Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge discussion

I like this one because it is sort of a "gimme." I see myself slotting one of my book club's picks here. We've read books by authors from Malaysia, Japan, Nigeria, Sweden and Pakistan just in the last 11 months!

I have a list from Sophie Kinsella (London) and Ahern Cecilia (Ireland) penciled in for this category. The list is longer than I thought so I would consider this a gimme category too because I typically like any book those authors write.

A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

The Count of Monte Cristo by Dumas

The 100 Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared (Sweden)

I really like this category, (and I think it was inspired by my suggestion!) - I've been to a handful of western European countries, and Canada & Mexico, but other than that the whole world is open to me! Most of the European authors I read are from the UK or France, so this pushes me to look elsewhere, which is good. I'm not sure what I'll read. The Nordic countries are all available to me! I read a mystery by Jo Nesbø for this year's Challenge, and I really liked it, so I might go back to him. Or maybe I'll go to Malaysia, I've had The Ghost Bride on my list since early this year. Or I could go back to Nigeria (a country I ALMOST visited, but then they had another coup) and read Purple Hibiscus. Or there's always Australia! Liane Moriarty or Melina Marchetta are both on my TBR list.

If anyone is interested in reading a mystery set in the Philippines, I recommend Smaller and Smaller Circles.

I have The Light Between Oceans from the library and I just looked up the author M.L. Stedman, and she's from Australia. Woo!

So many options for this prompt. Isabel Allende is Chilean, so I might go with something by her. Maybe The House of the Spirits?

Nadine wrote: "I really like this category, (and I think it was inspired by my suggestion!) - ..."

Great category, Nadine! And thanks for the Smaller and Smaller Circles suggestion, it looks really good! Just added it to my list.

The Vegetarian. Saw a review of it not too long ago. Looks interesting!

Nancy wrote: "The Vegetarian. Saw a review of it not too long ago. Looks interesting!"

Nancy, I read this. It's really different, very intriguing. Glad I read it!

I like this category also. There's so few places that I've been (Canada, USA, France and Belgium) that I'll save this one for any book I want to read during the year.

Battle Royale (Japan) :D

Planning to read My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry by Fredrik Backman

This one is really comprehensive :)
Around the World in 80 Books: Global Reading List
https://www.bookriot.com/2016/04/28/a...

Nadine wrote: "I really like this category, (and I think it was inspired by my suggestion!) - I've been to a handful of western European countries, and Canada & Mexico, but other than that the whole world is open..."

You might consider Jussi Adler-Olsen (Denmark) his series about departmen Q (Crime) is really good. My favorite is the #3 one in the series. Not quite sure though what its called in english. The first 3 ones have been made in to movies and I am patiently awaiting for the next one to hit cinemas.

I am doing Big Little Lies (Australia)

Anabell wrote: "Nadine wrote: "I really like this category, (and I think it was inspired by my suggestion!) - I've been to a handful of western European countries, and Canada & Mexico, but other than that the whol...

You might consider Jussi Adler-Olsen (Denmark) his series about departmen Q (Crime) is really good. My favorite is the #3 one in the series. Not quite sure though what its called in english. The first 3 ones have been made in to movies and I am patiently awaiting for the next one to hit cinemas."

Thanks! I've added the first one to my TBR list, it looks good. The Keeper of Lost Causes

Powell's 2016 list of 25 Books to Read Before You Die is perfect for this prompt. Countries are listed for each book.

poshpenny wrote: "Powell's 2016 list of 25 Books to Read Before You Die is perfect for this prompt. Countries are listed for each book."

Well, I love lists! (And that's a cool graphic that goes along with it!!) That's an interesting one, because I've only read one book on it (and I loved that book!!!) and all the rest don't look interesting at all! LOL! But I loved the one book I read, so I think I should give this list a few more chances. Maybe I'll read one this year, and in 2018 one of my goals will be to read all the rest of the books here.

Joanna wrote: "Planning to read My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry by Fredrik Backman"

I own this book so, I could read it for this prompt too!

Anyone have any suggestions or recommendations for Italy?! Thanks!!

For books by authors from Italy, there are the Elena Ferrante books. The first is My Brilliant Friend.

The Name of the Rose and My Brilliant Friend both come to mind. I haven't read them personally, but they are generally well liked I think.

Kaila wrote: "Anyone have any suggestions or recommendations for Italy?! Thanks!!"

There are two from Italy on that Powell's list: Elena Ferrante & Italo Calvino.

Another great book is Legacy by Linda Govik. She is swedish but writes in English. Love this book set during Napoleon's time.

Can I count Poirot books? Is he really the "main character"? I've never been to Belgium but we may go visit some friends there this year so if I want to use a Poirot book I guess I better do it early in the year!

I may have to give Harry Potter a chance in this category.

Emily wrote: "Can I count Poirot books? Is he really the "main character"? I've never been to Belgium but we may go visit some friends there this year so if I want to use a Poirot book I guess I better do it ear..."

Agatha Christie is from the UK, so if you've never been there, you're all set!

Just finished The Absent One by Jussi Alden-Olsen for this one. Let the challenge begin!!

My vote here goes to A Man Called Ove, which is Swedish. I've recommended this book to strangers (literally) because it's just that wonderful. It's also a general sort of fiction, unlike my Australian choice, which would be Stephen M. Irwin's https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1..., which is a dystopian/sort of paranormal/thriller.

Does anyone know what country My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She is Sorry is set in?

Ashley wrote: "Does anyone know what country My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She is Sorry is set in?"

This category is for an author from a country you've not been to, and the author of that book, Backman, is Swedish. I don't know where the story is set, but I would guess Sweden.

Nadine wrote: "Ashley wrote: "Does anyone know what country My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She is Sorry is set in?"

This category is for an author from a country you've not been to, and the author of that b..."

Ah good catch!! This could work here then! I was going to put it under an interesting woman if it didn't work. Thank you!

Think I'm going with Ireland and The Glorious Heresies , though plenty of other books on my list would qualify too, I'm just using them for other prompts!

Russia: The Master and Margarita - Mikhail Bulgakov
New Zealand: The Bone People - Keri Hulme
India: A Fine Balance - Rohinton Mistry

I've never been to England so I'm reading The Code Book: The Science of Secrecy from Ancient Egypt to Quantum Cryptography
The author, according to Google, is British.

I've read Petit Pays by Gaël Faye for this one. I'm not sure if there is an English translation yet for that one, as it was published last year, but if you speak French, it is a book to read. Short, informative and from the point of view of a child on the war in Burundi/Rwanda. The author is born in Burundi.

This category is easy for me because I have never traveled outside the United States. I just started reading Truly Madly Guilty so I think I'll use it for this category. She's from Australia.

I just read The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper when ch was set in the U.K.

This'll be easy for me... I've only visited 2 countries: England and Canada.

I finished the little Paris bookshop by Nina George. She splits her time between France and Germany neither of which I've visited. This is a great book if you're looking for books mentioned in other books because this book mentions a LOT! I'll make a short list in the thread for that prompt if anyone wants to see.

Tara wrote: "I finished the little Paris bookshop by Nina George. She splits her time between France and Germany neither of which I've visited. This is a great book if you're looking for books mentioned in othe..."

I read it recently, as well, but not for this year's challenge and I definitely wouldn't have been able to read it for this task. I lived in Germany and visited France frequently as a child.

Agreed that it is a really fun, wonderfully written book. Seconding your recommendation.

I, sadly, have not been anywhere outside the US except for the Dominican Republic, so this should be a fairly easy task to complete. Now I just need to get my butt out to travel! Anyone have a couch or air mattress I can crash on?? :)

I want to read Sholom Aleichem, the Yiddish writer (who created the stories that Fiddler on the Roof is based on), for research purposes and figured as a Russian writer, he would fit the bill. But looking for a book of his to download, I saw he's listed as American (he immigrated to the US two years before he died). And although he was born in what was then Russia, another site lists his birthplace as a city in the Ukraine (and I actually spent half a day in an area of the Ukraine that was then a part of Austro Hungary), so I'm totally confused where I stand with this challenge.

It looks like Aleichem grew up in the Ukraine, except it was part of the Russian empire then. If you've been to Ukraine then it doesn't sound like he'll work for this category. Perhaps you could use "written by someone you admire"?

Oh! Aleichem is a pseudonym! You could use his book for that!

Nadine wrote: "Oh! Aleichem is a pseudonym! You could use his book for that!"

Thanks! Didn't think of that!

Nadine wrote: "Oh! Aleichem is a pseudonym! You could use his book for that!"

Thanks! Didn't think of that!

Nadine wrote: "Oh! Aleichem is a pseudonym! You could use his book for that!"

Thanks! Didn't think of that!

Nadine wrote: "Oh! Aleichem is a pseudonym! You could use his book for that!"

Thanks! Didn't think of that!