Allison’s Comments (group member since Jan 02, 2015)

Allison’s comments from the The Reading Challenge Group group.

Brenda wrote: "Starting with The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K...."

That one looks interesting!

Renee wrote: "Yes! This would be a great one for this year, Allison. The page count is daunting, but the story and writing are grand."

That's good to hear. Now just to decide which translation to get!

I try to fit in one classic per year, so I'm really tempted to join this. I've always been intimidated by it, so have put it off. But as a buddy read, maybe it'll be easier. I'll try at least! Maybe I can make my way through it slowly.

I'm about 46% in, and honestly I'm bored. If it weren't for this challenge, I'd probably quit this one. I'm tempted anyway - but maybe I'll just skim a lot. Anyone else struggling with it?

Abigail wrote: "I'm in for Level 4, and I think I'll start with The Hours."

Yay! Glad you're joining in for level 4!

So I started - I'm about 50 pages in. Some interesting parts, some long, drawn out descriptions so far.

When are you guys starting? It's next up on my reading list.

Melissa wrote: "Level One:

1. March by Geraldine Brooks; Pulitzer in 2006."

I'm glad you decided to join!

Renee wrote: "This looks terrific, Allison. Nice work! I'll try for Level One. (My dance card is getting pretty full.)
And I'm starting with

- Beloved, which won the Pulitzer in 1988


Btw, I loved Ready, Playe..."

Glad you're joining in! I'm looking forward to Ready Player One - I've been eying it for a loooong time.

Srividya wrote: "Am in. Will try for Level 4.

So glad you're joining! I'm also looking at An Officer and a Spy and The Ocean at the End of the Lane.

Happy wrote: "I'm reading a lot of world literature, so I recommend adding...

Asian Literary Prize (previously MAN Asian Literary Prize)

FIL Literary Award in the Romance Languages - Latin America and the Carr..."

Thanks for these suggestions! I'll add them to the list.

I am doing level 4 (12 books), and plan to read one book per month. I intend to choose from a combination of awards.

Level 1

✔ 1. Ready Player One - Prometheus Award, 2012
✔ 2. The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making - Andre Norton, 2009
✔ 3. Maisie Dobbs - Macavity Award, 2004

Level 2

✔ 4. The Ocean at the End of the Lane - Locus Award, 2014
✔ 5. The Haunting of Maddy Clare - Arthur Ellis Award, 2013
✔ 6. Doll Bones - Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Children's Literature, 2014

Level 3
✔ 7. Silent in the Grave - RITA Award, 2008
✔ 8. Paladin of Souls - Nebula Award, 2004
✔ 9. Boneshaker - Locus Award, 2010

Level 4

Level 4

✔ 10. Lonesome Dove - Pulitzer Prize, 1986
✔ 11. Rebecca - National Book Award & Anthony Award
✔ 12. In the Woods - Barry Award, Macavity Award, Anthony Award, Edgar Award (2008)

I've posted the Award Winners mini-challenge for any who are interested!

This is a year-long challenge for 2015, to read books that have received an award. There are 4 levels possible.

Level 1: 3 books
Level 2: 6 books
Level 3: 9 books
Level 4: 12 books

You can read books either from a single award or from a combination of awards. Bonus points to anyone who reads 12 books from a single award, or reads one book from 12 different awards!

List of awards to choose from (for reference - not exclusive):

General Fiction and World Awards

Pulitzer Prize (International)
Nobel Prize for Literature (International) Awarded to authors, so any book by an author counts.
ALA Alex Award (Written for adults but with special appeal to young adults).
National Book Award (U.S. Authors)
Man Booker Prize (Commonwealth / International)
Governor General's Literary Awards (Canadian)
Scotiabank Giller Prize (Canadian)
Orange Prize formerly, now Women's Prize (International women writers published in Britain)
Asian Literary Prize (Asian)
DSC Prize for South Asian Literature (International with focus on South Asia)
FIL Literary Award in Romance Languages (Latin American / Caribbean) This is a lifetime achievement award for authors, so any book by one of the authors counts.
Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature in Africa (African)

Genre-Specific Awards

Newbery Medal (Young Adult)
Walter Scott Prize (Historical Fiction)
Macavity Award (Mystery)
Edgar Award (Mystery)
Agatha Award (Cozy Mystery)
Barry Award (Crime)
Arthur Ellis Award (Crime - Canada)
Mythopoeic Fantasy Award (Fantasy)
Nebula Award (Sci Fi & Fantasy)
Locus Award (Sci Fi & Fantasy)
Hugo Award (Sci Fi & Fantasy)
Andre Norton Award (YA Sci Fi & Fantasy)
Prometheus Award (Sci Fi with Libertarian Focus)
James Tiptree, Jr. Award (Sci Fi & Fantasy with Gender Focus)
RITA Award (Romance)
Bram Stoker Award (Horror)

I read 3 books by authors new to me this month:

This was a decent time travel novel with college-aged main characters. I enjoyed it. There were some good time twists in there.

An old school sword and sorcery novel, this one surprised me. I really liked it.

I had great fun with this one. It deserves all the praise that it got.

Renee wrote: "It sounds great and like you've put some real thought into it. You're welcome to set it up anytime. Let me know if I can help."

Thanks for the feedback!

Renee wrote: "Another possibility might be the Newbery Award, if you want to draw in people who like YA. I know at least two members who have been working their way through that list.

Also, do you have a forma..."

The Newbery is another good suggestion.

I'm planning to do one per month, and I think probably about 2 books per award that I listed. I want to leave it open enough for people to have a good range of choice, so maybe we could say a minimum of different awards from the updated list must be represented. There could be levels based on how many awards / how many total books they choose.

I also have set myself a personal challenge to read 12 award winners, but I'm including a mix of awards. If we made this into a mini-challenge, what awards should we include? If it's wide open, a lot of books would count, so I think we should narrow it down a bit.

The awards I'm looking at for my personal challenge are: Man Booker Prize, Walter Scott Prize, Locus Award, Macavity Award, Prometheus Award, Hugo Award.

The Pulitzer Prize should be on the list, too. Any other suggestions? Any interest in making this a mini-challenge?

I am planning to start this tonight!

Holly wrote: "I've just made a buddy-read thread for Love in the Time of Cholera!"

Perfect, Holly. Thanks!