Reading Challenges That Promote Exploring World Lit

A couple of the Monthly Motif Reading Challenges are related to exploring books from different countries and your own. Because reading diversely is important to both of us. If you’re interested in challenging yourself in this way – then check out the list below of reading challenges that encourage you to read books written by or set in different regions around the World.

Literary Voyage Around the World Reading Challenge

For the Literary Voyage Around the World Reading Challenge, read books either set in, or whose authors are from, different countries around the World. Choose from among the following reading goals:

• Literary Hitchhiker – 25-40 countries
• Literary Vagabond – 41-60 countries
• Literary Explorer – 61-80 countries
• Literary Adventurer – 81-99 countries
• Literary Globetrotter – 100 countries and above.

The European Reading Challenge

The idea behind the European Reading Challenge 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.

• 5 Star (Deluxe Entourage): Read at least five books by different European authors or books set in different European countries.
• 4 star (Honeymooner): Read four qualifying books.
• 3 star (Business Traveler): Read three qualifying books.
• 2 star (Adventurer): Read two qualifying books.
• 1 star (Pensione Weekender): Read just one qualifying book.

Literary Escapes Challenge

Read at least 1 book set in each of the 50 of the United States + the District of Columbia for the Literary Escapes Challenge.

British Books Challenge

British Books Challenge.. Read and review books by British authors. If you sign up for the challenge you will be aiming to read at least 12 books by British authors. The books can be from any genre and for any age range.

Australian Women Writers Challenge

Australian Women Writers Challenge. Read and review books by Australian women throughout the year.

The AWW challenge was set up to help overcome gender bias in the reviewing of books by Australian women. The challenge encourages avid readers and book bloggers, male and female, living in or outside Australia, to read and review books by Australian women throughout the year. You don’t have to be a writer to sign up. You can choose to read and review, or read only.

Resources for Finding Books Set in Different Countries

[Around the World in 80 Books – Book Riot]

[15 books that made me fall in love with Europe – Budget Traveller]

❋ The website Books Set In and TripFiction where you can – enter a location and get a list of books set there.

This list is just to get you started. Have you read any books set in “new to you” locations this year yet? Are you participating in any reading challenges that encourage you to read books outside your comfort zone for settings?

(Photo by Scott Webb on Unsplash)