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

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

I seem to be having a real thing for Scotland this year! Another short audiobook I'd like to recommend is Clear.

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

[Lilisa]

I was centuries back in time in the Asian Steppes - no one country in particular, but across the region - with Akmaral by Judith Lindbergh. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

These days I'm going to read anything that Donal Ryan writes - he's just that good. Heart, Be at Peace took me back to Ireland last week, to see how the town of Nenagh has changed in ten years.

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

[Rusalka]

That's a rec! What's your favourite?

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

Rusalka wrote: "That's a rec! What's your favourite?"

I haven’t read everything yet (Yay!) but I’d say The Queen of Dirt Island so far.

[Lilisa]

I was in Easter Island with Easter Island by Jennifer Vanderbes, which I enjoyed a lot. I think I heard about this one from Andrea. I was also in Mongolia with When I'm Gone, Look for Me in the East by Quan Barry - it was just okay for me. The writing style didn’t wow me but the Mongolian setting and culture was very interesting. Haven’t done reviews - not sure if I will - lazy!

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

Last week I was in Iceland with Names for the Sea: Strangers in Iceland - an easy and interesting read for those who enjoy the expat style of memoir.

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

[Rachel]

KOSOVO
My Cat Yugoslavia by Pajtim Statovci* 29 Aug 2024 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ my review

[Rachel]

ISLE of MAN
The Crafternoon Sewcial Club by J.C. Williams* (Isle of Man) 28 Jul 2024 ⭐⭐⭐ my review

[Rachel]

SAINT HELENA
Recollections of the Emperor Napoleon, During the First Three Years of His Captivity on the Island of St. Helena by Betsy (Elizabeth) Balcombe* 23 Jul 2024 ⭐⭐⭐ my review

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

I was in Georgia with The First Friend, which is published tomorrow. Great story, slightly uneven pacing. I'm glad I read it.

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

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

The Sky Beneath Us (Nepal) was a big hit for me! I thoroughly enjoyed it.

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

[Rachel]

INDIA
Honor by Thrity Umrigar* 5 Sep 2024 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ my review

[Rachel]

NIGERIA
Under the Udala Trees by Chinelo Okparanta* 9 Sep 2024 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ my review

[Rachel]

MAURITIUS
Silence of the Chagos: A Novel by Shenaz Patel* (Mauritius) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ my review

[Diana]

France - Clara Reads Proust by Stéphane Carlier

[Rachel]

ETHIOPIA
The Shadow King by Ethiopian author Maaza Mengiste is a Booker shortlisted historical fiction about the untold story of the women who joined the army to defend Ethiopia against Mussolini's invading Italian army. ⭐⭐⭐ here is my review

[Rachel]

PAPUA NEW GUINEA
Elizabeth's Star by Australian author Rhonda Forrest is an historical fiction and romance that shifts between the Australian outback in the 1930s to Papua New Guinea as WWII just reaches its coast. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ here is my review

[Rachel]

AUSTRALIA
Runt by Australian Craig Silvey is a totally heart-warming, adorable kids book that should be compulsory reading for adults too. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ here is my review

[Lilisa]

I was in World War II Germany with The Sunflower House by Adriana Allegri. Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Diana]

I’ve been experiencing the life of a refugee in Somalia, Romania, Germany and Australia.
Shining: The Story of a Lucky Man by Abdi Aden

[Rusalka]

As usual, I've been terrible at reviewing and reporting. Have had a bit of a tidy of the backlog this week. I've been to:

Grenada - Crystal Rain by Tobias S. Buckell I'll try this again another time, was a bit too much work for me at the time.

Nigeria - Lagoon by Nnedi Okorafor What would happen if aliens came to Lagos?

Chile - The Wind Knows My Name by Isabel Allende I'm cheating a little here by using this for Chile off Isabel Allende's background. This is set in the USA, and a sprinkle of Austria, the UK, Guatemala, and Mexico. Four people's stories that slowly intertwine.

Bangladesh - A Golden Age by Tahmima Anam I knew pretty much nothing about the history of Bangladesh, and this was an introduction to it with a widowed mother and her two young adult kids in a time of civil war and turmoil.

[Lilisa]

Was in 14th century Italy during the plague with The Stone Witch of Florence. I was disappointed. Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

I spent a few days on Corfu with Running with Pirates: On freedom, adventure, and fathers and sons

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

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

Last week I was in Sweden with Ice Town, which is #6 in the Tuva Moodyson series. This series has always been very strong on location, and this time around the author expands Tuva's world to the far north of Sweden.

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

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

I've also been travelling around Indonesia with The Birdwoman's Palate. It was strong on location, and even stronger on food!

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

[Rusalka]

I read Broken Harbour for Ireland which I loved and gave 5 stars.

I also read Before the Coffee Gets Cold for Japan which did not live up to the hype and got 3 stars from me.

[Rusalka]

I have also finished:
The Raphael Affair for Italy, and
The Final Passage for Saint Kitts and Nevis

[Andrea, Slow but steady]

I was in Poland with Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead (my first time reading Olga Tokarczuk). I liked it.

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

[Rachel]

BULGARIA

Under the Yoke by Ivan Vazov* 1 Dec 2024 ⭐⭐ my review

[Rachel]

MONTENEGRO
Catherine the Great and the Small by Olja Knezevic* 6 Dec 2024 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ my review

[Rachel]

VANUATU
Sista, Stanap Strong! A Vanuatu Women's Anthology by Mikaela Nyman* 5 Dec 2024 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ my review

[Rachel]

eSWATINI
When Hoopoes Go to Heaven by Gaile Parkin 2 Dec 2024 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ my review

[Rachel]

MALI
Segu by Maryse Condé (Mali) 17 Nov 2024 ⭐⭐⭐ my review

[Rachel]

US VIRGIN ISLANDS

How to Escape from a Leper Colony by Tiphanie Yanique* 25 Oct 2024 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ my review

[Rachel]

ANGOLA/ PORTUGAL
The Return by Dulce Maria Cardoso* 15 Oct 2024 ⭐⭐ my review

[Rachel]

FRENCH POLYNESIA/ NEW ZEALAND
Sea People: The Puzzle of Polynesia by Christina Thompson (French Polynesia) 10 Oct 2024 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ my review

[Rachel]

DENMARK
The Tenant by Katrine Engberg* (Denmark) 7 Oct 2024 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ my review

[Rachel]

NORTHERN IRELAND
The Perfume Killer by Linda Hagan* (Northern Ireland) 5 Oct 2024 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ my review

[Rachel]

BRAZIL
The Air You Breathe by Frances de Pontes Peebles* (Brazil) ⭐⭐⭐⭐ my review

[Rachel]

GUADELOUPE
The Bridge of Beyond by Simone Schwarz-Bart* 11 Dec 2024 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ my review

[Rachel]

KUWAIT
Mama Hissa's Mice by Saud Alsanousi* (Kuwait) 15 Dec 2024 ⭐⭐⭐ my review

[Rachel]

EGYPT
Memoirs of a Woman Doctor by Nawal El Saadawi* (Egypt) 16 Dec 2024 ⭐⭐⭐ my review

[Rachel]

TURKEY
Without a Country by Ayşe Kulin* 16 Dec 2024 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ my review

[Rachel]

PALESTINE
They Called Me a Lioness: A Palestinian Girl's Fight for Freedom by Ahed Tamimi* 17 Dec 2024 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ my review

[Rachel]

IRAN
The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali* (Iran) 21 Dec 2024⭐⭐⭐⭐ my review

[Rachel]

AFGHANISTAN
Playing for Freedom: The Journey of a Young Afghan Girl by Zarifa Adiba* 23 Dec 2024 ⭐⭐⭐ my review

[Rachel]

CROATIA
The Cheesemaker's Daughter by Kristin Vukovic 24 Dec 2024 ⭐⭐⭐ my review

[Rachel]

IRELAND (also England, Scotland and France)
The Invincible Miss Cust by Penny Haw 27 Dec 2024 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ my review