Blog — A World Adventure by Book

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Hide a Book Day with Goodreads & The Book Fairies!

Fun Hide a Book stickers on a gifted book

Have you seen the posts of people (like Emma Watson) who plant beloved books for strangers to randomly find & read? Well, we're joining in with Goodreads & The Book Fairies on Hide A Book Day to spread a love of reading & brighten someone's day.

Want to Participate in Hide a Book Day on Sept. 18?

  1. Let us know you'd like to join in.
     
  2. We'll send you a (free) special sticker or bookmark wherever you are in the world.*
     
  3. Pick out one of your favorite books—perhaps a book you read for our book club still in good condition or a newly bought copy of another book. Either way, we suggest an international read. :)
     
  4. On Sept. 18, you'll hide the book along with the sticker/bookmark. You can choose to wrap the book with a ribbon if you'd like. (You can also buy Book Fairies ribbons and other paraphernalia.) Keep the weather in mind for any outdoor locations & remember that the books should be hidden, but not too hidden. You want someone to stumble upon the book without any advance clues.
     
  5. Post a photo of the book in our Facebook group as well as on social media with the hashtags: 
    #HideABookDay #IBelieveInBookFairies #AWorldAdventureByBook

Help spread the joy of books & happy surprises by joining in!

Special thanks to book club member, Stacey Wood who inspired me to do something selfless for someone else as a gift to her on her birthday. Happy birthday, Stacey!

*Open to book club members only. We'll send Book Fairies/Goodreads stickers to the first 11 people who wish to participate. We'll send all others including our international book club members, a special bookmark electronically to download & print out. 

September's Brazilian Book & Something New :o

Some of you noted in our survey that you aren't participating in our monthly read because the book you wanted wasn't chosen. So we're going to try something new.

What's Changing

This month, if you want to read the official book chosen below, great. If not, we urge you to choose one of the other Brazilian books. Mia will be reading the main book. I'll be reading another one. And I know members are excited about some of the others. So read what you want & we'll later have a fun discussion about ALL the Brazilian books!

So What's September's Brazilian Book?

If you like the main book below, read it. If not, choose any of the other Brazilian books below & we'll discuss them all at the end of September.

The main book as chosen by members & being read by Mia:

Genre: Young Adult (Sub-genres: Fiction, Magical Realism)

Amazon: 5 out of 5 (4 ratings)

Goodreads:  3.87 out of 5 (380 ratings) 

Pages: 192

Of note: A 2017 LA Times Book Prize Finalist. A NY Public Library Best Book for Teens. The author was selected to take part in a workshop by Nobel Prize winner Gabriel García Márquez himself based on this book's synopsis.

View on Amazon (US) | (UK) | (Canada)

All the other Brazilian books you can choose to read & discuss instead:

Genre:  Science Fiction (Sub-genres: Dystopian, Cultural)

Amazon:  5 out of 5 (3 ratings)

Goodreads:  4.18  out of 5 (182 ratings)

Pages: 374

Of note:  In the tradition of Nineteen Eighty-Four, but written in a strikingly Brazilian way.

View on Amazon (US) | (UK) | (Canada)

Genre:  Urban (Sub-genres: Classic, Historical)

Amazon: 4.2 out of 5 (20 ratings)

Goodreads:  4.17 out of 5 (9,244 ratings)

Pages: 280

Of note: Considered a Brazilian Lord of the Flies. The NY Times called the author "Brazil's most illustrious and venerable novelist."

View on Amazon (US) | (UK) | (Canada)

Genre: Literature (Sub-genres: Urban, Historical)

Amazon: 3.9 out of 5 (20 reviews)

Goodreads: 3.92 out of 5 (1,229 ratings)

Pages: 452

Of note: Became an internationally acclaimed hit film. Novelistic account based upon real events.

View on Amazon (US) | (UK) | (Canada)

 

Genre: Autobiography (Sub-genres: Special Groups, Down Syndrome)

Amazon:  Not rated

Goodreads:  3.74 out of 5 (365 ratings)

Pages: 232

Of note: Won every major Brazilian literary prize. Shortlisted for Dublin's International Literary Award. Won France's Charles Brisset Award. (If you're curious, this is the book I'll be reading. )

View on Amazon (US) | (UK) | (Canada)

Genre: Psychological (Sub-genres: Fiction, Avant-Garde)

Amazon: 3.4 out of 5 (3 ratings)

Goodreads:  3.73 out of 5 (279 ratings)

Pages: 98

Of note: Best Book of 2014 by NPR. The translator won the Susan Sontag Prize for Literary Translation with a section from this book.

View on Amazon (US) | (UK) | (Canada)

We can't wait to hear which Brazilian book you've decided to read & hear your thoughts on how we set up the reading this month!

Great International Audiobooks

We're of course fans of global reading, but finding a great international book with a wonderful translator…that’s also available as an audiobook with a compelling narrator? That's difficult! 

However, we've managed to compile a list of 16 great international audiobooks below for some happy listening.

Funny German mystery with a supernatural element

A multi-generational Colombian work of fiction with touches of magical realism

A moving story from South Africa about a Zulu pastor, his son, & racial injustice

An Israeli autobiographic mystery about the Holocaust

Classic fiction from British India with a full cast performance

A charming German fantasy about magic, romance, & time travel

A poignant account of war from the 1st Belarusian to win a Nobel Prize

A memoir from a devout Saudi woman who became a courageous leader

Engaging political fiction about a soldier in a Siberian labor camp

A Canadian children's classic which even adults love

Classic French science fiction from a beloved master storyteller

A Turkish love story in 1920's Istanbul inspired by the author's family history

Inspirational poetic essays written by a Lebanese philosopher

An autobiography both sad & hilarious written by a South African comedian

Beautifully-written Turkish literature with a view into Sufi Mysticism

A magical tale from a Turkish author set during the height of the Ottoman Empire

VOTE: Which Book Do You Want to Read From Brazil?

Based upon your feedback, we're going to be trying out some new things over the next few months. (If you haven't yet taken the anonymous 4-question survey on how to make our book club better, please do. Take it & you might win an Amazon gift card!)

In the surveys submitted so far, many of you are appreciative of how we select the country's books. You liked that:

  • We included different genres
  • Members could suggest books
  • The books Mia & I find are often readily available in both ebook & paperback formats to borrow/buy

No system is perfect, but we're glad that the majority of you seem to enjoy our book selections as well as reading books from other countries.

Now onto the vote!

Vote on Which Book to Read in September

A big shout to Kathryn Fox, Caity Greig, & Kaman Maxwell for their suggestions! Since the book club votes from a list of 6 books every month (2 from me, 2 from Mia & 2 from members), we chose which of the member-suggested books would be included via lottery. Click here to view a 1 minute 29 second video & turn up the sound to see which books were suggested & watch the lottery draw as it occurred. 

For September, we have 2 new genres in the list which we've never included before: Psychological & Young Adult. In addition, there are 4 other genres to choose from: Science Fiction, Autobiography, Literature & Urban. 

You can vote until Sun., Aug. 20 11PM ET. (That's NYC time. See this converted to your local time below.)

Time converter at worldtimebuddy.com

 To participate:

1. Review the books.

2. Then, click here to vote.

We'll publish the anonymous results afterwards so you can get the book in advance.

Silent Reading Parties for Adults

It's called many different names around the country & the world. Regardless of the program title, the intent is the same—to develop fluent readers by providing time during the school day for kids to read quietly for an hour.

But did you know that silent reading parties for adults are a thing as well?

Thought to be invented by Christopher Frizzelle of Seattle 7 or 8 years ago, silent reading parties were created as a way to promote the fun/importance of reading & generally take place monthly. Often held at cozy bars with couches & plenty of other seating, you can grab a drink & read in comfortable silence for an hour or two among fellow book lovers.

BYOB has a different meaning for these events--it's Bring Your Own Book as attendees don’t read the same novel. Most of the time, attendees are not even expected to discuss what they’re reading. It's just pure reading as a community in a shared space. 

These "parties" are perfect for people who like companionable silence while they read. They are also inclusive without being intrusive. You can show up, read & leave without saying a word if you wish. Some events are quiet with only a occasional hushed question or comment.  Some merge the ideas of reading & party with a time for introductions to your fellow readers/their books, an hour of quiet reading & then optional mingling afterwards. A few events even offer a free book swap. Occasionally, people even end up hanging out reading & discussing books all night long.

Silent Book Club

If a silent reading party appeals to you, look for one in your area on the Silent Book Club site, through an online search (using phrases like silent reading party & silent book club) or via social media. The Silent Book Club also offers tips to help you create a club in your area if none currently exist.

I'm sad to say that though two such silent reading groups exist in NYC where I reside, neither have any new events planned so let me know if attend a silent reading party so I can live vicariously through your bookish self. 

Happy reading!

Book Suggestions for September?

Mia choose September's country to read because she's recently been listening to a lot of this location's music. I love the music too along with this country's passion for soccer (or football as many call it).

Still unsure which country we're talking about? Play the video below for some great background music while you read on. (It's a catchy song from there which translated into English is titled, "The Telephone Rang Again.")

Ooh! Samba, funk, rock & bossa nova merged wonderfully together. Nice choice, Mia! :)

Any guesses as to the country we're adventuring to next month? Well, if you know where samba & bossa nova are from, you've probably guessed correctly. Brazil!

Their main language is Portuguese. It's the largest country in South America covering 3.3 million sq. mi. (8.6 million sq. km) which is around 47% of the continent & it has one of the longest coastlines in the world at 4,655 mi. (7,491 km) long. In addition to music, Brazil is most famous for it's Amazon River, the annual carnival in Rio de Janeiro & seriously huge football/soccer stars like Pele, Ronaldo, & Ronaldinho not to mention their successful World Cup team who has won an astonishing 5 times.

And don't get me started on the food! As this gorgeous cookbook by a Rio de Janeiro native notes, "Brazilian food is an explosion of color and flavor—the mixture of three distinct cultures, Portuguese, African, and native Indian."

Brazilian cheese bread (pão de queijo) is crispy on the outside while soft & chewy on the inside filled with a cheesy tang. Fritters, croquettes & empanadas are deliciously-fried guilty pleasures while dulce de leche cake with a sour cream sorbet makes the perfect Brazilian dessert. 

The very addictive caipirinha made with cachaça, sugar & lime is the national cocktail. 

Brazil will be an amazing country to read & we'd love to hear book suggestions from you. Just let us know by Mon., Aug. 14 11PM ET. (That's NYC time. See this converted to your local time below.)

Time converter at worldtimebuddy.com

Please note - We're specific in the books we read, they must: 

  • Largely occur in the country specified unless the world described is an alternate universe
  • Be written by an author born there who has spent a good portion of their life there
  • Exist in paperback & ebook available on both Amazon & Kindle at least in the US & hopefully elsewhere

A Fantastic Replacement for OverDrive is Here

Meet Libby.

I adore OverDrive. I've used it to borrow books from my library for years. I listen to borrowed audiobooks on the OverDrive app & borrow ebooks from the app to then read on my Kindle. But there's a new kid in town & her name's Libby. She's looking to replace OverDrive in your heart & on your mobile device/laptop.

You may be surprised to find out that OverDrive is even welcoming her to the world. That's because they're the ones who built her. Yep, they're replacing OverDrive with Libby!

So What's the difference between OverDrive & Libby?

You get all of the same basic functionality you've learned to love with OverDrive, but a far better experience with Libby. Libby has a cleaner user interface & is less confusing. Since she's more streamlined than OverDrive, she's also quicker to use. In addition, you can easily toggle between libraries if you hold cards from multiple institutions & Libby even allows for different cardholders within the same family. She's also pretty d*mn cute! Even the name "Libby" is sweet since it's also short for library.

Like any new product, there is some room for improvement such as more sophisticated formatting options. However, I loved Libby so much that she has replaced OverDrive on my phone & my computer.

Happy reading!

 

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Is It Really a "Fun" Quiz If You Get All the Answers Wrong?

Quiz

I never seem to do well at the literary quizzes. Most of the time, they seem to focus on books I haven't read or details that just didn't seem important enough for me to remember.

Can real people actually remember the opening or closing lines of books?

I swear I'm well read, but I seem prefer books which aren't often hugely popular with my peers. No Jane Austen or Kafka for me. I love Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn & Isaac Asimov!

So it was a huge relief to take a basic literature test & just get a single question wrong.

Do you do well at these literary quizzes? Take this quick quiz & tell me how you did.