Around the World in 80 Books discussion
ATW in 80 Books World Challenge
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Sarah’s Circumnavigator - 2022 to 2025 - complete
I am surprised reviewing this year’s books to date, how many either have no country (science fiction) or are repeat countries - will have to be a bit more thoughtful!
I read They Came to Baghdad just last week. It's a different kind of Agatha Christie.I've been circumnavigating for years and find that it gets harder and harder to find books for missing countries, but the search is fun.
I read lots of science fiction too, so I know what you mean.
Rosemarie wrote: "I read They Came to Baghdad just last week. It's a different kind of Agatha Christie.I've been circumnavigating for years and find that it gets harder and harder to find books for missing countri..."
I can imagine it getting harder - easy at the moment by paying some attention but can foresee it being a challenge between what I want to read and finding missing countries. It’s a fun way of thinking about books though.
It is, and I've read some wonderful books that way.
Asia - Uzbekistan - Through Khiva to Golden Samarkand (Ella Christie)
Asia - Singapore - Crazy Rich Asians Kevin Kwan
This did double service - working for circumnavigation and also for a library 2023 reading challenge - which is helping me read things I wouldn’t normally. This ticks the box for “book of a film’ and was ideal plane reading - easy and fun, in an eye popping way!
Europe - Estonia - The Ropewalker: Between Three Plagues Volume I- Jann Kross
A historical novel set in Estonia in the 16th century, it tells the story of Balthasar Russow and of Estonia in these years.
Russow wrote a contemporary Chronicle of Livonia, at a time when the country was ruled by a German Order of Knights and fought over by Sweden, Denmark and Russia.
The novel tells some of this history and explores the tensions between the local peasants, locals in the town and German settlers and merchants who are in power.
It’s interesting and sometimes gripping. The descriptions of Tallinn conjure it up, they’re so vivid. A sequence crossing the ice to Helsinki is a real page turner.
A very interesting read.
Europe - Czechia - Prague Spring - Simon Mawer
The book is partially set in Prague in the build up to the Soviet repression in 1968 and partially follows two student hitchhikers across Europe as they travel unknowingly towards Prague. The Prague sections are more successful, it’s an uneven book but a page turner and worth a read.
Europe - Denmark - We, the Drowned - Carsten Jensen
Epic novel about Danish seafarers from one small town and their stories. Set over a hundred years, from the middle of the 19th century to the end of the Second World War. Its heart is Danish but there are journeys across the Pacific and the Atlantic too. I really enjoyed it.
Europe - Belgium - The Burgundians: A Vanished Empire - Bart Van Loos
I was very interested to read this, as it’s a part of history that I knew a tiny amount about and was interested in. I heard the author on a history podcast and was really keen to read the book.
Sadly, I found it a very difficult book to read. It is written in a very odd style, which I think must reflect the original and not be a product of the translation. It is trying to be modern in style, yet serious history and comprehensive in covering not only rulers and politics but religion and art. The style is often awkward and the book bounces from topic to topic, which can be quite confusing. It is a very interesting period and I persevered to the end but it has been very hard work!
Europe - The Netherlands - The Black Tulip - Alexander Dumas
Some gripping scenes, particularly at the beginning, but otherwise a bit melodramatic and saccharine.
Europe - Sweden - Anxious People - Fredrik Backman
I love his books - they’re so easy to read and seem lightweight and funny, but within that they are books about human nature and trying to be the best people we can be, to care for each other and be hopeful.
Around the World in 80 Books
Books mentioned in this topic
The Storyteller's Death (other topics)The Radetzky March (other topics)
The Radetzky March (other topics)
Icebreaker: A Voyage Far North (other topics)
Enter Ghost (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Ann Dávila Cardinal (other topics)Joseph Roth (other topics)
Horatio Clare (other topics)
Isabella Hammad (other topics)
John Sweeney (other topics)
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Africa - Algeria, Congo (Zaire), Egypt, Liberia, Morocco, South Africa, St Helena, Tanzania
Americas - Argentina, Bahamas, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Falkland Islands, Guiana, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Trinidad & Tobago, USA x 2
Antartica - South Georgia
Asia - Afghanistan, Borneo, Burma, China, Hong Kong, Japan, India, Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Pakistan, Singapore, Tajikistan, Tibet, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan. Vietnam
Europe - Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, England, Estonia, France, Finland, Germany, Georgia, Gibraltar, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Northern Ireland, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Scotland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, Wales
Middle East - Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Turkey
Oceania - Australia, New Zealand, Tahiti
Note: I’m going to note new countries and territories here as I encounter them
Circumnavigation Extra Total - 1
Americas - Puerto Rico