Thursday, December 17, 2009

Back to Bookishness: Introduction and Our Mutual Read Challenge List



A few nights ago I stayed up late finishing The White Queen; it was terrific.  I had planned on crawling into bed around 10:30, but was delayed because finishing the novel spawned a feverish research session.  I was utterly compelled to research the Plantagenet line and the War of the Roses.  Sleep was not achieved until well after midnight.

I've been thinking a great deal about this blog -- I love writing about Sam and Hope, my tiny grumbles and bouts of sarcasm, baking and stitching, photos of the owl collection.... but I think my blog is lacking my true obsession in life:  reading.  Oh yes, my reads are listed on the side bar and I'll occasionally list a book or photo a book pile -- but the nerdspark isn't all there.

I've never been a blogger who has only written about books, but once upon a time books were the bulk of my posts.  There are several reasons for this:  I was hung up from a reading slump a few years ago and never got back around to blogging, there are a shit ton of book bloggers and I feel inadequete compared to many, and, honestly, the past few times I have blogged about books the comments are low and the the post is often a bit flat.

I miss my bookish blogging so I'm declaring 2010 my year to get back to my bookish roots.  I have several things going in preparation for 2010:  books have been inventoried and listed, reading groups and challenges have been established, and my absolute thirst to shut out the world and read has grown.

In the next few weeks expect several posts outlining my plans.  I'll be joining a slew of challenges.  I like challenges because even if I don't finish a challenge I find myself having more direction and making connections with books and other book bloggers.  Tonight I want to share my list I've made for the wee challenge I'm hosting:  Our Mutual Read.

My goal is to participate in Level 3, 12 books, at least 6 written during 1837 - 1901.  The other books may be Neo-Victorian or non-fiction.  Of course these are the books that catch my fancy right now; I'm sure many more will find their way to my book pile!

Books written during 1837-1901:
Villette by Charlotte Bronte
Lady Audley's Secret by Mary Elizabeth Braddon
Late Victorian Gothic Tales edited by Roger Luckhurst
Mary Barton by Elizabeth Gaskell
Uncle Silas by Sheridan Le Fanu
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
House of the Seven Gables by Nathaniel Hawthorne
Little Dorrit by Charles Dickens
No Name by Wilkie Collins
Tess of the D'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy
The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins


Neo-Victorian Fiction:
Mammoth Book of Dickensian Whodunnits edited by Mike Ashley
The Observations by Jane Harris
Angelica by Arthur Phillips
Meaning of Night by Michael Cox
The Spiritualist by Megan Chance

Non-Fiction:
Charles Dickens: A Writing Life by Michael Slater

I'll be putting my list up on the Our Mutual Read blog later.  Right now I'm off to finish my lunch break, make it through the work day, and get home!

3 comments:

Eva said...

I'm so glad you posted your list, since I haven't had a chance to start researching who exactly are Victorians! lol

Jill said...

I look forward to your blog in 2010! I love to read and can always find some great ideas here!

Amelia said...

Hi Amanda -

I just wanted to let you know that I am a big fan of your blog and have been so for some time. I used to have a blog (Amelia's Passion) and used to occasionally comment on your blog. Even though I don't comment anymore I still make the time to catch up with your blog as often as I can. I think you have an awesome blog and your posts have often inspired me to snuggle up with a nice latte and a chunky book.

My point is...I'm pretty sure there are other lurkers out there who love your blog but just have not commented. Keep on doing what you do because I find your posts - whether on books, stiching, baking or life - to be fantastic!

Happy Holidays!

- Amelia