I apologize for the lateness of the post. I’ve run into some some recent craziness, but I promise we’ll get back on track next month. For now, we’ll do an abbreviated round of suggestions, a fast vote, & then begin reading the chosen May book as quickly as possible.
But first, can you guess which country we’re adventuring to based upon these facts from Full Suitcase?
If you’re going out for dinner there, expect to sit for at least 2-3 hours. Nobody likes to rush the meal & places usually don’t seat tables more than once per night.
This land can function without a government. It’s a constitutional monarchy + 1 federal government + 5 regional ones. Once, it took 589 days for a government to be formed & then that record was broken in 2020 when it took 652 days!
A computer scientist from there co-invented the World Wide Web.
This country boasts of more than 800 registered comic strips. The most famous are the Smurfs, Tintin, & Lucky Luke.
It houses the “smallest city in the world.” It’s not really a city, but a very small town with a population of 500. However, its location & position were significant in the past & in the early 14th century, a count gave the town the official rank of city.
While folks there will talk about almost anything, money topics (aside from taxes) are taboo. Children don’t have the slightest idea of what their parents make.
This country has 1 of the highest personal income tax rates in the world. If you earn more than $14,000/year, you pay 40% tax. If you earn more than $42,000/year, it’s 50%. +Social security & communal taxes mean most are paying 60-65% tax!
Any guesses which country I’m referring to? What about if I added in…
This land has 3 official languages though none reference the country itself.
A fun example of how much this country embraces multiculturalism & multilingualism is that the same city will have different names in different parts of the country: Kortrijk = Courtrai, Leper = Ypres, & De Haan = Le Coq
And last, but not least, this country’s national symbol is of a peeing boy. He’s usually naked though he does have hundreds of delightful costumes which he’s changed into 2-3x/week. His name is Manneken Pis & he’s a 24 inch (61 cm) landmark bronze fountain sculpture from the 17th century.
So what country are we reading?
It’s a country chosen by Julie—Belgium! And here’s a delightful Belgian cookbook to explain how “delicious” this land is because Everybody Eats Well in Belgium.
“It's a country that boasts more three-star restaurants per capita than any other nation-including France. It's a country where home cooks—and everyone, it seems, is a great home cook—spend copious amounts of time thinking about, shopping for, preparing, discussing, and celebrating food. With its French foundation, hearty influences from Germany and Holland, herbs straight out of a Medieval garden, and condiments and spices from the height of Flemish culture, Belgian cuisine is elegant comfort food at its best—slow-cooked, honest, bourgeois, nostalgic. It's the Sunday meal and a continental dinner party, family picnics and that antidote to a winter's day.
In 250 delicious recipes, here is the best of Belgian cuisine. Veal Stew with Dumplings, Mushrooms, and Carrots. Potato and Leek Stoemp. Smoked Trout Mousse with Watercress Sauce. Braised Partridge with Cabbage and Abbey Beer. Gratin of Belgian Endives. Flemish Carrot Soup. Steak-Frites. Belgian Steamed Mussels. Belgian Steamed Mussels. Cognac Scented Flemish Waffles. And desserts, some using the best chocolate on earth: Belgian Chocolate Ganache Tart, Lace Cookies from Brugge, Almond Cake with Fresh Fruit Topping, Little Chocolate Nut Cakes.
As Belgians explain it, since one has to eat three times a day, why not make a feast of every meal?”
HAVE ANY BOOK SUGGESTIONS?
Just let us know your Belgian suggestions by Sat., April 30 11PM ET. (That’s NYC time. See it converted to your time below.)
You can comment with your suggestion below or in our online book club in Facebook.
We'll use 1 suggestion from each moderator, 1 suggestion from an admin, & 2 suggestions from book club members to compile a list of 6 books. The book judged as best will then be read.
Please note - We're specific in our books, they must:
Largely occur in the location specified unless the world/situation described is not specific to a country (e.g., sci fi, fantasy, some poetry, philosophical books, etc.)
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
Also, we love it when folks suggest books which are also available in audio format. While we know this isn’t always possible so it is not a requirement, it is more inclusive & something for which all of us should strive.