2023 - Where in the World Have You Been? (Book Read and Review Linked) Part 2

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

Previous 2023 Topic closed due to major Goodreads technical issue.

What book have you read? Where was it set - country(ies), city(ies), or maybe area. Share your thoughts on the book and/or link to your review.

This discussion thread is a great resource for ideas/recommendations for our reading journeys!

[Rachel]

AMERICAN SAMOA:
The Smell of the Moon is a short sweet novel by American Samoan author Lemanatele M. Kneubuhl about life on a South Pacific island. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ here is my review

[Lilisa]

I was in China with The Fox Wife by Yangsze Choo. I liked it - a mystery/historical fiction/fantasy that had fox spirits living among mortals. It was a fun and enjoyable read. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

I was in Bosnia with the excellent Black Butterflies, which covers the first 10 months of the siege of Sarajevo. It's a very accessible story, whether you've read nothing or a lot about this period.

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

[Lilisa]

I was in Afghanistan with the nonfiction book The Secret Gate: A True Story of Courage and Sacrifice During the Collapse of Afghanistan by Mitchell Zuckoff. I highly recommend it. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Lilisa]

Was in Türkiye with Incorruptible by Barbara Nadel - one of my favorite series. This was a good one. Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

I was in Venezuela for the first time with Motherland by expat journalist Paula Ramón. It was such an eye-opener for me, particularly about the past 30 or so years of economic mismanagement (although I admit I still find the currency devaluation - in theory and in practice - rather mind-boggling). This book comes out at the end of October.

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

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

I was back in France with The Paris Apartment - a good sense of place for Paris. The audiobook boasts an ensemble cast, which worked quite well.

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

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

I was in Ireland with The Queen of Dirt Island, one of my favourite reads of the year.

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

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

I was in the Central African Republic with No Good Deed, which was my first time there (so lots of opportunity for research on the side). It was a decent read and is still available on NetGalley for a little longer if anyone's tempted.

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

[Rachel]

CAMEROON
How Beautiful We Were by Cameroonian Imbolo Mbue is about the impact of an environmental disaster on a fictional village in Africa and their response in trying to tackle both their own government and the American oil company responsible. This is a powerful, impacting read with an important message. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ here is my review

[Rachel]

WALES
The Blue Book of Nebo by Manon Steffan Ros is the 2023 Carnegie Medal winner and is an exquisite little gem of a book. A YA post apocalyptic dystopia, this is translated from the Welsh and sees a mother and son learn how to survive together without any technology, recording their secrets in a shared diary. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ my review

[Rachel]

FIJI
A Disappearance in Fiji by Fijian Indian Australian author Nilima Rao is a charming debut historical mystery series set in 1914 Fiji featuring Police Sergeant Akal Sing and exposing some of the underbelly of Fiji’s colonial past. A great read. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ here is my review

[Rusalka]

Ooo really glad you liked this one Rachel. I have heard some great things about it.

[Rachel]

Rusalka wrote: "Ooo really glad you liked this one Rachel. I have heard some great things about it."
Yes it was well done.

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

Last week I was in Italy with The Eight Mountains. I'm really glad I gave this book a chance because I was completely swept away by it.

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

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

I've been in Switzerland with Geneva, a thriller with a couple of very good twists towards the end. Listening to the audiobook, I thought it had a very cinematic feel to it, and could clearly picture the location in my head.

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

[Rachel]

EGYPT
Woman at Point Zero is a powerful yet sad feminist story by award-winning Egyptian author and activist Nawal El Saadawi ⭐⭐⭐⭐ here is my review

[Rachel]

BANGLADESH
Black Ice by Bengali author Mahmudul Haque tells the story of a man’s childhood before the Partition in 1947 and his life and relationship issues as an adult in independent Bangladesh. Here is my review

[Rachel]

KENYA
Unbowed is a memoir by Kenyan environmental activist and politician Wangari Maathai, the first African woman to win the Nobel prize; a powerful story of struggle, bravery and determination. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ here is my review

[Yrinsyde]

I finished readying Tropic of Violence for Mayotte. It was very finely executed but a very sad story. I haven't finished my African Reads journey and I want to finish reading for Jenny. Onwards!

It is NYE here and 8pm. Not many hours left of 2023! I wish you all a merry NYE and a wonderful 2024!

[Rachel]

IRAQ
When the Apricots Bloom by Australian author, formerly foreign correspondent in Iraq, Gina Wilkinson, is a suspenseful book about three women in Iraq, their secrets, and what they are prepared to go through for the sake of their families. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ here is my review

[Rachel]

SUDAN
The Translator by Sudanese author Leila Aboulela is a gentle slow-burn romance between a widowed Sudanese translator struggling to adjust to life in Aberdeen and a university professor. Here is my review