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About the author and blogger ...

Anne Goodwin’s drive to understand what makes people tick led to a career in clinical psychology. That same curiosity now powers her fiction.
A prize-winning short-story writer, she has published three novels and a short story collection with small independent press, Inspired Quill. Her debut novel, Sugar and Snails, was shortlisted for the 2016 Polari First Book Prize.
Away from her desk, Anne guides book-loving walkers through the Derbyshire landscape that inspired Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre.
Subscribers to her newsletter can download a free e-book of award-winning short stories.

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Reading the world

21/9/2018

14 Comments

 
Picture
A recent comment from Norah Colvin got me wondering (as they often do): how many countries had I visited recently in the pages of a book? Perhaps I’d set myself a reading goal for next year: around the world in eighty books! As a comparison (or perhaps as a way of avoiding knuckling down to some real work), I thought I’d check where I’d travelled so far this year. Omitting mainland UK and the USA, where I find myself all too often, I’m not even halfway to eighty, but it’s nevertheless a spread.
While it’s possible I’ve overlooked some of my armchair travels, I’m struck by what’s absent from my list. I thought I read lots of novels with Indian settings, but apparently not this year (although I have read a few featuring characters in the UK or US with Indian or Pakistani roots). And nothing so far this year from Germany, or China, and a whole continent of South America missed out. What other gaps can you see?


Australia
A Long Way from Home
Barbados Washington Black 
Bulgaria The Unbeliever
Burma Miss Burma
Croatia Ukelele Jam
Czech Republic Spaceman of Bohemia
Finland The Summer House
France Smoking Kills
Ghana The Hundred Wells of Salaga
Greece The Athenian Women
Iceland The Sealwoman’s Gift
Indonesia The Tree of the Toraja
Iran Disoriental
Ireland Rainsongs
Italy The Eight Mountains
Japan Convenience Store Woman
Kenya Dance of the Jakaranda


Latvia Soviet Milk
Lebanon Shatila Stories
Madagascar Beyond the Rice Fields
Micronesia The People in the Trees
Nigeria Speak No Evil
Northern Ireland Milkman
Norway The Gradual Disappearance of Jane Ashland
Oman Celestial Bodies
Philippines America Is Not the Heart
Poland Drive Your Plow over the Bones of the Dead
Russia The Forged Coupon
Spain Court of Lions
Syria States of Passion
Uganda Kintu
Zimbabwe House of Stone


When I’m so inclined I might look further back to when I began reviewing to see if I can plug some reading gaps. Ideally, I’d choose a favourite novel for each country, preferably written by an author who is based or hails from there. Although what constitutes a country is contested, the consensus seems to be that there are 195 countries in the world. How many do you think Annecdotal should have visited (in total) by the end of next year?

I drafted this post a couple of weeks ago for my end-of-month series on reading, but a summons for the Ranch necessitated some tinkering with my schedule. While the 99-word story it prompted isn’t particularly inspired, I doubt I’d ever find a more fitting accompaniment to a parade of nations prompt.

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A scorcher of a summer

“How was your summer? Did you get away?”
“It depends what you mean by away.”
“Oh, I forgot, you don’t go away anymore, do you? Don’t blame you, this year. Who needs to go abroad with the scorcher of a summer we’ve had?”
“Me, actually.”
“You did go away? Where?”
“Barbados and Madagascar most recently.”
“Most recently? You went other places earlier on?”
“Sure.”
“Where?”
“Finland, Indonesia, Iran, Italy, Japan, and Poland, as far as I recall.”
“As far as I recall? What’s that supposed to mean?”
“I watch a parade of nations in the pages of a novel.”
  

Picture

Charli’s flash fiction challenges are on hiatus for a month from now to make way for the contests. First up is on
dialogue (or dialog in American) – looks like I’m going to need more practice!


Thanks for reading. I'd love to know what you think. If you've enjoyed this post, you might like to sign up via the sidebar for regular email updates and/or my quarterly Newsletter.
14 Comments
Bill Engleson link
21/9/2018 05:26:52 pm

You might want to visit Canada in your reading whirlwind journey around the world. Although my little novel is set in Canada, you would do better to visit one of our more established writers. Mordecai Richler, Miriam Toews, so many...here's a link...https://www.google.ca/search?source=hp&ei=ORulW-mgNdXb9AOpgaOABw&q=canadian+writers&oq=canadian+writer&gs_l=psy-ab.1.0.0l10.1244.4598.0.6517.17.13.0.3.3.0.181.933.3j5.9.0....0...1c.1.64.psy-ab..5.11.998.0..0i131k1.5.HTjyuwpiINU

Reply
Annecdotist
21/9/2018 06:47:05 pm

Thanks for those suggestions, Bill. Don't know how I've managed to miss Canada in my parade of nations. There are indeed lots of fine writers there. I have heard of Miriam Toews, although never read anything of hers, and wasn’t aware she was Canadian. Thanks for enlightening me.

Reply
Robbie Cheadle
21/9/2018 06:30:12 pm

Travelling the world via books is wonderful, Anne. I was pleased to see Africa featured on your list. You could also explore East and Southern Africa.

Reply
Annecdotist
21/9/2018 06:49:45 pm

Thanks, Robbie. I’ve read a lot of South African writers, though unfortunately not this year! But I don’t think I’ve come across any from Namibia, Zambia or Mozambique. Lots of gaps to fill!

Reply
Robbie Cheadle
27/9/2018 06:09:15 am

I don't know many writers from Zambia or Moz. I have come across some interesting books of folk stories in Botswana and Nambia.

Annecdotist
30/9/2018 10:03:17 am

Thanks, Robbie, you have me suitably intrigued! Any recommendations?

Norah Colvin link
22/9/2018 02:07:22 am

I really enjoyed this post, Anne, and I'm delighted that my question got you thinking about it. You have visited far more countries both in person and in the pages of books than I have. I know you are not a fan of Alexander McCall Smith's books (so therefore you must have read some), and I know your list is only from this year (what a list!) but some of his stories are set in Botswana and some in Scotland (though you were also omitting mainland UK). It might be fairer to yourself to think of all the books read since you started reviewing to see what countries you have visited.(not a small feat, I know) You mentioned some from India but not this year. To visit 197 countries in one year would be quite a feat and perhaps wouldn't do justice to any. But then, for an avid reader like you, it might be a 'piece of cake'.
Loved your flash - very clever. You've dived into books and I've gone into the classroom for mine (not finished yet). How predictable! :)

Reply
Annecdotist
22/9/2018 08:03:23 am

Aargh, I hope I find another novel to represent Botswana without having to call on AMcS! However I might flag the countries of the UK separately (NIreland is there already) but have several choices for Scotland. It would be another matter if he set his stories in Wales!
Glad you liked the flash. It is indeed predictable (I know you didn't mean that as a criticism, although it would be justified) which might be why I'm not so keen on it. I didn't have to dig deep enough to find it. But alongside other pieces our particular predictability won't matter. You've provoked another interesting thought about the different needs of single author versus multi author collections. Thanks.

Reply
Norah Colvin link
30/9/2018 01:27:40 pm

I think you found that interesting thought all on your own, Anne! (Much as I'd love to take credit for it.)

Annecdotist
8/10/2018 06:51:33 pm

I think we can share the credit, feeding off each other's creativity.

Miriam Hurdle link
22/9/2018 04:39:38 am

Hi Anne, I remember one of the books my daughter wanted to buy during freshman was 1000 Places to See Before You Die. I imagine by reading the book, she visited many countries. Excellent Flash!

Reply
Annecdotist
22/9/2018 08:06:33 am

Thanks, Miriam. Although I've done a certain amount of it in my time, I hate the culture of clocking up those visits (complete with selfies). Much more relaxing, and ecologically sound, to do it in a book. Hurrah for you daughter!

Reply
Charli Mills
27/9/2018 04:33:34 am

Ah, leave it to Norah to ask such a thought-provoking question! Fascinating where it led you, Anne. I must read this author the two of you share different tolerances for -- AMcS. I like the idea of you adding more books and looking to fill those gaps. What an incredible adventure your flash character had this summer!

Reply
Annecdotist
30/9/2018 10:06:01 am

Yes, she’s very good at pushing us to think a little further. I’d be interested in your perspective on Alistair McCall Smith. His books are light and mildly amusing – nothing wrong with that in principle, but they give me the shivers!

Reply



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