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Georgia: Stories I Stole
Georgia: Stories I Stole
An outsider’s view of Georgia’s disparate regions and peoples. Country Focus: Georgia (Sak’art’velo in Georgian) Stories I Stole: From Georgia By Wendell Steavenson Originally published in Great Britain by Atlantic Books in 2002. My edition: Grove Press, 2002 277 pgs. Genre: Memoir About the author: Steavenson lived in Tbilisi, Georgia for two years. She has also written The Weight of a Mustard…
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For every ten books I read, I’ll hold a book giveaway. Here’s how to claim a free book:
Check out the list of books up for grabs. There is only one copy of each book available (I am giving away my used copy of each book).
If you see one you want, comment on this page. Your comment must include the name of the book you want, and at least a word or two about the country that the book concerns. First person to comment gets the book.
I’ll mail the book out to you (at no cost you you whatsoever) if you have an address within the continental United States. The book will ship out at book rate, which means it might take ten or more days to reach you.
Keep in mind that most of the time I buy my books used, which means they may be marked up, covers bent, etc. Book condition will be variable.
Claims must be made no later than one month after posting date. August 24, 2014 is the deadline for requesting a book from Round 11.
Here’s the current round of books up for grabs:
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Greece
Cabo Verde
CLAIMED!
Bulgaria
CLAIMED!
Free Books! (Round 11) For every ten books I read, I'll hold a book giveaway. Here's how to claim a free book:
Love is stymied by war, geography, ideology, selfishness, class, drugs, sickness, and distance in eight short stories that present a multifaceted look at Bulgaria and its citizens.
Country Focus: Bulgaria (Balgariya in Bulgarian)
East of the West: A Country in Stories By Miroslav Penkov Published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2011. 226 pgs.
Genre: Short Stories Time period: Various
Notes: Penkov was born and raised in Bulgaria. His translation of East of the West, his first book, rose to the top of Bulgaria’s bestseller list in 2012.
World Lit Up Rating: (On a scale of 1-5, with 1 book = turned off and 5 books = lit up)
Quote:
Miroslav Penkov
Grandma died of breast cancer in 1989, only a month after communism was abolished in Bulgaria. I was eight and I remember it all very clearly. We buried her in the village. We put the open coffin in a cart and tied the cart to a tractor, and the tractor pulled the cart and the coffin and we walked behind it all. Grandpa sat by the coffin, and held Grandma’s dead hand. I don’t think it actually rained that day, but in my memories I see wind and clouds and rain; the quiet, cold rain that falls when you lose someone close to your heart. Grandpa shed no tears. He sat in the cart, the rain from my memory falling on him, on his bald head, on the coffin, on Grandma’s closed eyes; the music flowing around them—deep, sad music of the oboe, the trumpet, the drum. There is no priest at a Communist funeral. Grandpa read from a book, volume twelve of Lenin’s collected works. His words rose to the sky, and the rain knocked them down to the ground.
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Bulgaria: East of the West Love is stymied by war, geography, ideology, selfishness, class, drugs, sickness, and distance in eight short stories…
For every ten books I read, I’ll hold a book giveaway. Here’s how to claim a free book:
Check out the list of books up for grabs. There is only one copy of each book available (I am giving away my used copy of each book).
If you see one you want, comment on this page. Your comment must include the name of the book you want, and at least a word or two about the country that the book concerns. First person to comment gets the book.
I’ll mail the book out to you (at no cost you you whatsoever) if you have an address within the continental United States. The book will ship out at book rate, which means it might take ten or more days to reach you.
Keep in mind that most of the time I buy my books used, which means they may be marked up, covers bent, etc. Book condition will be variable.
Claims must be made no later than one month after posting date. (May 4, 2014)
Here’s the current round of books up for grabs:
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CLAIMED!
Switzerland
Yemen
Canada
CLAIMED!
CLAIMED!
Mexico
Free Books! (Round 10) For every ten books I read, I'll hold a book giveaway. Here's how to claim a free book:
A ten-year-old girl begs a Yemeni judge to grant her a divorce from her abusive husband.
Country Focus: Yemen (Al Yaman in Arabic; formerly Arabia Felix)
I Am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced By Nujood Ali with Delphine Minoui Translated by Linda Coverdale Originally published in France as Moi Nojoud, 10 Ans, Divorcée by Éditions Michel Lafon, 2009. My edition: Three Rivers Press, 2010. 176 pgs.
Genre: Memoir Time period: 1998-2008
World Lit Up Rating: (On a scale of 1-5, with 1 book = turned off and 5 books = lit up)
One of eleven children (not counting the five half-siblings from her father’s second wife), Nujoob was born in Khardji, a country village too small to be found on most maps of Yemen. Nujoob recalls a simple life surrounded by beauty. The land and their herds of sheep and cows provided all the family needed. While she was still a toddler, her father got into a heated confrontation with the other villagers. Nujoob was too young to understand the disagreement, but knew that it had something to do with her older sister, Mona. As a result of the altercation, her family was forced to move to Sana’a, Yemen’s capital, where they took up residence in a slum.
The family barely eked out an existence. Nujoob’s father struggled to find work and spent more and more time chewing khat (a narcotic). He arrived home one day to announce that he has promised to marry Nujoob to a man from Khardji who is three times her age. Nujoob was approximately ten years old at the time.*
Her father insisted that his decision was for the best. The union would save Nujoob the shame that befell her two older sisters. He considered her age to be a non-issue; the prophet Muhammad married Aïsha when she was nine years old. There is even a well-known tribal proverb that says, “To guarantee a happy marriage, marry a nine-year-old girl.” In any case, Nujoob’s future husband had sworn not to consummate the marriage until a year after Nujoob’s first period. Nujoob’s mother didn’t even bother to argue. Experience had taught her that nothing comes of a woman’s demands.
Nujoob spent her wedding ceremony in tears. The following morning, her husband Faez Ali Thamer picked her up in his SUV and drove her back to her birthplace. He broke his word and forced himself on Nujoob the first and every subsequent night. When she put up a fight, he beat her. None of this treatment diminished Nujoob’s sense of self-worth. She devised a way to get back to Sana’a, and once there, she planned to ask for a divorce.
We know from the title that Nujoob was ultimately granted her divorce. Despite the depressing topic, I Am Nujood is a light-hearted read, giddy with Nujood’s win and her continuing quest to help other girls in similar situations. The writing style is appropriately in line with that of a preteen’s. I breezed through her memoir in less than two hours…well worth the time to open my eyes to horrors young women face in Yemen. Forgive the lurid title. This plucky heroine’s story deserves to be heard.
*No records exist of Nujoob’s birth and her mother can only guesstimate the year.
Quote:
The monster is flushed with anger. He says that my father betrayed him by lying about my age. Then Aba becomes furious and says he had agreed to wait until I was older before touching me. At that point, the monster announces that he is ready to accept the divorce, but on one condition: my father must pay back my bride-price. And Aba snaps back that he was never paid anything at all. It’s like a marketplace! How much? When? How? Who’s telling the truth? Who’s telling lies? Someone suggests that 50,000 rials (about 250 dollars) be paid to my husband, if that would allow the case to be closed. It would take a workman four months to earn that much money. I’m lost. Will everyone just finish up this business and leave me alone, once and for all? I’ve had enough of these grown-up quarrels that make children suffer. Stop!
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Keep Reading!
Yemeni writers need to be translated! Titles by westerners about Yemen are included below.
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Yemen: I Am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced A ten-year-old girl begs a Yemeni judge to grant her a divorce from her abusive husband.
Return Trip: France
Sometimes one book per country isn’t enough. Now that I’m on the lookout for international authors, their books jump out at me and I can’t refuse them even if I’ve already covered their territory. I’ve sneaked these books in between my “official” reading. I thought I’d share them with you. The Elegance of the Hedgehog • L’élégance du hérisson by Muriel Barbery • translated from the French by…
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On a trip to Singapore to meet her boyfriend’s family, a young NYU professor learns that her unassuming beau is heir to a fortune.
Country Focus: Singapore
Crazy Rich Asians By Kevin Kwan Published by Doubleday, 2013. 403 pgs.
Genre: Fiction Time period: Contemporary
World Lit Up Rating: (On a scale of 1-5, with 1 book = turned off and 5 books = lit up)
As far as economics professor Rachel Chu knows, her boyfriend Nicholas Young’s only claim to fame is as NYU’s hottest history professor. Their two-year relationship has grown steadily more serious, so Nick invites her to spend the summer at his family’s home in Singapore. He wants Rachel to meet his parents and accompany him to his best friend’s wedding. Excited and a little bit nervous about the implications of the trip, Rachel agrees to go.
Rachel’s first hint that Nick hasn’t told her everything about himself comes at the airport when he steers her to the first class private cabin aboard a chartered luxury plane. She’d heard that Singapore claims the world’s highest concentration of millionaires, but never guessed that Nick came from money. She’s completely taken by surprise when she learns that Nick is the incredibly wealthy scion of three storied Chinese dynasties. Not only is the guy a poster boy for stealth wealth, but the wedding they’re attending – the one where Nick will play best man – is the most anticipated event of the year and will be graced by some of the wealthiest and most important people on the planet.
That’s not the only wedding Nick has on his mind. He plans on popping the question to Rachel sometime during the summer. He naively assumes that his mother and grandmother will as charmed by Rachel as he is, but they’re not about to let their pedigreed progeny propose to a nobody. In their minds, Rachel’s vague mainland Chinese ancestry and middle class existence earn her a big black “x” in the box marked Not The One. Will Rachel and Nick’s relationship survive their disapproval?
Kevin Kwan
Kevin Kwan’s Singaporean soap opera soars. I couldn’t stop turning its glam-infused pages. Crazy Rich Asians‘ panoply of couture designers, elite brands, extreme bling, outrageous parties and palatial estates could have easily become tedious. Instead, they made this story pop. The glitz and expert pacing more than make up for Rachel and Nick’s one-dimensional characters and the unlikeliness of their relationship. Crazy Rich Asians’ appeal comes from style, not substance.
Kwan does include sustenance. According to one of his footnotes, Singaporeans consider food to be their national pastime and argue about it incessantly. I was jonesing for satay and the numerous other dishes Kwan’s characters dig into. The mouthwatering eats and the dialog peppered with phrases from Hokkien, Cantonese, Mandarin, Indian and Malay languages are two fascinating aspects of Singaporean culture that Kwan shares with the reader.
Kwan writes from first-hand experience; he grew up as one Singapore’s elite. In interview with Vanity Fair, he said that the ostentatious lifestyles his characters lead pale in comparison with their real-life counterparts; he had to tone them down in order to make them more believable. Love them or despise them, the mega-rich fascinate. Crazy Rich Asians‘ fashionistas and posh locales make for a fabulous, fun read.
Quote:
As the car rounded one last curve, Rachel suddenly let out a gasp, grabbing Peik Lin’s arm. In the distance, a great house had come into view, ablaze with lights. As they got closer, the enormity of the place truly became evident. It wasn’t a house. It was more like a palace. The front driveway was lined with cars, almost all of which were large and European — Mercedes, Jaguars, Citroëns, Rolls-Royces, many with diplomatic medallions and flags. A cluster of chauffeurs loitered in a circle behind the cars, smoking. Waiting by the massive front doors in a white linen shirt and tan slacks, hair perfectly tousled and hands pensively shoved into his pockets, stood Nick.
“I feel like I’m dreaming. This can’t be real,” Peik Lin said.
“Oh Peik Lin, who are these people?” Rachel asked nervously.
For the first time in her life, Peik Lin was at a loss for words. She stared at Rachel with a sudden intensity, and then she said, almost in a whisper, “I have no idea who these people are. But I can tell you one thing — these people are richer than God.”
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Keep Reading!
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Singapore: Crazy Rich Asians On a trip to Singapore to meet her boyfriend's family, a young NYU professor learns that her unassuming beau is heir to a fortune.
For every ten books I read, I’ll hold a book giveaway. Here’s how to claim a free book:
Check out the list of books up for grabs. There is only one copy of each book available (I am giving away my used copy of each book).
If you see one you want, comment on this page. Your comment must include the name of the book you want, and at least a word or two about the country that the book concerns. First person to comment gets the book.
I’ll mail the book out to you (at no cost you you whatsoever) if you have an address within the continental United States. The book will ship out at book rate, which means it might take ten or more days to reach you.
Keep in mind that most of the time I buy my books used, which means they may be marked up, covers bent, etc. Book condition will be variable.
Claims must be made no later than one month after posting date. September 28, 2015 is the deadline for requesting a book from Round 13.
Here’s the current round of books up for grabs:
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Tunisia
Macedonia
Andorra
Kiribati
Honduras
Moldova
Equatorial Guinea
Free Books! (Round 13) For every ten books I read, I'll hold a book giveaway. Here's how to claim a free book:
Mongolia: The Blue Sky
Mongolia: The Blue Sky
A young member of the nomadic Tuvan tribe grapples with personal tragedy and the changes wrought by communism. Country Focus: Mongolia (Mongol Uls in Khalkha Mongol) The Blue Sky By Galsan Tschinag Translated by Katharina Rout Originally published in Germany by Verlag, Frankfurt am Main in 1994. My edition: Milkweed Editions, 2006 209 pgs. Genre: Memoir About the author: Tschinag is a Tuvan…
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Return Trip: France (via Germany)
Return Trip: France (via Germany)
Sometimes one book per country isn’t enough. Now that I’m on the lookout for international authors, their books jump out at me and I can’t refuse them even if I’ve already covered their territory. I’ve sneaked these books in between my “official” reading. I thought I’d share them with you. Perfume: The Story of a Murderer • Das Parfum by Patrick Süskind • Translated from German by John E. Woods…
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Tunisia: Behind Closed Doors
Tunisia: Behind Closed Doors
Three upper class Muslim women tell folktales that mirror their own experiences and perspectives. Country Focus: Tunisia (Tunis in Arabic) Behind Closed Doors: Women’s Oral Narratives in Tunis By Monia Hejaiej Forward by Laura Rice Originally published in Great Britain by Quartet Books Limited, 1996 My edition: Rutgers University Press, 1996 369 pgs. Genre: Folktales About the author: Hejaiej is…
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Return Trip: Macedonia
Back in April I posted “Freud’s Sister.” The book was written by a Macedonian but since it was set in Austria, I didn’t get a sense of the country at all. In the post, I noted that I couldn’t find any pieces of contemporary literature set in Macedonia. Not long after, I received an email from Christina E. Kramer, the translator of “Freud’s Sister”. She told me that her translations included the…
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Return Trip: South Africa
Return Trip: South Africa
Sometimes one book per country isn’t enough. Now that I’m on the lookout for international authors, their books jump out at me and I can’t refuse them even if I’ve already covered their territory. I’ve sneaked these books in between my “official” reading. I thought I’d share them with you. In a Strange Room: Three Journeys by Damon Galgut Europa Editions, 2010 • 207 pgs Summary: A man goes…
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Return Trip: France and Japan (via Italy)
Return Trip: France and Japan (via Italy)
Sometimes one book per country isn’t enough. Now that I’m on the lookout for international authors, their books jump out at me and I can’t refuse them even if I’ve already covered their territory. I’ve sneaked these books in between my “official” reading. I thought I’d share them with you. Silk • Seta by Alessandro Baricco • Translated from Italian by Guido Waldman Originally published in 1996 in…
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Andorra: Nine Legends
Talking wolves, mysterious strangers, and the tiny but persistent minairons populate these amusing Andorran folktales. Country Focus: Andorra Nine Legends By Carli Bastida Translated by Anselm Goicoechea Fiter Illustrated by Arnau Pérez Orobitg My edition: Editorial Andorra Guies, 2011 (French, Spanish, and Catalan editions also available) 127 pgs. Genre: Folktales About the author: Andorran…
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Kiribati: The Sex Lives of Cannibals
Kiribati: The Sex Lives of Cannibals
A comical look at the sobering realities of life on a South Pacific atoll. Country Focus: Kiribati The Sex Lives of Cannibals: Adrift in the Equatorial Pacific By J. Maarten Troost Published by Broadway Books, 2004. 272 pgs. Genre: Memoir About the author: Troost, a native of the Netherlands, has written three other travelogues: Getting Stoned with the Savages, Lost on Planet China, and…
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Taiwan: A Thousand Moons on a Thousand Rivers
Taiwan: A Thousand Moons on a Thousand Rivers
A country girl falls in love with a city boy.
Country Focus: Taiwan
A Thousand Moons on a Thousand Rivers By Hsaio Li-Hung Translated by Michelle Wu Foreward by Pang-Yuan Chi Originally published in Chinese in 1981. My edition: Columbia University Press, 2000 304 pgs.
Genre: Fiction
About the author: Hsiao Li-hung is one of Taiwan’s most widely read female authors. She may also be the most…
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