Around the World in 80 Books discussion

States visited: 15 + DC


Alaska: Tide, Feather, Snow by Miranda Weiss
California: Tales of Pain and Wonder by Caitlín R. Kiernan
Connecticut: The Witch Of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare
Hawaii: Moloka'i by Alan Brennert
Iowa: Christmas in the Midwest by Clarence Andrews
Kansas: Cows Are Freaky When They Look at You: An Oral History of the Kaw Valley Hemp Pickers
Louisiana: Behind the Mask by Metsy Hingle
Massachusetts: The Countryman's Year by David Grayson
Michigan: The House with a Clock in its Walls by John Bellairs
Minnesota: Iron Lake by William Kent Krueger
New Mexico: ...And Now Miguel by Joseph Krumgold
New York: Always Been There: Rosanne Cash, the List, and the Spirit of Southern Music by Michael Streissguth
Ohio: Shanty Irish by Jim Tully
Oregon: Blue Like Jazz: Nonreligious Thoughts on Christian Spirituality by Donald Miller
Pennsylvania: The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold

Washington DC: Y: The Last Man, Vol. 1: Unmanned by Brian K. Vaughan

1. Ohio - Shanty Irish by Jim Tully



I'm using this book to start both challenges, which feels a bit like cheating. Hmmm. Maybe I'll replace it later on.

Jenclone wrote: "1. Shanty Irish by Jim Tully



I'm using this book to start both challenges, which feels a bit like cheating. Hmmm. Maybe I'll replace..."

You can use it for both.

2. Iowa - Christmas in the Midwest by Clarence Andrews

There's another compilation listed by this guy, called Christmas in Iowa, which confuses me a bit because 90% of these stories are set in Iowa. Oh well. Possibly it's the same book. Anyway, there's a lot of mid-20th century nostalgia for how wonderful Christmas was in the 19th century (in Iowa), and maybe it was, but I just kept thinking "Frostbite."

3. New Mexico - ...And Now Miguel by Joseph Krumgold




Cool, they have the exact copy of the old library-discard edition I have (minus the Newbery sticker). I think I read this when I was about 10 and found it boring, but 30 years later I really enjoyed it. I liked reading Miguel's descriptions of the sheep and the landscape, and the drawn-out conversation with his older brother where they try to figure out what to do about wishing for things was very poignant. I still can't imagine very many kids being able to engage with it, though.

4. Hawaii - Moloka'i by Alan Brennert




This is my favorite historical novel from the past 6 months, maybe more. I loved everything about it. It's wonderful how an author can take a subject that makes people wince, and transform it into a story of beauty.

I'm really enjoying it so far. Learning as well

Jenclone wrote: "4. Hawaii - Moloka'i by Alan Brennert




This is my favorite historical novel from the past 6 months, maybe more. I loved everything about it. It..."

5. Kansas: Cows Are Freaky When They Look at You: An Oral History of the Kaw Valley Hemp Pickers

6. Alaska: Tide, Feather, Snow: A Life in Alaska by Miranda Weiss

7. Connecticut: The Witch Of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare




I even found the cover of my old copy from the 70's! I lost my place in the group reading schedule, but I'm so glad I decided to go ahead and reread this. Made me happy.

8. Minnesota: Iron Lake by William Kent Krueger




I first read this mystery about 10 years ago, and it was definitely worth a reread. Gritty and complex and emotional.

9. Michigan: The House with a Clock in its Walls by John Bellairs




This is an old favorite that gets revisited every now and then. I had a ball reading the other reviews and seeing how many people felt the same as I did about it. Also, I can't seem to read an edition that doesn't have the original Edward Gorey cover and illustrations! My daughter loves it too - we recommend it for folks of any age with a love of Gothic horror and a quirky sense of humor. The wonderful setting is a small town in Michigan in 1948.

10. Oregon: Blue Like Jazz: Nonreligious Thoughts on Christian Spirituality by Donald Miller



I wasn't expecting this book to have much in the way of setting, so I was surprised that he talked a lot about living in Portland, and his favorite places there such as Powell's Books and Reed College. It was a light read for a book about spirituality, but I enjoyed it.

11. Louisiana: Behind the Mask by Metsy Hingle

12. Massachusetts: The Countryman's Year by David Grayson


I feel the need to defend this author against the other reviewer here - Booker T. Washington said "You cannot keep the Negro in the gutter without staying there with him", and quoting this hardly qualifies as an inappropriate racial slur. I can't figure out what else there could be, unless the references to his Polish neighbors growing onions? Well... they were Polish, and they grew onions. (shrugs) Oh well.

This guy seems to have been from the old stock of New England country intellectuals, those who read widely, loved to think, gloried in the outdoors, and respected their fellow humans. He kept bees with enthusiastic care and collected books about them. He tramped through the woods and fields in the dead of winter reflecting on lines from ancient classics. He had a wry sense of humor and found deep joy in everyday experiences. I love this book - the glimpses of rural Massachusetts in the 1930's! - and need to find an old copy for myself (this one has to go back to the library).

Washington DC for my 13th book!
total: 12 states + 1

Y: The Last Man, Vol. 1: Unmanned by Brian K. Vaughan



Graphic novel, and a really good read.

Total: 15 states + DC



California: Tales of Pain and Wonder by Caitlín R. Kiernan - The revised 2008 edition... oh my goodness. This is dark, dark fantasy, the kind that lives next door to psychological horror, but how utterly beautiful her writing is. A number of these stories took place in California, mostly LA. All of the settings were haunting. I loved this book, though I tried not to read it before bed.

New York: Always Been There: Rosanne Cash, the List, and the Spirit of Southern Music by Michael Streissguth - I usually have trouble with books about either celebrities or the music industry, but made an exception for one of my favorite singer/songwriters. On second thought, I would rather have read one of her books. It was still fairly interesting. She lives and records in NYC with her family, and most of the conversations in the book took place there.

Pennsylvania: The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold - It took me a long time to get around to reading this book. Possibly as a parent I was afraid of the subject matter. I'm glad I finally picked it up, it really was wonderful. I found watching the characters slowly heal through Susie's eyes to be a very moving experience.