Around the World Challenge

[Cheri]

Rachelnyc wrote: "I am struggling with when to add a book I've read to this challenge and when not to. If I don't feel like I've gotten a good sense of what the state or country is like or if it doesn't seem to be i..."

Rachel, I have that issue, too, and what I finally decided was if even one significant scene took place in that country, I count it - but I hope to read something else where that country will be more central. Otherwise it's too overwhelming for me, and it's hard to find books that take place in some countries. So for some countries I have several books listed that I've read but I'm aware that not all of them (sometimes none of them) are really focused on that country. When (if!) I ever get near finishing all the countries, I'll go back to look for more substantial books for my iffy entries. Good luck figuring out what you want to do!

[Rachelnyc]

Thanks Cheri, that's a good idea. Maybe I'll place an asterisk next to one's I don't feel good about and hope to return.

It really can be tricky! I just read a book that took place in Cuba but the characters mainly stayed in their house because they hated being there. It did cause me to search for another book set there that I am looking forward to reading but I can see how difficult it would be with countries that are more difficult to find in books.

[Pam]

Rachelnyc wrote: "You all have inspired me to start this challenge! Since this is the first year I'm doing any challenge other than just number of books, this is going to take a back seat to the others I'm currently..."

Thank you Rachel for the link to this list! I found a few I’ve read or want to read and at least 10 that I’m adding to my TBR!

I’m doing 3 different challenges in a different GR group, all of which are either set in different countries or by authors from the country. One of them is the Winter Olympics challenge. I’m doing the easiest level- all of the Gold medal winning countries. Recent reads that I recommend are Norway 🇳🇴-Shadow on the Mountain (mid-grade WWII), Germany 🇩🇪 - Buddenbrooks: The Decline of a Family, Finland 🇫🇮 - The Year of the Hare (humorous adventure), Canada 🇨🇦- - The Wolves of Winter (post-apocalyptic Set in the Yukon), and South Africa 🇿🇦 - Disgrace. I’ve started one set in Switzerland 🇨🇭 I'm Not Stiller. Once I finish these challenges, I’ll expand it to a true Around the World challenge!

[Pam]

Sue wrote: "I notice that in the list of countries people are using, East Timor is listed as part of Portugal. It hasn't been part of Portugal since 1975, then was part of Indonesia until 2002. It has been an ..."

And, it is now officially called Timor-Leste rather than East Timor.

[Sophie]

At first I was adding a book as soon as a little bit of it took place in the country. But then I realised that I'm actually doing this challenge to get a better knowledge of the countries, so I became much more selective.

It's up to you really!

[StefanieFrei]

I am doing both of the ways recommended here, actually. For a yearly challenge, I try to to fit books in somehow (but replace with a better fit, if that happens).
For an "ongoing challenge with myself", I try for a really good fit, but expect this to be a life-long task....

[Rachelnyc]

Thanks for the feedback everyone. I think I will drive myself crazy if I wait for a perfect book in each country so I will go with the consensus and include books but keep the option open to replace if I find a better fit.

[Lizzy]

I think I may have to start doing this challenge... just including the books read from this year and going forward. I’m in the app now, so I’ll start when get to my computer.

[Anastasia]

When looking for books for this challenge I noticed the ones listed for Canada. Most of them were not really indicative of what Canada is like.
We are not a cold, grey, dreary place to live full of depressed people.

So I decided to read several books from each country hoping that will give me a better picture off what the culture is really like. It is not going to be easy to find one book for some of these countries let alone more, but it is a life goal.

That being said, I think that if the book takes place even a small bit in a country you can always count it. There is absolutely no reason that you only need to read one book from each country. You may find that you love Scandinavian humor or Cuban realism. You may fall in love with a new culture.

Sorry if that was a little scattered and long. :s

[Rachelnyc]

Anastasia wrote: "When looking for books for this challenge I noticed the ones listed for Canada. Most of them were not really indicative of what Canada is like.
We are not a cold, grey, dreary place to live full o..."

Great point Anastasia! One of the reasons I asked the question is that I read a book that was partially set in Cuba but it gave me practically no sense of the country or what it would be like to live there so I decided to seek out others.

I love that this challenge has already opened my eyes to how many books I read are set in the same or similar place. I will definitely look at this as a lifelong challenge.

[Pam]

WRT Rachel’s question, I count the book for a particular country if a significant part of the story is set in the country. I usually only include 1 country but I like the idea of including multiple ones, especially when there are multiple story lines. I don’t use the criteria of learning something about the country. Usually you pick up something. A lot of times reading the fiction book triggers my interest in reading more about the country or a specific event. So, in that case, I might not have learned much from the book but it was a stepping stone to learning!

[Rachelnyc]

Pam wrote: "WRT Rachel’s question, I count the book for a particular country if a significant part of the story is set in the country. I usually only include 1 country but I like the idea of including multiple..."

That was actually another thing I was debating. I just finished In the Midst of Winter and while the book was set in Brooklyn, each of the three main characters has extensive flashbacks to their lives in Guatamala, Chile and Brazil so where do I place this? Choose one of the countries or use it for all 3?

As you say Pam, the information provided has piqued my interest in each of these countries and I have already googled for more information on some of the incidents the book discusses.

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

I just read The Astonishing Color of After by Emily X.R. Pan and it was a great book for Taiwan! Just wanted to throw that out there.

(YA, realistic with some fantasy elements, starts in the US but moves to Taiwan in Chapter 12 or 13 and stays there for the remainder of the book. I think it did a great job of showing the culture!)

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

Rachelnyc wrote: "Pam wrote: "WRT Rachel’s question, I count the book for a particular country if a significant part of the story is set in the country. I usually only include 1 country but I like the idea of includ..."

Honestly, I'd probably count it as all three, if you did get a good feel for the country and culture for all three. This is such a big (and daunting!) list that I wouldn't feel bad about doubling up.

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

Head's up! For those of you who still need a book for Burundi, Book of the Month Club has Small Country, which is set in Burundi and looks really good! (And it's also a translation, so it would fit that ATY prompt!)

[Sophie]

Thanks for the rec Emily!