Goodreads Summer Reading Challenge discussion

Read a book set on every continent.

This is the only prompt I still haven't figured out. I'm not even sure what it means. Should it be a book where all continents are mentioned? For that only travel guides come to mind. Or should I read a book for every continent?

I really think this is supposed to mean that at least one thing happens on every continent? But, as I cannot think of one single book that would fit the bill, I’ll try a book written on a continent that I haven’t seen in literature yet.

Which, for me would be Antarctica.

So here's what I'm doing for this one, since it's pretty broad. I am just making sure that I read a book from each continent for the summer reading challenge. See below for my current plan, but I may switch it up based on new releases. For now I am keeping the actual prompt of "Continental drift" as Antarctica, since I agree that is the least popular in terms of literary settings.

The book is better: Death on the Nile (Africa)
Actually want to read: The Tattooist of Auschwitz (Europe)
Not from around here: Pachinko (Asia)
In the friend zone: What Alice Forgot (Australia)
Tongue-tied: In the Midst of Winter (South America)
Continental drift: Where'd You Go, Bernadette (Antarctica)
Primary reading: Summer of '69 (North America)

There's this: Seven Continents: A Travel Memoir, which is a travel memoir. I have not read it.

Usually on reading challenges, you are allowed to take a prompt in whatever way makes sense to you. So for this one, I think it would be fine to read 1 book that is set on all 7 continents OR read a combination of books set on various continents.

Also this one covers 5 continents: Wanderlust: A Love Affair with Five Continents

Or 3 continents: The Good Girl's Guide to Getting Lost: A Memoir of Three Continents, Two Friends, and One Unexpected Adventure

So, some of my books work out like Allie’s do:
A number of my books take place in North America, Love in the Time of Cholera, which is my “Not From Around Here” book, though never explicitly stated (from what I’ve read about it), is almost definitely based on Gabriel García Márquez’s own home country, Colombia, so, South America is taken care of, Life After Life (which is my Reading Roulette book), takes place in Europe, The Poisonwood Bible, (Stay A While), takes place in Africa, and I intend to read Where'd You Go, Bernadette for “The book is better,” and to get in an Antarctica book.
So, as extras, to get Asia and Australia in, I will read The Kitchen God's Wife (Asia), and probably Earthly Delights by Kerry Greenwood for Australia. So, easy peasy. (And The Kitchen God’s Wife has been on my list for a while.)

I would think you could read Around the World in Eighty Days!

Kalie wrote: "I would think you could read Around the World in Eighty Days!"

It's actually not on every continent, he doesn't visit South America, Australia or Antartica. But I would count it if it's something you really want to read and you don't have anything better.

I picked “and the adventure continues....” by Don Kern. Yes, the title is in all lower case. But he writes of his experience running a marathon on all 7 continents. I hate running so this is also way out of my norm to read.

Jessica wrote: "There's this: Seven Continents: A Travel Memoir, which is a travel memoir. I have not read it.

Usually on reading challenges, you are allowed to take a prompt in whatever way make..."

This was a great suggestion! Thanks!

I also read How to Travel the World For Free. The author starts in Berlin, ends up in Antarctica. I can't remember how many continents he covers, but a few for sure. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

I need to read Turbulence for NetGalley but I think it only contains 5 continents, so in addition to that book I'll add books for the missing continents at a later time.

I also came across
Far and away : reporting from the brink of change : seven continents, twenty-five years by Andrew Solomon. I think I will switch my pick to this one, since my library has copies of this book.

Kalie wrote: "I would think you could read Around the World in Eighty Days!"

That still only covers 4 of the 7: Africa (Egypt), Asia (India, Hong Kong, Japan), North America (the US) and Europe (England).

I don't know how many continents it covers but Atlas Obscura: An Explorer's Guide to the World's Hidden Wonders has been on my to read list for a while

Nancy N wrote: "I picked “and the adventure continues....” by Don Kern. Yes, the title is in all lower case. But he writes of his experience running a marathon on all 7 continents. I hate running so this is also w..."

I have read some of his other books and they are very good even if you are not a runner :-)

I found this on Kindle Unlimited. It has no Goodreads reviews. It could be perfectly dreadful. It is however only 132 pages long so it won't take long to read it.
Spiritual Insight: 7 Sisters, 7 Continents, 7 Lessons


I also thought about This Is My Continent Yes it's a Children's Book but I often read them and pass to the Great Nephew and Niece.

I don't feel guilty picking short books. Because I am doing several challenges, read a longs, and book clubs.

Allie wrote: "So here's what I'm doing for this one, since it's pretty broad. I am just making sure that I read a book from each continent for the summer reading challenge. See below for my current plan, but I m..."

That's a great idea! And I didn't realize Where'd you Go Bernadette? is in Antarctica! I am on the waiting list for it at the library so should be able to read that one soon! Thanks!

I have not read either of these books, but it appears that they both cover all 7 continents:
Together We Rise: Behind the Scenes at the Protest Heard Around the World
Far & Away: Reporting from the Brink of Change: Seven Continents, Twenty-Five Years

I’ll probably read one book for each continent and one that covers all seven.

All 7: Far And Away by John Solomon
North America: Inheriting Edith by Zoe Fishman
South America: Destiny by Design: Leah’s Journey by Mirta Ines Trupp
Europe: You Me Everything by Catherine Isaac
Africa: Home Going by Yaa Gyasi
Asia: About the Night by Anat Talshir
Antarctica: In Antarctica by Jay Ruzesky
Oceania: The Year of the Farmer by Rosalie Ham

I’ve just started reading In Antarctica by Jay Ruzesky, and it’s a bit of history, but he does talk about all the continents in this book, and it’s not super long, so it’s a good option for people who only want one book.

Americanah, which was on the PBS Great American Reads list last year, takes place on 3 continents: North America, Europe, and Africa. I highly recommend the book!

I did it! I found a book that is (briefly) set on each continent! I believe that is what the prompt is asking for.

I almost don't want to give my secret, especially because this book is not for everyone, but...

It's Space Opera by Catherynne M. Valente!

I read Zoo by James Patterson years ago and I believe it hits all 7 continents. But that's all I've got.

A friend suggested World War Z might have scenes on every continent.

I've been meaning to read At the Mountains of Madness for a long time, so I think I will count that for the task and then make sure I visit the other six continents elsewhere in the challenge.

Ann (Inky) wrote: "I did it! I found a book that is (briefly) set on each continent! I believe that is what the prompt is asking for.

I almost don't want to give my secret, especially because this book is not for ev..."

Oooh, or maybe I'll do this! I know I already have a copy somewhere....

Stina wrote: "Oooh, or maybe I'll do this! I know I already have a copy somewhere.... "

I decided last night to put it down for a bit. It's so weird and awesome but my brain just doesn't want something so "experimental" right now. I really hope you do read it and if you do I would love to hear what you think of it!

For now, I think I’m doing one that covers some continents but not all (like Passenger by Alexandra Bracken) and then as an extra bonus to myself, I’ll do one that covers each continent but separate from the ones I’m already doing in other challenges

Since we're allowed to take the prompts into our own interpretations, I'm going to read The Lost Girls: Three Friends. Four Continents. One Unconventional Detour Around the World. because it takes place on four different continents and that's about as good as I can get from my TBR list.

I'm gonna read Cool Creatures, Hot Planet: Exploring the Seven Continents.

Can somebody suggest good books set in Australia (not romances)?

I recently read A Terrible Beauty and I enjoyed it. It's kind of like two books in one though and the first half was my favourite. It's set in Australia and Ireland.

I just finished a NetGalley of David Szalay's forthcoming novella Turbulence. It's a thought provoking book of short stories and a quick way to hit 5 continents.
Now, I need to find books (preferably about 200 pages) for Australia and Antartica.

Jehona wrote: "Can somebody suggest good books set in Australia (not romances)?"

The Dry by Jane Harper - she has a couple of others but I recently read this one and really liked it!

Kind of feel like I'm cheating on this one. I usually read Dark books and Beauty in the Broken was my next up since I'm doing several reading challenges right now.

I don't know. The author is South African and the book takes place in South Africa and while it's the dark romance trope, outside of Pretoria and Johannesburg, I had to look up several places on google to get a picture of what it was like there. It also deals with the corruption and over rampart crime that is a part of the country and the mining business. So, does it count or not? (so confused)

Jade wrote: "Kind of feel like I'm cheating on this one. I usually read Dark books and Beauty in the Broken was my next up since I'm doing several reading challenges right now.

I don't know. Th..."

It would cover Africa but you would still need to read something from the other 6 continents to fully complete the challenge (technically).

Yes, and I'm so frustrated. I came across this really interesting blurb on a book by a paleontologist who'd made great discoveries and had done so all over the globe. It's a subject I've never read about and it covers continents and now for the life of me I can't find it....

If anyone else interprets this prompt as one book from each continent, I highly recommend “The Girl With Seven Names: A North Korean Defector’s Story” to use for Asia. I just finished it for this prompt. It was one of my top books this year.

I'm thinking that the third Michael Palin's dairies series "Travelling to Work" might work for this, as it covers 3 of his travel series where he covers all seven continents

Around The World In 80 Days = Europe, Asia and North America
Pole to Pole = Europe, Africa, South America and Antartica
Full Circle = North America, Asia, Oceania and South America.

Will read it hoping that all of these are covered.

I believe the concept of a setting only applies to fiction, therefore, books like Atlas Obscura, as much as I'd like to read it myself, in theory don't qualify.

Having said that, has anyone heard of near-future sci-fi that is set on Antarctica?

Has anyone read State of Fear by Michael Chrichton? – it seems that it takes place on most, if not all continents. Also, the book is more than 500 pages and qualifies for #1 Stay awhile...

Martynas wrote: "I believe the concept of a setting only applies to fiction, therefore, books like Atlas Obscura, as much as I'd like to read it myself, in theory don't qualify.

Having said that, has anyone heard ..."

The pdf flyer that I downloaded just says: Read a book set on every continent.

It does not specify fiction or non-fiction. So I think you are free to read whatever you want.

They are only prompts, you can't cheat in this challenge because it is a personal thing so it's up to you how you interpret the prompt :o)

I don't think there's much to interpret in this case, here's the definition of set – represent (a story, play, film, or scene) as happening at a specified time or in a specified place.
"a private-eye novel set in Berlin"

But sure, it's personal and if you want, you can interpret the challenge to mean that you need to pour a bucket of ice water over yourself or something :)

There's also Matthew Kepnes's book coming out on July 19th, I follow him on instagram. Not sure he's done Antarctica but I think he's hit the rest.

1,000 Places to See Before You Die by Patricia Schultz

Hi, I need a recommendation for a book set in South America., please?

I chose Seven Continents: A Travel Memoir for this one after someone on here suggested it. I don't recommend it.

I don't think I'm going to bother finishing it