2014 Egypt Reading Challenge

After seeing several annual book-reading challenges and joining two myself, I decided to start one with the theme being books set in my home country EGYPT. 

The aim of this challenge is simple: remembering the ancient civilisation that started on this land thousands of years ago, seeing its development, its tumultuous history and modern-day Egypt. In otherwords, bringing the spotlight on a country rich with history and potential.

The challenge rules are simple:

·        Books must have a setting in EGYPT.

·        Books can be in ANY language. (since several of the ones I’m reading will be in Arabic)

·   Books can be in ANY format (e-books, paperback, audio; you name it, it counts)

·        Short story collections are fine. Anything that counts as a book.

·        Books can be written by Egyptians or non-Egyptians.

·        Books about Ancient Egypt are of course welcome and encouraged. (These include non-fiction as well)

·   Books for this challenge can be included in any other challenge participants are taking part in.

**NOTE: Books read on/from 1st of January 2014 with the challenge setting can be included in your list. 

To join the challenge, please create a blog post with the challenge logo and add it via the InLinkz button below with your name and the name of your blog. For example: Nada @ Nadaness In Motion. If you don't have a blog, put your Twitter URL in the URL section when you sign up.
If you don’t have a blog, just post your name and Twitter handle here (and revert back to this page every month or so with your reading progress).  

I have two beautiful challenge logos for you so feel free to pick one or both in your sign up post.

Created by Sara Ahmed

Created by Sara Ahmed 

At the end of each month or quarter if you prefer, I’d like you to post the books you’ve read for this challenge. It might help give the others some ideas about what else they might like to read. At the end of the year, let’s see how many books you had planned to read and how many you’ve actually read. You don’t have to decide now on the number of books or level.

We can discuss books in common here on my blog or on Goodreads.

I will – ask my friends to – create badges for each set of achievements.

Craftsman/Craftswoman 1-5 books

Scribe 6-10 books

Priest/Priestess 11-15 books

Vizier 16-20 books

King/Queen of Egypt 21+ books

If you’ve written books about Egypt, please e-mail me or post them below.

Some suggested titles:

English Books:

·        Any books by Naguib Mahfouz (as most if not all of them are set in Egypt)

·        Before the Throne by Naguib Mahfouz (it’s a novella)

·        Shiri by D.S. Taylor*

·        Tutankhamun Speaks by Cheryl Carpinello

·        The Scribe and the Lotus by Bakr Fahmy*

·        ¼ Gram by Essam Youssef (trans. Loubna Youssef)

·        Murder on the Nile by Agatha Christie

·        Storm Cycles by Roy Johanson

Arabic Books: (Just a few examples since the list is endless)

·        أي كتب لنجيب محفوظ (أمام العرش/يوم قُتل الزعيم/ثرثرة فوق النيل/ثلاثية نجيب محفوظ)

·        ¼ جرام – عصام يوسف

·        2 ضباط – عصام يوسف

·        شكلها باظت – عُمر طاهر

·        تاكسي – خالد الخميسي

·        الفيل الأزرق – أحمد مراد

·       تراب الألماس – أحمد مراد

·       Cilantro اسكندرية – كريم هشام

·       مكان (18 قصة قصيرة)

·        

.Feel free to add me on Goodreads.
Note: Books with an asterisk (*) have been reviewed on this blog.

Ask your questions or leave your comments and suggestions here.