Goodreads Ireland discussion
Continental Challenge 2016
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2016 challenge
I have my list almost sorted, just need to decide on South America. Some books I have on my TBR already, some I have tried to pick new authors to try.North America A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail
Europe The Watcher in the Shadows which is in translation.
Africa Bill Bryson's African Diary plus I will continue with The No.1 Ladies Detective Agency series.
Asia The Glass Palace
Australia Picnic at Hanging Rock
Antartica The Birthday Boys
This should be an interesting challenge.
For South America I'm going with In Patagonia by Bruce Chatwin
Tom Creans book from recent years went down very well for Antartica non fiction
I have a question. The Lake House is a Kate Morton novel she is Australia but it takes place in Cornwall does that count for Australian ? I can't think of any other Australian authors.So for now
North America Ordinary Grace
Europe My Brilliant Friend
I think I'm going for a mix, either an author being from there or the book set there.So by that logic, Kate Morton would be fine for Australia
Thanks Paul. I plan on reading it next year ,I love her novels so I really wouldn't be going out of my comfort zone . I should come with another one besides this but for now I'll include it.
AustraliaBittersweet A novel set in Australia by an Australian. I feel better about it.Asia Kafka on the Shore
Colleen wrote: "I have a question. The Lake House is a Kate Morton novel she is Australia but it takes place in Cornwall does that count for Australian ? I can't think of any other Australian autho..."I didn't know kate morton is australian. i bought The Lake House on audio recently. haven't listened to it yet.
Margo, The Shadow of the Wind is one of my all time favourite booka. And it is part of a series if you enjoy it. Great choice
Shadow of the Wind is a great call Margo. Loved it.
Paul wrote: "Shadow of the Wind is a great call Margo. Loved it."I'm really looking foreward to shadow of the wind, it sounds great. And it's time I found a good a good series to get hooked on
I'm jealous of someone finding tte book for the first time. Its one of the first books Trelawn got me to read.
Paul wrote: "I'm jealous of someone finding tte book for the first time. Its one of the first books Trelawn got me to read."Paul I'm getting really excited about this book and I can't start it for at least a month!
Even makes me want to read it margo lol
Wow this discussion got away from me. Adding (late) I agree with each of us making our own list.
Margo wrote: "ok, final 2 choses:Africa Cutting for Stone
Europe The Shadow of the Wind"
That just reminded me--I think I have Shadow of the Wind on my Kindle. I was also thinking of continuing the Elena Ferrante trilogy--using the second novel as my European choice.
Here's probably a dumb comment--but I have never thought that anyone (other than scientists) lived on Antarctica. Are there communities of people who live there? (Feeling I should get out some geography books or something!).
Margo wrote: "ok, final 2 choses:Africa Cutting for Stone
Europe The Shadow of the Wind"
I wish I could read The Shadow of the Wind again for the first time ;) Enjoy!
Mod
It's tricky to consider what books "count" for each continent. For myself I think I want the book to be set in a country and the author to be from that country.
Africa:GraceLand
Antartica: (I'm going to swap out Antartica for the Middle
East which is part of Asia and do two selections from that continent): Tablet & Pen: Literary Landscapes from the Modern Middle East)
Asia: The Man with the Compound Eyes: A Novel
Europe: The Secret History of Moscow
North America: Oryx and Crake
South America: Kalpa Imperial: The Greatest Empire That Never Was (good idea Paul)
Australia/Oceania: Unknown
Its quite hard to find any scifi or Fantasy written in South America that has actually been translated to English Sara . I didn't want to get one just set there so hopefully my choice works out. I'll be very interseted to see what you think. I couldn't find a copy this side of the Atlantic so ordered one from the US (Still only cost 6 quid with delivery)
The TBR dare sounds like quite a good idea for getting the pile down a bit.
Sara wrote: "This is interesting. I think I'll do this one too!It's tricky to consider what books "count" for each continent. For myself I think I want the book to be set in a country and the author to be from..."
Sara Oryx and Crake is the only one I've read from that list and I loved it! Great start to a brilliant trilogy.
Paul wrote: "Its quite hard to find any scifi or Fantasy written in South America that has actually been translated to English Sara . I didn't want to get one just set there so hopefully my choice works out. I'..."Looking forward to seeing your list Paul ;)
I aim to please Margo, all are scifi or fantasy, some set in or based on the continent , while others are by authors from thereAfrica: The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms
An African based Fantasy setting (originally recomended by Sara)
Antartica: An Antartic Mystery This will also fit in with my attempt to read a few more classics
Asia: Across the Nightingale Floor
Read this years ago and loved it. Japanese set Fantasy novel
Europe: The Dwarves Translated from German I have been recomended this a few times
North America: Demon Road An Irish author for the North American choice but US to me screams Road Trip
South America: Kalpa Imperial: The Greatest Empire That Never Was Hard to find a choice for here but this sounds great and what a translator to have.
Australia/Oceania: Sabriel
I've meant to read Garth Nix for years
Paul wrote: "I aim to please Margo, all are scifi or fantasy, some set in or based on the continent , while others are by authors from thereAfrica: The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms
An African base..."
Some interesting stuff there Paul - 2 of which have just added to my TBR! Snap on An Antartic Mystery but I think it may from you that I came across that one. It was quiet hard to come up with something for that one, as I don't really enjoy NF as a rule.
Cathleen I already asked my hubby if anyone actually live in antartica - he doesn't think so. Not that he's an authority, but he tends to have a lot if useless information at his fingertips! Now if you're looking for stupid ... I thought it was the north pole! I spent my geography classes thinking about books :)
I see you added Lian Hearn. I remember it as being a really good book. Its a fantasy version of Japan, light enough on the fantastical but still a made up place in a Japanese style . A few people with Japanese knowledge seemed to get peed off that its not actually an accurate depiction of Japan but of you don't read the blurb that'll happen ;-)
Paul wrote: "I see you added Lian Hearn. I remember it as being a really good book. Its a fantasy version of Japan, light enough on the fantastical but still a made up place in a Japanese style . A few people w..."My son may well be one of those people - he's never been there but his life seems to revolve about all thinks Japenese. Manga, anime etc. Me, I just get caught up in the story ;D
Cathleen wrote: "Margo wrote: "ok, final 2 choses:Africa Cutting for Stone
Europe The Shadow of the Wind"
That just reminded me--I think I have Shadow of the Wind on my Kindle. I was ..."
Cathleen - only scientists live there although a surprising number of countries have claims to Antarctica including Chile.
I am still working on my list by pulling books from my shelves. I have so many books, it is taking me time to locate books I know I own.
Seraphina wrote: "@Barbara, I have read about Asia and Europe being considered as one continent but I know like Emma we were always taught 7. Antartica is also another strange one as I read numerous countries have l..."I teach an Education course on Social Studies methods and it comes up because some of my students went to primary school in other countries.
Paul wrote: "I aim to please Margo, all are scifi or fantasy, some set in or based on the continent , while others are by authors from thereAfrica: The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms
An African base..."
Glad you added Oceania to Australia cuz it gives us "permission" to consider New Zealand. I have been meaning to read Keri Hulme.
Interesting choice Emma, I've always meant to read it but just haven't gotten round to it yet.
Mod
Right only Antartica left."
Emma, I read that 50 years ago and recommend it.
I haven't read it either emma, maybe it will make a monthly/quarterly read
I couldn't choose just one for most categories:My list:
North America - I'll read Canadian authors
The Cure For Death By Lightning by Gail Anderson-Dargatz (winner of Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize (1997), Betty Trask Award (1998))
Hateship, Friendship, Courtship, Loveship, Marriage: Stories by Alice Munro, Nobel Prize winner
South America
Crow Blue by Adriana Lisboa (Brazil)
The War of the Saints by Jorge Amado (Brazil)
Children of the Days: A Calendar of Human History by Eduardo Galeano (Uruguay)
Africa
The Famished Road by Ben Okri (Nigeria) 1991 Booker Prize
Asia
An Atlas of Impossible Longing by Arandati Roy (India)
Australia
Cloudstreet by Tim Winton
The Midnight Promise by Zane Lovitt (detective mystery)
Another possibility from New Zealand is The Bone People Keri Hulme
Europe
The Polish Complex by Tadeusz Konwicki
The Time of the Dovesby Mercè Rodoreda (Spain/Catalonia) - the book Gabriel García Marquez reportedly learned Catalan to read
Out in the Open by Jesús Carrasco (Spain)
Antarctica ???? still looking for inspiration.
I should add all of these books are on my shelves. A few were 2015 purchases so not yet dusty but at least half have been around for a few years.
Mod
Sara wrote: "I'm also going to take the TBR Dare only making exceptions for book club choices."What a clever, fun idea. It makes good sense.
Margo and Barbara--I didn't think anyone other than scientists lived there, so thanks for that info :) Wasn't it a few years ago some scientist had to operate on herself because the research station was so remote?
Trelawn wrote: "Interesting choice Emma, I've always meant to read it but just haven't gotten round to it yet."It's one of those novels that stays with you--such strong visual imagery.
Here's what I have so far:Australia: Tim Winton's Eyrie and Island Home
Europe The Story of a New Name by Elena Ferrante and The Summer Book by Tove Jansson
South America The Book of Embraces by Eduardo Galeano
Still mulling about the other continents.
Barbara wrote: "I couldn't choose just one for most categories:My list:
North America - I'll read Canadian authors
The Cure For Death By Lightning by Gail Anderson-Dargatz (winner of Ethel Wilson F..."
Barbara I read the Monro book last year and loved it :)
Cathleen wrote: "Margo and Barbara--I didn't think anyone other than scientists lived there, so thanks for that info :) Wasn't it a few years ago some scientist had to operate on herself because the research statio..."Cathleen it sounds plausible! Or else a potential plot for a new Steven King novel LOL
Some great choices by people here and I do intend on robbing some of the picks. Some great books by sounds of them.Do people want to just read as they go or have a specified time frame ie for jan and feb we read south American picks etc.?
I would prefer to read as the mood moves me but if more people want to read with a time frame I'm ok with that too.
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Sara Gruen (other topics)
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I will probably be able to get most of the other continents covered by reading things on my shelves and hit two birds with one stone - dusty books and the continent challenge.