I have been biding my time as far as challenges go, waiting for something that really intrigued me and which I wouldn’t have to join part way through. And, finally, I have found something: the Orbis Terrarum Reading Challenge. I’ve wanted to read more international fiction, to depart from my usual British and Canadian fare, and I view this as an excellent chance to do so. Progress will be recorded on my (new) Challenges page.
Here’s my current reading plan (very, very likely to change):
April – Iran
Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi
May – Sweden
Benny & Shrimp by Katarina Mazetti
June – Korea
The Surrendered by Chang-rae Lee
July – England
Someone at a Distance by Dorothy Whipple
August – Egypt
Moon Tiger by Penelope Lively
September – Czech Republic
I Served the King of England by Bohumil Hrabal (or, if I can find a copy, Němcová’s Babička)
October – Germany
Every Man Dies Alone by Hans Fallada
November – Australia
People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks
The Captive Reader 
Welcome!! I read Persepolis and loved it, and I really want to read People of the Book. I really hope you enjoy this challenge- I’ve liked it better each year. 🙂
Thanks! I’m really excited for the challenge.
I like your list. This is a great challenge and I’m so pleased it’s running again. You’ll find lots of great recommendations along the way. I’m working up a long list that I can cherry pick. And good luck!
Thanks! I can’t wait to see what other books people end up choosing for the challenge! The ones I’ve picked were all on my TBR list already, I just need the encouragement to finally get to them.
I love reading challenges but the minute I join them I promptly ignore the list I’ve made. I’m bad that way, so I will watch from the sidelines. I really liked Persepolis and have wanted to read the sequel for a while now (I also wouldn’t mind seeing the movie). I also have the Lively and Whipple on my mental lists to read. It does sound like a fun challenge and you have a great list of books.
This is my first challenge, so we’ll see how I do. Usually, I don’t like the idea of reading to schedule, however even if I don’t read these books, I’m confident that I’ll be able to find something that fits the challenge each month!
I’m doing this challenge too, and looking forward to seeing what you have to say about the books on your list!
Persepolis is a wonderful graphic memoir. After you’ve read it, you should get hold of the film, which is actually a pretty fantastic adaptation.
I keep seeing the film at the library but really want to wait until after I’ve read the book to watch it.
Good luck with the challenge!
I’ll be doing this one too-I’ve done it every year it’s existed! (This’ll make 3.)
Moon Tiger is lovely, but the challenge bases the country on the author’s nationality, not the book’s setting. So if you’re looking for Egyptian authors, I love Naguib Mahfouz and Alaa Al Aswany.
I love Satrapi’s other graphic nonfiction book Embroideries. 🙂 And Someone at a Distance is SO good!
Lively is Egyptian-born, so this qualifies for the challenge. I thought of reading more Mahfouz (I’ve only read the Cairo trilogy) but this one has been on my TBR list for a while, so it’s a case of two birds with one stone.
Really, really looking forward to the Satrapi!
I would like to read People of the Book and I’ve recently read Persepolis and liked it, although I didn’t love it as much as some people seem to do.
I love the way this reading challenge was set up, but I’m currently resisting the urge to join even more challenges.
What a good idea for a challenge! I avoid challenges like the plague, since structured reading is what I try escape from with my own reading – but I quite often make the lists for the challenge, and then deliberately ignore them!
While I don’t generally like having to read to a schedule or a list, this challenge is broad enough that it allows me to work through a number of books already on my TBR list. Even if I don’t end up going with the ones I have listed here, I’ll definitely be able to find at least one book each month that does meet the challenge guidelines. Because I’m still so new to blogging, I also though it would be a good way to meet new people!