Time for Weekly Geeks once again! This week’s theme is to find out where in the world is your reading? I’m not doing too badly as a world traveler and hope to start working on some new parts of the world for the World Citizen Challenge. I’m in France right now; only about 40 pages to go of Chocolat by Joanne Harris and it is a lot deeper and thought-provoking than I expected.
create your own visited country map
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I missed checking the Russia box! I know I read a Martin Amis book set there. I could be wrong about the exact African countries – I admit to being not up to who/what/where there. And I think I will first go ask Maree if she will recommend a book set in Australia. Wait! I did read something about a glass castle with the name Lucinda in it which was also a movie starring Cate Blanchett, I believe. But that was years ago.
Oscar and Lucinda — by Peter Carey. I loved that book.
Yes, Russia would add a LOT more red to that map!
Thanks Terri! I could have looked it up but see how much easier it was to have some provide it for me?
I recommend Secret River by Kate Grenville if you’d like to read another book set in Australia.
I’ve just finished The Master and Margarita so was able to add a lot of red to my Russia. Doing this map makes me want to read more African books though.You have filled in a lot more African countries than I have.
Thanks Jackie! I’ll add Secret River to my tbr. I’m thinking we could start a challenge with how many good books have the word ’secret’ in the title.
For Africa, I’m counting these books/authors: Nadine Gordimer (short stories), Life and Times of Michael K, The No.1 Ladies Detective Agency, The Poisonwood Bible, WindSandStars (covers Spain and Morocco and probably a few other north African spots.) I think I ‘ve missed something…
Very nice to see your world travels.
and it’s fun to read about all you travels on your Honeymoon! I’m glad you liked Chicago – I love that town.
I’d second Secret River. Read it last year, and really enjoyed it. Stephen Toltz’s A Fraction of the Whole also starts off in Australia. It was nominated for the Booker last year, and despite being quite chunky, I enjoyed it.
What a great idea. Of course, a lot of the places I’ve visited in my reading are places like Narnia and the court of Amber. I’d need a whole other map.
What a great WG prompt. I am going to try to do this one
What about Astrid and Veronika by Linda Olsson for New Zealand and Switzerland? Jose Saramago for Portugal. Behind the Iron Curtain by Peter Sis for Czech Republic. Margarita Engle for Cuba and Daniel Pennac for France.
I haven’t read Oscar and Lucinda but I’ve read other books by Peter Carey. His books are memorable. My post is here.
Pussreboots – sometimes I only remember the author and sometimes I only remember the story line! I’m off to visit your post – or did I already?
What a neat idea! I wonder what my map would look like! I’m going to have to try this out!
I’m not sure about Australia, but I can recommend you some good Kiwi authors if you like
@uncertainprinciples – Thanks for the suggestions. I’m hoping you will be in the Mr Linky list if I visit the site so I can see your map.
@Julia – Narnia and Mordor and ??? too funny.
@iliana – yes, this is a fantastic WG theme.
@Vasilly – thanks for the great suggestions.
@Jenners – it IS fun. I hope you try it.
@Maree – I would love to read some good Kiwi authors! Bring it on.
If you’re still looking for something Australian, anything by Peter Carey (including your Oscar and Lucinda read, which you’ve already done!) or Tim Winton would work. I enjoy Winton quite a bit, and most of his books are quite short. Just an idea.
Thanks CR! and I appreciate the ’short’ recs, lol!
Ooh, “Secret River” is a great idea, as is Kate Morton (The Forgotten Garden).
I notice that Portugal isn’t red yet – I think I should include a book in the Care package I’m preparing!
OH NYMETH!!! SQUEEE!!!
I need to visit Central America and more of Africa!
Weekly Geeks
Me, too!
One of my faves from Down Under is The Sooterkin by Tom Gilling, set in Tasmania. It’s funny and weird – I loved it!
ok! funny and weird will convince me!
My word you’ve done well. For more Australian books look for DIAMOND DOVE (aka MOONLIGHT DOWNS) by Adrian Hyland, or THE BROKEN SHORE by Peter temple, or SHATTER by Michael Robotham
This list covers as much as I can remember so some books were years ago – but memorable. And I keep thinking… Middlesex has a section in Greece! there’s another.
I need to look at some South American authors and a bit more in Africa as well.
If you are looking for an Australian author other than those already suggested, you could try The Boat by Nam Le.
This was a great Weekly Geeks theme!
You’ve covered a good deal of S. America, something that a lot of the rest of us seem to be missing. Do you have any favorites from that part of the world?