Around the World discussion

I have revamped my list so that they are in alphabetical order. Books that I need to acquire are indicated by an asterisk. Where possible, I have selected from the books I already own.


1. Antarctica - Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage
2. Australia - A Town Like Alice
3. Austria - The Bells
4. Bosnia - People of the Book
5. Brazil - State of Wonder
6. Cambodia - The Rent Collector
7. Canada - Any Known Blood
8. Chile - The House of the Spirits
9. China - Dragon Seed
10. Denmark - The Keeper of Lost Causes
11. Easter Island - The Statues that Walked: Unraveling the Mystery of Easter Island
12. Egypt - Crocodile on the Sandbank
13. England - The House at Sea's End
14. Ethiopia - Cutting for Stone
15. Fiji - Fiji: A Novel
16. France - The Last Nude
17. Germany - The Book Thief
18. Greece - The Angry Hills
19. Guatemala - Red Glass
20. Guernsey - The Book of Ebenezer le Page
21. Holland - Lust for Life
22. Iceland - Burial Rites
23. India - The Sandalwood Tree
24. Indonesia - The Persimmon Tree
25. Iran - The Blood of Flowers
26. Ireland - Haunted Ground
27. Israel - The Dovekeepers
28. Italy - The Glassblower of Murano
29. Jamaica - Pirate Latitudes
30. Japan - A Pale View of Hills
31. Kenya - The Dig
32. Korea - The Calligrapher's Daughter
33. Mexico - Like Water for Chocolate
34. New Guinea - Lost in Shangri-la
35. New Zealand - The Bone People
36. Norway - The Snowman
37. Pitcairn Islands - Pitcairn's Island
38. Prague - The God Complex
39. Russia - Dancer
40. Rwanda - Baking Cakes in Kigali
41. Scotland - The Stonor Eagles
42. South Africa - Dancing in the Shadows of Love
43. Spain - The Camino
44. Sweden - Yes, Chef: A Memoir
45. Switzerland - Frankenstein
46. Syria - The Sandcastle Girls
47. Thailand - The Orchid House
48. Turkey - The Oracle of Stamboul
49. United States - 11/22/63
50. Vanuatu - Fishing for Stars
51. Vietnam - Matterhorn: A Novel of the Vietnam War
52. Zimbabwa - The Summoner

Janice, nice list. I am going to add a few as alternatives on my own list - if I get sick of reading all my DTB! Thank you.

Judy wrote: "Janice and Gaeta, you're in for a treat with Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage."

One of my friends has read it and highly recommended it which is why I put it on my wishlist.

Ok. Done. I have listed 52 books that I want to read. I've organized it into three groups to keep me from buying something I already have. Now, to add them all to a shelf.

Janice, nice list. I borrowed a couple of your books. Thank you.

Anne wrote: "Janice, nice list. I borrowed a couple of your books. Thank you."

Which two? Just so you know, I like people to return books they borrow from me. :)

Janice wrote: "Anne wrote: "Janice, nice list. I borrowed a couple of your books. Thank you."

Which two? Just so you know, I like people to return books they borrow from me. :)"

Ha Ha. I borrowed The Invisible Mountain and Baking Cakes In Kigali. I'll return them as soon as I'm finished with them. :)

Oh, you guys, I think you will enjoy The Invisible Mountain. It is told in different sections for different characters. Usually you will like one or two of them more than another. Be patient if you get to a section that is not as much to your liking.

Chrissie wrote: "Oh, you guys, I think you will enjoy The Invisible Mountain. It is told in different sections for different characters. Usually you will like one or two of them more than another. Be..."

Thanks for letting us know about The Invisible Mountain, Chrissie. I'm reading one like that now and the POV changes with every chapter.

Here it is women from different generations. You are sure to like some more than others. The funny thing is that several friends who have read this book do not agree on which are the interesting protagonists. This all depends on your own preferences.

The book sounds all the more intriguing, Chrissie.

Chrissie wrote: "Here it is women from different generations. You are sure to like some more than others. The funny thing is that several friends who have read this book do not agree on which are the interesting pr..."

That does sound interesting, that different people prefer different protagonist. Now I'm even more interested in reading the book.

I keep telling you a little bit more. Here is my spoiler free review which gives a more coherent picture: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

The Red Tent is one of my favorite books. The Windup Girl starts slow but if you hang on to page 100, it is worth it. I know that sounds like a long time to wait, but I thought it was worth it. (Nice to see a little science fiction on your list!)

Judy wrote: "The House of the Spirits is on several people's list - we ought to all read it together."
That's a great idea.

Judy wrote: "The House of the Spirits is on several people's list - we ought to all read it together."

I also think it's a great idea.

You guys, The House of the Spirits I s my top favorite book by Allednde. when I think of good magical realism, it is that which you find in theis book. Wait till you meet the grandmother!

I wish I had this before me to read!

Judy wrote: "Cool beans! Aw, that's getting kind of old, I'll have to think up another expression. D)"

I love "cool beans."

"hopping hot peppers" - that's a new one.

Apologies to Janice.

Judy, nope The House of the Spiritsis not available on Kindle, but thanks for the invite!

I am such a chicken...... what if when I reead it again I would like it less? I remember it as being so wonderful, but it was a good twenty years ago that I read it. I cannot believe it. Twenty years. I HOPE it is as good as I remember. I hope you will all love it as I did.

Judy, I reread, which I nver do, To Kill a Mockingbird, last summer. I abslutely adored it. I think I loved it more than the first time I read it, about 50 years ago. I appreciated it much, much more. What a book. My review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Then we talked about it, friends of mine that had read it years ago! Now that is a book that absolutely must be read. It can even be reread.

Judy, the first time I read it I saw it from the angle of racial prejudices in the South. this time when I read it it was about love in all its different forms. Yes, Atticus loved his children, but there were so many other love relationships even more beutifully depicted - that between Scout and Dill, between brother and sister and between the members of the small town. It is all the diverse relationships in the town that are so fascinating! . People are saying The Dry Grass of August could be worth a read too. I am not sure. In my view nothing could stand up to the former, but it could be worth reading. Maybe!

I read The Windup Girl as an audiobook while I was in SE Asia. It has its problems, but there's really not a lot of SF based in that region and I've liked Bacigalupi's world-building.

I added The Bells (Austria) (Switzerland?) TBR bookshelf. Every time I open this thread, the first title on Janice's list brings to mind Village Bells about bell-ringing in France.

Looks like I almost missed the party! LOL!

I started listening to The House of the Spirits on audiobook, but had trouble following it. I still think the book sounds interesting and I want to read it in book format. Some books don't translate well to audio.

Cool beans are fine with me, though I prefer hot beans with weiners and toast. (Just kidding. I know you are referring to the expression.)

I like a several different genres and I tried to get a good mix on my list.

Asmah wrote: "I added The Bells (Austria) (Switzerland?) TBR bookshelf. Every time I open this thread, the first title on Janice's list brings to mind Village Bells about bell-ringi..."

You could use it for either Austria or Switzerland since the book covers the protagonist's journey from the Swiss Alps to Vienna.

in addition to cool beans, hopping hot peppers, and hot beans/weiners/toast are fruity froot loops; macadamia surprise; super surprise sundae D)

Asmah and Janice, I have asked one of my GR friends where the book predominantly takes place. She has read it and highly recommended it. This is one of the books I defintiely will read.

Chrissie wrote: "Asmah and Janice, I have asked one of my GR friends where the book predominantly takes place. She has read it and highly recommended it. This is one of the books I defintiely will read."

I can just as easily switch the designation to Switzerland since I don't have a book for that country. But I will wait to hear what your friend has to say.

Judy wrote: "Just looked at the reviews for The Dry Grass of August and yes, that does look worth a read. But like you said, Chrissie, I can't imagine it being the next [book:To Kill a Mockingbi..."

I agree that Dry Grass of August looks great and want to read it.

For a second there, I thought Dem had joined us here, but you were just referring to her.

Judy wrote: "Just looked at the reviews for The Dry Grass of August and yes, that does look worth a read. But like you said, Chrissie, I can't imagine it being the next [book:To Kill a Mockingbi..."

Yes, I saw that. She is my friend too.

Janice wrote: "Judy wrote: "Just looked at the reviews for The Dry Grass of August and yes, that does look worth a read. But like you said, Chrissie, I can't imagine it being the next [book:To Kil..."

I sill let you know.

Hmmm... I just won a giveaway, The Oracle of Stamboul. I might have to swap out something and fit this one in. *putting thinking cap on*

Janice wrote: "Hmmm... I just won a giveaway, The Oracle of Stamboul. I might have to swap out something and fit this one in. *putting thinking cap on*"

Congratulations Janice. Looks like a nice book.

I had forgotten that I had even put in for this book. Since I will have it in my possession, it's one less book that I will have to obtain.

I think this is the second time I've put in for that book and just got lucky the second time around.

Janice, I hope you like it! I haven't quite decided about that book. It will be good to know what you think of it! I think I will sample it.I have heard both rave and negative reviews, I simply do not know what to think.

It appears that the alternates are starting to present themselves. I've added Ocean Devil: The Life and Legend of George Hogg to my list. My dad was telling me about the 2008 movie, "The Children of Huang Shi" and I searched out the book that it was based on.

Janice, what a great book! I have to read it.

Which book?

Anne wrote: "Which book?"

Ocean Devil: The Life and Legend of George Hogg

Thank you, Janice.

Yes, there is a movie called "The Children of the Huang Shi" starring Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Yun-Fat Chow (loved him in Anna and the King).

My dad was telling me about this movie the other day and how much he enjoyed it. I figured there must be a book about it since it is a true story so I hunted it down.

I think it went under another name as well - the children of the silk road or something like that.

I received the firstreads I won for The Oracle of Stamboul today and have added it to my list. I had identified a book for Turkey already on my list, Sanctus.

One of my rules is that I won't purchase a book for a country if I already own one. My goal is to decrease my TBR instead of increasing it.

I still want to read Sanctus, so will leave it on my wishlist... maybe for 2013.

I am really far behind in reading all the comments in our group.

Reading and coming on to Goodreads is one of the ways I unwind.

Jenny, I have been remiss in telling you about my changes! I'm not sure I even remember them.

Egypt will now be Crocodile on the Sandbank
China is now Ocean Devil: The Life and Legend of George Hogg
Belgium has been deleted Maigret at the Gai-Moulin

These books have been added as alternates:
Netherlands - Girl with a Pearl Earring
Spain - Incantation
Spain - The Painter of Battles: A Novel
Mexico - The Falling Woman

Janice - I added your titles... I keep even those people delete in case they can serve as a resource for others building their lists.

Judy wrote: "Jan, you have to let me know about the Ocean Devil: The Life and Legend of George Hogg book......"

Will do. :)

I swapped out another book. For Scotland, I will be reading The Stonor Eagles. I own this book (for too many years to count) and didn't realize it was set in Scotland.