Join us in this fun game where you'll spin a wheel to decide what category of global book to read next & then choose your own global book!
Here’s how it works
Join at in any time during the month in our Facebook group under “Events.” This will be a regular monthly event so feel free to join every month, when you’re looking for something new to read, or to get you out of a reading slump.
a) Spin the wheel & record your spin
Here’s the wheel. Record your spin via video or just take a screenshot of the result.
b) Decide which book you’ll read (suggested books below)
Choose a book that matches the category. Lists of books for each category are included below along with an explanation of the category.
c) Share your spin & the book you’ve chosen
Post your spin in our Facebook group event along with a link to your chosen book noting the genre & country. Once you’ve read it, tell the group what you think.
Spin Categories, their Explanations, & Book Lists
Most native English-speakers only read books by US/UK/Canadian authors. A global book is by an author from around the world about their own country (or sci fi/fantasy).
1. A global book the club considered for a group read, but didn't choose
Every month for the past 3 years we’ve compiled a list of 6 books for a specific country. Then, that list was voted on by the club & the winning book was read. But the others are amazing as well & this large category includes all of those other books. Here's the full list of books the club considered for group reads.
2. A staff recommendation
Over the years, Beth, Mia, & Ivor have been steadily adding global books to the web site they’ve read that they’ve found to be favorites. Here are those links along with the types of books they prefer in general:
Beth enjoys science fiction & fantasy interspersed with scuba diving books, historical fiction, food-based books, detective novels, travel books, literature, memoirs, & poetry.
Mia reads for pleasure, but also to expand her mind often preferring literature, memoirs, & philosophical books. She also likes to dabble in historical fiction & biographies.
Ivor enjoys crime novels along with fiction, sci fi, poetry, history, science, & memoirs.
3. A poll
Post a poll for 48 hours featuring at least 5 different global books & read the winning book. Check out our Reading List here to find books for your poll & then post the poll in our main Facebook group.
4. A book from one of our related reads lists
Related reads are books written by authors about countries different than their own. As an example, a Chinese related read would either be:
A book about China written by someone who is not Chinese
-OR-
A book written by someone who is Chinese that is not about China
Here's our full list of related reads.
5. A global LGBTQIAP+ book
LGBTQIAP+ stands for: Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer Intersex Asexual Pansexual (+ meaning "not limited to"). Choose a book with an LGBTQIAP+ main character. Check out our full list of LGBTQIAP+ reads here.
6. A global book written by a person of color
Start by looking at our list of 17 Global Books that Support Diversity which includes some people of color. (This will be noted in italics above the book.)
If nothing strikes your fancy in that list, then expand onto a particular country (e.g., Sudan, China, Brazil, etc.) making sure to doublecheck that the author is a person of color. Check out all the countries included in our Reading List here.
7. A global book with an ugly or beautiful cover
Look through our entire list of books or search for your favorite country/category/genre looking for a book cover you find ugly or beautiful. Check out our Reading List here.
8. A book set in a country you've visited or want to visit
Check out all the countries included in our Reading List here.
9. A book included in one of our blog posts (not our reading list)
Check out our Blog here. Hint: If the title asks "which book should we read," then it won't contain many books since it's a post for a book club vote & will direct you to our Reading List for a particular country instead.
10. A global favorite from a book club member
Periodically, we ask members to recommend a global favorite of theirs. Take your pick of book from there. Here's the current Facebook post with everyone's favorite reads.
11. A global book which is ≤$5 (or your country's equivalent)
For example: A library book, a book on sale, a Kindle Unlimited book, an Audible book using a credit, etc. We don't include prices on our site, but you can start by searching our Reading List here.
And then if you’re using a computer, add on the (free) Library Extension to your browser which will instantly show you whether the book listed on a major book site (e.g., Amazon, Goodreads, etc.) is available at your library, in what format, & if there’s a waiting list. This means you can just click the Amazon link from our site & immediately see if the book is available for free or not! Check out my post about Library Extension for further details.
Note: If you're not in the US, then use the monetary equivalent in your country's currency.
12. A global book that supports diversity
A book that recognizes diverse experiences in some way (e.g., ethnic diversity, cultural diversity, neurodiversity, sexual diversity, gender diversity, mental health diversity, religious diversity, people with disabilities, etc.).
Our 17 Global Books that Support Diversity list is a good place to start.
If nothing strikes your fancy in that list, then check out our full list of LGBTQIAP+ reads here.
13. A pet, kid, family member, or friend picks your global book
Put together a list of least 5 different global books & have a pet, kid, family member, or friend pick which book you should read. This one could be very cute/fun to watch so if you want to record how you accomplished this & share it in the event along with your spin, we'd love to see it!
Check out our Reading List here to compile the list of books.
14. A global book with a one-word title
Check out our Reading List here.
15. A global book that's out of your comfort zone
This can be a book you normally wouldn’t read or a book that pushes you in some way. For example: A genre you normally don’t choose, a topic which makes you uncomfortable or one that’s new to you, or a situation that’s so different from your own that it shocks you.
You can check out our Reading List here. Note: Genres are listed under category.
Or another good place to start is this list of 14 Global Books that Support Diversity.