Edit: If you have already signed up for this challenge, please go here to post any completed book reviews and/or to post when you have completed the challenge.
I’ve been toying with the idea of hosting a challenge for some time now, but couldn’t think of a theme that I would be interested in that wasn’t already out there. But with summer coming on, and my recent holiday to Myrtle Beach, my wanderlust has been piqued. With a yen to travel to distant lands, but lacking the resources to do so, I’ve decided to host:
If you’re interested in joining, here are the guidelines:
- The challenge runs from July 1 through December 31 during which time you must read six books that fall under the ‘armchair traveling’ theme.
- Fiction or non-fiction works are fine, and do not need to be specifically travel related, as long as the location is integral to the book – I’ll leave that to your discretion. Locations must be actual places that you could visit, so no Middle Earths or galaxies far, far away.
- Books may be cross-posted to other challenges, but you cannot count any books read prior to July 1st.
- To join, make a post outlining your six choices and link to that post below. Because I like to have a little wiggle room, you can opt to switch out books throughout the challenge.
- And yes, there will be prizes!
Here are my six choices:
Brazzaville Beach (Africa)
Rick Steves’ Postcards from Europe (Europe)
Wonderful Strange (Newfoundland)
Don’t Lets Go to the Dogs Tonight (Africa)
In a Sunburned Country (Australia)
The Kingdom by the Sea (Great Britain)
Bonus/Alternate Titles:
Hunting Mr. Heartbreak (United States)
Brick Lane (London, England)
The Binding Chair (China)
Eat, Pray, Love (Italy, India and Indonesia)
The Country Life (England)
Dinner with Persephone (Greece)
As I made allowances for in my challenge rules, I reserve the right to swap out any of these titles for another which fits within the parameters. And I’m making it extra challenging for myself by not counting any relevant books that I’ve already slated for other challenges.
So, who’s with me? Pack your bags and let’s go!
Filling in the Mr. Linky blanks:
Your name: Your name (please put the name of your blog in parentheses)
Your URL: Please link ONLY the actual post in your blog where you have listed your challenge book choices; please do NOT link your entire blog site. This will be helpful to others, so they don’t have to search through an entire blog to see your list.
Example:
Your name: Lesley (A Life in Books)
Your URL: http://www.alifeinbooks.com/?p=123
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[...] recently stumbled across a literary challenge that I liked the smell of over at A Life In Books. It’s called the Armchair Traveler reading challenge, and the guidelines are as follows: The [...]
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[...] since this fits kind of perfectly with Lesley’s Armchair Travelers challenge, and, as of the end of this month, I have no challenges going, I may as well join in as well! You [...]
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[...] also marks the start of the Armchair Traveler Reading Challenge. Links to your individual posts about the books you’ve chosen for this challenge can be [...]
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[...] 2nd, 2007 by hesperuspress I’m very tempted indeed by this reading challenge, largely for the following [...]
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[...] The Armchair Traveler Challenge: Read 6 books (fiction or non-fiction) from July-December. The books should be travel-related or where the location is “integral to the book.” [...]
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[...] July 19th, 2007 · No Comments Reading travel books is such a difficulty for me So I’m joining this challenge. [...]
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[...] I first learned of it about the time of my post on foreign literature, I’m going to pursue The Armchair Traveler Reading Challenge that began July 1. Theoretically, I’m supposed to list the six books I intend to read between [...]
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[...] I saw this in the library’s new non-fic section, and since I’m trying to up my non-fic reads, I grabbed it. It’s a biography of a late eighteenth-century/early nineteenth explorer James Holman. Holman travelled through the world more than any of his contemporaries, and he was blind. Roberts (the biographer) came across a reference to The Blind Traveller in the course of other research and became fascinated with Holman. Unfortunately, not many papers survive. Therefore, although this is non-fiction, Roberts fills in many of the blanks with his imagination. The book was very well-written; I enjoyed following along with the story. However, from a scholarly point of view, Roberts takes astonishing liberties. Fortunately, history isn’t my field, so the liberties didn’t bother me. Instead, I loved going with this blind man across the Russian Siberia, through the Brazilian interior, and around the rest of the globe. I’d recommend this to anyone who enjoys biographers or armchair travel. In fact, I think it’d make a good selection for Lesley’s new challenge! [...]
I finished the #4 book for the challenge, Sixpence House by Paul Collins.
http://mattviews.wordpress.com/2007/10/01/99-sixpence-house-paul-collins/
I goofed on the linking above. My apologies.
http://mrgregoc.blogspot.com/2007/10/bookwhore-chronicles-armchair-traveler.html#comments
I never posted my titles. So here I am. I’ve been reading all along, just got caught up in a busy summer and never made it back for this step. So, here is a listmania list at amazon with my travel books. I’ll do better till the challenge ends.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/richpub/listmania/fullview/R15RXD7IIR3Y59/ref=cm_lm_pthnk_view/002-0311627-9481645?ie=UTF8&lm%5Fbb=
Hello! I know I’m really late in joining (and I don’t expect to be entered into any prize drawing because of that), but I’m hoping I can squeeze in another 6 books in the next few months. I’m wanting to sign up so that I can have an accountable goal, and get some of these books out of my house!
I finished the 5th book for the challenge, The Gentleman in the Parlour by Somerset Maugham:
http://mattviews.wordpress.com/2007/12/11/113-the-gentleman-in-the-parlour-w-somerset-maugham/
I wrapped up the challenge with another Maugham’s book, Far Eastern Tales, which I haven’t reviewed.
Let me add a suggestion of a book I’ve just read. It’s an armchair travel book linked to a real bushwalk in Australia. The book is The Great North Walk Companion and is not only a good read but offers a literary challenge – see this website