Around the World in 80 Books Annual Challenges 2024

[Joseph]

Can graphic novels count? I just finished Teen Titans: Prime of Life and it was 200 pages long. They fought demons in Pakistan.

[Diane , Armchair Tour Guide]

Joseph wrote: "Can graphic novels count? I just finished Teen Titans: Prime of Life and it was 200 pages long. They fought demons in Pakistan."

Yes. Any genre of book works.

[Joseph]

Diane wrote: "Joseph wrote: "Can graphic novels count? I just finished Teen Titans: Prime of Life and it was 200 pages long. They fought demons in Pakistan."

Yes. Any genre of book works."

Great! Thanks.

[Laraemilie]

Laraemilie | 3 comments Hi! I've just arrived on goodreads and found this challenge. Although this challenge started quite a long time ago and I might not complete it, I'm in. It's a great idea!
Can I read the books in any language?

[Diane , Armchair Tour Guide]

Laraemilie wrote: "Laraemilie | 3 comments Hi! I've just arrived on goodreads and found this challenge. Although this challenge started quite a long time ago and I might not complete it, I'm in. It's a great idea!
Ca..."

Welcome, Laraemilie! Any language is fine. The books don't need to have an English translation available, either.

[Rishi]

Hi all! I just found out about the site and world literature is still my favorite. So I'm going to start this challenge even though I'm starting out a bit late. Happy trails!!

[Diane , Armchair Tour Guide]

Rishi wrote: "Hi all! I just found out about the site and world literature is still my favorite. So I'm going to start this challenge even though I'm starting out a bit late. Happy trails!!"

Welcome, Rishi! I'm so glad you found our group!

[Tazitazitazi]

Can we use books where location is not specified by country of author (like Hygiène de l'assassin for Belgium or Blindness for Portugal)?

[Diane , Armchair Tour Guide]

Tazitazitazi wrote: "Can we use books where location is not specified by country of author (like Hygiène de l'assassin for Belgium or Blindness for Portugal)?"

Absolutely. You can default to the country of the author if the location isn't clear.

[Emilie]

Okay so I want to add The Power of One and Tadia by Bryce Courtnay to my too read list. Which country would you put it into?

[Diane , Armchair Tour Guide]

Emilie wrote: "Okay so I want to add The Power of One and Tadia by Bryce Courtnay to my too read list. Which country would you put it into?"

Emilie, I believe both of them take place in South Africa.

[Joseph]

I noticed on the readerboard that some people have 9 regions, but in the instructions only 8 are listed. What is that 9th region?

[Dee]

the 9th region is Antarctica which is optional

[Joseph]

Dee wrote: "the 9th region is Antarctica which is optional"

That's what I thought. Thanks.

[Christine PNW]

I assume that you are planning a 2013 ATW in 80 books challenge? I was also wondering if it would be possible to complete my trekker challenge in two years instead of one? Maybe I could call it "a pilgrimage" instead. I have a number of other reading projects going on (related to reading classic books) and I am not sure that I will be able to read 80 books for this challenge in a year.

Diane, you have put in just an incredible amount of work in providing content for this group - the country lists are amazing. I started dipping into them yesterday and am impressed and astonished.

[Dee]

yay Mayhem!!

I think most of us just restarted Oct 1 - which is when we launched last year - i'm continuing my journal for the 3rd year

[Christine PNW]

Dee wrote: "yay Mayhem!!

I think most of us just restarted Oct 1 - which is when we launched last year - i'm continuing my journal for the 3rd year"

This is too much fun to pass up (like I need more on my plate, right?). I want to take my time, though & do some extended side trips in certain countries. I've been meaning to focus on both India & Egypt for a couple of years. And the South American countries as well. Oh, and Australia. And Russia.

[Diane , Armchair Tour Guide]

Mayhem wrote: "I assume that you are planning a 2013 ATW in 80 books challenge? I was also wondering if it would be possible to complete my trekker challenge in two years instead of one? Maybe I could call it "a ..."

We are definitely on for 2013. There is no time limit for the Circumnavigator track and you can be a Trekker and Circumnavigator simultaneously.

[Diane , Armchair Tour Guide]

Dee wrote: "yay Mayhem!!

I think most of us just restarted Oct 1 - which is when we launched last year - i'm continuing my journal for the 3rd year"

Dee, we actually extended last years challenge to end December 31, so we can follow the calendar year in 2013. So you can still get a few more countries in for the current challenge.

[Dee]

Haha I missed that Diane ;)

[Claire]

Diane wrote: "Around the World in 80 Books Challenge Rules


1. Anyone can participate in the challenge and can join in at anytime. The official start date will be October 1, 2011 until December 31, 2012, midni..."

I love this category since reading one by an author often makes me want to read more

[Josh]

I'm trying to figure this posting thing out. So, I started my own topic. Now when I finish books I just add them (and info) as a comment to my original post, is that right?

[Tazitazitazi]

There is no way I can finish my challenge in time (by the end of the year). I thought it will be no problem, because I read about 100 books a year, but I keep repeating countries. So what will happen to my challange? Do I have to start from the begining or just continue?

[Jessica]

Tazitazitazi wrote: "There is no way I can finish my challenge in time (by the end of the year). I thought it will be no problem, because I read about 100 books a year, but I keep repeating countries. So what will happ..."

You could continue as a circumnavigator :)

I'm in the same situation as you, but I'm less concerned about finishing. To me it's more the fun of participating and discovering books set in different countries rather than having to reach the end. So come 2013 I will start a new frequent flyer challenge but also keep my circumnavigator thread going.

[Claire]

Claire wrote: "Diane wrote: "Around the World in 80 Books Challenge Rules


1. Anyone can participate in the challenge and can join in at anytime. The official start date will be October 1, 2011 until December 3..."

I reread the rules for tourist and don't love it anymore. I read "any area" as "any country" implying I could read more than one book in a country. Well, of course, I still read as many as I want--just don't get to count them.

[Claire]

Question on reporting Circumnavigater. Since it is ongoing, it would seem I don't start a new 2012 thread but just continue the old one. Let me know if that is correct.

[Diane , Armchair Tour Guide]

Josh wrote: "I'm trying to figure this posting thing out. So, I started my own topic. Now when I finish books I just add them (and info) as a comment to my original post, is that right?"

I think that's right. You will start your own topic or thread with your name in the title. Each time you add another book, you will post it to the comment box at the bottom of your thread.

[Diane , Armchair Tour Guide]

Tazitazitazi wrote: "There is no way I can finish my challenge in time (by the end of the year). I thought it will be no problem, because I read about 100 books a year, but I keep repeating countries. So what will happ..."

Tazitazitazi, you can either 1) start over again for 2013 or 2) continue your current progress as a circumnavigator or 3) do both. I start over every year since I repeat a lot of countries, but I also keep an ongoing circumnavigator post with all the books I have read as I try to read the whole world. Hope that helps.

[Diane , Armchair Tour Guide]

Claire wrote: "Claire wrote: "Diane wrote: "Around the World in 80 Books Challenge Rules


1. Anyone can participate in the challenge and can join in at anytime. The official start date will be October 1, 2011 u..."

I am trying to come up with some new challenges that will account for reading several books in one country. I just haven't quite figured that out yet. :) I may have to devise yet another category. Hmmmmmmm.... I think this is workable.....

[Diane , Armchair Tour Guide]

Claire wrote: "Question on reporting Circumnavigater. Since it is ongoing, it would seem I don't start a new 2012 thread but just continue the old one. Let me know if that is correct."

That is correct.

[Diane , Armchair Tour Guide]

Claire wrote: "Claire wrote: "Diane wrote: "Around the World in 80 Books Challenge Rules


1. Anyone can participate in the challenge and can join in at anytime. The official start date will be October 1, 2011 u..."

Claire, I have added another category called "Rogue Traveler" that will take this into account.

[Nancy H]

Diane wrote: "Claire wrote: "Claire wrote: "Diane wrote: "Around the World in 80 Books Challenge Rules


1. Anyone can participate in the challenge and can join in at anytime. The official start date will be Oc..."

I like the Rogue Traveler Category! Even though I will still be doing Frequent Flyer and Circumnavigator, it will be fun to see how many books I read in a year that are set outside my country (the U.S.). I always end up reading a ton in countries that I have already hit once, so it will be nice to be able to count them up in this category! Thanks for being so creative!!!

[Josh]

Diane wrote: "Josh wrote: "I'm trying to figure this posting thing out. So, I started my own topic. Now when I finish books I just add them (and info) as a comment to my original post, is that right?"

I think t..."

Perfect! I did have it right. Thanks!

[Claire]

Diane wrote: "Claire wrote: "Claire wrote: "Diane wrote: "Around the World in 80 Books Challenge Rules


1. Anyone can participate in the challenge and can join in at anytime. The official start date will be Oc..."

I like the rogue idea. I'll combine it with circumnavigator. Now, would I list everything on rogue or only the ones that don't fit circumnavigator because they repeat a country?

[Diane , Armchair Tour Guide]

Claire wrote: "Diane wrote: "Claire wrote: "Claire wrote: "Diane wrote: "Around the World in 80 Books Challenge Rules


1. Anyone can participate in the challenge and can join in at anytime. The official start d..."

Everything would go on Rogue, but only countries you are visiting for the first time need to go on Circumnavigator.

[Marissa]

Hi there! I have a question: I have checked out a large book (400+ pgs) full of short stories from the Caribbean. Is it possible to take all the stories that take place in, lets say, Jamaica and (if they add up to 90+ pgs) count them for that country? Then do the same for another country?

[Gentian]

Hi there
I have just joined. I am looking forward to starting the new challenge in January but am I able to enjoy the 2011-12 challenge retrospectively. I will not have made 80 books and would have to be a Frequent Flyer but I might be able to make an inroad into the travel.

[Diane , Armchair Tour Guide]

Marissa wrote: "Hi there! I have a question: I have checked out a large book (400+ pgs) full of short stories from the Caribbean. Is it possible to take all the stories that take place in, lets say, Jamaica and ..."

That's fine. The books you choose and how you count them are entirely up to you.

[Shannon SA]

Hi! Per rule 3:

Books without a specific setting or taking place in an unnamed setting default to the country of the author.

Would this be the birth place of the author or the country where he/she is currently residing? (Or country of death, where applicable?)

[Diane , Armchair Tour Guide]

Shannon wrote: "Hi! Per rule 3:

Books without a specific setting or taking place in an unnamed setting default to the country of the author.

Would this be the birth place of the author or the country where he/s..."

I will accept any of those

[Shannon SA]

Great! Thank you :)

[dely]

I have finished a book, Goodnight, Mr. Lenin: A Journey Through the End of the Soviet Empire, and it talks about a travel from the river Amur to Moscow. In this travel the author writes about the history of a lot of regions of the Caucasus in which he is travelling: Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Armenia, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan and Azerbaijan (I hope I have remembered them all!).
Can I use one of these countries in my challenge?

[Diane , Armchair Tour Guide]

dely wrote: "I have finished a book, Goodnight, Mr. Lenin: A Journey Through the End of the Soviet Empire, and it talks about a travel from the river Amur to Moscow. In this travel the author writes about the h..."

Yes

[dely]

Fine, will use Kyrgyzstan.

[Catherine]

I am going to wait until the 2013 challenge is up...I will do it then....:)

[Jessica]

Hey Andrea, group reads are not necessarily compulsory! But if you'd like to join and also make it less overwhelming you could try planning your countries so that you don't cover the countries we'll be reading for group reads. That way, the group reads countries can be added to the books you're planning to read for your challenge as well.

The list for 2013 is here.

You can post your thread in the ATW in 80 Books Challenge section. Click on "new topic" to create your own thread.

Hope that helps and have fun! Good luck!

[David]

Just finished "Ugly Americans" by Ben Mezrich. Very fast and an easy read for a vacation. Takes place in Japan. Interesting to learn about the excess of the 90's.

[Joy]

I'm doing the Frequent Flyer track! Woohoo! http://joyreads2013.tumblr.com/

[Connie]

Good luck, Joy. It looks like you've got a good start on setting up your blog.

[Kristina]

Do you want us to move our old challenges anywhere/delete them?