Chimera
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As a book and travelling/discovering new cultures lover, I like to mix my two passions. I find that books are a great way to travel in my head and to explore other cultures and cultural identities. I thought it might be nice to have a thread to exchange reading ideas on these themes... One I particularly enjoyed was Digging to America by Anne Taylor. This is the story of two couples, one pure bred americans and the other of Iranian origin (but also american), who adopt two korean little girls, meet in the process and decide to see each other again. The book follows them as their families grow closer, intermingle, and sometimes fight. It explores the american culture and what it means to be american, but more than that it shows how different cultures can intermingle and reject each other at the same time, how someone can be torn between its origins , national culture, that of its friends... and how that person ends up building his own culture by mixing it all up and keeping the best from each. Take Susan for instance, a korean born, iranian adopted, american raised little girl, how should she define herself? It is increadibly insightful and at the same time a wonderful, very funny read. Anyone else interested in this? Do you have any suggestion as to what I might read next?
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Yes, I should have thought about that before reading it just before bed the other night: I had gotten just at the end of the treachery part when I put it down. It made for a bad dream night! Finished it today and was really sad to put it down. It was amazing! Incredibly sad but perfect. I knew it was a very popular book and has been acclaimed by everyone but I didnt know much more than that about it. I wasnt disapointed!
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Le crime est notre affaire, an adaptation of Agatha Christie's Partners in crime came out last week in France. I havent read that book but I love agatha christie and the film is apparently very good so I'll certainly go and see it. I'm not sure wether it will be marketed in other countries though, as it is a french film.
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At what time in the day do you read?
Chimera replied to Colin Jacobs's topic in General Book Discussions
I read in the transports to and from work... 2 and a half hours every day which seemed very very long until I started to take a book with me. Now I tend to linger in the train (my stop is at the end of the line) to finish my page/ chapter I also get travel sick if I read in a car or bus though, which sucks when I need to take a long car trip. Luckily I go to work by train and tram. -
A bit everywhere: on my bedside table, desk, chairs, the floor ... and sometimes on shelves *laughs*
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Hello and welcome!
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Same here. I cant remember actually crying while reading a book but I can get very upset... The Kite runner, which I just finished had me with a lump in my throat all week! Actually the books (and films) which bring me closest to tears are usually the lower quality, overdone dramas. One of them was Ou es tu? by Marc Levy: one of those books I cant put down eventhough I reason that its not so good and which carries far more emotion than I can bear
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Welcome Wonders disciple! You have found just the right place... unless you'r trying to curb your addiction
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Your grandmother seems like quite a character *laughs* What is the 'social circuit' about, if you dont mind me asking?
Last minute fright... an unfortunate but oh so profound human truth. Which is why I was amazingly productive today, my deadline being tomorow. *laughs* What about you? I saw you were very active on the forum... I came over and watched wenever I got too bored. Excellent break material! *cracking up*
I wanted to get on the forum and answer a few threads but I think I'll just burry myself in my book and get an early night as it is back to work for me tomorrow *wonders were the WE went*
See you around!
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oups. I posted this message on my wall by mistake. As it was 2 in the morning I must just have been too tired *laughs* Anyway, here goes:
*is now properly frightened by ii's grandmother* Good to know you managed to escape, though you did study in finland in the end ;-)
Backpaking, I guess it's like economy... not for everyone! *laughs*
It's an internship report and I actually just got a good part of it done... between midnight and 2 in the morning. Why do I get productive only when I'm dying to go to bed with a good book? *grin*
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The Chocolate Lover's Club - Carole Matthews
Chimera replied to Michelle's topic in Women's Fiction / Chick Lit
oooh That's definitely a book for me, chocolate addict I'll have to get it. -
*cracking up* Yes it does sound like you needed to get away from the madness ;-) Well I also needed time to think about what I wanted to do (though I still ended up in a university course which clearly wasnt for me so I guess that purpose was defeated on short term ;-) And having been in an english school (I lived there for a few years) and an international school in france was what gave me the idea... Countries like the UK and finland have the right idea about this I think.
Mexico is great, but then again so are dozens of other countries I'm sure! I'd love to go backpaking around latin america one day.
Good luck with the studying! Mine isnt going too well. The trouble is I need my laptop to type that report... but that means I have unlimited acces to the internet and television on my fingertips! *wonders if she should just sabotage the internet connexion*
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I'm sure it gives you an excuse to buy even more shoes... a full set for each house right??
That's weird. I guess a master's degree would be the name for it in english, one of the french 'grande école'. I dont have a clear specialty though, its pretty general. I did two years of pure economics in university and that was more than enough for me! Are you in finland on some kind of erasmus program?
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Finland must be great! not too cold though? I know that feeling of travelling around and not quite keeping up with were you live...
I'm studying in a business school. I've nearly finished though, thankfully. Only a year left and I'll be able to roam around from country to country as I please ( or rather as jobs please I guess). What about you?
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Finished The accidental tourist this morning. I quite enjoyed it in the end, after nearly dropping it a 100 pages in... It was really slow going but with very funny parts. At first I got the feeling it was from an other author entirely than Digging to america, which is also by Anne Tyler. I just couldnt see any link between them. But I can now see a sort of common theme, the resemblance between Macon and Maryam: two caracters who are set in their ways, kind of isolated, and have to ajust to unexpected turns in their life, redefining their identities along the way... Does that make sense? Also started The kite runner by Khaled Hosseini. It seems really good from the first few chapters. But I think I'm just getting to the turning point of Amir and Hassan's relationship. Quite worried about what will happen between them
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Hello Julia, welcome on board!
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I'm curious Katie, why didnt you like 1984? I thought it was great: the type of book which really enlightens you on what might happen (in an exagerated way of course) if we're not careful. Terifying but so gripping...
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Did you enjoy it? Welcome to the forum!
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It figures others loved it too... It's a book I got randomly in some contest or other and which I then kept as a personal treasure for years. Never really imagined others reading it Though I have no idea where it might be now. I'll have to review it in the 'youth zone' if I can find it.
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Yes, very funny and appropriate to the forum!
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I loved autobiographies and 'true amazing stories' when I was a kid. One of my absolute favorite books was a biography of Helen Keller, a young girl who was blind, deaf and mute, learned to get along with it and went on to lead an amazing life. I cant possibly number the times I read it I havent read any of those for some time now but I might pick some ideas in all those suggestions you made!
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Mashed potatoes with a tomato and tuna sauce... All my leftovers thrown together
*remembers oh so fondly 3 hour long sessions of economic equations*...