Literary Exploration discussion
Literary Exploration Challenge
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The Insane Challenge - 2015
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I am going to try this again. Here is my tentative list, reserving the right to change books if necessary.Insane Challenge
Action/Adventure
Auto-Biography/Biography
Chick-Lit
Childrens Book
Classics
Contemporary/Drama
Cyberpunk/Steampunk
Dystopian/Post-Apocalyptic
Epic
Erotica
Espionage
Fantasy
Graphic Novels
Gothic
Historical Fiction
Horror
Humour
Literary Fiction
Magical Realism
Mystery
Non Fiction
Paranormal/Supernatural
Philosophical
Poetry
Pulp – (Hard-Boiled or Noir)
Romance
Science Fiction
Self Help/Educational
Short Stories
Thriller
Travel
True Crime
Urban Fantasy
Victorian
Western
Young Adult
Bonus points points (can be exchanged for bragging rights) for Translated Fiction
Looking forward to it!✓ Adventure King Solomon's Mines by Rider Haggard
✓ Biography Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson
✓ Chick-Lit The All-Girl Filling Station's Last Reunion by Fannie Flagg
✓ Children’s Book The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling
✓ Classics This Side of Paradise by F. Scott Fitzgerald
✓ Contemporary Eight Minutes by Lori Reisenbichler
✓ Steampunk Skybreaker by Kenneth Oppel
✓ Dystopian 1984 by George Orwell
✓ Epic The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
✓ Erotica Black Lies by Alessandra Torre
✓ Espionage The Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum
✓ Fantasy The Wise Man's Fear by Patrick Rothfuss
✓ Graphic Novels Horrorstör by Grady Hendrix
✓ Gothic Villette by Charlotte Brontë
✓ Historical Fiction The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough
✓ Horror Under the Dome by Stephen King
✓ Humor Yes Please by Amy Poehler
✓ Literary Fiction East of Eden by John Steinbeck
✓ Magical Realism Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen
✓ Mystery Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear
✓ Non-Fiction Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain
✓ Paranormal Soulless by Gail Carriger
✓ Philosophical The Stranger by Albert Camus
✓ Poetry The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe
✓ Noir Double Indemnity by James M. Cain
✓ Romance The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion
✓ Science Fiction y1 by Sherrie Cronin
✓ Self Help The Gift of Fear: Survival Signals That Protect Us from Violence by Gavin de Becker
✓ Short Stories The Awakening and Selected Stories by Kate Chopin
✓ Thriller Dissolution by C.J. Sansom
✓ Travel Undress Me in the Temple of Heaven by Susan Jane Gilman
✓ True Crime The Stranger Beside Me: Ted Bundy The Shocking Inside Story by Ann Rule
✓ Urban Fantasy Zero Sight by B. Justin Shier
✓ Victorian Persuasion by Jane Austen
✓ Western These Is My Words: The Diary of Sarah Agnes Prine, 1881-1901 by Nancy E. Turner
✓ Young Adult Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
EASY CHALLENGE finished 5/17/15FICTION
Fantasy - Briar Rose by Robert Coover finished 2/6/15
Historical - The Healer by Greg Hollingshead finished 1/18/15
- Classics - I Married a Communist by Philip Roth finished 1/28/15
Horror - Expensive People by Joyce Carol Oates finished 5/17/15
Literary - May We Be Forgiven by A.M. Homes finished 1/4/15
Mystery - Legacy of Masks by Sallie Bissell finished 2/8/15
Romance - A Town Like Alice by Nevil Shute finished 2/18/15
Science - Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins finished 1/29/15
Thriller - Gone by Randy Wayne White finished 3/3/15
Young Adult - Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins finished 1/11/15
NON-FICTION
Narrative (Non-Fiction) - Hannah's Child: A Theologian's Memoir by Stanley Hauerwas finished 3/9/15
Graphic - Watchmen by Alan Moore finished 1/24/15
HARD CHALLENGE
FICTION
Comedic (Humor) - To Rise Again at a Decent Hour by Joshua Ferris finished 2/25/15
Fantasy - My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry by Fredrik Backman
- Contemporary (Drama) - Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee finished 7/17/15
Historical - Troubles by J.G. Farrell finished 3/20/15
- Classics - Paradise by Toni Morrison finished 6/7/15
Horror - Frankenstein by Mary Shelley finished 10/22/15
Literary - The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger finished 1/31/15
- Magical Realism - The Death of Vishnu by Manil Suri finished 5/10/15
Mystery - Missing Person by Patrick Modiano finished 8/21/15
- Noir/Hard-Boiled (Pulp) - The African Shore by Rodrigo Rey Rosa finished 2/6/15
- Paranormal - Haunted by Randy Wayne White finished 4/30/15
Romance - Sons by Pearl S. Buck finished 11/10/15
- Victorian - The Woman in Black by Susan Hill
Science - Wolf in White Van by John Darnielle finished 5/24/15
- Cypberpunk (Steampunk) - Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson finished 3/18/15
- Philosophical - Herzog by Saul Bellow finished 4/7/15
Thriller - Music of Ghosts by Sallie Bissell finished 2/21/15
- Action/Adventure - Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra finished 6/25/15
Women’s (Chick-Lit) - Lucky Us by Amy Bloom finished 2/11/15
Young Adult - A Girl Is a Half-formed Thing by Eimear McBride finished 3/26/15
NON-FICTION
Memoir (Biography) - The Empathy Exams: Essays by Leslie Jamison finished 6/23/15
Narrative (Non-Fiction) - Tinseltown: Murder, Morphine, and Madness at the Dawn of Hollywood by William J. Mann finished 8/9/15
Poetry - Between Angels by Stephen Dunn finished 1/9/15
Graphic - Maus, I: A Survivor's Tale: My Father Bleeds History by Art Spiegelman finished 8/11/15
INSANE CHALLENGE
FICTION
Comedic (Humor) - Somewhere Safe with Somebody Good by Jan Karon finished 7/17/15
Erotica - Push by Sapphire finished 1/25/15
Fantasy - Blue Moon by James Ponti finished 8/30/15
- Urban - The Island of the Sequined Love Nun by Christopher Moore (ATW-Micronesia)
Historical - All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr finished 1/21/15
- Classics - them by Joyce Carol Oates finished 7/10/15
Horror - Bleeding Edge by Thomas Pynchon finished with 4/13/15
Literary - The Retrospective by Abraham B. Yehoshua finished 1/20/15
- Contemporary - Redeployment by Phil Klay finished 6/30/15
- Magical Realism - A Man Came Out of a Door in the Mountain by Adrianne Harun finished with 10/9/15
Middle-Age (Children’s) - On the Way Home: The Diary of a Trip from South Dakota to Mansfield, Missouri, in 1894 by Laura Ingalls Wilder finished 1/8/15
Mystery - Deceived byRandy Wayne White finished 4/18/15
- Noir/Hard-Boiled (Pulp) - The Voice at the Back Door by Elizabeth Spencer finished 4/6/15
- Paranormal - Dead City by James Ponti finished 7/28/15
Romance - A Garden of Earthly Delights by Joyce Carol Oates finished 4/11/15
- Gothic - The Mandelbaum Gate by Muriel Spark finished 9/14/15
- Victorian - A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle finished 7/18/15
Science - A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess finished 6/22/15
- Cyberpunk - Blade Runner by Philip K. Dick finished 4/24/15
- Philosophical - Gorgias by Plato (ATW-Greece)
- Postapocalyptic/Dystopian - Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel finished 4/19/15
Thriller - Morality for Beautiful Girls by Alexander McCall Smith finished 2/14/15
- Espionage - Djibouti by Elmore Leonard finished 10/6/15
War/Military (Epic) - Thirty Girls by Susan Minot finished 7/30/15
- Action/Adventure - Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline finished 11/25/15
Western - The Son by Philipp Meyer finished 5/21/15
Women’s (Chick-Lit) - Me Before You by Jojo Moyes finished 7/24/15
Young Adult -Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein finished 2/6/15
NON-FICTION
Graphic - Maus, II: And Here My Troubles Began by Art Spiegelman finished 8/12/15
Memoir (Biography) - Beyond Katrina: A Meditation on the Mississippi Gulf Coast by Natasha Trethewey finished 2/22/15
Narrative (Non-Fiction) - The Rose of Martinique: A Life of Napoleon's Josephine by Andrea Stuart finished 8/24/15
Poetry - Blue Horses: Poems by Mary Oliver finished 1/14/15
Self-Help - Coming of Age in Samoa by Margaret Mead (ATW-Samoa)
Short Stories - The Pushcart Prize XXXVIII: Best of the Small Presses 2014 Edition by Bill Henderson finished 1/29/15
Travel - West from Home: Letters of Laura Ingalls Wilder, San Francisco, 1915 by Laura Ingalls Wilder finished 7/12/15
True Crime - Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson
*Theater - The Substance of Fire & The Film Society - Jon Robin Baitz finished 2/14/15
Will fill in as I decide. Excited!✔Action/Adventure - The Princess Bride - May 23
✔Auto-Biography/Biography - Neil Patrick Harris: Choose Your Own Autobiography - Dec 17
✔Chick-Lit - Dead Heat - Mar 27
✔Childrens Book - Nightmares! - Feb 14
✔Classics - Picnic at Hanging Rock - Mar 25
✔Contemporary/Drama - Everything I Never Told You - Apr 3
✔Cyberpunk/Steampunk - Boneshaker - Oct 31
✔Dystopian/Post-Apocalyptic - A Canticle for Leibowitz - Feb 25
✔Epic - The Red Queen - Nov 17
✔Erotica - The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty - Feb 21
✔Espionage - The Secret Agent - Apr 21
✔Fantasy - Warbreaker - May 20
✔Graphic Novels - Through the Woods - Feb 9
✔Gothic - We Have Always Lived in the Castle - Mar 12
✔Historical Fiction - Heat And Dust - Mar 14
✔Horror - I Am Legend and Other Stories - June 17
✔Humour - Hyperbole and a Half: Unfortunate Situations, Flawed Coping Mechanisms, Mayhem, and Other Things That Happened - Mar 7
✔Literary Fiction - The Conservationist June 21
✔Magical Realism - The Darkest Part of the Forest - Aug 9
✔Mystery - Mr. Kiss and Tell - Jan 31
✔Non Fiction - As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride - May 26
✔Paranormal/Supernatural - The Winter People - Jun 22
✔Philosophical - The Unbearable Lightness of Being - Mar 26
✔Poetry - Typewriter Music - Feb 9
✔Pulp – (Hard-Boiled or Noir) - A Red Death - Nov 24
✔Romance - Oscar and Lucinda - May 17
✔Science Fiction - Ancillary Justice - May 13
✔Self Help/Educational - How To Be a Heroine - May 11
✔Short Stories - Stone Mattress: Nine Tales - Feb 5
✔Thriller - Pines - Sept 27
✔Travel - Turn Right at Machu Picchu: Rediscovering the Lost City One Step at a Time - Dec 14
✔True Crime - Badlands: Australia's 13 Most Intriguing True Murders - Dec 21
✔Urban Fantasy - Vision in Silver - Mar 19
✔Victorian - Jane Eyre - Jun 25
✔Western - Texas Swamp Fever - Feb 22
✔Young Adult - Silence - Mar 23
This is the first time I have tried this challenge. Still to go;
Erotica A Spy in the House of Love
Graphic Novel
Poetry She Walks in Beauty: A Woman's Journey Through Poems
Urban Fantasy
Read;
Action/Adventure Robinson Crusoe
Auto-Biography/Biography The Glass Castle Read 31 Jan, 4 stars
Chick-Lit A Lady Cyclist's Guide to Kashgar Read 31 May, 1 star
Childrens Book Alice in Wonderland Read 30 Jan, 3 stars
Classics Cranford Read 7 Jan, 3 stars
Contemporary/Drama Questions of Travel read 29 Aug, 2 stars
Cyberpunk/Steampunk Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?
Dystopian/Post-Apocalyptic The Stand
Epic East of Eden Read 17 July, 4 stars
Espionage The 39 Steps
Fantasy 1Q84 read 12 Feb, 3 stars
Gothic Jane Eyre
Historical Fiction Pride and Prejudice read 18 Feb, 4 stars
Horror The Island of Dr. Moreau
Humour Love in a Cold Climate read 7 Aug, 4 stars
Literary Fiction Atonement Read 27 Jan, 4 stars
Magical Realism Shame read 29 Oct, 2 stars
Mystery Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage Read 7 Jul, 4 stars
Non Fiction The Last Days of Old Beijing: Life in the Vanishing Backstreets of a City Transformed Read 24 May, 5 stars
Paranormal/Supernatural The Turn of the Screw read Jul, 2 stars
Philosophical Sophie's World read 15 Mar, 2 stars
Pulp – (Hard-Boiled or Noir) Fight Club read 14 Feb, 2 stars
Romance The Age of Innocence Read 4 Jan, 5 stars
Science Fiction Brave New World read Jun,3 stars
Self Help/Educational 100 Simple Things You Can Do to Prevent Alzheimer's and Age-Related Memory Loss read 2 Aug, 3 stars
Short Stories Scission Read 6 Jan, 3 stars
Thriller Vanished read Nov, 4 stars
Travel Country Driving: A Journey Through China from Farm to Factory read 12 Jan, 2 stars
True Crime Where is Daniel? read 21 Dec, 4 stars
Western Deadwood read 15 Jan, 3 stars
Young Adult Twenty Fragments of a Ravenous Youth read 30 Mar, 2 stars
Victorian Far from the Madding Crowd read 13 June, 5 stars
Can the autobiographical be autobiographical fiction??
A vague starting list: Action/Adventure : Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood
Auto-Biography/Biography : Tove Jansson: Work and Love read 15/3/2015
Chick-Lit
Childrens Book : Dinotopia
Classics : The Bell Jar read 7/1/2015
Contemporary/Drama : We Were Liars
Cyberpunk/Steampunk : The Wind-Up Girl
Dystopian/Post-Apocalyptic : Station Eleven read 8/1/2015
Epic : some of GOT
Erotica
Espionage : something James Bond
Fantasy : Monstrous Regiment read 3/1/2015
Graphic Novels : The Wicked + The Divine, Vol. 1: The Faust Act read 10/1/2015
Gothic : Northanger Abbey
Historical Fiction : The Narrow Road to the Deep North
Horror : Horns read 13/3/2015
Humour
Literary Fiction : The Bone Clocks
Magical Realism : Alif the Unseen
Mystery : S
Non Fiction : Girt: The Unauthorised History of Australia read 1/1/2015
Paranormal/Supernatural
Philosophical
Poetry : one of Michael Dransfield's
Pulp – (Hard-Boiled or Noir)
Romance: The Shell Collector read 18/3/2015
Science Fiction : The Martian read 18/1/2015
Self Help/Educational : Brain Rules, Thinking Fast and Slow, Manglish
Short Stories Star Trek: The New Voyages, 2
Thriller
Travel : My Quest for the Yeti
True Crime
Urban Fantasy : Rivers of London
Victorian
Western
Young Adult : The Age of Miracles
________________________
OP:
So what are people starting with? I have a list of things I want to read in January, then I was going to take stock after that. I'm seeing a lot of things on people's lists that I want to read, if anyone wants to do a read-along; e.g. Station Eleven, NPH's autobiography, a Clockwork Orange, then I'm in.
Renee, I read "Murder in Mississippi" in 2014 and liked it so much I bought a copy for my brother in law for Christmas. It's weird -- genre-bending for true crime -- but good.
Janet, I read "On the Beach" in 2014 and LOVED it. It's depressing as hell, but so good. Did you catch the SBS documentary about it? That's what spurred me to read it and I'm glad I did.
Mod
it is open to your interpretation.
Cory wrote: "Janet, I read "On the Beach" in 2014 and LOVED it. It's depressing as hell, but so good. Did you catch the SBS documentary about it? That's what spurred me to read it and I'm glad I did."No I did not see it But I have read Shute before and enjoyed him.
Janet wrote: "Cory wrote: "Janet, I read "On the Beach" in 2014 and LOVED it. It's depressing as hell, but so good. Did you catch the SBS documentary about it? That's what spurred me to read it and I'm glad I di..."The trailer is on Youtube if you're interested: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0AG6... but I'm not sure if it's available on DVD.
I haven't read any other Shute -- any recommendations?
I loved "A Town Like Alice" and "Trustee from the Toolroom" is on my TBR list.
Janet wrote: "I loved "A Town Like Alice" and "Trustee from the Toolroom" is on my TBR list."Awesome -- thank you!
A) Easy Challenge ~ finished 11th November 1✓ Classics - A Passage to India by E.M. Forster ~ 10/08/2015 ****
2✓ Fantasy - The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle ~ 22/04/2015 ***
3✓ Graphic Novel - Tales from Outer Suburbia by Shaun Tan ~ 20/01/2015 ****
4✓ Historical Fiction - The Reckoning by Sharon Kay Penman ~ 03/04/2015 ****
5✓ Horror - The Turn of the Screw by Henry James ~ 27/10/2015 ****
6✓ Literary Fiction - The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga ~ 09/04/2015 ****
7✓ Mystery - The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield ~ 27/04/2015 *****
8✓Non-Fiction - Valve: Handbook For New Employees by Valve ~ 02/11/2015 ***
9✓ Romance - The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger ~ 19/01/2015 ***
10✓Science Fiction - Dune by Frank Herbert ~ 11/11/2015 *****
11✓ Thriller - The Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum ~ 20/09/2015 *****
12✓ Young Adult - A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith ~ 18/04/2015 *****
B) Hard Challenge
13) Adventure - The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
14 ✓Autobiography / Biography - Running & Being: The Total Experience by George Sheehan ~ 30/06/2015 ****
15✓Chick Lit - Valley of the Dolls by Jacqueline Susann ~ 29/08/2015 ***
16✓
17) Humour -
18✓ Magical Realism - The Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie ~ 04/02/2015 ****
19) Paranormal / Supernatural -
20) Philosophical -
21) Poetry -
22) Pulp - Hardboiled / Noir -
23) Cyberpunk /
24) Victorian -
C) Insane Challenge
25✓ Children's - Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie ~ 03/02/2015 ***
26) Dystopian / Post-Apocalyptic -
27) Epic - The Iliad by Homer
28✓ Erotica - Story Of O by Pauline Réage ~ 13/02/2015 ****
29✓Espionage - The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje ~ 13/08/2015 ****
30✓Gothic - Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë ~ 14/01/2015 ***
31✓Self Help / Educational - Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead by Brené Brown ~ 14/10/2015 ****
32✓Short Stories - The Greatest Gift: A Christmas Tale by Phillip Van Doren Stern~ 25/12/2015 ***
33) Travel -
34) True Crime - Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt
35) Urban Fantasy -
36) Western - All the Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy
D) Personal Stretch Challenge (can double with other entries)
37) Translated Fiction -
38) Australian / New Zealand -
39✓Business / Career - Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead by Brené Brown ~ 14/10/2015 ***
40✓Critically Acclaimed in 2014 - All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr ~ 28/12/2015 ****
I am going to complete the insane challenge again this year. My score sheet:
Insane Challenge
Action/Adventure
Auto-Biography/Biography Yes Please 1/22/15
Chick-Lit- Landline 1/3/15
Childrens Book
Classics
Contemporary/Drama
Cyberpunk/Steampunk
Dystopian/Post-Apocalyptic
Epic
Erotica
Espionage
Fantasy
Graphic Novels
Gothic
Historical Fiction
Horror
Humour
Literary Fiction
Magical Realism
Mystery- 14 1/7/15
Non Fiction
Paranormal/Supernatural
Philosophical
Poetry
Pulp – (Hard-Boiled or Noir)
Romance
Science Fiction- The Martian 1/10/15
Self Help/Educational
Short Stories- In the Tall Grass 1/30/15
Thriller- Horns 1/29/15
Travel
True Crime
Urban Fantasy- This Book Is Full of Spiders: Seriously, Dude, Don't Touch It 1/17/15
Victorian
Western
Young Adult- We Were Liars 1/2/15
Hi! I joined this group just a few weeks ago so this is the first time I'm trying the Literary Challenge. I'm really excited!
Here is my temporary list I will probably change my mind as I go. I have chosen two or more books from each genre. If I have time I'll read them all otherwise I'll just read one from each category.
1. Action/Adventure: The Count of Monte Cristo, Around the World in Eighty Days
2. Auto-Biography/Biography: The Diary of a Young Girl, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
3. Chick-Lit: Confessions of a Shopaholic, The Rosie Project
4. Childrens Book: The Secret Garden, Anne of Green Gables, Fortunately, the Milk
5. Classics: Robinson Crusoe, To Kill a Mockingbird
6. Contemporary/Drama: The Lovely Bones, Eleanor & Park, Hamlet, The Importance of Being Earnest
7. Cyberpunk/Steampunk: Altered Carbon, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, Soulless, Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea
8. Dystopian/Post-Apocalyptic: 1984, The Maze Runner, The Handmaid's Tale, The 5th Wave
9. Epic: A Game of Thrones, The Hobbit
10. Erotica: Bared to You, On Dublin Street, Story of O
11. Espionage: I Am Pilgrim (Pilgrim, #1), I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You
12. Fantasy: Eragon, The Name of the Wind
13. Graphic Novels: V for Vendetta, The Complete Maus
14. Gothic: The Monk, The Thirteenth Tale, Rebecca
15. Historical Fiction: The Book Thief, Memoirs of a Geisha
16. Horror: The Shining, It
17. Humour: Neil Patrick Harris: Choose Your Own Autobiography, Let's Pretend This Never Happened: A Mostly True Memoir
18. Literary Fiction: The Great Gatsby, Middlesex
19. Magical Realism: One Hundred Years of Solitude, The Ocean at the End of the Lane, The Famished Road
20. Mystery: Gone Girl, In the Woods
21. Non Fiction:Night, In Cold Blood
22. Paranormal/Supernatural: Wicked Lovely, The Raven Boys,
23. Philosophical: Thus Spoke Zarathustra, The Republic, The Trial and Death of Socrates
24. Poetry:The Collected Poems of Emily Dickinson, The Waste Land and Other Poems
25. Pulp – (Hard-Boiled or Noir): A Princess of Mars, The Black Dahlia, The Big Sleep
26. Romance The Time Traveler's Wife, Easy
27. Science Fiction: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Dune
28. Self Help/Educational: The Prophet, I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban
29. Short Stories: The Complete Stories and Poems, Tenth of December, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark
30. Thriller: Red Dragon, Before I Go To Sleep
31. Travel: On the Road, Tracks: A Woman's Solo Trek Across 1700 Miles of Australian Outback, Into the Wild
32. True Crime: Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, Deranged
33. Urban Fantasy: Storm Front, Magic Bites
34. Victorian: Great Expectations, Fingersmith
35. Western: Lonesome Dove, The Gunslinger, The Sisters Brothers
36. Young Adult: Twilight (I can't believe I'm going to try reading this), Looking for Alaska
Note: The books originally written in French or Spanish I'll read them in Spanish that includes The Count of Monte Cristo, Around the World in Eighty Days, Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, Story of O and One Hundred Years of Solitude.
Good luck y'all!
Alright, I am going to try this one again, I missed the one in 2014 by 3 books.
25 out of 36A) Easy Challenge
1) Classics - Rebecca
2) Fantasy - Royal Assassin
3) Graphic Novel - Batman '66, Vol. 1
4) Historical Fiction - Quicksilver
6) Literary Fiction -
7) Mystery - The Secret Place
8) Non-Fiction - The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up
9) Romance - A Room with a View
10) Science Fiction - Doctor Who: Prisoner of the Daleks
11) Thriller - I Am Princess X
12) Young Adult - Insurgent
B) Hard Challenge
13) Adventure
14) Autobiography / Biography - Banksy: The Man Behind the Wall
15) Chick Lit
16) Contemporary / Drama -
17) Humor -
18) Magical Realism -
19) Paranormal / Supernatural - Feed
20) Philosophical -
21) Poetry -
22) Pulp - Hardboiled / Noir -
23) Cyberpunk / Steampunk - Waistcoats & Weaponry
24) Victorian -
C) Insane Challenge - COMPLETED
25) Children's - Little Town on the Prairie
26) Dystopian / Post-Apocalyptic - Divergent
27) Epic - Assassin's Apprentice
28) Erotica - Red Velvet
29) Espionage - Call for the Dead
30) Gothic - The Woman in White
31) Self Help / Educational - Buddha's Brain: The Practical Neuroscience of Happiness, Love, and Wisdom
32) Short Stories - Voices in the Night: Stories
33) Travel - The Lady and the Panda: The True Adventures of the First American Explorer to Bring Back China's Most Exotic Animal
34) True Crime - And Then She Killed Him
35) Urban Fantasy - Slashback
36) Western - The Massacre at Fall Creek
I'm giving the Insane Challenge a try from the very beginning this year. I'll fill books as I find and/or read them. Easy
Classics -
Fantasy -
Graphic Novels -
Historical Fiction - Perfume: The Story of a Murderer by Patrick Süskind
Horror -
Literary Fiction -
Mystery -
Non Fiction – Smoke Gets in Your Eyes: And Other Lessons from the Crematory by Caitlin Doughty
Romance -
Science Fiction -
Thriller - Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
Young Adult - The Art of Being Normal – Lisa Williamson 15/01/01 ****
Hard
Action/Adventure
Auto-Biography/Biography -
Chick-Lit
Contemporary/Drama
Humour
Magical Realism – Some Kind of Fairy Tale by Graham Joyce
Paranormal/Supernatural
Philosophical
Poetry
Pulp (Hard-Boiled or Noir) - The Shining Girls by Lauren Beukes
Steampunk/Cyberpunk -
Victorian
Insane
Childrens Book –
Dystopian/Post-Apocalyptic –
Epic
Erotica –
Espionage
Gothic – The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black
Self Help/Educational –
Short Stories
Travel
True Crime - The Girls of Murder City: Fame, Lust, and the Beautiful Killers who Inspired Chicago by Douglas Perry
Urban Fantasy
Western - The Sisters Brothers by Patrick deWitt
Insane ChallengeAction/Adventure The Princess Bride: S. Morgenstern's Classic Tale of True Love and High Adventure 6 June 2015
Auto-Biography/Biography The First Girl Guide: The Story of Agnes Baden-Powell 15 Jan 2015
Chick-Lit Scared Scriptless 2 Mar 2015
Childrens Book
Classics The Complete Maus May 23 2015
Contemporary/Drama The Winter's Tale 29 Jan 2015
Cyberpunk/Steampunk Clockwork Prince 3 June 2015
Dystopian/Post-Apocalyptic
Epic
Erotica
Espionage
Fantasy Clockwork Princess 4 June 2015
Graphic Novels Pride and Prejudice: The Graphic Novel 12 Jan 2015
Gothic
Historical Fiction Cloudstreet 4 October 2015
Horror Authority 7 September 2015
Humour
Literary Fiction
Magical Realism Death at Intervals 8 March 2015
Mystery - Currawong Manor 05 Jan 2015
Non Fiction A Concise History of Australia 26 Jan 2015
Paranormal/Supernatural
Philosophical
Poetry My People 23 Jan 2015
Pulp – (Hard-Boiled or Noir)
Romance
Science Fiction Annihilation 01 September 2015
Self Help/Educational
Short Stories
Thriller Acceptance 20 September 2015
Travel Sydney 27 July 2015
True Crime
Urban Fantasy
Victorian
Western
Young Adult The 100 18 July 2015
I have included the Southern Reach trilogy as three books covering the three genres those books are as a whole... yes that's cheesing it a bit.
Any recommendations for Epic? Does Ken Follett's Pillars of the Earth qualify? Or Vikram Seth's A Suitable Boy?
Thanks!
Penney wrote: "Any recommendations for Epic? Does Ken Follett's Pillars of the Earth qualify? Or Vikram Seth's A Suitable Boy?
Thanks!"
Pillars of the Earth would certainly qualify.
Ok, am going to go for The Illiad as it's already on my physical bookshelf. Have noted Pillars of the Earth for next year though as it's at my local library!
My Insane challenge for this yearAction/AdventureMoon Over Soho
Auto-Biography/Biography The Fry Chronicles
Chick-Lit Watermelon
Childrens Book Anne of Avonlea
ClassicsTender Is the Night
Contemporary/DramaMuch Ado About Nothing
Cyberpunk/Steampunk Curtsies & Conspiracies
Dystopian/Post-Apocalyptic Allegiant
Epic The Mad Ship
Erotica Pleasure of a Dark Prince
Espionage
FantasyA Storm of Swords: Steel and Snow
Graphic NovelsThe Walking Dead, Vol. 03: Safety Behind Bars
Gothic
Historical FictionThe Red Tent
HorrorThe Vision
Humour The Light Fantastic
Literary Fiction Saturday
Magical Realism The Night Circus
MysteryGone Girl
Non FictionTudors
Paranormal/Supernatural Hush, Hush
Philosophical The Social Contract
Poetry Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats
Pulp – (Hard-Boiled or Noir)Echo Burning
RomanceA Walk to Remember
Science FictionThe Invisible Man
Self Help/Educational
Short Stories
Thriller Running Blind
Travel
True Crime
Urban Fantasy Beautiful Chaos
VictorianA Study in Scarlet
Western
Young AdultDreams of Gods & Monsters
I read eight from my list in January and they were mostly quite good reads too. Auto-Biography/Biography The Glass Castle Read 31 Jan, 4 stars
Childrens Book Alice in Wonderland Read 30 Jan, 3 stars
Classics Cranford Read 7 Jan, 3 stars
Literary Fiction Atonement Read 27 Jan, 4 stars
Romance The Age of Innocence Read 4 Jan, 5 stars
Short Stories Scission Read 6 Jan, 3 stars
Travel Country Driving: A Journey Through China from Farm to Factory read 12 Jan,2 stars
Western Deadwood read 15 Jan, 3 stars
FINISHED MY 2015 INSANE CHALLENGE 16TH AUGUST 2015Action/Adventure Moon Over Soho
Auto-Biography/Biography The Fry Chronicles
Chick-Lit Watermelon
Childrens Book Anne of Avonlea
Classics Tender Is the Night
Contemporary/Drama Much Ado About Nothing
Cyberpunk/Steampunk Curtsies & Conspiracies
Dystopian/Post-Apocalyptic Allegiant
Epic The Mad Ship
EroticaPleasure of a Dark Prince
Espionage The Spy Who Came In from the Cold
Fantasy A Storm of Swords: Steel and Snow
Graphic Novels The Walking Dead, Vol. 3: Safety Behind Bars
Gothic The Woman in Black
Historical Fiction The Red Tent
Horror The Vision
Humour The Light Fantastic
Literary Fiction Saturday
Magical Realism The Night Circus
Mystery Gone Girl
Non Fiction Tudors: A History of England Volume 2
Paranormal/Supernatural Hush, Hush
Philosophical The Social Contract
Poetry Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats
Pulp – (Hard-Boiled or Noir)Echo Burning
RomanceA Walk to Remember
Science Fiction The Invisible Man
Self Help/Educational It's Not All in Your Head: Anxiety, Depression, Mood Swings, and Multiple Sclerosis
Short Stories The Purloined Letter
Thriller The Visitor
Travel Notes from a Small Island
True Crime Portrait of a Killer: Jack the Ripper - Case Closed
Urban Fantasy Beautiful Chaos
Victorian A Study in Scarlet
Western True Grit
Young Adult Dreams of Gods & Monsters
Completed the insane challenge today including the two books for bragging rights.Action/Adventure Stormbreaker 8/11/15 ****
Auto-Biography/Biography The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas 7/20/15 ****
Chick-Lit Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging 2/26/15 **
Childrens Book Black Beauty 8/23/15 ****
Classics Loving 3/7/15 ***
Contemporary/Drama The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian 3/3/15 *****
Cyberpunk/Steampunk The Lost World 4/24/15 ***
Dystopian/Post-Apocalyptic On the Beach 4/20/15 *****
Epic East of Eden 8/9/15 *****
Erotica Madame Bovary 2/12/15 ****
Espionage Point Blank 8/17/15 ****
Fantasy Starship Troopers 9/17/15 ****
Graphic Novels Fables, Vol. 2: Animal Farm 1/23/15 ***
Gothic Wise Blood 3/14/15 **
Historical Fiction Beloved 1/3/15 ****
Horror The Haunting of Hill House 7/17/15 ****
Humour The Diary of a Nobody 3/23/15 ***
Literary Fiction The Sun Also Rises 1/22/15 ***
Magical Realism Love in the Time of Cholera 1/11/15 ***
Mystery The Moonstone 5/6/15 *****
Non Fiction Master of the Mountain: Thomas Jefferson and His Slaves 11/5/15 ****
Paranormal/Supernatural Moon Called 5/19/15 ****
Philosophical Notes from Underground 3/1/15****
Poetry Sold 9/20/15 *****
Pulp – (Hard-Boiled or Noir) One Lonely Night 1/26/15 ***
Romance Tender Is the Night 1/4/15 ****
Science Fiction Double Star 9/29/15 ****
Self Help/Educational The Clutter-Busting Handbook 11/17/15 ****
Short Stories The Complete Grimm's Fairy Tales 9/4/15 ****
Thriller The Lovely Bones 4/14/15 ****
Travel A Walk Across America 5/13/15 ***
True Crime Blood on the Moon: The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln 3/30/15 ***
Urban Fantasy Yarrow 9/25/15 ***
Victorian Silas Marner 1/15/15 *****
Western These Is My Words 10/25/15 *****
Young Adult A Separate Peace 1/15/15 *****
Bonus points points (can be exchanged for bragging rights) for Translated Fiction Darkness at Noon 3/17/15 ***** and books over 800 pages.The Alexandria Quartet 11/28/15 ****
Renee wrote: "Will fill in as I decide. Excited!✔Action/Adventure - The Princess Bride - May 23
✔Auto-Biography/Biography - Neil Patrick Harris: Choose Your Own Autobiography - De..."
Finished, just in time to plan next years!
The year is almost finished with me having not read two categories of this challenge. They are of course my least favourite areas to read; graphic novel and urban fantasy. Read;
Action/Adventure Robinson Crusoe read 15 Aug, 4 stars
Auto-Biography/Biography The Glass Castle read 31 Jan, 4 stars
Chick-Lit A Lady Cyclist's Guide to Kashgar read 31 May, 1 star
Childrens Book Alice in Wonderland read 30 Jan, 3 stars
Classics Cranford read 7 Jan, 3 stars
Contemporary/Drama Questions of Travel read 29 Aug, 2 stars
Cyberpunk/Steampunk Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? read 19 Sep, 2 stars
Dystopian/Post-Apocalyptic The Stand read 22 Nov, 3 stars
Epic East of Eden read 17 Jul, 4 stars
Erotica A Spy in the House of Love read 2 Dec, 3 stars
Espionage The 39 Steps read 26 Nov, 2 stars
Fantasy 1Q84 read 12 Feb, 3 stars
Gothic Jane Eyre read 1 Sep, 3 stars
Historical Fiction Pride and Prejudice read 18 Feb, 4 stars
Horror The Island of Dr. Moreau read 16 Aug, 2 stars
Humour Love in a Cold Climate read 7 Aug, 4 stars
Literary Fiction Atonement read 27 Jan, 4 stars
Magical Realism Shame read 29 Oct, 2 stars
Mystery Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage read 7 Jul, 4 stars
Non Fiction The Last Days of Old Beijing: Life in the Vanishing Backstreets of a City Transformed read 24 May, 5 stars
Paranormal/Supernatural The Turn of the Screw read 28 Jul, 2 stars
Philosophical Sophie's World read 15 Mar, 2 stars
Poetry She Walks in Beauty: A Woman's Journey Through Poems read 31 Dec, 3 stars
Pulp – (Hard-Boiled or Noir) Fight Club read 14 Feb, 2 stars
Romance The Age of Innocence read 4 Jan, 5 stars
Science Fiction Brave New World read Jun,3 stars
Self Help/Educational 100 Simple Things You Can Do to Prevent Alzheimer's and Age-Related Memory Loss read 2 Aug, 3 stars
Short Stories Scission read 6 Jan, 3 stars
Thriller Vanished read 20 Nov, 4 stars
Travel Country Driving: A Journey Through China from Farm to Factory read 12 Jan, 2 stars
True Crime Where is Daniel? read 21 Dec, 4 stars
Western Deadwood read 15 Jan, 3 stars
Young Adult Twenty Fragments of a Ravenous Youth read 30 Mar, 2 stars
Victorian Far from the Madding Crowd read 13 Jun, 5 stars
Literary Exploration
Books mentioned in this topic
Alice in Wonderland (other topics)Robinson Crusoe (other topics)
The Glass Castle (other topics)
Far From the Madding Crowd (other topics)
A Lady Cyclist's Guide to Kashgar (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Anthony Doerr (other topics)Philip van Doren Stern (other topics)
E.M. Forster (other topics)
Fredrik Backman (other topics)
Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley (other topics)
More...
Insane Challenge
Action/Adventure
Auto-Biography/Biography
Chick-Lit
Childrens Book
Classics
Contemporary/Drama
Cyberpunk/Steampunk
Dystopian/Post-Apocalyptic
Epic
Erotica
Espionage
Fantasy
Graphic Novels
Gothic
Historical Fiction
Horror
Humour
Literary Fiction
Magical Realism
Mystery
Non Fiction
Paranormal/Supernatural
Philosophical
Poetry
Pulp – (Hard-Boiled or Noir)
Romance
Science Fiction
Self Help/Educational
Short Stories
Thriller
Travel
True Crime
Urban Fantasy
Victorian
Western
Young Adult
Bonus points points (can be exchanged for bragging rights) for Translated Fiction and books over 800 pages.