Sunday, January 25, 2009

The Sunday Salon - Life for the Challenged.....

The Sunday Salon.comSince this is a Sunday Salon post, I'm going to fore go what I was actually going to post about today....life's challenges....and just stick with reading challenges. It's less depressing, you know?? I mean....when did life get so hard?? I can remember being little and wanting to be grown up so badly. I couldn't wait to be an adult. Now....all I can think about is why?? Life was so much easier when all I had to worry about was homework, friends, and boys. I know it was dramatic at the time, but it pales in comparison to jobs, kids, mortgages and layoffs!!


Enough with the depressing stuff. Let's talk about books!! I have a couple more challenges that I am going to sign up for.



I didn't join this challenge last year, but I just couldn't help myself this year. Some things are just too good to pass up. The 2009 Orbis Terrarum Challenge hosted by Bethany at B & b Libris is set to start on March 1. It runs until the end of the year (10 months), and this year has it's own blog. Besides the main challenge, there are going to be a few mini-challenges and even a bookswap of favorite reads!! The rules are:

1. Each reader chooses 10 books (for the ten months).
2. Each book must be from a different country (country of author)
3. You don't have to have a list.

Basically, 10 books from 10 different authors from 10 different countries.

I have a tentative list (but I always reserve the right to change my mind!)

  • Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (Nigeria)
  • A Dry White Season by Andre Brink (South Africa)
  • War Trash by Ha Jin (China)
  • Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World by Haruki Murakami OR Kitchen by Banana Yoshimoto (Japan)
  • The Space Between Us by Thrity Umrigar (India)
  • The Secret River by Kate Grenville (Australia)
  • The Bone People by Keri Hulme (New Zealand)
  • The Motorcycle Diaries by Che Guevara (Argentina)
  • The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini (Afghanistan)
  • Out Stealing Horses by Per Petterson (Norway)
  • Night Watch by Sergei Lukyanenko (Russia)
  • Snow by Orhan Pamuk (Turkey)


Some challenges are just too easy. I read a lot of Young Adult Fiction. And there are a lot of books I'd like to read this year. So, I joined the 2009 YA challenge last month. I just never created a list. Hosted by J. Kaye of J. Kaye's Book Blog , this challenge runs from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31 of 2009. Basically, it's a book a month. 12 books will complete the challenge.

My (tentative) List:

  • Fablehaven by Brandon Mull
  • Hunted: A House of Night Novel (Book 5) by PC Cast and Kristin Cast
  • Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer
  • Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer
  • The Vampire Diaries: The Awakening and The Struggle by L. J. Smith
  • Midnight Alley: Morganville Vampires (Book 3) by Rachel Caine
  • A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray
  • The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
  • The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
  • Paper Towns by John Green
  • The Neverending Story by Michael Ende
  • The Princess Bride by William Goldman
  • The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
  • Tamsin by Peter S. Beagle
  • Inkheart by Cornelia Funke

Finally, I love lists. I love to read lists. I love to make lists. (I don't always FINISH my lists, but so be it!) For that reason, I'm joining the Modern Library's 100 Best Novels perpetual Challenge. Every time I see the Modern Library "Lists", I always say, "I have to read all those books someday". So I thought I'd join in the challenge. It's perpetual. No time limit. The Challenge is hosted by Sharon from Ex Libris.

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In reading news, I am just finishing up Fablehaven by Brandon Mull. Not sure I liked it as well as some other reviews I've read....but I'm not done yet!! I also just started an ARC of Lisa Jackson's newest book, Wicked Game. Who knows where I will go after that!

Happy Sunday (a little late) and Happy Reading!!

15 comments:

DesLily said...

wow you are off and running for challenges this year!

The Fablehaven series are enjoyable, and I am a massive Inkheart fan so I hope you enjoy that book. I don't know how anyone reads the first of a series and they don't continue on (unless they don't like it of course) Speaking, of course, when the other books are available!

tanabata said...

I'm thinking about joining the Orbis Terrarum challenge again this year. I have to look through my books but I'll probably end up joining. :P
Good luck! And hang in there regarding all the other stuff.

Stephanie said...

DesLily - The only reason I'm not 100% loving Fablehaven is I'm really annoyed with the kids. Could be the mother in me!! I'm sure I'll continuing reading the Funke books.

Tanabata - I didn't read a lot of books from other countries last year and I miss it. That's the reason I'm joining that challenge. And thanks. The other stuff just keeps getting better and better (NOT!)

samantha.1020 said...

It sure isn't always easy being an adult! Looks like you are joining some fun reading challenges though :)

Ana S. said...

I'm sorry to hear things have been rough, Stephanie. Sometimes I really miss my childhood too!

You have excellent books on both lists. I'm currently reading that Murakami book, and it's so weird and so good. And I love your YA list. Btw, did you hear that The Graveyard Book won the Newbery? :D

S. Krishna said...

Hey, Stephanie, just wanted to let you know that you won my Fashionably Late giveaway! E-mail me your info at skrishna [at] skrishnasbooks [dot] com and I'll get the book mailed out. Congrats!

chrisa511 said...

I'm sorry to hear that things have been rough for you lately Steph. Big hug from down south for you!

Hope you enjoy all of those great books! I really liked the Fablehaven series, but I've heard a few people who just didn't get into them. They get better as they go on! And The Bone People is one of my favorite books!!! Such an amazing book with amazing characters that you'll fall in love with.

jlshall said...

Yes, reading is a wonderful way to escape all the depressing stuff adulthood tends to bring with it (sorry it's been getting you down). I've been eyeing the Orbis Terrarum Challenge, too - I missed out the last time around. Sounds like a nice easy way to expand my reading horizons. Hope things perk up for you very soon!

Staci said...

I love YA books too...I just finished Paper Towns and it was pretty awesome. I love lists too, they have the tendency to make me feel like I have some sort of control over something.

smile...it will get better!!

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Debi said...

Any idea how hard I am fighting the urge to click on your link to the 100 Best Novels challenge?!! Yeah, we both know I'm gonna do it, don't we?

I love, love, love lists, too! And I loved reading yours for these challenges...I think I now want to read nearly all of the ones you have listed there! Oh man, how on earth can I find a way to live to be 6,798 so I can possibly read all these books I want to read?!!

Iliana said...

Oh I've read several of your choices for the Orbis challenge - such good books. Have fun with both challenges!

And, yes hang in there with the other stuff. I was just talking with a friend about how now we seem to be parents to our parents and that's hard. We were definitely reminiscing about high school days so I know what you mean. Hugs.

Carl V. Anderson said...

Woo hoo, the Graveyard Book! Did you hear that Gaiman won the Newbery? Very cool. He definitely deserved it as the book is wonderful.

Eva said...

Purple Hibiscus is SO good! I've been wanting to read Night Watch too. :) (and I'm totally with you on the growing up thing! I think I had it best in college...still none of the rent/etc. issues, but also almost no rules)

bethany (dreadlock girl) said...

So glad to have you join in this year! I hope it will be an amazing challenge for you. WELCOME!!!