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I enjoyed this but it felt really long.

#ReadtheWorld2025 #Jamaica

A great mix of memoir, journalism, and politics. A son investigates the murder of his mother, a Maltese journalist who reported on their government and exposed corruption. Well-written, full of depth, emotion, history, and the pursuit of justice.

#ReadtheWorld2025 #Malta

A great collection of Latin American short stories. Very good ones among them, and little magical realism ?

Julio Ramón Ribeyro, Luis Loayza, Alfredo Bryce Echenique, Rodolfo Hinostroza, and Fernando Ampuero are Peruvian writers so I count them for
#FoodAndLit!

#ReadTheWorld2025 Book 22 #Peru

Tama is a magpie, adopted by a couple who turn him into a social media hype. Because Tama can talk, which means repeating things he‘s heard and remembers. The things he says are so funny (you recognize them from earlier conversations and they come up at the most awkward moments) and in combination with the sadness of the couple‘s daily life, it makes a book unlike any other. Brilliant.

#ReadTheWorld2025 book 21 #NewZealand

Berkeley‘s Arms is a home for wealthy elderly in Florida. We meet its residents (mostly female) who spend their days in their rocking chairs on the porch, gossiping about each other and making up stories of their own lives. It‘s probably true to life, which makes it sad, but it reads like a fun story. Not Tove Jansson‘s best one though.

#ReadTheWorld2025 book 20 #Finland

Short but heartbreaking. I can‘t imagine the loss Deraniyagala endured.

#ReadtheWorld2025 #SriLanka

A mix of coming-of-age and family drama, this take place primarily in Singapore with a portions also being in New Zealand. Genevieve is not a particularly likable character (honestly I didn‘t really like any of the characters), but I thought there was a lot of depth and nuance to each of them. The sister dynamic between Genevieve and Arin is complex and I think many will love delving into this.

#Singapore #ReadtheWorld2025

I‘m not the right person for this book that takes place in a small Italian town, but I can see others loving it. A teacher goes into the forest after a student commits suicide. I expected a quiet, introspective novel that drew on human connection, emotions, &relationships. While it‘s certainly quiet &a little introspective, there are so many characters (in under 300 pgs), that I feel we didn‘t get the depth, emotion or connection we could have.

#ReadTheWorld2025

In May and June I added 5 books to @GatheringBooks challenge. I covered the following countries: #Palestine #Suriname #Brazil #Nigeria #Israel

A well-written, informative, & interesting coming-of-age memoir about a Somali girl, spanning from her childhood with her nomadic grandmother, life in the city with her family, escaping during the civil war to Kenya & then Canada, & finally growing into a young adult who honored her culture & ancestry while also choosing to embrace parts of her new home. It‘s part heartbreaking, part educational, & all inspiring.

#ReadtheWorld2025 #Somalia