The Challenge

[Jacky]

Thanks Adrienne, as we had mentioned the A5 (road aka Watling St) it was confusing!

[Jacky]

Can someone help me trace a book trilogy (my pre-goodreads note book is in storage). I read the final part & wanted to read the others. The 3rd is a "someone finds a historical document that proves something" plot. The basic premise of the whole trilogy is the fact that Charles I's daughter Henrietta, went into exile in Holland and was a patron of scientists. A West Indian scientist was there at the time. In the final part, their marriage certificate is found, and the descendant who has a good (?) claim to the British throne is found ( a scientist studying at Oxford). It was much better written than my clumsy description sounds.
I though I could cover Holland & the West Indies if I read these!

[Robert]

I saw the other day on an American group they have to read a book based in all the states. Think this would be harder.Not gonna go there!

[Ian, Moderator]

Sounds very dull and insular

[Sue]

Hi everyone - I'd really like to join you too. I read mainly 20/21 c books. This challenge may take me a long time! Will start with books I have read this summer. Not an organised person so will probably zig zag all over the place. Have already been looking at other's lists for inspiration!

[Jacky]

I shall definitely be zig-zagging! Not an organised trip at all! It will be great fun to see where we all "go".

[Ian, Moderator]

Sue wrote: This challenge may take me a long time! Will start with books I have read this summer. Not an organised person so will probably zig zag all over the place.

Zig zag away Sue. I just went from Sweden to the Solomon Islands and you can't get much more random than that.

[Sue]

Robert wrote: I saw the other day on an American group they have to read a book based in all the states. Think this would be harder.Not gonna go there!
Perhaps when I've been round the world (once or twice, perhaps) I'll see if I can visit all the english counties.

[Em]

I think the UK group should do English Counties before US States! The Brontes for Yorkshire, Hardy for Dorset, Du Maurier for Cornwall - OK OK, I'm stopping there - got to get around the world first.

[Adrienne]

i'm up for english counties 'lorna doone' Devon, laurie lee...'cider with rosie' or 'as i walked out out one midsummer' herefordshire....

[Lynne - The Book Squirrel]

I have been looking through my list of books read this year and have been to several towns and cities in the UK, London, Whitby, Oxford and several counties too.

[Robert]

I wish not mentioned it I will just stick to the 80 books i think

[Sue]

Hope it comes in the 'What shall I do next?' category!! Robert

[[deleted user]]

I am going to join this challenge. Will be travelling to work again soon on the bus so will have plenty of time to get some reading in. Going to have a think to see if I have read any books this year which will count - but off the top of my head I don't think so!

[Robert]

Think the 80 books will take years at the rate I am reading at the moment. Thought the other day while looking in book shop may just BUY the 80 books!!

[Robert]

Denise wrote: "I am going to join this challenge. Will be travelling to work again soon on the bus so will have plenty of time to get some reading in. Going to have a think to see if I have read any books this ye..."
I thought that but if look closely you may be surprised

[Ian, Moderator]

I'm thinking of a 3 year trip as I want it to be all books I want to read rather than just a tick list of countries.

[Susan]

I agree Ian....I think it will be a mixture of coincidence and planning that some of my books will be set in certain countries, I have done some research, and listed a few books to take a closer look at later, and I've discovered some definate future reads.

[Chris]

I definitely won't be reading books I have no interest in just to add another country, but it's fun researching. I found a few this week that look fabulous, but would have never found without this challenge.

[Helen]

Mine will happen as it does, pretty much like my a-z where I read c s h etc repeatedly!

[Lynne - The Book Squirrel]

I am doing this in and at my own pace but have gone through my bookcases and found a few books to read for the challenge. I have also noted down some books I have read based in the UK in different counties and towns too. Just need you get up a database now and record them all!

[Melki]

I think 3 years is a good plan. Does everything have to be a country? What about the book I found set in the Arctic Circle? Island chains? Archipelagos?
What about each province of Canada?

I'm having loads of fun with this. Checked my shelves yesterday and found tons of books set all over the place. Some of them have been collecting dust for more than 20 years, and this challenge is just the excuse I need to finally read them.

[Ian, Moderator]

Getting complicated. You can have the Arctic and Antarctica. Island chains OK if a separate country. Archipelagos are clusters of islands and again OK if a separate country - so Phillipines or Japan are archies but only one country, whereas the Caribbean islands/West Indies are an archie but made up of many countries. Canadian provinces.....er...no!! All in Canada.

[Melki]

Aaaa! Ian - you're making my brain hurt!

[Ian, Moderator]

It will be good for you Melki.....an American with a sound knowledge of world geography.... a rare breed by all accounts - lol

[Melki]

Better be careful what you say there, Ian! I'm an American...I own lots and lots of firearms! ;)

[Deanne]

Melki
Not sure if we should be scared, depends on 2 things, do you have a passport, and would you be bringing your guns to the UK. If yes to both answers then you'd probably get into the UK and then have all your firearms confiscated.
As to the challenge, I've been doing the 1001 books you must read before you die, which covers lots of countries and genres. I've discovered books and authors which I never would have considered reading. Some of my favourite books were as a result of using this list.

[Melki]

Don't worry. You're all quite safe. (Even Ian.) The only weapon I own is an air-rifle I use for scaring critters from my garden. (Plus, my aim is terrible...)
I really must look at this list I keep hearing about and see how many of these books I've already read. But how long does it take just to read the titles of 1001 books?

[Helen]

Wondering whether to take a Geography degree to help me with this!

[Melki]

I would advise it. If you get something wrong, you will be teased endlessly.

[Liz, Moderator]

Helen wrote: "Wondering whether to take a Geography degree to help me with this!"

LOL! My Geography's terrible too. I was put off at school; we only ever seemed to cover dairy production in Denmark - not exactly inspiring (although very important if you're Danish....) Gave it up as soon as I could.

The around the world challenge is going to take me a while, too. I think, as Ian says, 3 years is a good estimate...

Currently stuck in Sweden finishing off the Steig Larsson trilogy. May see if I can combine the genre & around the world to kill 2 birds with one stone - certainly have enough books on my 'to read' list to manage it.....

[Liz, Moderator]

Melki wrote: "Better be careful what you say there, Ian! I'm an American...I own lots and lots of firearms! ;)"

*chuckles*

[Lynne - The Book Squirrel]

Melki wrote: "I would advise it. If you get something wrong, you will be teased endlessly."

I am going to invest in a cheap atlas!

[Nick 2E0NAQ]

Lynne - The Book Squirrel wrote: "Melki wrote: "I would advise it. If you get something wrong, you will be teased endlessly."

I am going to invest in a cheap atlas!"

Ooops! That was what we were going to look for that day we went to Southwold.

[Melki]

My atlas is from the seventies. All of my globes are even older. I have nothing that doesn't list Myanmar as Burma. And Africa - forget it! They change names every two weeks.

[Ian, Moderator]

My Geography O level is coming in very useful although like Liz, I seem to remember doing Danish dairy production and lots about levees on the Mississippi....ox bow lakes etc.

Melki - I am disappointed that your gun arsenal is so meagre. As an American I would expect you to have a complete array of firearms up to and including a stealth bomber (thus enabling you to get around Deanne's customs controls) as it seems to be one of your constitutional rights to kill each other with guns (or crossbows if your name is Kevin - lol).....and to be teased endlessly of course.

Keep on travelling everyone.

[Ian, Moderator]

Liz wrote: "Melki wrote: "Better be careful what you say there, Ian! I'm an American...I own lots and lots of firearms! ;)"

*chuckles*"

Oi - never mind chuckling over there in Singapore - threats of physical violence should be taken more seriously by a moderator......especially against a fellow moderator. I'll set Melki on you.

[Melki]

Ooo - clever literary reference there, Ian.

One of my UK friends tells me that stabbings are WAY up in Britain. When are you guys gonna get with the program? Guns are much less messy.

[Ian, Moderator]

OK Melki, you've convinced me of the American way. I shall be joining the Tea Party and the American Rifle Association shortly....or perhaps I'll just settle for making a cup of tea.....does that count?? Just don't set that bear on me - then I'll need to get out my sharp tongue to defend myself.

[Melki]

I'm sorry Ian, but you'll need to have a total lobotomy before joining the Tea Party. It's a requirement.

[Ian, Moderator]

Melki wrote: "I'm sorry Ian, but you'll need to have a total lobotomy before joining the Tea Party. It's a requirement."

Sort of Frankenstein meets Sarah Palin - a match made in Boston. I feel sorry for Frankie. Anyway, that's enough politics....go Red Sox.......

[Helen]

I've always felt it would be a lot more peaceful on my estate if I had a gun and could use it as a disciplinary tool!

[Melki]

You go girl!!!

[Jacky]

Just have to tell Adrienne that although you could just about sneak "As I Walked Out...." into Herefordshire, it might be my Spanish book!

And I'm going to go with the United Nations as my reference point - except for the British Isles where the wayward geography of the Rugby Football Union will be my guide......!

[Robert]

Bike Ride: 12, 000 Miles Around the World

Bought this book today in charity shop
Like all good adventurers started her trip round the world in Watling street!!
Saw that so just had to buy it

Don't worry Ian not counting it on challenge

[Deanne]

Melki
Seen two gunshot wounds,(both survived)and numerous stabbings, none of which seem to hit anything vital. Axes and baseball bats seem to be the weapon of choice where I live.
Spent the day in Finland, with a bit of wandering in Lapland whilst sitting in Bradgate park drinking coffee.

[Helen]

Gosh you get about! Which land was your favourite today?

[Melki]

I hope you work in a hospital, Deanne, and were not just attending a really wild wedding party.
It's sad what people do to one another. Why don't they just stay home and read?

[Jacky]

Somewhere on this vast site (how does everyone else manage to navigate it?) someone recommended Ian Sansom's The Mystery of the Missing Books. It is hilarious and I am thoroughly enjoying it. I have visited Northern Ireland a few times and it captures the wonderful strangeness of it beautifully. It is full of the kind of humour I love, that of gently mocking follies & whims, whilst not poking fun at people themselves. I have just reached the part where Israel (from London, half Irish, half Jewish) meets someone called England (South African).
If I temporarily abandon RFU geography and follow Association Football instead, then it is a separate country to Ireland.

[Lynne - The Book Squirrel]

http://www.listofcountriesoftheworld.... I have been looking round for a list of current countries and found this link.