Happy Book Year!

I made New Year's resolutions, but only one of them pertains to books or reading: I resolve to read more authors from other countries besides the United States, Canada, and England. Going back over my lists of what I've read since 1999, I was shocked that in some years, I read nothing but American authors. Not that that's a bad thing; I plan to read many, many American books this year. I was just under the mistaken impression that I was a well-rounded bookworm.

So far in 2006, I've read 1 book by an American and one by an English author. The books are The Human Stain by Philip (I'm-like-Henry-James-but-horny) Roth, and The Two of Us: My Life With John Thaw by Sheila Hancock.

I'm not sure about the third book --A Town Like Alice by Nevil Shute. He was English, but moved to Australia about 10-15 years before he died, allegedly disillusioned with his home country. Do I count him as English or Australian? I'm tempted to go with the latter, just because it would make me look good regarding my New Year's resolution, but I have no wish to cheat.

Thanks to Pablo and some of my other co-workers, last year's reading was a little more varied. I read a nonfiction book by a Russian author, a novel from Viet Nam, and a memoir by a Cambodian woman. There was also a French novel by Colette. Speaking of the French, I'd like to try some Balzac this year. I read somewhere that he can be counted as part of the school of naturalism. Did I also read that about Zola, or did I dream it?

I found out today that a person from bookcrossing.com is sending me a couple of boxes of books! Yee-Haw!!! Promptly getting nosy, I looked at her 'reserved' list to see what she's sending me. (Don't try this at home; it's a lot like spoiling your Christmas by rummaging around looking for presents.) Anyway, this kind and generous bookcrosser is helping me stick to my international reading resolve by including a memoir written by a journalist who is from Uruguay, Eduardo Galeano.

Also, I recently purchased a book called Korea Unmasked by a Korean author/artist named Won-Bok Rhie. Rhie's book is a graphic not-novel (what I mean is that it's graphic and nonfiction; I don't know the proper term) detailing the history and culture of Korea. I've read quite a bit of it, but haven't finished it yet. Korea Unmasked is *extremely* entertaining, and has helped fill in many of my information gaps and lessened my head-scratching when encountering certain aspects of Korean culture (....ooooh, that's why....).

I know that at least 1 other person besides myself reads this blog, so if you have any ideas about books/authors/countries for me to try, please leave me a comment.