The Challenge

[Ian, Moderator]

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 read 80 books with a primary location setting in 80 different countries.

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.

[Lynne - The Book Squirrel]

MMMMmmmm Like that idea! Must get my brain working on this one!

[Susan]

Ian....what a brilliant idea.
How are you going to source books set in various locations?
Authors of differing nationalities is probably more straightforward....mixing the two seems the best way to go.
I shall definatly think about this one....and being able to include books read this year would be a good start.

[Em]

Oooooh, I like it!!

[Ian, Moderator]

It's all Matt's (Strey) fault re his comment on my Icelandic author novel. He got me thinking and I started off with the idea of 80 different nationality authors but thought that would be just too hard and restrictive. Not really planning to target particular reads on this one - just let it develop naturally as I tend to like novels set in foreign lands

[Chris]

I'd like to join this one, what a good idea.

[Abi]

I like the sound of this, although it is definitely going to take some time to complete! A lot of the books I have read so far this year seem to be set in different countries so will be interesting to see how many I have already 'visited' so far this year.

[Helen]

Are we starting now or backdating to Jan? I'm currently in New Orleans, Amsterdam and France!

[Ian, Moderator]

Totally up to you re backdating or not Helen - but only one primary location country per book

[Sam]

Ooo I like the sound of this, off to figure out where I've been so far this year now...

[Robert]

Ian
Great idea Lynne said about this, and reason joined this club
I will go from Jan 2011 but will take me more than a year will look at books shortly and get list.
I thought may try and be really geeky and track towns as well but may give up on that.
starting with short story Late night on watling street as based on A1 and as this runs throught St Albans and my sons school was on this road will start there and go East ''young Man''

[Ian, Moderator]

Looking forward to seeing how we all get on

[Bill]

Interesting idea, Ian.... Will have to see where I've been so far this year.., besides my armchair..

[Weenie]

Nice and interesting idea but not one I reckon I could participate in actively. Good luck to all who do though!

[Helen]

All mine seem to be in different parts of the UK and USA!

[Liz, Moderator]

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 ..."

Great idea! I've just been in Brazil and now I'm in the States....

[Tuğçe]

I have seen something similar to this an been wanting to do that but was hesitating so I guess I am doing it now :) Great idea Ian! I wonder if we can find a link/list or anyhelp for places to go/books recommendation.

[Ian, Moderator]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category...

The above could provide a few ideas if you are stuck. You could also try http://www.packabook.com/ which is the site of one of our members (I think)linked to Amazon

[Melki]

My son suggests we all just read a bunch of Tin Tin books! Kids! Don't ya just love 'em? Sometimes?

[Melki]

Nicola - on the home page for this group, across from "Discussion Board", click on "new" for topic.
Pick a title, make sure you select the "Around the World..." folder - and start typing your list.
I'll be sure to turn to you when I need an idea for Peru.

[Liz, Moderator]

Melki wrote: "My son suggests we all just read a bunch of Tin Tin books! Kids! Don't ya just love 'em? Sometimes?"

Great idea! My son's almost old enough for Tintin - might get one out of the library & see if he likes it (I know I will!)

[Bill]

Liz wrote: "Melki wrote: "My son suggests we all just read a bunch of Tin Tin books! Kids! Don't ya just love 'em? Sometimes?"

Great idea! My son's almost old enough for Tintin - might get one out of the l..."

Even if your son doesn't like Tintin, and I don't know why he wouldn't, at least you'll get to reread.. Get a Lucky Luke as well.

[Deanne]

Melki
Peru, try The time of the hero by Vargas.

[Melki]

Thanks Deanne.

[Packabook]

Ian wrote: "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category...

The above could provide a few ideas if you are stuck. You could also try http://www.packabook.com/ which is the site of one of ..."

Thanks guy for the mention - yes, I am a member, though a little lax with commenting. I am going to get very involved in THIS challenge though...since all I do is read books set in different countries! Suzi

[Ian, Moderator]

Good excuse to expand the no of countries on your website Suzi

[Packabook]

Ian wrote: "Good excuse to expand the no of countries on your website Suzi"

Don't worry, I don't need an excuse for that - I just need time! Which brings me to another point - I have thousands of books catalogued for countries that are not yet up on the website - so if anyone is searching for something for a particularly difficult country, I may have some recommendations squirrelled away - please feel free to ask.

[Ian, Moderator]

Anything good for Finland Suzi - to complete my upcoming Scandinavian tour

[Packabook]

I only have a couple listed, but The Summer Book by Tove Jansson look pretty good. This one: Your Presence Is Requested at Suvanto: A Novel looks far more bleak! Otherwise you could try some short stories by Jansson A Winter Book: Selected Stories by Tove Jansson

[Em]

I think is something a bit special but I'm not using it for this challenge as already read it twice. I think it's worth a read Ian and it'll make a change from the crime genre.

[Ian, Moderator]

Thanks Suzi and Em - I'm putting both The Summer Book and Your Presence Is Requested at Suvanto: A Novel on my TBR list. Sadly the former is not yet on kindle, but hopefully it may be some time in the future as I prefer that one of the two.

[Adrienne]

I like this idea...can i go back and pull books from my read shelf? are we creating our 'read/tbr list here or on our own shelves? sorry if this has already been discussed....

@ packabook....both Tove Jansson books are good:)

[Ian, Moderator]

Hi Adrienne - you can include books from any read so far in 2011 and then take as long as you want. Set up your own thread within the main "Around the World in 80 Books" which is 1 level up from this one. Enjoy your travels.

[Adrienne]

Thanks Ian:))

[Packabook]

Thanks Adrienne, great to hear from someone who has read them - they certainly looked promising! The trouble with working on a website like Packabook is that the resulting TBR list is just endless! Still - I have a lifetime to get through them all....

[Chris]

I have just looked through everyones list and I'm struck by how little cross-over there is. It's given me lots of possible new books. This is one of the most inspiring challenges - Love it

[Jacky]

Have only just found this and will be joining in!
Have to say to Robert that St. Albans (which I know well, great market) is on the A5 (Watling St) not the Great North Road (A1) which near you runs by Hatfield / Welwyn etc.
I do have a copy of a slightly obscure book by Arnold Bennett (best knowbn for his Potteries novels) who wrote a mystery called Theresa of Watling St. when he lived in the area. Theresa's father was one of the first commuters, driving an early motor car from Hockliffe (north of Dunstable) to Kilburn every day.

[Adrienne]

@ chris maybe it's b/c everyone reads different genres, no one feels excluded either which is great thing and you can join in even if know you'll never read 80.....often challenges are limited by genre or time scale and become a laborious chore rather than exciting, it's very easy to become dis~heartened if time's running out and your choice of books is limited.. i know others may disagree and put forward that reading outside of your comfort zone is part of the challenge but sometimes that just doesn't work...

[Ian, Moderator]

Look forward to seeing your thread Jacky

[Helen]

I haven't joined this challenge as yet becasue I haven't visited many countries and similarly I'm not doing thge genre this month - no comedy and loads of books I have to read. So I'm with Adrienne, join in when you want and do your own time scale.

[Lynne - The Book Squirrel]

I joined the challenge and like the idea of finding different books to read. I don't know how long it will take and that's not a bad thing. I have been getting bogged down with some sci fi book club reads as they have been long and complicated reads. This is a pleasure to do at your own pace.

[Jacky]

How do I set up my own thread? can't work it out I'm afraid.
Suggest the stopyourekillingme site for mystery/detective fans as it has a "geographical" index.

[Ian, Moderator]

Jacky - as below:
1) Go to the top of this page and click on Around the World in 80 Books
2) Click on new topic
3) Name your topic - eg Jackys Around the World in 80 Books
4) Put your opening comment in and then press post

[Robert]

Jacky
I think that Old watling street is way older than A1 that as in Dick Turpin using it etc.
I am in Hemel so know Luton well go to gym at david Lloyd club there

[Packabook]

The Guardian must have been thinking of you Ian...
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/books...
Suzi

[Adrienne]

i have a foreign language shelf for anyone who's interested.....

[Jacky]

Thanks, will do

[Ian, Moderator]

There are currently 19 of us traversing the globe....who will be the 20th?

[Jacky]

Just to say "hello" to Robert - I am still finding my way about & think I have "ignored" your "friend" request - sorry!
Actually, I no longer live in Luton (and why did I put A5 on my location????? will alter it anyway), but of course I do know the quadrangle of Luton, Leighton Buzzard, Hemel Hempstead & St. Albans well.

I am off to try and start my own thread - have also decided that if a book is set in multiple locations, I can count at least one of them (maybe by next August it will be 2 or 3....)

[Adrienne]

Hi jacky i think A5 is a goodreads area code, for when part of the info you've entered is incomplete.....