Around the World discussion

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!

I was in Venice, Italy with Through a Glass, Darkly by Donna Leon unearthing the truth at a Murano glass-making factory. I enjoyed #15 in this Commissario Brunetti series. I’ve been doing the audiobooks when I can get them and the narrator David Colacci is excellent. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

NORTHERN AMERICA
Canada:
Split Tooth is an award-winning debut read by Inuit throat singer Tanya Tagaq. It tells the story of a girl growing up in Nunavut in the 1970s, a gritty, harsh but beautiful tale that blends fiction, memoir magical realism and mythology. The audiobook has excerpts of her unique singing. Here is my review

OCEANIA
Samoa:
Scarlet Lies by Samoan author Lani Wendt Young is a rom-com featuring plus-size heroine Scarlet who has to go home to Samoa for her sister's wedding and ends up falling into the lap of a handsome stranger on the flight home. Here is my review

I've been in India/Pakistan in 1947, seeing partition through a child's eyes with The Night Diary. In my view this one was far more successful than a book I read 2-3 years ago trying to cover the same topic but from a contemporary perspective.

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

I was in Canada with Louise Penny’s latest A World of Curiosities. Not as good as her others in the series. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Was in Iran, Germany, U.S., old Soviet Union with The Nazi Conspiracy: The Secret Plot to Kill Roosevelt, Stalin, and Churchill by Brad Meltzer and Josh Mensch. Nonfiction that reads like fiction - an enjoyable read. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

EUROPE
Russia:
Zuleikha by award-winning debut Russian author Guzel Yakhina is a historical fiction set in 1930s Tatarstan and Siberia based on her grandmother’s memories of being exiled to the Gulag. Zuleikha is an oppressed Tatar housewife taken from her home and taken to a remote camp in Siberia where, despite adversity, she finds her inner strength and will to survive. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ my review

I was in Suriname with The Cost of Sugar by Cynthia McLeod - my first visit to that country and read for To the Finish Line for Jenny Challenge. Here’s to you Jenny for getting me to read my first book set in Suriname. It was a good recommendation. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I was in Bahrain with Bahrain by Robert Cooper in the Cultures of the World Series published by Cavendish Publishing. I read this for To the Finish Line for Jenny Challenge. Thanks Jenny for still contributing to my reading pleasure from the other side. My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I was in Portugal with The Book Spy during World War II. A librarian turned spy, then double agent. I enjoyed it. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

AUSTRALIA:
Mullumbimby is an award-winning contemporary fiction by Indigenous Australian author Melissa Lucashenko. It features smart and sassy Jo Breen who finally achieves her dream of owning a property in her ancestral Bundjalung country only to run into problems with the neighbours, her horses, her teenage daughter, and last but not least, the handsome new bloke in town who is putting together a controversial Land Rights claim. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ here is my review

EUROPE
Faroe Islands:
The Seven Skins of Esther Wilding by Australian author Holly Ringland is a magical book set in Tasmania, Copenhagen and the Faroe Islands. It covers Indigenous stories, Nordic mythology, selkies and fairytales as Esther tries to piece together what happened to her sister Aurora and what the seven verses tattooed on her back meant. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ here is my review

I was in New Caledonia with Miss Benson's Beetle, which I read for To the Finish Line for Jenny Challenge. While it was a reasonable story, the sense of place was dubious - pretty generic and set in the 1950s to blur the lines a little bit further.

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

While I was reading, it got me thinking a lot about my only other New Caledonia read - written by my own aunt, no less! Your Flag's Blocking Our Sun is Helen's account of her journalistic posting in Nouméa, covering the growing independence movement of the early 80s. Probably tricky to get hold of a copy outside Australia, but I'd recommend it over the novel I just read in a heartbeat.

I recommend Hisham Matar . The memoire is set in Libya.

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

Shaheen wrote: "I recommend Hisham Matar . The memoire is set in Libya.

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

Great recommendation Shaheen, and I second The Return: Fathers, Sons, and the Land in Between by Hisham Matar. It was a five-star read for me.

Your post reminded me that I wanted to read his earlier book In the Country of Men. I see a more recent one A Month in Siena too. Adding them to my TBR!

Great recommendation Shaheen, and I second [book:The Retu..."

Lilisa wrote: "Shaheen wrote: "I recommend [author:Hisham

Lilisa, I have thoroughly relished reading all of Hisham Matar's books. His writing pierces the vein and captures the reader to examine and explore the depth of what is humaness in being human - the ability to decipher the layers of perplexities without resignation.

There is another writer you may relish:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

Thanks for the recommendation Shaheen - I will check out Ben Jelloun Tahar’s works.

Set in Mexico and America. Everyone Knows You Go Home is a dual timeline novel with elements of magical realism by Peruvian author Natalia Sylvester. It is about family secrets and the hardships of immigration, with a ghost who returns on every Día de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead). Here is my review

I have got 2 more stories to read in this collection of short stories set in Liberia. I have written a review anyway! https://independentbookreview.wordpre...

I've been in Sweden once again with my favourite deaf journalist in Wolf Pack. I can't recommend this series highly enough!

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

NORTHERN AMERICA
Greenland & Canada:
The Vinland Sagas: The Norse Discovery of America is a translation of the ancient Viking tales telling the story of the discovery of the Americas. These sagas tell the story of Eirik the Red, exiled from Iceland in the 10th Century, who founded the Norse colony and whose sons discovered the “Vinland” (probably in the Newfoundland area of Canada) around 500 years before Columbus. The sagas are easy to read and feature sea-faring Vikings and feisty females such as the impressive Gudrid and the scheming Freydis. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ here is my review.

I've been in Eritrea and Israel with Black Foam: A Novel, which I will be counting for Eritrea. While the bulk of the present day action is set in Israel, about half the story comprises recollections or interviews about the protagonist's earlier life as a soldier in Eritrea. I didn't love it, but at the same time it was short and reasonably compelling, and being an 'own voices' novel makes it worth a read.

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

I was in Australia with Exiles. Not as good as some of her other books, which I’ve rated four and five stars, but still an okay read. Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I was in Syria* on my Long Walk with The Map of Salt and Stars. Unfortunately it wasn't the best choice, as not a lot of time was spent in Syria. But that's my own fault for not interpreting the blurb as well as I should have. I didn't write a proper review for this one as I found it falling short (for me) on a number of levels, but I know others have loved it, and it is very well-written. Beautiful cover art.

* Luckily I have read Syria before, several times.

Andrea wrote: "I was in Syria* on my Long Walk with The Map of Salt and Stars. Unfortunately it wasn't the best choice, as not a lot of time was spent in Syria. But that's my own fault for not int..."

Darn that you didn’t enjoy it more, Andrea. The Map of Salt and Stars is one of my fav books. Oh well, better luck with your next reads!

I was in Japan with A Man by Keiichirō Hirano. I enjoyed it a lot. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I had fluffy detour into Singapore, the US, Hong Kong, the UK, France, and a lot of Shanghai with China Rich Girlfriend.

Was very silly and opulent, but a bit of fun too.

I've been in India with The Unlikely Adventures of the Shergill Sisters. It was a fun read, but didn't rock my world.

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

I was in 1980s USSR and Australia with Invented Lives. It offers a good insight to the exile of Soviet Jews at that time, and if the sense of place for Melbourne is anything to go by, I can only assume Leningrad is rock solid too. My first 5 star read for 2023.

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

Great you had your first 5-star read of the year, Andrea! Nice review.

I was in Vanuatu earlier this month with Boxed Wine at Sunset by Judy Beaudoin and thoroughly enjoyed it - 5 stars! Finally wrote my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I was in East Turkestan or the Xinjiang Autonomous Region of China with A Stone is Most Precious Where it Belongs by Gulchehra Hoja. It was a great read about the Uyghurs. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

That had a great review in the Guardian!

Yrinsyde wrote: "That had a great review in the Guardian!"

I agree with it! 😊

Was in Fiji (and Vanuatu) with Getting Stoned with Savages: A Trip Through the Islands of Fiji and Vanuatu by J. Maarten Troost. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I was in India and the U.S with the short story short story collection - A Small Sacrifice for an Enormous Happiness: Stories by Jai Chakrabarti. I enjoyed it. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I was on the continent of Africa across several countries with Africa Is Not a Country: Notes on a Bright Continent by Dipo Faloyin. It was a great read and superb writing. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

The Travelling Cat Chronicles is a delightfully quirky book by Japanese author Hiro Arikawa which recounts the story of a young man, Saturo and his cat companion Nana, on a road trip through Japan. The cat has the perfect blend of wisdom and supercilious sarcasm you would imagine if a cat was to narrate and draws you into this enchanting and poignant story. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ here is my review

So great you enjoyed The Travelling Cat Chronicles, Rachel. It’s one of my all-time favs!

I've been in ancient Judea, Renaissance Florence and contemporary Australia with new release, One Illumined Thread. It's not without some issues, but makes quite a fascinating change for readers who enjoy historical fiction. I can't resist these beautiful covers!

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

I was in New Zealand with Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton. I enjoyed it and gave it four stars. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I was in india with In Search of Amrit Kaur: A Lost Princess and Her Vanished World by Livia Manera Sambuy. It sounded intriguing but I was disappointed. Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I was in Italy with So Shall You Reap by Donna Leon - the latest Commissario Guido Brunetti book. I’m enjoying this series a lot. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I was in Spain with Red Queen by Juan Gómez-Jurado. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I've been in Istanbul and Oxford with Three Daughters of Eve. It's the kind of book where if you read it at surface-level, it's a great story, but if you let the author provoke your thoughts as she intends, it's very impressive. Fantastic sense of place for both locations, but I will count it for Türkiye.

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

I was in Japan in a special cafe with Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi. How often do people get a chance to time travel for a brief period of time - before the coffee gets cold? My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I was in Greece with Arrested Song: the haunting story of an extraordinary woman in Greece during WW2 by Irena Karafilly. It was an okay read. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

The Rat Catcher: A Love Story is a historic romance novella by Australian author Kim Kelly. Set in Sydney in 1900 during an outbreak of Bubonic plague Patrick O’Malley is employed catching rats but wonders if this is a suitable career for one trying to court the beautiful Rosie. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ here is my review

The Enlightenment of the Greengage Tree is the first book translated from Farsi to be shortlisted for the International Booker award. It is written by Iranian author Shokoofeh Azar who fled to Australia as a refugee when her book was banned in her home country. The story is an historical fiction with strong elements of magical realism and Persian mythology. It tells us about a family from whose lives are turned upside down after the Islamic Revolution in 1979. Here is my review.

House of Thieves is a collection of short stories by Hawaiian author Kaui Hart Hemmings. They are well written somewhat poignant, angsty stories about teens, families and parents. Here is my review