Is anybody still visiting here?

If you are still visiting here, please check in here. Maybe tell us what multi-cultural book you are reading right now.

I am currently reading Adventure in Africa:The Story of Don McClure written by Charles Partee. The book is made up of many of Mr. McClures letters from the mission field of Africa back home to his mother in the US.

Can't speak for anybody else, but I still visit. Currently I'm not reading much of anything, because I have been busy working overtime while simultaneously moving into a new residence (the big move is tomorrow). When I get a chance to breathe again, I will likely try The Lemon Tree : an Arab, a Jew, and the Heart of the Middle East, which I've had my eye on for awhile. Or, perhaps, City of Oranges : An Intimate History of Arabs and Jews in Jaffa, another one I've been trying to find time for.

You know us bibliovores, we can never have too many books in process at a time. Last night I started Dear Exile :The true story of two friends seperated for a year by an ocean by Hilary LiftinThe book includes the letters of two college friends, one here in America, the other serving with the Peace Corps in Kenya. It is humorous and fun and a little bit scary for me as we prepare for our move to Tanzania. This one is going to be a quick read for me.
Hmm, touchstone isn't working for Dear Exile. Sorry.

I'm still visiting here but I've had really limited computer access for the past few months. I've been reading mostly general fiction stuff lately - a few Early Reviewer books and then a couple lent to me by friends that I had to read so I could return them. I still really like reading about what other people have to say about books that have impacted them or taught them something.

I finally got moved and got the Internet back; I did pick up City of Oranges from the library, but am postponing it while I read another book I found -- Neither East nor West: One Woman's Journey through the Islamic Republic of Iran, by Christiane Bird. So far, it (the travelogue) is wonderful, a fascinating glimpse by an American writer at a country I would love to visit someday.

#5 - I've heard really good things about Neither East nor West, glad you're enjoying it and please share your full thoughts with us when you are done!

> 6 Well, I'm done! :) I read a library copy, but I definitely plan to purchase a copy as I feel it is worth owning.

There are many positives to the book. One obvious one, from my perspective as an American woman, is being able to read the reportage and insights from someone who is also an American woman (as well as someone who loves books, writing, and so forth). Of course it's necessary to read books by Iranians themselves, but a book by a fellow American traveling there is of great value, especially if one thinks about traveling there oneself.

Bird traveled all around the country, visiting many locations and attempting to speak with many types of people, from mullahs in Qom to villagers in the Alborz to urbanites in Tehran, and so on. She spoke with Christians and Zoroastrians, Persians and Azeris, attended a horse-race and an Armenian Christian church service. She went into the inner sanctum of the Eighth Imam, Imam Reza, at Mashhad one of Shi'a Islam's holiest sites (and which she, as a non-Muslim, technically was not supposed to enter).

So I think one of the great contributions of the book is simply showing -- at least to an extent -- the vast diversity and complexity of Iran. I think that in many Americans' minds, Iran consists of Shi'a militants and the unsmiling visage of the late Ayatollah Khomeini. But, of course, Iran is a country of over 70 million people, with many different religions, ethnic groups, socio-economic strata, and viewpoints. It, like America, is not a country easily distilled into simplistic slogans or straitjackets, and the author comments on this many times (and acknowledges her own moments of surprise, confusion, and enlightenment along the way).

She is a good descriptive writer, so readers who enjoy evocative descriptions of terrain, climate, and so on will be pleased by that. She also quotes or transcribes many conversations, rather than simply saying "I had a conversation with Mr. X and he said Y." So, one gets the feeling of "listening in" on the actual conversations and hearing the Iranians speak for themselves.

There are a few drawbacks. One big one: No photographs! Not a single picture accompanies this book. It would have been wonderful to have some photographs of the beautiful places she visited and the interesting things and people that she saw. Likewise, I felt the map could have been more detailed -- I would have liked to see EVERY town, village, trail and location that she visited marked on the map, rather than just the major cities. (Granted, I'm a lover of maps, so I do have some bias there.)

I also would love to see some sort of follow-up -- perhaps a new edition? -- with an epilogue of some type. E.g., does she continue to write about Iran and to share her experiences with Americans? Is she involved in any Iran-American programs? Does she plan to ever visit Iran again? Does she see any hope of improved American relations with Iran? Etc.

She does discuss her return home, and her friends' and colleagues' reactions to her trip. By and large, it seemed that the reactions were either confusion, or horror, and that shocked and saddened her -- and me, too. I would have liked to hear more about that -- e.g., after further discussion, seeing her photos, or reading her book, did any of her friends' viewpoints change? Did anyone show any further interest? Etc.

It's fascinating to me how, despite American fears and perceptions, travel in Iran -- from all I have read on travel forums and books -- is fairly safe in regards to crime and such, and one theme that is repeated constantly by travelers is how kind, gracious, and generous the people of Iran are -- including to Americans. Many people said to Bird that they didn't agree with our government, but that they loved American people and wished more Americans would visit there.

I think sometimes we Americans aren't always so good at drawing that distinction -- we equate a country's people with its government. I think perhaps Iranians, more than anybody, know quite well that how the people are, and what they want, doesn't necessarily have anything to do with how the government behaves.

Sorry for the blathering. Overall, I really enjoyed this book, and would love to see more like it. If others have read the book or traveled in Iran, I would love to hear their perspectives.

Thanks Essa!

On the topic of "glimpses inside of other countries," I noticed that, over in the "Author Chat" Group, there is a chat/thread with Qanta A. Ahmed, author of In the Land of Invisible Women: A Female Doctor's Journey in the Saudi Kingdom. She will be fielding discussion there through November 21st.

I thought it might be of interest to some readers here.

Just wondering who's still around and checking out this group. It seems about a year ago many of us were ensconced in The Translator - anyone have any multi-cultural reads planned for 2009?

I'm still checking in here every few days. I have quit writing since it felt like I might be writing to myself. I read quite a few multi-cultural reads in the past year and always have some on my TBR pile.

Same here. My current book is Avi Shlaim's Lion of Jordan: the Life of King Hussein in War and Peace, which serves up a giant helping of general history along with Hussein's life specifically. I thought it is an interesting book to be reading now, in light of the current situations in Gaza and so on.

There's always a lot, dozens or hundreds, on my to-read list. I'm thinking of tackling City of Oranges: An Intimate History of Arabs and Jews in Jaffa next, or perhaps reading it alongside the Hussein biography which is pretty massive and will take awhile.

A friend recently recommended Oranges in the Sun: Short Stories from the Arabian Gulf, a collection of short fiction stories, which might be a nice break from the much weightier and more serious biography. :)

Hi. I have been occupied with renovating and selling our home, packing and moving to an apartment, and dealing with some health issues that were on hold for a few years. So I've barely peeked at our thread here until now. Move accomplished, health taken care of, books winnowed and given away to accommodate our smaller library space, and I feel as if I can breathe again.

Thanks Essa for the report on Neither East Nor West by Christiane Bird. I want to read that next. Please write a review for us of City of Oranges when you read it.

Hi all - Glad to see that many of us are still hanging around!

I've taken on some lighter fare recently with the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series. They take place in Botswana (so could still be of interest for those looking for books about Africa) and although they're not too deep on the culture or traditions of the area, they are well written and very engaging books! I've read the first two so far and about to start the third.

Interesting! I've heard of that series but have never read them.

Pandababy, alas I have never yet read City of Oranges but I did greatly enjoy Oranges in the Sun. I'll gladly post a review once I get to the City of Oranges book. :)

Apropos of current events, I happen to be reading a collection of short stories by Iranian women authors (Stories by Iranian Women Since the Revolution).