Around the World in 80 Books discussion

What are your reading plans for the new year?


Here are mine (tentatively):

Read 200-250 books total
Read books from 100 countries (in geographical order)
Read a book from at least one place I haven't read about yet
Read books from all 50 states & DC
Read books from 15 UK counties
Read at least 25 big books (400+ pages), with at least 2 books >1000 pgs
Read 50 books from the 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die list
Read at least 100 books from my tbr pile
Read a lot of the classics
Read from a mixture of different genres
Read more award winners

My reading plans are very similar to yours, Diane.

I want to continue my ATW tour but I will probably change my current one into a circumnavigator. I will also finish my US Roadtrip (if I'm not able to this year, that is) and then start a new one. I'll also continue my UK, France, Italy, Australia and Germany challenges.
I'm planning to read at least 50 books from the 1001 list too, also lots of classics and award winners.
And my biggest plan for next year is to read as many of the books I own as possible and not constantly buy new ones or go to the library.

I want to do the one challenge all readers dread: Read less. I became too obsessed with reading recently ;) I'm in my last university year and it's time to wrap up and get a grade. Also, I want to concentrate more on writing (I'll have to anyway to get my thesis done). So my plan is to not read more than 52 books next year ...

I'm going to continue "reading regions", tentatively Spain, Japan and Germany.
And maybe a list of world cities- cities proper by population or Global Cities Index.

I have a trip to Scotland planned for late summer (after reading my way through Scotland I need to see it) so I'll be prepping by reading about all the places I hope to see

I've always love books set in Israel so I will focus on that region pretty much but will also try to read my way through the original US colonies which I love to read about also.

I want to continue my rogue traveler journey. I set a goal of 28 books this year and am now reading my 39th. Pretty good given that I started in June and have a baby at home. Hoping to read about 70 books next year so I can finish my journey in 3 years. I'm trying to "shop my own shelves" as well beacuse I have a lot of great ATW reads that I own.

I really don't know!
Last year I had some plans and new personal challenges but it's as if they are constraining. I think I won't make some plans for next year, I want to feel free to pick up any book crosses my way.
Of course I will continue reading about India or Indian authors and books with or about cats.
The circumnavigator challenge is difficult for me because I read mainly books set always in the same countries. I don't know if I will continue it, will see!

I think I'd like to take another run as a tourist next year, with the goal of reading books representing countries I didn't "visit" this year. This has been a great challenge for me this year, as it has not only injected variety into my reading and expanded my horizons, but has also provided a method to my book selection process. Diane, it seems to me that maintaining this site must be an incredibly labor-intensive process for you, but clearly it is a labor of love and you are doing a terrific job. Kudos to you!

Amy wrote: "I think I'd like to take another run as a tourist next year, with the goal of reading books representing countries I didn't "visit" this year. This has been a great challenge for me this year, as ..."

Thanks so much, Amy. I really enjoy building and maintaining this group, although my time lately has been limited between family, work, school, and reading (of course!). I knew from the outset that it would be a lot of work, but I had no idea the group would become so large. I have learned and continue to learn so much, and I have enjoyed every minute of it.

do better on my reading than I did this year when it comes to my around the world travels...I read lots of books, but few that furthered my exploration of the world

My first goal is to read my A-Z challenge by book title - all from books off my bookshelf. I have got to make some headway on my bookshelf - they can't just be left to gather dust and grow exponentially. I also always like to read a few classics and will continue to read and join discussions for various books of the month for various groups.

My next A-Z Challenge by Title only - all from my pre-existing personal library. Goal is to clear some bookshelf space.
START - January 1, 2014
FINISH - December 31, 2014

A - The Art of Fielding
B - The Beet Queen
C - A Confederacy of Dunces
D - A Death In Vienna
E - East of Eden
F - Fierce Invalids Home from Hot Climates
G - Geek Love
H - The Human Stain
I - I Suck at Girls
J - Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell
K - The Known World
L - Love Medicine
M - Mudbound
N - Neverwhere
O - Orphan Train
P - Paradise
Q - Queen
R - The Road
S - Song of Susannah
T - The Time Traveler's Wife
U - The Unbearable Lightness of Being
V - Vinegar Hill
W - Wolves of the Calla
X - Oryx and Crake (X is in the title)
Y - The Year of the Flood
Z - The Zookeeper's Wife

Sarah wrote: "My next A-Z Challenge by Title only - all from my pre-existing personal library. Goal is to clear some bookshelf space.
START - January 1, 2014
FINISH - December 31, 2014

A - [book:The Art of Fie..."

You've got a lot of good stuff on that list and a lot of books that have been collecting dust on my shelves as well. Too many books, so little time...

Diane wrote: "What are your reading plans for the new year?


Here are mine (tentatively):

Read 200-250 books total
Read books from 100 countries (in geographical order)
Read a book from at least one place I ha..."

Wow. Impressive goals!
I do not set goals really. I just go along with the flow. But i would like to get my TBR down. The real one that piles up, not the virtual one one goodreads. That one is a lost cause.

Natalie wrote: "I've always love books set in Israel so I will focus on that region pretty much but will also try to read my way through the original US colonies which I love to read about also."

Well Natalie then I would recommend - it is one of my favorites.

My Goals are similar to Diane's
Read 200-250 Books Total
Read books from 80 countries
Read books from all 50 USA states + DC
Read at least 100 books from my TBR pile (trying to read some of the older ones which tend to be the literary ones)
Do all 4 seasonal Aussie Readers Challenges

My goal is to read about 60 books. I will be going back to school in the fall, so I hope I can keep my reading up.

Read from at least 20 countries
Read from 12 different genres
Read a book about each decade staring from 1900
also trying to hit a few more US states.

There are probably a couple other challenges I will do, but I will try and choose books that knock out a place in each challenge. Currently I am reading The Lotus Eaters which takes place in Vietnam, is contemporary fiction, and is set in 1970.

I'm planning to build a reading schedule around the natural wonders of the world, as identified on this site: http://sevennaturalwonders.org/

I'll start with the world, and then move to the other lists by country.

Aurora Borealis: Auroras: Fire in the Sky (My review is here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...)

Grand Canyon: I Am the Grand Canyon: The Story of the Havasupai People (My review is here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... )

Paricutin: Paricutin: The Volcano Born in a Mexican Cornfield (My review is here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...)

Victoria Falls: Victoria Falls: Mosi Oa Tunya (My review is here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...)

Great Barrier Reef: Great Barrier Reef by David Doubilet This was primarily a lovely book of photographs--mesmerizing.

Mount Everest: Sagarmatha Insight Guide by Edmund Hillary. (The name of the world's highest peak in the Nepali language is सगरमाथा, Sagarmāthā (sagar means sky and matha means head) meaning 'sky head' or 'Goddess of the Sky'. I had to buy the book used on Amazon, as no library or college had one on file--and it's a lovely, large hardcover! It's mainly pictures with an introduction by Sir Edmund--so happy I learned the name Sagarmatha!

Harbor of Rio de Janeiro (also known as Guanabara Bay): I'm having trouble finding something on just the harbor, but will keep looking.

Julia wrote: "I'm planning to build a reading schedule around the natural wonders of the world, as identified on this site: http://sevennaturalwonders.org/

I'll start with the world, and then move to the other ..."

What a great idea!

Thanks, Valerie :-) For the Harbor of Rio de Janeiro (also known as Guanabara Bay), I wanted to use the Vik Muniz story of his film WASTE LAND, which is so powerful. http://www.wastelandmovie.com/

The huge garbage dump of Jardim Gramacho was closed in 2012, but the stories of how Muniz created art from the lives of the catadores is mesmerizing and heartbreaking and inspiring at the same time. However, so far I'm not finding a book on the subject.

Jardim Gramacho was contributing to the pollution of the Harbor, and for me that's an important connection. "At the turn of the century, complaints arose that Guanabara Bay was not safe for bathing because of contaminants leaching from Jardim Gramacho." http://www.cnn.com/2012/06/05/world/a...

I have set up a new group, so my first reading plan is to read from the list it is based on - the Guardian newspaper's 1,000 novels. It's a very good list so I am looking forward to it. I want to be more active in this, Around the World, group and start my Trekker challenge, so need to plan my route and books - this in itself is going to keep my busy! Finally, I shall continue reading books from my 'to-read' list.

This is a good topic as now I feel I have committed myself!

I plan to read 100 books or more,
atleast from 12 different countries, roughly one per month
Will develop my plans and strategies as the year proceeds

I'm planning to make a challenge on my blog for books from around the world and of course take part in that. From A to Z by countries. Probably 2 or 3 books a month.

I'm not interested in any list "you must read these books", I'll be only reading from my own tbr list or what sounds interesting on the library shelves. I also plan to read books from my shelves, which I haven't read yet.

I plan to read books written (originally) in the languages I know. Some of the books are on my shelves for years.

I plan to read more books written by ladies and by Polish writers (I'm Polish). I've joined a challenge of reading Polish books (October 2013-September 2014), I think I'll read a minimum of 12 books by the end of this year. I'll continue next year too of course.

I'm not going to read any exact number of books.

Sarah,

thank you for the recommendation "The Dovekeepers". It sounds like my kind of book.

I've been so busy with school this last half of the year that I am looking forward to getting back to reading around the world again in 2014.

I would like to finish up to the 80 book mark I started under the circumnavigator thread.

I would like to start the Reading Africa challenge and include as many of the African Writers Series that I can.
If I have time, I would like to include an immersion in Southeast Asia and a travel down the Silk Road.

I'll probably make it a goal of 50 books in total.

I'll continue my 1001 books around the world challenge.. it seems that I'll never finish it.

And I'll also continue my circumnavigator challenge.

I won't do any lists of the books that I must read. Over all I'm planning to read about 35 books in the year 2014.

I love challenges and they keep me reading "new to me" authors as well as new methods for choosing them. I think I will start with 100 and see how it goes.

There is a chunkster challenge which will encourage larger longer books...I love them.

China seems to be a country I love to read about so more of them of course.

Cozy mysteries to clear my head and I love the ones set in hotels and inns.

Non fiction more please ... audible makes them a wonderful interlude.

And a few new "in the news" books to see what the hype is all about.

Another great year of reading is on it's way.

Hmmm...(so far 154, but I still have a gown to finish by New Years and that doesn't include the historical fashion books I've actually sat down to read).....I never intended to listen to or read the number of books I have over the past year, it just so happened because of sewing projects and events I was planning. I joined Goodreads in the summer to keep track of the books I've read as there's an icon that sends me right to the site from my device and I was elated that I didn't have to keep tracking down my reading notebook.

I just joined your group and have seen the many interesting books people have been reading, like the idea of reading ATW and book discussions, and enjoy seeing the "in general" comments of others. So...I've set my own style in motion and what follows is a vague description of how my 2014 challenge will need to work.

I must create at least 2 victorian gowns, 1 bustle, a couple hats and 2 western outfits as well as plan the special events in which to wear these lovely items; all this needs to be finished before July which means many books will be listened to along the way. I will check daily with the group to see what people are reading or if there is a discussion group book. If I can get any of these in audiobook format then I will gladly listen to them and provide my feedback. If I can't get the books now I will place them in my tbr list and see if someday they become available as an audiobook.

Oh,

Sarah: sounds like a good bookbut looks to be headed for my tbr list as it doesn't appear to be available in audio.

Natalie: I don't know what you have already read but, "The Notorious Benedict Arnold" by Steve Sheinkin and "John Quincy Adams-A Life" by Harlow Giles Unger are excellent reads-or listens as the case may be-on the beginnings of the country.

I look forward to sharing the new year of reading with all of you.

The Notorious Benedict Arnold: A True Story of Adventure, Heroism & Treachery John Quincy Adams

Well, if I did it right the books will show up in a link and names will be in bold.

In 2014 I'm going to continue my ATW Trekker and Circumnavigator challenges. I got very behind with my Trekker challenge this year and want to see it through to the end. Hopefully I can finish it by the end of 2014!

I'll also continue my ATW in 1001 books challenge, which I'm working on in a very slow manner.

Don't know how much reading I'll get done in the next few months though as I have a baby due in 2 weeks! :)

Congratulatons, Donna :-) Reading can take a back seat for awhile when the little one comes! Although my son started reading to his babies while they were still in the womb. Tish Rabe got permission from Theodore Geisel's family to write Oh, Baby, the Places You'll Go!. It's a darling book--so have fun.

Congratulations on the little one! What a way to start the New Year ; )

I'm planning to make my pile of unread paperbacks smaller :D I've got round 30 books that keep on lying on my shelves instead of being read, I got so addicted to kindle that I left those poor little paper books gather dust.

Thank you Powder River Rose. I will check out these books the next time I visit my local library.

Sarah wrote: "My next A-Z Challenge by Title only - all from my pre-existing personal library. Goal is to clear some bookshelf space.
START - January 1, 2014
FINISH - December 31, 2014

A - [book:The Art of Fie..."

I like this challenge - I really need to start reading books from current bookshelf!!!
I think I will make a list as I sip some bubbly today.
Thanks for the idea.

I read 168 books last year - from many countries in many different genres by many different authors.

My reading goals for 2014 are:
- To read 150 books (this seems to be a comfortable number for me - so years I make, some I do not)
- Do an A-Z Challenge based on books on my bookshelf
- Read 50 authors that are new to me
- Read 12 non-fiction books
- Be more timely and consistent in writing a brief review of each of the books I read
- Do an ATW challenge - not sure what the differences are for frequent flyer, navigator, etc
- Read mysteries set in different countries and different time periods (have not yet set a challenge number

Sarah wrote: "My next A-Z Challenge by Title only - all from my pre-existing personal library. Goal is to clear some bookshelf space.
START - January 1, 2014
FINISH - December 31, 2014

A - [book:The Art of Fie..."

Great idea for my 2014 reading goal!
I would really try to do an A-Z Challenge, I have got so many books in my library and it could be a good way to finally read them!!!
Happy New Year to all of you!!!

Last year I began reading mysteries from around the world, beginning in Norway and traveling through connecting countries down into Europe. The last country I visited was Poland. This year, I plan to continue my journey, but I may take a plane instead of a train from this point on. I'd like to skip around a bit more for variety. By changing the rules, rather going overland moving from Germany to Austria, I can fly from Australia to South Africa to Japan. I will still keep the rule that all books must be written by a native of that country.

A few of my Reading goals for 2014:

Read one book from each of the 50 states + DC

Complete a YA book ABC challenge

Read at least 5 books that are over 400 pages

Read at least 100 books from the library

Shannon wrote: "Last year I began reading mysteries from around the world."

Mysteries from around the world . . . I love this. And, your books look good, I've added one to my TBR list.

Daisy wrote: "Shannon wrote: "Last year I began reading mysteries from around the world."

Mysteries from around the world . . . I love this. And, your books look good, I've added one to my TBR list."

It's been a lot of fun because you not only get scenery and characters from each country, you also get a peek at that society's views on crime and justice if you read a book by a native of that country.
I'm an avid reader of British and American mysteries . I expect the police to use sophisticated methods of investigation, outsmart the criminal, and bring him or her to justice. In some of the foreign mysteries I've read, the criminal gets away scot-free at the end, or thinks they have gotten away with it only to be killed by a natural disaster. At first I was shocked at the difference, but I've learned not to make the mysteries fit my preconceptions and it's fun not to know what to expect!
I'm off to Japan next with The Devotion of Suspect X. Next stop Australia with Death and the Running Patterer.

Shannon wrote: "Not to make the mysteries fit my preconceptions and it's fun not to know what to expect!"

You inspire me!

Currently I'm reading L'affaire Lerouge, Émile Gaboriau, which includes some of the qualities you mention. It takes place in a suburb town of a large city (Paris) and it's interesting to see the balance played out between the city and the town. It's written in the mid-1800s which is in the early stages of detection with the interplay and cooperation between the detectives, police officers and inspectors.

I have a good number of mysteries from various countries on my TBR list. I'm going to make them more of a priority!! :)

Daisy wrote: "Shannon wrote: "Not to make the mysteries fit my preconceptions and it's fun not to know what to expect!"

You inspire me!

Currently I'm reading L'affaire Lerouge, Émile Gaboriau, wh..."

Thanks for the tip! I put L'affaire Lerouge on my TBR list. I was originally thinking of Cara Black when I visited France, but this sounds even better. I love to read about the early days of police work, so this sounds perfect!

I'll be a tourist this year. I also plan to read at least 5 books in Hebrew, because I now live in Israel and learn the language. So it will be slow.
Also, I'll be reading books from the main group's challenge if I like the description.

I have approximately 16 books in a pile, literally. I want to tackle the pile this year (and not add any! - the hard part) so I can shelve them! I was making headway last year, but then a friend gave me a bunch and the pile grew again!

I did not belong to this group when I came up with my goals. Here are a few..

Read 90 books, I read 85 last yr., number is not very important to me
Read books from areas of the world where I have not travelled
Read books from a range of time frames
Read a mix of fiction and non fiction
Find 1 or 2 series that I enjoy
Participate in at least 6 book discussions (from any of my groups)
Read audiobooks while at the gym or on long road trips....audio is a stretch for me

Valerie wrote: "I have approximately 16 books in a pile, literally. I want to tackle the pile this year (and not add any! - the hard part) so I can shelve them! I was making headway last year, but then a friend ..."

I have a pile like that on my nightstand. Those books are the books I have to read this year no matter what. It doesn't really seem to be shrinking.

So I just accepted a job that is a bit of a distance from where I live, which means at night I have less of a chance to read. What I want to do is start looking into more audio books, especially ones in this group. Has anyone done audio books before? I'm nervous to start if it's going to be hard to follow along with a narrator.

Taylor wrote: "So I just accepted a job that is a bit of a distance from where I live, which means at night I have less of a chance to read. What I want to do is start looking into more audio books, especially on..."

I always have an audiobook started. I listen to them while driving and doing house chores. I usually selects lighters reads that do not require 100% of my attention. But that's me.

The best way to know if and how it works for you is to try. I borrow mine from my library.

Esther wrote: "Taylor wrote: "So I just accepted a job that is a bit of a distance from where I live, which means at night I have less of a chance to read. What I want to do is start looking into more audio books..."

Ok, thanks! It makes more sense to get lighter reads.

I would definitely recommend borrowing a few from the library as to see if audiobooks will work for you. Starting with lighter reads as Esther suggested is definitely good advice. If you do end up enjoying them, I recommend getting a membership with Audible.com.