Thursday, March 18, 2010

Once Upon a Time Challenge

It's time for the fourth annual Once Upon a Time Challenge, hosted by Carl from Stainless Steel Droppings. Woo-hoo! I love Carl's challenges, although I didn't sign up for the Sci-fi challenge this year.

It's hard to believe that once upon a time I didn't really consider myself to be a fantasy reader. Sure I would occasionally read something that fits the fairy tale/folklore/fantasy/myth type, but for the most part I didn't go out of my way to do so.

Over the past few years I have started reading more and more. So far this year nearly one in five of the books I have read would have qualified for this challenge, including one of only two books that I rated as 5/5 reads - the excellent The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss.

I have decided that I am going to participate in Quest the First, where the aim is to "Read at least 5 books that fit somewhere within the Once Upon a Time IV criteria. They might all be fantasy, or folklore, or fairy tales, or mythology…or your five books might be a combination from the four genres."

At this stage, my five books will most likely be chosen from the following pool of possibilities:

Mort by Terry Pratchett ***
Shades of Grey by Jasper Fforde
Spirit Walker by Michelle Paver
King of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner
Fellowship of the Ring by J R R Tolkien *****
Lament by Maggie Stiefvater
Fire by Kristin Cashore
The Sharing Knife: Horizon by Lois McMaster Bujold
Sabriel by Garth Nix
The Knife of Letting Go by Patrick Ness

I have quite a few other books left on my shelves that might qualify, but we will see how we go. I certainly have enough to choose from!

***If you are participating in my Terry Pratchett Challenge the books would also qualify for the Once Upon a Time Challenge.

***** Yes, I got way behind in the Lord of the Rings readalong and don't see myself catching up any time soon, but I am still intending to finish reading the books!

10 comments:

  1. Terry Pratchett! Patrick Ness! Garth Nix! You have some excellent reading ahead of you :D

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  2. Sounds like a great challenge! I'm signing up.

    Mort is good, I hope you enjoy it.

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  3. Thanks for posting this, Marg, otherwise I would never have found it. I'm only beginning to enjoy fantasy and this challenge really appeals.

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  4. I thought The Knife of Never Letting Go was an amazing book. And Garth Nix's Abhorsen series is excellent. (Another superb Aussie fantasy author is Trudi Canavan.) Yes, I have one Pratchett book on my list which I'll read for both challenges - very convenient.

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  5. wow nice list! I have read Fellowship of the Ring and Fire by Kristin Cashore and Sabrirel by Garth Nix.. and you won't get any down thoughts on any of those! I will look forward to your reviews!

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  6. Marg, I'm seriously considering joining this challenge. And it's all your fault. It's sounds likes a ton of fun and the art work is beautiful.

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  7. Ooh! Good luck with your challenge! I know you will do wonderfully!

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  8. What a great list of books, Marg! I have only read Fellowship of the Ring on your list, but there are several others that I do hope to read at some point--anything by Terry Pratchett really and Jasper Fforde's Shades of Grey just for starters. Good luck with the challenge!

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  9. I'm noticing Shades of Grey, Patrick Ness, and Tolkien on many lists for this challenge. Happy reading!

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  10. Hi Marg,
    I just signed up for this challenge too! :0)

    I have Fire by Kristin Cashore on my list, too... as well as King of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner.

    I also have a Maggie Stiefvater title on my list... Ballad, which is the sequel to Lament.

    I have read the Abhorsen trilogy by Garth Nix a few years ago and found it extremely engrossing. I hope you enjoy it as well.

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