Around the World discussion

Thanks to Jenny as well :-)

Here is another small island memoir:
Caribbean Chemistry: Tales from St. Kitts for St. Kitts and Nevis
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

and a novel from Grenada:
Under the Silk Cotton Tree: A Novel
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Added - thanks Val!

I finished the history of the Cayman Islands.
Founded Upon the Seas: A History of the Cayman Islands and Their People
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Here are some you will probably not want to add to your bookshelves. They are ones I gave up on earlier in the year, then decided to read them anyway as I did not have any other books to replace them. The best thing I can say about any of these is that they are short.

Montenegro: Blood of Montenegro
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Brunei: Four Kings
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Guam and other US Pacific territories: A Little Piece of Heaven: Growing Up on Wake Island
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines: Between Two Worlds: A Narrative
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Andorra: The Teacher of Cheops
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Was in Greece with Eleni. What an impactful read: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Was on the Isle of Skye with Letters from Skye. My thoughts: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I read Leaves of the Banyan Tree for Samoa back in August, but had not finished the other two books in the trilogy. I have since.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Finished An Unnecessary Woman - was meh for me. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

A good doomed romance from the Faroe Islands:
Barbara
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

A romantic comedy set in Monaco:
Loser Takes All
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

A short story from Liechtenstein:
"Dust" by Stefan Sprenger
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
This story is included in Best European Fiction 2011.
I will be reading some more of the short stories next year.

I read another book earlier this month, Melal: A Novel of the Pacific for the Marshall Islands, but I am still thinking about it and have not posted a finished review. It is one of those books which is either brilliant or terrible and nothing in between.

Finished Oscar Wilde and a Death of No Importance: A Mystery. Review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I have enjoyed traveling around Australia the whole year. I managed to read six books over my intended "one a month plan". Here is the link to my topic with all of the books listed and their reviews in the first post. https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

I am going to stay in Australia again next year. Way too many books to leave now. ☺

Cherie wrote: "I have enjoyed traveling around Australia the whole year. I managed to read six books over my intended "one a month plan". Here is the link to my topic with all of the books listed and their revi..."

Nice going Cherie - that's impressive. Can't wait to see what you line up for Australia in 2015.

I read Continental Drift by Russell Banks, set partly in the Bahamas. It's not easy finding books set in the Bahamas!! This could also count a wee bit for Haiti but it is more that a character is from there. My review is here.

I also recently read Perfume: The Story of a Murderer by Patrick Süskind which is a great pick for France if you like sensory descriptions and disturbing characters. My review is here.

Finished The Garden of Letters. My review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

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

Here's my review for In Times of Fading Light: A Novel, the second book in a row I've read about East Germany. Whereas there are good beach reads, these books are good winter reads.

Lilisa wrote: "Haven't armchaired to Tonga yet so I'm going to add this one Val. If anyone has other suggestions for Tonga, as well as for Samoa and Vanuatu, please let me know. Thanks."

I quite enjoyed these.

Tonga - Lords of the Pacific was OK - set in Tonga in late 1700s - lots of historical detail and naval battles

Vanuatu - Man Belong Mrs Queen: Adventures with the Philip Worshippers - non fiction account of the Prince Philip cult in Vanuatu (the cult believes that Prince Philip is their god).

I also read, but didn't really love Where We Once Belonged for Samoa.