Agnieszka’s Comments (group member since Feb 01, 2018)

Agnieszka’s comments from the Wanderlust Challenges group.

Jan, can I use a book set mostly in the US but with minor locations in Canada & Africa (a chapter each) for Africa or should most of the book be set on that continent?

Jan wrote: "I've been in the mood for lighter fare lately - I lost my husband to cancer in July and find I still struggle with emotionally challenging books. So I'm all about finding "fun locations" right now...."

I'm so sorry for your loss! I hope you have great support network to help you through this difficult time.

I just checked my fun/humor/satire shelf for books with international settings and found some nice books/series:
Fox and O'Hare light fun cozy mystery - the main books are all set in US and at least one another country: Italy or Greece & Indonesia (#1), China, Canada, UK (Scottland) (#2), Turkey, Spain, Portugal, France & Germany (#3), Macau (China) (#4), Belgium, France & Italy (#5) / in Summer is expected a new one with a different co-author - so far I like this series much more than Stephanie Plum
Don't Mean a Thing by Renee Conoulty chick-lit set in Australia
Morgue Drawer Four by Jutta Profijt cozy mystery with a ghost and ME as MC - the German original was very fun with two polar opposite character types - 1st in series or 5 books - entire series set in Germany (all in the same city)
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares YA, set in US, Mexico and Greece

Stand-alone
The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson set all over Europe and Asia (and New Mexico)
The Girl Who Saved the King of Sweden by Jonas Jonasson set mostly in South Africa and Sweeden
The Right Path by Nora Roberts set in Greece, strong romance with some suspense (I hope the original is much better than the - really bad - German translation)
You are Invited by Adeerus Ghayan set in Pakistan, romantic comedy, I've not read it yet but the decription sounded interesting
Holy Cow by David Duchovny satire, set in USA, Turkey, Israel (incl. Palestina) & India - I didn't like it but many people love it

This series is set each in a different city/state of the USA:
Undercover FBI by Mimi Barbour - 1st in series: Special Agent Francesca fun romantic suspense, set in Las Vegas (#1), New York City (#2), New Orleans (#3), Seattle (#4) & Oahu (#5)

I can take #23 lightning - I'll read

Next item: gun

Jan wrote: "Welcome to the fun Agnieszka!

Good questions! I would prefer you the geographic location so for Israel, you would use Asia. But really you could use Russia for either one you need.

Russia is tr..."

Thank you, I just prefer to know before I start to line up my books :-)

Too bad I joined this group only now. After Christmas I read a book set in Oklahoma.

I'm in heaven *grins* - Thank you for this great template to copy!

Spell the Continents
Start Date: 2/3/18

Africa 6/6
A An Eclair To Remember by Rich Amooi 5* 3/21
F Friends With Partial Benefits by Luke Young 4* 2/19
R Rückkehr Nach River's End=River's End by Nora Roberts 5* 2/20
I If Ever I Would Leave You by Susan May Warren 1* 3/5
C Vegas Vacation by Clare Revell 4* 4/18
A Anne, Melody: The Tycoon's Revenge 2* 6/4

Antarctica 10/10
A Alexander, Brandy No Such Thing As A Secret by Shelly Fredman 4* 5/17
N Night Passage by Robert B. Parker 5* 2/8
T Trouble in Paradise by Robert B. Parker 4* 2/11
A A Merciful Secret by Kendra Elliot 3* 2/20
R Remember Me by Lara Van Hulzen 3* 3/6
C Cabin by the Lake by Desiree Douglas 5* 2/27
T Totenmontag=Monday Mourning by Kathy Reichs 3* 2/14
I In Death #10 Spiel mit dem Mörder=Witness in Death by J.D. Robb 4* 3/20
C The Crossing Places by Elly Griffiths 3* 5/18
A Adams, Noelle: Falling for Her Brother's Best Friend 4* 5/16

Asia 4/4
A Amelia Sachs The Kill Room by Jeffery Deaver 5* 5/9
S Special Agent Kandice by Mimi Barbour 5* 6/5
I In Death #7 Liebesnacht mit einem Mörder=Holiday in Death by J.D. Robb 4* 2/24
A Adler-Olsen, Jussi: Erbarmen=The Keeper of Lost Causes 3* 5/6

Australia 9/9
A Anna Das Mädchen aus Brooklyn=La fille de Brooklyn by Guillaume Musso 6* 5/2 lit. translation: The Girl form Brooklyn
U Unter Fremden by Jutta Profijt 6* 4/9 lit. translation: Among Strangers
S Sidetracked by Brandilyn Collins 5* 3/23
T Totgeglaubte leben länger=Cross Bones by Kathy Reichs 1* 4/17
R Rising Storm by Kathleen Brooks 4* 4/5
A Achilles, Kyle Chasing Ivan by Tim Tigner 5* 3/9
L Louisiana Longshot book 1 of Miss Fortune Series Boxset 1 by Jana Deleon 5* 4/7
I In Death #14 Einladung zum Mord=Reunion in Death by J.D. Robb 3* 4/28
A Andersson, Johan Mörder Anders und seine Freunde nebst dem einen oder anderen Feind=Hitman Anders and the Meaning of It All by Jonas Jonasson 2* 4/13

Europe 6/6
E Ein feuriger Verehrer=Loyalty in Death by J.D. Robb 4* 3
U Uncommon Heroes #4 Kidnapped by Dee Henderson 4* 5/31
R Robb, J.D.: Symphonie des Todes=Betrayal in Death 4* 4/12
O On The Run by Taylor Hart 4* 2/12
P Per Anhalter durch die Galaxis=The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams 3* 4/18
E E'yen A. Gardner: Love Letters 6* 2/25

North America 12/12
N Nacht im Central Park by Guillaume Musso 6* 3/5 lit. transl. Night in Central Park
O Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline 5* 5/29
R Robb, J.D.: Der Kuss des Killers=Ceremony in Death 2* 2/7
T Too Hard to Handle by Julie Ann Walker 4* 5/3
H His Prairie Princess book 1 of The Cooke Brothers by Kit Morgan 4* 4/14

A Adam Croft: Too Close For Comfort 2* 4/10
M Miłość w wielkim mieście=Love and the City by Jessie Valetta 1* 2/26
E Ed Der Joker=I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak 6* 4/28
R Robb, J.D.: Der Tod ist mein=Conspiracy in Death 5* 3/10
I Ivey, Eowyn: Das Schneemädchen=The Snow Child 6* 3/24
C Casey, Elle: Wrong Turn, Right Direction 5* 3/13
A Azar Nafisi: Lolita lesen in Teheran=Reading Lolita in Tehran: A Memoir in Books 2* 4/10

South America 12/12
S Stim by Kevin Berry 5* 5/13
O Olen Steinhauer: The Tourist 5* 3/14
U Undercover FBI #3 - Special Agent Maximilian by Mimi Barbour 5* 2/3
T Die Klaviatur des Todes: Deutschlands bekanntester Rechtsmediziner klärt auf by Michael Tsokos 3* 2/16/18 (172 - estimated) lit. trasl. The Keyboard of Death: Germany's Most Famous Forensic Pathologist Explains (Enlightens or Solves - as in a crime - word play with several meanings)
H Her Stolen Past book 3 of Family Reunions Complete Collection: Hide and Seek\Christmas Cover-Up\Her Stolen Past by Lynette Eason 4* 3/20

A Annie Blake Bluegrass Undercover by Kathleen Brooks 5* 3/25
M Mord ist ihre Leidenschaft=Vengeance in Death by J.D. Robb 4* 2/18
E Explicit by Roxy Sloane 6* 5/15
R Dance with the Enemy by Rob Sinclair 5* 3/3
I Ironside, Virginia: Nein! Ich will keinen Seniorenteller: Das Tagebuch der Marie Sharp=No! I Don't Want to Join a Book Club: Diary of a Sixtieth Year 3* 3/22
C Checkmate by R.L. Mathewson 4* 4/21
A Anthony Spencer Der Weg=Cross Roads by William Paul Young 4* 2/11

I have already two questions:

1. Israel belongs politically to Europe, but geographically to Asia - does it count to Asia in this challenge?

2. Russia is mostly set in Asia, but also in Europe - does it count to Asia for this challenge as well or depending on the city/town the book is set in?
Winter Palace is set in St. Petersburg so would it count for Europe or Asia?

Cool Idea!

Discover Your Dream Destination
Duration: 2/3/18 - 2/2/19
Completed levels: 0/3
Books read: 0/18
100+, complete levels in order


Level One: Explore the World 3/6
Read a Book that takes place in each of the below Continents. Tell us what country each book is from.

Africa
Asia Flight of the Intruder by Stephen Coonts 3* 2/17 South China Sea, Vietnam, (Thailand, Hong Kong, Laos)
Australia (Includes New Zealand and all the Surrounding Islands)
Europe Die Klaviatur des Todes: Deutschlands bekanntester Rechtsmediziner klärt auf by Michael Tsokos 3* 2/16 lit. trasl. The Keyboard of Death: Germany's Most Famous Forensic Pathologist Explains (Enlightens or Solves - as in a crime - word play with several meanings) Germany (Berlin)
North America (Includes Central America & Caribbean Islands) Totenmontag=Monday Mourning by Kathy Reichs 3* 2/14 - Canada (Montreal)
South America

Level Two: Country Hopping 0/9
Choose 3 Continents and read 3 Books from 3 Different countries/regions/states from each of your chosen continents. *Please note your countries when posting your books.
North America
Europe
Asia

Level Three: Pick Your Dream Destination 0/3
Choose the country from the books you read in Level Two that you would most like to visit and tell us why. Now spend some time there by reading three books that take place in your chosen Dream Destination.
Canada/Israel/Poland/Germany/USA

Sounds fun - I hope you don't mind if I back-date to the 1st!

Love Around the World
Duration: 2/1/18 - 3/31/18
Completed: 0/8


1. ARGENTINA: Why spend one day celebrating love when you can spend a whole week? Argentina's “Sweetness Week”, originally set up as a confectioners marketing campaign was quickly embraced by this passionate nation and has turned into a week of showing love to everyone around you. Besides sharing candy and kisses, kind gestures are made to neighbors, coworkers, and even animals in need of a little TLC.
* Read a book where a kind gesture is made to an unexpected person (tell us what is was).

2. DENMARK & NORWAY: For Scandinavian men, the season of love is a time for a little guessing game. On February 14th, they give women gaekkebrev, or a "joking letter” consisting of a funny poem or rhyme they have written on intricately cut paper. It is signed only with dots - one dot for each letter in his name. The receiver must then correctly guess the sender, earning an Easter egg during Eastertide. If they guess incorrectly, they owe the sender an egg.
* Read a book with rhyming words in the title or a book that has something dotted on the cover.

3. GERMANY: You won’t find cute little heart-shaped cards in German classrooms because Valentine’s Day is an "adults only" affair in Germany. And don't be surprised to find pigs aplenty on the day for romance. For Germans, the pig is a symbol of luck and lust so couples give each other pig figurines, pig pictures, and even chocolate pigs.
* Read a book that starts with a letter in PIG or read a book with a "hot" scene in it.

4. JAPAN: February 14th is all about women giving two types of chocolate to the men in their lives. "Giri Choco" is for friends and colleagues and "Honmei Choco" is a homemade chocolate given their special man. In return, the men are expected to give superior gifts on March 14th for White Day. South Korea joins in this tradition but adds Black Day on April 14th where singles dress in black to mourn being alone and gather to eat black jajangmyeon noodles.
* Read a book with a cover that is at least 50% white or black or read a book published in 2014.

5. MALAYSIA: On the seventh day of the seventh month on the Lunar calendar, Malaysian women write their phone numbers on oranges and throw them into the nearest river. Their hope is that the person of their dreams will find the fruit, call them and want to meet. The fruit vendors in the country try to find the marked oranges so they can sell them as lucky fruits.
* Read a series book #7 or read a book with a 7 in the total page count.

6. PHILIPPINES: The Valentine's Day tradition of getting married has swept the Philippines and become a huge affair. Thousands of couples gather together on February 14th to tie the knot or renew their vows in unison. These huge events are often sponsored by the government as a form of public service. Churches, malls & public buildings are filled with brides and grooms.
* Read a book where a wedding takes place or read a book where the authors first and last initial can be found in TIE THE KNOT.

7. SOUTH AFRICA: Based on the ancient Roman festival of Lupercalia, the young women of South Africa pin the name of the person they dream about on their sleeves for all to see on the day of love - virutally wearing their heart on their sleeve! Many South African men are quite surprised to learn of their secret admirers.
* Read a book with a heart on the cover or read a book with a proper name in the title.

8. WALES: Instead of celebrating Saint Valentine - the Welsh celebrate Saint Dwynwen, the Welsh patron saint of lovers, on January 25th. As early as the 17th century, Welsh men carved intricate wooden spoons for a token of love on this day. Patterns and symbols were carved into the spoons, each with a different meaning like horseshoes for good luck or keys symbolizing the keys to a man’s heart. Today, love spoons are given at weddings, anniversaries and births giving a new meaning to "spooning".
* Read a book with a double O (oo) in the title or in the author's name.