2023 Summer Reading Challenge

[Elizabeth]

Wow, you guys are all such fast readers. I've only read one right now, and I haven't finished my second yet.

The Hero of This Book this takes place in England and America, and I was not a fan. It's a fictional memoir, so the whole time I was wondering what was real and what wasn't. It annoyed me a bit. Structurally, the author did some interesting things. It's a nonlinear narrative, and it's about grief and bereavement, so the little snapshots into the characters lives, really did feel like someone who is remembering their family in little bits and pieces. But, I still found it aggravating. Plus sometimes the author breaks the fourth wall - so it's a first person narrative, of someone telling you about their mother, and also the author of the book is also sometimes interjecting comments, and it may be based on her actual life. ... I... I just didn't care for it.

I started listening to the audiobook of Mara, Daughter of the Nile which takes place in Egypt. I love this one, it's been on my keeper shelf for ages, probably since the 1990s, but I've never listened to the audio.

[Elizabeth]

JoAnn wrote: "I just finished The Nazi Conspiracy by Brad Meltzer. I am not sure which country to choose since it involves events in the US, Germany, the USSR, and Iran as major places for events, with France an..."

I would find your other books, and then if one of them overlaps, then you can say, well the first book counts for THIS country, and this other book counts for THIS country. :D

[Elizabeth]

Linda wrote: "I will also keep a running list here.

1. The Travelling Cat Chronicles--Japan
2. [book:..."

Excellent, love that you're doing that.

[Elizabeth]

Greg wrote: "Deborah wrote: "Greg wrote: "This is a fun challenge. I decided to take it a step further (because I could, and because I'm a bit of a masochist). I read 5 books, set in different countries, writte..."

Wow! Congrats on finishing so fast. I hope your unreasonable goals don't burn you out on reading.

[Elizabeth]

Em wrote: "I just happened to be reading a book when this was announced that fits the challenge - a good feeling!

1 - Olive, Mabel and Me: Life and Adventures with Two Very Good Dogs - Andrew..."

That's great, I love it when that happens.

[Elizabeth]

Britt, Book Habitue wrote: "Updating the list.... No new countries, sadly.😅

Running list:

England - Death at Daisy's Folly, The Mislaid Magician
England, alternate history*- A Symphony of Echoes
USA - Henry and Beezus, Donu..."

Britt, I love that you're keeping track of the fantasy worlds too.

[Elizabeth]

Debbie wrote: "I have changed two of the 5 books:
✅ USA Hot Six by Janet Evanovich
✅ Australia Death Down Under by Samantha Silver
✅ Ghana [book:Going t..."

Wahoo! Good job Debbie!

[Britt, Book Habitue]

What am I missing with Turn of the Screw? I think it was supposed to be atmospheric and creepy but...it wasn't. Sigh.
Yes, I did in fact read Bellwether 3 times. In a week. Not even the first time(s) I've read it this year.😅
Added Italy and Middle Earth.

Running list:

England - Death at Daisy's Folly, The Mislaid Magician, Turn of the Screw
England, alternate history*- A Symphony of Echoes
USA - Henry and Beezus, Donut Disturb, Under Lock and Skeleton Key, Iggie's House, Bellwether (x3), Muffin but the Truth
100 Acre Wood* - The House at Pooh Corner
Scotland - Fateful Words
Atlantic Ocean - Dead Wake
Italy- Death in the Floating City
Middle Earth*- The Two Towers


* no, I'm not actually counting imaginary countries in the 5, but it amuses me to list them.

[Teresa]

One finished - Ayesha Dean The Seville Secret, set in Spain.

[Deborah]

I finished book 4: The Cat Who Went to Heaven by Elizabeth Coatsworth which is set in Japan.

Running list of completed books for the summer Challenge

1. India - Gay-Neck: The Story of a Pigeon by Dhan Gopal Mukerji -Complete 6/4/2023
2. England - Silver on the Tree - Complete 6/7/23
3. Austria - The Danger with Diamonds by Traci Hunter Abramson and Sian Ann Bessy - Complete 6/9/23
4. Japan- The Cat Who Went to Heaven by Elizabeth Coatsworth - Complete 6/16/23

Other books I have read that had repeat locations so I didn't count them in the challenge:

1. England - A Bride’s Guide to Marriage and Murder by Dianne Freeman

[Elizabeth]

You all are doing great! Keep up the reading, and if you finish, but end up reading books set in other countries anyway, please post here, to give others ideas.

[Brittany]

Here's my progress so far:

1. England - Henry VI, Part 3 by William Shakespeare

2. Syria - As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow by Zoulfa Katouh

And for fun, the fantasy worlds I've read so far:

1. Alifbay - Luka and the Fire of Life by Salman Rushdie

2. Alagaesia - Eragon by Christopher Paolini

[Debbie]

Britt, Book Habitue wrote: "What am I missing with Turn of the Screw? I think it was supposed to be atmospheric and creepy but...it wasn't. Sigh.
Yes, I did in fact read Bellwether 3 times. In a week. Not even the first time(..."
Pre-Stephen King and Clive Barker, it was atmospheric and creepy. You get a sense of that if you watch the film The Innocents starring Deborah Kerr.

[Britt, Book Habitue]

Debbie wrote: "Britt, Book Habitue wrote: "What am I missing with Turn of the Screw? I think it was supposed to be atmospheric and creepy but...it wasn't. Sigh.
Yes, I did in fact read Bellwether 3 times. In a we..."

I don't read Stephen King or Clive Barker but yes, I'm sure changing times is part of it.
My biggest issue was I couldn't take anything the narrator said seriously. Her ability to leap to illogical conclusions was amazing.
Also, I think audio might not be the best way to experience that kind of story.🤷

[Britt, Book Habitue]

Adding some more books.... but not any real countries. 🤣

Running list:

England - Death at Daisy's Folly, The Mislaid Magician, Turn of the Screw
England, alternate history*- A Symphony of Echoes, Sorcery & Cecelia, The Grand Tour
USA - Henry and Beezus, Donut Disturb, Under Lock and Skeleton Key, Iggie's House, Bellwether (x3), Muffin but the Truth, Out of my Mind
100 Acre Wood* - The House at Pooh Corner
Scotland - Fateful Words
Atlantic Ocean - Dead Wake
Italy- Death in the Floating City
Middle Earth*- The Two Towers
Mountains of Morning/Enchanted Forest*- Dealing with Dragons, Searching for Dragons, Calling on Dragons


* no, I'm not actually counting imaginary countries in the 5, but it amuses me to list them.

[Teresa]

Finished #2 UK - Dark, Witch, and Creamy and #3 Belgium - The White Lady. It takes place in 3 countries, I chose the 1st one.

[Elizabeth]

Teresa wrote: "Finished #2 UK - Dark, Witch, and Creamy and #3 Belgium - The White Lady. It takes place in 3 countries, I chose the 1st one."

Only 2 more to go!

[Patsy]

Daisy Darker - England
A Girl Named Disaster - Africa

[Deborah]

Book 5 is Complete! I finished The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn late last night. It takes place mostly in Russia, with a trip to the USA at the end. For fun I am going to keep my list going until the end of the summer.

Running list of completed books for the summer Challenge

1. India - Gay-Neck: The Story of a Pigeon by Dhan Gopal Mukerji -Complete 6/4/2023
2. England - Silver on the Tree - Complete 6/7/23
3. Austria - The Danger with Diamonds by Traci Hunter Abramson and Sian Ann Bessy - Complete 6/9/23
4. Japan- The Cat Who Went to Heaven by Elizabeth Coatsworth - Complete 6/16/23
5. Russia - The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn - Complete 6/30/23

Other books I have read that had repeat locations so I didn't count them in the challenge:

1. England - A Bride’s Guide to Marriage and Murder by Dianne Freeman

[Elizabeth]

Deborah! You finished in one month, that's amazing!

[Greg]

Deborah wrote: "For fun I am going to keep my list going until the end of the summer.."

So cool! Congrats on finishing quickly!

[Teresa]

I finished #4 The Honest Penny, a folktale set in Norway and #5 If The Martians Have Magic, a short story set in Morocco.

[Deborah]

Elizabeth wrote: "Deborah! You finished in one month, that's amazing!"

Thanks! I love reading and it is fun to read books about other countries.

[Audrey]

1. The Golden Enclaves -- Wales/England/USA/China/India

[Deborah]

My summer Challenge Update:

Running list of completed books for the summer Challenge

1. India/England - Gay-Neck: The Story of a Pigeon by Dhan Gopal Mukerji

2. Wales - Silver on the Tree by Susan Cooper

3. Austria - The Danger with Diamonds by Traci Hunter Abramson and Sian Ann Bessy

4. Japan- The Cat Who Went to Heaven by Elizabeth Coatsworth

5. Russia/USA - The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn

6. England - A Bride’s Guide to Marriage and Murder by Dianne Freeman

7. Netherlands/Austria/USA -Heirs of Falcon Point by Traci Hunter Abramson, Sian Ann Bessey, Paige Edwards, and A.L. Sowards

8. France - Along a Breton Shore by Arlem Hawks

9. Poland - The Trumpeter of Krakow by Eric P Kelly

[Elizabeth]

Wow, everyone seems to be going above and beyond. I love it!

[Britt, Book Habitue]

Updating my list.... since I've finished the challenge I might not keep adding to it.... maybe only when a book actually adds a new country.

New and Improved! Running list:

Real countries (that count)
1 England - Death at Daisy's Folly, The Mislaid Magician, Turn of the Screw

2 USA - Henry and Beezus, Donut Disturb, Under Lock and Skeleton Key, Iggie's House, Bellwether (x3), Muffin but the Truth, Out of my Mind, Guardians of the Valley

3 Scotland - Fateful Words

4 Italy- Death in the Floating City

5 India- The Widows of Malabar Hill


Real places that aren't countries or Continent, but not country specific
Africa - Fever Dream

Atlantic Ocean - Dead Wake

The Americas- The Book of Mormon


Fictional countries*
Middle Earth- The Two Towers, Return of the King

Mountains of Morning/Enchanted Forest- Dealing with Dragons (x2), Searching for Dragons (x2), Calling on Dragons, Talking to Dragons

England, alternate history- A Symphony of Echoes, Sorcery & Cecelia, The Grand Tour

100 Acre Wood- The House at Pooh Corner

Planet Boohte- Uncharted Territory

* no, I'm not actually counting imaginary countries in the 5, but it amuses me to list them.

[Elissa]

Done! :)

You can see dates I finished them (along with my reviews) on my page. Let me know if you need further info from me. I’m a first timer here :))

1. Pandora by Susan Stokes-Chapman - England
2. Traveling with Pomegranates by Sue Monk Kidd - Greece and Paris
3. American Dirt - Mexico
4.The Cellist of Sarajevo by Steven Galloway - Sarajevo
5. The Villa by Rachel Hawkins - Italy

Elissa

[Elissa]

The Villa took place in Italy… looks like my last sentence didn’t finish :))

[Brittany]

Here's my progress so far:

1. England - King Henry VI, Part 3 by William Shakespeare

2. Syria - As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow by Zoulfa Katouh

3. Vietnam - Bronze Drum by Phong Nguyen

4. Italy, France, Scotland - The Good Left Undone by Adriana Trigiani

And for fun, the fantasy worlds I've read so far:

1. Alifbay - Luka and the Fire of Life by Salman Rushdie

2. Alagaesia - Eragon by Christopher Paolini

[Debbie]

I enjoy seeing the locations everyone is "going to". And I'm getting a kick out of listings of fictional places. Thanks for sharing those, too!

[Elizabeth]

The Goodreads Reading Challenge lasts 3 months, June, July, and August. So, we are more than halfway through. So, if you're struggling to finish, you still have about six more weeks.

If you're working on the library's Summer Reading Challenge, where you Read, Create, Learn, Play, and Connect, that finishes at the end of July. So, make sure you get that turned in, so you can pick up your free book and other prizes!

[Carolyn]

Finally got my third book for the challenge. Days at the Morisaki Bookshop which takes place in Japan (just recently published in English)

[Elizabeth]

Carolyn wrote: "Finally got my third book for the challenge. Days at the Morisaki Bookshop which takes place in Japan (just recently published in English)"

Nice! Carolyn. 2 more to go, and 6 weeks. You can definitely do it!

[Mary]

I finished this challenge.
1- Ghana: Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
2- England: The Murder of Mr. Wickham by Claudia Gray
3- Germany: Echo by Pam Munoz Ryan
4- Poland: Resistance by Jennifer A. Nielsen
5- France: The Passion of Dolssa by Julie Berry
6- USA: The Guncle by Steven Rowley

[Elizabeth]

Mary wrote: "I finished this challenge.
1- Ghana: Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
2- England: The Murder of Mr. Wickham by Claudia Gray
3- Germany: Echo by Pam Munoz Ryan
4- Poland: Resistance by Jennifer A. Nielsen
5-..."

Yay Mary!

[Carolyn]

Finished my fourth book. Your Inner Hedgehog by Alexander McCall Smith. Country is Germany. I realized that Professor von Igelfeld lives/works in a place I stopped while on a river cruise -- Regensburg.

[Elizabeth]

Carolyn wrote: "Finished my fourth book. Your Inner Hedgehog by Alexander McCall Smith. Country is Germany. I realized that Professor von Igelfeld lives/works in a place I stopped while on a river ..."
that's really cool!

[Deborah]

My summer Challenge Update:


Running list of completed books for the summer Challenge

1. India/England - Gay-Neck: The Story of a Pigeon by Dhan Gopal Mukerji

2. Wales - Silver on the Tree by Susan Cooper

3. Austria - The Danger with Diamonds by Traci Hunter Abramson and Sian Ann Bessy

4. Japan- The Cat Who Went to Heaven by Elizabeth Coatsworth

5. Russia/USA - The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn

6. England - A Bride’s Guide to Marriage and Murder by Dianne Freeman

7. Netherlands/Austria/USA -Heirs of Falcon Point by Traci Hunter Abramson, Sian Ann Bessey, Paige Edwards, and A.L. Sowards

8. France - Along a Breton Shore by Arlem Hawks

9. Poland - The Trumpeter of Krakow by Eric P Kelly

10. Bulgaria - Dobry by Monica Shannon

11. Illyria - Twelfth Night, or What You Will: The Oxford Shakespeare: The Oxford Shakespeare Twelfth Night, or What You Will by William Shakespeare

Fantasy Countries Just for Fun

1. Gilbane - Reign of Holly: A Sleeping Beauty Story by Amanda Marin

2. Eiram/E'ronoh - Star Wars: Convergence by Zoraida Córdova

3. Camazotz - A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle

[Debbie]

Deborah wrote: "My summer Challenge Update:


Running list of completed books for the summer Challenge

1. India/England - Gay-Neck: The Story of a Pigeon by Dhan Gopal Mukerji

2. Wales - [book:Silv..."

Your reading of the Trumpeter of Krakow brought a memory to mind. When I read it, I was struck that the piece played stops suddenly. I went out to YouTube, got a video of the playing of that from the tower in Krakow. It was truly startling this wonderful playing and then suddenly silence. It's worth a listen. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdG2j...

[Brittany]

I finished the challenge!

1. England - King Henry VI, Part 3 by William Shakespeare

2. Syria - As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow by Zoulfa Katouh

3. Vietnam - Bronze Drum by Phong Nguyen

4. Italy, France, Scotland - The Good Left Undone by Adriana Trigiani

5. Spain and Egypt - The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

And for fun, the fantasy worlds I've read:

1. Alifbay - Luka and the Fire of Life by Salman Rushdie

2. Alagaesia - Eragon by Christopher Paolini

[Carolyn]

Book 5! Finished. I reread The Willoughbys by Lois Lowry. Country is Switzerland because all the main characters end up there at some point in the story.

[Debbie]

Brittany wrote: "I finished the challenge!

1. England - King Henry VI, Part 3 by William Shakespeare

2. Syria - As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow by [author:Zoulfa Katouh|2..."

HOORAY!

[Whitney]

This is a fun challenge!
These are the ones I have read over the last two months.

England: None of This is True by Lisa Jewell

Ireland: Dos and Donuts of Love by Adiba Jaigirdar

China: The Magnolia Sword by Sherry Thomas

Japan: How Do you Live by Genzaburo Yoshino

Ghana: Small Worlds by Caleb Azumah Nelson

[Deborah]

Debbie wrote: "Deborah wrote: "My summer Challenge Update:


Running list of completed books for the summer Challenge

1. India/England - Gay-Neck: The Story of a Pigeon by Dhan Gopal Mukerji

2. Wa..."

@ Debbie Thanks for sharing the link to the Krakow Trumpeter. It was beautiful and made the location of the book come to life just a little bit more.

[Deborah]

My summer Challenge Update: I fit one more in the month of July. I finished The Lioness of Morocco by Julia Drosten, which takes place in Morocco.

Running list of completed books for the summer Challenge

1. India/England - Gay-Neck: The Story of a Pigeon by Dhan Gopal Mukerji

2. Wales - Silver on the Tree by Susan Cooper

3. Austria - The Danger with Diamonds by Traci Hunter Abramson and Sian Ann Bessy

4. Japan- The Cat Who Went to Heaven by Elizabeth Coatsworth

5. Russia/USA - The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn

6. England - A Bride’s Guide to Marriage and Murder by Dianne Freeman

7. Netherlands/Austria/USA -Heirs of Falcon Point by Traci Hunter Abramson, Sian Ann Bessey, Paige Edwards, and A.L. Sowards

8. France - Along a Breton Shore by Arlem Hawks

9. Poland - The Trumpeter of Krakow by Eric P Kelly

10. Bulgaria - Dobry by Monica Shannon

11. Illyria - Twelfth Night, or What You Will: The Oxford Shakespeare: The Oxford Shakespeare Twelfth Night, or What You Will by William Shakespeare

12. Morocco - The Lioness of Morocco by Julia Drosten

Fantasy Countries Just for Fun

1. Gilbane - Reign of Holly: A Sleeping Beauty Story by Amanda Marin

2. Eiram/E'ronoh - Star Wars: Convergence by Zoraida Córdova

3. Camazotz - A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle

[Elizabeth]

Amazing! You all have done so much! Remember, even though the general County Summer Reading Challenge is over, the Goodreads Summer Reading Challenge goes through August. So, if you haven't finished, you have this entire month to keep going!

[Patsy]

Finished my 3rd book - Where’d You Go Bernadette? United States (Seattle) and Antarctica

[Audrey]

2. Final Girls (USA)
3. I Am Nujood, Age 10 And Divorced (Yemen)
4. Alias Emma (UK, Russia)

[JoAnn]

Finished

USSR: The Nazi Conspiracy: The Secret Plot to Kill Roosevelt, Stalin, and Churchill

Britian The Night She Died

Indonesia Super Volcanoes: What They Reveal about Earth and the Worlds Beyond

U. S. A. Origin: A Genetic History of the Americas

South Africa An Elderly Lady Must Not Be Crossed


I have read far more than these books this summer.