Yep. I've joined another challenge. I can't help myself. It's such a great incentive to read some of the books on my shelves. And I've heard great things about several of these, so I'm very excited to begin!
Here are the details from Words by Annie:
Dates: January 1, 2008 through December 31, 2008
The Challenge: Choose one book from each of the following categories.
1. A book with a color in its title. Examples might include: The Amber Spyglass, The Red Pony, Blue Blood
2. A book with an animal in its title. Examples might include: The Hound of the Baskervilles, To Kill a Mockingbird, Julie of the Wolves
3. A book with a first name in its title. Examples might include: Jane Eyre, the Harry Potter books, Anne of Green Gables
4. A book with a place in its title. Examples might include: From Russia with Love, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, Out of Africa
5. A book with a weather event in its title. Examples might include: The Snows of Kilimanjaro, Red Storm Rising, Tornado Alley
6. A book with a plant in its title. Examples might include: Where the Red Fern Grows, The Name of the Rose, Flowers for Algernon
And now to my list:
Blue Water
by A. Manette AnsayThe Virgin Blue
by Tracy Chevalier (alternate choice)A Few Green Leaves
by Barbara Pym (alternate choice)Water for Elephants
by Sara GruenWhen the Elephants Dance
by Tess Uriza Holthe (alternate choice)Swan
by Frances Mayes (alternate choice)Drowning Ruth
by Christina Schwarz Hanna's Daughters
by Marianne Fredriksson (alternate choice)Maggie Now
by Betty Smith (alternate choice)The Madonnas of Leningrad
by Debra DeanPasadena
by David Ebershoff (alternate choice)Outer Banks
by Anne Rivers Siddons (alternate choice)Snow Flower and the Secret Fan
by Lisa SeeThe Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid
by Bill Bryson (alternate choice)The Winds of War
by Herman Wouk (alternate choice)The Winter Rose
by Jennifer DonnellyTulip Fever
by Deborah Moggach (alternate choice)Eucalyptus
by Murray Ball (alternate choice)
About time you got to "Water For Elephants"! It ended up being my number 2 book of the year.
ReplyDeleteI still need to read Water for Elephants, too. I really liked The Madonnas of Leningrad and Snow Flower and the Secret Fan. Looking forward to your thoughts about them.
ReplyDeleteSnowflower and the Secret Fan is our book club's pick for this month, so I just bought it today. Hopefully I'll actually get it read before our discussion. We're having a TCU professor of women's studies who is Chinese-American coming to our meeting to discuss the book.
ReplyDeleteI can't seem to get myself motivated to read much of anything lately, what with all the activity of the holidays. Now I have planning a wedding to occupy my mind! I have a feeling I'll mostly be reading up on that. :)
very good blog, congratulations
ReplyDeleteregard from Catalonia Spain
thank you
What a fun and inventive way to choose books to read!
ReplyDeleteLee - I know, I know. I bought it in July and still haven't read it. Rod did though and loved it.
ReplyDeleteBooklogged - The three you mentioned have all gotten great praise from friends and family. I just hope they aren't too hyped up for me now.
Janet - You're going to be a Mother-of-the-Bride?!!! Congratulations!! And lucky you to have a TCU prof attend your book club meeting. Good luck getting the book read in time. Again, congrats to you (and your daughter, of course!).
te la ma maria - reus - Thank you. And thanks for stopping by.
Heather - I thought so, too. It was fun wandering around the house, looking at all my TBR books, picking out those that fit the category. Now to read them!
Oh yay! I agree, challenges for me are also a great way to work at my TBR stacks. I try to select books that I already own.
ReplyDeleteI'm doing this challenge too and am almost done with my first book. Good luck and have fun!
Lesley, I would really love to get into the "What's In a Name Challenge. I am not sure how to sign up.
ReplyDeleteWhen you sign up you have a year to read one of each of those titles that you blog?
Love;
Gayla
It's such a fun idea for a challenge. I couldn't resist it either. The only ones in your list that I've read are The Virgin Blue (which I loved when I read it but I think it was a case of perfect timing, I'm not sure if I'd feel the same now or not), and Snow Flower and the Secret Fan (the foot-binding chapter will make you cringe but a nice book). Good luck! :)
ReplyDeleteIliana - I haven't started on the challenge yet, but hope to as soon as I finish I Am Legend. Of course it'll be great fun to decide what to read first. :) I'm hoping to read all the books listed. Boy, would that help reduce my TBR stacks!
ReplyDeleteGood luck to you, too.
Gayla - The challenge runs from January to December and you can pick a title for each category. You don't have to have a blog to participate. Just click on Word by Annie in my original post and it will direct you to her website for the challenge. Have fun!
Nat - Glad to hear The Virgin Blue was a winner. And I've heard nothing but great things about Snowflower, so I'm excited about that one. Good luck with the challenge!