2018 EUROPEAN READING CHALLENGE

Doing this one again. Will try to get at least five books set in European countries. Click the link to see more.

The European Reading Challenge

January 1, 2018 to January 31, 2019

THE GIST: The idea is to read books by European authors or books set in European countries (no matter where the author comes from). The books can be anything – novels, short stories, memoirs, travel guides, cookbooks, biography, poetry, or any other genre. You can participate at different levels, but each book must be by a different author and set in a different country – it's supposed to be a tour. (See note about the UK, below)

WHAT COUNTS AS "EUROPE"?: We stick with the same list of 50 sovereign states that fall (at least partially) within the geographic territory of the continent of Europe and/or enjoy membership in international European organizations such as the Council of Europe. This list includes the obvious (the UK, France, Germany, and Italy), the really huge Russia, the tiny Vatican City, and the mixed bag of Baltic, Balkan, and former Soviet states.

THE LIST: Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Macedonia, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, and Vatican City.

NOTE: Even after Brexit, the United Kingdom is still one country, in Europe, that includes England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. So one book from any one of these four counts as your one book for the United Kingdom. I'm not going to be a stickler about it because challenges should be about fun not about rules. However, when it comes to winning the Jet Setter prize, only one book from one of the UK countries will count.

LEVELS OF PARTICIPATION

FIVE STAR (DELUXE ENTOURAGE): Read at least five books by different European authors or books set in different European countries.

FOUR STAR (HONEYMOONER): Read four qualifying books.

THREE STAR (BUSINESS TRAVELER): Read three qualifying books.

TWO STAR (ADVENTURER): Read two qualifying books.

ONE STAR (PENSIONE WEEKENDER): Read just one qualifying book.

My Books for this one:

1. Lord of the Flies--William Golding (UK)
2. Night--Elie Wiesel (Romania)
3. The Zone of Interest--Martin Amis (Germany)
4. Metamorphoses--Ovid (Greece)
5. 32 Yolks--Eric Ripert (France)
6. Leprechaun in late Winter--Mary Pope Osborne (Ireland)
7. A Man Called Ove--Fredrik Backman (Sweden)
8. Girl With a Pearl Earring--Tracy Chevalier (Netherlands)
9. Incantation--Alice Hoffman (Spain)
10. The Brothers Karamavoz--Fyodor Dostoyevsky (Russia)
11. Carmilla--J. Sheridan Le Fanu (Austria)
12. Stranded With the Prince--Dana Marton (Italy)
13. Norse Mythology--Neil Gaiman (Norway)
14. Dracula--Bram Stoker (parts in Hungary)
15. The Man Who Died--Annti Tuomainen (Finland)

Challenge completed  on December 1