Join Girls in Transforming the World

Join women and girls as they bring voice to barriers and solutions to accessing education and celebrate inspiring mothers and mentors.

Learn How to Participate »

Read Other Submissions »

Watch the World Pulse Video

World Pulse Book Club?

by Kizzie | July 16, 2009 at 12:31 PM

Kizzie

Tags:

Travel to a different country every month

Hello there,

I'm sure this is not a new idea. I was thinking we should form a book club, this is going to engage members from this group and many other groups. We can read a book from a different country every month , this is of course recommended by a woman or man from that country. For example, an Iranian woman or members from the Iran group can get together and suggest a few books about life of women in Iran. I really liked Reading Lolita in Tehran:) The only rule is:- this book should be accessible to women in different countries. I know this is a bit limiting to mainstream best-sellers, but we need to make this accessible and affordable to all members.

So we can have a month to read the book , Then we can discuss this book while reading the other book. We can share questions, thoughts or even contact the author. A representative from that country should be available to answer questions and facilitate a mutually-beneficial discussion.

Any ideas?:)

Hugs,
Kizzie

Comments

Kizzie,
I'm game for this idea. It would be fascinating to discuss books with Worldpulse members. It's a cool idea to contact the author. I'm going to think more about this and get back to you.

Let's start this World Pulse Book Club!
Laura

As I've just entered the phase of life called "break up after 6 ½ years" .. I'll have a bit of free time on my hands. Something like this would be amazing to do. This way we know the books of other cultures and countries are reliable and not just fabricated lies. I know there is a book on Bhutto by Bhutto I want to read, but I've not yet read it.

I really think this should happen. :)

~ Christina

Laura,

I'm happy you are excited about this:) Invite people from your community and I will contact people in the Iran and Zimbabwe groups and other groups as well.

Hey Slavic,

If you are talking about a breakup I'm so sorry:( I hope you find this experience exciting and rewarding:) I have Bhutto's book, Reconciliation. It would be great to read it:)

Kizzie

I am loving this idea. Let's make it happen (PS I really want to read no woman no cry for my country- Jamaica- so I hope it is widely available!)

Hope you having a groovy week!!!

Much peace,

Sharese

Sharese,

That's great. It was a great book, I would love to read it again!:)

Kizzie

I was just thinking I need to find a new book.....would love to join too. The Bhutto book has been recommended to me as well by another WP member. Haven't got around to reading it yet. Just finished An Imperfect Offering by James Orbinski- once the president of medecins sans frontieres. Powerful book, loved it. He is Canadian and worked with Dr.'s without borders in Rwanda, Zaire adn Somalia. just a personal recommendaiton- would love to read one of the other suggestions!

Darcey

"A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality."
— John Lennon

Hi!

I read Kizzie's recommendation thread for a book club. I agree! A book club would be great. I am writing you also, because I read your response and wanted to ask if you've read "We wish to inform you that tomorrow you will be killed with your families"? It's a journalistic narrative about Rwanda. I highly recommend it, if you haven't read it already. It is so sad, yet, so important for us to know. I think it truly opened my eyes and heart to Africa. Anyway, I just wanted to send that info your way. I also have heard that "An Imperfect Offering" is amazing. I will put it on my list.

best,

Jody

Hi Jody

thank you for the recommendation- I have never heard of this book- I will look for it. Put "An Imperfect Offering" on your list for sure!!! Have you heard of the documentary "Triage"? It is the documentary about Dr. Orbinski returning to the three countries mentioned as he was writing his book. I have only seen little clips, and the last 5 minutes on the CBC a couple of months ago.
I just wanted to forward another thread to you from a previous conversation about books...some are books about different issues facing African countries, others based elsewhere. Let me know if you have read any!!! (and I have not read Siddartha, but a friend LOVED it)

thanks again for the suggestion!!
Darcey

http://worldpulse.com/node/9441

"A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality."
— John Lennon

I love the idea! We can create a club. It would be so great to share ideas and book recommendations. I just finished Siddhartha by Herman Hesse. Breathtaking! It really was such a lovely lovely story, about truth, life and the pilgrimage through life. I am still buzzing from it. If you haven't read it yet, do read it.

-Jody

Wonderful!
Thanks for the recommendations guys.

Should we pick a book right away or should we do it according to a specific region?

Kizzie

Kizzie, Jody, Darcey, Sharese, Christina,

We've got the makings of a book club definitely!

Sharese recommended No Woman No Cry: My Life with Bob Marley
by Rita Marley
Is that something people are interested in?
I definitely want to read books in which we have members from that country represented. I'd love to learn more about Jamaica. What does everyone think?

Cheers!
Laura

another recommendation: HALF OF A YELLOW SUN by CHIMAMANDA NGOZI ADICHIE - set in Nigeria in late 60s and early 70s, recreates Biafra's impassioned struggle to establish an independent republic in Nigeria. Very good read.

i am interested in the book club. I have always believed in reading wide which opens one's mind.
Great idea!

Gifty Pearl Abenaab
Founder
Greight Foundation
www.greightfoundation.org

I'm in! I would love to read any of the suggestions. I would love love love to read books set amongst our sisters. That would be an amazing way to connect and understand this big beautiful world better. I would love to read "No woman No Cry: My Life with Bob Marley" or "Half of a Yellow Sun". Both sound incredible.

In the future, I could suggest some books from Asia as well. I read a woman's life story of the horrors of the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia, called "When Broken Glass Floats". It is so sad, beautiful and informative. The woman, Chanrity Him now resides in Oregon! So cool. Here's a link for this book:
http://www.wwnorton.com/catalog/spring01/032210.htm

Anyway, I would love love love to connect through a book club. Let's do it ladies!

Book Club Unite!

Jody

Ladies,

In an attempt to make sure we start this book club in an organized manner. Let's start with Half of a Yellow Sun or No Woman, No Cry.

Two questions:-
1- Who wants to represent Jamaica and Nigeria this time?

I can think of Sharese to represent Jamaica, a peace corps volunteer there:)
Also, there is the wonderful Mary Wuya from Nigeria:)

http://worldpulse.com/user/183
http://worldpulse.com/user/2350

2-Are the books accessible to most of us? I have both of them. Can you guys suggest websites/ bookshops where world pulse book club members can get bargain books?

Kizzie

Kizzie,
Busayo is also a wonderful member from Nigeria although she is quite busy with VOF. You may wish to contact her though and see if she is interested:

http://worldpulse.com/user/1463

I am in for being the JA rep :) I (obviously) can get the book quite easily. Let me know if/when you all can get ahold of the book by sending me a message.

This is so very exciting!!!

Much love and peace,

Sharese

Hi Kizzie,

Just a quick note to let you know that the discussion is up and going in the World Pulse Book Club group... there is a strong consensus for Benazir Bhutto's autobiography, "Daughter of Destiny", though as you are the book club founder, I thought you should chime in!

I am excited to be a part of this!

Cheers,
Jade

Here are the books thus far talked about... helpful to have choices on hand/add on so we have a running list

World Pulse Book Club Future Possibilities

Dragon Fighter: One Woman’s Epic Struggle for Peace with China Rebiya Kadeer with Alexandra Cavelius | Kales Press, 2009

The Blue Sweater: Bridging the Gap Between Rich and Poor in an Interconnected World Jacqueline Novogratz | Rodale Books, 2009 | Global Memoir… Acumen Fund founder Jacqueline Novogratz reflects on her personal fight against global poverty and future of sustainable philanthropy.

Finding Beauty in a Broken World Terry Tempest Williams | Pantheon, 2008 | Global Pieced together literary masterpiece… story begins with an answered prayer: Off the coast of Maine, she asks the sea to give her “one wild word” and the word it returns to her is “mosaic.

This Child Will Be Great: Memoir of a Remarkable Life by Africa’s First Woman President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf | HarperCollins, 2009 | Liberia Africa’s first female president rise to power. The year- 2005, after 14 years of civil conflict, the Republic of Liberia has made its call for change manifest in the election of Johnson Sirleaf.

Burnt Shadows Kamila Shamsie | Picador, 2009 | Global Pakistani writer - epic story of new beginnings opens in 1945 when Hiroko Tanaka, a young Japanese woman, and Konrad Weiss, a German man, fall in love and plan to marry. But their plans are obliterated in an instant when Konrad is killed in the bombing of Nagasaki.

My Hope for Peace Jehan Sadat | Free Press, 2009 | Egypt Mother, distinguished professor, peace advocate, activist, leader, and the widow of slain Egyptian president and Nobel Peace Prize-winner Anwar Sadat writes a collection of essays.

In Returning to My Mother’s House, Gail Straub | High Point, 2008 | Global An empowerment leader and compassionate mother to us all, encourages men and women to seek and reclaim their own inner compasses using the wisdom of the feminine.

The Road of Lost Innocence: The True Story of a Cambodian Heroine Spiegel & Graub, 2008 | Cambodia
Memoir, which moves from her early life in the jungles of her homeland to her current global activism.

Half of A Yellow Sun Chimimanda Adichie Haunting, novel that takes place in Nigeria (1960-70s) during Biafra’s impassioned struggle to create an independent republic in Nigeria.

No Woman, No Cry: My Life with Bob Marley Rita Marley. Widow of Bob, mother of Ziggy, tells of growing up poor in Jamaica, loving ambitious Marley, and how her life changed when he became pop music's first Third World superstar. Now business manager of Marley's legacy, Rita is a strong woman whose angle on him is fresh and authoritative.

Hi everyone,

I love the idea. Just from reading your comments, I have been made aware of book that I did not know of, am so excited.
I have read Benazir Bhutto's book, and it simply marvelous. This gives me an excuse to re-read the book.

Its good to come back to world pulse and to find it still charged up.

Warm Regards,

Hello there,

Well you should stay tuned and join our group and read other books with us. Since you've already read the book, then you should join our discussion in September:)

best wishes.
Kizzie