2018 - Where in the world have you been? (Book finished and review linked)

[Claire]

My thoughts on the excellent So Long a Letter by Maraima Ba.

A Senegalese widow writes to her friend on the eve of her arrival, reflecting on the recent death of an errant husband, who after 25 years of marriage took a second wife. Captivating, insightful. A classic.

[Beth]

I just got back from Dargestan with Tom Clancy's Under Fire. It fit a challenge category and was on sale on Audible. Even though Clancy fans didn't seem to like it all that much, I thought it was fine. It's probably because I haven't read much Tom Clancy and didn't have expectations about characters and plot. Actually, a big part of the plot has to do with using the internet for political ends (not a spoiler, don't worry), which with our current Russia/election stuff is feeling pretty timely.

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

I’ve been in Ireland with Tana French’s In the Woods. Liked it - happy to explore further.

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

[Carol]

Andrea wrote: "I’ve been in Ireland with Tana French’s In the Woods. Liked it - happy to explore further."

You made it this time! Congrats. Perhaps I should give it another shot. I recall giving up around page 50.

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

Carol wrote: "Andrea wrote: "I’ve been in Ireland with Tana French’s In the Woods. Liked it - happy to explore further."

You made it this time! Congrats. Perhaps I should give it a..."

Thanks Carol - not just me then! It just took a long time to get into the rhythm of the writing. The words weren’t difficult, but the way she put them together didn’t gel for me at first. It was like I couldn’t use them to paint a mental picture of what she was on about.

[Carol]

Andrea wrote: "Carol wrote: "Andrea wrote: "I’ve been in Ireland with Tana French’s In the Woods. Liked it - happy to explore further."

You made it this time! Congrats. Perhaps I sh..."

I couldn't have explained it better.

[Carol]

I was in Finland with Holy Ceremony by Harri Nykänen and enjoyed it up until the end. Not a bad ending in terms of the explanation and events, but a horrid one in terms of the execution. Still, it's a small part of the overall product, so long as one is fore-warned to manage expectations.

Here's a link to my 4* review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Beth]

I've been below the Atlantic hunting for Red October. It was a fun and suspenseful but somewhat technical ride! The Hunt for Red October.

[Carol]

I was in Haiti with Roxane Gay's debut short-story collection, Ayiti. Here's a link to my brief 5-star review:

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

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

My little sojourn in Indonesia came to an end yesterday, and my head’s still reeling too much to write my review. I’m talking about On the Java Ridge by Jock Serong, a new-ish voice in Australian literature. It’s going to be a solid 4, maybe even 4.5 stars. The thing is, this is precisely what is going on in Australian politics right now; not just the politics of border control, but the politics of politics too. It makes me feel sick just thinking about it.

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

[Lilisa]

So many varied and interesting reads in this thread - nice! Finished The Happiest Refugee: A Memoir - writing-wise probably a 3, but I couldn't resist giving it 4 stars from the family story/real-life perspective. Rusalka/Andrea and other Aussies in the group - thoughts on Anh Do?

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

Lilisa wrote: "So many varied and interesting reads in this thread - nice! Finished The Happiest Refugee: A Memoir - writing-wise probably a 3, but I couldn't resist giving it 4 stars from the fami..."

I’ve been meaning to read the book but haven’t got around to it yet (although I did give my dad a copy as a gift a few years back). As a comedian he’s not my cup of tea, but for the past 2 years he’s hosted a brilliant interview series on TV. He’s actually a very accomplished portrait artist and a sensitive interviewer, so he interviews his guests while he’s painting their portrait. He’s had some really, really interesting people on the show, and I’m often moved to tears watching it. “Anh’s Brush With Fame”, I think it’s called. He paints with a palette knife!

[Hesper]

Just finished Songs of Love and War: Afghan Women's Poetry. For claiming to be a book about Afghan women's experiences, it spends entirely too much time with the male editor's point of view. It's valuable for what it tries to do, but it suffers from a distinct lack of self awareness. My review.

[Lilisa]

Andrea wrote: "Lilisa wrote: "So many varied and interesting reads in this thread - nice! Finished The Happiest Refugee: A Memoir - writing-wise probably a 3, but I couldn't resist giving it 4 star..."

I checked out Anh's Brush with Fame - the guy is talented. I watched the episode with Dr. Charlie Teo and then I had to watch Charlie Teo's Ted Talk. He's another interesting personality - what's the general take on him? He sounds like a definite maverick neurosurgeon. You guys seem to have interesting and big personalities! I had to force myself to refrain from checking out more Anh Do episodes!

[Rusalka]

Lilisa wrote: "Andrea wrote: "Lilisa wrote: "So many varied and interesting reads in this thread - nice! Finished The Happiest Refugee: A Memoir - writing-wise probably a 3, but I couldn't resist g..."

They are addictive. He just entered one of those paintings in our major portrait prize, the Archibald Prize, of Uncle Jack Charles (an Aboriginal elder and actor). It's a beautiful portrait. It won People's Choice too. I don't mind his comedy, but not one I would go to a show of.

I enjoyed the book. I liked his story telling, and I think it's super important to read about refugee stories in Australia at the moment - as Andrea mentioned in her comment about On the Java Ridge which I have added, Thank you!!
He's written a picture book version of the book too, which I think is incredibly important. Teach kids about these real stories before they are indoctrinated by the politics of hate and fear that's pervasive in this country.

I think the last chapter let it down. It was an (out of date) CV of all the stuff he's done up to publication. We know, that's why we're reading your book, mate. I think if he had left it with his life before becoming famous, it would have been a stronger book.

Charlie Teo, I think he's done a lot of good. I think he possibly is a bit gung ho at times, but depending on the patient, that could work. I think about my Dad who had liver cancer, and they offered him a new treatment that they weren't sure if it would work or even if he would survive. Dad was like, well cancer is going to kill me one way or another, and if you can learn from that to help others, then lets do it. (He survived the procedure and lived another 2 years). But if you have patients like that, then that's great, who understand the risks and are ready to give things a go.

As much as I criticise Australia at times, we cannot say we are devoid of personalities ;)

[Lilisa]

Amazing - he's a pretty gifted guy but I also get the impression that it was more his hard work and drive that turned his average skills into gifts - great role model. Agree on the last section of the book - it ended up being a bit of a laundry list to conclude the book, but I tolerated it. Adding On the Java Ridge. Like your dad's approach - doctors learning from his treatment to treat others coming after him. Hope he wasn't in too much discomfort/pain. To paraphrase Teo, how does one define false hope - it's false hope for some, but true hope for others. Anh Do's dad's life philosophy resonates - "There's only two times in life. There's now, and there's too late." That's the beauty of living in Australia - you actually can criticize without fear of being carted off into oblivion! 😋

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

Lilisa wrote: " Anh Do's dad's life philosophy resonates - "There's only two times in life. There's now, and there's too late."..."

Ooh, I like that one!

[Lilisa]

Andrea wrote: "Lilisa wrote: " Anh Do's dad's life philosophy resonates - "There's only two times in life. There's now, and there's too late."..."

Ooh, I like that one!"

🤓

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

Sorry, I can’t really recommend Arresting God in Kathmandu - only 2 stars from me.

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

[Lilisa]

Andrea wrote: "Sorry, I can’t really recommend Arresting God in Kathmandu - only 2 stars from me.

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

Too bad! Won't borrow it then, thanks.

[Lilisa]

Finished Wave - 5 stars. Sonali Deraniyagala's very personal journey of denial, guilt and grief following the 2004 tsunami, which took the lives of her husband, two small boys and her parents. Impressive writing style and beautiful imagery of nature. She relives her family life story and projects them into the future, especially her two young boys Vik and Malli - their personalities come through quite vividly. She's still on that journey coping with life, now tempered a bit with time, but still raw - gone but not forgotten.

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

A solid 4★ for Dead Lions (England), #2 in the Slough House spy series.

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

[Renae]

Yesterday I finished Whispers of Heaven (19th c. Tasmania) and Empress of Bright Moon (Tang-era China).

Both were only so-so, but not all books can be 5 stars

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

Back from Southall, London, with Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows. I really liked it and appreciated the cultural insights it offered.

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

[Shomeret]

Earlier this month I was in the U.S. and Iraq with Full Circle by Regina Timothy. This book is topical and can be intense. Yet it's a first novel and isn't without flaws. Still I was really impressed with the Iraqi woman protagonist.

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

[Lilisa]

Finished The Spy (aka Mata Hari) - 2 stars not worth the time and An Aegean April - 2.5 stars rounded up to 3 stars - meh, his others books are better.

[Claire]

I finished Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi's excellent debut novel Kintu, set in Buganda, (now Uganda), and gave it 5 stars.

My review here Kintu

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

This afternoon I've been to the Diomedes Islands with Fish-Boy, a young readers' book by Vanita Oelschlager, illustrated by Mike Blanc. Nice.

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

[Shomeret]

I was in Nigeria withAkata Warrior, a YA fantasy by Nnedi Okorafor. It had some great Nigerian cultural content, but the plotline ended up being formulaic fantasy.

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

[Claire]

I have been in France (setting) with Argentinian author Ariana Harwicz's Man Booker International long listed Die, My Love.

My review here.

[Lilisa]

I've been in Italy during the last couple of years of WWII with Beneath a Scarlet Sky - historical fiction based on on Pino Lella's account of those years. Enjoyed the storyline, it kept me engaged but the writing style was just okay - so 3 stars.

[Shomeret]

I was recently in Canada, Greece, Turkey and the Netherlands as Essa Khattak and Rachel Getty try to discover what happened to a missing Canadian and discover terrible things about the Syrian refugee crisis in A Dangerous Crossing by Ausma Zehanat Khan. Like other books in this series, it's disquieting but recommended.

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

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

I'm back from Laos and the Khmer Rouge's Kampuchea after finishing Love Songs From A Shallow Grave, #7 in the Dr Siri series. I didn't enjoy it quite as much as previous instalments.

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

[Shomeret]

Earlier this month I was in medieval Cornwall in England with Megge of Bury Down which was historical fiction with a paranormal element. Megge belongs to a family of healers and seers. I thought the historical context was portrayed authentically.

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

[Shomeret]

I was recently in the alternate continuity where the matriarchy Roma Nova exists possibly in part of what we know as Switzerland. I was also in alternate Austria with the same book, Insurrectio by Alison Morton.

Terrible things happen to Roma Nova and the central character. It felt especially chilling to me because as Sinclair Lewis showed us "It Can Happen Here".

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

[Shomeret]

I returned today from the fantasy version of Nigeria created by Tomi Adeyemi in Children of Blood and Bone. There were references to real Nigerian cities, but it obviously wasn't Nigeria in our world.

For my review see https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

I greedily lapped up Fiona McIntosh's version of West Bengal in The Tea Gardens and although I enjoyed it, I was left wanting more. 3.5★

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

[Lilisa]

The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane - good read about the Akha tribe of SE Asia and the intricacies of tea and its commerce - 4 stars.

Threading My Prayer Rug: One Woman's Journey from Pakistani Muslim to American Muslim - another good read - about culture, religion and understanding perspectives - 4 stars.

Victoria & Abdul (Movie Tie-In): The True Story of the Queen's Closest Confidant - bleh, 2 stars.

The Last Queen - being a queen has major downsides - nice portrayal in Juana's voice - 3 stars.

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

I really, really liked The Seamstress of Ourfa (Ottoman Empire) and gave it 4.5★

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

[Claire]

Just finished, after slow reading and loving The Sealwoman's Gift, historical fiction based on the true story of 400 Icelander's abducted from one of the island's and taken to Algiers, and the fate of those who survive, their children and the few able to return.

Incredible story, incredibly imagined, thought provoking as to how such an experience changes all those affected, those who leave, those who escaped capture and those who will grow up in another culture far from their roots.

My initial thoughts here

[Rusalka]

Sounds fantastic, Claire. Thanks!

[Shomeret]

I was recently in England with The Suffragette Scandal by Courtney Milan a feminist historical romance with some of the best dialogue I've ever seen.

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

[Shomeret]

I was in alternate Austria and the alternate matriarchal Roma Nova in what is probably part of what we call Switzerland in Retalio by Alison Morton in which exiled matriarchal leaders fight to restore the matriarchy which was overthrown in the previous book.

See my review at https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

I've already been to England a few times this year, but it was this visit to London that has gone straight onto my Favorites shelf - Happiness by Aminatta Forna

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

[Yrinsyde]

Free Kindle books for World Book Day! Only for US though and only until April 24. https://www.amazon.com/article/read-t...

[Shomeret]

I've been in Namibia with The Night Masquerade, the third book in the Binti trilogy by Nnedi Okorafor which is Afro-futurist science fiction. The third book centrally deals with diplomacy.

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

[Shomeret]

I've been in Sudan, Syria, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Iraq and Yemen with the short stories in Banthology: Stories from Unwanted Nations which contains stories representing the seven nations that were banned in the first version of the U.S. executive order on immigration of 2017. I thought the best was the magical realist story representing Libya.

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

[Rusalka]

Shomeret wrote: "I've been in Sudan, Syria, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Iraq and Yemen with the short stories in Banthology: Stories from Unwanted Nations which contains stories representing the seven nat..."

Oh what a fantastic idea! Obviously not the ban, the book from countries. Thanks Shomeret! Added

[Carol]

I was in Athens with Baby Blue by Pol Koutsakis, the second book in Koutsakis' Stratos Gazis series and it was a 5-star read for me. That might be personal, but my review provides sufficient flavor that every reader can judge for herself.

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

[Claire]

I've been hunting down rare exotic flowers in Chile, China, Gibraltar, Namibia and Indonesia in David Whitehouse's The Long Forgotten. An intriguing, riveting read and a fabulous cover!

My review here