Around the World in Books Challenge - 2014

[Adriana]

Chloé wrote: "I finished my fifth one! I'll try to find a few more and top my challenge eventually.

5/5

[bookcover:Bi: Notes for a Bisexual Revolutio..."

Congrats on completing your challenge!

[Chloé]

Adriana wrote: "Chloé wrote: "I finished my fifth one! I'll try to find a few more and top my challenge eventually.

5/5

[bookcover:Bi: Notes for a Bise..."

Thanks

I kind of feel like I haven't been ambitious enough. But for other challenge, I feel like I've been too much.

[Terrie]

I have finished 1 of my 5 books:
Middle East - Lone Survivor

[Laura]

I finished Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie for my Africa region read.

[Daisya]

I am currently reading the 5th wave by Rick Yancey

[[deleted user]]

COMPLETED!

I'm in for 12 and a Bonus

North America: The Call of the Wild by Jack London (Alaska)
Central America: Conquistador: Hernán Cortés, King Montezuma, and the Last Stand of the Aztecs by Buddy Levy (Mexican history)
Caribbean: Our Man in Havana by Graham Greene (Cuba)
South America: Seven Serpents & Seven Moons by Demetrio Aguilera-Malta (Author from Ecuador)
West Europe: 1984 by George Orwell (England)
East Europe and Former Soviet Union: Roadside Picnic by Arkady Strugatsky (Soviet Union)
Africa: Foreign Gods, Inc. by Okey Ndibe (Nigeria)
Middle East: The Good Spy: The Life and Death of Robert Ames by Kai Bird (Beirut, Lebonan & other Middle East locations)
East Asia: Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse (India)
South Asia: A Personal Matter by Kenzaburō Ōe (Japan)
Southeast Asia: Great Minds of the Eastern Intellectual Tradition by Grant Hardy (Chinese Philosophy)
Australia & South Pacific: The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton (New Zealand location and author)

BONUS
Antarctica: At the Mountains of Madness by H.P. Lovecraft

[Tricia]

I'd also like to try, could you put me down for 6, Adriana?


1. North America: Heart of the Matter (USA) READ 23/01/2014
2. South America: The House of the Spirits (author from Peru)
3. West Europe: The Murder of Roger Ackroyd (Great Britain) READ 3/02/2014
4. East Europe and Former Soviet Union:Solaris (author from Poland)
5. Australia & South Pacific: The Forgotten Garden (author from Australia)
6. South Asia: The Enchantress Of Florence (author born in India)

I've already finished 2/6

[[deleted user]]

Update: 4 done

North America World After (California) 1/5 5 stars
Central America
Caribbean
South America Excavation (South American Jungle) 2/10 4 stars
West Europe The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared (Sweden) 2/22 5 stars
East Europe and Former Soviet Union
Africa
Middle East
East Asia
South Asia
Southeast Asia The Coroner's Lunch (Laos) 1/28 5 stars
Australia & South Pacific

[Esther]

I am going to attempt to do all of these.
6/12
North America - Kindred
Central America
Caribbean
South America
West Europe - We, the Drowned set in Denmark
East Europe and former Soviet Union
Africa Half of a Yellow Sun set in Nigeria
Middle East - The Testament of Mary set in Israel
East Asia Norwegian Wood set in Japan
South Asia
South East Asia
Australia & South Pacific - The Luminaries set in New Zealand

[Apoorv]

Its always fun to read literature from all over the globe and this challenge is a wonderful initiative to embark onto that journey. Appreciate and kudos to you, Adriana, for creating this wonderful challenge.

Region Division Reference : [image error] https://p.gr-assets.com/540x540/fit/h...

I am planning to start with an aim of completing the whole task with all the 12 regions, so lets see how things unfold.

Challenge : Around The World in Books Challenge
Duration : January 1 - December 31, 2014
Target : 12 Regions

------------------------------------------------
Regions

✔ North America
The Bridges of Madison County by Robert James Waller (1/11/2014)
Double Indemnity by James M. Cain (2/28/2014)
2. Central America
3. Caribbean
4. South America
✔ West Europe
The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes (2/3/2014)
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon (2/13/2014)
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens (2/25/2014)
Animal Farm by George Orwell (2/28/2014)
6. East Europe and Former Soviet Union
✔ Africa
Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe (4/29/2014)
✔ Middle East
Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie (3/22/2014)
✔ East Asia
Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami (2/8/2014)
10. South Asia
11. Southeast Asia
12. Australia & South Pacific

-------------------------------------------------
Summary

Total Regions Covered : 5 / 12
Total Books Read : 9

[Jodi]

Apoorv wrote: "Its always fun to read literature from all over the globe and this challenge is a wonderful initiative to embark onto that journey. Appreciate and kudos to you, Adriana, for creating this wonderful..."

Apoorv, how was The Bridges of Madison County? That movie made me cry, cry, cry...ugly cry. I had to watch it over and over. Was the book just as good?

[Apoorv]

Jodi wrote: Apoorv, how was The Bridges of Madison County? That movie made me cry, cry, cry...ugly cry. I had to watch it over and over. Was the book just as good?

Jodi, with no two thoughts I can say, The Bridges of Madison County is amongst the finest romances I have ever read. I havent actually seen the movie (though planning to catch up with it owing to the story and the astounding starcast) but trust me, the book is exceptional.

The story moves you and Robert and Francesca just linger on. I still think about them and their love even after a month of having read the book.

Its a must must read, do read it if you get a chance. I am sure if you loved the movie so much that you were emotionally choked with their story.. the book will take you to their world and just leave you there to experience the magic.

[Elsbeth]

I wanna try 8.

[Sarah]

Ooh I want to take part too please =] I'll go for all of the regions.

[Alessia]

I've finished another book: The Rosie Project for Australia. 03/12 books read, six more to go :) I meant nine of course LOL

[Adriana]

Everyone is updated! Please, make sure I didn't miss you. Welcome to all newcomers (:

[Sydney]

Update!!

1. North America: Killing Lincoln: The Shocking Assassination that Changed America Forever (Washington, DC) Completed: 1/29
2. Central America: The Pearl (Mexico) Completed: 2/12
3. Caribbean: The Last Days of St. Pierre: The Volcanic Disaster That Claimed 30,000 Lives (Martinique) Completed: 2/27
4. South America
5. West Europe: The Book Thief (Germany) Completed: 1/26
6. East Europe and Former Soviet Union
7. Africa
8. Middle East
9. East Asia
10. South Asia
11. Southeast Asia
12. Australia & South Pacific: The Rosie Project (Australia) Completed: 2/4


Completed: 5/12

[Marina]

7/12 completed, with Gioconda Belli's Il paese sotto la pelle for Central America (the book is mostly set in Nicaragua and the author is from the same country).

[Adriana]

Fantastic job Sydney and Marina!

[Elsbeth]

I finished some books recently, which I want to use here:
For South Asia: ;
For Africa: ;
For North America: ;
And for West-Europe:
Four done, four to go ;)!

[Adriana]

Lots of books done Elsbeth! Great job (:

[Elsbeth]

Adriana wrote: "Lots of books done Elsbeth! Great job (:"

Well, I didn't read them all at once ;). Because I only joined this challenge recently, I could also put some books here which I read in january...

[[deleted user]]

I completed the Soviet Union. Japan to follow in a few days.

4/12 done.

[LynnB]

I've completed 7/12 now.

Caribbean - Claire of the Sea Light (Haiti)

[LyndiLea]

@adrian yes I have already completed the Antarctica book.

[[deleted user]]

Update: 5 done

North America World After (California) 1/5 5 stars
Central America
Caribbean
South America Excavation (South American Jungle) 2/10 4 stars
West Europe The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared(Sweden) 2/22 5 stars
East Europe and Former Soviet Union
Africa
Middle East
East Asia
South Asia The Case of the Missing Servant (India) 3/3 4 stars
Southeast Asia The Coroner's Lunch (Laos) 1/28 5 stars
Australia & South Pacific The Rosie Project (Australia) 3/1 4 stars

[Jennifer]

Update: 3/12 Complete:
1. North America – White Christmas in Dry Creek (Took place in America) 1/3
5. West Europe – Arabella (Took place in the UK) 1/3
12. Australia & South Pacific - The Italian's Ruthless Marriage Command (Author from Australia and partially takes place in Australia) 2/8

[[deleted user]]

South East Asia (Japan) completed. 5/12 done.

[Deedee]

8/12 Complete:

Central America (Nicaragua) Nicaragua: The Jaguar Smile: A Nicaraguan Journey (1987) by Salman Rushdie (03/07/14)

Full list: Post #12

[Adriana]

Everyone's updated!

[Lynn]

Just finished my 10th book for this challenge - Cockroaches by Jo Nesbø which was set in Thailand (Southeast Asia). Updated full list at Message 24.

[Danielle]

Updated post 245 Adriana. Have done 4 regions out of 5.

[Adriana]

Awesome Lynn and Danielle!

[Sydney]

1. North America: Killing Lincoln: The Shocking Assassination that Changed America Forever (Washington, DC) Completed: 1/29
2. Central America: The Pearl (Mexico) Completed: 2/12
3. Caribbean: The Last Days of St. Pierre: The Volcanic Disaster That Claimed 30,000 Lives (Martinique) Completed: 2/27
4. South America
5. West Europe: The Book Thief (Germany) Completed: 1/26
6. East Europe and Former Soviet Union
8. Middle East
9. East Asia
10. South Asia: I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban (Pakistan) Completed: 3/8
11. Southeast Asia
12. Australia & South Pacific: The Rosie Project (Australia) Completed: 2/4

Completed: 6/12

[Adriana]

Updated you Sydney (:

[LynnB]

I've finished 8/12 now.

Southeast Asia - Cockroaches (Thailand)

[Danielle]

I just realised I did a book for Southeast Asia as well: The Quiet American set in Vietnam. This means I have reached my goal, but as there are still 9 months I go for 10.

[Adriana]

I'll change your goal Danielle. A lot of people are gliding through these yearly challenges so fast. I'm impressed.

[Cynthia]

I have completed 8/12:

North America Dissident Gardens: A Novel New York
Central America
Caribbean
South America
West Europe The Dinosaur Feather Denmark
East Europe and Former Soviet Union We Are On Our Own Hungary
Africa Americanah Africa
Middle East The Golem and the Jinni Syria
East Asia Boxers and Saints China
South Asia
Southeast Asia Pyongyang: A Journey in North Korea North Korea
Australia & South Pacific The Rosie Project Australia

[Sarah]

First book read =]

Completed: 1/12

Australia & South Pacific: The Husband's Secret Author born in and set in Australia Finished 13/03/14

[Adriana]

Yay Sarah! Happy you got that first read down [:

[Elsbeth]

I just finished my 5th book for this challenge: , beautiful, but also a bit sad book which takes place on the west coast of Australia.

[Sarah]

Completed 2/12

North America: The Great Gatsby Set in New York & Author born in Minnesota - Finished 15/03/14
Central America
Caribbean
South America
West Europe
East Europe and Former Soviet Union
Africa
Middle East
East Asia
South Asia
Southeast Asia
Australia & South Pacific: The Husband's Secret Author born in and set in Australia - Finished 13/03/14

[Sarah]

Adriana wrote: "Yay Sarah! Happy you got that first read down [:"

Hehe =] Thank you.

[Adriana]

I've updated you Elsbeth and Sarah (:

[Lynn]

Finished my 11th book for this challenge - Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys set in the Caribbean. This was an odd book explaining the origins of the madwoman in the attic (married to Mr. Rochester). Updated full list at Message 24.

[Erika]

I completed my third book today. After the Quake for East Asia.

[Karena]

Hi! I'm 8/10 as of yesterday!

[Jave]

*UPDATE*

Adding North America: ¡Muuu! [USA] :D

[Deedee]

*UPDATE* (see: Post #12)

Adding
Middle East (Iraq) Sweet Dates in Basra: A Novel by Jessica Jiji (03/19/14)

9 of 12 completed!