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We are halfway done with Week 13, a week which gave you a change of scenery.

This discussion thread is solely for your progress (book discussions go in individual threads).


What did you read this week?

What was your destination?

Did you enjoy the book? Would you recommend it?

Do you want to read more books happening in this country?

What did you read this week?
The Mango Season

What was your destination?
India!

Did you enjoy the book? Would you recommend it?
Yes, I liked the colorful characters, the family was horrible and very narrow minded so it was pretty easy to understand the main character. It was a good insight on indian traditions (arranged wedding mostly).
This type of story is not my usual cup of tea but it was fun and easy to read, so yes, I'd recommend it, specially to people not too much in "people fiction".

Do you want to read more books happening in this country?
Yes. This one focused on wedding so I'd like reading more widen ones.

What did you read this week?

"Death Comes To Pemberley" by P.D. James.

What was your destination?

English countryside

Did you enjoy the book? Would you recommend it?

I'm only about halfway through but enjoying it a lot. I would recommend it if you like Jane Austen's novels, P.D. James, or historical fiction/mysteries set in England at the beginning of the 1800s.

Do you want to read more books happening in this country?

Yes.

What did you read this week?
The Fiery Cross

What was your destination?
America

Did you enjoy the book? Would you recommend it?
Fifth book in the series, didn't enjoy it that much. I would only recommend to people that enjoy the Outlander story.

Do you want to read more books happening in this country?
Not really fussed!

What did you read this week?
The Light Between Oceans

What was your destination?
Australia

Did you enjoy the book? Would you recommend it?
Yes. I thought it was a great story.

Do you want to read more books happening in this country?
Yes.

What did you read this week? Cutting for Stone

What was your destination? Ethiopia

Did you enjoy the book? Would you recommend it? Yes, indeed. It was a gripping and masterful tale. I couldn't take my eyes off of it.

Do you want to read more books happening in this country? Probably not... There are so many other countries!!!

What did you read this week? Private India

What was your destination? India

Did you enjoy the book? Would you recommend it? I did not enjoy this book, it was not one of his better books. I had a big project at work at the time I read it and read it because it was a fast read.

Do you want to read more books happening in this country? Maybe.

What did you read this week?
I've read The Physician by Noah Gordon

What was your destination?
England mostly, and Percia. And a trip through Europe. Somehow, my country was missed, like they jumped from Hungary to Bulgaria (I guess).

Did you enjoy the book? Would you recommend it?
Yes, it's an awesome book. The book of medieval times, I've always wished to read. An interesting and touching story, touching bondings between charater, great charater development.

Do you want to read more books happening in this country?
I don't really look for countries the action is happening in, while choosing a book.

What did you read this week? Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier.

What was your destination? America during the Civil War.

Did you enjoy the book? Would you recommend it? The closer to the end I got, the more I enjoyed it. The characters weren't particularly likeable in the beginning but as the book went on I came to care about them more. I struggled a little with the way it was broken up with one chapter focusing on Inman and the next focusing on Ada, because I wasn't really fussed for either of them so I didn't have much motivation to read on to the end of a chapter, let alone start another one!

I think in part I was having difficulty because I was comparing it to the film. Once I stopped doing that I also enjoyed it more.

Frazier paints a great setting and it's worth reading purely for the location descriptions.

Do you want to read more books happening in this country? I love books which are set in the past and show how people's way of live has changed. I went for an easy option by reading a book set in America since I already read quite a few set there.

Like others, I don't normally pay much attention to where a book is set, unless it's a country I'm familiar with. I'll almost certainly read more books set in America, though maybe not any Civil War ones for a while!

What did you read this week?
Guillotine: The Timbers of Justice by Robert Frederick Opie

What was your destination?France, mostly, and some other countries in Europe (Germany, England and a few others).

Did you enjoy the book? Would you recommend it?
I'm a huge history nerd and this was a very pleasant read. I've been in a reading slump for a while and I'm really behind on this challenge, but this book was short and entertaining. It also wasn't very heavy, like some other non-fiction books. I would recommend it to someone who enjoys history and is interested in the French Revoution period.

Do you want to read more books happening in this country?
Yes, I would love to!

P.S. English is not my first language so I apologise in advance for any mistakes I made.

What did you read this week?

The Paying Guests by Sarah Waters

What was your destination?

London, England

Did you enjoy the book? Would you recommend it?

I enjoyed it quite a bit. I felt it lost some of its drive in the last 3rd of the book, but the writing was good and it kept me engaged. I want to read some of Waters' books that reviewers say are even better than this one.

Do you want to read more books happening in this country?

Yes, it's one of my favorite settings.

This week I read 'I Am Malala' - Malala Yousafzai, a book about a very brave human rights activist in pakistan, shot by the Taliban for standing up for girl's education.
The destination was Pakistan and i would love to read more into this country as it taught me a lot about Pakistani culture and customs Nd the history of it. I gave it a 4.5/5 stars and would highly highly recommend it as I enjoyed her charisma and enthusiasm.

Check out my blog:

What did you read this week?

To Live by Yu Hua

What was your destination?

China

Did you enjoy the book? Would you recommend it?

Very much. This book highlights the Chinese struggle prior to and following the cultural revolution. The class systems that existed, leading to exploitation of the poor, and the deplorable conditions experienced by the lower classes were all detailed in this book. However, the book also explores the demanding nature of the communist party. Despite eliminating class-ist ways of the former Chinese society, the communist party itself manipulated and exploited its people to the point of mass starvation, and engendered a corrupt hierarchy, leading to a dysfunctional political and social system in rural China. Amidst, all these social evolutions (whether capitalist or socialist), the story explores human struggle and the will of the poor to survive, and the self destructive nature of the wealthy. Pretty amazing book.

Do you want to read more books happening in this country?

Yes.

I read The Miniaturist For this week.
My destination was seventeen century Amsterdam.
I would not recommend the book, there was so much talk about it, I just thought it was a very sad story.
I might want to read another book about Amsterdam , but not in the seventeenth century.

What did you read this week? A Week in Winter by Maeve Binchy

What was your destination? Ireland

Did you enjoy the book? Would you recommend it? I did enjoy it very much. I liked how all the characters overlapped but had their own stories to tell.

Do you want to read more books happening in this country? Sure, why not?

What did you read this week? The Queen's Handmaid

What was your destination? Egypt, but the book traveled to Rome, Jerusalem, and a few more.


Did you enjoy the book? Would you recommend it? It was pretty good. Not amazing, but a decent read :)


Do you want to read more books happening in this country? Probably, I enjoy reading about Egypt, but Egypt didn't end up being the main focus, so I ended up being a bit disappointed.

What did you read for week 13?The Golem's Eye by Jonathan Stroud

What was your destination? London, England and a short visit to Prage in the Czech Republic

Did you enjoy the book? Would you recommend it?Oh, yes! I enjoyed it a lot. And yes, I would recommed to read the whole Bartimaeus Trilogy.

Do you want to read more books happening in this country? Yes, I love to read stories happening in England. I think of England as a timeless place full of mistery.

What did you read this week? I Am China by Xiaolu Guo

What was your destination? London, England; Beijing and Shanghai, China; brief stops in Switzerland, Crete, and in various American cities.

Did you enjoy the book? Would you recommend it? Ugh, unfortunately no. I thought it had potential, but that there was a lot lacking in the final story. My posted review is .

Do you want to read more books happening in this country? I actually do. I find Chinese culture to be fascinating, usually, and enjoy reading about both Chinese history and Chinese immigrants. I just didn't enjoy this one.

What did you read this week? The Beautiful Mystery by Louise Penny.

What was your destination? Quebec Canada

Did you enjoy the book? Would you recommend it? I confess I kind of "cheated" and chose this book because I love the Inspector Gamache series so much and this was the next in line for me. I would highly recommend this or any other Inspector Gamache book to anyone who enjoys a good murder mystery. And even to those who claim not to like them. I've read more than one review from non-MM readers who have said that Ms. Penny is so good that they make an exception for this series.

Do you want to read more books happening in this country? Definitely will because I have to finish the Inspector Gamache series!

What did you read this week? The Snow Child

What was your destination? Alaska

Did you enjoy the book? Would you recommend it? I really liked it - it was well written & engaging. I'd definitely recommend it to others.

Do you want to read more books happening in this country? Considering how many books are set in the US, I'd be crazy to say no!

What did you read this week? The Housekeeper and the Professor

What was your destination? Japan

Did you enjoy the book? Would you recommend it? I loved it so much. Definitely recommend.

Do you want to read more books happening in this country? Yes.