It’s almost the end of the year and I am going to throw in the towel on two challenges. Back on the bookshelves go Don Quixote and the rest of the books I was reading for the Armchair Travel Challenge. Oh this is sad.
I really enjoyed Don Quixote until I got towards the end of the first part – I actually did finish the first part of Don Quixote but it was a struggle to get through it. This is actually my second attempt and at least I made it through the first part so perhaps on my third attempt I’ll finish it all!
Anyway a big thanks go to Dorothy W. who organized the Tilting at Windmills blog. It was great fun to read the posts. Also big thanks go to Lesley who hosted the Armchair Travel Challenge.
Of course now what do I do but join more challenges. I participated in nine challenges this year and only completed two so you would think that with that track record I wouldn’t join others but to me these are fun. I enjoy “meeting” other bookworms, the excitement generated over books, and as I always read books from my shelves (Graphics Challenge aside) this is a great way to remember those shelf-sitters and work through my stacks. So without further ado, here are the two other challenges I’m joining:
Becky’s 19th Century Women Writers Challenge. This year I only read one classic so hopefully with this challenge I’ll make a bit more effort and read some books I’ve been wanting to read for a long time. Here are my six choices:
- Sense & Sensibility by Jane Austen
- Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
- The Awakening by Kate Chopin
- The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton
- Lady Audley’s Secret by Mary Elizabeth Braddon
- Elizabeth & Her German Garden by Elizabeth Von Arnim
Joy’s First in a Series Challenge. I’m a big fan of mysteries, and as I always start with the first one in the series this challenge should be a snap (I hope so at least!). Here are my 12 choices:
- A Thousand Bones by P.J. Parrish
- A Corpse in the Koryo by James Church
- The Shape of Water by Andrea Camilleri
- Death of a Red Heroine by Qiu Xiaolong
- The Blind Man of Seville by Robert Wilson
- What Angels Fear by C.S. Harris
- This Dame for Hire by Sandra Scoppettone
- Dead Witch Walking by Kim Harrison
- The Last Kashmiri Rose by Barbara Cleverly
- Quieter Than Sleep by Joanne Dobson
- Detective Inspector Huss by Helene Tursten
- A Great Deliverance by Elizabeth George
Some of the choices may overlap with other challenges or book groups and I may switch out a title here or there but that’s it for now. And, I’m going to keep my fingers crossed that no new tempting challenges come up (like that’s going to happen – hee).
Thanks for participating in the Tilting at Windmills group — it doesn’t matter much if you don’t finish the book this time around; it’s just cool that you participated and had some fun! Enjoy your new challenges — they look like good ones (particularly the 19C women one — that would be a great challenge if I weren’t committed to avoiding them!)
I think you did a great job finishing the first part of DQ. Look at it this way–how many years went by anyway before he wrote the second part? The original readers wouldn’t have read it all at once anyway, so maybe later you’ll pick up the second half. I don’t think I did very well finishing challenges either. I’m not sure I want to look back over the year and see how many I joined, but they are fun anyway. And even if you just read one book I think that’s pretty good. I love your 19th C Women authors list and those mysteries. I’d like to read a few of them as well. I’d like to read more mysteries next year. I used to read a lot more mysteries than I do now. I think you’ll do well on both those challenges!
I’m about to throw in the towel on Lesley’s Armchair Travel challenge and the Jen’s TBR Challenge. I only managed to read 2 for Lesley’s, but did much better on the TBR with 9 either finished or attempted. Still trying to decide if I’ll join any in 2008 or simply try to read what I own. Those challenges are so tempting, though!!
I love your new blog header. So festive.
I threw in the towel on pretty much all my challenges and am starting over a-fresh in the new year. We’ll see how it goes in 2008.
Good luck with your challenges!
I’m in for 19th Century Women as well. I’ve read all but 2 on your list.
Love your header. I’m a snowman fan. You should see my house right now 😉
Love your seasonal header!
I’m not sure yet what my success rate has been on this year’s challenges but this last part of the year has been pretty bad. Oh well, hasn’t kept me away either. Good luck with all the ones you’re doing next year.
I’ve been meaning to read Wuthering Heights for ages too. Maybe 2008 will be the year.
Dorothy W. – For me it definitely helped to read the postings on the Don Quixote blog. Some stuff made more sense and that sort of thing. So thank you again!
Danielle – Ah, I’m going to take your advice and think of it that way. Not so bad then 🙂 And, I agree, even if I get to one book on the challenges that’s still one book. I just try to have fun!
Les in NE – I say join ’em! You can always quit any if you decide you want to read more at whim. It’s just so fun planning the book lists for a challenge isn’t it?
aka Nik – Thank you. That is my husband’s doing 🙂 I like the idea of starting fresh in the new year too. I am going to carry over one challenge but that’s it.
Chrisbookarama – Yay, we’ll be in that one together! Ah, I bet your house is so festive. We just finally put our tree up yesterday. So behind!
Tanabata – Thank you! And, yeah, I don’t worry about finishing them anymore. I just try to have fun and hopefully work through my TBR stacks 🙂
That seasonal header is just so wonderful! Did you put your hubby up to that! I have been shying away from any sort of challenges! I am hoping some of that will change in 2008….
I like that 19th Century Women Writers challenge and your choices. I am clueless when it comes to the mystery genre but perhaps I will take a look at some of the ones you listed!
Christine – So glad you liked it! Michael surprised me with it. I had asked him for a Christmassy quote or something and voila! Oh join in a challenge – it’ll be fun! Just trying to be a bad influence 🙂
Welcome to the 1st in a Series Challenge! I’m so glad you joined us. I love your choices and look forward to your reviews. It won’t be long before we can begin! 🙂
I joined three challenges this year and didn’t complete any (although did do ok with two of them)! The Armchair Traveler was my biggest flop, only becuase I just didn’t get to any of the books. My bad!
Yes, I think that’s what I like most about the challenges — creating the lists! You’re right, I can always opt out if need be. Plus, it’s a great motivator to get me to read more from my stacks.
Joy – Thank you! I’m ready to start too 🙂
Stephanie – Ah well, there is always the new year! 🙂
Les in NE – I love making those lists. I open my Bookpedia file and sort out my books but then I also sit and stare at my bookshelves for a long time – ha,ha…
Good luck with your challenges!! I’ll be very interested to hear what you think of Joanne Dobson’s books (Quieter than Sleep). I love them. Unfortunately, if she’s writing them anymore, we’ve no way of knowing it. Still, I check constantly for a new book in the series.
Chelle – Thanks – you are doing the first in the series challenge too right? Hope you have fun! I’ve been wanting to read the Dobson book for a while now. Can’t wait!