Ceinwenn Posted October 7, 2008 Share Posted October 7, 2008 (edited) So....I have been reading the threads on here about the reading challenges that some of you have done & thought about doing one based on the countries participating in the 2010 winter olympics, but have decided to do one that really doesn't have a time limit to it. What I have been thinking is that I am going to read a book written by an author from every country of the world (admittedly this might be impossible, but I'm going to give it a go. I'm going to start it this weekend (or as soon as I can get Amazon to deliver my 1st choice) & my only rules are that I cannot re-read a book I've alread read & the books would have to be in English or French as that's all I can read (lol). I'll report here about the books I'll be reading & if any of you have any suggestions I would love to hear them! Ok, so here's the list is in alphabetical order: 1. Afghanistan - A thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini 2. Albania - Chronical in Stone by Ismail Kadare 3. Algeria - The Attack - Yasmina Khadra (which is a nom de plume for Mohammed Moulessehoul) 4. Andorra 5. Angola 6. Antigua 7. Argentina 8. Armenia 9. Australia 10. Austria 11. Azerbaijan 12. Bahamas 13. Bahrain 14. Bangladesh 15. Barbados 16. Belarus 17. Belgium 18. Belize 19. Benin 20. Bhutan 21. Bolivia 22. Bosnia 23. Botswana 24. Brazil 25. Brunei 26. Bulgaria 27. Burkina Faso 28. Burma 29. Burundi 30. Cambodia 31. Cameroon 32. Canada 33. Cape Verde 34. Central African Republic 35. Chad 36. Chile 37. China 38. Colombia 39. Comoros 40. Congo 41. Costa Rica 42. Cote d'ivoire 43. Croatia 44. Cuba 45. Cyprus 46. Czech Republic 47. Denmark 48. Djibouti 49. Dominica 50. Dominican Republic 51. Ecuador 52. East Timor 53. Egypt 54. El Salvador 55. England - Star Gazing by Linda Gillard 56. Equatorial Guinea 57. Eritrea 58. Estonia 59. Ethiopia 60. Fiji 61. Finland 62. France 63. Gabon 64. (The) Gambia 65. Georgia 66. Germany - Homecoming by Bernhard Schlink 67. Ghana 68. Greece 69. Grenada 70. Guatemala 71. Guinea 72. Guinea-Bissau 73. Guyana 74. Haiti 75. Honduras 76. Hungary 77. Iceland 78. India 79. Indonesia 80. Iran 81. Iraq 82. Ireland (the Republic of) 83. Israel 84. Italy 85. Jamaica 86. Japan 87. Jordan 88. Kazakhstan 89. Kenya Edited June 7, 2009 by Ceinwenn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ceinwenn Posted October 7, 2008 Author Share Posted October 7, 2008 (edited) 90. Kiribati 91. Korea (North) 92. Korea (South) 93. Kosovo 94. Kuwait 95. Kyrgyzstan 96. Laos 97. Latvia 98. Lebanon 99. Lesotho 100. Liberia 101. Libya 102. Liechtenstein 103. Lithuania 104. Luxembourg 105. Macedonia 106. Madagascar 107. Malawi 108. Malaysia 109. Maldives 110. Mali 111. Malta 112. Marshall Islands 113. Mauritania 114. Mauritius 115. Mexico 116. Micronesia 117. Moldova 118. Monaco 119. Mongolia 120. Montenegro 121. Morocco 122. Mozambique 123. Namibia 124. Nauru 125. Nepal 126. Netherlands (The) 127. New Zealand 128. Nicaragua 129. Niger 130. Nigeria 131. Norway 132. Northern Ireland 133. Oman 134. Pakistan 135. Palau 136. Panama 137. Papua New Guinea 138. Paraguay 139. Peru 140. Philippines (The) 141. Poland 142. Portugal 143. Qatar 144. Romania 145. Russia 146. Rwanda 147. St. Kitts & Nevis 148. St. Lucia 149. St. Vincent & the Grenadines 150. Samoa 151. San Marino 152. Sao Tome & Principe 153. Saudi Arabia 154. Scotland 155. Senegal 156. Serbia 157. Seychelles 158. Sierra Leon 159. Singapore 160. Slovakia 161. Slovenia 162. Solomon Islands 163. Somalia 164. South Africa 165. Spain 166. Sri Lanka 167. Sudan 168. Suriname 169. Swaziland 170. Sweden 171. Switzerland 172. Syria 173. Taiwan 174. Tajikistan 175. Tanzania 176. Thailand 177. Togo 178. Tonga 179. Trinidad & Tobago 180. Tunisia 181. Turkey 182. Turkmenistan 183. Tuvalu 184. Uganda 185. Ukraine 186. United Arab Emirates 187. United States - The Camel Bookmobile by Masha Hamilton 188. Uruguay 189. Uzbekistan 190. Vanuatu 191. Vatican City 192. Venezuela 193. Vietnam 194. Wales 195. Yemen 196. Zaire 197. Zambia 198. Zimbabwe - An Elegy for Easterly by Petina Gappah Edited June 19, 2009 by Ceinwenn To add list of countries Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janet Posted October 7, 2008 Share Posted October 7, 2008 I've thought about doing this challenge too (or something Olympian, anyway) but it feels rather daunting. I might have to aim for 2016! I started a tentative list in 'Word' before I read A Thousand Splendid... for Afghanistan and All Quiet on the Western Front for Germany (a cross-over as it's part of my Reading Through The Decades challenge) but haven't posted it on here yet. Perhaps I should? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ceinwenn Posted October 7, 2008 Author Share Posted October 7, 2008 I've I started a tentative list in 'Word' before I read A Thousand Splendid... for Afghanistan and All Quiet on the Western Front for Germany (a cross-over as it's part of my Reading Through The Decades challenge) but haven't posted it on here yet. Perhaps I should? You should!! I know that with my current work situation it is going to take me ages to complete this challenge but hey, at least I'll be reading! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottishbookworm Posted October 7, 2008 Share Posted October 7, 2008 1) Afghanistan - A thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini Paperback: 432 pages Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC (18 Sep 2008) Language English ISBN-10: 074758589X ISBN-13: 978-0747585893 Synopsis AFTER MORE THAN TWO YEARS ON THE BESTSELLER LISTS, KHALED HOSSEINI RETURNS WITH A BEAUTIFUL, RIVETING, AND HAUNTING NOVEL OF ENORMOUS CONTEMPORARY RELEVANCE. A Thousand Splendid Suns is a breathtaking story set against the volatile events of Afghanistan's last thirty years -- from the Soviet invasion to the reign of the Taliban to post-Taliban rebuilding -- that puts the violence, fear, hope and faith of this country in intimate, human terms. It is a tale of two generations of characters brought jarringly together by the tragic sweep of war, where personal lives -- the struggle to survive, raise a family, find happiness -- are inextricable from the history playing out around them. Propelled by the same storytelling instinct that made The Kite Runner a beloved classic, A Thousand Splendid Suns is at once a remarkable chronicle of three decades of Afghan history and a deeply moving account of family and friendship. It is a striking, heart-wrenching novel of an unforgiving time, an unlikely friendship, and an indestructible love -- a stunning accomplishment. I've never read that book Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pipread Posted October 7, 2008 Share Posted October 7, 2008 Good luck with your challenge I`d find it a challenge just thinking of the appropriate books I think! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janet Posted October 7, 2008 Share Posted October 7, 2008 I think there is a list of suggestions somewhere. Maybe on Wikipedia? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ceinwenn Posted October 7, 2008 Author Share Posted October 7, 2008 (edited) I have to admit I am really looking forward to the "challenge" of this challenge! I told my OH about this this morning & he's really excited for me to do this - he thinks it's going to be impossible, but we shall see! I've downloaded a list of countries of the world (http://www.infoplease.com/countries.html) & am going to search authors for the next country as I read my current selection, so basically, one country at a time & foreward planning for only 1 further country at a time (all suggestions of books will be gladly received!). I have made one more rule, I guess you could call it - I am going to treat the UK as 4 seperate countries, for the benifit of my Welsh other half. Edited October 7, 2008 by Ceinwenn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ceinwenn Posted October 7, 2008 Author Share Posted October 7, 2008 I've never read that book I've seen it a few times at Waterstones & have picked it up with the thought of buying it, but have always put it back. I'm really looking forward to this book! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janet Posted October 8, 2008 Share Posted October 8, 2008 I've I started a tentative list in 'Word' before I read A Thousand Splendid... for Afghanistan and All Quiet on the Western Front for Germany (a cross-over as it's part of my Reading Through The Decades challenge) but haven't posted it on here yet. Perhaps I should?You should!! I know that with my current work situation it is going to take me ages to complete this challenge but hey, at least I'll be reading! Oh, go on then - why not! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ceinwenn Posted October 11, 2008 Author Share Posted October 11, 2008 So, I got my 1st country's book in yesterday & so far so good - I'm already 1/2 way finished! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ceinwenn Posted October 14, 2008 Author Share Posted October 14, 2008 Well, I finished A thousand Splendid Suns on Sunday night (the wee hours of Monday morning). I'd have to ask all of you who may read this to bear with me, I've never done short reviews of books before! I found A thousand spendid suns to be a very engaging read. So much so that I found I was quite resentful of the fact that I had to work & couldn't devour it all in one go like I wanted to. Khaled Hosseini paints a very vivid picture of life in Afghanistan of old, then of Afghanistan under the Taliban. I know that the story is about Mariam & Laila, but in certain parts of the story I do wish that there had been more historical background, about the troubles in Afghanistan. The characters in the book are very well developed & you can almost imagine that you are one of the women from the community, standing at the neighbourhood tandoor, waiting for your turn to cook the bread. While this is a tragic story, it is also one of hope - both for the future of Afghanistan & for the "fictional" Laila. While this is a work of fiction I am fairly sure that there are thousands of women in Afghanistan who "are" Mariam & Laila & Khaled Hosseini does a wonderful job of telling their stories. I found myself openly rooting for Mariam & crying at the unjustness of her exisitance & praying that there was going to be that all-american happy ending. I would heartily recommend A thousand splendid suns to anyone & I shall be purchasing copies for my Mom & sisters as this truely is a book that needs to be shared & recommended! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ceinwenn Posted October 14, 2008 Author Share Posted October 14, 2008 I am really struggling with finding an entire book translated from Albanian into English, so, whilst the search continues, I am going to move on to another country. I had been hoping to read the countries in alphabetical order, but I now see that this is going to be an impossibility, so I shall jump around the world & update as I go! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janet Posted October 15, 2008 Share Posted October 15, 2008 I'm not sure this helps, but I believe Ismail Kadare is Albanian. I loved A Thousand Splendid Suns too - it was equally as good, if not better than, The Kite Runner. I can't wait to see what he follows these up with! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ceinwenn Posted October 15, 2008 Author Share Posted October 15, 2008 (edited) I'm not sure this helps, but I believe Ismail Kadare is Albanian. You're right, he is. I googled "Albanian Authors" a while ago & he was one of the ones who came up, but I couldn't find anything he'd written in English. It seemed that every site I looked at was saying that there are very few Albabian authors who get translated into English. Couldn't even find anything on Amazon. Strange cause there's lots there for Kadare, actually! Edited October 16, 2008 by Ceinwenn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankie Posted October 15, 2008 Share Posted October 15, 2008 At least The Palace of Dreams is in English and in Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Palace-Dreams-Ismail-Kadare/dp/1559704160 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ceinwenn Posted October 16, 2008 Author Share Posted October 16, 2008 (edited) Ok, so I've found my next book. It's Chronical in Stone, by Ismail Kadare Hardcover: 320 pages Publisher: Arcade Publishing (July 11, 2007) Language: English ISBN-10: 1559708336 ISBN-13: 978-1559708333 The story of a young Albanian & a primitive Albanian awakening into the modern world. In a seemless mosaic of dreams & games, Kadare's young narrator both reflects and distorts events as his ancient, magical home town - and his own innocence and sense of wonder - are lost forever in the madness and brutality of the Second World War. A disturbing mix of tragedy, comedy, politics and sexuality, Chronicle in Stine is a fascinating early masterpiece from the winner of the inaugural Man Booker International Prize. - From the back of the book Edited November 22, 2008 by Ceinwenn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ii Posted October 29, 2008 Share Posted October 29, 2008 Oooh, okay. Some suggestions, you asked? Let's see... France is easy. You have everything from Hugo to Houellebecq and Le Petit Prince. Especially since you can read French. Finland: I'd go for Leena Lander (The House of Dark Butterflies or someting such, it's translated), Kalle Päätalo or Väinö Linna (Under the Northern Star and Unknown Soldier are both superb!) Norway: Erlend Loe! Absolutely! Naive.Super was one of the best books I've ever read. Sweden: Mikael Niemi's Popular Music or something like that, can't remember off the top of my hat, it's translated, and on Amazon.com. Astrid Lindgren's Pippi or other stories are also brilliant. And translated a lot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ceinwenn Posted November 22, 2008 Author Share Posted November 22, 2008 Have started reading Chronicle in Stone & it is a very funny book so far. The way that the young narrator speaks about inanimate objects is great. I just read a section where he had encountered his first real book & his description of the words & the way the book comes alive to him is amazing! "I couldn't sleep. The book lay nearby. Silent. A thin object on the divan. It was so strange...Between two cardboard covers were noises, doors, howls, horses, people. All side by side, pressed tightly against one another. Decomposed into little black marks. Hairs, eyes, legs and hands, voices, nails, beards, knocks on doors, walls, blood, the sound of horseshoes, shouts. All docile, blindly obedient to the little black marks. The letters run in mad haste, now here, now there. The h's, r's, o's, t's gallop over the page.They gather together to create a horse or a hailstorm. Then gallop away again. Now they create a dagger, a night, a ghost. The streets, slamming doors, silence. Running & running. Never stopping. Without end." Brilliant! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ceinwenn Posted November 30, 2008 Author Share Posted November 30, 2008 I finished Chronicle in Stone tonight on the train & I have to admit I am completely baffled. I just do not know what to think of this book! The way that Kadare has with words is amazing - he makes inanimate objects come alive, but god, I really won't rush out to buy another one of his books. I've never before read a book that, after having read it, I've been so ambivalent about to the point of almost wishing I hadn't bothered. Such a shame because Kadare does have a certain way with words! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nollaig Posted January 1, 2009 Share Posted January 1, 2009 Can I recommend some Irish books? =P Ignore this if you already have some, or whatever. Theres the obvious ones which you may have read anyway - "Dracula" by Bram Stoker for horror/classic Anything by Cecelia Ahern for romantic type things "The Picture Of Dorian Gray" - Oscar Wilde for classic/sheer genius Maeve Binchy is another very popular Irish author, though I've never read her books. "The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas" - John Boyne, which you've probably read. For an Irish book set within the changing 1990's in Ireland, check out 'The Blackwater Lightship' by Colm Tob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lexiepiper Posted January 1, 2009 Share Posted January 1, 2009 Just randomly, I'm assuming is has to be the country the author was born in? Rather than the language it's released in etc? As I have an author that was born in Peru, has Chilean parents and describes herself as Chilean and publishes in spanish? So I think that would count for Peru? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ceinwenn Posted January 1, 2009 Author Share Posted January 1, 2009 Thanks RoxiS......There are quite a few on there that I haven't read! The real idea behind this challenge was to get me to read books from other genres, to read books I normally would have passed up, as I have found myself sticking to the tried & true, instead of branching out. This should force me to do exactly that & to stop being lazy about the types of books I read. Don't get me wrong, I will still flock back to my Jeffery Deaver, Jonathan Kellerman, Kathy Reichs, Lee Child - esque books for they are my comfort reading but sometimes it's good to get out of your comfort zone! Thanks for the suggestions! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nollaig Posted January 1, 2009 Share Posted January 1, 2009 No problem! I wrote this before Lexie and I went mad with our aspirations but hopefully you'll join us! =D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ceinwenn Posted January 4, 2009 Author Share Posted January 4, 2009 Ok, so I'm holding an informal vote on what I should do with my next country on my list as I am nearing the end of my current book & have yet to find a book for my next country. If you would like to vote to help me make the decision, it would be greatly appreciated! Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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