Literary Exploration discussion
Literary Exploration Challenge
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The Hard Challenge - 2014
Ooo! how exciting. I'm going to participate in Hard Challenge this year.I can't wait to sort through my books. It's a task for tomorrow night :)
Here's my list.Auto-Biography/Biography - Shattered Dreams: My Life as a Polygamist's Wife
Chick-Lit - The Fortunes of Ruby White
Fantasy - The Rook
Graphic Novel - Raven Girl
Non Fiction - The Book Lovers' Companion: What to Read Next
Philosophical - Lord of the Flies
Poetry - The Weight of Water
Romance - Beatle Meets Destiny
Steampunk - Soulless
Completed
1 - Magical Realism - The Crane Wife Read Jan 14 - 5 stars, Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
2 - Thriller - The Last Winter of Dani Lancing Read Jan 14 - 4 stars, Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
3 - Classic - The Bell Jar Read Jan 14 - 5 Stars, No Review
4 - Mystery - In a Cat's Eye Read Jan 14 - 4 Stars, Review : https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
5 - Drama - For Today I Am a Boy Read Feb 14 - 2 1/2 Stars, Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
6 - Horror - A Love Like Blood Read Feb 14 - 4 1/2 Stars, Review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
7 - Historical Fiction - Ruby: A Novel Read Apr 14 - 3 Stars, Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
8 - Paranormal - The Quick Read Apr 14 - 3 1/2 Stars, Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
9 - Young Adult - The Fever Read Apr 14 - 4 Stars, Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
10 - Science Fiction - Angelmaker Read May 14 - 5 Stars, Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
11 - Literary Fiction - Golden Boys Read Sept 14 - 4 Stars, Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
12 - Adventure - If I Fall, If I Die Read Sept 14 - 4 Stars, Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
13 - Humour - Us Read Sept 14 - 5 Stars, Review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
14 - Pulp - Farewell, My Lovely - Read Nov 14 - 5 Stars, Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
15 - Victorian - The Visitors - Currently Reading
I am finished - 11/30/14Hard Challenge
Adventure Doll Bones Holly Black 3/24/14
Auto-Biography/Biography The Death of Santini: The Story of a Father and His Son 2/14/14
Chick-Lit Knitting Under the Influence 1/24/14
Classics Lost Horizon 3/12/14
Drama Down London Road 3/14/14
Fantasy The Summoning 3/9/14
Graphic Novels The Pretenders 4/6/14
Historical Fiction In Bed with a Highlander 4/22/14
Horror Domino Falls 3/22/14
Humour Tangled 3/17/14
Literary Fiction What I Had Before I Had You 1/25/14
Magical Realism Lost Lake 2/8/14
Mystery Dreaming of the Bones 1/29/14
Non Fiction Deep Thoughts From a Hollywood Blonde 6/17/14
Paranormal Vampire Academy 1/24/14
Philosophical The Giver 1/21/14
Poetry Runny Babbit: A Billy Sook Shel Silverstein 10/26/14
Pulp – (Hard-Boiled or Noir) Somebody Owes Me Money Donald E. Westlake 11/30/14
Romance Time Was 1/30/14
Science Fiction Cress 3/18/14
Steampunk Soulless 6/22/14
Thriller River Road 2/22/14
Victorian The Invisible Man 3/15/14
Young Adult Evermore 1/31/14
Mish wrote: "Here's my list.1 Adventure - Slave Girl
2 Auto-Biography/Biography - Shattered Dreams: My Life as a Polygamist's Wife
3 Chick-Lit - The Fortunes of Ruby White -
oooh Raven Girl -I will copy that graphic book - I am a huge fan of Audrey Niffenegger and i have just searched the catalogue and there is a copy of it at the library - so have reserved it - thanks for that ;)
Sally906 wrote: "Mish wrote: "Here's my list.1 Adventure - Slave Girl
2 Auto-Biography/Biography - Shattered Dreams: My Life as a Polygamist's Wife
3 Chick-Lit - .."
You're welcome Sally. I'm happy I found this too - I really liked her previous books.
Going for the hard challenge. Was thinking about the insane but I know I'll join challenges for the other groups I'm in too.Auto-Biography/Biography - My Life in France
Classics - The Jungle Books
Drama - Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
Horror - The Gunslinger
Literary Fiction - Main Street
Magical Realism - Like Water for Chocolate
Non Fiction - A Brief History of Painting: 2000 BC to AD 2000
Philosophical - Walden
Pulp – Farewell, My Lovely
Science Fiction - Hollow World
Steampunk - The Golden Compass
I joined this group more than a year ago, but have since just been lurking. It's probably about time that I chimed in, and so here's my list for the Hard challenge:Adventure - L'Ile Mysterieuse
(Auto)Biography - Reborn: Journals and Notebooks, 1947-1963
Chick-Lit - The Chocolate Thief
Classics - The Magician's Nephew
Drama - Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes
Fantasy - The Mists of Avalon
Graphic Novels - Le jeu des hirondelles (A Game for Swallows: To Die, to Leave, to Return)
Historical Fiction - Spirit of Lost Angels
Horror - We Have Always Lived in the Castle
Humour - I'd happily take suggestions; right now, I'm thinking perhaps the book that Amy Poehler's coming out with in the fall?
Literary Fiction - The Luminaries
Magical Realism - St. Lucy's Home for Girls Raised by Wolves
Mystery - Still Life
Non Fiction - The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America
Paranormal - The Shining
Poetry - Why I Wake Early
Philosophical - The Stranger
Pulp - The Talented Mr. Ripley
Romance - Rebecca
Science Fiction - Ready Player One
Steampunk - The Somnambulist
Thriller - The Alienist
Victorian - Middlemarch
Young Adult - The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making
Happy New Year everyone! I have been working on my HARD list for the past week. I look forward to lots of great books in 2014.Hard Challenge
Adventure - Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by JK Rowling
Auto-Biography/Biography - All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriott
Chick-Lit - Mildred Pierce by James M. Cain
Drama - Macbeth by William Shakespeare
Fantasy - A Storm of Swords by George RR Martin
Graphic Novels - The Complete Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi
Historical Fiction - The Red Tent by Anita Diamant
Horror - At the Mountains of Madness by HP Lovecraft
Humour - A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole
Literary Fiction - Death Comes for the Archbishop by Willa Cather
Magical Realism - Dictionary of the Khazars by Milarad Pavic'
Mystery - The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
Non Fiction - Things That Matter: Three Decades of Passions, Pastimes and Politics by Charles Krauthammer
Paranormal - The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
Philosophical - Things Fall Apart By Chinua Achebe
Poetry - The Wasteland, Prufrock and Other Poems by TS Eliot
Pulp Noir - The Killer Inside Me by Jim Thompson
Romance - Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
Science Fiction - Little Fuzzy by H Beam Piper
Steampunk - The Anubis Gates by Tim Powers
Thriller - Nothing Lasts Forever by Roderick Thorp
Victorian - The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
Young Adult - The Book Thief by Markus Zusakt
I've changed my mind from the Easy challenge, here I am with the Hard again;)Adventure -
Auto-Biography/Biography -
Chick-Lit -
Classics -
Drama -
Fantasy -
Graphic Novel -
Historical Fiction -
Horror -
Humour -
Literary Fiction -
Magical Realism -
Mystery -
Non-Fiction -
Paranormal -
Philosophical -
Poetry -
Pulp – (Hard-Boiled or Noir) -
Romance -
Science Fiction -
Steampunk -
Thriller -
Victorian -
Young Adult -
I have finished my first for the challenge - Thriller - Always Watching by Chevy StevensReview to follow
Brenda wrote: "I have finished my first for the challenge - Thriller - Always Watching by Chevy StevensReview to follow"
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I'm so glad to see a few more people on this thread. At one stage I thought I was going to be the only one ;)I'm starting my first book for Magical Realism
Happy reading everyone :)
Brenda wrote: "I have finished my first for the challenge - Thriller - Always Watching by Chevy StevensReview to follow"
Off to a good start Brenda.
I like your list too. Happy to see another Raymond Chandler there :) I hope you like it.
Thanks Mish, I hope I do too:) I own it, so it was the best one to go with;)
Adventure The Wind Is Not a RiverBiography/Biography Pigs Can't Swim: A MemoirAuto-Chick-Lit Lydia's Party: A Novel
Classics Dubliners
Drama
Fantasy
Graphic Novels Will & Whit
Historical Fiction The Museum of Extraordinary Things
Horror The Troop
Humour
Literary Fiction Long Man: A novel
Magical Realism The Enchanted: A Novel
Mystery
Non Fiction The President Is a Sick Man: Wherein the Supposedly Virtuous Grover Cleveland Survives a Secret Surgery at Sea and Vilifies the Courageous Newspaperman Who Dared Expose the
Paranormal
Philosophical
Poetry [book:Sequestered in Harmony by Alan McCracken read 1/05/13
Pulp – (Hard-Boiled or Noir)
Romance
Science Fiction Annihilation
Steampunk
Thriller In the Blood
Victorian
Young Adult The Golden Day
Not posting my books yet.
Ok, I'm going to participate,...Adventure
Auto-Biography/Biography
Chick-Lit
Classics: La flecha negra - Robert Louis Stevenson.
Drama
Fantasy
Graphic Novels
Historical Fiction: Vindicatio - Arlette Geneve.
Horror
Humour
Literary Fiction
Magical Realism
Mystery - Crimen en directo - Camilla Läckberg.
Non Fiction
Paranormal - El beso del dragón - Thea Harrison
Philosophical
Poetry
Pulp – (Hard-Boiled or Noir)
Romance - La testigo - Nora Roberts.
Science Fiction - Lucky Starr, el ranger del espacio - Isaac Asimov.
Steampunk
Thriller
Victorian
Young Adult
Finished my third, Classics - The Postman Always Rings Twice by James M. CainReview: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Brenda wrote: "I've finished my second - Romance - Poppy's Dilemma by Karly LaneReview to follow"
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I've finished my 4th - Chick Lit - The Girl in Steel-Capped Boots by Loretta HillReview: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Finished two In the Blood https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... which is my thriller and for poetry Sequestered in Harmony.
Ooooh! I'm going to love making my list after seeing everyone else's great suggestions! (I was too chicken to try the Insane Challenge)
I'm in but I like to pick books as I go along.
I've just finished my 6th - Auto Bio/Bio - A Century of Wisdom: Lessons from the Life of Alice Herz-Sommer by Caroline StoessingerReview to follow
I finished my Magical Realism -
- and I'm starting my Classic -
I realised I read a Thriller earlier on in the month,
, so I'll add that to this challenges. Completed so far :
1 - Magical Realism - The Crane Wife Read Jan 14 - 5 stars Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
2 - Thriller - The Last Winter of Dani Lancing Read Jan 14 - 4 stars Review : https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Brenda wrote: "Well done! I'm looking forward to reading your review of The Crane Wife Mish:)"Oh it's such a beautiful story.
Yes I'll put my review on here once I finish it :)
Thanks:) I'll have to request it from my library.
Brenda wrote: "I've just finished my 6th - Auto Bio/Bio - A Century of Wisdom: Lessons from the Life of Alice Herz-Sommer by Caroline StoessingerReview to follow"
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I've finished my 7th - Young Adult - Music Box by Anya Allyn Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Hard ChallengeAdventure - The Atlantis Gene by A.G. Riddle read 4/12/14 rated 4 stars
Auto-Biography/Biography - Catherine the Great: Portrait of a Woman by Robert K. Massie read 3/10/14 rated 5 stars. Excellent!
Chick-Lit - Valley of the Dolls by Jacqueline Susann read 3/7/14 rated 4 stars
Classics - Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë read 1/10/14 rated 5 stars
Drama -Sycamore Row by John Grisham read 6/18/14 rated 4 stars
Fantasy - Threshold by Caitlín R. Kiernan read 1/28/14 rated 3 stars
Graphic Novels - The Walking Dead, Compendium 1 by Robert Kirkman read 9/25/14 rated 3 stars. Not a fan of this genre.
Historical Fiction - The Sherlockian by Graham Moore read 3/25/14 rated 4 stars
Horror - Dracula by Bram Stoker read 1/4/14 rated 5 stars
Humour - Bear in the Back Seat: Adventures of a Wildlife Ranger in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park by E. Kim DeLozier read 3/30/14 rated 3 stars
Literary Fiction - The Stone Diaries by Carol Shields read 5/8/14 rated 3 stars.
Magical Realism - Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan read 9/3/14 rated 4 stars
Mystery - The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley read 3/18/14 rated 3 stars
Non Fiction - The Heir Apparent: A Life of Edward VII, the Playboy Prince by Jane Ridleyread 5/4/14 rated 4 stars
Paranormal - Anno Dracula by Kim Newman read 4/18/14 rated 5 stars
Philosophical - Missing Mom by Joyce Carol Oates read 9/8/14 rated 3 stars.
Poetry
Pulp – (Hard-Boiled or Noir) - Joyland by Stephen King read 9/28/14 rated 4 stars.
Romance - Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys read 1/12/14 rated 2 stars
Science Fiction - The Caves of Steel by Isaac Asimov read 6/5/14 rated4 stars
Steampunk - The Somnambulist by Jonathan Barnes read 2/3/14 rated 3 stars.
Thriller - A Time to Kill by John Grisham read 5/19/14 rated 4 stars
Victorian -The Seance by John Harwood read 2/10/14 rated 4 stars
Young Adult - The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey read 10/20/14 rated 3 stars.
Finished my 8th - Pulp (Noir) - The Big Sleep by Raymond ChandlerReview: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Delighted to find that I'm actually making my way through my book list rather than procrastinating. I'm enjoying this literary exploration more than I thought I would! Just finished Pride and Prejudice and I cannot believe I have never read any Austen before. I am an instant, ardent fan!
I find myself reading more and more books that qualify for the Hard Challenge. My initial commitment is still for "Easy," but here's the list with "Hard Books included:Adventure: The Poison Belt by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Autobiography/Biography
Chick Lit
Classics
Drama
Fantasy
Graphic Novels
Historical Fiction
Horror
Humor The Adventure of the Eleven Cuff-Buttons by James Francis Thierry [parody]
Literary Fiction
Magical Realism
Mystery: Faceless Killers by Henning Mankell
Non Fiction
Paranormal
Philosophical
Poetry
Pulp (Hard-Boiled or Noir)
Romance
Science Fiction: Shakespeare's Planet by Clifford D. Simak
Steampunk
Thriller
Victorian
Young Adult
Diane S. wrote: "Finished my magical realism book The Enchanted: A Novel https://www.goodreads.com/review/edit..."There's nothing showing on your review Diane...
Great Diane, it's working now, and a wonderful review - thank you!
Well, my purpose in joining was to avoid what I just spent the week doing- which is gorging on a not-that great series. Once I get hooked, I just have to finish! I'm the book marketers dream. So I'll share my review just to feel like I accomplished something:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Back to my list though. Going to read Wolf Hall for my historical fiction.
Hard Challenge
Adventure:
Auto-Biography/Biography: Twelve Years a Slave, by Solomon Northup - Jan 8, 2014
Chick-Lit:
Drama:
Humour:
Magical Realism: The Ocean at the End of the Lane, by Neil Gaiman - Jan 9, 2014
Paranormal:
Philosophical:
Poetry:
Pulp – (Hard-Boiled or Noir):
Steampunk:
Victorian:
Plus, 'Easy Challenge' Genres
Classics: How to Live on 24 Hours a Day, by Arnold Bennett - Jan 13, 2013
Fantasy: An Unlikely Witch, by Debora Geary - Jan 1, 2014
Graphic Novels:
Historical Fiction: The Forgotten Garden, by Kate Morton - Jan 23, 2014
Horror: The Graveyard Book, by Neil Gaiman - Jan 2, 2014
Literary Fiction:
Mystery: Call for the Dead, by John le Carré - Jan 15, 2014
A Murder of Quality, by John le Carré - Jan 16, 2014
Non Fiction: The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating, by Elisabeth Tova Bailey - Jan 14, 2014
Romance:
Science Fiction: Perfectible Animals, by Thomas Norwood - Jan 4, 2014;
The Last Reader: Post Apocalyptic Fiction (short story), by Thomas Norwood - Jan 5, 2014
Thriller: The Spy Who Came In from the Cold, by John le Carré - Jan 17, 2014
The Looking Glass War, by John le Carré - Jan 21, 2014
Young Adult: Fuzzy Nation, by John Scalzi - Jan 9, 2014
Bonus points points (can be exchanged for bragging rights) for Translated Fiction and books over 800 pages.
Other Books Read:
--
I have recently finished The Bell Jar & In a Cat's EyeThis is what I've completed so far
1 - Magical Realism - The Crane Wife Read Jan 14 - 5 stars Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
2 - Thriller - The Last Winter of Dani Lancing Read Jan 14 - 4 stars Review : https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
3 - Classic - The Bell Jar Read Jan 14 - 5 Stars (review to come)
4 - Mystery - In a Cat's Eye Read Jan 14 - 4 Stars (review to come)
And I'm currently reading
. I don't know what category to put it under as yet - YA or Literary Fiction - I'll decide when I finish it :)
Finished for my non fiction The President Is a Sick Man: Wherein the Supposedly Virtuous Grover Cleveland Survives a Secret Surgery at Sea and Vilifies the Courageous Newspaperman Who Dared Expose the Truth https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I have finished my 9th - Horror - Vessels by Kealan Patrick Burke 4★sReview: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Books completed thus far:Adventure: Excavation
Biography: The End of Your Life Book Club
Chick Lit: The Rosie Project
Classics: A Tale of Two Cities & Go Ask Alice
Drama: The Book Thief
Fantasy: Dawn of the Dreadfuls
Graphic Novel: The Dog's Days of Summer
Historical Fiction: The Hangman's Daughter
Horror: House of Leaves
Humor: Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal
Literary Fiction: And the Mountains Echoed
Magical Realism: A Discovery of Witches
Mystery: Map of Bones
Non Fiction: The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test
Paranormal: Pride and Prejudice and Zombies
Philosophical: The Time Keeper
Poetry: Light in the Attic
Pulp: Joyland
Romance: Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dreadfully Ever After
Science fiction: Subterranean
Steampunk: The Time Machine/The Invisible Man
Thriller: The Doomsday Key
Victorian: Jane Eyre
Young adult: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children
Finished my 10th, Historical Fiction - The Railwayman's Wife by Ashley HayReview: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Literary Exploration
Books mentioned in this topic
Zen Speaks: Shouts of Nothingness (other topics)Shadow Kiss (other topics)
A Christmas Carol (other topics)
The Picture of Dorian Gray (other topics)
Little Fuzzy (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Richelle Mead (other topics)Donald E. Westlake (other topics)
John Green (other topics)
Dashiell Hammett (other topics)
Susan Beth Pfeffer (other topics)
More...
Hard Challenge
Adventure
Auto-Biography/Biography
Chick-Lit
Classics
Drama
Fantasy
Graphic Novels
Historical Fiction
Horror
Humour
Literary Fiction
Magical Realism
Mystery
Non Fiction
Paranormal
Philosophical
Poetry
Pulp – (Hard-Boiled or Noir)
Romance
Science Fiction
Steampunk
Thriller
Victorian
Young Adult
Bonus points points (can be exchanged for bragging rights) for Translated Fiction and books over 800 pages.