The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion

30.7 Cat's Task: Books of Europe

We will be reading books associated with the continent Europe, and using the information on this link for reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...
Note that the de-facto states are not included

This is a two book task, Choose two different options and read one book for each option
Required: state the option.

Option 1: Two Book Option (no page count requirement)

Book 1: Read a book that is set (at least 70%) in one or more countries in Europe, or is about one or more countries in Europe (if Non-Fiction), but is NOT United Kingdom (i.e. England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland). It can be minority set in UK, but 70% MUST be in other European countries
Required: If the setting is not evident from the Goodreads main page, provide a reference

Book 2: Read a book that is written by an author born in a country in Europe, excluding UK. Multiple authors are allowed, provided that ALL are born within Europe. The author(s) need not be from the country used for book 1.
Required: If the birthplace is not evident from the Goodreads author information, provide a reference

Option 2: One Book Option
Read one book of at least 500 pages that fits both criteria of Option 1.

To repeat: books set in or by authors from the United Kingdom can NOT be used!

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I am hoping to use Liza Kay as a German author.
There's no useful information on GR but https://www.extasybooks.com/liza-kay/... provides some. Is this acceptable?

Also, does "To repeat: books set in or by authors from the United Kingdom can NOT be used!" apply to Option 1, Book 1?

For Option 1 Book 1, you could read a book set in Greece by a UK author, though that would make me a little sad, given I've been trying to encourage reading of world authors. But my sadness is not in the task as written, and that is certainly a possibility!

Mrsgeo wrote: "I am hoping to use Liza Kay as a German author.
There's no useful information on GR but https://www.extasybooks.com/liza-kay/......"

The requirement is for evidence of birthplace, and this info doesn't really meet that. Unless you can find evidence of her birthplace, she won't work for German, sorry

Cat wrote: "Mrsgeo wrote: "I am hoping to use Liza Kay as a German author.
There's no useful information on GR but https://www.extasybooks.com/liza-kay/......"

I was afraid of that but fortunately I have an alternative in mind.

Cat wrote: "For Option 1 Book 1, you could read a book set in Greece by a UK author, though that would make me a little sad, given I've been trying to encourage reading of world authors. But my sadness is not ..."

As I don't use KU, I try to fit tasks with books I already own. Hence the query. However, you made me think outside that box and I realise I have several other series set in Europe but written by European authors. I had even allocated books to two tasks for the Summer Season from one of them yesterday! Many thanks.

So I finally have motivation to read the Kristin Lavransdatter trilogy this summer. I can use two of the books for this task, and the third for 30.3 - MPG Medieval!

oooh! that's a great call! Might be joining you there :)

Cat wrote: "oooh! that's a great call! Might be joining you there :)"

Kim wrote: "So I finally have motivation to read the Kristin Lavransdatter trilogy this summer. I can use two of the books for this task, and the third for 30.3 - MPG Medieval!"

I am tempted by this have you read anything by her before?

I haven't read any, but I gather that Undset is a much loved part of the Norwegian canon, so worth at least a try, I reckon :)

If anyone's looking for a one-book option (and have somehow not read the series by this point!), quite a lot of editions of the original Millennium Trilogy clock in at over 500 pages.

That said, I do recommend checking content warnings for Dragon Tattoo first if you're considering it...

planning on reading The Purity of Vengeance and would like to squeeze it in here for the one book option if possible? the first MMPB is here = 672 pages, and from what I understand that's still the way we verify page count but just wanted to double check :)

Looking at the rules, you are right, the page count method hasn't changed yet. Your book should work, assuming no change in MMPB to ed between now & you finishing!

Cat wrote: "Looking at the rules, you are right, the page count method hasn't changed yet. Your book should work, assuming no change in MMPB to ed between now & you finishing!"

Yes, there has been some discussion, but nothing has changed for the general page count method. The only change is if you are looking for a specific digit such as 7 in the actual page count.

thank you! fingers crossed the french edition remains popular until I finish the book ;)

I'm a little confused about your link for our countries. So, anything listed in the table counts? For instance, Russia is considered both European and Asian. Does it count?

If it's on the list of sovereign states it works.

Cat wrote: "If it's on the list of sovereign states it works."

Thanks for the clarification.

For the one book option I would like to possibly use

Would this work as being "set" or "about" Ireland? It's about researching Irish records, as well as how to find out where in Ireland emigrants were from, using records elsewhere (many sources available online and in Ireland). Grenham has worked at/with many of the major institutions for research in Ireland (and is from there).

The description on some of the other editions gives more information about all the strictly Irish material covered.

It's stretching it a lot, but technically I guess it works...

Cat wrote: "It's stretching it a lot, but technically I guess it works..."

Thanks!

I just want to confirm that this book will work for option 2 since it has exactly 500 pages.

The Nightmare

Yes, the minimum page count is 500, so that length works