January 25, 2011
I posted a week ago about participating in the Global Reading Challenge. I’ve opted to just do the “Easy” Challenge, which is only one book per continent. Since I’m also doing the Shakespeare Reading Challenge at the “Henry V” level (12 plays read in a year), as well as 8 books from my book list, that’s probably enough.
Several people have asked about my plan of action and I’ve had to do a little research for Africa, Asia, and Australasia. And I reserve the right to change my mind if I start a book and just really ain’t feeling it!
The Easy Challenge
Read one novel from each of these continents in the course of 2011:
Africa – Out of Africa. I’ve seen the movie with Meryl Streep and Robert Redford and it was pretty good. Technically, this is written by a European, but the setting is in Africa, so I think that fits the requirements. This book is on 1001 Books to Read list and is generally considered to be a book of good quality. (i.e. Not just brain candy). Got from paperbackswap.com.
Asia – The Good Earth A book that has been in my “To Read” pile for about a year. Pearl Buck is American but spent much of her life in China; the novel is a story of family life in a Chinese village before the 1949 Revolution. I’ve read other Pearl Buck novels and really enjoyed them. Not on any “Best of” lists, it won the Pulitzer in 1932.
Australasia – Evil Angels This was also a Meryl Streep movie, but I’ve never seen it. (The film was called A Cry in the Dark. You know, the “Dingoes ate my baby!” movie). Not on any “great book” list that I could find, but still, a major part of Popular Culture and it’s getting outside of my usual genre by being a mystery novel. Got from paperbackswap.com.
Europe – The Master and Margarita This is a book from my book list. Most of the ones left are from Europe, so reading any of these this year are going to count. It’s also on the 1001 book list.
North America – Winesburg, Ohio This is kind of a cheat because this is a skinny book. But it was a book I was already planning on reading and might as well count it for this! Not on the 1001 list but its on the Modern Library’s Top 100.
South America – Love in the Time of Cholera This is a book I already had in my ”To Read” pile, I enjoyed the film version, and I enjoyed that other Gabriel García Márquez classic One Hundred Years of Solitude. Also on the 1001 list.
The Seventh Continent – The Road. With this one I was allowed to choose Antarctica or my own ´seventh´ setting, eg the sea, the space, a supernatural/paranormal world, history, the future – you name it. The Road takes place in the future, its in my “To Read” pile, and, although not on any of my “best of” lists, it’s a Pulitzer Prize winner, so, obviously, a book of quality.
I feel better now that I have a plan. Now to get to reading!
What are you reading or, better, what books are taunting you from YOUR “To Read” pile?
I’ve read The Road and Love in a Time of Cholera. I wasn’t a big fan of Love in a Time of Cholera so I’ll be interested in hearing what you think. One book on my to read list is ‘A Good Man in Africa’ which could qualify for your list as well. Good luck. Sounds fun.
I think Gabriel García Márquez is tough to read, but once you get the hang of his writing, it gets easier. I’ll let you know what I think.
WOW you are really on top of things with this challenge! I’ve read a book from Europe already (The Book Thief is set in Germany) and I’m also going to read Love in the time of Cholera which has been sitting on my bookshelf… But I’m pretty sure that’s as far as I’ve gotten up until now! Way to go
Prepare yourself for “The Road”. It’s pretty brutal.
Thanks for the heads up. I’ve heard a little bit about it and I usually like dystopian stories, so maybe I won’t be too shocked.
I’ve read Winesburg, Ohio before. I didn’t particularly like it. Nothing about it made it stand out. But that was many years ago so I don’t know what I would think about it now.
I’m not really reading anything right now. I’m half way through The World is Flat, but I had to take it back to the library because it is just too long to finish. I should go back and finish that one up.
I’m halfway through. Yeah, its not really blowing my skirt up. Its supposed to be like Dubliners (another James Joyce book I’m supposed to read), so I’m not terribly excited about Dubliners now.