I love the idea of this challenge and even though I did not finish for the last two years, I am hoping that the third time will be the charm.
As in the past, the Global Reading Challenge (GRC) challenges you to expand your reading boundaries, go where you haven't been before, move a little outside your comfort zone.
The Easy Challenge
Read one novel from each of these continents in the course of 2012:
Africa
Asia: Narcopolis by Jeet Thayil Most of the book takes place in India. You can find my review here.
Australasia/Oceania: March by Geraldine Brooks The author was born in Australia and still spends some time there. My review is here.
Europe: The Tiger's Wife by Tea Obreht. Book takes place in Croatia. You can find my review here.
North America: Sing You Home by Jodi Picoult The book takes place in the United States. My review is here.
South America (please include Central America where it is most convenient for you)
The Seventh Continent (here you can either choose Antarctica or your own ´seventh´ setting, eg the sea, the space, a supernatural/paranormal world, history, the future – you name it): The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins The book takes place in the future. You can find my review here.
From your own continent: try to find a country, state or author that is new to you.