2017 Reading Challenge Round-up -- Failed Edition

Goal: 56/60   93.3%

1. The Cursed Child by J.K. Rowling (1/11/17)
2. Buffering by Hannah Hart (1/20/17)
3. The Bargain by Jane Ashford (1/21/17)
4. A Flaw in the Blood by Stephanie Barron (1/22/17)
5. The Colour of Magic by Terry Pratchett (2/6/17)
6. The Very First Damned Thing by Jodi Taylor (2/18/17)
7. Burning Bright by Tracy Chevalier (2/19/17)
8. The Wordy Shipmates by Sarah Vowell (3/24/17)
9. The Golden Prince by Rebecca Dean (3/24/17)
10. When a Child is Born by Jodi Taylor (3/27/17)
11. So Wild a Heart by Candace Camp (4/3/17)
12. Tuscany for Beginners by Imogen Edwards-Jones (4/7/17)
13. And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie (4/12/17)
14. The Bust Guide to the New Girl Order (4/12/17)
15. A Second Chance by Jodi Taylor (4/13/17)
16. You're Doing a Great Job by Biz Ellis and Theresa Thorn (4/28/17)
17. Anno Dracula by Kim Newman (5/14/17)
18. The Hidden Heart by Candace Camp (5/15/17)
19. The Island at the Center of the World by Russell Shorto (5/26/17)
20. Roman Holiday by Jodi Taylor (6/3/17)
21. Secrets of the Heart by Candace Camp (6/3/17)
22. Dorothy Must Die Stories Vol.2 by Danielle Paige (6/9/17)
23. A Trail Through Time by Jodi Taylor (6/24/17)
24. Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare (7/8/17)
25. Christmas Present by Jodi Taylor (7/12/17)
26. Dearly, Departed by Lia Habel (7/29/17)
27. Simply Unforgettable by Mary Balogh (8/4/17)
28. The Turn of the Screw by Henry James (8/9/17)
29. Simply Love by Mary Balogh (8/22/17)
30. Simply Magic by Mary Balogh (8/25/17)
31. Simply Perfect by Mary Balogh (8/27/17)
32. One Night for Love by Mary Balogh (9/4/17)
33. Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff (9/15/17)
34. Paper and Fire by Rachel Caine (9/16/17)
35. Ash and Quill by Rachel Caine (9/29/17)
36. 8.4 by Peter Hernon (10/6/17)
37. Secondhand Spirits by Juliet Blackwell (10/8/17)
38. Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly (10/20/17)
39. The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson (10/20/17)
40. Paper Valentine by Brenna Yovanoff (10/24/17)
41. Reading People by Anne Bogel (10/25/17)
42. The Gates by John Connolly (10/27/17)
43. A Cast Off Coven by Juliet Blackwell (10/30/17)
44. Hexes and Hemlines by Juliet Blackwell (11/2/17)
45. The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman (11/7/17)
46. In a Witch's Wardrobe by Juliet Blackwell (11/14/17)
47. The Devil in the Shape of a Woman by Carol Karlsen (11/22/17)
48. The Demon Lover by Juliet Dark (11/28/17)
49. A Vision in Velvet by Juliet Blackwell (12/1/17)
50. Star of the Sea by Joseph O'Connor (12/6/17)
51. Bonk by Mary Roach (12/12/17)
52. The Water Witch by Juliet Dark (12/13/17)
53. Voyager by Diana Gabaldon (12/16/17)
54. Christmas Magic by Ginny Baird (12/19/17)
55. The Sometime Bride by Ginny Baird (12/20/17)
56. A Christmas to Remember by Lisa Kleypas, et al (12/22/17)

---

Goal: 7/10   70%

1. A Flaw in the Blood by Stephanie Barron (1/22/17)
2. Burning Bright by Tracey Chevalier (2/19/17)
3. The Golden Prince by Rebecca Dean (3/24/17)
4. Tuscany for Beginners by Imogen Edwards-Jones (4/7/17)
5. The Kingdom of Ohio by Matthew Flaming
6. Dearly Departed by Lia Habel (7/29/17)
7. The Turn of the Screw by Henry James (8/9/17)
8. The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa (DNF)
9. An Object of Beauty by Steve Martin
10. Star of the Sea by Joseph O’Connor (12/6/17)
11. The Dante Club by Matthew Pearl
12. Moonlight and Oranges by Elise Stephens (DNF)

---

Goal: 39/40  97.5%

1. Recommended by a librarian — Buffering by Hannah Hart (1/20/17)
2. On my TBR for too long — A Flaw in the Blood by Stephanie Barron (1/22/17)
3. Book of Letters —
4. Audiobook — Tarnished and Torn by Juliet Blackwell (11/27/17)
5. Book by a person of color — Born a Crime by Trevor Noah (6/23/17)
6. One of the four seasons in title —
7. Story within a story — Haunted Castles by Ray Russell (10/25/17)
8. Multiple Authors — The Cursed Child by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne, John Tiffany (1/11/17)
9. Espionage thriller —
10. Cat on the cover — We are Never Meeting in Real Life by Samantha Irby (8/11/17)
11. Author who uses a pseudonym — The Girl with All the Gifts by M.R. Carey (3/9/17)
12. Bestseller from a genre i don’t normally read — And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie (4/12/17)
13. By or about a person who has a disability —
14. Involving travel — A Symphony of Echoes by Jodi Taylor (2/28/17)
15. With a subtitle — Unmentionable by Therese Oneill (3/29/17)
16. Published in 2017 — Zombies: A Brief History of Decay (6/20/17)
17. Involving a mythical creature — Atlanrtia by Ally Condie (4/13/17)
18. Makes me smile — A Second Chance by Jodi Taylor (4/13/17)
19. About food — Voracious by Cara Nicoletti (10/4/17)
20. Career advice — Reading People by Anne Bogel (10/25/17)
21. Nonhuman perspective — Anno Dracula by Kim Newman (5/14/17)
22. Steampunk novel — Ink and Bone by Rachel Caine (8/21/17)
23. Red spine — Ash and Quill by Rachel Caine (9/29/17)
24. Set in the wilderness —The Lost City of Z by David Grann (9/23/17)
25. Loved as a child —
26. Author from a country I’ve never visited — Simply Unforgettable by Mary Balogh (8/4/17)
27. Title with a character’s name -- Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige (5/27/17)
28. Set during wartime — Paper and Fire by Rachel Caine (9/16/17)
29. Unreliable narrator — Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff (9/15/17)
30. With pictures — Tales of the Peculiar by Ransom Riggs (2/19/17)
31. Main character with an ethnicity different than me —
32. About an interesting woman — Dead Feminists by Chandler O'Leary and Jessica Spring (7/27/17)
33. Set in two different time periods — Just One Damned Thing After Another by Jodi Taylor (1/30/17)
34. Month or day in title —
35. Set in a hotel — A Bridge Across the Ocean by Susan Meissner (11/18/17)
36. Written by someone I admire — The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman (11/7/17)
37. Becoming a movie in 2017 — Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty (7/19/17)
38. Set around a holiday (not Christmas) —
39. First in a series — A Study in Scarlet Women by Sherry Thomas (2/10/17)
40. Book bought on a trip — The Island at the Center of the World by Russell Shorto (5/26/17)

Advanced

1. Recommended by an author I love —
2. Bestseller from 2016 — Hamilton The Revolution by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Jeremy McCarter (3/21/17)
3. Family member term in title —
4. Takes place over a characters life span — The Custom of the Country by Edith Wharton (11/25/17)
5. About an immigrant or refugee — Star of the Sea by Joseph O'Connor (12/6/17)
6. Genre/Subgenre I’ve never heard of —
7. Eccentric character — The Mummy by Anne Rice (10/18/17)
8. More than 800 pages — Voyager by Diana Gabaldon (12/16/17)
9. Got from a used book sale — Burning Bright by Tracy Chevalier (2/19/17)
10. Mentioned in another book —
11. About a difficult topic —
12. Based on mythology — The Demon Lover by Juliet Dark (11/28/17)

---

Goal: 3/6   50%

1. A number in numbers – 50 Great American Places by Brent D Glass (7/19/17)
2. A building  –
3. A title which has an ‘X’ somewhere in it – Hexes and Hemlines by Juliet Blackwell (11/2/17)
4. A compass direction –
5. An item/items of cutlery –
6. A title in which at least two words share the same first letter – alliteration! – Secondhand Spirits by Juliet Blackwell (10/8/17)

---

Goal: 1/12  8.3%

1. The Colour of Magic (Rincewind) (2/6/17)
2. The Light Fantastic (Rincewind)
3. Equal Rites (The Witches, The Wizards)
4. Mort (Death)
5. Sourcery (Rincewind, The Wizards)
6. Wyrd Sisters (The Witches)
7. Pyramids (Discworld Cultures – Dielibeybi)
8. Guards! Guards! (The City Watch)
9. Eric (Rincewind)
10. Moving Pictures (Misc. – Holy Wood; The Wizards)
11. Reaper Man (Death, The Wizards)
12. Witches Abroad (The Witches)

---

Goal: 4/6 books. 66.7%

1. A 19th Century Classic –
2. A 20th Century Classic – The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson (10/20/17)
3. A classic by a woman author – And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie (4/12/17)
4. A classic in translation –
5. A classic published before 1800 –
6. An romance classic – The Custom of the Country by Edith Wharton (11/25/17)
7. A Gothic or horror classic – The Turn of the Screw by Henry James (8/9/17)
8. A classic with a number in the title –
9. A classic about an animal or which includes the name of an animal in the title –
10. A classic set in a place you’d like to visit –
11. An award-winning classic –
12. A Russian Classic – 

---

Wired into Scifi

Goal: 0/10   0%

1. Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
2. Rendezvous with Rama by Arthur C. Clarke
3. The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells
4. Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne
5. Solaris by Stanislaw Lem
6. Tau Zero by Poul Anderson
7. 1984 by George Orwell
8. Earth Abides by George R. Stewart
9. Mission of Gravity by Hal Clement
10. Ring Around the Sun by Cliffard D. Simak
11. The Demolished Man by Alfred Bester
12. The Long Tomorrow by Leigh Brackett
13. When Worlds Collide by Philip Wylie
14. The Death of Grass by John Christopher
15. The Sirens of Titan by Kurt Vonnegut
16. The Drowned World by J.G. Ballard
17. Make Room! Make Room! by Henry Harrison
18. Logan’s Run by William F. Nolan
19. The Female Man by Joanna Russ
20. Consider Phlebas by Iain M. Banks
21. A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter M. Miller Jr.
22. Foundation by Isaac Asimov
23. Life by Gwyneth Jones

The Custom of the Country by Edith Wharton

Title: The Custom of the Country

Author: Edith Wharton

Publisher: 1913

Genre: Classics

Pages: 224

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; Classics - Romance; Popsugar - Takes Place Over a Character's Lifetime

Undine Spragg is an exquisitely beautiful but ferociously acquisitive young woman from the Midwest who comes to New York to seek her fortune. She achieves her social ambitions—but only at the highest cost to her family, her admirers, and her several husbands. Wharton lavished on Undine an imaginative energy that suggests she was as fascinated as she was appalled by the alluring monster she had created. It is the complexity of her attitude that makes The Custom of the Country—with its rich social and emotional detail and its headlong narrative power—one of the most fully realized and resonant of her works.

I must say that I was a bit disappointed in this one. I really enjoyed Wharton's The Age of Innocence, but this one felt flat in comparison. Undine is one of the most unlikable characters in literature. No one is rooting for this spoiled brat of a teen in the beginning and no one is rooting for her at the end. I could see Wharton's social commentary, but I just couldn't really get into the characters and storyline to really care. 

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson

Title: The Haunting of Hill house

Author: Shirley Jackson

Publisher: Viking 1959

Genre: Classics - Horror

Pages: 182

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; Classics -- 20th Century

First published in 1959, Shirley Jackson's The Haunting of Hill House has been hailed as a perfect work of unnerving terror. It is the story of four seekers who arrive at a notoriously unfriendly pile called Hill House: Dr. Montague, an occult scholar looking for solid evidence of a "haunting"; Theodora, his lighthearted assistant; Eleanor, a friendless, fragile young woman well acquainted with poltergeists; and Luke, the future heir of Hill House. At first, their stay seems destined to be merely a spooky encounter with inexplicable phenomena. But Hill House is gathering its powers—and soon it will choose one of them to make its own.

How have I never actually read this one? I read and loved Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery" and We Have Always Lived in the Castle. This one is such a masterpiece of terror and suspense. By the end of the book the reader starts to doubt even their own experience in reading this volume. Did the supernatural elements actually occur or was it all in our imaginations? Did Eleanor actually feel called to the house or was she just wishing for a place to belong? I put the book down at the end and promptly started doubting my own thoughts of what happened. Such is the brilliance of Shirley Jackson. Fascinating book. A great choice for spooky October. Now to watch the two movie adaptations... 

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Turn of the Screw by Henry James

Title: The Turn of the Screw

Author: Henry James

Publisher: 1898

Genre: Classics

Pages: 327

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; Read Your Book Shelf; Classic - Horror

A young governess is sent to a great country house to care for two orphaned children. To begin with Flora and Miles seem to be model pupils but gradually the governess starts to suspect that something is very wrong with them. As she sets out to uncover the corrupt secrets of the house she becomes more and more convinced that something evil is watching her.

A random classic from my bookshelves. Somehow I have never gotten around to reading this one. I dove in and am so glad I did. This is a fascinating novella of potential supernatural events. I loved the ambiguity in James' writing. The characters are interesting and the house as a character is fascinating. I especially loved the critical essays presented after the novella in my edition. It was nice to read some more academic reviews of this story. 

Next up on the TBR pile:

And Then There were None by Agatha Christie

Title: And Then There Were None

Author: Agatha Christie

Publisher: 1939

Genre: Mystery

Pages: 300

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; Popsguar -- Bestseller from a genre I don't usually read; Back to the Classics -- Woman Author

"Ten . . ." Ten strangers are lured to an isolated island mansion off the Devon coast by a mysterious "U. N. Owen."

"Nine . . ." At dinner a recorded message accuses each of them in turn of having a guilty secret, and by the end of the night one of the guests is dead.

"Eight . . ." Stranded by a violent storm, and haunted by a nursery rhyme counting down one by one . . . as one by one . . . they begin to die.

"Seven . . ." Which among them is the killer and will any of them survive?

A reread for May's book club. It's been so many years since I read this book, it was a nice revisit to a great mystery book. Christie has crafted an amazing mystery that keeps you guessing until the very last pages. Even I forgot exactly how the murders happened. Such fun! I'm not usually a big mystery reader, but Christie is such a great writer and I love it!

2017 Back to the Classics Reading Challenge

From Books and Chocolate:

It's back! Once again, I'm hosting the Back to the Classics Challenge.  I hope to encourage bloggers to discover and enjoy classic books they might not have tried, or just never got around to reading. And at the end, one lucky winner will receive a $30 (US) prize from Amazon.com or The Book Depository!

Here's how it works:

The challenge will be exactly the same as last year, 12 classic books, but with slightly different categories. You do not have to read 12 books to participate in this s

• Complete six categories, and you get one entry in the drawing
• Complete nine categories, and you get two entries in the drawing
• Complete all twelve categories, and you get three entries in the drawing

And here are the categories for the 2016 Back to the Classics Challenge:

1.  A 19th Century Classic - any book published between 1800 and 1899.

2.  A 20th Century Classic - any book published between 1900 and 1967. Just like last year, all books MUST have been published at least 50 years ago to qualify. The only exception is books written at least 50 years ago, but published later, such as posthumous publications.

3.  A classic by a woman author.

4.  A classic in translation.  Any book originally written published in a language other than your native language. Feel free to read the book in your language or the original language. (You can also read books in translation for any of the other categories).

5.  A classic published before 1800. Plays and epic poems are acceptable in this category also.

6.  An romance classic. I'm pretty flexible here about the definition of romance. It can have a happy ending or a sad ending, as long as there is a strong romantic element to the plot. 7.  A Gothic or horror classic. For a good definition of what makes a book Gothic, and an excellent list of possible reads, please see this list on Goodreads. 8.  A classic with a number in the title. Examples include A Tale of Two Cities, Three Men in a Boat, The Nine Tailors, Henry V, Fahrenheit 451, etc.

9.  A classic about an animal or which includes the name of an animal in the title.  It an actual animal or a metaphor, or just the name. Examples include To Kill a Mockingbird, Of Mice and Men, The Metamorphosis, White Fang, etc.

10. A classic set in a place you'd like to visit. It can be real or imaginary: The Wizard of Oz, Down and Out in Paris and London, Death on the Nile, etc.

11. An award-winning classic. It could be the Newbery award, the Prix Goncourt, the Pulitzer Prize, the James Tait Award, etc. Any award, just mention in your blog post what award your choice received.

12. A Russian Classic. 2017 will be the 100th anniversary of the Russian Revolution, so read a classic by any Russian author. And now, the rest of the rules:

• All books must be read in 2017. Books started before January 1, 2017 do not qualify. All reviews must be linked to this challenge by December 31, 2017. I'll post links each category the first week of January which will be featured on a sidebar on this blog for the entire year.

• You must also post a wrap-up review and link it to the challenge no later than December 31, 2017. Please include links within your final wrap-up to that I can easily confirm all your categories. 

• All books must have been written at least 50 years ago; therefore, books must have been written by 1967 to qualify for this challenge. The ONLY exceptions are books published posthumously.

• E-books and audiobooks are eligible! You may also count books that you read for other challenges.

• Books may NOT cross over within this challenge. You must read a different book for EACH category, or it doesn't count.

• Children's classics are acceptable, but please, no more than 3 total for the challenge.

• If you do not have a blog, you may link to reviews on Goodreads or any other publicly accessible online format.

• The deadline to sign up for the challenge is March 1, 2017. After that, I will close the link and you'll have to wait until the next year! Please include a link to your original sign-up post, not your blog URL. Also, make sure you add your link to the Linky below, NOT IN THE COMMENTS SECTION. If I don't see your name in the original Linky, YOU WILL BE INELIGIBLE. If you've made a mistake with your link, just add a second one.

• You do NOT have to list all the books you're going to read for the challenge in your sign-up post, but it's more fun if you do! Of course, you can change your list any time. Books may also be read in any order.

• The winner will be announced on this blog the first week of January, 2018. All qualifying participants will receive one or more entries, depending on the number of categories completed. One winner will be selected at random for all qualifying entries. The winner will receive a gift certificate in the amount of $30 (US currency) from either Amazon.com OR $30 worth of books from The Book Depository. The winner MUST live in a country that will receive shipments from one or the other. For a list of countries that receive shipments from The Book Depository, click here.

After taking a year off from this challenge, I'm back in!

Bayou Folk and A Night in Acadie by Kate Chopin

Title: Bayou Folk and A Night in Acadie

Author: Kate Chopin

Publisher: 1895, 1897

Genre: Classic

Pages: 369

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; A to Z - B; What's in a Name - Body of Water; Back to the Classics - 19th Century

Kate Chopin was one of the most individual and adventurous of nineteenth-century American writers, whose fiction explored new and often startling territory. From her first stories, Chopin was interested in independent characters who challenged convention. These two collections - 'Bayou Folk' was first published in 1895 and 'A Night in Acadie' in 1897 - established Chopin's reputation as a regional realist. With a gentle, knowing gaze, Chopin evokes the distant world of Louisiana plantations and 'Cadian balls, and anticipated the thoroughly modern multi-ethnic, gender-sensitive, and sexually charged world of more modern times.

The Awakening is one my all-time favorite books. I've been meaning to read Chopin's other writings. These two short story volumes were very enjoyable. Chopin's eye for character and culture in Louisiana is fantastic. I loved the variety of people and settings in the stories. The reader can definitely pick up the beginnings of the characters and plot for The Awakening sprinkled throughout the stories. My only issue was some of the dialogue written the way people actually talk. It made some passages fairly hard to read. My trick is to read them out loud to actually understand what is being said. A strange tactic when with others. Nevertheless, I did enjoy these two volumes.

This Side of Paradise by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Title: This Side of Paradise

Author: F. Scott Fitzgerald

Publisher: 1920

Genre: Classics

Pages: 287

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; Back to the Classics - 20th Century

Fitzgerald's first novel, This Side of Paradise (1920) was an immediate, spectacular success and established his literary reputation. Perhaps the definitive novel of that "Lost Generation," it tells the story of Amory Blaine, a handsome, wealthy Princeton student who halfheartedly involves himself in literary cults, "liberal" student activities, and a series of empty flirtations with young women. When he finally does fall truly in love, however, the young woman rejects him for another. After serving in France during the war, Blaine returns to embark on a career in advertising. Still young, but already cynical and world-weary, he exemplifies the young men and women of the '20s, described by Fitzgerald as "a generation grown up to find all gods dead, all wars fought, all faiths in man shaken."

It's no The Great Gatsby. Okay, that was unfair as Gatsby is one of the quintessential American novels. I can see how Amory Blaine was a prototype for Jay Gatbsy. I can see how Fitzgerald's voice evolved between the two novels. I get the volume's place in literary history. What I didn't like was the storyline and main character. For the most part, I was bored throughout the book and kept wanting to punch Amory Blaine. Hence the 3 star rating.

The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton

Title: The Age of Innocence

Author: Edith Wharton

Published: 1920

Genre: Classics

Pages: 366

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: 1001 Books; TBR Reduction; Ebook; Books to Movies; Back to the Classics -- Woman Author

At the heart of the story are three people whose entangled lives are deeply affected by the tyrannical and rigid requirements of high society. Newland Archer, a restrained young attorney, is engaged to the lovely May Welland but falls in love with May's beautiful and unconventional cousin, Countess Ellen Olenska. Despite his fear of a dull marriage to May, Archer goes through with the ceremony — persuaded by his own sense of honor, family, and societal pressures. He continues to see Ellen after the marriage, but his dreams of living a passionate life ultimately cease.

Okay. I get this novel. I get Wharton's criticism of high society. I get the conflict the characters feel. I understand and yet I'm not the biggest fan of this book. Mostly because I can't stand Newland Archer. I get May and the Countess. I understand their behavior, but Newland was just way too selfish for my tastes.

Movie:

I loved the movie adaptation. The actors were cast perfectly, especially Daniel Day-Lewis. Swoon! He even made Archer a more likable character. And Michelle Pfeiffer shined as Countess Olenska. Plus, the movie just looked amazing! I loved the sets and even more, the costumes! Those dresses were intricate and absolutely gorgeous. Perfect adaptation of a historical novel.  Definitely a keeper in terms of a book-to-movie.

Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton

Title: Ethan Frome

Author: Edith Wharton

Publisher: 1911

Genre: Classic Fiction

Pages: 99

Rating:  3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Rory Gilmore; 1001 Books; TBR Reduction; A to Z - E; 52 Books - W5; Classics - Name in Title

Perhaps the best-known and most popular of Edith Wharton's novels, Ethan Frome is widely considered her masterpiece. Set against a bleak New England background, the novel tells of Frome, his ailing wife Zeena and her companion Mattie Silver, superbly delineating the characters of each as they are drawn relentlessly into a deep-rooted domestic struggle. Burdened by poverty and spiritually dulled by a loveless marriage to an older woman. Frome is emotionally stirred by the arrival of a youthful cousin who is employed as household help. Mattie's presence not only brightens a gloomy house but stirs long-dormant feelings in Ethan. Their growing love for one another, discovered by an embittered wife, presages an ending to this grim tale that is both shocking and savagely ironic.

A classic author I have been meaning to read for years now. I have to admit that I was slightly disappointed in this novel. I just wasn't feeling any of the characters. I really enjoyed the descriptions of the bleak landscape. Those were where Wharton truly shined. But the characters and storyline just weren't that intriguing to me at all.

2015 Banned Books and Classics Reading Challenge

For this year's reading challenges, I decided to do something very different and drastic.  I am going to read women authors.  I feel like I've been neglecting all those wonderful female authors sitting on my shelves.  I will be tailoring my challenge participation to account for this overall goal.  I do have a few exceptions.  I may read a male author if 1) I've already started the series and desperately want to finish it (i.e. Song of Ice and Fire) 2) It is a book club selection (out of my hands) or 3) If it is a male author writing nonfiction specifically about a women subject (e.g. a biography of Kate Chopin).  Other than those three exceptions, I want to discover some wonderful women authors.

From Buckling Bookshelves:

This is a very low pressure challenge -- the whole idea is to have fun and read some books that censors have tried to keep off the shelves. I feel there is tremendous value in reading even one banned book, so I'm starting the levels low to encourage more people to give it a try -- but if you're feeling daring, try for one of the higher levels!

DATES: January 1, 2015 through December 31, 2015

RULES: Any book that has been banned or challenged counts. Books can be any format, any length, and can overlap with other challenges. Graphic novels, children's books, picture books are all fine -- any book that has been banned or challenged works for this challenge.

WHERE CAN I FIND BOOK SUGGESTIONS? There isn't one specific list to work from, but there are many different resources you can check out for ideas:

• The ALA's lists of frequently challenged books. There are multiple lists split up by author, year, decade, and a separate list for classics, so there are a lot of options from all different genres.

• GoodReads has several listopia lists on the subject -- this is particularly helpful for identifying books you already have on your shelves if you are a user of the site.

• The Banned Books Week Facebook Page is great about reporting current information on bans and challenges.

• I wrote posts last year about three Banned Book Victories as well as Additional Banned Books Resources including some information on challenged graphic novels.

• If you learn about a book getting challenged in the news, on a book blog, around the web, or wherever else you get your bookish news, it's fair game. One book that made headlines last year was The Miseducation of Cameron Post -- it doesn't need to make any of the big lists to count. And if you learn about a new incident, I'd love to hear about it!

HOW TO PARTICIPATE: Write a post identifying which level you are aiming to complete, linking to this sign-up post. If you don't have a blog, just leave a comment below stating what level you are trying for. Listing the books you'd like to read for the year is optional. If you do make a list, you are welcome to change it at any time.

For each book you read for the challenge, you can link-up your reviews here, so we can read them! Reviews can be as short or long as you like, even a one-liner is fine. If you don't have a blog, but post reviews on GoodReads or other similar site, you can link directly to your reviews there. If you don't post reviews, you can leave a comment on the Review Link-Up page telling us which books you completed.A year-end wrap-up post is optional and you may link yours up in the review linky if you choose to write one.

LEVELS: Below are the levels you can choose from. Changing your mind is OK -- you can go up or down in level at any time. I said low-pressure, remember? I'm not the book police, I promise.Making Waves: 1-2 Challenged Books Trouble-Maker: 3-5 Challenged Books Rabble-Rouser: 6-9 Challenged Books Rebel: 10-14 Challenged Books Leader of a Revolution: 15+ Challenged Books

I'm always up for reading banned books. I think I'll shoot for the Trouble-Maker level of 5 books.

From Books and Chocolate:

It's back!!  Once again, I'm hosting the Back to the Classics Challenge.  I'm hoping to encourage bloggers to read more classics.  By reading and posting about a minimum of six classic books, one lucky winner will receive a $30 gift from Amazon.com or The Book Depository!

This year I've made two changes to the format.  First of all, there are no required categories.  That's right!!  If there is a category you don't like (or more than one), you can just skip it, and still qualify for the drawing! Secondly, I've increased the categories from eleven to twelve.  I had so much fun choosing categories, I couldn't decide, and so this year I've decided to make it an even dozen.  This results in a slight change to the way I'll calculate entries into the drawing.  Here's how it's going to work:

• Complete six categories and you get one entry.
• Complete nine categories, and you get two entries.
• Complete all twelve categories, and your name is entered into the drawing three times!

So without further ado, here are the categories for the Back to the Classics Challenge 2015:

1.  A 19th Century Classic -- any book published between 1800 and 1899.

2.  A 20th Century Classic -- any book published between 1900 and 1965.  Just like last year, all books must have been published at least 50 years ago to qualify as a classic.  The only exception is books that were published posthumously but written at least 50 years ago.)3.  A Classic by a Woman Author.

4.  A Classic in Translation. As in last year's category, this can be any classic book originally written or a published in a language that is not your first language.  Feel free to read it in its original form if you are comfortable reading in another language.  

5.  A Very Long Classic Novel -- a single work of 500 pages or longer.  This does not include omnibus editions combined into one book, or short story collections.  

6.  A Classic Novella -- any work shorter than 250 pages.  For a list of suggestions, check out this list of World's Greatest Novellas from Goodreads.

7.  A Classic with a Person's Name in the Title.  First name, last name, or both, it doesn't matter, but it must have the name of a character.  David Copperfield, The Brothers Karamazov, Don Quixote -- something like that. It's amazing how many books are named after people!

8.  A Humorous or Satirical Classic.  Humor is very subjective, so this one is open to interpretation.  Just tell us in the review why you think it's funny or satirical.   For example, if you think that Crime and Punishment and funny, go ahead and use it, but please justify your choice in your post. 

9.  A Forgotten Classic.  This could be a lesser-known work by a famous author, or a classic that nobody reads any more.  If you look on Goodreads, this book will most likely have less than 1000 reviews.  This is your chance to read one of those obscure books from the Modern Library 100 Best Novels or 1001 Books to Read Before You Die.  Books published by Virago Modern Classics,Persephone, and NYRB Classics often fall into this category.  

10.  A Nonfiction Classic.  A memoir, biography, essays, travel, this can be any nonfiction work that's considered a classic, or a nonfiction work by a classic author.  You'd be surprised how many classic authors dabbled in nonfiction writing -- I have nonfiction books by Dickens, Trollope, Twain, and Steinbeck on my shelves. 

11.  A Classic Children's Book.  A book for your inner child!  Pick a children's classic that you never got around to reading.  

12.  A Classic Play.  Your choice, any classic play, as long as it was published or performed before 1965.And now for the rest of the rules:  

• All books must be read in 2015.  Books started prior to January 1, 2015, are not eligible.  Reviews must be linked by December 31, 2015. 

• All books must have been published at least 50 years ago; therefore, 1965 is the cutoff date.  The only exception is books published posthumously, but written before 1965.

• E-books and audiobooks are eligible!  Books may also count for other challenges you may be working on.  

• Books may NOT cross over categories within this challenge.  You may NOT count the same book twice for different categories in this challenge.  One book per category -- otherwise, they won't count.  

• If you do not have a blog, you may link your review from Goodreads or other publicy accessible online format.  

• Please sign up for the challenge using the linky below BEFORE MARCH 31, 2015.  If possible, please link to your sign-up announcement post, if possible or applicable.

• You do NOT have to list your books prior to starting the challenge, but it's more fun if you do!  You can always change your list at any time.  Books may be read in any order.

• Please identify the categories you've read in your wrap-up post so that I can easily add up your entries for the prize drawing!  Adding links within the post would be greatly appreciated. 

• The prize will be awarded the first week of January, 2016.  All qualifying participants will receive one or more entries, based on the categories completed, and will receive a $30 (US) gift card from Amazon.com or The Book Depository, as long as they live in a country that can receive shipment.  See here for list of countries.

I'm aiming for 6 categories after a poor showing last year. I know that I want to read Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton, but other than that, the rest is TBD.

A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle

Title: A Study in Scarlet

Author: Arthur Conan Doyle

Publisher: 1887

Genre: Mystery

Pages: 160

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Fall into Reading; Ebook; Monthly Key Word - Red; Well-Rounded Reader - Mystery; Back to the Classics - Mystery

"There's the scarlet thread of murder running through the colourless skein of life, and our duty is to unravel it, and isolate it, and expose every inch of it.".... Arthur Conan Doyle ..."A Study in Scarlet" Here, in "A Study in Scarlet", Sir Arthur Conan Doyle introduces us to one of the most popular and studied characters in fiction; Sherlock Holmes. In this first novel of this most complex and some would argue, tortured man, he relates the first meeting of Holmes and the narrator of these adventures, Dr. Watson. Amazed by his amazing perception and the depth of what Holmes knows (and what he apparently has no need for) Watson is soon to learn that "No man burdens his mind with small matters unless he has some very good reason for doing so."

My first official Sherlock Holmes story. I've only ever seen the movie and tv adaptations.  Yeah I know... bad. But I am fixing it!  So I read A Study in Scarlet where we meet Holmes and Watson and investigate their first case together.  Well, I really enjoyed the mystery, it was the characters that kept me reading. The main characters are a delight to get to know. I also really enjoyed the sparring with Lestrade and Gregson.  Fun fun! While it probably won't be soon, I definitely want to read the rest of the Sherlock Holmes stories.

A Vindication of the Rights of Woman by Mary Wollstonecraft

Title: A Vindication of the Rights of Woman

Author: Mary Wollstonecraft

Publisher: 1792

Genre: Nonfiction - Philosophy

Pages: 242

Rating:  5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Nonfiction Adventure; Ebook; Well Rounded Reader -- Philosophy; Rereading; Classics -- Woman Author

In an era of revolutions demanding greater liberties for mankind, Mary Wollstonecraft (1759-1797) was an ardent feminist who spoke eloquently for countless women of her time.

Having witnessed firsthand the devastating results of male improvidence, she assumed an independent role early in life, educating herself and eventually earning a living as a governess, teacher and writer. She was also an esteemed member of the radical intellectual circle that included William Godwin (father of her daughter, novelist Mary Godwin Shelley, and later her husband), Thomas Paine, William Blake, Henry Fuseli and others.

First published in 1792, A Vindication of the Rights of Woman created a scandal in its day, largely, perhaps, because of the unconventional lifestyle of its creator. Today, it is considered the first great manifesto of women’s rights, arguing passionately for the education of women: "Tyrants and sensualists are in the right when they endeavor to keep women in the dark, because the former want only slaves, and the later a plaything."

No narrow-minded zealot, Wollstonecraft balanced passionate advocacy with a sympathetic warmth—a characteristic that helped her ideas achieve widespread influence. Anyone interested in the history of the women’s rights movement will welcome this inexpensive edition of one of the landmark documents in the struggle for human dignity, freedom and equality.

A classic of feminist theory.  Really one of the first treatise on what would become known as feminist theory.  I first encountered Mary Wollstonecraft in college during my women's studies classes.  I was immediately struck by her well reasoned argument.  She doesn't rail against the patriarchy or the men of her lifetime.  Instead, she lays out why women deserve to be seen as worthy beings.  I agree with critics when they take issue with Wollstonecraft's inability to state that women and men are equal beings.  She cannot be classified as a true feminist, but her treatise does make strides toward that end.  A must read for fans of philosophy.

Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie

Title: Peter Pan

Author: J.M. Barrie

Genre: Children's Classic

Pages: 162

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Fantasy Project; TBR Pile; Book to Move; Well-Rounded Reader; Back to the Classics -- Adapted into a Movie

Somehow I've never gotten around to actually reading Peter Pan.  Sure, we all know the story.  There have been so many movie adaptations.  But I've never actually read it.  I enjoyed the storyline, but I must say the writing style is a bit off putting.  The sentences are often stilted and oddly constructed.  I can't say that it was the worst "classic" that I've ever read, but the book just didn't grab me like I thought it would.

Movie:

For my movie selection, I rewatched Disney's Peter Pan.  I really enjoy this film.  I love the music.  I love Captain Hook.  I love Smee.  I love the fun and frivolity of the movie.  This is the classic edition to me.  That said, I really want to watch Neverland with Rhys Ifans.  It looks amazing!

A Room with a View by E.M. Forster

Title: A Room with a View

Author: E.M. Forster

Genre: Classics

Pages: 204

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; Book to Movie; Back to the Classics -- 20th Century Classic; 1001 Books; Rory Gilmore

British social comedy examines a young heroine's struggle against strait-laced Victorian attitudes as she rejects the man her family has encouraged her to marry and chooses, instead, a socially unsuitable fellow she met on holiday in Italy. Classic exploration of passion, human nature and social convention.

Overall, I was a bit disappointed in this novel.  I had heard that it was a great social commentary piece.  I had heard that it had great characters.  I guess I can see those things.  However, throughout most of the book I was just bored.  Guess it just wasn't my cup of tea.

Movie:

Loved the actor choices for this novel. Loved the locations.  Thought it was a very good adaptation of the novel.  But, like the novel I was bored throughout most of the movie.  This will not be on my rewatch list.

2014 Back to the Classics Reading Challenges

From Books and Chocolate:

Okay, you've convinced me -- I had a lot of encouraging responses when I suggested that I might take over Sarah's Back to the Classics Challenge next year -- how could I refuse?  It's official!!!  Here's the post where you sign up.

The challenge will be very similar to the way Sarah created it.  Like last year, there will be six required categories that all participants must complete.  Everyone who reads and reviews six eligible books and writes a wrap-up post will automatically be entered into the drawing for an Amazon gift card for $30 (U.S) or a choice of book(s) from The Book Depository.

There will also be five optional categories for additional entries.  Participants who three of those (with corresponding posts) will also get an additional entry into the prize drawing;  those completing posts in  all five categories will get two more entries, for a total of six.  To receive the maximum of six entries, you would need to post eleven times.

I am making one slight change, other than varying the book categories.  I'm a little stricter than Sarah regarding the definition of a classic.  In my opinion, a classic is a book that has endured for some reason ; therefore, I am defining a classic as a book that was published at least 50 years ago. Therefore, any book published after 1964 is ineligible. Here are the rest of the guidelines:

• All books must be read in 2014.  Books started prior to January 1, 2014 are not eligible.  Reviews must be linked by December 31, 2014.
• E-books and audiobooks are eligible!  Books can count for other challenges you may be working on.  However, books may NOT crossover categories within this challenge.  You may NOT count the same book twice for different categories in this challenge.  
• If you do not have a blog, you may link your review from Goodreads or other publicly accessible online format.
• Please sign up for the challenge using the linky below BEFORE MARCH 1, 2014.  Please link to your sign-up announcement post (if possible/applicable).
• You do not have to list your books prior to starting the challenge, but it is more fun that way :).  You can always change your list at any time.  You can read the books in any order (including mixing in the optional categories at any time).
• You can decide to attempt the optional categories at any point (you can also bow out of the optional categories at any point as well).
• Please identify the categories you've read in your wrap-up post so that I can easily add up your entries for the prize drawing!

Required:

1. A 20th Century Classic
2. A 19th Century Classic
3. A Classic by a Woman Author
4. A Classic in Translation  If English is not your primary language, then books originally published in English are acceptable.  You could also read the book in its original language if you are willing and able to do so.
5. A Wartime Classic  2014 will be the 100th anniversary of the beginning of World War I.  Any book relating to a war is fine -- WWI, WWII, the French Revolution, the War of the Worlds -- your choice.
6. A Classic by an Author Who Is New To You This can be any author whose works you have not read before.  It doesn't necessarily have to be an author you've never heard of.

Optional Categories:

1. An American Classic
2. A Classic Mystery, Suspense or Thriller 
3. A Historical Fiction Classic.  This is any classic set at least 50 years before the time when it was written.  For example, Margaret Mitchell publishedGone with the Wind 70 years after the end of the Civil War; therefore, it is considered a historical novel.  A Tale of Two Cities and The Scarlet Letter are also historical novels.  However, older classics set during the period in which they were written are not considered historical; for example, the novels of Jane Austen.
4. A Classic That's Been Adapted Into a Movie or TV Series.  Any period, any genre!  This is practically a free choice category.  However, it's a separate category than the required categories.
5. Extra Fun Category:  Write a Review of the Movie or TV Series adapted from Optional Category #4.  This should be some kind of posting reviewing the book read for the previous optional category above.  It can be any adaptation -- does not have to be adapted before 1964.  For example, if you chose Pride and Prejudice as your the optional classic above, you could review any adaptation -- 1940, 1980, 1995, 2005, etc. These two optional categories go together, but this must be a separate blog posting -- no fair just mentioning it in the book review!

And to clarify, you have to read different books for each category -- you can repeat authors or genres, but no fair using the same book multiple times within this challenge! The only book that you can repeat is in the movie/TV adaptation review.

Another reading challenge for this year. I always love my selection of classics throughout the year.

My tentative TBR:

Required:

1. A 20th Century Classic -- A Room with a View by E.M. Forster
2. A 19th Century Classic -- The Awakening by Kate Chopin
3. A Classic by a Woman Author -- A Vindication on the Rights of Women by Mary Wollstonecraft
4. A Classic in Translation --
5. A Wartime Classic  2014 will be the 100th anniversary of the beginning of World War I.  Any book relating to a war is fine --
6. A Classic by an Author Who Is New To You -- Tess of the d'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy

Optional Categories:

1. An American Classic -- The Beautiful and the Damned by F. Scott Fitzgerald
2. A Classic Mystery, Suspense or Thriller -- Sherlock Holmes selection
3. A Historical Fiction Classic.  This is any classic set at least 50 years before the time when it was written.  For example, Margaret Mitchell publishedGone with the Wind 70 years after the end of the Civil War; therefore, it is considered a historical novel.  A Tale of Two Cities and The Scarlet Letter are also historical novels. --
4. A Classic That's Been Adapted Into a Movie or TV Series --
5. Extra Fun Category:  Write a Review of the Movie or TV Series adapted from Optional Category #4 --