UK Book Club discussion
Around the World in 80 Books
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The Challenge
Lynne - The Book Squirrel wrote: "http://www.listofcountriesoftheworld.... I have been looking round for a list of current countries and found this link."Like this site Ian are we going to use this as the benchmark?
Mod
No - feel free to use it as a source of ideas, but the 2nd one listed (Akrotiri) is not a country, but a British air base on Cyprus.
I have to say this is an excellent idea, can't wait work through this list.It would be excellent if someone with technical skills could set up a widget similar to the Reading challenge widget to help keep track, but that is not a reason to start this challenge.
Some suggestions for some of the more unusual countries - I highly recommend the following:Czech Republic - The Glass Room. It was actually Czechoslovakia at the time the books was set.
Bangladesh - A Golden Age
and
Bosnia-Herzegovina The Cellist of Sarajevo
Suzi
Good suggestions Suzi, I think The Cellist of Sarajevo has caught my eye before, will see if I can find it at the library.
Mod
just looked on amazon. £3.49 on Kindle, £3.90 as a real book
I joined the group the couple of weeks ago & I've finally gotten the chance to take a look at some of the challenges.I like the look of this one so I am going to join you all. I'm going to take a look at what I've read since the start of the year & then take it from there.
Mod
Enjoy the challenge Sam.
Hi Sam Enjoy this challenge Ian is very strict. Well he is with me anyway
Hi folks. What's the thinking about counting travel writing as part of the challenge, rather than fiction with a particualar setting/by author's nationality?Are we permitted, or is it a bit of a cheat? I'm asking as that's the type of book that I tend to go for.
Starfish13 wrote: "Hi folks. What's the thinking about counting travel writing as part of the challenge, rather than fiction with a particualar setting/by author's nationality?Are we permitted, or is it a bit of a..."
We are using the setting of any fictional book.
Mod
Mod
Enjoy this challenge Ian is very strict. Well he is with me anyway"
That's just cos you are the naughty one in class Bob
No specific time limits Fiona, you can take as long as you need!
Ha! I'm not v. speedy myself so probably will still be completing the challenge along side you!
Ian wrote: "Fret ye not......travel writing OK - just one country per book and has to be the main location, not just some odd country that takes up apart of a multi country trip."Phew, that means I don't have to banish anything to the back of the bookshelf for the meantime! On my last visit to the library I picked up a book by a favourite author about an expedition to Guyana which I hadn't read.
Reading The Tree of Man by Patrick White set in Australia.
Thanks for the welcome.I've spent an awfully long time surfing the net looking at books to read for this challenge. I think I have a list of about 45 books set in different countries that I like the look of. I work in a library so I have been checking that I can get most of them from work before I added them to the list. Not sure how long it will take to get through them as I will still need to read the books for the reading group at work plus all the new books by authors I love that come out in the mean time.
Em wrote: "Are we? I've been counting both!"Who got a everyone worried? Was it Lynne? Never seen 15 new messages.
Stirrer! Isn't it nationality of author too? I read too many fantasy to ever reach 40!
Ian wrote: "Thought I'd set up a new challenge that people may want to take on as a long term project.Based loosely on
by Jules Verne, the challenge is to ..."I quote first entry Ian that mean you changed your mind or got something wrong LOL
Based loosely on by Jules Verne, the challenge is to read 80 books with a primary location setting in 80 different countries. You could alternatively go for 80 authors of differing nationalities or mix and match as you want.
If you like the idea and want to join in - set up your own thread within "The Around the World in 80 Books" thread which is 1 level up from this one. You can include any books already read in 2011 if you want, or just start your 80 countries from scratch - it's up to you
Happy travelling.
I was just going to quote that post of Ians!
Helen You a teacher?
Does it really annoy you when pupils right?
Mod
Evidence tampering?? I can hardly book onto a computer let alone hack into GOODREADS main frame to alter the wording!! Think myself and Helen just did what all my teachers told me to do at exam time READ THE QUESTION
while you are in a mood Ian where do we stand with Northern Ireland
Will as usual fully respect your decision
Bob
Mod
Robert, if I had a pound for every time I've said 'read the question'. Unfortunately, my class are seldom right. 30 kids and 20 are working at or below reception level. On average my class is 2yrs 6 mths below their actual age. Having said that, I like them. Their last teacher didn't but so far so good.
Mod
I am reading Matt Rees' second book about Omar Yussef ( a teacher at a UN school, and amateur detective) set in Palestine. It's called the Samaritan's Secret (I think the 3rd is just out). I love the characters, and am counting Palestine as a country.
Mod
I am a great fan of detective stories as a device for getting to know more about a historical period, a country or a people, and these books, by an experienced journalist, are very evocative (to someone who doesn't know the Middle East at all!)
Mod
I hope you warm to Omar Yussef as I do. I have worked with asylum seekers, and am always fascinated by how ordinary people get caught up in extra-ordinary events.
Ian Yugoslavia I don't think will affect me as latest book almost all in Croatia BUT if older book what we counting
if town in one of 3 new countries can we count that?
You have set a rod for your own back with these major decisions to make
the whole world geography is on your shoulders!!!
Mod
Ex Yugoslavia countries as of now x 5.....Bosnia, Serbia, Croatia, Montenegro plus I think we should allow Kosovo as well, which I don't think quite has full statehood yet. Hope I haven't forgotten any.
Same as with all the zillions of ex Soviet Union states x multiple Stans, Ukraine, Georgia, Estonia etc etc.
Ian wrote: "That's an easy one Bob. Convert to current country.Ex Yugoslavia countries as of now x 5.....Bosnia, Serbia, Croatia, Montenegro plus I think we should allow Kosovo as well, which I don't think..."
well you got of the former yugoslav states are slovenia, bosnia, croatia, serbia, former yugoslavia state of macedonia, montenegro and then kosovo which is in limbo
Mod
I'm counting Alaska and Siberia as seperate entries to the USA and Russia respectively. Allowed, or am I cheating?
Ian While ref's hat on what about Greek Islands Crete Rhodes etc
Mod
Both cheating....just parts of USA and Russia
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Finland was interesting, and would love to go there for real.
Melki
I work in the Neuro operating rooms of an NHS hospital, does give you an appreciation of how easy it is for things to change.