Book Awards Reading Challenge
Here is my challenge list after days of deliberation. I'm so excited about this challenge. I've decided to use it to branch myself out into genres I don't usually read and to expose myself to new authors I haven't encountered yet. I've also selfishly included some Pulitzer-prize winners to further my own personal goal of working my way through all of those. But I kept the number down to three to keep the spirit of a challenge.
1. On Beauty by Zadie Smith (Orange)
I've been wanting to read this for awhile and recently bought White Teeth, which I haven't read yet, either.
2. The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. LeGuin (Nebula)
Having recently finished the Earthsea books, I am a renewed fan of LeGuin's. (I remember liking her as a kid after reading the first Earthsea book.) I'm curious about her other works.
3. The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton (Pulitzer)
This is the third Pulitzer winner. I'm planning on having finished the first two in June.
4. Alice Adams by Booth Tarkington (Pulitzer)
This the fourth Pulitzer winner. Again, to pursue the completion of my personal goal.
5. The Higher Power of Lucky by Susan Patron (Newbery)
I like YA and children's novels. I'm curious about the most recent winner.
6. Criss Cross by Lynne Rae Perkins (Newbery)
If you read the most recent winner, you might as well read the next to most recent winner. You never know when you'll want to finish that list, too, one day.
7. Birds of a Feather by Jacqueline Winspear (Agatha)
I never read mysteries so this is a genre I wanted to represent in this challenge. I checked through the Edgar winners but they looked too scary for me (probably why I tend to shy away from mysteries). But on the Malice Domestic website Agatha winners are described as "...mysteries that contain no explicit sex, excessive gore, or gratuitous violence; usually featuring an amateur detective, they have a confined setting and characters who know one another." Sounds like my cup of tea.
I'll read Maisie Dobbs first so I'm all caught up.
8. Possession by A.S. Byatt (Man Booker)
I recently bought this at the used bookstore. Thought I'd throw in a few TBRs.
9. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon (Costa/Whitbread)
My brother and his fiancée read this in Iraq while they were stationed in Fallujah and they liked it. I've been wanting to read it for awhile.
10. Spin by Robert Charles Wilson (Hugo)
Branching out into science fiction
11. Forgotten Beasts of Eld by Patricia A. McKillip (World Fantasy)
Further explorations into the fantasy genre
12. The All-True Travels and Adventures of Lidie Newton by Jane Smiley (Spur)
Definitely new territory for me, the western-set novels. Plus I started Thirteen Ways of Looking at the Novel but have never read any of Jane Smiley's fiction.
Alternates
1. Life of Pi by Yann Martel (Man Booker)
own it-TBR
2. Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card (Nebula)
TBR
3. American Gods by Neil Gaiman (Nebula)
I keep hearing about Neil Gaiman from other book bloggers.
4. Dune by Frank Herbert (Nebula)
I think I remember my dad reading this in the early 80s. I never had an interest but now I'm curious.
5. Sophie's Choice by William Styron (National Book Award)
TBR
6. One of Ours by Willa Cather (Pulitzer)
Pulitzer goal; 5th winner
1. On Beauty by Zadie Smith (Orange)
I've been wanting to read this for awhile and recently bought White Teeth, which I haven't read yet, either.
2. The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. LeGuin (Nebula)
Having recently finished the Earthsea books, I am a renewed fan of LeGuin's. (I remember liking her as a kid after reading the first Earthsea book.) I'm curious about her other works.
3. The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton (Pulitzer)
This is the third Pulitzer winner. I'm planning on having finished the first two in June.
4. Alice Adams by Booth Tarkington (Pulitzer)
This the fourth Pulitzer winner. Again, to pursue the completion of my personal goal.
5. The Higher Power of Lucky by Susan Patron (Newbery)
I like YA and children's novels. I'm curious about the most recent winner.
6. Criss Cross by Lynne Rae Perkins (Newbery)
If you read the most recent winner, you might as well read the next to most recent winner. You never know when you'll want to finish that list, too, one day.
7. Birds of a Feather by Jacqueline Winspear (Agatha)
I never read mysteries so this is a genre I wanted to represent in this challenge. I checked through the Edgar winners but they looked too scary for me (probably why I tend to shy away from mysteries). But on the Malice Domestic website Agatha winners are described as "...mysteries that contain no explicit sex, excessive gore, or gratuitous violence; usually featuring an amateur detective, they have a confined setting and characters who know one another." Sounds like my cup of tea.
I'll read Maisie Dobbs first so I'm all caught up.
8. Possession by A.S. Byatt (Man Booker)
I recently bought this at the used bookstore. Thought I'd throw in a few TBRs.
9. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon (Costa/Whitbread)
My brother and his fiancée read this in Iraq while they were stationed in Fallujah and they liked it. I've been wanting to read it for awhile.
10. Spin by Robert Charles Wilson (Hugo)
Branching out into science fiction
11. Forgotten Beasts of Eld by Patricia A. McKillip (World Fantasy)
Further explorations into the fantasy genre
12. The All-True Travels and Adventures of Lidie Newton by Jane Smiley (Spur)
Definitely new territory for me, the western-set novels. Plus I started Thirteen Ways of Looking at the Novel but have never read any of Jane Smiley's fiction.
Alternates
1. Life of Pi by Yann Martel (Man Booker)
own it-TBR
2. Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card (Nebula)
TBR
3. American Gods by Neil Gaiman (Nebula)
I keep hearing about Neil Gaiman from other book bloggers.
4. Dune by Frank Herbert (Nebula)
I think I remember my dad reading this in the early 80s. I never had an interest but now I'm curious.
5. Sophie's Choice by William Styron (National Book Award)
TBR
6. One of Ours by Willa Cather (Pulitzer)
Pulitzer goal; 5th winner
posted by Camille at 9:55 PM
9 Comments:
Great list. I read The Left Hand of Darkness eons ago and remember really liking it. I also have read Mark Haddon. I liked it okay, even read his other book, but as per usual with award-winning stuff, I was disappointed. Not that it is all bad, that just seems to be the norm.
Aren't you trying to read all the Oprah books, are am I on the wrong blog... if I am not, I strongly recommend Middlesex if you haven't read it. It's the new Oprah book and it won the Pulitizer. Two items off your list... provided I am right about Oprah... Anyways, really good book. :)
Kailana-Yes! You're right about the Oprah books--right blog. :) I just kind of got sidetracked with that one. I will most certainly look into Middlesex. Maybe I can make it one of my alternates for the Book Awards challenge.
Oooh, I am sorely tempted to do this challenge!
Great list of books - I've read a couple and enjoyed them to varying degrees. Have you read any of the prior books in the Maisie Dobbs series?
I chose the Higher Power of Lucky, too. I hope it's good!
The Curious Incident is one of my favorite books of the past 5 years or so. It was probably my favorite book of that year, and I just read it again this year and loved it just as much! I hope you like it.
You've got a great list of books. I hope you enjoy the Maisie Dobbs mystery. I love mysteries but I think those books would appeal to non-mystery readers. Good story and great setting. Good luck with the challenge!
That's a great list. I love Maisie--I am always happy to see others reading Winspear's books! There are some titles there I'd like to read, too. Enjoy!
Girl....you did some serious research!! I'm STILL up in the air about the books I want to read! Isn't that awful? I really need to CHOOSE!!
I LOVE Neil Gaiman! I thought American Gods rocked! I reviewed it a couple of months ago!
Some fine reading ahead!
I second Kailana's recommendation of Middlesex. It's my favourite book.
That's a fine list you have. "Possession" is wonderful. And I hope you get around to reading Neil Gaiman - he's my favourite author, and American Gods is great.
I see that you are reading Nebula and World Fantasy Award winners, along with some Pulitzers. That's exactly what I plan on doing as well.
This is a great list! I really want to join this challenge but am wondering if I can even come close to completing it! I'm reading The Age of Innocence right now, too, and enjoying it :)
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