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

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

Share what book you've read - did you enjoy it or not and why, but no spoilers please! Link to your review if you've written one so we can live vicariously through you or be enticed to add it to our TBR lists that are most likely sagging under the weight of the groaning stack! Hopefully you'll be adding great reads in 2020 as you travel around the world - enjoy!

[Lilisa]

Looking forward to adding, seeing what everyone else is reading, and getting ideas for new reads here!

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

I'm back from 1980s Czechoslovakia with There Was Still Love, a beautiful, heartwarming tale of a family separated by war and circumstance. Being a family story there was a strong focus on food, so I'll happily add it to my food list while memories of the pickles, cucumber cream salad, schnitzel, apricot dumplings and caraway light rye are still fresh.

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

[Shomeret]

I returned from a trip to Botswana with an elephant researcher inLarger Than Life by Jodi Picoult. The impact of illegal hunting was tragic but the woman researcher's commitment to their survival was inspiring.

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

[Karen]

Oh, I've been reading about elephants, too! The Elephant Scientist was quite informative and gave me a look at the Etosha National Park in Namibia.

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

[Shomeret]

Karen wrote: "Oh, I've been reading about elephants, too! The Elephant Scientist was quite informative and gave me a look at the Etosha National Park in Namibia.

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

Thank you for bringing Caitlin O'Connell to my attention. I've decided to read The Elephant's Secret Sense: The Hidden Life of the Wild Herds of Africa

[Lilisa]

Was in India/U.K. with Koh-I-Noor: The History of the World's Most Infamous Diamond. Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

And in France with the translated The Red Notebook. Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Val]

I have read two short historical novels / novellas from Finland.
The Brothers by Asko Sahlberg
and
Children of the Cave by Virve Sammalkorpi

The first is a family drama set around the time of the 1808–1809 war which made Finland a semi-autonomous part of the Russian Empire instead of part of the Swedish Kingdom. The relationship between the two brothers is central, but the mother, wife, father-in-law, cousin and farmhand are also important, and often more interesting.

The second is set in 1819-1824 and purports to be an account of an anthropological expedition to a heavily forested and sparsely inhabited part of north-western Russia (probably near the Baltic / Gulf of Bothnia), but is actually an expansion of a script written to accompany a set of artistic photographs by Finnish visual artist Pekka Nikrus.
https://www.the-tls.co.uk/articles/en... (contains spoilers, and also photographs)

[Shomeret]

I returned from 17th century Italy with I Know What I Am: The True Story of Artemisia Gentileschi , a graphic novel by Gina Siciliano.

I was amazed by Siciliano's thoroughness and scholarship.
See my review at https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[V.ya]

I was in 19th century Cuba with this amazing story told in verses: The Firefly Letters. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Lilisa]

Was in France and the U.S. with Paris Never Leaves You. Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Shomeret]

I was in Victorian England with Hand of Miriam, a steampunk fantasy by Eva Gordon.

The protagonist is culturally Jewish and I liked that aspect of the novel, but also had problems with other aspects.

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

[V.ya]

I've been in Iceland with this queer middle-grade fantasy: The Casket of Time. Not a bad tale, but not really my cup of tea.

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

[Claire]

Vya wrote: "I was in 19th century Cuba with this amazing story told in verses: The Firefly Letters. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."

I just love Margarita Engle's poetic prose, I've read a few of her books and especially love the way she uses poetry to tell stories based on true characters or periods in history. The first one I read was The Wild Book then The Poet Slave of Cuba and I have The Surrender Tree still to read. Love the sound of this one too, thanks for linking your review.

[Claire]

I've been in Japan with Yoko Ogawa's The Memory Police, thought provoking and brilliantly portrayed story of the forced disappearance of things from life and their associated memories. Loved it.

[V.ya]

@Claire: my pleasure! My first encounter with Margarita Engle didn't disappoint indeed. I'll look into her other books when I have time.

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

Back from Russia some time ago, but the delay in writing my review is no reflection on how I felt about Mastering the Art of Soviet Cooking: A Memoir of Food and Longing. I thoroughly enjoyed it, all the more so for the discussion taking place concurrently in the Group Read thread.

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

[Shomeret]

I'm back from Germany in 1989 with the historical thriller Berlin Breakdown by Bill Rapp.

This book educated me about life in East Germany during the period before the Berlin Wall came down. I also thought it was a good thriller.

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

[Nadine in California]

I was in India with Night Theater - my review. His previous book, The Afflictions, looks interesting, and so does the small press that published it, Lanternfish Press. They focus on speculative literary fiction, which is my jam :)

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

I was in an unnamed Middle Eastern country with Guapa by Saleem Haddad, about a gay Muslim man navigating his identify. I counted it for Kuwait just to count it for somewhere, but the author was born in Kuwait City to an Iraqi-German mother and a Palestinian-Lebanese father, and has worked in Yemen, Syria, Iraq, Libya, Lebanon, and Egypt, so it could really be set anywhere!

My review is here.

[V.ya]

I've been in Mexico with The Wild Book. An entertaining middle-grade fantasy that will speak to the book lovers out there.
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Afterwards I've moved to Malawi with The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind: Creating Currents of Electricity and Hope. What an inspiring (true) story! I highly recommend it.
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Kim]

January has started off well -
Australia A Month of Sundays by Liz Byrski 5 Stars 4 ladies in an online bookgroup who love books meet in the Blue Mountains
My Review is here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
China All the Tears in China by Sulari Gentill 4 Stars A historical murder mystery in exotic cultural melting pot of Shanghai
My Review is here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
USA Red at the Bone by Jacqueline Woodson 5 Stars A soulful short modern masterpiece mainly in Brooklyn & Ohio Review link Here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
UK Diary of a Somebody by Brian Bilston 5 Stars A very amusing poet and his Pub poetry group's antics Review link Here:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...

[Shomeret]

I returned to Victorian steampunk England with Her Majesty's Witch by Eva Gordon, the sequel to Hand of Miriam. I liked the second book better than the first. Queen Victoria played a pivotal role and she was quite something.

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

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

I was in Bulgaria with Cleanness - this book will not be for everyone as there are quite explicit sexual descriptions and it is written by an American but still, not many books out there set in Bulgaria.

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

I thoroughly enjoyed my trip to India with The Milk Lady of Bangalore: An Unexpected Adventure. It was written in a really engaging style, and provided a great balance between cows/milk and life in India more generally.

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

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

Last night I finished Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarczuk, set in Poland. I would say it is more obviously set in Poland than Flights was, with a quirky older female character who gets pulled into a murder investigation. But it's a small border town with lots of zany things going on. But maybe it's the animals...

[Shomeret]

I have been to medieval Japan with Wake the Sleeping Gods: A Tiger Lily prequel short story by K. Bird Lincoln, a separately published historical mystery short story.

I really liked the Shinto practicing central character and how the mystery was resolved.

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

[Lilisa]

I was in India twice in the last few weeks with Homeless Bird and Poonachi: Or the Story of a Black Goat - I enjoyed both very much. HB is written at the middle grade level; however, it didn’t didn’t feel too youngish - I did the audio. Poonachi was very cute :-) - it offset being in the U.K. living a tense WW II year with Winston Churchill in The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz. It’s quite amazing how Erik Larson has meticulously recreated that timeframe to bring us an absorbing new book. Reviews to come for these books.

[Lilisa]

Here's my review of The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz -- https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

My little trip to Venice was only 50-60 pages, so it's over already. Here's my review for Don't Look Now:

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

[Claire]

I've been in my hometown of Aix-en-Provence in the south of France, reading reflections of it from around 1961, post WWII essays by the American travel & memoir writer M.F.K. Fisher Map of Another Town republished by Daunt Books in 2019.

Mostly delightful, but I like her best when she's making observations of her own behaviour and responses, than that of others. The best essay was about her 6 hour wait in the Lucerne train station, keeping only her own company, priceless!

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

[Carol]

I was in the United Kingdom, somewhere within a couple of hour of London with The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides and was not only disappointed, I was quite angry. My 1* review is linked below.

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

[dianne b.]

Just spent some time learning about Savushun in southern Iran during the British occupation and WW2 through the eyes of a young woman.
Highly recommended!
My review is here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

I had a fabulous return visit to Ireland last week with The Good Turn. This is a series that just keeps getting better.

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

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

I'm not including Aravind Adiga's new book Amnesty in my ATW challenge because it's set in Australia and the location isn't different/unusual enough for me, BUT I'm going to link my review because I really liked it and for those living elsewhere, you may find the detailed and highly accurate inner Sydney location (as written by this award-winning Indian author!) very interesting or attractive.

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

[V.ya]

The story sounds interesting. Thanks for sharing, Andrea! I've only read Jane Harper and Graeme Simsion (not sure if he's from Oz or NZ?), so I'm looking forward to reading more from your country!

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

Vya wrote: "The story sounds interesting. Thanks for sharing, Andrea! I've only read Jane Harper and Graeme Simsion (not sure if he's from Oz or NZ?), so I'm looking forward to reading more from your country!"

Both very popular authors here, and I’ve got an idea Simsion lives in Melbourne, where I’m from. My favourite Simsion is actually the one he co-authored with his wife, set on the Camino (France/Spain). It’s called Two Steps Forward.

If you’re interested in reading about a particular part of Australia, just sing out! There are enough of us here to give you recommendations covering the whole country.

[Rusalka]

Andrea wrote: "If you’re interested in reading about a particular part of Australia, just sing out! There are enough of us here to give you recommendations covering the whole country."

👍

[Rusalka]

Andrea wrote: "I'm not including Aravind Adiga's new book Amnesty in my ATW challenge because it's set in Australia and the location isn't different/unusual enough for me, BUT I'm ..."

I only found out about this the other day. Super glad you liked it!

[Shomeret]

I was in ancient Roman Alexandria in Egypt with The Deadliest Thief: A Miriam bat Isaac Mystery in Ancient Alexandria which is the fifth book in the Miriam Bat Isaac series.

Miriam is a Jewish amateur detective in a diverse ancient city. I've read two other books in this series. I have to admit that The Deadliest Thief wasn't as interesting to me as the previous book, The Deadliest Fever, but I did like it.

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

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

I've been reading Lizard's Tale by Weng Wai Chan, a fabulous middle-grade tale of espionage in 1940s Singapore.

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

[Shomeret]

I've been to contemporary Sweden with The Truth Behind the Lie by Sara Lövestam.

The detective in this mystery is an undocumented immigrant from Iran, and the case is also quite unusual. I thought it was an extraordinary book, but it also made me uncomfortable.

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

[Shomeret]

I've recently returned from India with His Footsteps, Through Darkness and Light by Mimi Mondal which is a 28 page fantasy short story that is a separately published book for e-readers or can be read online at Tor.com

The main storyline is about a jinni at a circus, but there is a development that involves a significant feminist issue. I liked the Indian folklore aspect and the protagonist's relationship with the jinni.

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

[Val]

The International Booker list was announced this morning: https://thebookerprizes.com/internati...

I have only read one so far, The Memory Police.
It is an strange book, but I enjoyed it and spent quite some time thinking about it.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Lilisa]

Val wrote: "The International Booker list was announced this morning: https://thebookerprizes.com/internati...

I have only read one so far, [boo..."

Thanks for posting Val. I haven’t read any - have to check them out.

[Karen]

Thanks for posting. I need to get to Samanta Schweblin. Hurricane Season interests, also.

[Claire]

I've been in Iran reading The Enlightenment of the Greengage Tree by Shokoofeh Azar
and an anonymous translator.

I see it just got long listed for the International Booker Prize today.

I've read one other from the list, The Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

Val wrote: "The International Booker list was announced this morning: https://thebookerprizes.com/internati... I have only read one so far..."

The only one that had genuinely already been on my radar is The Eighth Life, but now I’m having heart palpitations seeing it sitting in that pile of books 😂 It stands out somewhat.

[Carol]

Andrea wrote: "Val wrote: "The International Booker list was announced this morning: https://thebookerprizes.com/internati... I have only read one s..."

you mean, it's doorstopper capacity? lol

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

Carol wrote: "you mean, it's doorstopper capacity? lol ..."

Yes, I had no idea! I guess I will have to buy it, because my library doesn’t do 6-month loans.