Great African Reads discussion

We'll be reading a selection from Madagascar in January and discussing it in February. I'd like to poll for that selection within the next two weeks. Let's get some ideas!

Well, the best I could do for a local author was Fanj Andriamialisoa, Ian Sinclair, & Olivier Langrand: A Photographic Guide to the Birds of the Indian Ocean Islands: Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles, Reunion and the Comoros, which I certainly enjoyed but which may not be everyone's cup of tea. I'd happily read something set in Madagascar if Madagascan authors can't be found.

Lost People: Magic and the Legacy of Slavery in Madagascar by David Graeber

I've read a few other books by Graeber and find his writing and ideas engaging and boundary-pushing. This is his first book, based of his dissertation work.

After scouring a few lists, these look ok, especially the first one:
- Over the Lip of the World: Among the Storytellers of Madagascar
-Sex and Salvation: Imagining the Future in Madagascar
- The Eighth Continent: Life, Death and Discovery in the Lost World of Madagascar

Muddling through in Madagascar is the only other title on my list.

The Aye-Aye and I

Diane wrote: "The Aye-Aye and I"

This has been on my list for awhile!

It looks like we've got some good choices here so i'm going to set up the poll today. :)

Jenny wrote: "Muddling through in Madagascar is the only other title on my list."

i really want to read more Dervla Murphy! we read Cameroon with Egbert early on in the Tour, and i loved it.

Millicent wrote: "Lost People: Magic and the Legacy of Slavery in Madagascar by David Graeber

I've read a few other books by Graeber and find his writing and ideas engaging and boundary-pushing. This is his first ..."

Without actually looking at any of them, they all look very interesting and i would definitely read any of them, if one is selected for our Madagascar stop.

Muphyn wrote: "The winner of the Madagascar stopover is Over the Lip of the World: Among the Storytellers of Madagascar by Colleen J. McElroy. Hope everyone who wants to join in will get a chance to source (and r..."

The poll is actually still open...i set it to close Monday EST (US) and it's not showing as having ended here. it shows it as closed in Australia?

Marieke wrote: "Muphyn wrote: "The winner of the Madagascar stopover is Over the Lip of the World: Among the Storytellers of Madagascar by Colleen J. McElroy. Hope everyone who wants to join in will get a chance t..."

What?! Seriously?! Oops, how did I manage that? Let me check...

Yep, it does say November, 26, but also seems to be closed. Never mind, I removed the post for now. :) Sorry about that!!

Muphyn wrote: "Yep, it does say November, 26, but also seems to be closed. Never mind, I removed the post for now. :) Sorry about that!!"

No worries: it's close and maybe this will urge some to vote if they havent' yet! :)

VOTE!!!

heehee...no new votes came in, so we will be reading Over the Lip of the World: Among the Storytellers of Madagascar as our first Tour selection of 2013. :)

Marieke wrote: "heehee...no new votes came in, so we will be reading Over the Lip of the World: Among the Storytellers of Madagascar as our first Tour selection of 2013. :)"

See... I just knew how it would end, I had it all worked out. ;)

Christian wrote: "Haven't picked up a copy yet. Sorry. Procrastination is something I have yet to grow out of."

no worries; i have the same problem. also, discussion for this wont start until February.

I just ordered a copy. Should be here in two weeks.

Chinook wrote: "I just ordered a copy. Should be here in two weeks."

goody! i'm glad to see people having the intention to join in. :)

i have my copy in hand, but probably won't start until next week or the following week. it's not long.

My library doesn't have Over the lip of the world (which sounds fascinating), but I have checked out two others on the lists above: Muddling through Madagascar & The Eighth Continent. If I decide to go ahead and read one of these, I'll post a link, maybe in the Great African Reads Places section?

you can just post in the official Tour thread for Madagascar (which hasn't been set up yet because we will begin discussing in February).

Over the Lip of the World is the "official" read but ultimately we want to make discussion about Madagascar! So if members want to read other books (for whatever reason) i hope they will share their thoughts with us! :)

Ardene wrote: "My library doesn't have Over the lip of the world (which sounds fascinating), but I have checked out two others on the lists above: Muddling through Madagascar & The Eighth Continent. If I decide t..."

I too will be reading The Eight Continent as my library does not hace Over the Lip of the World.

I can't get hold of "Over the lip of the world"! :( :( :( Not sure what I'll do, I'll have a think. Might just join you in the discussion in any case! :D

Mine has shipped and was supposed to have arrived by today.

Muphyn wrote: "I can't get hold of "Over the lip of the world"! :( :( :( Not sure what I'll do, I'll have a think. Might just join you in the discussion in any case! :D"

or just choose a different book! ;)

Chinook wrote: "Mine has shipped and was supposed to have arrived by today."

yay!

Unfortunately the word supposed has not held out. Sigh.

Marieke wrote: "Muphyn wrote: "I can't get hold of "Over the lip of the world"! :( :( :( Not sure what I'll do, I'll have a think. Might just join you in the discussion in any case! :D"

or just choose a different..."

Haha, we'll see how I go with that... given how behind I am with the contemporary January read already (i.e. it's been sitting on my shelf for a few weeks now)!

Chinook wrote: "Unfortunately the word supposed has not held out. Sigh."

:(

but soon...it's not very long and the discussion will be opened in February. i'm planning to read my copy next week.

Give me your zipcodes and I'll find a nearby library copy. Or you can search worldcat.org

I should be done with my copy soon and can mail it to someone. PM me.

My copy is now available but I didn't love it. http://bethslistlove.wordpress.com/20...

i'm sorry you didn't love it, Beth, but i hope we have rich discussion in February. I'll set the discussion thread up next weekend.

And I finally have it! Now I just have to finish up the Jan book and find time to drag my nose out of my textbooks and I'm ready to go.

As I could not get the BOM - I am reading The Eighth Continent as I am intrigued by Madagascar and want to learn a little about the country.

Hopefully I will be able to contribute to the discussion.

Luckily for me the book is divided into several parts - each with a different focus. While I will be reading the cultural and present day parts as that is where my interest lies, I will only be skimming the parts that go into depth on the reptiles and other "creatures" :)

yay chinook!

that sounds like a good plan, Beverly.

i'm going to try to read a bunch of the book today. i fell behind in all my reading plans because i was sick and didn't read anything for almost five days. crazy, i know.

Marieke wrote: "yay chinook!

that sounds like a good plan, Beverly.

i'm going to try to read a bunch of the book today. i fell behind in all my reading plans because i was sick and didn't read anything for almos..."

Glad you are feeling better.
But take your time catching up.

Marieke wrote: "yay chinook!

that sounds like a good plan, Beverly.

i'm going to try to read a bunch of the book today. i fell behind in all my reading plans because i was sick and didn't read anything for almost 5 days."

That says really sick! Hope you are much better now.

And if anyone wants my copy, it is still up for grabs, just message me.

I write about The Eighth Continent in my book A Basket of Leaves. And for those still interested, my anthology African Lives (due out in March) includes a section of the memoir Childhood in Madagascar by Christian Dumoux that I had translated. Unfortunately the rest of the book is only available in French (Une enfance malgache).

Marieke wrote: "... i'm going to try to read a bunch of the book today. i fell behind in all my reading plans because i was sick and didn't read anything for almos..."

Oh, that's no good! :( Hope you're feeling much better again!! :)

This was a far quicker read than I expected. My review is posted, and I look forward to our discussion.

Cool, shame I couldn't get hold of a copy! :(

Muphyn wrote: "Cool, shame I couldn't get hold of a copy! :("

I could still send you mine. No one else has asked for it.

Beth wrote: "Muphyn wrote: "Cool, shame I couldn't get hold of a copy! :("

I could still send you mine. No one else has asked for it."

Thanks heaps the offer, Beth, but I'm in Australia, and I guess it would cost too much and take too long... :) Thanks heaps anyway! :D

I meant to set the discussion thread up this weekend but I'll do it tonight!

Oh, yes, I completely forgot! Happy to set it up too... :) (Summer can be sooo distracting... :) )

Muphyn wrote: "Oh, yes, I completely forgot! Happy to set it up too... :) (Summer can be sooo distracting... :) )"

Stop gloating. You have warmth AND tennis. We have sleet.

It was so warm here the past two days and now these crazy storms are coming through. Chance of snow tomorrow. :/

Muphyn wrote: "Oh, yes, I completely forgot! Happy to set it up too... :) (Summer can be sooo distracting... :) )"

heehee that made me laugh...

i went ahead and set it up. except i wasn't prepared to introduce the book properly lol. i know you guys will forgive me, right? ;)

Beth wrote: "Muphyn wrote: "Oh, yes, I completely forgot! Happy to set it up too... :) (Summer can be sooo distracting... :) )"

Stop gloating. You have warmth AND tennis. We have sleet."

*laugh* yeah, sorry, can't help myself... ;) Winter is going to come around soon enough though... and then you get to gloat! ;)