European Reading Challenge 2023 Sign-up

I'm joining this challenge again. Last year was the first time I didn't successfully complete it.

I will join at the 5 star level, which requires me to read books from or set in 5 different European countries. 

It's hosted by Rose City Reader, here.

I usually get Great Britain and France pretty quickly, and some others trickle in. I'm going to be more organized at seeking books to meet the challenge out this year, and hopefully will do better. 

2022 European Reading Challenge Sign-Up

 The goal is to read 5 books set in different European countries. The challenge is hosted here. 

I've done this challenge for several years now and always enjoy it. I'm looking forward to seeing if I get some less common countries this year, maybe ones I haven't done before.

Wrap-Up of European Reading Challenge 2021

European Reading Challenge. 2021

Hosted here: https://www.rosecityreader.com/p/2021-european-reading-challenge.html

I completed this one again successfully

Going for 5 star.

1.  Hearts of Stone by Simon Scarrow. Finished January 3 (Greece)

2.  What She Knew by Gilly MacMillan. Finished January 5 (England)

3.  Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert. Finished January 28 (France) 

4.  Snow by John Banville. Finished February 4 (Ireland)

5.  Proof I Was Here by Becky Blake. Finished April 2 (Spain)

6.  Block 46 by Johana Gustawsson. Finished April 4 (Sweden)

7. June by Gerbrand Bakker. Finished August 23 (Netherlands)

8. Childhood, Youth, Dependency by Tove Ditlevsen. Finished October 6 (Denmark)

9. The Basel Killings by Hansjorg Schneider. Finished November 20 (Switzerland)

10. Keep Saying Their Names by Simon Stranger. Finished December 8 (Norway)

11. Kapo by Aleksandar by Aleksandar Tisma. Finished December 17 (Bosnia)

European Reading Challenge 2021

I've done this challenge for several years and always enjoy it.

This challenge is hosted at https://www.rosecityreader.com/p/2021-european-reading-challenge.html

I always go for the 5 Star (Deluxe Entourage) level for this challenge and enjoy seeing what different countries I can find books for. 

Wrap Up Post for European Reading Challenge

 I did the European Reading Challenge again for 2020. This time I got to 14 countries.

I went for the 5 star level and achieved it.

1. The Half Brother by Lars Saabye Christensen. Finished January 4 (Norway)
2. The Wings of the Sphinx by Andrea Camilleri. Finished January 5 (Italy)
3. The Last Train to London by Meg Waite Clayton. Finished January 15 (Austria)
4. A Princess of Roumania by Paul Park. Finished March 2 (Romania)
5. Vintage 1954 by Antoine Laurain. Finished March 20 (France)
6. A Finer End by Deborah Crombie. Finished March 31 (England)
7. Unwanted by Kristina Ohlsson. Finished May 3 (Sweden)
8. The Dream Stitcher by Deborah Gaal. Finished May 26 (Poland)
9. A Perfect Waiter by Alain Claude Sulzer. Finished July 25 (Switzerland)
10. The Ignorance of Blood by Robert Wilson. Finished August 8 (Spain)
11. Marrow and Bone by Walter Kempowski. Finished September 6 (Poland)
12. Ever After by Olivia Vieweg. Finished October 21 (Germany)

13. Invisible Murder by Lene Kaaberbol and Agnete Friis (Denmark)

14. Rosewater and Soda Bread by Marsha Mehran (Ireland)

European Reading Challenge 2020

I'll be back doing the European Reading Challenge again for 2020.

Again, I'll be going for the 5 Star challenge level of participation.

I always enjoy this challenge, and hope to commit to more country coverage than last year (which was only seven).

Wrap-up of European Reading Challenge

I did European Reading Challenge again in 2019. It is hosted by Rose City Reader.

1. The Light over London by Julia Kelly. Finished February 5 (England)
2. A Chill in the Air by Iris Origo. Finished February 12 (Italy)
3. The Ruin by Dervla McTiernan. Finished March 14 (Ireland)
4. The Paris Diversion by Chris Pavone. Finished May 2 (France)
5. Lost Roses by Martha Hall Kelly. Finished May 20 (Russia)
6. Not to Disturb by Muriel Spark. Finished September 8 (Switzerland)
7. The Faster I Walk, The Smaller I Am by Kjersti A. Skomsvold. Finished September 11 (Norway)

This was less countries than I've done in the past, so hope to increase it again next year. 

2019 European Reading Challenge

I'm looking forward to doing this challenge again for 2019.

This year, I'm going to seek out some of the countries I've not read from before, as well as reading from the larger, easier ones like Britain, France, and Germany.

2018 European Reading Challenge Wrap-Up

Well, I didn't do too badly this year, hitting fourteen countries.
Some of them I hadn't done in other years, so that was good too.

1. No One Is Here Except All of Us by Ramona Ausubel. Finished January 3 (Romania)
2. A Whole Life by Robert Seethaler. Finished January 9 (Austria)
3.The Hotel Tito by Ivana Bodrožić. Finished January 10 (Croatia)
4. The Second Winter by Craig Larsen. Finished January 20 (Denmark)
5. Elmet by Fiona Mozley. Finished January 29 (England)
6. A Crime in the Family by Sacha Batthyany. Finished March 6 (Hungary)
7. Swimming to Elba by Silvia Avallone. Finished March 27 (Italy)
8. The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden. Finished April 8 (Russia)
9. Greeks Bearing Gifts by Philip Kerr. Finished June 5 (Greece)
10. The Glass Lake by Maeve Binchy. Finished August 30 (Ireland)
11. Orhan's Inheritance by Aline Ohanesian. Finished September 16 (Turkey)
12. La Femme de Gilles by Madeleine Bourdouxhe. Finished September 28 (Belgium)
13. News of Our Loved Ones by Abigail DeWitt. Finished October 1 (France)
14. Beartown by Frederik Backman. Finished December 16 (Sweden)

European Reading Challenge 2018

I always enjoy this challenge.

The rules are pretty straightforward:

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.

As usual, I will be going for the 5 Star Reading level
FIVE STAR (DELUXE ENTOURAGE): Read at least five books by different European authors or books set in different European countries.

European Reading Challenge Wrap-Up 2017

Well, I did far less European countries than I have in the past. Only the five necessary to complete this challenge.

Hosted by Rose City Reader, this challenge is one I like to do every year. It gets me reading books from or set in other countries and fulfills part of my love of travel in a vicarious way.

Here is the link for the challenge. I will be doing the Five Star challenge again, which requires me to read books from 5 European countries. The challenge host has the details for the challenge requirements.
Here is the link to my sign-up for it.

My books:
1. Malice of Fortune by Michael Ennis. Finished February 13 (Italy)
2. The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery. Finished March 15 (France)
3. The White Princess by Philippa Gregory. Finished March 27 (England)
4. A Greyhound of a Girl by Roddy Doyle. Finished July 14 (Ireland)
5. To the Back of Beyond by Peter Stamm. Finished September 18 (Switzerland)

European Reading Challenge 2017

I am joining this challenge again this year.

Hosted by Rose City Reader, this challenge is one I like to do every year. It gets me reading books from or set in other countries and fulfills part of my love of travel in a vicarious way.

Here is the link for the challenge. I will be doing the Five Star challenge again, which requires me to read books from 5 European countries. The challenge host has the details for the challenge requirements.

Looking forward to it once again. Thanks once again Gilion for hosting this.

2015 European Reading Challenge

2015 EUROPEAN READING CHALLENGE

The European Reading Challenge
January 1, 2015 to January 31, 2016

I love this challenge, trying to find books from different countries, so will be doing this challenge again this year.

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"? It looked like the list might change for 2015, what with Scotland voting on independence, Catalonia coming close, and Russia trying to take back the Ukraine. But for now, we will stick with the same list of 50 sovereign statesthat 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, Spain, and Italy), the really huge Russia, the tiny Vatican City, and the mixed bag of Baltic, Balkan, and former Soviet states.

Note: Technically, the United Kingdom is one country that includes England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.  So one book from any one of these four should count as your one book for that one country. 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.

Here is the list, in alphabetical order: 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.

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.

JET SETTER PRIZE

The participant who reads and reviews the greatest number of qualifying books (more than five) will get a $25 gift card to Powell's Books (can be used in store or on line).  Participants living in Europe will get a $25-equivalent gift card to the Amazon store in your country, if possible. If you live in a country where neither Powell's nor Amazon will work, then sorry, you are out of luck.

Each book must be by a different author and set in a different country. This means that only one book from one of the four UK countries will count.  Only books reviewed count towards the prize.

I am going for the Five Star Level again this year, and again try to get some of the less common countries. I seemed to do a lot of books set in France last year. 

European Reading Challenge 2014 Wrap-Up Post

European Reading Challenge 2014

I love this challenge, and tackle it every year I've seen it offered.

The gist: The idea was 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 could 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"? For this challenge, they use the 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, Spain, and Italy), the really huge Russia, the tiny Vatican City, and the mixed bag of Baltic, Balkan, and former Soviet states.

Note: Technically, the United Kingdom is one country that includes England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.  So one book from any one of these four should count as your one book for that one country. The host isn't 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.

Here is the list, in alphabetical order: 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. 

Five Star (Deluxe Entourage): Read at least five books by different European authors or books set in different European countries.

JET SETTER PRIZE
The participant who reads and reviews the greatest number of qualifying books (more than five) will get a $25 gift card to Powell's Books (can be used in store or on line).  Participants living in Europe will get a $25-equivalent gift card to the Amazon store in your country, if possible. If you live in a country where neither Powell's nor Amazon will work, then sorry, you are out of luck.
Each book must be by a different author and set in a different country. This means that only one book from one of the four UK countries will count.  Only books reviewed count towards the prize.

Details

• Read all books between January 1, 2014 and January 31, 2015. The host offers 13 months so there is extra time to finish after the holidays.  However, if you participated in the 2013 European Reading Challenge, you can only count books read in January 2014 for one year -- either the end of the 2013 challenge or the start of the 2014 challenge -- you don't get to count one book for both challenges. And since I do it every year, I generally stop each year at the end of December.
• You do not have to commit to your choices at the beginning of the year; you can change your mind about books at any time.
• Overlap with other challenges is allowed -- and encouraged! Have ideas for good overlapping challenge opportunities? Please leave links in comments.
• Re-reads count. Audiobooks count.  E-books count.  Self-published books count.

I went for the Five Star level this year again, and tried to get some of those countries I hadn't got before.

My books:

1. Death of a Nightingale by Lene Kaaberbol and Agnete Friis (Denmark) Finished January 11
2. Necessary as Blood by Deborah Crombie (England) Finished January 12
3. The Tulip Eaters by Antoinette van Heugten (Netherlands) Finished January 15
4. A Jew Must Die by Jacques Chessex (Switzerland) Finished January 17
5. Drawing Conclusions by Donna Leon (Italy) Finished January 20
6. Somewhere in France by Jennifer Robson (France) Finished February 2
7. Graffiti Knight by Karen Bass (Germany) Finished February 9
8. In the Darkness by Karen Fossum (Norway) Finished February 16
9. Lost Cause by John Wilson (Spain) Finished February 19
10. Close to the Heel by Norah McClintock. (Iceland) Finished March 6
11. Tyringham Park by Rosemary McLoughlin (Ireland) Finished May 19
12. Attack in the Library by George Arion (Romania) Finished June 11
13. Little Bastards in Springtime by Katja Rudolph (Bosnia) Finished September 10
14. Petrified by Barbara Nadel (Turkey) Finished September 13
15. Just Send Me Word by Orlando Figes (Russia). Finished October 11

European Reading Challenge 2013

Challenge Home Page

My Signup Page

The gist: The idea was to read books by European authors or books set in European countries (no matter where the author comes from). The books could be anything – novels, short stories, memoirs, travel guides, cookbooks, biography, poetry, or any other genre. You could 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"? For this challenge, we used the 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, Spain, and Italy), the really huge Russia, the tiny Vatican City, and the mixed bag of Baltic, Balkan, and former Soviet states.

Note: Technically, the United Kingdom is one country that includes England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.  So one book from any one of these four should count as your one book for that one country. 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.

Here is the list, in alphabetical order: 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. 

I chose the top level

Five Star (Deluxe Entourage): Read at least five books by different European authors or books set in different European countries, and managed to read twelve, so I'm pleased.

Books Read:

1. Dark Dreams by Michael Genelin (Slovakia) Finished January 5
2. City of Women by David R. Gillham (Germany) Finished January 13
3. Young Turk by Moris Farhi (Turkey) Finished January 13
4. Harvest by Jim Crace (UK) Finished February 20
5. The Smell of the Night by Andrea Camilleri (Italy) Finished March 15
6. A Mountain of Crumbs by Elena Gorokhova (Russia) Finished March 16
7. Two Pints by Roddy Doyle (Ireland) Finished May 2
8. The Ghost Riders of Ordebec by Fred Vargas (France) Finished May 11
9. Léon & Louise by Alex Capus (Switzerland) Finished June 2
10. The Lullaby of Polish Girls by Dagmara Dominczyk (Poland) Finished July 2
11. HHhH by Laurent Binet (Czech Republic) Finished July 17
12. Norwegian by Night by Derek B. Miller (Norway) Finished July 30

European Reading Challenge 2014

I'm glad to see this challenge offered again, and will definitely be jumping in for 2014.

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"? For this challenge, we will use the 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, Spain, and Italy), the really huge Russia, the tiny Vatican City, and the mixed bag of Baltic, Balkan, and former Soviet states.

Note: Technically, the United Kingdom is one country that includes England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.  So one book from any one of these four should count as your one book for that one country. 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.

Here is the list, in alphabetical order: 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. 

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.

JET SETTER PRIZE

The participant who reads and reviews the greatest number of qualifying books (more than five) will get a $25 gift card to Powell's Books (can be used in store or on line).  Participants living in Europe will get a $25-equivalent gift card to the Amazon store in your country, if possible. If you live in a country where neither Powell's nor Amazon will work, then sorry, you are out of luck.

Each book must be by a different author and set in a different country. This means that only one book from one of the four UK countries will count.  Only books reviewed count towards the prize.

OFFICIAL RULES

• Read all books between January 1, 2014 and January 31, 2015.  I like having 13 months so there is extra time to finish after the holidays.  However, if you participated in the 2013 European Reading Challenge, you can only count books read in January 2014 for one year -- either the end of the 2013 challenge or the start of the 2014 challenge -- you don't get to count one book for both challenges. 

I will be going for the Five Star level this year again, and trying to get some of those countries I haven't got before.

European Reading Challenge 2013

I`m signing up for the second time for the challenge. I`m joining at the Five Star level, but trying to see just how many countries I can cover. 

I thoroughly enjoyed it for 2012, and look forward to hunting down more for 2013.

Here is more information on this challenge:
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"? For this challenge, we will use the 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, Spain, and Italy), the really huge Russia, the tiny Vatican City, and the mixed bag of Baltic, Balkan, and former Soviet states.

Note: Technically, the United Kingdom is one country that includes England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.  So one book from any one of these four should count as your one book for that one country. 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.

Here is the list, in alphabetical order: 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. 

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.

--

European Reading Challenge Wrap-Up

 I joined this challenge in April, but counted back to January for books that applied. 
 For this challenge, the host uses the 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, Spain, and Italy), the really huge Russia, the tiny Vatican City, and the mixed bag of Baltic, Balkan, and former Soviet states.
I joined at the level of Five Star (to read at least 5 books by different European authors or books set in different European countries).

So here is my final count for the challenge:

1. A Dublin Student Doctor (Ireland)
2. The Midwife of Venice (Italy)
3. I am Half-Sick of Shadows (UK)
4. Trap for Cinderella (France)
5. Redbreast (Norway)
6. The Lucky Child (Greece)
7. An Altered Light (Denmark)
8. Amsterdam Stories (Netherlands)
9. Spies of Warsaw (Poland)
10. The Prisoner of Heaven (Spain)
11. The Expats (Luxembourg)
12. The Summer Book (Finland)
13. Watching the Dark (Estonia)
14. The Honey Locust (Bosnia)

Another Reading Challenge: European

I just heard about this European Reading Challenge, and since I always finish Europe early in the Global Reading Challenge, I knew I had to sign up.

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"? For this challenge, we will use the 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, Spain, and Italy), the really huge Russia, the tiny Vatican City, and the mixed bag of Baltic, Balkan, and former Soviet states.

Note: Technically, the United Kingdom is one country that includes England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.  So one book from any one of these four should count as your one book for that one country. I'm not going to be a stickler about it because challenges should be about fun not about rules.

Here is the list, in alphabetical order: 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.

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.

Alternate Arrangements

Agritourisimo: For foodie readers – read a selected number (your choice) of food-related books written by European authors or about European food, cooking, restaurants, culinary traditions, farming, winemaking, etc. Again, each book must be by a different author and set in a different country.

Youth Hostel: For participants under 18 only – read a selected number of books (your choice), by European authors or set in a country of Europe. (Adults reading YA books still participate as adults, not in this sub-category).

Culture Vulture: For those obsessed with prize-winners – read a selected number of books (your choice) that won a major literary prize in its original country. Any of the following literary prizes would count, but there may be others: Anton Wildgans (Austria), Magnesia Litera (Czech Republic), Finlandia (Finland), Le Grand Prix du Roman (France), German Book Prize (Germany), Balint Balassi Memorial Sword (Hungary), Icelandic Literary Prize (Iceland), Bagutta (Italy), Batty Weber (Luxembourg), Norwegian Critics (Norway), NIKE (Poland), Camões (Portugal), Russian Booker (Russia), Prešeren (Slovakia), Premio Planeta de Novela (Spain), August (Sweden), Swiss Book Prize (Switzerland), Sedat Simavi (Turkey), Shevchenko National (Ukraine), Booker (United Kingdom).

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So, I'm going to go for the Five Star, and count from the beginning of the year.

So so far, I have read the following books set in Europe (I'm not including children's books here) :

1. A Dublin Student Doctor (Ireland)
2. The Midwife of Venice (Italy)
3. I am Half-Sick of Shadows (UK)
4. Bad Boy (UK again) [Repeat country so doesn't count]
5. Trap for Cinderella (France)
6. Redbreast (Norway)
7. A Dirty Death (UK again) [Repeat country so doesn't count]
8. The Lucky Child (Greece)
9. The Englishman's Daughter (France again) [Repeat country so doesn't count]
10. The Wild Rose (UK again) [Repeat country so doesn't count]
11. Midnight in Austenland (UK again) [Repeat country so doesn't count]
12. An Altered Light (Denmark)

So taking out the repeat countries, I'm already at seven!