Around the World in 80 Books discussion

Regions: 9
Countries: 21

Africa:
Algeria - The Stranger by Albert Camus
Nigeria - Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
Rwanda - A Sunday at the Pool in Kigali by Gil Courtemanche
Antarctica:
Penguin Life by Andy Rouse
Asia:
India - Life of Pi by Yann Martel
Taiwan - The Foreigner by Francie Lin
Caribbean:
Cuba - The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway
Europe:
Croatia - The Tiger's Wife by Téa Obreht
England - The Time Traveler's Guide to Medieval England by Ian Mortimer
France - The Most Beautiful Walk in the World: A Pedestrian in Paris by John Baxter
Ireland - The Pig Did It by Joseph Caldwell
Italy - The Undrowned Child by Michelle Lovric
Spain - Sharpe's Eagle by Bernard Cornwell
Sweden - The Princess of Burundi by Kjell Eriksson
Latin America:
Falkland Islands - Falklands Gambit by Bob Langley
Guyana - Wild Coast by John Gimlette
Middle East:
Israel - Where the Jackals Howl by Amos Oz
Pakistan - Shabanu by Suzanne Fisher Staples
North America:
Canada - The Last Wild Wolves by Ian McAllister
United States - Shanty Irish by Jim Tully
Oceania:
Australia - Sleeping Dogs by Sonya Harnett

1. North America: United States - Shanty Irish by Jim Tully



This is a memoir of the author's childhood in St. Mary's, Ohio, in the late 19th century. I'm starting off in my home state as well as country.

2. Europe: Italy - The Undrowned Child by Michelle Lovric



YA fantasy with a delicious setting... Venice in 1899, full of ghosts and mermaids.

3. Asia: Taiwan - The Foreigner: A Novel by Francie Lin



I was dubious after the first chapter, but this book really pulled me in. I stayed up late, completely riveted, to finish the last hundred pages.

4. Europe: England - The Time Traveler's Guide to Medieval England: A Handbook for Visitors to the Fourteenth Century by Ian Mortimer



I'm high on fascinating historical detail.

5. Europe: Spain - Sharpe's Eagle by Bernard Cornwell



This started out in Abrantes, Portugal and ended up at the Battle of Talavera (1809) in Spain. We'll go with Spain since that's where all the action led to. I'd been wanting to read one of these, and started here because it was the first published, though it falls in the middle of the series chronologically. What a dilemma. Anyway, it was great. I'll skip back six years to the beginning for the next one I read.

6. North America: Canada - The Last Wild Wolves: Ghosts of the Rain Forest by Ian McAllister



About coastal wolves in British Colombia, in the temperate rain forest - they're so beautiful and unique.

7. Latin America: Falkland Islands - Falklands Gambit by Bob Langley


An 80's political thriller in the days leading up to the Falklands War. The suspense was well done, but I kept getting irritated with the main character.

8. Latin America: Guyana - Wild Coast: Travels on South America's Untamed Edge by John Gimlette



Slightly more than half the book takes place in Guyana, with the rest in Suriname and French Guiana. I've never read much about these countries, and was so fascinated I could hardly put it down. This guy's a very intrepid traveler. He goes places and talks to folks that would probably make most others fairly nervous. I even loved the history lessons.

9. Caribbean: Cuba - The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway




I have to admit I enjoyed it more in an intellectual than an aesthetic sense; but I did enjoy it.

10. Europe: Ireland - The Pig Did It by Joseph Caldwell




A modern entry in the tradition of Irish comic novels. It was ridiculous and I really enjoyed it.

update: 10 countries, 5 regions

11. Europe: Croatia - The Tiger's Wife by Téa Obreht




I am so impressed with the group reads being chosen here. Again, a book that I absolutely loved - it left me feeling moved and very satisfied.

12. Middle East: Israel - Where the Jackals Howl by Amos Oz

13. Africa: Rwanda - A Sunday at the Pool in Kigali by Gil Courtemanche

14. Antarctica - Penguin Life: Surviving With Style In The South Atlantic by Andy Rouse




I'm in love with this photographer's work. These great pics and their captions taught me a lot about penguin behavior. Great website too, and I need to find his other books.

15. Oceania: Australia - Sleeping Dogs by Sonya Harnett




This was a nasty little book for a YA novel, but it was really good. I'll be reading more of Hartnett's stories. The jacket talked about Faulkner, which made me laugh at first, but I have to admit the tone invites that comparison.

update: 15 countries, 9 regions

16. Europe: Sweden - The Princess of Burundi by Kjell Eriksson




Part of the reason I liked this book was simply because it was Swedish, and I didn't know what they were talking about sometimes. The part about dressing up as a wolf cub at Easter threw me for a loop, until I figured out they were probably talking about Boy Scouts. (sigh) But the characters also drink rhubarb juice, and reference an apparently common folktale about "the needle that becomes a bowl of silver". I need more info on this.

Oh, and the mystery was pretty good too. The pacing was rather introspective, and there are LOTS of character points of view, but that was okay because they were all interesting. It bugs me, though, that they didn't start translating at the beginning of this series! I think this was #5, and I kept feeling like I should already know everyone.

17. Africa: Nigeria - Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe



I wasn't surprised at how fascinating this book was, but how much I enjoyed reading it. I think reading more world literature is helping me detach from the simple question of whether or not I "like" a character or "approve" of what happens in the story; instead I'm loving the story itself on a different level. Pretty neat.

18. Middle East: Pakistan - Shabanu: Daughter of the Wind by Suzanne Fisher Staples

19. Africa: Algeria - The Stranger by Albert Camus

20. Asia: India - Life of Pi by Yann Martel

Always wanted to read The Stranger by Alber Camus.

Hattie - that's the first book I've read by him and it was really interesting. I recommend it.

21. Europe: France - The Most Beautiful Walk in the World: A Pedestrian in Paris by John Baxter