World Edition Monopoly - Chava and Lanelle

[Chava]

I finished Schindler's List over the weekend. This book continues to make me shiver and cry each time. My grandparents are holocaust survivors (as officially is my father, although he was only 1 when it ended). With the current climate of xenophobia it makes me worried that we haven't learnt from our history.

Hoping to go to a happier place now.
Started: Warsaw
Rolled: 1+1=2
Landed on: Istanbul - read a book set in Turkey -or-
read 2 books that has been published with a different title

Let me go hunt for a Turkish book!

[Chava]

I finished Murder on the Orient Express on Friday, but didn't have a chance to post earlier. Not my favourite of Agatha Christie's books, but it was okay. The usual collection of weird, flamboyant and shady characters. I didn't figure the mystery out until Poirot (who is definitely my favourite Agatha Christie sleuth) pointed it out. The book is set for a large part in Istanbul, but mainly on the train that originated there. It was listed on GR under Turkish genre, so I guess I took a bit of liberty.

Started: Istanbul
Rolled: 2
Landed on: Chance - Upgraded to nearest airport --> Henri Coanda Airport – read a book where the main character's name starts with 'H'

[Chava]

Finished The Lost Man this evening. I was hooked on this book! It describes the unforgiving Australian outback and its people so well. I can't recommend this book highly enough. It fits the upgrade, main character in the book is Harry

Started: Henri Coanda airport
Rolled: 4+6=10
Landed: Taipei - read a book set in Taiwan -or-
read 2 books set on an island

You have already read for this one, so I get to choose. I think an island book it is!

[Lanelle, Production Chief]

For Mexico City I read A Dangerous Harbor. As the main character is pulling her sailing boat into the Ensenada, Mexico port, she finds a dead body floating in the water. Being a police detective, she dutifully reports the death, and gets herself into a huge mess. It's a good story that I enjoyed.

Started on: Mexico City
rolled a 9
Landed on: Henri Coanda Airport – read a book where the main character's name starts with 'H'

Looks like it's my turn for that airport. I'll be back with my book choice.

[Lanelle, Production Chief]

I read The Affairs of Harriet Walters, Spinster for Henri Coanda Airport - main character's name starts with 'H'. I was afraid I was going to be reading about a 'train wreck' about half way into the story. This country-bred, naive, shy young woman going off to London for the first time with a woman who is scheming and angry. But with the help of a couple of friends, she kept a clear head, and pulled through in the end. It was an okay story. I doubt I'll read it again unless it's for a challenge :)

Started on: Henri Coanda Airport
rolled a 5
Landed on: Madrid - read a book set in Spain -or-
read 2 books where the main character is an artist

I'm off to see if there's a book set in Spain I'm interested in reading.

[Chava]

Finished Island Home which is a memoir about how the author feels he was shaped by living on an Australian island. I can't really say anything about this book that isn't... bleh! I don't do whiney memoirs. Seriously, never think of reading this. It is beyond terrible.

Started on: Taipei
Rolled: 6+4=10
Landed on: Tokyo - read a book set in Japan -or-
read 2 books where the main character owns their own business

I'm going to go with a book set in Japan

[Chava]

Finished Memoirs of a Geisha for a book set in Japan. I have been fascinated by geishas and what life is like for them. I struggled with this book, I felt Nitta's pain of being torn from her parents and then having to live the harsh life in the house. I've seen the criticisms. I too always thought that geishas were Japanese prostitutes, but I've since learnt that this is far from the truth. The book doesn't really help that myth. I'm glad I got to read it, it's been on my TBR list for a while.

Started: Tokyo
Rolled: 4+2=6 - Chance
Rolled again: 9 - 9. Take a classic car tour - advance to GO
Go: Go – Read the 1st book in a trilogy or series

I'll be back with a book

[Lanelle, Production Chief]

To earn the Madrid passport stamp, I read two books with artists in them. I read Laurie's Painter and Morning Light. The first book is just okay, the second book is one of my favorites. I've lost count how many times I've read. But I'm a huge Persuasion fan. (Morning Light is based on Austen's story.)

Started on: Madrid
rolled a 7
Landed on: Cape Town - read a book set in South Africa -or-
read 2 books where the main character moves to a new place

You've already gotten the stamp for this spot. I'll be back with my book choice. It will probably be where the mc moves to a new place.

[Lanelle, Production Chief]

For the Cape Town spot, I read When All the Girls Have Gone. Both the hero and the heroine have recently moved to Washington state. I think I liked this Jayne Ann Krentz book better than some of her other ones because the focus of the story was on the mystery and not so much on their budding relationship.

Started on: Cape Town
rolled a 8
Landed on: Tokyo - read a book set in Japan -or-
read 2 books where the main character owns their own business

Again, it's a stamp you've already collected. I will be reading Be Mine. The hero owns his own security business.

[Lanelle, Production Chief]

For Toyko, I read Be Mine. So many annoying things about this book: lots of typos, controlling bad guy, controlling good guy, confused girl, annoying sister and side kick. And the worst, unexpected powers save the day at the last second. But for some reason, I keep reading this story. I wish I knew why :)

Started on: Toyko
rolled a 11
Landed on: Mexico City - read a book set in Mexico -or-
read 2 books where the main character is wealthy

I already have the stamp for this city. I'm off to look through my books for a wealthy main character.

[Chava]

Divergent I knew I shouldn't have gone for this book, but it was on the shelf at my library as an audiobook. I don't do sci-fi and I remember why now. Yeah there's some action, yeah there's some mystery, but overall it's not my cup of tea. I have to say honestly, parts I don't even remember.

Started: Go
Rolled: 2+1=3
Landed: Giethoorn - already taken so either a book set in the Netherlands or a book with legs on the cover.

I'll be back with my choice

[Lanelle, Production Chief]

I read Kiss and Spell for Mexico City - read a book with a wealthy character in it. Owen is quite rich. At the beginning of this story, he gets an idea for a spell to market, and his best friend comments that it will earn him another million.

Started on: Mexico City
Rolled 'snake eyes'
Landed on: Warsaw - read a book where the main character heals from a accident

I'm off to look through my books.

[Chava]

I read Bullseye which has a man's legs on the cover. James Patterson's books are my version of Harlequin books minus the saucy stuff - quick and easy in the summer sun.

Started on: Giethoorn
Rolled: 5+1=6
Landed on: Queenstown - read a book set in New Zealand -or-
read 2 books that were made into movies

I'll be back with my book. Btw, I've been to Queenstown and if you've never been there, I could highly recommend it

[Chava]

I am in summer holidays so no computer, doing this from my phone. I finished Whale rider which was a re-read. I love this book so much with Maori culture and stories.

Started: Queenstown
Rolled: 5+5=10
Landed: London

[Chava]

I will be back with my book

[Lanelle, Production Chief]

Chava, we're down to six properties whose stamps have not been collected. We can, of course, continue the way we've been going. But I have an idea on how to wrap up this game quicker. This is only an idea :)

What if we assign a number to the remaining cities, and not go around the board any more? As the stamps are collected, those numbers are replaced with a space from the board, such as; First Class, Just Visiting, Free Parking, or Go.

Your roll would land you on:
1 - Amsterdam
2 - Jail
3 - First Class
4 - Free Parking
5 - Here & Now
6 - Lima

Let me know what you think.

[Chava]

Lanelle wrote: "Chava, we're down to six properties whose stamps have not been collected. We can, of course, continue the way we've been going. But I have an idea on how to wrap up this game quicker. This is only ..."

Sounds fine to me. So do you want me to read for London or start your idea? I rolled 10, but that's with 2 dice. I am assuming you want to now roll with 1 die, in my case both were the same, so I would have rolled a 5 = Riga. Correct?

If so, I'll be reading 2 books by new authors:
The Night Stalker by Chris Carter and The Vegetarian by Han Kang

I'm back home now, so I have access to a computer again :)

[Lanelle, Production Chief]

Chava wrote: "Sounds fine to me. So do you want me to read for London or start your idea? I rolled 10, but that's with 2 dice. I am assuming you want to now roll with 1 die, in my case both were the same, so I would have rolled a 5 = Riga. Correct?"

I'm glad you liked the idea. Without this shortcut, our game could continue for quite a while :)

I'm also glad you used just one of your dice and went with Riga. Reading for London would have been pointless.

Isn't it nice to have access to a computer? I'm visiting my daughter in Virginia right now. Every few days or so, I beg to use a laptop so I can get stuff accomplished that I couldn't hope to do on my Kindle Fire.

[Chava]

Finished The Vegetarian by Han Kang - totally not my kind of book, it was hard yakka to get through. I also finished The Night Stalker by Chris Carter, which I didn't want to end. It was a present from my husband and kids, such a good choice, loved it and immediately ordered the other books in the series :).

Rolled: 4
Landed on: Lisbon - Lisbon - read a book set in Portugal -or-
read 2 books set during the summertime

I'll be back with my choice

[Lanelle, Production Chief]

Congratulations on getting Riga's stamp. I've noted it on message 2.

I'm having a difficult time read for Warsaw - read a book where the main character heals from a accident. I didn't think it would be that hard.

[Chava]

Finished Night Train to Lisbon by Pascal Mercier for the Lisbon stamp. The main character reminds me of my dad, also a bit of a strange professor who tends to do random things. The book was okay, not something I would have picked up if it wasn't for this challenge.

Rolled: 2
Landed on: Belgrade - read a book set in Serbia -or-
read 2 books with mostly white covers

I'm going to struggle with this one. I'll be back with a choice

[Lanelle, Production Chief]

I finally finished a book for Warsaw - read a book where the main character heals from an accident. I read His Unknown Wife. The guys gets hit in the head... twice!

Rolled: 2
Landed on... um, Belgrade - read a book set in Serbia -or-
read 2 books with mostly white covers

How will this work? Whoever finished their book(s) first gets the stamp?

[Chava]

lol, that's fine with me. I've finished 1 of the white books and I hope to finish my second one tomorrow. It's completely up to you, I'm not reading that quick at the moment. It's summer holidays so kids' activities get priority :)

[Lanelle, Production Chief]

Chava wrote: "lol, that's fine with me. I've finished 1 of the white books and I hope to finish my second one tomorrow. It's completely up to you, I'm not reading that quick at the moment. It's summer holidays s..."

I'll think I'll hold off until you finish your second white covered book then. Would you pick an alternate for Belgrade; like First Class, Just Visiting, Jail, Go, or Chance? I'll read whatever you decide.

[Chava]

why not roll the dice for it
1) read one of the 2 options for Belgrade (ie, a book from Serbia or white cover book)
2) first class
3) just visiting
4) jail
5) go
6 chance

[Chava]

Finished my 2 white cover books for Belgrade:
by Courtney Summers was a strange format, with a podcast type style of narrating the story and alongside the memories of Sadie herself. I found it hard to get into.
by Kelly Rimmer I was given this by someone and initially judging the cover I thought it would be a soppy chitlit book. I was so wrong, it as a heartbreaking, sweeping narrative that just didn't let me go. I loved this book so much.

Started: Belgrade
Rolled: 1
Landed on: Amsterdam - read a book set in The Netherlands -or-
read 2 books with jewelry on the cover

I'll be reading one of my favourite childhood books to my children over this summer by Tonke Dragt. Let's see if they like it as much as I did growing up

[Lanelle, Production Chief]

I also finished my book for Belgrade - read a book with a lot of white on the cover. I read an old favorite, .

Rolled a 3
Got: Athens - read a book set in Greece -or-
read 2 books that were first published at least 30 years ago

I'll be back with my choice.

[Lanelle, Production Chief]

For Athens, I read The Moonspinners, which is set in Greece. This author has long been a favorite of mine, but this is the first time I read this particular book. It's not quite as good as some of her other stories, but still a lot of fun.

Amazingly, I rolled a 6
Got: Lima (the last passport to collect) - read a book set in Peru -or-
read 2 books where the main character attends college/university

[Lanelle, Production Chief]

As soon as we both finish our books, the game will be over :(

[Chava]

Lanelle wrote: "As soon as we both finish our books, the game will be over :("

I've finished mine. Funny how when you read a book as an adult you discover things you don't remember reading as a child. The book ended differently than I remembered, lol.

Now's it waiting for you :)