Where in the World Have You Been?!?! (Book Finished and Review Linked) Showing 801-850 of 1,005

[Friederike]

I was in Malaya with Tan Twan Eng's The Garden of Evening Mists. My review is here:http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

The novel has been shortlisted for the Booker - well deserved IMO.

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

Friederike wrote: "I was in Malaya with Tan Twan Eng's The Garden of Evening Mists. My review is here:http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

The novel has been shortlisted for the Booker - well deserved IMO."
Oh, I haven't tracked a copy of that down yet, glad to hear you liked it.

[[deleted user]]

I was really in Fiji last week, where I was able to pick up Cutting Toddy in Kiribati and the same book in Gilbertese, Te Korokarewe at the University of the South Pacific's bookstore. I'd already read a book for Kiribati, but will now substitute this one as a better match.

[Suzanne]

I had a long sojourn in Ethiopia with Cutting for Stone, and it was so good, I didn't want to leave! My review is here:
http://coldread.wordpress.com/2012/09...

[Daisy]

Canada. This book was so good: What Is Left the Daughter

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

[Rusalka]

Suzanne wrote: "I had a long sojourn in Ethiopia with Cutting for Stone, and it was so good, I didn't want to leave! My review is here:
http://coldread.wordpress.com/2012/09..."

I'm so glad you enjoyed this too Suzanne. There is no way I would have discovered this book if it wasn't for this group, and I am now telling everyone to read it.

[Sharon]

Rusalka wrote: "Suzanne wrote: "I had a long sojourn in Ethiopia with Cutting for Stone, and it was so good, I didn't want to leave! My review is here:
http://coldread.wordpress.com/2012/09......"

I am so intrigued! I've been hearing about this book. Now I'm convinced I have to read it.

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

Went back through Greece with Kassandra and the Wolf (my review here.)

Then headed for Liberia with This Child Will Be Great: Memoir of a Remarkable Life by Africa's First Woman President (my review here).

[Janice]

I've left Mexico behind. Here's my review of Like Water for Chocolate

[Betty]

CANADA.
Read by the British Columbian author Mary Novik. This was a rereading after two years. I enjoyed the novel during both readings of it. The main character is the poet John Donne's daughter, who is taken with the great romance of her parents. The language is beautifully written. There is a good balance of the earthly and the supernatural. http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

[Yrinsyde]

Robinson Crusoe which I set in Robinson Crusoe Island off the coast of Chile (that is where Selkirk was castaway and RC is based partly on his story) but it is really on an island off the coast of Brazil. Then I went to Wellington New Zealand with Nicola Thorne's After the Rain which was an ok story but a bit thin. Finishing up in Melbourne with Phyrne Fisher and just starting a detective novel set in Malaysia.

[Yrinsyde]

And here is my review for Phryne Fisher Blood and Circuses. I didn't enjoy it as much as the others I've read. I'm now off to Malaysia with Inspector Singh.

[Janice]

I have left the heat heady aroma of Thailand and The Orchid House: A Novel.

My Review

[Shomeret]

I have also just completed a review of my Thai read which is Silk Umbrellas, a children's book by Carolyn Marsden. I found it very engaging, it had some good Thai cultural content and it dealt with some important adult concerns. See my review at http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

[Sylvia]

Haven't been here lately, because I finished a book for Argentina Nachtvlucht & Aarde der mensenwith review I only read the first short story and will finish the book another time, because the second longer story plays somewhere else in the world and doesn't could for this challenge.
My #40 is De geschiedenis van het geslacht Bjørndal; een verhaal uit de jaren omstreeks 1760 tot 1810 a big one I inherited for my mum's bookshelf. I read the first of the trilogy: En eeuwig zingen de bossen. review of the first part . The other two parts: Winden waaien om de rotsen and De weg tot elkander will I read outside this challenge.

[Sharon]

I am now hopelessly behind, but I don't mind because I'm having so much fun. I've just finished Niccolo Rising, which is just an amazing swashbuckler of a book. Loved every minute of it, and am now searching out the remaining 6 or 7 books in the series.

here's my short review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

[Beth]

I just left Guyana with Disappearance by David Dabydeen. Review is here: http://bethslistlove.wordpress.com/20...

[Lisa (Harmonybites)]

I've been in Haiti and Revolutionary France, with side trips to Egypt and Italy in reading Reiss' biography of an extraordinary man in The Black Count: Glory, Revolution, Betrayal, and the Real Count of Monte Cristo. It's the biography of Alexander Dumas--not the author of The Three Musketeers but his father--the son of a Marquis and a slave who rose from common soldier to a general of a division in the army of revolutionary France. It's a great read, and a look not just at a little-known hero but of Revolutionary France and the rise of Napoleon.

You can find my full review here:

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

[[deleted user]]

Cutting Toddy in Kiribati. Read as a replacement for The Sex Lives of Cannibals: Adrift in the Equatorial Pacific, which I didn't enjoy and which didn't meet my challenge criteria, which I think Cutting Toddy does. I also read it in Gilbertese for good measure, comparing it to the English translation.

The Abandoned Baobab: The Autobiography of a Senegalese Woman

[Shomeret]

Lisa (Harmonybites) wrote: "I've been in Haiti and Revolutionary France, with side trips to Egypt and Italy in reading Reiss' biography of an extraordinary man in The Black Count: Glory, Revolution, Betrayal, and the Real Cou..."

Lisa, what a wonderful review. Unfortunately, I've read a book for Haiti and one for France. But I placed The Black Count on hold.

I've just posted a review of my Okinawa read. I decided that I'd count Okinawa separately for the same reason that I counted Scotland separately. Okinawa was once an independent kingdom.

Here's the review at: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

[Lisa (Harmonybites)]

Shomeret wrote: "Lisa, what a wonderful review. Unfortunately, I've read a book for Haiti and one for France. But I placed The Black Count on hold."

Thanks--it was a fellow group member Suzanne who originally reviewed it and that caught my eye. Probably would be even more fun for a fan of Dumas and Count of Monte Cristo, but not necessary.

[Lisa (Harmonybites)]

Judy wrote: "Lisa, I'm eagerly anticipating my library receiving their copy of being a huge Dumas fan. "

I never got around to reading Dumas--this book made me want to do so! So if you're a Dumas fan already, this really should be a treat!

[Suzanne]

I've just left Manchester, England in a sad, but enjoyable stay with The Invisible Wall: A Love Story That Broke Barriers. My review is here:
http://coldread.wordpress.com/2012/09...
I've still got one foot in Greece with Captain Corelli's Mandolin. It's taking me awhile to read this, and I'm not enjoying it as much as Birds Without Wings. That's probably why it's slow going...

[Anne]

Just finished The Source by James A. Michener. I spent time in Palestine/Israel from 2200 B.C.E to 1964. Amazing read!

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

Osho wrote: "Cutting Toddy in Kiribati. Read as a replacement for The Sex Lives of Cannibals: Adrift in the Equatorial Pacific, wh..."
I read The Sex Lives of Cannibals and hated it, so I'm glad you found another selection.

[[deleted user]]

I'd much rather read a book by Troost's girlfriend/wife about her work.

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

Osho wrote: "I'd much rather read a book by Troost's girlfriend/wife about her work."
Exactly, that seemed to be where the interesting story was to me too. This guy was a huge tool.

[[deleted user]]

:)

I'm out of Uruguay--I think. The Ship of Fools has me all turned around. Now in Latvia with
Exile from Latvia: My WWII Childhood - From Survival to Opportunity.

[Sue]

I've just finished Middlemarch, which I've decided will be my selection for England. There were so many possibles but this seemed a good choice. Review is here... http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

[Lisa (Harmonybites)]

I just returned from Antarctica, courtesy of Huntford's The Last Place on Earth: Scott and Amundsen's Race to the South Pole. Part dual-biography, part adventure book--although as Huntaford makes clear, and Amundsen himself said, "adventure is bad planning." Or in Scott's case, incompetence. Huntsford paints a stark contrast between the two men, in the case of Amundsen, inspiring, in the case of Scott, appalling, especially given the tragic consequences. Full review below:

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

[Lisa (Harmonybites)]

So, first I took a long (and absolutely HILARIOUS) tour through Australia with Bill Bryson as a guide in In a Sunburned Country. I haven't laughed so often or so hard reading a book in a long time. Full rave below:

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

I then moved on to Brazil and it's author Coelho. Well, what can I say? The good thing about The Alchemist? It's short. The bad? NOT short enough. Fuller rant below:

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

[Rusalka]

I absolutely love it too. Very hard to go wrong with Bryson. But don't believe what he said about Canberra...

I know the hotel he stayed at (at the time he was here a girl from school's dad owned it) and they were and are completely hopeless. Still.

[[deleted user]]

I enjoyed it as well, and it was even more fun because I was able to discuss it with Australians as I was reading it ("So, Bryson mentioned funnel webs. Would you tell me about that?" Then it was hours and hours about poisonous spiders.)

[Lisa (Harmonybites)]

Judy wrote: "Its good to see someone else enjoy In a Sunburned Country so much. Its my favorite Bryson book."

It's my first--I've read others can be too flippant or sarcastic, that this one is reportedly his best.

[Lisa (Harmonybites)]

Rusalka wrote: "I absolutely love it too. Very hard to go wrong with Bryson. But don't believe what he said about Canberra... "

Maybe he by and large saw a different side of the city? *thinks of all the reactions I've read to my native New York City* Or caught it at a bad time? What didn't you believe about his depiction?

[Lisa (Harmonybites)]

Osho wrote: "I enjoyed it as well, and it was even more fun because I was able to discuss it with Australians as I was reading it ("So, Bryson mentioned funnel webs. Would you tell me about that?" Then it was h..."

LOL! I had an Australian friend tell me about those. She also disillusioned me about Koalas, which she claims are really nasty. Oh well.

[Rusalka]

He said a few more things Judy ;)

The city itself is large-ish, about the area of greater London. But at the time he visited there were only about 250 000-300 000 ppl in it. The hotel gave him the complete wrong directions (I used to live around the corner) and I spent the time reading the book cringing in horror at their incompetence. So yes, sort of different side of the city.

Koalas are grumpy, surly, smelly and drunk. They are like the horrible uncle at those family gatherings you avoid, but with large claws. But to be fair, all they eat are gum leaves (high in alcohol content) and they have parasites eating their brains. That would make me grumpy too. Lucky they are cute to look at.

[Rusalka]

Oh, to clarify, I believe him. It is easy to have a bad time here if you don't know where to head. But I mean it's not as bad as he makes out. And what he said about the lake was spot on.

[Rusalka]

Most probably. And our Parliament does deserve to be mocked, like most Governments too ;)

[Lisa (Harmonybites)]

Powering along trying to catch up, I read two short works today, one which I did love, another I felt mixed about. I was in the West Indies, Dominica and Jamaica of the 1840s with a native guide, Jean Rhys, in her novella Wide Sargasso Sea. Essentially folks, this is Jane Eyre literary fan fiction, fleshing out the character of that madwoman in the attic. Full review below:

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

I also toured Argentina with Jorge Luis Borges, in his landmark short story anthology, Ficciones. Some really inventive ideas here that were inspirations for libraries in Umberto Eco's Name of the Rose, Terry Pratchett's Discworld and for the premise behind the film Inception. But I can't really say I found these engaging--I think I just didn't care for the style. Full review below:

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

[Yrinsyde]

I've left Malaysia after tagging along with Inspector Singh while he investigated a Most Peculiar Malaysian Murder. It was fun! Though a little dry at times. I'm now in Singapore, still with Inspector Singh and also in Madagascar with the Mad Queen Ranavalona - she is one scary woman!

[Lisa (Harmonybites)]

I've been in Ireland of the Dark Ages with Thomas Cahill in How the Irish Saved Civilization. It's an entertaining read, but ultimately I found it disappointing--especially given some really fine histories and biographies I'd read lately--superficial and unconvincing. Full review below:

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

[Janice]

I finished The Statues that Walked: Unraveling the Mystery of Easter Island. It was pretty dry stuff for an audiobook. I put the speed to 1-1/2x just to get through it.

[Lisa (Harmonybites)]

I was in France--rural Provence to be exact, in Peter Mayle's A Year in Provence. I have to say, I just don't get the popularity of this book. I found it dull. Fuller review below:

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

[Suzanne]

Amazing how you can be in two countries at the same time! I just left Bosnia with the wonderful Geraldine Brooks novel People of the Book. The other half of me departed from Greece with Captain Corelli's Mandolin, which, unfortunately I didn't enjoy as much as I'd hoped I would. Links to my reviews are below:
http://coldread.wordpress.com/2012/09...
http://coldread.wordpress.com/2012/09...

[Lisa (Harmonybites)]

I've been in the South of Spain in Chris Stewart's Driving Over Lemons: An Optimist in Andalucia. Like Mayle's A Year in Provence it's the memoir of a Brit who moved to a rural part of Southern Europe. I liked Driving Over Lemons more than A Year in Provence though, I think primarily because I found Stewart more likable than Mayle. In the travelogue sweepstakes thus far though, Bill Bryson has both beat. Fuller review of Driving Over Lemons below.

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

[Barbarac]

Lisa (Harmonybites) wrote: "I've been in the South of Spain in Chris Stewart's Driving Over Lemons: An Optimist in Andalucia. Like Mayle's A Year in Provence it's the memoir of a Brit who moved to a rural part of Southern Eur..."

Lisa, yes, Stewart is a very likeable guy, he had me laughing the whole book.

[Barbarac]

I've just finished Sipping from the Nile, a memoir. Started rocky and ended really liking it. My review http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

[Beth]

Lisa (Harmonybites) wrote: "I then moved on to Brazil and it's author Coelho. Well, what can I say? The good thing about The Alchemist? It's short. The bad? NOT short enough. "

Yeah, I'm not eager to read any more Coelho if I can help it.

[Beth]

Just left Argentina and Labyrinths: Selected Stories & Other Writings. I'm a Jorge Luis Borges fan, so it was a great trip. Review is at http://bethslistlove.wordpress.com/20...