A book involving a mythical creature

[Juanita]

Every year we will have prompts that we question how literal we should interpret their meaning. Are we thinking that a "mythical creature" must be from the myths (i.e. pegasus) or are we open to the idea of a fantastical creature as in the Wizarding World of J.K. Rowling?

I immediate thought of At the Water's Edge for this one. Is Nessie a mythical creature? Discuss.

[Sara]

I interpret as creatures that don't actually exist (or do they??) and Nessie certainly counts! I found out that my favorite childhood movie was actually based on a book - The Last Unicorn - so that's what I plan to read. The Percy Jackson books are loaded with mythical creatures. Let's see, what else:

The Odyssey
Beowulf
The Siren
Eragon
How to Train Your Dragon

There are so many wonderful mythical creatures! I can't wait to see what else is suggested!

[Brandy]

I think this should be loosely interpreted. Especially because one day f the bonus categories is a book about mythology.

[poshpenny]

Yeah I think you could go bigfoot, yeti, chupacabra, elf. fairy, banshee, etc. on this one. Harry Potter counts either way though. JK didn't invent half those creatures. Rick Riordan books also contain mythical creatures.

[Dani]

The Minotaur Takes a Cigarette Break
The Golem and the Jinni

[Nadine in NY]

I'm looking at The Minotaur Takes a Cigarette Break, too! Or maybe the next Percy Jackson book that I haven't read yet (which also features the Minotaur, I guess, from the title): The Battle of the Labyrinth. I'm looking for creatures from established myth, but most fantasy is based in some way on older myths, so most of it will work.

[Megan]

Two mythology books. They really are pushing me out of my comfort zone this time around.

If I don't use The Scorpio Races for the other mythology category it could go here.

[Danielle]

Dani wrote: "The Golem and the Jinni"
^ One of my favorites!

I'll be reading Undertow, which is about mermaids. I saw the author at a YA book fest this fall and he was hilarious so I'm giving his book a shot.

Other options:
The Lord of the Rings
The Tempest
Helen and Troy's Epic Road Quest (Helen is a minotaur)
Artemis Fowl

[Juanita]

I've been wanting to read The Golem and the Jinni and I don't have anything slotted for this one!

[Lindi]

I'm reading The Hobbit and The Fellowship of the Ring for this years "a book and its prequel" prompt, so I think I'll fill this with The Two Towers.

[Cheri]

I'm also in favor of a loose interpretation of "mythical." I recommend The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay, the Pulitzer prize winning book by Michael Chabon. It involves a golem -- and comic books!

[Marilyn]

Artemis Fowl

[Cindy]

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: The Original Screenplay

[Therese]

This is where I get to put in Clash of Kings since I caved and started reading The Game of Thrones series last year.

[Jennie]

Ugh... so many wonderful choices but I haven't re-read The Last Unicorn in like 5 years - it used to be a yearly re-read for me - so I feel like this category is a sign.....

[Amanda]

The Phoenix: An Unnatural Biography of a Mythical Beast

[Tytti]

Troll: A Love Story

[poshpenny]

In Me Own Words: The Autobiography of Bigfoot

[Stephen]

While searching for another category (books recommended by a favorite author) I found that goodreads has a list of Salman Rushdie's Favorite Books About Mythological Creatures. Some of them have already been mentioned, some I hadn't realized fit the category. Find his recommendations (with discussions) here:

https://www.goodreads.com/interviews/...

His book, Two Years Eight Months and Twenty-Eight Nights also qualified. It's the reason he put together the list.

[Margie]

I'm interpreting this prompt pretty broadly. I'm thinking of reading The Essex Serpent. A love story in an English village at the turn of the century sounds perfect for February.

[Kate]

My son and I have been reading the Nathaniel Fludd: Beastologist series and have 1 title left The Unicorn’s Tale so that will work for this prompt.

[Caity]

Another suggestion, and one of my FAVORITE books that I've read in the last five years ago, is Tamsin by Peter S. Beagle, the author of The Last Unicorn. He ties in some mythological creatures from Ireland and England.

It's a bit off the beaten track for the usual stuff that you'd think of in Greek, Roman, Egyptian, and even Norse mythology.

[Stina]

Caity wrote: "Another suggestion, and one of my FAVORITE books that I've read in the last five years ago, is Tamsin by Peter S. Beagle, the author of The Last Unicorn. He ties in some mythological ..."

Oh, I loved Tamsin! I was very surprised to find that the author-narrated audiobook was so entertaining. The protagonist is a teenage girl, so I was skeptical about some old dude doing it right, but Beagle's voice is fantastic.

[JoAnna]

I love the suggest of At The Water's Edge, so Mom and I are both going to read that one.

[Juliet]

Fantastic Beasts! Just got it for Christmas!

[Madeleine]

I'm going for a loose-ish interpretation:

[Marisa]

Joanna wrote: "I love the suggest of At The Water's Edge, so Mom and I are both going to read that one."

At the Water's Edge for me! Thanks guys for the recommendations!!

[Victoria]

Do vampires count as mythical creatures? If so, I might continue with Justin Cronin's "Passage" trilogy for this one.

[Christophe]

An interesting prompt. Don't know yet how I'm going to fill it...

From previous reads I could recommend:

The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul by Douglas Adams: one of his very best books IMHO, in which Nordic mythology plays a large (and rather weird) role;

Le Fils du dieu de l'Orage (The Son of the Thunder God) by Arto Paasilina - unfortunately not translated into English, apparently.

[Emma]

Uprooted for me

[Jule]

The Griffen and the Minor Canon by Frank Stockton

[Ashley]

I finally get to dig into my insane backlog of books with dragons - bring it on! :D *starts to happy dance*

[Lakendra]

Would Zombies count as a mythical creature?

[Sara]

Lakendra wrote: "Would Zombies count as a mythical creature?"

This is the dictionary.com definition of a myth:

Myth: a traditional or legendary story, usually concerning some being or hero or event, with or without a determinable basis of fact or a natural explanation, especially one that is concerned with deities or demigods and explains some practice, rite, or phenomenon of nature

Having said that, however, this is a personal challenge. You could make the argument that zombies are a modern myth. If you choose to interpret that way I say go for it :)

[Terry]

Lakendra wrote: "Would Zombies count as a mythical creature?"
You could think of them in the traditional voodoo sense, where zombies are created by a bokor. :) Totally mythological creatures.

[Maja]

Would vampires or angels work for this challenge?

[Camilla]

Maja wrote: "Would vampires or angels work for this challenge?"

Yes both would work as mythical creatures. Angels do have the religious ties but also have featured in other works as mythical creatures too

[Maja]

Camilla wrote: "Maja wrote: "Would vampires or angels work for this challenge?"

Yes both would work as mythical creatures. Angels do have the religious ties but also have featured in other works as mythical creat..."

Thanks

[Kimberly]

Breath of Fire by Amanda Bouchet

[Caity]

Kimberly wrote: "Breath of Fire by Amanda Bouchet"

I'm reading this now for the book published in 2017. I thought the first was better, though. This one has made me hate one of the characters.

[Denise]

I'll be reading Ink Exchange the second book in the series. It's about Faeries!

If you guys are interested the first book is called Wicked Lovely

[Nadine in NY]

I read Akata Witch and I have it pencilled in for "author of color" but I may want to do some juggling later so I'm wondering if this might also work for "based on mythology" and "involving a mythical creature"? Okorafor writes a sort of Nigerian Harry Potter story, and the magic involves invoking certain Igbo gods and spirits. (I don't know enough about Igbo religion to know if they are all "actual" gods or if Okorafor made some up.) A big one is Ekwensu, who is described as "worse than Satan." So, does that count as a mythological figure?

[Allison]

Think I'm going to read Cthulhu by H.P. Lovecraft. I found a really pretty edition of the stories at Barnes and Noble. :-)

[Ashley]

Nadine wrote: "I read Akata Witch and I have it pencilled in for "author of color" but I may want to do some juggling later so I'm wondering if this might also work for "based on mythology" and "in..."

Hi Nadine! I'm not sure I would put Akata Witch into this slot - looks like the challenge is about mythological creatures, not just figures (as you mention at the end of your question). Perhaps keep it in "author of color" or use it for the "based on mythology" task, and pick something else for "mythical creature"? Just my two cents, obviously. Good luck and happy reading!

[Nadine in NY]

Ashley - thanks, you make a good point about a mythological figure vs a mythological creature!

[Ashley]

The Grownup was included in January's Book of the Month subscription. It involves ghosts according to the blurb. Ghosts are mythical creatures! I was having a hard time with this prompt, but glad to have found a way to incorporate this one, and satisfy the prompt :) .

[Sarah (is clearing her shelves)]

I will be reading Dragon Fire for this prompt. I own a paperback copy of this book which I went out of my way to buy from eBay some years ago. I had previously owned a copy of the second book in the series as a child, but never got to see how the story started or ended (I wasn't so pedantic about reading series in order in those days). So, this will be a semi-reread for me with a long overdue review.

[Simant]

Is Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: The Original Screenplay qualify for this?

[Nadine in NY]

Simant wrote: "Is Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: The Original Screenplay qualify for this?"

Some people are counting it, but I'm not because the creatures are from Rowling's imagination, possibly she was inspired by myth, but the creatures are not directly from any classic mythology.

[Anna]

I'm looking at Rivers of London, which dovetails nicely with my "set in London" challenge. Does it qualify here?