Play Book Tag discussion

The culture theme for September is...

Egypt, nominated by Cora and Theresa!

This thread will be used for a couple of purposes:
• Announcing the culture (done!)
• Planning and discussing what books you would like to read (let the planning commence!)
• Reviewing your books starting September 1 . Books read and reviewed before that will not count.

Finally, if you want to read a book for the culture challenge in September, but it does NOT fit Egypt, that is totally fine too! You can still review it here for one participation point. Books that DO fit the Egypt culture will receive two participation points.

Will everyone please put at the top of their review the culture they are reading for, whether it is Egypt or another culture just to help me with scoring and to serve as a guide for others who are reading your review. Thanks!

Previous months culture themes
January - Iraq
February - Portugal
March - South Korea
April - Italy
May - Brazil
June - Greece
July - Syria
August - Australia
September - Egypt

Clarification of Reporting Guidelines

The goal of the Expanding Your PBT Horizons Challenge is to read 12 books from other cultures throughout the year, which means you can read one a month or all 12 in January or any conceivable combination between the two. However, there are monthly culture themes added to the mix which makes for some unique reporting conflicts that the admins did not think of when posting the challenge. Thank you to Nancy for pointing it out!

The admins spoke and we tried to make this as fair and as simple as possible, so here are the three easy points to follow:

1) Each month there is a culture theme. If you choose to read for the theme—which is not mandatory—then you must read your book that fits that theme and post the review within the assigned month. You will receive 2 participation points per review and you can read more than 1 book, but each book counts toward your ultimate cap of 12 books for the year. *you can read more than 12 books if you like, but you only get points for this challenge for up to 12*

2) For books you read for the Culture Challenge that do not fit the monthly culture theme, you can do one of two things:

2a) You can post the books each month as you read them and simply label them as not fitting the monthly culture theme and stating what culture they fit. However, there are no "take backs" and once you report a book this way for 1 participation point, it counts to your total of 12 books.

2b) Alternatively, if you want to try to maximize your reads for the monthly culture theme, you can read other cultures throughout the year and wait to report them until late in December for 1 participation point each. An important point to this though is that even if you read a book in April and have been holding off on reporting it until the end of the year and then it happens to fit the December culture, you still only get 1 participation point for it because you did not read it in December.

Also, this only applies for the Culture Challenge. You should still write a review and post it in the monthly tag or nonmonthly tag folder in the month that you read it for regular PBT participation points.

Here is the tag list for Egypt:

https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...

#1 on the list is Crocodile on the Sandbank
It's the first book in the Amelia Peabody series by Elizabeth Peters. She's an interesting character.

Hypatia was discussed in The Tenth Muse, and this looks great:
Flow Down Like Silver: Hypatia of Alexandria

It looks like Egypt will be easier than I thought.

Can I recommend Nefertiti by Michelle Moran? Or Cleopatra's Daughter? I am likely going ti read Child of the Morning, about Potiphar's Wife, as my three Cleopatra Books are all on my Trim and I want to read them together.

I was hoping for Scandinavia, israel, France, Japan...
We’ve been doing a lot of Arab.

Ah well. Will go snoop around to find some cool Egyptian books

Amy wrote: "Can I recommend Nefertiti by Michelle Moran? Or Cleopatra's Daughter? I am likely going ti read Child of the Morning, about Potiphar's Wife, as my three Cleopatra Books are all on my Trim and I wan..."

Nefertiti was my first Michelle Moran book and is still one of my favorites of hers!

Idit wrote: "I was hoping for Scandinavia, israel, France, Japan...
We’ve been doing a lot of Arab.

Ah well. Will go snoop around to find some cool Egyptian books"

It is all random! The randomizer does seem to like the Middle East, and lots of members nominated countries in that region which ups the chance of them being selected.

Nicole, I know. No complaints from me about the process. You ladies are AMAZING!
and the funny thing that one of my suggestion is Arab countries as well - so there might be more in the coming months. It was just a small whine. I’m already on top of all the Naguib Mahfouzes and Beer in the Snooker Club and Woman at Point Zero books. I just need my computer so I can make links.

I have been holding off on reading Revolution for Dummies: Laughing through the Arab Spring in hopes that Egypt would come up for Horizons. That will my selection this month.

I'm probably going to read Nefertiti by Michelle Moran. It's one of the oldest books on my massive TBR and I don't know why I haven't read it yet.

Cora, that sounds cool!

I think I might also knock off Jasmine Nights!

Plus the Last Watchman of Cairo was great as a recommendation.

I have quite a few on my TBR that would fit. But I think I'm going with # 2 in the Amelia Peabody series
The Curse of the Pharaohs

or possibly ...
Warlock by Wilbur Smith

I posted this on the monthly tag thread as well, but here are my thoughts for a book for myself:

I would like to read something that is about/set in Egypt and is by an Egyptian author (making it a little more challenging for myself).

Palace Walk by Naguib Mahfouz seems like it would be the ideal book, but also seems ambitious.

Woman at Point Zero by Nawal El Saadawi is a more realistic length and sounds like it packs a punch in a few pages.

The Map of Love by Ahdaf Soueif has been recommended to me before.

A Daughter of Isis by Nawal El Saadawi could be a stark insight to life as a woman in Egypt.

OR, I could go with some ancient Egypt historical fiction with:
River God by Wilbur Smith

OR, I could go the easy route with something by Michelle Moran or Margaret George:
Cleopatra's Daughter
The Heretic Queen
The Memoirs of Cleopatra

So many decisions to make!

Nicole, I will try for Egyptian author as well

There is this thing in reddit - they chose a country and recommend books that were written by people from there
https://www.reddit.com/r/books/wiki/l...

The Egypt thread doesn’t have a lot to offer, but has a bit.
And Naguib Mahfouz seems to have heaps of books beyond the trilogy. Some shorter

Idit wrote: "Nicole, I will try for Egyptian author as well"

That would be great! I look forward to seeing what you select.

Thanks for the reddit thread. I will see what else Mahfouz has and maybe will select something shorter. I do think the Trilogy sounds intriguing, but that is a big commitment! lol.

The Alchemist has been on my TBR for along time-can anyone verify that it takes place in Egypt? I have lately been picking up HORIZON books, that were tagged by idiots, don't want to make that same mistake this month

Nicole R wrote: "I posted this on the monthly tag thread as well, but here are my thoughts for a book for myself:

I would like to read something that is about/set in Egypt and is by an Egyptian author (making it a..."

Nicole, not that you asked but-I hated River God and knowing your tastes, I cannot see you liking it much better

It looks like I'll be reading Tomb of the Golden Bird the 18th book in the Amelia Peabody series.

I'll be reading The Map of Love - thanks to Nicole for helping me choose!

I'm leaning towards Nefertiti by Michelle Moran but on Audible for this one.

Joanne wrote: "Nicole, not that you asked but-I hated River God and knowing your tastes, I cannot see you liking it much better "

Oh, that is good to know! That definitely discourages me from reading it.

Cora wrote: "I have been holding off on reading Revolution for Dummies: Laughing through the Arab Spring in hopes that Egypt would come up for Horizons. That will my selection this month."

That sounds like a good choice. I was thinking of searching for something more modern.

I have Justine by Lawrence Durrell andPalace of Desire by Naguib Mahfouz (if I can find it) on my tbr.

And The Buried: An Archaeology of the Egyptian Revolution has been on my radar.

I'm going to love this one. I'm leaning toward Nefertiti too but I've also enjoyed the Amelia Peabody series of which I've only read a few. I have an oldie to recommend Child of the Morning I read it ages ago and really loved it. Its the story of Hatshetsup, a female pharaoh of Egypt who had to rule as a male! Sometime after reading it, I went on a trip to NYC where they have a great Egypt room and there she was! What a treat.

Nikki wrote: "I'll be reading The Map of Love - thanks to Nicole for helping me choose!"

If you are reading it then that bumps it up my list a bit! Always more fun to compare notes with someone afterwards!

Nicole R wrote: "Nikki wrote: "I'll be reading The Map of Love - thanks to Nicole for helping me choose!"

If you are reading it then that bumps it up my list a bit! Always more fun to compare notes wi..."

Ooh, that would be good! I was thinking that it looked like one that a few people might be drawn to, I'll keep my fingers crossed that there might be enough interest for a group discussion...

Yippee! I'm thrilled that it is not only one of my suggestions but also it is Egypt! There is such a variety that can be read. I always have some book set in Egypt in my TBR towers.

I don't have much time right now (work presses) but I do have a few to start you all off - and sorry if some are repeats:

The Last Watchman of Old Cairo - one of my 5 star reads from 2018 and I recommend it all the time. If you have not already read it...a delight.

Death on the Nile - one of Dame Agatha's best.

Elizabeth Peters - any of her Amelia Peabody series - which range from Victorian era through WWI at least. Personal fave: Crocodile on the Sandbank - the one that started them all. AND, did you know that Elizabeth Peters is one of the noms de plume of renowned Egyptologist and Archeologist Barbara Mertz who wrote 2 excellent books about Egypt -- Red Land, Black Land: Daily Life in Ancient Egypt is about daily life in Ancient Egypt and Temples, Tombs & Hieroglyphs: A Popular History of Ancient Egypt.

any Naguib Mahfouz, but I especially liked Midaq Alley - and even hunted the real Midaq Alley out in the Bazaar when on a trip to Egypt! And it is short.

River God - escapist reading at its best - Wilbur Smith has several books set in Egypt - both contemporary and ancient.

On my TBR:
Grand Hotels of Egypt: In the Golden Age of Travel
Chronicle of a Last Summer: A Novel of Egypt
Apricots on the Nile: A Memoir with Recipes

I have more ... such as more mysteries set in Egypt, a book about Napoleon in Egypt, a translated French series about Ramses, etc. When I get a moment this week, I'll post more suggestions.

Nicole R wrote: "Nikki wrote: "I'll be reading The Map of Love - thanks to Nicole for helping me choose!"

If you are reading it then that bumps it up my list a bit! Always more fun to compare notes wi..."

I read Map of Love years ago and loved it. I'll be interested in hearing others thoughts on it.

Theresa wrote: "Yippee! I'm thrilled that it is not only one of my suggestions but also it is Egypt! There is such a variety that can be read. I always have some book set in Egypt in my TBR towers.

I don't have ..."

Thank you!!! Right now I'm leaning towards the Barbara Mertz books you've suggested, I'm looking for something more non-fiction.

Cora wrote: "I have been holding off on reading Revolution for Dummies: Laughing through the Arab Spring in hopes that Egypt would come up for Horizons. That will my selection this month."

Added to my list!

Joanne wrote: "The Alchemist has been on my TBR for along time-can anyone verify that it takes place in Egypt? I have lately been picking up HORIZON books, that were tagged by idiots, don't want t..."

I don't know if this one will provide any useful cultural information about Egypt. It's spiritual fantasy adventure, and the author is from Brazil. This book was extremely popular at one time, especially with young people who were exploring alternative beliefs. This book is also tagged Brazil because of the author.

Theresa wrote: "Yippee! I'm thrilled that it is not only one of my suggestions but also it is Egypt! There is such a variety that can be read. I always have some book set in Egypt in my TBR towers.

I don't have ..."

I did not know that Elizabeth Peters = Barbaa Mertz! That gives me more confidence that her fiction books will contain authentic information. And, it gives me confidence that her non-fiction books will be entertaining. Egypt has so much interesting history I might go with one of her history or historical fiction books.

The modern history on the Arab Spring is also very appealing, as is the book about Hypatia. Flow Down Like Silver: Hypatia of Alexandria

On my radar:
The Yacoubian Building
The Visitors
Death on the Nile
Crocodile on the Sandbank

Well I found 4 at my library-

The Last Watchman of Old Cairo
Palace Walk
The City of Brass
Gods of Jade and Shadow

Hopefully one of them will work for me-I have been having a rough time with books for this challenge the last few months. Just now finishing up my Australia book-after starting 3 others and throwing them back!

Amy wrote: "Can I recommend Nefertiti by Michelle Moran? Or Cleopatra's Daughter? I am likely going ti read Child of the Morning, about Potiphar's Wife, as my three Cleopatra Books are all on my Trim and I wan..."

Seconded - both suggestions by Moran!

Idit wrote: "I was hoping for Scandinavia, israel, France, Japan...
"

I've been hoping for some Eastern Europe at some point.

Joanne wrote: "Well I found 4 at my library-

The Last Watchman of Old Cairo
Palace Walk
The City of Brass
Gods of Jade and Shadow

Hopefully one of t..."

Gods of Jade and Shadow is about Mexican culture, not Egyptian. (Not that you can't read a Mexican book for Horizon's, I just wanted to warn you in case you thought it was Egypt.)

Well, I'm not sure if this is really Egypt. It might be more Yemen. It's a memoir and the author spent a couple of years in Egypt, though it sounds like he was born in Yemen and spent time there before Egypt, then was back in Yemen before coming to Canada.

In any case, I'm going to give it a try, and I may or may not count it for Egypt, depending how much is devoted to him being there.

Intolerable: A Memoir of Extremes / by Kamal Al-Solaylee

Charlotte wrote: "Theresa wrote: "Yippee! I'm thrilled that it is not only one of my suggestions but also it is Egypt! There is such a variety that can be read. I always have some book set in Egypt in my TBR towers...."

Charlotte - I read Red Land Black Land before my trip to Egypt -- over 20 years ago now -- and loved it. I still have my copy of it.

NancyJ wrote: "Theresa wrote: "Yippee! I'm thrilled that it is not only one of my suggestions but also it is Egypt! There is such a variety that can be read. I always have some book set in Egypt in my TBR towers...."

If you ever watch Egypt specials on History Channel or National Geographic -- the older ones -- Barbara Mertz is frequently one of the experts. I don't ever worry about her fiction from that POV!

I'm finding, surprisingly, the focus on the Middle East to be particularly wonderful in Horizons. It all started when I read Desert Queen: The Extraordinary Life of Gertrude Bell: Adventurer, Adviser to Kings, Ally of Lawrence of Arabia for January Horizons, and I just kept finding more and more fascinating books in my TBR towers that were set in the Middle East at various times since the Victorian era. So Egypt is just a natural extension...

I have more suggestions from both books I've read and from my TBR. Of course!

In my TBR:
Lily of the Nile
Death Comes as the End - another from Dame Agatha
Napoleon in Egypt by Paul Strathern although this one which I just stumbled across on GR sounds fascinating - Napoleon in Egypt by Abd al-Rahman al-Jabarti which is a contemporary account by a Sheikh.

Authors I've read - mostly mystery series and excellent -

Lynda S. Robinson
P.C. Doherty a/k/a Paul Doherty
Michael Pearce
Also Lauren Haney - I have not read so don't know how good

Some links to find some interesting options:

https://www.newyorker.com/books/page-...

https://www.newyorker.com/books/page-...

One more great link I found as I searched for titles I read in the past:

https://crimereads.com/neo-noir-on-th...


Some surprising options there.

Theresa wrote: "I'm finding, surprisingly, the focus on the Middle East to be particularly wonderful in Horizons. It all started when I read [book:Desert Queen: The Extraordinary Life of Gertrude Bell: Adventurer,..."

Who knows, the focus on the area might continue -
Still in the running: Turkey, Afghanistan, east Africa, Palestine, Fertile Crescent (by me), Iran and Middle East (and Israel, India, Somalia and South Asia if we go a bit wider)

I have also read the English translations (from original French) of the Christian Jacq series about Ramses II. I found them thin, rather stilted to read. I have always wondered if it was just a poor translation or if Jacq was just not that great a writer.

"Cora wrote:Gods of Jade and Shadow is about Mexican culture, not Egyptian"

I knew that Cora.......not sure why I added that one....brain fog I guess, but thanks for the heads up, I would have started it at some point this month.....still may, but not for this challenge

This was available on overdrive, so I downloaded it: Chronicle of a Last Summer: A Novel of Egypt

We'll see. I have at least 6 other books checked out ahead of it.

Theresa wrote: "One more great link I found as I searched for titles I read in the past:

https://crimereads.com/neo-noir-on-th...

Some surprising options there."

Theresa, you're getting me more excited about Egypt! I found a few possibilities in my library, including short story anthologies. My requests are all in for Trim and Egypt.

Now I just have to write up my August reviews and start one or two overlap books (21st century and cultural).

I also read Adrift on the Nile by Naguib Mahfouz a few years ago and did not like it much. It was a struggle to get through - - slow moving - compared to other Mahfouz I'd read.

Some more suggestions from my endless TBR:

Espionage:
The Cairo Affair - set in 2011 during Libyan Civil War.
The Key to Rebecca by Ken Follett
A Burial at Sea by Charles Finch - one of the Lenox series and includes a murder.

General Fiction:

Lawrence Durrell - has to have some set there - such as the Alexandria Quartet.
The Man in the White Sharkskin Suit: My Family's Exodus from Old Cairo to the New World

Palace Walk was amazing. I never got to the third book in the trilogy, but I may re-start it was so good