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Thank you for sharing your lists, Danielle. I'm glad they are here so i can use them as a resource. I've not heard of many from Africa & you've offered a wealth of them.

Thank you Madrano. Glad you liked them

Madrano wrote: "Thank you for sharing your lists, Danielle. I'm glad they are here so i can use them as a resource. I've not heard of many from Africa & you've offered a wealth of them."

---
You can read my Africa list in post 7.

I didn't care for Stolen Lives: Twenty Years in a Desert Jail. I read it back when Oprah selected it. I don't recall all the details now, but I simply did not believe her story.

I forgot about The Plague. I first read this classic in college. Then I read it again with this group. It's my favorite Camus book.

Thanks again for reviving this thread, Danielle. I love to read peoples list of books set in various countries.

Alias, i thought about the mutual reading we did on The Camus novel when i saw it on the list. I recall being surprised it was set in Africa. I believe as a group we really liked it.

Best Historical Fiction Set in UK & Ireland:
/list/show/3...

Best Novels that take place in China:
/list/user_v...

Speculative Fiction from African writers:
/list/user_v...

Best Christian Fiction 2014 covering U.S. towns and sheds:
/list/user_v...

Best fiction by Pakistani authors (almost all cover Pakistan):
/list/user_v...

All the best, from Noorilhuda author of the self-published e-novel

Awesome lists, Noorilhuda !

Thanks for sharing. I am on my way out to run errands but I am going to check these out later. I feel my TBR list growing again ! :)

Neat list. I was surprised by the "Speculative Fiction from African Writers" list. I presumed speculative is another word for science fictionish books and am surprised to see Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston listed. Have i forgotten some component of the book?

Thanks for sharing the lists, Noorilhuda.

deb

For Italy, I read the Montalbano series, but wanted to recommend the Commissioner Ricciardi series, set in Fascist-era Naples, starting with I Will Have Vengeance.

If you're interested in another African detective series, consider Wife of the Gods, featuring police detective Darko Dawson in Accra, Ghana (they're written by a Ghanaian-American author).

If you're at all interested in Myanmar (Burma) give The Native Tourist: A Holiday Pilgrimage in Myanmar by Ma Thanegi a go! She was a political prisoner, having written of that experience, as well as terrific sequel to Native Tourist as well. Most native speakers of English should write as well as she does!

To all of you that enjoy readings set in Italy, particularly in the time within the I and II World War times, I would definitely recommend:

The Path to the Spiders' Nests

The Moon and the Bonfire

Bebo's Girl

The Conformist

History.

Each one of them describes the 'real Italy' roots, the good and the bad, giving a great picture of Italian society and life style.

More recent, but in my modest opinion, worth taking a look at:

I'm Not Scared

Don't Move.

I haven't read My Brilliant Friend series yet, about to start after Christmas and looking forward for it, as apparently also those seems to be quite good reads...

Thank you for the recommendations, Francesca. I'll check them out.

Nice list, Francesca. Thank you. I've added History to my list and am going to check out the Brilliant Friend series, of which i am ignorant.

Reposting to correct thread



Carol
ITALY , , ,

* Where Angels Fear to Tread by E. M. Forster, 84 pp
* The Italian by Ann Radcliffe, Penguin Classics, 544 pp
* Juliet by Anne Fortier, 447 pp, 480 pp.
* Brunelleschi's Dome: How Renaissance Genius Reinventive Architecture by Ross King, 208 pp
* The Lost Painting: Quest for a Caravaggio Masterpiece by Jonathan Harr, 320 pp
* The Charterhouse of Parma by Stendhal, 560 pp.
* The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe, 704 pp
* The Midwife of Venice by Roberta Rich, 352 pp
* Anthony and Cleopatra by Colleen Mc Cullough, 567 pp
* The Scarlet Contessa by Jeanne Kalogridis, 480 pp
* Bread and Wine by Ignazio Silone, 304 pp
* The Lady in the Palazzo: An Umbrian Love Story by Mariena de Blasi, 317 pp
* Home to Italy by Peter Pezzilli, 274 pp
* Italian Food )Penguin Classics) by Elizabeth David, 416 pp
* The Girl in the Glass: A Novel by Susan Meissner, 352 pp
* D. H. Lawrence and Italy: Sketches from Etruscan Places, Sea and Sardinia, Twilight in Italy (Penguin Classics), 528 pp
* A Thousand days in Venice: An Unexpected Romance by Marlena de Blasi, 288 pp
* That Summer in Sicily: A Love Story by Marlena de Biasi, 301 pp.
* Antonia and Her Daughters: Secrets, Love, Friendship and Family in Tuscany by Marlena de Blasi, 320 pp
* Italian Ways: On and Off the Rails from Milan to Palermo by Time Parks, 288 pp.
* An Italian Education by Time Parks, 338 pp
* Medici Money: Banking, Metaphysics, and Art in Fifteenth-Century Florence by Tim Parks, 288 pp.

I don't think I have seen this masterpiece listed on the thread. An excellent film was also made of it starring Dirk Bogarde.

Death in Venice by Thomas Mann

Jill, i don't think i've ever seen the movie, although i read the book. Usually i follow up reading with the film. Hmmm.

I've read a few of the books Carol listed, among them the following:

* Where Angels Fear to Treadby E.M. Forster, although my version was longer than 84 pp. Maybe it depends on type size.

* Brunelleschi's Dome: How a Renaissance Genius Reinvented Architecture by Ross King. I took copious notes from it, both for Italy and the construction itself.

* The Lost PaintingThe Lost Painting: Quest for a Caravaggio Masterpiece by Jonathan Harr.

madrano wrote: " Brunelleschi's Dome: How a Renaissance Genius Reinvented Architecture by Ross King. I took copious notes from it, both for Italy and the construction itself...."

I just started one of his other books, Mad Enchantment: Claude Monet and the Painting of the Water Lilies--Ross King

Today, at the library, I picked up --

* The Lost Painting - Jonathan Hart
* Brunelleschi's Dome - Ross King

I'm also waiting for -
* Two Stories in one book: Down and Out in Paris and London & Homage to Catalonia

Carol wrote: "
* Brunelleschi's Dome - Ross King"

I'll be interested in your thoughts on Brunelleschi's Dome: How a Renaissance Genius Reinvented Architecture Carol.

I also liked King's The Judgment of Paris: The Revolutionary Decade That Gave the World Impressionism, about the change in art in the late 1800s. I think he understands the questions non-academic readers want to know and explains events quite well.

(As an aside, my memory is that we read Judgment in this group, maybe when still on AOL. Does anyone else remember this? It's possible that i read it only with Jan of Oklahoma...i've forgotten her screenname....something with cats?)

I don't recall the book, deb.

Alias, it must have just been a couple of us, then. I wish we could go back to those AOL boards to see what we posted/read. I remember copying some when we learned they were closing but i didn't save many.

Alias Reader wrote: "If you have a book list of books set in a particular country that you would like to share, here is a thread for you.


I found this list on GR and thought someone might be interested:

/list/show/3...

Although it refers to the best Italian writers of '900, most of the books are actually set in Italy and quite a few definitely worth taking a look, in my opinion... :)

I recognize the second one, Two Women by Alberto Moravia because they made a good movie from it. For most Americans the film was our introduction to Sophia Loren. I believe she won the Academy Award for that performance.

madrano wrote: "I recognize the second one, Two Women by Alberto Moravia because they made a good movie from it. For most Americans the film was our introduction to Sophia Loren. I beli..."

Two Women is a great movie indeed, also The Conformist still by Alberto Moravia is a good film made by Bertolucci. One of my favorites actually...

Francesca, the plot of the Moravia book sounds familiar but i'm just not sure i've seen the film. I'll have to check it out to see. Thanks for noting it, either way.

Francesca M wrote: "Although it refers to the best Italian writers of '900, most of the books are actually set in Italy and quite a few definitely worth taking a look, in my opinion... :."

Thanks for the list, Francesca ! Unfortunately, I don't speak Italian. But I can go by the author's name and see on Amazon if there is an English translation.

Nice tip, Aneta.

Spamming Book Nook Cafe with multiple posts to visit ones blog with not be tolerated. All such posts will be deleted.

I appreciate everyone's cooperation on this.

Thank you!

Alias Reader wrote: "Francesca M wrote: "Although it refers to the best Italian writers of '900, most of the books are actually set in Italy and quite a few definitely worth taking a look, in my opinion... :."

Thanks ..."

Sorry about the Italian version Alias, I haven’t found a similar list with english titles. But if you select the book the english edition and related summary should come up, not sure if all of them, but the majority have been translated.

No problem, Francesca. As I noted, I can click on the authors name and I'll see the English version if there is one.

That's what i've been doing for some titles, too.

Does this post belong in this thread, and it seems awfully self-promotional to me in tone?

John, i’ve Reported these—they are on every thread i’ve opened this evening!

madrano wrote: "John, i’ve Reported these—they are on every thread i’ve opened this evening!"

This is so weird. I don't see what post(s) you all are referring to.
If I see spam, I try to delete it promptly.

I was away for the weekend so I was not online.

I'll chime in regarding Japan ...

The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle - I'll start with this one of Murakami's as a book I particularly enjoyed.

Probably deserves mention elsewhere as a noteable book on its own (a classic?): The Makioka Sisters, set on the eve of WW II highlighting the contrast between traditional and modern Japanese culture at the time.

The Housekeeper and the Professor was a solid read, seeming to get deserved recognition these days.

John wrote: "I'll chime in regarding Japan ...

The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle - I'll start with this one of Murakami's as a book I particularly enjoyed.

Probably deserves mention elsewhere as a notea..."

Thank you for the recommendations, John !

I have other ideas for various places, but will put them out there a bit at a time. 😉

The New York Times, for their August book club selection chose
The Woman Warrior---Maxine Hong Kingston

On the show they included Celeste Ng who is the author of
Little Fires Everywhere
Everything I Never Told You

Ng selected the book for the club.

Here is the discussion.

John, thanks for the list of books about Japan. I've had Yōko Ogawa work on my list for several years. Time to open it?

While we are on the topic, earlier this year i read a book reviewed by PattyMac, Scrublands by Chris Hammer. A reader feels the heat & sweats along with the main character, as well as come to appreciate the vast land & travel between small towns.

You know, there is something to be said about books/stories set in various regions within one's own country. For instance, recently i read Bayou folk, a collection of short stories by Kate Chopin, which were set in Louisiana in the late 1800s. It evoked many memories of my visits there--the wafting Spanish moss, the humidity, front porches, etc. I've also felt similarly with Sarah Orne Jewett's The Country of the Pointed Firs and Other Stories.

Alias, i read Woman Warrior a decade or so ago. While i've forgotten details, i remember liking it very much. It was my introduction to Chinese myths. As one who has long relished mythologies, this was fascinating. Will/Did you (be) reading it?

madrano wrote: Alias, i read Woman Warrior a decade or so ago. While i've forgotten details, i remember liking it very much. It was my introduction to Chinese myths. As one who has long relished mythologies, this was fascinating. Will/Did you (be) reading it?
.."

No, I took a pass on it. The Sept. selection is
Conversations with Friends

It looks like a Bridget Jones's Diary type of book. I'm not really that target audience, but I have a hold on it at the library.

I'd rather read the Warrior book! Obviously i am not the target audience either. :-)

I read mystery series set in many countries, but I get the impression that this thread is not really specifically for that? So, here's info on an author from Norway: Per Petterson.

He has a few books featuring the character Arvid Jansen. I haven't read the ones featuring Arvid as a child, but recently read one with him as an adult, I Curse the River of Time. To be honest his mother struck me (and some other readers) as a stronger character, but I appreciated the book for its sense of place, both Norway and Denmark, where he visits as his mother is Danish. I had gotten its sequel In the Wake from library, but before I could get to it, another patron put a hold - next time, I'll read it right away!

There was enough flashback in River that I felt I got a sense of him as a child; so, it stood alone OK I thought without the others. I doubt the next one will though.

John wrote: "I read mystery series set in many countries, but I get the impression that this thread is not really specifically for that? So, here's info on an author from Norway: Per Petterson.
..."

In this folder there various threads. Here are just two

--Books set in a particular country. -- I think I started that thread with books on Italy that I've enjoyed.

-- Share a list of books about a topic you're interested in--
This one could be anything you fancy. Holiday books, mystery books, dog books, ...whatever. :)

I have various threads so people can go back and hopefully find a post/topic that they would like to find again. However, if you post a bit off topic in any thread, I don't stress over it. I don't run BNC that way. I just want to share ideas here and have fun.

John, in the past we have mentioned a number of mysteries set in other countries. Part of the interest is because often history is shared in the prose, but also details about life there. I think (could be mistaken) that this is why the thread is has "set in a particular country" in the title, rather than "about a particular country." If i recall correctly, someone specifically asked for novels set in a country they were going to visit.

A while back I used an Audible credit on a memoir Dirty Chick: Adventures of an Unlikely Farmer, story of an American family who emigrated to New Zealand. Liked it well enough (initially wasn't sure) that I feel comfortable recommending if here.

My mother-in-law has traveled the world and New Zealand is the place she regularly recommends to people who ask. She felt it was gorgeous & fresh. I'm going to suggest this book to her, as she's often asking me for book ideas. Thanks.

madrano wrote: "My mother-in-law has traveled the world and New Zealand is the place she regularly recommends to people who ask. She felt it was gorgeous & fresh. I'm going to suggest this book to her, as she's of..."

My mother said she preferred NZ to Oz on my parents' trip to see both.

Same here. It was about the landscape. They were mesmerized by the green of it all--more so than even Ireland.

I've never read any of her fiction, but really liked Isabel Allende's My Invented Country: A Nostalgic Journey Through Chile.

Isabel Allende is an author whose books i've long said i wanted to try but have not. I have a list of books about other countries & will add this one, as i have none for Chile.

Next up: Switzerland

Granted, there aren't a whole lot of novels set there, though can recall reading a pretty good one: The Last Weynfeldt.

Here's a nonfiction by a longterm expat, who appears to be held in high regard by the Swiss themselves, so a presumption that he's being objective: Swiss Watching: Inside Europe's Landlocked Island.