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
Just wanted to let you know that I finalized my list and I’ll try and post about it next week. I’m definitely on board for this challenge.
Great! I can’t wait to see which books you’ve chosen.
I’m interested but I don’t have a blog – I’m considering starting one for this purpose. Would I have to be signed up before July 1st?
No, you can join anytime throughout the year. Blogs are really easy to set up – Blogger has a simple format for blogs that guides you through all the setup steps, if you’re not that familiar with the various blogging programs.
I created my list a while ago, but finally got around to posting it. It ranges from Mt. Everest to the Australian outback with stops in Egypt, Thailand, the American West and the French countryside.
If only we could magically transport ourselves to the places we’ll be reading about.
Well, I haven’t created a list-to-read for this challenge yet, but at the rate I’m going I won’t have to! The two books I’ve just read involve places that I’m now curious about visiting (although, as much as I love to travel, it doesn’t take much!). They would be:
Curse of the Narrows by Laura M. MacDonald – nonfiction and gripping, it’s the story of a munitions ship rammed by another vessel in Halifax Harbour up in Nova Scotia. Not only did this cause an explosion that destroyed much of the city, but it created a tsunami that also did damage. And it happened in December, so there was a blizzard that night … Terrible for those who lived through it (and didn’t!), and fascinating for those of us just reading about it.
By Permission of Heaven: The True Story of the Great Fire of London by Adrian Tinniswood – I must be on some sort of disaster kick; not too far from the murder mysteries I usually favor! Tinniswood does a nice job of recreating the era and atmosphere of 1666 London without using overwhelming detail, then narrates the events of the Fire itself. I’d never given it much thought before picking this book up, so I found myself surprised to realize that the Fire lasted several days; I think I’d always envisioned one massive overnight conflagration. Samuel Pepys was keeping his famous diary at this time, and it is frequently (though not overly) quoted; Christopher Wren also turns out to have been involved with St. Paul’s Cathedral even before the Fire broke out. I can recommend this to anyone interested, and am now going to check London guidebooks to see if the Monument erected afterward is still in place, and if the location of the Fire’s start is still marked.
And now to find the next place to visit literarily …
Kate, wow great books – too bad they don’t count towards your challenge tally! Although I’m sure you’ll have no problem finding six other books to read between now and the end of December! The MacDonald book is actually on my wishlist – having lived in Halifax, I especially enjoy reading accounts of the Halifax Explosion which is still so vivid in the minds of Haligonians. Walking down the streets or looking out into the harbour where history happened is quite amazing. It’s one of the major events in Nova Scotian history and the Americans helped us quite a bit, particularly those from Boston. In fact, every year in memory and thanks for that help, the government of Nova Scotia gives a Christmas tree to the city of Boston, which is Boston’s official tree. Another great book that centers around the explosion is Burden of Desire.
I finished my first book THE BEACH HOUSE. Did a review on my blog today. I had planned to read A HOUSE DIVIDED as my first book, but I started and finished it too early!
Great, Lynne! If you like, you can post a link to your review in the new sticky post at the top of my blog.
I’m still deciding which book to read first!
A day late, but I’ve made my list. The link is already up there. Thanks for hosting this great challenge!
One of the books you’ve chosen – The Far Side of the World – sounds particularly interesting. I’ll be curious to see what you think of that one.
This rocks. Can’t wait to get going since I’m a little short on cash right now (for a real vacation).
Me, too! Reading is definitely one of the cheapest forms of entertainment.
Sorry about taking up space 42 & 43. I typed in my URL incorrectly and had to register a second time. If you can delete number 42 that would be great!
K
Great challenge by the way.
No problem.
Just posted my list. Thanks again for the motivation to read these!
Great list, Les!
OK, I just got everything squared away, so I’d better get reading! I think it will be so much fun!
I hope so! I wanted the challenge to be loose enough so that the emphasis would be on the fun of it, rather than the challenge.
This sounds like fun! Sorry I posted twice by mistake – I didn’t realize I needed to go create a blog. I remember starting Don’t Lets Go to the Dogs some time ago but did not read fast enough for the friend who had loaned it, so had to give it back.
No worries – I deleted the extra link. I’ve had that book for ages, so I figure it’s high time to finally read it – I hope it’s worth the wait!
A bit late, but now I have a list. I hope you do not mind some of them are in German which is my native language.
Welcome, Karin! Definitely not a problem to read books in other languages. I’ll be curious to see what you think of English Passengers. That was one of my favorite books last year – here’s my post on it. No spoilers, don’t worry!
I’m in! A few days late, but I just posted my list. I’m number 47 on the Mr. Linky list. Thanks for this great challenge!
Thanks for joining up, Joni! You’ve got some great books picked out – some of them I’ve read and really enjoyed, like the two by Bryson and Sarum. A good mix of fiction and non! I also like to have flexibility in book choices for challenges, so I knew that was something I’d put in the rules of mine. Good luck!
This will be my very first challenge, so I am hoping I don’t mess it up too badly! I’m very excited and hopeful to get more reading in finally. I’ll be posting my list in a few hours, hopefully. My blog is new, too, and definitely needs a lot more work, but at least I finally have one! Thanks for hosting a great challenge!
I’m sure you’ll be fine! Don’t stress – this is supposed to be fun! And have fun with your blog – they can be addictive, too!
Wow what a great idea! I had said that I wanted my summer to be a summer of traveling by books. What a great way to do that and be held somewhat accountable for it.
And you get to continue that traveling on into the the fall and winter – sort of a literary grand tour.
Alright I’ll have to get the books and start.
Couldn’t resist, huh?
Glad to have you!
what a great idea! and i love traveling. i am definitely signing up for this! thanks for hosting
Great! Thanks for joining – have fun!
Can my email address act as an url? Help!
Hi, Hattie! You don’t have to have a blog (although it is easy to set one up through blogger.com), if you’d prefer, you can list your chosen books in a comment for this post, and then when you finish each book, you can give your thoughts about it in the comment section for the sticky post at the top of the page (the one titled ‘And We’re Off!’). Let me know if you have any other questions – and welcome!
I found this site and contest through my friend Lady K. As soon as I figure out my list, I will post it to my site. Also, is it considered cheating if I look at what other’s are reading to get inspiration for my own list? I am very excited to do this!!!
Definitely not! Have fun choosing!
Have just posted my list, although I realise it’s a bit late in the day. However, I like the challenge and it forced me to think about books about places. Great idea.
Oh, you’re not late – people can join anytime through the next few months. Enjoy!
I will be writing reviews for the books on my main blog. I don’t write that many “other’ entries, lots of books though. And you can find my book entries by clicking on the side bar that says “books”. I have already been amazed at the books I’m reading — Afghanistan, India, Switzerland, and Nazi Germany!
Thanks for the heads up about where to find your reviews. I’m looking forward to reading your thoughts on the ones you’ve chosen!
Thanks for hosting this challenge!
Thanks for joining – have fun!
I just joined. Looks like lots of fun. Thanks for hosting this.
Great! I hope you do enjoy it.
I chose my books and created an entry. I just realized that I put the wrong thing on the sign up sheet. How do I switch the link from my entire blog to the entry? Here is the entry url: http://beastmomma.squarespace.com/from-shelf-to-hand/2007/7/13/my-first-online-challenge-just-getting-started.html
I can’t edit the one you put above, but it’s no big deal – a lot of people just put their blog url. Having the specific link in here is fine, unless you’d like it listed above, in which case I’ll delete your first listing after you add the second one.
I got it sorted out and I am excited to get rolling with things.
Glad to hear it.
I finished my first book today for this challenge: Bangkok Tattoo by John Burdett. It’s the second book in the Sonchai Jitpleecheep series, and it’s mostly set in Bangkok and other Thai cities:
http://krinek.blogspot.com/2007/07/bangkok-tattoo-by-john-burdett.html
This genre’s not my cup of tea, but it does sound interesting – congrats on completing your first book!
I have a giant summer reading PILE and this contest has given me the impetus to yank out six titles and get moving! Thanks for the kick in the pants.
You’re quite welcome! That was one of my personal goals in starting this challenge, as well as the others I joined.
This sounds like a great challenge! I am going to pull a few books that have been lingering for too long in my TO READ piles and maybe I’ll have to add a new book or two just to make it interesting!
Too bad you’ve read all of Helene Hanff’s books – hers would be perfect for this challenge! What’s your favorite of hers, anyway? That’s a cruel question, I know – I don’t think I could answer it myself!
I don’t know if you want us posting links to our reviews or not. I’ve finished and reviewed my first on my list, Condominium.
Yup, you can post them in the comments section of the sticky post at the top of the main page.
Finally posted my list and signed up with Mr. Linky!
Yay, so glad you’re back online and taking on the challenge!
This is fun. Feel like I should be able to do this one handed! reading travel books is a favorite thing.
I hope it is fun – that’s the point!
Very fun! Can’t wait to read and read what others are reading!
Hello Leslie! I’d never heard of any of your book choices, but they sound very interesting.
I’ve been meaning to sign up! Sounds like fun!
Welcome to the challenge!
I just couldn’t believe how well this challenge fits with the theme of my blog. So even though I write more of a personal travelogue than a series of book reviews, I simply couldn’t resist. Here’s my list:
http://www.readertravels.com/?ArticleID=261
Oh, and I saw that you had Elizabeth Gilbert’s Eat, Pray, Love on your alternates list. I was really moved by the book, as you can see here (FYI, it’s not a review):
http://www.readertravels.com/?ArticleID=156
Thanks for joining! I’m looking forward to reading Eat, Pray, Love – I think I’ll really enjoy it.
And I’ll be curious to read your thoughts on Deliverance (as someone who now calls Georgia my home!). Have fun!
Love the idea of this challenge, I just had to participate. Thanks for hosting such a great challenge.
Thanks for joining – have fun and happy travels!
I just found you, and I love an excuse to read more!
Great Idea and thanks for hosting!
Tanya
Welcome and thanks for joining!
Since I read books like I need food, I figure I might as well hop on this challenge! Well-thought idea!
Hmmmm … that gives me an idea. There are plenty of books with food as the theme – I think I smell another challenge!
Look like fun. Sorry I accidentally linked to my blog home instead of to my individual post. Here’s the correct link http://joshandloraena.blogspot.com/2007/08/arm-chair-traveler-reading-challenge.html
No worries! I read (and loved) both The Poisonwood Bible (it was a little slow to get into, but then I was hooked), and The Thirteenth Tale (great for booklovers!). Have fun in your travels!
This looks like fun – thanks for hosting!
That’s the plan! Thanks for joining.
I’ve done well on this challenge already! Here is what I’ve finished so far…
- A Thousand Splendid Suns (Afghanistan)
- The Book Thief (Germany)
- Alpine for You (Switzerland)
- The Girls (Canada & Slovakia
Wow, you’re doing great! I read The Book Thief earlier this year and really enjoyed it. One of the best books of that period, I think.
What a great idea! Thanks for doing this (and your blog…I’m enjoying it, too).
I signed up late, but I finished A 1000 Splendid Suns last weekend, so I’m counting it!
Sounds good to me! Thanks for joining up.
I set up a Journal to post my armchair reads but don’t know what the URL is? Help!
Jan
What’s your website address, Jan? What’s in the web address bar at the top of your page when you go to your journal?
Well, I’ve just added one more book to the blog, not doing too badly I think!
Nope, not at all!
OK. This is my first challenge and I already made a mistake, linking linky to my whole blog and not just my list which doesn’t fully exist yet. I should have it up tonight. Or tomorrow. I am excited about this though. Forces me to read books I already have and avoid.
No worries! That’s part of the reason I started this challenge, to clear off some of my TBRs.
Okay, I am starting late, but I really think I can get this done by December.
Sure, you can – have fun!
mmm I left a post yesterday but it’s not showing! What happened?? I reviewed Hamida Ghafour’s the Sleeping Buddha http://51stories.wordpress.com/2007/09/09/more-musings-on-books-authors-and-writing/#comment-244
It’s there – you posted it on my ‘And We’re Off’ post, the one I had stuck at the top for ATRC reviews.
I have already reviewed two books for the challenge and have posted them.
This is a great idea!
Wow, you’re on a roll – at this rate you’ll be done in plenty of time!
For some reason it won’t let me post this comment on the other link, so here goes:
Eat, Pray, Love – Elizabeth Gilbert
Halfway through!
I tried to post on the other site, but it wouldn’t have me. Here are the links to my other Armchair reviews:
More Than You Know by Beth Gutcheon (Maine)
http://framedandbooked.blogspot.com/2007/08/armchair-traveler-challenge.html
The Gods of Newport by John Jakes (Rhode Island)
http://framedandbooked.blogspot.com/2007/08/armchair-traveler-no-3.html
A Bell for Adano by John Hershey (Italy)
http://framedandbooked.blogspot.com/2007/08/armchair-traveler-4-book-award-5.html
I am really excited about this one. I need some real travel but i hope this will help me out!