All you have to do to join the challenge is make yourself a list of what you want to read. You may change the list at any time, add to it, take away yucky choices, or add books one at a time as you read them. Post your questions on the blog, so the answers will help other bloggers. When you finish a good book, tell us about it. If you provide a link to your actual post about a book, I'll add the link so others may see what you thought about the book. Suggest titles of books you run across, especially ones that you think are good. Share your thoughts with us by clicking on COMMENTS below any of the posts you happen to be reading, and I'll be notified that I have a comment.
I'll probably never know how many people around the world are doing this challenge, but that's okay. I think we should help each other, but many are afraid to post their names online. It's okay to use an alias or screen name. It's okay to be anonymous. But it's also okay to say, "This is what I think about the book." Then tell us. Was it wonderful? awful? so-so? a keeper? What did you like about it? I have a set of book review questions on my other blog ... Bonnie's Books ... which I should probably post on ALL my bookish blogs. You'll find it in the links below my icon: Book review outline.
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Here are some highly recommended around the world reads that I've already read:
Africa:
Mango Elephants in the Sun by Susana Herrera (Cameroon)
Angry Wind by Jeffrey Tayler (Chad, Niger, Nigeria, Mali)
Dark Star Safari by Paul Theroux (Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, South Africa)
The Beautiful Things that Heaven Bears by Dinaw Mengestu (Ethiopia)
The Camel Bookmobile by Masha Hamilton (Kenya)
Glory in a Camel’s Eye by Jeffrey Tayler (Morocco)
Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (Nigeria)
We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed With Our Families by Philip Gourevich (Rwanda)
When a Crocodile Eats the Sun by Peter Godwin (Zimbabwe)
Antarctica:
Surviving Antarctica by Andrea White (Antarctica)
Asia:
The Places in Between by Rory Stewart (Afghanistan)
Oracle Bones by Peter Hessler (China)
Family Matters by Rohinton Mistry (India)
Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert (India, Italy, Indonesia)
The Septembers of Shiraz by Dalia Sofer (Iran)
Ten Thousand Lovers by Edeet Ravel (Israel)
Japanland by Karin Muller (Japan)
Tasting the Sky by Ibtisam Barakat (Palestine)
The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid (Pakistan)
Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson (Pakistan, Afghanistan)
Madonnas of Leningrad (Russia)
Shadow of the Silk Road by Colin Thubron (China, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Turkey)
Zaatar Days, Henna Nights by Maliha Masood (Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Turkey)
Australia/South Pacific:
Shooting the Boh by Tracy Johnson (Borneo)
Getting Stoned with Savages by J. Maarten Troost (Fuji, Vanuatu)
The Naked Tourist by Lawrence Osborne (New Guinea)
An Evening Among Headhunters by Lawrence Millman (Tonga)
Europe:
Andorra by Peter Cameron (Andorra)
Small Island by Andrea Levy (England)
Words in a French Life by Kristin Espinasse (France)
The Keep by Jennifer Egan (Germany)
My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell (Greece)
Independent People by Halldor Laxness (Iceland)
The Ginger Man by J.P. Donleavy (Ireland)
Dreamers by Knut Hamsun (Norway)
The Trumpeter of Krakow by Eric P. Kelly (Poland)
The Hemingway Book Club of Kosovo by Paula Huntley (Serbia)
Spanish Lessons by Derek Lambert (Spain)
A Child’s Christmas in Wales by Dylan Thomas (Wales)
North America:
Madam Dread by Kathie Klarreich (Haiti)
Place Where the Sea Remembers by Sandra Benitez (Mexico)
My Name is Asher Lev by Chaim Potok (United States)
South America:
Journey to the River Sea by Eva Ibbotson (Brazil)
Portrait in Sepia by Isabel Allende (Chile)
Secret of the Andes by Ann Nolan Clark (Peru)
Thanks, Deb! I'll post your list now, and then do something later about each book.
Hi! I am new to book blogging and I just discovered your books around the world challenge and I would love to join - a wonderful idea!
By the way, I noticed you did not have any book suggested for Belgium (where I live). I would like to recommend "The Sorrow of Belgium" by Hugo Claus, the most important book of one of our most famous 20th century writers (he has been suggested as a Nobel prize candidate for many years now.)
Thanks!
I read another good book for England I would like to suggest.
The Sealed Letter by Emma Donoghue
Heres the link to my review:
http://teddyrose.blogspot.com/2008/04/sealed-letter-by-emma-donoghue.html
I would also like to suggest one for Italy.
The Passion of Artemisia by Susan Vreeland
Here's the link for my review:
http://teddyrose.blogspot.com/2008/04/passion-of-artemisia-by-susan-vreeland.html
I'm in, I'm in! I'll post about this challenge on my blog sometime tomorrow.
I'm in, this looks like a great challenge.
Also, a great book for France is Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky
Welcome, Whitney. Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky has already been posted:
http://bookaroundtheworld.blogspot.com/2007/07/france.html
Great book for Iceland is: Independent People, by Halldor Laxness. A multi-generational family saga set in a desolate yet beautiful country. My review can be found here.
I just found your challenge today and it's one that has been in my mind for some time now so I'm going to join in and make it official! I've posted a list of the 195 countries according to wikipedia and now my task is to start filling in what I've already read and then what I read in the future. It's obviously an lifetime project!
Kim (www.wearebookworms.blogspot.com)
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows is a delightful and completely satisfying novel set on the island of Guernsey in the Channel Islands. My review is posted here.
Hi Bonnie,
I've decided to join this challenge too! I'd like to put in a good word for Tomás Eloy Martínez's "The Tango Singer" (Argentina) since I don't see any other selections for Argentina yet. Also, Apsley Cherry-Garrard's "The Worst Journey in the World" (Antarctica), Giuseppe di Lampedusa's "The Leopard" (Italy), and the anonymous "Lazarillo de Tormes" (Spain) are all outstanding alternate choices for the countries/regions in question. I'll leave other recommendations under the specific country posts the next time I have a chance to think about it. Cheers!
www.caravanaderecuerdos.blogspot.com
Hi Bonnie,
I have decided to go ahead and join the Book Around the World Challenge. I have posted the books I have read thus far in the sidebar of my blog.
I would like to go ahead and suggest Owls in the Family by Farley Mowat (Canada) and The Red Tent by Anita Diamat which is set partially in Egypt.
Hi Bonnie,
I have a new book for you and I noticed you don't have this country yet: Korea. Here is the link to my review:
http://considerationofbooks.blogspot.com/2008/09/mira-stout-one-thousand-chestnut-trees.html
cheers!
Amy
An excellent (and quick) read for Finland is Let The Northern Lights Erase Your Name, by Vendela Vida. The book introduces readers to the Sami culture and the haunting and desolate landscape of Lapland. Here is my review.
Here's a book for the Dominican Republic. I didn't love it, but it was good and gave a good overview of their colourful and shameful history. The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz
http://teddyrose.blogspot.com/2008/10/brief-wondrous-life-of-oscar-wao-by.html
You might want to try (for El Salvador) Blood of Paradise by David Corbett
Bonnie, are you still interested in receiving updates for this challenge? If so, I'd like to recommend Roberto Bolaño's 1996 "Estrella distante" ("Distant Star" in the US) for Chile. I have a bilingual review up at http://caravanaderecuerdos.blogspot.com/2008/12/estrella-distante.html if anyone's interested. Cheers!
Here's a book suggestion for a country not yet listed. Tibet -"Sky Burial: An Epic Love Story of Tibet" is a story of bravery and commitment. This novel gives the reader a real feeling of the landscape of Tibet. You'll also enjoy the Strong female characters.
I just read The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga which is a satire about current day India. My review is here.
Also, a wonderful, highly recommended book for Norway is Out Stealing Horses, by Per Petterson. My review is here.
I love the idea of this challenge and have sent my writing partner and blog co-host into cardiac arrest by suggesting that we try to fill in a book for all the countries listed in the CIA World Factbook.
Sometime later this week I will go through all the suggestions made here and put them down as possibilities on my blog list. The link is:
http://www.whelanflynn.com/index.php/2009/01/book-around-the-world/
Also joining this challenge.
My main challenge post is:
http://www.duskyliterati.com/?page_id=722
My first review is:
USA: Sweet Thunder: The Life and Times of Sugar Ray by Wil Haygood
http://www.duskyliterati.com/?p=1223
Hello! My name is TBM and here are some books I would like to read and add to the list:
Disgrace by JM Coetzee (South Africa)
Waiting for the Barbarians by JM Coetzee (South Africa)
The Tin Drum by Gunter Grass (Germany)
Buddenbrooks by Gunter Grass (Germany)
Thanks, TBM. I've read Disgrace by Coetzee and agree that it's a good pick for South Africa. I'll post these titles as soon as I get a chance.
Hi Bonnie, I have a book for you for a country you don't yet have listed and that is very topical right now: Libya. Here is the link to my review: http://considerationofbooks.blogspot.com/2011/03/in-country-of-men-by-hisham-matar-2006.html
It was an excellent book and the author just has his second book out this month.
Hi Bonnie,
Are you still active with Books Around the World? I have another suggestion for a country you don't have listed, Luxembourg. Here's my review: http://considerationofbooks.blogspot.be/2012/10/the-expats-by-chris-pavone-2012.html
Best wishes,
Amy
Yes, Amy, this blog is still active, though I see I also missed posting your suggestion from last year. I'll post both books today and look back for other suggestions I've overlooked. Thanks for giving me a nudge.
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