Author Topic: Read Around The World (Read 51638 times)

Persian · « **Reply #120 on:** March 19, 2009, 08:23:25 PM »

A site where we find books and films
in all the corners of the world,
created by those who have lived there.

IMPAC International Literary Awards

Independent Foreign Fiction Prize 2009

Words Without Borders

2009 Best Translated Book Award Winners

Academy Award Winning International Films

100 Greatest Foreign Films

Discussion Leader: Pedln

JOAN - I'm delighted to see that Greg Mortenson's Three Cups of Tea has been proposed, since I certainly enjoyed it and the recent discussion about his adventures with our local Library, which asked me to talk about Afghan culture in connection with the book. There were fascinating points which the various BookEnds members took away after completing the book - and which they shared eagerly with each other (and me) - thus enabling us to have a broad sense of what "spoke" to each reader. And when the readers learned the cultural meaning of the book's title, they broke out in applause.

I recommend the book with enthusiasm as it is truly an opportunity to see how one man's initial efforts made a huge difference in an unknown (to the Westerner) world region. For those posters who might like to introduce children and/or youth to the topic, Mortenson's Listen to the Wind is designed for youngsters.

Here is a link to the several editions of Mortenson's tales about his adventures in Central Asia.
NOTE: Listen to the Wind is especially appropriate for children to learn about the rural village in Pakistan and perhaps to consider how best to relate to and understand the children of those villages.

https://www.discountbooksale.com/store/productslist.aspx?ProdID=131&ec=1&sort=3&AWTrck=1035649422&searchAuthor=Mortenson+Greg&gclid=CKy85vKZsJkCFQFqxwodeGLtIw

Mahlia

Babi · « **Reply #121 on:** March 20, 2009, 08:48:10 AM »

Mahlia, I'll mention "Listen to the Wind" to our children's librarian when she returns. I'll tell her it comes well recommended by someone who know the area well.
My library doesn't have a copy of 'Three Cups of Tea', but I'm sure I can find it somewhere.

Gumtree · « **Reply #122 on:** March 20, 2009, 10:22:18 AM »

Lucky We read Sebastian Barry's A Long Long Way about a year ago with a F2F group. It had a mixed reception - personally I found it riveting. And you're right, it was short listed for the Man-Booker.

pedln · « **Reply #123 on:** March 20, 2009, 02:01:36 PM »

JoanK, thanks for putting the link to Three Cups of Tea here. I'm really looking forward to reading and discussing it.

Hats, that's interesting about the Emily Carr book by Susan Vreeland. I'd never heard of her either until I went to an exhibit at the National Museum for Women in the Arts, in DC a few years ago, and they had a special exhibit on the works of Carr, Georgia O'Keefe, and Frieda Kalo -- Canada, US, and Mexico. I didn't remember about the totem poles. I always think of trees and forests when I hear about Carr.

Marj, thanks for the Henning Mankell link. It looks like he writes in many areas, including drama and children's books. I was hoping that his Inspector Wallender film Before the Frost would be available from Netflix, but no luck. A while back, someone mentioned another Swedish mystery writer by the name of Larsson -- does anyone remember the first name or the book title?

Has anyone read Rachel Kushner's Telex from Cuba? Bookmarks had a good review of it -- it takes place in Cuba in the pre-Castro days of the 1950's. I think it's a first novel.

Persian · « **Reply #124 on:** March 20, 2009, 10:08:35 PM »

Here is a link which our local Librarian provided to the CBS News interview with Greg Mortenson in which he discusses his purpose in writing Three Cups of Tea and how/why he was motivated to do so.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/01/04/sunday/main4697362.shtml

Mahlia

hats · « **Reply #125 on:** March 21, 2009, 04:38:59 PM »

Pedln,

I'm glad you shared your visit to the exhibit. Some of E. Carr's paintings of Totem poles are in the book, not in color, in black and white or grey tonal values.

I have heard a lot of wonderful words about "Three Cups of Tea."

ALF43 · « **Reply #126 on:** March 22, 2009, 02:28:04 PM »

News Flash! Carol Goodman, award winning author of The Night Villa, will attend our June discussion of her book. If you like mystery mixed with mythology, cultural and religious history and intrigue then this is the story for you.

The novel is a multi layered mystery set in the exploration of an ancient Roman villa. Mrs. Goodman is a former Latin teacher who knows her stuff, and since we met with her in NYC, we know she is an incredibly responsive person. This will be "one for the Books.." Do join us June 1!

MarjV · « **Reply #127 on:** March 22, 2009, 04:17:33 PM »

Pedlin - the Larsson author was for the book - The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Stieg Larsson. I have it now from the lib.

Here's an interesting article on it and Swedish crime fic.

Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

pedln · « **Reply #128 on:** March 22, 2009, 06:45:26 PM »

Thanks, Marj. It sounds good and seems to be very popular in Europe. If it's as big in size as the reviewer says, it might fit best on a a Kindle

. Speaking of books from Sweden, a friend just returned one to me -- Hanna's Daughters by Marianne Fredriksson, a multi-generational story about three Swedish and Norwegian women. I say "and Norwegian" women because as I remember, it's set in both Sweden and Norway, from 1870 to almost 1990.

MarjV · « **Reply #129 on:** March 26, 2009, 03:13:38 PM »

DELICIOUS INTRIGUE - that ought to be a category in the library a part from mystery or crime fiction.

I finished Belshazzars Daughter - Barbara Nadel. Set in Istanbul of now. The novel is full of culture, history, intrigue, murder, and characters such as the main dude, Inspector Ikmen and his sidekick Suleyman.

Ikmen is a chain smoking, drinking, very intelligent fellow married to Fatma who is prego with child # 9. There is more to all that of course. And Suleyman, his underling, is handsome and single witih a mother you want to clobber.

The author Nadel lives in London and has been visiting Turkey for 20 years.
I sure hope she continues Ikmen adventures. And I see she does have a new one tihe Ikmen.
I read every single breathless word.

Here is a web page with her works and synopses.

http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/n/barbara-nadel/

~Marj

Babi · « **Reply #130 on:** March 27, 2009, 08:57:49 AM »

Another name to check my library for. "Every single breathless word" cannot be ignored!

ALF43 · « **Reply #131 on:** March 27, 2009, 09:43:50 AM »

Everybody come on over into Three Cups of Tea and state your intent.
We would love to have all of you join us. It certainly falls into our category here- Read Around The World, doesn't it?
This guy has been all over the world in his pursuit to help these children and "found" his own way, doing it.

MarjV · « **Reply #132 on:** March 30, 2009, 07:27:28 PM »

I've put this on my "to read" - author a Londoner.

Doesn't this look enticing:

The Suspicions of Mr Whicher

anntex · « **Reply #133 on:** April 02, 2009, 01:20:19 AM »

Hi Everybody,
I am so happy all of you suggested "the People of the Book". I really enjoyed it. I have also finished "Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie". It takes place during W.W. ll on the Guernsey Islands of England. Wonderful book.
Also, have any of you read "Heart and Soul" by Binchy? I love reading books from foreign countries, so this web page is very helpful for me. It is like traveling without the expense!!!.

MarjV · « **Reply #134 on:** April 02, 2009, 06:10:21 PM »

I'm half finished with "Girl with the Dragon Tattoo". Interesting - on wikipedia is says it was renamed for the English trans. First of a trilogy that he had completed before he died.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Girl_with_the_Dragon_Tattoo

It's such an interesting novel. And I sure will look forward to the sequel!

Babi · « **Reply #135 on:** April 03, 2009, 08:23:57 AM »

MARJ, according to Fantastic Fiction, "The Girl Who Played With Fire" will be out in July, and "The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest" will be out in October, along with a PB issue of the second book.

pedln · « **Reply #136 on:** April 03, 2009, 12:01:13 PM »

My mystery f2f group met yesterday and we're all to bring our 'proposed selections' to our next meeting. I'd love to suggest Girl with the Dragon Tatoo, but don't know that this group would go for something as long as War and Peace. How many pages? But Suspicions of Mr. Whicher sounds perfect, and we've previously enjoyed both historical fiction (Dante Club) and non-fiction (Devil in White City) crime.

MarjV · « **Reply #137 on:** April 05, 2009, 03:38:25 PM »

Babi Our lib. has The Girl Who Played with Fire on order so I am looking forward to the sequel. I sure did get hooked.

608 pages, hardback, Pedlin, for the Tattoo one.

MarjV · « **Reply #138 on:** April 27, 2009, 12:34:23 PM »

Read Behind the Scenes at the Museum by Scottish Kate Atkinson.

Enjoyed this family type story - mainly of dysfunctionals! Lot of laughs in it. And many gasps! This is a '95 novel. Now I want to read the current: When will there be good news. I see she has quite a number out.
\
http://www.kateatkinson.co.uk/

pedln · « **Reply #139 on:** April 27, 2009, 06:20:05 PM »

Marj, Behind the Scenes is one I want to read. I just finished my first Atkinson -- One Good Turn. I think I called it on anther site -- a literary sociogram. Interesting how all the charachers intermingle.

JoanK · « **Reply #140 on:** April 28, 2009, 04:53:01 PM »

I'm really excited about the discussion of "Three Cups of Tea" that will be starting May 1: The book is non-fiction, but is so interesting, I couldn't put it down. As I think I said earlier, it's an American climber who gets lost in a small Pakistan village. When he leaves, he promises to build them a school. Although he is almost penniless, he manages in the end to build over 200 schools for girls in Pakistan and Afganistan. How he does it is an inspiration to all of us.

Join the end of the prediscussion here:

http://seniorlearn.org/forum/index.php?topic=369.msg20784;topicseen#new

or wait for the discussion, May 1.

MarjV · « **Reply #141 on:** April 28, 2009, 05:58:26 PM »

Gee Pedlin - if you lived next door I could have handed you the Behind book.

Three Cups..... is such a fascinating story - I've seen him several times on tv.

pedln · « **Reply #142 on:** April 28, 2009, 11:17:18 PM »

You're right, JOan. It IS a fascinating story, and I'm really looking forward to the discussion. At a bridge club today we got to talking about Google Earth and I told the gals at my table how I was using it to look at the area where Three Cups started. They had not heard of Mortenson, and were dumbfounded when they learned that he had built 55 schools in Central Asia.

Frybabe · « **Reply #143 on:** May 10, 2009, 07:54:25 PM »

I came across this interesting site, Exiled Writers InK. It is a list of exiled writers with bios and samples of their works. http://www.exiledwriters.co.uk/writers.shtml

pedln · « **Reply #144 on:** May 10, 2009, 11:23:02 PM »

That's an interesting site, FRybabe. So many writers, forced to leave their homeland

MarjV, I think you first mentioned Henning Mankell on this site. JoanP has posted in Books Into MOvies that Masterpiece theatre is right now showing some of his works, with Kenneth Brannaugh starring as Inspector Wallendar.

Gumtree · « **Reply #145 on:** May 11, 2009, 11:42:50 AM »

Frybabe Interesting site on 'exiled writers' - no one I know is listed there

JoanP · « **Reply #146 on:** May 11, 2009, 06:56:13 PM »

OK, we've opened a General PBS Masterpiece Discussion to determine if there is interest in the Wallanders -
This is the question in the header of the new discussion.

Would you like to form a Wallander Book/Film club? We could discuss the PBS adaptation of Henrick Mankell's novels and/or discuss Mankell's novels if you are interested. We can send you a set of two of the Wallander novels for the price of postage - if supplies last. Are you interested?

Since I had posted in several discussions about the series yesterday, I'm going to ask those of you who expressed interest to go into the new discussion, so all the information is in one place.
I'll be looking for you there, ready to take your orders!

Thanks!

MarjV · « **Reply #147 on:** May 12, 2009, 08:33:07 AM »

Yes, Pedlin - I do enjoy the Mankell novels.

I see Netflix has 2 episodes on one disc -

http://www.netflix.com/Movie/Wallander_Sidetracked_Firewall/70117884?lnkce=seRtLn&trkid=222336&lnkctr=srchrd-sr&strkid=394794888_0_0

mrssherlock · « **Reply #148 on:** May 12, 2009, 10:57:15 AM »

MarjV · « **Reply #149 on:** May 20, 2009, 04:10:08 PM »

I've been reading various around the world authors.

I mention "Sonata for Miriam" by Linda Olsson - born in Sweden, currently lives in New Zealand. Really absorbed reading this novel. Set in two countries, tells the then and now. Gets into family history & relationships. Iti's European title was "Consequence of Silence" which is an important catalyst in the plot.

Descriptions of living in New Zealand, life in and the city of Krakow , Poland, musc and composing , aloneness, death, everelasting love, all play a part.

http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/o/linda-olsson/sonata-for-miriam.htm

pedln · « **Reply #150 on:** May 24, 2009, 12:41:29 PM »

Marj, Sonata for Miriam sounds like it would be a good. Our library does not have it, but I'm sure it will turn up someplace.

Are you all watching the Wallander series? I had trouble understanding all of the Sidetracked, but really enjoyed Firewall, even though it did have some pretty gruesome shots. (I just close my eyes.) It sounds like many PBS stations will be showing the last in the series NEXT week, but check you own local schedule.

A friend got me started on a free subscription to This Week magazine, basically a collection of articles from other media. They have a column of movies being shown on TV each week, and this Wednesday (5/27) the film Nobody Knows will be shown on the IFC (Independent FIlm Channel) (I'm not familiar with that one). This is a Japanese film about four children abandoned by their mother, inspired by a real incident. I saw it on Netflix a few years ago and highly recommend it.

MarjV · « **Reply #151 on:** May 24, 2009, 05:07:28 PM »

Thanks, Pedline for "Nobody knows".

I am reading a hilarious novel...............Valeria's Last Stand; set in Hungary. Been awhile since I giggled so much.

http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781596916203

I didn't care for the televised version of the Wallender novels. I enjoyed reading all his books including the non-crime ones that I didn't find the depth in the filmed stories. There is so much more to work with in your mind in reading them.

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #152 on:** May 24, 2009, 05:16:44 PM »

Here ye, here ye - after two humorous short story discussions there is change.

It was easy to see that more than a week on a short story is overkill.

We also have serious reading going on here on Senior Learn and so we did not need an in-depth discussion on yet another story.

However; as the newspapers had a section we called the Funnies it seems appropriate for Senior Learn to also have our version of the Funnies in the form of Funny Short Story discussion.

And so NEW PLAN -

Every Sunday evening a new humorous short story will be added to the bottom of our heading along with just a couple of questions to help focus the start of a post.

Just let us know if you laughed, smiled or enjoyed the story and your thoughts about any part of the story that hits your fancy or reminds you of a real life experience along similar story lines.

And so please - drop in and lighten up your day once a week with a short story from the funny side of life. http://seniorlearn.org/forum/index.php?topic=351.0

JoanP · « **Reply #153 on:** July 05, 2009, 01:03:25 PM »

Does this book qualitfy as a Read Around the World choice? An Aussie wrtier's HISTORICAL FICTION about an ancient book created in Spain in the 14th century, surfacing centuries later in Sarejevo, Bosnia.

Geraldine Brooks' People of the Book - (voted for discussion by many of you several months ago) - will begin on July 15. Though travelling abroad, the author has agreed to communicate with us and respond to our questions, via email. We are quite excited about it.

Join the Prediscussion going on now, so that we will be ready to hit the ground running on the 15th. You'll find us right here - People of the Book

For those who need more information about this book -

Quote

You'll fall in love with Hanna Heath, Geraldine Brooks' edgy Aussie rare book expert with an attitude, a loner with a real passion for her work. How could she refuse this opportunity of a lifetime, the conservation of the beautifully illustrated Sarajevo Haggadah, the mysterious Hebrew manuscript, created in Spain in the 15th century?

The invitation will bring Hanna into war-torn Bosnia in the spring of 1996 and then, into the world of fine art forgers and international fanatics. Her intuitive investigation of the manuscript will put her in a time capsule to medieval Spain and then back to Northern Australia again with a number of stops along the way. This is based on the travels of an actual manuscript, which has surfaced over the centuries since its creation in Spain.

pedln · « **Reply #154 on:** July 10, 2009, 03:00:11 PM »

Thanks for posting the info and link about People of the Book, JoanP. That should be a good discussion and is coming up soon.

We don’t worry so much about “qualifies” in RATW. Lots of crossovers here, with settings in so many different places, written by authors who have lived in many places all over the world. I’ve been browsing the bookstores of Seattle this week and just came across a new Wallendar – whoops, a new Mankell, but not a Wallender – Italian Shoes. Published in Sweden about three years ago, but just came out here in the states. (Mankell received two awards this past month – one from Spain and another from Germany.)
I’m currently buying only used books that are on my list, otherwise I would have picked up The Glassblower of Murano by Marina Fiorato (she lives in Venice and the US –or maybe it’s the UK, can’t remember. It’s both historical and contemporary, with two narrators. Sounds good to me. Read more about it Here

We're off soon to Third Place Books, which carries both new and used books as well as delicious pastries and lunches. I'm afraid I'll be tempted in more ways than one.

mrssherlock · « **Reply #155 on:** July 10, 2009, 05:43:32 PM »

Pedln: What a neat site! Looks like I'll be spending too much time reading it; like I really needed another blog. This one looks like a keeper, though, so maybe it's time to get rid of some of the others.

Babi · « **Reply #156 on:** July 11, 2009, 08:19:09 AM »

I have to do that from time to time, JACKIE. When I realize that I'm not really
using a site, no matter how great an idea it seemed when I marked it, I finally
trim it out. It's like the leftovers in the fridge; the space becomes worth more
than the food.
PEDLN, I wish I was there. I want to go, too! I'm perfectly willing to be led
into temptation on such occasions.

pedln · « **Reply #157 on:** July 11, 2009, 03:17:10 PM »

Babi, you have the best way of expressing things – “space is worth more that the food.” That reminds me of the book I’m currently reading – Fieldwork by Misha Berlinski. He’s shown two examples of budding anthropologists working in the “field” who would give a right arm for space. One, sharing an igloo throughout the winter with an Eskimo family, the other studying the Dyalo of Thailand and living in a family’s hut. They not only wanted space, but also a door that would close people out.

Berlinski’s book focuses on the Dyalo and those who worked with them – missionaries and anthropologists. The Dyalos thought it rude for a woman’s pelvis to be higher than a man’s head, which can be trying with people who sit on the floor. Maritya, the anthropologist was getting tired of waddling around like a goose.

Yesterday’s venture out was a success – lamb skewer and roasted squash salad (not to be found in my usual neck of the woods) and two books for this year’s F2F Mystery Group. And also, Night Train to Lisbon by Pascal Mercier, a German writer. Not on my list, but used, cheap. A best seller in Europe, but not so touted in this country. It was recommended some time ago by one of the Latin students, a mystery of sorts, a meditative and philosophical novel.

Frybabe · « **Reply #158 on:** July 11, 2009, 05:11:55 PM »

Pedln, let us know what you think of Night Train to Lisbon when you've finished reading it. I have been having a running debate with myself as to whether to read it or not.

Babi · « **Reply #159 on:** July 12, 2009, 08:16:03 AM »

PEDLN, I have often thought I would have loved a career as an anthropologist,
until I read stories like you just posted. I'd never have had the stamina!
Some related area of expertise, poring over artifacts or documents, would have
been great fun. though. Not that I didn't find my own career interesting; I
just wish I had a couple more lifetimes to do other things that intrigue me.

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Author Topic: Read Around The World (Read 51638 times)

anntex