Around the World discussion

While we're at it, I'd like a recommendation for an account of the Highland Clearances. Thanks.

I'm looking for a book that's a huge fantastical adventure with an extreme plot line that will always keep me guessing and action is a MUST. There is a twist though... I want it to be either a historical fiction or a memoir.

I'm also looking for a really good story on the holocaust. I've read many books on the subject but I would like more. ^^

A humorous book would be nice too.

The county doesn't matter as long as I haven't already posted a book from that country.

Ash 魂 wrote: "I'm looking for a book that's a huge fantastical adventure with an extreme plot line that will always keep me guessing and action is a MUST. There is a twist though... I want it to be either a historical fiction or a memoir."
I wonder if The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova would qualify? I felt like it got a little slow in the middle, but it reads like a mixture of memoir and adventure, about the historical dracula, with family letters and everything mixed in.

Judy, do you think Ash would like Dumas? You've read him; I haven't. He wants adventure and fast pace? What do you think?

Sho wrote: "While we're at it, I'd like a recommendation for an account of the Highland Clearances. Thanks."

[Book:The Highland Clearances|578885] by John Prebble is a historic account of the period, often used as a school/university text, but reads like a (very dense) novel.

[Book:Butcher's Broom|1197724] and [Book:The Silver Darlings|469215] by Neil M. Gunn are novels set in communities disrupted and fragmented by the clearances. Most people moved off their land were pushed to the fringes of the coast and had to turn their hand to fishing, coinciding with the Scottish herring boom.

Also [Book:Consider the Lilies|37134] by Iain Crichton-Smith is the story of a old woman moved from her land, told in flashbacks, and considered to be a classic. [Book:The Book of Secrets|1632396] by Fiona Kidman follows a group of the disposessed highlanders that emigrate, first to Nova Scotia then finally to New Zaealand.

@Judy RE The Alamo. Supposedly, A Time to Stand is the best narrative.

Ash 魂 wrote: "I'm looking for a book that's a huge fantastical adventure with an extreme plot line that will always keep me guessing and action is a MUST. There is a twist though... I want it to be either a hist..."

The Game of Kings.

Anne wrote: "Judy, do you think Ash would like Dumas? You've read him; I haven't. He wants adventure and fast pace? What do you think?"

Oh wow so many recommendations!! Thank you so much, they all look wonderful!! I shall add them to my list. ^_^ I do have a question though... The Nazi Officer's Wife: How One Jewish Woman Survived the Holocaust looks fantastic and I would like to read it but first I need to know whether it has vivid scenes in it or not...

Ah.. So funny though, every where I go people assume I'm a guy... I know my taste in literature suggests so, but I am very much a girl. I promise. ;) Lol, one time I had a rainbow flower as my picture and someone still assumed I was a guy... I need to put my actual picture up... Sigh...

Ash: "Ah.. So funny though, every where I go people assume I'm a guy... I know my taste in literature suggests so, but I am very much a girl. I promise. ;) Lol, one time I had a rainbow flower as my picture and someone still assumed I was a guy... I need to put my actual picture up... Sigh... "

Sorry about that Ash.

Re: The Nazi Officer's Wife, it could have vivid scenes in it. It's been a while since I read it, so I don't remember the actual scenes. Maybe someone else has read it more recently?

Judy, I think Ash is wondering about sexual content.

Nothing descriptive? Okay then I'll give it try!! :D Thank you so much!

I found a book in the library called [Book:Reading on Location|7272943], which has reading suggestions for different countries. Seems interesting so far, will see what it recommends.

Barry wrote: "anyone know of any novelists from Afghanistan? i'd rather not read memoir/nonfict or recent war stuff (late 70s/80s Soviet stuff may be okay since it's not as overexposed anymore)

thanks, all!"
How about:
The Foundation Pit, Andrei Platonov
Moscow 2042, Vladimir Voinovich

Have you already read Hosseini? He really is from there, and although A Thousand Splendid Suns includes the recent stuff it also goes back to the Soviet occupation.

Barry,
check out this list. http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/31...

I thought you were also looking for Russian writers. Oh well. Enjoy TSS.

Afghan novelists - tough one. There are probably others in this group with just the right book for you, unless you're settled on TSS.

One more try:
Earth and Ashes, Atiq Rahimi

Sounds like a memoir, but it's a novella.

Ha, glad you figured it out. I was looking at the master list on my iPad and had zoomed in on The Patience Stone too. Funny....

Glad you found just the thing! Knew something just right had to be out there. Now you have a prefect itinerary. Don't forget to send postcards.

Barry wrote: "The only question, of course, was who to address them to

...and then my wife put on Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants...

Dear Gossip Girl, Rory Gilmore, Joan of Arcadia and Ugly Betty,

Germany w..."

Perfect!

Read the thread: http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/6...

Don't you mean, too silly?

Barry: "haha, not at all! there's never anything "too silly" in my opinion"

I knew there was a reason I liked you, Barry. D))

I just finished a book that I would recommend be added for Italy. The Conformist was an excellent study in the ramifications of fascism on the human psyche -- as well as a well written (well translated? i read in english) analysis of the nihilist position on life... not a happy read by any means, but definitely worth the time... also was thinking of another italian book i read -- much lighter, about misfits finding friendship and love with one another in the world -- called The Solitude of Prime Numbers that i don't think is on the list for italy yet... happy sunday!

Kris, would you like to make the recommendations yourself in the Italy folder? Then you can say exactly what you said here about each book. Your thoughts will be lost on this thread.

perfect -- will cut and paste there -- thanks!

I have 28 books on my list so far and am painstakingly working my way through the Group Lists looking for inspiration.
I am looking for more light hearted reading matter - thrillers, crime, historical fiction, even some humour! A lot of the books I've looked at so far sound far too grim for me to enjoy so can anyone help me?
Countries I would like to "visit" are Canada, New Zealand, Africa, Middle East and Far East but any suggestions at all would be very very welcome.

The Sex Lives of Cannibals: Adrift in the Equatorial Pacific

Getting Stoned with Savages: A Trip Through the Islands of Fiji and Vanuatu

Nicola -- these aren't from your list of named countries, but they are light hearted and fun. Check them out if you are interested. If I think of some others I will let you know.

Nicola wrote: "I have 28 books on my list so far and am painstakingly working my way through the Group Lists looking for inspiration.
I am looking for more light hearted reading matter - thrillers, crime, histori..."

For Israel, look up books by Etgar Keret. Definitely light-hearted.

For Africa, there's The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, Wife of the Gods, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind: Creating Currents of Electricity and Hope, Baking Cakes in Kigali, A Burnt-Out Case by Graham Greene, A Good Man in Africa and Brazzaville Beach by William Boyd.

For Canada, check out Robertson Davies.Fifth Business is excellent and part of The Deptford Trilogy.

Nicola wrote: "I have 28 books on my list so far and am painstakingly working my way through the Group Lists looking for inspiration.
I am looking for more light hearted reading matter - thrillers, crime, histori..."

Three Bags Full is set in Ireland, but it is a light, funny book - inless one is terribly religious!

I have heard great things about the author of The Colour. This takes place in New Zealand and is historical fiction. I have it on my list.

I agree with Anne, Fifth Business is very good. It is part of a trilogy, but this is the best of the three.

Anne wrote: "For Africa, there's The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, Wife of the Gods, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind: Creating Currents of Electricity and Hope, [book:..."

Thanks Anne - have read other William Boyds so will look at those and check out the others too - Africa is such a huge continent to cover!

Anne wrote: "For Canada, check out Robertson Davies.Fifth Business is excellent and part of The Deptford Trilogy."

And thanks for this one - it's going on my list too.

Wendy wrote: "The Sex Lives of Cannibals: Adrift in the Equatorial Pacific

Getting Stoned with Savages: A Trip Through the Islands of Fiji and Vanuatu

Nicola -- these aren't from y..."
Thanks for those Wendy, I've put the first one on my list.

Nicola
You may want to look into more books by Doris Lessing. She lived in Zimbabwe, so her books could be counted for Africa. Some of them take place there: The Grass is Singing,Martha Quest. That is not an exhaustive list. Just a beginning. For mysteries set in Africa, check out Oil on Water: A Novel and Nairobi Heat. The authors of these books wrote other mysteries as well.

Good luck.

Ngaio Marsh was born in New Zealand and a few of her mysteries are set there as well. She is one of the "big three" Golden Age mystery writers, along with Agatha Christie and Dorothy Sayers. Died in the Wool is a good mystery set in New Zealand.

The Flavia de Luce series takes place in England but was written by Canadian Alan Bradley. They are light-hearted mysteries and a heck of a lot of fun. The first in the series is The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie.

Nicola wrote: "I have 28 books on my list so far and am painstakingly working my way through the Group Lists looking for inspiration.
I am looking for more light hearted reading matter - thrillers, crime, histori..."

I have a book by the comedian Craig Ferguson on my list and several international mysteries for lighter reading. I also have two by Rose Tremain as possibles, The Colour and Music and Silence. There's In a Sunburned Country by Bill Bryson as an alternate for Australia, Donna Leon's mysteries for Italy, Mala Nunn's books from South Africa (mystery/crime), and all those Scandanavian authors.

If anyone has read Shantaram, I would like their thoughts. I am slightly put off by its 900-odd pages.

Lesley wrote: "If anyone has read Shantaram, I would like their thoughts. I am slightly put off by its 900-odd pages."

Lesley, this book has been recommended under the India Book Recommendations Maybe you and Starfish could discuss it. Perhaps others will join in and voic their opinions. I haven't read it and would like to hear different points of view.

Lesley wrote: "If anyone has read Shantaram, I would like their thoughts. I am slightly put off by its 900-odd pages."

I really enjoyed it - although I read it while travelling to Mumbai, so that might have coloured my view a little. It was a great 'holiday' read, that seemed to go much more quickly than its size indicated. I particularly liked the main character's interaction with the locals, even if it was a little far fetched at times.

Thank you, Tanya. More! Please, more people voice your opinions! I am all ears.

New Zealand books that I'd recommend to everyone are [Book:The Bone People|1341074] by Keri Hulme, [Book:Once Were Warriors|133496] by Alan Duff, and [Book:The Whale Rider|133497] by Witi Ihimaera. However, the one thing that they are not especially is light-hearted, with the first two in particular being rather brutal reads, with the narrative containing a great deal of violence, including violence against children. But they are both well-written and powerfully constructed, so that it is in no way gratuitous or detracting from the book.

[Book:The Whale Rider|133497] is the story of a girl that is starved of affection from her grandfather for not being born a boy, and how she strives to win his love. One thing that the book features, that was mainly cut from the film, is the comedy of the relationship between the grandfather and grandmother, which lifts the book. It also has an uplifting and redemptive ending which stops it from being as dark as my other recommendations.

Can anyone recommend me some good Canadian books?

Louise wrote: "Can anyone recommend me some good Canadian books?"

Louise, The Bird Artist is good. It is set in Newfoundland. Here is my GR review link: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/....

If you happen to be looking for quirky names - this book is a must read. Of course, it is not just the great names mentioned that push me to mention this book. I liked it better than The Museum Guard.

Fifth Business, the first of the Deptford Trilogy is another Canadian book I gave four stars. This must be a classic!

It is impossible to compare books. Each one is so different. Both of these books are marvellous in their own way.

[Book:The Shipping News|7354] by Annie Prolux is set in Newfoundland, and is a tremendous book. Also Margaret Atwood is a great Canadian writer to look for.

If anoyne needs a short, interesting read I'd recommend
"England" Little Black Book of Stories and "Netherlands or U.S.A." Doctor Olaf van Schuler's Brain

"Little Black Book of Stories" Looks like one I'd be interested in. I loved The Children's Book.

Any suggestions for Somalia?