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Your chance to win three top books of 2015 in a fabulous Christmas competition!

21st December 2015

Christmas

THIS COMPETITION CLOSED ON 30TH DECEMBER 2015

Your chance to win three top books of 2015 in a fabulous Christmas competition!

It was really hard to choose just three of our three top 5 star reads of 2015 for this competition – but here we go:

The Bamboo Stalk written by Saud Alsanousi (and recently translated by Jonathan Wright) is a story of migration and rootlessness, and what it means ‘to belong’. It won the International Prize For Arabic Fiction. A Filipina maid working in Kuwait, and her half Kuwaiti son, are sent back to the Philippines after she is rejected by her husband’s family. The story is that of the son who seeks to come to terms with the duality of his culture in a land thousands of miles away from his birthplace. It is a great and moving read. To read the full TripFiction review, please click here.

How To Be Brave by Louise Beech. Rose, aged 9, has just been diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. 70 years previously here great grandfather was adrift on a lifeboat in the Southern Atlantic. Both have major struggles on their hands. Across the 70 years they ‘talk’ and mutually support each other. The story is based on fact. The sailor in the Atlantic is Louise’s grandfather, and her daughter, Katy, also has Type 1 Diabetes. A strange, somewhat mystic, bond was built between the two of them. How To Be Brave is an uplifting book, and an excellent read. To read the full TripFiction review, please click here.

And finally, The Killing Of Bobbi Lomax is a brilliant debut thriller by British writer, Cal Moriarty. Set in small town America in 1982/83 it describes the impact that two killings in a single day have on the community. The town is controlled by The Faith (an all pervasive religious cult) – its leaders are sinister. The two detectives on the case struggle… The book leads us through trickery and fraudulent property dealings – as well as the killings – to come to a well conceived and surprising denouement. It is written in a very well observed and slightly quirky manner – the style is a delight. A book we thoroughly recommend. To read the full TripFiction review, please click here.

To win these three fabulous books, all you have to do is share the name of the one country that you would most like to visit in 2016 in the Comments box below. It really is that simple! The competition closes at midnight UK time on Wednesday 30th December – and the winner will be the first name out of the hat on the morning of the 31st.

A very Happy Christmas, and the very best of luck!

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Comments

  1. User: tripfiction

    Posted on: 31/12/2015 at 10:36 am

    We drew the winner of the competition this morning – and the first name out of the hat was Rachel Hall with ‘Iceland’.

    Congratulations to Rachel!

    Comment

  2. User: carol watkins

    Posted on: 30/12/2015 at 4:35 pm

    Canada

    Comment

  3. User: Alan Howe

    Posted on: 30/12/2015 at 2:13 pm

    Vietnam

    Comment

  4. User: Nikki Hunter-Pike

    Posted on: 30/12/2015 at 2:12 pm

    I’d love to visit Amercia in 2016!

    Comment

  5. User: Hassni

    Posted on: 30/12/2015 at 9:17 am

    Turkey.

    Comment

  6. User: Anne-Marie Large

    Posted on: 29/12/2015 at 9:54 pm

    Italy. 🙂

    Comment

  7. User: Andrea Johns

    Posted on: 29/12/2015 at 8:32 pm

    Ireland

    Comment

  8. User: Gwen Carter

    Posted on: 29/12/2015 at 6:52 pm

    Estonia- one on my wish list!

    Comment

  9. User: Deborah Curwen

    Posted on: 29/12/2015 at 3:06 pm

    Croatia (more specifically Plitvice Lakes National Park)

    Comment

  10. User: Stacey Melia

    Posted on: 29/12/2015 at 1:32 pm

    Canada for me, the wildlife is incredible! Hopefully will be able to go next Christmas.

    Comment

  11. User: Caroline Bourne

    Posted on: 29/12/2015 at 11:16 am

    Australia – to see the sights and also see my cousins

    Comment

  12. User: shelley stevenson

    Posted on: 29/12/2015 at 1:44 am

    Has to be my 2nd home.. Turkey.. most of my friends and family are there so would LOVE to visit them all again..

    Comment

  13. User: Rebecca Matthews

    Posted on: 28/12/2015 at 11:20 pm

    America

    Comment

  14. User: Dale Dow

    Posted on: 28/12/2015 at 9:54 pm

    America, I have always dreamed of going there

    Comment

  15. User: David Crabb

    Posted on: 28/12/2015 at 9:54 pm

    We would love to visit Jamaica, it is where my wife’s family are from and would be a dream trip

    Comment

  16. User: Heather Jenkinson

    Posted on: 28/12/2015 at 5:14 pm

    Id love to visit Turkey, especially Istanbul

    Comment

  17. User: Christine Williams

    Posted on: 28/12/2015 at 4:45 pm

    I’d like to visit my childhood friend in Dubai.

    Comment

  18. User: Kristy Brown

    Posted on: 28/12/2015 at 4:21 pm

    New Zealand

    Comment

  19. User: Robyn Clarke

    Posted on: 28/12/2015 at 4:14 pm

    I would love to go to Thailand

    Comment

  20. User: KateS

    Posted on: 28/12/2015 at 2:13 pm

    Germany! I hope to go and work there this summer.

    Comment

  21. User: Alison

    Posted on: 28/12/2015 at 12:17 pm

    Japan would be aMAZING

    Comment

  22. User: Wendy Becker

    Posted on: 28/12/2015 at 11:53 am

    Italy

    Comment

  23. User: Chelsealeigh Gould

    Posted on: 28/12/2015 at 11:34 am

    Finland <3

    Comment

  24. User: Iva Petrovic

    Posted on: 28/12/2015 at 10:56 am

    Denmark

    Comment

  25. User: Dianne Hanson

    Posted on: 27/12/2015 at 11:38 pm

    Sweden

    Comment

  26. User: Helen

    Posted on: 27/12/2015 at 10:04 pm

    Italy

    Comment

  27. User: Cheryl Edwards

    Posted on: 27/12/2015 at 9:46 pm

    I would love to visit Mexico.

    Comment

  28. User: Julie Guy

    Posted on: 27/12/2015 at 7:51 pm

    I’d love to go to Pompeii in Italy.

    Comment

  29. User: Kate Saville

    Posted on: 27/12/2015 at 7:31 pm

    Vietnam

    Comment

  30. User: cathyj

    Posted on: 27/12/2015 at 7:14 pm

    brazil

    Comment

  31. User: Rebecca williams

    Posted on: 27/12/2015 at 6:57 pm

    Dubai

    Comment

  32. User: Paul T

    Posted on: 27/12/2015 at 6:27 pm

    Peru

    Comment

  33. User: Barbara Handley

    Posted on: 27/12/2015 at 5:14 pm

    Canada, as I have found cousins I never knew existed there. I would love to meet them as they are the only family I know on my father’s side.

    Comment

  34. User: Sarah Wray

    Posted on: 27/12/2015 at 4:32 pm

    I’m going to Paris for the first time in my life this year to celebrate my 25th wedding anniversary – I’m very excited – I’ll have to read some good Parisian books to prepare myself.

    Comment

  35. User: Jen Rogers

    Posted on: 27/12/2015 at 4:29 pm

    Love to visit Berlin Germany

    Comment

  36. User: Gaby Thurston

    Posted on: 27/12/2015 at 4:08 pm

    Canada

    Comment

  37. User: Danika Lloyd

    Posted on: 27/12/2015 at 4:07 pm

    other areas of the U.K.

    Comment

  38. User: Deborah Wheeler

    Posted on: 27/12/2015 at 3:42 pm

    I’d like to go to Croatia the scenery looks stunning

    Comment

  39. User: Laura Broadley

    Posted on: 27/12/2015 at 3:14 pm

    Norway

    Comment

  40. User: Phil Darling

    Posted on: 27/12/2015 at 7:37 am

    Top of my list is Italy

    Comment

  41. User: Lynda Sanderson

    Posted on: 27/12/2015 at 12:54 am

    It would be Australia, there is so much to see !!!!!!!!!!!!

    Comment

  42. User: fozia Akhtar

    Posted on: 26/12/2015 at 11:47 pm

    The United States of America

    Comment

  43. User: Mary Hutton

    Posted on: 26/12/2015 at 11:21 pm

    Italy

    Comment

  44. User: Wilma J

    Posted on: 26/12/2015 at 10:48 pm

    I’d love to visit Australia x

    Comment

  45. User: Rachel Ray

    Posted on: 26/12/2015 at 9:39 pm

    Italy. Always Italy. I’d love to take my children

    Comment

  46. User: Vid Ram

    Posted on: 26/12/2015 at 9:38 pm

    USA

    Comment

  47. User: catherine plant

    Posted on: 26/12/2015 at 9:21 pm

    america

    Comment

  48. User: Jo Jones

    Posted on: 26/12/2015 at 9:06 pm

    Australia for me

    Comment

  49. User: Susie M

    Posted on: 26/12/2015 at 8:13 pm

    Finland for me.

    Comment

  50. User: lisa evans

    Posted on: 26/12/2015 at 8:01 pm

    Thailand

    Comment

  51. User: Alison

    Posted on: 26/12/2015 at 7:53 pm

    I’d love to visit Italy

    Comment

  53. User: katie w

    Posted on: 26/12/2015 at 7:48 pm

    always wanted to visit Peru

    Comment

  54. User: Sarah R

    Posted on: 26/12/2015 at 6:51 pm

    I would love to visit Italy 🙂

    Comment

  55. User: Anthony G

    Posted on: 26/12/2015 at 6:14 pm

    Ireland (specifically Dublin) 🙂

    Comment

  56. User: S Bufton

    Posted on: 26/12/2015 at 5:12 pm

    America

    Comment

  57. User: Vicky S

    Posted on: 26/12/2015 at 4:55 pm

    It has to be Canada

    Comment

  58. User: Mary Lucking

    Posted on: 26/12/2015 at 4:53 pm

    Costa Rica is calling me

    Comment

  59. User: Susan Howitt

    Posted on: 26/12/2015 at 4:46 pm

    Iceland, would love to see the Northern Lights.

    Comment

  60. User: Lisa T

    Posted on: 26/12/2015 at 4:01 pm

    Iceland

    Comment

  61. User: June Munday

    Posted on: 26/12/2015 at 3:59 pm

    Antarctica

    Comment

  62. User: Rebecca John

    Posted on: 26/12/2015 at 2:51 pm

    Sicily

    Comment

  63. User: Karen W

    Posted on: 26/12/2015 at 2:04 pm

    Russia

    Comment

  64. User: Justine Hughes

    Posted on: 26/12/2015 at 1:55 pm

    Cuba

    Comment

  65. User: LondonREC

    Posted on: 26/12/2015 at 1:48 pm

    Barbados

    Comment

  66. User: Val Hartley

    Posted on: 26/12/2015 at 1:45 pm

    I would love to visit Australia.

    Comment

  67. User: Gill Scott

    Posted on: 26/12/2015 at 12:12 pm

    Iceland

    Comment

  68. User: Tammy Tudor

    Posted on: 26/12/2015 at 11:55 am

    Croatia

    Comment

  69. User: Hazel Christopher

    Posted on: 26/12/2015 at 11:35 am

    Italy

    Comment

  70. User: Lucy Webber

    Posted on: 26/12/2015 at 11:22 am

    Montenegro!

    Comment

  71. User: Jim Milligan

    Posted on: 26/12/2015 at 10:29 am

    Iceland would be really cool!

    Comment

  72. User: Rachel Baylis

    Posted on: 26/12/2015 at 10:25 am

    I’m finally getting to travel to Japan this August! So excited

    Comment

  73. User: Lisa Parker

    Posted on: 26/12/2015 at 10:07 am

    I have always wanted to visit Peru x

    Comment

  74. User: Bob Clark

    Posted on: 26/12/2015 at 10:05 am

    germany

    Comment

  75. User: Graeme

    Posted on: 26/12/2015 at 10:03 am

    Brazil.

    Comment

  76. User: sharon mead

    Posted on: 26/12/2015 at 10:00 am

    Denmark

    Comment

  77. User: Kay Adams

    Posted on: 26/12/2015 at 9:57 am

    Austria

    Comment

  78. User: diana jones

    Posted on: 26/12/2015 at 9:55 am

    Croatia

    Comment

  79. User: Tracey Poulter

    Posted on: 26/12/2015 at 9:38 am

    USA

    Comment

  80. User: Jackie Stevens

    Posted on: 26/12/2015 at 9:20 am

    I’d love to visit Mexico

    Comment

  81. User: Laura Jeffs

    Posted on: 26/12/2015 at 8:59 am

    Definitely Nepal!!!

    Comment

  82. User: Anna

    Posted on: 26/12/2015 at 8:38 am

    Italy

    Comment

  83. User: Fiona King

    Posted on: 26/12/2015 at 8:29 am

    I would love to go to Australia

    Comment

  84. User: Rachael Simmons

    Posted on: 26/12/2015 at 8:26 am

    I’d love to visit the Old Town in Prague, Czech Republic

    Comment

  85. User: Dale Askew

    Posted on: 26/12/2015 at 8:22 am

    always wanted to go to Australia

    Comment

  86. User: Margaret Dunlop

    Posted on: 26/12/2015 at 8:16 am

    I would love to visit Canada

    Comment

  87. User: Jean T

    Posted on: 26/12/2015 at 8:10 am

    Iceland

    Comment

  88. User: Deborah Munn

    Posted on: 26/12/2015 at 8:02 am

    I would love to visit Ireland. On the doorstep and never been.

    Comment

  89. User: Peter Saville

    Posted on: 26/12/2015 at 7:19 am

    Iceland

    Comment

  90. User: David Reeves

    Posted on: 26/12/2015 at 7:04 am

    Ethiopia – cradle of Chrsitianity

    Comment

  91. User: Richard Randall

    Posted on: 26/12/2015 at 6:52 am

    I’d love to visit Japan. Tokyo looks amazing.

    Comment

  92. User: caroline walliss

    Posted on: 26/12/2015 at 6:32 am

    Iceland

    Comment

  93. User: Heather Knotts

    Posted on: 26/12/2015 at 6:24 am

    Russia

    Comment

  94. User: Philippa manton

    Posted on: 26/12/2015 at 2:49 am

    Malta.
    Would love to visit this beautiful island.

    Comment

  95. User: Lorraine Tinsley

    Posted on: 26/12/2015 at 1:37 am

    Hong Kong

    Comment

  96. User: Suzanne

    Posted on: 26/12/2015 at 12:52 am

    Sri Lanka would be culturally and scenically brilliant.

    Comment

  97. User: Penny H

    Posted on: 25/12/2015 at 11:53 pm

    Norway 🙂

    Comment

  98. User: Lee Hathaway

    Posted on: 25/12/2015 at 11:47 pm

    I would like to visit the Phillipines

    Comment

  99. User: Caroline Pritchard

    Posted on: 25/12/2015 at 11:37 pm

    China

    Comment

  100. User: Teeba

    Posted on: 25/12/2015 at 6:13 am

    Germany

    Comment

  101. User: Kay Smillie

    Posted on: 24/12/2015 at 10:14 am

    I would love to spring a surprise visit on a dear friend in Japan who has cancer. I haven’t been able to give him a hug in decades.

    Would love to see the Buddhist temples too.

    Comment

  102. User: Susan Edmiston

    Posted on: 24/12/2015 at 3:38 am

    Portugal

    Comment

  103. User: Dawn obrien

    Posted on: 23/12/2015 at 5:36 pm

    Russia…so much history…and those accents!!!

    Comment

  104. User: Rachel Bridgeman

    Posted on: 23/12/2015 at 5:24 pm

    It would be France 🙂 I’d absolutely love to go there, I’ve never been outside the UK and have only travelled thorugh my books so I’d start with France!

    Comment

  105. User: Francesca Jones

    Posted on: 23/12/2015 at 5:20 pm

    USA

    Comment

  106. User: Julie Ryan

    Posted on: 23/12/2015 at 4:01 pm

    USA

    Comment

  107. User: Sara Hill

    Posted on: 23/12/2015 at 3:55 pm

    Japan. I really enjoyed the Japanese books “The Guest Cat” and “Strange Weather in Tokyo”and it would be great to visit some of the places featured.

    Comment

  108. User: Mohammad Shareef

    Posted on: 23/12/2015 at 1:57 pm

    Switzerland

    Comment

  109. User: Carolyn Lenny

    Posted on: 22/12/2015 at 7:09 pm

    Denmark

    Comment

  110. User: Helen Burrows

    Posted on: 22/12/2015 at 4:30 pm

    France

    Comment

  111. User: Sue Harrison

    Posted on: 22/12/2015 at 2:37 pm

    I would love to go to Venice

    Comment

  112. User: Becky

    Posted on: 22/12/2015 at 1:06 pm

    Dubai which I’m hoping to for my 40th nxt yr

    Comment

  113. User: Flora Arbuckle

    Posted on: 22/12/2015 at 12:45 pm

    Poland

    Comment

  114. User: Nolene Driscoll

    Posted on: 22/12/2015 at 12:22 pm

    France because my friend wants to hold her 60th birthday in Paris.

    Comment

  115. User: ColomBecca

    Posted on: 22/12/2015 at 11:53 am

    The largest island in the world – Greenland of course.

    Comment

  116. User: Hind

    Posted on: 22/12/2015 at 10:42 am

    Dubai

    Comment

  117. User: Sandra Isaac

    Posted on: 22/12/2015 at 8:15 am

    USA

    Comment

  118. User: Kirsty Maule

    Posted on: 22/12/2015 at 8:11 am

    Thailand

    Comment

  119. User: Kat

    Posted on: 22/12/2015 at 6:19 am

    Dublin

    Comment

  120. User: Margaret Pinard

    Posted on: 22/12/2015 at 4:20 am

    I’ve never been to Barcelona or Denmark, but am hoping to visit both in 2016! 🙂

    Comment

  121. User: Nicky Doherty

    Posted on: 22/12/2015 at 3:52 am

    NEW YORK, NEW YORK!

    Comment

  122. User: Amanda Sheila

    Posted on: 22/12/2015 at 3:10 am

    I’d kill to visit Switzerland. I have a good friend who live there and that’s one of the reason why. Haha. Thank you so much!

    Comment

  123. User: Jess dimovski

    Posted on: 22/12/2015 at 12:59 am

    I would live to visit Macedonia

    Comment

  124. User: Allison beattie

    Posted on: 22/12/2015 at 12:44 am

    Uzbekistan – a reknown place of the ancient Silk Road

    Comment

  125. User: Susan T.

    Posted on: 22/12/2015 at 12:12 am

    Iceland!

    Comment

  126. User: Helen MacKinven

    Posted on: 21/12/2015 at 10:20 pm

    Austria – Vienna is on my city break wish list.

    Comment

  127. User: Sue Kitt

    Posted on: 21/12/2015 at 9:14 pm

    I would love to visit the United Kingdom, most of my family is living there and I have never left South Africa.

    Comment

  128. User: Rachel Hall

    Posted on: 21/12/2015 at 9:01 pm

    Iceland – Iceland Noir 2016

    Comment

  129. User: Leila solomons

    Posted on: 21/12/2015 at 8:58 pm

    I would love to visit India.

    Comment

  130. User: Rhonda

    Posted on: 21/12/2015 at 8:55 pm

    Italy so romantic

    Comment

  131. User: Mike Linane

    Posted on: 21/12/2015 at 8:43 pm

    Iceland

    Comment

  132. User: Leanne Barry

    Posted on: 21/12/2015 at 8:36 pm

    Anyone of the countries in the 3 top books

    Comment

  133. User: Alison Drew

    Posted on: 21/12/2015 at 8:23 pm

    Australia is still on my bucket list!

    Comment

  134. User: Joanne Gaylor

    Posted on: 21/12/2015 at 8:18 pm

    Iceland

    Comment

  135. User: Joan Bailey

    Posted on: 21/12/2015 at 7:42 pm

    Tanzania!

    Comment

  136. User: Kristina

    Posted on: 21/12/2015 at 7:15 pm

    Italy always comes out on top!

    Comment

  137. User: Robin Dawson

    Posted on: 21/12/2015 at 6:33 pm

    Denmark

    Comment

  138. User: Ghadeer Alhussain

    Posted on: 21/12/2015 at 6:10 pm

    I would like to visit South Korea

    Comment

  139. User: Abdulaziz Barakeh

    Posted on: 21/12/2015 at 4:41 pm

    I would like to visit NYC

    Comment

  140. User: Lolowah

    Posted on: 21/12/2015 at 4:20 pm

    Spain

    Comment

  141. User: Lana Hood

    Posted on: 21/12/2015 at 4:03 pm

    I would love to visit the United Kingdom. Most of my ancestors originated there and I have had a fascination with novels from that region.

    Comment

  142. User: Shaikha Alkaabi

    Posted on: 21/12/2015 at 3:25 pm

    Spain

    Comment

  143. User: Anne Stormont

    Posted on: 21/12/2015 at 3:22 pm

    Canada

    Comment

  144. User: Ruth A Baldino

    Posted on: 21/12/2015 at 3:10 pm

    Estonia

    Comment

  145. User: Saja Addasi

    Posted on: 21/12/2015 at 3:04 pm

    I would love to visit Morocco! <3

    Comment

  146. User: Janet Berkman

    Posted on: 21/12/2015 at 1:25 pm

    Germany

    Comment

  147. User: Hind

    Posted on: 21/12/2015 at 1:06 pm

    Usa

    Comment

  148. User: Hind

    Posted on: 21/12/2015 at 12:59 pm

    London

    Comment

  149. User: Masomah A. Hamadah

    Posted on: 21/12/2015 at 12:41 pm

    Good job , japan , Ksa .

    Comment

  150. User: lisa alarcon

    Posted on: 21/12/2015 at 12:25 pm

    Iceland

    Comment

  151. User: Ana @ThisChickReads

    Posted on: 21/12/2015 at 12:14 pm

    I’d love to visit Egypt.

    Comment

  152. User: judith barrow

    Posted on: 21/12/2015 at 12:08 pm

    New Zealand

    Comment

  153. User: ANNIE THOMAS

    Posted on: 21/12/2015 at 11:38 am

    Japan

    Comment

  154. User: Alison Layland

    Posted on: 21/12/2015 at 11:34 am

    Croatia

    Comment

  155. User: Bee

    Posted on: 21/12/2015 at 11:29 am

    UK for its sheer number of awesome book related events.

    Comment

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