Around the World Challenge 2017 : Australasian/Pacific Focus and Mop Up November and December

In November our focus in the Around the World Challenge moves to Australasian and Pacific Countries.Use this thread to record any books you read during the months of November and December which involve a visit to this area of the world, naming the country visited, the book read and the date finished.

Additionally we will use this month to also visit countries across the world we haven't got to yet.

The aim is to try to collectively visit 20 different Countries in this area of the world (as well as other countries we haven't visited) during November and December

Please feel free also to use this thread to recommend books for countries or ask others of recommendations for books that cover some of these countries.

Good luck!

Alphabetical list of countries in Australia and Oceania
A
Australia : What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty 10/11/17
B
Bora Bora : The Bungalow by Sarah Jio 19/11/17
F
Fiji : Fiji by Lance and James Morcan 3/12/17
K
Kiribati
M
Marshall Islands
Micronesia
N
Nauru
New Zealand
P
Palau
Papua New Guinea
S
Samoa
Solomon Islands
T
Tonga
Tuvalu
V
Vanuatu

Other countries we haven't visited:

Europe Countries Not Yet Visited (Jan/Feb)
A
Albania : The Successor byIsmail Kadare 11/12/17
Andorra
Armenia
Azerbaijan
B
Belarus
Bosnia and Herzegovina: Avenger by Frederick Forsyth 25/11/17
Bulgaria
C
Cyprus : Born To Run by James Grippando 9/17
G
Georgia
H
Hungary
I
Iceland : Where The Shadows Lie by Michael Ridpath 7/11/17
K
Kazakhstan
Kosovo
L
Latvia : Holes by Louis Sachar 26/11/17
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
M
Malta
Moldova
Montenegro
R
Romania : False Impression by Jeffrey Archer 10/12/17
S
San Marino
Serbia : The Bach Manuscript by Scott Mariani 9/12/17
Slovakia
Slovenia

North American/Central American/ Caribbean Countries Not Yet Visited (Mar/Apr) :

A
Antigua and Barbuda : Our Kind of Traitor by John Le Carre 21/11/17
D
Dominica
Dominican Republic
E
El Salvador
G
Grenada
N
Nicaragua
P
Panama
S
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
T
Trinidad and Tobago

Asian Countries Not Yet Visited (May/June)

A
Armenia
Azerbaijan
B
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Bhutan
Brunei : The Jungle by Clive Cussler and Jack Du Brul 14/11/17
C
Cambodia
G
Georgia
J
Jordan
K
Kazakhstan
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
L
Laos : The Coroner’s Lunch by Colin Cotterill 9/12/17
M
Maldives
Mongolia : The Nemesis Program by Scott Mariani 5/12/17
O
Oman
S
Saudi Arabia : Midnight Runner by Jack Higgins 30/11/17
T
Taiwan
Tajikistan
Timor-Leste
Turkmenistan
U
United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Uzbekistan : La maison dorée de Samarkand by Hugo Pratt 20/12/17
Y
Yemen : The Illusion of Murder by Carol McCleary 8/11/17

South American Countries Not Yet Visited (July / Aug) :

B
Bolivia
E
Ecuador
S
South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands
U
Uruguay
V
Venezuela

Africa and Middel East Countries Not Yet Visited (Sep/Oct) :

A
Algeria : The Killing Ground by Jack Higgins 27/11/17
Angola
B
Bahrain
Benin
Burkina Faso
Burundi
C
Cabo Verde
Chad
Comoros
Republic of the Congo
Côte d'Ivoire
Cyprus
D
Djibouti
E
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
G
Gabon
Gambia
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
J
Jordan
K
Kenya : Clouds Beneath the Sun by Mackenzie Ford 3/12/17
Kuwait
L
Lebanon : Day of Reckoning by Jack Higgins 26/11/17
Liberia
M
Madagascar
Malawi
Mali
Mauritania
Mauritius : Mauritius Command by Patrick O’Brian 9/12/17
Mozambique
N
Namibia
Niger
Q
Qatar
S
Sao Tome and Principe
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Seychelles
T
Togo
Turkey
U
Uganda
United Arab Emirates
Z
Zambia

Target : 20 countries during November and December. Certainly plenty of countries to choose from!

Countries Visited : 20
Target : 20

Books I'm going to read for November/December:
The Bungalow by Sarah Jio - Bora-Bora
The Coroner's Lunch by Colin Cotterill - Laos
The Illusion of Murder by Carol McCleary - Yemem

I can read one of Kerry Greenwood's Phryne Fisher series for Australia; and I might be able to get hold of a book for Malta - will let you know.

Have just downloaded a book for Iceland, so I can definitely make a start on that.

>10 Sergeirocks: That's great! Every book helps to meet the goal.

>10 Sergeirocks: >11 EadieB: You're both on fire!

>12 Andrew-theQM: We can make this goal just like we made the Sept/Oct goal.

Iceland - Where the Shadows Lie by Michael Ridpath, 7 November (4.5★s)

>14 Sergeirocks: Yey! We are off and running with one. I enjoyed that book a lot when I read it a few years ago, I particularly liked the reference to the Tolkien story.

I'm halfway through a book which covers Australia, What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty.

I’m finishing my book which covers Yemem.

Finished The Illusion of Murder by Carol McCleary - Yemem - 353 pgs. - ★★★★ - 11/8/2017

Finished What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty for Australia, enjoyed this overall but just a tad of an anticlimax in the way the ending was presented. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Jungle by Clive Cussler and Jack Du Brul Visited many countries but the only one we haven't previously been to this year was Brunei.

I have 2 books on the go (1 'real' book, 1 e-book) which will give us Mauritius and Antigua.

>21 Sergeirocks: Well done.

Starting The Bungalow by Sarah Jio - Bora-Bora

Finished The Bungalow by Sarah Jio - Bora-Bora - 5 stars
Book Description:
In the summer of 1942, newly engaged Anne Calloway sets off to serve in the Army Nurse Corps on the Pacific island of Bora-Bora. More exhilarated by the adventure of a lifetime than she ever was by her predictable fiance, she is drawn to a mysterious soldier named Westry, and their friendship soon blossoms into hues as deep as the hibiscus flowers native to the island. Under the thatched roof of an abandoned beach bungalow, the two share a private world-until they witness a gruesome crime, Westry is suddenly redeployed, and the idyll vanishes into the winds of war.

A timeless story of enduring passion, The Bungalow chronicles Anne's determination to discover the truth about the twin losses--of life, and of love--that have haunted her for seventy years.

My Review:
This is the 3rd book that I have read by this author. It is definitely my favorite so far. It is a quick, easy read from the WWII era on the tiny island of Bora-Bora. It is an interesting read about romance and friendship with a touch of mystery. The characters were unique and well developed. The story has twists and turns that held my interest to the end. I look forward to read more of Sarah Jio's books. I would highly recommend this book to those who love romantic "feel good" stories.

Reading this one too: The Shadow Walker (A Mongolian Mystery) Author: Michael Walters

>25 EadieB: I bet that's interesting!

>26 Andrew-theQM: At least it's the first in the series. lol

Antigua - Our Kind of Traitor by John le Carré, 21 November (4★s)

>28 Sergeirocks: Nice one!

Updated, now up to 6. 😊

> I found a few more books to help our goal. I’ll list them later.

These are on the 1001 book list:
The Successor: A Novel by Kadare, Ismail - Albania
The Melancholy of Resistance by Laszlo Krasznahorkai - Hungary

More books to read:
A Burnt-Out Case by Graham Greene - Republic of Congo, Africa
The Coroner's Lunch by Colin Cotterill - Laos

These are on the 1001 book list:
The Successor: A Novel by Kadare, Ismail - Albania
The Melancholy of Resistance by Laszlo Krasznahorkai - Hungary

Bosnia - Avenger by Frederick Forsyth, 25 November (5★s + ❤️)

These are some of the potential books for me, I own these or can easily get hold of.

Malta : Blood Rock by James Jackson
Romania : False impression by Jeffrey Archer
👉Fiji : Fiji by Lance Morcan and James Morcan
Serbia : The Bach Manuscript by Scott Mariani
Saudi Arabia : Path of the Assasin by Brad Thor
New Zealand : The Colour by Rose Tremain

>34 Sergeirocks: And then there were 7. 👏

Sounds a great read!

>34 Sergeirocks: >36 Andrew-theQM: Looks good to make our goal!

>37 EadieB: Between the three of us we should make it. Just need to finish my current Sycamore Row and then will. be targeting the spdifferent countries.

Lebanon - Day of Reckoning by Jack Higgins, 26 November (4★s)

>39 Sergeirocks: Good one!

Latvia - Holes by Louis Sachar
Forgot to put this one down earlier in the month, the book starts off in Latvia.

Now up to 9 out of the target of 20.

Definitely making headway!

>43 EadieB: And I'm part way though a book set in Fiji which I should finish before the month end.

I’m reading a new Harlan Coben book called Don’t Let Go and then I have to read my November sub-genre book then I can start the books for the countries visited. Also we have one more group read.

Algeria - The Killing Ground by Jack Higgins, 27 November (4★s)

Still got Mauritius on the go (!) and next up will be one for Kuwait.

>48 Andrew-theQM: You're on fire! 🔥

Now at half-way with ten.

Saudi Arabia - Midnight Runner by Jack Higgins, 30 November (4★s)

I'd expected this book to visit Kuwait, but turns out it was Saudi Arabia - still, it was one that we needed anyway.

Reading a book set in Kenya, :)

Finished Fiji by Lance and James Morcan, which unsurprisingly is based in Fiji! Quite an enjoyable read overall.

Kenya - Clouds Beneath the Sun by Mackenzie Ford, 3 December (4.5★s)

(Still reading Mauritius and started one for Mongolia...)

I’ve Just started a book for Romania, False Impression by Jeffrey Archer.

I’m starting one for Laos called The Coroner's Lunch by Colin Cotterill

Mongolia - The Nemesis Program by Scott Mariani, 5 December (4.5★s)

>56 Sergeirocks: Wow! You are knocking out the books!

>57 EadieB: We simply cannot fall at this final hurdle, Eadie. It looks like it's down to you, me and Andrew to get this done, :)

>58 Sergeirocks: >57 EadieB: I agree with Eadie, you are on 🔥 The three of us will easily do this. I will have some quality reading time in a couple of weeks and expect to get to 6 new countries before the year is out. Currently part way through one of these.

>58 Sergeirocks: >59 Andrew-theQM: Rest assuredly! I'm sure we can do this. I am halfway through my Laos book.

Mauritius - Mauritius Command by Patrick O'Brian, 9 December (4.5★s)

It's taken a while to get here, but I've made it at last! :D

>61 Sergeirocks: I’ve heard about the slow boat to China, but did the same boat take in Mauritius? 😂 Seriously though well done. I’ve literally just landed in Serbia with The Bach Manuscript by Scott Mariani.

Finished The Coroner’s Lunch for Laos. Will write my review later. I’m in New York leaving hotel for the theater. I’ll be home tomorrow afternoon.

>63 EadieB: Well done. What did you go and see?

>64 Andrew-theQM: Here’s info:

https://thebandsvisitmusical.com

I enjoyed it very much. Especially the music and lyrics.

>65 EadieB: Looks interesting!

>66 Andrew-theQM: Was very good! Going here for dinner with 50 couples:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_Cirque

>67 EadieB: A great end to the day by the look of it!

Finished The Bach Manuscript by Scott Mariani which Visited Serbia ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

Now up to 17.

We may have to finish this challenge ourselves Eadie, as Sergei seems to be moonlighting- he’s currently too busy to read driving me around Romania in my latest book. He’s kept this part of his life very quiet! 😂

‘I’m Sergei ’ he announced in his native tongue Anton told me you’d called and asked to be picked up He has already booked you into a small hotel downtown ’ Sergei took Anna’s trolley and pushed it towards his waiting taxi.’ False Impression, Jeffrey Archer.

>71 Andrew-theQM: At least you finally got to meet Sergei!

Well, I just arrived home from my New York weekend and my book for Albania was in my mailbox. So, I'm going to start The Successor by Ismail Kadare which is on the 1001 booklist and the winner of The Man Booker International Prize 2005. I should get it done pretty quickly as it is only 207 pages with lots of space between the lines. lol


The Successor by Ismail Kadare, David Bellos (Translator)
Book Description:
A new novel from the acclaimed winner of the inaugural Man Booker International Prize for achievement in fiction.
The Successor is a powerful political novel based on the sudden, mysterious death of the man who had been handpicked to succeed the hated Albanian dictator Enver Hoxha.

The man who died was Mehmet Shehu, the presumed heir to the ailing dictator. The world was so certain that he was next in line that he was known as The Successor. And then, shortly before he was to assume power, he was found dead. Did he commit suicide or was he murdered?

The Successor is simultaneously a page-turning mystery, a historical novel – based on actual events and buttressed by the author’s private conversations with the son of the real-life Mehmet Shehu – and a psychological challenge to the reader to decide, How does one live when nothing is sure? The Successor seamlessly blends dream and reality, legendary past, and contemporary history, and proves again that Kadare stands alongside Márquez, Canetti, and Auster.

>72 EadieB: Hope you enjoy it. I’ve just finished our 18th book which took in Romania, as well as some other countries we have already been to.

>73 Andrew-theQM: I should finish my book probably tonight or tomorrow morning.

Finished The Successor by Ismail Kadare for Albania - 19th book!

>75 EadieB: 1 to go! 👍

>76 Andrew-theQM: I think Sushicat is going to read one for Uzbekistan.

Uzbekistan is progressing very slowly...

But I’ve just finished I Was Told to Come Alone - and what a great book it was. It is the memoir of a German journalist, daughter of a Moroccan father and a Turkish mother. She spent years in investigative journalism out of a burning need to understand why we see a rise in extremism, particularly in the Islam world. Reading this well balance, unprejudiced look at a tangled mess of historical legacy and social issues is an eye opener. Lots of food for thoughts. Highly recommended.

Anyway, the first chapter is set in Turkey.

Uzbekistan: La maison dorée de Samarkand by Hugo Pratt. Took me while to get into due to a very confusing historical background. 3 stars

Well done Sushicat you read the book that took us to our target of 20 books.