Wanderlust Challenges discussion

Discover Europe: Create Your Own Itinerary
A Year from Start

We are going to take a trip around Europe and you get to plan your own itinerary!

Get out a map to plan your route and then read a book from each country you are visiting.

⇨ Choose your level and starting county.
⇨ Route your trip keeping in mind you must read your books IN ORDER of your itinerary.
⇨ Each country visited MUST BORDER the previous country. You may use Maritime Borders (crossing a body of water).
⇨ You may visit a country TWICE if needed.
⇨ For this challenge we are using the individual countries of the UK (England, Scotland, Wales). Ireland (as a whole) will be considered one country and Vatican City will be considered part of Italy. Russia and Turkey may also be included.

EXAMPLE (Or see my challenge post below):
1. Starting country: France
2. Must border France: Germany
3. Must border Germany: Denmark
4. Must border Denmark: Sweden (using Maritime Border)
5. Must border Sweden: Finland
6. Must border Finland: Russia

*Remember that you must read your books IN ORDER of your itinerary. But you do have a whole year to accomplish this.

Levels of Participation:
Tourist: 6 Countries
Explorer: 7-9 Countries
Globetrotter: 9-12 Countries

Challenge Rules: All forms of books are accepted as long as they are 100 pages or more. When posting updates of completed books, please include a link to the title and author’s name, along with the date you finished reading the book. Please post cover if it is task appropriate. When you have completed the challenge, please copy and paste your entire challenge and repost in a new message, letting us know it is completed.

Happy Traveling!!

Participants

Allie
Andrea
Bev(baglady) ~ Completed
Clare
Ed
Hannah
Jan ~ Completed
Meg ~ Completed
Monica ~ Completed
Olivermagnus ~ Completed
Patrizia ~ Completed
Teri-k ~ Completed

My Spot

Discover Europe: Create Your Own Travel Itinerary
July 1, 2021 - June 30, 2022
12/12

✔1. Ireland:Treacherous Strand | Andrea Carter 7/12/21***
✔2. Scotland (Maritime Border): Off Kilter | Hannah Reed 7/17/21***
✔3. England: Ghost Wall | Sarah Moss 7/18/21*
✔4. Wales: The Snowdonia Killings | Simon McCleave 8/6/21***
✔5. England: Something Blue | Emma Jameson8/9/21****
✔6. France (Maritime Border): How to Make a French Family: A Memoir of Love, Food, and Faux Pas | Samantha Verant 8/17/21***
✔7. Italy:- The Psalter | Galen Watson 8/30/21***
✔8. Austria: Ecstasy | Mary Sharratt 9/15/21***
✔9. Germany: -The Watchman of Rothenburg Dies | Adriana Licio 10/2/21**
✔10. Denmark: The Little Café in Copenhagen | Julie Caplin 11/12/21***
✔11. Sweden (Maritime Border): Still Waters | Viveca Sten 1/10/22***
12. Norway: The Bird Tribunal | Agnes Ravatn 5/11/22****

Since I live in Italy, my tour will be circular as it would happen in reality.

Discover Europe: Create Your Own Travel Itinerary
July 1, 2021 - June 30, 2022
10/10

1. Italy (start):
Murder in Chianti by Camilla Trinchieri 24 August; 4 1/2☆

2. France (land border):
Un giorno di sole a Parigi (=The Little Paris Patisserie) by Julie Caplin 3 September; 4☆

3. England (maritime border):
A Study in Murder by Callie Hutton 14 September; 4☆

4. Ireland (maritime border):
Murder in Galway by Carlene O'Connor 27 September; 4☆

5. Scotland (maritime border):
Murder in a Scottish Shire by Traci Hall 25 October; 5☆

6. England (land border):
The Bodies in the Library by Marty Wingate 30 January; 3 1/2☆

7. Belgium (maritime border):
Bones in Belgium by Carolyn L. Dean 31 January; 4☆

8. Germany (land border):
Un crimine (e una lager) (=Crime and Lager ) by Blake Pierce 4 April; 3☆

9. Switzerland (land border):
Amore, neve e cioccolato (=The Little Swiss Ski Chalet) by Julie Caplin 12 April; 4☆

10. Italy (land border and finish):
I guardiani della laguna (=Guardians of the lagoon) by Paolo Lanzotti 24 April; 5☆

Discover Europe
July 2021 - June 2022

England
Murder at the Abbey, Irina Shapiro 07/23

Ireland
Death on the Green, Catie Murphy 07/25

Scotland
Of Books and Bagpipes, Paige Shelton 08/05

England
Moonflower Murders, Anthony Horowitz 08/08

France
Fields' Guide to Assassins, Julie Mulhern 08/09

Italy
Death at La Fenice, Donna Leon 08/15

Switzerland
Behind Closed Doors, J.J. Marsh 11/17

Austria
Death (and Apple Strudel), Blake Pierce 01/06

Czech Republic
Prague, A Secret from the Past, Adriana Licio 02/16

Germany
A Wedding and a Funeral in Meckleburg, Adriana Licio 02/16

Netherlands
The Lover's Portrait, Jennifer Alderson 04/12

Brussels
Bones in Belgium, Carolyn L. Dean 05/31

France
Madam Will You Talk?, Mary Stewart 06/15

Spain
Death by Flamenco, Jennifer S. Alderson 08/08

Thanks for joining me Patrizia & Meg!!

Ooh. This could be hard if I don’t want to read any books in neighboring countries but it’s Europe so I can’t refuse!

Discover Europe: Create Your Own Itinerary

***will be back to fill in my spots - Tourist Level***

1.)
2.)
3.)
4.)
5.)
6.)

My spot...

Discover Europe: Create Your Own Itinerary
A Year from Start

We are going to take a trip around Europe and you get to plan your own itinerary!
Discover-Europe.png
Get out a map to plan your route and then read a book from each country you are visiting.

⇨ Choose your level and starting county.
⇨ Route your trip keeping in mind you must read your books IN ORDER of your itinerary.
⇨ Each country visited MUST BORDER the previous country. You may use Maritime Borders (crossing a body of water).
⇨ You may visit a country TWICE if needed.
⇨ For this challenge we are using the individual countries of the UK (England, Scotland, Wales). Ireland (as a whole) will be considered one country and Vatican City will be considered part of Italy. Russia and Turkey may also be included.

EXAMPLE (Or see my challenge post below):
1. Starting country: France
2. Must border France: Germany
3. Must border Germany: Denmark
4. Must border Denmark: Sweden (using Maritime Border)
5. Must border Sweden: Finland
6. Must border Finland: Russia

*Remember that you must read your books IN ORDER of your itinerary. But you do have a whole year to accomplish this.

Levels of Participation:
Tourist: 6 Countries
Explorer: 7-9 Countries
Globetrotter: 9-12 Countries

Challenge Rules: All forms of books are accepted as long as they are 100 pages or more. When posting updates of completed books, please include a link to the title and author’s name, along with the date you finished reading the book. Please post cover if it is task appropriate. When you have completed the challenge, please copy and paste your entire challenge and repost in a new message, letting us know it is completed.

Happy Traveling!!

Okay, let’s see how far I get!
1. England
(Land)
2. Scotland or another S.R. Crockett title
(Sea)
3. France or
(Land)
4. Germany ?
(Land)
5. Poland

...we’ll see if I get farther than that!

Discover Europe: Create Your Own Itinerary
July 2021 - June 2022

1. Scotland | start | The Cottage
2. Ireland | maritime |
3. England | maritime | Can't Help Falling
4. Belgium | maritime | High as the Heavens
5. Netherlands (Holland) | land | Thief of Glory
6. Germany | land |
7. Poland | land | When the Heart Sings
8. Czech Republic | land | Prague Winter: A Personal Story of Remembrance and War, 1937-1948
9. Austria | land | Night Song: A Story of Sacrifice
10. Italy | land | Shadowed by Grace
11. Switzerland | land | The Swiss Courier
12. France | land | The French House: An American Family, a Ruined Maison, and the Village That Restored Them All
13. Spain | land | Rafa



Note: I have a few different books that take place in Ireland and Germany, so I'll decide on the particulars when I get to those countries.

Note 2: I know thirteen countries wasn't an option, but I kept finding books that take place in European countries and couldn't resist adding them ALL to my list.

Allie wrote: "Ooh. This could be hard if I don’t want to read any books in neighboring countries but it’s Europe so I can’t refuse! "

It does take some planning Allie but I'm glad you are giving it a go. I was determined to only use what was already on my TBR and it worked out!

Enjoy your trip Hannah & Andrea!!

I'm impressed you have your itinerary done Andrea!! Looks great!

I'm going to try for Globetrotter.

Discover Europe: Create Your Own Travel Itinerary
July 1, 2021 - June 30, 2022

Globetrotter - 9-12 Countries

13 Complete

1. Ireland | maritime | - Haunted Ground - Erin Hart - 7/11/21
2. Scotland - X Marks the Scot - Victoria Roberts - 8/9/21
3. England - An Unexpected Peril - Deanna Raybourn - 9/5/22
4. France | maritime | - An Unmarked Grave - Charles Todd - 9/24/21
5. Germany - All the Light We Cannot See - Anthony Doerr - 9/27/21
6. Switzerland - The Seven Sisters - Lucinda Riley - 10/4/21
7. Italy - The Venice Sketchbook - Rhys Bowen - 2/16/22
8. Monaco - Meet Me in Monaco - Hazel Gaynor - 3/15/22
9. France - The Nightingale - Kristin Hannah - 3/19/22
10. Sweden | maritime | - My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry - Fredrik Backman - 3/28/22
11. England | maritime | - Her Royal Spyness - Rhys Bowen - 4/13/22
12. Ireland | maritime | - Little Girl Lost - Brian McGilloway - 5/17/22
13. Scotland | maritime | - The Complaints - Ian Rankin - 5/21/22

Welcome to the fun Lynda!

Thanks, Jan. I had to make sure I had books for all the countries. :)

I promised myself I'd not start anymore challenges for a while yet here I am trying to plot my way around Europe. I figure if I have a whole year 6 countries should be easy enough.

------------------------------

Discover Europe: Create Your Own Travel Itinerary
July 1, 2021 - June 30, 2022

Tourist: 6 Countries
0/6

*Remember that you must read your books IN ORDER of your itinerary. But you do have a whole year to accomplish this.

✅ 1. IRELAND - The Wonder - Emma Donoghue - 17/07
=Maritime=
2. ENGLAND - Never Let Me Go - Kazuo Ishiguro -
3. DENMARK -
4. SWEDEN -
5. NORWAY -
6. ICELAND -

Planned route

Ireland > England > Denmark > Sweden > Norway > Iceland

Glad you couldn't resist Clare!!

Discover Europe: Create Your Own Itinerary
July 1, 2021 - June 30, 2022
Tourist: 6 Countries

1. Germany - The Secrets of the Notebook: A Woman's Quest to Uncover Her Royal Family Secret Eve Haas 07/01/2021
2. Austria - Carmilla J. Sheridan Le Fanu 08/12/2021
3. Italy - Playing for Pizza John Grisham 10/14/2021
4. France - The Little Paris Bookshop Nina George 10/15/2021
5. Spain- The Alchemist Paulo Coelho 10/15/2021
6. France - The Nightingale Kristin Hannah 10/19/2021
7. England - The Darkwater Bride Marty Ross 10/19/2021

Welcome Bev!!

Question...Do we have to plan the countries in advance...or once, for example, we read a book from France, we can then decide which will be the next country? Either way, I'm in.

Discover Europe: Create Your Own Itinerary
A Year from Start

We are going to take a trip around Europe and you get to plan your own itinerary!
Discover-Europe.png
Get out a map to plan your route and then read a book from each country you are visiting.

⇨ Choose your level and starting county.
⇨ Route your trip keeping in mind you must read your books IN ORDER of your itinerary.
⇨ Each country visited MUST BORDER the previous country. You may use Maritime Borders (crossing a body of water).
⇨ You may visit a country TWICE if needed.
⇨ For this challenge we are using the individual countries of the UK (England, Scotland, Wales). Ireland (as a whole) will be considered one country and Vatican City will be considered part of Italy. Russia and Turkey may also be included.

EXAMPLE (Or see my challenge post below):
1. Starting country: France
2. Must border France: Germany
3. Must border Germany: Denmark
4. Must border Denmark: Sweden (using Maritime Border)
5. Must border Sweden: Finland
6. Must border Finland: Russia

*Remember that you must read your books IN ORDER of your itinerary. But you do have a whole year to accomplish this.

Levels of Participation:
Tourist: 6 Countries
Explorer: 7-9 Countries
Globetrotter: 9-12 Countries

Challenge Rules: All forms of books are accepted as long as they are 100 pages or more. When posting updates of completed books, please include a link to the title and author’s name, along with the date you finished reading the book. Please post cover if it is task appropriate. When you have completed the challenge, please copy and paste your entire challenge and repost in a new message, letting us know it is completed.

1. UK-The Threepenny Opera by Bertolt Brecht-7/3/21

2. France-Girl in Dior by Annie Goetzinger-7/7/21

3. Italy- Up at the Villa by W. Somerset Maugham-1/4/22

4. France- The Diving Bell and the Butterfly by Jean-Dominique Bauby-6/18/22

5. Switzerland- : by Ian Fleming-9/16/22

6. Italy- -A Servant to Two Masters by Carlo Goldoni-10/29/22

planned 7.- Germany

planned 8- Netherlands

planned 9- Belgium

Ed wrote: "Question...Do we have to plan the countries in advance...or once, for example, we read a book from France, we can then decide which will be the next country? Either way, I'm in."

Ed - I would prefer you post a tentative itinerary ahead of time - though your books don't need to be added yet. BUT travel plans do have a way of changing so you are welcome to adjust it as you go. BTW - welcome to the challenge.

Discover Europe: Create Your Own Travel Itinerary
July 31, 2021 - July 30, 2022
Globetrotter: 9-12 Countries

1 Germany
The Other Side of the Wall by Simon Schwartz 8/1

2. Switzerland
Alpine for You by Maddy Hunter 8/8

3. Italy
Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare 8/18

4. France
Cyrano de Bergerac by Edmond Rostand 9/13

5. England
Henry IV, Part 1 by William Shakespeare 9/15

6. Wales
Through Welsh doorways by Jeannette Marks 10/15

7. Ireland
Uncertain Magic by Laura Kinsale 10/18

8. Scotland
Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson 11/5

9. Norway
The Cabin in the Mountains: A Norwegian Odyssey by Robert Ferguson 11/18

10. Sweden
The Department of Sensitive Crimes by Alexander McCall Smith 2/13

11. Denmark The Year of Living Danishly: My Twelve Months Unearthing the Secrets of the World's Happiest Country by Helen Russell 5/8

12. The Netherlands

Glad you are joining us Teri!

Jan wrote: "Glad you are joining us Teri!"

Thanks. I wasn't sure where the trip would start - it depended on what book came through Overdrive first. :)

finished

Discover Europe: Create Your Own Itinerary
July 1, 2021 - June 30, 2022
Tourist: 6 Countries

1. Germany - The Secrets of the Notebook: A Woman's Quest to Uncover Her Royal Family Secret Eve Haas 07/01/2021
2. Austria - Carmilla J. Sheridan Le Fanu 08/12/2021
3. Italy - Playing for Pizza John Grisham 10/14/2021
4. France - The Little Paris Bookshop Nina George 10/15/2021
5. Spain- The Alchemist Paulo Coelho 10/15/2021
6. France - The Nightingale Kristin Hannah 10/19/2021
7. England - The Darkwater Bride Marty Ross 10/19/2021

Fantastic job Bev!!

I finished my European travel.

Discover Europe: Create Your Own Travel Itinerary
July 1, 2021 - June 30, 2022
10/10

1. Italy (start):
Murder in Chianti by Camilla Trinchieri 24 August; 4 1/2☆

2. France (land border):
Un giorno di sole a Parigi (=The Little Paris Patisserie) by Julie Caplin 3 September; 4☆

3. England (maritime border):
A Study in Murder by Callie Hutton 14 September; 4☆

4. Ireland (maritime border):
Murder in Galway by Carlene O'Connor 27 September; 4☆

5. Scotland (maritime border):
Murder in a Scottish Shire by Traci Hall 25 October; 5☆

6. England (land border):
The Bodies in the Library by Marty Wingate 30 January; 3 1/2☆

7. Belgium (maritime border):
Bones in Belgium by Carolyn L. Dean 31 January; 4☆

8. Germany (land border):
Un crimine (e una lager) (=Crime and Lager ) by Blake Pierce 4 April; 3☆

9. Switzerland (land border):
Amore, neve e cioccolato (=The Little Swiss Ski Chalet) by Julie Caplin 12 April; 4☆

10. Italy (land border and finish):
I guardiani della laguna (=Guardians of the lagoon) by Paolo Lanzotti 24 April; 5☆

Impressive job Patrizia!! I have one more to go to finish mine.

Awesome, Patrizia! I was being wishy washy about what to read for Belgium (honestly, I didn't have anything concrete), so was kind of stuck there. The one you listed looks promising so I'm going to go with that one!

Finished my trip!

Discover Europe: Create Your Own Travel Itinerary
July 1, 2021 - June 30, 2022
12/12

✔1. Ireland:Treacherous Strand | Andrea Carter 7/12/21***
✔2. Scotland (Maritime Border): Off Kilter | Hannah Reed 7/17/21***
✔3. England: Ghost Wall | Sarah Moss 7/18/21*
✔4. Wales: The Snowdonia Killings | Simon McCleave 8/6/21***
✔5. England: Something Blue | Emma Jameson8/9/21****
✔6. France (Maritime Border): How to Make a French Family: A Memoir of Love, Food, and Faux Pas | Samantha Verant 8/17/21***
✔7. Italy:- The Psalter | Galen Watson 8/30/21***
✔8. Austria: Ecstasy | Mary Sharratt 9/15/21***
✔9. Germany: -The Watchman of Rothenburg Dies | Adriana Licio 10/2/21**
✔10. Denmark: The Little Café in Copenhagen | Julie Caplin 11/12/21***
✔11. Sweden (Maritime Border): Still Waters | Viveca Sten 1/10/22***
✔12. Norway: The Bird Tribunal | Agnes Ravatn 5/11/22****

Great job, Jan!

Thanks Andrea!

Whoo hoo, Jan, looks great!

~~~ Complete ~~~

Discover Europe: Create Your Own Travel Itinerary
July 1, 2021 - June 30, 2022

Globetrotter - 9-12 Countries

12 Complete

1. Ireland | maritime | - Haunted Ground - Erin Hart - 7/11/21
2. Scotland - X Marks the Scot - Victoria Roberts - 8/9/21
3. England - An Unexpected Peril - Deanna Raybourn - 9/5/22
4. France | maritime | - An Unmarked Grave - Charles Todd - 9/24/21
5. Germany - All the Light We Cannot See - Anthony Doerr - 9/27/21
6. Switzerland - The Seven Sisters - Lucinda Riley - 10/4/21
7. Italy - The Venice Sketchbook - Rhys Bowen - 2/16/22
8. Monaco - Meet Me in Monaco - Hazel Gaynor - 3/15/22
9. France - The Nightingale - Kristin Hannah - 3/19/22
10. Sweden | maritime | - My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry - Fredrik Backman - 3/28/22
11. England | maritime | - Her Royal Spyness - Rhys Bowen - 4/13/22
12. Scotland - The Complaints - Ian Rankin - 5/21/22

Way to go Lynda!! This challenge took a lot of planning and thought ... well done :)

Whew, finally finished my fun tour!

Discover Europe
July 2021 - June 2022

England
Murder at the Abbey, Irina Shapiro 07/23

Ireland
Death on the Green, Catie Murphy 07/25

Scotland
Of Books and Bagpipes, Paige Shelton 08/05

England
Moonflower Murders, Anthony Horowitz 08/08

France
Fields' Guide to Assassins, Julie Mulhern 08/09

Italy
Death at La Fenice, Donna Leon 08/15

Switzerland
Behind Closed Doors, J.J. Marsh 11/17

Austria
Death (and Apple Strudel), Blake Pierce 01/06

Czech Republic
Prague, A Secret from the Past, Adriana Licio 02/16

Germany
A Wedding and a Funeral in Meckleburg, Adriana Licio 02/16

Netherlands
The Lover's Portrait, Jennifer Alderson 04/12

Brussels
Bones in Belgium, Carolyn L. Dean 05/31

France
Madam Will You Talk?, Mary Stewart 06/15

Spain
Death by Flamenco, Jennifer S. Alderson 08/08

Woo-hoo!! Terrific job Meg!

Discover Europe: Create Your Own Itinerary
This journey started in my own country (the Netherlands), January – February 2024

1. Netherlands
Oracle · Thomas Olde Heuvelt · 13-01 2023

2. Belgium
De slechtnieuwsbrenger · Filip Cauwelier · 14-01 2023

3. France
One Last Secret · Adele Parks · 23-01 2023

4. Switzerland
Gstaad · Kiki van Dijk · 25-01 2023

5. Italy
Our Darkest Night · Jennifer Robson · 27-01 2023

6. Austria
Carmilla · J. Sheridan Le Fanu · 28-01 2023

7. Slovakia
I Am a Brave Bridge: An American Girl's Hilarious and Heartbreaking Year in the Fledgling Republic of Slovakia · Sarah Hinlicky Wilson · 30-01 2023

8. Czech Republic
The Prisoner's Wife · Maggie Brookes · 03-02 2023

9. Germany
Walk Me Home · Sebastian Fitzek · 06-02 2023

10. Denmark
The Nurse: Inside Denmark's Most Sensational Criminal Trial · Kristian Corfixen · 09-02 2023

11. Norway
Death Deserved · Jørn Lier Horst · 12-02 2023

12. Iceland
The Legacy · Yrsa Sigurdardottir · 15-02 2023

Evidently I didn't pop back in to say I'd completed this. But I did - back in 2022. LOL

Discover Europe: Create Your Own Travel Itinerary
July 31, 2021 - July 30, 2022
Globetrotter: 9-12 Countries

1 Germany
The Other Side of the Wall by Simon Schwartz 8/1

2. Switzerland
Alpine for You by Maddy Hunter 8/8

3. Italy
Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare 8/18

4. France
Cyrano de Bergerac by Edmond Rostand 9/13

5. England
Henry IV, Part 1 by William Shakespeare 9/15

6. Wales
Through Welsh doorways by Jeannette Marks 10/15

7. Ireland
Uncertain Magic by Laura Kinsale 10/18

8. Scotland
Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson 11/5

9. Norway
The Cabin in the Mountains: A Norwegian Odyssey by Robert Ferguson 11/18

10. Sweden
The Department of Sensitive Crimes by Alexander McCall Smith 2/13

11. Denmark The Year of Living Danishly: My Twelve Months Unearthing the Secrets of the World's Happiest Country by Helen Russell 5/8

12. The Netherlands

Congrats on your finish Monica and Teri!!