Around the World discussion

I've read 19 books set in 19 countries and I'm a bit behind.

I've completed 60 books set in 43 countries.

ETA: I count one book per country.

I've read 69 books, of them 33 for this challenge, so I am doing fine, I think.

Aiming to finish countries by July, selected territories etc. by December.

I have read 22 books and am a bit jet-lagged by my hopping all over the place (ie am behind). Although one book did take me from Siberia to India. On foot. The Long Walk: The True Story of a Trek to Freedom

I'm fairly close to my planned itinery: I didn't always visit countries in the intended order. If I manage to get ahead there are a few books from countries I would like to return to.
Kiss of the Spider Woman
Season of Migration to the North
Nervous Conditions (which I have read before, but would like to read again)

I am very embarrassed at how far behind I am. But, I'm enjoying most of my selections, and that's the important part.

Gaeta1 wrote: "Yes, that is true. It has gotten me out of my ladies-climbing-in-and-out-of carriages mode, which was my goal. Not that there's anything wrong with carriages..."

Not at all! But this one is forcing me to push my limits a bit. Now onto Cuba with Graham Greene's

Our Man in Havana

I only started in March, so I'm at the quarter way point. As expected though, I am already 4 books behind. Trying to find a job where I can read books all day :P

I knew I would be behind though, so I decided when I started I would go as long as needed to get through the 52 books.

I'm at 36 books for 36 countries - which accounts for about third of what I've read to date this year. There is almost no correlation between what I have read, and my initial list of intended reads, but I think that I've successfully escaped my genre rut.

i'm behind--i'm only counting one book for each country even though i'm reading multiple books per country because of various groups/projects. but i'm having fun!

I've read 40 books so far this year, but I'm stuck in an anglophile rut and have made very little headway with the "around the world" aspect of this challenge. Clearly I am a far too undisciplined reader to have much success with following any sort of road map. That being said, I've really enjoyed most of the books that I have read so far this year so although I may not be making much headway, at least I'm enjoying the books I am reading.

Marieke wrote: "i'm behind--i'm only counting one book for each country even though i'm reading multiple books per country because of various groups/projects. but i'm having fun!"

Same here - all of the multiple copies I don't count for this challenge, just for my general reading.

Marieke and Gania, me three. I only count one book per country. That doesn't stop me from reading several for one country, if that is where my interests lie.

I'm way behind too, I started in March or so and only done 16 countries, but I'm really enjoying it. After a long streak of war-stories I'm trying to read some non-war/death/violence ones now. They were starting to really affect me and my mood was definitely a blue one.

I just went back and lookd at my list of books I have read so far this year and, although I'm behind pace, I guess I have managed to get to 17 different countries, so I guess that's not too bad considering how much I have read from the UK.

If my first choice from a country turns out to not be very good or doesn't give much insight into the culture, I find another book. That means I flick from being on-track, ahead or behind quite a lot, depending on how many books have counted. That is fine by me, as I would rather have some good, insightful books, that the rest of you might want to read as well, than a load of 'don't bother' books.

36 books, 28 countries. Determined to get to 52 countries by the end!

I've read 57 books in total so far this year. for the challenge I've officially entered books for 19 countries. I've read extra books for a few places and some books for other countries which I've chosen not to use as the "official" title. So I could be a little further along but I have some books I sti;; hope to read. My goal is 30 so I'm in good shape.

I've read 94 books this year. Only 27 count for this challenge. I am currently in England (printed book)and South Africa (e-book), but they don't count because I've been to both these countries for this challenge previously.

I have found this to be a very interesting and thought provoking challenge and have really enjoyed it.
I don't add the extra books to the challenge, or write reviews for them, but we are all setting our own rules within the umbrella of the challenge, and it is broad enough and flexible enough to cover that.

I know this is slightly off topic, but I figure seeing that this is a mid way point discussion, that someone may have come up against this problem.

What are people doing for abandoned books? I'm looking for ideas. Do you pick another book from that country? Or just carry on? Or pick another book all together to make up your 52 (or whatever)?

Not an issue for me yet, but I have a feeling it could be a possibility for my next read. It doesn't fill me with confidence when it's only list is "Most Disappointing Books". But it was one that was already on my book shelf so I have to attempt it.

I and some of the others pick another book for that country Rusalka, but you could just skip the book and the country if you preferred to do that. I certainly wouldn't finish a book I disliked, just because it was on the plan.
Which book is it, by the way? It might not be bad, just not as good as some people were expecting.

Rusalka wrote: "What are people doing for abandoned books? I'm l..."
I tend to just move on, unless I have a good replacement idea right away. What book are you anticipating not liking?

Thanks for your thoughts Jenny and Val.

Saving Fish from Drowning was my initial thought (although I would have abandoned Heart of Darkness if it wasn't so small and with such recommendations).

I read The Joy Luck Club in Yr 12 and was a bit meh about it. Mum gave me this book as she loved it and the Joy Luck Club. I am fully prepared to like her writing when I do not have to write an in class essay and an essay on it, not to mention being older. But I am edgy about it too...

I also hate abandoning books, but my father in law sat me down one day and gave me a stern talking to about how life was too short to read bad books. I took his advice when I abandoned his favourite book he gave me as a present, The Shipping News. God I hate E. Annie Proulx.

I haven't read that one so can't comment, but would say your father gave good advice, even if you did hate his favourite book!

"Heart of Darkness" is a tough read (which I think I ought to read again to see if I understand it better now I am older). He contracts terrible colonial repressive brutality with terrible 'natural state' ignorant brutality and there doesn't seem to be any more optimistic alternative, so I found it was depressing.

Gosh, don't tell him that!

And you do not want to get me started on Heart of Darkness... Hehe

You can tell your father that I adore that book. It evens out!

I've read 33 from 33 countries (I've read 50 books this year overall). Loving this challenge, but definitely have switched my choices a number of times and have made my map into total chaos!

I've read 34 books and covered Albania (The Three-Arched Bridge), Antigua (A Small Place), Uruguay (The Decapitated Chicken), Canada (Books and Islands in Ojibwe Country), Romania (Mad Forest), the UK (The Sense of an Ending), Morocco (The Voices of Marrakesh), Thailand (Bangkok 8), Myanmar (Finding George Orwell in Burma), a few books that cover several countries (Exterminate all the Brutes and Boomerang), and several in the U.S. So 10 countries that I count.

Ooh, 11. Half of Hothouse Flower and the Nine Plants of Desire is set in Mexico. Counts!

My around the world goal was 2 books a month (24 for the year). I'm just over halfway there with 13. Most intriguing destination so far has been Kashmir. It's not a country per se . . . it's a region in the Himalayan Mountains that is claimed partly by India, Pakistan, and China. Borders in that area are apparently constantly in dispute.

Kay wrote: "My around the world goal was 2 books a month (24 for the year). I'm just over halfway there with 13. Most intriguing destination so far has been Kashmir. It's not a country per se . . . it's a regi..."

I loved my trip to Kashmir, too!

What did you all read for Kashmir? This sounds interesting.....

I've read 56 books sofar this year, but only 13 books for 13 countries for this particular challenge (had to read for climbing K2 and Booktopia as well!) I'm planning on catching up, soon... :-)

Now I've placed the remaining 39 books in a pile by my desk - I'm sure it'll help.

Barbarac wrote: "I'm way behind too, I started in March or so and only done 16 countries, but I'm really enjoying it. After a long streak of war-stories I'm trying to read some non-war/death/violence ones now. Th..."

I had that experience too! So I took time off to do some light reading :-)

Louise wrote: "Barbarac wrote: "I'm way behind too, I started in March or so and only done 16 countries, but I'm really enjoying it. After a long streak of war-stories I'm trying to read some non-war/death/viole..."

I completely agree. After a while I was just discounting books set in WWII straight away while making my list. Especially while looking for my European reads. I work in European Studies, I *know* so much more has happened in the entire history of Europe than that one war (as terrible as it was). Someone write a book about all the other bits!!

I read one book for one country, but sometimes I read a second or a third book for a country I already visited. It dependents on my rating of those books, if I will make a change to my list. I'm 3 books ahead and I'm picking books that count for other challenges as well.

I'm on track for my own goal but not nearly as ambitious as some of you! Oh well, I'm enjoying the books thus far and keep adding to my list. What a marvelous challenge this is proving to be!

Susan wrote: "What did you all read for Kashmir? This sounds interesting....."

I read Shalimar the Clown by Salman Rushdie who is always a favorite of mine.

Rebecca wrote: "I am very embarrassed at how far behind I am. But, I'm enjoying most of my selections, and that's the important part."

I'm embarrassed about being behind too. I'm 37% behind.