The Unread Authors Challenge! [Scroll down for the most recent participants]
Here I go, joining the fray of Book Challengedom by, at long last, starting my own challenge: the Unread Authors Challenge.
The premise is this: almost all of us have authors who we have long meant to read, but somehow never gotten around to (you can see a long list of mine at the bottom right of the blog). Perhaps you have always been intrigued but intimidated by their work. Perhaps "required reading" and your favorite authors have taken up most of your time. Perhaps they have been sitting on your shelves for years, continually trumped by new fascinations. Well, now is their time.
Here are the rules of the Challenge, which will run from September to February (six months total):
Also, if you think that a challenge blog (along the lines of the New York Times Notable Books Blog) would be helpful, let me know in the comments section. I worry that we may not have enough overlap to make it worthwhile, but am willing to be swayed by popular opinion!
Here are my initial thoughts on my own list:
[A quick postscript:
Our Unread Authors Challenge may be the perfect companion piece to a challenge that Joy is hosting, starting in October. It is called the 2nds Challenge and it gives you an opportunity to explore some of your favorite new authors in greater depth.]
There are some great lists here, so check them out!
The premise is this: almost all of us have authors who we have long meant to read, but somehow never gotten around to (you can see a long list of mine at the bottom right of the blog). Perhaps you have always been intrigued but intimidated by their work. Perhaps "required reading" and your favorite authors have taken up most of your time. Perhaps they have been sitting on your shelves for years, continually trumped by new fascinations. Well, now is their time.
Here are the rules of the Challenge, which will run from September to February (six months total):
1) In this time, read six books by authors you have never read before. If you would like to read more in this time frame, go for it!I will then make a master list of participants and links; I hope that we will have a fair amount of cross-fertilization as people remember authors they have neglected (until now!). That is, if others are as intrigued by this challenge idea as I am.
2) You are welcome to approach the Challenge in any of several different ways. You can choose one or two (or 3-5) unread authors and read several of their works, or you can choose six neglected (by you) writers and read a book apiece by them. Authors of fiction, non-fiction, genre fiction, graphic novels/comics, drama, and poetry are all welcome inclusions, although the individual works you choose should be book length. I will leave the definition of "book length" to your discretion, but in my mind a full length play or epic poem would certainly count, as would collections of shorter works.
3) Anytime before the start of the Challenge (September 1, 2007), write a blog entry that links back to this post and lists the authors and works you have chosen. You should feel free to change this list as you go along, or list "alternates," as I have below.
4) Then leave a note in the "Comments" section of this post, letting me know that you have joined and linking back to the blog entry that discusses your list. [If you link back to the specific post rather than to your main blog address, it will make it easier for your fellow participants to find your list.]
Also, if you think that a challenge blog (along the lines of the New York Times Notable Books Blog) would be helpful, let me know in the comments section. I worry that we may not have enough overlap to make it worthwhile, but am willing to be swayed by popular opinion!
Here are my initial thoughts on my own list:
- Laurence Sterne - Tristram Shandy
- Friedrich Durrenmatt - The Physicians and The Visit
- Orhan Pamuk - My Name is Red
- Richard Powers - The Gold Bug Variations
- China Mieville - Perdido Street Station
- Doris Lessing - The Golden Notebook
- John Fowles - The Magus
- Joyce Carol Oates - Bellefleur
- Stendhal - The Red and the Black
- Diana Wynne Jones - A Sudden, Wild Magic
- Iris Murdoch - The Black Prince
- Edward P. Jones - All Aunt Hagar's Children
- Nadine Gordimer - Burger's Children
- Tim Winton - Cloudstreet or Dirt Music
- Peter Carey - Oscar and Lucinda or True History of the Kelly Gang
[A quick postscript:
Our Unread Authors Challenge may be the perfect companion piece to a challenge that Joy is hosting, starting in October. It is called the 2nds Challenge and it gives you an opportunity to explore some of your favorite new authors in greater depth.]
Challenge Participants (click on the links to see their lists):[Addendum: The Unread Authors Blog is now the command center for this challenge. For more information, go here.]
- Patti/ccdpiper at Patti's Book Blog (list forthcoming)
- Laura at Musings
- Wendy at caribousmom
- Sarah at Loose Baggy Monster
- Kimmie at Kimmie's Krap
- Michele at Michele's This and That
- Jenclair at A Garden Carried in the Pocket
- Debi at nothing of importance
- Bybee at Naked without Books
- 3M at 3M@3AM
- Framed at Framed and Booked
- Dewey at the hidden side of a leaf
- Becky at Becky's Book Reviews (list newly posted)
- Gracie at AKAGracie
- Chelle at Tempting Persephone
- Mo at Inside Mo's Mind
- Pamela at Paige's Book Blog
- Ex Libris at Ex Libris
- Kristen at The Critical Lass
- Elaine at Random Jottings of a Book and Opera Lover (list forthcoming)
- Eva at A Striped Armchair
- Literary Feline at Musings of a Bookish Kitty (list newly posted)
- Poodlerat at But what these unobservant birds
- C.R. the Book-ninja at The Book-ninja
- Melody at Melody's Reading Corner
- Alice at Hello, My Name is Alice
- Ana (Virgulina) at Cozy World (list newly posted)
- Amanda at A Patchwork of Books
- Callista at S.M.S. Book Reviews
- Susan at Bloggin' 'Bout Books
- Puss Reboots at Puss Reboots
- AndBrooke at Aunt Book
- JanieJane at So Many Book Reviews
- Krin at Enough to Read
- PA at Cenoura do Lado (list newly posted)
- SuzieQoregon at Blogging My Books
- Nyssaneala atBook Haven
- Vickie at Vixen's Daily Reads
- Stephani at Herding Cats
- Jen79 at Jen's Page
- Dark Orpheus at Orpheus Sings the Guitar Electric
- Somer at SomeReads
- Fantasma at Estralas ao Vento
- Veronica at Toddled Dredge
- Fátima at O Segredo dos Livros
- alisonwonderland at So Many Books, So Little Time
- caracois at Desabafos e outros coisas
- Jen at The Movieholic, Bibliophile, and Music Junkie
- Booklogged at A Reader's Journal
There are some great lists here, so check them out!