Around the World in 80 Books

[Dark Muse]

I came across this reading challenge in which the goal was to read a book from 52 different counties in 2012, and I was intrigued by the idea, but to complete all 52 books within a year, the majority of my reading would have to revolve around purely the completion of the challenge, and I want to keep some room open for my other reading interests.

So I decided to create my own reading challenge. The goal is to try to read a book from 80 different countries, but without having any time limitations on it so I can read the books at my leisure.

I thought I would post a thread here for my challenge to keep track of my progress and if anyone else wants to join in, than feel free to post your own books you have read from around the world.

[lawpark]

Why 80?

[Dark Muse]

Why 80?

No real reason just got the idea from the story which I always enjoyed as a kid, "Around the World in 80 Days." Plus I thought that would really challenge me to read books as I might not normally have and from parts of the world I might not normally have considered.

[anishastrologer]

what books have you decided to read. do you plan to read books by writers from different countries and genres and eras or just those that you have heard about?

[Dark Muse]

what books have you decided to read. do you plan to read books by writers from different countries and genres and eras or just those that you have heard about?

I have not pre-planned all the books I will be reading. I will start with books I already own and than from there I will start investigating books from other parts of the world of which I am not already familiar with in a literary sense.

It is primarily to read books by authors from various difference countries, I am open to genre an era.

[LizzzyBF]

You might want to have a look at Jim Flynn's The Torchlight List when you're looking for books for this challenge.

[Dark Muse]

You might want to have a look at Jim Flynn's The Torchlight List when you're looking for books for this challenge.

It sounds like it could be quite helpful, thank you for the referal.

[Scheherazade]

Will you be reading from different countries starting from today or will you include the ones you read in the past?

I love lists... So might join you!

[irinmisfit92]

It's very easy to find Japanese novels that are translated into English, such as those written by Haruki Murakami, but it's really hard to find English-translated Indonesian novels. I'm an Indonesian and I know that we have an extremely vast and diverse culture, including literature. I recommend you read "AKU" by Chairil Anwar if you can EVER get it in English translation. XD It's pretty poetic.

One of the most famous lines in the poem is:

I am a wild animal among those abandoned and thrown away. (However the way he phrases it in Indonesian is very strong)

[Dark Muse]

Will you be reading from different countries starting from today or will you include the ones you read in the past?

I love lists... So might join you!

I will include books that I am currently reading, but started prior to this idea, but from that point I will be reading all new books for it, and I won't be considering past books I have already read.

[Dark Muse]

I went through my bookshelves/stacks to see just how many countries I already have covered, and I have to say it is more than I would have thought. Though it is still a far cry from 80 it will keep me busy reading for a while before I have to venture out.

So presently I own books by authors from these countries:

Greece
France
Italy
Russia
Spain
Japan
Turkey
Ireland
Nigeria
Norway
China
India
Poland
Australia
Serbia
Portugal
Hungary
Germany
New Zealand
Iceland
Zambia
Canada

[Stewed]

I got out a book at the library called Best European Fiction 2011. It's all short stories, and it makes it look like there's better stuff coming out of places like Slovenia and Luxembourg than there is from North America. Granted it's Eurocentric, but it's widening my horizons a bit all the same.

[Kore]

I think it's a great idea and 80 countries is a lot. I'm pretty sure that along the way you might discover some really obscure writers. If I may, I'd like to recommend just a couple of books.

For Israel - Etkar Keret (he writes short stories, he is accesible in English)
Czech Republic - they have many great writers. Bohumil Hrabal is my favorite. I'd recommend his Closely Observed Trains.
Austria - again, many fine writers. Robert Musil and Joseph Roth would be great choices.
Albania - Ismail Kadare
Croatia - Dubravka Ugresic

[TheFifthElement]

I'm pretty sure you must have a book in amongst your shelves from the United Kingdom, so you should probably add that to your list

If you're looking for something from South Africa, you might want to consider J M Coetzee. He's an excellent writer. Disgrace is a 'good' read (I say good because it is excellent, but actually a difficult read).

[Dark Muse]

I'm pretty sure you must have a book in amongst your shelves from the United Kingdom, so you should probably add that to your list

If you're looking for something from South Africa, you might want to consider J M Coetzee. He's an excellent writer. Disgrace is a 'good' read (I say good because it is excellent, but actually a difficult read).

Hahaha I was worried that using the UK might be kind of cheating since I have probably read more lit from the UK than even American lit.