Around the World discussion

2015:
Alaska - The Yiddish Policemen's Union
Argentina - The Oxford Murders
Burma - The Narrow Road to the Deep North
China - Death of a Red Heroine
Cuba - Havana Blue
Czech Republic - Daughter of Smoke & Bone
Dominican Republic - The Feast of the Goat
Egypt - Crocodile on the Sandbank
Greece - The Messenger of Athens
Hawaii - Mahu Surfer
Iceland - Jar City
Ireland - In the Woods
Ireland - Room
Japan - Revenge
Kenya - A Guide to the Birds of East Africa
Laos - The Coroner's Lunch
Norway/Thailand - Cockroaches
Norway - In the Darkness
Russia - Twilight Watch
Slovakia - Zoli
South Africa - A Beautiful Place to Die
South Africa - Devil's Peak
Sweden - The Preacher
Sweden - Let the Right One In
Sweden - The Savage Altar
Sweden - Faceless Killers
Trinidad and Tobago - The White Woman on the Green Bicycle
Vietnam - The Quiet American
Yemen - Salmon Fishing In The Yemen

I should also read more from Africa and South America as I feel these two continents were a bit neglected. Also should revisit China and India. Plus visit countries I've never been before.

Random Others 2014:
Canada - Oryx and Crake
Iceland - Last Rituals
Japan - The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle
Mongolia - All This Belongs to Me: A Novel
New Zealand - The Luminaries
Norway - The Bat
Sweden - The Ice Princess

Leftovers from the Original 52 Book List
Burma (take 2) - From the Land of Green Ghosts: A Burmese Odyssey
Italy – The Name of the Rose
Nigeria - The Famished Road
Spain - The Shadow of the Wind
South Africa (take 2) – Zoo City
Turkey - Seven Houses : A Novel

My old thread with the other books I have read before 2014 from my original list.

Italics means I finished. Thanks for joining me boys and girls.

I had hoped to finish this before the end of 2013, but you know, things.

South Africa - Zoo City done. Great story. No, great Lore. Really enjoyed it. Set in today's J-Berg but with one difference. You do something terrible, you get a familiar. A physical animal attached to your essence, your "soul". I really enjoyed. http://rusalkii.blogspot.com.au/2014/...

Are you going for 52 books again this year Rusalka?

I have The Book Thief on my list for Germany, but it seems most people have read it already. The only other book set in Germany that I can remember reading is Christiane F (we children from Bahnhof Zoo), which I can't find here on goodreads, but which made a big impression on me when I was 15 and read it for the first time.

It looks interesting Rusalka. I will add it to my 'global extras' list.

You might like Perfume: The Story of a Murderer for Germany.
The author is German, although it is set in France. Would that fit your criteria?
There are plenty of other good ones if it doesn't, although funnily enough several of my favourite books by German authors are set anywhere except Germany.
I went for The Reader in the end, which is set there.

I think I need an Australia - take 2. I should not leave your country to be represented by a load of misogynist Greeks.

Rusalka wrote: "Leftovers from the Original 52 Book List

Burma (take 2) - From the Land of Green Ghosts: A Burmese Odyssey
Italy – The Name of the Rose
Nigeria - The Famished Roa..."</i>

Rusalka - for Germany, check out [book:The Baker's Daughter.

Possibles for Germany

The Lighthouse
Moore, Alison

The Reader
Schlink, Bernhard

Steppenwolf
Hesse, Hermann

Midsummer Night
Timm, Uwe

The Riddle of the Sands
Childers, Erskine

Fellowship of Fear (Gideon Oliver Mystery, #1)
Elkins, Aaron

The Hangman's Daughter
Pötzsch, Oliver *

City of Shadows: A Novel of Suspense
Franklin, Ariana

March Violets (Bernard Gunther, #1)
Kerr, Philip

Peggy wrote: "Are you going for 52 books again this year Rusalka?

I have The Book Thief on my list for Germany, but it seems most people have read it already. The only other book set in Germany tha..."

HAHAHA no Peggy. It's taken me 2 years for the first 48! I have a pile of possibilities, and then some on my chunky reads. We will see how we go.

Unfortunately, or fortunately, already read The Book Thief

Val wrote: "It looks interesting Rusalka. I will add it to my 'global extras' list.

You might like Perfume: The Story of a Murderer for Germany.
The author is German, although it is set in France. ..."

Thanks Val. Already read Perfume: The Story of a Murderer but great idea. Didn't realise he was German. Not keen to revisit though. I threw it when i finished it, much to my mother's displeasure. I was in the back of her car driving down the highway from Canberra to Melbourne (8 hours, 900kms) and it scared her as she was driving. Oops.

I'm guessing you read The Slap? Happy to give some suggestions. Actually our challenge this month in You'll Love This One, which has a lot of cross over members with this group, is Australian books. You maybe able to find a good option in those threads https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/... Or the hive mind may throw up some options in here :)

Lilisa wrote: "Rusalka wrote: "Leftovers from the Original 52 Book List

Burma (take 2) - From the Land of Green Ghosts: A Burmese Odyssey
Italy – The Name of the Rose
Nigeria - [book:..."

Will do. Thanks!

Val wrote: "It looks interesting Rusalka. I will add it to my 'global extras' list.

You might like Perfume: The Story of a Murderer for Germany.
The author is German, although it is set in France. ..."

And The Reader. Thanks!

Almeta wrote: "Possibles for Germany

The Lighthouse
Moore, Alison

The Reader
Schlink, Bernhard

Steppenwolf
Hesse, Hermann

Midsummer Night
Timm, Uwe

[..."

I will check these out. Thanks Almeta. My original pick was [book:Steppenwolf|16631]. I tried, twice. Reminded me of all my old turn of the 20C Anth textbooks. I have no doubt some would love it, but not my cup of tea turns out

Judy wrote: "If you would like some short non-fiction, Let Me Go is a book that will stick with you. Its a daughter writing about her unrepentant Nazi mother."

Interesting, thanks Judy!

"Pottering", now there's a word you don't hear every day! Nice list Rusalka, looking forward to seeing what other countries you visit. Wish I had a recommendation or two for Germany for you, but alas, I do not. Looks like Almeta has some good ideas though! I'm sure you'll have a great year of reading!

Rusalka wrote: "I'm guessing you read The Slap? Happy to give some suggestions. Actually our challenge this month in You'll Love This One, which has a lot of cross over members with this group, is Australian books. You maybe able to find a good option in those threads https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/... Or the hive mind may throw up some options in here :) "
I did indeed read "The Slap". That book made the Booker shortlist and I'm thinking it can't have been a very good year. The idea is promising, take an incident and explore everyone present's character through their reactions to it, but all the characters are shallow and there is too much macho posturing.
I have read several better books by Australian authors, but was trying to find one I have not read before. I will see what your other group discusses and add some alternative options to the 'extras' list.

There was a TV miniseries if The Slap. I only watched 3 of the 6 episodes as I didn't like people. Yet I bought the book for $3. Just in case the TV show was wrong. I did find it interesting from a gay male point of view there was so much male posturing. I'm guessing it is the world he observed, but it's still interesting.

Go for it, and like I said, happy to give ideas from my read or to read list depending what you are looking for!

Amanda wrote: ""Pottering", now there's a word you don't hear every day! Nice list Rusalka, looking forward to seeing what other countries you visit. Wish I had a recommendation or two for Germany for you, but al..."

Oh I potter everywhere. Except when I have a purpose. Or at the shops. I hate people who f*^king dawdle at the shops!!! People have places to be! Get out of the way! DON'T YOU HAVE BETTER PLACES TO BE?!?

Like that.

Haha I tend to agree, except when at the bookstore. I potter at the bookstore...

There is no other way to shop for books. That is entirely appropriate pottering :P

Important things Judy!

I loved a Booker winner. This is a momentous occassion people. I know that the prize is for now, books like The Luminaries. It's big, it's scary, but I personally felt it paid off in bucket loads. http://rusalkii.blogspot.com.au/2014/...

Great to hear Rusalka. I was at chapter 4 a couple of weeks ago and was enjoying it so much but had to stop. I need a big chunk of time to continue because I know once I start up I won't be able to put it down! So I'm waiting with delicious anticipation for some quality time soon to sink myself back into it.

Oh i hope you get some. I do agree. I read 650pp in 4 days while on holidays. That's a lot for me, just as I tend to do a lot of other stuff at the same time. The last 180pp took almost the same amount of time due to work, and me wanting to sit for an extended period to read the rest.

I'll hope for a nice holiday break for you to read it in :D

Rusalka, you're single-handedly responsible for me adding this book to my TBR. I came across it several times, so many people added it to their TBR, and I thought New Zealand (yay!), historical fiction (yay!), but other than that it seemed to be a very long and complicated book with bankers and business and not really my interests. So, I never added it. But your review makes it sounds very different, even if there is some bankers and business in it. I'll give it a try, someday.

Hah! The PRESSURE!

Oh there is a banker, but an 1860s colonial banker. There's a mining magnate but an 1860s colonial one. My point, even though it's getting long winded and repetious, is that everything is not what it seems over in the antipodes in the 1800s.

People can, and did, come from all walks of life and made it. In all fields and jobs, people were needed so as long as you weren't actively a criminal at that point in time, you could do many things. And criminal was different to now ;) So bankers and business men were not like we think of them now.

I think you'd like it. It's straight historical fiction with mysteries. And you don't need an accounting degree to understand it :P

And the writing is superb. And yes, to the holiday break for sure.

Rusalka wrote: "Hah! The PRESSURE!

Oh there is a banker, but an 1860s colonial banker. There's a mining magnate but an 1860s colonial one. My point, even though it's getting long winded and repetious, is that eve..."

Yes, I second that. It is straight historical fiction and you don't have to worry about all the astrological construction stuff to enjoy the book, or to know anything at all about nineteenth century banking practices.

Rusalka wrote: "And you don't need an accounting degree to understand it :P "


Okay, that does it! I added it to the list of chunkster-possibilities.

Woohoo! I can hear your shelves groaning from over here.

Exactly Val. You enjoyed it too? I missed you reading it.

Rusalka wrote: "Almeta wrote: "Possibles for Germany

The Lighthouse
Moore, Alison

The Reader
Schlink, Bernhard

Steppenwolf
Hesse, Hermann


I also liked The Reader a lot.

Another good book - in my oppinion - set in Germany is The Taste of Apple Seeds.

A lighter but entertaining read would be Death and the Devil.

I don´t know what I did above but everything came out italic... I started with "I also liked..."

No worries. I had that happen the other day. I think goodreads is having it's monthly fit.

Thank you. Will check them out.

I think I included a link when I read it, but in case I forgot, here it is:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I'm not known for being overly observant in my fun life I must say, so I think it's a me, not you issue.

Thanks for your review. I agree on many of your points, mainly with your much more in depth character assessment. I did find that to be incredibly interesting, how everyone interacted with each other.

Rusalka wrote: "I'm not known for being overly observant in my fun life I must say, so I think it's a me, not you issue."
I do sometimes forget, perhaps it's my age
or the effects of alcohol.

The twelve characters at the meeting are supposed to correspond to the twelve star signs, the lovers are the sun and moon and there are some planets thrown in there as the other characters who influence the story, but you can happily ignore all that if you think astrology is a load of (insert appropriate Australianism for organic fertiliser).

Rusalka wrote: "I loved a Booker winner. This is a momentous occassion people. I know that the prize is for now, books like The Luminaries. It's big, it's scary, but I personally felt it paid off i..."

Nice review, Rusalka! I was hesitant about this book as well, the Booker nomination, the size, but I think I will give it a try. It sounds amazing!

Val wrote: "Rusalka wrote: "I'm not known for being overly observant in my fun life I must say, so I think it's a me, not you issue."
I do sometimes forget, perhaps it's my age
or the effects of alcohol."

Hah! Love it.

Oh I understood that to a limited amount. And how they interplayed and influenced each other. It was more the intricacies of the star charts, and the chapter names that then confused me.

Suzanne wrote: "Rusalka wrote: "I loved a Booker winner. This is a momentous occassion people. I know that the prize is for now, books like The Luminaries. It's big, it's scary, but I personally fe..."

I do hope you enjoy!!

Okay, I'm sold. I've been on the fence about it, but you've convinced me.

WOW! Chunkster group read???

So I finally finished The Famished Road for Nigeria.

I was honestly disappointed. I was hesitant to read this one I will admit, which is why it's number 49 to be read. But I still expected better for winning a Booker. Maybe I just didn't get it. Who knows http://rusalkii.blogspot.com.au/2014/...

And a month later I have completed The Name of the Rose. It's all hype people. Stay away. Just... no.
http://rusalkii.blogspot.com.au/2014/...

Rusalka wrote: "And a month later I have completed The Name of the Rose. It's all hype people. Stay away. Just... no.
http://rusalkii.blogspot.com.au/2014/..."

Maybe it was just "a little better' for me because I watched the movie just before starting to read the book and I had Sean Connery's voice in my head for Baskerville and I could see Cristian Slater as Adso. I was also going through my Sherlock Holmes "revival" at the time.

Rusalka wrote: "And a month later I have completed The Name of the Rose. It's all hype people. Stay away. Just... no.
http://rusalkii.blogspot.com.au/2014/..."

Oh wow, I really enjoyed this one! The first 100 or so pages of history were difficult to get through, but after this, I was totally drawn into the mystery. Different strokes I guess!

I really hope you enjoy your next "stop" more :)

Cherie wrote: "Rusalka wrote: "And a month later I have completed The Name of the Rose. It's all hype people. Stay away. Just... no.
http://rusalkii.blogspot.com.au/2014/......"

Oooo!! Christian Slater! Lexx didn't mention that!

E :) wrote: "Rusalka wrote: "And a month later I have completed The Name of the Rose. It's all hype people. Stay away. Just... no.
http://rusalkii.blogspot.com.au/2014/......"

I didn't mind it to begin with. I possibly got myself all worked up and annoyed and it became worse than it was. I would get into the mystery and then I got a lecture about something else I didn't particularly care about or couldn't understand. Firey redhead temper really could be to blame.

But I just wanted the monks knocking off other monks bit! Is that too much to ask!?

Rusalka wrote: "And a month later I have completed The Name of the Rose. It's all hype people. Stay away. Just... no.
http://rusalkii.blogspot.com.au/2014/..."

I loved your review, Rusalka! Many of the points you brought up could be applied to his novel, Baudolino as well. There's so much trivial information here, you'd need at least a doctorate in medieval Italian/Turkish history to appreciate it. For the rest of us, it's just filler, and boring filler at that. Feeling much better about abandoning it:)

Thanks for the heads up on Baudolino Suzanne. I did buy Foucault's Pendulum a few months ago for $3, but I am debating just chucking it.

I FINISHED A BOOK! Seriously, this is exciting news people. I finished my Spanish book with The Shadow of the Wind. It was great, I should have loved it more, we're working through our issues. Review here http://rusalkii.blogspot.com.au/2014/...

Thanks Judy. I'm hoping the 4 day weekend, then 3 day week and 3 day weekend helps me along a little bit.

Finished another last week. The Ice Princess for Sweden. Review is here http://rusalkii.blogspot.com.au/2014/... and I promise I behave myself after the first sentence or two.

I need to stop getting distracted by shiny books and finish my last two from my original list.