The Bookworm Challenge discussion

Also known as "xenofiction", these are books that are written from the perspective of an animal character and may or may not include humans. Some examples are Watership Down or Black Beauty or The Warriors series by Erin Hunter.

Read up to 5 books with animals as the main character.

Ooh--an excuse to catch up with the Warriors--we read many of those to our boys before they got too old for the nightly read-alouds (THEY think).

Mine didn't read those but they did like the Redwall books by Brian Jacques which also qualify for this challenge!

Redwall was #1. We own a lot of those, because Eldest Son couldn't wait for the library to get them :D I think he read the entire series at least 5 times.

I was enjoying listening to the Redwall books on audio last fall--they are great that way, with all the accents in order!

I'll bet they are great on audio! I have this terrible lack of attention when trying to listen to books. I think comes from a finely honed ability to tune out noise, so much so that I lose track of the story when listening to audio books. It's weird, but I wish I could listen to them!

I have to do audio books while doing things that really require no mental engagement--things like housework and exercise, where I'd really prefer not to notice what I'm doing. Even so, sometimes I miss stuff.

"Petectives" by Robert J. Smith. Two housecats run a detective agency to help out neighborhood animals. Amusing story and reads pretty much how one would expect with a cat as a narrator. This was a recent Kindle freebie, if anyone else is interested.

Finished last night:

To Fetch a Thief by Spencer Quinn

I really like these cozy mysteries, Chet is so funny!

I recently revisited my childhood by reading one of my favorite childhood authors. Completed The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary.

Michael wrote: "I recently revisited my childhood by reading one of my favorite childhood authors. Completed The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary."

A couple of years ago I did a novel study on that one with some students at the school I work at. I think I enjoyed it as much as the kids did!

I read my first one for this category. It was a re-read for me but I enjoyed it just as much this time. Animal Farm by George Orwell

Just finished:

The Forbidden Library by Django Wexler

The animal character in this is Ashes, a talking cat who becomes a companion to young Alice, a magicians apprentice.

Great collection where animals take centre stage in a variety of guises Prey: Seven Tales of Beastly Terror

Got my second for this with Raven Girl

Hit my third for this with The Life of Mammals :-)

Sam wrote: "Hit my third for this with The Life of Mammals :-)"

Hi Sam, I'm afraid this one doesn't qualify as it is not an example of xenofiction but a non-fiction book about animals. But you're so far ahead of the game here, I'm sure you'll find another book to fit this category soon!

Stephanie wrote: "Sam wrote: "Hit my third for this with The Life of Mammals :-)"

Hi Sam, I'm afraid this one doesn't qualify as it is not an example of xenofiction but a non-fiction book about animal..."

Damn and blast! Never mind. Does Glacial Period count, it's main character is a talking dog-pig?

Sam wrote: "Damn and blast! Never mind. Does Glacial Period count, it's main character is a talking dog-pig?"

Yes, that talking pig-dog makes this count! Especially when he waxes philosophical... ;-)

Stephanie wrote: "Sam wrote: "Damn and blast! Never mind. Does Glacial Period count, it's main character is a talking dog-pig?"

Yes, that talking pig-dog makes this count! Especially when he waxes philosophical... ;-)"

Excellent, that shall be my third for this then :-)

Matt Haig is an author who has written a number of books with non-human protagonists, the most definitive of which is The Humans, written by an alien, reporting on the existence and nature of the humans he has lived secretly among for many years. But since this challenge asks for specifically "animal" protagonists, as opposed to the more general category of "non-human protagonists", this book would not apply. (A shame, BTW.) There are two books of Haig's that would apply, though. First, To Be A Cat, where the protagonist, originally human, turns into a cat, specifically his neighbor's cat. A review of this book on amazon.co.uk calls this book "the love child of Franz Kafka and Roald Dahl", which seems to me pretty apt. Second book by Haig would be The Last Family in England, where the main character (and narrator) is a black Labrador, destined for death at the opening of the book. Speaking of Kafka, by the way, wouldn't The Metamorphosis qualify for this category, with its protagonist "Gregor-Samsa-as-cockroach"? I know it's only 80-some pages long, but then so is Audrey Niffenegger's Raven Girl (message 14 here) only 80 pages. Just scratching the surface of this wonderful category ....

JerryB wrote: "Matt Haig is an author who has written a number of books with non-human protagonists, the most definitive of which is The Humans, written by an alien, reporting on the existence and nature of the h..."

Hi, Jerry! I like Matt Haig, I read The Radleys and really enjoyed it. I have added The Labrador Pact based on your recommendation. Thanks!

I suppose Kafka's The Metamorphosis would qualify though Gregor spends most of the story in transformation because the underlying character IS a cockroach...

And size doesn't matter, if it fits the category, we'll count it! Let me know if you're joining our challenge and have any books to add.

Okay, I finally have one for here. Max the Talking Tonkinese isn't THE main character, but he is definitely A main character in The Shadow of Atlantis

I've finished my first for this challenge - the children's classic - Charlotte's Web. You just can't get better animal characters than Wilbur, Templeton and Charlotte (though she is technically NOT an animal.)

Melki wrote: "I've finished my first for this challenge - the children's classic - Charlotte's Web. You just can't get better animal characters than Wilbur, Templeton and Charlotte (though she is t..."

Love this book! My 9 year-old nephew recently read it and he fell in love with these wonderful characters too, even shed some tears for our beloved arachnid! How I love seeing kids get caught up in a book! (and now I'm teary-eyed, such a wuss...)

I've finished a collection of short stories featuring dogs as main characters - Dogtales!. There were a couple of good stories (and dogs) here.

Got another one - Air Force Gator. He kicks ass!

Finally got my last two for this with The Conference of Birds and The Wolf :-D

I don't know if this counts or not, since I'm not sure if they're animals, but in Moominvalley In November, every one of the characters refers to his or her paws, instead of hands.

Melki wrote: "I don't know if this counts or not, since I'm not sure if they're animals, but in Moominvalley In November, every one of the characters refers to his or her paws, instead of hands."

It counts. They are pictured with tails, are not human, and refer to their paws. I don't know exactly what they *are*, but they are definitely "critters"!