Traveling The World Through Books!

      Last night I was thinking to myself, 'I wonder if people know of books that are set internationally?' So, thanks to http://beckerry.blogspot.com/ for her title idea, I've come up with 'Traveling The World Through Books'. I'm going to talk about various books that take place in different countries, I'll mention books I own and books that I have heard of.  WARNING: SOME POSTS MIGHT CONTAIN SPOILERS!!

First up:

Synopsis:

It's just a small story really, about, among other things, a girl, some words, an accordionist, some fanatical Germans, a Jewish fist-fighter, and quite a lot of thievery.

Set during World War II in Germany, Markus Zusak's groundbreaking new novel is the story of Liesel Meminger, a foster girl living outside of Munich. Liesel scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can't resist: books. With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids - as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement before he is marched to Dachau.

This is an unforgettable story about the ability of books to feed the soul.

  

    I own this book,but have yet to read it. I love anything that talks about WWII, I love reading books about the Holocaust and Nazi Germany. I know it is a VERY dark and sensitive subject to talk/read about, but it's very informative and easy to read when it's in a book like this. Can't wait to read this!

Next up: 

Synopsis: 

The golden skies, the translucent twilight, the white nights, all hold the promise of youth, of love, of eternal renewal. The war has not yet touched this city of fallen grandeur, or the lives of two sisters, Tatiana and Dasha Metanova, who share a single room in a cramped apartment with their brother and parents. Their world is turned upside down when Hitler's armies attack Russia and begin their unstoppable blitz to Leningrad.

Yet there is light in the darkness. Tatiana meets Alexander, a brave young officer in the Red Army. Strong and self-confident, yet guarding a mysterious and troubled past, he is drawn to Tatiana—and she to him. Starvation, desperation, and fear soon grip their city during the terrible winter of the merciless German siege. Tatiana and Alexander's impossible love threatens to tear the Metanova family apart and expose the dangerous secret Alexander so carefully protects—a secret as devastating as the war itself—as the lovers are swept up in the brutal tides that will change the world and their lives forever.

     I own this book, I've read it and I adored it! This is another book about Nazis and Hitler, but also a great love story mixed into it. This book was so great and even though there is the attack by Hitler and it's sad in some parts, the love story makes you forget about it all. Great book, 5/5 stars!

Next up: 

     Any book by Khaled Hosseini, they take place from Kabul, to Paris, to Greece. I own 2 out of 3 of these books, and I know that this author is popular and he is great at what he does. I love how Khaled Hosseini puts his culture, and writes about his home in books and lets people know that they aren't bad places and to open your eyes and see the country for what it really is.

Next up:

 

Synopsis:

In 1937 Shanghai—the Paris of Asia—twenty-one-year-old Pearl Chin and her younger sister, May, are having the time of their lives. Both are beautiful, modern, and carefree—until the day their father tells them that he has gambled away their wealth. To repay his debts, he must sell the girls as wives to suitors who have traveled from Los Angeles to find Chinese brides. As Japanese bombs fall on their beloved city, Pearl and May set out on the journey of a lifetime, from the Chinese countryside to the shores of America. Though inseparable best friends, the sisters also harbor petty jealousies and rivalries. Along the way they make terrible sacrifices, face impossible choices, and confront a devastating, life-changing secret, but through it all the two heroines of this astounding new novel hold fast to who they are—Shanghai girls.

     

    This book, I took out from the library and didn't have time to finish it, but I have heard on YouTube that it is a sad book and that the girls in this book get sold to rich men because their father lost all of their money and to repay his debts that have accumulated, he sells his daughters! That part made me angry when I read the synopsis, why would you sell your children?! But then I remembered, in China, families are only allowed to have one girl as a child, all the rest are left to die basically. I love anything having to do with the Chinese culture, so I really want to reread this book. 

And Finally:

Synopsis:

     Eleven-year-old Noi is learning to paint like her grandmother. She and her older sister, Ting, spend many rapt hours in the jungle watching as Kun Ya paints delicate silk umbrellas to sell at the market. But one day Kun Ma and Kun Pa announce that Ting must start working at a local radio factory to help support the family. As the days and weeks pass, Noi anxiously sees her own fate reflected in her sister’s constricting world. Can Noi find a way to master her fear of failure and stand up for her gift -- and Kun Ya’s tradition -- before the future masters her?
With spare, sure strokes evoking the customs and language of Thailand, the acclaimed author of THE GOLD-THREADED DRESS tells the graceful tale of a young artist’s coming of age.

 

    This is a middle grade book. It is, about Thai culture. Noi has the gift of painting. Her and her sister watch a man everyday, paint silk umbrellas to sell, Noi wants to do this, or something like this, but because of her sister's conflicting issue where she has to get a job, Noi isn't sure if she will see her dreams to be like the man who paints the silk umbrellas. Can't wait to read this book. 

    Wow, that was a longer post than usual, I'm sorry, and I'm truly sorry it's so late. I've been working, and this is a long post that I wanted to make look good. I hope you enjoyed! Thanks again to Becky for the title idea! In this post we went to, Germany, Russia, Kabul, Paris, Greece, China, and Thailand! If you know of any other books like these please leave a comment below!! 

                                                        

  Thanks for reading!!