I like your take too! I saw your video, and we have a couple of books in common, I think Though your Graham Greene is The Third Man and mine is The Tenth Man. How odd for an author to have two books with such similar titles!
Since filming, I have been thinking the challenge would work better for me if it was nonfiction about the country regardless of where the author comes from, rather than fiction by an author from the country. And setting a limit is a great idea! If I were to aim for every country, I would set myself for failure.
Mine too! Since filming I have been twice to the library and my pile of possibilities has now doubled in size! And I see everyone’s TBR and I want to add even more. I am going to drown in short books. 😂
I've been doing the Around the World book challenge for a few years now. Everyone 'does' it differently; I'm quite strict with what 'counts' - for me it has to be by an author that at least was born and grew up in that country - so, if they're expats, they may have left the country for university, but usually not before. And as much as possible be set in or about that country, or if fantasy/sci fi (I've found some of those) have significant elements from that culture/place. There are a couple of countries that I may make exceptions for - For Eritrea I only seem to be able to find things by people who have fled, and young, and about that experience. So, guidelines - it's my challenge, so I can make (or bend) the 'rules'. Now, I totally read stories by expats, about the immigrant experience, and stories just by people from one country writing about another (I think I may have to look up that Serbian book set in Mongolia. I mean - that sounds fab!) I just read the new book by Abraham Verghese, and The Bandit Queen - quite liked them. I just don't count them for this particular challenge. Things that count toward this challenge are *very* far from all or even most of my reading. It helps me to think of this as a veery long-term project, and part of the purpose is to widen my reading. My yearly goal is to 'visit' 10 new countries a year, but I often 'revisit' more than I visit for the first time. There's more than one point of view from each country - for example, I've read the Angolan book you mention here (and another by the same author), but I'd like to read something that's written by a Black Angolan rather than someone of Euro-Angolan extraction. And some countries have a wealth of literature, so why stop at one book! I've added places that have an independent history/culture within a country, and have most recently also decided to try one book from each Indian state, and am on the lookout for things that aren't written just in English (as much Indian lit is, but far from all). I may never finish - it's the journey, not the destination! And, yeah, Monaco and Lichtenstein may be some of my last hold-outs, LOL. It does help to be able to read in more than one language. French will really help you.
Thank you for sharing your experience! I am still thinking about doing the challenge, since making the video, and I keep thinking about what would counts and what wouldn’t count as a book. I also like your idea of adding regions that are not countries per se but are worthy of interest. Food for thought. Thank you! 😁
What a lovely pile of possibilities. You gave me some ideas about books to read. I think I'll start with the book from Herman Hesse. But what I wanted to ask you is. Where do you find the name of the translation of the book? I sometimes have trouble finding that out. Have a great day!
To find if a book is translated, I look on Goodreads. I type the title in French or in the original language, then I click on the book. Then I click on “books details and editions”, and that is where covers of the book on in other languages will appear. It’s not 100% reliable, but it’s a good indicator. Other possibilities are looking in Worldcat, but this one is less user friend, or looking at the wikepedia entry of the author.
I really enjoyed An Elderly Lady Is Up to No Good. I bought the sequel as well, but haven’t read it yet. And I adore 84 Charing Cross Road. Have read it several times. I think you will really like both.
I would consider them if they have been published in a standalone book format. For example, I have a book of The Embassy of Cambodia by Zadie Smith. It’s a short story, but it has its own book. But if you want to include short stories, why not? 😁
Such a good idea to go travelling for shorty September! I hope you enjoy all of these. ❤❤
Shorty September is a great idea. Thank you for inventing it! 😁
Enjoy your shorties! I will be working on my series in September. 😀
That’s a great project too! 😄
I am participating in shorty September for the first time 😊 we will see how I do!!! ❤❤❤ love your take! I am doing a 1001 shorty September 😊😊
I like your take too! I saw your video, and we have a couple of books in common, I think Though your Graham Greene is The Third Man and mine is The Tenth Man. How odd for an author to have two books with such similar titles!
A few years ago, I thought about doing a reading project in which I would read 80 books from around the world.
Since filming, I have been thinking the challenge would work better for me if it was nonfiction about the country regardless of where the author comes from, rather than fiction by an author from the country. And setting a limit is a great idea! If I were to aim for every country, I would set myself for failure.
Paper Houses sounds like a good one. My Shorty September list just keeps growing!
Mine too! Since filming I have been twice to the library and my pile of possibilities has now doubled in size! And I see everyone’s TBR and I want to add even more. I am going to drown in short books. 😂
So many great sounding books! A lovely idea to read around the world. I’m still reading my World Cup reads 😂
I was lucky for this World Cup, I only had to read from five countries, and just one in the last week or so. I managed to remain on top of things. 😁
I've been doing the Around the World book challenge for a few years now. Everyone 'does' it differently; I'm quite strict with what 'counts' - for me it has to be by an author that at least was born and grew up in that country - so, if they're expats, they may have left the country for university, but usually not before. And as much as possible be set in or about that country, or if fantasy/sci fi (I've found some of those) have significant elements from that culture/place. There are a couple of countries that I may make exceptions for - For Eritrea I only seem to be able to find things by people who have fled, and young, and about that experience. So, guidelines - it's my challenge, so I can make (or bend) the 'rules'.
Now, I totally read stories by expats, about the immigrant experience, and stories just by people from one country writing about another (I think I may have to look up that Serbian book set in Mongolia. I mean - that sounds fab!) I just read the new book by Abraham Verghese, and The Bandit Queen - quite liked them. I just don't count them for this particular challenge. Things that count toward this challenge are *very* far from all or even most of my reading.
It helps me to think of this as a veery long-term project, and part of the purpose is to widen my reading. My yearly goal is to 'visit' 10 new countries a year, but I often 'revisit' more than I visit for the first time. There's more than one point of view from each country - for example, I've read the Angolan book you mention here (and another by the same author), but I'd like to read something that's written by a Black Angolan rather than someone of Euro-Angolan extraction. And some countries have a wealth of literature, so why stop at one book! I've added places that have an independent history/culture within a country, and have most recently also decided to try one book from each Indian state, and am on the lookout for things that aren't written just in English (as much Indian lit is, but far from all). I may never finish - it's the journey, not the destination! And, yeah, Monaco and Lichtenstein may be some of my last hold-outs, LOL.
It does help to be able to read in more than one language. French will really help you.
Thank you for sharing your experience! I am still thinking about doing the challenge, since making the video, and I keep thinking about what would counts and what wouldn’t count as a book. I also like your idea of adding regions that are not countries per se but are worthy of interest. Food for thought. Thank you! 😁
What a lovely pile of possibilities. You gave me some ideas about books to read. I think I'll start with the book from Herman Hesse. But what I wanted to ask you is. Where do you find the name of the translation of the book?
I sometimes have trouble finding that out. Have a great day!
To find if a book is translated, I look on Goodreads. I type the title in French or in the original language, then I click on the book. Then I click on “books details and editions”, and that is where covers of the book on in other languages will appear. It’s not 100% reliable, but it’s a good indicator. Other possibilities are looking in Worldcat, but this one is less user friend, or looking at the wikepedia entry of the author.
@@bouquinsbooks Thank you! I will try that. And never heard of Worldcat befote so I will have a look at that too.
I really enjoyed An Elderly Lady Is Up to No Good. I bought the sequel as well, but haven’t read it yet. And I adore 84 Charing Cross Road. Have read it several times. I think you will really like both.
These two are among the most likely to be read… 😁
A travel guide to mongolia sounds interesting...if you want plays try Vaclav Havel...largo desolato is great!
Thank you for the recommendation!
There is also a video of the play with F Murray Abraham which you may find on UA-cam.
I envy you, reading 84 ,Charing Cross Road for the first time x
I think this is the first one I will pick up!
Would you consider short stories a part of shorty September?
I would consider them if they have been published in a standalone book format. For example, I have a book of The Embassy of Cambodia by Zadie Smith. It’s a short story, but it has its own book. But if you want to include short stories, why not? 😁
Thanks! I'm feeling much better about shorty September now!!
Finding a book from every country would be fun but don't pressure yourself. You may not find translated titles either.
I don’t like pressure in my reading. 😁 I am still thinking about the challenge. But I would have to tailor it so that it works for me.