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#readaroundtheworld
review
Currey
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Pickpick

#readaroundtheworld #libya Bookwormy has exited Litsy. I will miss her. This book is both a memoir of the author‘s search for his father who had been kidnapped by Qaddafi, but also a careful look at the politics surrounding Libya‘s historical revolutions, and finally how one grieves when one can not be sure of the death of the person you mourn. Slightly chronologically confusing but otherwise well written.

BarbaraBB I didn‘t know and am very sorry to hear that about Book wormy 2w
TorieStorieS Oh dear— thanks for letting us know! 2w
22 likes2 comments
review
Daisey
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Pickpick

This book was a rather odd but delightful journey around Finland. I was by turns baffled by the main character Vatanen‘s choices and amused by the resulting events. Compared to much of my reading it was a generally lighter and entertaining read, although Vatanen does make some choices that get him into a some serious scrapes.

#ReadAroundTheWorld #ReadTheWorld #Finland #1001books #audiobook #translated

BarbaraBB Delightful is the right word! 1mo
batsy I quite liked this one, too! 1mo
46 likes2 comments
review
rockpools
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Pickpick

Where to begin?

This was some trip.

It starts off as a farcical fishing trip to put a curse on pause, and turns into… something else. Something with a whole lot of heart and supernatural folkloric beings. And witches. And mosquitoes.

Give it a go if you‘re up for a dose of Finnish weird. I liked this a lot. Whatever it was.

#readaroundtheworld #finland

Currey Sounds weirdly wonderful 1mo
rockpools @Currey It‘s quite out-there. But it‘s also well-written with a decent story. 1mo
Centique And mosquitos… 😂 You write the best descriptions! 😍 1mo
rockpools @Centique 😂😂 Thanks Paula 😘. It‘s set in/around a swamp in Eastern Lapland. There are a LOT of mosquitoes 🦟 ! 1mo
54 likes2 stack adds4 comments
blurb
BookwormM
Death and the Penguin | Andrey Kurkov
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#ReadAroundTheWorld #Ukraine my book has finally arrived.

You will be pleased to know I am ahead of the game with my choice for Libya which is here already.

35 likes1 comment
review
BookwormM
The Kalevala | Elias Lnnrot
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Mehso-so

#ReadAroundTheWorld #Finland

Epic Finnish poem which shows how similar European myths and legends are.

The hero is set impossible quests to win a bride. Heroes go about fighting other knights , villains or beasts. Women are either beautiful wife material or old hags and witches.

LeeRHarry I was ahead of myself and read the Kalevala last month ahead of being in Finland this month 🥰 1mo
Bookwomble Thanks for tagging me - I'd completely forgotten I'd signed up for this reading challenge! 🤦🏻‍♂️ I'll have to see if I can make trim for it. I love the Kalevala, though having started it many times I've not got more than half way through. I'll have to see about another attempt! 😄 1mo
35 likes2 comments
review
Currey
The Manila Rope | Veijo Meri
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Mehso-so

#readaroundtheworld #finland Published in the 1950‘s, but set during the WWII when Finland found itself trapped between Russia and Germany. Their stories are told from the point of view of the common soldiers who were undisciplined, starving and wearing rags while their German partners had nice uniforms, were very disciplined but nevertheless considered fools. Each war story is a kind of folktale and all are chilling in an off center way.

review
rockpools
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Pickpick

I am SO out of practice with reviews. Time to snap out of it!

I really enjoyed this. It‘s your favourite @BookwormM - interconnected short stories 😁 - this time set in a Ukrainian apartment building before/after the fall of the USSR. I would say it‘s at the novel end of the ISS genre - we get to revisit the main characters, and grow to really feel for some of them - even the awful ones have heart. From a young orphan making her

rockpools escape, to friendships formed over bootleg records, green beans and the frustrations of a system that makes little sense. It‘s dark, sad, funny and weird, and I could happily read it again.

This was my #readaroundtheworld book for January. The author was born in #Ukraine and grew up in Canada.
(edited) 2mo
Currey @rockpools - for being out of practice, that was well done! Sounds good 2mo
BookwormM 🤣 my library book ordered in December had still not arrived 😱 2mo
55 likes3 stack adds3 comments
review
Currey
The White Guard | Mikhail Bulgakov
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Pickpick

#readaroundtheworld #ukraine I love Bulgakov‘s The Master and Margarita and this is not quite up to that. The novel reads almost like a cinematic script with the city of Kiev playing a leading role. It is 1918 and there are White Russians, Red Bolshevik's, Ukrainian national socialists, Germans and our title group; the White Guard who are Ukrainians loyal to the memory of the tsar. A flowing easy read and a wonderful history lesson.

BookwormM My book still hasn‘t arrived from library 😱 2mo
rockpools You‘ve made me actually want to read The Master and Marguerita! It‘s on the one-day list… 2mo
18 likes2 comments
review
Daisey
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Pickpick

This book is an interesting mix of an older parent trying to find new happiness in the face of loss, family dynamics, immigration (to England), and Ukrainian history. It‘s definitely got some dark humor while also delving into realistic family issues. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

#1001books #Ukraine #ReadAroundTheWorld #ReadTheWorld #ReadingTheWorld

quietlycuriouskate Fabulous book! 2mo
BarbaraBB What a great edition you have! I enjoyed this one too 2mo
64 likes1 stack add2 comments
review
BookwormM
The Saga of Gosta Berling | Selma Lagerlof
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Mehso-so

#Reading1001 #ReadAroundTheWorld #Sweden

Interconnected vignettes with forgettable characters but great descriptions of nature. The book encompasses folklore, myth, legends and historical stories.

Great descriptions of rural Sweden you can really feel the chill and smell the forest.

BarbaraBB Such a good read! 2mo
48 likes1 stack add1 comment