Around the World discussion

I am enthusiastic about this challenge - but am just kind of marking my spot right now while I begin to brainstorm. Looking forward to taking a look at some of the books already selected by group members and choosing some of those.

I'm sure I've read books by authors in a variety of countries over the years, but usually I don't pay a whole lot of attention to where the story "came from". I think 2012 will turn into a year of heightened awareness for me in many ways. Most of all, I'm looking forward to reading some authors I haven't tried before.

I like the alliteration of Kay's Kaleidoscope (& even spelled it) and suppose the kaleidoscope is seeing the variegated, changing world and its features through the lens of our year of books from fifty-two countries.

I too love your kaleidoscopic vision! Wonderful view. I am eager to see your list. I am hoping to see new titles and new ideas! Completely new ways of viewing the same old world we are all observing.

Here's the beginning of my list of planned reads (subject to change as I peruse other lists - but it's a start):
1. Korea: Please Look After Mom by Kyung-Sook Shin
2. Egypt: The Alexandria Link by Steve Berry
3. India: In Spite of the Gods: The Strange Rise of Modern India by Edward Luce or A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth
4. Channel Islands: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Annie Barrows
5. Italy: A Thousand Days in Venice by Marlena De Blasi
6. France: My Life in France by Julia Child
7. England: The Man With a Load of Mischief by Martha Grimes
8. China: Empress Orchid by Anchee Min
9. Switzerland: Alpine for You by Maddy Hunter
10: Ireland: Patrick: Son of Ireland by Stephen R. Lawhead
11. Israel: Monday the Rabbi Took Off by Harry Kemelman
12: Mexico/Yucatan Peninsula: The Xibalba Murders by Lyn Hamilton
13. Malta: The Maltese Goddess by Lyn Hamilton
14. Peru: The Moche Warrior by Lyn Hamilton
15. Greece:Exit Actors, Dying by Margot Arnold
16. Scotland: Lament for a Lady Laird by Margot Arnold
17. Solomon Islands: Tales of the South Pacific by James A. Michener
18. South Africa: The Covenant by James A. Michener
19. Poland: Poland by James A. Michener
20. Botswana: Blue Shoes and Happiness by Alexander McCall Smith
21. Japan: A Year in Japan by Kate T. Williamson
22.Norway: Kristin Lavransdatter by Sigrid Undset
23. Spain: Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra
24. Australia: Voss or A Fringe of Leaves by Patrick White


I am thinking that I will try to average 2 books per month for this challenge, for an "Around the World" in 24 books.


(See later posts for actual reads).

Good Work, Kay. I see you enjoy a mystery story. Gary Corby has some light-hearted ones.

Kay, I added your selections to the master list(s). You have some unique titles! I also really enjoyed The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, despite my resistance.

Asmah wrote: "Good Work, Kay. I see you enjoy a mystery story. Gary Corby has some light-hearted ones."

Asmah, thank you for that recommendation. I will definitely check out Gary Corby.

Barry wrote: "hi Kay! I needed one for China so thanks for leading me to Anchee Min (I'm going to read her Katherine )"

Barry, you're welcome. I've not read anything by Min yet, but she comes highly recommended to me by quite a few friends. I missed out on a local group discussion of "Empress".

Judy wrote: "Kay, nice start on your list! I see you will be reading The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. Do you enjoy audio books?"

Judy, I really have to be in the mood to listen to an audio book. Often, I'm disappointed with a narrator's style - so when I do feel like listening, I usually check out 6 or 7 audio books because I know that in many cases I'll be quitting after about 5 minutes. There are some narrators I really love, though: Lisette Lecat (The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series), Barbara Rosenblatt (the Mrs. Pollifax series), and John McDonough (the Mitford series).

Don wrote: "Hi Kay. Thought I recognized your flag picture and sure enough you are a member of the 75 reads group. If we reach our goals of 52 around the world that will almost make our 75 read goal also, as ..."

Hi, Don! Nice to see you over here. Yep - I am most definitely a Mitford fan.

Tour completed:



1. England: The BFG by Roald Dahl
1. England: North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell
2. Norway: Kristin Lavransdatter, Part 1: The Wreath by Sigrid Undset
3. France: The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
4. Antarctica: An Empire Of Ice: Scott, Shackleton, And The Heroic Age Of Antarctic Science by Edward J. Larson
5. Scotland: Death of a Dreamer by M.C. Beaton
6. Egypt: The Alexandria Link by Steve Berry. (Also Spain, Austria, and the UK).
7. Botswana: Blue Shoes and Happiness by Alexander McCall Smith
9. Myanmar: Priced to Move by Ginny Aiken
10. Kashmir: A Steal of a Deal by Ginny Aiken. (It wasn't entirely clear whether this took place in the part of the Kashmir region controlled by India, or the part controlled by Pakistan, or the part controlled by China. I'm thinking Pakistan because of the gun-toting terrorists following the characters.
11. Columbia: A Cut Above by Ginny Aiken
12. Korea: When My Name Was Keoko by Linda Sue Park
13. Ireland: The Oak Leaves by Maureen Lang
14. Iraq: Lion of Babylon by Davis Bunn
15. Kenya: Rare Earth by Davis Bunn

Second challenge: United States Tour! 55 books! (50 states, plus District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands).

1. New York: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving
2. Maine: Homicide at Blue Heron Lake (Mainely Murder Mystery Series #1) by Susan Page Davis
3. Pennsylvania: Hide In Plain Sight by Marta Perry
4. Washington D.C.: Taft 2012: A Novel by Jason Heller
5. Connecticut: We'll Meet Again by Mary Higgins Clark
6. Georgia: Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind by Ann B. Ross
7. Virginia: The Penguin Who Knew Too Much by Donna Andrews
8. Arizona: Scorpions for Breakfast: My Fight Against Special Interests, Liberal Media, and Cynical Politicos to Secure America's Border byJan Brewer
9. Colorado: Instant Menace by Jerry B. Jenkins
10. Missouri: Invisible by Lorena McCourtney
11. California: Mariner's Compass by Earlene Fowler
12. Maryland: From Ashes to Honor by Loree Lough
13. Vermont: The Mill River Recluse by Darcie Chan
14. Texas: Reinventing Leona by Lynne Gentry
15. Washington: Design on a Crime by Ginny Aiken
16. North Carolina: The Pawn by Steven James
17. South Carolina: Too Close to Home by Lynette Eason
18. Louisiana: Gone to Green by Judy Christie
19. Ohio: The Pastor's Wife by Jennifer AlLee
20. U.S. Virgin Islands: Mingo's Cave by Chuck Ball
21. New Mexico: Deadly Gamble by Connie Shelton
22. American Samoa: South Pacific Survivor: In Samoa by Kevin Daley
23. Hawaii Vacations Can Be Murder by Connie Shelton
24. Michigan: Love Me If You Must by Nicole Young
25. Illinois: Left Behind: A Novel of the Earth's Last Days by Jerry B. Jenkins andTim LaHaye
26. Florida: Five Miles South of Peculiar: A Novel by Angela Elwell Hunt
27. Rhode Island: Born to Fly by Michael Ferrari
28. Oregon: Whirlpool by Lorena McCourtney
29. Kansas: One More Sunrise by Michael Landon Jr.
30. Idaho: Saving Sailor : A Quirky Girl, A Faithful Dog, and One Unforgettable Summer by Renee Riva
31. Montana: The Vigilante's Bride by Yvonne Harris
32. Wyoming: Heart of Gold by Lacy Williams
33. Kentucky: Stuck in the Middle by Virginia Smith

States and territories still to visit in 2012:
1. Alabama
2. Alaska
3. Arkansas
4. Delaware
5. Guam
6. Indiana
7. Iowa
8. Massachusetts
9. Minnesota
10. Mississippi
11. Nebraska
12. Nevada
13. New Hampshire
14. New Jersey
15. North Dakota
16. Oklahoma
17. Puerto Rico
18. South Dakota
19. Tennessee
20. Utah
21. West Virginia
22. Wisconsin

Through the end of January:
4/24 for my Around the World goal
4/55 for my US Tour goal

Through the end of February:

5/24 for my Around the World goal
8/55 for my US Tour goal

I better get busier on this challenge!

Through the end of March:

7 out of 24 for my Around the World goal
10 out of 55 for my Us Tour goal

Through the end of April:

11/24 for my Around the World goal
14/55 for my U.S. Tour goal

I'm starting to feel unsure about the U.S. goal . . . but very far from giving up. There is still a LOT of year left . . .

I read quite a lot of stuff in May, but nothing that took place anywhere other than places I've already "visited" this year. Vacation's coming up, though, with lots of reading in June.

Through the end of May:
11/24 for my Around the World goal
15/55 for my U.S. Tour goal

A one-week vacation the first week in June,, plus having one arm in a cast since June 18 has meant lots of quality Kindle time this month! I'm just about halfway through each part of my dual challenge. Best of all, I was able to find books taking place in two U.S. Territories that were especially difficult to find: U.S. Virgin Islands, and American Samoa.

13/24 for my Around the World goal
26/55 for my U.S. Tour goal

Hope your arm is okay! Always good to have a benefit to injury, nice going on both of your tours!

Rusalka wrote: "Hope your arm is okay! Always good to have a benefit to injury, nice going on both of your tours!"

Thanks, Rusalka. The arm will be fine . . . had to have surgery to repair torn ligaments in my hand, actually. The cast goes from my palm, over my thumb, and halfway up my arm to keep the thumb and wrist still. Anyway, I'm past the painful part and into the awkward phase I guess. Definitely on the mend and I'm grateful for that! No gardening or crafts for me, though, with the right hand out of commission. So I am having fun reading a lot!

Took a bit of a break this month to read "Gone with the Wind" with a group. Still, read 2 for my around the world challenge and 1 for my US States and Territories challenge. I plan to focus in on these challenges with renewed vigor in August! I believe I will still make it by the end of the year.

As of the end of July:

15/24 for my Around the World goal
27/55 for my US Tour goal

The Fall is such a great time for reading - of course you'll make it :-)

Louise wrote: "The Fall is such a great time for reading - of course you'll make it :-)"

Thanks for the vote of confidence!

Made a bit of progress in August towards the US Tour despite extreme busyness! Stayed the same for the Around the World one, though.

As of the end of August:
15/24 for my Around the World goal
33/55 for my US Tour goal