This summer is flying fast! Tutoring is finished until the fall, I just turned in an editing job, and I’m finally getting a quick breath of fresh—but humid—air. So what will I be doing for the next few weeks, before the next wave of my two jobs arrives at my door?
Traveling the world…
… in a literary sense.
That’s right, friends. August’s reading challenge will take us Around the World.
Here’s what this means:
The books we read for this challenge should either take place outside of our home country or be authored by a person from a country other than our own. The entire book does not have to take place outside the U.S. (or whatever your home country might be, if you aren’t from the U.S.), but a hefty amount of the book should. If you’re going for the author category, the book may take place anywhere in the world, including your home country, as long as the author is from a country other than your own.
I’ve been looking forward to this particular challenge all year, because so many different genres will fit this one.
Want biblical fiction? These often take place in the Middle East. I personally don’t like many, but I have many friends who cherish them. Although, I must say, I rather enjoyed Connilynn Cossette’s Counted with the Stars.
Like Regency books? They take place in England, typically. Go ahead and pick up some Julie Klassen or Sarah Ladd stories.
What about WWII? Those stories take place all across Europe. Authors such as Tricia Goyer, Cara Putman, Liz Tolsma, and Cathy Gohlke are just a few who write in that particular genre.
Do you favor contemporary tales? Try one of Lisa Harris’s African-locale stories or Lindsay Harrel’s globetrotting The Heart Between Us. A few of Katherine Reay’s books also cross the pond, so they’ll work nicely too. I especially enjoyed her latest, The Austen Escape.
How about those split-time stories that are so popular these days? Kristy Cambron’s new Lost Castle series (book one, The Lost Castle, is available now) covers present-day, WWII, and late-1700s, all taking place in France.
Have a hankering for a non-United States-born author? Pick up a book by Janette Oke or Sara Davison, both of whom are from Canada.
What other eras take place outside your home country?
This should be a fun month. Right now I only have two books on my kindle that fit this, so I'm going to enjoy finding more books. And I hope to make that trip to the library! 😉
Welcome, Rebekah! I hope you enjoy your journey via the books you read. I'm curious to see where you end up traveling to.
I've only taken part in one of your challenges in the past, but I'm hoping to read several books in participation this month. Should I check in here with each book I finish, or comment them all at the end of the month? 🙂
Faith, I'm so glad you're back! I hope you travel to lots of fun places through books this month. Whichever way you want to check in — book by book, in small chunks, or one big list — works great. Take it as it comes, if you like. Happy reading!
I'm not getting to as many as I expected or wanted.1. A Song Unheard by Roseanna M. WhiteLondon, England; Wales; Belium
Sounds good, thank you! I've read 2 books so far and I'm hoping to finish at least another by the end of the month. :)#1. The Hallelujah Lass by Wendy Lawton. (England)#2. Behind Enemy Lines by H.R. DeMallie (Holland, Germany, & England)
Well done, Faith! Both of those titles are so interesting.
2. Lady of Milkweed Manor by Julie KlassenLondon, England; Crawley, England; Doddington, England; Shoreham-by-the-Sea, England
I just finished Across the Blue by Carrie Turansky. (flying across the English Channel)
Great job! I guess we both took trips to England this month. 🙂
#3. The Journal of Scott Pendleton Collins by Walter Dean Myers (England, Normandy, France)That will probably be my last for this month. Fun challenge!
Fun travels!!!
I'm back in the good old USA after a delightful month of travels.I started off in Canada with Janette Oke in \”They Called Her Mrs. Doc.\” Following that I headed across the ocean to France for the first chapter of \”Until We Find Home\” before heading over to England for the rest of Cathy Gohlke's story. This was quickly followed by \”The Mystery of the Missing Cufflinks\” by Alicia G. Ruggieri. Growing tired of England's weather, I took ship for India and, though I did return to England for a few chapters, I spent most of \”Silk\” with Linda Chaikin in the hot land of the East India Company. When I grew tired of the heat and the terrible greediness of the EIC, I decided a \”Swiss Holiday\” with Elizabeth Yates was just what I needed. I was right! The lovely alpine air was so refreshing that I was ready for another hot climate. This time to North Africa with Patricia M. St. John in \”Three Go Searching.\” My final stop on this lovely tour was up north for an \”Iceland Adventure\” with Elizabeth Yates once again.And that brought by tour to a close. 🙂
Wonderful!
How lovely! I enjoyed the way you shared about your travels, Rebekah.
Glad you enjoyed it. 🙂