2014 Where in the world have you been? (Book finished and review linked!)

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

We don't just want to know that you've finished, we want to know your thoughts on the books. Post them here, and link to your review.

[Lisa (Harmonybites)]

My first trip of the year was to Scotland in the company of its favorite son poet Robert Burns--I have to admit I wasn't enthralled. Full review linked below:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Jan]

I have completed my first two books for this challenge:

My first book for 2014 was The Midwife of Venice. It took place in two locations and I'm using it for Malta. The writing did not really flow for me - it was hard for me to get into it. I ended up switching to the audio which helped a little. I found the story line interesting but I did not really emotionally connect with the characters.

My second read was: Pirates!. It was a thoroughly enjoyable read. It also took place in a couple of locations - I am using it for Jamaica. My review can be found here:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Sara]

I am reading "The Gifted" by Nikita Lalwani with events happening in UK and India. It's about a gifted girl with very strict Indian parents. A very interesting read about Indian Culture, life of immigrants in UK & also parent's expectations of a gifted child.

[Vicky]

I've finished my first book of the year, and I wasn't disappointed by the The Blackhouse. A gripping thriller for the recent wild and windy nights, with an excellent sense of place.

Jenny, a cold-weather island setting for you, with a thrilling climax on an even colder remote wave-swept rock.

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

Vicky wrote: "I've finished my first book of the year, and I wasn't disappointed by the The Blackhouse. A gripping thriller for the recent wild and windy nights, with an excellent sense of place.

Jenny, a cold..."

Hehe, I added it to my list when I saw it on yours the other day!!

[Lilisa]

Just completed a trip to Morocco with The Caliph's House: A Year in Casablanca. My review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Suzanne]

I finally finished my trip to Italy in the superlong Helprin masterpiece, A Soldier of the Great War. I've found I have little patience for Helprin's writing style anymore. Here's my review: http://coldread.wordpress.com/2014/01...
I also took a quick trip to China with Pearl of China. While Min's writing is terse, I have always enjoyed her books. This look at the early life of Pearl S. Buck is no exception. My review is here: http://coldread.wordpress.com/2014/01...

[Lilisa]

Finished Burial Rites, set in Iceland. Definitely would recommend it. My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Rosana]

I was in Egypt with Moon Tiger. I enjoyed it greatly: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Bonnie]

Finished Exile (Scotland)

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Lilisa]

Was in the U.S. Pacific Northwest and Antarctica with Where'd You Go, Bernadette. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show.... Light and funny, a well-written novel!

[Suzanne]

I'm in China for the month of January. My second China pick was one I've been meaning to read for a long time. No surprise, I loved The Kitchen God's Wife! My review is here: http://coldread.wordpress.com/2014/01...

[Suzanne]

Judy wrote: "Suzanne, that is cool that you are focusing on a particular country for the whole month. I think it is a good way to really feel like you've been there."

Yes - especially with River Town: Two Years on the Yangtze, which I should finish today. I feel so immersed and am learning a whole new side of the Chinese culture:)

[Jan]

I visited both Bora Bora and Columbia - books with reviews are below:

Bora Bora: The Bungalow 1/17/14*****
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Columbia: Chronicle of a Death Foretold 1/17/14***
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Lilisa]

Suzanne wrote: "Judy wrote: "Suzanne, that is cool that you are focusing on a particular country for the whole month. I think it is a good way to really feel like you've been there."

Yes - especially with [book:R..."

Suzanne - River Town sounds interesting - I've added it to my TBR pile. Thanks.

[Lilisa]

Jan wrote: "I visited both Bora Bora and Columbia - books with reviews are below:

Bora Bora: The Bungalow 1/17/14*****
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Columbia: Chronicle of a Death Foretold ..."

Jan - The Bungalow sounds interesting - I think I need to travel to Bora Bora and get some sun, so added it to my TBR list - thanks.

[Suzanne]

Lilisa wrote: "Suzanne wrote: "Judy wrote: "Suzanne, that is cool that you are focusing on a particular country for the whole month. I think it is a good way to really feel like you've been there."

Yes - especia..."

Your welcome! I've been recommending it to everyone!

[Suzanne]

I just finished River Town: Two Years on the Yangtze and will leave China for a quick trip to Africa before returning to my last China read of the month. What can I say? If you have read it - wasn't it wonderful? If you haven't, go out right now and get it. You won't regret it! Here is my review: http://coldread.wordpress.com/2014/01...

[Suzanne]

And not to forget a visit to England in Rachel Joyce's latest novel Perfect. I'm sure there will be mixed reviews, but it was an interesting read. Here's my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Lilisa]

I was supposedly in Australia learning about The Husband's Secret. Not my cup of tea. My review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show....

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

I finished The Infatuations by Javier Marias for Spain (my review is here. I gave it three stars but I still think it's worth reading.)

[Bonnie]

Lilisa wrote: "I was supposedly in Australia learning about The Husband's Secret. Not my cup of tea. My review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...."

I read this one last year and it was lucky to get 2 stars! I did read several good book set in Australia, and there is always the classic Thorn Birds.

[Bonnie]

Singapore and are not on my planned travel list- but got it as a first read on kindle and am so glad I did. It's a good if not great book, but it has a wonderful sense of place- for those reading to experience different places.

[Lilisa]

Bonnie wrote: "Lilisa wrote: "I was supposedly in Australia learning about The Husband's Secret. Not my cup of tea. My review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...."

I read this o..."

I'm with you Bonnie. Now, The Thorn Birds - that was awesome. What are your other recommendations for Australia?

[Lilisa]

Bonnie wrote: "Singapore and are not on my planned travel list- but got it as a first read on kindle and am so glad I did. It's a good if not great book, but it has a ..."

Bonnie - I saw this on Kindle the other day - I might have to check it out - haven't read a book set in Singapore yet.

[Bonnie]

Lilisa wrote: "Bonnie wrote: "Lilisa wrote: "I was supposedly in Australia learning about The Husband's Secret. Not my cup of tea. My review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...."..."
I read and love the long A town called Alice when I was much younger. Recently I enjoyed The Light Between Oceans and loved The Rosie Project (not sure that one has much that rings Australia though.

[Jan]

I have returned from Antarctica and completed Berserk: My Voyage to the Antarctic in a Twenty-Seven-Foot Sailboat

I absolutely loved it - my review can be found here:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Rusalka]

Bonnie wrote: "Lilisa wrote: "Bonnie wrote: "Lilisa wrote: "I was supposedly in Australia learning about The Husband's Secret. Not my cup of tea. My review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/s..."

I believe The Rosie Project's set in Melbourne, so you're good. Most of us are city dwellers, so it's probably closer to the majority of us than the outback books. I've heard so many good things about it, I really need to go pick it up.

[Lilisa]

Bonnie wrote: "Lilisa wrote: "Bonnie wrote: "Lilisa wrote: "I was supposedly in Australia learning about The Husband's Secret. Not my cup of tea. My review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/s..."

Bonnie - I read A Town Like Alice some time ago and I bought The Rosie Project a week or so ago. I've heard a lot about The Light Between Oceans so need to get that on my list. Thanks.

[Lilisa]

Rusalka wrote: "Bonnie wrote: "Lilisa wrote: "Bonnie wrote: "Lilisa wrote: "I was supposedly in Australia learning about The Husband's Secret. Not my cup of tea. My review here: https://www.goodrea..."

Rusalka - I don't know if you get the same deals there as we do - but The Rosie Project is still at $1.99 on Kindle in the U.S.

[Rusalka]

Lilisa wrote: "Rusalka - I don't know if you get the same deals there as we do - but The Rosie Project is still at $1.99 on Kindle in the U.S."

Thanks! But no, alas, we do not :( Always makes me sad.

[Lilisa]

Rusalka wrote: "Lilisa wrote: "Rusalka - I don't know if you get the same deals there as we do - but The Rosie Project is still at $1.99 on Kindle in the U.S."

Thanks! But no, alas, we do not :( Always makes me sad."

Flippity floo - that's too bad.

[Sara]

I just finished "Children of Jacaranda tree" by Sahar Delijani (Iran) & the classic book of "Wuthering Heights" (England).
Next stop is Africa! Don't know which book yet :0)

[Val]

Chaka by Thomas Mofolo for Lesotho, https://www.goodreads.com/review/show....
It is quite good, but less gripping than I thought it would be. I mislaid the book half way through reading it and instead of hunting for it I started another one instead. I found it and finished it later, but it was not a good sign.

Alamut by Vladimir Bartol for Slovenia, https://www.goodreads.com/review/show....
It is historical fiction and I think the author evoked the time and place wll, and the mindset. He wrote it as an allegory of fascism, but it could be applied to many other circumstances and ideologies.

The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith for Botswana,
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show....
We all need some light reads sometimes and this book is fun. I have read it before and some of the others in the series, but decided to count it for the challenge to avoid buying quite so many books.

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

Read Love Letters of a Portugese Nun in a night, very brief and possibly annoying. Can love be understood from the outside? My review is here.

[Friederike]

Have been in several African countries with reading the short story collection Feast, Famine & POtluck
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Jan]

Finished my visit to China during the Cultural Revolution: The Secret Piano: From Mao's Labor Camps to Bach's Goldberg Variations.

Here's my reivew: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Lisa (Harmonybites)]

I was in Napoleonic France via Stendahl's The Red and the Black. By and large I was fascinated. It's Julien Sorel was one of the more unsympathetic characters I've encountered in literature--but still presented with such complexity and nuance I found the novel fascinating. Full review linked below:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Bonnie]

I just finished Oleander Girl, set in India. My review was 4 stars: I loved the setting (India) and story-line. At first I thought the main character was too sweet and gullible to be true. Then I wondered if it had to do with cultural expectations. By the end I felt she had grown and all along she had been honestly loving and forgiving and smart. She was not a typical modern spunky heroine, but she was real and someone you wanted to know at the end

[Lilisa]

Was in Hungary with The Invisible Bridge. Was excellent and highly recommend it. Will post review later.

[Shriya]

Was in Lebanon today withThe Garden of The Prophet. Review link below:

http://tometravelling.blogspot.in/201...

[Val]

I have been in Africa again.
Chaff On The Wind: A Novel for Gambia,
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
It is not a great novel, but I did enjoy reading it.

Return To The Source: Selected Speeches Of Amilcar Cabral for Guinea-Bissau,
www.goodreads.com/review/show/790932875
Some thought provoking political speeches, including an address to the United Nations and some practical advice for new African nations.

[Lilisa]

Was in New Zealand with The Luminaries. Amazingly fantastic book - really enjoyed it despite its heft - didn't want it to end. My review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Lilisa]

Was in Hungary with The Invisible Bridge - loved it. My review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Lilisa]

Was in Macau with The Red Pole of Macau: An Ava Lee Novel - a quick, entertaining page turner. My review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Suzanne]

I was in The Netherlands with The Goldfinch. A dark, seedy page-turner. Here is my review: http://coldread.wordpress.com/2014/02...
Also, I finished my month in China with the most excellent book (thanks Judy!) and I highly recommend it to everyone: Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China. My review is here: http://coldread.wordpress.com/2014/02...

[Jan]

I have completed my visit to Zululand in South Africa. I really enjoyed: The Elephant Whisperer.

Here is my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Rusalka]

Finished The Famished Road for Nigeria the other day. Brought me back down to earth with Booker Prizes, after my wonderful experience with the 2013 winner.

If you really love magic realism, like really love it (I quiet enjoy it as a bar) then maybe I would recommend it. And probably, if I didn't like you. http://rusalkii.blogspot.com.au/2014/...

[MiA]

I've finished The Bed Hopper for Algeria early in January. I just didn't have the time to write a review back then. Here it is:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...