It’s snowing here. Again. It’s been snowing all day and is supposed to keep it up until about midnight. We already have close to four inches and might get up to as much as six. The weather forecast says more snow on Thursday and possibly even more on the weekend. For the past several years we have been rather snow deficient in December. Now it seems Nature is trying to make it up all at once. Sleds and skis will be safe gifts this holiday season. But I shouldn’t complain. The folks up in Duluth are getting buried under lake-effect snow and might see as much as 20 inches by tomorrow morning. Yikes!
Since I will be going out to do some shoveling shortly, I thought I’d take it easy this evening and post about two new challenges that I am recklessly signing on to.
Bellezza’s Japanese Literature Challenge. Three books, any genre. From now until January. My three books are:
The What’s in a Names? Challenge, is hosted by Annie who is something like ten or eleven years old. The challenge starts on January 1, 2008 and goes through the end of the year. During that time those who dare must read a book from each of the following categories (my book choices are listed under each):
- A book with a color in its title. The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman. I’ve read it before but didn’t take to it so I am going to try it again.
- A book with an animal in its title. Flaubert’s Parrot by Julian Barnes. One of Litlove’s favorites, I can hardly wait to get to it.
- A book with a first name in its title. Anna Karenina. So many possibilities for this one it was hard to choose.
- A book with a place in its title. Sodom and Gomorrah by my friend Proust. I’m not done with Guermantes Way yet but clearly I have high hopes.
- A book with a weather event in its title. Breath of Snow and Ashes bt Diana Gabaldon. I was so excited when this came out in 2006, yet I never managed to read it. My dear Bookman read it and has been keeping his mouth shut about what happens all this time without a slip. He’s an a saint!
- A book with a plant in its title. House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski. I know leaves aren’t technically a plant, but they are parts of a plant so I think it’s close enough to count.
Good reading ahead! Must shovel some snow first.
Have fun shoveling!
Those challenges sound like fun. I’ve read Mishima’s The Sailor Who Fell from Grace with the Sea and liked it a lot; I have another one on my shelves I should try. And I hope you like Flaubert’s Parrot — it’s a favorite of mine too.
It’s snowing like crazy here, too, enough to make me hope for a Snow Day. Imagine, staying home from school and reading in my cozy house all day. I love winter!
The book choices you listed sound excellent. I can’t wait to read your reviews and thoughts.
A great couple of challenges there. I am a big fan of Japanese literature. I’ve read quite a few Mishima, but not that one. I’ve also read a few Murakami, but not that one – but have a couple waiting on my shelf.
The second challenge sounds really varied and fun. I might bookmark that to consider trying next year. It will be interesting to see if anything I’m planning to read anyway falls into the catagories.
No snow here – just endless rain.
Dorothy, my neighbor used his snowblower on my sidewalk. All I had to do was the porch and the walk up to my door. Oh and the deck so the dog could get into the yard. I love my neighbor right now because I was not looking forward to shoveling. As for Mishima, I am glad to hear you liked him. And I am glad to hear Flaubert’s Parrot is a favorite of yours too. I am sure to love it now!
Bellezza, we’ve got to get a lot of snow before we get s snow day, but I hope the powers that be are in your favor!
Jem, I’ve not read much Japanese literature but all that I have read I have enjoyed very much. I am very happy to say that all the books on my lists except Usagi Yojimbo came from my bookshelves.
Wow! I don’t know what to say. Being mentioned in another blog – thanked even – is a surreal thing for me. I think you have inspired me to join the challenges also. I was already in the process of committing to reading more Japanese lit for my studies anyhow. Certainly UY is not really Japanese, but for the challenge I think it carries the spirit.
What’s in a name is inspiring, not just because it is clever; but because a child created this bit of wit. Out of the mouths of babes…
You’ve probably chosen the most difficult Murakami to start with! It’s worth the effort, though, and I shall really look forward to reading what you think of it. I have four Mishima books in my TBR pile, and I thought about joining the challenge, but I don’t think I’m quite ready to read them yet. I thought your inclusion of a graphic novel was a really good idea. Good luck with both challenges.
Oh my goodness, all that snow! We’ve hardly had any here for years, and the weather at the moment is best described as ‘filthy’, which is to say dank, dark, drizzly. Yuk. Those are great challenges, particularly the second. I think I’ll sign that child up to one of my literature classes at this rate!
Oh you’ll enjoy the Murakami… really, I love all of his work, and even got to meet him once in Washington DC. His books are, specially that one, like walking into a Salvador Dali painting… sorry, that’s the best I can describe it. I hope you enjoy it. Whenever you get a chance, put some Paul Auster in your list… you’ll never regret it.
Cheers.
What a great couple of challenges. I’ve never read much Japanese Lit., but now just might be the right time. I find that a tremendous amount of the beauty that lies within most literature is lost in the translation from its original language into English. Does anyone know which translation of the Murakami is the most faithful to the author’s original intention?
Annie’s ten, she’ll be eleven in April. Isn’t that a great challenge she has put together? I can’t wait to begin. She’s such an interesting kid.
Bikkuri, UY looks like lots of fun and I loved the art on the website you linked. I thought you might be interested in the challenge. You could be the only one reading in Japanese!
GernaiumCat, your Murakami comment intrigues me. I almost chose Kafka on the shore but I want to read some Kafka before I read that. And these are the only two Murakami books I own.
Litlove, if you want to come play in the snow, you are welcome! I think Annie is on her way to becoming a brilliant reader.
JCR, I love Dali so your comment makes me very excited to read the book. That’s cool that you got to meet him. I own a couple of Austers but haven’t read him yet. Perhaps I will soon.
Brian, I’ve not read much Japanese lit either and have had Mishima and Murakami on my TBR pile for quite awhile, so the challenge is perfect. I hope someone else might know about translations because I haven’t a clue.
Carl, she’s a smart kid. Warms my heart and gives me hope.
It’s our turn to get snow, now. It is just snowing away. We are only supposed to get 3-5 inches. I am hoping for a while Christmas this year–it’s been very green for the last few Decembers here, too. Fun challenges–especially the what’s in a name! I plan on reading Anna K next year, too.
We don’t have snow yet but we’re meant to get some this weekend. I’m looking forward to it! But I also don’t have to do any shoveling, so that changes the perspective a bit.
I think I am going to join in the Japanese challenge. Sounds fun and I had some Japanese lit on the menu already. The other challenge sounds wonderful and even better for being launched by such a young reader.
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I can’t believe you have snow! We have temps in the 70s here!
Those are great challenges. How exciting that you get to read Murakami! I’ve only read two of his books but they were both great. Enjoy your challenges!
House of Leaves = fun read for me. I ended up getting sidetracked away from it by other reads and activs when I was about 2/3 through it over the summer, and I haven’t picked it up again to finish – boo-hiss. you’ll love it, hate it or end up somewhere in the middle asking “really? Are you kidding me?”
I should make a goal of finishing that up by end of year. I don’t like leaving unfinished business in my reading ventures.
I think I’m going to confine myself to the Russian challenge next year, since it seems to grow bigger every time I think about it (mmm, books)! But the Japanese challenge is tempting.
I read the Murakami shortly after we started our blog last year, and wrote about it here (back in the days when I managed concise posts!) – comments are quite interesting too:
http://evesalexandria.typepad.com/eves_alexandria/2006/05/unicorn_disloca.html
Danielle, enjoy your snow! We’ve had rather brown Decembers the last few years too. This winter is starting off a little more normal and that is nice.
Verbivore, I always think of Switzerland and covered in snow, that we’ve got snow before you do is a wonderment to me. I hope you enjoy it. And yay for joining the Japanes Challenge!
Iliana, the 70s are long gone and won’t be back again until May if we are lucky.
Tin Lizzy, I am not surprised you are enjoying House of Leaves. It seems like your type of book–thought provoking and off the beaten path (those are good things in case you are in doubt!
)
Nic, I was tempted by the Russian challenge but at the time I had sworn off challenges. Obviously that has changed. Thanks for the link to your Murakami review. I will be checking that out!