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    Tuesday, June 17th, 2008

    Man Booker Prize Challenge


    January 1 - December 31, 2008

    June 17, 2008 - CHALLENGE COMPLETED!

    I finished this challenge tonight with my completion of Atonement which was shortlisted in 2002. I enjoyed all these books - and none got a rating less than 4.0. I will most likely continue reading from the short lists for the Booker Prize in the future. Thanks Dewey for hosting this one!!

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    Here is the perfect compliment to Laura’s Complete Booker Challenge … The Man Booker Challenge, hosted by Dewey, challenges participants to read 6 books from the short, long or winner lists for the Man Booker Prize. Readers can change their lists at any time and overlaps are fine.

    So here’s my list (subject to change):

    1. The Reluctant Fundamentalist, by Moshin Hamid - 2007 Shortlist (finished January 11, 2008; rated 4/5; read my review)
    2. The Night Watch, by Sarah Waters - 2006 Shortlist (finished February 12, 2008; rated 4.5/5; read my review)
    3. The Gathering, by Anne Enright - Winner 2007 (finished March 9, 2008; rated 4.5/5; read my review)
    4. Atonement, by Ian McEwan - 2001 Shortlist (finished June 17, 2008; rated 4/5; read my review)
    5. Cat’s Eye, by Margaret Atwood - 1989 Shortlist (finished February 29, 2008; rated 4.5/5; read my review)
    6. Life and Times of Michael K, by J.M. Coetzee - Winner 1983 (finished February 17, 2008; rated 4/5; read my review)
    Sunday, May 25th, 2008

    BookAwards II Challenge

    August 1, 2008 - June 1, 2009

    Michelle from 1MoreChapter is hosting part 2 of the BookAwards Challenge. I completed (and exceeded) the first one (reading 17 award winning books!) and can’t wait to continue reading award winning literature into 2009. I’m creating a list here, but don’t be surprised if it changes! The goal is 10 books representing a minimum of 5 different awards.

    My preliminary list:

    1. The True History of the Kelly Gang, by Peter Carey (2001 Booker and 2001 Commonwealth Writers Prize)
    2. Breathing Lessons, by Anne Tyler (1989 Pulitzer)
    3. Bless Me, Ultima, by Rudolfo Anaya (1972 Premio Quinto Sol National Chicano Award)
    4. We Need to Talk About Kevin, by Lionel Shriver (2005 Orange Prize)
    5. Sacred Hunger, by Barry Unsworth (1992 Booker)
    6. The Known World, by Edward P. Jones (2005 IMPAC Dublin, 2003 National Book Critics Circle, 2004 Pulitzer)
    7. Bel Canto, by Ann Patchett (2002 PEN/Faulkner)
    8. A Bend in the River, by V.S. Naipaul (2001 Nobel Prize for Literature)
    9. The Secret River, by Kate Grenville (2006 Commonwealth Writers Prize)
    10. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, by Mark Haddon (2003 Costa Novel Award)
    11. The Collected Stories of William Faulkner, by William Faulkner (1951 National Book Award)
    Saturday, May 24th, 2008

    Book Awards Reading Challenge

    Bookawards

    Through June 30, 2008

    May 24, 2008 - CHALLENGE WRAP UP

    I’ve decided to wrap up this challenge today. Michelle is hosting part 2 of the Bookawards Challenge beginning August 1st, and so I’ve decided I don’t have to read everything on my list for this one. The challenge was to read 12 award winners. I did that, and I also read 7 alternates. The ones I didn’t get to I intend to shift to Bookawards II.

    This was a great challenge - helping me to read fine literature and knock some award winning books off my perpetual challenge lists. My favorite read of the challenge is impossible to pick. Most of the books I read got a rating of 4 or more! Not bad!

    I’m looking forward to continue reading from the award lists. Thanks Michelle for hosting this one!

    ***********************

    I know, I know - I said I wasn’t going to join anymore challenges. BUT, I couldn’t pass this one up. I’m picking mostly books I either already have on my shelf, am reading for other challenges, or plan on reading for book groups.

    Here’s my FINAL list (pink highlights indicate author won Nobel only):

    1. The Bone People, by Keri Hulme, - Booker 1985 - COMPLETED July 12, 2007; read my review here.
    2. The Handmaid’s Tale, by Margaret Atwood - Governor Generals Award (Canada) 1985 - COMPLETED November 5, 2007; read my review here.
    3. The Blind Assassin, by Margaret Atwood - Booker 2000 - COMPLETED August 1, 2007; read my review here.
    4. The God of Small Things, by Arundhati Roy - Booker 1997 - COMPLETED September 29, 2007; read my review here.
    5. The Echo Maker, by Richard Powers - National Book Award 2006 - COMPLETED September 6, 2007; read my review here.
    6. Middlesex, by Jeffrey Eugenides - Pulitzer 2003 - COMPLETED November 1, 2007; read my review here.
    7. Disgrace, by J. M. Coetzee - Booker 1999 AND Commonwealth Writers Prize 2000 AND Nobel Prize awarded to author in 2003 - COMPLETED December 14, 2007; read my review here.
    8. East of Eden, by John Steinbeck - author won Nobel Prize in 1962 - COMPLETED October 12, 2007; read my review here.
    9. Angle of Repose, by Wallace Stegner - Pulitzer 1972 - COMPLETED April 17, 2008; read my review here.
    10. The Great Fire, by Shirley Hazzard - NBA 2003, Miles Franklin 2004 - COMPLETED August 8, 2007; read my review here.
    11. The Borrowers, by Mary Norton - Carnegie Medal 1952 - COMPLETED December 31, 2007; read my review here.
    12. The Devil in the White City, by Erik Larson - Edgar (Best Fact Crime) 2004 - COMPLETED September 12, 2007; read my review here.

    Alternates (or extras):

    1. The Good Earth, by Pearl Buck - Pulitzer 1932; Nobel Prize 1938 - COMPLETED November 28, 2007; read my review here.
    2. The Bridge of San Luis Rey, by Thornton Wilder - Pulitzer Prize 1928 - COMPLETED December 23, 2007; read my review here.
    3. The Giver, by Lois Lowry - Newbery Medal 1994 - COMPLETED January 1, 2008; read my review here.
    4. So Big, by Edna Ferber - Pulitzer Prize 1925 - COMPLETED January 17, 2008; read my review here.
    5. Life and Times of Michael K, by J.M. Coetzee - Booker Prize 1983; Nobel Laureate 2003 - COMPLETED February 17, 2008; read my review here.
    6. The Gathering, by Anne Enright - Booker Prize 2007 - COMPLETED March 9, 2008; read my review here.
    7. The Tenderness of Wolves, by Stef Penney - Costa/Whitbread 2006 - COMPLETED April 5, 2008; read my review here.
    Sunday, March 9th, 2008

    The Complete Booker

    The Complete Booker
    An Ongoing Challenge to Read All the Booker Prize Winners

    My bookie soul-mate, Laura at Musings, is hosting an ongoing challenge with no time limit. The goal: to read every Booker Prize Winner. She’s started a group blog called The Complete Booker for participants to track their progress and post their reviews.

    I’ll be posting there, but also keeping track here on my blog.

    Read in 2007:

    The Inheritance of Loss, by Kiran Desai - won in 2006 (completed March 16, 2007; rated 4.25/5; reviewed here)
    The Bone People, by Keri Hulme - won in 1985 (completed July 12, 2007; rated 4.5/5; reviewed here)
    The Blind Assassin, by Margaret Atwood - won in 2000 (completed August 1, 2007; rated 4.5/5; reviewed here)
    The God of Small Things, by Arundhati Roy - won in 1997 (completed September 29, 2007; rated 5/5; reviewed here)
    Disgrace, by J.M. Coetzee - won in 1999 (completed December 14, 2007; rated 4.5/5; reviewed here)

    Read in 2008:

    Life and Times of Michael K, by J.M. Coetzee - won in 1983 (completed February 17, 2008; rated 4/5; reviewed here)
    The Gathering, by Anne Enright - won in 2007 (completed March 9, 2008; rated 4.5/5; reviewed here)
    Life of Pi, by Yann Martel - won in 2002 (completed June 23, 2008; rated 3.5/5; reviewed here)

    Saturday, February 23rd, 2008

    National Book Award Project

    Sharon from Ex Libris is hosting this perpetual challenge (no time limit) to read from the National Book Award fiction list (winners and nominees). The National Book Award Project allows flexibility in the guidelines. Looking through the list, I’ve discovered I have already read several winners and nominees…so my goal will to keep reading through the list (good thing there is no time limit!). I don’t promise to read all the nominees, but I would like to get through all the winners - and if I do that, I will consider this challenge a success.

    I’ll be keeping track of my progress at the official challenge blog; and also here.

    You may notice that there are a few DNF’s (Did not Finish). These were books which I disliked so much, I couldn’t make my way through them. I have no intention of trying them again…chalk it up to not enough time in my life to read books I hate.

    Below are the lists. Winners are in bold print. Books I’ve read are highlighted in Red with links to my reviews when available.

    1950

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    2007

    Thursday, February 14th, 2008

    The Costa Book Award Project

     

    I was very excited when Sharon of Ex Libris told me she was going to host The Costa Book Award Project. The goal is to read all of the winners from several categories. I love reading from the award lists, and these perpetual challenges are perfect for me - low key, no stress! I have read almost nothing from the Costa Awards list, and this challenge will stretch me to read poetry and Biographies…a neglected aspect of my reading.

    Below are the books I’ve read and what I hope to read in 2008.

    Read previous to the challenge:
    White Teeth, by Zadie Smith (read in 2001; unrated)

    Books I hope to read in 2008:
    What Was Lost, by Catherine O’Flynn (First Novel 2007)
    The Tenderness of Wolves, by Stef Penney (First Novel 2006)
    The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, by Mark Haddon (Novel Award 2003)
    Behind the Scenes at the Museum, by Kate Atkinson (First Novel 1995)
    The Queen of the Tambourine, by Jane Gardam (Novel Award 1991)

    Below is the complete list of winners. As I read books from the list, I’ll cross them off, and provide date read, rating, and link to review.

    2007

    2006

    2005

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    2003

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    1985

    [Note: The issuance of a Book of the Year award began in 1985. Between 1971 and 1984, categories shifted and awards were not given in all categories. ]

    1984

    1983

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    1981

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    1977

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    1971

    Wednesday, February 6th, 2008

    The Orange Prize Project


    No Time Limit

    In the spirit of some of the other award winning perpetual reading challenges, I decided to host this long-term project in which the participants will read all books that have won or been short listed for the Orange Broadband Prize for Fiction AND the Orange Broadband Award for New Writers. There is no time limit.For those readers who want to go further than the short lists, I have also provided a list of the titles which appeared annually on the long list for the Orange Prize for Fiction. Reading from the long lists is not required, by could be viewed as “extra credit!”

    I have started a blog dedicated to this challenge which is open for contribution by challenge participants. Please go to The Orange Prize Project blog for further guidelines and to join up!

    My Progress List and goals:

    Below the books I’ve read from winners and shortlists are highlighted in orange. The books I’ve read from the longlists are highlighted in green; ratings, links and reviews as indicated.

    I’ve gone through my current stacks of TBR books and found a number of Orange Prize winners and nominees. In the lists below, I have italicized those books I hope to read in 2008.

    The Orange Prize for Fiction

    2008

    Fault Lines, by Nancy Huston
    The Outcast, by Sadie Jones (Read February 2, 2008; rated 3.5/5; read my review)
    When We Were Bad, by Charlotte Mendelson
    Lullabies for Little Criminals, by Heather O’Neill
    The Road Home, by Rose Tremain
    Lottery, by Patricia Wood

    From the Longlist:
    The Gathering, by Anne Enright (Read March 9, 2008; rated 4.5/5; read my review)

    2007

    Half of a Yellow Sun, by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie - WINNER (Read January 7, 2007; rated 5/5; read my review)
    Arlington Park, by Rachel Cusk
    The Inheritance of Loss, by Kiran Desai (Read March 17, 2007; rated 4.25/5; read my review)
    A Concise Chinese-English Dictionary for Lovers, by Xiaolu Guo
    The Observations, by Jane Harris
    Digging to America, by Anne Tyler

    From the Longlist:
    What Was Lost, by Catherine O’Flynn

    2006

    On Beauty, by Zadie Smith - WINNER
    The History of Love, by Nicole Krauss
    Beyond Black, by Hilary Mantel
    The Accidental, by Ali Smith
    Everyman’s Rules for Scientific Living, by Carrie Tiffany
    The Night Watch, by Sarah Waters (read February 12, 2008; rated 4.5/5; read my review)

    From the Longlist:
    Gilead, by Marilynne Robinson (read in 2006; rated 2/5)
    Minaret, by Leila Aboulela

    2005

    We Need to Talk About Kevin, by Lionel Shriver - WINNER
    Old Filth, by Jane Gardam (read May 29, 2007; rated 3.5/5; read my review)
    The Mammoth Cheese, by Sheri Holman
    Liars and Saints, by Maile Meloy
    A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian, by Marina Lewycka

    From the Longlist:
    Case Histories, by Kate Atkinson

    2004

    Small Island, by Andrea Levy - WINNER
    Oryx and Crake, by Margaret Atwood (Read in 2006; rated 3.5/5)
    The Great Fire, by Shirley Hazzard (Read August 9, 2007; rated 4/5; read my review)
    Purple Hibiscus, by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (Read January 24, 2007; rated 5/5; read my review)
    Ice Road, by Gillian Slovo
    The Colour, by Rose Tremain

    From the Longlist:
    The Amateur Marriage, by Anne Tyler

    2003

    Property, by Valerie Martin - WINNER
    Buddha Da, by Anne Donovan
    Heligoland, by Shena Mackay
    Unless, by Carol Shields
    The Autograph Man, by Zadie Smith
    The Little Friend, by Donna Tartt

    From the Longlist:
    What I Loved, by Siri Hustvedt

    2002

    Bel Canto, by Ann Patchett- WINNER
    No Bones, by Anna Burns
    The Siege, by Helen Dunmore
    The White Family, by Maggie Gee
    A Child’s Book of True Crime, by Chloe Hooper
    Fingersmith, by Sarah Waters

    From the Longlist:

    2001

    The Idea of Perfection, by Kate Grenville - WINNER
    The Blind Assassin, by Margaret Atwood (Read August 4, 2007; rated 4.5/5; read my review)
    Fred & Edie, by Jill Dawson
    Hotel World, by Ali Smith
    Homestead, by Rosina Lippi
    Horse Heaven, by Jane Smiley

    From the Longlist:

    2000

    When I Lived in Modern Times, by Linda Grant - WINNER
    If I Told You Once, by Judy Budnitz
    Amy and Isabelle by Elizabeth Strout
    The Dancers Dancing, by Eilis Ni Dhuibhne
    White Teeth, by Zadie Smith (Read in 2003; unrated)

    From the Longlist:
    The Translator, by Leila Aboulela (Read March 23, 2007; rated 4.5/5; read my review)

    1999

    A Crime in the Neighborhood, by Suzanne Berne - WINNER
    The Short History of a Prince, by Jane Hamilton
    The Poisonwood Bible, by Barbara Kingsolver
    Paradise, by Toni Morrison
    The Leper’s Companions, by Julia Blackburn
    Visible Worlds, by Marilyn Bowering

    From the Longlist:

    1998

    Larry’s Party, by Carol Shield - WINNER
    Lives of the Monster Dogs, by Kirsten Bakis
    The Ventriloquist’s Tale, by Pauline Melville
    The Magician’s Assistant, by Ann Patchett
    Love Like Hate Adore, by Deirdre Purcell
    The Weight of Water, by Anita Shreve

    From the Longlist:

    1997

    Fugitive Pieces, by Anne Michaels - WINNER
    Alias Grace, by Margaret Atwood (Read May 14, 2007; rated 4.5/5; read my review)
    One by One in the Darkness, by Deirdre Madden
    Accordion Crimes, by E. Annie Proulx (Read 2006; rated 2/5)
    Hen’s Teeth, by Manda Scott
    I Was Amelia Earhart, by Jane Mendelsohn

    From the Longlist:
    Fall On Your Knees, by Ann-Marie MacDonald (Read April 28, 2007; rated 4/5; read my review)

    1996

    A Spell of Winter, by Helen Dunmore - WINNER
    The Book of Colour, by Julia Blackburn
    Spinsters, by Pagan Kennedy
    The Hundred Secret Senses, by Amy Tan
    Ladder of Years, by Anne Tyler
    Eveless Eden, by Marianne Wiggins

    From the Longlist:

    Orange Prize for New Writers


    2007

    The Lizard Cage, by Karen Connelly - WINNER
    Poppy Shakespeare, by Clare Allan
    Bitter Sweets, by Roopa Farooki

    2006

    Disobedience, by Naomi Alderman - WINNER
    A Thousand Years of Good Prayers, by Yiyun Li
    The Dream Life of Sukhanov, by Olga Grushin

    2005

    26a, by Diana Evans - WINNER
    Lucky Girls, by Nell Freudenberger
    How I Live Now, by Meg Rosoff


    Sunday, October 7th, 2007

    Reading The Nobels Challenge

    A Challenge With No Time Limit

    Aloi Reads is sponsoring a challenge to read the Nobel Laureates. She’s started a Group Blog for participants to post reviews and talk about the Laureates. I’ve always wanted to read these award winning authors, so I’ve decided to join up. There is no time limit - so this might take me my whole life!Here is the list of those authors I’ve read and links to my reviews of their books:

    2003: J.M. Coetzee

    Slow Man - Read June 5, 2007; rated 4/5; read my review here.
    Disgrace - Read December 14, 2007; rated 4.5/5; read my review here.
    Life and Times of Michael K - Read February 17, 2008; rated 4/5; read my review here.

    1993: Toni Morrison

    Song of Solomon - Read February 25, 2008; rated 4.5/5; read my review here.

    1991: Nadine Gordimer

    A Beneficiary (short story) - Read November 22, 2007; rated 5/5; read my review here.

    1962: John Steinbeck

    The Grapes of Wrath - Read January 19, 2007; rated 55; read my review here.
    Travels With Charley In Search of America - Read March 29, 2007; rated 5/5; read my review here.
    Of Mice and Men - Read July 13, 2007; rated 5/5; read my review here.
    East of Eden - Read October 12, 2007; rated 5/5; read my review here.
    The Pearl - Read November 30, 2007; rated 5/5; read my review here.

    1958: Boris Pasternak

    Doctor Zhivago - Read November 24, 2007; rated 4.5/5; read my review here.

    1955: Halldor Laxness

    Independent People - Read May 5, 2008; rated 4.5/5; read my review here.

    1954: Ernest Hemingway

    For Whom The Bell Tolls - Read April 7, 2007; rated 2/5; read my review here.

    1938: Pearl Buck

    The Good Earth - Read November 28, 2007; rated 4.5/5; read my review here.

    Friday, August 17th, 2007

    The Pulitzer Project


    The Pulitzer Project
    Ongoing Challenge to Read All the Pulitzer Winners

    Michelle at 3M has created a new group blog called The Pulitzer Project for those readers who want to challenge themselves to read all the Pulitzer Prize Winners. There is no time limit - which makes this one very doable for me!

    I will be tracking my progress here. I’ve included those I’ve read since 2005. I think I may have read some in high school, but since I can’t remember the details of those books I will be re-reading them.

    Read in 2005:

    The Hours, by Michael Cunningham - won in 1999 (unrated; not reviewed)
    The Shipping News, by Annie Proulx - won in 1994 (rated 4/5; not reviewed)
    Lonesome Dove, by Larry McMurtry - won in 1986 (rated 5/5; not reviewed)

    Read in 2006:

    Gilead, by Marilyn Robinson - won in 2005 (rated 2.5/5; not reviewed)
    The Age of Innocence, by Edith Wharton - won in 1921 (rated 4.75/5; not reviewed)

    Read in 2007:

    The Road, by Cormac McCarthy - won in 2007 (completed May 17, 2007; rated 5/5; reviewed here)
    March, by Geraldine Brooks - won in 2006 (completed April 3, 2007; rated 4/5; reviewed here)
    The Color Purple, by Alice Walker - won in 1983 (completed January 12, 2007; rated 4.75/5; reviewed here)
    To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee - won in 1961 (completed March 21, 2007; rated 5/5; reviewed here)
    The Grapes of Wrath, by John Steinbeck - won in 1940 (completed January 18, 2007; rated 5/5; reviewed here)
    Middlesex, by Jeffrey Eugenides - won in 2003 (completed November 1, 2007; rated 4.5/5; reviewed here)
    The Good Earth, by Pearl Buck - won in 1932 (completed November 28, 2007; rated 4.5/5; reviewed here)
    The Bridge of San Luis Rey, by Thornton Wilder - won in 1928 (completed December 23, 2007; rated 3/5; reviewed here)

    Read in 2008:

    So Big, by Edna Ferber - won in 1925 (completed January 17, 2008; rated 5/5; reviewed here)
    Angle of Repose, by Wallace Stegner - won in 1972 (completed April 17, 2008; rated 5/5; reviewed here)