2024 - Where in the World Have You Been? (Book Read and Review Linked)

[Lilisa]

Yes, there’s renewed interest in the book - it’s being promoted heavily alongside the show. I haven’t read the book - right now I’m not tempted!

[Rachel]

The Red Palace is an historical mystery and romance by June Hur, set in 1758 in Joseon (Korea). Can palace nurse Hyeon rescue her mentor and teacher Nurse Jeongsu from the accusations of killing four women? And can she trust handsome police inspector Eojin as they work together to solve a mystery steeped in court intrigues and ancient culture? Here is ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ my review

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

I was in the German Democratic Republic with Stasiland: Stories from Behind the Berlin Wall, which has really got under my skin. Highly recommended.

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

[Rachel]

The Shadow of the Wind by Spanish author Carlos Ruiz Zafón is a worldwide bestselling gothic mystery set in 1940s and 50s Barcelona. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ here is my review

[Rachel]

Last Rituals is the first in a series of Nordic Noir mysteries by Icelandic author Yrsa Sigurdardottir. Single mother and lawyer Thóra is hired by a German family to investigate the death of their uni student son who has been studying witch hunts, witchcraft and torture. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ here is my review

[Lilisa]

I was in Laos (and the U.S.) with Where Rivers Part: A Story of My Mother's Life by Kao Kalia Yang. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

I took a trip through some Italian islands as well as part of the mainland with Vroom by the Sea. It was good for getting into lesser-known parts of Sardinia and Sicily, and while I enjoyed it, I think I've largely outgrown this style of travelogue. My review is briefer than this post, so I won't bother linking it.

[Rusalka]

Hey everyone! I've had a really all over the shop start to the year - family sickness, sickness, family deaths, work crazy, sickness, family death, work catching up from all that. I am beginning to get back to a normal.

First book of my 2024 travels was to Guinea-Bissau with The Ultimate Tragedy
New country for me, ticks off a random country on my 2024 list, and an outstanding one for Jenny's List.

A little novel set in the end times of colonisation in Guinea-Bissau but the power struggles are still very real. You can see the cracks in the system appearing as the population become empowered or just fed up. And you can see the Portuguese clinging on to power. The characters didn't grab me until they snuck on me from behind and told me I was very invested... I appreciate the sneak attack!

[Lilisa]

Sounds like you’ve had a lot on your plate, Rusalka. Hopes it’s smooth sailing the rest of the year, fingers crossed. Great you had a first visit to Guinea-Bissau and checked off one for Jenny’s List. Things are looking up for you in 2024 - hate to say this, it’s May already, wow!

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

Rusalka wrote: "Hey everyone! I've had a really all over the shop start to the year - family sickness, sickness, family deaths, work crazy, sickness, family death, work catching up from all that. I am beginning to..."

Sorry to hear your year has delivered everything all at once - hope it settles down for you.

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

I was in Japan - again - with A Perfect Day to Be Alone. Happily this one was a modest hit for me. A year in the life of a 20 year old new Tokyo resident.

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

[Rusalka]

Thanks guys :) More as an explanation why I have been MIA. Missed this group and the challenge. Was still reading around the crazy but good to be back!

[Rusalka]

I have included Australia for the first time in 13 years this year, as it came up on my random country roll, and I thought I better include the Sunburnt Country at least once in my trip around the world.

Read One Hundred Years of Dirt. To save repeating myself again (in my thread and on my review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...) wonderfully honest, with an over arching level of black Australian humour that only comes from living through the worst, look at all the structural issues in Australia that stop people from accessing all the opportunities that we mythologise any Australian can access. Sounds heavy, and it is, but done in a light touch that you have to stop and realise how big the problems being discussed are.

[Lilisa]

I was in France with A Waiter in Paris: Adventures in the Dark Heart of the City by Edward Chisholm, superbly narrated by Tristam Summers. I thoroughly enjoyed it and highly recommend it. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Lilisa]

I was in Iraq/Türkiye/the U.K. with There Are Rivers in the Sky by Elif Shafak. A great read. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Rachel]

Japan:
Convenience Store Woman by Japanese author Sayaka Murata is a contemporary literary fiction about a 36 year old store worker who finds contentment and security in her role, except that everyone else seems to want to change her. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ here is my review

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

I can't tell you what a wild time I had in 16thC Scotland yesterday with Rizzio! Most people with even the smallest level of interest in history will be familiar with the betrayal of Mary, Queen of Scots, but this audiobook shines a new light on the events of 1566. I was fully immersed in the brutality and fear.

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

This is part of the Darkland Tales series, which is a retelling of significant events in Scottish history by popular Scottish authors. I only became aware of it when Val McDermid began promoting her own contribution (the 5th in the series) recently, but I intend to catch up quickly.

[Lilisa]

Andrea wrote: "I can't tell you what a wild time I had in 16thC Scotland yesterday with Rizzio! Most people with even the smallest level of interest in history will be familiar with the betrayal o..."

I am intrigued by your description of Rizzio, Andrea! I downloaded the audiobook and will start it tomorrow.

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

Lilisa wrote: "I am intrigued by your description of Rizzio, Andrea! I downloaded the audiobook and will start it tomorrow..."

Hope you love it!

[Rusalka]

Andrea wrote: "I can't tell you what a wild time I had in 16thC Scotland yesterday with Rizzio! Most people with even the smallest level of interest in history will be familiar with the betrayal o..."

Oh great you liked it. I meant to check out the series after hearing Val McDermid on RN last week (which I am guessing you did too).

[Diana]

Andrea wrote: "I can't tell you what a wild time I had in 16thC Scotland yesterday with Rizzio! Most people with even the smallest level of interest in history will be familiar with the betrayal o..."

These books sound really good. I've added them to my want to read list.

[Rachel]

Antarctica (also Ireland, Scotland and Greenland)
Migrations by Aussie author Charlotte McConaghy is the story in a near-future world when most animal species are extinct, of a woman who sets out on a voyage to follow the last of the arctic terns on their migration from the Arctic Circle to Antarctica. Along the way many secrets from her murky past come to the surface and she must risk all to continue. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ here is my review

[Lilisa]

I was in India with Goddess of the River by Vaishnavi Patel - retelling of the goddess Ganga and her son’s story. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Rachel]

Phillipines
The Never Tilting World is a YA sapphic fantasy by Filipino about separated twin sisters who must save the world from destruction.
Rin Chupeco ⭐⭐⭐ here is my review

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

As I expected, The Spinning Heart (Ireland) has whet my appetite for Heart, Be at Peace, which is out soon.

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

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

I was in Sri Lanka with Song of the Sun God, which I read as an audiobook. When I saw the author at Melbourne Writers Festival recently, she mentioned this story is being adapted for the small screen. I'll be keen to see that.

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

[Rachel]

Vietnam:
The Women by Kristin Hannah is a historical fiction featuring the often unacknowledged women who went to the Vietnam War. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ here is my review

[Rachel]

Andrea wrote: "I was in Sri Lanka with Song of the Sun God, which I read as an audiobook. When I saw the author at Melbourne Writers Festival recently, she mentioned this story is being adapted f..."

I love her books. Have you read Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens?

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

Rachel wrote: "I love her books. Have you read Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens? ..."

Yes, but I have to say I preferred Song of the Sun God.

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

I had always planned to read Papua New Guinea this year, but with a different book! To Sing of War is set in PNG, Japan and New Mexico, but most of the action by far takes place in PNG. I really enjoyed this very different tale of WW2.

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

[Diana]

I'm reading The Expats by Chris Pavone. It has taken me to Luxembourg.

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

I don't think I mentioned that I was back in India - Rishikesh to be precise - with Death in the Air, and that's probably because I was on a hairtrigger for consigning it to the DNF shelf. But in the end, it was a bit of fun. Don't expect all aspects of the mystery to be all tied up with a neat bow, though. In regard to setting, it could have been almost anywhere, and even the main character felt it was more like Switzerland than India LOL.

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

[Lilisa]

@Andrea - hmm, can’t think of two countries that are more dissimilar than Switzerland and India - that must have been terribly disconcerting!

@Diana - I’ve enjoyed Chris Pavone’s books - my favorite is standalone Two Nights in Lisbon.

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

Lilisa wrote: "@Andrea - hmm, can’t think of two countries that are more dissimilar than Switzerland and India - that must have been terribly disconcerting!..."

Equally impressive mountains, I guess!

[Lilisa]

😭

[Rachel]

GERMANY (well actually fantasy world but German author)…
Reckless is a YA/ new adult fantasy by German author Cornelia Funke featuring a world where dark twisted fairytales make their home, and Jacob must fight to save his brother from turning into a stony Goyl. ⭐⭐⭐ here is my review

[Lilisa]

I was in Nigeria with The Road to the Country by Chigozie Obioma. Set during the Nigerian civil war - grim and sobering. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Rachel]

UGANDA
Kintu by Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi* (Uganda) ⭐⭐⭐⭐ my review

[Diana]

I am in Afghanistan exploring the gardens that proliferate despite war. I think this book will take me to other war zones too. War Gardens by Lalage Snow

[Lilisa]

I was in Italy on the island of Murano with The Glassmaker by Tracy Chevalier. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

I was in Chile with Easter Island; a book from which you really do get what it says on the cover! Lots of fascinating detail wrapped around a dual-timeline mystery of sorts.

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

[Lilisa]

I was in Iran with The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali. I enjoyed this historical fiction. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Lilisa]

I was in Afghanistan with The Opium Prince by Jasmine Aimaq.

It was a 5-star read for me. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

Lilisa wrote: "I was in Afghanistan with The Opium Prince by Jasmine Aimaq. It was a 5-star read for me.

Wow, sounds great - thanks for the recommendation!

[Rachel]

LAOS:
The Latehomecomer: A Hmong Family Memoir by Kao Kalia Yang* (Laos) 27 Jun 2024 ⭐⭐⭐ my review

[Lilisa]

Andrea wrote: "Lilisa wrote: "I was in Afghanistan with The Opium Prince by Jasmine Aimaq. It was a 5-star read for me.

Wow, sounds great - thanks for the recommendation!"

Hope you'll pick it up - I think you'll find it worthwhile. I'm surprised at the lowish GR rating. I give credit to Melissa Joulwan of the Strong Sense of Place podcast. She read it and gave it four stars. I read the blurb and it sounded interesting so did the audio.

[Lilisa]

I was in Nigeria with The Road to the Salt Sea by Samuel Kolawole - it's gritty, realistic and well done - about a major human issue facing many parts of the world . My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

Thanks to Lilisa for the recommendation of The Oyster Diver's Secret (Sweden) - I loved it!

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

[Lilisa]

Andrea wrote: "Thanks to Lilisa for the recommendation of The Oyster Diver's Secret (Sweden) - I loved it!

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

[bookcover:The Oyster Diver's Secret|..."

Yay, so glad you did!😊

[Diana]

I'm in India with The Prisoner of Bhopal