2020 - Where in the World Have You Been? (Book Read and Review Linked)

[Shomeret]

I was in late 19th century India with The Anatomist's Secret by Noah Alexander. I thought it was a well-plotted mystery. I did have a problem with it that I felt I needed to include in my GR review.

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

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

I've been in Jordan and the USA on a food journey with The Language of Baklava by Diana Abu-Jaber. Overall I enjoyed it, although I thought it was much stronger in the first two-thirds or so.

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

[Lilisa]

Was in The Netherlands in the 1600s with Master Mercurius Untrue till Death. Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Shomeret]

I was in early medeival Scotland with the second book in a revisionist Arthurian series, The Forgotten Kingdom by Signe Pike

I thought the main characters were well-portrayed.

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

[Shomeret]

I was in Renaissance Italy with Da Vinci and in Germany and Poland during WWII with an art conservator who was conscripted to assist with the most massive art theft in history whose story is told in The Night Portrait: A Novel of World War II and Da Vinci's Italy by Laura Morelli.

I was really interested in Edith, the art conservator. See my review at https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

I've been in Sweden with the kick-ass deaf journalist Tuva Moodyson in Dark Pines. She says she's deaf rather than hearing-impaired because her world without hearing aids is totally silent. A fascinating character and a really good, thrilling mystery. Worth seeking out the audiobook, too.

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

[Claire]

I've been in Zimbabwe reading the excellent and thought provoking Nervous Conditions Trilogy by Tsitsi Dangarembga.

The third book in her trilogy has been shortlisted for the Booker Prize at a time when the author has been arrested for peacefully protesting govt corruption in her country.

My GR reviews:

Nervous Conditions -
The Book of Not
This Mournable Body

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

Claire wrote: "I've been in Zimbabwe reading the excellent and thought provoking Nervous Conditions Trilogy by Tsitsi Dangarembga.

The third book in her trilogy has been shortlisted for the Booker Prize at a ti..."

I have this one from the library and they won't let me renew it so I will be reading it pretty soon!

[Shomeret]

I've been in Kenya with Tusk Justice by Victoria Tait. It's a mystery with a female protagonist who is a veterinary assistant. This is the second book in the series. She solves a murder in which you have one of those victims who was widely disliked with a suspect list that includes anyone who ever met this victim.

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

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

I’ve been in France with The Godmother on audio. It was almost a DNF for me as I found the narrator to be annoyingly theatrical - really over the top. But then when I sent it back to the library, I saw there was a text copy available, so as it’s only a short book I decided to switch over for the second half and finish it off. I’m not linking my review, as it says pretty much the same as the above. I rated it 2 stars overall, but can imagine it would have been higher if I’d simply read the text edition the whole way through.

[Shomeret]

I was in Poland, Germany and the U.S. with a historical thriller taking place in WWII and the 1960's called Eli's Promise
by Ronald H. Balson.

It's hard for me to read books with significant Holocaust content like this one. I know it's well written because it made me nauseous. That probably doesn't sound like a recommendation, but there were some great characters.

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

[Kirsten]

I've just been to Italy. Eating all the food, kayaking the coast, walking through tiny villages, with Tiny Pieces of Us by Nicky Pellegrino.

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

[Shomeret]

I've been to the U.S, France and Germany with Josephine Baker's Last Dance by Sherry Jones.

It deals with an African American dancer/singer in the first half of the 20th century who needed to leave the U.S. to be a success.

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

[Shomeret]

I've been to Boston in the U.S., London in England and an archaeological dig in Egypt with The Book of Two Ways by Jodi Picoult

The title comes from an ancient Egyptian book, but the novel is about a woman in a mid-life crisis. She was once about to become an archaeologist. She is now a death doula. I was interested in the death doula aspect, but if you're fascinated by ancient Egypt you may want to read this novel for the Egyptian content.

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

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

Recently I've been exploring Romania with From Dill to Dracula: A Romanian Food & Folklore Cookbook. I don't usually include cookbooks in my ATW travels but this one taught me quite a bit about the country, it's folklore and traditions, so I've made an exception. You can see my review at https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..., and if you're interested you can see my cooking at https://www.instagram.com/p/CF8JjDaBK....

Well worth a read.

[Shomeret]

I've been to France following Bruno, Chief of Police in his investigation of the death of an American art history student from a wealthy and influential family. The book is The Body in the Castle Well by Martin Walker.

I loved the art history content but I thought the resolution was predictable.

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

[Lilisa]

I finished The Henna Artist - historical fiction set in 1950s India. Also finished A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian - combo of historical fiction, culture, humor, life, immigration. Surprisingly, rich in content for a discussion.

[Shomeret]

I've been in Japan with Bringer of Death by K. Bird Lincoln which is a fantasy novelette prequel to a series that takes place in the U.S.

I liked the Japanese context of this prequel and doing research on the cultural references. The paranormal aspect is also Japanese. I'm not sure if I will enjoy the novels in this series that take place in Portland as much.

[Lilisa]

I was in Turkey with I Will Never See the World Again: The Memoir of an Imprisoned Writer - review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Was also in China with The Story of China: The Epic History of a World Power from the Middle Kingdom to Mao and the China Dream - review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

I've been back in Sweden with #2 in the Tuva Moodyson series, Red Snow (audio again). Not quite as fast-paced as Dark Pines, but still well worth a read. I think the characters and location almost eclipsed the plot in this one.

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

I've also been tramping through Europe (mainly Italy) with an old childhood favourite, I am David. In hindsight, I probably should have left it in the past :-)

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

[Barbara]

I have been in Poland (my home country, I live in Norway) with
Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead by a recent Nobel winner Olga Tokarczuk. I would reccomend the book, it is like nothing I have read before - a mixture of mystery, animal rights and astrology

I have also been in Nigeria twice with My Sister is a Serial Killer and My Life in the Bush of Ghosts.

I would especially reccomend the latter. I was lucky to find it at a book exchange place. It is a tale based on Nigerian folklore, the narrative style is almost like in fairy tales, but the events it describes are really gruesome. Again, the book is like nothing I have read before.

[Lilisa]

Finished America for Beginners. A piece of my mind here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

For Halloween I dived into one of the books from my gothic list, We Have Always Lived in the Castle which is set in the USA, but really could have been anywhere. It was a good, short read albeit a rather curious one.

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

[Sanne]

I've recently finished Mr. Loverman by Bernardine Evaristo. I recommend this book to everyone. It's a heartwarming pageturner with a main character who is flawed, at times impossible, but also impossible not to love.

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

[Lilisa]

Was in Australia with The Survivors. More on the slow than the burn side compared to her other books. Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

I had a few issues with The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane (China), but it was good on location.

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

[Claire]

I just finished the excellent The Kindness of Enemies by Leila Aboulela, the second book I've read this year by this Sudanese author.


It's a work of historical fiction, a dual narrative set in contemporary day Scotland (where the author lives) a little in Sudan (where she spent her childhood) and in 1850's Russia, during the Caucasus conflict and the twin abductions of the son of the HIghlander, Shamil Imam (his son was abducted and spent 10 years as the godson of the Tsar) and the revenge abduction of Princess Anna, her 8 months in captivity and the negotiation, that returns them to their homes (changed).

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

Absolutely loved it, and now I'm reading Tolstoy's account work of autofiction, set in the same era, around the story of Shamil Imam's chieftan who defected to the Russian's Hadji Murád

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

Trinidad was well worth the wait! I loved Love After Love by Ingrid Persaud

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

[Lilisa]

I was in Trinidad with Love After Love and enjoyed it a lot. I listened to it - read by the author Ingrid Persaud - which made it even more enjoyable, Trini accent and all. That bumped it up to a 5-star book. For more on the book, read Andrea’s in-depth review above.

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

Lilisa wrote: "I was in Trinidad with Love After Love and enjoyed it a lot. I listened to it - read by the author Ingrid Persaud - which made it even more enjoyable, Trini accent ..."

I imagine the audio would be very atmospheric - could be a re-read on the cards for me if I can get hold of it!

[Shomeret]

I was in the U.S. and Italy with The Man in Milan by Vito Racanelli.

Murders in New York lead NYPD detectives to perpetrators in Italy.
There was some 20th century Italian history that I'd never heard about.

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

[Lilisa]

Andrea wrote: "Lilisa wrote: "I was in Trinidad with Love After Love and enjoyed it a lot. I listened to it - read by the author Ingrid Persaud - which made it even more enjoyable..."

Andrea wrote: "Lilisa wrote: "I was in Trinidad with Love After Love and enjoyed it a lot. I listened to it - read by the author Ingrid Persaud - which made it even more enjoyable..."

You’d probably bump up the rating to a 6!🤣

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

I've been back in Sweden for the latest instalment of the Tuva Moodyson mysteries, Black River. This instalment takes place at the time of the Midsommar Festival, which is a point of difference from the previous books.

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

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

I've been all over with Ava Lee in The Disciple of Las Vegas, but I'm going to count it for the USA (the clue was in the title!!). You generally know what to expect with this series, and this instalment didn't disappoint.

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

[Shomeret]

I've been on the island of Bermuda and later in the novel I was in Alexandria, Egypt both during WWII in Censorettes by Elizabeth Bales Frank.

The Censorettes actually existed. They worked for British Intelligence reading mail sent between Europe and North America.

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

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

While I really enjoyed my Spanish sojourn with The Prisoner of Heaven, I'm afraid it's set me up for some feverish re-reading (of the earlier books). Oh well.

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

[Shomeret]

I was primarily in Exmoor in England, but also in Italy with Ellie and the Harpmaker by Hazel Prior.

I was more interested in the harpmaker who lived in Exmoor, than in Ellie.

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

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

I've been in India with The Space Between Us, and will most likely be adding the sequel to my 20221 list...

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

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

I've also had a quick Depression-era visit to Alabama with A Christmas Memory. It's a beautiful tribute to Capote's childhood companion.

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

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

Back in June/July I was in Pakistan with To Lahore With Love, and now I've finally reviewed it!

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

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

I'm back from Poland with Swimming in the Dark, which I read as an audiobook. Kudos to the narrator!

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

[Lilisa]

Was in the U.S. with A Woman of Intelligence. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Shomeret]

I was in London with Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder by T.A, Willberg. This is a mystery that was just published. The book mainly takes place in underground tunnels beneath the city of London. I thought it was suspenseful.

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

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

We'll leave this thread open for a few more days in case there are others like me who are still to catch up on their 2020 reviews. But if you are looking to share your views on something you've read in 2021 (that sounds so sci-fi!), please post in the new 2021 thread.

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

This will take me a while! Please don't lock it yet! (Or I can just post in my personal thread, no big deal.)

[Claire]

I finished the year in Nigeria with Akwaeke Emezi's The Death of Vivek Oji which I enjoyed but was a little disappointed by, and ironically the very last book whose protagonist was a cemetery keeper in France which I enjoyed immensely Fresh Water for Flowers by Valerie Perrin.

my reviews below:
Nigeria - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
France - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

I ended the year in Malaysia with a new release debut, Fragile Monsters. While I enjoyed it and got a kick out of its unexpected gothic atmosphere, I thought it could have been more tightly edited to strengthen the story.

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