AFRICAN NOVEL CHALLENGE 2023 - PREPARATION THREAD
Conversazioni75 Books Challenge for 2022
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1PaulCranswick
From the deserts of the Sahara, the Pyramids of Giza, the blaring Horn of Africa, the plains of the Serengeti, Table Top Mountain and the teeming streets of Lagos - I propose to spend a good part of 2023 immersed in the rich culture and writing of AFRICA.
2PaulCranswick
2023 TENTATIVE PLANS
January - NORTH AFRICA
February - LUSOPHONE LIT
March - CHIMAMANDA NGOZI ADICHIE or Buchi Emecheta
April - THE HORN OF AFRICA
May - AFRICAN NOBEL WINNERS
June - EAST AFRICA
July - CHINUA ACHEBE or Ben Okri
August - FRANCOPHONE AFRICA
September - SOUTHERN AFRICA
October - SCHOLASTIQUE MUKASONGA / NGUGI WA THIONG'O
November - AFRICAN THRILLERS / CRIME WRITERS
December - WEST AFRICA
January - NORTH AFRICA
February - LUSOPHONE LIT
March - CHIMAMANDA NGOZI ADICHIE or Buchi Emecheta
April - THE HORN OF AFRICA
May - AFRICAN NOBEL WINNERS
June - EAST AFRICA
July - CHINUA ACHEBE or Ben Okri
August - FRANCOPHONE AFRICA
September - SOUTHERN AFRICA
October - SCHOLASTIQUE MUKASONGA / NGUGI WA THIONG'O
November - AFRICAN THRILLERS / CRIME WRITERS
December - WEST AFRICA
3PaulCranswick
JANUARY
NORTH AFRICA - SAHARAN SANDS
Authors from Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco
NORTH AFRICA - SAHARAN SANDS
Authors from Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco
4amanda4242
I'm here!
5PaulCranswick
>4 amanda4242: I'm pleased!!
I have so many books by African authors that it is a bit self-serving to try to get to some of them in 2023!
I have so many books by African authors that it is a bit self-serving to try to get to some of them in 2023!
6amanda4242
>5 PaulCranswick: I have so many books by African authors that it is a bit self-serving to try to get to some of them in 2023!
*snort* Why do you think I do the BAC?
*snort* Why do you think I do the BAC?
7SqueakyChu
Nice! I want to participate in this! Thank you, Paul.
8PaulCranswick
>6 amanda4242: We have slightly too many books on the shelves, I think, Amanda!
>7 SqueakyChu: That is great news, Madeline, it will be wonderful to have you along. x
>7 SqueakyChu: That is great news, Madeline, it will be wonderful to have you along. x
9WhiteRaven.17
I don't know how much I will actually participate, but I am very unfamiliar with African authors or works so having a reference to work off of as introduction to this area of the world would be very helpful. I look forward to seeing what you put together Paul and appreciate the time and effort this must take.
10PaulCranswick
>9 WhiteRaven.17: I will do my best, Kro, to make the introduction as broad and varied as possible. I am not an expert on African literature by any means but my magpie tendencies has resulted in my having a lot of African literature on the shelves.
11PaulCranswick
FEBRUARY
LUSOPHONE LIT
Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau, Angola, Cape Verde and Sao Tome & Principe Authors. The latter country I visited and was quite affected by.
Some treasures to seek out here.
LUSOPHONE LIT
Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau, Angola, Cape Verde and Sao Tome & Principe Authors. The latter country I visited and was quite affected by.
Some treasures to seek out here.
12cindydavid4
oh excellent news! I have some books by African authors but not near as many as I want. Im interested in precolonial history and would appreciate suggestions as we go through the year. Cant wait!
13PaulCranswick
>12 cindydavid4: I will do my very best Cindy. x
14Caroline_McElwee
Are you planning only fiction or both Paul, or maybe a month for non-fiction?
15m.belljackson
Looking forward to starting off with WONDERS OF THE AFRICAN WORLD.
16PaulCranswick
>14 Caroline_McElwee: For now it is called the African Novel Challenge, Caroline, but what's in a name?!
>15 m.belljackson: Henry Gates is from Africa, Marianne? North African - I am looking for authors born in Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria or Morocco. At a push I will accept a parent born there.
>15 m.belljackson: Henry Gates is from Africa, Marianne? North African - I am looking for authors born in Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria or Morocco. At a push I will accept a parent born there.
17m.belljackson
>16 PaulCranswick: No, Gates was born in the U.S. - I thought his many quotes would count...I'll check on parents > their
ancestors can be traced back to slavery from Africa.
(A forewarning to the tender-hearted - the only African author listed a few weeks ago on Audible
was Tony Onyango with We Are the Water People. Depressing and repetitive...not sure if he
will be on a list.)
ancestors can be traced back to slavery from Africa.
(A forewarning to the tender-hearted - the only African author listed a few weeks ago on Audible
was Tony Onyango with We Are the Water People. Depressing and repetitive...not sure if he
will be on a list.)
18cindydavid4
Nvm
19mahsdad
I've only read a couple books from African authors. Not sure if they all qualify, if you're looking for authors born in African countries or not, but I'll put them out here...
Rosewater by Tade Thompson. He's Nigerian, but I think born in the UK. Afro-futurism, scifi.
Cry, the Beloved Country by Alan Paton. South African
Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe. Nigeria
Beasts of No Nation by Uzodinma Iweala. Nigerian, but might have been born in the US
The Parking Lot Attendant by Nafkote Tamirat. I believe she is Ethiopian, but not sure if she was native born
That is my woefully thin list of African novels. I may not actually read the books on the schedule you put out, but I will definitely follow along looking for more BBs :)
Rosewater by Tade Thompson. He's Nigerian, but I think born in the UK. Afro-futurism, scifi.
Cry, the Beloved Country by Alan Paton. South African
Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe. Nigeria
Beasts of No Nation by Uzodinma Iweala. Nigerian, but might have been born in the US
The Parking Lot Attendant by Nafkote Tamirat. I believe she is Ethiopian, but not sure if she was native born
That is my woefully thin list of African novels. I may not actually read the books on the schedule you put out, but I will definitely follow along looking for more BBs :)
20labfs39
Yay! I enjoyed the Asian Book Challenge this year, Paul, and am so glad you are continuing on with Africa. Count me in.
21Caroline_McElwee
>16 PaulCranswick: I clearly had my blinkers on there Paul ha.
22figsfromthistle
This sounds like an interesting challenge. I have not participated in any of these "side" challenges yet but I will try to next year. I have The Cairo Trilogy on my shelf by Naguib Mahfouz ( Egyptian) It seems quite long so I may choose a different one for January. Looking forward to it!
23PaulCranswick
>17 m.belljackson: The first human came out of Africa if the anthropologists are right so we can all trace our ancestry back to the continent. Born there or parents only, Marianne, so that the author can genuinely describe themselves as "African".
>18 cindydavid4: x
>19 mahsdad: All my challenges are easy going ones, Jeff, with a "dip-in/dip-out" setup that is meant to encourage not discourage. Completists are welcome but those who want to only read one book are equally so and they can qualify by reading January's book in October!
>20 labfs39: Lovely that you will participate, Lisa, your contributions to the Asian Book Challenge have been noteworthy. x
>21 Caroline_McElwee: No problem, Caroline, as you know my only rule is that the rules are there to be twisted!
>22 figsfromthistle: That is nice to know that you will be in next year, Anita. I could well give you two bites at the Mahfouz cherry next year.
>18 cindydavid4: x
>19 mahsdad: All my challenges are easy going ones, Jeff, with a "dip-in/dip-out" setup that is meant to encourage not discourage. Completists are welcome but those who want to only read one book are equally so and they can qualify by reading January's book in October!
>20 labfs39: Lovely that you will participate, Lisa, your contributions to the Asian Book Challenge have been noteworthy. x
>21 Caroline_McElwee: No problem, Caroline, as you know my only rule is that the rules are there to be twisted!
>22 figsfromthistle: That is nice to know that you will be in next year, Anita. I could well give you two bites at the Mahfouz cherry next year.
24amanda4242
>11 PaulCranswick: I've done some digging and it doesn't look like there are any novels available in English from Sao Tome & Principe. The only thing I've been able to find for the country in English is an out of print political treatise.
25richardderus
>3 PaulCranswick: Recommending:
Hot Maroc...Moroccan story of a nebbishy Walter-Mitty-esque Moroccan internet café denizen, funny and poignant and not a little frustrating (I wanted to shake Rahhal!)
The Last Summer of Reason...poignant story of Algeria's descent into criminal religiosity.
The Slave Yards...family saga in the titular space described, in Benghazi.
I've really enjoyed all three of these books. If you want a *serious* commitment, try our old friend Naguib Mahfouz's Sugar Street trilogy! Fair warning: Trying to stop at one is futile. There are three. Get them all.
Hot Maroc...Moroccan story of a nebbishy Walter-Mitty-esque Moroccan internet café denizen, funny and poignant and not a little frustrating (I wanted to shake Rahhal!)
The Last Summer of Reason...poignant story of Algeria's descent into criminal religiosity.
The Slave Yards...family saga in the titular space described, in Benghazi.
I've really enjoyed all three of these books. If you want a *serious* commitment, try our old friend Naguib Mahfouz's Sugar Street trilogy! Fair warning: Trying to stop at one is futile. There are three. Get them all.
26cindydavid4
>19 mahsdad: I have always heard about things fall apart for some reason never read it. Guess its time.. I
I really loved Americanah but not sure if its considered a memoir or a novel. Also read purple hibiscus which I liked Havent read Half a yellow sun so read that.
I really loved Americanah but not sure if its considered a memoir or a novel. Also read purple hibiscus which I liked Havent read Half a yellow sun so read that.
27ELiz_M
The photo in >1 PaulCranswick: reminds me of this image (click on it to get to article about why so many "African" book have similar covers):
I'm amused that these yearly regional challenges continue to be a year behind my favorite Litsy challenges:
ReadingAsia2021
ReadingAfrica2022
I hope you are planning to read books from reading North, Central and South America in 2024! :)
>3 PaulCranswick:
Basma Abdel Aziz
Abd al-Rahman Abnudy
Leila Aboulela
Kaouther Adimi
Alaa Al Aswany
Gamal Al Ghitani
Meryem Alaoui
Tawfiq Al-Hakim
Ibrahim al-Koni
Shukri al-Mabkhout
Tahar Ben Jelloun
Mahi Binebine
Driss Chraibi
Kamel Daoud
Mohammed Dib
Assia Djebar
Nawal El Saadawi
Sonallah Ibrahim
Abdelfattah Kilito
Fouad Laroui
Malika Mokeddem
Hassouna Mosbahi
Youssef Rakha
Alifa Rifaat
Ahdaf Soueif
Abdellah Taïa
Kateb Yacine
Latifa Zayyat
>11 PaulCranswick:
Germano de Almeida
Mia Couto
José Craveirinha
Luis Bernardo Honwana
Ungulani ba ka Kossa
Lina Magaia
Ondjaki
Pepetela
Luandino Vieira
https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/sao-tome-and-principe
I'm amused that these yearly regional challenges continue to be a year behind my favorite Litsy challenges:
ReadingAsia2021
ReadingAfrica2022
I hope you are planning to read books from reading North, Central and South America in 2024! :)
>3 PaulCranswick:
Basma Abdel Aziz
Abd al-Rahman Abnudy
Leila Aboulela
Kaouther Adimi
Alaa Al Aswany
Gamal Al Ghitani
Meryem Alaoui
Tawfiq Al-Hakim
Ibrahim al-Koni
Shukri al-Mabkhout
Tahar Ben Jelloun
Mahi Binebine
Driss Chraibi
Kamel Daoud
Mohammed Dib
Assia Djebar
Nawal El Saadawi
Sonallah Ibrahim
Abdelfattah Kilito
Fouad Laroui
Malika Mokeddem
Hassouna Mosbahi
Youssef Rakha
Alifa Rifaat
Ahdaf Soueif
Abdellah Taïa
Kateb Yacine
Latifa Zayyat
>11 PaulCranswick:
Germano de Almeida
Mia Couto
José Craveirinha
Luis Bernardo Honwana
Ungulani ba ka Kossa
Lina Magaia
Ondjaki
Pepetela
Luandino Vieira
https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/sao-tome-and-principe
28amanda4242
>27 ELiz_M: Thanks for the link for Sao Tome and Principe books. It looks like most of the books in English are about or set in the country rather than written by authors from there, but it did give me a couple more names to look up.
ETA: Found one! Gervásio Kaiser is Sao Tomean with titles available in English. He only has three short stories available, but that's more than I've been able to turn up for anyone else.
ETA: Found one! Gervásio Kaiser is Sao Tomean with titles available in English. He only has three short stories available, but that's more than I've been able to turn up for anyone else.
29PaulCranswick
>24 amanda4242: I didn't start my own research in earnest yet, Amanda, but certainly Mozambique and Angola will be more fertile ground.
>25 richardderus: Thank you RD. I do recall your praises for Moroccan writing previously.
>26 cindydavid4: Americanah is certainly considered fiction, and you will have an obvious chance to use it in March.
>27 ELiz_M: Fascinatingly colourful colours, Liz. I was unaware of your favourite Litsy challenges but that is smileworthy - perhaps I should check out what they have planned in 2023 so I can try to pass it off on the group in 2024?!
Your lists are much appreciated. The obvious one for Angola would be Jose Eduardo Agualusa who is internationally pretty hot just now. North Africa there are very many more including Yasmina Khadra, Hisham Matar, Alaa al Aswany, Boualem Sansal, Andre Aciman, Tayeb Salih, Albert Camus and even Penelope Lively were all North African born.
>28 amanda4242: Well done, Amanda!
>25 richardderus: Thank you RD. I do recall your praises for Moroccan writing previously.
>26 cindydavid4: Americanah is certainly considered fiction, and you will have an obvious chance to use it in March.
>27 ELiz_M: Fascinatingly colourful colours, Liz. I was unaware of your favourite Litsy challenges but that is smileworthy - perhaps I should check out what they have planned in 2023 so I can try to pass it off on the group in 2024?!
Your lists are much appreciated. The obvious one for Angola would be Jose Eduardo Agualusa who is internationally pretty hot just now. North Africa there are very many more including Yasmina Khadra, Hisham Matar, Alaa al Aswany, Boualem Sansal, Andre Aciman, Tayeb Salih, Albert Camus and even Penelope Lively were all North African born.
>28 amanda4242: Well done, Amanda!
30PaulCranswick
MARCH
CHIMAMANDA NGOZI ADICHIE
What can I say? My Quarterly Author Pick is the beautiful and wonderful Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
born in Nigeria in 1977, her second novel Half of a Yellow Sun remains my favourite novel of this Century so far.
For those who have read all her fiction then I will also allow Buchi Emecheta also from Nigeria for March
CHIMAMANDA NGOZI ADICHIE
What can I say? My Quarterly Author Pick is the beautiful and wonderful Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
born in Nigeria in 1977, her second novel Half of a Yellow Sun remains my favourite novel of this Century so far.
For those who have read all her fiction then I will also allow Buchi Emecheta also from Nigeria for March
31PaulCranswick
APRIL
THE HORN OF AFRICA
The greater Horn of Africa can in this sense include Sudan, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia, Eritrea, Djibouti and I will include Uganda here too.
THE HORN OF AFRICA
The greater Horn of Africa can in this sense include Sudan, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia, Eritrea, Djibouti and I will include Uganda here too.
32labfs39
>3 PaulCranswick: For Egypt, I also highly recommend Mahfouz's Cairo Trilogy. As Richard says, I couldn't stop at just one, although I did like the first the most. I am queuing up two of Mahfouz's other books that I have on the shelves: Akhenaten, dweller in truth and Autumn Quail. I also will attempt Out of Egypt: A Memoir by André Aciman. It's about his childhood in 1950's Alexandria. Finally, I have The Yacoubian Building by Alaa al-Aswani on my wishlist. We'll see how far I get, and that's just Egypt!
For Libya, I've read In the Country of Men by Hisham Matar, but have no recollection of it. I may attempt a reread, depending on time.
For Tunisia, I have an ebook copy of The Ardent Swarm by Yamen Manai.
For Algeria, I would highly recommend The German Mujahid by Boualem Sansal and The Last Summer of Reason by Tahar Djaout. I read The Swallows of Kabul by Yasmina Khadra (the pseudonym for a military dude) last year. In the queue will be my first book by a woman (gasp!): So Vast the Prison by Assia Djebar.
For Morocco, I would highly recommend Abdellatif Laâbi. I loved both his memoir Rue du retour and autobiographical fiction of his childhood, The bottom of the jar.
I will be looking for recommendations, especially of woman authors.
For Libya, I've read In the Country of Men by Hisham Matar, but have no recollection of it. I may attempt a reread, depending on time.
For Tunisia, I have an ebook copy of The Ardent Swarm by Yamen Manai.
For Algeria, I would highly recommend The German Mujahid by Boualem Sansal and The Last Summer of Reason by Tahar Djaout. I read The Swallows of Kabul by Yasmina Khadra (the pseudonym for a military dude) last year. In the queue will be my first book by a woman (gasp!): So Vast the Prison by Assia Djebar.
For Morocco, I would highly recommend Abdellatif Laâbi. I loved both his memoir Rue du retour and autobiographical fiction of his childhood, The bottom of the jar.
I will be looking for recommendations, especially of woman authors.
33PaulCranswick
>32 labfs39: Nice suggestions Lisa, I have read Palace Walk before and was blown away by it. Mahfouz is a favourite author.
One lady I will be reading all being well is the Tunisian born Algerian, Ahlem Mosteghanemi and I have heard good things about her.
One lady I will be reading all being well is the Tunisian born Algerian, Ahlem Mosteghanemi and I have heard good things about her.
34Caroline_McElwee
>3 PaulCranswick: Well I've had Mahfouz's Cairo Trilogy (also known as the Sugar Street trilogy I think) for some years, a gift from an LT friend. So I will at least read the first book in January. Your comment in >25 richardderus: is noted RD.
35Sakerfalcon
I was wondering what you would come up with to replace the Asian Reading Challenge, Paul! I will keep an eye on this and join in when I can (I don't want to buy too many new books!)
36PaulCranswick
>34 Caroline_McElwee: Don't be surprised if you don't get a chance for a second bite of the cherry next year with Mahfouz, Caroline.
>35 Sakerfalcon: Lovely to see you Claire. I cannot promise that I won't buy one or two books next year!
>35 Sakerfalcon: Lovely to see you Claire. I cannot promise that I won't buy one or two books next year!
37labfs39
>11 PaulCranswick: Darryl/kidzdoc curated a theme read in Reading Globally on Lusophone Lit that is a treasure trove of info and recommendations.
38amanda4242
>30 PaulCranswick: That's a bit of a surprise. With so many Nigerian authors out there I would have thought we'd be going beyond the bestseller list. At least I'll have no trouble getting Adichie's books from the library.
39PaulCranswick
>37 labfs39: I have seen Darryl's enthusiasm for Lusophone lit and I stopped by his thread over at Club Read to let him know what I had planned.
>38 amanda4242: I have to admit to some bias here, Amanda, in putting personal preference first as she is simply one of my absolute favourite writers. I did put Buchi Emecheta as an alternative if you want to wander slightly away from her well trodden path.
>38 amanda4242: I have to admit to some bias here, Amanda, in putting personal preference first as she is simply one of my absolute favourite writers. I did put Buchi Emecheta as an alternative if you want to wander slightly away from her well trodden path.
41cindydavid4
thanks for that! that list is very interesting, but does it matter if the author does not live in the country of her birth?
43ArlieS
I'll be keeping an eye on this challenge, and may pick up a book or two, depending on what people say about them, but probably not more than that.
44PaulCranswick
>43 ArlieS: More than happy for you to dip in and out Arlie. xx
45amanda4242
I've created lists with works by authors from São Tomé and Príncipe, Cabo Verde/Cape Verde, and Guinea-Bissau. Feel free to add to them as long as the authors are from the countries or have a claim to nationality.
https://www.librarything.com/list/44100/all/S%C3%A3o-Tom%C3%A9-and-Pr%C3%ADncipe
https://www.librarything.com/list/44102/all/Cabo-Verde#
https://www.librarything.com/list/44101/all/Guinea-Bissau
https://www.librarything.com/list/44100/all/S%C3%A3o-Tom%C3%A9-and-Pr%C3%ADncipe
https://www.librarything.com/list/44102/all/Cabo-Verde#
https://www.librarything.com/list/44101/all/Guinea-Bissau
47PaulCranswick
>45 amanda4242: That is quite a lot of work, Amanda, thank you. One of the books in your Cabo Verde list is already on order from Book Depo for me. I ordered it three days ago.
>46 cbl_tn: Great, Carrie!
>46 cbl_tn: Great, Carrie!
48PaulCranswick
MAY
AFRICAN NOBEL WINNERS
AFRICAN NOBEL WINNERS
49amanda4242
>47 PaulCranswick: It was no trouble since I was doing the research for myself anyway!
50labfs39
>48 PaulCranswick: Does Doris Lessing fit the criteria since she was not born in Africa and her parents were British?
51labfs39
>40 markon: Very helpful, thank you Ardene.
52amanda4242
>50 labfs39: She did grow up in Rhodesia and lived there until she was about thirty. It's not up to me, but I think she has as good a claim to being an African writer as a writer who was born in Africa but hasn't lived there since infancy.
53PaulCranswick
>49 amanda4242: But appreciated anyway.
>50 labfs39: I have erred on the side of generosity Lisa and chose both Le Clezio and Lessing because of citizenship issues. Lessing retained her Rhodesian / Zimbabwean citizenship all through to the end of her life (she held dual nationality) so I think it only fair she gets consideration. Of course if you take a stricter view on it then you can also choose to pass her by. Le Clezio also maintains Mauritius nationality and that is technically and geographically just about African over Asian as far as islands go!
>52 amanda4242: She did consider herself an African writer by all accounts, Amanda.
>50 labfs39: I have erred on the side of generosity Lisa and chose both Le Clezio and Lessing because of citizenship issues. Lessing retained her Rhodesian / Zimbabwean citizenship all through to the end of her life (she held dual nationality) so I think it only fair she gets consideration. Of course if you take a stricter view on it then you can also choose to pass her by. Le Clezio also maintains Mauritius nationality and that is technically and geographically just about African over Asian as far as islands go!
>52 amanda4242: She did consider herself an African writer by all accounts, Amanda.
54labfs39
No worries, more is better, I was just going by the criteria you mentioned in >53 PaulCranswick: I am looking for authors born in Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria or Morocco. At a push I will accept a parent born there.
55AlexandraGrimm
Questo utente è stato eliminato perché considerato spam.
56PaulCranswick
>54 labfs39: Fair comment, Lisa, but I was responding to Marianne putting in an American author who was not born there, whose parents were not born there and who is not and had never been a citizen of there (there being Africa of course).
57labfs39
>56 PaulCranswick: Ah, got it. Sorry! Carry on...
58PaulCranswick
>56 PaulCranswick: I do wish to clarify that it is/was not my intention to single out Marianne or have any sort of dig at her which may have been construed from >56 PaulCranswick: Regulars to my challenges will know that I am not a stickler for rules and reading back my earlier comment, the tone is a bit on the haughty side. Apologies to her for any unintended slight.
59PaulCranswick
JUNE
EASTERN AFRICA
Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Malawi and Zimbabwe.
Plenty of choices there!
EASTERN AFRICA
Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Malawi and Zimbabwe.
Plenty of choices there!
60booksaplenty1949
>30 PaulCranswick: I felt Americanah, only Adichie novel I have read, could have benefitted from more aggressive editing. Touched on themes of interest large and small but lacked focus. Narrative dead ends. Have seen it described as “sprawling,” as if this were a compliment. Not in my vocabulary.
61PaulCranswick
>60 booksaplenty1949: Interesting info. I must admit it doesn't call to me as much as Purple Hibiscus does.
62arubabookwoman
This looks fabulous--So many great reads from Africa. I'd love to join in, but I'm great at joining and poor in following through. Nevertheless I will try.
Thanks Paul for all you do to ,are LT such an engaging place!
Thanks Paul for all you do to ,are LT such an engaging place!
63PaulCranswick
Thanks Deborah and lovely to see you. Feel free to dip in with whatever takes your fancy. x
64booksaplenty1949
>61 PaulCranswick: Refreshed my memory of central plot by looking at “Descriptions” and was surprised at how little of it I recalled. Crowded out by endless digressions on African hair care.
65cindydavid4
I liked it, mainly because it opened my eyes to the lives of African who now live in America. I agree it needed edits, but I thought it was a good read. and I agree Purple Hibiscus was better.
66amanda4242
>59 PaulCranswick: You have Uganda listed for April and June.
67booksaplenty1949
>61 PaulCranswick: I guess I’m surprised that someone whose written four? novels and a short story collection gets the same amount of time as all North African novelists and all Nobel Prize winners.
68cindydavid4
Guardian list of books about Tangiers by local writers (Paul Bowles is in there however so not sure how accurate it all is)
https://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2018/mar/28/top-10-books-based-in-ta...
https://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2018/mar/28/top-10-books-based-in-ta...
69Caroline_McElwee
>60 booksaplenty1949: I tend to agree. I felt a bit more editing would have improved it. >61 PaulCranswick: I loved Purple Hibiscus and Half of a Yellow Sun, I shall probably read the latter for the third time. Looking forward to her next novel.
70booksaplenty1949
>68 cindydavid4: Paul Bowles settled in Tangier when he was 36 and lived there for the next 52 years, so I think he would count as local.
71PaulCranswick
>67 booksaplenty1949: Actually when the American Author Challenge and the British Author Challenge (and Canada and Anzac Challenges too) were put up it was invariably just one author per month (in the British one I chose one man and one woman) but with Asia this year and Africa next I wanted to try to take us on a journey continent wide whilst still retaining some recognizable features of the other challenges.
That is why each quarter I will choose two authors to feature. I paired Adichie with Emecheta to provide some option.
>66 amanda4242: I guess I am pointing out the vagaries of national borders on the continent, Amanda. Take your pick which one you include it in. Actually, I hadn't realized I had named it twice!
>68 cindydavid4: / >70 booksaplenty1949: 36 years in one place certainly does make you part of its fabric. My 28 years in Kuala Lumpur does in certain ways qualify me as a local here surely?
That is why each quarter I will choose two authors to feature. I paired Adichie with Emecheta to provide some option.
>66 amanda4242: I guess I am pointing out the vagaries of national borders on the continent, Amanda. Take your pick which one you include it in. Actually, I hadn't realized I had named it twice!
>68 cindydavid4: / >70 booksaplenty1949: 36 years in one place certainly does make you part of its fabric. My 28 years in Kuala Lumpur does in certain ways qualify me as a local here surely?
72PaulCranswick
JULY
CHINUA ACHEBE
Possibly Africa's most influential author? I think unjustly overlooked for the Nobel Prize.
In case you are in need of an option then try Ben Okri.
CHINUA ACHEBE
Possibly Africa's most influential author? I think unjustly overlooked for the Nobel Prize.
In case you are in need of an option then try Ben Okri.
73booksaplenty1949
>72 PaulCranswick: Pretty much everyone of substance has been overlooked for the Nobel Prize. So they could give it to Pearl Buck. A joke.
74booksaplenty1949
>71 PaulCranswick: 52 years, not 36.
75PaulCranswick
>73 booksaplenty1949: I would have thought that Elfriede Jelinek was perhaps the most egregious folly, but there has been a goodly number of deserving souls overlooked.
>74 booksaplenty1949: Thank you. That was a bit careless of me.
>74 booksaplenty1949: Thank you. That was a bit careless of me.
76cbl_tn
>59 PaulCranswick: >72 PaulCranswick: Do we get two Junes in 2023? I like June, so I'd be happy to have two of them!
77PaulCranswick
>76 cbl_tn: Hahaha thanks for being the only one still awake, Carrie.
78cbl_tn
>77 PaulCranswick: Now I'm disappointed! I really liked the idea of two Junes next year. I love June, and it always seems to go by too fast.
79PaulCranswick
>78 cbl_tn: I am so sorry, Carrie, I applied upstairs but the big fellow vetoed my attempt to lengthen the good parts of the year!
80Caroline_McElwee
>79 PaulCranswick: Snicker. I used to hate February, so I called May and had two May's! It didn't get me an extra set of birthday celebrations tho.
81richardderus
>59 PaulCranswick: I know of one Burundian novelist translated into English: Roland Rugero, whose Baho! came out in 2016. It's a good novella, well-translated from French and quite easy to slot in among other reads as it's 96pp. English version is only in tree-book format.
84amanda4242
>81 richardderus: There is another Burundian novel available in English: Weep Not, Refugee by Marie-Therese Toyi. It's...not great, but it's available on kindle.
85PaulCranswick
AUGUST
FRANCOPHONE AFRICA
France's reach across Africa was extensive and the above map also does not include the many French voices from North Africa.
Many authors to choose from and I will list a selection of them nearer to the time.
FRANCOPHONE AFRICA
France's reach across Africa was extensive and the above map also does not include the many French voices from North Africa.
Many authors to choose from and I will list a selection of them nearer to the time.
86PaulCranswick
SEPTEMBER
SOUTHERN AFRICA
So many writers from South Africa plus we have Botswana, Zambia, Namibia to boot.
SOUTHERN AFRICA
So many writers from South Africa plus we have Botswana, Zambia, Namibia to boot.
87raton-liseur
Another yearly challenge! It is tempting, and again, it will be good for my “around the world with books” personal challenge!
I think I'll join once again, and intend to keep the same rule as last year: reading from my shelves. I probably own less books from Africa than what I had to choose from for Asia, but there should be enough to keep me busy. I will probably only join for the “geographical months”, and maybe for the Nobel Prize month as I might bend my self-imposed rule and read from the Nobel Prize winners I do not know yet.
Another great reading year is about to start, thanks Paul for organising this once again!
I think I'll join once again, and intend to keep the same rule as last year: reading from my shelves. I probably own less books from Africa than what I had to choose from for Asia, but there should be enough to keep me busy. I will probably only join for the “geographical months”, and maybe for the Nobel Prize month as I might bend my self-imposed rule and read from the Nobel Prize winners I do not know yet.
Another great reading year is about to start, thanks Paul for organising this once again!
88raton-liseur
>27 ELiz_M: What an interesting compilation! Stereotyps...
89PaulCranswick
>87 raton-liseur: You are very welcome. x
90cindydavid4
saw this on kiddocs page Sleepwalking Land from mozambique. any one read it? does that count as eastern afrca?
91kidzdoc
Thanks for letting me know about this challenge, Paul. As you probably know I read a lot of African literature (I'm currently reading Transcendent Kingdom by the Ghanaian-American author Yaa Gyasi), so I'll definitely participate.
My tentative reading plans for the first quarter of 2023:
January:
Children of the New World: A Novel of the Algerian War by Assia Djebar (Algeria)
Hope and Other Dangerous Pursuits by Laila Lalami (Morocco)
February:
Creole by José Eduardo Agualusa (Angola)
Transparent City by Ondjaki (Angola)
The Gurugu Pledge by Juan Tomás Ávila Laurel (Equatorial Guinea)
March:
Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
>90 cindydavid4: Sleepwalking Land would count as Lusophone literature, Cindy.
My tentative reading plans for the first quarter of 2023:
January:
Children of the New World: A Novel of the Algerian War by Assia Djebar (Algeria)
Hope and Other Dangerous Pursuits by Laila Lalami (Morocco)
February:
Creole by José Eduardo Agualusa (Angola)
Transparent City by Ondjaki (Angola)
The Gurugu Pledge by Juan Tomás Ávila Laurel (Equatorial Guinea)
March:
Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
>90 cindydavid4: Sleepwalking Land would count as Lusophone literature, Cindy.
92madhatta21
Hi. My name is Lindy.
93cindydavid4
>91 kidzdoc: thanks for that! Ill look for it. Also have hope and other pursuits, might use it here.
94PaulCranswick
>91 kidzdoc: Nice to see you Darryl. I am planning to read something by Djebar and something by Agualusa in the first quarter but probably also by Couto too.
If possible I will aim to read four books in the challenge per month.
If possible I will aim to read four books in the challenge per month.
95PaulCranswick
OCTOBER
SCHOLASTIQUE MUKASONGA & NGUGI WA THIONG'O
Two eminent East African writers. Mukasonga and her writings are becoming a phenomenon especially throughout the French speaking world and Ngugi Wa Thiong'o's stories shine a light on the dark shadow of colonialism. He originally started writing in English but reverted to writing and publishing first in his native Gikuyu language.
Whilst I welcomed the award two years ago to Abdulrazak Gurnah, I did feel that it would have been more deserving had it gone to Ngugi wa Thiong'o instead given the longevity and breadth of his oeuvre.
SCHOLASTIQUE MUKASONGA & NGUGI WA THIONG'O
Two eminent East African writers. Mukasonga and her writings are becoming a phenomenon especially throughout the French speaking world and Ngugi Wa Thiong'o's stories shine a light on the dark shadow of colonialism. He originally started writing in English but reverted to writing and publishing first in his native Gikuyu language.
Whilst I welcomed the award two years ago to Abdulrazak Gurnah, I did feel that it would have been more deserving had it gone to Ngugi wa Thiong'o instead given the longevity and breadth of his oeuvre.
96PaulCranswick
NOVEMBER
AFRICAN ADVENTURE, CRIME & THRILLER WRITERS
Be it Botswana & Unity Dow or even McCall Smith's books. Be it South Africa and writers like Deon Meyer and Richard Kunzmann. Be it West African and Femi Kayode or Kwei Quartey. Be it more traditional thrillers and adventure writers like Wilbur Smith and Geoffrey Jenkins...........African thrillers are definitely still on the rise.
AFRICAN ADVENTURE, CRIME & THRILLER WRITERS
Be it Botswana & Unity Dow or even McCall Smith's books. Be it South Africa and writers like Deon Meyer and Richard Kunzmann. Be it West African and Femi Kayode or Kwei Quartey. Be it more traditional thrillers and adventure writers like Wilbur Smith and Geoffrey Jenkins...........African thrillers are definitely still on the rise.
97booksaplenty1949
>86 PaulCranswick: Read William Plomer’s Turbott Wolfe recently. Had literally never heard of it until I saw the name on Cyril Connolly’s list of 100 Key Books of the Modern Movement. Set in South Africa before apartheid was codified. Absolutely dazzling.
98cindydavid4
Just discoveredthe bottom of the jarand will read it for next month.
99Kristelh
I recently read So Long a Letter by Mariama Bâ, Senegal, but not sure which division it fits. I think it is West Africa. It is a great book, short besides, and a 1001 book for those reading that list. I recommend it.
100PaulCranswick
>99 Kristelh: She would fit December as well as August, Kristel.
101Kristelh
>100 PaulCranswick:, Paul, thanks, it’s definitely a Francophone book, it was written in French originally.
102SandDune
Paul, I’ve just found this thread. Are Nigerian writers included anywhere as a category? I couldn’t see them. I ask because I did a personal challenge to include more African writers in my reading a few years ago and there were definitely more easily available books from Nigeria than anywhere else.
103PaulCranswick
>102 SandDune: December includes Nigerian authors, Rhian, which I notice I quite lazily haven't individually announced yet!
104PaulCranswick
DECEMBER
WEST AFRICA
comprising the countries of Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali (non Saharan), Mauritania (non Saharan), Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo.
WEST AFRICA
comprising the countries of Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali (non Saharan), Mauritania (non Saharan), Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo.
105SandDune
I'm so glad I've found this thread. I've been doing a bit of digging around my bookshelves to plan ahead.
These are African books that I have read already:
Algeria:
The Plague Albert Camus
Ghana:
The Hundred Wells of Salaga Ayesha Harruna Attah
Nigeria:
Americanah Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
The Thing Around your Neck Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
My Sister, the Serial Killer Oyinkan Braithwaite
Welcome to Lagos Chibundu Onuzo
Things Fall Apart Chinua Achebe
Anthills of the Savannah Chinua Achebe
The Famished Road Ben Okri
Sierra Leone:
The Hired Man Aminatta Forna
Somalia:
The Fortune Men Nadifa Mohamed
South Africa:
The Other Side of Truth Beverley Naidoo
The Promise Damon Galgut
Cry, the Beloved Country Alan Paton
July’s People Nadine Gordimer
Disgrace J.M.Coetzee
Zimbabwe:
Nervous Conditions Tsitsi Dangarembga
The Fifth Child Doris Lessing
This was the Old Chief’s Country Doris Lessing
And these are ones that I've found around the house that I haven't yet read.
Algeria:
The Outsider Albert Camus
Burundi:
Small Country Gaël Faye
Egypt:
Bird Summons Leila Aboulela
Palace Walk Naguib Mahfouz
Woman at Point Zero Nawal el Saadawi
Ethiopia:
The Wife’s Tale: A Personal History Aida Edemariam
Libya:
In the Country of Men Hisham Matar
Nigeria:
Purple Hibiscus Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Half of a Yellow Sun Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Rosewater Tade Thompson
The Fishermen Chigozie Obioma
Like a Mule Bringing Ice Cream to the Sun Sarah Manyika
South Africa:
Rumours of Rain Andre Brink
In a Strange Room Damon Galgut
The Shining Girls Lauren Beukes
Zimbabwe:
The Book of Memory Petina Gappah
These are African books that I have read already:
Algeria:
The Plague Albert Camus
Ghana:
The Hundred Wells of Salaga Ayesha Harruna Attah
Nigeria:
Americanah Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
The Thing Around your Neck Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
My Sister, the Serial Killer Oyinkan Braithwaite
Welcome to Lagos Chibundu Onuzo
Things Fall Apart Chinua Achebe
Anthills of the Savannah Chinua Achebe
The Famished Road Ben Okri
Sierra Leone:
The Hired Man Aminatta Forna
Somalia:
The Fortune Men Nadifa Mohamed
South Africa:
The Other Side of Truth Beverley Naidoo
The Promise Damon Galgut
Cry, the Beloved Country Alan Paton
July’s People Nadine Gordimer
Disgrace J.M.Coetzee
Zimbabwe:
Nervous Conditions Tsitsi Dangarembga
The Fifth Child Doris Lessing
This was the Old Chief’s Country Doris Lessing
And these are ones that I've found around the house that I haven't yet read.
Algeria:
The Outsider Albert Camus
Burundi:
Small Country Gaël Faye
Egypt:
Bird Summons Leila Aboulela
Palace Walk Naguib Mahfouz
Woman at Point Zero Nawal el Saadawi
Ethiopia:
The Wife’s Tale: A Personal History Aida Edemariam
Libya:
In the Country of Men Hisham Matar
Nigeria:
Purple Hibiscus Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Half of a Yellow Sun Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Rosewater Tade Thompson
The Fishermen Chigozie Obioma
Like a Mule Bringing Ice Cream to the Sun Sarah Manyika
South Africa:
Rumours of Rain Andre Brink
In a Strange Room Damon Galgut
The Shining Girls Lauren Beukes
Zimbabwe:
The Book of Memory Petina Gappah
106Caroline_McElwee
>105 SandDune: Some good lists there Rhian, thanks.
107booksaplenty1949
Picked up about a dozen vols in the Heinemann African Writers Series years ago, but have only read Things Fall Apart, I have to confess. Now I plan to pick up the pace. Have Palace Walk ready to begin the New Year in North Africa.
108cindydavid4
The Hired Man Aminatta Forna
Ive still got ancestor stones read for this group. Isnt hired man about the balkans?
Ive still got ancestor stones read for this group. Isnt hired man about the balkans?
109cindydavid4
>105 SandDune: The Hired Man Aminatta Forna
Ive still got ancestor stones read for this group for West Africa. Isnt hired man about the balkans?
Bird SummonsLeila Aboulela got this one too for Egypt. Think I have more of these on my shelves than I thought
Ive read Their Heads Are Green and Their Hands Are Blue But not sure his essays fit for Africa. Comments?
Ive still got ancestor stones read for this group for West Africa. Isnt hired man about the balkans?
Bird SummonsLeila Aboulela got this one too for Egypt. Think I have more of these on my shelves than I thought
Ive read Their Heads Are Green and Their Hands Are Blue But not sure his essays fit for Africa. Comments?
110SandDune
>109 cindydavid4: Isnt hired man about the balkans? Yes it is. I was going on the nationality / place of birth of the author rather than what the book was about.
111PaulCranswick
>105 SandDune: I won't list them all, Rhian, and without looking at my UK and US and French authors who have African links by birth, I have unread 178 books to choose from by African authors from 28 different African nations.
112esalt
The New York Times has begun a new series called "Read Your Way Through..." in which favorite writers are asked to recommend reading that helps readers to get to know their cities and tips on literary landmarks to check out. The August 3, 2022 feature was focused on Cairo and suggested:
Novels by Naguib Mahfouz
“In the Eye of the Sun” and “The Map of Love,” Ahdaf Soueif
“Slipping,” Mohamed Kheir
“The Colors of Infamy,” Albert Cossery
“Beer in the Snooker Club,” Waguih Ghali
“That Smell,” Sonallah Ibrahim
Novels by Naguib Mahfouz
“In the Eye of the Sun” and “The Map of Love,” Ahdaf Soueif
“Slipping,” Mohamed Kheir
“The Colors of Infamy,” Albert Cossery
“Beer in the Snooker Club,” Waguih Ghali
“That Smell,” Sonallah Ibrahim
113PaulCranswick
As to January and North Africa, I am hoping to read six books:
1. The King's Fool by Mahi Binebine (Morocco)
2. The Bridges of Constantine by Ahlem Mosteghanemi (Algeria)
3. The Golden Ass by Apuleius (Tunisia)
4. The Italian by Shukri Mabkhout (Tunisia)
5. In the Country of Men by Hisham Matar (Libya)
6. Brooklyn Heights by Miral al-Tahawy (Egypt)
1. The King's Fool by Mahi Binebine (Morocco)
2. The Bridges of Constantine by Ahlem Mosteghanemi (Algeria)
3. The Golden Ass by Apuleius (Tunisia)
4. The Italian by Shukri Mabkhout (Tunisia)
5. In the Country of Men by Hisham Matar (Libya)
6. Brooklyn Heights by Miral al-Tahawy (Egypt)
114labfs39
>112 esalt: Thank you for this. I'm going to look for the series.
>113 PaulCranswick: I remember The Golden Ass being very funny when I read it in college. I was surprised I didn't like In the Country of Men more when I read it a few years ago.
My options for January include four books I already own:
Akhenaten, Dweller in Truth and Autumn Quail by Naguib Mahfouz, as I've already read the Cairo Trilogy (Egypt)
The Ardent Swarm by Yamen Manai (Tunisia)
So Vast the Prison by Assia Djebar (Algeria)
I also have a memoir I've been looking forward to, but I'll hang on to it since this is an African Novels challenge.
>113 PaulCranswick: I remember The Golden Ass being very funny when I read it in college. I was surprised I didn't like In the Country of Men more when I read it a few years ago.
My options for January include four books I already own:
Akhenaten, Dweller in Truth and Autumn Quail by Naguib Mahfouz, as I've already read the Cairo Trilogy (Egypt)
The Ardent Swarm by Yamen Manai (Tunisia)
So Vast the Prison by Assia Djebar (Algeria)
I also have a memoir I've been looking forward to, but I'll hang on to it since this is an African Novels challenge.
115cindydavid4
yesterdays NYT Book Review continured their travel reading series with "Read Your Way Through Tangier" Several interesting books were included on Morocco (a place Ive always been fascinated whti)and other areas of the country. Here are some examples
dreams of trespass
Memories of Absence which I may be lookint to read
Black Morocco by Chouki El Hamel
Rebel Music Hisham D. Aidi
For Bread Alone translated by Paul Bowles
the Lemon” by Mohammed Mrabet also trans by Bowles
Mohamed Choukri wrote three short books about his relationships with Genet, Williams and Paul Bowles — the three expat authors he knew best. These books are collected in “In Tangier” and make for a fascinating, and at times disturbing, reflection on art, collaboration and power.
The Simple Past
Straight from the Horse’s Mouth Meryem Alaoui
“The Travels of Ibn Battuta
“Year of the Elephant” Leila Abouzeid
dreams of trespass
Memories of Absence which I may be lookint to read
Black Morocco by Chouki El Hamel
Rebel Music Hisham D. Aidi
For Bread Alone translated by Paul Bowles
the Lemon” by Mohammed Mrabet also trans by Bowles
Mohamed Choukri wrote three short books about his relationships with Genet, Williams and Paul Bowles — the three expat authors he knew best. These books are collected in “In Tangier” and make for a fascinating, and at times disturbing, reflection on art, collaboration and power.
The Simple Past
Straight from the Horse’s Mouth Meryem Alaoui
“The Travels of Ibn Battuta
“Year of the Elephant” Leila Abouzeid
116booksaplenty1949
>115 cindydavid4: Your link here to “In Tangier” took me to a mystery story, “A Dead Man in Tangier,” by Michael Pearce so you might want to fix that.
117cindydavid4
fixed, thanks!
118SqueakyChu
Question: So I found two books at home by Moroccan authors. In both books, the characters are no longer living in Africa. Are both of these books disqualified from your challenge? My guess is yes because you want us to read *about* Africa. Right?
119booksaplenty1949
>117 cindydavid4: How does one link a book anyway? I type the name hoping it will light up in blue but no such luck.
120booksaplenty1949
>118 SqueakyChu: Might be subject for a discussion along the lines of “You can take the writer out of Africa but can you take Africa out of the writer?”
121PaulCranswick
>118 SqueakyChu: I'm not particularly good at setting hard and fast rules, Madeline. I am not going to disqualify any books written by African authors as I am not able to police the subject matter. Obviously African writers will most often write about the African experience whether that experience is in Africa or it is elsewhere as I think is alluded to in >120 booksaplenty1949: also.
I haven't thought to include books by non African writers about Africa or a particularly African country so, for example, Hideous Kinky by Esther Freud whilst set largely in and about Morocco is not an African Novel neither would something like Beau Geste but I do think that Americanah which is largely set outside the continent but is resoundingly about the experiences of an African in that setting would be an African novel.
But I personally would prefer a sense of place to emerge so I will largely, but not exclusively, be looking at books written by Africans and set in Africa. But I will be including The Golden Ass written by someone born in what is now Tunisia but which was then part of the Roman Empire and is set in Greece.
I won't make rules, Madeline, choose the books you are comfortable with as African novels with the only proviso that the Author should have been born in Africa or his/her parent(s) should have been.
I haven't thought to include books by non African writers about Africa or a particularly African country so, for example, Hideous Kinky by Esther Freud whilst set largely in and about Morocco is not an African Novel neither would something like Beau Geste but I do think that Americanah which is largely set outside the continent but is resoundingly about the experiences of an African in that setting would be an African novel.
But I personally would prefer a sense of place to emerge so I will largely, but not exclusively, be looking at books written by Africans and set in Africa. But I will be including The Golden Ass written by someone born in what is now Tunisia but which was then part of the Roman Empire and is set in Greece.
I won't make rules, Madeline, choose the books you are comfortable with as African novels with the only proviso that the Author should have been born in Africa or his/her parent(s) should have been.
122amanda4242
>119 booksaplenty1949: Put brackets around the title to create a touchstone: one set for titles, two for authors, and three for series. Instructions are also in the add message box.
123cindydavid4
>119 booksaplenty1949: hee, good try :) type the title of the book. On either side type one Click enter So it looks like this. In Tangier (do not include spaces) In Tangier . When you click on the title the summary of the book synopsis will come up
If you are looking for an author, click on each side of the authors name so atwood no spaces becomes atwood
If you are looking for an author, click on each side of the authors name so atwood no spaces becomes atwood
124cindydavid4
>120 booksaplenty1949: I love that idea!!!!!!
125cindydavid4
nvm
126markon
>119 booksaplenty1949: The brackets suggested in >122 amanda4242: are the square ones to the right of P on my Qwerty keyboard. So you would type (square bracket)title(square bracket). If it's a common title check to see that the link is the correct one by clicking (others) and choosing the correct book.
127SqueakyChu
>121 PaulCranswick: Thanks, Paul. I'll see what I can find. :)
I think I'm going to have to thin down my book collection in order to find anything at all! :D
I think I'm going to have to thin down my book collection in order to find anything at all! :D
128Tess_W
I'm in, whenever I can! I try to read at least 5 books from each continent yearly, so off I go to my shelves!
129Caroline_McElwee
Well I've shuffled the 1,300+ Cairo trilogy to the top of the pile, whether I will read the whole trilogy in January, or just the first book, we will see. I will probably start it next weekend.
130booksaplenty1949
Began Palace Walk recently and am enjoying it a lot despite fact that author won the Nobel Prize. Characters are engaging and pages turn quickly. PS Title turned blue! Thanks to my coaches. 👏