translator)

Sorry, I have been quiet on this, I read this book earlier last year, so did not want to interact and spoil and then I got sick. Sorry that you felt the ending spoilt the book for you. For me it was the opposite, I thought the ending was brilliant.

Final thoughts

First thoughts

We are reading: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...

I am not quite sure what to make of this book. Anyone else started reading it?

Final thoughts

initial thoughts

I have already read this a while ago, so shall not read it again, but looking forward to all your comments. Any of you reading it as a Victober addition?

Since this is only a novella (or novellas if you read both), just this one thread.

I have read most of the stories now but I am not entirely sold. I find the settings and descriptions wonderful, really rich but the actually stories are a bit meh. Lots of build-up not a lot delivered. The endings for pretty much all of them have been abrupt, for a couple of them super annoyingly so.

Amelia wrote: "Is it possible to rename this discussion into "Mozambique August 2020"? Probably it's just me, but I have always difficulties to find the right monthly discussion.
And is there already one for Sept..."

I always make sure that the current discussion thread is the top one under the general topics. That is displayed in this way on the iPhone goodreads app version. I have renamed it now as well. At the moment, the Argentina discussion thread for September is the top thread under the general topic thread.

I also always link the discussion thread in the message I send on Goodreads, so if in doubt, just click on that.

HTH.

Final thoughts

We are reading:

Things We Lost in the Fire
by Mariana Enríquez, Megan McDowell (Goodreads Author) (Translator)

A sleepless night resulted in me finishing this. This book is a prime example of why I started this bookclub: I had virtually no idea about this, never thought about polygamy, not knew much about Mozambique (the book and Isa's comment sent me down a google rabbit hole), but reading this book filled in a previous empty spot on the map for me and also made me think a lot about women's roles and the perception of them from the outside as well as how they perceive themselves within their society. Also reminded me to not judge with my perceptions of my European white upbringing. Always good to be reminded of this.

Isa wrote: "I read this book the 1st. time in 2002 as it came out in the original. I'm rereading the same old edition. I don't remember the story, but I remember that I liked it. Now I'm enjoying the humor, bu..."

Oh a re-read, that's interesting. And yes, colonialism has a lot to answer for.