Wednesday, July 18, 2007

I just can't help myself!

Yep, you've probably already guessed it...I came across another new book challenge that I simply can't resist. I think I'd better just face the fact that until I find myself a good 12-step program, this is just going to keep happening.

Anyway, this is The Unread Authors Challenge, sponsored by Ariel at Sycorax Pine. Simple premise...just read 6 books in 6 months (Sept. through Feb.). New to you authors. Can be 6 new authors or 6 books by one new author. Real flexibility here. Be sure to check out the link above for specific details.

I found this challenge irresistible for a few reasons. For one thing, it's very doable (well, it should be anyway...though I have no business getting cocky now, do I?!!). Secondly, it gives me the excuse to read a couple of books I've been wanting to read anyway. And finally, a couple of my choices I should be able to piggyback with other challenges and/or homeschooling. On the down side, I now have to make the embarrassing admission that I've never read anything by these authors. Oh well...better late than never, right?

The list I've come up with so far...

*Ray Bradbury
Something Wicked This Ways Comes

*Bill Bryson
A Short History of Nearly Everything OR
A Walk in the Woods

*Trenton Lee Stewart
The Mysterious Benedict Society

*Chuck Palahniuk
Haunted

*George Orwell
Animal Farm

*Scott Westerfeld
Uglies

Alternates:
*Brandon Mull
Fablehaven

*Alice Sebold
The Lovely Bones

*Terry Prachett
The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents

*Gabrielle Zevin
elsewhere

*Shannon Hale
The Goose Girl

Oh my...I could make a list a mile long here...

16 comments:

Katie said...

You do love a good book challenge, don't you? I love Ray Bradbury, I think I've read them all, as well as Bill Bryson. Those two are definitely good picks!

kreed said...

Ooooh - you have some good looking books on your list!

Please don't even think about the anniversary thing...I don't even think I know where I have yours and Rich's date written down anymore!

Jennifer said...

You crack me up! I wish I had that much ambition when it comes to reading. I love to read, it's just not a priority anymore!

Anonymous said...

There ya go again! LOL! Have fun!

Jean said...

Ray Bradbury--Both you and Annie should read Fahrenheit 451 and then discuss how much we're approaching that world. Will big screen TVs become the wall TVs of that novel? And consider how so many people no longer read for pleasure. Troubling when one thinks about it. Bill Bryson is a must-read. If Annie will be studying Australia at all, add In a Sunburned Country. I read this aloud to the family one car trip across British Columbia, and we were all in stitches. Given your family's love of hiking, I can see how A Walk in the Woods will appeal.

Debi said...

Jean-

I'm so glad you mentioned that about Fahrenheit 451. I was considering reading that as one of our literature choices for "school" this coming year...sounds like I should definitely add it to our list.

And that's funny that you mentioned In a Sunburned Country for Bill Bryson. When I told Rich that I might choose one of Bryson's books for this challenge, that's the one he mentioned, too! I've been leanly slightly towards A Walk in the Woods, because Rich and I hiked on the AT for our honeymoon. But maybe I'll have to rethink that choice.

Melody said...

Hey Debi, I have not particpated in any reading challenge...yet, but this one sounds tempting! I might want to give it a try. ;)

Sycorax Pine said...

What a great list, Debi! I am so glad that you have joined the challenge. Bill Bryson is definitely on my list of guiltily unread authors (this could be a five year long challenge and I would never get to the end of that list :) ) - I have both A Short History of Nearly Everything and Notes from a Small Island sitting on my shelves, looking reproachfully at me.

Meanwhile, I just read my first Terry Pratchett a few months ago, and will probably pick up a second sometime in the fall.

I also hope that a side effect of the challenge is a sort of group admission that we all have embarrassing "holes" in our past reading, and that (thus) they are nothing to be embarrassed about. Instead, we can think with glee about all the great books and authors we have yet to discover.

Ana S. said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Ana S. said...

What a great list, Debi. "Something Wicked..." was my first (and so far only, but I have to change that) Bradbury too, and I loved it.

Terry Pratchett is one of my very favourite authors. The book you picked is wonderful, and I think it will be a great introduction to him.

Animal Farm is also very good.

I am so, so tempted by this challenge.

(Many apologies; embarrassing typo in the first version of the comment :P I do wish blogger would let one edit)

Stacy at Exceedingly Mundane said...

OOh, OOh, a challenge! Go girl, you are cracking me up with these :)

Framed said...

This sounds like a great challenge since I have some books on the shelf that totally fit. I haven't read a number of these either. I really did like Fablehaven and loved The Goose Girl.

Sharon said...

Ray Bradbury is one of my favorite authors, and Something Wicked This Way Comes is one of my favorites by him. Hope you enjoy!

Literary Feline said...

It is hard to resist these challenges. . . I plan to join this one too, but am still working on my list. You have a great list there. I hope you enjoy each of them! The Lovely Bones is a good book, I think.

Melody said...

Hey Debi, I decided to join!!! :)

Jennifer said...

Haunted scared me to death so I found someone that wanted that one and Heart Shaped Box and sent them there. I'm such a chicken!