They're "mini-challenges" as our host, Becky, calls them, so I don't feel so bad joining yet another challenge ;) These are two very cool challenges and actually fit quite nicely into the reading I had already planned for myself for next year.
The first challenge is inspired by Masterpiece Theater's announcement that they will be showing all six of Jane Austen's BBC Productions next year! If you haven't done so yet, I recommend heading over to their site to sign up for their email list, because if you do you are entered into a drawing to win one of 100 Jane Austen book box sets! Becky's challenge to us is a simple one: In 2008, either read or watch two of Jane Austen's books and then write a post about it! I had already planned on reading Northanger Abbey next year, as that one sounds like my cup of tea, and I'm adding Persuasion as my second Austen book. I'll also be watching all of Masterpiece Theater's airing of the BBC productions as I love all of them!
The second challenge is to read any 2 books by C.S. Lewis AND any 2 books by J.R.R. Tolkien! How cool is that for a challenge?! I had already planned on re-reading the Narnia books for the series challenge and Cardathon challenge, and I'll be breaking in my beautiful new boxset of Tolkien books from Carl for the other part of the challenge by re-reading the Lord of the Rings trilogy. I'll probably do that as part of the Once Upon a Time challenge assuming that it takes place again ;) Of course, you're not required to read 10 books for this challenge like Mr. Over-achiever here...just 4!
Anyone else joining in? Head over to Becky's blog to sign up! It looks like we have all of 2008 to complete this...am I right?
18 comments:
Thanks for posting about my challenge :) And thanks for joining in. Yes, we have ALL year to accomplish this. There's no need to rush any of this.
I seriously wish I got Masterpiece Theatre. Not sure when I'm going to be able to see those new adaptations, and I've heard they are all quite good. Would especially like to see Mansfield Park as it's Billie Piper as Fanny.
Sounds like two fun little challenges. :) Good luck with them.
Becky, That's good news ;) Looking forward to these!
Court, No Masterpiece Theatre in Canada? :( That's where you are right? The one's that I've seen are REALLY good. You can get them through Amazon and through some of the online rental sites...but of course that involves money...Hope you get to see them eventually. I'm sure you'd enjoy them!
Oh, these sound wonderful! I love Masterpiece Theater (even more than Jane Austen), so I'll be looking forward to those broadcasts this year. Also, C.S. Lewis! Wow, I can't say enough. I'm really tempted to read some of his "adult" works, such as "Til We Have Faces" which is my mother's favorite and on the High School's recommended reading list. I can't join a Challenge right now, I can hardly breathe being a teacher/mom/wife, but they do sound excellent. I look forward to hearing your thoughts.
Bellezza, I always enjoy Masterpiece Theatre too, so this should be fun. I've been wanting to read 'Til We Have Faces too...if I get done early enough, maybe I'll add it on to the list. I'll be busy too once the job starts in a week and a half. I don't know what the hell I'm getting myself into, lol!
Yeah, I'm in Canada. Some places get PBS here, so some places would get Masterpiece Theatre. I guess I'm just that little bit too far away from the USA to actually get the channel, alas. Which is annoying because if I were in a city an hour to the east or west I'd be able to watch it. Boo.
I knew even before I clicked the comments button over at Becky's this morning that I was going to see that you'd signed up for these! You know, one of these days, I really must learn where to draw the line...but these two challenges just couldn't be passed up.
Man....talk about feeding an addiction!! I've got to stop coming over here!! On the other hand, I really should do this. Why? Because of all the great literature that I've read, Jane Austen hasn't been among it!! In fact, Persuasion (which I thought was wonderful) has been the only Jane Austen novel I've ever read!!
If I weren't up to 30 review books stacked all up---and a secret t-shirt design project---I'd be seriously tempted!
*falls over exhausted*
*shaking my head*
not enough challenges Chris? lol I hope you don't find them overwhelming once you begin work!! You know we won't stand for a job that cuts too deeply into reading time! ;O)
Debi, Becky used psychological tricks on us when devising these challenges by calling them "mini-challenges" ;) She knew that we wouldn't pass them up then. "Well if there only mini-challenges, two more can't hurt..."
Stephanie, I haven't read any Austen either, so I thought that I should remedy that. I always assumed that I wouldn't like that style of literature, but you know what...I always love the BBC productions of her stuff, so I'm sure I'll love the original source material!
Heather, LOL! I don't know how you do it! I get stressed out with challenge books that I read just for fun and they're books that I choose for myself! I can't imagine a stack of 30 books that someone else threw on me to read!
Secret tshirt project?? Sounds cool!
Deslily, I think the same thing every single day, trust me! lol...What am I going to do when I start working??? But then I started thinking that I did fine when I was interning at the hospital, so things should be ok...lets hope!
Oh I might sign up for both of those, will have a think about it. Was planning on reading some Tolkien and Austen next year anyway, not sure about CS Lewis as I only recently re-read the Narnia series and not sure I am interested in his other stuff.
Rhinoa, They really are great challenges! Lewis' other stuff is really good. I read The Four Loves not long ago and really enjoyed it. I find that a lot of Christian philosophy can be a bit mind numbing and overly preachy, but Lewis presents it in a very down to earth and open way and makes it readable to just about anybody. I enjoyed it and there's some wonderful passages in that book. He's also written some other fiction, none of which I've read, but I'd be interested in reading. The Screwtape Letters is supposed to be good too....I have that one on my TBR shelf.
Rhinoa, I wanted to let you know that I've added a few eligible books to the Lewis/Tolkien challenge. I don't know if these would appeal to you. But Here There Be Dragons and Search for Red Dragons are the first two in a series by James Owen. Lewis, Tolkien, and Williams (the other Inkling) appear as fictional characters-heros in a fantasy series. Other sci-fi/fantasy characters appear as well. I've read the first one and loved it. The second releases in 2008. And Chris, Here There Be Dragons is eligible for the Cardathon in case you were wondering :) I read this one solely on Card's recommendation.
C.S. Lewis does have a science fiction trilogy, I liked it okay but it was no Narnia. Also a possibility would be the movie Shadowlands, which I believe, is a bio-pic of Lewis' life.
Becky, I already have Here, There be Dragons on my list :) I've been looking forward to reading that one for a long time, but there's always "something else" to read...so the Cardathon challenge was a perfect excuse to finally read it!
No worries, it will be taking place again. In fact:
Beginning January 1 I'll be doing a science fiction reading thing (trying to think of another word besides 'challenge')
On March 21st, Once Upon a Time II will begin.
And September 1st 2008, R.I.P. The Third will start.
Carl, I say you call it just that..."The Science Fiction Reading Thing" ;)
Wow! Sounds like things are mapped out pretty well! I'm thinking that I'm already done signing up for '08 challenges aside from yours. There's enough on my plate. That'll probably change though...Looking forward to it all though!
Thanks Chris and Becky, I will give it some more thought. I have a book on Tolkien which is a collection of stories that inspired him and he enjoyed reading. I wonder if that would count. It's fun planning books in advance to read!
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