The Next Best Book Club discussion

I am doing a personal challenge to read a book from each of the 7 continents in 2011, so this will work well alongside that. I am quite certain I will not be able to read 80 books by October, but it will be fun to participate regardless.

Hi,

Could I use Island Beneath the Sea by Isabel Allende? It says it takes place on Saint-Domingue which is now Haiti. Thanks!

OMG I really love this challenge! I just spend all night finalizing my route around the world :) When I took a look at the map to figure out what route I wanted to take across the world I couldn't decide which countries to drop from my route... So I decided to visit all the independent countries (according to this list). I've added Tibet, Taiwan, Antarctica, Greenland and Kosovo. Maybe I'll even visit French Guiana, Puerto Rico and Western Sahara. There are only 6 countries that I'll visit twice before I'm back in the Netherlands and I'll visit Italy 4 times.

I will probably not finish before the deadline of this challenge but I'm determined to finish my route! And if I manage to read 88 books before the deadline I'll even meet the "read from 8 regions rule" (although that will include Antarctica and not Africa... haha).

Jayme VA wrote: "Hi,

Could I use Island Beneath the Sea by Isabel Allende? It says it takes place on Saint-Domingue which is now Haiti. Thanks!"

Yes

LadyHeather wrote: "OMG I really love this challenge! I just spend all night finalizing my route around the world :) When I took a look at the map to figure out what route I wanted to take across the world I couldn't ..."

Awesome!

Hmmm. Is there any way we can do JUST the states? I'd love to do the countries one, I just don't think with 60 hour work weeks I'm going to be able to, lol.

Danie wrote: "Hmmm. Is there any way we can do JUST the states? I'd love to do the countries one, I just don't think with 60 hour work weeks I'm going to be able to, lol."

You can do as much or as little as you would like. There are a couple of people who are also only doing states.

Hi,

I think I saw some people claim this, but now I can't find it. Can the Girl Who Played with Fire count as Grenada?

I'm also wondering if I can count Robinson Crusoe as Tobago. Wikipedia says it was probably based on the island.

Thanks!

Hi,

I have started this challenge together with my children. We are originally from Serbia (heard about this from ilona) and we live now in the US. The kids loved the idea, and we already made plans for 8 regions, but now I realize I have made a mistake and started from Canada instead of US or Serbia.

Plus, I am sure we cannot make it to read all 80 before September 30, it will take much longer. Can I still open the topic so the 3 of us will travel with all of you?

Thanks!

sanja_plus2 wrote: "Hi,

I have started this challenge together with my children. We are originally from Serbia (heard about this from ilona) and we live now in the US. The kids loved the idea, and we already made pla..."

Absolutely! What a great idea to include your kids!

Thanks :)

I just finished an anthology of stories. Can I count the state of one of the stories?

Lahni wrote: "I just finished an anthology of stories. Can I count the state of one of the stories?"

Sure.

Is it too late to jump in? And if so, can I use the books I've read since the start of this challenge period?

Thanks!

Tammy wrote: "Is it too late to jump in? And if so, can I use the books I've read since the start of this challenge period?

Thanks!"

Not too late, and yes, you can use book you have already read since the start of the challenge.

I am going to jump in on this I believe, Not sure how close I will get to 80 but it will be good to track my progress after I read through the rules in depth.

Uh-oh. I just read the rules again (since I've been away from the challenge for a year! *g*). Should I start from scratch? Thanks! :)

Terri Beth wrote: "Uh-oh. I just read the rules again (since I've been away from the challenge for a year! *g*). Should I start from scratch? Thanks! :)"

You can start where you left off, if you like. I have a section of the Readerboard specifically for people who are continuing on from last year.

Diane wrote: "Terri Beth wrote: "Uh-oh. I just read the rules again (since I've been away from the challenge for a year! *g*). Should I start from scratch? Thanks! :)"

You can start where you left off, if you l..."

Thank you, Diane. :)

I just finished reading The Tender Bar by J.R. Moehringer. Although most of his memoir takes place in Manhasset, New York, part of it is about Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. Is it okay to put down Connecticut as the state in the 50 States Challenge? I already have one book from New York on my list.

Also, I was one of the readers who entered Grenada as the location for The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson, although Sweden is the primary location. About 80 pages of the novel are set in Grenada. According to the challenge rules, if I remember correctly, the books we read must be at least 100 pages long. The rules also say if two or more locations are mentioned, we can choose one location only. Was using Grenada as the location acceptable? I noticed that Jayme VA asked the same question. Stieg Larsson's books are very popular and I can't read the third book in the trilogy until this contest ends. I could, but since it probably takes place in Sweden, I won't.

Patricia wrote: "I just finished reading The Tender Bar by J.R. Moehringer. Although most of his memoir takes place in Manhasset, New York, part of it is about Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. Is it okay ..."

Patricia, I have not read either book, but it sounds like they will work using the secondary locations.

I am thinking about doing this as a Trekker when it starts again in October (presupposing that it will). I'm not completely sure I understand the Trekker rules, however.

I assume if you're in a landlocked country/state, you have to get to an ocean before you live that continent, correct? For example, if I read a book in Colorado, I would have to go to California before going south to Mexico or west to Asia?

Do you have to read a book in every region you pass through, or you can skip some areas on your way to elsewhere?

Her Royal Orangeness wrote: "I am thinking about doing this as a Trekker when it starts again in October (presupposing that it will). I'm not completely sure I understand the Trekker rules, however.

I assume if you're in a la..."
States don't really count. If you read a book anywhere in the U.S. you can proceed to the next country. Example: Say you read a book set in Nevada. There is no need to read a book from an adjacent state or exit the US from the west, you could proceed right to a book in set Cuba. As long as you go to another country adjacent to the US, it doesn't matter if the prior book took place in the farthest point from your exit point.

Yes, you do need to read a book in every region you pass through, even if you have already been to it.

Thanks Diane. I think I understand.

I just finished a book that takes place in two countries (U.S., Tanzania) and two states (CA, SD). Can I cross of one country and one state or just one or the other? Thank you!

Sandy wrote: "I just finished a book that takes place in two countries (U.S., Tanzania) and two states (CA, SD). Can I cross of one country and one state or just one or the other? Thank you!"

Just one country or state, but not both.

Thanks!

I know I'm a little late but im in

❥☪LIZZ NEILL☪❥ wrote: "I know I'm a little late but im in"

better late than never! go back and count the books you've read since the start of the challenge

Diane wrote: "New 2010/2011 Challenge Will Be Starting October 1st!!!!!!

(Changes to new challenge are in bold print.)


Around the World in 80 Books Challenge Rules

Is it too late to join this challenge? I love the Trekker idea, but realistically I'll only be able to manage a Frequent Flier itinerary.


1. Anyone can participate in the ..."

When is the 2011-2012 Challenge beginning? I'd love to join this year but it looks like there's only a month or two left.

Are you saying we can go back and use what we read since the challenge started? :)

Linda wrote: "❥☪LIZZ NEILL☪❥ wrote: "I know I'm a little late but im in"

better late than never! go back and count the books you've read since the start of the challenge"

Tara - you can go back and count what you have read from October 2010 if you want, or it'll start over again in October - I think i'm just going to continue and try to hit 80 different countries next year

Tara wrote: "When is the 2011-2012 Challenge beginning? I'd love to join this year but it looks like there's only a month or two left."

The 2011-2012 challenge will start in October, but you are certainly welcome to jump into the 2010-2011 challenge if you would like.

Tara wrote: "Are you saying we can go back and use what we read since the challenge started? :)

Linda wrote: "❥☪LIZZ NEILL☪❥ wrote: "I know I'm a little late but im in"

better late than never! go back and cou..."

Yes.

I have a suggestion for Antarctica. The book is called Deception Island by JD Boss. I met the author at a workshop and I remember her talking about this manuscript. She is a published non-fiction author. This is her first fiction work. She loved Antarctica when she visited there. I believe a majority of the book is set there.

are we going to start this again in October?? I was debating just continuing on my trip next year and trying to hit another 80 countries

Can I just carry on? I don't think i've even made 20!

Dee,
We will be starting again in October.

Gemma,
Yes, you can continue with the list you have already started.

I think I just might do this.

I am late joining, but I am going to attempt the trekker track.

Angela wrote: "I am late joining, but I am going to attempt the trekker track."

Angela, Around the World in 80 Books is now a group in it's own right.

You'll find it here:

http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/5...

Have fun!

Hi! I've just arrived on goodreads and found this challenge. Although this challenge started quite a long time ago and I maight not complete in, I'm in. It's a great idea!
Can I read the books in any language?

what a great challenge! will def try this on my own, since it finished long time ago :)

Selma wrote: "what a great challenge! will def try this on my own, since it finished long time ago :)"

Selma,
There is now a separate thread for this challenge, called "Around the World in 80 Books" and it is an ongoing challenge with some great groups and great challenges. It is never too late to join!

oh awesome, thanks Nancy!

Sounds like such a great challenge! Is it still going on? Where are the rules posted?

hey Jocelyne! this is the link: http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/5...