Let's do this!

Almost two months ago, I decided to try a Read Around the World Challenge. That is - one book from every country. When I started out, my requirements when selecting a book were: 

1) The author is a native of the country. 
2) The book itself will teach me something about the country - it can't just be set in that country. (That is, reading a random mystery novel set in another country doesn't count). 
3) Where possible, select an author of note in the country. 
4) Prose, not poetry. This is personal preference, really. 
5) Read everything in print. No audiobooks, no Kindle. 

I added that last requirement because I'm a librarian and I realized that it's been a shockingly long time since I've read a physical book. Like...years. So I'm setting down the Kindle and my iPhone and I'm reading actual books. 

As for the other requirements, for most countries, they're fairly easy to meet. For some, not so much. It's easy to forget that not every country will have literature translated into English. Books from countries that have really small populations (Andorra) and those with particularly violent histories (Chad) seem to be the most difficult to locate. 

To define "country," I began with the Member States of the United Nations, and where I deemed appropriate, I added them (Palestine). 

I don't have a defined time frame. I expect this project will take years. But come along with me, if you wish. Let's do this!