Around the World in 80 Books discussion

Post your nominations here for the May group reads. A significant portion of the book must be set in the featured location. We will be reading books set in the country of Ethiopia, the US state of Missouri, and the UK county of Norfolk. Here are our group lists to get you started:

Ethiopia:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
https://www.goodreads.com/group/books...

Missouri:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
https://www.goodreads.com/group/books...

Norfolk:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/... (scroll down to the Norfolk heading)

Books do not need to be present on these lists to be nominated. Authors, please do not nominate your own books.

For U.K.

Floodland by Marcus Sedgwick

Or

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro

For Missouri:

Pudd'nhead Wilson by Mark Twain

Or

Winter's Bone by Daniel Woodrell

Ethiopia - What is the What by Dave Eggers

Missouri - by Curtis Sittenfeld

For Ethiopia - Cutting for Stone

For Missouri -The Glass Menagerie

For Norfolk - The Go-Between

Ethiopia: I second Cutting for Stone . I have been wanting to read this for years!!

Although I have already read (nominated above) for another book group, it was a book that created the BEST discussion. It didn't matter whether one liked the book or not, there was a lot to talk about.

Missouri: The Moonflower Vine

Missouri: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

Ethiopia: Cutting for Stone

Missouri: The Land of Laughs

Norfolk: Never Let Me Go

Ethiopia:Yes, Chef: A Memoir
by Marcus Samuelsson

MISSOURI: Puddin' Head Wilson, Mark Twain.

NORFOLK:Never Let Me Go, Ishigouro

What is the What

Butterfly Weeds

Never Let Me Go

Thanks!

I think What is the What mainly takes place in Sudan and South Sudan rather than in Ethiopia.

For Ethiopia:

Cutting for Stone I found it in audiobook from audible. Yay! Our statewide library didn't have any of the books from Ethiopia available and certainly not in audio.

Sounds like a heartwrenching story according to reviews but very well written and narrated.

Ethiopia
No Greater Love by Levi Benkert

Missouri
Stoner by John Edward Williams

Norfolk, I second
The Go-Between by L.P. Hartley

Diane wrote: "I think What is the What mainly takes place in Sudan and South Sudan rather than in Ethiopia."

Okay, then I will go with Cutting for Stone

Diane wrote: "I think What is the What mainly takes place in Sudan and South Sudan rather than in Ethiopia."

Okay, then No Greater Love seems good.

I have to go with Cutting for Stone for Ethiopia too!

I'll nominate A Good American for Missouri.

And The Wind in the Willows for Norfolk.

I will nominate for Missouri:

Betsey Brown

Set in St. Louis in 1957, the year of the Little Rock Nine, Shange’s story reveals the prismatic effect of racism on an American child and her family. Seamlessly woven into this masterful portrait of an extended family is the story of Betsey's adolescence, the rush of first romance, and the sobering responsibilities of approaching adulthood.

For Ethiopia
There Is No Me Without You: One Woman's Odyssey to Rescue Africa's Children

I'll nominate Beneath the Lion's Gaze because I've already read (and loooooved) Cutting for Stone.

Ethiopia - Cutting for Stone
Missouri - Sharp Objects
Norfolk - Restoration

There were so many to choose from!

Ethiopia:Remote People: A Report from Ethiopia & British Africa 1930-31
Missouri:Pudd'nhead Wilson

Diane - I've talked to people who have read What is the What and said the book is set in Sudan and Ethiopia and the U.S. about 1/3 each country, Sudan actually maybe a little less? So does this count as a nomination?

Sarah wrote: "Diane - I've talked to people who have read What is the What and said the book is set in Sudan and Ethiopia and the U.S. about 1/3 each country, Sudan actually maybe a little less? So d..."

Yes. Sometimes the descriptions are deceiving. :)

Ethiopia-Cutting For Stone-one of my favorite books that I'd be happy to have an excuse to read again!

Ethiopia - There Is No Me Without You: One Woman's Odyssey to Rescue Africa's Children

MO - When the Storm Passes

Norfolk - no preference

For Norfolk, I vote the Orchid House

Taylor wrote: "For Norfolk, I vote the Orchid House"

Taylor, sorry but we have already had that one as a group read.

Ok, I'll double check next time!

I second the recommendation for Yes, Chef for Ethiopia!
And Winter's Bone for Missouri.
Norfolk, I leave to the U.K. experts. :)