Nov 14, 2021

The Abyssinian by Jean-Christophe Rufin: Sunday Salon

Something completely different:

 in my reading

I was set to give away a book long on my shelves, The Abyssinian, but took another look at this 400 page book  and decided I was in the mood, finally, to read and perhaps enjoy it. I am now in the middle of this extraordinary historical novel about an actual French embassy to the king of Abyssinia in 1699. The writing is superb and the fictionalized adventures of a French herbalist/apothecary as the emissary to Abyssinia, modern day Ethiopia, no less than astounding. 

The author, Jean-Christophe Rufin, is a French author and doctor, one of the founders of Doctors Without Borders, and a former French ambassador to Senegal.  

What are you reading this week?

Looking through Goodreads this morning, I came across a book recommended as "similar" to the Abyssinian, in other words a book about travellers from afar to a new country. This will be my next read. 


The Discovery of America by the Turks by Jorge Amado, a romantic comedy by the incomparable Brazilian author Amado, a spoof on Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew, in which two Turks are persuaded to try to win over a Brazilian shrew. 

Memes: The Sunday Post hosted by The Caffeinated Bookreviewer. Also,  It's Monday: What Are You Readingand Sunday Salon   

4 comments:

  1. Oh this does sound good, and interesting too that the author is with Doctors without Borders.

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  2. Aren't you glad you didn't give it away without giving it a try?! For me, surprises like this are some of my favorite reads ever.

    I hope the book that is said to be similar to The Abyssinian is just as good.

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  3. This sounds like a good read! I have done the same thing before, taken a book off my shelf to donate and then finally decide that I am in the mood to read it.

    Have a good week!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I love it when a book surprises you!

    Wishing you a great reading week

    ReplyDelete

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