This challenge was a no-brainer for me. I love reading ‘around the world’ so of course I participated. The challenge required 10 books by 10 different authors representing 10 different countries. I managed to read 15.

1. The Full Cupboard of Life by Alexander McCall Smith (UK/Scotland)
2. The Devil and Miss Prym by Paulo Coelho (Brazil)
3. Zlateh the Goat and Other Stories by Isaac Bashevis Singer (emigrated from Poland to US at 33)
4. Q & A by Vikas Swarup (India)
5. Petropolis by Anya Ulinich (emigrated from Russia to US at 17)
6. Natasha and Other Stories by David Bezmozgis (Canada)
7. The House of Paper by Carlos Maria Dominguez (Uruguay)
8. Ravel by Jean Echenoz (France)
9. The Angels Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon (Spain)
10. Siddhartha by Herman Hesse (Germany/Switzerland)
11. Brooklyn by Colm Toibin (Ireland)
12. Vampire Knight Vol 1 by Matsuri Hino (Japan)
13. The Unit by Ninni Holmqvist (Sweden)
14. The Good Women of China by Xinran (China)
15. Kristin Lavransdatter III: The Cross by Sigrid Undset (Norway)

Renay from Bottle of Shine (who is an absolute hoot!)  hosted this fun challenge again, thanks Renay!

We had to give 5 book recommendations, and then choose titles from a master list. My goal was 5, and I read 6.

My 5 suggestions were:

1. The Houskeeper and the Professor by Yoko Ogawa (read in ‘09) — Sweet, tender story about mathematics, baseball, memory, and finding family.
2. The Devil and Miss Prym by Paulo Coelho (read in ‘09) — I love Coelho, and this book raises an important question on the issue of whether humans are basically good or basically evil.
3. The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick (read in ‘08) — This was recommended by Dewey last round, and it was one of the titles I read for the challenge and absolutely loved.  This one is NOT just for kids!
4. Atmospheric Disturbances by Rivka Galchen (read in ‘08) — Very quirky book that I enjoyed because I felt Galchen had a unique writing style and because I got the inside jokes and references about Argentina. A NYT Notable book.
5. Downtown Owl by Chuck Klosterman (read in ‘08) — Scarily enough, this book describes the small town I grew up in almost exactly.

The books I read for the challenge were:

1. Jane Austen Ruined My Life by Jane Patillo
2. The End of the Alphabet by C.S. Richardson
3. The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri
4. Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton
5. Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury
6. Fragile Things by Neil Gaiman

Well, I made some goals but failed at others. I’m very happy that I was able to complete my goals for the Pulitzer, Newbery, Notable, and Nobel lists. I’m really disappointed, though, that I only read 2 Bookers, 2 Oranges, and 3 Science in Fiction books. But there’s always next year, right?

My goal was 6 in each category, and here’s how I did:

Pulitzers (6 titles)

1. The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz (2008)
2. The Optimist’s Daughter by Eudora Welty (1973)
3. A Summons to Memphis by Peter Taylor (1987)
4. The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck (1932)
5. The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton (1921)
6. Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri (2000)

Booker Prize (6 titles)

1. Moon Tiger by Penelope Lively
2. The Remains of the Day by Ishiguro

Orange Prize (6 titles)

1. Fugitive Pieces by Anne Michaels (1997)
2. Property by Valerie Martin (2003)

Newbery Award (6 titles)

1. Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary
2. A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park
3. Kira Kira by Cynthia Kadohata
4. The Midwife’s Apprentice by Karen Cushman
5. Summer of the Swans by Betsy Byars
6. Crispin: The Cross of Lead by Avi
7. Call It Courage by Armstrong Sperry

Nobel laureates (6 titles)

1. Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair by Pablo Neruda
2. Thousand Cranes by Yaunari Kawabata
3. A Tale of Two Gardens by Octavio Paz
4. Zlateh the Goat and Other Stories by Isaac Bashevis Singer
5. The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck
6. Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse
7. The Wonderful Adventures of Nils by Selma Lagerlof
8. Kristin Lavransdatter III: The Cross by Sigrid Undset

Notable Books (6 titles)

1. Finn by Jon Clinch (2008 ALA)
2. Petropolis by Anya Ulinich (2007 CSM)
3. Mistik Lake by Martha Brook (2007 PW)
4. Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junor Diaz (2007 NYT)
5. The View from Castle Rock by Alice Munro (2007 NYT)
6. Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill (2007 PW)
7. The Good Thief by Hannah Tinti (2008 NYT)
8. The Help by Kathryn Stockett (2009 CSM)
9. The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters (2009 NYT)
10. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (2008 PW)
11. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins (2009 PW)