Folklore, American Vampire, and the Once Upon a Time Challenge

I read American Vampire (Volume One) back at the end of March (review) and it has stayed on my mind.  A lot.

In the various musing on it that I have done, I realized that it is perfect for the "Folklore" category of Once Upon a Time Challenge and I'm shocked that I didn't see it at first.  That's the thing about a book like this, though.  It is so layered it takes months to peel away at it; and the more I peel, the more I find.

Folklore takes the customs of a group of people and tells it in story form, usually (to my layman's mind) using a lot of exaggeration and showing that particular people to be something special.  Think of the Jack tales, if you will.

Snyder and King (especially in King's half of the novel) have taken the vampire legend and made it something completely American, indigenous only to this breed of people.  In short, they've created a new folklore.

If you like vampire stories, or the Wild West, or revengeful women, or. .. heck, just as long as you like to read but don't mind a little gore (okay, even if you DON'T like to read; this might be a good starting point), give this one a try.  Let it marinate for a while afterwards and see where it takes you.

Darn fine book.

Once Upon a Time Challenge V: Finished

I'm excited to participate in this challenge again.  I did so a few years ago, when I was book blogging on another blog, and found it a lot of fun.  Carl gives many choices of participation level, from no specific reading requirement to watching movie versions.  It makes it a challenge that everyone who loves fantasy, fables, and myths can participate in and have fun.

I'm choosing "Quest the Second" as my participation level:

Read at least one book from each of the four categories. In this quest you will be reading 4 books total: one fantasy, one folklore, one fairy tale, and one mythology. This proves to be one of the more difficult quests each year merely because of the need to classify each read and determine which books fit into which category. I am not a stickler, fear not, but I am endlessly fascinated watching how folks work to find books for each category.

I might read or watch the requirement for "Quest the Third", if I feel so inclined come June:

Fulfill the requirements for Quest the First or Quest the Second AND top it off with a June reading of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream OR a viewing of one of the many theatrical versions of the play. Love the story, love the films, love the idea of that magical night of the year and so this is my chance to promote the enjoyment of this farcical love story.

 Even if you have no desire to participate in a challenge, you really should go by Stainless Steel Droppings and see the fantastic artwork being used for this challenge, and check out his reviews.  I've gotten many a good book suggestion from this blog!

Challenge Progress: Completed

• Fairy Tale: Juniper Berry by M. P. Kozlowsky; read 22 March 2011.  (review)
• Fantasy: Lover Unleashed by J. R. Ward; read 31 March 2011
• Folk Lore: American Vampire: Volume One, Scott Snyder and Stephen King, authors; Rafael Albuquereque, illustrator; read 25 March 2011. (review)
• Mythology: The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood; read 25 June 2011. (review)

Graphic Novels Challenge

Okay, just one more challenge. . . . Ever since I started the Sandman series in December I have fallen in love with the medium of the graphic novel. I don't know if it's just Gaiman's writing that makes it so fabulous, or it is really is a great medium, but my intent is to read more and find out. Then, I stumbled across this challenge, the Graphic Novels Challenge 2011. Perfect way to encourage me to do what I was going to do anyway: read! :D

The level of participation:
Beginner (3 comics or graphic novels)
Intermediate (3-10 books)
Expert (10+)

I'm going for the Intermediate. I think I can easily read four new-to-me graphic novels, and possibly more. I'd like to eventually review one of the Sandman novels so that I can show how simply fantastic they are, and rereads are okay for this challenge, so I might easily make ten. Look forward to trying though!

*a post on my view of graphic novels

Graphic Novels Read:
1. 300 by Frank Miller and Lynn Varley. (my review here)
2. Fables Vol. 1: Legends in Exile by Bill Willingham and Lan Medina. (my review here)
3. Fables Vol. 2: Animal Farm by Bill Willingham and Mark Buckingham. (my review here)
4.Rapunzel's Revenge by Dean and Shannon Hale, illustrated by Nathan Hale. Read 25 January 2011. (my review here)

Woot! Beginner level completed 25 January 2010! On to Intermediate!

5. Calamity Jack by Dean and Shannon Hale, illustrated by Nathan Hale. Read 26 January 2011. (my review here)
6. Britten and Brülightly by Hannah Berry. Read 27 January 2011. (my review here)
7. The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Vol. 1 by Alan More, author and Kevin O'Neill, illustrator. Read 30 January 2011. (my review here)
8. Locke & Key Volume 1: Welcome to Lovecraft  by Joe Hill, author and Gabriel Rodriguez, illustrator.  Read 25 February 2011. (my review here)
9. Locke & Key Volume 2: Head Games by Joe Hill, author and Gabriel Rodriguez, illustrator.  Read 8 March 2011.(my review here)
10. Veils by Pat McGreal.  Read 16 March 2011. (review)
Intermediate level completed 16 March 2011!

11.  American Vampire, Volume One by Scott Snyder and Stephen King, illustrated by Rafael Albuquereque. Read 24 March 2011.  (review)

A to Z Challenge

One last reading challenge for the 2011 year. I did this challenge a couple of years ago, when I was book blogging on another blog, and I loved it! The A to Z Challenge introduced me to authors I wouldn't have tried, as I filled up those hard to get letters. I'm excited to try it again.

How does this reading challenge work? Choose the option that works best for you...

Authors -- Read alphabetically by author. Commit to 26 books.
Titles -- Read alphabetically by title. Commit to 26 books.
Authors & Titles -- Commit to reading 52 books

The other time I tried it, I did both authors and titles; though I didn't complete it, I thoroughly enjoyed it and that's the option I am planning for again this year!

Author List:
A
Bradbury, Ray. Something Wicked This Way Comes (review)
Collins, Suzanne. The Hunger Games (review.)
Donoghue, Emma. Room. (review.)
Evans, Kirsti. Something Different About Dad. (review)
Flaubert, Gustave. Madame Bovary (review)
Gerritsen, Tess. The Surgeon (review)
Heyer, Georgette. Charity Girl (review)
I
J
King, Stephen. The Eyes of the Dragon. (review)
Leaming, Linda.  Married to Bhutan. (review)

Moore, Alan. League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Vol. 1 (review)
N
O
P
Q
R
Snyder, Scott.  American Vampire. (review)

Turgeon, Carolyn. Mermaid: A Twist on the Classic Tale (review)
U
V
Willingham, Bill. Fables Vol. 2: Animal Farm (review)
X
Y
Z

Title List:
Apprenctice (the) by Tess Gerritsen. (review)
Britten and Brülightly by Hannah Berry. (review)
Calamity Jack by Dean and Shannon Hale; illustrated by Nathan Hale. (review)
Dune by Frank Herbert. (discussion)

Evil Genius (the) by Wilkie Collins. (review)
Fables Vol. 1: Legends in Exile by Bill Willingham, author and Lan Medina, illustrator. (review) 
G
Hold Me Closer, Necromancer by Lish McBride. (review)
In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson. (review)
Juniper Berry by M. P. Kozlowsky.  (review) 
King Solomon's Mines by H. Rider Haggard. (review)
Leavenworth Case (the) by Anna Katharine Green. (review)
Mystery of a Hansom Cab by Fergus Hume. (review)
N
Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood. (review)
Penelopiad (the), by Margaret Atwood. (review)

Q
Revenge of the Radioactive Lady (the) by Elizabeth Stuckey-French (review)
Sideways on a Scooter by Miranda Kennedy. (review)
Tiger Hills by Sarita Mandanna. (review)
U
Veils by Pat McGreal. (review)
We Need to Talk about Kevin by Lionel Shriver. (review)
X
Y
Ziska by Marie Corelli.  (review)

What's in a Name Challenge

Yes, another challenge that caught my eye! The What's in a Name Challenge is quite intriguing, as well!

Between January 1 and December 31, 2011, read one book in each of the following categories:

1. A book with a number in the title: First to Die, Seven Up, Thirteen Reasons Why

2. A book with jewelry or a gem in the title: Diamond Ruby, Girl with a Pearl Earring, The Opal Deception

3. A book with a size in the title: Wide Sargasso Sea, Small Wars, Little Bee  Completed 17 March 2011; see below.

4. A book with travel or movement in the title: Dead Witch Walking, Crawling with Zombies, Time Traveler's Wife

5. A book with evil in the title: Bad Marie, Fallen, Wicked Lovely  Completed 14 January 2011; see below.

6. A book with a life stage in the title: No Country for Old Men, Brideshead Revisited, Bog Child Completed 5 November 2011, see below.


The book titles are just suggestions, you can read whatever book you want to fit the category.

I look forward to seeing what I can find to complete this one! :D

Proposed reading and books read:
1. "A book with a number in the title": Moon and Sixpence by Somerset Maugham. I've never read Maugham, but have always intended to, so this is a good time to start.

3. "A book with a size in the title":  Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes Read 17 March 2011; read my review here.

5. "A book with evil in the title": The Evil Genius by Wilkie Collins. Will cross over to my Victorian Literature Challenge.  Read 14 January 2011. Read my review here.

6.  A "book with a life stage in the title": Millionaire Baby by Alice Duer Miller.  Read 5 November 2011.  Brief discussion here.

Take a Chance Challenge

This challenge really caught my imagination. It's the Take a Chance Challenge, and here are the ten chance challenges I'll try to complete this year:

1: Staff Member’s Choice: Go to a bookstore or library that has a “Staff Picks” section. Read one of the picks from that section. Completed 18 February 2011; see list below.

2: Loved One’s Choice: Ask a loved one to pick a book for you to read. (If you can convince them to buy it for you, that is even better!) Completed 16 January 2011; see list below.

3: Blogger’s Choice: Find a “Best Books Read” post from a favorite blogger. Read a book from their list.

4: Critic’s Choice: Find a “Best of the Year” list from a magazine, newspaper or professional critic. Read a book from their Top 10 list.

5: Blurb Book: Find a book that has a blurb on it from another author. Read a book by the author that wrote the blurb.

6: Book Seer Pick: Go to The Book Seer and follow the instructions there. Read a book from the list it generates for you.

7: What Should I Read Next Pick : Go to What Should I Read Next and follow the instructions there. Read a book from the list it generates for you.

8: Which Book Pick: Go to Which Book and use the software to generate a list of books. Read a book from that list.

9: LibraryThing Pick: Go to LibraryThing’s Zeitgeist page. Look at the lists for 25 Most Reviewed Books or Top Books and pick a book you’ve never read. Read the book. (Yes … you can click on MORE if you have to.)

10: Pick A Method: Pick a method for finding a book from the choices listed below (used in previous versions of the challenge). Completed 19 January 2011; see list below.

* Random Book Selection. Go to the library. Position yourself in a section such as Fiction, Non-Fiction, Mystery, Children (whatever section you want). Then write down random directions for yourself (for example, third row, second shelf, fifth book from right). Follow your directions and see what book you find. Check that book out of the library, read it and then write about it. (If you prefer, you can do the same at a bookstore and buy the book!)
* Public Spying. Find someone who is reading a book in public. Find out what book they are reading and then read the same book. Write about it.
* Random Bestseller. Go to Random.org and, using the True Random Number Generator, enter the number 1950 for the min. and 2010 for the max. and then hit generate. Then go to this site and find the year that Random.org generated for you and click on it. Then find the bestseller list for the week that would contain your birthday for that year. Choose one of the bestsellers from the list that comes up, read it and write about it.

How fun is that? I'm looking forward to finding an interesting (or perhaps terrible) book this way!


Proposed reading and completed challenges:
1. Powell's Books has a Staff Top 5 of 2010 of their store webpage. I noticed how Room by Emma Donoghue was on several lists and have decided I want to give it a try. Completed 18 February 2011; best book of the year so far! My review here.

2. Completed 16 January 2011: The Eyes of the Dragon by Stephen King, recommended by my husband. My review is here.

3. Floor to Ceiling Books lists Department 19 as the best she read in 2010 (she read the ARC) and I'll have to wait til March to read it, but I'm looking forward to it!

4. Using the NY Times Best of 2010 list, I've found Cleopatra: A Life by Stacy Schiff. Looking forward to giving it a try.

10. Completed 19 January 2011: We Need to Talk about Kevin by Lionel Shriver. My review and explanation of how I chose the book are here.

Victorian Literature Challenge

Now that I'm back to book blogging, one of the first things I've done is look for book challenges. I love the push to read something new or to read more of a genre. I just like a challenge in general. The Victorian Literature Challenge was one of the first I came across and is a perfect challenge for my new year! Thanks to the beauty of public domain books,I have been planning on indulging in more of my favorite Victorian authors, as well as trying some new ones, so this will give me that extra push I need.

There are four levels to choose from in this challenge:

Sense and Sensibility: 1-4 books.
Great Expectations: 5-9 books.
Hard Times: 10-14 books.
Desperate Remedies: 15+ books.

I think I can safely try for the Great Expectations level, and who knows, maybe more. :)


1. King Solomon's Mines, published 1885 (This is a cheat, in a way, as I started it before I joined this challenge.)
Read 11 January 2011. Read my review here.

2. The Leavenworth Case, published 1878. Mrs. Green was one of the first writers of detective fiction in the U.S. and is given credit for shaping the genre into it's classic form, including the recurring series detective.
Read 17 January 2011; my review here.

3. The Evil Genius, published 1886. Collins has long been a favorite of mine, I've not yet read this one and it will cross over to my What's in a Name Challenge for "a book with evil in the title".
Read 14 January 2011. Read my review here.

4. The Mystery of a Hansom Cab, published c.1889 (I get differing reports of anywhere from 1886-1889). It was the most popular mystery of that century and prompted Doyle to try his hand at the genre.
Read 22 January 2011. Read my review here.

Sense and Sensibility level completed!

5. Martin Hewitt, Investigator by Arthur Morrison. Read 2 February 2011. Read my review here.

6. Victorian Short Stories of Troubled Marriages; authors: Rudyard Kipling, Ella D'Arcy, Arthur Morrison, Arthur Conan Dolye, and George Gissing. Read 9 February 2011. (my review here)

7. Modern Instances by Ella D'Arcy.  Read 3 March 2011. (my review here)

8.  The Bishop's Dilemma by Ella D'Arcy.  Read 4 March 2011. (my review here)

9. Ziska by Marie Corelli.  Read 11 March 2011.  (my review here)
Great Expectations level completed!

10.  Monochromes by Ella D'Arcy.  Read 12 March 2011. (my review here)