Challenge #5 - Decade/Century Challenge

[Bob, Short Story Classics]

Challenge #5 - Decade/Century Challenge
Over the last five years the timeline format for this challenge has been used to increase awareness of classics written by women. Originally known as the Women’s Century Challenge and most recently Quest for Women Authors. This year we will keep the timeline part of the challenge but both male and female authors will be allowed.

There are two ways to participate. First read one book from 10 consecutive decades, one century total. Second, read one book per year for 10 consecutive years, one-decade total. Only one version of the challenge is required to participate. For those exceptional readers, and over achievers, or gluttons for punishment, feel free to take on both versions.

The Century Challenge: Read 10 books from any 10 consecutive decades (1 book per decade). Authors can only be used once in the challenge. You can use authors previously read by you. Or you can add a level of difficulty to your challenge by selecting only authors you've never read before.

Challenge Example: (Century Challenge)

My Century Challenge, Authors-Some Old Some New
1850-1859 The Scarlet Letter - Nathaniel Hawthorne, 1850
1860-1869 Sylvia's Lovers-*Elizabeth Gaskell, 1863
1870-1879 Far From the Madding Crowd-Thomas Hardy,1874
1880-1889 Jack and Jill-*Louisa May Alcott, 1880
1890-1899 Captains Courageous-Rudyard Kipling, 1896
1900-1909 The Tale of Peter Rabbit-Beatrix Potter, 1901
1910-1919 Of Human Bondage-W. Somerset Maugham, 1815
1920-1929 The Murder of Roger Ackroyd-*Agatha Christie, 1926
1930-1939 Of Mice and Men-John Steinbeck, 1937
1940-1949 The Heart is a Lonely Hunter-Carson McCullers, 1940

*Authors I've read before

The Decade Challenge: Read 10 books from any 10 consecutive years (1 book per year). The authors can only be used once in the challenge. You can use authors previously read by you. Or you can add a level of difficulty to your challenge by selecting only authors you've never read before.

Challenge Example: (Decade Challenge)

My Decade Challenge, Authors-Some Old Some New
1920-Main Street by *Sinclair Lewis
1921-The Narrow House by Evelyn Scott
1922-Siddhartha by *Hermann Hesse
1923-Whose Body? by Dorothy L. Sayers
1924-A Passage to India by E.M. Forster
1925-The Professor's House by *Willa Cather
1926-The Sun Also Rises by *Ernest Hemingway
1927-To the Lighthouse by *Virginia Woolf
1928-Lady Chatterley's Lover by D.H. Lawrence
1929-Passing by Nella Larsen

*Authors I've read before

[Rosemarie]

Do we choose our books in advance?

[Bob, Short Story Classics]

We always have in the past. Of course you can make changes during the year.

[Rosemarie]

Thanks, Bob.

[Luke]

If anyone's looking to continue the Quest for Women trend, there's a directory of works written by women that's chronologically organized here: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[siriusedward]

Thanks for the link ,Aubrey .
I do want to continue with the womens century challenge.I found many good authors through the challenge.

[Luke]

siriusedward wrote: "Thanks for the link ,Aubrey .
I do want to continue with the womens century challenge.I found many good authors through the challenge."

Glad to hear it, Elena. This'll make it easier for people who still want to continue the tradition but don't have as many boards of participants to peruse for ideas.

[Jazzy]

I'm ever so glad you didn't base books on gender for this challenge! Thanks Bob :)

[Jim]

Sounds good but I think I missed it. Life issues.

[Katy, Quarterly Long Reads]

Jim wrote: "Sounds good but I think I missed it. Life issues."

The year is still young. Not too late to start a challenge.

[Rachel]

Can I go completely insane and do a Millenium challenge? In other words, choose a book from 10 consecutive centuries? I would choose one from the 11th century, the 12th century, the 13th century, etc. all the way through the 20th century.

[Bob, Short Story Classics]

I never thought about a Millennium challenge, maybe I’ll include it as an option next year. I also don’t see any reason why you shouldn’t do it if that is what you want.

[Michaela]

That sounds exciting! I´d be in next year, if you´ll include it!

[Rachel]

A couple of the early centuries, I was afraid I wouldn't be able to find anything that wasn't extremely expensive. However, once I looked at the list of books from these centuries last night on Goodreads, I was able to find at least a couple for each century that were not only less than ten dollars but also looked interesting. For example, The Pillow Book, which is originally from the 11th century, is only $9.19 on a Kindle and six or seven dollars total (including shipping) for a used copy from several other retailers. In fact, there are listopia lists on Goodreads for books all the way back to the 4th century! When looking a bit more today, I found these two things https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/3... and https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/8...
The first has an easily navigatable and clickable list for the 4th through the 21st century. The second requires you to click around a little bit, but it has the best book from the 10th to the 21st century. If you would like me to start to compile a list of books that I find that are relatively affordable, in English, and from each of the earlier centuries in case we do add a Millenium challenge next year, let me know. While there are at least a few hundred books for most of the centuries, not all of them are always options for all. Therefore, at the very least, I think it would make sense if, at the very least, I add the books that I find myself considering for my own challenge this year. It's up to you.

[Michaela]

Sounds good Rachel, thanks! I recently got The Pillow Book from my library, though in German. There are several copies available here.

[Anne]

I would like to sign up for a century challenge. Do I do that under "Personal Challenges?"

[Bob, Short Story Classics]

Anne wrote: "I would like to sign up for a century challenge. Do I do that under "Personal Challenges?""

You can start your own challenge thread in this folder.

To Create your challenge thread simply go to the top of this folder click on the title (Challenge Buffet). Then look to the right for the words (new topic), click that, a new screen will open. In the box (topic) type the name you wish to give your challenge. In the (comment) box list your books chosen for the challenge. Use the (add book/author) link so that others can link to your choices and learn more about the book you have selected.

[Anne]

Thanks very much Bob. My plan is to give myself more than one option per decade and reserve the right to change my mind again. I came up with all the title within a couple hours today. I did that with Bingo and it worked well for me. Hope that isn't breaking any rules.

[Bob, Short Story Classics]

I can see no rules broken, enjoy.