Goodreads Ireland discussion
Continental Challenge 2016
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2016 challenge
A book set in each continent or by an author from that continent?
Either/orWas going to leave it open so no specific genres. Would be interesting to see what different books people pick.
True. I do like the idea of a challenge, during the year when I was having trouble choosing a book it helped focus my reading and I ended up falling in love with E.M Forster's books.
Ya and it's not a load of books, you can fit many of the books you'll read in the year into some of the categories
I really like this idea. I think it would help me branch out a bit from what I normally read. Oddly enough, I was thinking that I'd like to read more about 19th c. New England because I haven't read novels written right down the street from where I live. So I could have two challenges--reading near and reading far :)
Trelawn wrote: "Sounds like a plan Cathleen :-)"Hope spring eternal! It's been such a hectic year for me that--fingers crossed--I'll be able to read more next year.
See how it goes, it's not how much you read but that you enjoy what you're reading x
Trelawn wrote: "See how it goes, it's not how much you read but that you enjoy what you're reading x"Trelawn, thanks for your kind and wise words. You're right. I've really enjoyed most of what I've read this year. I sometimes forget in the hustle bustle of life :)
It's all about enjoying what you read as trelawn said
Sounds interesting Seraphina. I'll give it a shot ☺
Lost my post!I depend on Winstonsdad blog for lots on translated fiction.
https://winstonsdad.wordpress.com/201...
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Emma wrote: "What other challenges are people planning for next year?"I want to read more 19thc. American writers. I've read some, but it's been awhile, and after reading American Bloomsbury: Louisa May Alcott, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Margaret Fuller, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Henry David Thoreau: Their Lives, Their Loves, Their Work, I've been inspired to read more.
My other challenge will be again to get through books I own on my shelf and have been meaning to read for ages
Like Emma, I am going to try fit more classics into my reading schedule. I did really well at the beginning of this year but then waned a bit. I have plenty on my shelves to get on with and I still have to read The Mill on the Floss for this year.
I tried Middlemarch before but gave up. I'll see how I get on with The Mill on the Floss and then see where to go from there.
I'm challanging myself to read one book (print or kindle) per month. My reading is comng on well but I'm too fond of the audiobooks! Going to finish A Spool of Blue Thread today and I'm very pleased with myself :D
Seraphina wrote: "My other challenge will be again to get through books I own on my shelf and have been meaning to read for ages"Seraphina - this challenge appeals to me a lot! I really should aim to read 2 a month, but one I can definitely manage.
That's good Barbara, I think we could compile a very interesting pile of books between us all
Emma wrote: "So anyone got any suggestions for books. I think for the European one we should try stick to a book in translation. We all read enough English and Irish authors. We never read the continental autho..."I'm sure there have been lots of books written anout asouth africa; cry freedom, invictis etc. Antartica and s.America as the problems for me. I do remember a dean kootz mystery set on a reseach station at the north pole.is that in antertica??
I can tackle my "unread books" challenge and internatinal writers at the same time. I have ordered The Polish Complex- which was on WinstonsDad's blog. Also The Time of the Doves and Out in the Open. Also several Jorge Amado novels - he's Brazilian.
I'm sure there are some less esoteric novels we can agree on.
Do people think we should pick a set of 7 books or let everyone set up there own list. You can put your list up here and if people are stuck then they can see other people's choices?
Margo, Jules Vernes set one of his books in Antartica, conveniently called An Antartic Mystery (Translated from French)
My own preference would be to choose our own list. People can then read across the continents but in whatever genre they choose. And as Seraphina said, if you get stuck you could look at other peoples suggestions for a given continent.
Ooh and Edgar Allan Poe has a book set there too.
I like the idea of choosing our own books this time. As others have said it gives more focus to the books read. I like the idea of exploring books from other countries.
Also I think if people do there own lists and within there own timeframe, the challenge won't then interfere in our monthly and quarterly reads.
So this is my own list (which may change as the year goes on)Australia/Oceania A Fortunate Life
North America Manhattan '45
Europe Blindness
Africa Invictus
Asia Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China
Antartica Worst Journey in the World: Antarctic 1910-1913
South America The House of the Spirits
Emma wrote: "@Margo No the North Pole is in the Arctic and is not considered a continent. Antartica is the South Pole."Emma thanks. Geography was never my best subject LOL
Paul wrote: "Margo, Jules Vernes set one of his books in Antartica, conveniently called An Antartic Mystery (Translated from French)"Thanks Paul - bit of a clue in the title there - even I couldn'tthat one confused with the north pole ;)
Emma wrote: "Fair enough. Do people want a dedicated folder/threads for the challenge?"Emma a dedicated thread would be great. Could get some ideas from other peoples lists ;) I'm very lazy!!
I've just discovered that I have a book that mentions antartica in the blurb... It is The Atlantis Gene which my hubby bought and raved about. Don'tknow how much of it is actually set there though. Might listen to that next anyway to keep the man happy ;)
Mod
I remembered this morning that there are different ideas of how many continents there are:In Europe and other parts of the world, many students are taught of six continents, where North and South America are combined to form a single continent of America. Thus, these six continents are Africa, America, Antarctica, Asia, Australia, and Europe. I am informed that in France, it is not taught that Antarctica is a continent and thus there are five continents for French students.
Many scientists now refer to six continents, where Europe and Asia are combined (since they're one solid geologic landmass) as Eurasia. Thus, these six continents are Africa, Antarctica, Australia, Eurasia, North America, and South America.
http://geography.about.com/od/learnab...
I prefer considering Europe and Asia separately, as well as North and South America. I do consider North, Central and South America as the Americas but when it comes to literature, it's more appealing to consider North and South America. If we include non-fiction, there's more to consider for Antactica. I"d put Terra Incognita: Travels in Antarctica by Sara Wheeler on my list. GR has a list:
https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...
I'm in for this challenge . I didn't do so well with this year. I have only finished The Chronicles of Narnia and Great Expectations. Hopefully I will better luck with this one.
Emma wrote: "That's interesting. I'm pretty sure I was always taught there were 7 continents"Seems to depend on when and where you went to school! 3 generations in my house and depending who I ask it is either, 5, 6 or 7.
I think if it was dependant on cultural diffenses it would not not only be america that would be further divided!
Where'd You Go, Bernadette is on the GR list of Popular Antarctica Books. In terms of this challange is that acceptable? The blurb doesn't mention it. Anyone read it?
Margo wrote: "Where'd You Go, Bernadette is on the GR list of Popular Antarctica Books. In terms of this challange is that acceptable? The blurb doesn't mention it. Anyone read it?"I have and have a vague memory of a tour to Antarctica. I wouldn't consider it for the category Antarctica though.
Stoner is such a good read emma, surprised you haven't read it yet. Maybe Marcia will have suggestions for the Australian one?!
I've read a couple of Australian novels, my favourite was jasper jones. Also enjoyed cloudstreet but not as much. I know what you mean though Emma, it's not as easy to find out here about Australian writing as it would be American or even other European authors
@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 laid claim to different areas of it thus including it in other continents.
This will be a fun challenge to figure out. For an Australian writer, I was thinking I would probably read Tim Winton's new book or something from Peter Carey I haven't read yet, since I've loved his writing, as well. But then I remembered I downloaded a Kate Morton book more than a year ago. And...I've really enjoyed Garry Disher's crime novels...and there are a number of other writers--Peter Temple, Adrian Hyland I've heard about and have wanted to read. I think South American and Antartica will be a challenge for me--I'm not familiar with South American writers at all.
I've made most of my choices Africa tbd possibly something by Abraham Verghese
Antarctic An Antarctic Mystery
Australia People of the Book
Asia The Garden of Evening Mists
N. America Dear Life: Stories
S. America The Amnesia Clinic
Europe tbd not irish, English or french
Margo wrote: "I've made most of my choices Africa tbd possibly something by Abraham Verghese
Antarctic An Antarctic Mystery
Australia People of the Book
Asia [book:..."
Seraphina thankyou. It really was fun looking for suitable books and my tbr has grown by many multiples of 7 - with books I never would have come across normally
Emma wrote: "I've been thinking about my list for this. Part of my list shall be generated by books already on my shelf. They are as follows:North America - Stoner by John WilliamsJulia Alvarez (Dominican Republic)
Claire of the Sea Light by Edwidge Danticat (Haiti)
At Night We Walk in Circles by Daniel Alarcon (Peru)
Perla by Carolina de Robertis (Argentina)
The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz (Dominican Republic)
The Hummingbird's Daughter Luis Alberto Urrea (Mexico)
Isabel Allende (Chile) – The House of the Spirits, Daughter of Fortune, Island Beneath the Sea
My list should be much longer, and I really need to read some Brazilian fiction.
I haven't contributed much but this is a great idea. Definitely need to think hard on a South American book.
I have one book on my shelf set roughly a third in Africa , Asia and Europe but I won't cheat.
Lol I can't wait to see your list Paul, I think antarctica is going to be the tough one for people. Other than adventure stories I couldn't find much.
I'm going to try keep the set up in my wheelhouse and do a set of scifi fantasy for each continentI think I'll go with the Jules Vernes one for Antartica.
I have an idea for the African one, NK Jemisin's fanatasy is African based.The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms
For Asia I hope to reread a favourite from years ago -
Across the Nightingale Floor by Lian Hearn which is Japanese based fantasy.
For Europe I might do The Dwarves by Markus Heitz, translated form German.
North America I will decide but I've a million options there.
South America I might go with Kalpa Imperial: The Greatest Empire That Never Was. The translator is Ursula K Le Guin
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For next year I was thinking we could do a continental challenge. So participants would have to read a book from each continent, the 7 of which I will list:
Africa
Antartica
Europe
North America
South America
Asia
Australia/oceania
Anyone interested?