9 Countries, 9 Books and 9 Months!
"Roam if you want to/Roam around the world..." -The B-52s
Check out the Orbis Terrarum Challenge which begins April 1 and runs through the rest of 2008. To be fully challenged, the participant must read 9 books from 9 different countries during this time.
I was feeling a little over-challenged, so I hesitated to join up. Then I remembered my New Year's vow to read more books from other countries after coming up disgustingly short last year and having to endure my Tough & Cool Inner Bookworm's stinging-nettles-scorn. After that, I was chatting with Aaron, who had already signed on. He gently encouraged me to go ahead and make up my list of books. He even kindly made a suggestion when I got stalled. [OK, Aaron -- you can let go of my arm now. Ow.]
They're all novels. Here's my list, which makes no sense geographically. Just like me.
1. The Bone People (New Zealand) [this book has been hanging over my head for what? 20 years now?] FINISHED
2. Great Expectations (England) [reading this will remove some of my guilt spikes about Dickens] FINISHED
3. A Summons To Memphis (United States) [it seems slightly shameful to include a book from my own country, but unsurprising, if I may generalize about my own nationality! Reading this will help me with my own private little Pulitzer challenge I've got going on] FINISHED
4. Kafka On The Shore (Japan) [I really haven't warmed up to Murikami. I'm hoping that this book will change that]
5. Cousin Bette (France) [did I dream it, or is there a movie with Jessica Lange as the title character?]
6. The Oxford Murders (Argentina) [Aaron has slated this for the April read in his facebook book group, Bookin' Around, of which I'm a proud member] FINISHED
7. An Appointment With My Brother (South Korea) [I really want to read all the Korean literature that's available in translation] FINISHED
8. JPod (Canada) [Aaron vigorously combed the stacks at What The Book? and found this for me. I think he would've wept or struck something if I hadn't taken it home. Nice work, Aaron! I plan to work through the Coupland canon]
9. Love In The Time Of Cholera (Columbia) [I've been hoping we might choose this for BOOKLEAVES one of these months]
Okay, I'm all set! Where's my passport?
Check out the Orbis Terrarum Challenge which begins April 1 and runs through the rest of 2008. To be fully challenged, the participant must read 9 books from 9 different countries during this time.
I was feeling a little over-challenged, so I hesitated to join up. Then I remembered my New Year's vow to read more books from other countries after coming up disgustingly short last year and having to endure my Tough & Cool Inner Bookworm's stinging-nettles-scorn. After that, I was chatting with Aaron, who had already signed on. He gently encouraged me to go ahead and make up my list of books. He even kindly made a suggestion when I got stalled. [OK, Aaron -- you can let go of my arm now. Ow.]
They're all novels. Here's my list, which makes no sense geographically. Just like me.
1. The Bone People (New Zealand) [this book has been hanging over my head for what? 20 years now?] FINISHED
2. Great Expectations (England) [reading this will remove some of my guilt spikes about Dickens] FINISHED
3. A Summons To Memphis (United States) [it seems slightly shameful to include a book from my own country, but unsurprising, if I may generalize about my own nationality! Reading this will help me with my own private little Pulitzer challenge I've got going on] FINISHED
4. Kafka On The Shore (Japan) [I really haven't warmed up to Murikami. I'm hoping that this book will change that]
5. Cousin Bette (France) [did I dream it, or is there a movie with Jessica Lange as the title character?]
6. The Oxford Murders (Argentina) [Aaron has slated this for the April read in his facebook book group, Bookin' Around, of which I'm a proud member] FINISHED
7. An Appointment With My Brother (South Korea) [I really want to read all the Korean literature that's available in translation] FINISHED
8. JPod (Canada) [Aaron vigorously combed the stacks at What The Book? and found this for me. I think he would've wept or struck something if I hadn't taken it home. Nice work, Aaron! I plan to work through the Coupland canon]
9. Love In The Time Of Cholera (Columbia) [I've been hoping we might choose this for BOOKLEAVES one of these months]
Okay, I'm all set! Where's my passport?
