2019 - Where in the World Have You Been? (Book Read and Review Linked)

[Shomeret]

I've just returned from Australia with And Fire Came Down by Emma Viskic. It took a different direction than I expected. The thematic significance that had been developing wasn't as dominant an element as I hoped, but it did show me the depth of racism in contemporary Australia.

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

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

This is a little late coming, but here is my review for All of Us in Our Own Lives (Nepal), which I adored.

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

[Val]

I have been in real world Scotland, mainly Hebrides, but not reading about it.

Here are three more Booker International titles:
The Years by Annie Ernaux (France)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Four Soldiers by Hubert Mingarelli (set Russia / USSR)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

The Pine Islands by Marion Poschmann (set in Japan)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Nadine in California]

I've been in New York, Paris and Mexico just south of the CA border with Bad Marie by one of my very favorite authors, Marcy Dermansky. Such a delight! My review

[Shomeret]

I've been in ancient Sumer dealing with the impact of Gilgamesh on his city of Uruk in Like Mayflies in a Stream by Shauna Roberts.

Actually, I was amazed by the power of this version of an ancient myth. See my review at https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Shomeret]

I've just returned from 1920's India with the second Perveen Mistry mystery by Sujata Massey, The Satapur Moonstone. Perveen dealt with the expected political rivalries that develop in a maharajah's palace.

See my review at https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...

[Val]

More from the International Booker long list:

The Faculty of Dreams by Sara Stridsberg (set USA, but author is Swedish)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
It is an imagined life of Valerie Solanas, who shot and wounded Andy Warhol. It would help if you are interested in the subject, but is well written and worth reading even if you have never heard of her.

Mouthful of Birds by Samanta Schweblin (Argentina)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
This one is a short story collection and some of the stories are excellent (some are less so, but that is usual for a collection).

[Shomeret]

I've returned from contemporary England plus 1930's Germany and Austria followed by 1930's-40's England with A Savage Kultur by Monique Roy. For me, the historical scenes taking place in England had personal associations because of my father's experiences in England during this period. Both the historical and contemporary aspects of this novel had their strengths.

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

[Val]

I've found that before with dual timeline books. It makes me wonder why the authors don't just write historical fiction.

[Shomeret]

Val wrote: "I've found that before with dual timeline books. It makes me wonder why the authors don't just write historical fiction."

As you see I revised my post because it was fairer to the book. Characters were stronger in the historical chapters, but there were some important themes in the contemporary aspect.

[Val]

Thanks Shomeret, it does sound good.

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

Val wrote: "Another one from the International Booker list:
Celestial Bodies by Jokha Alharthi, Oman. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... I enjoyed it and hope it..."

Val, I always appreciate you doing the hard yards on the longlist, and this one particularly captured my interest when you reviewed it earlier in the year. Hoping to read it soon, now that it's won!

[Val]

I liked the two South American books more than "Celestial Bodies", but it is very good and there are few books from Oman available in English.

[Rusalka]

Andrea wrote: "Val, I always appreciate you doing the hard yards on the longlist, and this one particularly captured my interest when you reviewed it earlier in the year. Hoping to read it soon, now that it's won!

I agree! Thanks Val for always doing the hard yards for us all, and wading through the list. I always appreciate your insights!

[Val]

The International Booker prize lists have all had some very good books on them. There was only one I did not like much from the nine I read this year. There is also the bonus that I can usually get some of the books from the library, which does not usually have much translated fiction.
The only wading is that I try to read as many as I can before the winner is announced, and I don't have to put myself under that pressure.

[Shomeret]

I recently returned from WWII France with Mistress of the Ritz by Melanie Benjamin

I loved one of the characters. She wasn't the protagonist. I had an ambivalent attitude toward the book as a whole.

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

[Shomeret]

Today I returned from a trip to Brazil with Pedra Canga by Tereza Albues. Some would describe this as a Brazilian haunted house novel, but there's more to it than that.

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

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

Catching up a bit today - here's my review for A Rising Man (India), which I liked a lot. Throughout the week I kept thinking about the flawed hero Captain Wyndham, and his fabulous right-hand man, Sergeant Surrender-not Banerjee. I look forward to meeting them again.

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

[Carol]

Andrea wrote: "Catching up a bit today - here's my review for A Rising Man (India), which I liked a lot. Throughout the week I kept thinking about the flawed hero Captain Wyndham, and his fabulous..."

I'm so glad you enjoyed this. As much as Wyndham gets on my nerves, Banerjee charms and keeps me enthralled. The second was good. I was disappointed in the third, but still wouldn't have missed reading it for anything.

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

Carol wrote: "I'm so glad you enjoyed this. As much as Wyndham gets on my nerves, Banerjee charms and keeps me enthralled. The second was good. I was disappointed in the third, but still wouldn't have missed reading it for anything. ..."

Glad to hear, at least for #2.

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

I finished The Electric Hotel today, and out of the four countries in which the story is set, I'm claiming it for...Andorra! It wasn't the biggest part of the story, but it was significant and I feel like I learned a bit about the place. Anyway, when am I ever going to have the opportunity again to add Andorra to my map ;-)

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

[Carol]

Andrea wrote: "I finished The Electric Hotel today, and out of the four countries in which the story is set, I'm claiming it for...Andorra! It wasn't the biggest part of the story, but it was sign..."

Andorra — woohooo!

[Lilisa]

Carol wrote: "Andrea wrote: "I finished The Electric Hotel today, and out of the four countries in which the story is set, I'm claiming it for...Andorra! It wasn't the biggest part of the story, ..."

Uuuhhhh Andorra! Only read one shelved as Andorra. Have to check this out.

[Rusalka]

Oh wow! A rare find indeed, Andrea!

[Shomeret]

I have recently returned from unspecified locations in Scandinavia in The Raven and the Reindeer which is an adult retelling of The Snow Queen, a fairy tale by Hans Christian Anderson. I loved it!

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

[Claire]

I finished Lisa See's The Island of Sea Women, an excellent historical fiction novel about haenyeo, matrifocal freedivers from the island of Jeju in South Korea. Utterly fascinating.

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

[Lilisa]

Was in Tibet and India with The Noodle Maker of Kalimpong: The Untold Story of My Struggle for Tibet. Pretty interesting although there's controversy and rebuttals about the author's recollection of some parts/incidents vs how others see it. Nevertheless enjoyed learning about Tibet, its history and culture, and the struggle for self determination.

Was also in Turkey with Love in Exile at the fall of the Ottoman Empire and during Kemal Ataturk's rule. A window into the social aspect of life at the time.

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

I'm catching up on reviews today, and here's one for my latest India sojourn, Three Ways to Disappear - my favourite book of the year so far.

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

[Claire]

I was in Hull 2007 during the Flood Crisis reading Maria in the Moon Louise Beech.

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

[Shomeret]

I was in Iraq between the World Wars with Agatha Christie investigating a mystery at Ur with Death in a Desert Land by Andrew Wilson which is the third in a mystery series with Agatha Christie as the investigator.

It was a really interesting setting with a number of actual historical people involved. There were some unexpected revelations about them which turned out to be true. Researching them beforehand will cause you to be spoiled if you intend to read this book.

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

[Claire]

I was in Sweden and Brazil reading Christina Rickardsson's Never Stop Walking: A Memoir of Finding Home Across the World about her extraordinary childhood in Brazil and somewhat controversial adoption with her 2 year old brother at the age of 8 years to Sweden.

My review linked here : https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Shomeret]

I was in 21st century Canada and 18th century Scotland with time travel fantasy Song For A Lost Kingdom Book 2 by Steve Moretti which is the middle book in a trilogy.

There was more emphasis on romance than there had been in the first book, but there was also a search for the scientific cause of the protagonist's condition in the 21st century which was the most intriguing aspect of the book.

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

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

I'm back from Norway with Norwegian by Night. I thought it was good enough to consider reading the follow-up book at some point.

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

[Yrinsyde]

I've started my African book journey with An Arab Melancholia. Set in Morocco, Cairo and Paris, it's the story of a gay man living out. I'm in the middle of reading Arch and the Butterfly, and I have just got Harraga for Algeria from the local library. Reviews to come!

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

I ended up hanging around in Thailand for ages with Sightseeing, not because there was anything wrong with it, but I needed to psyche myself up before embarking on the final, novella-length story titled Cockfighter. In the end it wasn't as confronting as I feared, although it wasn't one of my favourite stories in the collection.

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

[Carol]

I was in Iceland with Ragnar Jónasson’s debut novel, Snowblind, and enjoyed it. Jonasson does an excellent job of immersing the reader in the culture, weather (including a routine avalanche), small-town-Iceland vs Reykjavik, the importance of herring, etc. plus the crime/mystery aspect worked well enough. I’ll look for other books by him.

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

Hippy Days, Arabian Nights took me to Egypt eventually, but didn't give me what I was looking for. It was an ok read, overall.

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

I guess I'll be looking to Peter Hessler's new book, The Buried: An Archaeology of the Egyptian Revolution for the insight and analysis, with a side-helping of personal experience.

[Shomeret]

I have recently returned from early 20th century Quebec which I traveled to with the debut science fiction novel Mem by Bethany C. Morrow.

I found it to be provocative and engaging but flawed from a science fiction standpoint.

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

[Shomeret]

I have been in contemporary Turkey and briefly in contemporary Germany with No Right Way by Michael Niemann.

This is a thriller that deals with the refugee crisis and crimes committted against refugees. There was a very sympathetic female Syrian refugee.

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

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

I was in Ireland last week with Normal People, and I gave it 4.5★

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

[Claire]

I've been on a pilgrimage to the south of France, from Saintes-Marie-de-la-Mer to a cave in massif of Sainte Baume reading a memoir, inspired by extracts from a lost gospel, rediscovered in Egypt, Mary Magdalene Revealed: The First Apostle, Her Feminist Gospel & the Christianity We Haven't Tried Yet by Meggan Watterson.

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

I slow read this over a week, finishing it on Saturday morning, the last chapter mentioning a'anointing with oils as a spiritual practice introduced by Mary Magdalene, it was a day that it rained heavily (after the heatwave, so welcomed) and as a result when I went to work (where I do poolside massage in the Luberon area of Provence) I was asked instead of by the pool, to do the treatment in their 12th century chapel, Notre Dame de la Cavalerie. Anointing with oils indeed. Blessed.

When I review it on my blog, I'll add pictures, and link here.

[Shomeret]

I visited mainly France and Spain with a non-fiction cultural history of Carmen called Carmen, a Gypsy Geography by Ninotchka Devorah Bennahum.

I started reading it the weekend I saw the opera Carmen live. So I was totally immersed in the Carmen experience that weekend.

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

[Shomeret]

I also visited England in both the 21st century and the 17th century with time travel fantasy The Little Shop of Found Things by Paula Brackston which involves the paranormal and a romance. I won it from a Goodreads giveaway.

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

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

For Indonesia I ended up reading both The Fish Girl and The Four Dutchmen. If you're tempted to read both, I'd recommend reading them in that order, as I did.

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

[Shomeret]

I returned from apartheid South Africa where I experienced a powerful story of anti-apartheid activists in He Does Not Die A Death of Shame by Jack Hoffmann


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

[dianne b.]

I just finished a (freezing) trip to Patagonia reading the stories of the Chonke - the First Peoples
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[dianne b.]

and a trip to sunny southern Spain in Deborah Levy's Hot Milk:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

sure wish Uruguay would warm up!!!

[Lilisa]

Was in the Czech Republic with A Second Death - well-worth reading thriller! Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Was in the U.S. with brief references to the Philippines with Malaya: Essays on Freedom - disappointing. Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Was also in the U.S. steeped in Puerto Rican culture with My Beloved World - great read! Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Was in the U.K. with Clementine Churchill: A Life in Pictures - good read/great photos! Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

I've been in the Soviet Union, Germany and Turkey with Beside Myself, but I'm going to add it to my list as USSR because that's chronologically where most of the story takes place. I hope my review convinces someone else to read it, because I'm desperate to discuss, and not many have read the English version yet!

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

[Lilisa]

Andrea wrote: "I've been in the Soviet Union, Germany and Turkey with Beside Myself, but I'm going to add it to my list as USSR because that's chronologically where most of the story takes place. ..."

Sounds really intriguing Andrea. Checked it out but it's available here until February 2020 :-( hopefully someone else in the group can oblige your itch to discuss it if available!