Around the World in 80 Books discussion

Post your nominations here for the March group reads. A significant portion of the book must be set in the featured location. We will be reading a selection set in Tajikistan, a world mystery, a book in translation from a woman writer, and a book relating to migration to Europe.

Tajikistan*:
Nominate a book set in Tajikistan.
Tajikistan Book List: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Tajikistan Bookshelf: https://www.goodreads.com/group/books...

World Mystery
Nominate a mystery novel set in Australia or Oceania.

Migration
Nominate a book relating to migration to Europe from another part of the world (this can also include migration within Europe).

Women in Translation
Nominate a translated book from an female author from Canada or the Caribbean.

For a list of books we have read in previous months, click here: Previously Read Group Read Books

*For our featured world country selection (this month it is Tajikistan): If the book selected by popular vote is not written by a native or resident author of at least 1 year, the book written by a native/resident author with the highest votes will also be selected, resulting in two book selections for that country.

For Women in translation:
Crossing the Mangrove by Maryse Condé
(Guadaloupe, translated from French)

I’m rather surprised at how few books from Australia and Oceania have been chosen for group reads! We’ve already read a book from a unique mystery series set in the Solomon Islands — Devil-Devil by Graeme Kent — so I’ll propose a couple from authors from New Zealand and Australia:

Colour Scheme by Ngaio Marsh (how could I not include one of the few books written by a classic mystery author set in her home country?)

The Sands of Windee by Arthur W. Upfield (this is supposed to be a classic, but one I haven’t read)

For world mystery set in Australia, I nominate Resurrection Bay by Emma Viskic.

For Migration, I nominate Night Train to Lisbon by Pascal Mercier.

For Tajikistan. I nominate Beyond the Oxus by Monica Whitlock (the BBC's Central Asia correspondent in the 1990s).

Here's the recommendation list that pointed me toward it.
https://caravanistan.com/tajikistan/b...

This is a link to the review that confirmed the wisdom of reading it for me. ..

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

Great suggestions, Carol!

To help provide choices for migration, I might recommend Hope and Other Dangerous Pursuits by Laila Lalami.

And when I think of Canadian women in translation, I think of Gabrielle Roy. Either The Tin Flute or Street of Riches might work (I’ve read the former, but not the latter yet).

Carol wrote: "For Women in Translation, I nominate And the Birds Rained Down by Jocelyne Saucier. (Canada)"

Sorry, we have alread had that one as a group read.

Diane wrote: "Carol wrote: "For Women in Translation, I nominate And the Birds Rained Down by Jocelyne Saucier. (Canada)"

Sorry, we have alread had that one as a group read."

Thanks, Diane. I apologize for not catching that.

For Women in Translation, I nominate Sanaaq: An Inuit Novel by Mitiarjuk Nappaaluk.

A novel translated from the Inuit language? That sounds awesome!

Mome_Rath wrote: "A novel translated from the Inuit language? That sounds awesome!"

I admit, I was also utterly charmed when I found it.

For Tajikistan: The Life and Extraordinary Adventures of Private Ivan Chonkin.

For Migration: Go, Went, Gone.

My nominations:

Tajikistan:
The Disobedient Wife by Annika Milisic-Stanley

World Mystery:
The Dry by Jane Harper (Australia)

Migration
The Good Life Elsewhere by Vladimir Lorchenkov (Moldova/Italy)

Women in Translation
I Gave You All I Had by Zoé Valdés (Cuba)

Carmen wrote: "My nominations:

Tajikistan:
The Disobedient Wife by Annika Milisic-Stanley

World Mystery:
The Dry by Jane Harper (Australia)

Mig..."

This nomination thread pushes up my TBR in delightful ways.

Carol wrote: "This nomination thread pushes up my TBR in delightful ways."

I know -- I feel the same way! So many books to find time for!

Really great nominations for March! Makes it hard for me to add anything lol

Missy J wrote: "Really great nominations for March! Makes it hard for me to add anything lol"

I know. right? I found another great book for Cuba yesterday and then realized the author was male and... I was happy because these nominations are already so strong, lol!

Nominations are closed.