The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion

30.5 - Mazza1's Task: A world of books

I was looking for a challenge for next year and came across this site about reading books from around the world A Year of Reading the World. This task is inspired by this site but not confined to the books identified there

• Read 2 books
• Each book must be from a different Continent
• Neither book can be set in your own Country - please identify your own country when posting. For this purpose, "set in" includes ANY activity in your own country. Either book can be set on the Continent on which you live, as long as it is a different country.
• ALL books must be written by single authors

For purposes of this task, we will use the list from World Atlas Countries Listed by Continent. Although it is not on the list, Antarctica is also included as a continent, with only Antarctica as a "country."

If a book is set in a country that has been renamed, please provide a reference establishing that. For example, a book set in Zaire would work for the current country of Democratic Republic of Congo.

REQUIRED: If the setting country or author country is not clear from the GR description, metadata, or author bio, provide a reference to this information.

Book 1 Read a book that is SET IN or WRITTEN BY an author from a country starting with ANY letter of your READERBOARD name.

For purposes of this task, "set in" means that the book is completely set in the specific country, with only minor exceptions (such as a quick business trip to another country).

For purposes of this task, the author must have been born in a particular country to be "from" that country.

Book 2. Read a book that is SET IN or WRITTEN BY an author from a country starting with one of the initials of the author of Book 1, including middle initials..

For purposes of this task, "set in" means that the book is completely set in the specific country, with only minor exceptions (such as a quick business trip to another country).

For purposes of this task, the author must have been born in a particular country to be "from" that country.


Example: My readerboard name starts with M and I am from the UK.

For Book 1 I could choose to read
Like Water for Chocolate written by Laura Esquivel from Mexico (North America)

Book 2 could be The Merry Misogynist which is SET in Laos (Asia)

OR

The Crossing: A Story of East Timor by Luís Cardoso, which is Both set in and by an Author from East Timor (Asia)

FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS TASK

1. The UK is one country consisting of England Scotland and Wales in exactly the same way as the USA is one country of 50 States.

For books to work for this task you need a U in your reader board name OR the initials of the author for Book 2 = UK/USA


If your book lists a country of the UK or a states of the USA it can be assumed as to be occurring in the UK / USA

If you live in the UK/USA you cannot live in any part of that country and still use the book

2. The country you are from for this task is where you are CURRENTLY living

and again

and again

This thread is now open!

I'm thinking of the following:

My readerboard name is Amy FL -
Book 1: Bridge of Clay by Marcus Zusak who was born in Australia
Book 2: The Devil's Highway

My concern is for book 2. It begins in Mexico and details a border crossing into the US where I'm from. Will the book work since the author was born in Mexico and the main characters are Mexican?

Does the setting have to say United Kingdom or can E be for
England?

Amy wrote: "I'm thinking of the following:

My readerboard name is Amy FL -
Book 1: Bridge of Clay by Marcus Zusak who was born in Australia
Book 2: The Devil's Highway

My concern is for book 2. It begins in ..."

We have noticed that the book 2 wording is a bit ambiguous so it will be changed to read as it does for book 1. In that case your second book will work as the author is Mexican

ETA I am going to post further and separately about this book Amy please be sure to read through all my replies

Kathy G. wrote: "Does the setting have to say United Kingdom or can E be for
England?"

I think you can validly state that England is in the United Kingdom when you post

Kathy I have taken this from the link to countries by continent

"Regarding England, Scotland and Wales, though considered individual countries, they are all a part of the United Kingdom (UK), a European country, and therefore included within the United Kingdom on the list below."

as they are individual countries I think that England will work for E

Marie (UK) wrote: "Kathy I have taken this from the link to countries by continent

"Regarding England, Scotland and Wales, though considered individual countries, they are all a part of the United Kingdom (UK), a Eu..."

So, if I live in England, can I still read a book set in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland?

Lagullande wrote: "Marie (UK) wrote: "Kathy I have taken this from the link to countries by continent

"Regarding England, Scotland and Wales, though considered individual countries, they are all a part of the United..."

No that would not work

I understand where you are coming from Lagullande. I think using Scotland and Wales if you live in the UK as I do is going against the spirit of the idea to read outside of your home nation. However I think to be fair to both you and Kathy I will have to ask for some advice from the mods. Kathy I would like to ask you to wait until I speak to them before identifying a book that you will read. As the challenge does not start for a couple of weeks there is plenty of time.

"Neither book can be set in your own Country - please identify your own country when posting."

Is this the country where I live, where I was born or where I grew up (3 different countries in my case)?

Marie (UK) wrote: "I think using Scotland and Wales if you live in the UK as I do is going against the spirit of the idea to read outside of your home nation."

That's how I had interpreted the task (especially as the separate UK countries are not listed on the linked website). It was the answer to Kathy's question that made me wonder whether it was ok after all. Not a problem for me, either way.

Marie (UK) wrote: "Kathy I have taken this from the link to countries by continent

"Regarding England, Scotland and Wales, though considered individual countries, they are all a part of the United Kingdom (UK), a Eu..."

Thank you!

I saw the other post---- I'll wait.

OK...a little confusion here. The task specifies Book 1 requirements: "Book 1 Read a book that is SET IN or WRITTEN BY an author from a country starting with ANY letter of your READERBOARD name." However, there is no corresponding statement for Book 2 other than your response in post #8: "We have noticed that the book 2 wording is a bit ambiguous so it will be changed to read as it does for book 1." So, can I assume that the specifics for 1 = 2?

Also, in your explanation, there is an example of one book meeting requirements for both books (?). Does that mean this could be a 1 book task if both requirements were met? How can that be if the requirements are the same?

Bea wrote: "OK...a little confusion here. The task specifies Book 1 requirements: "Book 1 Read a book that is SET IN or WRITTEN BY an author from a country starting with ANY letter of your READERBOARD name." H..."

Please read the revised task. Book 2 requirements are the same as those for book 1, except using the author initials of Book 1.

The example is not of one book meeting requirements for both - it is a book meeting both possible requirements for book 2. Neither of those requirements would work for book 1, since Mazza1 does not have an E in the readerboard name.

OH, got it! Thanks for clarifying, Sandy.

Bea wrote: "OK...a little confusion here. The task specifies Book 1 requirements: "Book 1 Read a book that is SET IN or WRITTEN BY an author from a country starting with ANY letter of your READERBOARD name." H..."

this is a 2 book task i will re read my explanation to see where the confusion arises but you must read 2 books

Amy wrote: "I'm thinking of the following:

My readerboard name is Amy FL -
Book 1: Bridge of Clay by Marcus Zusak who was born in Australia
Book 2: The Devil's Highway

My concern is for book 2. It begins in ..."

The book works for Mexico in that there is a Mexican author
HOWEVER your country is USA and as much of the narrative takes place in the US it will not work as you cannot read from your own country

Lagullande wrote: "Marie (UK) wrote: "I think using Scotland and Wales if you live in the UK as I do is going against the spirit of the idea to read outside of your home nation."

That's how I had interpreted the tas..."

Kathy G. wrote: "Marie (UK) wrote: "Kathy I have taken this from the link to countries by continent

"Regarding England, Scotland and Wales, though considered individual countries, they are all a part of the United..."

IF you are reading a book that identifies the setting as England Scotland OR Wales they should all be assumed as occurring in the UK and YOU CAN use them if you have a U in your reader board name and don't live in the UK
.
You cannot use an E ; S or W in your reader board name (book1) or the Author's initials (book2) to fit a book identified as set in these countries. Nor can you use a book set in England because you live in Scotland or Wales or Vice Versa

This is the same as if you lived in Florida and wanted to use a book set Wyoming all states are considered USA

Rina wrote: ""Neither book can be set in your own Country - please identify your own country when posting."

Is this the country where I live, where I was born or where I grew up (3 different countries in my ca..."

Thanks for bringing this to my attention For the purposes of this task it is where you are living now . I have clarified this in post 2

Thank you--- Got it.

Marie (UK) wrote: "Lagullande wrote: "Marie (UK) wrote: "I think using Scotland and Wales if you live in the UK as I do is going against the spirit of the idea to read outside of your home nation."

That's how I had ..."

Thanks, Marie.
I bet this all seemed straightforward when you first thought of it!!

Marie (UK) wrote: "Amy wrote: "I'm thinking of the following:

My readerboard name is Amy FL -
Book 1: Bridge of Clay by Marcus Zusak who was born in Australia
Book 2: The Devil's Highway

My concern is for book 2. I..."

No problem, Marie. For book 2 I found The Death of Rex Nhongo which is set in Zimbabwe (author of book 1 is Marcus Zusak).

Lagullande wrote: "Marie (UK) wrote: "Lagullande wrote: "Marie (UK) wrote: "I think using Scotland and Wales if you live in the UK as I do is going against the spirit of the idea to read outside of your home nation."..."

It did but at least we got all this straightened out before the challenge starts

Let me see if this works: Readerboard name is KSMary (United States)
Book 1 - any written by J M Coetzee who is from South Africa (Africa)
Book 2 - Still Life which is set in Canada (North America)

So, checking that I have understood this task now...

My readerboard name is BEA (United States)
Book 1: Precious and Grace by Alexander McCall Smith (Set in Botswana for B)
Book 2: Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty (Australian author for A)

Bea wrote: "So, checking that I have understood this task now...

My readerboard name is BEA (United States)
Book 1: Precious and Grace by Alexander McCall Smith (Set in Botswana ..."

yes that works the Liane Moriarty is both set in Australia and written by an Australian and I enjoyed the book

KSMary wrote: "Let me see if this works: Readerboard name is KSMary (United States)
Book 1 - any written by J M Coetzee who is from South Africa (Africa)
Book 2 - Still Life which ..."

Book 1 the country is South Africa the continent is Africa you would need an S in your name to make this work

ETA which you have sorry my eye missed the S in your name this is good to go

I would like to verify my choices, and that I got this right.

My Reader Board Name is Joanne MI and I live the US

Book one-Cutting for Stone set in Ethiopia written by Abraham Verghese

Book TwoThe Accidental Empress

My worry is book 2-it is set in Austria(The Hapsburg Court) which I know was in Austria-BUT the Gr main page does not mention the country

Joanne wrote: "I would like to verify my choices, and that I got this right.

My Reader Board Name is Joanne MI and I live the US

Book one-Cutting for Stone set in Ethiopia written by [author:Abra..."

As far as i can see these work. However you do need to provide evidence for its being in Austria. You could try adding an encyclopaedia entry that tells you that the Hapsburg court is in Austria.

Joanne wrote: "I would like to verify my choices, and that I got this right.

My Reader Board Name is Joanne MI and I live the US

Book one-Cutting for Stone set in Ethiopia written by [author:Abra..."

I have used Amazon's look inside feature - the table of contents identifies Austria This could be used as proof of setting
HOWEVER it also identifies Hungary and Bavaria

the task states " For purposes of this task, "set in" means that the book is completely set in the specific country, with only minor exceptions (such as a quick business trip to another country)."

you need to decide how much is set in Austria and if it will fit "completely set"

Marie (UK) wrote: "Joanne wrote: "I would like to verify my choices, and that I got this right.

My Reader Board Name is Joanne MI and I live the US

Book one-Cutting for Stone set in Ethiopia written ..."

Thanks Marie-turns out a lot of people have said this book is a "stinker"...moving on lol

Just to clarify - when the rules say read a book set in or written by author from a country, it's one or the other? So, for example, if I am from the US, and a book is set in the US, but the author is from another country, I can still read it, provided I use the other country's initial?

(edited because I immediately saw that my second question was already answered in the task description.)

Wanted to check in - my first question above still hadn't been answered. Maybe it was confusing because I edited to say my second question had been answered but I deleted that question before anyone say it?

Anyways, it's the setting OR the author that counts, correct? So if I'm in the US, and read a book by a Canadian author, it doesn't matter if it is set in the US, does it? Because the author is Canadian? Just wanted to check and see. Thanks!

Rach wrote: "Wanted to check in - my first question above still hadn't been answered. Maybe it was confusing because I edited to say my second question had been answered but I deleted that question before anyon..."

Please note the general rule of the task - you cannot read a book for this task that is set in your own country. Doesn't matter whether you are using the author or the setting.

Does this work:

Book 1 The Last Watchman of Old Cairo. It takes place in Egypt the last letter of my readerboard name

Book 2 The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax. The book takes place in Mexico and Albania. Mexico is the first initial in the Last Watchman's author's name

Cindie wrote: "Does this work:

Book 1 The Last Watchman of Old Cairo. It takes place in Egypt the last letter of my readerboard name

Book 2 The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax. The book t..."

The first book is fine and as far as using the right letters the second one does. However GR data has it set in both Mexico and Albania and the task requires it to be entirely set in a county beginning with M or L as per author's initials so it won't work

Marie (UK) wrote: "Cindie wrote: "Does this work:

Book 1 The Last Watchman of Old Cairo. It takes place in Egypt the last letter of my readerboard name

Book 2 [book:The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax|1405..."

Oops! Ok! Thank you!!

Ok would you consider Egypt and Morocco to be on the same continent? (Egypt is part in Africa and part in Asia -- Morocco is all in Asia)

Cindie wrote: "Ok would you consider Egypt and Morocco to be on the same continent? (Egypt is part in Africa and part in Asia -- Morocco is all in Asia)"

According to the link in post 1 they are both in Africa as that is what we are going by for this task you can only use one of them

Marie (UK) wrote: "Cindie wrote: "Ok would you consider Egypt and Morocco to be on the same continent? (Egypt is part in Africa and part in Asia -- Morocco is all in Asia)"

According to the link in post 1 they are b..."

yes I figured but I thought I would try...ah well...

I am checking to make sure this will work ...
Laurah30 (Canada)
Book 1 The Dry by Jane Harper set in Australia

Book 2 Embers which is written by Hungarian author Sándor Márai

Laura wrote: "I am checking to make sure this will work ...
Laurah30 (Canada)
Book 1 The Dry by Jane Harper set in Australia

Book 2 Embers which is written by Hunga..."

yes that works sorry it has taken so long to reply

I may use Woman at Point Zero by Nawal El-Saadawi for Book 1 here. Are the letters N, E and S all available to me for Book 2?

Ed wrote: "I may use Woman at Point Zero by Nawal El-Saadawi for Book 1 here. Are the letters N, E and S all available to me for Book 2?"

Please see the FAQs

"1. If a task calls for author’s initials, what name do I use for the last initial?
While there are great variations in names, we work with the general rule that the author’s last name is the final word in the name that is preceded by a space"

Since the task does not provide otherwise, the author's initials here are N and E.