1. The Girl in the Spider's Web by David Lagercrantz -- Sweden (very cold!) 4★'s 2. Career of Evil by Robert Galbraith -- England (pretty rainy!) 5★'s 3. The Martian by Andy Weir -- Mars (hard to breath, food not great!) 5★'s (re-read) 4. All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque -- Germany (a little dreary from this book's point of view!) 5★'s 5. The Guest Room by Chris Bohjalian -- Russia and USA (Russian part of the book - creepy; USA part of the book - equally as creepy!) 3★'s 6. The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah -- France (nice place, but there was this awful war going on!) 3★'s 7. The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax by Dorothy Gilman -- Mexico and Albania (exciting places, but I wouldn't want to visit!) 4★'s 8. The Housekeeper and The Professor by Yoko Ogawa -- Japan (beautiful place, the cherry blossoms were wonderful!) 5★'s 9. The Bridge of San Luis Rey by Thornton Wilder -- Peru (check out any bridges before crossing!) 3★s
Countries Visited: 18 Books Outside North America Read: 28
1. Israel: A River in the Sky by Elizabeth Peters. 1/7/16
2. India: Yes, My Accent is Real by Kunal Nayyar. 4 stars. 1/9/16 A Fine Balance by Robinton Mistry. 5 stars. 5/6/16
3. Turkey Sanctus by Simon Toyne. 4.5 stars. 1/18/16 (Gaziantep area) Orhan's Inheritance by Aline Ohanesian. 5 stars. 1/27/16 (Sivas area towards Syria) Suleyman the Magnificent and the Ottoman Empire by Miriam Greenblatt. 4 stars in JNF category. 3/18/16 An Evil Eye by Jason Goodwin. 4 stars. 5/18/16 (very atmostpheric Istanbul visit, but like Yashim, I don't want to stay in a harem) The Janissary Tree by Jason Goodwin. 4+ stars. 6/22/16. The Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts by Sahin Saracettin. 4 stars. 6/22/16
4. England Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman. 4.5 stars. 1/27/16 (London) Forgotten Garden (London & Cornwall) The Dead in Their Vaulted Archesby Alan Bradley. 4.5 stars. 2/6/16 A Short History of Tractors in Ukraine by Marina Lewycka. (Peterborough) 5 stars. 3/15/16 The Girl with All the Gifts by M.R. Carey. (London. My recommendation: Avoid apocalyptic London.) 4.5 stars. 4/22/16 A Body in the Library by Agatha Christie. 3 stars. 5/27/16 Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy by Rachel Joyce. 5 stars. 4/20/16 This House is Haunted>/b> by John Boyle. 4 stars. 6/21/16
5. Australia Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton. 4.5 stars. 2/3/16 (Brisbane area) Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty. 5 stars. 5/18/16 (Sydney area near the beach!)
6. France The Passion by Jeanette Winterson. (Boulogne & Paris) 5 stars. 2/21/16
7. Italy The Passion by Jeanette Winterson. (Venice) 5 stars. 2/21/16
8. Russia The Passion by Jeanette Winterson. (Moscow...) 5 stars. 2/21/16
9. Sweden A Man Called Ove by Fredrick Backman. 5 stars. 2/24/16 Britt-Marie Was Here by Fredrick Backman. 5 stars. 7/15/16
10. Spain The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. 4.5 stars. 2/27/16 (Barcelona)
11. Ukraine A Short History of Tractors in Ukraine by Marina Lewycka. 5 stars. 3/15/16
12. Ireland The Irish Cottage by Juliet Gauvin. 3 stars. 3/19/16 Confessions of a Pagan Nun by Kate Horsley. 4 stars. 3/26/16
13. Cuba Enchanted Air by Margarita Engle. 5 stars. 3/30/16
14. Iran Children of the Jacaranda Tree by Sahar Delijani. 4 stars. 4/1/16 My recommendation: Don't visit Iran during the decades discussed, including present day.
15. Mexico The Sound of Gravel by Ruth Wariner. 4.5 stars. 4/17/16 My recommendation: Don't visit this polygamous cult village.
16. Syria The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker. 5 stars. 5/28/16
17. Poland The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker. 5 stars. 5/28/16
18. Scotland The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy by Rachel Joyce. 5 stars. 4/20/16
Country #1: Canada Room by Emma Donoghue 2016/01/14 4 stars
Country #2: The Moon (aka Luna) Winter by Marissa Meyer 2016/01/16 3.5 stars Fairest
Country # 3: England England, England by Julian Barnes 2016/01/20 1 star Queen Lucia by E.F. Benson 2016/01/25 3.5 stars Major Pettigrew's Last Stand 2016/01/31 4.5 stars Mariana by Monica Dickens 3 stars La's Orchestra Saves the World by Alexander McCall Smith 4 stars
1. China: The Three Body Problem by Cixin Liu - 4 stars 2. France: The Ways of the World by Robert Goddard - 4 stars 3. USA: The Bazaar of Bad Dreams by Stephen King - 3 stars 4. Japan: Showa 1953-1989 by Shigeru Mizuki - 4.6 stars 5. Scotland: Thin Air by Ann Cleeves - 4.4 stars 6. England: Edward II by Christopher Marlowe - 4 stars
January 1. Career of Evil by Robert Galbraith (England) 2. The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley (Scotland) 3 Black Hole by Charles Burns (United States - Seattle) 4. The Lost Sisterhood by Anne Fortier (Finland) 5. After Alice by Gregory Maguire (Wonderland)
1. Mystic Isle--Patricia Rice--GREECE, the Aegean Sea, the Ionian Sea 2. Rock Her--Inglath Cooper--ITALY 3. Pride and Prejudice--Jane Austen--ENGLAND 4. Pride and Prejudice: Hidden Lusts--Mitzi Szereto--ENGLAND 5. Once Upon an Arranged Marriage--Julia Regan--ENGLAND 6. Dangerous Secrets--Julia Regan--ENGLAND 7. Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore--Robin Sloan--Seattle, WA/New York City, NY, USA 8. Broken--Foxy Tale--Brooklyn, NY, USA 9. Longbourn--Jo Baker--ENGLAND 10. Bettyville--George Hodgman--Paris, MO, USA 11. One O'clock Hustle--Joanne Pence--San Francisco, CA, USA 12. Redneck Boy in the Promised Land--Ben Jones--Portsmith, VA; Atlanta, GA; Los Angeles, CA--USA 13. The Final Quarter--Anna Lange--Minnesota, USA 14. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies--Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith--ENGLAND 15. Texas Mail Order Bride--Linda Broday--Texas, USA 16. Bless Her Dead Little Heart--Miranda James--Athena MS, USA 17. The Wonder Cats Mysteries--Harper Lin--Ontario, CANADA 18. The Beautiful Struggle--Ta'Nehisi Coates--Baltimore, MD, USA 19. To Brew or Not to Brew--Joyce Tremal--Pittsburgh, PA, USA (my hometown) 20. The Little Paris Bookshop--Nina George--Paris, Seine River, Loire Valley, Provence, FRANCE 21. The Readaholics and the Falcon Fiasco--Laura DiSilverio--Colorado, USA 22. Curing Doctor Vincent--Renea Mason--Paris, FRANCE 23. The Lion--Cerise DeLand--Washington, D. C., USA 24. Divided in Death--J. D. Robb--New York City, NY, USA 25. Spy School--Stuart Gibbs--Washington, D. C., USA 26. Finding the Dragon Lady--Monique Brinson Demery--Saigon, SOUTH VIETNAM 27. Double Indemnity--James M. Cain--Los Angeles, CA, USA 28. Goodnight June--Sarah Jio--Seattle, WA, USA 29. Priscilla: The Hidden Life of an Englishwoman in Wartime France=--Nicholas Shakespeare--Paris, FRANCE 30. A Scout's Report: My 70 Years in Baseball by George Genovese--Staten Island, NY, Southern California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, USA and Mexico City, MEXICO 31. Dreams of Perfection--Rebecca Heflin--New York City, NY, USA 32. From the Ashes--Elle Rochelle--NY and CO, USA 33. Jasmine and Stars: Reading More Than Lolita in Tehran--Fatemah Keshavaez--Shiraz, IRAN, London, ENGLAND, St. Louis, MO, USA 34. Unleashing Mr. Darcy--Teri Wilson--NYC, NY, USA; London, England 35. Trust--P J Adams--Essex and London, ENGLAND 36. Stepbrother: Unbreakable--Victoria Villenueve--Los Angeles, CA and Durham, NC, USA 37. H is for Hawk--Helen Macdonald--Cambridge, ENGLAND and Maine, USA 38. Dragon Heat, Book 1--Ella J. Phoenix--ROMANIA, New York, USA, and London, ENGLAND 39. Vampire Thirst--Ella J. Phoenix--London, Hertfordshire, Islington, ENGLAND; Malaga, Barcelona, SPAIN 40. Pirate Hunters: Treasure, Obsession, and the Search for a Legendary Pirate Ship--Robert Kurson--DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, Miami, FL, USA, Barcelona, SPAIN 41. Wolf Hunger--Ella J. Phoenix--Manaus, BRAZIL; NY, USA 42. The Ocean at the End of the Lane--Neil Gaiman--Sussex, ENGLAND 43. The Reader's of Broken Wheel Recommend--Katarina Bivald--Broken Wheel, IA, USA 44. The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics--Daniel James Brown--Seattle, WA, Pookeepsie, NY, USA; Berlin, GERMANY 45. A History of Loneliness--John Boyne--Dublin, IRELAND, Rome, ITALY, Lillehammer, NORWAY 46. Shot Girl--Karen E. Olson--New Haven, CT, USA 47. High Season--Jessica Whitman--Upstate NY; Wellington, FL, USA; ARGENTINA 48. Not Quite Juliet--Katherine Rhodes--Pittsburgh, PA, Iowa, USA 49. All the Light We Cannot See--Anthony Doerr--Paris, FRANCE, St. Malo, FRANCE, GERMANY 50. The Readaholics and the Poirot Puzzle--Laura DiSilverio--Heaven, CO, USA 51. Brighton Belle--Sara Sheridan--Brighton and London, ENGLAND 52. Bridget Bound As Bait--J. R. Luxor--Florida, California, USA 53. Evil Spy School--Stuart Gibbs--Washington, DC, Virginia, NYC, Sandy Hook, NJ, USA 54. Bridget Bound on the Altar of Baal--J. R. Luxor--Marin Co, CA and CO, USA 55. Interlude with a Baron--Cerise DeLand--Brussels, BELGUIM, Kent and London, ENGLAND 56. Murder with Chicken and Waffles--A. L. Herbert--Prince George County, MD, USA 57. Wine and War: The French, The Nazis, and the Battle for France's Greatest Treasure--Don and Petie Kludstrap--FRANCE 58. You Were Always Mine--Cerise DeLand--Washington, D.C., San Antonio, TX, USA 59. Eligible--Curtis Sittenfeld--Cincinatti, OH, San Francisco, CA, USA 60. Switch Hitter--Roz Lee--Texas, USA 61. Crazy for Cowboy--Roxy Boroughs--Calgary, Alberta, CANADA 62. French Lessons--Ellen Sussman--Paris, FRANCE 63. A Bell for Adano--John Hersey--Adano, ITALY 64. Guestward Ho!--Barbara Hooton and Patrick Dennis--Santa Fe, NM, USA 65. The Rare Earth Exchange--Bernard Besson--Paris, FRANCE, MALAYSIA 66. Barefoot at Sunset--Roxanne St. Clair--FL, USA 67. Such a Dance--Kate McMurray--NYC, NY, USA 68. Pennies--Pepper Winters--London, ENGLAND; CRETE 69. The Coincidence of Coconut Cake--Amy E. Reichert--Milwaukee, WI, USA 70. Maid for the Rock Star--Demelza Carlton--AUSTRALIA
January...2016...December ---1. The Martian by Andy Weir...Planet Mars 4.5★'s ---2. Susanna and The Spy by Anne Elliott...France/London 3★'s ---3. All Quiet On The Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque...Germany/Russia/France 5★'s ---4. The End Of The Affair by Graham Green...London, British Lit. 3★'s ---5. The Witness For The Prosecution by Agatha Christie...London..3★'s ---6. The Plains of Passage by Jean M Auel...Prehistoric Europe .4★'s ---7. Rod / The Autobiography by Rod Stewart...London 3★'s ---8. The Elegance of The Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery...Paris, France 3★'s ---9. Impossible Odds by Jessica Buchanan & Erik Landemalm and Anthony Flacco....Africe 4★'s ---10. Island Of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell....Island in the ocean off of California...5★'s ---11. Room by Emma Donoghue....Canada...5★'s ---12. Harbour Street by Ann Cleeves...England...4★'s ---13. The Irish Cottage by Juliet Gauvin...Ireland...3★'s ---14. Tell Me Something True by Leila Cobo ...Columbia...3.5★'s ---15. Rapids by Tim Parks...Aurino River, Italy...3.5★'s ---16. The Insect Farm by Stuart Prebble---England---4★'s ---17. The Celestine Prophecy by James Redfield---Peru 3.5★'s ---18. A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman---Sweden 5★'s ---19. The Catch by Louisa McCormack---Canada 1.5★'s ---20. A Song of Africa by Ronald Wheatley---Africa 4★'s ---21. Exile by Ann Ireland---Canada 3★'s ---22. The Wee Free men by Terry Pratchett---London---3★'s ---23. The Taming Of The Shrew by W. Shakespeare---England 5★'s ---24. Year Of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks---UK 4★'s ---25. The Tenth Insight by James Redfield---Canada 2.5★ ---26 The Cat of Bubastes by G.A. Henty---Egypt---4.5★'s ---27. Stolen Lives by Malika Oufkir---Africa---4★'s ---28. The Ice Twins by S. K. Tremayne---Scotland---5★'s ---29. Elizabeth Is Missing by Emma Healey---London---3.5★'s
1. The Girl in the Spider's Web by David Lagercrantz -- Sweden (very cold!) 4★'s 2. Career of Evil by Robert Galbraith -- England (pretty rainy!) 5★'s 3. The Martian by Andy W..."
1. The Girl in the Spider's Web by David Lagercrantz -- Sweden (very cold!) 4★'s 2. Career of Evil by Robert Galbraith -- England (pretty rainy!) 5★'s 3. The Ma..."
Sana Abdulla
Sana's book travels 2016 My goal is to read 36 books this year.
1-England: The Shrimp and the Anemone by L.P Hartley ..... the English seaside, windy and cold. The Hireling by L.P Hartley .......London Life After Life by Kate Atkinson ......... London, the English countryside and Germany.
2-Saudi Arabia: The Belt by Ahmed abu Dahman ... set in a primitive Saudi village.
3- Sudan: Lyrics Alley by Leila Aboulela .... set in the city of Umdurman.
4- Egypt: The Tent by Miral el Tahawi ......Bedouin village and desert. Hunger by Mohammed el Besati .... Egyptian village, dusty roads and the smell of baking bread. I Want a Man by Nour Abdelmajid ...... Cairo and Sohag , north and south,
5- Korea: The Vegeterian by Han Kang ...... City and Mountain area.
6- India: The Illicit Happiness of Other People by Manu Joseph ..... set in Madras.
Sana AbdullaSouthWestZippy wrote: "January 1.Flight of the Dragonfly by Melissa Hawach--Australia, Lebanon and Canada ---- 2.Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty--Australia
Febuary 3.Touching the Void by Joe Simpson---Peru 4.Code Ta..."
CarolCarol's Circumnavigation Attempt 2016 I always get stuck...but here goes:) I should petition England for duel citizenship:)
United States 1. Simon Said by Sarah R. Shaber 2. The Truth According To Us by Anne Burrows 3. Boneyard by Michelle Gagnon 4. After She's Gone by Lisa Jackson 5. Felines of New York by Tim Tews 6. Ashley Bell by Dean Koontz 7. Traveler's Rest by Keith Lee Morris 9. The Bitter Season by Tami Hoag 10. Reconstructing Amelia by Kimberly McCreight 11. Descent by Tim Johnston 12. Missing Pieces by Heather Gudenkauf 13. Harrison Squared by Daryl Gregory 14. Find Her by Lisa Gardner 15. The Wheatfield by Steve Thayer 16. A Circle of Wives by Alice LaPlante - 17. Paradise Falls by Jonnie Jacobs 18. Driven by Kelley Armstrong 19. The Tea Olive Bird Watching Society by Augusta Trobaugh 20. Far From True by Linwood Barclay 21. The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff 22. Return To Tradd Street by Karen White 23. No Second Chance by Harlan Coben 24. A Dark Matter by Peter Straub 25. Raven Stole the Moon by Garth Stein 26 . All Things Cease to Appear by Elizabeth Brundage 27. Family Jewels by Stuart Woods 28. Starvation Lake by Bryan Grunley 29. Harmony House by Nic Sheff 30. Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter 31. Flawless by Heather Graham 32. The Witness by Nora Roberts 33. Killer Dust by Sarah Andrews 34. Fool Me Once by Harlan Coben 35. The Lake of Dead Languages by Carol Goodman 36. The Book of Speculations by Erika Swyler 37. Sweet Lamb of Heaven by Lydia Millet 38. The Necromancer's House by Christopher Buehlman 39. The Last Mile by David Baldacci 40. Between The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by April G. Tucholke 41. Playing God by Kate Clark Flora 42. Amber House by Kelly Moore 43. The Second Life of Nick Mason by Steve Hamilton 44. Bent Road by Lori Roy 45. The Second Life of Nick Mson by Steve Hamilton 46. Field of Graves by J.T. Ellison 47. Dishonorable Intentions by Stuart Woods 48. End of Watch by Stephen King 49. Haunted Destiny by Heather Graham 50.Boy 21 by Matthew Quick 51. Drawn In Blood by Andrea Kane 52. My Sister's Grave by Robert Dugoni 53. The Submission by Amy Waldman 54. Redemption Road by John Hart 55. The Unsuspecting by Charlotte Armstrong 56. Collecting the Dead by Spencer Kope
England 1. Ghost of A Smile by Simon Green 2. Dead Man's Grip by Peter James 3. Murder As A Fine Art by David Morrell 4. The Crow Trap by Ann Cleeves 5. Ghost of A Dream by Simon Green 6. The Children's Home by Charles Lambert 7. Black Country by Alex Grecian 8. The Dungeon House by Martin Edwards 9. Someone Else's Skin by Sarah Hilary 10 The Doll's House by M.J. Arlidge 11 Elizabeth Is Missing by Emma Healey 12.The House On Cold Hill by Peter James 13.Dying Falls by Elly Griffith 14 Standing in Another Man's Grave by Ian Rankin 15.Pale Blue Eyes by Louis Bayard 16.The Girl in the Red Coat by Kate Hamer 17.Not Dead Yet by Peter James 18.The Crooked House by Christobel Kent 19. The Road To Little Dribbling by Bill Bryson 20. Death Comes To The Village by Catherine Lloyd 21. Dead Tomorrow by Peter James 22. The Various Haunts of Men by Susan Hill 23. Scandalous Behavior by Stuart Woods 24. The Outcast Dead by Elly Griffith 25. The Devil's Workshop by Alex Grecian 26. Normal by Graeme Cmeron 27. Hidden Depths by Ann Cleeves 28. The Ghost Fields by Elly Griffiths 29. Dishonorable Intentions by Stuart Woods 30. Follow You Home by Mark Edwards
Norway 1. 1222 by Anne Holt 2. I Can See In The Dark by Karin Fossum
Scotland 1.Thin Air by Ann Cleeves 2. War Games by Douglas Jackson 3. The Ice Twins by S.K. Tremayne 4. Hidden Depths by Ann Cleeves 5. Case Histories by Kate Atkinson 6. When Will There Be Good News? by Kate Atkinson 7. Blood, Salt, Water by Denise Mina
France 1.The Corners of the Globe by Robert Goddard 2. The Templar's Legacy by Steve Berry
Denmark 1.The Absent One by Jussi Alder-Olsen 2.The Killing Forest by Sara Blaedel
Japan 1.The Ends of The Earth by Robert Goddard
Mexico 1.Don't Look Back by Gregg Hurwitz
Iceland 1. I Remember You by Yrsa Sigurdardottir 2. Burial Rites by Hannah Kent
Tibet The Golden Buddha by Clive Cussler and Craig Dirgo
Ireland 1. The Mystery of Mercy Close by Marian Keyes 2. Cross by Ken Bruen
Spain 1. The Wedding Journey by Carla Kelly
Sweden 1. My grandmother Asked me To Tell You She's Sorry by Fredrik Backman 2. A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman 3. Britt-Marie Was Here by Fredrik Backman
New Zealand The Killing Hour by Paul Cleave
Russia 1. Gorky Park by Martin Cruz Smith
India 1. The Last Kashmiri Rose by Barbara Cleverly
Canada 1. City of The Lost by Kelley Armstrong 2. Entry Island by Peter May
Chilie 1. Beyond The Ice Limit by Douglas Preston & Lincoln child
Romania 1. Follow You Home by Mark Edwards
The Netherlanders 1. Girl in the Dark by Marion Pauw
Karin
Sorry, I haven't read any new countries lately, but will be back to this page when I do! I keep getting reading challenges for books set in countries I've done and decided to stop adding every book I read in each country.
Connie D
I think I've missed a few from countries I'd already "visited" too. I'm editing as I go, to, so changes probably aren't easily noticeable. The journey continues!
Book Concierge
Half way through the year and I've read 38 books on my trip (incl ONE from my home state). I've visited several countries multiple times, and six of the seven continents (missing only Antarctica).
Book Concierge
As of the end of November, I've read 76 books for the Round=the=world challenge ... I'm counting all books set in countries OTHER than the USA, except for two books set in my home state of Wisconsin (have to begin and end a round-the-world trip at home!) ... I've visited ALL seven continents!
Connie DBook Concierge wrote: "As of the end of November, I've read 76 books for the Round=the=world challenge ... I'm counting all books set in countries OTHER than the USA, except for two books set in my home state of Wisconsi..."
Awesome, Book Concierge! I'm afraid I stopped counting about halfway through the year because it didn't seem like anyone else was doing it, but I loved this challenge and really enjoyed it. It pushed me to read books I made not have, and enriched my experience.
I love traveling the world, but this was definitely cheaper!
Book ConciergeConnie wrote: "Book Concierge wrote: "As of the end of November, I've read 76 books for the Round=the=world challenge ... I'm counting all books set in countries OTHER than the USA, except for two books set in my..."
Well I've continually updated my original post ... but that doesn't generate a "new" message for anyone to notice. Seems our moderator is missing ....
I ended the year with 80 books read from around the world, including two set in my home state (have to start and end at home, of course). I managed to visit all seven continents!
This has been interesting .... but given the general lack of participation in the group, I think I won't continue in 2017.