Retro Reads discussion

Zanzibar is an island archipelago off the coast of East Africa. The Zanzibar islands have been inhabited since the early Stone Age. And various Swahili-speaking people seem to have migrated there fairly early. The island's location in the Indian Ocean made it a usful stopping point for traders from the Greeks and Romans, to the Persians and Arabs, and later Europeans.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zanzibar

Nice! Thanks Hana & Hannah.

Hannah is very much in the spirit of things :p

I've been meaning to do a little research on Zanzibar before starting this book. Thanks for jump-starting me!

I discovered, thanks to Wikipedia, that Freddy Mercury (aka Farrokh Bulsara) was born in Zanzibar. Who knew?

Jaima wrote: "I discovered, thanks to Wikipedia, that Freddy Mercury (aka Farrokh Bulsara) was born in Zanzibar. Who knew?"

I knew, I knew!
:D

Misfit wrote: "Hannah is very much in the spirit of things :p"

haha - well, it IS my favorite book :)

Great pictures, Hannah! I'm still in Russia with my two giant non-fiction books, but I should be joining you in Zanzibar soon :))

I know Hannah is modest, but she has the most glorious pinterest boards called The Visualized Book. She has one for Trade Wind (her Thornyhold board is to die for!). Perhaps she would be willing to share a link to her pinterest board and others can get a feel for the sites and history of Zanzibar.

Joanne wrote: "I know Hannah is modest, but she has the most glorious pinterest boards called The Visualized Book. She has one for Trade Wind (her Thornyhold board is to die for!). Perhaps she would be willing to..."

How cool is that!

Joanne wrote: "I know Hannah is modest, but she has the most glorious pinterest boards called The Visualized Book. She has one for Trade Wind (her Thornyhold board is to die for!). Perhaps she would be willing to..."

Ooh! Yes, please link it, Hannah! I loved your Thornyhold page.

Ooooh yes, Hannah! Please do share a link :)

Aw, thanks everyone ((blushes))

I placed the link on the "Trade Wind: Final Thoughts" thread that Hana set up since there may be some spoiler pictures for first time readers.

Thanks, Hannah! LOL Now I'm going to go crazy for the next week wanting to go see the pictures with the spoilers...but I'm tough and I'll wait! :P

*trying to decide whether I just want to look now and risk being spoiled*

Hannah has been posting some of the pictures in the different threads, so if you don't want to risk spoilers, just stick to Hannah's posts in the section threads.

I am so looking forward to rereading this gem with my best GR buds. I am a notoriously slow reader (I like to savor good writing) and there are some who read circles around me (not mentioning any names -- cough, cough -- Tadiana), so I'll be popping in and out! Enjoy all!

No, no! It's Hana who does the blitz reading thing! I'm an amateur speed-reader compared to her. *grin*

Hello, ladies! I'm joining too. I have managed to get the book from OpenLibrary...many thanks for the recommendation. I managed to get the book at the beginning of November but had to skip the borrowing due to Persuassion but now I've got it again. Will start reading as soon as possible.

Welcome and thanks for joining in, Samanta!

Tadiana wrote: "No, no! It's Hana who does the blitz reading thing! I'm an amateur speed-reader compared to her. *grin*" No blitz reading this month--I've been a total slug :P

Trade Wind is a much more difficult book for me to love than The Far Pavilions. So I keep getting sidetracked by other books in my stack.

I'm with you on that, Tadiana. But this weekend, I'm going to give it a real push!

Hi all! Just finished the first 5 chapters. Got a late start due to a vacation and the holidays. Enjoying it very much and hope to catch up soon so I can participate in the discussions in a timely manner. I'm really enjoying the book so far. I've gotten hooked much earlier than with The Far Pavilions.

Welcome, Stephanie!

I just found this rather delightfully upbeat report on a new hotel in Pemba, one of the Zanzibar islands:

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-...

Hana wrote: "Welcome, Stephanie!

I just found this rather delightfully upbeat report on a new hotel in Pemba, one of the Zanzibar islands:

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-..."

When can we go?

Hana wrote: "Welcome, Stephanie!

I just found this rather delightfully upbeat report on a new hotel in Pemba, one of the Zanzibar islands:

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-..."

Wow, that is wild seeing the fish swim around the bedroom. Now if a shark came by...that would be interesting and a bit scary!!

I just found a wonderful series of photographs from the BBC about harvesting cloves on Zanzibar. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-...

Wow