The Challenge

[Andrew]

In the end it went down as Russia but i don't mind as it was one of my books of the year.

[Ian, Moderator]

The soon to be published definitive list will have over 240 places to visit......but sadly not Chechnya.

[Sue]

Enough to go round 3 times then! by 2020 then!

[Robyn]

Question time!

What's the norm on using books to fulfil multiple challenges? For instance, I read a book for the time traveller challenge that was set in Italy. Do I double-count it, or keep it separate? My OCD tells me to not, but I'm realising that that really isn't very practical ...

Apologies if this has been asked and answered already!

[Em]

I add my books to all challenges to which they could qualify. I consider it a bonus if they double up!

[Robyn]

Excellent .... I just got further along in nearly all my challenge lists!

[Robert]

Ian. Your thoughts on Vatican City?

[Ian, Moderator]

Definite yes for the Popedom.

[Robert]

Ian. Another question. Patagonia??? I thought uncomplicated country but on research some Argentina some Chile
You ruling please oh powerful scouse one

[Ian, Moderator]

You have self-ruled already non Scouse Bob......Argentina or Chile depending on where your book set.

[Robert]

I was convinced Patagonia a country. O well suppose possibly same as African Savannah

[Ian, Moderator]

Think that's a girl's name Bob.

[Paulfozz]

I think that since I'm not doing any other challenges (not even the standard x number of books one) at the moment and this is a long-term thing I'm going to have a go at this one. I've a number of history books about different civilisations around the world so those should be helpful! I'm going to backdate to the start of the month if that's acceptable, to include a couple of books I've just read...

[Ian, Moderator]

Welcome to the pleasure dome Paulfozz. Enjoy your travels.

[Paulfozz]

Thanks Ian.

[Lizzie]

Sounds like a neat idea. I want in :D

[Ian, Moderator]

Set up your own thread Lizzie if not already done so.

[Lizzie]

Thread has been started :D.

[Robert]

have looked at another group AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 BOOKS
they have list of boks for all countries you can think of
Will be great way getting those last few

[Paulfozz]

Robert wrote: "have looked at another group AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 BOOKS
they have list of boks for all countries you can think of
Will be great way getting those last few"

Useful!

Have just bought another book that will help with my challenge, Zoo Quest In Paraguay. David Attenborough off searching for Giant Anteaters and Armadillos - superb!

[Paulfozz]

I think I'm going to end up with a number of countries covered by books from the same authors - possibilities with Spike Milligan's war memoirs (currently in Algeria), David Attenborough's Zoo Quest books and Gerald Durrell's books. Not sure if that's quite in the spirit though!

Nearing the end of a history book on the Hittites which covers Turkey though, so should still end up with a reasonable variety in my book choices.

[Robert]

Paulfozz wrote: "I think I'm going to end up with a number of countries covered by books from the same authors - possibilities with Spike Milligan's war memoirs (currently in Algeria), David Attenborough's Zoo Ques..."

Spike Milligan one intrestng. Which book?

[Paulfozz]

This one: 'Rommel?' 'Gunner Who?': A Confrontation in the Desert. I'm not sure where the later books take him, the first was entirely set around the south of England during his training.

[Ian, Moderator]

Up to you Paul as long as just 1 book per country then no probs.

[Paulfozz]

Thanks Ian. I think I'll use them for the challenge unless I read other books for those countries.

'Rommel?' 'Gunner Who?': A Confrontation in the Desert has moved into Tunisia as they enter combat… I'm going to have to wait to the end to figure out which country this book will apply to!

[Robert]

Paulfozz wrote: "Thanks Ian. I think I'll use them for the challenge unless I read other books for those countries.

'Rommel?' 'Gunner Who?': A Confrontation in the Desert has moved into Tunisia as..."

Got copy from Abe books £1.94 free postage. Could do with laugh from African country as all Pretty bleak

[Mike]

Know what you mean about Africa but if you want a laugh from that continent you could also try Winifred Holtby's Mandoa, Mandoa! A Comedy of Irrelevance. It's 30 years since I read it but I loved it. Might be hard to find now but I think it was reissued by Virago some years ago. (Although, are imaginary countries eligible?)

[Paulfozz]

Robert wrote: "Got copy from Abe books £1.94 free postage. Could do with laugh from African country as all Pretty bleak"

I have found it quite touching - filled with the usual Milligan oddness and wit but also with small poignant moments and paragraphs that really bring to life the awfulness and stark reality of war. Those are scattered thinly and very well-judged I think. I have the full set of the memoirs as I found a new, plastic sealed pack of paperbacks in a charity shop before Christmas for £6.

[Andrew]

https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/7... Hello All, Last year I got a few interesting countries from this list and there look like some interesting nominees this year as well. I am off to the library later to try and grab the Iraqi book if its still there but the German book looks good as well. Happy travelling!

[Danielle]

I have just discovered an interesting link. If you fill in www.goodreads.com/places in your browser - you find a list of books situated in a certain country and/or place.

If you are looking for books from a specific country, I suppose it will be easier to google for 'books set in France on Goodreads' for example; this takes you directly to the page you need.

[Danielle]

Andrew wrote: "https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/7... Hello All, Last year I got a few interesting countries from this list and there look like some interesting ..."

Looks interesting Andrew, thanks

[David]

I'll give it a shot.

[Deanne]

Read Hadji Murat by Leo Tolstoy but although it's set in Chechnya, it's still part of Russia, been there already.

[Ian, Moderator]

Which reminds me....this challenge will still be counting the Crimea as part of Ukraine whatever happens in Putin's world.

[Danielle]

Nicola W wrote: "Both useful to know - thanks.

Following the link to the Iraqi book also threw up this list: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/4...

Although s..."

Interesting Nicola, thanks. When the title is in Arabic that doesn't necessarily mean that it is only available in Arabic. When you take for example the second book on the list and you go to 'all editions' underneath the covers, you will see there is an English edition as well. When you go to the English edition you mostly - not always - find an explanation of the book in English. If not there is always Google to figure out what the book is about.

Any way the second book gave me this link eventually: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

In a way I suppose the higher the book is on the list, the more editions there are and most likely also editions translated in English. But it is more or less a blind book date and a lucky guess.

Thing is that you sometimes spend more time searching books than actually reading them.

[Paulfozz]

Danielle wrote: "I have just discovered an interesting link. If you fill in www.goodreads.com/places in your browser - you find a list of books situated in a certain country and/or place.

If you are looking for b..."

Useful!

I've started reading two books I acquired recently for two more countries, Long Walk to Freedom: The Autobiography of Nelson Mandela for South Africa and The Life and Death of St Kilda for Scotland (the most remote of the Hebridean islands). I think Long Walk To Freedom is going to be one I read quite slowly.

[[deleted user]]

I'm doing the USA states and the UK counties challenges but picked up a book in the library today set in China, Village of Stone. So I'm going to have a go at this challenge too.

[Ian, Moderator]

Happy to have you on board Caroline.

[Robert]

Ian
having seen on the news that Cornwall now making strides to be like other Celtic countries
Can we???

[Ian, Moderator]

Er no lol.

[[deleted user]]

Ian wrote: "Happy to have you on board Caroline."

Thanks Ian :)

[Ian, Moderator]

If not visited the Czech Republic, multi prize winning French kindle WW2 novel just price dropped to £2.99 on Amazon.

[Andrew]

Just remind me Ian I have this on my tbr list and really fancy it but I have dine Czechoslovakia but can't i get two countries here in which case may download or pop to library, plan to read anyway!

[Ian, Moderator]

Depends how you are doing it. Presumably most of this takes place in and around Prague - ie Czech Republic - rather than Slovakia, but I've only read a tiny bit so far.

[Ian, Moderator]

is the Czech Republic mostly Andrew but I really struggled with it. Seems to be a bit of a marmitey one from the reviews. You might enjoy so worth a library job.

[Catherine]

do Guernsey and Jersey get counted together or separately?

[Catherine]

or do they count as part of UK? you don't have them on the list of 240 places...just want to be sure :)

[Catherine]

I saw Channel Isl as a choice...so I guess I can put Guernsey down for that! :)

[Ian, Moderator]

Catherine wrote: "I saw Channel Isl as a choice...so I guess I can put Guernsey down for that! :)"

Yes that's right. Channel Islands as a group can count as one country.

[Catherine]

hey.. Mr. Co-pilot! where'd you get to?