What books are eligible for the 2011 South Asian Challenge?
There are two ways for a book to qualify for the South Asian Challenge
(1) A book must be by a South Asian author. For these purposes, South Asia includes the following countries: India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, and the Maldives. There are no limitations on what the book can be about. Some examples:
- Last Man in Tower - Aravind Adiga
- Exit the Actress - Priya Parmar
- Modern Spice – Monica Bhide
- In Other Rooms, Other Wonders – Daniyal Mueenuddin
- The Emperor of All Maladies - Siddhartha Mukherjee
- Delhi: Adventures in a Megacity - Sam Miller
- The Blue Notebook - James Levine
- Little Princes - Conor Grennan
- Karma - Cathy Ostlere
- The Hundred-Foot Journey - Richard P. Morais
If you need some suggestions on books to read, please feel free to look at the South Asian sections of my fiction and non-fiction review databases.
Any type book qualifies, as long as it meets one of the two guidelines above - a cookbook, short story or essay collection, travel guide - feel free to be creative!
Do I need a blog to participate?
No! Everyone is encouraged to participate. There will be instructions on how to participate on each related post if you don’t have a blog.
Do we have to write reviews of what we read for the challenge?
No, though I’d love it if you did. The South Asian Review Database is my attempt to collect reviews of South Asian authors from across the web - I’d love new reviews for it!
I’m not sure whether this book qualifies or not. How can I tell?
If you can make a case for it, then it qualifies. This challenge isn’t meant to be strict or difficult; it’s meant to broaden your reading worldview!
Additionally, sometimes it is difficult to tell whether an author is from a South Asian country because that information isn’t publicly available. In this case, I go on instinct - if their name sounds pretty South Asian, I’d count it.
If only part of a book is about South Asia (for example, Geoff Dyer’s Jeff in Venice, Death in Varanasi), it still qualifies.
What dates does the challenge run?
January 1, 2012 through December 31, 2012
How many books should I read for the challenge?
This is up to you! If you’ve never read about the region, you may only want to read one or two books. If you’re very familiar with the literature or you read quickly, your goal may be higher. All I ask is that you state your goal in your sign-up post or comment; you can feel free to change it over the course of the year.
Are crossovers with other challenges allowed?
Definitely!
Are there buttons for the challenge?
But of course! You have four buttons to choose from this year. Please feel free to use these on your own blogs!
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Okay, you’ve convinced me. How do I sign up?
There is a sign up linky below. Both bloggers and non-bloggers alike are welcome to participate.
Bloggers: Write a post on your blog saying you are signing up for the challenge and include the number of books you are planning on reading. Type your name or the name of your blog in the Name field of Mr. Linky and a permalink to your post in the URL field. Please make sure you link directly to your sign-up post and not to your overall blog address. If you’re having trouble with the Linky, just leave a comment with a link to your post on this page and I’ll take care of it!
Non-Bloggers: Leave a comment on this post stating that you are signing up for the challenge and state your desired number of books. I’ll take care of linking your comment up to the challenge.
PLEASE NOTE: I moderate comments older than 14 days, so if you sign up after that, you will not be able to immediately see your comment. Don’t worry, I’ll approve it quickly and you will be signed up!
Any other comments/questions/etc.? Leave them in the comments and I’ll respond.
40 comments:
I will definitely participate :) Exciting!
-- Justice
cheapblackpens.tumblr.com // @cheapblackpens
It will be a pleasure to do this challenge,I haven't read many books by South Asian writers or novels concerning South Asia.
Are crossovers with other challenges allowed?
Neer - Yes, absolutely! I can't believe I forgot to include that info in the FAQ!
I'm participating! I'm committing to four books this year.
5 books for me and a new reading focus!
This one is definitely for me!
All excited for the challenge. I'll be aiming for a modest four books this year :)
I've just signed up, and so look forward to reading the six books I've chosen. Thank you for offering this challenge.
http://lettersfromahillfarm.blogspot.com/2011/12/south-asian-challenge-2012.html
Finally--getting in a challenge on the ground floor for a change! I'm hoping to read 5-6 books in 2012 that will qualify for this challenge.
Thanks for this great challenge. I'm shooting for 7 books.
My own challenge is here:
http://wordsandpeace.com/2011/11/15/books-published-in-the-first-years-of-my-life-challenge-%E2%80%93-2012/
So glad I was reminded to do this. I discovered your blog too late last year to join up for the challenge.
Also, I really like the way you review your books.
I plan on trying to copy that format. With my own twist, of course. :)
I am so excited to be joining this challenge! I'm starting off with a minimum target of 5 books!Wish the number crosses though!
Count me in! This is my first and I hope there will be many more years reading South Asian authors. Thanks for hosting.
Thx for such a creative challenge!! I just found a giveaway earlier today that looks like a great book:
http://rachybee-the-rest-is-still-unwritten.blogspot.com/2011/11/giveaway-india-was-one-by-indian.html
For India was one by Indian
Hi,
What an amazing Initiative! I am participating, I wrote my post to sign up and I am including an additional condition to my challenge - South Asian Women Writers.
will try and write reviews too.
BTW love the Review Database too.
I am super excited to be part of this initiative!! :-)
Keep it up :D
Oh... alright, I'm in for another year! Had so much fun reading SAC books, it's one of the few challenges I actually completed ;)
Of course I am taking part in it this year as well. Just that somehow I cannot post the button on my page due to some security reason. Would you let me know how to go about it?
Please Sign me up for 5 books.
Rhondak101@earthlink.net
I don't currently have a blog page.
Rhonda - You're signed up!
thehungryreader - I'm not sure what the problem is, but you're welcome to save the image (right click and click "save image as") and put it wherever you host your own images.
I am eager to participate in South Asian reading challenge 2012.
I would love to read at least 12 books this year!!!!
after reading 32 books last year am back to take the challenge :)
I am part of the challenge,will try and read more than I did for challenge 2011
South asian reading challenge 2012. I would try and complete at least 12 books. Thanks subhash.
After browsing through your south asian list I just couldn't *not* participate so I am gonna join you, even if my year 2012 will be a crazy one anyway.
I'm really looking forward to it :)
Sorry... I forgot to *first* write a blog entry about it and then to link it. Will write the entry tomorrow morning. Got a little too excited I guess ;)
Now off to bed!
Blogged, entered and all set to go! I really like this challenge!
As promised my link to the blog entry about the challenge:
http://cessiesbookjourney.blogspot.com/2012/01/more-challenges.html
why did i not take it last year. I would have read 20+ books in this genre... anyway better late than never... I am on it this year...yay!! yay!!!
Keeping the momentum alive.....After completing 25 books in year 2011 ,I wish to to take up the challange again for year 2012 .I am setting up a target of 50 books this year .Wish me Luck !!!
My link to the blog entry for this challenge.
http://odetolunacy.blogspot.com/2012/01/reading-challenges-2012.html
looking forward to doing this challenge. http://roshnislibrary.blogspot.com/2012/01/challenge-south-asian-books.html
Really looking forward to starting this challenge
I hope to get back to blogging this year and I think this challenge will help me get back to it.. good luck to me!
I've just recently set up my own blog to promote/review/comment on South Asian literature so I'm glad to be associated with others doing the same :)
What a wonderful space you've created for readers. I'm in for the challenge. What next?
Am looking forward to reading the books for this challenge! Thanks for hosting! http://www.fridaynirvana.com/fiction/2012/02/south-asian-challenge-for-2012.html
mitaroye - If you've signed up for the challenge, then the next step is to start reading your books!! Enjoy!
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