Where in the World Have You Been?!?! (Book Finished and Review Linked) Showing 851-900 of 1,005

[[deleted user]]

I agree entirely about The Alchemist, my disappointing book for Brazil.

[Janice]

I just finished Red Glass for another challenge and realized that I could use it for this challenge as well since it is set in Mexico and Guatemala. Since I have visited Mexico, I decided to count it for Guatemala.

My review.

[Lisa (Harmonybites)]

I was in 18th century Austria reading about Mozart with musicologist Alfred Einstein in his very informative Mozart: His Character, His Work Full review below:

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

I also finished my visit with Frances Mayes in Italy in her Under the Tuscan Sun. Very lyrical and sensory--sometimes cloyingly so. Full review here:

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

[Barbarac]

Just finished a super quick read, The Old Man Who Read Love Stories, less than 200 pages. I quite enjoyed it. http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/....
If anybody is interested in reading it, send me a personal message with your address (in the US only) and I will pass it along.

[Barbarac]

Barbarac wrote: "Just finished a super quick read, The Old Man Who Read Love Stories, less than 200 pages. I quite enjoyed it.

Oh, and this book could count as Ecuador or Chile. The writer is Chilean, exiled in Europe.

[Shomeret]

Osho wrote: "I agree entirely about The Alchemist, my disappointing book for Brazil."

I have given Coelho several chances. I gave up on him after The Witch Of Portobellowhich I attempted a while back before this challenge. So I knew this writer wasn't for me. At this point I'm holding out for Jorge Amado for Brazil.

[Barbarac]

Shomeret wrote: "Osho wrote: "I agree entirely about The Alchemist, my disappointing book for Brazil."

I read Coelho when I was 17 or 18 and at the time I didn't even realize The Alchemist was supposed to be a "self-help" book, I just thought it was like a short tale. And I enjoyed it, it was easy and short. But I've read so many bad reviews on Coelho since then that for my Brazil book I also picked a Jorge Amado book. Just to be safe.

[Rusalka]

Just finished Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China for China. Review here http://rusalkii.blogspot.com.au/2012/...

[Lisa (Harmonybites)]

I was in Colombia as seen through Marquez's One Hundred Years of Solitude. I wish I could say I loved it--several friends whose literary tastes I respect adore it. But then I have a mixed record with magical realism. This leaves me undecided about whether to try Love in the Time of Cholera someday--some who didn't like Solitude love Cholera and vice versa. Full review below:

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

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

I'm 4/6 through the Booker shortlist, and luckily for me some of them are set in other countries so I can count them for this challenge. Hehe.

Narcopolis by Jeet Thayil - set in Bombay from 1970-2004. My review is here.

The Lighthouse by Alison Moore - set in present day Germany. My review is here.

I've been to Germany already on this challenge, so I'm not counting it against my personal 52 COUNTRY challenge, but I'm letting any book set outside the USA count for the challenge. I surprisingly hadn't read anything set in India yet this year, despite having two books on my shelf that are. So yay, new country. I really enjoyed Narcopolis, and the author is also a musician, so I listened to his music while reading. You know me and immersive reading!

[Lisa (Harmonybites)]

I was in Panama (and at times France and the United States) in the capable hands of David McCullough, in his The Path Between the Seas: The Creation of the Panama Canal, 1870-1914. It's my first book by the historian, but certainly not my last. Well-written and sourced. Full review linked below:

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

[Chel]

I just left Kenya, having read Matigari by Thiong. It is written in a manner to emulate the oral storytelling tradition in Africa and is about post-revolution revolutionaries. It was good.

[Yrinsyde]

I've had an adventure in Singapore with Inspector Singh and have just left Madagascar having read the fascinating story of Ranavalona, whom the French and English thought mad because she resisted colonialism. Fascinating!

[Beth]

Just finished Faces and Masks by Eduardo Hughes Galeano for Uruguay. Liked it very much. Review on my blog: http://bethslistlove.wordpress.com/20...

[Beth]

Lisa (Harmonybites) wrote: "I was in Colombia as seen through Marquez's One Hundred Years of Solitude. I wish I could say I loved it--several friends whose literary tastes I respect adore it. But then I have a mixed record wi..."

I found Love in the Time of Cholera much more enjoyable.

[[deleted user]]

I've had a problem with both One Hundred Years of Solitude and Love in the Time of Cholera. I am going to try Love in the Time of cholera again one day soon.

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

I finished The Garden of Evening Mists last night, set in Malaya/Malaysia. My review is here, and I would be surprised if this book does not win the Booker. Truly incredible, I learned so much, it was a beautiful reading experience.

[[deleted user]]

Jenny, on your recommendation I've marked it as a book to look at.

[Beth]

Jenny wrote: "I finished The Garden of Evening Mists last night, set in Malaya/Malaysia. My review is here, and I would be surprised if this book does not win the Booker. Truly incredible, I learned so much, i..."

So I have my Malaysia book for next year....

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

I would call it a slow burn.

[Barbarac]

I've added it to my list too.

[Lisa (Harmonybites)]

I had a wonderful time in Peru with Mario Vargas Llosa in his (partly) autobiographical and (mostly) comic Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter. I definitely will want to read more of this author. Full review in link below:

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

[Shomeret]

Jenny wrote: "I would call it a slow burn."

Jenny, did you read Tan Twan Eng's previous novel,The Gift of Rain? It was also a Booker nominee, but didn't win.

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

Shomeret wrote: "Jenny wrote: "I would call it a slow burn."

Jenny, did you read Tan Twan Eng's previous novel,The Gift of Rain? It was also a Booker nominee, but didn't win."

No, was it good? If it's even close to as well written as this, I'd like to try it.

[Shomeret]

Jenny wrote: "Shomeret wrote: "Jenny wrote: "I would call it a slow burn."

Jenny, did you read Tan Twan Eng's previous novel,The Gift of Rain? It was also a Booker nominee, but didn't win."

No, was it good? ..."

I loved The Gift of Rain. That's the reason why I had a certain hesitancy about The Garden of Evening Mists. The description makes it sound as if he re-wrote The Gift of Rain with a female protagonist. That does have a certain appeal, but I think I will be very conscious of the book's predecessor and end up comparing the two.

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

Shomeret wrote: "I loved The Gift of Rain. That's the reason why I had a certain hesitancy about The Garden of Evening Mists. The description makes it sound as if he re-wrote The Gift of Rain with a female protagonist. That does have a certain appeal, but I think I will be very conscious of the book's predecessor and end up comparing the two. ."
And I can read it from the opposite direction.

[Sharon]

I've been immersed in Dorothy Dunnet's The Spring of the Ram but had to dash off to Germany to read Half-Blood Blues. It was a side trip well worth taking. What a beautiful, beautiful book. I will be haunted by it for quite some time.

My brief review is here: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Now back to Constantinople ...

[Barbarac]

Just left Malta with Like Bees to Honey (Review): http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...). It was a strange visit which I did not think I'd enjoy but I did. It's a lot faster read than it seems by the number of pages because a lot of pages are half blank. And I learned a lot about Malta, it's customs and legends, food and language. Specially the language...I had no idea how different it was.

[[deleted user]]

I don't know anything about Malta. I'm going to put the book on my list.

[Suzanne]

I just left the Balkans with a magical journey through two wars and a search for clues in a grandfather's death with The Tiger's Wife. Loved it! My review is here:
http://coldread.wordpress.com/2012/10...

[[deleted user]]

Montenegro. Maybe back to Guatemala now to try again.

[[deleted user]]

I want to read The Tiger's Wife. I had forgotten to add it on my list.

[[deleted user]]

My last finished book took place in New York, Oaklahoma, U.SA. I don't know if it should be listed here. Is this just international links?

[Suzanne]

Hattie wrote: "I want to read The Tiger's Wife. I had forgotten to add it on my list."

It gives you something to look forward to for next year's list! I just loved it!

[Suzanne]

Just left Australia with the thoroughly enjoyable The Secret River. My review is here:
http://coldread.wordpress.com/2012/10...

[[deleted user]]

I would like to read The Secret River. I enjoyed your review. I also like your blog.

[mussolet]

I have read A Lamp at Midday. It is a poetry collection by Judy Croome.
She now lives in South Africa, and spent her childhood in Zimbabwe.

I will not count it for me, as it is a rather general collection (specifically dealing with the loss of her father), but as she is African and there are distinct African themes in some of the poems as well, I figured someone else might want to use it :).

Here is my 4-star-review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

[Vizara]

Jenny wrote: "I finished The Garden of Evening Mists last night, set in Malaya/Malaysia. My review is here, and I would be surprised if this book does not win the Booker. Truly incredible, I learned so much, i..."

I bought it at once after reading your review.

[Yrinsyde]

I've just written my review for Cry, the Beloved Country. Very moving but it also made me angry. I'm now reading for Botswana and Zambia. I love reading novels set in African countries so I am really enjoying this stage of the journey.

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

Vizara wrote: "Jenny wrote: "I finished The Garden of Evening Mists last night, set in Malaya/Malaysia. My review is here, and I would be surprised if this book does not win the Booker. Truly incredible, I lear..." I bought it at once after reading your review.
Let me know what you think!

I read The Year of the Hare for Finland. Here is my review.

[Janice]

I just finished Lost in Shangri-la and really enjoyed the book.

My review.

[Beth]

Think I forgot to report in on The Old Man Who Read Love Stories for Ecuador and This Child Will Be Great: Memoir of a Remarkable Life by Africa's First Woman President for Liberia. Both reviews are on my blog at http://bethslistlove.wordpress.com

[Shomeret]

I just posted my review of The Silver Scorpion Tp, an unusual graphic novel about a Syrian superhero in a wheelchair. It's my Syria book for this challenge.

Read my review at http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

[[deleted user]]

Nice review, Shomeret. I requested it from NetGalley after reading your review here and skimming your blog review (I'll read it when I have more time).

[Barbarac]

Just finished So Long a Letter, in Senegal. I'm in love with this book, what can I say. I'm tempted to re-read it right now, this time with 2 highlighters :-)
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

[Shomeret]

I finally got around to posting my review of The Secret History of Moscowby Ekaterina Sedia, my Russia book. I found it disappointing.

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

[Shomeret]

I now have a review of The Gray Earthby Galsan Tschinag up.

I've already read a book about Mongolia, but this book is about Tuva. I'm very interested in Tuvan culture and I got so incensed when a teacher in this book implied that the Tuvans aren't considered a people, so they didn't need to have political representation. At that point, I decided that Tuva had to count as a nation for me even though they may never have been independent. So this is my Tuva book.

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

[Lisa (Harmonybites)]

I just left Sweden chilled to the bone by John Ajvide Lindqvist's Let the Right One In, the scariest, creepiest vampire book I've read since Salem's Lot. Full review linked below:

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

[Janice]

Lisa (Harmonybites) wrote: "I just left Sweden chilled to the bone by John Ajvide Lindqvist's Let the Right One In, the scariest, creepiest vampire book I've read since Salem's Lot. Full review linked below:

http://www.goodr..."

Ii really "enjoyed" this book too. I listened to it on audiobook. I don't know if that made it more intense or not, but I couldn't stop listening.

[Lisa (Harmonybites)]

Janice wrote: "i really "enjoyed" this book too. I listened to it on audiobook. I don't know if that made it more intense or not, but I couldn't stop listening. "

I couldn't stop reading. Fast read too for what was a fairly lengthy book (472 pages).