The Last Girl Nadia Murad
See here for a review.
The Giver Lois Lowry
I'm not sure what to say about this book other than I found it fascinating, slightly disturbing and weird and the kind of book I'd love to discuss with someone else who has read it but so far I haven't found anyone. It was actually banned in some schools and libraries in the US but I'm really not sure why. That seems like a rather excessive reaction to it. This is a summary from wiki:
The Giver is a 1993 American young adult dystopian novel by Lois Lowry. It is set in a society which at first appears to be utopian but is revealed to be dystopian as the story progresses. The novel follows a 12-year-old boy named Jonas. The society has eliminated pain and strife by converting to "Sameness", a plan that has also eradicated emotional depth from their lives.
If Only They Didn't Speak English. Notes from Trump's America
John Sopel
I enjoyed this book so much. It was fascinating learning about some of the history of America and looking at the differences between England and America and why this might be. Here are the chapter headings: Anger, Race, Patriotism, Government, God, Guns, Anxiety, Special, Truth. John Sopel is the BBC North America editor and has the typical BBC bias when discussing subjects such as religion, pro-life and Trump. But apart from very obvious biases it was a great book to read. I think everyone around me is getting irritated though by how much I keep quoting it at them!
Orphan of Islam Alexander Khan
This was one of those books I can't say I enjoyed, rather found informative and concerning. It's the autobiography of a boy born to a Pakistani father and English mother in Lancashire. He recounts his life growing up in a Pakistani ghetto in the north of England in the 1970s and 80s (it's shocking how uninvolved social services etc were in his life ie no one checked up if he went to school etc- which he didn't- he grew up illiterate). He was then forced to spend time under terrible conditions in Pakistan. It was a disturbing reading about the influence mosques had over the immigrant population in the UK. It would be fascinating to read an account of life in these areas now to see what, if anything, has changed.
Runaway Girl Casey Watson
Casey Watson is a foster mother and has written many books based on her experiences as a foster mother. This is the first one I've read. It's an interesting insight into the life of foster caring and this particular book tells the very sad story of a girl trafficked from Poland into the sex trade in the UK.
A Hundred and One Days Asne Seierstad
I read this book because I wanted to understand a bit more what life was like in Baghdad before and during the 2003 war and the first part of the occupation. The whole account was fascinating. Seierstad (author of The Bookseller of Kabul) was a journalist in Baghdad for 101 days. She describes the massive frustrations with the system and the censorship. Over time this gradually broke down and she was able to see more of the real Baghdad. I feel she gives a fair account of how terrible life was under Sadam but also how terrible it was during the war and the ensuing occupation. It's hard to read it and not be just so angry with the occupying forces- the whole basis of their attacks (9/11 is given way too often as the reason for what they did- what did that have to do with Baghdadis?); the trigger- happy armies; the lack of planning for the aftermath and the stupidity of decisions. Will the governments who made the decision to invade (under false arguments) and cause the chaos that is present day Iraq, ever be held to account?
Born a Crime Trevor Noah
I bought this book because it was 99 pence on kindle and I'd seen Trevor Noah interviewed on TV and found him interesting. I'm so glad I did because this book is really fascinating about life in South Africa during and after apartheid, including some of the history leading up to apartheid. Trevor Noah was born to a black mother and white father which was a crime and he describes what that was like growing up. I really appreciated his comments on poverty and crime. It's very funny at times and also extremely sad. There is some bad language throughout the book
The Kabul Beauty School Deborah Rodriguez
This was a fascinating and fun read! The author went to Kabul with an NGO and ended up staying a long time to set up and run a beauty school. I appreciated her self-deprecating and humorous style. Many of the stories she told about women's lives in Afghanistan were heart-breaking.
The Optician of Lampedusa Emma-Jane Kirby
Quick book to read but very thought-provoking and moving. See here
What Comes with the Dust: Goes With the Wind Gharbi M. Mustafa
A shocking, hard book to read. See here for more.
Talking about Jane Austen in Baghdad Bee Rowlatt & May Witwit
See here for my review of this fascinating book
I am Malala Malala Yousafzai & Christina Lamb
I listened to this on audible. It was a fascinating account of the life of Malala but also about the history, culture and religion of Pakistan.
Auggie and Me: Three Wonder Stories R.J. Palacio
This is not a sequel to Wonder, it's written in the same time frame but from the viewpoint of three of Auggie's friends. It's really good, particularly Julian's story. It's definitely not as good as Wonder though.
The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared
Jonas Jonasson
Brilliant! Such a funny, zany book.
Wonder R.J. Palacio
Wonderful. See this post for a review
Far Horizons Frank Gardner
I loved Frank Gardner's autobiography Blood and Sand so I was keen to read this book. It's a travel book describing lots of different countries he's been to before and after the shooting which paralysed him. He writes brilliantly and really makes the countries come alive.
The Breadwinner
Parvana's Journey Deborah Ellis
My Name is Parvana
Hard hitting stories of an Afghan girl
The Arab Uprisings Jeremy Bowen
Fascinating insights into the events of the Arab uprisings up until 2013.
See here for a review.
The Giver Lois Lowry
I'm not sure what to say about this book other than I found it fascinating, slightly disturbing and weird and the kind of book I'd love to discuss with someone else who has read it but so far I haven't found anyone. It was actually banned in some schools and libraries in the US but I'm really not sure why. That seems like a rather excessive reaction to it. This is a summary from wiki:
The Giver is a 1993 American young adult dystopian novel by Lois Lowry. It is set in a society which at first appears to be utopian but is revealed to be dystopian as the story progresses. The novel follows a 12-year-old boy named Jonas. The society has eliminated pain and strife by converting to "Sameness", a plan that has also eradicated emotional depth from their lives.
If Only They Didn't Speak English. Notes from Trump's America
John Sopel
I enjoyed this book so much. It was fascinating learning about some of the history of America and looking at the differences between England and America and why this might be. Here are the chapter headings: Anger, Race, Patriotism, Government, God, Guns, Anxiety, Special, Truth. John Sopel is the BBC North America editor and has the typical BBC bias when discussing subjects such as religion, pro-life and Trump. But apart from very obvious biases it was a great book to read. I think everyone around me is getting irritated though by how much I keep quoting it at them!
Orphan of Islam Alexander Khan
This was one of those books I can't say I enjoyed, rather found informative and concerning. It's the autobiography of a boy born to a Pakistani father and English mother in Lancashire. He recounts his life growing up in a Pakistani ghetto in the north of England in the 1970s and 80s (it's shocking how uninvolved social services etc were in his life ie no one checked up if he went to school etc- which he didn't- he grew up illiterate). He was then forced to spend time under terrible conditions in Pakistan. It was a disturbing reading about the influence mosques had over the immigrant population in the UK. It would be fascinating to read an account of life in these areas now to see what, if anything, has changed.
Runaway Girl Casey Watson
Casey Watson is a foster mother and has written many books based on her experiences as a foster mother. This is the first one I've read. It's an interesting insight into the life of foster caring and this particular book tells the very sad story of a girl trafficked from Poland into the sex trade in the UK.
A Hundred and One Days Asne Seierstad
I read this book because I wanted to understand a bit more what life was like in Baghdad before and during the 2003 war and the first part of the occupation. The whole account was fascinating. Seierstad (author of The Bookseller of Kabul) was a journalist in Baghdad for 101 days. She describes the massive frustrations with the system and the censorship. Over time this gradually broke down and she was able to see more of the real Baghdad. I feel she gives a fair account of how terrible life was under Sadam but also how terrible it was during the war and the ensuing occupation. It's hard to read it and not be just so angry with the occupying forces- the whole basis of their attacks (9/11 is given way too often as the reason for what they did- what did that have to do with Baghdadis?); the trigger- happy armies; the lack of planning for the aftermath and the stupidity of decisions. Will the governments who made the decision to invade (under false arguments) and cause the chaos that is present day Iraq, ever be held to account?
Born a Crime Trevor Noah
I bought this book because it was 99 pence on kindle and I'd seen Trevor Noah interviewed on TV and found him interesting. I'm so glad I did because this book is really fascinating about life in South Africa during and after apartheid, including some of the history leading up to apartheid. Trevor Noah was born to a black mother and white father which was a crime and he describes what that was like growing up. I really appreciated his comments on poverty and crime. It's very funny at times and also extremely sad. There is some bad language throughout the book
The Kabul Beauty School Deborah Rodriguez
This was a fascinating and fun read! The author went to Kabul with an NGO and ended up staying a long time to set up and run a beauty school. I appreciated her self-deprecating and humorous style. Many of the stories she told about women's lives in Afghanistan were heart-breaking.
The Optician of Lampedusa Emma-Jane Kirby
Quick book to read but very thought-provoking and moving. See here
What Comes with the Dust: Goes With the Wind Gharbi M. Mustafa
A shocking, hard book to read. See here for more.
Talking about Jane Austen in Baghdad Bee Rowlatt & May Witwit
See here for my review of this fascinating book
I am Malala Malala Yousafzai & Christina Lamb
I listened to this on audible. It was a fascinating account of the life of Malala but also about the history, culture and religion of Pakistan.
Auggie and Me: Three Wonder Stories R.J. Palacio
This is not a sequel to Wonder, it's written in the same time frame but from the viewpoint of three of Auggie's friends. It's really good, particularly Julian's story. It's definitely not as good as Wonder though.
The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared
Jonas Jonasson
Brilliant! Such a funny, zany book.
Wonder R.J. Palacio
Wonderful. See this post for a review
Far Horizons Frank Gardner
I loved Frank Gardner's autobiography Blood and Sand so I was keen to read this book. It's a travel book describing lots of different countries he's been to before and after the shooting which paralysed him. He writes brilliantly and really makes the countries come alive.
The Breadwinner
Parvana's Journey Deborah Ellis
My Name is Parvana
Hard hitting stories of an Afghan girl
The Arab Uprisings Jeremy Bowen
Fascinating insights into the events of the Arab uprisings up until 2013.
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