Around the World discussion

ETA: I had to divide it up into smaller lists so they wouldn't crash. I will keep updating this if you leave a comment in your thread indicating what you have added.

Countries A-C
Countries D-H
Countries I-L
Countries M-P
Countries Q-Z

And if you want to see what the group has scheduled for optional group reads, please see the group reads calendar. (I just used the word group three times!)

How nice, Jenny. What a good idea.

A thing of beauty. Thanks!

Wow. I just looked at the list. I'm impressed. What a lot of work.

Wow. I just looked at the list. I'm impressed. What a lot of work.

Inspired! Jenny.

Hey instead of pasting it here I think I'll just break down the master list into smaller documents, as it will be easier to update there and the formatting wouldnt copy over. More soon....

It didn't crash GR, but it didn't retain the links. Appreciate having the list at GR. I can read see the whole thing.

I can't copy the list to GR with the formatting, and no way can I recreate all the links! At least this way they link back to GR.

Middle ground:
Master List, Countries A-C
Countries D-H
Countries I-L
Countries M-P
Countries Q-Z

That works for me. Thank you for all your hard work. Is it possible for each of us to change the master list? I'm constantly changing my list.

Sure if you want to send me the e-mail address you use for Google stuff, I can add you to the edit list.

Jenny wrote: "Sure if you want to send me the e-mail address you use for Google stuff, I can add you to the edit list."

Let's forget about that. I don't have an email for Google stuff. Just concerned about my ever-changing list. I already noticed two mistakes on my list which I have now changed.

Okay, well another way to do it is just to leave a comment in your own thread about what you've changed and I'll try to take note. I don't think it has to be perfect, I thought it'd just be interesting to see.

It is interesting to see. And I don't want to make more work for you. No no no.

Jenny - what a stupendous idea!!!!! Thank you aI am constantlynd ((((HUGS)))))))

I am constantly changing my list. Books I read I remove and then I add others that if have forgotten. I can leave a comment on the changes I make. My email is set to private. As you said, the master list need not be perfect, but it is a super idea!

Wow Jenny....and I'm still finalizing my list. You do rock.

Jenny, I'm able to open it since I already have a Google account. Otherwise I wouldn't be able to.

This list is a great idea! Thank you so much Jenny for compiling the list. :)

Wow. What a gorgeous and valuable list. Thank you Jenny.

Welcome. We're all enthralled with the list that Jenny put together.

Great list - very helpful - thank you, Jenny!

Chelsea, I think the highlights are books that are being read by more than one person. It's helpful in that you may be able to find a reading partner easily this way.

Hey I decided to go ahead and take out the highlights. There are so many of us that half the books were highlighted for several of us expressing interest, and I'm not sure it was as helpful as I originally thought. You can still see the names of the people that have included the books on their lists though.

Thanks for putting this together, Jenny. It was a big help in creating my list.

Wow this is such a wonderful idea! Can't wait to start reading.

Oh my goodness yes! So many of thes are on my TBR list so I am glad I found this group.

Brilliant idea! Can I clarify a "rule"? Do the books have to be written by an author from that country or just set in that country?

I was wondering this as I notice The Book Thief (I'm currently reading it) is under Germany. This completely makes sense as it is where it is set, but it is written by an Aussie living in Sydney.

Or is this completely up to the individual? Really looking forward to this!

Rusalka wrote: "Brilliant idea! Can I clarify a "rule"? Do the books have to be written by an author from that country or just set in that country?

I was wondering this as I notice The Book Thief (I'm currently ..."

Completely up to the individual. I have rules for myself that I will also break for books I really want to read! I know I'm trying to read authors I haven't read before, with the setting and author both in the country listed. Some people are going by setting. Whatever you'd like! Just as long as you are traveling in your reading!

Excellent, my favourite kind of rules. The ones meant to be broken!!

Jenny wrote: "ETA: I had to divide it up into smaller lists so they wouldn't crash. I will keep updating this if you leave a comment in your thread indicating what you have added.

Countries A-C
Countries D-H
C..."


This is thrilling. I am so excited to be in the company of other folks who love to explore the world through books. Having access to the lists of others makes this even more super fantabulous!

Omg, that list must have taken ages. Well done. Thanx for doing that it will help me with my selection.

My bib is terry towel. I have a quilted one, but that is only for special occasions. (just kidding)

Welcome to our newest members!

Battle Royale which is based in Japan.Battle Royale

Judy: " remember terry cloth being used for baby bibs...does that make one a book-baby? "

Hahahaha. Maybe baby.

Chelsea wrote: "I don't believe our newer members know that, in addition to book lists, we have a full product line of apparel:

Bibs, mini
Bibs, regular size
Bath towels, floor size
T shirts

Chelsea, you didn't mention two important facts: first, Chelsea's name for our product line is Bibliobibs; second, someone needs to explain to new members why Bibliobibs are essential to members of this group.
Straight jacket..."

Chelsea, your honesty and merchandising is appreciated ;)

May I offer some suggestions for people who are looking for books to read from Aus? I was looking at the master list and there are some really obvious ones missing from the list. Plus (purely subjectively) much better choices than those been chosen :P I feel like most things (art, movies, theatre, music) Aus is a little unknown. But I may be thinking we're much more special than we are...

I think I can compile some Aus classics, contemp lit, children's, YA and non-fiction.

Please do, rusalka!

Russalka, thank you so much! I particularly enjoy historical fiction and memoirs.

I just joined this group. It is a FANTASTIC Idea... and talk about Budget travel.. will look through the books and countries and get the list together! Thanks

Or go to the library! Welcome Diane!

Jenny I added An Instance of the Fingerpost to my reading list for England.

Hi Jenny. I have a change for the list. You have Abyssinian Chronicles: A Novel list as my Uzbekistan selection. It should be The Opportunists: A Novel About Uzbekistan by Yohann de Silva.

Judy wrote: "I'm right behind you in adding Fingerpost, Sue."

I'm really looking forward to that. I have a feeling I'll read that while reading other books.

Angela wrote: "Hi Jenny. I have a change for the list. You have Abyssinian Chronicles: A Novel list as my Uzbekistan selection. It should be [book:The Opportunists: A Novel About Uzbekistan|12883..."
Haha! Thanks for catching that. You did have Abyssinian Chronicles down for Uganda though, right?

Judy wrote: "I'm right behind you in adding Fingerpost, Sue."
Added....

Jenny wrote: "Angela wrote: "Hi Jenny. I have a change for the list. You have Abyssinian Chronicles: A Novel list as my Uzbekistan selection. It should be [book:The Opportunists: A Novel About U..."

Yes. You are correct. It is for Uganda.

Jenny wrote: "Angela wrote: "Hi Jenny. I have a change for the list. You have Abyssinian Chronicles: A Novel list as my Uzbekistan selection. It should be [book:The Opportunists: A Novel About U..."

Yes. You are correct. It is for Uganda.

Maybe a silly question, since I'm coming up with my list and there's so much to go through, but...

How is one defining "country"? As an example: Kashmir is listed, but Kashmir is not presently a country (I live in India, I hear the arguments all the time). Hong Kong is part of China, but it's semi-autonomous (like Greenland is part of Denmark, but semi-autonomous).

Given that the numbers of countries in the world change regularly (we now have a North Sudan & South Sudan in just the past few months), I'm curious what, if any, the criteria is for determining valid "countries" for this endeavour.

It is complicated and probably needs continued tweaking. I often look country names up and if they are listed as "autonomous states" I usually leave them as listed. Smetimes I just leave them as the original person listed. I merged noth and south into "Korea," USSR with Russia, Burma with Myanmar, UK/GB/England are all listed as England since many have selections also from Scotland and Wales, and I try to leave cross references for those instances in the list.

I try to keep out of political statements and if a group considers itself a nation, I may list it separately whether or not the UN has acknowledged it. Some places I did not think should be separated out are indeed "autonomous states," so I left them as listed. So you will see Israel separate from Palestine, and Eritrea separate from Ethiopia, and Tibet will have its own listing. The same books may be listed on both, but that is happening anyway since group members vary in their criteria for associating a book with a country anyway.

I hope this helps. Basically the idea is to be less restrictive.

Okay I did a little research on Kashmir. Where it used to be just a Himalayan region of India, these days it is an area administered by India, Pakistan, and the POC. So people could either list a book set there under any three of those nations, or list it under Kashmir. I stole the idea to read Chef: A Novel (from Toni, I think?) and since I also have picks for India, Pakistan, and China, I'm going to list it separately! (Of course, I'm already breaking my rules with this one as Singh was born and lives in India)

Darcey and Jenny, in this flexible group, this group with only rule stating that we should use book links, how we define countries is even pretty much up to each of us. Some people have set Great Britain as one country and others have instead split it into the three regions: Scotland, England and Wales. Someone else might choose to use the United Kingdomn consisting of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Me, I have chosen two entities Great Britain and the entire island of Ireland (including Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland), but that is just my choice.

Darcey, do keep in mind that even the countriy definitions can be bent for your own reading purposes. I adore this flexibility.