2025 Reading Challenge discussion

WHO RUNS THE WORLD?
April 1, 2021-June 30, 2021

This quarter we want to focus on diverse voices from women, trans, and non-binary people from around the world. To qualify, the book must be written by:
1. A woman author. Participants can only read one book set in their country of residence and the remainder must be from different places, OR
2. A trans or non-binary author.

Who runs the world? Obviously, Beyoncé, but at the end of this challenge, we will have more answers from different perspectives;)

To participate, tell the challenge leader how many books you intend to read for this challenge. Happy diverse reading!

Diane will be our challenge leader.

Participants

Running for office (read one book to get elected)
Anissa: 0/2
Lindsey: 0/20
manni: 0/10
oshizu: 0/21
Raimondo: 0/5
ReadingWithLisaMarie: 0/10
Shannon: 0/6
Sheila: 0/20
Tresdivas: 0/10
Zeejane (Sara): 0/10

Elected Official
Anu: 7/10
Brittany: 17/20
Lynn: 12/15
Nathalia: 1/10
Nicole: 8/15
Rebecca: 13/20
Sahira: 1/2
Suzanne: 3/10

World Ruler! (finish your goal to be a World Ruler!)
👑 Allie: 7/6
👑 Alison: 18/18
👑 Alyana: 7/6
👑 Bailey: 5/5
👑 Carmen: 67/54
👑 Carol: 10/10
👑 Diane: 14/12
👑 Gretchen: 6/5
👑 Janine: 9/9
👑 Jennifer: 51/50
👑 Karin: 20/20
👑 Malola: 6/6
👑 Margie: 26/21
👑 Megan: 10/10
👑 Melissa: 10/9
👑 Michelle: 4/4
👑 Mikaela: 5/5
👑 Navya: 10/10
👑 Nedge: 14/6
👑 Sarah: 5/5
👑 TerryJane: 22/20
👑 Ushashi: 9/9

----------------

Stats

Participants: 40
Challenges Started (at least one book read): 30 (75%)
Challenges Completed: 21 (52.5%)
Books Pledged: 529
Books Read: 367 (69.4%)
Countries/Areas Visited: 101
Trans/Non-Binary Authors: 36

----------------

Updated July 6, through Msg. 219.

Transgender/Non-Binary Authors We Have Read

⚧️ T/NB (Bailey, Diane, Malola, Margie, Melissa, Michelle, Navya, nedge, Rebecca, TerryJane)


Countries/Areas We Have Visited

Africa
🇦🇴 Angola (Jennifer)
🇧🇼 Botswana (Jennifer, TerryJane)
🇪🇬 Egypt (Carmen)
🇬🇭 Ghana (Carmen, Jennifer, Karin)
🇨🇮 Ivory Coast (Jennifer)
🇰🇪 Kenya (Carmen, Jennifer)
🇱🇸 Lesotho (Carmen)
🇲🇬 Madagascar (Jennifer)
🇲🇼 Malawi (Jennifer)
🇲🇦 Morocco (Jennifer)
🇳🇬 Nigeria (Alison, Carmen, Gretchen, Margie, Megan)
🇸🇨 Seychelles (Jennifer)
🇸🇱 Sierra Leone (Margie)
🇿🇦 South Africa (Carmen, Jennifer)
🇸🇩 Sudan (Jennifer, Michelle)
🇺🇬 Uganda (Alison)
🇿🇲 Zambia (Carmen)
🇿🇼 Zimbabwe (Carmen)

Americas
Caribbean (Carol)
🇦🇬 Antigua & Barbuda (Diane)
🇦🇷 Argentina (Navya, Karin)
🇧🇲 Bermuda (Margie)
🇧🇴 Bolivia (Carmen, Mikaela)
🇨🇦 Canada (Alison, Allie, Brittany, Jennifer, Karin, Lynn, Margie, Melissa, Rebecca, TerryJane)
🇨🇱 Chile (Jennifer, Karin)
🇨🇴 Colombia (Jennifer)
🇨🇺 Cuba (Karin)
🇩🇲 Dominica (Margie)
🇩🇴 Dominican Republic (Karin)
🇪🇨 Ecuador (Rebecca)
🇸🇻 El Salvador (Margie)
🇬🇹 Guatemala (Carmen)
🇭🇹 Haiti (Jennifer, Karin)
🇯🇲 Jamaica (Margie, Rebecca)
🇲🇶 Martinique (Carmen)
🇲🇽 Mexico (Bailey, Brittany, Carmen, Margie, Melissa, Mikaela)
🇵🇪 Peru (Jennifer, Margie)
🇵🇷 Puerto Rico (Jennifer)
🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago (Margie)
🇺🇸 United States (Alison, Allie, Alyana, Bailey, Brittany, Carmen, Carol, Diane, Gretchen, Jennifer, Karin, Lynn, Malola, Margie, Megan, Melissa, Michelle, Mikaela, Navya, nedge, Nicole, Rebecca, Suzanne, TerryJane, Ushashi)
🇻🇪 Venezuela (Carmen)

Antarctica
🇦🇶 Antarctica (Diane, Mikaela)

Asia
🇦🇫 Afghanistan (TerryJane)
🇧🇭 Bahrain (Rebecca)
🇨🇳 China (Alison, Carmen, Diane, Jennifer, Karin, Margie, Megan, Melissa, Navya, Rebecca, TerryJane)
🇭🇰 Hong Kong (Lynn)
🇮🇳 India (Alison, Allie, Carmen, Gretchen, Jennifer, Lynn, Sarah)
🇮🇩 Indonesia (Jennifer)
🇮🇷 Iran (Rebecca)
🇮🇱 Israel (Jennifer)
🇯🇵 Japan (Alison, Bailey, Carmen, Diane, Karin, Margie, Nicole, Sarah)
🇯🇴 Jordan (Jennifer)
🇲🇾 Malaysia (Alison)
🇲🇻 Maldives (Karin, Jennifer)
🇲🇳 Mongolia (Jennifer)
🇳🇵 Nepal (Carmen)
🇰🇵 North Korea (Diane)
🇵🇰 Pakistan (Diane, Lynn, TerryJane)
🇵🇭 Philippines (Carmen, Rebecca)
🇷🇺 Russia (Karin, Megan)
🇸🇬 Singapore (Diane, Gretchen, TerryJane)
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia (Margie)
🇰🇷 South Korea (Carmen, Diane, Melissa, Navya, Nicole, Suzanne, TerryJane)
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka (Jennifer)
🇸🇾 Syria (Carmen)
Tibet (Malola, TerryJane)
🇹🇷 Turkey (Jennifer)
🇻🇳 Vietnam (Diane, Karin, Lynn)
🇾🇪 Yemen (Carmen, Jennifer)

Australia/Oceania
🇦🇺 Australia (Alison, Lynn, Megan, TerryJane)
🇳🇿 New Zealand (Michelle)
🇼🇸 Samoa (Jennifer)

Europe
Balkans (TerryJane)
🇦🇹 Austria (Alison)
🇧🇬 Bulgaria (Jennifer)
🇭🇷 Croatia (Navya)
🇨🇿 Czech Republic (Jennifer)
🇩🇰 Denmark (Jennifer)
🇬🇧 England (Alison, Allie, Alyana, Bailey, Brittany, Carmen, Diane, Gretchen, Jennifer, Karin, Lynn, Malola, Margie, Melissa, Mikaela, nedge, Nicole, Rebecca, Sarah, TerryJane, Ushashi)
🇫🇮 Finland (Jennifer)
🇫🇷 France (Carmen, Diane, Jennifer, Margie, Megan, Nicole, Sarah, TerryJane)
🇩🇪 Germany (Carmen, Sahira)
🇬🇷 Greece (Carol, Jennifer, Malola)
🇬🇱 Greenland (Jennifer, Navya)
🇭🇺 Hungary (Megan)
🇮🇸 Iceland (Alison, Carol)
🇮🇪 Ireland (Alison, Brittany, Carol, Gretchen, Jennifer, Karin, Lynn, Margie, Sarah)
🇮🇹 Italy (Allie, Jennifer, Lynn, Megan, Suzanne, TerryJane)
🇱🇹 Lithuania (Jennifer)
🇲🇨 Monaco (Jennifer)
🇳🇱 The Netherlands (Carol, Jennifer, Navya)
🇳🇴 Norway (Alison, Jennifer)
🇵🇱 Poland (Lynn, Navya, TerryJane)
🇵🇹 Portugal (Jennifer)
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Scotland (Alison, Alyana, Carmen, Jennifer, Lynn, Mikaela, TerryJane)
🇪🇸 Spain (Diane, Jennifer, Rebecca)
🇸🇪 Sweden (Alison, Jennifer)
🇨🇭 Switzerland (Jennifer)
🇺🇦 Ukraine (Jennifer)
🇻🇦Vatican City/Holy See (Jennifer)
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Wales (Brittany, Carmen, Jennifer, TerryJane)

I would like to join this challenge but if the female author is from the US, can the other be based from another US state or does it really have to be from another country?

Zeejane (Sara) wrote: "I'll join in for 10 books and focus on the first prompt.
Question-as long as the setting is not in the U.S. (where I live), can the books have repeat settings? I read a lot of historical romance a..."

Hello Zeejane! Welcome, I'm so glad you are doing the challenge. It doesn't seem like the challenge rules specify that you can't repeat countries. If historical romance set in London is your jam, you should go for it!

It would be fun though, to see how many different countries we can read from over the quarter. I'm going to try for a few... but my reading leans towards the UK/London as well. So, we'll see how I do. :D

Alyana wrote: "I would like to join this challenge but if the female author is from the US, can the other be based from another US state or does it really have to be from another country?"

Hi Alyana,

Welcome! I hope you decide to do this challenge. We'd love to have you. The rules do seem pretty clear about only reading one book from the country you live in. So I think a US author from a different state would not count if you live in the US.

Another option is #2. There are no country requirements for that prompt. You can read all from one country if you're reading all trans and non-binary authors... or you can mix it up across both prompts.

I'm in too!

Goal 14/12

Countries Around the World
✅ White Teeth, Zadie Smith (England)
✅ My Last Continent, Midge Raymond (Antarctica)
✅ The Paris Library, Janet Skeslien Charles (US, France)
✅ Annie John, Jamaica Kincaid (Antigua and Barbuda)
✅ Aunty Lee's Delights, Ovidia Yu (Singapore)
✅ Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea, Barbara Demick (North Korea)
✅ Pachinko, Min Jin Lee (Japan, South Korea)
✅ All This I Will Give to You, Dolores Redondo (Spain)
✅ The Mountains Sing, Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai (Vietnam)
✅ A Single Swallow, Ling Zhang (China)
✅ Amal Unbound, Aisha Saeed (Pakistan)

Trans/Non-Binary
✅ Felix Ever After, Kacen Callender
✅ All the Birds in the Sky, Charlie Jane Anders
✅ Redefining Realness: My Path to Womanhood, Identity, Love & So Much More, Janet Mock

Thank you for leading this challenge, Diane!
Please sign me up for 21 books.
I'll finish listing my possible reads after the readathon. :D

Progress: 1/21

Transgender & Non-Binary Authors
Dragon Pearl
Confessions of the Fox
*Confessions of the Fox (historical fiction, trans author)
*River of Teeth (scifi, non-binary)
*Magic for Liars (fantasy, non-binary)
*Freshwater (fiction, trans)
The Deep
*Tomboyland: Essays (non-binary)
*Fairest: A Memoir

Globetrotting
Africa
Burkina Faso: American Spy
Libera: She Would Be King
Uganda: Kintu

Americas
*Brazil: Near to the Wild Heart
*Canada: something
*Colombia: Fruit of the Drunken Tree
*Mexico: The Murmur of Bees

Asia:
China:
Cyprus: Race of Scorpions
Japan: Spring Garden
Korea: Pachinko

Europe:
✔️1. UK: Clockwork Prince
2. Ireland: The Trespasser
*Poland: Flights
*Ukraine: Fieldwork in Ukrainian Sex

Oceania
*Australia: The Swan Book

Planning post

Diane wrote: "Hi Alyana,

Welcome! I hope you decide to do this challenge. We'd love to have you. The rules do seem pretty clear about only reading one book from the country you live in. So I think a US author from a different state would not count if you live in the US.

Another option is #2. There are no country requirements for that prompt. You can read all from one country if you're reading all trans and non-binary authors... or you can mix it up across both prompts."

Hi Diane, sorry for asking a dumb question. does option 2 mean I can read a few books all set in NY as long as they are female/trans or non-binary authors?

Alyana wrote: "Diane wrote: "Hi Alyana,

Welcome! I hope you decide to do this challenge. We'd love to have you. The rules do seem pretty clear about only reading one book from the country you live in. So I think..."

Not a dumb question at all Alyana! Yes, I would say you can read books all set in NY if they are by authors who identify as either transgendered or non-binary.

Diane wrote: "Alyana wrote: "Diane wrote: "Hi Alyana,

Welcome! I hope you decide to do this challenge. We'd love to have you. The rules do seem pretty clear about only reading one book from the country you live..."

Thanks Diane! I would try for 6 books for now, I might add more as the challenge goes :)

Latest update message #160

Here are a couple of Goodreads lists that might be helpful for anyone looking for books by authors who identify as trans or non-binary.

* Popsugar's 2020 list of books by trans or non-binary authors
* Books by trans, non-binary, and gender non-conforming authors

Everyone should feel free to add links to additional resources!

Alyana wrote: "Diane wrote: "Alyana wrote: "Diane wrote: "Hi Alyana,

Welcome! I hope you decide to do this challenge. We'd love to have you. The rules do seem pretty clear about only reading one book from the co..."

Great Alyana!

oshizu wrote: "Thank you for leading this challenge, Diane!
Please sign me up for 21 books.
I'll finish listing my possible reads after the readathon. :D

Progress: 0/21

Transgender & Non-Binary Authors
[book:D..."

Welcome oshizu! Always excited to see what you're reading.

Diane wrote: "Here are a couple of Goodreads lists that might be helpful for anyone looking for books by authors who identify as trans or non-binary.

* Popsugar's 2020 list of books by trans or non-binary autho..."

We'll keep this mind, my original message # is 13? Thanks again Diane! :)

Alyana wrote: "Diane wrote: "Here are a couple of Goodreads lists that might be helpful for anyone looking for books by authors who identify as trans or non-binary.

* Popsugar's 2020 list of books by trans or no..."

Alyana, you can use Msg 13 to track your progress or start a new comment with your goal. Either works for me. As of now, I have you down for 6.

Please sign me up for 10 books!

Progress: 10/10 (Challenge completed 28 May)

Global Voices
The Dangers of Smoking in Bed: Stories (Argentina)
Strange Beasts of China (China)
The Age of Skin (Croatia/Netherlands)
In the Lateness of the World: Poems (USA)
Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead (Poland)
Crimson (Greenland)
I'm Waiting for You and Other Stories (South Korea)

Trans and Nonbinary Authors
Detransition, Baby
Take Me with You
The Fire Never Goes Out: A Memoir in Pictures

Please sign me up for 9 books.

Navya wrote: "Please sign me up for 10 books!"

Janine wrote: "Please sign me up for 9 books."

Welcome to the challenge Navya and Janine!

Please sign me up for 20 books.

Progress: 13/20

Trans and Nonbinary Authors
11. Upright Women Wanted (nonbinary)


Women Authors--Global Settings
1. Her Night with the Duke (England)
2. The Soul of a Woman (Spain)
3. Night at the Fiestas (US)
4. Shipped (Ecuador)
5. Love Is a Rogue (England)
6. Girl, Serpent, Thorn (Iran)
7. Home Remedies (China)
8. Still Life (Canada)
9. Aunt Dimity's Death (England)
10. In the Country (Philippines/Bahrain)
12. Everything Inside (Haiti)
13. How to Love a Jamaican (Jamaica)

Please sign me up for 21 books. Thanks for hosting, Diane!

Progress: 26/21 - Challenge Complete

Authors Who Identify as Trans or Nonbinary
1. US, Nigeria: Freshwater by Akwaeke Emezi (nonbinary author)
2. US: The Echo Wife by Sarah Gailey (nonbinary author)
3. Fantasy: The Red Threads of Fortune by Neon Yang (nonbinary author)
4. US: Nevada by Imogen Binnie (trans author)

Women Authors - Global Settings
1. Sierra Leone: The Memory of Love by Aminatta Forna
2. UK - England: Heresy by SJ Parris
3. Nigeria: Looking for Transwonderland: Travels in Nigeria by Noo Saro-Wiwa
4. Jamaica: A Million Aunties (primarily Jamaica; also US & France) by Alexia Arthurs
5. China: Jade Dragon Mountain by Elsa Hart
6. UK - England: Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder by T.A. Willberg
7. Japan: Tokyo Ueno Station by Miri Yū
8. Dominica: Unburnable by Marie-Elena John
9. US - CO: Sabrina & Corina: Stories by Kali Fajardo-Anstine
10. Trinidad: Prospero's Daughter by Elizabeth Nunez
11. UK - England: An Artless Demise by Anna Lee Huber
12. UK - England: A Conspiracy in Belgravia (Lady Sherlock #2) by Sherry Thomas
13. Canada: Polar Vortex by Shani Mootoo
14. Saudi Arabia: Black Wave: Saudi Arabia, Iran, and the Forty-Year Rivalry That Unraveled Culture, Religion, and Collective Memory in the Middle East by Kim Ghattas
15. England: The Return of the Soldier
16. Bermuda: Resort to Murder by Carolyn Hart
17. UK - Northern Ireland: Milkman by Anna Burns
18. Canada: The Break by Katherena Vermette
19. UK - England: The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams
20. Mexico: Grieving: Dispatches from a Wounded Country by Cristina Rivera Garza
21. El Salvador: Slash and Burn by Claudia Hernández
22. Peru (plus several other non-US locales): Little Eyes by Samanta Schweblin

Please sign me up for 10 books...Thank You, Diane!

18/18 books as of 6/30/2021...I am raising my goal to 18 books
***Challenge Complete***

Globetrotting with Women of the World:
Africa
√ 1. Kintu - Uganda
√ 2. The Death of Vivek Oji - Nigeria

Americas
1. The Murmur of Bees - Mexico
√ 2. The Book of Unknown Americans - Delaware, US
√ 3. The Unquiet Dead - Toronto, Canada

Asia
√ 1. The Library of Legends - China
√ 2. A Most Peculiar Malaysian Murder - Malaysia
√ 3. Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line - India
√ 4. The Housekeeper and the Professor - Japan

Europe
√ 1. The Trespasser - Ireland
√ 2. The Wall - Austria
√ 3. The Anatomist's Wife - England
√ 4. The Alice Network - France
√ 5. The Mercies - Norway
√ 6. Here With Me - Scotland
√ 7. Burial Rites - Iceland
√ 8. Well-Schooled in Murder - England
√ 9. Sun Storm - Sweden

Oceania
√ 1. Crimson Lake - Australia

I’ll sign up for a realistic goal of 5, but will (not-so) secretly be hoping for more!

Progress: 5/5 COMPLETE

1. A woman author.
✅1. The Care and Feeding of Ravenously Hungry Girls (U.S.)🇺🇸
✅2. Mexican Gothic (Mexico) 🇲🇽
✅3. Fifty Shades Darker (U.K. <-- where the author is from) 🇬🇧
✅4. Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, Vol. 1 (Japan)🇯🇵

2. A trans or non-binary author.
✅1. Into the Gray by Margaret Killjoy

I’m in for 10!

1. Shanghai, China - Shanghai Girls by Lisa See - completed April 2021
2. LA, CA, USA - The Right Swipe by Alisha Rai - completed April 2021
3. Molinov, Russia - Lost Roses by Martha Hall Kelly - completed May 2021
4. Paris, France - The Ladies of the Secret Circus by Constance Sayers - completed May 2021
5. Mallorca, Spain - Under Almond Blossoms by Anja Saskia Beyer, translated by Annette Charpentier - completed May 2021
6. Victoria, Australia - The Good Sister by Sally Hepworth - completed May 2021
7. Lagos, Nigeria - The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Dare - completed May 2021
8. England - The Secrets of Love Story Bridge by Phaedra Patrick - completed June 2021
9. Hungary - The Light of the Midnight Starsby Rena Rossner - completed June 2021
10. Venice, Italy - Three Words for Goodbye by Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb - completed June 2021

10/10 - challenge completed!

Rebecca wrote: "Please sign me up for 20 books."

Margie wrote: "Please sign me up for 21 books. Thanks for hosting, Diane!"

Alison wrote: "Please sign me up for 10 books...Thank You, Diane!"

Bailey ✰ wrote: "I’ll sign up for a realistic goal of 5, but will (not-so) secretly be hoping for more!"

Megan wrote: "I’m in for 10!"

A big welcome to Rebecca, Margie, Alison, Bailey, and Megan! Happy to have you doing this challenge.

Please sign me up for 2 but I'm hoping to find more

WHO RUNS THE WORLD? - Q2 Quarterly Challenge
Duration: April 1 - June 30, 2021
Progress: 22/20

Message 29

This quarter we want to focus on diverse voices from women, trans, and non-binary people from around the world. To qualify, the book must be written by:
1. A woman author. Participants can only read one book set in their country of residence and the remainder must be from different places.
🌍 Yellow Wife USA
🌍 The Breadwinner Afghanistan
🌍 On the Jellicoe Road Australia
🌍 The Tiger's Wife Balkans
🌍 Larger Than Life Botswana
🌍 The Scent Keeper Canada
🌍 City of Ink China
🌎 I See You England
🌎 Secrets of a Charmed Life England
🌍 White Teeth England
🌍 Conviction Italy
🌍 I Am Malala: How One Girl Stood Up for Education and Changed the World Pakistan
🌍 The Yellow Bird Sings Poland
🌍 Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine Scotland
🌍 Aunty Lee's Deadly Specials Singapore
🌎 If I Had Your Face South Korea
🌍 The White Mirror Tibet (1708)
🌍 After We Fall Wales

2. A trans or non-binary author.
🌍 Over the Top NB
🌍 The Echo Wife NB
🌍 The Bone Witch NB
🌍 Dark and Deepest Red NB

WHO RUNS THE WORLD? - Q2 Quarterly Challenge
Duration: April 1 - June 30, 2021
Progress: 7/6
A woman author. Participants can only read one book set in their country of residence and the remainder must be from different places
England Hamnet
Italy The Temptation of Forgiveness
India The Widows of Malabar Hill
Canada Cold Mourning
US If We Were Villains
New Zealand Died in the Wool
Greece A Thousand Ships

I will sign up for 9 books.

Progress: 9/9 Completed

✅1) The Guest List by Lucy Foley (UK)
✅2) The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett (UK)
✅3) Piranesi by Susanna Clarke (UK)
✅4) The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller (USA)
✅5) Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (Nigeria)
✅6) Bad Feminist by Roxane Gay (USA)
✅7) A Room of One's Own by Virginia Woolf (UK)
✅8) Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier (UK)
✅9) My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite (Nigeria)

This quarter we want to focus on diverse voices from women, trans, and non-binary people from around the world. To qualify, the book must be written by:

1. A woman author. Participants can only read one book set in their country of residence and the remainder must be from different places,
OR
2. A trans or non-binary author.

Start: April 1, 2021
Finish: June 30, 2021

Goal: 0/20

Sign me up for 5 books

Woman author. Participants can only read one book set in their country of residence and the remainder must be from different countries

5/5-COMPLETED

✅1)I've Got Your Number (Sophie Kinsella)(England)(7/5/21)
✅2)Sushi for Beginners (Marian Keyes)(Ireland)(8/5/21)
✅3)The God of Small Things (Arundhati Roy)(India)(9/5/21)
✅4)Kitchen (Banana Yoshimoto)(Japan)(13/4/21)
✅5)Memoirs of a Dutiful Daughter(Simone de Beauvoir)(France)(10/4/21)

Hola!
Diane count me in please 😉

PROGRESS: 67/54 🌐♀️



Size 12 Is Not Fat by Meg Cabot (USA-New York)✔
Sleeping Murder by Agatha Christie (England)✔
The Boy Is Back by Meg Cabot (USA-Indiana)✔
Silver Lining by Maggie Osborne (USA-Colorado)✔
Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri (India)✔
Louisiana Longshot by Jana Deleon (USA-Louisiana)✔
Zenzele: A Letter for My Daughter by J. Nozipo Maraire (Zimbabwe)✔
Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (Nigeria)✔
A Beautiful Place To Die by Malla Nunn (South Africa)✔
I Am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced by Nujood Ali (Yemen)✔
Swing, Brother, Swing by Ngaio Marsh (England)✔
The Beckoning Lady by Margery Allingham (England)✔
El murmullo de las abejas by Sofía Segovia (Mexico)✔
Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi (Ghana)✔
Body of Evidence by Patricia Cornwell (USA-Virginia)✔
The Bargain by Mary Jo Putney (Wales)✔
The Rake by Mary Jo Putney (England)✔
To the Nines by Janet Evanovich (USA-New Jersey)✔
Sold by Patricia McCormick (Nepal)✔
Taken at the Flood by Agatha Christie (England)✔
A Sheetcake Named Desire by Jacklyn Brady (USA - Louisiana)✔
Thunder & Roses by Mary Jo Putney (Wales)✔
Crimson Shore by Gillian Hamer (Wales)✔
Dancing on the Wind by Mary Jo Putney (England)✔
Night At The Vulcan by Ngaio Marsh (England)✔
Petals in the Storm by Mary Jo Putney (France)✔
Catering to Nobody by Diane Mott Davidson (USA - Colorado)✔
Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (Nigeria)✔
Pachinko by Min Jin Lee (Japan)✔
The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh (USA - California)✔
The Vegetarian by Han Kang (South Korea)✔
Singing Away the Hunger: The Autobiography of an African Woman by Mpho M'Atsepo Nthunya (Lesotho)✔
Si Me Permiten Hablar. Testimonio de Domitila, Una Mujer de Las Minas de Bolivia by Moema Viezzer & Domitila B. De Chungara (Bolivia)✔
All Dressed in White by Mary Higgins Clark & Alafair Burke (USA - Florida)✔
The Jane Austen Society by Natalie Jenner (England)✔
The Botanist's Daughter by Kayte Nunn (Chile)✔
Magpie Lane by Lucy Atkins (Scotland)✔
The Beekeeper of Aleppo by Christy Lefteri (Syria)✔
Chocolat by Joanne Harris (France)✔
Weekend Warriors by Fern Michaels (USA - Washington DC)✔
Miss Marple's Final Cases by Agatha Christie (England)✔
Tether's End by Margery Allingham (England)✔
The Dead Cat Bounce by Sarah Graves (USA - Maine)✔
Unbowed by Wangari Maathai (Kenya)✔
La flor del azafrán amarillo by Laila Ibrahim (USA - Ohio)✔
Witch Week by Diana Wynne Jones (England)✔
Angel Rogue by Mary Jo Putney (England)✔
The China Governess by Margery Allingham (England)✔
El cielo es azul, la tierra blanca by Hiromi Kawakami (Japan)✔
Curious Minds by Janet Evanovich (USA - Nevada)✔
Dead Aid: Why Aid Is Not Working and How There Is a Better Way for Africa by Dambisa Moyo (Zambia)✔
Dying for Chocolate by Diane Mott Davidson (USA - Colorado)✔
The Marriage Lesson by Victoria Alexander (England)✔
Gun Dealers' Daughter by Gina Apostol (Philippines)✔
Heat and Dust by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala (India)✔
Kitchen by Banana Yoshimoto (Japan)✔
Me llamo Rigoberta Menchú y así me nació la conciencia by Elizabeth Burgos (Guatemala)✔
Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George (Germany)✔
Paula by Isabel Allende (Venezuela)✔
Spinsters In Jeopardy by Ngaio Marsh (France)✔
Mystery of the Island Jewels by Joyce A. Stengel (Martinique)✔
Syrian Brides by Anna Halabi (Syria)✔
The Rock by L.J. Ross (England)✔
Ten Big Ones by Janet Evanovich (USA - New Jersey)✔
The Regatta Mystery and Other Stories by Agatha Christie (Egypt)✔
The Under Dog and Other Stories by Agatha Christie (England)✔
Lead-Pipe Cinch by Christy Evans (USA - Oregon)✔

I’ll try for 10!

WHO RUNS THE WORLD?
April 1, 2021-June 30, 2021

Progress: 0/10

I'm in for 15!

Category 1:
I Married My Best Friend to Shut My Parents Up (Japan)
Fruits Basket Collector's Edition, Vol. 5 (Japan)
Saint Young Men, Volume 01 (Japan)
A City Inside (U.S.)
The Prince and the Dressmaker (France)
Goong: The Royal Palace, Vol. 1 (Korea)
Princess Jellyfish 2-in-1 Omnibus, Volume 1 (Japan)
A Lady's Guide to Etiquette and Murder (England)

Goal Met So Far: 8/15

Sheila here signing up. This one sounds more challenging for my normal reading, but I’ll go for 20- close to one a week. I’ll start with a woman author, new to me, Elizabeth Van Arnim, The Enchanted April.
1/20

Sahira wrote: "Please sign me up for 2 but I'm hoping to find more"

TerryJane wrote: "I'm in for at least 20. I'm hopeful that other titles will qualify as I plan for May and June..."

Allie wrote ..."

Ushashi wrote: "I will sign up for 9 books..."

Lindsey..."

Sarah wrote: "Sign me up for 5 books..."

Carmen wrote: "Hola! Diane count me in please 😉"

manni wrote: "I’ll try for 10!"

Nicole wrote: "I'm in for 15!"

Sheila wrote: "Sheila here signing up..."


Welcome to all the new folks who signed up! Happy to have you reading along with us. 😊

Carmen wrote: "Hola!
Diane count me in please 😉

PROGRESS: 0/42 🌐♀️..."

Only 42 Carmen? 😉

Sheila wrote: "Sheila here signing up. This one sounds more challenging for my normal reading, but I’ll go for 20- close to one a week. I’ll start with a woman author, new to me, Elizabeth Van Arnim, The Enchante..."

That's great Sheila... I hope you find some new authors you love!

I'd like to promote a Buddy Read that qualifies for this challenge.

Title: Kintu
Setting: Uganda
Month: June

Please come and join us!

That's a great idea oshizu. I will sign up for that.

I would like to sign up for 15 books 🙂

if it's not too late, sign me up for 6 books from the trans/NB category please, plus Alice Oseman's "Loveless" in the female author category (7 books in total for this challenge)

Update 26 April: I've decided to go for as many as I can access from my library via the Libby app this quarter. I'll update my progress below as I go...

Trans/Non-Binary authors:
✅ The Brilliant Death (Amy Rose Capetta)
✅ Magic for Liars (Sarah Gailey)
✅ An Unkindness of Ghosts (Rivers Solomon)
✅ I'm Afraid of Men (Vivek Shraya)
✅ Little Fish (Casey Plett)
✅ Trans Like Me (C.N. Lester)
✅ Dreadnought (April Daniels)
✅ She of the Mountains (Vivek Shraya)
✅ Freshwater (Akwaeke Emezi)
✅ Whipping Girl (Julia Serano)
✅ Lizard Radio (Pat Schmatz)
✅ All The Birds In The Sky (Charlie Jane Anders)
✅ Finna (Nino Cipro)
✅ Life Isn't Binary (Alex Iantaffi, Meg-John Barker)
✅ Yes, You Are Trans Enough (Mia Violet)
✅ Finding Nevo (Nevo Zisin)
-----------------
Asexual authors (my own category, but I suppose this could fit into "women authors from other countries?):
✅ Loveless (Alice Oseman) - UK
✅ Elatsoe (Darcie Little Badger) - USA
✅ The Invisible Orientation (Julie Sondra Decker) - USA
✅ Baker Thief (Claudie Arseneault) - Canada
✅ Ace (Angela Chen) - USA

WHO RUNS THE WORLD?
April 1, 2021-June 30, 2021

This quarter we want to focus on diverse voices from women, trans, and non-binary people from around the world. To qualify, the book must be written by:
1. A woman author. Participants can only read one book set in their country of residence and the remainder must be from different places, OR
2. A trans or non-binary author.

10/10 as of May 16
Goal raised to 15 as of May 17
13/15 as of May 30
Calling it done as of May 30 with 14/15 since I originally pledged 10!

❌1) The Secret History by Donna Tartt
Set in USA
April 2 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

❌2) Death of a Gossip (Hamish Macbeth #1) by M.C. Beaton
Set in Scotland
April 6 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

❌3) The Trespasser (Dublin Murder Squad #6) by Tana French
Set in Ireland
April 6 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

❌4) Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarczuk
Set in Poland
April 18 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

❌5) Yes No Maybe So by Becky Albertalli and Aisha Saeed
Albertalli identifies as bisexual.
April 25 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

❌6) Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line by Deepa Anappara
Set in India
May 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

❌7) The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett (adaptation by Devra Newberger Speregen, illustrated by Richard Lauter)
England, Australia
May 6 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

❌8) Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai
Set in Vietnam (and USA)
May 9 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

❌9) Ayesha at Last by Uzma Jalaluddin
Set in Canada
May 13 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

❌10) Whose Body? (Lord Peter Wimsey #1) by Dorothy L. Sayers
Set in UK
May 16 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

❌11) Mrs. Pollifax and the Hong Kong Buddha (Mrs. Pollifax #7) by Dorothy Gilman
Set in Hong Kong
May 22 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

❌12) The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
United Kingdom and Italy
May 26 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

❌13) Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed
Pakistan
May 30 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

❌14) The Idiot Girl and the Flaming Tantrum of Death: Reflections on Revenge, Germophobia, and Laser Hair Removal by Laurie Notaro
May 30 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

All the Birds in the Sky by Charlie Jane Anders
Fantastical setting--trans/non-binary author

I'm in for 5
1.) Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie - Nigeria, Africa
2.) Queen of Hearts by Rhys Bowen - California, U.S.A
3.) Ashworth Hall by Anne Perry - England, U.K
4.) Murder in Old Bombay by Nev March - India
5.) The Sting of Justice by Cora Harrison - Ireland, U.K.
6.) The Frangipani Tree Mystery by Ovidia Yu - Singapore

CHALLENGE COMPLETE

Updating message #28

1/2 books reads

The Last of August - Germany

Jennifer wrote: "I would like to sign up for 15 books 🙂"

Nedge wrote: "if it's not too late, sign me up for 6 books from the trans/NB category please, plus Alice Oseman's "Loveless" in the female author category (7 books in total for this challenge)"

Lynn wrote: "WHO RUNS THE WORLD?
April 1, 2021-June 30, 2021..."

Gretchen wrote: "I'm in for 5"


Jennifer, Nedge, Lynn, & Gretchen... welcome to the challenge!

Updated msg 26

Just completed my first book set in Shanghai, China - Shanghai Girls by Lisa See. The subject matter in this book is difficult, but these are important stories to be shared. The characters, particularly the sister relationship, was interesting. The writing is not quite as lyrical as her last few novels, but it is clear. Worth reading. 4 stars

1/10

Great challenge! I'm in and I'll aim for 20.

A woman author. Participants can only read one book set in their country of residence and the remainder must be from different places, OR A trans or non-binary author.

17/20

1. USA
2. Ireland
3. USA
4. USA
5. England primarily
6. England
7. USA
8. Mexico
9. England/Wales
10. Canada
11. USA
12. USA
13. USA
14. USA
15. England
16. USA
17.

Hello! I am going to join for 5 books