Around the World discussion

I'm joining...re-joining? this group to finish up some of the books I have around my house that I still have pending from 2012 and 13. Last year I only got to meeting 1/2 of my goal...so this year I'm putting less pressure on myself :)

I'll post a list of the books I have at home soon.

Glad to have you back, Barbara! I enjoy your books and ocmments!

Judy wrote: "Sounds like a good plan, Barbara. It's nice to have you back! You always read such good stuff."

Thanks Judy and Suzanne! I've been reading so little lately, and I'm mostly trying to clear the pile of books that is threatening to fall on my bed :) Most of them don't fall under the "Around the World" category, but some do, so I thought I'd set a low goal to begin with.
I wasn't even going to participate, but I always find myself looking at what this group is reading, because reading with this group has been enlightening, to say the least.

Welcome back Barbara!

#1 Lost in Shangri-la: A True Story of Survival, Adventure, and the Most Incredible Rescue Mission of World War II for Dutch New Guinea (Indonesia).
This was a great book about a rescue mission during WWII that you don't typically hear about. While the writing was not my favorite, learning about the Dani tribe and the Filipino-American rescuers was the kind of thing that always makes me enjoy books. For me, the hours of additional research a book triggers is an indicator of how much I enjoyed the book.
While I was very disheartened by the status of the Dani people, at least as reported on the internet (you can't always believe all that, right?), I'm glad this book allowed me to get to know these gentle folk.
The rescue mission itself was fantastic, it could have ended in a major disaster, but somehow everybody came through. Anybody that likes reading about the military or other cultures would really enjoy this book.

#2 From Baghdad, With Love: A Marine, the War, and a Dog Named Lava for Iraq.
This was not one of my favorite books as it is written. I'm not sure what it was about the writing style that felt like I was reading a long memo. But it is very curious to find out the process that this Marine had to go through to get a puppy out of Iraq. Throughout the book, I had several thoughts...was it worth risking the lives of so many people? Couldn't he have found a nice home in Iraq for the puppy?
I guess in love and war everything is fair. So if this man loved the puppy so much, I understand why he did what he did.

Barbarac wrote: "#1 Lost in Shangri-la: A True Story of Survival, Adventure, and the Most Incredible Rescue Mission of World War II for Dutch New Guinea (Indonesia).
This was a great book about a res..."

I'll be reading this one later this month. Glad to hear you enjoyed it so much. I'm really looking forward to it now!

I read the book about Lava and the Marine and had the same thoughts! I read the follow up story also. The writing style was the same but the story was much more emotional because of the family struggle.

Cherie wrote: "I read the book about Lava and the Marine and had the same thoughts! I read the follow up story also. The writing style was the same but the story was much more emotional because of the family st..."

Interesting, I wonder what the follow-up could be about? I think I'll pass. I read enough memos at work :)

Judy wrote: "Barbarac wrote: "#1 Lost in Shangri-la: A True Story of Survival, Adventure, and the Most Incredible Rescue Mission of World War II for Dutch New Guinea (Indonesia).
This was a great..."

Judy, I'll have to read that one too. Thanks for the recommend. I've always loved "adventure" books, and as of lately I've realized I enjoy more those that are real stories. I was just telling my husband the other day, have you noticed how many of the Oscar nominated movies for this year are stories based on real events? I guess I'm not the only one that likes them :)

Barbarac wrote: "Cherie wrote: "I read the book about Lava and the Marine and had the same thoughts! I read the follow up story also. The writing style was the same but the story was much more emotional because o..."

The 2nd book is about adjustment. The author getting back to the states with the dog was only a small part. In the time it took to finally get Lava there, the dog grew up. He was not the cute little puppy he fell in love with in Baghdad. It was an okay story and a look at what an upheaval it all was, especially when lives were put at risk. Yes, he loved the dog and I understood his want/need to give the dog a better life, but I am still not sure that it was all worth the risk that he exposed everyone to.

Cherie wrote: "Barbarac wrote: "Cherie wrote: "I read the book about Lava and the Marine and had the same thoughts! I read the follow up story also. The writing style was the same but the story was much more em..."
Cherie, I totally agree with you.

Judy wrote: "I've always loved "adventure" books, and as of lately I've realized I enjoy more those that are real stories. I was just telling my husband the other day, have you noticed how many of the Oscar nom..."

Yes, that must be it Judy. I think as humans we like to see how others live their lives. There's something very calming about realizing that everybody is human (including famous people). We all make decisions, and mistakes, we all have our likes an dislikes...

#3 El Albergue de Las Mujeres Tristes for Chile. I read this book in Spanish. It's really about a "spa" as there are many others in the world, where women go to lick their post-relationship wounds. While it was very poetic, and I did really feel for the women in the albergue, heart-break is no fun after all. But I can't agree with the premise of the book that seems to indicate that modern women have gotten to a level of confidence about our lives that men don't know how to love us. The book went back to this theme a lot, but I thought this was plainly...B.S.
I did really enjoy the writing, so I may check out another book by this author.

#4In Evil Hour. I used to love Gabriel Garcia Marquez's books when I was a teenager and in my 20s. Since then, I've read some of his other, shorter books, and can't quite recover the love I felt. Perhaps his shorter books aren't as good? Or just my taste in books has changed?
This book, which I read in Spanish, still transported me to another time and another place. And while it had common characters with some of his other books, it doesn't have the energy. Too bad. I'll still keep reading his books to try and find what I did in my youth.

For some reason I could never get into GGM's books even though I tried. Hard, so I've just decided to let it go. I do agree that time changes perspectives, including reading-wise. I know it's changed for me. I used to enjoy books before, which when I read them now, I wonder what I saw in them. Others though are evergreen - I can read them over and still love them.

Lilisa, yes, there are still those evergreen books thankfully, that you enjoy at 20, 50 and 80 years old. isn't that the best feeling?

Barbarac wrote: "Lilisa, yes, there are still those evergreen books thankfully, that you enjoy at 20, 50 and 80 years old. isn't that the best feeling?"

Absolutely!

#5 Brief Encounters with Che Guevara: Stories for Haiti. This is a short story book, which I didn't really expect. And while I was expecting to read about Che, I instead encountered stories of tropical places. And they were all great. My favorites were "Near-Extinct Birds of the Central Cordillera" and "Reve Haitien", but all the other ones were fantastic too. Most of the stories take place in Haiti, but some in Myanmar, Colombia, Sierra Leone...

Judy wrote: "Sounds like a nice journey through South America, Barbara."

It was Judy. I'm usually disappointed by short stories, but these ones were great. They really transported me to colorful, warm and humid climates.