Monday 30 December 2013

One Last Challenge - 2014 Around-the-World Challenge

Okay, this is the last challenge …….. I promise!  My Dead Writers Society Goodreads group has set up a 2014 Around-the-World Challenge, so I really must join this one.  Really, I have no choice!  I'm being held hostage and ………  oh,well, never mind …..  ;-)  I know that I'm fooling no one, so I may as well quit while I'm ahead …...



The only stipulation for this challenge is that the authors have to be dead and the countries/areas read in the following order.  The books I'm considering are in parentheses:

January:  North America  (If On a Winter Night A Traveler by Italo
                                                              Calvino)

February:  South America (The Poems of Pablo Neruda)

March:  Western Europe  (Les Lettres du Moulin by Alphonse Daudet but
                                                              this will probably change)

April:  Eastern Europe (a book by Isaac Bashevis Singer)

May:  Northern Europe  (The Saga of the Volsungs or Fear and Trembling
                                                           by Søren Kierkegaard) 

June:  North Africa (The Cairo Trilogy by Naguib Mahfouz)

July:  Sub-Saharan Africa (Cry the Beloved Country by Alan Paton)

August:  Middle East  (The Epic of Gilgamesh or The Arabian Nights)

September:  Russia, Mongolia  (I was mulling over The Brothers 
                                                                        Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky but now
                                                                        I highly doubt it)

October:  China, Korea, Japan  (The Story of Stone by Cao Xueqin)

November:  India  (The Far Pavilions by M.M. Kaye)

December:  Australasia  (I don't know!  Perhaps something from Katherine
                                                           Mansfield)


I know I will not make it through all twelve months; if I'm able to read four books, I will be pleased.  But this challenge will force me to read books that I wouldn't normally choose independently, so it has its benefits.  Plus I probably can find a reading buddy or two within the group and what better reason to join than that!

12 comments:

  1. I will be reading If on a winter night later next year. Actually, it's my next WEM read. Have fun!

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    1. Really?!! I'll be waiting to read your thoughts! In fact, I wish that I could read along with you, but fortunately I think I've found a buddy for this read so I won't be alone. Once you get through the WEM novels and start on the next section (is it history?), I might start up with you. That is if I survive my reads for January, which is really starting to scare me. My challenges are nothing compared with the number of books I have scheduled for that month! **** teeth chattering and sweat pouring down forehead! ****

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    2. Actually, my next section of WEM is biographies (beginning with Confessions by Augustine.)

      Well, January starts tomorrow, so lots of luck to you!!!!

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  2. Now THIS is a very interesting challenge! That would be a fun way to expand one's reading horizons. I'll have to keep this (concept at least) in mind for a future year.

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    1. I've noticed that there are other "Around-the-World" challenges online, so it shouldn't be hard to find another year. It's a good challenge to expand your horizons! :-)

      I'm ready to start your Children's Literature Challenge the day after tomorrow. Can't wait!

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  3. Lovely blog!

    Don't tell me you're doing all the challenges that appear on your sidebar?

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    1. Thanks for your kind words, AK!

      Yes. Can you believe it?! The only ones I'm a little worried about are the Shakespeare Challenge and this challenge. However, we will see, when December 2014 rolls around, if I am still a functioning reader. I have managed to keep up with most of my reads for this year though, so that is a positive thing. Isn't it ……??? ;-)

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  4. Seems we only have an anticipated match on The Epic of Gilgamesh on this challenge. My "pencil in" list can be seen by meandering over here.

    Bon Voyage.

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    1. I like your Borges for February, but I think I'll be too traumatized to be ready to read him then. And I'm looking forward to Neruda.

      I may be interested in an Iliad re-read and I've read The Master and Margarita before so I could comment. The White Guard is tempting.

      The Plague or The Golden Ass might be possibilities, and if you want to read Kipling for November, I might be interested in The Jungle Book or convince you to read Kim.

      I can be bribed, you know ……… in case you were wondering …...

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    2. Your February pick of poetry would traumatize me. It will be interesting to see if I make it through January to surface into February. My February ideas are on the shorter side of length, although I have been intrigued by a few others selection of 2666 by Roberto Bolaño, but at 900+ pages I didn't feel it was a smart move.

      As for April, maybe The White Guard, don't want you always re-reading pieces.

      The Jungle Book is short enough that MAYBE another option could be added, depending on how rest of year goes. You know my lack of the NO word.

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    3. I have no idea, for it does not exist in regards to my TBR pile!

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