Around the World discussion

Here is the books I own and want (hooooope) to read in 2012 , some I already started reading and did not have a chance to finish (I am a slow reader) :(


Egypt
The Harafish
No One Sleeps in Alexandria done


England/ Egypt :

USA/Egypt : Man in the White Sharkskin Suit: My Family's Exodus from Old Cairo to the New World


Ireland
The Picture of Dorian Gray

England/Japan: A Pale View of Hills done

Japan
Botchan: A Modern Classic done
The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle

USA/Japan : Memoirs of a Geisha

USA
The Catcher in the Rye
Loving Frank

Russia
Crime and Punishment

Colombia
Love in the Time of Cholera done

Peru
The Bad Girl done

Brazil
The Witch of Portobello

South Africa
Agaat - did not finish

India
Midnight's Children
The God of Small Things

Canada
Life of Pi

Turkey
My Name is Red ....read most of it / on hold

Iran
Reading Lolita in Tehran

KSA
The Belt
Girls of Riyadh

ٍSomalia
Desert Dawn

Iraq
An Iraqi in Paris: An Autobiographical Novel

Libya
In the Country of Men

Morocco
Dreams of Trespass: Tales of a Harem Girlhood

Palestine
Palestinian Walks: Forays into a Vanishing Landscape

Israel
A Tale of Love and Darkness

The Other Side of Israel: My Journey Across the Jewish/Arab Divide

China
Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China


Afghanistan

Swallows of Kabul
A Thousand Splendid Suns done

Congo
The Poisonwood Bible

Nigeria
Things Fall Apart

******
Schedule (reading with groups reminder)

January : Aggat

February : The bad girl
The Poisonwood Bible

March : Botchan: A Modern Classic
My name is Red
The wild swans
Girls of Riyadh

April : the Harafish
Palestinian Walks

May : The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle

********




New edit /may be/ need to buy:

Ethiopia
Beneath the Lion's Gaze

Sudan
Lyrics Alley

Iraq
The Last Of The Angels: A Modern Iraqi Novel

Iran
The Septembers of Shiraz

Chile

The House of the Spirits

Nice list, ND. Now we can all start checking out the books on your list which we don't already know. I'm sure that Judy has started to drool already.

Mario Vargas Llosa's humorous novels are well worth the reading!! His novels differ greatly: The Bad Girl is a favorite.

Thanks Anne :)

Asmah , that will be my first for Mario Vargas Llosa , glad to hear this about "The Bad Girl " :D

Asmah wrote: "Mario Vargas Llosa's humorous novels are well worth the reading!! His novels differ greatly: The Bad Girl is a favorite."

I'm also glad to hear this. I just read your very nice review, Asmah. It sounds like a fun book.

Anne wrote: I'm also glad to hear this. I just read your very nice revi..."

Vargas Llosa's contrasting characters doing unconventional things is a reason why his storytelling succeeds.

Asmah wrote: "Anne wrote: I'm also glad to hear this. I just read your very nice revi..."

Vargas Llosa's contrasting characters doing unconventional things is a reason why his storytelling succeeds."

Is this one of his better humorous novels?

I like The Bad Girl. It reads like a post-modern work because the woman continuously changes her character and location.

Asmah wrote: "I like The Bad Girl. It reads like a post-modern work because the woman continuously changes her character and location."

I was hoping you would say that. I very much like the idea of the novel. Your review convinced me that it was a must read.

The group exists - Great African Reads is reading it in January I think. Marieke? Muphyn?

Geez Judy, you are a foodie.

I'm pretty sure that's where the idea came from. We'll have to wait for M&M to get back to us (not the candy, Judy).

You're right about that.

ND, I have The Alexandria Quartet as one of my choices for Egypt. It's four separate books. Were you thinking of reading all four? I haven't decided.

ND, several of us will be reading Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China by Jung Chang in March, I think, with Asmah's Imprinted Life Group. Please join us if you haven't already read it and have the time.

I believe we will be reading "Agaat" on January in Goodreads Africa group as Anne said .


Anne wrote: "ND, I have The Alexandria Quartet as one of my choices for Egypt. It's four separate books. Were you thinking of reading all four? I haven't decided."

I have the four of them in one , I do not know if I will read them as one shot or not , it depends on how I will react to the first volume .and I need to finish "No one sleeps in Alexandria" first , what do you have in mind ?


Anne wrote: "ND, several of us will be reading Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China by Jung Chang in March, I think, with Asmah's Imprinted Life Group. Please join us if you haven't a..."

I have "Wild Swans" on my to read list but I do not have the book , I will check if I can get it , then sure I would love to join you :)

I am glad you will read "The bad girl" , we can arrange for something too :D

*****
Judy , You are so funny and sweet ;) :D !

The Harafish is one of Mahfouz's master pieces , some say it is a must read after the revolution , so I want to know why !

ND, I too am tantalized by The Bad Girl. I was intrigued by the sample. I do believe I must add this.This draws me much more than the one I had originally for Peru! I am guess there is more than just humor lurking behind the lines.

And now I will test Dreams of Trespass: Tales of a Harem Girlhood

Asmah, thanks for your review of "Bad Girl". I sent you some question at your review.

Nile daughter, like you, I thought of reading the first book and then deciding on continuing with the rest. I also have all four books.

Yes, Bad Girl sounds great. We can try to read it together.

Hope you can get a copy of Wild Swans.

I really loved Wild Swans. I hope all of you do too.
Count me in on the Bad Girl!

Great picks! I have added them to the master list.

Jenny wrote: "Great picks! I have added them to the master list."

Jenny, you are great. I feel like you are our group secretary, keeping everything organized for us on the Master list. Thank you so much.

Anne wrote: "ND, several of us will be reading Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China by Jung Chang in March, I think, with Asmah's Imprinted Life Group. Please join us if you haven't a..."

Anne, yes, everyone is invited to read Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China. The Imprinted Life scheduled it.

Judy wrote: "Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China is the 3/15/12 to 4/15/12 monthly read for the Imprinted Life group. Nd, do you belong to that group. Our own beloved Asmah is the moderator..."

Judy, you are a darling!

Interesting list Nile Daughter. I'm going to check into The Harafish too. It sounds interesting. Of course I still haven't read Zaat (Modern Arabic Writing).

I'm going to have to come back and look at some of the other titles on your list too. I just checked and my library system has Palestinian Walks: Forays into a Vanishing Landscape which I really would like to read.

Chelsea wrote: "ND, you have a great list, thanks for posting. You have a some titles that I must have! Thanks."

Thanks Chelsea !

Jenny wrote: "Great picks! I have added them to the master list."

That is huge work to do ! :)

Anne and Chrissie , I will very happy to read "The bad girl" with you , not sure but I believe Malieke wanted to read it too , can we set a date ?

Chrissie, for " Dreams of Trespass " I though of reading any of Fatema Mernissi 's social books that I find her field as an Islamic feminist to be very interesting , but I preferred to start with her memoir as a background .

Judy ,
I am not a member in " Imprinted Life group" yet , but it seems very tempting to join :D (Thanks Asmah for the invitation) , I will see what I can do about having a copy of "The wild swans " before March .

Sue ,
I have high expectations for "The Harafish" , I wanted to read it last month with "Naguib Mahfouz RC" group , but did not have time , I read encouraging comments there.

I am waiting to hear your opinion about "Zaat" , BTW ; I recommend it to anyone who wants to know what was happening in Egypt in the last 30 years , I loved it .

For "Palestinian walks" , it is a small book and Marieke recommended to me , so I guess we can arrange to discuss it in ME group at some point .

ND, I can read "Bad Girl" any time. It is just to pick a date, what about the beginning of February? If this is not good for others just tell me when is better.

I really have not made up my mind about "Dreams of Trespass"? this is the one I would prefer by the author. On the other hand, there are some wicked reviews out there. Can we wait with this?!

ND, of course Marieke should read The Bad Girl with us. The more the merrier.

Also, several of us will be reading Zaat with the Good African Reads group (I'm not sure if we're reading it with the group or at the same time). Sue? Anyone?

Chrissie ,ok ....February as a begining , Anne ? I will check with Marieke too .

For "Dreams of Trespass", ok ...It is not a problem :)

Anne , if you started discussing (Zaat) , I would love to follow that descussion :)

ND,
I made a mistake. It's not Zaat that we're reading with GARs. It's Agaat by Marlene Van Niekerk. That's what happens when I answer emails in the middle of the night. Sorry about that.

ND, I don't mean no about Dreams of Trespass. I just cannot make up my mind...... I will let you know later if I decide to read it. You know the ending according to most reviews is not that hot. If I had a library, I wouldn't be so picky. Please forgive me for my indecision.

Maybe we should have folders for the group reads so that everyone is aware of the books that people are going to read together and when. That way, it will be easier for people to learn of them and perhaps join in.

Ah - I'll just go ahead and make the folders.

Janice wrote: "Maybe we should have folders for the group reads so that everyone is aware of the books that people are going to read together and when. That way, it will be easier for people to learn of them and..."

Janice that is a super idea.

Thank you, Janice. Great idea.

It's done! I started two topics - Agaat and The Bad Girls.

Should there be a folder for Wild Swans too?

I think this idea is really helpful. Thanks.

Janice wrote: "It's done! I started two topics - Agaat and The Bad Girls."

Thanks !

Chrissie wrote: "ND, I don't mean no about Dreams of Trespass. I just cannot make up my mind...... I will let you know later if I decide to read it. You know the ending according to most reviews is not that hot. If..."

Sure , I undersatnd , I do the same thing :)

Anne wrote: "ND,
I made a mistake. It's not Zaat that we're reading with GARs. It's Agaat by Marlene Van Niekerk. That's what happens when I answer emails in the middle of t..."

It is ok , it happens :D

Sue and Judy would you like to read the Harafish at a certain time ?

I have no particular time in mind, just not the same time as Agaat probably.

45 messages already?! i haven't caught up, but i like your list ND. not just the books themselves, but the aesthetics....pretty... :D

Judy wrote: "Nile daughter wrote: "Sue and Judy would you like to read the Harafish at a certain time ?"

You bet. Any month but January would work for me."

Sounds good to me

Marieke wrote: "45 messages already?! i haven't caught up, but i like your list ND. not just the books themselves, but the aesthetics....pretty... :D"

Thanks :)
would you like to read The Bad Girl with Anne , Chrissie and me , say in February?


Sue wrote: "I have no particular time in mind, just not the same time as Agaat probably."

Judy wrote: "You bet. Any month but January would work for me.

If :
January : Aggat
February : The bad girl (may be)
March : The wild swans

then ...April : the Harafish ?

Judy wrote: "Weren't we going to read Agaat with GAR?"

yes! there will definitely be a discussion over there. :D

Nile daughter wrote: "Marieke wrote: "45 messages already?! i haven't caught up, but i like your list ND. not just the books themselves, but the aesthetics....pretty... :D"

Thanks :)
would you like to read [book:Th..."

April sounds good to me for Harafish. I'm sure we work out more specifics re: dat4e later. I'll be in the January and March reads too.

I think I'll be joining you for Harafish.

Excellent group forming.

Sue wrote: "Excellent group forming."

Harafish sounds great. I don't know how I missed it when I was recently looking for another Mahfouz book. It sounds closest to the Cairo trilogy which I loved.

Hello all ,
Great.... Harafish in April :D

Anne wrote: "I think I'll be joining you for Harafish."

Happy to know that :)

Sounds great.

I'm enjoying using the Firefox reminders. I have put all the books in as well as some appointments and other things and they pop up on my computer screen a few days beforehand. Ah technology. And I use a pen and paper one toom but I haven't got one for 2012 yet.

Sue wrote: "I'm enjoying using the Firefox reminders. I have put all the books in as well as some appointments and other things and they pop up on my computer screen a few days beforehand. Ah technology. And I..."

I need to find out more about "Firefox reminders" , I am still using "Internet Explorer" any way , is there such option in it ?

Nile daughter wrote: "Sue wrote: "I'm enjoying using the Firefox reminders. I have put all the books in as well as some appointments and other things and they pop up on my computer screen a few days beforehand. Ah techn..."

I don't know if I.E. has the same sort of thing but they may. I use Mozilla Firefox as my browser so that's why I have access to this particular Add-on.

Judy wrote: "Sue wrote: "I'm enjoying using the Firefox reminders. I have put all the books in as well as some appointments and other things and they pop up on my computer screen a few days beforehand. Ah techn..."

Could be, Judy. I never used to use things like this but decided to give it a try. What I have is a Firefox Add-on. It pops up everytime I'm online with updates for the following couple of days.

Ummm... Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace ... One School at a Time should be USA-Pakistan. Its based on writer's work in Northern Pakistan