Fall 2016: Around the World in Eighty Days

[A.L.]

This challenge officially runs from September 1 to November 19, but I'm opening it now in case anyone wants to start brainstorming.

To complete the challenge, read novels by LDS authors in as many geographic categories as you'd like. We've divided the world up roughly by continent, plus there's a category for outer space.

• North America
• South America
• Europe
• Africa
• Asia
• Australia, the Pacific Islands, and Antarctica
• Space

For a book to check off a given category, at least one scene must take place in that area. Each novel/novella can only count toward one category. The books can be contemporary or historical, with or without speculative elements. And we'll be generous if a book takes place in a fictitious location that resembles something real.

I think the challenge will be a lot of fun! Who's in?

[Paul]

I'll be joining.

If there is time travel involved (for, say, the "Tennis Shoes" series, for example, where it's disputable which "American continent" the story is on) or if there are fictional lands involved, do we count those, as well?

[A.L.]

Paul wrote: "I'll be joining.

If there is time travel involved (for, say, the "Tennis Shoes" series, for example, where it's disputable which "American continent" the story is on) or if there are fictional lan..."

If it's unclear, we'll let the reader decide which category they want to use it for. (Especially if it's something that might check off South America. That continent is kind of underrepresented in LDS literature.)

[Charissa]

That sounds fun! I'm in.

[Jennie]

I just finished reading Camron Wright's The Orphan Keeper. It takes place in India, England, and North America. Fantastic novel! I'll probably count it as Asia since it mostly involves India. I'll review it soon for Meridian too.

[A.L.]

Jennie wrote: "I just finished reading Camron Wright's The Orphan Keeper. It takes place in India, England, and North America. Fantastic novel! I'll probably count it as Asia since it mostly involves India. I'll ..."

I liked The Rent Collector by that author. I may need to add his new one to my to-read list. Looking forward to your review, Jennie.

[A.L.]

Charissa wrote: "That sounds fun! I'm in."

Yay!

[Cathy]

Sounds like tons of fun! I'm excited to read The Orphan Keeper too. I LOVED The Rent Collector!

[A.L.]

Has anyone picked out books yet? I'm going to give myself flexibility and pick as I go, but the next fiction I read will be The Pursuit and I'll use it for North America.

[A.L.]

If anyone is looking for ideas, here are a few series that would cross off a few continents:

The Isabelle Webb Series:

It would cross off Asia, Africa, and Europe

Til the Boys Come Home Series:

It would cross off North America, the Pacific, Africa, and Europe.

Children of the Promise Series:

I think the five books would cross off North America, Europe, Asia, and the Pacific Islands (I don't remember anything taking place in N. Africa, but I might be wrong).

I've read and recommend all three series.

[Tressa]

I'm going to try to join... Fall is always crazy busy and I have a very full review list, but some of those meet this challenge, so I'll start with those:
(India/Asia)
(US/North America)
(England/Europe)

I'm adding this one on my list to read for South America:

[A.L.]

I just noticed Gregg Luke had a new book out, and it sounds like at least part of it takes place in South America. I really enjoy his books, and now I have a perfect excuse to squeeze it in sometime before mid-November.

[Laura]

Guardian of the FountainThough it's not new, another excellent story written by an LDS author that takes place in South America is Guardian of the Fountain. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

[A.L.]

Thanks, Laura!

It's a little harder to find books set in South America. Maybe we could do a little group brainstorming?

Here are a few with at least one scene in South America (including those already mentioned):
Infected Guardian of the Fountain Drop Zone Breaking Dawn

Then we can add lots of Book of Mormon or time-travel books that don't specify where they take place. Other than that, I can't think of many. Can anyone add to the list?

[Tressa]

A.L. wrote: "Thanks, Laura!

It's a little harder to find books set in South America. Maybe we could do a little group brainstorming?

Here are a few with at least one scene in South America (including those al..."

Oh! Drop Zone is on my shelf and I haven't read it yet. I'll have to get that one in. Thanks! :D

[Jennie]

I'm not sure whether Haiti is considered South America; it's more Central. But if it counts, then The Shaken Earth by Toni Sorenson is a great book.

[Jennie]

A.L. wrote: "I just noticed Gregg Luke had a new book out, and it sounds like at least part of it takes place in South America. I really enjoy his books, and now I have a perfect excuse to sque..."

It's a very good book and takes place entirely in Venezuela.

[Cathy]

There's also The Last Messenger of Zitol by Chelsea Dyreng. It takes place in the ancient Aztec lands and I think some of the Tennis Shoes Among the Nephite books do too. And it seems like several of Gregg Luke's books have at least a few scenes in South America.

[A.L.]

Thanks Laura, Jennie, Tressa, and Cathy for the South America ideas. That should give group members a nice variety of ideas.

Does anyone have ideas for Australia, the Pacific Islands, and Antarctica?

There are some WWII Pacific theater novels out there would work. And I guess Hawaii could count as part of the Pacific, so that open ups lots of possibilities. Has anyone read fiction set in Australia or Antarctica by an LDS author?

[Tressa]

Oh, I have a few (I've already read them, re-reads don't count, right?) and I've enjoyed them all...
This one takes place in Hawaii:

These take place or mostly take place in Australia:

[Jennie]

Precious Cargo by Jean Holbrook Mathews takes place in the Philippines. I think another one of her books does as well. Portrait of Lies by Clair M. Poulson takes place partly at sea (Pacific Ocean) and partly in Australia.

[Cathy]

Space seems like it's going to be the hardest one for me...if anyone has ideas that would be awesome!

[A.L.]

Tressa wrote: "Oh, I have a few (I've already read them, re-reads don't count, right?) and I've enjoyed them all...
This one takes place in Hawaii:

These take place or..."

If you want to re-read books during the dates of the challenge, you can go ahead and count them. If a book is good enough to read more than once, it's good enough to count for the challenge!

[A.L.]

Here are some space ideas (I hope others will add to the list):

Assault on Cambriol: The Manhattan Trials by Jerry Borrowman

A bunch of books by Orson Scott Card, like Ender's Game

Cheree Alsop's Girl from the Stars series:


Caretaker or Guardians by Josi Russell

Firstborn by Brandon Sanderson

We could probably count anything that deals with the afterlife too. Heaven and hell are usually portrayed as off-planet.

Here's a pre-earth-life one:

Earthbound by Theresa Sneed

I haven't read any of them, other than Firstborn (it's a short story), but hopefully a few will sound interesting.

[Cathy]

Thanks! That helps!

[Lindsay]

I'm just catching up on this thread. If readers are still looking for ideas of books that take place in the pacific islands, my novel could work.

Lindsay B. Ferguson
By the Stars is a WWII-era historical novel/romance inspired by a true story. Sections of it take place in the Philippines where the main characters serves as an infantry soldier in the war.
If anyone gets a chance to read it I would love to hear what you think! :)

[A.L.]

How is everyone doing on the challenge? I've got one down, and I'm in the middle of edits, so I probably won't read any more for a few weeks. But we have over a month left--plenty of time, right?

[Cathy]

I've read 4 and I think I'm reading a 5th. I have to check on LDS author status!

[A.L.]

Awesome, Cathy!

[Jennie]

I've read five categories. I don't know if I'll get a chance to read Space or Pacific Islands, but I'll try. These are the ones I've read:
Asia: The Orphan Keeper and Undercover Target
Europe: Winter Sky and At the Waters Edge
S. America : Infected
Africa: One Hen
N. America: Out Lawyered

[A.L.]

Sounds like you've read some good books, Jennie! Several of those are on my to-read list.

[A.L.]

So how's everyone doing with the challenge? I didn't make it all the way around the world (I didn't think I would), but I made it to
North America:
South America:
Africa:
and Europe: (& , although I finished that one after the 80 days were up)

[Cathy]

I finished!

[A.L.]

Cathy wrote: "I finished!"

Awesome, Cathy!