The challenge: To read around the world

 From 2008-2012, I read my way around the world. I've read a book by an author from every sovereign country, plus some disputed states, territories, possessions, and regions. I'm now upgrading some of my initial books for better adherence or more representative works, as well as filling in some of the non-sovereign areas.

My rules:

• The writer had to have lived in the country for at least two years. Both expatriate and immigrant authors were okay, but a book by a native or long-term resident or someone with a country focus was best. In some cases, this wasn't possible (at least in the first go-round)
• The focus of the book did not have to be the country, though a country focus or well-known and thus representative writer was best
• Books I had already read could count toward the total (though ideally I'll replace these over time)
• If no book was available in English, and I could not read/blunder through the language, a literary critique of local writers or an ethnography/qualitative report that included a local voice was a disappointing but acceptable substitute
• There were no genre restrictions

It's been interesting and gratifying to find other people's "read the Olympic Games countries" lists and other world reading challenges. While these have provided some authors, I see that other people have trouble with many of the same countries I do and have read books about them (like Lonely Planet guidebooks) rather than from them. It seems that most people use about as their standard, which is fine but not what I wanted to do. I think I've done a better job than many of finding local or long-term resident authors (with help from Harry, a fellow player who has located both obscure titles and publishers).

While I was engaged in my challenge, South Sudan became a country. I'll add or lump books for new countries (or conquered/absorbed countries) as time goes on.

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My lists by continent follow. New posts on this blog will appear above this one.

Bolding means I plan to replace this book with something more representative, which I may or may not have in hand here on the Island of Books to be Read. Some territories/possessions/non-autonomous areas for which I haven't yet read anything are listed but blank; some aren't listed.

The lists are subject to change at my whim or as I choose to make additions. For example, I've read plenty of books from Nigeria, but I haven't catalogued all of them here.

If you see any missing countries, please let me know! This was an ugly cut and paste experience with a defunct and malfunctioning LiveJournal page.

If you know of a better book than the one I've identified or read, please let me know. By "better" I mean a book by a native person rather than an ethnographer or Peace Corps volunteer, or a primary source rather than a secondary source.