I was made aware of this challenge last week on Jose Ignacio on The Game’s Afoot Blog and thought it was a great idea for a challenge, that even though we were already half way through the year I was going to give it a go anyway. What have I got to lose other than I’m going to read at least a couple of great books I may never have otherwise have read?
The challenge is as below and for my part, is a straight copy and paste from Jose’s blog!
“The 2014 Global Reading Challenge (2014GRC), hosted by Kerrie at Mysteries in Paradise, offers a unique opportunity to expand your reading boundaries. You can check in the blog Challenge here, the rules and different levels of participation.”
In case you haven’t popped over to Kerrie’s blog, which I’d recommend you do and maybe join in with this challenge with me? This challenge has different levels. I shall at this late point be completing the easy challenge – no surprises there!
The Easy Challenge
Read one novel from each of these continents in the course of 2014:
Africa, Asia, Australasia/Oceania, Europe, North America, South America (please include Central America where it is most convenient for you)
The Seventh Continent (here you can either choose Antarctica or your own ´seventh´ setting, eg the sea, the space, a supernatural/paranormal world, history, the future – you name it).
From your own continent: try to find a country, state or author that is new to you.
As I choose and read these I shall blog about them. My first read will be Devil’s Peak by Deon Meyer.
Devil’s Peak by Deon Meyer
From rising South African thriller writer Deon Meyer, a gripping suspense novel about revenge, forgiveness, and the race to catch a trained killer. A young woman makes a terrible confession to a priest. An honorable man takes his own revenge for an unspeakable tragedy. An aging inspector tries to get himself sober while taking on the most difficult case of his career. From this beginning, Deon Meyer weaves a story of astonishing complexity and suspense, as Inspector Benny Griessel faces off against a dangerous vigilante who has everything on his side, including public sympathy.
A gruesome abuse case has hit the newsstands, and one man has taken it upon himself to stand up for the children of Cape Town . When the accused is found stabbed through the heart by spear, it’s only the beginning of a string of bloody murders – and of a dangerous dilemma for detective Griessel. The detective is always just one step behind as someone slays the city’s killers. But the paths of Griessel and the avenger collide when a young prostitute lures them both into a dangerous plan – and the two find themselves with a heart-stopping problem that no system of justice could ever make right.
I’m ashamed to say I haven’t read any of Meyer’s work yet, so I am really looking forward to reading this and to this challenge. And it’s not a crime fiction only challenge, though I shall try to stick with crime, so whatever your genre, why not join us?! Go on, you know you want to 🙂
Margot Kinberg says
Rebecca – I think it’s great that you’re going to take part in the Global Reading Challenge. I think it’s an excellent way to get to know books from all over the world. And Deon Meyer’s work is a top-notch way to be introduced to South African crime fiction. In my opinion he writes terrific thrillers with a real sense of place and culture.
Jose Ignacio says
Thank you Rebecca for your mention. Very kind of you.
Jacqui Murray says
I love this idea, Rebecca. I’ve read a few Chinese writers–Mai Jia and Gao Jianqun–and became engrossed by the difference in their approach to writing. It was refreshing, outside the lines of typical American novels of their genre. I’ve read a few Swedish thrillers, and been under-thrilled so will probably avoid those. I’m going to look at the Deon Meyer. Sounds quite interesting.
cleopatralovesbooks says
This looks good, I’ve not read ay of Deon Meyer so another writer for me to look out for.
diannegray says
What a wonderful idea!
MarinaSofia says
I took part in the challenge last year and am truly grateful how it enabled me to discover a whole roster of new authors and worldviews! (I’m not taking part this year because I want to focus on a few countries in particular, but will probably do it again next year).
Gwen Tolios says
I love the sound of this challenge. I’ll have to try to jump on it next year.
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