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It's time to create a new reading challenge for 2022!
Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions!
Please share them here!

I'm glad you set this up! I meant to message you about it. It seems like nominating themes and then voting on them has been popular in the last couple of years. Do we want to do that again?

Voting on themes works for me. And even tho that has not been decided, I’ll suggest creation themes: creation of the world, creation of man, creation of fire, creation of geological features�.

Margaret wrote: "I'm glad you set this up! I meant to message you about it. It seems like nominating themes and then voting on them has been popular in the last couple of years. Do we want to do that again?"

Yes! I think nominating and voting on different themes is a good idea. Another possibility would be an around the world challenge
Either would be good for me!

For me, it would be fun to read the world :)

Tales from Africa. I've read many tales from different continents, but very few from the many countries of Africa.

Environmental tales - stories involving different locations, or different types of weather, or climate change.

Female explorers - women on quests, or searching for answers, or doing research.

Animals - animals that talk, magic animals, worlds with intelligent animals without humans, familiars.

Oh shoot, I had an idea I wanted to suggest but I've forgotten what it was. I'll think about it and try to remember.

So two options are around the world, or we could vote on themes, and include around-the-world themes?

Here's what around the world might look like:
1. An African retelling
2. An East Asian retelling
3. A South and West Asian retelling
4. A Russian/Eastern European retelling
5. A Western European retelling
6. A North American retelling
7. A Latin American retelling
8. A Caribbean retelling
9. An Australian/New Zealand/Oceania retelling
3 Free spots for more around the world retellings? Or divide out areas more?

Or we could do themes that include around the world. So include the themes that have already been mentioned, plus around the world themes. Then we can vote, and the top 10 themes win, with 2 free spots.

What's the consensus?

I apologize for taking a few days to respond!

Margaret wrote: "So two options are around the world, or we could vote on themes, and include around-the-world themes?

Here's what around the world might look like:
1. An African retelling
2. An East Asian retelli..."

We may also include island countries around the world like in Oceania or Caribbean regions :)

I like the retelling set. Thanks, Margaret!

Margaret wrote: "So two options are around the world, or we could vote on themes, and include around-the-world themes?

Here's what around the world might look like:
1. An African retelling
2. An East Asian retelli..."

It has been a while since we had a around the world challenge, so I'd definitely be up for it.
When we had one a few years ago we included the Pacific islands Oceania as part of Australia and New Zealand.
For clarity why don't we say "Western European " and "Eastern European" and instead of "Middle East" say "South and West Asia" ?

Excellent corrections. I've added Caribbean, and then cut Middle east and changed the wording on South Asian to include West, then modified the wording on Australia to include Oceania.

Okay, it now reads like this:

1. An African retelling
2. An East Asian retelling
3. A South and Southeast Asian retelling
4. Western & Central Asian retelling
5. A Russian/Eastern European retelling
6. A Western European retelling
7. A North American retelling
8. A Latin American retelling
9. A Caribbean retelling
10. An Australian/New Zealand/Oceania retelling
11. Free Spot
12. Free Spot

We could use one other location for a #10? Suggestions? I like having 2 free spots. When I get a chance (tonight?) I'll find our previous one to see what we used.

Canada? North/South pole (many expeditions chronicled)? Maybe separate Russia from Eastern Europe? Make China a separate category?

Ozsaur wrote: "Canada? North/South pole (many expeditions chronicled)? Maybe separate Russia from Eastern Europe? Make China a separate category?"
Canada is still a big part of North America. To me it makes sense just to say Eastern Europe.

Margaret wrote: ".We could use one other location for a #10? Suggestions? I like having 2 free spots. When I get a chance (tonight?) I'll find our previous one to see what we used. .."

Sorry I meant Southwest Asian as a replacement for Middle East but not for South Asia! To avoid confusion we can say West Asia which is the term many scholars are now using to describe the Middle East. This way we have South Asia and West Asia and have 10 places. It seems the term Middle East comes from the British during the colonial times.

Yes, but Canada has its own distinct culture and many interesting writers worth exploring separate from the US.

Also, Russia is a large distinct area worth separating from Eastern Europe. It would give other countries a chance to shine.

But these are just some ideas.

Ozsaur wrote: "Yes, but Canada has its own distinct culture and many interesting writers worth exploring separate from the US.

Also, Russia is a large distinct area worth separating from Eastern Europe. It would..."

I see your point but if we have both a South Asia category and a West Asia we will already have 10 areas leaving 2 for people to choose from.

Okay, whatever works. It'll be a fun challenge.

I was actually thinking of dividing Africa up into two if we needed an extra category but I think we're good now!

Ozsaur wrote: "Canada? North/South pole (many expeditions chronicled)? Maybe separate Russia from Eastern Europe? Make China a separate category?"

I thought about North/South pole, but I don't think there are many myth/folklore retellings from those countries.

If we want 10 categories it would make sense to me to put Central Asia with either West Asia or South Asia.

So I think if we all agree to an around the world challange we might not need to do a poll.

Okay, studying Asian geography today! Honestly, we could do all 12 spots based on different Asian countries! Anyway here's the updated list:

1. An African retelling
2. An East Asian retelling
3. A South and Southeast Asian retelling
4. Western & Central Asian retelling
5. A Russian/Eastern European retelling
6. A Western European retelling
7. A North American retelling
8. A Latin American retelling
9. A Caribbean retelling
10. An Australian/New Zealand/Oceania retelling
11. Free Spot
12. Free Spot

I'm basing the Asian geography on this website's regions:

My grouping seemed the most logical.

And yes, we can either include these geographic areas among a bunch of other themes we vote on, or do an around the world theme for the entire challenge.

I am totally happy with this!
How about the others?

Looks good to me. Thanks for all the hard of putting this together!

Thumb up, looks like it is going to be a tricky challenge. I like it.

I don't think I'll be able to get 4 or more per category like this year's! But I like a challenge. :)

Margaret, there is potential for a few categories to overwhelm the list. Depends if you count by author's nationality, or by author's heritage or by setting

Asaria wrote: "Margaret, there is potential for a few categories to overwhelm the list. Depends if you count by author's nationality, or by author's heritage or by setting"

Margaret wrote: "I don't think I'll be able to get 4 or more per category like this year's! But I like a challenge. :)"


Good points! While I like the idea of an around the world challenge I am also not opposed to changing or modifying it to make it more doable. I definitely think we can be flexible

Asaria wrote: "Margaret, there is potential for a few categories to overwhelm the list. Depends if you count by author's nationality, or by author's heritage or by setting"

That's a good point. I'll probably leave more specifics to each reader, and personally for my free spots I'll probably add some more specific geographic regions, like West African. I think, for me, as long as the myth/fairytale originates in the country and is written by an author either from that country or with a heritage from that country, I'll count it for a category. It would be worthwhile to read books originally written in that country though! While I've read more translated books this year, it's still not much.

Margaret wrote: "That's a good point. I'll probably leave more specifics to each reader, and personally for my free spots I'll probably add some more specific geographic regions, like West African. I think, for me, as long as the myth/fairytale originates in the country and is written by an author either from that country or with a heritage from that country, I'll count it for a category. It would be worthwhile to read books originally written in that country though! While I've read more translated books this year, it's still not much."

That's a good point. I'..."

I'm going with the most restrictive interpretation that I know I will regret later. Authors have to be born in a specific country or region and spend at least 14-18 years there or identify with that country/nationality despite living abroad most of their life.

A lot of my reads are translations, so the most problematic part will be normal: finding something both interesting and fitting for the challenge. Knowing myself, I'll end with a complete domination of North American, East Asian, and Eastern/Western European writers on the list, as usual. It's frustrating how many books aren't available in English.

Asaria wrote: "I'm going with the most restrictive interpretation that I know I will regret later. Authors have to be born in a specific country or region and spend at least 14-18 years there or identify with that country/nationality despite living abroad most of their life."

That is very restrictive. :) But potentially a good way to find new authors. The lack of translations is an issue.

Margaret wrote: "That is very restrictive. :) But potentially a good way to find new authors. The lack of translations is an issue."

In general, I'm looking for authors with very strong ties to particular regions/countries.

Because I am in a group for Middle Eastern North African lit I have read quite a few books from this area as wellness as Central Asia, so I will be able to make a few suggestions.
As for restrictions, I think everyone can decide for themselves.
To give myself more choices, I will try to read everything from others whose ethnicity is from the areas but not necessarily that currently live in these countries at the moment.
Also people should be able to choose between original tales, retellings and books inspired by

Jalilah, good points :)

Jalilah wrote: "Also people should be able to choose between original tales, retellings and books inspired by"

Definitely, I need to rephrase.

A retelling, traditional tale, or book inspired by the mythology, folklore, or fairy tales of the following regions:
1. Africa
2. East Asia
3. South and Southeast Asia
4. Western & Central Asia
5. Russia/Eastern Europe
6. Western Europe
7. North America
8. Latin America
9. The Caribbean
10. Australia/New Zealand/Oceania
11. Free Spot
12. Free Spot

Ozsaur wrote: "Tales from Africa. I've read many tales from different continents, but very few from the many countries of Africa.

Environmental tales - stories involving different locations, or different types ..."

I love the idea of focusing on environment - this would blend well with the around the world list. I think I might add nature into the mix.

I'm also mulling over your suggestion of Female explorers - women on quests, or searching for answers, or doing research. Actually, it's not so much the suggestion, that I'm mulling over, as I love it already, but the books that would apply.

Margaret wrote: "Jalilah wrote: "Also people should be able to choose between original tales, retellings and books inspired by"

Definitely, I need to rephrase.

A retelling, traditional tale, or book inspired by t..."

I like the look of this!

Amanda wrote: "I like the look of this!"

Great!

I also love nature/environmental folklore themed books.

I've been thinking more in line with First/Indigenous People or folklore/tales from stateless/not officially recognized nations but I haven't decided what to take for free spots yet.

Amanda, I'm glad those suggestions work for you. I've been interested in women as explorers and scientists for quite a while, and I hope to read a few books with those themes in 2022.

I like the around-the-world theme, but there are lots of variables, and I need to think about how/whether to limit my choices based on type of story and the author's bio.

It would help me if we start bookshelf threads for specific regions (in addition to our individual placeholder lists, I mean), and in those regional threads we can note whether suggested books are retellings/inspired by or original tales.

Susan wrote: "I like the around-the-world theme, but there are lots of variables, and I need to think about how/whether to limit my choices based on type of story and the author's bio.

It would help me if we s..."

We could definitely set up bookshelves threads for this challenge, just like we did for this years!

Another point as I said above, everyone can decide themselves how far they take this challenge. One could make it more challenging by only choosing authors born in each region, or make it a little easier by choosing an author not born in the region ( for example born in the US) but of the ethnic background. Finally one could choose a book based on the myths or fairy tales of a certain region but the author is not from that region.
As for myself, I will try to do the first option, but if I don't find anything will choose one of the other 2 options, preferably where at least the author is if the same ancestry as the particular region.

Also everyone can choose between an original tale or collection of tales, a retelling, a novel containing or influenced by myths or fairy tales or a nonfiction book about myths or fairy tales.

We are not very strict in this group and no one is going to police you about your choices.
The idea is it should challenge you to read books you might not have read before, but at the same time it should be fun!

So is everyone happy with this?
Can we go ahead an set up the challenge between Christmas and New Year?

Even though I’m very new to this group it sounds like a very reasonable approach to me. So I agree.

Ken

I definitely liked setting up discussion threads for each topic this year, and would love to continue it for 2022. I think it could be even more fun for 2022!

And just a random aside, I quite enjoy reading retellings from authors not born in the same region as their culture/heritage. I think these authors are often grappling with themes of cultural isolation and trying to find a home in their retellings that often really resonates in their characters. There's value in reading both authors who currently live in a region, and diaspora and authors who share a heritage with a region but don't currently live there (or have never lived there).

Margaret wrote: "And just a random aside, I quite enjoy reading retellings from authors not born in the same region as their culture/heritage. I think these authors are often grappling with themes of cultural isola..."

I enjoy that, too--in 2021 I enjoyed When You Trap a Tiger, which filled a slot in our challenge, and the lovely post-civil-war historical The Downstairs Girl.

Susan wrote: "Margaret wrote: "And just a random aside, I quite enjoy reading retellings from authors not born in the same region as their culture/heritage. I think these authors are often grappling with themes ..."

I need to read When You Trap a Tiger! You're the third person I know to enjoy it.

Margaret wrote: "And just a random aside, I quite enjoy reading retellings from authors not born in the same region as their culture/heritage. I think these authors are often grappling with themes of cultural isola..."

The same here. An example of a book I really enjoyed was Alif the Unseen. The story takes place in a fictious country resembling one of the Arabian Gulf states but the author G. Willow Wilson is US American and not of Arab ancestry. I enjoyed the book very much because the author clearly knew a lot about the culture she was writing from.
It bothers me when authors make a lot of mistakes regarding the cultures they are writing about.

The 2022 Around the World Challenge is up!
/challenges/...

And here is the 2022 Progress Place Holder thread
/topic/show/...