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Report the book you read for the June 2024 Challenge here.

State your Wall of Fame Name.
Link to the book you read. What prompt did you choose and how does the book fit?
Give a brief explanation of what you thought of the book and how you rated it.

WoF Fiona

Six Cloves Under by Gin Jones

- Learn a language. Read a book that was originally published in a language other than your own. You may read it in whatever language you prefer:
My native language is German and this book was originally written in English. I also read it in English.

It was a cute cozy read, a little farm mystery. I liked it, especially didn't think I would like reading so much about garlic, but probably won't be reading the second book in the series. I rated it 3.5/4 stars.

WoF Katrisa
I chose the - Improve literacy prompt. Read a book with "Literary Fiction" on the main book page
I read Swim Home to the Vanished
The writing was quite beautiful and the magical realism was well done. The grief parts were my favorite. I give it 4.5 stars

WoF Lynn

Prompt: Read a book set in a country you have not visited
Read: Outrun the Rain which is set in Australia
An m/m romance set in in the Kakadu National Park which is an enormous, biodiverse nature reserve. It was an easy cute read which is exactly what I expect from NR Walker who has become a comfort read for me over the years.

WoF Marnie

Prompt improve literacy…read a literary fiction
I read Olive, Again

I just love Olive. She’s completely without a filter but definitely has heart. There is a story at a baby shower that had me howling.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

WofF TrudyAn

Prompt(s): literary fiction; originally published in a language other than my own (Italian); and set in a country I have not visited (Italy).

The Hummingbird by Sandro Veronesi
304 pp
The multiple formats and timeframes were a bit difficult to follow, especially at the beginning of the book. The writing is very good, and the writer is a good storyteller. The ending was not the best I've read.

WoF Grainne

In Search of Perfumes: A Lifetime Journey to the Source of Nature's Scents

- Learn a language. Read a book that was originally published in a language other than your own. You may read it in whatever language you prefer:
This book is originally written in French and translated into English.

It's a non-fiction book about perfume and flowers. I love both and found some interesting facts, complete with a history and evolution of the trade for flowers like jasmine, vetiver, rose, lavender, vanilla, and bergamot. As well as, travelling all over the world to find these unique fragrances in the flowers, he also details the location, and business models employed in those areas. Then, he shares with us how the science works to get the fragrance from the flower and how it is transported to Paris and other perfume hubs around the world.

WoF - Lilisa

I chose - Learn a language. Read a book that was originally published in a language other than your own. You may read it in whatever language you prefer.

I read Newcomer by Keigo Higashino. It was originally published in Japanese. I read the English translation.

I did the audiobook - 10 hours long. I enjoyed it and gave it 4 stars. My thoughts on it - /review/show...

WoF Nix

Prompt - Literary fiction mpg

I read Alone With You in the Ether and it was a such a great book! I loved the writing - like absolutely loved it. It is a very odd love story dealing with issues of mental health but what a beautiful book. I feel its one of the books which you will hate or love. I will ponder a few days and might bump it up to 5 stars from 4 if I keep thinking about how awesome it was.

WoF Jayme

Prompt - Read a book set in a country you have not visited

I read The Haunting of Maddy Clare by Simone St. James which is set in England.

I enjoyed this mystery/romance/ghost story. It was a quick read, but hit all the boxes for a light, fun, no-brainer read. I love it when a ghost story actually has ghosts.

Wof Anna M

The Accusation: Forbidden Stories from Inside North Korea by Bandi

Prompts : learn a language (Korean) and set in a country I haven't visited (North Korea)

I found the stories compelling, vividly depicting the horrors of living under an authoritarian communist regime. 4 stars.

WoF name - Amanda(Lily)

The Hunting Party

Prompt: Read a book set in a country you have not visited. Book is set in Scotland.

It is a well-written thriller / murder mystery about who killed a member of a friend group at a set of cabins that is far from civilization and cut off by snow. I really enjoyed it. It kept me guessing right up until the end.

WoF Aya

I read The Dutch House for literary fiction.

It's a good book, but I just can't like the characters and what they did and what happened to them in the end. Now that I think about it, maybe because I can relate to them mentally. I gave it 3 stars.

WoF Pragya

I chose - Learn a language. Read a book that was originally published in a language other than your own. You may read it in whatever language you prefer.

The Kamogawa Food Detectives

Originally published in Japanese, I read the English version.

I went in with high expectations. Unfortunately, the book fell short of them. The premise is very interesting but the plot and writing left much to be desired. Not sure if it was lost in translation. 2.5 stars

WoF - Jenn

I listened to The Murder of King Tut which fit the "Learn about other cultures" task as it is set in Egypt.

It is one of James Pattersons collaborations which don't always work for me, but this one was quite interesting. It poses an interesting theory in multiple timelines about the life, and, more specifically, the death of King Tut. It wasn't a knockout five star, but I did give it four stars, and will continue to take chances on his team ups.

WoF margo

I read Black Butterflies which is tagged as Literary Fiction.

This story is set on Sarajevo, spring 1992, and charts the course of the civil war which ultimately led to the splitting of the country. It follows a character named Zora, an artist and a lecturer in the local university. She is married with one adult child living in the UK. Zoras mother is in poor health.

The book showed just how easy it is for a county to decend into civil war. Zora was a sympathetic character and I felt natural empathy for her, her family and their neighbours. She wasn't a political person and had friends on all sides of the dispute.

I don't feel much wiser about the different parties in this was as that really wasn't the point of the novel. It was about the impact of war on the ordinary person. It was upsetting but very well written and I'm glad I read it.

WoFSharonBiskit

I read Black Cake which is tagged as Literary Fiction.

For the most part, I enjoyed this book. There were many twists and turns. I loved the insight of the relationships and traditions of the island. Traditions that are carried all through life and can bind a family. They can help soothe the lonliness of separation and take us back to childhood. I gave this book ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 stars.

WOF Beth

I read The Fraud which is tagged as literary fiction. This was my least favorite Zadie Smith novel to date. I just couldn't get fully engaged with this one (maybe I just didn't like that the characters dislike Dickens...). I gave it 3 stars. I've given the other 3 books of hers that I've read 4. Having seen some of the comments, this seems to be a frequent response to this book. Hoping I will like NW, which is on my shelves, better.

WoF Shirley

Book: Long Island
Prompt: Literary fiction.
How it fits: The genre, literary fiction, is listed on the main page.
My thoughts: The book is second in the Eilis Lacey Series. The first book was Brooklyn which was adapted as a movie I loved, and I really enjoyed revisiting the characters from that story. Their lives evolved in unpredictable ways which made the story interesting. I was a bit disappointed in the ending which was left up in the air.

WoF: Kristie

I read Half a Heart for this challenge for the "Improve Literacy" task. It has a MPG of "Literary Fiction."

I thought this was such a good book until the end. There were so many things that were just very unrealistic and improbable in order to make the ending come together and they all happened pretty quickly. I think it was still a wonderful story, I just wish the end was less rushed and more realistic.

Badges are posted for the June Monthly Challenge. Please let me know if I've goofed.

Janice wrote: "Badges are posted for the June Monthly Challenge. Please let me know if I've goofed."

Hi Janice - I think you posted my badge on the Jamie with an ie's wall.

Oops! Thanks for letting me know. All fixed.