The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion

30.8 - Peebee’s Task: A Summer Visit to the National Zoo
One of my very favorite places in the Washington, DC area is the Smithsonian’s National Zoo. For the last several years, I have been a volunteer interpreter for the Zoo’s Asia Trail, talking to visitors from around the world about the wonderful animals that are part of this exhibit, including the world-famous giant pandas, Mei Xiang and Tian Tian. Each of my task selections are related in some way to the species featured on the Asia Trail.


Select two (2) different options and read one book for each for this task. In homage to the Asia Trail and this year’s SRC themes, each book selected must be directly related to the continent of Asia. For the purposes of this task, this means:
1) One or more major character(s) and/or an author was born in Asia; or
2) At least half of the book’s action takes place in Asia; or
3) The book clearly relates in some way to a war or armed conflict of the region (i.e., Japanese involvement in WWII, the Korean War, the Viet Nam War, Japanese-American internment camps, etc.)
4) The Asian setting must be an actual place on a map (see link above). Fictional or unnamed lands (Eon, for example) would NOT work.

OVERALL REQUIREMENTS:
⦿ State the options you've selected when you post.

⦿ For each book you choose, explain how the book fits the "directly related to Asia" requirement. This may involve any of the following: Identifying the character or characters that were born in Asia, identifying the author's birthplace, identifying the book's setting, and/or identifying the Asian conflict the book is about. If the author was born in Asia but their GRs profile does not identify their birthplace, you must state where they were born and provide a link to an outside resource for confirmation. If your book is set in an Asian country but the GRs description does not identify the setting, explain the connection when you post.

⦿ If using cover options, please post the book’s cover.


Option 1: Sloth Bears

In December 2012, our sloth bear female Hana, gave birth to a cub, recently named Hank in an internet poll. While Hank is young, Hana will carry him on her back – the only bear species to carry their young this way. ➜ For this option, read a book published between June 1, 2012 (the beginning of Hana’s gestation) and the present, OR one where a person or animal is carrying something on its back on the cover. (Examples: Oracle Bones: A Journey Between China's Past and Present – man carrying packages; Lawrence of Arabia -- camel carrying man.)


Option 2: Clouded Leopards

One of the reasons that the elusive and beautiful clouded leopards are endangered is that it has historically been difficult to enforce the laws against poaching in the war-torn regions with complicated political situations in which they live. ➜ For this option, read a book about the politics or a war or armed conflict in the region. Ex: The Things They Carried, Between Shades of Gray, Pearl Harbor: FDR Leads the Nation Into War, Farewell to Manzanar, Vietnam: A History, Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea. Here's a list of Asia's Modern Conflicts that might help, though pre-WW II conflicts in Asia will work, too. If the book is not shelved under “politics” or “war,” please describe the subject of the book when claiming this task.


Option 3: Fishing Cats

Fishing cats “fish” by tapping the water until fish rise to the top, then they dive into the water to catch the fish. ➜ For this option, read a book whose cover features a person or animal in or near water (natural or man-made and either a photograph or graphic depiction counts.) (Example: most of the covers of Life of Pi qualify for this task; as does this edition: The Orphan Master's Son (graphic depiction of birds + water); and this book River Town: Two Years on the Yangtze (people + water).

A body of water without a living creature pictured is insufficient. (Example: The Kashmir Shawl).



Option 4: Asian Small-Clawed Otters

Our otter family will make you hungry – they are all (well, mostly) named after food. Parents Chowder and Clementine share the exhibit with nine offspring: Olive, Pickles, Peaches, Pork Chop, Radish, Rutabaga, Saffron, Turnip, and...Kevin. ➜ For this option, select a book which depicts food on the cover, or which mentions a specific food item, “eating,” or “food” in the title. (Examples: Kosher Chinese: Living, Teaching, and Eating with China's Other Billion, Kitchen Chinese: A Novel About Food, Family, and Finding Yourself)



Option 5: Red Pandas

The red panda is considered "vulnerable," and is native to mountainous regions in China, Nepal, Tibet, India, Bhutan and Burma. ➜ For this option, read a book that is specifically set in Nepal, Tibet, Bhutan or Burma OR which features mountains on the cover.


Option 6: Giant Pandas

Our Zoo’s most famous and popular residents are giant pandas Mei Xiang and Tian Tian. ➜ For this option, read a book that appears on the following page:

Genres > Cultural > Asia

NOTE: Since the contents of this page will change throughout the challenge, please list the section in which the book appears (New Releases; Giveaways; Most Read this Week; Popular Asia Books) and the date upon which it appears. You may use this page at any time between the time the task is posted and the end of the challenge.

OR on page one of one of these following lists:

Best books on Asia

Most Read This Week> Asia

Popular Asia Books

NOTE: Since the contents of the lists may change throughout the challenge, please state the name of the list and the number of the book on the list. You can use the lists at any time between the time the task is posted and the end of the challenge.

Approved:

Option 2: Clouded Leopards Between Shades of Gray (WWII-Siberia); A Bottle in the Gaza Sea (Israeli-Palestinian conflict)

Option 3: Fishing Cats: The Orphan Master's Son (this edition only - water + birds); Daughters Of The River Huong (this edition only - person + water)

Option 4: Asian Small-Clawed Otters Aunty Lee's Delights: A Singaporean Mystery (soup tureen on cover)

Option 5: Red Pandas Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster (mountains - Himalayas); And the Mountains Echoed (mountains - Afghanistan); The Snow Leopard (Nepal);

Option 6: Giant Pandas The Housekeeper and the Professor (Asia: Most Read this Week - May 18); The Kashmir Shawl (Asia: Most Read this Week - May 19)

Not Approved:

Alif the Unseen (Asian country not named)

reserved

This thread is now open!

For clarification, does Afghanistan count as part of Asia? I was looking at the book War. It was on one of the Asia lists, but I wasn't sure if it would work.

What an interesting job to be a docent at the National Zoo. Since I know practically nothing about Asia, I should attend one of your talks!!

Just to make sure I am reading your task correctly is what I have planned OK? Will these 2 books meet all the criteria required?


30.8 - Peebee’s Task: A Summer Visit to the National Zoo

Option 5: Red Pandas - Mountains on cover - For this option, read a book that is specifically set in Nepal, Tibet, Bhutan or Burma OR which features mountains on the cover.




Option 6: Giant Pandas

From the Genres > Cultural >

Asia > Most Read This Week (Third Row First Book different cover on May 18

Would this bookcover be acceptable for fishing cats?

Would this book work for fishing cats?



It looks like there is a lake behind the woman.

Does Alif the Unseen count as "related to Asia"? It is set in an unnamed country in the Middle East, and I noticed all the other Middle Eastern countries are on the Asia list. Thanks! :)

I envy your proximity to pandas, Peebee! I love them!

If I ever do get this out of the library, will this do for Option 5, mountains on the cover? Vague looking raised ground at the center of the cover, and it says mountains in the title so I suppose it's not a hill.



@Karen, I think Alif the Unseen is set in either UAE or Yemen - while she doesn't say which country it is, she does mention some real world landmarks.

I am going to read...

Option 2: Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys

Option 3: The Orphan Master's Son by Adam Johnson

Kate wrote: "For clarification, does Afghanistan count as part of Asia? I was looking at the book War. It was on one of the Asia lists, but I wasn't sure if it would work."

Afghanistan is on the list provided in the task description, continent of Asia, so it definitely counts.

Sheila wrote: "What an interesting job to be a docent at the National Zoo. Since I know practically nothing about Asia, I should attend one of your talks!!

Just to make sure I am reading your task correctly is ..."

Sheila, Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster is perfect...I even thought about using it as one of the examples, since red pandas are most prevalent in the Himalayas. And if the other book appears on the list, then that's fine too.

Thanks Peebee. I look forward to reading both of those books.

Wanda wrote: "Would this bookcover be acceptable for fishing cats?

"

Wanda -- I think so, but can you tell me what that is on the bottom middle of the cover in the water? I think it's a person but can't tell from the cover photo at the size it's dispayed on Goodreads. If it's a person, it's approved. If not, then I'm going to say no because the hand and the water are not in the same photo.

Valorie wrote: "Would this book work for fishing cats?



It looks like there is a lake behind the woman."

Yes, Valorie, that's approved -- assuming it takes place in Asia (that wasn't clear from the book description, so I'll leave it to you to tell us the Asian connection). (Although it's clear this woman hunts much differently than the fishing cats!)

Karen wrote: "Does Alif the Unseen count as "related to Asia"? It is set in an unnamed country in the Middle East, and I noticed all the other Middle Eastern countries are on the Asia list. Thanks! :)"

I'm going to say no, because it's not named. In one of the other options I didn't allow fictional countries, and that is along the same lines.

Chaitra wrote: "I envy your proximity to pandas, Peebee! I love them!

If I ever do get this out of the library, will this do for Option 5, mountains on the cover? Vague looking raised ground at the center of the ..."


Chaitra -- it's approved. If he calls it a mountain, then it's a mountain (and my interpretation has always been that "features mountains" includes the word "mountains" -- as opposes to using the word "depicts") Also, I haven't checked, but I'm sure that book will crop up to satisfy #6 as well, given how popular his other books have been.

Claire wrote: "I am going to read...

Option 2: Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys

Option 3: The Orphan Master's Son by Adam Johnson"

Both good choices, Claire...

Can I confirm:

Option 5: (set in Nepal) The Snow Leopard

And

Option 6: (Most read this week tagged Asia): The Kashmir Shawl

Christine wrote: "Can I confirm:

Option 5: (set in Nepal) The Snow Leopard

And

Option 6: (Most read this week tagged Asia): The Kashmir Shawl"

Confirmed....

Peebee wrote: "Kate wrote: "For clarification, does Afghanistan count as part of Asia? I was looking at the book War. It was on one of the Asia lists, but I wasn't sure if it would work."

Afghanistan is on the l..."

Okay, thanks. I completely missed that link. My bad.

Peebee wrote: "Chaitra -- it's approved. "

Thanks!! Now I only need for the library to provide the book, lol. I think I'll still be waiting three months down the line given the queue. I've no doubt it'll be on the Most Read page. But, I'm thinking of A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki for option 6, depending on whether I can get it from the library. It's on the new releases page this week. There's also The Orphan Master's Son. Lots of choices! Great task Peebee! :)

Peebee wrote: "Wanda wrote: "Would this bookcover be acceptable for fishing cats?

"

Wanda -- I think so, but can you tell me what that is on the bottom middle of the cover i..."

PeeBee I was looking at Wanda's book as well - enlarging the photo shows what seems to be a guy in a boat on the water with a pole pushing himself along

for the Asian Small-clawed Otters - - it looks to be a thing of soup on the cover; but the delights refers to her home-cooking delicacies that she makes - so would that work?

Peebee wrote: "Valorie wrote: "Would this book work for fishing cats?



It looks like there is a lake behind the woman."

Yes, Valorie, that's approved -- assuming it takes pl..."

The main female character, Lily Yu, is Asian. I think that is one of the options, correct? I don't believe the book takes place in Asia.

Would the Israeli/Palestinian conflict work for option 2? I'm thinking about A Bottle in the Gaza Sea.

Daughters Of The River Huong

Will this work for option 3? There's a person by water on the cover, but everything is so blue I'd like confirmation that it'll be okay. It's set primarily in Vietnam and the author is Vietnamese.

Valorie wrote: The main female character, Lily Yu, is Asian. I think that is one of the options, correct? "

As long as she's actually born in Asia as opposed to being of Asian descent but from America or another country, that's fine.

Dee wrote: "for the Asian Small-clawed Otters - - it looks to be a thing of soup on the cover; but the delights refers to her home-cooking delic..."

Approved for #3. It looks like a soup tureen to me.

i was just at the zoo a couple of weeks ago - unfortunately, the panda's were sleeping, so I didn't get to see them...but I watched the Otter's play for a while...I loved Kevin...I kept having Home Alone flash backs

Chaitra wrote: "Now I only need for the library to provide the book, lol. I think I'll still be waiting three months down the line given the queue. I've no doubt it'll be on the Most Read page. But, I'm thinking of A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki for option 6, depending on whether I can get it from the library. "

And the Mountains Echoed will also work for Option 1, as it was published after June 1, 2012. Just in case you want to use The Orphan Master's Son for the Group Read task....

Kristi (Passion for the Page) wrote: "Would the Israeli/Palestinian conflict work for option 2? I'm thinking about A Bottle in the Gaza Sea."

Approved.

Kristi, here's a link to a list of approved conflicts which you may want to post above in the task: Asia: Modern Conflicts.

(But these are all post WW II, and pre-WW II conflicts in Asia are also included.)

Peebee wrote: "Kristi, here's a link to a list of approved conflicts which you may want to post above in the task: Asia: Modern Conflicts.

(But these are all post WW II, and pre-WW II conflicts in Asia are also included.)."

Still, a nice resource. Added. Thanks!

Ms Anderson wrote: "Daughters Of The River Huong

Will this work for option 3? There's a person by water on the cover, but everything is so blue I'd like confirmation that it'll be okay. It's set primarily in Vietnam ..."

Without seeing the actual cover...it's approved. It does look like water, although due to the blueness, it's difficult to verify for sure. When you get your hands on the book, let us know if it's not water, and that you read that actual edition, since some of the others don't have water on the cover.

Will these work?

Option 2- The Private Papers of Eastern Jewel She's a spy. The character is CHinese but is spying for Japan in China.

Option 6- Cinder Takes place in New Beijing and is listed in Most Read this Week Asia Books.

April wrote: "Will these work?

Option 2- The Private Papers of Eastern Jewel She's a spy. The character is CHinese but is spying for Japan in China.

Option 6- Cinder Takes place in New Beijing and is listed in..."

Your Option 2 book is shelved in the "war" category, so it fits the criteria for that option.

As for Cinder, it would not work: New Beijing is not an actual place on an actual map (see #4 - that criteria was originally specific to Option 6, but we moved it when people asked about a fictional Asian country for any of the options). Using fantasy, dystopia, etc. books for this one is exactly what I had hoped to avoid, however, in requiring the connection to Asia for this task.

I wanted to check regarding two books I have ready to read:

Up Country The lead character travels back to Vietnam to solve a crime from the Vietnam war era, so I think it fits for option 2.

The Sound of Waves I didn't see it scrolling the lists for option 6 -so I was wondering if it would work for option 4 with my ebook cover version showing fish:

Janet F wrote: "I wanted to check regarding two books I have ready to read:

Up Country The lead character travels back to Vietnam to solve a crime from the Vietnam war era, so I think it fits for option 2.

The..."

Both are approved for the options presented.

I just wanted to make sure these work:

Option 6 - which is on the Most Read This Week> Asia list as of May 21 and the author was born in Hong Kong ("theme" 1)

Option 4 - which has "noodles" in the title and features bowls on the cover and "theme" 2 - takes place in China.

Thank you!

Can I get Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity approved for Option #6? This book is on the 'Most Read this Week' list (May 22). Thanks!

Will this work for Option 1:



It is set in Thailand and the elephant appears to be carrying something on his back.

Wondering if these people are close enough to water for option 3:


Thanks!

Peebee wrote: "Wanda wrote: "Would this bookcover be acceptable for fishing cats?

"

Wanda -- I think so, but can you tell me what that is on the bottom middle of the cover i..."

It is a fisherman standing up in the boat.

Would the landforms in the back fulfill the mountain requirement?

Wanda wrote: "

Would the landforms in the back fulfill the mountain requirement?"

Iceland isn't in Asia though - so it wouldn't meet that requirement :( but its a decent book

Would this work for the fishing cats option?

Stephanie Laurens was born in Sri Lanka and there are horses near a stream on the cover.

Valorie wrote: "Would this work for the fishing cats option?

Stephanie Laurens was born in Sri Lanka and there are horses near a stream on the cover."

Approved.

Wanda wrote: "

Would the landforms in the back fulfill the mountain requirement?"

Those are mountains, but like Dee commented, there also has to be the connection to Asia. I'm going to hazard a guess that the author, Yrsa Sigurðardóttir, wasn't born in Asia.