Intercultural Virtual Bookbox

I saw this posted in the Bookcrossing forum and decided this would be perfect for me. Intercultural Virtual Bookbox ROUND 2 – travelling organised by ApoloniaX .
The idea is that the books in the box are to do with two (or more) cultures interacting, e.g. an immigrant talking about their life in their new country. The twist to the box is that the titles are not given, just the countries and the title's first and last letters. It is great that it is an international,virtual box as that means you don't have to fork out so much money in postage.

I had a look at the box and went for the following to help me with my Olympic Challenge. Can't wait to see what they are like!

UK, Canada, Kenya & Guyana: "T...y"
Ethiopia & USA: "C...n"
UK & Crete: "H...s"

£2.99 Books

I have been profitting from the Times newspaper's book offer for a while now. Each week they promote a different book, which you can buy for the cost of £2.99 and the paper. The selection is varied, everything from beach reads to Booker Prize nominees. If you are a regular reader of the Times, then there is usually an announcement telling about the latest book and the one coming the following week. Some books are very recent, bestsellers, so it is worth a look. On top of this, I have picked up some of the free books they have given away, many through a deal with Penguin.

Gems I have picked up so far:
Mrs Dalloway a 1001 book
The White Tiger Booker
The Cellist of Sarajevo already read, a personal look at the conflict
The Other Hand an event in Nigeria connects the main characters
Night Train to Lisbon
Remember Me...
The Pirate's Daughter
The Almost Moon
Sea of Poppies

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

Another book on my wishlist, The Boy in The Striped Pajamas, I signed up to this a while back. I decided to take it to the cafe and ended up reading it in one sitting. Such a well-written book, the child's perspective of a heinous part of our history.

The Painted Veil

I have been wanting to read The Painted Veil for ages, ever since I saw the beautiful film a few years ago. When I lived in Guangdong in China, I visited the neighbouring region Guangxi a few times, so loved seeing the scenery in the film, despite the tragic plot. As ever the book was changed when made into a screenplay, but neither left me disappointed. The book was fast paced and the plot really grabbed you.

Passed on to a reader in Singapore.

Facing It: Valerie Angel

I was given this by a work colleague to read, it was written by his step mother. I was a bit nervous about reading it, what would I say if I didn't like it? Well, luckily that fear was unfounded.

Facing it is a book which is my cup of tea. A book about travel, harsh conditions and the human condition.

A round the world boat trip for people with different reasons for getting away. A girl who was trafficked into the U.K., a woman fresh out of rehab, as well as young people getting over face transplants after a suffering an unknown disease. The captain and his first mate are the 2 "healthy" ones trying to keep the crew going, to keep up group spirit under occasionally harsh conditions.
I did enjoy this book, the style is a wee bit choppy, more of a radio play at times, but the plot is very different and well executed, if at times a little bit far-fetched. Human relationships are involved, as well as looking at the idea that just because someone has a new face, doesn't mean their personality has changed.
Always good to read a book partially set in a place you know, my sister used to live near Southend, where the captain is from.

For more information, check out her website: www.valangel.co.uk

999 Challenge June update

Have slowed down with the challenge, as I have been trying to pick up books to fill up the categories. 2 more groups completed and now I have read at least 2 books from each category.

Group 1: Oceania and Islands 9/9
1. Reef
2. Mr. Pip
3. The Flamboya Tree
4. Masters of the Dew
5. Theft A Love Story
6. Mr. Potter
7. The Book Thief
8. The House at Riverton
9. The Pirate's Daughter

Finally getting somewhere with Group 2, have changed it a wee bit so it now includes all Portuguese speaking writers:
2/9 Books about Portugal or written by Portuguese speaking writers. I have recently moved to Portugal and feel I should get to know more about the people and culture.
1. The Journal of Beckford in Portugal and Spain read
2. 50 years of dictatorship currently reading
3. Dona Flor and her two husbands read

Group 3 - finished

Group 4:
Children's Books 3/9
1. The 13 Clocks
2. Aesop's Fables
3. Mau Começo

Group 5:
British Writers (pref. new to me) 9/9
1. The Thirteenth Tale (new author)
2. When will there be good News
3. The Second Plane
4. Enduring Love
5. Evelina (new author)
6. The Moonstone (new author)
7. Emotionally Weird in Portuguese
8. Amsterdam
9. To the lighthouse (new author)

Group 6:
Controversial or banned Books 7/9
1. Petals of Blood
2. The Satanic Verses
3. A Clockwork Orange
4. Gulliver's Travels
5. Lolita
6. Beloved
7. Their Eyes were watching God

Group 7:
Travel 8/9
1. [The Emigrants]
2. [Wall to Wall A Woman's Travels from Beijing to Berlin]
3. [Facing it: Angel Valerie]
4. [Something of Samoa]
5. [The interesting Narrative of Oluanah Equiano]
6. [Four Corners A Journey into the Heart of Papua New Guinea]
7. [Snow]
8. [Blood River]

Group 8:
Canongate Books - a great Scottish press. 4/9
1. The poison that Fascinates
2. The end of Mr. Y
3. A Night out with Robert Burns
4. Tsotsi

Group 9: complete

Feeling happy about this challenge, not only has it helped me shape my reading, but also helped fill in gaps. Already thinking about next year, which categories, which books ... Glutton for punishment?!