Paul C's 2017 Reading & Life - 28

I advised Hani to visit Haworth in Yorkshire on her trip (still ongoing) to the UK. Ostensibly as it was the home of the Brontes, but also because it is so picturesque. She fell in love with the place and told me we have to buy a house there! Not the Old Parsonage though!

Paul's Poems

Here is another soppy one from way back.

ONCE

We kissed once -
O' that our lips had been sealed together
That we would breathe love through each other
And draw warmth and fulfilment from togetherness.
And our hearts be merged as one -
Each irregularity masked by the strength of the other.
Our love; that timeless beating of a complete heart
Is sealed in that kiss.

ME & MINE

Me?
I was 50 in September 2016 and have enough unread reading material on my shelves to take me safely into my seventies! I have lived in Malaysia since 1994 and have a long suffering (but never quietly) wife, Hani (sometimes referred to as SWMBO), three children Yasmyne (19), Kyran (17) and Belle (12), as well as a supporting cast which includes my book smuggling assistants Azim (also my driver and a part time bouncer who, despite his muscles, lives in almost as much fear of my wife as I do) and Erni (my housemaid, almost-little sister and the worlds greatest coffee maker). On this thread you'll probably read as much about the vagaries of life, book buying and group related statistics as you do about the actual books themselves.



I have added 3,000 books to my shelves in four years but late last year I decided to sort my books from the 4,500 books unread into the essentials of 900 fiction and 180 non-fiction books and I will try to make a serious dent in that list this year.

I will also be reading, as usual, plenty of poetry which is another passion and, as you have seen above, a faltering pastime.

.BOOKS READ

JANUARY

1. The Magician's Wife by Brian Moore (1997) 229 pp
2. Maus I : My Father Bleeds History by Art Spiegelman (1986) 159 pp
3. Midwinter Sacrifice by Mons Kallentoft (2006) 440 pp
4. Out in the Midday Sun : The British in Malaya 1880-1960 by Margaret Shennan (2000) 471 pp
5. Blood Child and Other Stories by Octavia E. Butler (2003) 214 pp
6. The Assault by Harry Mulisch (1985) 185 pp
7. 100 Prized Poems : Twenty-Five Years of the Forward Books (2016) 176 pp
8. The Broken Shore by Peter Temple (2005) 400 pp
9. Spring Flowers, Spring Frost by Ismail Kadare (2000) 182 pp
10. The Hare with Amber Eyes by Edmund de Waal (2010) 352 pp
11. Varamo by Cesar Aira (2002) 89 pp
12. The House in Paris by Elizabeth Bowen (1935) 250 pp

FEBRUARY

13. The Crystal Cave by Mary Stewart (1970) 456 pp
14. A Blaze of Autumn Sunshine : The Last Diaries by Tony Benn (2013) 294 pp
15. City of Secrets by Stewart O'Nan (2016) 190 pp
16. The Colour of Magic by Terry Pratchett (1983) 210 pp
17. The Poetry of Jaroslav Seifert by Jaroslav Seifert (1998) 246 pp
18. Dogs at the Perimeter by Madeleine Thien (2011) 253 pp

MARCH

19. Up the Junction by Nell Dunn (1963) 133 pp
20. Middle Passages by Kamau Brathwaite (1992) 120 pp
21. Maus II : A Survivor's Tale : And Here My Troubles Began (1991) 136 pp
22. Sapiens : A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari (2011) 466 pp
23. Fences by August Wilson (1985) 101 pp
24. No Great Mischief by Alistair MacLeod (1999) 262 pp
25. Seabiscuit by Laura Hillenbrand (2001) 399 pp

BOOKS READ

APRIL

26. Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi (2003) 343 pp
27. Strange Shores by Arnaldur Indridason (2010) 296 pp
28. The Confessions of Nat Turner by William Styron (1967) 415 pp
29. When I Was Old by Georges Simenon (1970) 452 pp
30. On the Black Hill by Bruce Chatwin (1982) 262 pp
31. And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini (2013) 444 pp
32. The Cry by Helen Fitzgerald (2013) 307 pp
33. I Shall Not Hate by Izzeldin Abuelaish (2010) 236 pp
34. Ariel by Sylvia Plath (1965) 81 pp
35. Shout at the Devil by Wilbur Smith (1968) 391 pp
36. A Perfidious Distortion of History : The Versailles Peace Treaty and the Success of the Nazis by Jurgen Tampke (2017) 269 pp
37. Doctor Who and the Web of Fear by Terrance Dicks (1976) 150 pp
38. The Haw Lantern by Seamus Heaney (1987) 51 pp

May

39. Then by Morris Gleitzman (2009) 196 pp
40. March: Book One by John Lewis (2013) 121 pp
41. Selected Poems : 1940-1982 by Norman Nicholson (1982) 78 pp
42. Doomsday Book by Connie Willis (1992) 587 pp
43. The Englishman's Boy by Guy Vanderhaeghe (1997) 402 pp
44. Castle Rackrent by Maria Edgeworth (1800) 97 pp
45. Disgrace by J.M. Coetzee (1999) 220 pp
46. And the Weak Suffer What They Must? by Yaris Varoufakis (2016) 246 pp

June

47. Il Postino by Antonio Skarmeta (1985) 112 pp
48. How to Fight Islamist Terror from the Missionary Position by Tabish Khair (2012) 190 pp
49. 1914 by Jean Echenoz (2012) 118 pp
50. Resistance by Carla Jablonski (2010) 121 pp

BOOKS READ

July

51. The Endless Steppe by Esther Hautzig (1968) 281 pp

August

52. Miss Buncle's Book by D.E. Stevenson (1936) 299 pp
53. Amok by Stefan Zweig (1922) 121 pp
54. The King's Revenge by Don Jordan (2012) 328 pp

September

55. A Voice in the Night by Andrea Camilleri (2012) 278 pp
56. Listening to Van Morrison by Greil Marcus (2010) 183 pp
57. The Trouble with Poetry by Billy Collins (2005) 85 pp
58. S. : A Novel About the Balkans by Slavenka Drakulic (1999) 201 pp
59. The World's Two Smallest Humans by Julia Copus (2012) 52 pp

BOOKS READ

October

60. Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less by Jeffrey Archer (1976) 334 pp
61. My Uncle Oswald by Roald Dahl (1979) 264 pp
62. Words Under the Words by Naomi Shihab Nye (1995) 157 pp
63. The Dig by Cynan Jones (2014) 156 pp
64. The Rainbow Troops by Andrea Hirata (2005) 292 pp
65. Tudors by Peter Ackroyd (2012) 471 pp
66. Exit West by Mohsin Hamid (2017) 231 pp
67. Tenth of December by George Saunders (2013) 251 pp
68. Poems New and Collected by Wislawa Szymborska (1998) 270 pp
69. Now by Morris Gleitzman (2010) 182 pp
70. When Adam Opens His Eyes by Jang Jung-Il (1990) 126 pp

British Author Challenge 2017



JANUARY : IRISH BRITONS - ELIZABETH BOWEN (DONE) & BRIAN MOORE (DONE)

FEBRUARY : SCIENCE FICTION & FANTASY - MARY STEWART (DONE) & TERRY PRATCHETT DONE

MARCH : A DECADE OF BRITISH NOVELS : The 1960s - 10 Novels by Men; 10 Novels by Women - 1 DONE

APRIL: SOUTH YORKSHIRE AUTHORS : AS BYATT & BRUCE CHATWIN (DONE)

MAY : BEFORE QUEEN VIC : 10 Novels written prior to 1837

JUNE : THE HISTORIANS (Historical Fiction / Historians) GEORGETTE HEYER & SIMON SCHAMA

JULY : SCOTTISH AUTHORS : D.E. STEVENSON (DONE) and R.L. STEVENSON

AUGUST : BRITAIN BETWEEN THE WARS (Writers active 1918-1939) WINIFRED HOLTBY & ROBERT GRAVES

SEPTEMBER : THE NEW MILLENNIUM (Great Books Since 2000) A novel chosen from each year of the new century 1 DONE

OCTOBER : WELSH AUTHORS (Born in or associated with Wales) : JO WALTON & ROALD DAHL (DONE)

NOVEMBER : POET LAUREATES : British laureates, children's laureate, National Poets

DECEMBER : WILDCARD (Chosen via a vote) : ELIZABETH GASKELL & NEIL GAIMAN

American Author Challenge



American Author Challenge 2017

January- Octavia Butler Blood Child and Other Stories
February- Stewart O' Nan City of Secrets : A Novel
March- William Styron The Confessions of Nat Turner
April- Poetry Month - Ariel by Sylvia Plath
May- Zora Neale Hurston
June- Sherman Alexie
July- James McBride
August- Patricia Highsmith
September- Short Story Month Tenth of December
October- Ann Patchett
November- Russell Banks
December- Ernest Hemingway

Canadian Author Challenge



January : Anne Michaels & Robertson Davies

February : Madeleine Thien DONE & Rohinton Mistry

March : Anne Hebert & Alistair McLeod DONE

April : Magaret Atwood & Guy Vanderhaeghe DONE

May : Louise Penny & Leonard Cohen

June : Heather O'Neill & Dan Vyleta

July : Carol Shields & Wayson Choy

August : Ruth Ozeki & Douglas Coupland

September : Lori Lansens & Steven Galloway

October : Alice Munro & Arthur Slade

November : Gil Adamson & Guy Gavriel Kay

December : Donna Morrisey & Wayne Johnston

ANZ Author Challenge



I will be doing Kerry's ANZAC Bingo Challenge 2x12

ANZAC Bingo 2x12
1: Read a book about conflict or war
2: Read a book with more than 500 pgs
3: Read an Aussie crime novel COMPLETED The Cry by Helen Fitzgerald
4: Read a book using word play in the title
5: Read a book about exploration or a journey
6: Read a book that's been longlisted for the International DUBLIN Literary Award
7: Read a book that's part of a series COMPLETED Then by Morris Gleitzman
8: Read a memoir/biography (can be fiction)
9: Read a book written under a pen name
10: Read a book with a musical plot
11: Read a book with water featured in title/cover : COMPLETED The Broken Shore by Peter Temple
12: Read a book with an immigrant protagonist : COMPLETED Now by Morris Gleitzman

OTHER CHALLENGES

Guardian 1000 (998) Books - 328 read https://www.librarything.com/topic/270237#6197972

1001 Books First Edition - 283 read https://www.librarything.com/topic/268508#6162704

Booker Prize Winners - 25 read https://www.librarything.com/topic/268508#6165614

Nobel Prize Winners Read - 62 out of 114 laureates read something. https://www.librarything.com/topic/270794#6207224

Pulitzer Prize Winners (6 main categories) - 23 read https://www.librarything.com/topic/270794#6207348

National Book Award Winners (Fiction) - 16 read https://www.librarything.com/topic/270794#6208562

Women's Prize Winners - 5 read https://www.librarything.com/topic/270794#6208568

Giller Prize Winners - 6 read https://www.librarything.com/topic/270794#6208574

Miles Franklin Winners - 5 read https://www.librarything.com/topic/270794#6208578

Walter Scott Prize Winners - 2 Read https://www.librarything.com/topic/270794#6209474

Baillie Gifford Winners - 3 Read https://www.librarything.com/topic/270794#6209503

James Tait Black Winners - 17 read https://www.librarything.com/topic/270794#6209513

Whitbread/Costa Winners (4 categories) - 23 winners read https://www.librarything.com/topic/270794#6209540

Dublin International Literature Award - 7 winners read https://www.librarything.com/topic/270794#6209556

PEN Faulkner Award Winners - 3 read https://www.librarything.com/topic/270794#6209725

National Book Critics Circle Awards - 6 read https://www.librarything.com/topic/270794#6209733

READING PLAN

FINISH ALL THE BOOKS I HAVE GOT STARTED

CURRENTLY READING

The Brothers Karamazov
Kafka on the Shore
The Ways of the World
The Barbary Figs
Last in the Tin Bath

AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 BOOKS

I have not included the UK and USA in this as so much of our reading is from those two places but these are my 80 countries. Authors should have been born there, been a citizen of that country or are clearly associated with it.


Create Your Own Visited Countries Map

1 AFGHANISTAN Khaled Hosseini
2 ALBANIA ISMAIL KADARE
3 Algeria
4 Angola
5 Antigua
6 ARGENTINA CESAR AIRA
7 AUSTRALIA PETER TEMPLE
8 AUSTRIA STEFAN ZWEIG
9 Bangladesh
10 BARBADOS KAMAU BRATHWAITE
11 BELGIUM GEORGES SIMENON
12 Bosnia
13 Brazil
14 CANADA BRIAN MOORE
15 CHILE ANTONIO SKARMETA
16 China
17 Colombia
18 CROATIA SLAVENKA DRAKULIC
19 CZECHIA JAROSLAV SEIFERT
20 Denmark
21 Dominica
22 Dominican Republic
23 Egypt
24 Ethiopia
25 Finland
26 FRANCE JEAN ECHENOZ
27 GERMANY JURGEN TAMPKE
28 Ghana
29 GREECE YANIS VAROUFAKIS
30 Haiti
31 HOLLAND HARRY MULISCH
32 Hungary
33 ICELAND ARNALDUR INDRIDASON
34 INDIA TABISH KHAIR
35 INDONESIA ANDREA HIRATA
36 IRAN MARJANE SATRAPI
37 IRELAND ELIZABETH BOWEN
38 ISRAEL YUVAL NOAH HARARI
39 ITALY ANDREA CAMILLERI
40 Jamaica
41 Japan
42 Kenya
43 KOREA JANG JUNG-IL
44 LITHUANIA ESTHER HAUTZIG
45 Malawi
46 Malaysia
47 Mexico
48 Morocco
49 Mozambique
50 New Zealand
51 Nigeria
52 Norway
53 PAKISTAN MOHSIN HAMID
54 PALESTINE IZZELDIN ABUELAISH
55 Peru
56 Philippines
57 POLAND WYSLAWA SZYMBORSKA
58 Portugal
59 Romania
60 Russia
61 Saudi Arabia
62 Senegal
63 Serbia
64 Sierra Leone
65 Singapore
66 Somalia
67 SOUTH AFRICA JM COETZEE
68 Spain
69 Sri Lanka
70 St. Kitts
71 Sudan
72 SWEDEN MONS KALLENTOFT
73 Switzerland
74 Syria
75 Tanzania
76 Trinidad
77 Turkey
78 Ukraine
79 ZAMBIA WILBUR SMITH
80 Zimbabwe

NEXT IS YOURS

Hah! First! Happy new thread!

>17 drneutron: Well done, Jim! Nice to see you dear fellow as always.

I thought my eyes were deceiving me, but no another thread started ..... here's to another great weekend ( if you are down under a looooong one at that - don't u just love public holidays!)

Happy new thread, Paul. Wow! That topper is gorgeous!!

>19 roundballnz: Thanks Alex. The sheer extent of public holidays here is a little bit sapping to be honest. We have 17 public holidays in Malaysia which I do believe no-one else surpasses. Mostly I like it but occasionally we need to get some work done.

>20 jessibud2: Thank you Shelley. I have to admit that I haven't yet been to Haworth, which does give Hani rather an advantage but I have been to the outskirts of the place and can vouch for its quaintness.

Happy New Thread, Paul. Love the Haworth topper. Happy Belated birthday to Kyran. Did you share a beer with him, or he is too young yet?

>23 msf59: Thanks Mark. I did indeed share a beer with him - I had a couple of Coronas and he had his first legal Guinness.

"first legal". LOL. My son was also quite experienced, by that point. Grins...

Corona? Really? I need to take you to beer academy, mate!

>25 msf59: Coronas are refreshing in this climate, Mark. I wouldn't drink the stuff in the UK or if I wasn't eating Mexican food.
I did get a bit of an ear bashing from my father-in-law who saw my FB post complete with a picture of my son with the glass of Guinness in full view. Whilst polite enough I informed my father-in-law that I would bring up my son and my son would bring up me as we saw fit. I didn't really want to get into a religious argument with him as he has gotten way more conservative over the years but I did point out that the Koran does not forbid the consumption of alcohol but rails against drunkenness. My point that modern Muslims should understand the meaning and import of the words in their full context and not just follow the dictates of conservatives who interpret documents narrowly as a system of control. I don't think he was particularly happy.

I had quite a bad argument with him last month when he had the temerity to lecture me on not allowing my wife to travel overseas without my presence as it was a temptation for her to stray! I told him that his daughter was my wife and not my prisoner and that it was my business and her business and not his business. Malay culture reveres its elder members but there is a limit to my patience.

>26 PaulCranswick: Wow! I saw that you mentioned that your in-laws would be upset, if they saw your son drinking a beer. You were not kidding. Glad to see you stand your ground. Responsible drinking and drunkeness are two different things.

>26 PaulCranswick:

Dear old Father-In-Law is wrong on the ban on alcohol, but may have a clue on "stray" which is
about a zillion times more likely to be more than tempting than when everyone's sitting around the home patio.

Commonwealth an exception.

Was Corona the only Mexican beer choice?

>27 msf59: Yes, Mark. I am getting a little fed up with their attitude actually.

Happy new thread, Paul. It is hard to come up against ingrained beliefs most times.

>28 m.belljackson: To be slightly fair to him, Marianne, he does not know the sub-text of Hani and my struggles these last months and on her need for a little space to think and find herself.

Corona was the only Mexican beer choice unless I am much mistaken. I actually quite like it with a slice of lime jammed into the bottle end.

>30 Familyhistorian: Thanks Meg. I have had to cope with it getting more marked over the last number of years. When he quit work at 52 years old after a minor disagreement with his employer, his youngest daughter was a mere 10 years old (20 years ago). His attitude that he didn't need to work because he had a rich son in law was more than a little irritating but I love my Mother in Law to bits and happily have supported them ever since including the joy of putting my Sister in law, Fifi through university - the first in her family. It is another reason why I find it difficult to accept lectures in ethics from him as he sort of abrogated his role as family head in 1997.

He is always extremely critical of Hani and the way we have brought up our children and sort of takes the position that she doesn't contribute which I find galling. The fact that my wife is the reason that they have been able to love comfortably all these years and that I look after them because I love my wife dearly seems to escape him

eta - I am not rich by the way!!

I once recommended that NASA sell the naming rights to Solar Probe to Corona, since we're, you know, studying the corona...

They weren't amused. 😀

>32 PaulCranswick: Would have been a swish idea, Jim. Those National Agencies have no sense of humour!

From the last thread:

AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 BOOKS

Country 27 of 80 - INDONESIA



Indonesia Factfile

Area : 735,358 sq miles (14th)
Population : 261,115,456
President : Joko Widodo
Capital City : Jakarta
Largest City : Jakarta
Currency : Rupiah
GDP Nominal : $1,020 Trillion (16th)
GDP Per Capita : $3,895 (114th)
National Languages : Indonesian
Median Age : 29.9
Life Expectancy : 72.7
Percentage Using Internet : 25.4%

Its a Fact : Indonesia is the world's largest archipelago with 18,000 islands.

Sources : Various but mainly wikipedia and CIA world fact book

AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 BOOKS

An Indonesia Dish

Nasi Padang

I am going to cheat a little here. Padang is the capital of West Sumatra and traditionally Padang Rice is rice served with an assortment of small dishes. You choose which ones you fancy and they bring them to your table on small plates. Rich, varied and spicy - Indonesia in a nutshell and a fabulous experience.

Happy new thread, Paul! I like your reading plan ( >13 PaulCranswick: ).

AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 BOOKS

ANOTHER INDONESIAN DISH

Shandy Aulia

>37 foggidawn: Thanks Foggy. It is probably the most I can do under the circumstances.

AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 BOOKS

Mario Lawalata

>40 PaulCranswick: I feel a sudden stirring of interest in Indonesian books....

Happy new thread!

>41 richardderus: Hahaha RD, talk about turning a new page!

>42 amanda4242: Thanks Amanda. It wouldn't be the same without you making an early appearance on my new thread. xx

Happy New Thread, Paul! Good for you, standing firm with the FIL.

>44 ronincats: Thanks Roni. I had a long talk with Hani today on a very similar topic. She sort of supported my stance.

Hi Paul! Love your opening picture. And good luck with the in-law battles.

>46 banjo123: I think that I will win that particular battle, Rhonda. xx

Happy new thread Paul - Haworth looks lovely. Gotta love some rolling hills and downs (well I do, just cos we don't have any!).

Your father-in-law has not moved away from the ways of his own parents by the sound of it Paul, but is now suffering from not receiving the kind of respect he expected in older age, as things have moved on. So he’s likely resentful, and trying to retain some power by buffeting you.

Many people do become more conservative with age as the changes in the world are happening faster and faster, and they feel less safe and more vulnerable with age.

Happy new thread.

Never been to Haworth. Glad Hani enjoyed it.

>26 PaulCranswick: "...should understand the meaning and import of the words in their full context and not just follow the dictates of conservatives who interpret documents narrowly as a system of control." You're talking about gun control in the US here, right? It sure sounds like you could be...

At any rate, happy new thread!

Happy New Thread Paul! Lovely thread topper again.
And >36 PaulCranswick: Wow - I want that! :o Every bit that's vegetarian, and yes, spicy would be great, I so miss spicy Asian food!

Re. FIL - no comment, just a {{{big hug}}}. I don't know if I'd be that patient.
Happy Weekend!

Happy newish thread, Paul. You're doing pretty well with all of your challenges. Haworth also goes on the list of places to visit.

>48 BekkaJo: Well it certainly is rolling country in that part of Yorkshire, Bekka.

>49 Caroline_McElwee: I think that I have always been quite deferential to my father-in-law, Caroline, despite the occasional quite obvious provocation. He has become more crotchety and judgemental as he has gotten older and it is getting progressively harder to bite my tongue.

>50 scaifea: I suppose I could be talking about gun control too, Amber, but of course in this instance it was the onset of conservative islamic values.

>51 Deern: I love nasi padang as the choice of dishes is so interesting and you can keep going back for more. Plenty of veggies but there is usually a lot of seafood too which I know you will skip.

>52 BLBera: Haworth is apparently well worth a visit, Beth, if only to visit its parsonage which housed those pesky Bronte sisters and their brother.

Happy new thread, Paul! I think I completely missed the last one.

>13 PaulCranswick: I doubt that plan would be achievable for me! :-)

Happy New Thread Paul!
It's been less than 24 hours so I can say that no matter how many posts are ahead of me.

The Haworth topper is beautiful.

Sorry about the FIL stuff.

When in Mexico I prefer a Pacifico or a Dos Equis Lager

>33 drneutron: that's hilarious!

>56 harrygbutler: Hi Harry. I don't think that the plan is overly achievable for me either!

>57 SuziQoregon: Hani is in raptures about Haworth, Juli. Just spoke to her and she was giving directions about what I have to buy "when we're rich!".

The FIL is better when I am not thinking too much about him!

Hi Paul! I love the picture in >1 PaulCranswick:. Lovely location, I can see why Hani fell in love with it!

Happy New Thread, Paul!

Another nice soppy poem up there. What a romantic your younger self was - and I suspect your older self remains so.

Dear, dear Paul,

Hello, friend! Wow, what a stunner your photo is up top - no wonder Hani wants to move! Just try to find a big enough place to host your Colorado friends, please...

>26 PaulCranswick: wow, your father-in-law! Good for you for standing up for your family. There's a reason why there are two oceans between us and my mother-in-law... it's hard when ideas are so different. As you may know, the drinking age in the US is 21. This summer when we were in Cyprus the girls both had cocktails when they went out with us (at 18 Callia was legal but Marina not so much. No one was particularly concerned, seeing as both parents were there). The girls both said they were glad they had their first drinking experience with their parents!

Have a wonderful day.

>1 PaulCranswick: Lovely picture of Haworth Paul, but I do have to admit that I prefer Heptonstall. Haworth is a little bit too busy whenever I've been there.

>61 AMQS: The UK is certainly much more relaxed about teen drinking Anne. J has gone on a school trip to Berlin this evening and the wording of the notice that came home about it was that students would be allowed to have a beer with their evening meals if they wanted, but to contact the trip leader if parents weren't happy about this. Some will be 18 but most will still be 17 at this stage in the school year, but the implication being that there wasn't much expectation of anyone objecting. Similarly, J went to his school sixth form ball a couple of weeks ago, and there was wine with the meal and a (low-alcohol) drink on arrival. Anyone who had too much would have got into serious trouble, but there wasn't an issue about some alcohol.

>32 PaulCranswick: Good luck with your father-in-law Paul. I find myself getting less and less tolerant of people that I don't agree with. I should say that they people I am disagreeing with are the ones that are lacking in tolerance themselves, if that isn't a contradiction in terms.

Happy new thread, Paul!

>3 PaulCranswick: I think Kyran would like it if you updated his age ;-)

>13 PaulCranswick: That is my plan too, wrestling with 3 tomes at the moment....

Happy new thread Paul!

And for your FIL, we once had a neighbour, who was born in Morocco, who told us that both alcohol and hashish were okay for muslims, as long as you didn't mix them;) But of course he was young.

Happy new thread mate and a great thread topper photo, we just love Haworth and visited earlier in the year. We visited Hebden Bridge before heading to Haworth and then wending our way back home. Have a good weekend mate.

Hi Paul - you mentioned that your Father-in-Law has been getting worse over the years - any signs of early dementia?

Many of us have been facing that with our families and friends.

Hmmm good luck on biting your tongue ( but please don't attempt that literally) .... funny thing is restriction of alcohol ( & other things religious orders forbade) often leads to overindulgence, humans are funny like that.

>59 EBT1002: I can just see you climbing those rolling hills, Ellen.

>60 jnwelch: Yes, Joe, I am still that romantic adolescent wrapped inside a middle aged body!

>61 AMQS: I will make sure that any place we do eventually take in Yorkshire will have room for guests to visit and to entertain my LT pals!

Supervised starts to drinking is important , I think, Anne. It encourages the kids to be sensible. Since I don't drink to excess but like an occasional tipple I think it sets a good example whilst my in-law feels that drinking is evil and that I am putting Kyran on the road to hell! Never mind, Kyran is smart enough to make his own mind up. I do worry though that Malaysia is becoming more socially conservative as the western world goes in the opposite direction.

>62 SandDune: Thanks for that, Rhian, as I haven't been to Heptonstall and must! That is Mr SandDune's neck of the woods?

Your comments on drinking on the school trip are interesting and rather a sign of progress rather than otherwise.

I agree with your comments too about tolerance levels as we get older. I think that a few years ago I would have just kept quiet and ignored him but I couldn't do that this time around.

>63 FAMeulstee: Thanks Anita and well spotted on his age!

>64 EllaTim: He sounds like a blast, Ella. It is funny that most muslims are fairly relaxed about certain types of drugs but anything with even 1% of alcohol in it is getting increasingly frowned upon. There is absolutely no logic in this and no basis from their religious texts which actually preach moderation and discipline not complete abstemiousness.

>65 johnsimpson: Thanks John. It is that country and its environs that inspired Ted Hughes of course.

>66 m.belljackson: Not as such, Marianne, in a strictly medical sense anyway! It is apparently very common for muslim men as they get closer to accounting to God to become far more entrenched in their views. He probably means well but his views really don't wash with me and my boy.

>67 roundballnz: Will try to keep my sharp little teeth away from my tongue, Alex!

It is the over indulgence that is forbidden and that is often what they end up with by making it a guilty pleasure.

>70 PaulCranswick: In The house of the mosque there is an opium room. But when the young son of the house, an imam himself, turns into an addict, his father is very dismayed, so yes, moderation. Of course Iran might be very different from other countries. Too me, as a westerner, the idea of a regular opium room was pretty shocking:)

>72 EllaTim: Interesting, Ella. I do think that the Iranians get a slightly exaggerated press these days - they are no way as dangerous in terms of the inculcation of their beliefs as the wahabbis in Saudi Arabia.

>72 EllaTim: I wouldn't know about that, Paul, but I don't much believe in an axis of evil;)

>74 EllaTim: And neither do I, Ella. I do believe though that the forces of radical islam are a severe threat to the world and that those ideas in the main emanate from certain sections of Saudi Arabia. I make those comments as an adherent to islam and not as a Western man who could be fairly accused of anti-islamic tendencies.

>75 PaulCranswick:

Ayaan Hirsi Ali has plenty to say about the very real dangers of radical Islam - all personal experiences in NOMAD.

>76 m.belljackson: - I listened to the audiobook of Nomad, and it was all the more powerful because she read it, herself. I also read her Infidel and also, her Heretic, but I had some difficulty with that last one. I didn't find it realistic at all to even imagine, never mind expect, that Islam would/could undergo any sort of reform.

>32 PaulCranswick: I didn't know that your FIL had done that, Paul. No wonder your recent business problems affected you so deeply with all of the families that depend on you. It makes it doubly hard not to have your efforts acknowledged let alone appreciated.

>76 m.belljackson: I will go and look for that Marianne. To be honest I can see the radicalisation happening before my very eyes some of the time. The "sermons" at the mosques on a Friday even in Malaysia can have my blood boiling to be honest by their naked prejudice and intolerance.

>77 jessibud2: Yes Shelley, I really will have to go and seek that one out.

>78 Familyhistorian: I am perhaps being a little bit uncharitable, Meg. I don't think I could honestly say that he is unappreciative but it is simply that he wants to inculcate his ideas and values even as they harden. In some manner his intention is not ignoble but his conservatism is not something I can adhere to.

Hi Paul and happy new thread.

Drinking, conservatism, and religion. It's always amazing over here.

My mother was an alcoholic. Her grandfather was an alcoholic. My brother is an alcoholic. My husband's mother AND father were alcoholics. We talked to daughter frequently and from a young age about the possible genetic weakness to alcohol. We let her drink wine and beer in the house with us, in extreme moderation, infrequently. After she went to school, and then when living about 3 hours away from us, I think she scared herself. I knew she'd drink a few beers of an evening, but one day she announced that she'd quit cold turkey, absolutely, including cold medicines with alcohol in them, and wouldn't even touch a bottle of alcohol. I'm sorry that she has a genetic tendency and/or an addictive personality, glad that she's got the strength to take care of herself by avoiding alcohol completely.

My dad tried to tell me that I'd get more conservative over time, especially if I started earning good money! He was wrong of course, and we stopped talking about politics when I was 13. If it came up, it was divisive, so I just never brought it up. When he and my mother tried to remonstrate with me over the years about my lifestyle I simply ignored them, being financially independent and fiercely jealous of my right to live my life as I wanted to.

My sister is ultra-conservative Christian, which has been a trial to me since she converted at the age of 16 (I was 20). We even had one three-year period when I refused to speak with her at all after she told me she was sorry I was going to Hell and that I was her special burden with Jesus. We don't discuss religion except in general terms, she doesn't try to proselytize me, and I let her bloviate about her Christianity without challenging her.

I'm glad Hani is having a good time in the UK and that you are both getting a bit of a breather. Good luck with your year-end push for 100 books, too. Any eensy ones you can get in? They all count. *smile*

>77 jessibud2:

Given her history as Female, a Heretic, and creating a movie with Theo Van Gogh that got him murdered,
any reform that she might favor would be denounced.

Maybe as a testimonial to the 31st of this month, some brave Islamic soul will nail up 95 Theses.

>81 karenmarie: Thank you for that Karen.

My twin brother is an alcoholic and I am very proud that he faced up to his demons about five years ago and has been sober since then. He plays a very leading role in AA in Yorkshire and goes to meetings a la Matt Scudder five or six times a week.

We often forget that it is not only islam that suffers from radicalism and that Christianity and Hinduism and Judaism too have their "ultras".

Your dad would have been right with me as I am not quite the rampant socialist that I was in my teens and early twenties, having a couple of businesses and so many families livelihoods dependent upon me. I will never be close to being a conservative though and will always think of myself as a socialist even if I am a little pinkish these days instead of bright red!

>82 m.belljackson: They would need to be extremely brave, Marianne, depending upon which country they would be driving nails in.

I am reading Peter Ackroyd's second volume of English History - Tudors and the number of clerics and others burned at the stake for their beliefs less than 500 years ago is pretty scary.

I am so sorry to see that Suki, our dear friend in the group Paul Stalder's wife passed away this afternoon after a long and very brave fight against cancer.

Paul and his three children were thankfully by her side until the end and one of his daughters has been married barely a fortnight.

Please stop by his thread if you are able to give him a virtual hug or two. xx

Just saying happy New thread, Paul.

Family relationships are sometimes complicated and thorny. It takes skill and patience to navigate the paths; I fell into the bushes more than once. It’s not fun. I know you’ll do a good job there, too.

Paul--Boy skip your thread for two days and look what happens...almost 90 posts!! Glad Hani is still enjoying herself. Sorry about your troubles with your FIL--good luck! Enjoy what's left of your weekend. Sorry to hear about Suki.

>86 Matke: I have managed to cope and keep a lid on things for over 20 years, Gail, but as he hardens his views with age, I also become less tolerant of his nonsense!

>87 Berly: Thanks Kimmers. Yes Hani took her leave of Yasmyne yesterday evening and will wend her way southward. She is back here on Friday night. I never met Suki in RL but Paul's love for her emanated very eloquently from his thread and he and his family are much in my thoughts today. I hope that when my time comes or Hani's that I can demonstrate half the dignity and stoicism that he and he wife managed.

>85 PaulCranswick: Thanks for sharing this news Paul.

Haworth is lovely - tempting second hand bookshops too.
I've not been in ages, need to try and get back to hiking at the weekend, so many beautiful places in the north of England.

Fascinating discussion about alcohol. I have wondered lately about how the new term means (some) students arrive and drink to excess in close proximity to a group of young refugees who don't drink any alcohol and would love to be able to access the educational resources the partying young people are enjoying... I wonder if the two groups talking might have some interesting outcomes.

>89 charl08: That is a very interesting insight Charlotte. Outside looking in, I would hazard that there is more than a little wistfulness in seeing the relatively well-off sons and daughters of the west enjoying themselves whilst learning.

65.

Tudors - The History of England Volume II by Peter Ackroyd

Date of Publication : 2012
Pages : 471

This is the second part of Ackroyd's projected 6 volume history of England and covers the 118 years from the betrayal of Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth Field to the death of the self-styled Virgin Queen.

In fact the book starts in effect with the ascendancy of Henry VIII. It is a history and a period I am quite familiar with but the detail and re-telling is exemplary and very well done. We have the six wives, the juvenile King and his Protestant regents, the Queen for Nine Days, Bloody Mary and finally the protestant consolidation under Elizabeth with Drake and Dudley and Essex and the Queen of Scots.

For anyone who enjoys his history told as if sat by the fireside listening to a story recounted with detail and anecdote such that the acrid smell of gunpowder can be imagined as well as the swish of the executioner's axe and the crackle of the faggots as the heretics are put to the torch. They were cruel and dangerous times, they were times of great discovery and of great disputation and all of these are covered here.

Recommended.

8/10

Hi, Paul. Hope you had a good weekend and got plenty of reading in. My sister will be visiting, from Oregon, so I am on vacation this week. Always a joyful thing.

>92 msf59: That is great news Mark. Always good to spend time with the family, mate.

Since last Thursday we have both our significant others in the UK, Paul ;-)
Frank went with his friend Wilco to Scotland and the main island of Orkney, they will return Tuesday. You have wait a bit longer for Hani's return.

Hi Paul, hope you have had a good weekend mate, we have been busy with Christmas Cake baking but we have enjoyed it. This weekend's Yorkshire Post Magazine had an extract from Jonny Bairstow's heart rending and inspirational memoir, A Clear Blue Sky co-authored by the award winning sports author, Duncan Hamilton. This is a book I will be getting and it is tipped to be the Sports autobiography of the year. I would not normally want to read a book by a sportsman so young with quite a number of years to look forward to in his or her career but this is an exception.

As we know he has gone through a lot in his young life, not least losing his father who was one of the most popular cricketers of his generation, when he hanged himself at the age of 46 in the family home. Without giving much away it is the tribute he pays to his father that is the most touching of all. I have no doubt I will be moved to tears and more so as I seem to be still quite emotional even though it is almost two years since my darling Amy got married.

Have a good week ahead mate and look forward to your posts, Karen sends her love to you all and hopes you are not missing Hani too much.

>94 FAMeulstee: That is so cool, Anita, as I have always wanted to visit the Orkney Islands. Do have him brief us on the place when he is back.

>95 johnsimpson: Is it really already two years ago, John?

I saw on the BBC website an article about Jonny Bairstow's biography. His dad was a good wicket-keeper in an age full of them in the county game. Humpage, Tolchard, Knott, French, Taylor, Downton, Richards, Gould.

Interesting discussion about alcohol, Paul. In moderation it is ok for the average person but some people just can't drink in moderation. It is concerning how alcoholism runs through generations and it is doubly concerning how the families of alcoholics are affected. Dealing with alcohol induced psychosis just sucks the joy and energy out of family life.

>96 PaulCranswick: Before Brexit we sometimes quietly dreamed about retiring on the Shetlands or Orkneys.
Frank was impressed when they visited the Stones of Stennes. I will hear more, and see some pictures, when he returns tomorrow.

>97 Familyhistorian: My brother and i are a case in point on this, Meg. I can control but he cannot.

>98 FAMeulstee: Ooh I am looking forward to that Anita!

Is all well with you, Paul? You are so quiet in the group...

I am ok Anita. A little borne down by work and money issues but trying to keep going.

I had a bit of a kerfuffle with Belle's school yesterday as they called and said she had been put on suspension because I hadn't settled the school fees. Poor girl they took her out of class and put her in the library until I collected her. I had already discussed with one of the school owners and she had tacitly agreed that I could settle the fees early next month when my cash flow was a little better. Unfortunately she had a fall at home and hadn't communicated the thing. I was quite angry with the school administrators who could have handled it much more differently and maybe called me and asked to keep Belle from school until I paid. I am now paying it today and it comes at the wrong time ($5,000) as I have just paid a slightly higher amount for Yasmyne's UK accommodation.

I will try to get round the threads more today when I get a wee bit more energy.

>101 PaulCranswick: Yuck, what a nasty situation Paul! And not a nice way to handle it at all by those school administrators. Small wonder you feel tired.

>101 PaulCranswick: Hi Paul! The school did not handle that with much sensitivity. Sending you happy thoughts. And a really big hug.

>103 EllaTim: Yes well I suppose that is what I get when I am forced into private education overseas (the state education here is taught in Bahasa Malaysia)! It was done without any warning whatsoever and I told them I was very disappointed in that I had put two other children through their school and been a customer of the school for approximately fifteen years. I checked and in that time I have paid almost $350,000 to the school in fees not counting the uniforms and books etc etc.

>104 Berly: No and they were quite nasty about it too. I told the owner last night - she was and remains very nice to be fair - that with the payment I shall be giving notice that Belle will leave the school at the end of the term.

>91 PaulCranswick: I love your description of Ackroyd's history--very clear and visual in your words, you are!

Sorry about the school problems and red tape. Hope things clear up.

Karen O.

>101 PaulCranswick: - Oh Paul, that's terrible, the way they handled that issue! These are people who are supposed to take the children's well-being as a priority? Some administrators! What is wrong with people these days, I wonder? So many people, in so many places and situations, behaving so poorly. It's such a pity.

When does Belle's term end? Do you have another school lined up already?

It's always something, isn't it? I wish you calmer days and better days ahead, my friend

>106 klobrien2: Thanks Karen. Lovely to have you stop by and pick up my mood a little too. xx

>107 jessibud2: I thought they were pretty horrid actually. When I think in the better times how many books I have donated to their bloody library and how much time I have given to their PTA crap.

Belle's term ends in December one of three semesters. I think the UK is calling her and free education!

>108 PaulCranswick: Oh hell...having Belle so far away?! How will that work? I'm sad to hear this nasty turn in your long-term relationship with the rotters.

I’m sorry about the school difficulties, Paul. I hope Belle will be able to shake it off quickly—and you, too.

Its always something. Maddening.

Sorry to read about the difficulties with the schools there. I'm sure she'll look forward to her new adventure in the UK.

>109 richardderus: RD, I do believe that eventually I will have to succumb and return to the UK. Kyran is floundering and the education cost of the children is weighing heavily on my dwindling resources. I have a couple of projects in Lombok and Kuala Lumpur which may pull the fat out of the fire for me but in the meanwhile it has given a hefty whack to my relationship with Hani and is a constant strain on me.

>110 Matke: I was half expecting it Gail. I have problems with paying the electricity and house rentals and am particularly worried about Yasmyne's accommodation in Scotland. I have some money coming in today which will pay some of the immediate bills but it is a bit of a worry to be honest.

>111 thornton37814: She was sanguine about the whole thing, Lori, bless her. Never mind Dad was the attitude and to be honest it was more a case of her comforting me than vice versa!

So so angry for you! Glad Belle was chilled about it. Fingers and everything crossed for you that it all starts to look up soon.

>101 PaulCranswick: Sorry, Paul, glad Belle took it well. Didn't this also happen last semester?
I hoped Hani's trip was a sign of you being out of the woods financially.

>91 PaulCranswick: "....For anyone who enjoys his history told as if sat by the fireside listening to a story recounted with detail and anecdote such that the acrid smell of gunpowder can be imagined...."

sign me up

>108 PaulCranswick: - Once the new calendar year begins and this episode is all behind you, you could write them a letter, ostensibly to encourage them to learn from this error in judgment and behaviour. I actually did that when I retired, as I had an issue with the way the principal and vice-principal had treated me in the months prior to my decision to leave. I was polite and professional, and they were both quite young and at the start of their careers. I never expected (and did not receive) a response but it was something I needed to do, for myself. And never looked back.

Well, dang, Paul; I'm sorry that you're having trouble with Belle's school, and how stupidly they've acted. Yeesh.

Hi Paul!

What an awful way to treat Belle and you.

You've been pretty quiet recently about the financial strains, and I'm sorry that I assumed things were going well. You've got way too much going on. Sending hugs.

Difficult living and on such a knife edge Paul. The school should have handled the situation with more care, especially as you have been paying fees for so long. Hope things improve soon.

>101 PaulCranswick:

Any chance Hani would enjoy Home Schooling?

Sorry to hear of the troubles, Paul! Very trying circumnstances, and I hope that things will take a turn for the better soon!

Hi Paul, just catching up with you and sorry to read of the trouble with Belle's school. Hopefully your prompt response will smooth any difficulties and Belle isn't caught up in any drama. I have fallen in love with Haworth from that one picture so can fully understand why Hani would want to live there! I am currently reading A Clockwork Orange and although I struggled a little with his made-up language at the beginning, I am now settled in and quite liking it. Hope everything picks up for you soon!

Sorry to read about your recent problems Paul. Really hope some companies come through with some work so you don't have to worry so much.

Hi Paul, sorry to hear of your troubles over Belle's education mate, they seem to be very unprofessional after all that you have done for them notwithstanding the amount of money they have had off you over the years. I only wish that I could help financially mate although I have a lottery ticket for tonight on the Euromillions and the jackpot is £58 million, so if I could get a reasonable amount I would help you out of a sticky spot mate.

We both send love and hugs to you all.

>114 BekkaJo: Bekka, I stumped up the money for the school fees today and took the cheque home to pay them in the morning. Belle's reaction was comical - "Does that mean I have to go to school now, Dad?".

>115 FAMeulstee: It did happen in the last school year Anita, but was not escalated into such a serious problem as one of the school owners is very friendly with Hani and I and gave me a little latitude to pay the fees in two parts. This time she was absent ill,

>116 roundballnz: Yes, Alex, it is a series to follow as Ackroyd uses all his considerable skills as a novelist to make the retelling of England's history compelling.

>117 jessibud2: I will certainly do that Shelley when I have simmered down a little. In my work of contract management I always advise my clients never to respond or write letters when angry as it can tend to make things worse.

>118 scaifea: Hi Amber. It is funny isn't it how people treat you when the money is suddenly tight - that same school used to fawn all over me looking for donations a mere couple of years ago. There is a saying that form is temporary but class is permanent and I will not always be struggling but at least I know who I can rely on nowadays.

>119 karenmarie: Honestly things are better than they were, Karen! There is light at the end of the tunnel, it is just that the tunnel is a longish one to get through! If I can make it out of 2017 then 2018 will be undoubtedly a splendid one.

>120 Caroline_McElwee: I am slowly making that knife edge blunter, Caroline, although my buttocks are getting scraped a fair bit in the process! The school should have handled it differently and I only hope that Belle doesn't have any stigma from the whole sorry episode.

>121 m.belljackson: In a word, Marianne, no! Home schooling isn't really done in Malaysia and Belle, being somewhat introverted, does need the social side of school to draw her out of herself a little bit.

>122 harrygbutler: Thank you Harry. Things always look better another day on and I have already brushed myself off a little bit. If problems weren't sent to try us, mate, we enjoy the better times much less.

>123 DeltaQueen50: Thanks dear Guru. Haworth could be in our futures. I have spoken to Hani about going to the UK first with Ysabelle and Kyran in order to school while I wrap things up here so let us see.
It is a long time since I read A Clockwork Orange and it is not my favourite by Burgess but I do recognise its innovative style and importance.

>124 charl08: The work is almost there Charlotte. We have one project at the moment in the Project Management company for our American aviation client that will pay the bills there for the next eight months and allow me to chip away at the backlog of liabilities there. Other projects there are slowly coming in.
The construction company's fundamentals are fine although cash flow is tight. With three projects ongoing and one more about to start, I have formed an alliance with two other companies on the three ongoing jobs (and for selected future ones too) that enables us to move forward well with a 30% share. The profits will be realised more fully later but the projects do pay the group half of projected profits on the projects as we go from each progressive payment. This enables cashflow to slowly be energised as the work picks up with a windfall on each project to come.

>125 johnsimpson: Well schools are run as businesses, mate, I guess that is what transpires. I will keep my fingers crossed for you and the Euro-lottery, John. Think of all the books you could buy..........!

Just checking in here. I know the money pain of which you speak. We currently have a project that was supposed to be done in July, but will not be complete now until probably December. City permits, etc, which have delayed our getting the final payment from the client for final completion. Sigh. We will get there though and so will you. Hang in there!!

>127 PaulCranswick: - Agree, 100%. I never wrote that letter while I was still employed, and had much to lose. But once I retired, and had nothing to lose, it still took me awhile to compose it, think on it, and after some months, finally felt it was a calm and measured and totally professional letter. And at that point, I had nothing to lose. And that was fine. It was more for me, than them, though I hope they at least read it.....

Anyhow, as you well know (and they ought to), this too shall pass and your world, financial and otherwise, will right itself once again.

{{hugs}}

Something you said upthread just struck me, Paul: How is Kyran floundering? Is his education not engaging him just now? He's at the end of high school, I'm sure, and I can speak from my dimly remembered past as well as my own daughter's more recent one that this is a moment of deep frustration with the entire notion of school for many intelligent people. I am certain Kyran will blow past the problem, if it's at all similar to this, because he's doubtless fatigued from all the constraints and demands he's faced for the past dozen years.

>132 Berly: Thanks Kimmers - my arms are getting much longer with all the hanging on I have been doing! Good luck with closing out the project.

>133 jessibud2: Thank you Shelley. The support and shared experiences of this wonderful group has been so uplifting for me.

>134 richardderus: RD, I used the word floundering more as a reflection of my pretty poor efforts to help him in continuing his education. He has taken a year out whilst he brooded on what he wanted to do subject wise and now that he is ready to go (he wants to do psychology, poor chap) I am having trouble funding it for him. We have agreed that he will further study in the UK and he is looking to do that in Portsmouth as he has a friend there and will stay with him - I just need now to set aside a little bit of a fighting fund to set him on his way. In all truth, dear fellow, he isn't floundering; his Dad is.

>136 PaulCranswick: OIC

Well, that's different and that's actually easier in so many ways. It's nothing that a large check won't cure! Hang tough, my old, hang on and hang the rotten bastards who let you down when you needed fairness and loyalty the most.

66.

Exit West by Mohsin Hamid

Date of Publication : 2017
Pages : 231
Booker Shortlist
Around the World in 80 Books - #28 : Pakistan

There were parts of this that were simply tremendous. The first half of the book in the unnamed city as our two protagonists meet and fall in love as the world around them crumbles is sensational stuff; the rest as the magic realism stuff takes over is less so but still good.

In many ways Hamid is telling a wider story here - of dislocation and the plight of the dispossessed and the fairy tale of escapism coming true and being in some ways as hard a reality only a different one. The message works and we care about the characters although I thought his drawing of the parents of Saeed (our hero) was pitch perfect and, for me, set the book up beautifully.

I can see why this was shortlisted just as I can see why it didn't win the Booker. it wouldn't have disgraced the award, however, had it done so.

8/10

>137 richardderus: Thank you, RD. How I have missed your dose of good sense and your pep talks! I am going to do a Gloria Gaynor and survive.

>139 PaulCranswick: L'homme avec sense common, c'est vrai, est moi.

AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 BOOKS

Country 28 of 80 - PAKISTAN



Pakistan Factfile

Area : 340,509 sq miles (33rd)
Population : 207,774,520
President/Prime Minister : Mamnoon Hussein / Shahid Khaqan Abbasi
Capital City : Islamabad
Largest City : Karachi
Currency : Rupee
GDP Nominal : $304.4 billion (42nd)
GDP Per Capita : $1,629 (145th)
National Languages : Urdu
Median Age : 23.4
Life Expectancy : 67.7
Percentage Using Internet : 15.5%

Its a Fact : Pakistan means "land of the pure" in Urdu and Persian.

Sources : Various but mainly wikipedia and CIA world fact book

>141 PaulCranswick: And I am just common, RD.

LOLOL

AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 BOOKS

A PAKISTANI DISH

Chicken Karahi

Much of the cuisine that the west terms "Indian" food actually originates in Pakistan. This is a favourite of mine, especially when made a little bit more spicy.

AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 BOOKS

ANOTHER PAKISTANI DISH

Sara Loren

She changed her name and you can see why!

AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 BOOKS

ANOTHER PAKISTANI DISH

Imran Khan

In my teens I wanted to be Imran Khan. Suave, women falling at his feet, one of the greatest bowlers Pakistani cricket had seen and fiercely intelligent to boot. Now a politician trying to change his country for the better and struggling. You can see the lines on his face!

>143 richardderus: I did jolly well miss you in these parts, dear fellow.

67.

Tenth of December by George Saunders

Date of Publication : 2013
Pages : 251
American Author Challenge

This collection of short stories won the inaugural Folio Prize.

Some writers are lionised by critics and readers alike and some of them you can see why. I am sorry but this disappointed the hell out of me and I wished I could have had some readqwik TM to get me through it more expeditiously.

Out of the ten stories I couldn't have cared less about at least half of them. The opening gambit showed promise and the story "Home" almost rescued things for me a little but overall this was far too experimental for me to enjoy.

I have bought Lincoln in the Bardo and do hope that, unlike this mishmash, the hype is a little more justified.

5/10

>146 PaulCranswick:

Kind of looks like an unbearded Knausgaard would - if he ever smiled.

>149 m.belljackson: In his pomp in the late 70s and early 80s he was quite the heartthrob, Imran Khan.

Paul, I will join in the unanimous condemnation as to how Belle's school handled the situation, and send hugs to help tide you over to the new year.

>151 ronincats: I have allowed Belle to stay off today even though the Bill can be paid as she was enjoying her down time yesterday! Bill is now paid so that she has no excuse tomorrow!

>148 PaulCranswick: My sentiments exactly. The last somewhat querulous entreaty to the goddesses...well....

>153 richardderus: It is good for me to be on the side of the angels occasionally!

Hi Paul!

>146 PaulCranswick: Yum. >150 PaulCranswick: Not nearly as attractive when he was younger, IMO.

>148 PaulCranswick: As you know, I was gobsmacked by Lincoln in the Bardo and am surprised at your low rating of Tenth of December. I'm not a serious fan of short stories, as a rule, so will avoid this one like the plague. Negative Book Bullet?

>152 PaulCranswick: Good to have downtime and take a breath every once in a while. Yay Dad!

>91 PaulCranswick: Hmm, that might be a Christmas present for P....

I have a copy of Tenth of December on my shelves but have not gotten around to reading it yet. It just hasn't called to me (some of it is my lack of full enthusiasm about short stories -- sometimes I love them, sometimes not so much). I think I'll prioritize Lincoln in the Bardo which I also have not yet gotten around to reading.

Hi Paul, things will come good for you mate as I know you are a fighter even though it seems it of the old bare knuckle type with a high number of rounds. I like the idea that you could be in or around the Haworth region, we are considering a move when the mortgage is done with. I would like some countryside but it does need to have good public transport links for Karen as she does not drive. We are not sure where but probably nearer Amy and Andy than Rob and Louise, it is really sad of me to say that I want to get away from my home town but it is getting to be a right shithole. I know things have to change but before long there will be nothing to go into Wakefield for and to be honest shopping is better in Leeds and Sheffield although we do like to go even further afield. Before the Millenium I would never have considered saying all this but gradually it has declined, there is no co-ordinated effort between the council and the shopping centre to get Wakefield back to its best and if they are talking then that is all they are doing. Rant over.

>155 karenmarie: Some people age gracefully don't they and Imran Khan is one of them!

There were a couple of the stories in the collection that almost redeemed the thing and it is obvious that he can write but I just felt that so much of it was filler.

The little madam put a note by my sleeping form just now to the effect that she hasn't done any homework and could she have another day of freedom!

>156 EBT1002: I would get the series, Ellen, there are at least four of the six projected books out already and I have them and have read the first two.

Since it won plenty of accolades, others have adored Tenth of December, but I am not a one for bandwagons and I won't say that I thought it brilliant when I did not just because there is supposedly some spark of genius in it that I couldn't detect.

>157 johnsimpson: Dear John, I will always have a very strong affection for my hometown which I am sure you reciprocate but I abandoned it 23 years ago although in some ways you never leave it! Let's face it though our beloved Wakefield was never the most aesthetically pleasing place in God's Own but the people make it - warts and all. My brother's business is situated there as you know and if and when I do return I will be involved with it in some way shape or form so I will not wander too far from the place. Having lived in Malaysia's capital city for so long - 45 minute drives to and from work is no strain and that opens up a lot of possibilities.

68.

Poems New and Collected by Wislawa Szymborska

Date of Publication : 1998
Pages : 270
Nobel Prize Winner
Around the World in 80 Books - #29 : Poland

Sometimes the Nobel Prize jury get it wrong - but not always!

When she was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1996 she was considered an obscure choice by many who had not had the benefit of her relatively small output of work.

Much of it is collected here and I have, in truth, being dipping into it for a goodly while. She is accessible, witty, wise and has a wonderful way of conveying magical ideas in relatively few words. She was obviously a poet of her time but what a poet!

I have stated elsewhere that I am not always overly fond of poetry in translation as the meaning is sometimes conveyed without the quality of language but here both shine through and the translators Stanislav Baranczak and Clare Cavanagh deserve a huge slice of credit for that.

It is a book I shall never tire of of leave too far from my grasp as is the case with some of my favourites - Heaney, Eliot, Hughes, Yeats, Thomas and Betjeman.

What to choose to exemplify her work succinctly:

This is called Some Like Poetry and is from her 1993 collection the End and the Beginning:

Some -
thus not all. Not even the majority of all but the minority.
Not counting schools, where one has to,
and the poets themselves,
there might be two people per thousand.

Like -
but one also likes chicken soup with noodles,
one likes compliments and the color blue,
one likes an old scarf,
one likes having the upper hand,
one likes stroking a dog.

Poetry -
but what is poetry.
Many shaky answers
have been given to this question.
But I don't know and don't know and hold on to it
like to a sustaining railing.


Needless to say, I recommend it.

9/10

AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 BOOKS

Country 29 of 80 - POLAND



Poland Factfile

Area : 120,726 sq miles (69th)
Population : 38,634,007 (34th)
President/Prime Minister : Andrej Duda / Beata Szydlo
Capital City : Warsaw
Largest City : Warsaw
Currency : zloty
GDP Nominal : $509.955 billion (23rd)
GDP Per Capita : $13,429
National Languages : Polish
Median Age : 40.3
Life Expectancy : 77.6
Percentage Using Internet : 73.3%

Its a Fact : Poland means people of the open fields! 35% of all Poles live outside the country.

Sources : Various but mainly wikipedia and CIA world fact book

AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 BOOKS

A POLISH DISH

Bigos

Here is a little known fact. My family for some inexplicable reason in the late eighties bought a Polish deli in Huddersfield and I helped out occasionally in the few struggling years before it folded. Got to know and love the food (in those days of course pork was not out of bounds to be and their sausages and liver sausages are fantastic) and the beer.

This is called Hunter's Stew and is traditionally made with kielbasa (Polish sausage) and sauerkraut:

AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 BOOKS .

ANOTHER POLISH DISH

Izabella Scorupco

To be honest I am spoiled for choice with Polish ladies as they are definitely amongst the most beautiful in Europe.

.AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 BOOKS

AND ANOTHER POLISH DISH

Maciej Zakoscielny

An actor with an almost unpronounceable name:

>163 PaulCranswick: kielbasa and sauerkraut...oh YUM

>165 PaulCranswick: Mak Zak-thingummy YUM

>166 richardderus: I had an idea you would be pleased, RD!

Kielbasa is one of my favorite sausages. Hot kielbasa, mashed potatoes & gravy, and some kale made for a really good dinner last night in chez Caro. No beer though ... 'someone' forgot to pick some up on his way home and he was too tired to go out again to get some. So we had to make do with cider.

>167 PaulCranswick: *dazzled*

>168 cameling: Cider isn't the worst thing to have with kielbasa, Caro. Imagine if you'd only had a warm bottle of Riesling!

>168 cameling: Making me hungry as usual - you do seem to have that effect on me often, Caro.

>169 richardderus: I'm with RD on that; a good dry cider is an excellent accompaniment to savouries. Warm Riesling, I am less confident of.

69.

Now by Morris Gleitzman

Date of Publication : 2010
Pages : 182
ANZAC BINGO CHALLENGE

Typically touching end to a wonderful YA series.

The story has moved from war torn Poland to Australia and our hero Felix is now a retired surgeon and grandfather to a little girl named Zelda after his tragic friend from the days of the Holocaust.

Zelda's parents are volunteers in Darfur and Zelda is enjoying her time with her father as the bushfires close in.

Read it.

8/10

I am glad to report that I have got my reading mojo back. I have read more books already in October than I read in the previous three months combined and have polished off an impressive (for me) 7 books in 10 days. I have Kafka probably done over the weekend and am whittling away at a few more.

All is good!

>162 PaulCranswick: I'm with you, Paul, on Wislawa Szymborska. I think Ellie was the one who got me started reading her a few years ago. Here's a short one of hers that I like. She did a lot of cool ones based on paintings and photographs, didn't she.

Two Monkeys by Brueghel - by Wislawa Szymborska

I keep dreaming of my graduation exam:
in a window sit two chained monkeys,
beyond the window floats the sky,
and the sea splashes.

I am taking an exam on the history of mankind:
I stammer and flounder.

One monkey, eyes fixed upon me, listens ironically,
the other seems to be dozing-
and when silence follows a question,
he prompts me
with a soft jingling of the chain.

* * * *

P.S. I'm glad you got your reading mojo back. Sounds like lots of good reading.

Getting your reading mojo back is a sign that things are improving, Paul. I hope that you are soon out of the woods.

7 books in 10 days - yes I think your mojo has back .....

>173 jnwelch: I like that one too, Joe.
You are right in that she took some very innovative perspectives such as imagining herself as characters in paintings. Here is another one I really like which observes the power or potentialities of the poet's pen (alliteration partially intended).

The Joy of Writing


Why does this written doe bound through these written woods?
For a drink of written water from a spring
whose surface will xerox her soft muzzle?
Why does she lift her head; does she hear something?
Perched on four slim legs borrowed from the truth,
she pricks up her ears beneath my fingertips.
Silence - this word also rustles across the page
and parts the boughs
that have sprouted from the word 'woods.'
Lying in wait, set to pounce on the blank page,
are letters up to no good,
clutches of clauses so subordinate
they'll never let her get away.

Each drop of ink contains a fair supply
of hunters, equipped with squinting eyes behind their sights,
prepared to swarm the sloping pen at any moment,
surround the doe, and slowly aim their guns.

They forget that what's here isn't life.
Other laws, black on white, obtain.
The twinkling of an eye will take as long as I say,
and will, if I wish, divide into tiny eternities,
full of bullets stopped in mid-flight.
Not a thing will ever happen unless I say so.
Without my blessing, not a leaf will fall,
not a blade of grass will bend beneath that little hoof's full stop.

Is there then a world
where I rule absolutely on fate?
A time I bind with chains of signs?
An existence become endless at my bidding?

The joy of writing.
The power of preserving.
Revenge of a mortal hand.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Ahhh dear, dear Ellie.

>174 Familyhistorian: Well it is certainly something, Meg! I have decided not to soldier on at this time with The Brothers K and will be switching to Lolita to represent Russia via the emigre Nabokov. This is to give me a slightly better chance of getting the 80 book challenge done.

>175 roundballnz: And still hungry to keep reading, Alex. Of course Hani being away helps but don't tell her or she'll think i don't want her to come back!

>163 PaulCranswick: My sons love bigos and we make it fairly regularly.

In the pots warmed the bigos; mere words cannot tell
Of its wondrous taste, colour and marvellous smell.
One can hear the words buzz, and the rhymes ebb and flow,
But its content no city digestion can know.
To appreciate the Lithuanian folksong and folk food,
You need health, live on land, and be back from the wood.
Without these, still a dish of no mediocre worth
Is bigos, made from legumes, best grown in the earth;
Pickled cabbage comes foremost, and properly chopped,
Which itself, is the saying, will in one's mouth hop;
In the boiler enclosed, with its moist bosom shields
Choicest morsels of meat raised on greenest of fields;
Then it simmers, till fire has extracted each drop
Of live juice, and the liquid boils over the top,
And the heady aroma wafts gently afar.
Now the bigos is ready. With triple hurrah
Charge the huntsmen, spoon-armed, the hot vessel to raid,
Brass thunders and smoke belches, like camphor to fade,
Only in depths of cauldrons, there still writhes there later
Steam, as if from a dormant volcano's deep crater.

Adam Mickiewicz (translated by Marcel Weyland),
Pan Tadeusz (Book Four, Diplomacy and the Hunt)

I'm with Belle - no homework/no mum around=day off

>163 PaulCranswick: I want a taste of that!

Thanks for sharing those poems, I don't read poetry often, but I'd heard of Szymborska. Like both poems.

Translating poetry must be really hard, but it works out well here.

And Paul, good for you, getting your reading mojo back!

^This is my current crush- Gal Gadot. The Israeli actress, that is the new Wonder Woman and she is indeed.

Sweet Thursday, Paul. Hope the week is treating you well, with work and with the family.

Thanks for sharing the Szymborska poems, Paul, I have read and loved some in Dutch translation. In her case the Nobelprize was really helpful in spreading her work around the globe.

Hi Paul!

>158 PaulCranswick: Cute little slyboots! Did you grant her the day off?

>180 msf59: Whoa! She is something, isn't she.

>176 PaulCranswick: "Like" Very "meta"!

>178 avatiakh: That's great, Kerry; I really enjoyed it!
Bigos is something I have eaten at a Polish friend's home. It was amusing because the girl I was chasing at the time hailed originally from Cracow and her step-father was Mr. Kapusta which translates to Mister Cabbage!

>179 EllaTim: I think that you are right, Ella. Poetry translation must be very difficult because not only the meaning and style needs to be distilled but also you have to create a poem yourself. The poetic spirit needs to be embedded in the translator.

>180 msf59: I am trying to recall which lady I featured as my Israeli "dish", Mark, but she certainly must have been in the reckoning.

Very sultry.

>181 msf59: Today was pretty good and Hani returns tomorrow.

>182 FAMeulstee: I do think that the direct nature of her approach to poetry helps the translation part, Anita. As I said in my review, I do feel that the Nobel jury gave us poetry lovers a big boost when they decided to elevate the profile of Ms. Szymborska.

>183 karenmarie: Yep she working me with her foot as always, Karen.

We have agreed in all seriousness that she will start back school on Monday - I am a little apprehensive because she didn't specify which Monday.

>184 jnwelch: Indeed it is, Joe and that is a feature of her writing, I think.

Wislawa Szymborska is one of the poets I sought out a couple of months ago. I haven't read the collection I purchased but 9/10 nudges me to "get on it."

Happy Thursday (what is left of it), my friend.

>188 EBT1002: Thank you dear Ellen.

There is nothing left of Thursday here. Hani is at the airport already and I am about 18 hours from seeing her again.

I think that you'll enjoy Szymborska.

Paul--Happy Friday and I hope the big re-unite is filled with fireworks!! Of the right kind! ; )

>190 Berly: Hahaha, well she is quite the incendiary!

This is the time of Year when I start thinking about the British Author Challenge for the next year.

If I do go ahead with it, I will freshen up the format somewhat.

Any interest in my continuing it?

My other thought is whether we ought to have a 75er Book Award for 2017 (I would suggest to deliberate on books published in 2016) and decide it by let's say December 15.

Winner would be advised by letter to his/her agent with the prize being the glory of having this wonderful group select their book!

Any ideas and/or nominations?

2017 prize for publication in 2016? Do I have that right?

That would be my idea Kimmers because I reckon that most of the group may not have read that many books published in 201 but will have a good handle on the previous year.

>192 PaulCranswick: Any interest in my continuing it?

YES!!

And if you're taking suggestions, next year marks the hundredth anniversary of the end of WWI. A lot of excellent literature was produced during and about the war.

>196 amanda4242: I would have been devastated if you, of all people, Amanda was not up for the BAC!

World War One Books is a good idea.

Hi Paul!

I hope this finds Hani back safe and sound and happily reunited with you.

>193 PaulCranswick: I like the idea.

>197 PaulCranswick: WWI books are tempting.....

Happy reunion in progress, I hope, and a terrific idea in >193 PaulCranswick:.

From North America's first published poet, Anne Bradstreet, comes this reunion message -

If ever two were one, then surely we.
If ever man were loved by wife, then thee.
If ever wife was happy in a man,
Compare with me, ye women, if you can!

...

Or, if you prefer to be amused -

When columnist Dan Savage was asked what was his choice
for the best music to make love by,
he responded ...

"The Lonely Goatherd."

I hope that you are having a great weekend, Paul, and that everything is good on the home front. WWI books sound interesting.

I like the country challenges. I don’t get to read all of them but I have been introduced to the work of some mighty fine authors because of this and other challenges. I say, put the list out there. The challenge doesn’t have to hit a homer in every year.

>193 PaulCranswick: will this be for either Fiction/Non-Fiction and Poetry Paul?

>192 PaulCranswick: can hardly have an opinion on this, as I think I only managed to participate one month. I’m not great at Challenges I discover, no matter how interested I am in the writers.

>195 PaulCranswick: Harumph!

Off to check my records to find out (probably) that you are right that I havent read that many published in 2017!!

More seriously, if doing this could have a shortlist by june/July and people read the shortlist to judge?

Happy Saturday, Paul. Has the Hani reunion commenced? I hope so and I hope it is going swimmingly.

>198 karenmarie: We arrived slightly late to the airport but Hani still managed to keep Belle, Erni and I waiting a good half an hour before making her tearful appearance. We drove straight down to Johor Bahru (amid dreadful traffic in which a three hour journey took six!) for my SILs wedding. This latter went off without a hitch today.

If we are to do a 75er Book Award then we will have to think about a few nominations!

>199 richardderus: Reunion well nd truly underway, RD. Hani is sleeping after a busy day.
Any nominations?

>206 PaulCranswick: Glad to read Hani is safely back, Paul.

>193 PaulCranswick: My best read published in 2016 was: The noise of time by Julian Barnes
other very good reads published in 2016:
The Poet's Dog by Patricia MacLachlan
The gene : an intimate history by Siddhartha Mukherjee
Born a crime by Trevor Noah
And the weak suffer what they must? by Yanis Varoufakis
Are we smart enough to know how smart animals are? by Frans de Waal

>200 m.belljackson: Music to make love to? Hani and I have Van Morrison's Crazy Love as our song. Corny old me had it playing on the car music system as I switched on the engine.......if she noticed she never said so!

>201 Familyhistorian: It is a hectic one, Meg, for sure.

>206 PaulCranswick: I have two nominations: Behold The Dreamers, quite savagely drawn and pitch-perfect for the Time of the Orange Shitgibbon; Eleven Hours, Pamela Erens's travail.

>202 benitastrnad: Thanks for that Benita. I have taken the same attitude to the challenges this year.

>203 Caroline_McElwee: I don't think it matters what genre the book should be, Caroline. I think that we are such a diverse group that we couldn't have just one type of book!

>204 charl08: That would be a good idea for next year wouldn't it? I think that I have only read one 2017 book so far.

>205 msf59: Well the good lady is back and she is as feisty as ever!

>207 FAMeulstee: Wow that is a good start, Anita. I knew that you would have more than a few to choose from with all those books you read!

>209 richardderus: Two more interesting ones to consider, RD, and a new name for trump as well.

I thought The Gene was brilliant as well. Also How to Survive a plague, the story of how activists lobbied for (any?) better HIV/AIDS treatment. Read like a thriller.

Maybe could do it like the Costa - genre winners and then one overall winner? Whichever way, fun to look back through the lists.

>213 charl08: - Speaking of lobbyists for better health treatment for infectious diseases, I am nearly finished a terrific book, publish in 2003, called Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder. It is the astounding story of what the man behind the organization called Partners In Health managed to accomplish. I have warbled about it over and over on my thread but the reason I'm reading it now was due to seeing a wonderful documentary film about them recently, which brings the story right up to date, from the book. The film is called Bending the Arc

>213 charl08: Doing it like Costa, Charlotte, is making me yearn for coffee! Reminds me also of a couple of days ago when I stopped to top-up my card which is necessary to navigate the toll roads here and I noticed that there was a Costa coffee machine in the service station. Couldn't resist and I helped myself to a Latte only to find that the machine only dispensed me frothed milk!
It is a good idea by the way to follow Costa's format a little. Maybe just fiction and non-fiction as I am not sure that enough anthologies of poetry would have been read by the group this year for last year to have it representative although it could well be done next year with a shortlist.

>214 jessibud2: Shelley, I will definitely look out for that one. Good non-fiction is always to be cherished. xx

>1 PaulCranswick: Hello dear one. I miss visiting here. Thanks for that great opening photo. Jane Eyre is one of my top three all-time books. The three favorites have remained as such for many, many years.

I am sorry to be out of touch. Thanks for understanding.

Based on some of the positive comments in the group over the last eighteen months or so, the following books would seem to have the spot with a number of you:

Fiction :

Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead
Commonwealth by Ann Patchett
Nutshell by Ian McEwan
The Noise of Time by Julian Barnes
The Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry
Another Brooklyn by Josephine Woodson
The Poet's Dog by Patricia MacLachlan
Behold the Dreamers by Imbolo Mbue
Do Not Say We Have Nothing by Madeleine Thien

Non-Fiction

Gene : An Intimate History by Siddhartha Mukherjee
Hillbilly Elegy by JA Vance
Evicted by Matthew Drummond
The Return by Hisham Matar
The Outrun by Amy Liptrot
When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanthi
And the Weak Suffer What They Must? by Yanis Varoufakis
The Pigeon Tunnel by John Le Carre
The Bad Ass Librarians of Timbuktu by Joshua Hammer
Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen

>216 Whisper1: Lovely to see you, Linda. Made my Sunday morning seeing your post and knowing that you feel up to a little posting. xx
Hani is very enthusiastic about Haworth and was showing me a number of houses she had seen from there which are for sale. How I wish I was so fixed that I could buy one of them to make her happy.

BEST FICTION OF 2016 - SOME CANDIDATES AND WHAT THE GROUP SAID



Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi - 1,346 LT Members / Average Rating 4.23

Some Group Comments:

"This novel is an astoundingly memorable read!" - Carmenere

"This is a strong debut for a young author, and it is well-deserving of its accolades." - cbl_tn

" The result is a book that tells a vast story in a very intimate way, making clear the ways in which we are all a product of the stories that have come before us. The book is also beautifully written." - porch_reader



THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD BY Colson Whitehead - 2,405 LT Members / Average Rating 4.04

Some group comments:

"Besides being a the story of one woman's struggles to freedom via the Underground Railroad, it's also a history of various approaches to the problem of slavery. It does both well." - snash

"While reading, I often felt I was part of the story. Sometimes it caused me stomach pain, then anger and then relief." - ameise1

"This book does contribute to literature" Kristelh



Commonwealth by Ann Patchett - 1,401 LT Members / Average Rating 3.92

Some Group Comments:

" This book caught me by surprise, with it's depth, sense of humor and uncanny insight, into the human condition. And of course, the prose is delicious." - msf59

" With equal measures of humour and heartache, Patchett expertly reminds us of the power and pull of family ties" - lit_chick

"This interconnectedness, even in the most dysfunctional of families, was a moving way to connect several threads, deliver emotional impact, and leave me with that satisfied feeling that comes from a very well-written novel." - laurelkeet

BEST FICTION OF 2016 - SOME CANDIDATES AND WHAT THE GROUP SAID



Nutshell by Ian McEwan - 793 LT Members / Average Rating 3.85

" Ian McEwan once again displays his ferocious talent for control of word and line and tension and plot." - RandyMetcalfe

The Noise of Time by Julian Barnes - 572 LT Members / Average Rating 3.93

"It's truly amazing what Julian Barnes was able to say with so few words. " - Crazymamie

The Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry - 730 LT Members / Average Rating 3.74

" All these elements, characters, and ideas twist and turn and intertwine like the body of the elusive serpent while the plot carries the reader along for the ride. There's nary a dull moment here, and a good number of keen insights and startlingly beautiful passages. The Essex Serpent is an all-around winner, the best reading experience I've had so far this year." - Cariola

Another Brooklyn by Jacqueline Woodson - 529 LT Members / Average Rating 3.99

" It's easy to read in a sitting or two, yet will stay with me for a long time." - bell7

The Poet's Dog by Patricia MacLachlan - 108 LT Members / Average Rating 4.39

" This is a lovely book to read during the holidays when we are reminded that those who give are given to in many miraculous ways. " - Whisper1

Behold the Dreamers by Imbolo Mbue - 478 LT Members / Average Rating 3.97

" pitch-perfect for the Time of the Orange Shitgibbon" - richardderus

>217 PaulCranswick: Hi Paul, it's a nice idea to chokes a favourite from the 75 group. And you have put up a good short list (or is this stil the long list?)

My vote would go to The poet's dog, that I liked a lot, but it is also the only one I read, so I don't feel that it would be fair for me to vote.

Have a nice Sunday!

BEST NON-FICTION OF 2016 - SOME CANDIDATES AND WHAT THE GROUP SAID



Gene - An Intimate History by Siddhartha Mukherjee - 702 LT Members / Average Rating 4.24

" Mukherjee is thoughtful about bigger issues, as well as being a skilled author. " - jnwelch

Hillbilly Elegy by JA Vance - 2,098 LT Members / Average Rating 3.87

" Altogether a fascinating, brave and haunting book." - Eyejaybee

Evicted by Matthew Desmond - 866 LT Members / Average Rating 4.44

" I could go on and on. This reads like a novel, a very gritty and disturbing novel. It certainly opened my eyes and broke my heart." - arubabookwoman

The Return by Hisham Matar - 191 LT Members / 3.90 Average

" It is a heartbreaking story of exile, hope, anger and disappointment, all the more touching because Matar makes it clear that this is just one story of many." - banjo123

The Outrun by Amy Liptrot - 166 LT Members / 4.12 Average

"I loved this book. Partly because Orkney is one of my favourite places, having spent two summer holidays there in the past, and a lot of the places mentioned in the book I have visited and could visualise quite well. And partly because the writer evokes the natural world of Papa Westray wonderfully well." - SandDune

>221 EllaTim: Hahaha Ella - you did just vote!

It was intended to be ideas only. For example The Sellout won the Booker but I hated it and my favourite novel of 2016 was The North Water which I don't think will have a chance to win.

BEST NON-FICTION OF 2016 - SOME CANDIDATES AND WHAT THE GROUP SAID



When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi - 1,805 LT Members / Average Rating 4.27

" This highly intelligent, compassionate and talented young neurosurgeon/neuroscientist tells the story of his life: a life of study, of commitment, of deep and serious thought and of meaning. Most of all, a life of meaning, something that was central and vital to his being. A life cut short by cancer. Unbelievable. " - jessibud2

And the Weak Suffer What They Must? by Yanis Varoufakis - 101 LT Members / Average Rating 4.08

" He has written a well-argued and extremely vehement denunciation of the European Financial System as controlled by the Bundesbank and the elites of France but particularly Germany." - PaulCranswick

The Pigeon Tunnel by John Le Carre - 257 LT Members / Average Rating 4.03

" The perfect storyteller. Do yourself a big favor and track this one down." - msf59

The Bad-Ass Librarians of Timbuktu by Joshua Hammer - 502 LT Members / Average Rating 3.66

" This would be a great plot for an Indiana Jones movie if the stakes of losing hadn't been so high." - witchyrichy

Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen - 548 LT Members / Average Rating 4.22

"This is a fascinating man telling a fascinating, "by his bootstraps" story of talent, determination, soul and the creative process." - rocketjk

70.

When Adam Opens His Eyes by Jang Jung-Il
Date of Publication - 1990
Pages - 126
Around the World in 80 Books - #30 - Korea

This controversial novel of a boy's coming to sexual awareness and dropping out of university does for South Korea what Georges Bataille did for French. Sexually explicit and written with a realist vim that is as compelling as it is disturbing.

Well written in a nihilist fashion but not for someone of even remotely prudish nature.

7/10

AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 BOOKS

Country 30 of 80 - SOUTH KOREA



South Korea Factfile

Area : 38,690 sq miles (107th)
Population : 51,446,221 (27th)
President/Prime Minister : Moon Jae In / Lee Nak Yeon
Capital City : Seoul
Largest City : Seoul
Currency : Won
GDP Nominal : $1,498 trillion (11th)
GDP Per Capita : $29,114 (29th)
National Languages : Korean
Median Age : 41.2
Life Expectancy : 82.4
Percentage Using Internet : 89.9%

Its a Fact : In Korea babies are considered 1 year old at birth.

Sources : Various but mainly wikipedia and CIA world fact book

Hooray for the return of Fiesty Hani!

>217 PaulCranswick: I have read 10 of these, so I must have participated in the warbling, at some point. I have been meaning to read The Noise of Time, Gene - An Intimate History and the Springsteen memoir.

Have you read Russell Banks?

Glad Hani has arrived home safely Paul.

Will ponder on the 2016 books. I really liked several listed above.

Good to know Hani is home, Paul.

I’m afraid I avoid current books almost entirely. On the other hand, it’s great to add some new titles to my WL.

On the BAC, I’m a very poor participant in challenges, but you’ve inspired me to read many new-to-me authors and titles, so I’m grateful for that and would e sorry to see it go. And I love WW1 literature.

As always I’m wishing the very best for you and yours, and hoping that your difficulties will soon be minuscule.

>227 msf59: I gave you the distinction, Mark, of being the only 75er I quoted from twice (Pigeon Tunnel and Commonwealth), so it was obvious to me that you'd read a goodly number of the 20 books I listed.

I read The Darling by Russell Banks a few years ago and really liked it. I have Cloudsplitter on the shelves.

>228 Caroline_McElwee: I think she is a little ambivalent about being back and missing her daughter lots, Caroline.

>229 Matke: Thanks Gail. The BAC has helped me to reacquaint myself with some of the authors I grew up liking as well as making me try new ones.

I think I will persevere with it another year.

AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 BOOKS

A SOUTH KOREAN DISH

KIMCHI JIGAE

I am a lover of Korean food and especially of the small dishes which accompany every meal. This dish is literally 'kimchi stew', kimchi being salted fermented cabbage / radish. The stew is sourish and spicy and can have additions of rice cake, glass noodles and meat/tuna.

AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 BOOKS

ANOTHER KOREAN DISH

SON YE JIN

Actress famous for several roles in Korean drama series which are hugely popular in Malaysia for reasons i haven't yet fathomed.

AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 BOOKS

AND ANOTHER KOREAN DISH

LEE BYUNG HUN

Korean actor.

Oh and just to celebrate the marriage of my dear Sister in Law Fifi yesterday. He she is in the Mosque saying her vows:

>235 PaulCranswick: Congratulations to Fifi and her new husband!

>235 PaulCranswick: Thanks Anita. They are both, obviously blissfully happy.

Long may they remain so.

Congrats to Fifi and husband!

My picks for 2016: Born A Crime by Trevor Noah and Human Acts by Han Kan

>238 Caroline_McElwee: Thank you Caroline. xx

>239 banjo123: Thanks Rhonda. Interesting picks for 2016. I did quote from you on the Hisham Matar book which you were also very enthusiastic about.

>235 PaulCranswick: How lovely Fifi looks! One of my aunts was called Fifi...short for Phyllis...Uncle Jerry's first wife. Lovely woman in every sense of the word.

Fifi is beautiful. May they have a long and happier married life.

And those henna tattoos! Gorgeous!

>241 richardderus: Thanks RD. Her full name is Nur Fitria Quriatul Aini Sudin; so we don't have time to call her that so Fifi has to suffice. Phyllis would have been a good idea though!

>242 Matke: Thank you, Gail. I am sure that she will be happy - she certainly deserves it.

>240 PaulCranswick: I see you did quote me! Now I am famous. And The Return: Fathers, Sons and the Land in Between WAS a great book, But Born a Crime is the book I am recommending to all my friends. Not as literary, though.

I still need to read When Breath Becomes Air....

>244 banjo123: I enjoyed reading the reviews pages and looking for our number amongst the reviewers and I found some for each book except one which was The Outrun although I remembered that Rhian enjoyed it and reviewed it so I found it on her thread and quoted therefrom.

>245 EBT1002: Me too, Ellen. It is one of several on a particularly strong list that I need to get to.

Hi Paul!

I hope that Hani's ambivalence is only about one child being in the UK and two children being in Malaysia.

Congratulations to Fifi and her husband. That's a wonderful photo, and she's a beautiful woman.

>247 karenmarie: Hani and I still have many challenges Karen and she has told me that she wants to go back to work. She will have an interview with her old boss next week to be a Front Office Manager for a hotel......in Johor Bahru!

Fifi is a lovely young woman. The similarities in looks between the sisters can be striking at times.

>248 PaulCranswick: I looked it up, Paul, Johor Baru is far away from where you are. Is that where Hani's family lives?

>249 FAMeulstee: Yes, that's right, Anita. It is also where we met and spent most of the first seven years (and happiest days) of our marriage.

Looking at possibilities for 2018 is anyone interested in an Irish Author Challenge.

Ireland is/was home to some of the very greatest in literature:

Jonathan Swift
Lawrence Sterne
Bram Stoker
Oscar Wilde
George Bernard Shaw
W.B. Yeats
James Joyce
Samuel Beckett
Flann O'Brien
Elizabeth Bowen
Patrick Kavanagh
CS Lewis
Brendan Behan
Molly Keane
Seamus Heaney
John McGahern
William Trevor

Ireland still produces:

John Banville
Colm McCann
Colm Toibin
Roddy Doyle
Emma Donoghue
Sebastian Barry
Kevin Barry
John Boyne
Anne Enright
Edna O'Brien
Ken Bruen
Tana French

Beautiful wedding picture of Fifi, Paul. Interesting directions your life is taking lately.

>252 Familyhistorian: Interesting is a good word; some connotations good and some much less so. xx

>251 PaulCranswick: Aidan Higgins? Joyce Cary? Sebastian Barry? Anne Enright? Morgan Llewellyn? Emma Donoghue?

>254 richardderus: Joyce Cary would be one name certainly to conjure with, RD. I haven't read anything by Aidan Higgins. Morgan Llewellyn's historical fictions on Ireland are very readable but so are those books by James Plunkett.

>255 PaulCranswick: Try Balcony of Europe, Paul, it's a worthy read.

#248 That sounds like it's at once a good thing and a mighty complicated thing. Hope it resolves well.

IAC 2018? Sounds like a plan.

Paul I’m so behind here. I’m glad that you’ve managed to get Belle’s fees sorted. The way that the school dealt with it seemed very poor.

If you move to the UK will Kyran come under the UK or foreign student regulations? Presumably, if he does count as a UK student that will be better than an overseas one as the fees will be cheaper and he can get a student loan?

I’m glad that Outrun made your list. It’s definitely one that deserves to be better known. Mr SandDune read it recently as well and loved it too.

>256 richardderus: Onto the wishlist with it, RD.

>257 BekkaJo: We do have some challenges ahead, Bekka, and I am not sure whether we will be able to face them down or not. I don't want to lose her from my life so I hope we can find a way to find a good path forward.

On an Irish Author Challenge, I may do a British Isles Author Challenge next year with an Irish Author and a British Author selected together each month.

>258 SandDune: I was more relieved than Belle was, Rhian, as she enjoyed the few days of enforced additional holiday!

I am trying to see whether Kyran will qualify with his soon to be obtained and shiny new British passport, or whether residence rules apply. Yasmyne had the issue of residence being abroad but with Kyran starting earlier on the journey it might afford me some saving.

Outrun was the only book I longlisted because of rating and feedback generally from the group that I couldn't find a review from one of the group on the Book's workpage to quote from. Thankfully I recalled your enthusiasm for it and found your review on your thread to quote from.

The British Author Challenge for November is up!

Poet Laureates and Children's Laureates.

http://www.librarything.com/topic/272843

>251 PaulCranswick: now there’s temptation Paul. I do like a good Irish novel, and have read most of the writers on your list.

Another for your list: Deirdre Madden

>261 Caroline_McElwee: I like that I have you tempted, Caroline!

I haven't read any Deirdre Madden but I will look for her books.

Hi Paul!

I, too, just looked up the distance between Kuala Lumpur and Johor Bahru. I don't exactly know what to say except that you're in my thoughts and prayers and I wish for a happy outcome to your relationship issues with Hani. Hugs, too, of course!

>263 karenmarie: Thank you for that, Karen. It is a three and a half hour car journey all things being equal and we regularly make that journey as her parents are situated there of course. It is often said that absence makes the heart grow fonder but that hasn't been my experience in my life to date. Let's see.