2017 - Where in the world have you been? (book finished and review linked)

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

Share what book you've read - did you enjoy it or not and why, but no spoilers please! We'd love a link to your review to learn more about your thoughts. Hopefully you'll enjoy some great reads in 2017 traveling around the world!

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

My first book of the year was The Summer Book by Tove Jansson (Finland). I gave it 3.5★

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

[Rusalka]

I'm cheating with my last read of 2016, but it was such a surprise I wanted to share with you all.

For New Zealand Guardian of the Dead. YA book mixing Māori mythology with a girl in boarding school in Christchurch. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

One of the better YA books I've read, with a strong, female, main character, and only a smattering of "I love this boy therefore I will lose any other element of my personality" (it wasn't that bad but I was well prepared for that, and was expecting it. So maybe noticed it more than it was). And I love myths, so right up my alley.

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

Rusalka wrote: "I'm cheating with my last read of 2016, but it was such a surprise I wanted to share with you all.

For New Zealand Guardian of the Dead. YA book mixing Māori mythology with a girl i..."

Sounds good!

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

My first book of the year was Skylark Farm by Antonia Arslan. Published in Italian in 2004 and translated into English in 2006, this is a novel loosely based on the stories of Arslan's own family, forced out of Armenia (and most killed) during the genocide of 1915. The topic is important, the writing is a bit uneven but the characters are well-drawn. Very graphic depictions of violence and death inside.
My review is here.

Another interesting connection that I will need to read more to explain is that of Armenians with Aleppo. Many of the people in this novel go there. Were they still there this past year when it was completely obliterated? Is this part of the same ongoing conflict in some way? I honestly do not know but have several very current books from Syria and Aleppo on my reading list for the year.

[Claire]

Last year I read Nayomi Munaweera's second novel What Lies Between Us and it made my list of Top Reads 2016. It was set in Sri Lanka where she is from.

I've just finished her debut novel Island of a Thousand Mirrors which is fantastic, powerfully evocative of Sri Lankan childhood and surroundings, beautifully written, engaging and tragic in what follows as political events of the country impact all the lives of the characters we become so immersed in.

Definitely a Top Read of 2017!

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

Claire wrote: "Last year I read Nayomi Munaweera's second novel What Lies Between Us and it made my list of Top Reads 2016. It was set in Sri Lanka where she is from.

I've just finished her debut novel Island of..."

Both sound so good!

[Claire]

Jenny (Reading Envy) wrote: "Claire wrote: "Last year I read Nayomi Munaweera's second novel What Lies Between Us and it made my list of Top Reads 2016. It was set in Sri Lanka where she is from.

I've just finished her debut ..."

They are! A talented writer for sure, beautiful prose, excellent characterisations and depiction of place, not much more I look for in a book, oh and the insight into another culture of course!!

[Lilisa]

Claire wrote: "Last year I read Nayomi Munaweera's second novel What Lies Between Us and it made my list of Top Reads 2016. It was set in Sri Lanka where she is from.

I've just finished her debut novel Island of..."

So glad you loved Island of a Thousand Mirrors - it was an amazing read for me as well. Likewise with What Lies Between Us. Nayomi Munaweera is an fantastic writer and can't wait for her next book.

[Lilisa]

I finished The Septembers of Shiraz which is set in Iran following the overthrow of the Shah and the Iranian Revolution. Dalia Sofer depicts well the aftermath of the revolution and the devastating impact on the Amin family.

[Jennifer]

I just finished Vikram Seth's A Suitable Boy (India). It was 1500 pages, which is daunting, but I couldn't put it down and I was sad when I finished. It's a complex family saga about love, family, religion, politics in post-colonial and post-partition India. Beautifully written and quite easy to read.

[Lilisa]

Jenniferdwalker wrote: "I just finished Vikram Seth's A Suitable Boy (India). It was 1500 pages, which is daunting, but I couldn't put it down and I was sad when I finished. It's a complex family saga about l..."

Congrats Jennifer - it is massive! I read it some time ago via a buddy read which made it easier and enjoyed it too. I'm still waiting for Seth to publish A Suitable Girl which was supposed to be published awhile ago but the date keeps being pushed out - latest is 2017/2018. It's supposed to be set in current India.

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

I finished The Good People (Ireland) yesterday. I gave it 4★

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

[Jennifer]

Lilisa wrote: "Jenniferdwalker wrote: "I just finished Vikram Seth's A Suitable Boy (India). It was 1500 pages, which is daunting, but I couldn't put it down and I was sad when I finished. It's a com..."

Me too! I'm looking forward to reading it when it comes out. He's a great writer, and it was a pleasure to read, even if it did take a couple of weeks to do so.

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

Yesterday I read A Long Way Home by Saroo Brierley (India/Tasmania), pending the release of the movie Lion in Australia this week. I'm originally from Tasmania, and many of you would know I've been having a literary love affair with India lately, so it was the perfect Sunday read for me!

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

[Rusalka]

Andrea wrote: "Yesterday I read A Long Way Home by Saroo Brierley (India/Tasmania), pending the release of the movie Lion in Australia this week. I'm originally from Tasmania, and..."

OOo I need to check this out. Glad you enjoyed this! Been seeing a few interviews with him pop up a bit this week (that you no doubt have too).

[Lilisa]

Andrea wrote: "Yesterday I read A Long Way Home by Saroo Brierley (India/Tasmania), pending the release of the movie Lion in Australia this week. I'm originally from Tasmania, and..."

Nice review - it's on my TBR list. Let us know what you think of the movie!

[Carol]

I finished Borkmann's Point by Håkan Nesser. It took place in Sweden and was most excellent.

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

I finished reading The French Promise (England/Tasmania/France) yesterday - a solid 3★ read for me.

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

[Shomeret]

I returned from a trip to Austria a while back with Stolen Beauty by Laurie Lico Albanese. After researching this book, I learned that I didn't particularly like the work of Gustav Klimt, but that Adele Bloch-Bauer, who was the woman that was the subject of Woman in Gold, was very interesting.

See my review at https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Carol]

I finished The Piano Lesson by August Wilson, which takes place in New York (the US). It was a solid 3 star read, but I'd like to read another Wilson play that a friend recommends as her/his fave. In other words, I don't think I started with the best work to reach a conclusion about whether I'm a Wilson fan, other than in principle.

My review is solely a rating. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Courtney]

I tried reading The Patmos Deception. It takes place in Greece. I DNF'D on page 150. It is suppose to be an archaeological thriller. There was too much of focus on romance. The romance itself was terrible.

I read Hotel Moscow a few weeks ago. Takes place in Russia during 1993, two years after the fall of communism. The author was actually visiting Russia during this time for the exact same reason the MC was (an entrepreneur/financial person helping woman with capitalistic businesses. Here is my review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show....

I also attempted Around the World in Eighty Days. I DNFED probably around page 130. It was a hassle to read and wasn't as exciting as I was hoping for an "explorer" type book.

[Shomeret]

I have returned from France, Spain, England, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, Israel, Vietnam, Kenya and El Salvador which were destinations of war correspondent Martha Gellhorn in her biography, Nothing Ever Happens to the Brave: The Story of Martha Gellhorn by Carl Rollyson. I thought he was insightful within the limitations of being unauthorized. See my review at https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

A couple of days ago I finished reading The Sudden Appearance of Hope, which I really liked. I hadn't put anything in the Currently Reading thread, because I wasn't really sure where it was set. Turns out it was set everywhere! UAE, Oman, Egypt, Turkey, Japan, Sth Korea, USA, England, France, Italy, Switzerland, Guatemala and Scotland, with significant plot flashbacks to Austria, Brazil and Hong Kong. Phew!!

Anyway, here's my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Claire]

I finished reading Hannah Kent's second novel The Good People, historical fiction set in Ireland. An intriguing insight into ancient cultural folklore beliefs, as they brush up against the modern age and its justice system.

[Claire]

Andrea wrote: "Yesterday I read A Long Way Home by Saroo Brierley (India/Tasmania), pending the release of the movie Lion in Australia this week. I'm originally from Tasmania, and..."

Have you seen the film yet? It's opening here in France next week.

[Carol]

I left 1970s Laos, where I had sojourned with Colin Cotterill's Curse Of The Pogo Stick, the fifth installment in his wonderful Dr. Siri series. It was a 5-star read for me, but I'm admittedly biased.

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

Claire wrote: "Have you seen the film yet? ..."

Yes, and it was really lovely. There were a couple of little things where I thought the movie departed from the book, but that's Hollywood! Otherwise I thought they did justice to the story, the people and the locations. Having just read the book and knowing full well that there was a happy ending on the way, I was absolutely determined not to cry, but it was unavoidable.

[Claire]

Just finished and have reviewed the astonishing, excellent novel by Yaa Gyasi Homegoing. A tapestry of stories, following twin threads of one family and through their histories, the legacy of a turning point in African history, the effect of fire and water, of slavery and rootlessness than will weave its way through the multitude of generations to follow. Brilliant, best read of 2017 so far.

[Andrew]

Claire wrote: "Just finished and have reviewed the astonishing, excellent novel by Yaa Gyasi Homegoing. A tapestry of stories, following twin threads of one family and through their histories, the legacy of a tur..."

I am desperately hoping this arrives at my library soon, i have heard so much praise about it.
There is so much brilliant fiction coming out of Africa at the moment, although come to think about it African fiction generally is very good

[Claire]

Andrew wrote: "Claire wrote: "Just finished and have reviewed the astonishing, excellent novel by Yaa Gyasi Homegoing. A tapestry of stories, following twin threads of one family and through their histories, the ..."

Yes, I see you've read Segu, if you enjoyed Maryse Condé's masterpiece I am sure you are going to love this, Yaa Gyasi does something similar but with a different structure, she follows two family lines through the generations, with the direction America, I guess tracing her characters to someone who might even resemble her.

I agree, there is much great fiction from the region, it's getting publishers to broaden their range and share more of it with us, that is of universal appeal.

[Shomeret]

I have returned from my trip to Canada where I encountered a community of Canadian Muslims who arrived as refugees from Bosnia. The book is The Unquiet Dead by Ausma Zehanat Khan. There are extensive witness accounts of atrocities. If that sort of thing is too traumatic for you, this book is not for you. I thought it was really excellent.

My review is at https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

I've been in California with my favourite psychopath this week - Hidden Bodies by Caroline Kepnes

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

[Carol]

I was in Japan with In Praise of Shadows by Jun'ichirō Tanizaki, my first non-fiction rad of 2017. It was a five-star read for me but I haven't yet posted a review.

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

I was in Havana, Cuba, with Havana: A Subtropical Delirium by Mark Kurlansky. He does his usual examination of a topic from all angles. I so would like to see Cuba before it becomes like every other Caribbean place! My review is here.

[Rusalka]

Just posted my reviews for Hag-Seed for Canada, and The Preacher for Sweden.

[Rusalka]

I'd go quick, Jenny! I've had friends visit over the past 2 years, and their experiences are beginning to vary already.

And for those of you near the Caribbean and don't have to travel for 36 hours straight (urgghhhh) to get there, I am so jealous you are close enough to explore it all.

[Rusalka]

Oh and I just finished The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society for Guernsey. While not the best pick for Guernsey, it was a really sweet read. Opened up some topics I didn't know about (WWII Occupation of the Channel Islands for example) and didn't shy away from the horrible parts of the war, but still a sweet, fun story with loveable characters. Just nice to read about people you like for a change.

If you've avoided it like me (even though my Mum told me I HAD to read it), stop it as it does live up to most of the hype, I think.

[Shomeret]

I took a second trip to Canada after returning home from the first with Mad Maggie and the Mystery of the Ancients by Rod Raglin. It takes place in various locations in the province of British Columbia. This is a romance in which the female protagonist is schizophrenic. I really thought she was rather wonderful for finding a way to cope with her condition, and accomplish her goals.

My GR review is at https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Val]

Rusalka wrote: "Oh and I just finished The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society for Guernsey. While not the best pick for Guernsey, it was a really sweet read. Opened up some topics I didn'..."
I thought all the historical parts were good, but was not keen on the modern story.

[Rusalka]

Val wrote: "I thought all the historical parts were good, but was not keen on the modern story. ."

That's fair enough. I had a particularly not great read before it, so I wonder if that coloured my read and made it better.

[Lilisa]

Was in Brazil with Snow Hunters. It's about a 25-year old North Korean refugee Yohan who makes it to Brazil to start a new life as an apprentice tailor. Four characters drift through his new life. Sparse, elegaic and quietedly contained is how I would describe the writing. More can be said with less - I kept thinking "bonsai" as I was reading. Wikipedia says "The purposes of bonsai are primarily contemplation (for the viewer) and the pleasant exercise of effort and ingenuity (for the grower)." A solid 3 stars book.

[Rusalka]

North Korea to Brazil! What a trip!

[Lilisa]

Rusalka wrote: "North Korea to Brazil! What a trip!"

Yep, fiction!

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

I gave Island of a Thousand Mirrors (Sri Lanka) 4.5★. My review doesn't do it justice, but you might like to click through to read some of the quotes I added - such beautiful writing.

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

[Andrew]

I was in England yesterday with the very interestingThe Tidal Zone- here is my review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Shomeret]

I returned from Saudi Arabia and Spain yesterday. The book was The Dove's Necklace by Raja Alem. I learned about Islam and its history from this book. My review is at https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Kirsten]

I've been in London with L-2011. Whilst set in an alternative 2011, it really is written for a world under Trump and Brexit. Well worth reading. It visits a part of London most authors don't write about - standard suburbia. Not rich, not poor, with a troubled teen with good parents. If this book doesn't leave you thinking about what the future has in store for us, well...

[Lilisa]

Andrea wrote: "I gave Island of a Thousand Mirrors (Sri Lanka) 4.5★. My review doesn't do it justice, but you might like to click through to read some of the quotes I added - such beautiful writin..."

Glad you enjoyed it Andrea. Isn't her writing sheer poetry - it was a 5-star read for me.

[Claire]

Andrea wrote: "I gave Island of a Thousand Mirrors (Sri Lanka) 4.5★. My review doesn't do it justice, but you might like to click through to read some of the quotes I added - such beautiful writin..."

Isn't it great? I read her second novel What Lies Between Us last year and was so moved by it, I got a copy of this, her debut novel, knowing it was going to be brilliant and totally my kind of read, her writing is so evocative, lyrical, sensuous, it leaves an imprint on the reader. This was a 5 star read for me too, likely to be one of my top reads of the year.