Around the World discussion

2014:
Australia: Tracks: A Woman's Solo Trek Across 1,700 Miles of Australian Outback
Canada: Anne of the Island
Finland: Riding With Reindeer: A Bicycle Odyssey Through Finland, Lapland, and Arctic Norway
Hong Kong: The Language of Threads
India: Get Ready for Battle
Iran: Honeymoon in Purdah: An Iranian Journey ; My Uncle Napoleon
Iraq: The Prince of the Marshes: And Other Occupational Hazards of a Year in Iraq
Kosovo: The Hemingway Book Club of Kosovo
Mozambique: Scribbling the Cat: Travels with an African Soldier
Paraguay: Travels With My Aunt
Russia: My Sergei: A Love Story
Swaziland: The Kingdom of Roses and Thorns
Switzerland: Switzerland on All Fours
Tahiti: Frangipani

2015:
1. Angola: The Book of Chameleons
2. Argentina: Naming the Spirits
3. South Africa: The Cat Who Covered the World: The Adventures Of Henrietta And Her Foreign Correspondent
4. Cambodia: Lucky Child: A Daughter of Cambodia Reunites with the Sister She Left Behind
5. Chile: All Roads Lead to Austen: A Yearlong Journey with Jane
6. Democratic Republic of the Congo: The Ponds of Kalambayi
7. England: Northanger Abbey
8. France: Gigi and The Cat
9. Guyana: Zoo Quest to Guiana
10. Italy: Cinderella and Company: Backstage at the Opera with Cecilia Bartoli
11. Japan: The Samurai's Garden
12. Kenya: West with the Night
13. Kuwait: A Map of Home
14. Liberia: The House at Sugar Beach
15. Libya: In the Country of Men
16. Mali: To Timbuktu: A Journey Down the Niger
17. Monaco: Marrying Off Mother: And Other Stories
18. Niger: To the Moon and Timbuktu: A Trek through the Heart of Africa
19. Nigeria Looking for Transwonderland: Travels in Nigeria
20. Peru: The Lost Girls: Three Friends. Four Continents. One Unconventional Detour Around the World.
21. Republic of Congo: Drums Along the Congo
22. Rwanda: Baking Cakes in Kigali
23. Saudi Arabia: Princess Sultana's Daughters
24. Scotland: 44 Scotland Street
25. Singapore: Soy Sauce for Beginners
26. South Korea: When My Name Was Keoko
27. Spain: Driving over Lemons: An Optimist in Andalucía
28. Sudan: They Poured Fire on Us From the Sky: The True Story of Three Lost Boys from Sudan
29. Syria: The Bread of Angels: A Memoir of Love and Faith
30. Tanzania: Memoirs of an Arabian Princess from Zanzibar

I've decided that this year I'm going to read pretty much whatever I want and add books to my around-the-world list as I go. Even I don't know where I'm going to end up! :-)

I don't know if I can find these titles,but great choices. I am always reading about islands or visiting them. Your choices inspire me. I am definitely on your wave length. More people should value expanding horizons. I should get my list posted.

Can't wait to see your list Jane! What are some of your favorite books about islands?

Hi Amanda.

I am browsing lists to see titles and I am impressed with your list. I read The Piano Tuner two or three years ago. I thought it was a very interesting story. I also just realized that I have
your book from Scotland on my book shelf. I guess I should go to Scotland after I finish up in Australia.
I am still looking over my books to see where they will take me from there.

Plunder as many books as you want Cherie! Everyone seems to be telling me good things about The Piano Tuner. It was a book I very much wanted to read last year, but unfortunately ran out of time.

I found a book for Liechtenstein! *Jumps up and down for joy*

What is it?

It's called Harry's Mountain Walks in Liechtenstein, it's about the same dog as Switzerland on All Fours. I hope they're good books. Thankfully both are short, so even if they're not I will be able to make it through them.

hehe you'll need to let Jmom know about your dog books!

You always have an ear open for new corny jokes to tell, don't you Mom?
Does Jmom like dog books?

You have some interesting books listed. I've only read one of those on your list The Cellist of Sarajevo and I really liked it.

I just got that book for Christmas, heard many great things about it. It's near the top of my to-read list for this year!

In honor of the Winter Olympics (and to an extent Valentine's Day) taking place in Sochi this year, for February I will be reading books set in Russia starting with My Sergei: A Love Story (written by Russian figure skater Ekaterina Gordeeva) and From Behind the Red Line: A North American Hockey Player in Russia. I think it will be fun!

My goal for 2015 is to read at least 30 books. I've made quite a bit of progress on Africa and only have 6 countries left to read in The Middle East (Armenia, Bahrain, Israel/Palestine, Kyrgyzstan, and the UAE)! If anyone has read any great books set in Israel/Palestine, Bahrain, or New Zealand I would love to hear about them. So long as it's not romance or super-scholarly I am not too picky of a reader.

I'm reading Mornings in Jenin (Palestine/Israel) right now, and am enjoying it, so I would recommend that. Also, you can't go past The Luminaries for New Zealand - fantastic book!

I second Andrea's recommendations - fantastic is the right word for The Luminaries - one of my all time favorites, although be prepared -- it's 700+ pages. I enjoyed Mornings in Jenin very much too. I'm currently reading the author's new book The Blue Between Sky and Water - just started, so fat I'm liking it - also set in Palestine - you may want to check it out.

Thanks for the recommendations! All three books sound interesting. I am adding them to my list.

Whew! Made my goal of 30! Almost finished with Bahrain too.