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.