October Challenge - Exotic Location!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Karen wrote: "Sharon, Sarah's Key is a wonderful story. I read it earlier this year, and thoroughly enjoyed it.
Brenda, I'll have to think hard about this one. Great idea for a challenge."

Thanks Karen, I'm sure you'll find a great one:)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Elaine wrote: "I think I will read A Long Way Home . I think that qualifies for this challenge."

Fabulous choice Elaine...a great book!!!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Jo wrote: "I thought the book Questions of Travel looked a good read. I looked up the local library and oh my god it has 34 reserves!!!"

Questions of Travel is popular because of the award it received earlier this year Jo!

[Sharon]

Brenda wrote: "Sharon wrote: "Andrea wrote: "Sharon wrote: "I like this challenge Brenda :)

The book I choose for this challenge will be Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay"

Sharon, ..."

Oh dear I had better stock up then :)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Sharon wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Sharon wrote: "Andrea wrote: "Sharon wrote: "I like this challenge Brenda :)

The book I choose for this challenge will be Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Ro..."

Most definitely!

[Joanne]

what a lovely challenge. Not too sure what i will go for, too many choice there. But for sure, it will be certainly something, of soo many amazing choices. Reading about other places and country is one of my favourite genra.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Joanne wrote: "what a lovely challenge. Not too sure what i will go for, too many choice there. But for sure, it will be certainly something, of soo many amazing choices. Reading about other places and country is..."

Good luck with your choice Joanne:)

[Jenn]

Nice challenge Brenda...For this one I think I will read Memoirs of a Geisha .

[Andrea]

Sharon wrote: "Andrea wrote: "Sharon wrote: "I like this challenge Brenda :)

The book I choose for this challenge will be Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay"

Sharon, I read this ear..."

Indeed it might be a good idea to have a box of tissues on hand!

In the movie Kristin Scott Thomas plays the main contemporary character, and I am a big fan of hers. Still, I actually preferred the book (which is often the case).

[Andrea]

Luckily I still have a week to decide because I'm absolutely spoiled for choice on this challenge. I am considering one or more of: Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea, The Caliph's House: A Year in Casablanca, Driving Over Lemons: An Optimist in Andalucia, Vroom by the Sea, And the Mountains Echoed, Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace ... One School at a Time, Beautiful Ruins, Blue Dragon, The Merry Misogynist, The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet, River of Smoke or A Fine Balance.

I'm leaning towards Beautiful Ruins at the moment, but am happy to take recommendations from within this list!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Some fantastic choices from everyone here....there will be great destinations with lots of sighs and wishing ;)

[Amber]

Andrea wrote: "Luckily I still have a week to decide because I'm absolutely spoiled for choice on this challenge. I am considering one or more of: Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea, The Caliph's Hous..."

A Fine Balance is amazing, one of my favourite books - I really must re-read it sometime :-)

[Emily]

@Andrea- I highly recommend Beautiful Ruins, it's fantastic and also the forthcoming ABC Book Show book, double relevance!

Don't read Three Cups of Tea unless you're prepared to read it as fiction. Greg Mortenson has fictionalised his accounts of International Development and altruism- in short, he's a phoney, which is devastating because his "tale" is so uplifting!

[Jackmeister]

I'm on board for this challenge, I'm going to read by Ron Base, it takes place on Sanibel Island Florida.

[GP]

I'm going to read -- The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie (Flavia de Luce #1) -- I love decaying English mansions.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Greg wrote: "I'm going to read -- The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie (Flavia de Luce #1) -- I love decaying English mansions."

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley

[Chris]

It's looking like Beautiful Ruins isn't going to be available from the library in time so I may read Like Water for Chocolate instead.

[Andrea]

Amber wrote: "Andrea wrote: "Luckily I still have a week to decide because I'm absolutely spoiled for choice on this challenge. I am considering one or more of: Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea, Th..."

I'm tempted! I read a Kindle sample a few months back and really enjoyed it.

[Andrea]

Emily wrote: "@Andrea- I highly recommend Beautiful Ruins, it's fantastic and also the forthcoming ABC Book Show book, double relevance!

Don't read Three Cups of Tea unless you're prepared to read it as fiction..."

Oh yes, I saw that it was going to be on Book Club next month. I doubt I will have finished it by then, so I may avoid watching the show in case of spoilers ;-)

I had also heard that Three Cups of Tea was a work of fiction. I'll probably still read it at some point.

[Karen]

I have two books in mind. "Red Poppies: An Epic Saga of Old Tibet", or Eat, Pray, Love. I am hoping that Red Poppies becomes available at the library before the end of the school holidays, then I may get the chance to read both! Otherwise It will be Eat Prey Love for me :-)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Karen wrote: "I have two books in mind. "Red Poppies: An Epic Saga of Old Tibet", or Eat, Pray, Love. I am hoping that Red Poppies becomes available at the library before the end of the school holidays, then I m..."

Red Poppies: A Novel of Tibet by Alai
Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

[Karen]

Brenda wrote: "Karen wrote: "I have two books in mind. "Red Poppies: An Epic Saga of Old Tibet", or Eat, Pray, Love. I am hoping that Red Poppies becomes available at the library before the end of the school holi..."

Thanks Brenda - I haven't quite figured out all the little tricks as yet.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Karen wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Karen wrote: "I have two books in mind. "Red Poppies: An Epic Saga of Old Tibet", or Eat, Pray, Love. I am hoping that Red Poppies becomes available at the library before the end of ..."

You're welcome :)

[Karen]

Just returned from the library, Red Poppies it is!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Karen wrote: "Just returned from the library, Red Poppies it is!"

Red Poppies: A Novel of Tibet :)

And only two days (and a bit) till we can start our new exotic lifestyles;)

[Kadi]

Ok I'll pick 3 books

The Cambodian Book of the Dead and Elephant Danceand lastly Soul of a Lion: One Woman's Quest to Rescue Africa's Wildlife Refugees

I love Africa so 2 of the 3 represent Africa :)

[Andrea]

Kadi wrote: "Ok I'll pick 3 books

The Cambodian Book of the Dead and Elephant Danceand lastly Soul of a Lion: One Woman's Quest to Rescue Africa's Wildlife Refugees

I love Africa so 2 of the 3 represent Afric..."

Ooh! The Cambodian Book of the Dead sounds good.

[Kadi]

Andrea wrote: "Kadi wrote: "Ok I'll pick 3 books

The Cambodian Book of the Dead and Elephant Danceand lastly Soul of a Lion: One Woman's Quest to Rescue Africa's Wildlife Refugees

I love Africa so 2 of the 3 re..."

Yeah I won it on here so I thought I should read it sooner rather than later :)

[Ryn]

Thanks for the invite, So many in the Foreign Lands section I love. I own a few of those in print book, so will take a look today and decide which to go with.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Ryn wrote: "Thanks for the invite, So many in the Foreign Lands section I love. I own a few of those in print book, so will take a look today and decide which to go with."

I notice you are a new member Ryn, welcome to the group! If you'd like to head over here http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/3... you can introduce yourself so everyone can also say hello!

Great to see you join us in the challenge too...enjoy your choice!

[Amber]

For my first book for this challenge, I've started reading A Long Way Home, set in India (and Australia).

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Amber wrote: "For my first book for this challenge, I've started reading A Long Way Home, set in India (and Australia).

"

Hope you enjoy it Amber...I really did!

[Patricia]

I've started my book Cutting for Stone.
I'm listening to audio book and I've done 2 out of 24 hours and I really like it so far.

[Elaine]

Amber wrote: "For my first book for this challenge, I've started reading A Long Way Home, set in India (and Australia).

"

I'm reading that one too for this challenge Amber. Already quite into it and it's really good so far.

[Jacinta]

I found this on BorrowBox today

Will be an interesting travelling companion for my commute to work.

Thanks for putting this challenge together.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

You're welcome:)
The book sounds like fun! Enjoy:)

[Michele]

Patricia wrote: "I've started my book Cutting for Stone.
I'm listening to audio book and I've done 2 out of 24 hours and I really like it so far."

I think I am going to read that as well this month Patricia :)

[Amber]

Elaine wrote: "Amber wrote: "For my first book for this challenge, I've started reading A Long Way Home, set in India (and Australia).

"

I'm reading that one too for this challenge Amber. Already quite into it and it's really good so far."

I just finished A Long Way Home, a quick but very emotional read! ★★★★★

It makes me long to return to India to immerse myself in that amazing culture again. I'm also keen to re-read A Fine Balance (a fictional story set in India) but I don't think I will be able to fit it in to my reading schedule for a while! :-D

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Amber wrote: "Elaine wrote: "Amber wrote: "For my first book for this challenge, I've started reading A Long Way Home, set in India (and Australia).

"

I'm reading that one t..."

So glad you enjoyed it Amber!

[Amber]

Brenda wrote: "Amber wrote: "Elaine wrote: "Amber wrote: "For my first book for this challenge, I've started reading A Long Way Home, set in India (and Australia).

"

So glad you enjoyed it Amber!"

Thanks Brenda :-)

My next book for this challenge will be The Narrow Road To The Deep North, set partly in Thailand and Japan as far as I can tell from the blurb!

[Elaine]

Amber wrote: "Elaine wrote: "Amber wrote: "For my first book for this challenge, I've started reading A Long Way Home, set in India (and Australia).

"

I'm reading that one t..."

Yes it's definitely an emotional read. I'm almost done too. Glad you enjoyed it Amber.

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

I finished A Caribbean Mysteryfor this challenge. A typical Agatha Christie - light, easy to read and fun. Perfect holiday reading ( for those of us who are on holiday!)

[Michele]

I finished my first book for this challenge - View from the Summit: The Remarkable Memoir by the First Person to Conquer Everest by Edmund Hillary I don't normally read memoir's, but this was excellent.

Now I think I will start Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese

[Marianne]

Just finished so I think that can be part of this challenge too, as it's set in Hong Kong and Wales. ★★★★ part of a series and you would be lost in this book if you hadn't read the previous books. In fact I was a bit lost even though I had written down the main plot points of the last book. Two more to go in this series, and while I enjoy it, I am ready for it to finish. At least there's a character summary list in this one (there are a LOT of characters!)

[Mish]

I'll be reading Monsieur by Emma Becker which is set in Paris

[Elaine]

Finished my pick for this challenge. . I gave it 3 stars. It was an enjoyable read and an interesting story. As this was such a quick read I think I may try and fit another in for this challenge and read A slow walk across Spain.

[B the BookAddict]

I finished my book for the challenge - Foreign Bodies by Cynthia Ozick: set in Italy (delicious), Florida and then back to LA.

It is a modern retelling of Henry James's story The Ambassadors. Ozick tells the story well and might even persuade readers to try Henry James' original (which is a literary classsic).

I might find another book for this challenge; depends what the library has...

[Mish]

Bette wrote: "I finished my book for the challenge - Foreign Bodies by Cynthia Ozick: set in Italy (delicious), Florida and then back to LA.

It is a modern retelling of Henry James's story The Ambassadors. Ozi..."

Well done Bette :)

[Patricia]

Michele wrote: "Now I think I will start Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese..."

Not trying to put you off, but I have to admit I am struggling a bit with this. I am listening to the audio and almost quit at about 1/4 of the way through, but am persevering for now. The author has a tendency to wander waaay off topic, every random thought goes off on a tangent and then sometimes the tangent goes off on a tangent too.
The main story is interesting and I like that, but he just goes away from it for far too long and for no real reason.
It's got fantastic reviews and I really want to like it...but I'm finding myself skipping 10 minutes at a time whenever he gets away from the main story.

I'll be interested to hear your thoughts.

[Michele]

Patricia wrote: "Michele wrote: "Now I think I will start Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese..."

Not trying to put you off, but I have to admit I am struggling a bit with this. I am listening to the audio and a..."

I am so glad to hear you say that! I am struggling as well, I have put it down for the moment, not sure if I will bother finishing it. I am up to page 140, so I think you are a bit further along than me