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20.1-20.10 Riding the Metro

Read 10 books set at least 75% in 10 different real cities. "City" is defined as at least 100,000 population as per most recent published data. For very large cities, the book may include the greater metropolitan area. If a small country has no city of that size population, then the largest city in that country.

For this challenge only: We will consider England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland to be different countries rather than just the UK; the boundaries for North America are changed to include only the United States and Canada while Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean will count as part of South America. And an added note: Russia counts as either Europe or Asia, Egypt counts as either Africa or Asia, and Turkey counts as either Europe or Asia as these countries straddle a continental boundary.

There is no set itinerary to follow - books may be read in any order.


Scoring:
20.1-20.5: 20 points
20.6-20.9: 25 points
20.10: 35 points

Bonuses:
100 points finisher bonus
50 points for reading cities in 10 different countries
50 points for reading cities on 3 or 4 continents
100 points for reading cities on at least 5 continents

Repeats
Riding the Metro may be repeated three times.

Please use this thread for discussion about our Riding the Metro challenge.

***5/19 Edited to reflect the addition of Turkey as a multiple continent country.

In a second round, may one repeat a city/country used in the first round?

Ed wrote: "In a second round, may one repeat a city/country used in the first round?"

Yes.

Does an alternate version of a real city work?

eg. Un Lun Dun, which is set in an alternate London.

Valerie wrote: "Does an alternate version of a real city work?

eg. Un Lun Dun, which is set in an alternate London."

No, we're going for the real place for this game.

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Valerie wrote: "Does an alternate version of a real city work?

eg. Un Lun Dun, which is set in an alternate London."

No, we're going for the real place for this game."


Ok! That's why it's good to ask.

Valerie wrote:

"20.9 London Small Island."

Valerie - I'd be leery of this one. There is quite a bit that takes place in Jamaica. It may be more than 25%, although I'm not positive.

A note I've made for myself about books that I think might have action outside my target city is to read them before the appropriate page count task.

EDIT: Valerie - as to Small Island: Both Deedee and I have rated it 5 stars.

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Valerie wrote:

"20.9 London Small Island."

Valerie - I'd be leery of this one. There is quite a bit that takes place in Jamaica. It may be more than 25%, although I'm not positive."

Ok, Thank you for that. It's hard to tell from the cover. However, the 5* hint is noted! :)

Yeah, there are 2 small islands in that novel. ;-)

Elizabeth.....I noticed that you read Hotel Silence. Can you tell me if it is set in Reykjavik? The GR thumbnail omits the setting.

Ed wrote: "Elizabeth.....I noticed that you read Hotel Silence. Can you tell me if it is set in Reykjavik? The GR thumbnail omits the setting."

The main character leaves there and most of the novel is set elsewhere. My review mentions "Jonas goes to an unnamed country that has been at war. "

I'm sorry it won't work here, but maybe you can find another place for it. I did give it 5-stars, but it looks like no other group member has done so. You'd have to make me last in your TDoS chain to use it there.

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Ed wrote: "Elizabeth.....I noticed that you read Hotel Silence. Can you tell me if it is set in Reykjavik? The GR thumbnail omits the setting."

The main character leaves there and ..."

ok...thanks.

If no city and only a state is listed, then the book will not work?

Does anyone know if Gorky Park meets the criteria for 75% in Moscow? I see that the setting also includes NYC and Staten Island.

Bea wrote: "If no city and only a state is listed, then the book will not work?"

Correct. This challenge is about cities.

Bea wrote: "Does anyone know if Gorky Park meets the criteria for 75% in Moscow? I see that the setting also includes NYC and Staten Island."

Not sure. I have it pencilled in for an alternate. Several of the reviews speak only to "Moscow prior to Perestroika and Dissolution of U.S.S.R." You could read it before reading 10.8 in Page Count, just in case.

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Bea wrote: "Does anyone know if Gorky Park meets the criteria for 75% in Moscow? I see that the setting also includes NYC and Staten Island."

Not sure. I have it pencilled in for an ..."

Sounds like a plan as I have not yet planned for 10.8.

I'm finding this Wikipedia page helpful for planning this one!

Thanks, Karen!

ooh, thanks, Karen!! I was wondering if there's a reference we can consult somewhere :) Cheers!

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Bea wrote: "If no city and only a state is listed, then the book will not work?"

Correct. This challenge is about cities."

So the city has to be showing on the GR metadata? It's not sufficient just for the book to be set there?

Do the bonuses only apply to finishers? eg if I only read 4 books for this challenge, but they are all on different continents, would I get the 50 point bonus?

Lagullande wrote: "So the city has to be showing on the GR metadata? It's not sufficient just for the book to be set there?
.."

No, no mention of a city in the GR metadata is required. The book must be set at least 75% in the city. Perhaps I misunderstood Bea's question. I thought she was asking about a book being set in a state without a specific city being mentioned.

Lagullande wrote: "Do the bonuses only apply to finishers? eg if I only read 4 books for this challenge, but they are all on different continents, would I get the 50 point bonus?"

Yes, the bonuses are for finishers only.

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Lagullande wrote: "So the city has to be showing on the GR metadata? It's not sufficient just for the book to be set there?
.."

No, no mention of a city in the GR metadata is required. The book mu..."

Aha, got it! More likely to have been me who misunderstood the question, I think.

Thanks, Elizabeth

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Lagullande wrote: "So the city has to be showing on the GR metadata? It's not sufficient just for the book to be set there?
.."

No, no mention of a city in the GR metadata is required. The book mu..."

Yes, that was what I meant, Elizabeth. However, I found enough large cities to bypass those without a city mention in metadata.

What about a book that has a fantasy element layered onto a real city? Like Rivers of London is set in London, but there's a magical realm layered on top. Or Akata Witch, set in Aba, Nigeria but there's a magical world happening that's invisible to non-magical eyes.

ETA: Nevermind. I think you answered this above regarding Un Lun Dun

Will Turkey also be considered Europe and Asia?

Mary wrote: "Will Turkey also be considered Europe and Asia?"

Yes. I forgot about Turkey being on two continents.

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Mary wrote: "Will Turkey also be considered Europe and Asia?"

Yes. I forgot about Turkey being on two continents."

Thanks

In the planning thread Denise wrote: "Rome and Venice, Italy - Those Who Walk Awayby Patricia Highsmith (hopefully one of the two cities will be 75%)"

Yes, Rome is a short stay and nearly all of the book takes place in Venice.

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "In the planning thread Denise wrote: "Rome and Venice, Italy - Those Who Walk Awayby Patricia Highsmith (hopefully one of the two cities will be 75%)"

Yes, Rome is a short stay and n..."

Thanks, Elizabeth.

I would also like a review of the urban fantasies question asked above in regards to Rivers of London. For example, I think that Jemisin's The City We Became should work for New York because it happens in New York City, (read and enjoyed). Of course, there is all this stuff that normal people don:t see, but it is still grounded in a real place. From the descriptions, Un Lun Dun is truly an alternate London, through a portal, and not the same question as a hidden from mundane eyes portion of the real city. Maybe it is one of the tasks where sometimes we read the book and decide it didn't actually work?

Denise's comment in the planning thread about 10 countries sent me back here to check as I was only looking for 10 cities. Then I found the bonuses!

I have re-worked my plan to end up with 6 continents, 10 countries, and 10 cities. Still heavy on Europe, but that is OK to me.

Beth wrote: "I would also like a review of the urban fantasies question asked above in regards to Rivers of London. For example, I think that Jemisin's The City We Became should work for New Yor..."

Yes. I should have thought longer about Joanna's question. As long as you have the required setting the book should work for Riding the Metro. I'm not sure what these magical things are that people can't see. There are books with ghosts in them, for example, but that doesn't change the setting. But don't go too far - an alternate city, however, isn't the same as the city.

And yes, it might be a good idea to read books first that you think might be borderline, just in case. Does that help?

I read The City We Became, and while it does layer fantasy over the city, the setting is very much the real NYC. I thinks it’s a perfect fit foe the task!

For reference, I have read River of London series and it counts. There are magical aspects like ghosts but the setting is centered in London( past and present).

Thanks, Ann and June. Input from those who have read the books is very helpful. (And I hope you'll be reading with us again this season, June.)

Bea wrote: "Denise's comment in the planning thread about 10 countries sent me back here to check as I was only looking for 10 cities. Then I found the bonuses!

I have re-worked my plan to end up with 6 conti..."

Bea, I'm glad you found the bonuses in time to re-work your plan!

Connie -- I saw Isaac's Storm: A Man, a Time, and the Deadliest Hurricane in History on your potentials list, and I just wanted to point out that Galveston doesn't have a population of 100,000.

Joanna wrote: "Connie -- I saw Isaac's Storm: A Man, a Time, and the Deadliest Hurricane in History on your potentials list, and I just wanted to point out that Galveston doesn't have a population o..."

Joanna, thanks for catching that. I took it off my list.

Does historical fiction work for RtM? The directions say ""City" is defined as at least 100,000 population as per most recent published data", but if it's historical (like a Zola book set in Paris) can we still use the book?

Karen Michele wrote: "Does historical fiction work for RtM? The directions say ""City" is defined as at least 100,000 population as per most recent published data", but if it's historical (like a Zola book set in Paris)..."

Yes. All of the books I plan are fiction. and I hope you like the Zola.

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Karen Michele wrote: "Does historical fiction work for RtM? The directions say ""City" is defined as at least 100,000 population as per most recent published data", but if it's historical (like a Z..."

And there's no need to check if the population was over 100,000 at that time?

Karen Michele wrote: "And there's no need to check if the population was over 100,000 at that time?"

No. The criteria is current population or the most recent data for same.

Sooo... I guess a book set in Antarctica won't work for RtM then? :D

Tien wrote: "Sooo... I guess a book set in Antarctica won't work for RtM then? :D"

Move it to page count! ;-)

I was looking at A Thousand Splendid Suns and it has both Kabul and Herat listed as settings (both of which have +100K population)...does anyone who has read it remember if it's at least 75% in either of those cities?

Anika wrote: "I was looking at A Thousand Splendid Suns and it has both Kabul and Herat listed as settings (both of which have +100K population)...does anyone who has read it remember if it's at le..."

I am just a few pages from finishing it, and it is >75% in Kabul.