Travel the World in Books Readathon: Start + Goals + Reading List + Updates + Challenge!

I came across this read-a-thon only a couple of days ago, and I knew I had to sign up! It sounds like so much fun, and who doesn't love a themed read-a-thon ;)

  

For more detailed info about this read-a-thon & to join, visit the sign up post HERE!

 

Also, this just might be the push I need to finally read some of those books that have been sitting on my shelf unread for years now, and lots of them are set in different countries & by authors from different countries. 

I haven't decided what exactly I'll read, but I have lots of choices because I'm from Macedonia, and I'll try to mix it up, and read books set in different countries & by authors from lots of different countries, though probably most of them will be from Europe, to be honest.

Goals:

~ to finish one previously started book

~ to read 2 full-length books

~ to participate in a mini challenge

   

 

Ok, so, I have 2 previosly started books that fit this read-a-thon: Untold by Cat Clarke (by UK author & set in UK) & The Final Murder by Anne Holt (set in Norway & by a Norwegian author), and I'd like to finish them both. And despite the fact that I have a lot of popular books that I'd like to read (like A Thousand Splendid Suns, The Shadow of the Wind, Mistress of Rome, etc.), the book that I think would be the most perfect for this read-a-thon is Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts. It was recommended to me by my cousin, and I'll have to borrow it from her, and I know it's on the chunky side, but hopefully I'll like it & read it. And to be honest, the first book I'll probably read is Red Blooded by Amanda Carlson, and she's an American author, so it still counts ;) So, yes, I'm totally undecided, but then again, I am a moody reader, but I'll start with:

I'll just update this post with my progress! I'm also planning to tweet about it now & then ;)

Update #1:

Ok, so, I haven't been reading as much this first week as I wanted to read. I did finish one previously started book & read one more, though I actually finished them both today, on this 7th day. I have no idea what I'll read next. Whatever I'll be in a mood for when I'll choose my next read...

The books I read so far are:

  

...the previously started The Final Murder, that's set in Norway, with a few parts of the chapters through the book set in France & Sweden. Also, the author Anne Holt is from Norway.

I also read Red Blooded, which is set in the USA (when it wasn't in the Underworld), and it's by an American author, so it still fits for me ;)
 

 Update #2:

  

I have to admit that I totally strayed from my planned reading list for this read-a-thon, so instead I read whatever I got in the mood for. I read 2 more books, both by American authors, but one was set in England, and one short story & one novella, also by American authors, and the novella set in USA, Las Vegas to be precise.

I did start Marc Levy's The First Day, which is by French author, and so far has been set in Ethiopia, Chile, UK & France, but I haven't gotten far. I guess I'm not feeling it, but I'll continue reading it & hopefully will be better.
  

Book Scavenger Hunt Challenge:

I decided to do some, but only with pics from my shelf.

#1: My Books from Around the World: 1. A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini (Afghanistan); 2. Blood Eagle by Craig Russell (set in Germany, author from Scotland, UK); 3. Oksa Pollock: The Last Hope by Anne Plichota & Cendrine Wolf (set in UK & France, authors from France); 4. Magpie Hall by Rachael King (New Zealand); 5. The Final Murder by Anne Holt (Norway); 6. Alif the Unseen by G. Willow Wilson (set in an Arabian country, no idea which one exactly); 7. I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak (Australia); 8. Mistress of Rome by Kate Quinn (set in Italy); 9. The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon (Spain); 10. The Japanese Lover by Rani Manicka (Malaysia); 11. The Midnight Palace by Carlos Rioz Zafon (set in India); 12. Azazel a.k.a The Winter Quinn by Boris Akunin (Russia); 13. Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman (set in UK & USA, author from UK); 14. The Hallowed Ones by Laura Bickle (USA, but set in an Amish society); 15. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson (Sweden).  

#3: one of my favorite books from around the world - I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak - Australia.

#6: fiction book from around the world I'd like to read - The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon - Spain.

#7: foreign city in the title - Mistress of Rome by Kate Quinn.

#9: book written by an author from another country than where I live - United Kingdom.

#10: Book set in a country I’d like to visit: The Alchemist's Key by Cristina Brambilla - set in Italy.