I’ve been reading the Unabridged Chick’s blog again. It’s all her fault. She first introduced me to reading challenges last fall. I signed up for The Heroine’s Bookshelf (miserable fail–I didn’t read any of the books) and the R.eaders I.mbibing P.eril (success—two books read!).
Have I learned my lesson? Not so much. First, the Witches & Witchcraft 2012 Reading Challenge.
I’m starting with the Initiate Level–1-5 books. I would have met this in 2011 since I read A Discovery of Witches, Garden Spells, The Witches of East End and Laced with Magic. My 2012 ideas:
1. Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman–I vaguely remember the movie, but have heard good things about the book. It’s time I read it.
2. Shadow of the Night by Deborah Harkness–I wasn’t a fan of A Discovery of Witches, but some of that can be chalked up to not knowing it was the first in a trilogy. We’ll see if I’m more impressed with book #2.
Other ideas: The Fairy Tale Detectives (surely there must be witches here), finally reading Wicked to see what all the fuss is about, the original Grimm’s Fairy Tales, Wicca by Scott Cunningham, or something else that catches my fancy, perhaps in the young adult genre as I’m trying to read more there.
Read a book, watch a movie or listen to an audiobook related to the Victorian ear (1837-1901). Yes, please! I’m going to be ambitious and aim for 5.
1. Timeless by Gail Carriger–I adore the Parasol Proctectorate books, so this is a no-brainer.
2. Young Victoria with Emily Blunt. Still haven’t seen it.
3. Finally finishing the audio book of Libba Bray’s The Sweet Far Thing
Other thoughts: Sherlock Holmes, finally reading George Elliot (possibly Daniel Deronda or Middlemarch), Henry James or Victorian Poets (e.g. Elizabeth Barret Browning, Robert Browning, Alfred Lord Tennyson, Christina Rosetti). Actually, I quite like the poet idea. My poetry education is quite poor.
Wish me luck, and more success than my 2011 reading challenges!
Mwahahahahaha, hooray!
I love reading challenges with my whole body, even though I barely accomplish them. Oh well. So thrilled you’re joining along on these two. I’m reading A Discovery of Witches for my W&W challenge — I am rushing to your review now to see what you didn’t like. I’m on the fence abt it so far.
I love your Victorian choices — if you do decide on any Eliot or Victorian poets (esp lady ones), I’d love to do a read-along!
So glad that you are joining my Witches and Witchcraft Challenge! I am looking forward to Shadow of the Night as well…hopefully it is even better than A Discovery of Witches.
♥Melissa