On The Same Page discussion

This year I am selecting only books I own, with each one being either set in or by an author from a different country. I decided to go with all fiction (except for one). There were so many other books I wanted to include but these books all fit other challenges, or group reads so I think it is a good list for me. Maybe this will be the year I actually complete the challenge!

✔️- Finished
* - Currently reading

Completed: 1/12

16 Books From Around the World (excluding US and UK)

1. Kairos by Jenny Erpenbeck (Germany)
2. My Struggle: Book 1 by Karl Ove Knausgård (Norway)
3. The Paradise by Émile Zola (France)
4. Independent People by Halldór Laxness (Iceland)
5. The Old Man Who Read Love Stories by Luis Sepúlveda (Chile)
6. The Books of Jacob by Olga Tokarczuk (Poland)
7. The Wandering Earth by Liu Cixin (China)
8. The Narrow Road to the Deep North by Richard Flanagan (Australia)
9. Whitehorn's Windmill by Kazys Boruta (Lithuania)
10. The Gift of Rain by Tan Twan Eng (Malaysia)
11. The Black Tulip by Alexandre Dumas (setting - Netherlands)
✔️12. Baba Dunja's Last Love by Alina Bronsky (setting- Ukraine)

Plus 4:
13. Dreams of My Russian Summers by Andreï Makine (Russia)
14. The Obscene Bird of Night by José Donoso (Chile)
15. Pessoa: A Biography by Fernando Pessoa (Portugal)
16. The Story of the Lost Child by Elena Ferrante (Italy)

Good luck with your choices and happy reading.

Reminder: Just edit your first comment with your book choices, so your list doesn't get lost in the shuffle!

Good luck, Pam. I'll keep checking to see what you select.

How interesting, Pam! I don't think I've read any of these books, but they look great. Enjoy all of your travels! :-)

Such an interesting list. I've only read The Paradise (it was excellent. Did you ever see the TV series based on it? It was set in England) and Shogun, loved it to.. Ah Marikasan... Konichiwa (apologize for my awful spelling)

A Boy and his Dog looks interesting. There was a movie back in 1975, starring a very young Don Johnston, but it was based on a book or short story by Harlan Ellison. I've seen Fletcher's book. I'll be interested in your thoughts. Good luck with your challenge.

Bill wrote: "Such an interesting list. I've only read The Paradise (it was excellent. Did you ever see the TV series based on it? It was set in England) and Shogun, loved it to.. Ah Marikasan... Konichiwa (apol..."

Thanks Bill! Yes, I did watch the TV series based on The Paradise and really enjoyed it! And, Shogun, I watched the mini-series back in the '70s. It's one of my husband's favorite books. I just bought the new edition a few months ago. I feel a little bad as I left out Canada but I'm hoping to finish the 3rd book in The Deptford Trilogy this month.

Lea wrote: "How interesting, Pam! I don't think I've read any of these books, but they look great. Enjoy all of your travels! :-)"

Alondra wrote: "Good luck with your choices and happy reading.

Thanks Alondra and Lea! I wasn't planning to do this challenge this year since I never finish it but I thought I'll try again! Why not? No reason to feel discouraged. I never understood why it's so hard to pick 12 books out of the 60+ I read but, there it is, it's hard and, therefore, it's a challenge!

I love your list!! I've only read Shōgun and The Black Tulip, and loved them both. I only have one left in the Asian Saga, and I hope to read it next year.

I have quite a few others on my TBR, and I can't wait to read your reviews. Happy reading!

PS. Will you have a separate non-fiction list?

Great list Pam! I look forward to your reviews

Pam wrote: "Thanks Alondra and Lea! I wasn't planning to do this challenge this year since I never finish it but I thought I'll try again! Why not? No reason to feel discouraged. I never understood why it's so hard to pick 12 books out of the 60+ I read but, there it is, it's hard and, therefore, it's a challenge!.."

Well, I'm glad you decided to try it again. Even if you don't finish; at least you are reading.

BTW, Great looking list!!! I know most of the authors, but not the actual books listed. I will definitely check these out.

Good luck and happy reading!!

Pam wrote: "Bill wrote: "Such an interesting list. I've only read The Paradise (it was excellent. Did you ever see the TV series based on it? It was set in England) and Shogun, loved it to.. Ah Marikasan... Ko..."

If you do read World of Wonders, I'll be interested in your thoughts. It's been so long since I read it..

Bill wrote: "Pam wrote: "Bill wrote: "Such an interesting list. I've only read The Paradise (it was excellent. Did you ever see the TV series based on it? It was set in England) and Shogun, loved it to.. Ah Mar..."

I do plan to read it and will post my comments somewhere! I'm not the best about writing reviews.

I've made a few changes, removing UK and US setting/authors since I started a 2nd 12+4 challenge to include only UK and US authors. I left Clavell, even though he was British, since the setting is in Japan and this is one book I am reading for a group read. I added books from Poland, Czech Republic, and Italy.

Ioana wrote: "PS. Will you have a separate non-fiction list?..."

Iona - No, I'm not doing a separate list but I am doing the Non-fiction Challenge and am going for 10 books. It's too hard for me to select non-fiction ahead of time, even though I own quite a few. I tend to read random books I see on the new books shelf or a display at the library. Or, I get interested in a topic because of something else I've read or seen.

Love this list and this idea! I don't think I've read any of them, so I'll look forward to hearing your reviews.
Happy Reading!

Patricia wrote: "Love this list and this idea! I don't think I've read any of them, so I'll look forward to hearing your reviews.
Happy Reading!"

Thank you Patricia! I actually made some more changes. I hope this is my final list but I won't know until Dec 31 for sure!

should make for an interesting year of reading with perspectives from around the globe. Happy travels!

I decided to make another change, moved Shogun to my UK & US author 12+4 challenge since the author is British. I replaced it with a Chilean book The Old Man Who Read Love Stories, which was on my 2024 list and I never read. Coming up with 16 different countries (which I owned) was hard because I kept finding Italian and German authors I wanted to read. Next year I will simplify my selection process! I think I have a good list now. Ready for 2025 to start!

Hey Pam! Just checking in on you. How are you feeling about the challenge??

Alondra wrote: "Hey Pam! Just checking in on you. How are you feeling about the challenge??"

Hi Alondra! I just now saw your message. I've only read 1 and still want to read all of my choices but it's not looking likely! The Wandering Earth I will read in Nov/Dec for a book club read. I'm hoping to read at least 2 more. I'm trying to decide which one to take with me on vacation next week. Maybe The Lost Child since I know I like the series and am anxious to finish it.