Final reads of 2017

Trafficked was bought at the airport this year after some flight delays. This book was a horrifying read where a British girl was lured to Italy by a 'friend', and  was then forced to into prostitution to repay her 'friend's' drug debt.  Sophie Hayes is not her real name but a pseudonym, and the writer has formed the Sophie Hayes Foundation to help girls like herself.

Wildflower Hill was such a beautiful story. I loved this author!! It was the first novel of hers for me, and it won't be the last. A historical saga weaved between two generations, Beattie Blaxland who came to Australia as a Scottish immigrant in the early 1900s and her granddaughter, Emma Blaxland - Hunter, a ballerina. Their lives connect and the story is brought to life through understanding of a sheep farm, Wildflower Hill in Tasmania.

Sapphire Skies is another historical saga, about a Russian female fighter pilot, Natasha, who flew in WWII, and Lily, an Russian-Australian who has tragically lost her fiance to cancer. The way the two stories connect is wonderfully written.

These are the last reads for me in 2017. Another two countries visited in my read around the world challenge.  🇮🇹 and 🇷🇺

That was a total of 44 books read, a total of 12, 084 pages. The shortest book I read this year was for uni, Peter Drucker's Managing Oneself, and the longest was Jeffrey Archer's False Impression. The average length of book I read was 275 pages. 

The most popular book I've read this year on Goodreads is A Thousand Splendid Suns with 1,323,910 also reading this book and the least popular book I've read on Goodreads is Data! Dialogue! Decisions! - sadly I am the only one... This is due to my uni assignment! LOL The highest rated book I read this year was The War that saved my life. Eleven books were audiobooks, and only 3 were from the library.

Looking forward to discovering more in the world of story in 2018!

Michael Morpurgo

Back in 2013, I had a Year 5/6 classroom. I read them Michael Morpurgo's Little Manfred.

It was a beautiful story about events surrounding the World Cup in 1966 and further back to the second World War. It tells the story of two prisoners and what the war was like for sailors in that time. I love how Michael Morpurgo weaves historical facts into fiction. After reading this story, one of my students borrowed a lot of  the author's books from the library and for his birthday his parents bought him the Michael Morpurgo box set. I bought it for myself, hoping to read them. All the books would be suitable for children in Grades 3-6.

The first book I read from the box set was Kensuke's Kingdom. This book was like a modern day Robinson Crusoe. In 1988 a British family decided to sail around the world in the Peggy Sue. Michael gets swept of the yacht one wild night and is rescued by Kensuke, a Japanese soldier who exiled himself to an island after the bombing of Nagasaki. The story tells of the adventure and their friendship.

Also in the box set was The Wreck of the Zanzibar. This was a quick read, just over 100 pages.  Michael's great aunt Laura has passed away and she left him her diary. In it, it tells about her brother Billy and the night the wreck of a ship, the Zanzibar in the Scilly Isles. Beautifully illustrated and well written. 

Long Way Home is another beautiful story by Michael Morpurgo.  About a foster boy called George who begrudgingly spends his Summer vacation away from the Home and with the Dyer family. Disaster strikes twice for this family and its only then, George realises how much he likes being with the Dyers. Another quick read, just over 150 pages.

Why the Whales Came is possibly my favourite from the box set. It tells of two children Gracie and Daniel who love making boats and sailing them around the Scilly Islands where they live. They are warned from their parents not to go to the Heathy Hill where the Birdman lives. However, the calmer waters are too tempting and, they meet and befriend the reculsive Birdman. This really is a delightful story set during WWII. I believe its also been made into a movie, now I will have to search for it.

I still have two more books from this collection to read. I look forward to reading them.

The Sunlit night

This was a less than average read. I chose the title as it will go towards my Read around the world challenge as it was set in Norway.

The storyline was flawed, the two main characters, Yasha and Frances live in Brooklyn USA. Frances decides to take up an artist apprenticeship and Yasha decides to fulfil his father's last wish... what are the chances of meeting someone in the remotest part of the world, that came from just around the corner. The author's writing style was fast paced and at times a bit manic. It made it difficult to invest in the story of the characters. Being set for most of the story at the "top of the world" I would have liked to escape into the world of the story through its idyllic description of the scenery, which really was lacking. Its a first novel for this author, Rebecca Dinerstein, and I won't be revisiting this author anytime soon.

Just recapping my read around the world challenge so far:

Oceania:

Australia - The Light Between Oceans by M L Stedman

Asia:

Korea - Kite Fighters by Linda Su Park

Lebanon - Oranges in No Man's Land by Elizabeth Laird

Israel - One More River by Lynne Reid Banks

Afghanistan -  A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseni

Iran - Leila's Secret - Kooshyar Karimi

Africa:

Kenya - Facing the Lion by Joseph Lemasolai Lekuton

Sudan - A Long Walk to Water y Linda Su Park

Rwanda - One Thousand Hills by James Roy and Noel Zihabmwe

Somalia - Through my eyes: Amina by J L Powers

Europe:

Ireland - A Taste for It by Monica McInerney

United Kingdom - The War that Saved My Life by Kimberley Brubaker Bradley

Guernsey - The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows

Denmark - Number the Starts by Lois Lowry

France - Paris for One by Jojo Moyes

Norway - The Sunlit Night by Rebecca Dinerstein

Finland - Big Game by Dan Smith

Belgium -  And We're Off by Dana Schwartz

North and Central America

United States - Everything I never told you by Celeste Ng

Canada - The Lightkeeper's Daughters by Jean E. Pendziwol

South America:

not yet explored

20 countries explored so far through the world of story. 

The stars are fire

Years ago, I came across Anita Shreve after her book, The Pilot's wife became a Oprah book club title. I fell in love with her descriptive writing and strong female characters and read many of her books at the time. When I saw a new Anita Shreve title available on audible.com, I thought it would be a good story to listen on my commute each day. 

After a fire devastates a coastal town, Grace survives her house burning to the ground with her two young children. Homeless, penniless and with her husband missing, she gains her strength and provides for her family. A moving story that I couldnt stop listening to. 

What have I been reading

Absolutely loved this story about a delinquent, Morgan who crosses paths with an elderly blind lady, Elizabeth, whilst doing community service. I connected with the characters quickly as the story alternates between the two voices.  Didn’t want to put this one down.

Another intriguing story. The action starts straight away with a stranger entering Sophie’s bedroom startling her in the middle of the night of her 40th birthday. Who is trying to blackmail her? The storyline keeps you guessing. Just wanted to find out who and why... heaps of twists that leaves you wondering.

Enjoyed this story, it satisfied my wanderlust through the descriptions of Paris, Brussels and Ireland and Florence. Nora travels on an art adventure with her mother. Reminds me a bit of the Gilmore girls.

And so with these books I was able to tick off Canada 🇨🇦: with The Lightkeeper’s Daughters and 🇧🇪 Belgium as Nora travelled there in her art adventures in And We’re off. 19 countries visited in the Read around the world challenge.

Everything, everything

Absolutely loved this book. Cute illustrations, emails, instant messages and definitions weaved into this narrative. A young love story with a touch of drama. Highly recommend this quick read!

A couple of audiobooks

I regularly listen to audiobooks to and from work. It takes me into my third space, I tune in, and block out the worries of the workday and I'm able to not "take" them home. I have an hour commute both ways, so I manage to devour a book in a week. It's been a while and the audiobooks on my to be read pile were piling up. In fact I currently have over a dozen waiting for me to play them.

One of the titles I added earlier in the year was Michelle Bridges Make it Happen. I couldn't remember adding it, but I'm glad I did. It was completely not like I was expecting. Part biography and part positive psychology, it was an engaging story about her life and successes. Each chapter finished with a toolbox for success. I think I would replay this one when I need to shift my mindset. It reminded me of the seven habits of highly successful people.

The second title was added after looking at an Oprah email with a list of must reads this Spring. It sounded intriguing. It's called Universal Harvester. It has been listed in the horror/thriller genre but I think it's more intriguing. Partly due to the style of the author, he consistently shifts timeframes and the narrator. This adds to the intrigue and you just want to know why things happened. You really don't know until the last chapter, I was waiting for that explosive ending like Gone Girl but it really was a tragic story.

Jonathan unleashed

This was an advanced copy from Goodreads. I thought it would be an enjoyable read and actually liked the first half of the book. But when Jonathan becomes "unleashed" it just became bizarre and ridiculous, and not even a satisfying ending. Don't bother!

The One plus One

I have enjoyed the few Jojo Moyes titles I've read, and this book made its way onto my to be read pile. I've spent the last few days in bed with the flu and so I decided to blow the dust off this title and get to know the characters. I truly got engaged with the story of Ed, Jess, Nicky, Tanzie and their dog Norman. It was quirky and fun and just what I needed as I've tried to stay warm. My book had this cover.

But I decided I much prefer this earlier version. It makes more sense of the story. 

I can't wait to read more of this author.

Leila's secret

This title was bought for my read around the world challenge as it is set in Iran. I thought it was a work of fiction, even upon reading it it mimics a work of fiction with alternating voices of Leila and the Doctor. It isn't until the final chapter when I realised that the author was in fact the doctor. This story tells of a doctor who lived in the outer cities of Iran and preformed many forbidden procedures on woman to save them from death by stoning or hanging or by suicide. He was tortured before fleeing to Turkey, and is now residing in Australia. A terrifying and heartfelt story at the same time. 

The Good teacher

With a flight delay, rather than reading a trashy magazine, I thought about reading a trashy novel.  A quick read. This was a real page turner from the beginning. Immediately you were thrown into the small town dram with the president of the P&C and new principal engaged in a romp. After the P&C meeting, the one classroom school burns down. This is an amusing tale of lies, lust and revenge. Lacks a bit of cohesion near the end but you are just dying to know how it concludes. Written this year, another book down for the 2017 reading challenge.

A Thousand Splendid Suns

Another book I've had on my bookshelf for a long time! I grabbed it off my bookshelf for a reading challenge as it has a yellow cover and it fits in well for my read around the world challenge. This story is set in Afghanistan. It tells of the story of Mariam. An illegitimate daughter who grew up with her mum, after she dies, she is married off and moves to Kabul. Many years later her life crosses with Laila. Their story is terrifying and yet a beautiful friendship develops. So glad I wiped the dust off and finally read this story!

Read around the world - Finland

I had originally bought Big Game for my son to read, but it stayed on the book shelf untouched. I have a break from study at the moment and wanted to read something for pleasure and this title caught my eye. As a bonus, I can also tick off another country in my read around the world challenge.

Big game by Dan Smith is about a Finnish boy who turns 13 in a day. It's tradition to go into the woods for a day and a night and whatever you hunt signifies what type of man you will become. Oksari goes into the woods to face his life changing adventure but it doesn't go to plan as Air Force one crashes and his adventure now is to save the US president.

The book was 256 pages long and a quick read full of action. I can now highly recommend commend it to my son. The 15th book completed in my challenge.

Read Around the World Challenge

I thought it was time to do a recap on how many countries I have visited in the pages I have read in this challenge to read around the world before I am 50

.

Oceania:

Australia - The Light Between Oceans by M L Stedman

Asia:

Korea - Kite Fighters by Linda Su Park

Lebanon - Oranges in No Man's Land by Elizabeth Laird

Israel - One More River by Lynne Reid Banks

Africa:

Kenya - Facing the Lion by Joseph Lemasolai Lekuton

Sudan - A Long walk to water by Linda Su Park

Rwanda - One Thousand Hills by James Roy and Noel Zihabamwe

Somalia - Through my eyes: Amina by J L Powers

Europe:

Ireland - A Taste for It by Monica McInerney

United Kingdom - The War that saved my life by Kimberley Brubaker Bradley

Guernsey - The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows

France - Paris for One by Jojo Moyes

Denmark - Number the Stars by Lois Lowry

North and Central America:

United States - Everything I never told you by Celeste Ng

South America :

not yet explored

14 countries visited by January 2017

Cruise reads

Just got back from a12 night cruise on the Royal Caribbean Voyager of the seas in the South Pacific, as well as soaking under the sun and in the sea breeze, I managed to get quite a few books read.

One of the titles I read was Pretty Baby by Mary Kubica. I have read a previous book by this author and found it highly engaging. I love this genre and this author, can't wait to read more from her. 

The problem with forever was added to my to be read pile after looking at the Goodreads 2016 choice awards for the young adult section. I found it a thoroughly good read with a plot that will stay with me a long time.

Equally engaging was a collection of short stories titled Paris for one by Jojo Moyes. I have previously read two titles by this author, she writes very likeable characters and I am going to add this to read around the world challenge for France.

Another book I read that takes you to France was a debut book for Phaedra Patrick. This delightful book unravels the stories behind a charm bracelet found by widower Arthur Pepper. He upsets his routine discovering the stories of his late wife's past and getting into all sorts of adventures. I can't wait for her next title to be released later this year.

I haven't read a Monica Mcinerney novel for quite a whilst, but I loved A Taste for it, taking me from the Clare Valley in South Australia to county Clare in Ireland. She also writes extremely likeable characters. I will be looking out for more titles from this author this year.

Lastly, I read the 2016 Goodreads fiction choice award winner - Truly Madly Guilty. I have read a few titles from this author and this was a disappointment. I find Lian Moriarty's writing to become a bit formulaic, and read this thinking "just tell us what happened at the BBQ!!". A good read if you haven't read this author before.

False impression

I couldn't remember buying this book, but I was searching for a new genre to read and this title grabbed my attention on my bookshelf. I hadn't read Jeffrey Archer before and this was a great book to be introduced to this author. It was a fast paced thriller. Set back in 2001 during the 9/11 attacks on New York, it isn't a story about the terrible tragedy but a murder mystery. Anna is an art dealer who works for a slimy man with unscrupulous ways. It's a compelling read, highly recommended.

Through my eyes: Amina

A few years ago I was given a copy of one of the books in the Through my eyes series, this one is Amina. It is about a girl growing up in war torn Mogadishu, Somalia. Amina is brave and courageous  with strength to support her family during some horrifying experiences. A good read. Highly recommended.

This is another title for my read around the world reading challenge.

The war that saved my life

The second Newberry title read in 2017, was a honor book in 2016. It was a moving story of triumph against all odds.  The war that saved my life was set in London and tells of the story of 10 year old Ava and her 6 year old brother Jamie, who are evacuees in WW2. 

Recommended for all upper primary children. 

This is the 10th title in my read around the world challenge. 

Eleanor & Park

This young adult book has been sitting in my TBR pile for over a year. So I wiped off the dust and managed to read it in one day. This book is told in alternating sections with Eleanor narrating then Park. It captures the feelings of first love. What an amazing story. The ending whilst open to interpretation, gave me a sense of hope.... what are your thoughts? Hurry up and read it so you can tell me!

Number the stars

This Newberry medal winner from 1990 was set in Denmark and is another title in my challenge to read around the world.

The book is set in 1943 in Copenhagen and when the Germans occupied Denmark. Based on historic events, it recounts how King Christian sank the Danish naval fleet as the Germans were coming to Denmark. It tells about life before the Jews had to flee through the eyes of Annemarie and her best friend Ellen and how the Danish people helped the Jews escape. A quick read, it is the 9th book in my read around the world challenge. It's also the first Newberry medal title read in 2017.