EUROPEAN READING CHALLENGE

The European Reading Challenge
January 1, 2012 to January 31, 2013

THIS IS THE SIGN UP PAGE (SEE LINKY BELOW).

TO POST A REVIEW, GO TO THIS PAGE.
TO ADD YOUR WRAP UP POST, GO TO THIS PAGE.

THE 2013 EUROPEAN READING CHALLENGE IS LIVE NOW -- GO TO THIS PAGE.

Welcome to the European Reading Challenge – where participants tour Europe through books. And win prizes. 2012 is the first year for this challenge.  Please join me for the Grand Tour!

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).

PRIZES

Only books reviewed count towards prizes.  Challenge participants are encouraged to write reviews, but are not required to do so except to qualify for a prize.

Jet Setter Grand 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 (or anywhere else Book Depository goes) will get a $25-equivalent gift card to Book Depository. Each book must be by a different author and set in a different country.

Agritourisimo: In addition to qualifying for the Jet Setter Grand Prize, the participant who reads and reviews the greatest number of qualifying books in the Agritourisimo category will receive a $10 gift card to Powell's Books.

Youth Hostel: In addition to qualifying for the Jet Setter Grand Prize, the under 18 participant who reads and reviews the greatest number of qualifying books in the Youth Hostel category will receive a $10 gift card to Powell's Books.

Culture Vulture: In addition to qualifying for the Jet Setter Grand Prize, the participant who reads and reviews the greatest number of qualifying books in the Culture Vulture category will receive a $10 gift card to Powell's Books.

OFFICIAL RULES

• Read all books between January 1, 2012 and January 31, 2013.  I like having 13 months so there is extra time to finish after the holidays. 

• Sign up here using Mr. Linky under the "PARTICIPANTS" heading below. If Mr. Linky isn't working, please leave your link in a comment and I will make a list myself. Please use a link to your challenge post, not your blog home page.   

• If you do not have a blog, please leave a comment below with the level you are signing up for, and your list of books if you want to name them now, and I will add you to the list.

• You do not have to commit to your choices now; you can change your mind about books at any time.

• Overlap with other challenges is allowed -- and encouraged! The Venice in February Challenge is just one idea. Others? Please leave links in comments and I will add them.

• Re-reads count. Audiobooks count.  E-books count.  Self-published books count.

• As you progress, please let us know by leaving comments with links to progress reports and reviews.  Reviews are not necessary, unless you are going for one of the prizes, in which case only books reviewed count.  If you do not have a blog, put your reviews or reports in a comment on this post.

• You can copy and paste the button. Or, if you want me to send you the code, please leave a comment with an email and I will. I cannot figure out the fancy ways of giving button instructions.

PARTICIPANTS: SIGN UP HERE
(To post a review, go to this page)

Please sign up using Mr. Linky below.  Please leave the link for your challenge page, not your blog home page.

REVIEWS

To post a review or see the list of reviews, please go to this page.

IDEAS

My shelves are crammed with books set in European countries and/or written by European authors.  I hardly know where to begin!

But I could start with this list of books with French Connections, or this list of books set in Venice.

Other sources of inspiration:

The Venice in February Challenge also has a list of ideas.

The Black Sheep Dances is hosting an Eastern European Reading Challenge.

The perpetual Nordic Challenge on Notes from the North.

Murder is Everywhere is a collaborative authors' blog about their mystery novels set in various international locations.

The World Literature Forum also has an active European literature forum. 

And please check out other participants' sign up posts listed in Mr. Linky (above) for ideas and inspiration.