Team Readers without Borders

[Dima]

Elinaly wrote: "Dima wrote: "For the UK stop, I just finished Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children which takes place in an island close to Wales. Would that count? or do I need to find another book to read ..."

I finished the book and a big portion of it takes place in Wales. If you don't think that it works, I can find another one no problem.

[Elinaly]

Dima wrote: "Elinaly wrote: "Dima wrote: "For the UK stop, I just finished Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children which takes place in an island close to Wales. Would that count? or do I need to find anoth..."

No-no, I think its ok! :)
Wales is UK, so its ok!
I just dont know how strict the travel agents are - do they look at the setting stated in GR?
Either way I believe this book is ok for UK task.
PS! Did you liked the story? This book has been on my ToRead-shelf for a while now, waiting to be read (I think I can even use it for our Malaysia detour).

[Elinaly]

Completion Post


Book:
Translation of The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
How it fits: Set in UK and UK author
Date: 2/14/16
Rating: 4 stars

First I didn't get it (is it a childrens book or written for adults...?). After finishing the book I understood how brilliant childhood story it really was!
Though yeah, surely not everyone's cup of tea.
And look at the book cover - how beautiful! :)

[Jackie]

Completion Post

Book: by Susan Cooper
How it fits: Set in UK (England)
Date: 2/15/16
Rating: 4 stars

[Dima]

Elinaly wrote: "Dima wrote: "Elinaly wrote: "Dima wrote: "For the UK stop, PS! Did you liked the story? This book has been on my ToRead-shelf for a while now, waiting to be read (I think I can even use it for our Malaysia detour)"

I don't really know how to feel about the book. I am kind of disappointed. I mean I felt that the story had a lot of potentials. all and all I think I would give it like three and a half stars.

[Elinaly]

Dima wrote: "I don't really know how to feel about the book. I am kind of disappointed. I mean I felt ..."

Hmmm... from the reviews I have read, I also see that many readers have had high expectations, but after finishing the story most of them feel the same as you.
Plot seems original and really promising though.

[Elinaly]

Message to the Travel Agent sent! :)


to: NBRC Travel Agent
subject: Readers without Borders (former Team 14) 2st stop finished
message:

Dear NBRC Travel Agent,

Team Readers without Borders is reporting that today our week at beautiful St Lucia (Caribbean) is ending (we arrived on 10th, so today (16th) is the last day of the week in our 2nd stop). And since we have completed the detour (here are the read books) we would like to fly to our 3rd stop starting from 17th Feb.

2nd stop - 50 points (so far 85 points).

Thank you! :)

[Elinaly]

Hurray teamies!

We have landed on the second place in LEADER BOARD!
We are doing fantastic! ;)
Let's keep on reading!

As a reminder:
week 1: 3.-10. Feb
week 2: 10.-16. Feb
week 3 starts 17th Feb, so we should finish our UK books on 23. Feb (or latest on 24. Feb).

[Shy The WidowMaker]

Ok I will be reading which is set in England for UK read.

[Elinaly]

Shy The WidowMaker wrote: "Ok I will be reading which is set in England for UK read."

Hmm, description is so intriguing... added to my ToRead shelf :)
I´m hoping to hear your opinion of it after you´ve finished the book!

[Helen]

Reading Curse of the Pharaohs by Elizabeth Peters. Elizabeth is number 73 in the list. Book is set in Egypt at Luxor which is of course near some tombs.

[Jackie]

For Egypt detour I'll be reading Bitter Medicine by Sara Paretsky. Sara is #14 on list.

[Elinaly]

In Egypt I will go with Fingersmith by Sarah Waters (Sarah is # 23 on list).
Its over 500 pages, so I will start with it already "in UK" to finish it on time :)

[Martina]

I added "the declaration" too, looks intriguing! Today I'm starting my UK book and I will leave the book for Egypt detour to next days. Wow! Great we're 2nd ** Well done everyone :)

[Angie ☯]

Elinaly wrote: "Hurray teamies!

We have landed on the second place in LEADER BOARD!
We are doing fantastic! ;)
Let's keep on reading!

As a reminder:
week 1: 3.-10. Feb
week 2: 10.-16. Feb
week 3 starts 17th Feb..."

Way to go team!!!

[NBRC Travel Agent]

Welcome to Glasgow, Scotland!

[Helen]

I have left Glasgow and moved on to Egypt. I am halfway through The Curse of the Pharaohs by Elizabeth Peters. The story is very amusing so far. Nice mystery also. I have enjoyed the travel so far.

[Dima]

For the Egypt stop I'm reading a book in Arabic by the Egyptian author Youssef Ziedan محال

[Dima]

Dima wrote: "For the Egypt stop I'm reading a book in Arabic by the Egyptian author Youssef Ziedan محال"
pft... never mind. I am an idiot. I have already started reading Away for the Detour.

[Elinaly]

We are the most quieter team in this race, lol.
I hope it's because we are enjoying the books too much, hehee.

And I hope you are enjoying your UK readings aswell! (Soon its packing time again...)

By the way, if you could recommend to others only one book among all the books you have read - what would that be?
I know it would be not an easy task... :)

[Monika]

I would love to recommend one book, but since it has like only one obscure English translation, it fells quite pointless. But I will do it either way. :D


A completely brilliant old school dystopian sci-fi, that has some great ideas and wonderful execution. This book has mix of everything, sci-fi, little bit of fantasy and romance, and lot of mystery. One of my all times favorites.

[Martina]

Wow! It seems really interesting to me(I love dystopia), add it immediately to the to read shelf **

I think I'm really enjoying this travel a lot! I think I picked the right books and I really feel like I'm crossing countries :) UK is gorgeous and fun, for now!

As for picking only one book...I think it would take time to choose for me, I'll think it over while I sleep :)

[Dima]

I'm done with the UK and with the Egypt detour.

I don't think I can pick a book to be my favorite. way too many to pick from!!

[Elinaly]

I also love dystopian and all kind of science fiction!
I added the book Monika mentioned to my shelf :)

It's especially difficult to name only one book when you like so many different genres.
But if I may name one of my favourites, then I would name The Book Thief by Markus Zusak.
It is about WWII, but written in different way (not directly about the war, but about the ordinay people (children) who lived in Germany). I even cried a bit while reading it.

[Dima]

Elinaly wrote: "I also love dystopian and all kind of science fiction!
I added the book Monika mentioned to my shelf :)

It's especially difficult to name only one book when you like so many different genres.
But ..."
I love the book thief as well! I also love A Thousand Splendid Suns and like The Golem and the Jinni .. I recommend both of them :)

[Elinaly]

Dima wrote: "I love the book thief as well! I also love A Thousand Splendid Suns and like The Golem and the Jinni .. I recommend both of them :) .."

I haven't read them, but now they are waiting on my TBR shelf!
Thanx for the recommendation! :)

[Martina]

Hi! :) Just finkshed my stop in UK and taking my time before moving to the next detour...about that: I don't seem to have any idea of a book whose author has one of the names in the list: does anyone have suggestions? :)

I have thought about the book to suggest and I must say that I'm too much a "classic book lover" to suggest anything really new, so maybe I will give more than one title XD I love "les miserables" by Hugo(only read it in translation but I guess in french it would be sooo great), "War and Peace" by Tolstoj(by far my most loved book), and "brave new world" by Huxley(good choice Monika). If I have any better idea to suggest I'll tell you straight away :)

Thank you everyone for the suggestions! I've enjoyed both "a thousand splendid suns" and "the book thief", and added "the golem and the ginnii" to the toread shelf **

Thank you everyone for being such an awesome travel company :)

[Elinaly]

Martina wrote: "Thank you everyone for being such an awesome travel company :)..."

I totally agree! :)

I was having a hard time with this detour also.
For you I looked at GR Popular Classic Books list and yes, not many classics have the popular Netherland´s first names :)

What you think about Anne Brontë (Anne is # 46 on the list) or Emily Brontë (Emily is # 42 on the list)?

[Elinaly]

Hehehee, and Martina, since you started to read Bram Stoker "Dracula", what about Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice... ? :)

Anne is on the list #46.

[Helen]

Having completed my tour of Egypt, I am off to Russia. Along the way, I am reading Wish for Me by A. Star. I have not read a book by her before so it is a new experience.

I guess my favorite book is Venetia by Georgette Heyer. I have re-read that book many times.

[Shy The WidowMaker]

Completion Post

Book:
How it fits: Set in UK (England)
Date: 2/22/16
Rating: 4 stars

[Shy The WidowMaker]

Ok ladies I finished the and I loved. I cant wait to read the rest of the series. It was a really great take on what happens with overpopulation and the govt taking over to deal with it.

[Shy The WidowMaker]

Ok for Egpyt stop I am going with Julia is # 2 on list.

[Martina]

Thank you all for the amazing suggestions, I'll just search the local library to see which is available but add them all to the to-read shelf :)

[Dima]

I'm going to go ahead and start my Russia stop. I am planning on reading Lolita. The setting is in the US but the author is Russian. (That's ok, right?)

[Elinaly]

And how is our Angie doing? :)

[Angie ☯]

Hey everyone! Sorry for not checking in! Have been on a business trip and had little extra time. I will have my Glasgow stop / book finished today. (Had some hiccups in the airports, so I didn't get to finish on the way back!)

Updated to say - Completed this stop!! ♥☺

[Jackie]

Completion Post

Book: by Sara Paretsky
How it fits: Egypt detour - Author name (Sara) is #14 on list
Date: 2/23/16
Rating: 4 stars

[Elinaly]

Wonderful! Lets catch the plane - today we are starting our week in Egypt! :)

PS! Message to the Travel Agent sent! :)
to: NBRC Travel Agent
subject: Readers without Borders (former Team 14) 3rd stop finished
message:
Dear NBRC Travel Agent,
Team Readers without Borders is reporting that today our week in Edinburg (UK) ended (we arrived on 17th and today (24th) we are heading already to the next stop). We have completed the task (here are the read books).

3rd stop - 35 points (so far 120 points).

Thank you! :)

[Elinaly]

Yay! We are still doing great!

We have third place in LEADER BOARD!
Fantastic team work! :)

As a reminder:
week 1: 3.-10. Feb
week 2: 10.-16. Feb
week 3: 17.-23. Feb
week 4: starts 24th Feb, so we should finish our Egypt books (detour this time) on 1st March (or latest on 2nd March).

[Elinaly]

Shy The WidowMaker wrote: "Ok for Egpyt stop I am going with Julia is # 2 on list."

Another book flying to my TBR-shelf. Sounds promising!

[Elinaly]

Dima wrote: "I'm going to go ahead and start my Russia stop. I am planning on reading Lolita. The setting is in the US but the author is Russian. (That's ok, right?)"

Yes Russian author is also ok.
And Lolita is a great book :)

[Elinaly]

Helen wrote: "I guess my favorite book is Venetia by Georgette Heyer. I have re-read that book many times..."

I must admit that romance genre is not something I usually read. And I even don't exactly know why.
But I see that this book has pretty high rating and since you recommend it - I will give it a try :)
Thank you!

[Helen]

Venetia is not only a romance. It is a tongue-in-cheek story in a regency setting. If you do try it, it is a fun read although I always cry when reading it. :)

[Angie ☯]

Elinaly wrote: "Yay! We are still doing great!

We have third place in LEADER BOARD!
Fantastic team work! :)

As a reminder:
week 1: 3.-10. Feb
week 2: 10.-16. Feb
week 3: 17.-23. Feb
week 4: starts 24th Feb, so w..."

What an AWESOME team we are!!!

[Angie ☯]

I thought this challenge would help me clear some of my "to be read" collection..... but everyone is reading/recommending such great books, and I find myself adding those to my shelf as well!!

LOL

[Elinaly]

Angie wrote: "I thought this challenge would help me clear some of my "to be read" collection..... but everyone is reading/recommending such great books, and I find myself adding those to my shelf as well!!"

Hahahaa... the same here :D

[Helen]

Having completed The Secret History of Moscow, I am think that I will reread it in a few months. A very interesting story with Slavic gods and disappearing people. I am not familiar with Russian history and so found some of historical references interesting.
For the next stop, I am reading Victoria's daughter. It has been on my shelf for years as it was too expensive but now is on sale. This works out nicely. This book made the to read shelf after a discussion with my Grandson. He remarked that Queen Victoria hated her daughters. I thought that was not true but did not know anything about any of them.

[Dima]

Elinaly wrote: "Dima wrote: "I'm going to go ahead and start my Russia stop. I am planning on reading Lolita. The setting is in the US but the author is Russian. (That's ok, right?)"

Yes Russian author is also ok.
And Lolita is a great book :) ."

So far the book is good from the literal point of view. However, from the story point of view.... CREEPY AND DISTURBING!

[Martina]

Wow! I totally agree with Angie and Elinaly: you all give so many great suggestions! **

Next book: Agnes Grey! I'll start it now because these days have been intense at University