Around the Year in 52 Books discussion
Progress Posts 2017
>
34: A book set in or by an author from the Southern Hemisphere
- What are you reading this week?I'm reading 'The Husband's Secret', by Liane Moriarty
- Where was your book set/where is the author from?
The book is set in Sydney and Melbourne, Australia, and Liane herself is Australian.
- Did you feel like this prompt helped you read more diversely?
Not really, I read a range of diverse books anyway and I'm Australian, so this one was easy.
- Is it important to you to read diverse books? Very, you gain a different perspective.
I picked Big Little Lies, by Liane Moriarty as well :)This was one of the books in my list for 2016, and after reading it in two sittings, I can say it won't my my last by Ms. Moriarty (I actually have Truly Madly Guilty on this year's list too).
- Where was your book set/where is the author from?
Like Angela said, the author is Australia and the book is set in the Pirriwee Peninsula, which is a fictional place based on the north of Sydney.
- Did you feel like this prompt helped you read more diversely?
Not particularly. I can't remember other Australian books I've ready, but as far as diversity goes, I probably could have gone much further.
- Is it important to you to read diverse books?
Yeah. I think one of the best things of reading is discovering different places, cultures and people.
What are you reading this week?The Case of Lisandra P.
Where was your book set/where is the author from?
Buenos Aires
Did you feel like this prompt helped you read more diversely?
Yes
Is it important to you to read diverse books?
No
I am reading Kiss of the Spider Woman by Manuel Puig. 
It is set in and written by an author from Argentina.
I do enjoy reading books from other countries and is one of the main reasons I read, so it is important to me to read diverse books.
What are you reading this week?
Where was your book set/where is the author from?
The book is set in Chile and the author is from Chile
Did you feel like this prompt helped you read more diversely?
Not really, as I already had this book on my Owned TBR shelf, but it did make me get around to reading it.
Is it important to you to read diverse books?
Sometimes
- What are you reading this week?'The Sea and the Summer' by George Turner
- Where was your book set/where is the author from?
Australia
- Did you feel like this prompt helped you read more diversely?
Not really, but it is a nice idea.
- Is it important to you to read diverse books?
It is.
- What are you reading this week? The Japanese Lover- Where was your book set/where is the author from? the author is from Chile
- Did you feel like this prompt helped you read more diversely? Not really- I really like Australian/NZ books. And Isabel Allende is one of my favorite writers
- Is it important to you to read diverse books? No. I read what I like and sounds interesting. Since I have a diversity of tastes, I end up reading diverse books but it is because they're good not because they're diverse.
- What are you reading this week?
- Where was your book set/where is the author from? The book is set in New Guinea off the coast of Australia
- Did you feel like this prompt helped you read more diversely? No, because I read diverse books all of the time.
- Is it important to you to read diverse books? Yes, because I feel it is good to understand other cultures and people.
What are you reading this week?The Whale Rider by Witi Ihimaera
Where was your book set/where is the author from?
The book is set in New Zealand and the author is also from NZ
Did you feel like this prompt helped you read more diversely?
Not really. I read a lot of books that are considered diverse. I have had the privilege to live on 3 continents and in many countries and this has opened me up to trying anything once... including books!
Is it important to you to read diverse books?
Yes, but I do not actively seek out books just because it is a notch on my 'diverse reading belt'. Read what makes you happy, at least you are reading!
- What are you reading this week? I read Three Wishes by Liane Moriarty
- Where was your book set/where is the author from? The book is set in Sydney, Australia and the author is from Australia as well
- Did you feel like this prompt helped you read more diversely? Not really. This book is tagged chick-lit and does not seem to differ too much from American, or British chicklit.
- Is it important to you to read diverse books? I am an advocate of the "read what you want, as long as you're reading" mentality. I think it is important to try a diverse list of authors/books but you should not force yourself to enjoy them if you don't.
- What are you reading this week? Truly Madly Guilty by Liane Moriarty- Where was your book set/where is the author from? set in Sydney, Australia where the author was born
- Did you feel like this prompt helped you read more diversely? I've already read a few books by this author and had already planned to read more.
- Is it important to you to read diverse books? I don't really pay attention to where books are set or where the authors are from. If the book sounds good I will read it.
- What are you reading this week? 
- Where was your book set/where is the author from? Sydney, Australia.. and Laine Moriarty is from Australia as well!
- Did you feel like this prompt helped you read more diversely?
Well, I really love this author so I was happy to squeeze in a book by her in this challenge. I really enjoy reading books set in other cultures particularly enjoy books set in India. I do pretty much all audiobooks and really enjoy books read with foreign accents! The Narrator for this Aussie book is great!
- Is it important to you to read diverse books? I do really enjoy learning about other cultures from my reading I like to pick non fiction books from other cultures! But this of course is a Fiction and mostly likely a light quick book. Although, all the other books by this author have has some sort of a murder, death or tragedy so be interesting to see what is in store for this book.
Samantha wrote: "- What are you reading this week? I read Three Wishes by Liane Moriarty
- Where was your book set/where is the author from? The book..."
You have at least a two day head start on this book... :) See you at the finish line. lol!
- What are you reading this week? First Blade by Jane Hinchey- Where was your book set/where is the author from?
The author is from South Australia, Australia - same as me.
- Did you feel like this prompt helped you read more diversely?
No. I'm quite diverse in my book choices already. And given I live in Australia I often read from the Southern Hemisphere :)
- Is it important to you to read diverse books?
Yes and no. I feel it's more important that we enjoy what we read, and if we enjoy reading about diversity all the better as we learn more.
-What are you reading this week?The Silent Frontier by Peter Watt
- Where was your book set/where is the author from?
Australia
- Did you feel like this prompt helped you read more diversely?
No, I'm Australian so read dozens and dozens of local books.
- Is it important to you to read diverse books?
Not really. If it was I might have chosen a book from elsewhere but this one has been on my TBR list for a long time and wanting to read it was more important to me.
Just finished my book and it turns out a lot of it was set in New Zealand so I'm pleased this makes it fit more with the spirit of the challenge.
What are you reading this week?Holding the Man by Timothy Conigrave
- Where was your book set/where is the author from?
This is a memoir set in Melbourne and Sydney, Australia
- Did you feel like this prompt helped you read more diversely?
I don't know if I'd say that in this case, because this book has been on my TBR list for a while.
- Is it important to you to read diverse books?
It is important to me to read diverse books.
- What are you reading this week?The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion
- Where was your book set/where is the author from?
Australia
- Did you feel like this prompt helped you read more diversely?
It made me realise that most of the books I read are by US authors set in the US. Though this is probably because of marketing.
- Is it important to you to read diverse books?
Absolutely, but content is more important. I won't pick a book just because of the location it's set in.
What are you reading this week? The Second Death Of Goodluck Tinubu by Michael Stanley- Where was your book set/where is the author from? It is set in Botswana, Africa
- Did you feel like this prompt helped you read more diversely?
Yes, it did.
- Is it important to you to read diverse books?
I would say that 3 years ago I was pretty much reading just mysteries by mostly American authors. Today I am still reading mysteries, but I am also reading books from around the world and a much greater variety of authors. Because of this I am experiencing other cultures and reading a better quality of book.
What are you reading this week?Bleaker House: Chasing My Novel to the End of the World by Nell Stevens
- Where was your book set/where is the author from?
Setting is the Falkland Islands
- Did you feel like this prompt helped you read more diversely?
No, since I had this book on my list as soon as I read about it. The penguin on the cover was what first caught my attention!
- Is it important to you to read diverse books?
Yes. I like to read books set in different countries and translations.
- What are you reading this week?
Confession of the Lioness, by Mia Couto.
- Where was your book set/where is the author from?
The author is from Mozambique, and the book is also set there.
- Did you feel like this prompt helped you read more diversely?
In theory yes but I think the prompt was so narrow that I had a hard time fulfilling it. I've been trying to read more authors of color and I thought this might be a good opportunity to do that and it didn't happen.
- Is it important to you to read diverse books?
Yes yes definitely.
What are you reading this week?Born a Crime by Trevor Noah
Where was your book set/where is the author from?
The book is set in South Africa and Trevor Noah was born/raised in SA as well. He moved to the US in 2011. The book's his memoir of growing up in SA.
Did you feel like this prompt helped you read more diversely?
No, not really--I just got this because it was free on Audible one day. I don't watch Noah's show so I wouldn't have picked it up otherwise.
Is it important to you to read diverse books?
Honestly, not really. I tend to only read diverse books if they're popular ones. I don't actively seek them out.
What are you reading this week?Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty
Where was your book set/where is the author from?
The author is Australian and the book is set in Australia
Did you feel like this prompt helped you read more diversely?
No, I would have read this book anyway
Is it important to you to read diverse books?
In some ways yes. I like reading different kind of books and learn about other countries, cultures and people but I also want to enjoy the book
What are you reading this week?The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman
Where was your book set/where is the author from?
The author is from Western Australia and the book takes place in a lighthouse somewhere off the coast of Australia.
Did you feel like this prompt helped you read more diversely?
In this case, no, but only because the book was already slated to be read for my book club
Is it important to you to read diverse books? Yes, because I am a librarian and I want to be well-read.
What are you reading this week? The Grass is Singing by Doris Lessing
Where was your book set/where is the author from?
The book is set in South Africa, in what now is Zimbabwe. Both Lessing's parents were british, but she grew up in South Africa.
Did you feel like this prompt helped you read more diversely? No, not really, I would have read in anyway as Lessing is the favourite author of my mom. I have been wanting to read it for a long time (and finally I did).
Is it important to you to read diverse books?
I like to get to know more about different cultures and countries through books, so that is important. But it is more important that the book is well written.
What Alice Forgot
Liane MoriartySet in Australia - seems like lots of people are reading Liane Moriarty for this one! It's my second of her books and I plan to read them all but try not to read the same author twice in 12 months Having failed in this case as there was only 6 months between books I need to leave a bigger gap
I would like to read more diversely, a large percentage of the books I read are set in the UK (home) but I've been trying to read more from other countries on this challenge. Looking back so far have read books set mostly in the USA, plus this one in Australia, one in Japan, two partly in Europe and one in India. I hadn't realised I'd read so many set in the USA so will try and consciously pick books from different cultures for future challenges.
- What are you reading this week?The Farseekers by Isobelle Carmody
- Where was your book set/where is the author from?
The author is from Australia.
- Did you feel like this prompt helped you read more diversely?
No I already started this series and this was a good place to put the next book in the series.
- Is it important to you to read diverse books?
I like learning about other cultures and countries, but I pick my books because I want to enjoy them not for the subject.
What are you reading this week?A thousand tales of Johannesburg by Harry Kalmer
Where was your book set/where is the author from?
South Africa
Did you feel like this prompt helped you read more diversely?
I like to read diversely anyway
Is it important to you to read diverse books?
It's hugely important
What are you reading this week?Wolves of the Witchwood by Kate Forsyth
Where was your book set/where is the author from?
The author is Australian.
Did you feel like this prompt helped you read more diversely?
Not really. As an Australian I already read plenty of books by Australian authors, although, I would like to read more.
Is it important to you to read diverse books?
Yes.
- What are you reading this week?Elbows Off the Table, Please
- Where was your book set/where is the author from?
The author is a well known cook from New Zealand
- Did you feel like this prompt helped you read more diversely?
Not really, I live in NZ :D
- Is it important to you to read diverse books?
Yes, I like to read different genres and books by authors of different countries.
What are you reading this week?Cocaine Blues by Kerry Greenwood
Where was your book set/where is the author from?
The book starts out in London but quickly switches to Melbourne, Australia. The author is from Australia as well.
Did you feel like this prompt helped you read more diversely?
I did only because I had already read or had plans for all the other Australian authors I typically read. I had to search for this one.
Is it important to you to read diverse books?
Yes, it is.
What are you reading this week?Now
Where was your book set/where is the author from?
It's set in Australia.
Did you feel like this prompt helped you read more diversely?
I read the first two books in the series so I was going to read this one anyway. I seem to have bad luck with a lot of Australian books, I've only read one I really liked, and it wasn't this one.
Is it important to you to read diverse books?
I like to read books set in a bunch of different places, so location diversity is a yes-but-not-essential. Character diversity is a bigger yes, but again, I will read non-diverse books if they sound really interesting.
Progress Post:- What are you reading this week?
The Woman Next Door by Yewande Omotoso
- Where was your book set/where is the author from?
The book is set in Capetown, South Africa, and I believe the author is also from South Africa
- Did you feel like this prompt helped you read more diversely?
Yes and no. I had actually picked this book up, and then realized it was set in South Africa, but it was recommended to me when I asked for diverse recommendations.
- Is it important to you to read diverse books?
Absolutely - I am actually documenting my experience of not reading books by white men this year on my blog
- What are you reading this week?The Bone People
- Where was your book set/where is the author from?
The book is set in New Zealand and written by Keri Hulme, a kiwi author
- Did you feel like this prompt helped you read more diversely?
Not really as I'm trying to read more local authors since I moved to NZ
- Is it important to you to read diverse books?
It did used to be, but know I really pay attention to read more diversely
What are you reading this week?Things We Lost in the Fire: Stories
- Where was your book set/where is the author from?
The books was set in Argentina and the book is Argentinian.
- Did you feel like this prompt helped you read more diversely?
Yes this book helped me read more diverse by reading translated books and more books by Latino authors.
- Is it important to you to read diverse books?
Yes is important to read diverse books.
- What are you reading this week?I am listening to the audiobook of Owls Do Cry by Janet Frame. I will go back and read the actual book in the near future. It's powerful stuff.
Owls Do Cry
- Where was your book set/where is the author from?
The book is set in the fictional town of Waimaru (which is apparently loosely based on the actual town of Oamaru in the South Island of New Zealand). Janet Frame is originally from Dunedin in New Zealand.
- Did you feel like this prompt helped you read more diversely?
I read a lot of Australian books being an Aussie but wanted to see what the neighbours have been up to. I will read more widely from the Southern Hemisphere from here on and be less parochial.
- Is it important to you to read diverse books?
The beauty of books for me is that they take you out of the realm of your personal experience. I have tried to read more diversely as I've got older.
Thanks for the kiwi rec, as I just moved to NZ I want to discover more authors.Will you create a topic to talk about this book?
Sophie, have you watched Top of the Lake yet? It's a brilliant show set in NZ. :)
- What are you reading this week? The Hypnotist's Love Story by Liane Moriarty- Where was your book set/where is the author from? Australia
- Did you feel like this prompt helped you read more diversely?
No, I don't think I realized how little of the world is in the Southern Hemisphere. I was going to read Americanah but Nigeria apparently is in the Northern Hemisphere. Fever Dreams was another option but would take forever to get from the library. In the end this was available at the library so I went with it.
- Is it important to you to read diverse books? I do like to fit them in here in there but have to be in the mood. Currently traveling and a little outside my comfort zone everyday so wanted something light and fun not the best time to expand my horizons.
What are you reading this week?I read Big Little Lies
Where was your book set/where is the author from?
Australia
Did you feel like this prompt helped you read more diversely?
No not really. I mainly picked this book because I was watching the show and it intrigued me. Then it just happened to fit into this category.
Is it important to you to read diverse books?
I do try to. But mainly I just read what interests me.
What are you reading this week?Picnic at Hanging Rock by Joan Lindsay
Where was your book set/where is the author from?
Australia
Did you feel like this prompt helped you read more diversely?
Yes. Until I joined book challenges I really didn't read too diversely. Many books were from the US and the UK.
Is it important to you to read diverse books?
Very.
What are you reading this week?I will be reading (starting tomorrow, most likely) Purple Hibiscus
Where was your book set/where is the author from?
It is set in Nigeria, and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is also from Nigeria.
Did you feel like this prompt helped you read more diversely?
Yes, although I purposely avoided reading books set in Australia to help that along. It would have been very easy to pick Liane Moriarty or something else Australian. Nothing against Australian books, I've just read quite a few already.
Is it important to you to read diverse books?
I think it's important, but it's not necessarily my top consideration when picking a book.
Edit: I've literally just learned that Nigeria is not actually in the Southern Hemisphere. Probably should have checked a map before I chose it, although it is very close to the equator. I think the book still pretty much fulfills the spirit of the challenge, but I'll switch it out if needed.
What are you reading this week?Cocaine Blues by Kerry Greenwood
Where was your book set/where is the author from?
Set in Australia Author from Melbourne Australia
Did you feel like this prompt helped you read more diversely?
No I think I read quite diversely anyway
Is it important to you to read diverse books?
No . I think the most important thing is to read what you like ,when you like
What are you reading this week?Breath by Tim Winton.
Where was your book set/where is the author from?
Australia - my homeland!
Did you feel like this prompt helped you read more diversely?
I've a goal currently to read more Australian works, which I'm failing. This at least made me read one!
Is it important to you to read diverse books?
I've no desire to read things just for the sake of diversity. I want to read things that I'm interested in, and if they're classed as diverse, so be it.
-What are you reading this week?The Madman’s Daughter by Megan Shepherd
-Where was your book set/where is the author from?
The book takes place on an island a hundred miles from Australia
Did you feel like this prompt helped you read more diversely?
Not really because you don't really learn about the culture.
-Is it important to you to read diverse books?
No. I just usually read what looks good and if it happens to be a diverse thats cool.
- What are you reading this week? Mary Poppins by P.L. Travers- Where was your book set/where is the author from? There is no location mentioned in the book. The author was from Australia.
- Did you feel like this prompt helped you read more diversely? Not really, since I went with what I own and my collection isn't very diverse in location.
- Is it important to you to read diverse books? It feels more important now than when I was younger. Diversity is so much more than location, though.
What are you reading this week?The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman
Where was your book set/where is the author from?
Australia for both
Did you feel like this prompt helped you read more diversely?
I was about to say no, but then I realized I've only read 3 books by Australian authors this year, so I guess the answer is yes after all.
Is it important to you to read diverse books?
Of course! Even if I don't end up liking the book, I'm glad I tried exposing myself to something new.
What are you reading this week?Find Me Unafraid: Love, Loss, and Hope in an African Slum by Kennedy Odede & Jessica Posner
Where was your book set/where is the author from?
It was set mostly in Kibera, Nairobi, Kenya, which is Africa's largest slum. One of the two authors is from there.
Did you feel like this prompt helped you read more diversely?
Definitely. It was a book my book club read this month, so I didn't select it, but it was a perfect fit for this prompt.
Is it important to you to read diverse books?
For me, yes. I'm trying to read more diversely with my Around the World reading challenge, and this book definitely fit in with what I'm trying to do there.
Around the Year in 52 Books
Books mentioned in this topic
The Dry (other topics)Fonchito y la luna (other topics)
The Last Train to Zona Verde: My Ultimate African Safari (other topics)
The Japanese Lover (other topics)
Big Little Lies (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Jane Harper (other topics)Mario Vargas Llosa (other topics)
Paul Theroux (other topics)
Nevil Shute (other topics)
Kurt Vonnegut Jr. (other topics)
More...
For those reading in order: August 21 – August 27, 2017
Suggestions for this category: link
To discuss the book, don't forget to add it in the A-Z folders or join the existing discussion. Please, don't discuss the book here.
Progress Post:
- What are you reading this week?
- Where was your book set/where is the author from?
- Did you feel like this prompt helped you read more diversely?
- Is it important to you to read diverse books?