Oct. 2013: Myth/Legend/Folklore

[Amara, Group Creator]

Expect an important announcement regarding this group tomorrow. (It would have gone up today, but I'm feeling terribly under the weather this afternoon and may be offline for the rest of the day. Apologies.) ETA: See here.

The poll for October theme has ended, and the winner is "Myth, Legend, and Folklore".

So now it's time to see what book you'll be reading in the upcoming month! For this theme, you can read any fiction or nonfiction that focuses on, is based on, or otherwise incorporates mythology, legends (including urban legends), and folklore. What does or does not constitute a myth, legend, or folktale is up to the individual; if you would like to broaden the theme to include other folktale-esque genres such as fairy tales, please feel free to do so.

If you need help finding or choosing a book for this theme, you can ask for suggestions in the thread below or head over to our "Pick It For Me" thread.

Remember that once you've finished your book(s) for the month, you're always welcome to start a discussion topic in the month's folder (which works best if there are others in the group who have read or are currently reading the book in question) or post your thoughts (or just drop a link to your review!) in the thread below.

And don't forget to vote on the poll for November's theme. The poll for December's theme should be open for voting on October first.

Happy reading, everyone!

[Lesley]

The Last of the Mohicans. I think it fits the theme.?

[Jayme]

I'm planning on reading American Gods by Neil Gaiman. Still working on September's book. It has been a crazy busy month.

[Jasmiina]

Are fairy tales ok?

[Janet]

I plan to read The Once and Future King and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.

[Elizabeth]

Jasmiina wrote: "Are fairy tales ok?"

I was planning on reading a fairy tale or two in addition to which is released in October!

[Sara]

Janet wrote: "I plan to read The Once and Future King and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Other Stories From the Sketch Book"
I read The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Other Stories From the Sketch Book recently. Well I read Sleepy Hollow and tried to read some of the other stories but they were not it. I hope you like it.

[Amara, Group Creator]

Jasmiina wrote: "Are fairy tales ok?"

If you want to include them, go for it. (I'll amend the original post to mention that.)

[Amara, Group Creator]

Alright, that announcement I mentioned in the first post is up. See here.

In short: I'm looking for a co-mod. Head on over to that thread for more information. I'll send out a group-wide PM soon.

[Melissa]

Here are a few books in my TBR pile that I may be reading for this theme:

Styxx
A Midsummer Night's Dream
Aesop's Fables
Daughter of the Forest
Infinity

[Jasmiina]

I think I'll read The Blue Fairy Book and Clockwork Fairy Tales: A Collection of Steampunk Fables.

[Shomeret]

I'm hoping to start October with Sold for Endless Rue which is an interpretation of Rapunzel. I expect it to contain folklore as well because it involves "hedge witches" and midwives.

[Paula]

I'm going to try to squeeze in this month.

[Shomeret]

Shomeret wrote: "I'm hoping to start October with Sold for Endless Rue which is an interpretation of Rapunzel. I expect it to contain folklore as well because it involves "hedge witches" and midwives."

I couldn't get into Sold for Endless Rue. The good news is that I have a different theme related book as my first October read: Robin Hood: A Mythic Biography

[Kerry]

Does Game of Thrones count? If so, I am going to read A Clash of Kings

[Sara]

This goes really well with what I am currently studying! Ancient literature. Currently reading The Iliad And read Hesiod's Theogony last month :)

[Lamilla]

I asked for help in the pick-it-up thread and in the end came up with which has vampires, werewolves and plenty of other mythical creatures

[Melissa]

I just finished

Each story gives a nod to a fairy tale: Hansel & Gretel, Goldilocks & the 3 Bears, Sleeping Beauty, The Little Match Girl, & Cinderella.

[Shar]

I have just started reading The Song of Achilles

[Claire-Jane]

I shall be reading the following . . .

The Last Watch - I didn't finish the series for our Russian themed month & it fits perfectly for this month as well.

London Lore: The Legends and Traditions of the World's Most Vibrant City

And finally I know somebody else is having a bash at this so I'll join them by reading

The Once and Future King

[Anne]

Have already read this years ago, but am reading 'The Hobbit' by JRR Tolkien

[Lamilla]

I also continue reading Sookie's series. I'm on book 11 now.

[Melissa]

Just finished

It was a whopper of a book!

[Jasmiina]

Finished with

Took me longer to read this than I expected so I won't be reading anything else for this theme. I have to read some other books too. =)

[Sara]

[Megan]

I'm reading which has a Wendigo in it.

[Nikki]

great book.. have you read the other 2 yet? I would read those first if you haven't.
Lamilla wrote: "I asked for help in the pick-it-up thread and in the end came up with which has vampires, werewolves and plenty of other mythical creatures"

[Lamilla]

@Nikki:
Yes, I did :-)

[Shomeret]

I'm currently reading a very engaging children's fantasy book about four young people with a mystical gift. They have summoned spirit animals who are legends in their kingdom. These spirit animals have become bonded to them. There is a certain amount of irony in the animals that have come to them. For example, the shepherd found that it was a wolf spirit that came to him. The book is called Wild Born, the first book in the Spirit Animals series. I see that the second book in the series is by Maggie Stiefvater who is best known for her YA werewolf novels.

[Amara, Group Creator]

Shomeret wrote: "I'm currently reading a very engaging children's fantasy book about four young people with a mystical gift. They have summoned spirit animals who are legends in their kingdom. These spirit animals ..."

That one's on my reading list(s), so I'd love to hear what you think of it once you're done. ;)

[Melissa]

Just read

[Shomeret]

Amara wrote: "Shomeret wrote: "I'm currently reading a very engaging children's fantasy book about four young people with a mystical gift. They have summoned spirit animals who are legends in their kingdom. Thes..."

I finishedWild Bornyesterday. It was a quick fun read. It is not for someone who is looking for thematic depth, character depth or cultural authenticity. One of the two female central characters might be regarded as authentically Chinese and the other authentically African if Disney films were your only exposure to these cultures. Since I'm in grad school I wanted something light for a change from my course reading. I'd give this three stars which means that I liked it. I won't be reviewing it any time soon. I've been working on a review of a Net Galley book for two months at the rate of a sentence at a time when I have a spare moment.

[Claire-Jane]

Really couldn't get on with The Once & Future King - found it to be written in a very clunky style and it hadn't aged well.

So I will be rounding off the theme with The Science of Monsters

[Amara, Group Creator]

Thanks, Shomeret. :)

[Janet]

Claire-Jane wrote: "Really couldn't get on with The Once & Future King - found it to be written in a very clunky style and it hadn't aged well.

So I will be rounding off the theme with The Science of Monsters [bookco..."

Claire-Jane - The first two books were a bit difficult to read and the third was really cumbersome. However, the fourth book(The Candle in the Wind) was so well written that I will be giving the book 5 stars based solely on that section. I wish you had gotten that far.

[Sara]

Oh my gosh, I keep dnfing books that I pick to read for the themes. I am reading which I doubt I will finish in time to complete the theme. I only read two chapters but it has little bits of Japanese mythology in it.

[Shar]

I have just finished

This is not really a book I would have picked up to read but I am so glad I did, I didn't have anything suitable to read for this theme so went on Amazon and this one caught my eye.

I really enjoyed this book it is a version of the story of Achilles and the battle for Troy, it is beautifully written, the characters are well written, you can see the beauty of Briseis and feel the coldness of Achilles mother Thetis. If I hadn't so many other books I would start this one all over again.

Highly recommended

[Linda C]

Finished The Angel (BPD/FBI, #2) - Carla Neggers (4 stars) 10/22/13

The angel of the Irish legend and a little man that only appears to Keira and Simon (fairy?) give the story a supernatural element.

[La_mariane]

I've read Antigone by Jean Anouilh : I really liked it and I'd love to see it on stage now.

I like this theme, so I've decided to read a second book : The Infernal Machine and Other Plays by Jean Cocteau (except my edition of the book only has the one play, The Infernal Machine). It goes well with my previous book, "Antigone", because I'm going to read about her father's story.

[Melissa]

just finished I enjoyed it very much.