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

[Lilisa]

Was in Turkey with The Seamstress of Ourfa - 4 stars and a recommended read. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Lilisa]

Was in Russia, Germany and the U.S. with I Was Anastasia. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

Last week I was in Ireland with Dervla McTiernan's debut crime novel, The Ruin. As a crime novel I thought it was great, but I'd have to say it didn't really set me down in Galway - it could have been anywhere.

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

[Lilisa]

Finished Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania - great read: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Shomeret]

I was recently in post-WWII Australia and WWII Italy in flashbacks with Burning Fields by Australian author Alli Sinclair. I loved the independent female protagonist. See my review at https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Lilisa]

Was in Portugal with In Your Hands - very much enjoyed it! Originally written in Portuguese - hats off to translator Andrea Rosenberg! My review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Carol]

I was in Iraq with Baghdad Noir, edited by Samuel Shimon. It fit my mood and interests in a number of ways. I read an ARC from NetGalley, but the publication date is August 7, so .... soon.

As a bonus, the cover is lovely.



Here's a link to my 5-star review.

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

[Val]

Man Booker International Prize
won by Olga Tokarczuk for Flights translated by Jennifer Croft
My review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...?

It was one of three or four good ones on the short list:
Han Kang The White Book
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...?

Ahmed Saadawi Frankenstein in Baghdad
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...?

Virginie Despentes Vernon Subutex, 1
which I have not reviewed yet. (I wrote one, but it disappeared, possibly because I called the central character a sad-old-fart.)

[Lilisa]

I took a quick trip to Morocco with first-time novelist Stephen Holgate's Tangier - I was surprised how much I enjoyed it - 5 stars! My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Lilisa]

Finished The Pillars of the Earth - review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Shomeret]

I was in Tudor England with Black Tudors: The Untold Story. It caused me to think about the roots of racism.

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

[Shomeret]

I was in Iraq, Iran and Yemen with Shaherazade's Daughters which I feel ambivalent about. There were a few wonderful stories but there was one involving abuse that I didn't like at all.

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

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

I've been in Bangladesh with The Bones of Grace, part 3 of the Bangla Desh trilogy. A strong finish.

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

[Carol]

I was in Dennis Lehane’s South Boston, arguably its own country.

The Drop.

It was a solid, 3-Star Lehane novel. Here’s a link to my review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Carol]

I read Snow Hunters by Paul Yoon in a day yesterday and it's one of my favorites of the year. The main character is a North Korean refugee who found asylum in Brazil, working as a tailor for a Japanese gentleman. None of that explains what is so special about it. Here's a link to my 5-star review which largely presents quotes I loved.

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

[Carol]

I read Japanese Tales of Mystery & Imagination by Edogawa Rampo and was a tad disappointed, but I'm still glad I read it. Edogawa Rampo is a pseudonym based on the Japanese pronunciation of Edgar Allen Poe. His stories are foundational for Japanese readers, so having read them gives me more background for picking up on references in Japanese literature. I had expected to enjoy them more, but instead had a neutral response.

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

[Lilisa]

Updated with review...finished Defiance: The Bielski Partisans
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Shomeret]

I was in 18th century Tibet with The White Mirror
which I thought was excellent.

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

[Christelle]

I had a beautiful journey in Japan with Le Garde, le Poète et le Prisonnier: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

[Carol]

I was in Sweden with The Ice Swimmer by Kjell Ola Dahl. Here's a link to my 4-star review:

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

[Lilisa]

Was in Turkey with Without a Country. Recommended - 4 stars! Review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Shomeret]

I was recently in Mozambique with the thriller Illegal Holdings which is the third in a series about U.N. fraud investigator Valentin Vermeulen who has been investigating cases in various African countries. Vermeulen dealt with some extremely important and controversial issues. I thought it was very intense.

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

[Lilisa]

Shomeret wrote: "I was recently in Mozambique with the thriller Illegal Holdings which is the third in a series about U.N. fraud investigator Valentin Vermeulen who has been investigating cases in v..."

Sounds interesting, Shomeret. Have you read the first two in the series?

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

I've given up on my Finnish adventure in Secret Passages in a Hillside Town - a rarity for me - but because I was well over halfway I have rated and reviewed.

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

[Shomeret]

Lilisa wrote: "Shomeret wrote: "I was recently in Mozambique with the thriller Illegal Holdings which is the third in a series about U.N. fraud investigator Valentin Vermeulen who has been investi..."

No, I haven't read the previous two books. As I said in my review, I was asked to review the third novel and received it for free. I've been considering the first book, Legitimate Business which takes place in Darfur and sounds really interesting.

[Shomeret]

I've returned from somewhere in the Congo in the 18th century, the Middle Passage with the enslaved female protagonist and a Haiti that contains Taino (indigenous inhabitants encountered by Columbus) with paranormal gifts. This is historical fantasy and requires suspension of disbelief, but it's quite a story so I was willing to go with it. The book is Nyira and the Invisible Boy by K. M. Harrell. It's a first novel.

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

[Shomeret]

I've returned from Australia, England and the U.S. with The Lost Pilots: The Spectacular Rise and Scandalous Fall of Aviation's Golden Couple which is partly aviation history and partly true crime.

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

[Carol]

I was in Mexico, the northern Gulf coast, with an arc of Martín Solares’ Don't Send Flowers. It was good for awhile, then got even better at the 33% mark and raced toward its end. Here’s a link to my 4-Star review.

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

[Lilisa]

Finished The Romanov Empress. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Lilisa]

Was also in France with Paris in the Present Tense. Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Nancy]

I was carried along a long but incredible story in Shantaram. Here’s my review:

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

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

I've been having a mini-binge on China, finishing both The Jade Lily and Finding Gobi: The true story of a little dog and an incredible journey in recent days. They are not at all comparable, but I enjoyed both.

Here are my reviews for the two books, respectively:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... and https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

Nancy wrote: "I was carried along a long but incredible story in Shantaram. Here’s my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."

I remember being pleasantly surprised by that one, too. Just recently I bought the sequel, which is not quite as long, but it’s still one I’ll have to psyche myself up for (and clear the decks).

[Lilisa]

I finished Imperium: A Novel of Ancient Rome - review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Also finished The Map of Salt and Stars - ah, what a listen! Review: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...

[Shomeret]

I have been in 1920's England and Mussolini's Italy with Island of the Mad by Laurie R. King which is the latest in her Sherlock Holmes/Mary Russell series. I was most interested in the missing woman who is at the center of Mary Russell's investigation. I thought she was fascinating. I consider this one of the best books in the series.

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

[Shomeret]

I was in alternate Alexandria, Egypt and alternate Spain with Smoke and Iron, the fourth book in the alternate history dystopian fantasy series called The Great Library in which the Library of Alexandria monopolized books and prevented progress. In the fourth book the resistance is starting to build. I was glad to see a turning point. See my review at https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

I'm claiming Tin Man as another England read for this year, as it took me to an Oxford that I recognised and remembered. Beautiful book.

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

[Shomeret]

I returned to Venice even though I had been there with the Laurie R. King novel so recently. The Painter's Apprentice: A Novel of 16th-Century Venice took place in a time of plague. So there is plenty of tragedy, yet it ends with hope for the future.

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

[Lilisa]

Was in France with The Rain Watcher. Review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Courtney]

I went to North Korea with a brief stay in Japan with . Last year I read and the two pair nicely together. In Order to Live is told from the prospective of a fairly well off woman (child at first) while A River in Darkness was told from the lowest of the low.

I read which isn't necessarily about other places, but rather extinction events past and present. It discusses discussion from different countries, but also techniques to preserve species/ research being done/ etc.

[[deleted user]]

I went to India with The Pagoda Tree. Review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I also went to Burma with Miss Burma. Review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Lilisa]

LittleAussieBookOwl wrote: "I went to India with The Pagoda Tree. Review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I also went to Burma with Miss B..."</i>

I enjoyed [book:Miss Burma and good to hear your perspective.

[Carol]

I was in Great Britain with Derek Raymond’s He Died with His Eyes Open. It was disappointing, but against all reason, I’m confident the second book in the Factory series will be a winner.

Here’s a link to my brief 3-star review.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Shomeret]

I returned from 18th century Beijing with City of Ink by Elsa Hart. I found it disappointing.

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

[Shomeret]

I returned from the fictional home of the Amazons, Themiscyra, New York and Greece with Wonder Woman: Warbringer by Leigh Bardugo which I absolutely loved. I recommend this book to all Wonder Woman fans.

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

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

I've been languishing in 1830s China the past couple of weeks. Kind of glad to be out of there now.

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

[Lilisa]

I've been to a few places recently and also catching up on reviews:

Portugal: A Small Death in Lisbon. Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Channel Islands: 10 Days One Guernsey Summer. Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

U.S.: Twelve Years a Slave. Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

France: The Little Paris Bookshop. Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

India: The Palace of Illusions. Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Shomeret]

I've recently returned from a couple of trips to ancient Alexandria, Egypt with two historical mysteries in the same series by June Trop. The first was also the author's first novel and I don't recommend it. The case involved missing alchemy scrolls. It was The Deadliest Lie which I reviewed with no stars at https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Then I read the fourth book in the series, The Deadliest Fever which was vastly improved. The case involved a Torah scroll mantle. See my review at https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...

[Courtney]

I have read two books that have taken place in Egypt this past summer.

they were Nefertiti and The Pharaoh's Daughter. Funnily enough, Nefertiti was the generation before The Pharaoh's Daughter and I saw viewpoints from both families at odds with each other (Vizier Ay and General Horemheb).I personally prefer Nefertiti. I felt like it gave a more authentic feel to what Egypt was like at the time and the characters drew me in more.

[Carol]

I was in Jamaica with Alexia Arthurs’ debut short story collection, How to Love a Jamaican. I wasn’t nearly as charmed as many other readers but I am glad that
I read it. Here’s a link to my review.

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