2015 Where in the world have you been? (Book finished and review linked)

[Lilisa]

Andrea wrote: "Finished Glimpses of Bengal today - a very solid 4 stars from me. Probably deserved 5, but that's more about my concentration levels than about Tagore's writing.

https://www.goodrea..."

Glad you enjoyed it Andrea.

[Lilisa]

Finished House of Stone: A Memoir of Home, Family, and a Lost Middle East sei in Lebanon - couldn't get into it - I found the writing rather dry and unengaging, although one gets a good snapshot of life in Lebanon. Also finished The Song of Achilles which I enjoyed - a fast read about Achilles and Petroclus - Greek mythology and the Trojan war.

[Lilisa]

Was in Italy with Pompeii. It's been awhile since I've done a book review... https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Claire]

I was in South Africa with Agaat by Marlene Van Niekerk, a disturbing tale of a childless white farming couple and the wife's relationship with her black maidservant. Told through diary extracts and an omniscient narrator. Extremely thought-provoking.

Marlene Van Niekerk was longlisted in 2015 for the Man Booker International Award, for her life works, an author I'd not come across before.

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

Cambodia - The Disappeared - not for everyone (least of all, me).

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

[Lilisa]

Marched through some books recently:

France: The Nightingale - listened to it. Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Venice, Italy: Death at La Fenice - review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Rome, Italy: Four Seasons in Rome: On Twins, Insomnia, and the Biggest Funeral in the History of the World - Loved! Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

U.S.: Go Set a Watchman - Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

Laos - #6 of the Dr Siri series, The Merry Misogynist, was a welcome surprise.

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

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

I finished The Coroner's Lunch by Colihttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show... Laos! My review is here. I liked it, and thought the protagonist and setting were atypical for a mystery, which made it better.

[Lilisa]

Sounds like Dr. Siri is a popular guy at AtW. I've only read The Coroner's Lunch. Andrea - have you read the first five books as well?

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

Lilisa wrote: "Sounds like Dr. Siri is a popular guy at AtW. I've only read The Coroner's Lunch. Andrea - have you read the first five books as well?"

Yes, I'm reading them in order - I'm a bit particular like that. After The Coroner's Lunch I devoured the next few books (whatever my library had available) quite quickly, but have slowed down since.

When I was writing up my review I noticed that #7 gets the highest average Goodreads rating, so that's something for me to look forward to, although I probably won't get to it for another year or so.

[Lilisa]

Andrea wrote: "Lilisa wrote: "Sounds like Dr. Siri is a popular guy at AtW. I've only read The Coroner's Lunch. Andrea - have you read the first five books as well?"

Yes, I'm reading them in orde..."

You're a lot more organized and planful that I am! :-) it's definitely a better way to go. I started reading Louise Penny's Armand Gamache series out of order. I read #1 after I'd read #s 8, 7, 9 and 10 - in that order :-) which made for an interesting read, but I was able to put it together. Would have been much better if I'd been organized! I think I'll read Dr. Siri's series in order - it'll take me a while though.

[Lilisa]

Finished The City of Falling Angels - set in Venice, Italy about the destruction of the famous enough opera house - La Fenice - on January 29, 1996.

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

I just finished The Dog by Joseph O'Neill, set in UAE (United Arab Emirates), more specifically Dubai. I didn't love it but it was longlisted for the Man Booker last year so I'd had it on my list for quite some time. My review is here.

P.S. There aren't many books set in UAE!

[Sara]

Finished A Thread of Grace &The Book of Madness and Cures both set in Italy. I also finished Then They Came for Me: A Family's Story of Love, Captivity, and Survival which was set in Iran following the 2009 Presidential election and now I can't wait to watch the movie "Rosewater".

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

I read another book set in Nigeria by a Nigerian author - The Fishermen by Chigozie Obioma. Many Nigerian novels I've read have been about Lagos but this was more rural. It is a finalist for the Man Booker Prize, not so bad for a first novel! My review is here.

[Rusalka]

Reviewed Salmon Fishing In The Yemen and updated threads. Enjoyed this bit of ridiculous British political satire.

Confession time - Thought I was deleting the 2014 challenge off the front page. Looks like i deleted deleted it. Will try and get it restored. Sorry everyone. It was bothering me and I didn't think the click all the way through.

[Sara]

I finished A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier & The Unbearable Lightness of Being last week.
This week I am heading to Turkey, Persia & Russia with Bluebeard, Zabelle & Two Babushkas

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

Back from my holiday where, in the end, I didn't really have much time for reading. So I've been slogging away at The Visitors (Egypt) for the whole month. I really enjoyed it, especially from the point of view that the parts set in 20s-30s Egypt came across as being really authentic. I gave it 4★

[Lilisa]

Andrea wrote: "Back from my holiday where, in the end, I didn't really have much time for reading. So I've been slogging away at The Visitors (Egypt) for the whole month. I really enjoyed it, espe..."

How was the holiday Andrea???

[Lilisa]

Read a few over the past month or so, unfortunately haven't had time to do reviews lately -- The Marriage of Opposites - set in St. Thomas - loved it - 5 stars - brilliant writing, complex and well-developed characters and great tropical environment - you feel you are literally experiencing St. Thomas and toward the end of the hook - Paris. Historical fiction about Impressionist painter Camille Pissarro's background/life - especially his mother Rachel. The Girl in the Spider's Web set in Sweden - not surprisingly no match for Steig Larsson's three books - was a bit generous with the 3 stars I gave it. Enjoyed Corelli's Mandolin set in Greece - 4 stars and the fascinating The Agony and the Ecstasy about Michelangelo - 5 stars, particularly after having seen his spectacular masterpiece sculpture David last month.

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

Lilisa wrote: "How was the holiday Andrea??? ..."

Too much goodness! No, make that fubulousness! I'm clinging on, trying not to slump, now that I've been back at work for 4 days. I can't and shouldn't pick a favourite child, but if you force me it would have to be Bhutan.

[Lilisa]

Sounds like you had a great time - awesome. Bhutan -- must have something to do with its gross national happiness index - fascinating country. Did you end up reading Married in Bhutan?

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

Lilisa wrote: "Sounds like you had a great time - awesome. Bhutan -- must have something to do with its gross national happiness index - fascinating country. Did you end up reading Married in Bhutan?"

Yes, I had read it a few years ago. Recently discovered that Linda Leaming has published another book, so I'm looking forward to getting to that one soon.

[Lilisa]

Andrea wrote: "Lilisa wrote: "Sounds like you had a great time - awesome. Bhutan -- must have something to do with its gross national happiness index - fascinating country. Did you end up reading Married in Bhuta..."
I'll have to check it out too - thanks.

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

Finished reading Mornings in Jenin today, with tears streaming down my face. What a devastating ending. 3.5* from me

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

Now off to find something a little lighter...

[Kama]

I loved my trip to Africa with My Father's Wives.

[Lilisa]

Kama wrote: "I loved my trip to Africa with My Father's Wives."

Sounds interesting Kama - what about the book made it so enjoyable to you? Have you read other books by the author?

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

I've been in Rwanda this week, reading Baking Cakes In Kigali. 4*

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

Off to Mexico next.

[Rusalka]

I finished A Guide to the Birds of East Africa for Kenya, and picked up Twilight Watch for Russia this week.

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

I revisited Russia and Chechnya with Anthony Marra's newest book The Tsar of Love and Techno: Stories. It connects well with his previous novel, A Constellation of Vital Phenomena, both super highly recommended, both five-star books, not something I give often.

I had a review copy of Mr. Kafka: And Other Tales from the Time of the Cult by Bohumil Hrabal, from Czechoslovakia. I say that because it was published there in the 1960s, about the post-war Stalinist era of the 1950s. It is just now being translated into English but with a handful of stories and under 150 pages, it would make a good quick read once it comes out in November.

[Rusalka]

I've put down Russia for the week, and picked up Zoli for Slovakia as the first book in a week long readathon.

[Lilisa]

Finished The Blue Between Sky and Water set in Palestine - was a bit disappointing - I was hoping I would love it. The author tried to be creative unfolding the story of three generations intertwined with magical realism - it got clunky and confusing. However, the book did effectively portray the life, culture and challenges of the Gaza area and the ongoing decades of battling war in the Middle East - 2.5 stars rounded up to 3 stars.

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

Hmmmm. Back from Mexico (The Woman Who Dived into the Heart of the World).

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

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

I visited Haiti (before it was Haiti) and France in the historic exploration of Alexandre Dumas's father, Alex Dumas, legend of Napoleon's military and also half black in The Black Count: Glory, Revolution, Betrayal, and the Real Count of Monte Cristo by Tom Reiss. My review is here. I only gave it three stars, not because it has any issues but because I individually am not that interested in military history, which it is chock full of!

[Val]

I started the year with a scanned copy of a history of San Marino which was pale grey, blurred, defaced and impossible to read on my kindle, continued with a couple of so-so novels and some memoirs only of much interest to the authors' families and ran out of books and enthusiasm in about March this year.
I recently tried reading the San Marino book using a PC kindle app, which was a lot clearer. It is quite a good history and I enjoyed the writing style, but I would not really recommend it unless the book is reprinted and republished.
A Freak Of Freedom; Or, The Republic Of San Marino
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I did manage to find something for the Netherlands Antilles which was not a dive guide, a small book of painings by a Dutch artist who has lived on Bonaire for several years.
Bonaire Land & Sea
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

I finished reading Serpent in Paradise by Dea Birkett, about her trip to Pitcairn Island. That is where the descendents of the mutineers from the 1790s still live today. The book came out right before a big sex abuse scandal happened on the island, but has a good capture of the strange culture bred by severe isolation and shared religious conversion. My review is here.

[Lilisa]

Jenny (Reading Envy) wrote: "I finished reading Serpent in Paradise by Dea Birkett, about her trip to Pitcairn Island. That is where the descendents of the mutineers from the 1790s still live today. The book came..."

Very interesting Jenny - I had no idea where Pitcairn Island was and had to look it up. Isn't Powell Books fantastic!

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

Lilisa wrote: "Very interesting Jenny - I had no idea where Pitcairn Island was and had to look it up. Isn't Powell Books fantastic! "

Technically Pitcairn is part of the Pitcairn Islands, which is a group of four, but it is by far the largest. And technically it is part of the UK but is so far from there, I felt it deserved its own focus!

And Powells, Powells, Powells. I used to live within an hour from it and it's the first place I want to go when I'm back in Oregon!

[Rusalka]

I just reviewed my Laos, Kenya and Slovakia reads, The Coroner's Lunch, A Guide to the Birds of East Africa and Zoli respectively.

Enjoyed them and would happily recommend them all, Coroner's Lunch more however.

[Rusalka]

And my Vietnam read The Quiet American. Highly recommend and pleasantly surprised. Was thinking it would be a boring classic. Not so!

[Lilisa]

Was in Chile with Deep Down Dark: The Untold Stories of 33 Men Buried in a Chilean Mine, and the Miracle That Set Them Free - very interesting, miraculous and detailed account of the collapse of Chile's San Jose mine in 2010 - 4 stars. Also finished The Case of the Man Who Died Laughing - funny, endearing detective Vish Puri and other recurring characters in the 4-set series. Author Tarquin Hall lived in India and his firsthand experience shines through in this light, quick read mystery - 3 stars.

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

I loved A Fort of Nine Towers: An Afghan Family Story - 5 stars.

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

[Lilisa]

Andrea wrote: "I loved A Fort of Nine Towers: An Afghan Family Story - 5 stars.

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

Yay, so glad you enjoyed it!

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

I finished reading A Constellation of Vital Phenomena during the week. It didn't rock my world, but was worth the time I put into it - 3 stars.

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

Coincidentally I am also reading Hadji Murad for WSJ Bookclub at the moment, which is referenced in Anthony Marra's book a number of times. (Also set in Chechnya, also about a war - not much changes in a couple of centuries.)

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

Back from Singapore and - surprisingly - Sydney, with The Feng Shui Detective Goes South. Another 3 star read for me.

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

[Lilisa]

I might have to check out the Feng Shui series for Singapore. Have you read any books in the Ava Lee series by Ian Hamilton, Andrea?

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

Lilisa wrote: "I might have to check out the Feng Shui series for Singapore. Have you read any books in the Ava Lee series by Ian Hamilton, Andrea?"

Not yet, but I think I have #1 stashed away somewhere. Must read soon.

[Lilisa]

Andrea wrote: "Lilisa wrote: "I might have to check out the Feng Shui series for Singapore. Have you read any books in the Ava Lee series by Ian Hamilton, Andrea?"

Not yet, but I think I have #1..."
:-)

[Val]

I finished Elephant Moon set in Burma and gave it two stars.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

It is not part of the challenge, but there are not all that many choices for Burma and some people might like it more than I did, so I am including it here.

[Lilisa]

Val wrote: "I finished Elephant Moon set in Burma and gave it two stars.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

It is not part of the challenge, but there are ..."

Val - have you read The Art of Hearing Heartbeats?