There are just four days left for you to have your say about which book I should read from the rest of the world (territories and peoples not represented on my main list).
Taking part is easy: just check out the shortlist below (drawn up from your nominations) and vote for the title that tickles your fancy in the poll. I’ll read the book with most votes for my penultimate post of the year. Can’t wait to see what you’ll choose…
Shortlist
- Basque Country Bernardo Atxaga Seven Houses in France – a historical novel (first published in 2009) about a French army captain who sets out to make his fortune in the jungles of Congo
- Bermuda Brian Burland The Sailor and the Fox – a 1973 novel about the island’s first ever mixed-race prizefight by one of Bermuda’s most notable and controversial writers
- Catalonia Jaume Cabré Winter Journey – a collection of interlinked short stories (first published in 2001) based on the structure of a Schubert song cycle
- Faroe Islands Heðin Brú The Old Man and His Sons – a novel depicting the transformation of the fishing industry, voted ‘Book of the 20th Century’ by the Faroese
- Kurdistan Jalal Barzanji The Man in Blue Pyjamas – a literary memoir by a journalist imprisoned and tortured under Saddam Hussein’s regime
- Native America Louise Erdrich The Round House – a novel about racial injustice, which won the US National Book Award in November 2012
Poll closes at 23.59 on Friday 30 November (UK time).
Picture courtesy of the_sprouts.
A year of reading the world 
I voted the book from Bermuda. Next time I will suggest some books by Sicilian authors. I am following you from Sicily. We are an international family…I am Sicilian, my mother was Russian, my husband is Japanese…so I read books from all over the world too. That is why I am following your blog. I just joined wordpress a couple of days ago. Greetings from Sicily.
Thanks very much for voting and greetings from London. You certainly are an international family! What would your top Sicilian recommendation be?
Il Gattopardo, by Giovanni Tomasi di Lampedusa, a historical novel based on the life of his family and great-grandfather during the Renaissance period. It was also made into a movie starring Burt Lancaster, Alain Delon and Claudia Cardinale. You get a feel of the real Sicily by reading this book. Things haven’t changed much here since then:) I’m joking, only in the sense that the mentality is still a bit antiquated, but otherwise it’s a beautiful island. I’ve lived in America for many years so I’m comparing it…but on the other hand if Sicily changed too much then it wouldn’t be Sicily!
Ah yes, I know it well. A truly wonderful book. I haven’t seen the film though – should make an effort to do that…
Louise Erdrich has won prizes with her novel, so it’s probably an important one to read, but I am currently fascinated (and repelled) by the Congo and its bloody history. It would be interesting to see it from the perspective of a minority language writer from a former colonial power.
Yes, it’s really tough to weigh up the choices, isn’t it? The Congo fascinates me too, particularly with what’s been going on in the news lately. But as you say, the Erdrich also sounds brilliant. And then of course there’s the Bru and the Barzanji… Very glad it’s not up to me!
Voted for Burland! 🙂
Excellent, that’s what we like. A good bit of book lobbying to start the week!
I would read the Native American choice.
I voted for Louise Erdrich, as I’m reading that book now, and loving it. Have enjoyed your posts and reviews all year…thank you!
Thanks Cindy. I’ve appreciated your support. We’re nearly on the home straight now!