Around the World in 80 Books discussion

January 1, 2024 until December 31, 2024

General Rules
Here is a new challenge to broaden your reading horizons. For this challenge you will read one book from each of 16 of the following genres. The catch is that each book has to be originally written in a language other than English or your native language . Books may be of any length. The genre you claim must also be listed on that book's main page.

How to begin
Start your own topic in this thread using your name or nickname as your title. Specify the genre you selected for the book you have read and include the link for your book. Make a new post with each new entry.

Genres (Pick any 16)
Children's/Fairytales
Classic Fiction (>50 years old)
Contemporary fiction
Fantasy/Magical realism
Folklore/Mythology
Graphic Novels/Manga/Comics
Historical Fiction
History (Non-fiction)
Horror
Humor
Literary Fiction/Realistic Fiction
Memoir/Autobiography/Biography
Mystery (Crime, Detective. Cozy, Noir, etc.)
Other Non-fiction (Essays, Cookbooks, Self-help, True crime, etc.)
Poetry/Epics
Romance
Science Fiction/Dystopia
Short Stories
Thrillers/Suspense/Espionage
Travel Writing
Wildcard (Any genre or sub-genre not mentioned)
Young Adult/Middle Grade/Children's

Fascinating! Thanks for offering this one, Diane!

Ooh, this is a challenge I can get behind!

This sounds like my kind of challenge.

Ooo interesting. Thanks Diane!

Here's a couple resources you may like:


Popular Translated Books

Three Percent

Diane wrote: "Here's a couple resources you may like:


Popular Translated Books

Three Percent"

Great links -- thanks!

I also get ideas from some of the international awards for authors, including:

Nobel Prize in Literature

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_...

Neustadt International Prize for Literature

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neust...

Man Booker International Prize

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man_B...

Thanks for the links, Diane and Mome_Rath.

Travel writing is non-fiction, and would generally be found in the 900 section of the Dewey Decimal system. Some well-known English language writers include Bill Bryson, Michael Palin (of Monty Python), Sara Wheeler, and Bruce Chatwin.

Books by international explorers would be one way to find travel writing in translation. This would include works by Marco Polo (Italian), Ibn Battuta (Arabic), Cristoforo Colombo (Spanish), Jacques Cartier (French), Roald Amundsen (Norwegian), and Yuri Gagarin (Russian). There are many more out there to choose from.

If (like me) you are looking to focus particularly on women in translation, the recently announced longlist for the Warwick Prize for Women in Translation might be of interest: https://www2.warwick.ac.uk/newsandevents/pressreleases/warwick_prize_for_women_in_translation_shortlist_revealed1/

Here are a couple of lists on GR for women in translation that I have found helpful.

https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/9...
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/7...

And a list of nonfiction in translation by women and men.

https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/7...

Can I make a plea that when you post the title/link to the book you've read you also give the name of the translator? In some books this information is easy to find but in others it may be hidden away. Your enjoyment of the book depends to quite an extent on the skills of the translator and since this is specifically a translated literature challenge I hope we can recognise this in our posts.

Mome_Rath wrote: "Travel writing is non-fiction, and would generally be found in the 900 section of the Dewey Decimal system. Some well-known English language writers include Bill Bryson, Michael ..."</i>

In this category I recommend [book:The Motorcycle Diaries: Notes on a Latin American Journey by Ernesto "Che" Guevara

Ruth wrote: "Can I make a plea that when you post the title/link to the book you've read you also give the name of the translator? In some books this information is easy to find but in others it may be hidden a..."

That's a great point, Ruth!

PeekingLlama - Laura wrote: "Is Travel Writing fiction or non fiction and where is the best place to look for books on the subject."

Just some suggestions in this category:

The Travels of Ibn Battutah
The Journey of Ibn Fattouma (this is fiction - you be the judge) by Naguib Mahfouz
Destruction and Sorrow beneath the Heavens: Reportage by László Krasznahorkai
The Narrow Road to Oku by Matsuo Bashō
An Armenian Sketchbook by Vasily Grossman
Nobody Leaves: Impressions of Poland by Ryszard Kapuściński (only 128 pages, btw)

first book in this challenge finished:
Classic Fiction (>50 years old) The Works of Guy de Maupassant Vol. 4 https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...
second book
Literary Fiction/Historical Fiction – The Priest of Shiga Temple and His Love
http://www.shortstoryproject.com/prie...
Third Book
Romance Harlamov-
http://www.shortstoryproject.com/harl...
Fourth Book
Contemporary fiction –The Girl of His Dreams http://www.shortstoryproject.com/the-...
Fifth Book
Folklore/Mythology The Deer in the Dream
http://www.shortstoryproject.com/the-...
Sixth Book
Humor The Picture Horse
http://www.shortstoryproject.com/the-...
Seventh Book
Poetry/Epics The Poetry of Pablo Neruda

I think I may try this challenge! I follow this group but didn't participate in a challenge this year. I like to see the group reads and add them to my TBR. This is a great idea for a challenge! Thanks Diane.

Suggesting:
Samu-Shamu, The Sonam Stories: Narratives of Childhood in Bhutan.

https://www.amazon.com/Samu-Stories-N...

The stories were written by young adults, and then they translated them from Dzongkha (language of Bhutan) into English.

I was wondering whether this challenge will be offered annually? I would love to participate again next year!

Cheryl wrote: "I was wondering whether this challenge will be offered annually? I would love to participate again next year!"

I will be continuing it next year.

Diane wrote: "Cheryl wrote: "I was wondering whether this challenge will be offered annually? I would love to participate again next year!"

I will be continuing it next year."

Thanks Diane, that's great news!

Diane wrote: "The catch is that each book has to be originally written in a language other than English or your native language..."
Hi, Diane!
My native language is Spanish, are books originally written in English forbidden for me too?
Thanks for these great challenges 😉

Carmen wrote: "Diane wrote: "The catch is that each book has to be originally written in a language other than English or your native language..."
Hi, Diane!
My native language is Spanish, are books originally wr..."

Sorry for the late reply. English language books would be acceptable for you to use.

Diane wrote: "Carmen wrote: "Diane wrote: "The catch is that each book has to be originally written in a language other than English or your native language..."
Hi, Diane!
My native language is Spanish, are book..."

Great!