Two New Challenges: The Summer Mystery Reading Challenge AND Book Awards Reading Challenge
Okay, as if my head wasn’t hanging low enough in shame for only reading four books in Carl’s Once Upon A Time Challenge, I have just today opted for not one, but two more.
Here’s my reasoning: School is over for the summer. There’s no better time for reading than now. I LOVE mysteries. I LOVE books with awards; they are the type I cling to anyway. Plus, I want to take off ten pounds this summer, so if I can take off ten pounds, I can certainly read 9 million books, right?
For Liz’ Summer Mystery Reading Challenge, I have decided to read six Edgar Award Winning books because I have never been disappointed in a book which won the Edgar Award. They are:
- The Janissary Tree by Jason Goodwin (Edgar Award 2007)
- Citizen Vince: A Novel by Jess Walter (Edgar Award 2006)
- Winter and Night by S.J. Rozan (Edgar Award 2003)
- California Girl by T. Jefferson Parker (Edgar Award 2005)
- Come to Grief by Dick Francis (Edgar Award 1995)
- Cimarron Rose by James Lee Burke (Edgar Award 1998)
For 3M’s Book Awards Reading Challenge I have decided upon these twelve titles:
- First Snow on Fuji by Yasunari Kawabata (Nobel Prize)
- My Name is Red by Orhan Pamuk (Nobel Prize)
- Poscards by E. Annie Proulx (Pen/Faulkner Award)
- The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon (Pulitzer)
- The Known World by Edward P. Jones (Pulitzer)
- A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers (Pulitzer)
- Empire Falls by Richard Russo (Pulitzer)
- The Optimist’s Daughter by Eudora Welty (Pulitzer)
- Spin by Robert Charles Wilson (Hugo)
- The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall (National Book Award for Young People’s Literature)
- Bridge to Terebithia by Katherine Paterson (Newbery)
- Come To Grief by Dick Frances (Edgar)
What do you think? Any titles pique your interest? Any comments about some you may have read? I’m looking forward to discussing them as I go along.
"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived, the things which God has prepared for those who love Him." 1 Corinthians 2:9 (NIV)
Wow…know what, I’ve actually never heard of a single book on your lists! Isn’t that sad?! *ducks head* I just did an Amazon search for First Snow on Fuji though and that one sounds great. I’ve added it to my wishlist. I’m a big fan of Japanese literature. Ever read any Mishima? I’m excited that I haven’t heard of any of these though, because now I have all of your wonderful reviews to look forward to
Chris, I love Japanese literature, well, Japanese anything also. When we were in Epcot, which is the closest I’ve been to Japan (great, fake Japan) we bought music and garden books and place mats and origami paper from the Japanese store. Oh, and Shiseido, which is their make up line, with a wonderful fragrance called Zen. I’ve loaded all that music on my iPod, and it’s very soothing. Anyway, I’ve not read Mishima, so thank you for the suggestion. It is so great to be able to share our interests/suggestions with one another, isn’t it?
I love love love your booklist. I’ve not been in a bookclub since I left the one I started in Houston (2001).
Thanks!!!
Also love your piece on Chicago. Maybe I should be inspired to write one about Santa Fe…
Your vacation looked like a lot of fun.
I have had some friends who loved Kavalier and Clay and others who thought it was just awful. That, I’m afraid, is the only book off your awards list that looked familiar. I am not well read, after all.
I say, put a book in each hand while you are walking on the treadmill and you will definitely accomplish all these goals!
Hey, I need an email address for you!
I’m like Chris. I haven’t heard of any of these books. But they sound really good. Can’t wait to read your reviews.
I’ve read “California Girl” or actually listened to it on CD. I really liked it. It helps that my aunt lives in that area and we visited there about that time. She also attend the Crystal Cathedral. Think you’ll like that one. Good luck with both challenges!
Wow! You go, girl! That’s a great list. Enjoy!
I plan to read My Name is Red too. I’ve had it here waiting for far too long. I’ve already been playing with my list and hope to fit in Snow Country by Kawabata. The only one I’ve read on your list is Empire Falls, which I remember liking when I read it a few years ago. Should be a fun challenge!
Tanabata, it will be so fun to discuss My Name is Red. Lotus and bookprice.com gave it to me in after my name was pulled in a drawing on her blog. Also, I look forward to Kawabata. I’ve never read anything by him before. That book I won as a prize at our local library. But, maybe you see a lot of him where you live?
I read Empire Falls several years ago and enjoy it so well that I went on to read Nobody’s Fool and Straight Man (the latter of which is my favorite). I recently watched Postcards just to hear Meryl Streep sing at the end (she’s got an awesome voice!! Loved her in Prairie Home Companion). I just finished a book which mentions how wonderful The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay is. I keep fondling The Penderwick when I shelve it at work. It looks like a happy book.
Good luck!!
yay, you’re joining the Book Awards Challenge too! We have two books in common, 4 and 5. I have read “A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius” and it was indeed heartbreaking. I loved it.
Nymeth, it’s a funny thing about the books for the Awards Challenge: I have 90% of them! I just haven’t read them yet. My copy of Heartbreaking Work…is starting to yellow, and that is sad that it’s sat so long unread. I’m really looking forward to it, since you advocate it. I’ll have to come double check your list to see what else we can talk about.
I have Kavalier and Clay on my list too!! But at least I’ve HEARD of most of them!! I haven’t read Empire Falls, but I did read Nobody’s Fool. I’ve always wanted to read something by Eudora Welty.
Looks like a great list!! Go Challenges!
Great list! For the awards challenge, I’ve read Bridge to Terabithia, The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay, the Known World, and Empire Falls, and liked them all. Sounds like you’re in for a good ride!
Les, Meryl Streep is one of my favoites! I didn’t know she sang, too! I’m crazy about Out of Africa, and oddly enough, Falling in Love with Robert deNiro. I’m posting on Kavalier and Clay tomorrow, and Penderwicks was a Christmas gift one of the children in my class; I’m hoping I can use it as a read aloud, but they may be too young. Maturity wise. I still envy you working in a bookstore. In a good way…
Stephanie, I’m amazed how many people have listed Kavalier and Clay on their lists. (You’d think it was a good book.
I’m looking forward to hearing what you think.
Gentle Reader, it’s embarrassing to me that I haven’t read Bridge to Terebithia, and I call myself a teacher. That book seems like it should have been a requirement; everyone’s read it! I’m glad you endorse The Known World and Empire Falls. Pulitzer prize winning novels are usually not disappointing to me.
I’ve heard great things about Empire Falls. I had to do my list for BARC strategically (use as many books that I own as possible), which makes for a strange list. Maybe in 2008 I’ll have read all the books I own and can pick some other ones. I guess that means 9 million for me to read the rest of the year too.
When I lived in the big city with a gym, I would take my book and read while on the bike (I can’t walk and read at the same time). Kill two birds, one stone…
Now, getting all the books read which one owns qualifies as a Challenge in and of itself! My Award list is similar to yours in that respect: it’s comprised of books already on my shelf, though sadly, unread. It’s amazing you can work out and read at the same time! The print is too jumbly for me, plus, I’m not all that good at working out. Just this summer I’ve been riding my bike for an hour a day. If only I had that much time when I was teaching during the school year!
I am doing the award winning one as well.
As my great-grandmother used to say, It’s none of my business, BUT…
You might not want to read COME TO GRIEF as your first Dick Francis book. Dick Francis wrote most of his many books as single, non-series books. COME TO GRIEF is one of six exceptions. It features jockey Sid Halley and is the second of four Halley books (the first written in 1969, the fourth last year). Francis is an excellent writer and you will enjoy the book, but you might enjoy the way the character evolves.
My father, a devoted Dick Francis reader, recommends that people new to the series start with ENQUIRY. You can read his review at: http://reviewedbyliz.com/?p=207
Liz Clifford
reviewedbyliz.com
Oh, Liz, too late! I’m already halfway through it. But, the good news is, I like it. I’m very fond of British writing (the phrasing is so beautiful), and Francis does a nice job of filling us ‘new to Sid’ readers in. Optimally, I should have started with Enquiry as you say, but, at least I’m enjoying this. I hope to finish tomorrow to post a review. Thanks for commenting.