Beastmomma

Thanks to Karen, I learned about an online reading challenge.  I am going to participate in the Armchair Traveler Reading Challenge.  Here are the basic rules:

If you’re interested in joining, here are the guidelines:

• The challenge runs from July 1 through December 31 during which time you must read six books that fall under the ‘armchair traveling’ theme.
• Fiction or non-fiction works are fine, and do not need to be specifically travel related, as long as the location is integral to the book - I’ll leave that to your discretion. Locations must be actual places that you could visit, so no Middle Earths or galaxies far, far away.
• Books may be cross-posted to other challenges, but you cannot count any books read prior to July 1st.
• To join, make a post outlining your six choices and link to that post below. Because I like to have a little wiggle room, you can opt to switch out books throughout the challenge.
• And yes, there will be prizes!

I went through my bookshelf and pulled out six books which meet the criteria that I have not yet read.  Although, I did get some great suggestions for folks for alternates in case I get bored or want to treat myself to another book.  For now, here are my six gems: (Bolded titles are complete)

• What the Body Remembers (India as it is dividing into India and Pakistan) by Shauna Singh Baldwin
• The Chin Kiss King (Cuba and Miami) by Ana Vecianna Suarez
• The Enigma of Arrival (Trinidad and England) by V.S. Naipaul
• Memoirs from the Women's Prison (Egypt) by Nawal El Saadawi, translated by Marilyn Booth. Here is my review.
• A Walk In the Woods (Appalachian Trial, United States) by Bill Bryson
• Midnight's Children (India as it is becomes an independent country) by Salman Rushdie. I actually hope to complete this book. 
• The Nanny Diaries (New York, USA) by Emma McClaughlin and Nicola Kraus.  Here is my review.

From looking at this list, I also realize that all of these books were presents; I got them as gifts from people who thought that I would enjoy the story.  It's so exciting to still be unrwapping gifts years later.