I am joining in on the Wanderlust Bingo challenge that is hosted at FictionFan's Book Reviews. It was initially announced in January 2023. I have been planning to join this all year and just now have decided to start working on it in earnest. The goal is to read about countries from all over the world, in either nonfiction or fiction books.
The card includes various areas in the world, plus topics such as Beach, Village, River, Island. FictionFan gives her home country of Scotland a square of its own.
The Bingo card is below:
Any type of book will count – crime, fiction, science fiction, non-fiction. However, two requirements are (1) that a country can be used only once and (2) a book can only fill one box.
You might notice that the card notes the years of the challenge in 2023 and 2024. Since I am starting at the end of the year, I will probably run over into 2025 but that is fine.
There is one book I read in April 2023 that I intend to include in this challenge: The Blind Man of Seville by Robert Wilson. Other than that I will probably use books I read in the future from this date on.
You can check out FictionFan's post for this challenge and her latest update is here.
22 comments:
Nice to hear you've decided to do this too, Tracy! You might be surprised if you check, how many other books you read this year that might fit a few of the categories. I've crossed off 11 squares so far but think a few might be trickier for me, such as Central America, Far East, Polynesia. I don't read a lot from those regions so the challenge is good as it will force me out of my comfort zone. Have fun!
You are a very ambitious reader.
This looks like a very fun challenge! It's always interesting to see what books you find to fill each category. Good luck. :D
Cath, I did a quick check back through the books I read since April when I read The Blind Man of Seville. The books I found that would fit are from series I will read more of in the future. But if I need to I will go back and pick them up. I remember a few months ago when I was looking at the squares, I had a hard time figuring out exactly what fits in Central America.
Star of the North (John) was a fascinating book set mostly in Korea - might work for your Far East square.
I admit I haven't joined this challenge, Tracy, but I like it - a lot. I've learned so much from my virtual travels, and I enjoy seeing how authors from other parts of the world tell their stories.
Patti, I have tried to do some kind of Around the World or Read all the Countries of the World challenge for years, but that has always overwhelmed me. This one seems more manageable, aiming at 25 countries and different parts of the world. It embarrasses me that I know so little about the geography of the world and the locations of various countries.
Lark, it will be interesting to me to see what books I choose. I do have some books already on my shelves that will fit some of the categories, but there are a lot of them that will be a challenge to find a book for. I agree, I think it will be fun.
Constance, Star of the North is a good suggestion for Korea. I already have that on my shelf and I had forgotten about it.
Margot, initially it will be interesting figuring out what countries fit in each area designated on the squares.
As a child, I was rather proficient in geography, at least, for my age...nowadays its probably my weakest subject area on JEOPARDY! quizzes. I should probably make more efforts in this direction as well, though I probably won't be systematic about it thus. Good reading!
Todd, I can picture you being good at JEOPARDY! quizzes. Not me. I am too slow to think of answers, even if I do know them.
I am also not good in knowing what direction a place is in, or in navigating around town. It is just as well I don't drive, since I would get lost.
So glad to have you on board! And yes of course you can run over into 2025 - the dates are really just for my own target. I'm looking forward to seeing what books you choose, especially for the Scotland box! Hope you enjoy the journey, and don't forget to slap on the sunscreen and the mosquito repellent...
FictionFan, I am glad I finally wrote a post to join, since I have been thinking on it for the last few months.
That is a good question, what will I pick for Scotland? I am glad it has a box of its own. I have read plenty of good Scottish authors, and probably still have other books by them on my shelves.
That sounds like a fun challenge! I can't wait to see what you find to fill the boxes.
Mary, I think it will be fun. I have many unread books, and I am sure that some of them will fit this challenge well.
A good map or a good GPS (both rarer than they should be) is a wonderful thing.
...and thanks...my current healing-up residual muzziness helps slow down pulling some answers, and others not at all, which has its own odd little curiousness. My problem with names keeps getting worse with age.
May your travels be quick and painless!
Todd, both Glen and I note that we have problems with names more and more. I never did have a good memory for names, but there are other facts and types of knowledge that it irritates me to lose track of.
I will enjoy reading stories set in other countries.
That looks like a fun challenge, Tracy. I don't do a lot of challenges, but this one is interesting and it actually looks doable for most of us. Like Cath, I've spotted a few regions of the world I might have a problem with, but that's the intent of the challenge, so maybe this is one I'd enjoy.
I think it will be fun, Sam. Right now I am reading a novella set in Argentina, at a seaside town, first published in 1946, and I did not even pick it because of the setting. The title is Where There is Love, There is Hate, written by Adolfo Bioy Casares and Silvina Ocampo.
The bingo challenge sounds very exciting, if you have the time and patience to play it! Have fun! And enjoy Thanksgiving coming up!
Harvee, you are right about the time and patience. I think now that I have officially joined in, I will notice more books that apply to squares. And I have some stacks of books to catalog, and some may show up there. At least at first, I want to stick to my TBR piles.
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