Play Book Tag discussion

A place to keep track of my various reading challenges.

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

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...

Monthly Tag:
1. January - Mental Health or Historical Fiction:
Wildflower Hill by Kimberley Freeman
2. February - Family Drama: Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

Fly the PBT Skies
https://www.mapdevelopers.com/distanc...
Starting: Milwaukee, WI

1. Tasmania: Wildflower Hill by Kimberley
Freeman
2. Greenland: An Old Captivity by Nevil Shute
3.New Zealand: Tales of a Female Nomad: Living at Large in the World by Rita Golden Gelman

Reduce Physical TBR

In:
1. The Island of Sea Women
2. Animal Dreams
3. Hatchet
4. The Japanese Lover
5. The Client
6. Love the One You're With
7. The Lies We Told
8. City of Girls
9. The House of Broken Angels
10. The Postmistress
11. The Circle
12. Shotgun Lovesongs
13. The Lion's Game
14. First Star I See Tonight
15. The Book of Lost and Found
16. The Tie That Binds
17. The Gifted School

Out:
1. Wildflower Hill
2. Love Songs
3. The Promise
4. Tales of a Female Nomad: Living at Large in the World
5. Beartown
6. Sweet Ember
7. Straight from the Heart
8. The New Shoe
9. Venus of Dreams
10. Ice Palace
11. Across the Years
12. Across the Years
13. The New Shoe (2nd copy)
14. Man of the Midnight Sun
15. The Secret Life of Bees
16, Casting About
17. The Shipping News
18. The Poisonwood Bible
19. The Dive from Claussen's Pier
20. The Spirit of Sweetgrass
21. Miss Spitfire: Reaching Helen Keller
22. Calculator puzzles
23. Dogsong
24. Welcome to Temptation
25.The Lies We Told
26. Ice Station
27. The Japanese Lover
28. Priceless
29. Destiny's Road
30. Rainbow Six
31. Country Brides: A Little Bit Country\Country Bride
32. The Book of Lost and Found
33. Rumors of Spring

An Old Captivity by Nevil Shute

Start: Tasmania

9963.51 miles to Greenland: https://www.mapdevelopers.com/distanc...
Bonus miles: none this leg

Greenland: shelved 11 times, https://www.goodreads.com/work/shelve...


First published in 1940, this book tells of a fictional expedition from England to Greenland to map and study the early European settlers. For the most part, the tale revolves around the preparation for the trip: purchasing a suitable plane, finding a pilot, outfitting the participants. Then it moves on to the actual flight to Greenland via Iceland. There is much discussion of weather conditions, fueling the plane (150 gallons of fuel 2 gallons at a time), and the difficulties encountered. And there is a romance between the pilot and the daughter of the scientist.

This wasn’t my first time reading this book, the last time being in 1984. And while it isn’t my favorite by Nevil Shute, I found it engrossing nevertheless, as I really didn’t remember much from my previous readings.

Tales of a Female Nomad: Living at Large in the World by Rita Golden Gelman
4 stars

Starting: Greenland

Destination: New Zealand 9745.67 miles
https://www.mapdevelopers.com/distanc...
Bonus miles: none

New Zealand: shelved 6 times
https://www.goodreads.com/work/shelve... (top of 3rd column)


Following a divorce at age 48, Rita Golden Gelman decided to leave her LA lifestyle and wander the world connecting with different cultures. Rather than staying at large tourist hotels, she would follow her path to out-of-the-way places and get involved with the locals. She lived simply, on the local economy, and made many, many friends while stumbling through the language and cooking with the women. Her travels led her to Mexico, the Galapagos Islands, Indonesia and New Zealand. In New Zealand she lived in a small village, volunteered at a Moari school, and ate fresh seafood every day.

I found that I admired her gumption in stepping out of the comfort of her "known" culture, and exploring the wider world. She did have an added advantage, as an author of children's books, she could use that to gain entry into new groups by passing out some of her books and and volunteering to teach English, writing, and other things. She worked very hard within herself to be non-judgemental about the roles and traditions that she encountered, and didn't try to change the people to her "American" values.

Beartown by Fredrik Backman 5 stars

Starting: New Zealand

Destination: Sweden 10, 876.66 miles
https://www.mapdevelopers.com/distanc...

Sweden: shelved by 174
https://www.goodreads.com/work/shelve...

I lived in Sweden when I was 4.

In a work of fiction as dark as the Swedish winter, Fredrik Backman examines the collective obsession for ice hockey in the small town of Beartown. Located deep in the forest of Sweden, practically every boy in town learns to skate as soon as he can walk, and chases the puck as soon as he can hold a hockey stick. Many in town never outgrow their hockey days. And ice hockey is behind every major life decision made.

As the grandmother of a MN granddaughter who has loved ice hockey since she was a toddler, I found the book fascinating, and was glad she was a girl. Again, another great book by this great Swedish author!

The New Shoe by Arthur W. Upfield 4 stars

Starting: Sweden
Destination: Australia 8,729.22 miles
https://www.mapdevelopers.com/distanc...

Tagged "Australia" by 7 members
https://www.goodreads.com/work/shelve...

The case is cold when Inspector Bonaparte arrives in Split Point two months after a body was found hidden in a lighthouse with no identification. The local police have no suspects. Bony was assigned to the case because of his 100% record in solving cases.

Originally published in 1951, The New Shoe is a reflection of its times. Hence, no DNA analysis and all the modern techno ways of today's investigations. The main character, Bony, is half aborigine/caucasian. He has a way of really listening to people when they talk.

I have read three Inspector Bonaparte mysteries over the years. And I inherited a pile from my father. A few minutes ago I went downstairs to pull out a few to add to my reading pile. I like this laid back detective style, without any flashiness or gratuitous sex. Just a solid read.

Voices by Arnaldur Indriðason

Starting: Australia
Destination: Iceland
https://www.mapdevelopers.com/distanc...

Tagged "Iceland" by 92 people
https://www.goodreads.com/work/shelve...

He has been the doorman at the hotel for twenty plus years. He has lived in a small room in the basement of the hotel for nearly that many years. He was due to play Santa at the annual hotel party. The victim of a gruesome murder, his body is left in a shocking position.

The task of solving the murder falls to Inspector Erlendur Sveinsson of the Reykjavik police. A story as gray and dark as the Icelandic winter. This story finds Erlendur reliving memories of his own life as the investigates the backstory of the victim who was a famous choirboy in his youth. #3 in the series, I will be continuing the series.

Voices by Arnaldur Indriðason

Starting: Australia
Destination: Iceland
https://www.mapdevelopers.com/distanc...

Tagged "Iceland" by 92 people
https://www.goodreads.com/work/shelve...

He has been the doorman at the hotel for twenty plus years. He has lived in a small room in the basement of the hotel for nearly that many years. He was due to play Santa at the annual hotel party. The victim of a gruesome murder, his body is left in a shocking position.

The task of solving the murder falls to Inspector Erlendur Sveinsson of the Reykjavik police. A story as gray and dark as the Icelandic winter. This story finds Erlendur reliving memories of his own life as the investigates the backstory of the victim who was a famous choirboy in his youth. #3 in the series, I will be continuing the series.

Sun at Midnight by Rosie Thomas 3 stars

Starting: Iceland
Destination: Antarctica 10,003.63 miles
https://www.mapdevelopers.com/distanc...

Tagged "Antarctica" by six people
https://www.goodreads.com/work/shelve... first column

Alice Peel, a geologist, has always lived in the shadow of her famous mother. Her mother became known for her studies in Antarctica. When Alice’s life seems to be unraveling, she is offered a post as the geologist on a field station in Antarctica and she, reluctantly, decides to take it. The post will be a “summer over” one. While the station is small and compact, Antarctica is large and beautiful and Alice begins to feel confident in her role and mates, with the exception of loner James Rooker.

As I was getting a feel for the place and the work and routines in a field station, the story took a left turn of bad decisions by Alice, and others, and I thought turned it into romantic nonsense. I found I was really annoyed by the direction of the plot. And while I give it 3 stars for a sort of average read, I wouldn’t really recommend the book.