2020 CHALLENGE: The European Reading Challenge

MY SIGN-UP POST

for the 2020 European Reading Challenge

This is my sign-up post or the 2020 ERC. To sign up yourself (and I hope you do), go to the main page for the 2020 European Reading Challenge here, or click the picture above.

The idea is to read books set in different European countries or written by authors from different European countries. You can sign up to complete the challenge by reading one to five books, each from a different country. Of course, you can read more than five to compete for the Jet Setter Prize. Or just to visit more countries! Read all the details on the main challenge page.

I've signed up for the "FIVE STAR (DELUXE ENTOURAGE)" level to read at least five books by different European authors or books set in different European countries. This year, I decided to read five nonfiction books. My nonfiction shelves are overflowing. None get me to far-flung corners of Europe, but this year I’m determined to clear some space on my nonfiction shelves!

MY CHALLENGE BOOKS

ITALY: A Thousand Days in Venice: An Unexpected Romance by Marlena de Blasi.

FRANCE: Paris to the Past: Traveling Through French History by Train by Ina Caro.

GREECE: Prospero’s Cell: A Guide to the Landscape and Manners of the Island of Corfu by Lawrence Durrell.

U.K.: Britain by the Book: A Curious Tour of Our Literary Landscape by Oliver Tearle.

IRELAND: Country Girl: A Memoir by Edna O’Brien.


NOTE: WHAT COUNTS AS "EUROPE"? For the European Reading Challenge, we stick with the standard list of 50 sovereign states that fall (at least partially) within the geographic territory of the continent of Europe and/or enjoy membership in international European organizations such as the Council of Europe. This list includes the obvious (the UK, France, Germany, and Italy), the really huge Russia, the tiny Vatican City, and the mixed bag of Baltic, Balkan, and former Soviet states.

Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Macedonia, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, and Vatican City.

Book Beginning: The Adults by Caroline Hulse

BOOK BEGINNINGS ON FRIDAYS
THANKS FOR JOINING ME ON FRIDAYS FOR BOOK BEGINNING FUN!

MY BOOK BEGINNING

Matt had known about the trip for months before he dropped it into conversation.

The Adults by Caroline Hulse. A divorced couple convince their new partners to go on vacation together over Christmas for the good of their young daughter, who invites her imaginary friend Posey the giant purple rabbit along on the trip. Things go farcically downhill and blood is shed before the happy ending. It's a delightful holiday romp of a book.

From the publisher's description:

Claire and Matt are no longer together but decide that it would be best for their daughter, Scarlett, to have a “normal” family Christmas. They can’t agree on whose idea it was to go to the Happy Forest holiday park, or who said they should bring their new partners. But someone did—and it’s too late to pull the plug. Claire brings her new boyfriend, Patrick (never Pat), a seemingly sensible, eligible from a distance Ironman in Waiting. Matt brings the new love of his life, Alex, funny, smart, and extremely patient. Scarlett, who is seven, brings her imaginary friend Posey. He’s a giant rabbit. Together the five (or six?) of them grit their teeth over Forced Fun Activities, drink a little too much after Scarlett’s bedtime, overshare classified secrets about their pasts . . . and before you know it, their holiday is a powder keg that ends where this novel begins—with a tearful, frightened call to the police.

Please join me every Friday to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you are reading, along with your initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires. Please remember to include the title of the book and the author’s name.

EARLY BIRDS & SLOWPOKES: This weekly post goes up Thursday evening for those who like to get their posts up and linked early on. But feel free to add a link all week.

SOCIAL MEDIA: If you are on Twitter, Instagram, or other social media, please post using the hash tag #BookBeginnings. I try to follow all Book Beginnings participants on whatever interweb sites you are on, so please let me know if I have missed any and I will catch up. Please find me on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

YOUR BOOK BEGINNING




TIE IN: The Friday 56 hosted by Freda's Voice is a natural tie in with this event and there is a lot of cross over, so many people combine the two. The idea is to post a teaser from page 56 of the book you are reading and share a link to your post. Find details and the Linky for your Friday 56 post on Freda’s Voice.

MY FRIDAY 56

Sometimes he felt like Claire enjoyed the whole thing a little too much. Like Claire wanted an imaginary friend too.

Merry Christmas!

1 Day to Christmas!

2 Days to Christmas!