Tuesday, March 27, 2018

Top Ten Tuesday - Books That Take Place in Another Country

This week's Top Ten Tuesday topic from That Artsy Reader Girl is Books That Take Place in Another Country.  Now while I live in the US I'm also excluding any books that take place in England because my reading is probably equal parts US and England.  I'm not excluding all of the UK or Ireland though.  I'm also only focusing on fiction for this list.


The Tuscan Child by Rhys Bowen - (Italy) While a small part of this book does take place in England the bulk of it takes place in the Tuscan country side either in the mid-1940s or early 1970s.


Many a Twist by Sheila Connolly - (Ireland) I love this cozy series about an American who ends up going to Ireland where her father and grandmother were born and becoming part of the tiny Irish village.

From Russia With Love by Ian Fleming - (Turkey) While Russia is technically in the title only a very small portion of the book actually takes place there.  Most of the time Bond is in Turkey or on the Orient Express heading towards England.

Still Life by Louise Penny - (Canada) I was surprised just how much I didn't know about the politics in Quebec.  I was also really impressed with just much I enjoyed it!

Whispering in French by Sophia Nash - (France) I loved that this was in the countryside of France and not in Paris where most of the books I've come across are set.  It was especially interesting to see some of the hold overs from the old aristocracy and the politics in the small French village.

The Café by the Sea by Jenny Colgan - (Scotland) This takes place in one of the islands north of Scotland and the setting is so unique and really is a character itself in the book itself.

Iris and Ruby by Rosie Thomas - (Egypt) I really loved this dual timeline book which explored life in Egypt in modern day as well as in the 1940s as well as dealing with the healing of a young woman and the development of a relationship between a grandmother and granddaughter.

Stars of Fortune by Nora Roberts - (Greece) I loved this trilogy especially because each book takes place in a different location and in this one especially the setting is really brought to life.

Appointment with Death by Agatha Christie - (Israel/Jordan) While Agatha Christie is thought to be the quintessential English author a number of her books take place in the Middle East - especially centered around archeological digs.  This one is a little different as the cast of characters are tourists but it's a good read.

Murder in Mesopotamia by Agatha Christie - (Iraq) This mystery takes place in an archeological dig.  Christie's 2nd husband was a renowned archeologist and she frequently accompanied him on his digs. It adds a nice authenticity to her books!

 What countries have you visited through books?

22 comments:

  1. Tuscany and Ireland- awesome. The Colgan book looks like it would have an amazing setting as well, with a Scottish isle.

    Love the From Russia with Love Ian Fleming pick!

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  2. You and I have so many books in common here. I am on the list at the library to read The Tuscan Child. Haven’t tried Jenny Colgan but I love Scotland so this one grabs me, I will have to check out these memes you post about, some sound fun but I’m usually too late to join in as I read about them as they post.

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  3. I feel like I read a ton set in England too. Love the idea of Greece. I will have to check out that book(and trilogy)!

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  4. You're list has given me wanderlust! Such tempting choices!

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  5. I've found that the older I get, the more I want to learn about other countries and their cultures.That's one of the things I enjoy about spy novels because they really go across the world trying to get the bad guy. Thanks for such a great list! Hugs...RO

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  6. Well, I've at least read a few of these. Both of the Christie books and, of course, Still Life. Others look very good. I said on another blog that my TBR is growing and growing and growing...

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  7. Have you read Agatha Christie's Come, Tell Me How You Live: An Archaeological Memoir? It's her nonfiction book? Written using her married name.

    Lisa @ https://hopewellslibraryoflife.wordpress.com/2018/03/27/top-ten-tuesday-books-that-take-place-in-another-country/

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  8. Great list. I keep wanting to pick up some Agatha Christie books!

    My TTT

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  9. Ha! Yes, I made the same choice about England. With the historicals I read it was just too easy to use.

    Bowen's looks cool. I have a number of hers on my shelves and really need to try her out.

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  10. Great variety and I have read a few of these and enjoyed them. You probably read more UK books than I do due to your mysteries but I do read a few. And lots set in the USA of course.

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  11. I love Agatha!! Great picks!! I like The Cafe by the Sea, that looks good!!
    https://justmeandmyblogreviews.blogspot.com/2018/03/top-ten-tuesday-10-books-that-take.html

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  12. I love Roberts and Christie, you have me curious about Sheila Connolly's series. I love the Ireland setting :)

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  13. Great post! I want to read Many A Twist and the Christie books.

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  14. I haven't read any of these and didn't realize that some of these books had these settings. Interesting piece of inforomation about Agatha Christie.

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  15. Yes, I also read a lot of books set in The UK, too! With my love of regency romances, that's to be expected. I haven't read Louise Penny, but I Have heard such good things about her books.

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  16. I LOVE books set in other countries!! I’ve visited England, Greece, Italy, and other places through books. Thanks for sharing.

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  17. What a wonderful tour around the world - many thanks for sharing these:)

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  18. I'm a fan of the Colgan and Penny books I've read. I love visiting other countries through books!

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  19. Great choices! I like reading books set in other countries, it's pure escapism. My favourite is probably Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor (set in Prague).

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  20. I was thinking your entire list was going to be Agatha Christie! :D

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  21. I love to read books set in other countries and haven't read any of these so I'll be adding quite a few to the wish list!

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