The Book Vipers discussion

Some of my aims for next year:

I have decided to set myself something that I am calling The World From My Armchair Challenge My intention for this challenge is to read a travel or non-fiction book from every country, ocean and a number of the seas around the world. I have taken the list of countries from the UN (192) and each sea and ocean bringing the total to 210 books! Not all in one year I hasten to add.

I have a number of Terry Pratchett books from his Discworld series that I have not yet read, so want to finish those next year.

Will still be working my way through the Summersdale travel catalogue, and also discovered the Stanford Travel Writing awards

Will be reading the longlist from the the Wainwright Prize again, as this is something that I am now doing for Nudge / nb Magazine

Not reading as much Sci Fi as i would like to. Managed one from the Arthur C Clarke Award Have sorted out the books I have at home and intend to read those in 2017, as I didn't in 2016; including steampunk!

Great aims. Go for it. We will cheer you on.

I'm loving the idea of your World from your Armchair challenge. What fun just compiling the list of possibles will be! You've inspired me to start a bookshelf of the qualifying books that I own (not many), but don't worry, at the speed I've been reading lately (too much 'life' happening in these parts) there's absolutely no danger of me shadowing you.

Reading the Wainwright books I've yet to read, on the other hand, that has been on my to do list for a while - I discovered your Goodreads profile through our shared interested in writing of that ilk.

I shall be cheering you on, no doubt with my jaw dropped at the number of books you get through.

That's an ambitious but interesting goal Paul. I say you should go for it in 1 year!

Not even sure I could manage that Catherine

I believe in you - Go Paul ra ra ra!

Time to get our cheerleader outfits out?

Too cold Jason

You still not got your winter cheerleader outfit?

Nope. Not till Xmas.

Nevermind Pat, I have a spare.

Wiping from my mind the popcorn mankini...

Cor. That is some challenge. Are there actually non-fiction/travel books for all those countries? I can only imagine some of the more obscure African countries are covered in general African travel books but not their own works. Will enjoy reading how you get on.

I know a few travel writers have visited all the countries in one continent so should be possible to get them all. Lots of places there I've never heard of.

The other thing that I am going to do is read this series
Winter: An Anthology for the Changing Seasons
Spring: An Anthology for the Changing Seasons
Summer: An Anthology for the Changing Seasons
Autumn: An Anthology for the Changing Seasons
Starting the book on the first day of each season

I think there's a book, Paul, written by someone who did this challenge. Can't remember who. It was a long time ago. Prob was easier when USSR was one country....

Do you mean The World Between Two Covers: Reading the Globe Pat?

I think so. I read a review about it. Sounds right. Have you read it?

I have. Wasn't great

Lisa wrote: "Wiping from my mind the popcorn mankini...

Cor. That is some challenge. Are there actually non-fiction/travel books for all those countries? I can only imagine some of the more obscure African co..."

Hi Lisa, Paul Theroux is a really good travel writer. I only read one of his books, but when you read it, it seems like you travel with him and you experience everything he did, talking to people he talked.

I have several Paul Theroux books to read Pupak. looking forward to them

Paul wrote: "I have several Paul Theroux books to read Pupak. looking forward to them"

That's great Paul. Let me know about any of them you like. I would like to read more of his books.

That's an ambitious challenge Paul! And some interesting ideas.

Love the World from my Armchair idea! May have to try that next year. 2018, I mean!

It seems to have got a big following on twitter so far

How many books have you done for the challenge? Why are some rows yellow and some blue? On yer spreadsheet that is.

One so far; that is green. Blue are books I have copies of in the house, orange are where I am not sure what country to claim them for yet.

ah ok. I've done one too.

Just updated it

Paul wrote: "The other thing that I am going to do is read this series
Winter: An Anthology for the Changing Seasons
Spring: An Anthology for the Changing Seasons
[book:Summer: ..."

I am intending to read this series too, I want read each one in the season it refers to, though.

The Winter one was really good Catherine. Her fiction and non fiction is too

Yes I've seen some of her other book titles and they sound intriguing so will add more of hers if I like her style. Will be starting with Spring though.

End of Year update:

I have read 21 books for my The World From My Armchair Challenge . Not as many as I hoped, but steadily working through it. I have at least another 21 books here that I will read next year.

Didn't read a single Terry Pratchett apart from Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch

Read all 12 on the Stanford Travel Writing travel shortlists and managed to read the Wainwright Prize

Managed 10 Science fiction too. Not as many that I had hoped for, but I am now on the Gollancz reviewers list so hoping for more next year.

Not reading as much Sci Fi as i would like to. Managed one from the Arthur C Clarke Award Have sorted out the books I have at home and intend to read those in 2017, as I didn't in 2016; including steampunk!

Great Paul.

I've just had a look at my reading intentions for 2017 and I've done none of it. haha

It’s a mans prerogative to change his mind. Or maybe a woman’s. We don’t discriminate in this group.

Hence why I chose the word intention Jason