I want to read a book from every country in the world. Yes, you heard that right. I am fully aware, that it sounds a little crazy. But sometimes, the most rewarding journeys are the ones that feel impossible at first glance. This is my quest, and while it is indeed a little ambitious, I believe it will fun!
Books are, let’s face it, better than anything else.
Why am I doing this?
I just really, really, love books, OK?
The slightly longer answer: Books have always been my happy place. They transport me to places I’ve never been, introduce me to lives and perspectives wildly different from my own, and make me curious about the world and the people in it. Whether I’m lost in a novel or listening to an audiobook while pretending to do chores, books have always been my escape and a way for me to explore.
This wild idea actually started more than a decade ago, when I stumbled across Ann Morgan’s A Year of Reading the World. She set out to read a book from every country in just one year. I was very inspired and soon started my own version, aiming at the time for just 100 countries. But life happened, and the project began to feel more like a chore than an adventure. So I shelved it (pun absolutely intended).
Fast forward to today. Recently a friend asked me for recommendations of Danish books in English translation, and as I researched titles for her, I remembered my shelved project and realized how much I wanted to do it again. With renewed excitement (and her unwavering encouragement) I have decided to start over — this time with no shortcuts and a much better map.
A new approach for a better journey
This time, I’m approaching the quest a little differently. Instead of hopping around the globe without a plan, I’ve decided to thoroughly explore one region at a time. I’ll spend some time delving into the cultures, histories, and stories of a particular area before moving on to a new one.
Research is one of my very favourite things to do (and, let’s face it, I am prone to get lost in any kind of interesting rabbit hole), so I’m also creating curated book lists for each country. I hope that these lists might be a resource for anyone who wants to join me on this journey — or to chart their own bookish adventure. I often say that if I could do my education over, I would want to become a librarian, and this project just might also be a way for me to live out some of that dream.
To not lose my way I have set down some ground rules for myself on how to choose the books, (you can read more about those here), but the most important rule is enjoyment above all. Reading should be fun!
The challenges of reading the world
Reading globally isn’t as easy as wandering into a bookstore and picking a random title (though I love doing that too!), but it is certainly much easier than it has been. I am optimistic that a lot more literature in translation will be available to me now.
Then there’s the question of what best represents a country. Is it the most famous book? A bestseller? I will always research those, and I do aim to put (some of) the timeless classics, the bestsellers and the Nobel price winners on my lists: However, I will not necessarily choose to read those. If some obscure work of speculative fiction strikes my fancy, I will go for that. Reading should be fun, and honestly I think the real challenge for me could be limiting myself to one book per country!
For smaller nations or regions without literature in translation, I might need to get creative. But we will cross those bridges when we get to them.
Why books? Why not travel?
Oh, how I would love to visit every country in person! Unfortunately though, that is just not my reality.
So instead I will let the books be my passport to the world. They let me travel without ever leaving the comfort of my sofa. They give me a window into cultures and perspectives I might otherwise never encounter, and they help me understand the world. And oftentimes they help me understand myself.
Also, no jet lag and no baggage fees.
Join me on this adventure!
I am doing this purely for my own enjoyment. But it is an adventure, I really hope to share with you. That is why I am writing this. And also why I am writing it in English instead of my native Danish: It is my hope to reach a larger audience and maybe even build a community of fellow global bookworms.
Whether you decide to follow my route or create your own, or simply to cheer me on, I’d love for you to be part of The Borderless Bookshelf. Pull up a chair, I’ve got snacks!
So, what do you think? Do you believe I can pull it off? Want to come along for the ride? Let’s embrace the madness, fill our shelves with stories from every corner of the world, and explore the globe — one book at a time!
