Europe: Germany

Oh my goodness. I cannot talk about this book enough!! The Book Thief by Markus Zusak is AMAZING! This author is spectacular. On every page you can find a phrase so carefully worded that you can ponder on it for hours. Zusak plays with words and images and creates fantastic scenes. I absolutely love this book.

It is written from Death's point of view as it tells the story of a young girl in Germany during Hitler's reign. This little girl begins to steal books as she discovers the captivating beauty of words. Ah! Again, I love this book.

You know from the start that any story written with Death as the narrator set in Nazi Germany is not going to end happily. And, in all honesty, it doesn't. I was sobbing through the last 100 pages. But would I read it again? In a heartbeat!! It was worth the heart-ache in the end. 

I hear they are making this into a movie. There is no way a movie can do this book justice - unless the book is read word for word throughout it. The author is just too amazing to take away any of the phrases that he has composed.

Amazing read! Don't forget a box of tissues. You will need them!

Finished: February 28, 2014

- Liz

(To Watch Out For: There are quite a few words in it that I would never say aloud - often times they are written in German though.) 

Europe: France

The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick is a great story! It is a graphic novel so it interposes text with pictures to tell the story.

This book tells the story of a young orphan named Hugo. He works in a Paris train station as the keeper of the clocks. He has a natural ability for all things mechanical and his goal in life is to fix an automaton his father found. As he strives to fix the automaton his path entwines with an old toy maker whose past is extremely interesting.

It is a children's book, but don't let that stop you from reading it. It is a favorite of mine to read aloud to my 3rd graders. They love the story and are captivated by the pictures!

Finished: February 28, 2014

- Liz

Europe: Russia

The Red Scarf by Kate Furnivall was a great book! It was hard to put down. The story begins in a Labor Camp in Siberia. It then follows a young woman's journey of escape from the Camp to find help for a friend. 

This story was stirring and enjoyable. It was eye opening to what was going on in Russia during the 1930s and made for a great historical read. 

Will definitely read this one again and glad it has found a place on my book shelf!

Finished: January 29, 2014

- Liz

(To Watch Out For: It did have a couple of bedroom scenes I skipped over.)

Europe: Finland

Let the Northern Lights Erase Your Name by Vendela Vida is a good novel about a girl on a mission to discover her family's past. She journeys to Lapland to do so.

This book was a quick read. It was a little choppy in my opinion, but it was still okay. I enjoyed learning a lot about the culture of the people in Lapland.

Finished: January 7, 2014

- Liz

Europe: Sweden

Unwanted by Kristina Ohlsson is a suspense/thriller set in Sweden. A little girl is taken from her mother in a busy Stockholm train station. It turns out to be the first of several abductions. The police work quickly to find the culprit.

This book will keep you on the edge of your seat! It is certainly a page-turner. 

I enjoyed the fast pace and the great story line. The snap shots to "the Man" and what was going on with him could be a little disturbing as you were looking at the situation from the the murder's perspective. However, all in all it was a great book that I am glad to have on my bookshelf!

Definitely a good start to my travels around the world through books!

Finished: January 3, 2014

- Liz