Ceinwenn Posted March 28, 2009 Share Posted March 28, 2009 Janet, for someone who was reluctant, you're doing better at your challenge than I am!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janet Posted March 28, 2009 Author Share Posted March 28, 2009 Well, I recently did that Book Spa thing and I mentioned to the guy discussing books with me that I'd like to read some set in countries other than the UK or the USA so he recommended two on the strength of that. I've just started the other one, set in Pakistan (The Reluctant Fundamentalist), so I'll be adding another to my map shortly - but then I guess I'll have a lull again after that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nellie Posted March 28, 2009 Share Posted March 28, 2009 What did Nic think of your book challenge? I think he would have liked that idea! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janet Posted March 28, 2009 Author Share Posted March 28, 2009 He did -and I he also liked the fact that I was open to suggestion. He really was spot-on with what he picked for me - even picking several I've already read or got on my 'to read' pile! Slightly o/t, but on the day of my visit, I'd just started What Was Lost by Catherine O'Flynn and told me that he was on the Costa panel that voted it the winner so he was pleased I was enjoying it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nellie Posted March 28, 2009 Share Posted March 28, 2009 He did -and I he also liked the fact that I was open to suggestion. He really was spot-on with what he picked for me - even picking several I've already read or got on my 'to read' pile! Slightly o/t, but on the day of my visit, I'd just started What Was Lost by Catherine O'Flynn and told me that he was on the Costa panel that voted it the winner so he was pleased I was enjoying it! How odd, What Was Lost was also on my list of recent reads that I sent him, and he told me the same thing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janet Posted March 29, 2009 Author Share Posted March 29, 2009 The Reluctant Fundamentalist - Mahsin Hamid - Pakistan 7 Countries - 3% Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janet Posted May 7, 2009 Author Share Posted May 7, 2009 (edited) Just about to start The Reader by Bernhard Schlink. ETA: Which I did - but then I remembered I'd already done Germany. D'oh! Edited October 5, 2009 by Janet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janet Posted October 5, 2009 Author Share Posted October 5, 2009 (edited) After some dithering, and some sending of PMs, I have revised this slightly. Unless otherwise stated, the books read relate to the country in which the author was born. So, for example, Brazil is The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, because that's where he was born, even though the book isn't based in Brazil. I still can't see me ever getting to the end of this! Edited October 5, 2009 by Janet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janet Posted October 5, 2009 Author Share Posted October 5, 2009 Okay, I've had a sort out and here is my updated map: 11 Countries - 4% Afghanistan - A Thousand Splendid Suns - Khaled Hosseini (10/10) Austria - The Dragonfly Pool - Eva Ibbotson (7/10) Brazil - The Alchemist - Paulo Coelho (8/10) Canada - No Time For Goodbye - Linwood Barclay (8/10) Germany - All Quiet on the Western Front - Erich Maria Remarque (8/10) India - Coram Boy - Jamila Gavin - (6�/10) Ireland - The Sea - John Banville (3/10) New Zealand - Mister Pip - Lloyd Jones (9�/10) Pakistan - The Reluctant Fundamentalist - Mohsin Hamid (8/10) Sri Lanka - The Flower Boy - Karen Roberts United States of America - The Notebook - Nicholas Sparks (7/10) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kell Posted October 5, 2009 Share Posted October 5, 2009 Ooh, where did you get the map and how do you go about adding the colour to the bits you've covered?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janet Posted October 5, 2009 Author Share Posted October 5, 2009 I can't take the credit for it - I snagged the idea from Tracy (everydayxangels)! It comes from here - it's meant to show the counties you've visited but doubles up for this quite nicely, although obviously it contains non-Olympic countries too. I do it, paste it into word and then load it on Photobucket to get a full picture rather than uploading it directly from the computer. It's lovely to see one's progress this way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janet Posted December 14, 2009 Author Share Posted December 14, 2009 Note for future reference - Girls Of Riyadh by Rajaa Alsanea - Saudi Arabia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janet Posted January 7, 2010 Author Share Posted January 7, 2010 13 countries (5%) Afghanistan - A Thousand Splendid Suns - Khaled Hosseini - 10/10 Austria - The Dragonfly Pool - Eva Ibbotson - 7/10 Brazil - The Alchemist - Paulo Coelho - 8/10 Canada - No Time for Goodbye - Linwood Barclay - 8/10 Germany - All Quiet on the Western Front - Erich Maria Remarque - 9/10 India - Coram Boy - Jamila Gavin - 6�/10 Ireland - The Sea - John Banville - 3/10 New Zealand - Mister Pip - Lloyd Jones - 9�/10 Norway - The Christmas Mystery - Jostein Gaarder - 7�/10 Pakistan - The Reluctant Fundamentalist - Mohsin Hamid - 8/10 Sri Lanka - The Flower Boy - Karen Roberts - 8/10 Sweden - The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - Stieg Larsson - 10/10 United States - The Notebook - Nicholas Sparks - 7/10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Univerze Posted January 7, 2010 Share Posted January 7, 2010 Wow, good luck with this, must be hard to find books to read from some countries, I know my country doesn't have many books I'd like to read. Unless it's children's books, like Crusade in Jeans, used to love that one when I was a kid. Amazed you haven't read anything from the UK yet! Not for your list anyway... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sirinrob Posted January 7, 2010 Share Posted January 7, 2010 I'm going to take up this challenge. I'll have to trawl through my books and see which ones fit the challenge. I'm being strict so the author has to be born in the country. Can see that could be a bit tricky for several countries Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janet Posted January 7, 2010 Author Share Posted January 7, 2010 I've read lots of UK books - I don't know why I haven't selected one for the list! I shall add my next UK read! I am intending to include some children's books in my choices (my Indian choice was one) - I'm doing this based on where the author was born rather than it being where the book is set. I don't see myself ever completing it, but it's another list and I like lists - and it makes me think about things I might not otherwise read - or at least, that's the plan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kylie Posted January 8, 2010 Share Posted January 8, 2010 I've been tempted to try this challenge for a while now because, as you say Janet, it's a list, and I think I've made it pretty clear recently how much I like lists. I should confess that I also like it because it comes with the cool map which I can 'colour in' as I go along, just like ticking something off a list! It's such a daunting challenge though that I would have to cheat and include the books I've read in the last few years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janet Posted January 8, 2010 Author Share Posted January 8, 2010 The map is rather lovely, isn't it?! I don't think that's cheating, Kylie. I've deviated from the original 'Olympic' challenge to make it a 'World' one and I haven't set any time limit - unlike the original one which was to be completed in four years. I added The Christmas Mystery by Jostein Gaarder yesterday, even though I read it in 2007 because I remembered he'd been born in Norway. Unless it's part of a challenge that others are completing in as a competition then I don't think it matters. I need to update my list at the front, actually, as there are more 'World' countries than Olympic ones (gulp!). Lists ftw! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kylie Posted January 8, 2010 Share Posted January 8, 2010 OK, I've gone ahead and used my 1 reserved post for this challenge. It took me a while to get the map right, but I followed your directions (mostly) and I think I've got it now. Now comes the fun part of going through my reading lists and updating the map. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janet Posted January 8, 2010 Author Share Posted January 8, 2010 Excellent! What country list did you go for? I'm going to use the one on this site, although I think 'Akrotiri' might prove impossible! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kylie Posted January 8, 2010 Share Posted January 8, 2010 I haven't even thought that far ahead! Because I'm lazy, I'll go with the same list you have (thanks for saving me the work ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janet Posted January 8, 2010 Author Share Posted January 8, 2010 No worries - you're welcome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sirinrob Posted January 9, 2010 Share Posted January 9, 2010 Just discovered this gem 'Best European Fiction 2010'. Edited by the acclaimed Bosnian writer,Aleksandar Hemon, this is a volume of contemporary modern short stories, translated into English. Drawn from 35 countries in Europe, including Iceland, Liechtensten, Estonia. Published this month - could prove rather useful;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janet Posted January 9, 2010 Author Share Posted January 9, 2010 Ooh yes - I've just looked at the contents list on Google books and it contains lots of potentially difficult countries. As you say, could prove useful! Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janet Posted January 9, 2010 Author Share Posted January 9, 2010 15/233 = 6.43% Added The UK (Univerze ) A Christmas Carol by Dickens, and Japan - The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami (thanks to Sinrob for reminding me that I've read it!). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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