The Historical Fiction Reading Challenge 2011

Is Historical Fiction For You? Here's the best description I've read about historical fiction from Goodreads...

Historical fiction presents readers with a story that takes place during a notable period in history, and usually during a significant event in that period. Historical fiction often presents actual events from the point of view of people living in that time period.

In some historical fiction, famous events appear from points of view not recorded in history, showing historical figures dealing with actual events while depicting them in a way that is not recorded in history. Other times, the historical event complements a story's narrative, occurring in the background while characters deal with events (personal or otherwise) wholly unrelated to recorded history. Sometimes, historical fiction can be for the most part true, but the names of people and places have been in some way altered.

As this is fiction, artistic license is permitted in regard to presentation and subject matter, so long as it does not deviate in significant ways from established history. If events should deviate significantly, the story may then fall into the genre of alternate history, which is known for speculating on what could have happened if a significant historical event had gone differently. On a similar note, events occurring in historical fiction must adhere to the laws of physics. Stories that extend into the magical or fantastic are often considered historical fantasy.

I love reading historical fiction. I love being whisked away to another time and place and immersing myself into the era. That's exactly why I've decided to join the...

Historical Fiction Reading Challenge 2011 hosted by Historical Tapestry, that group of readers who love reading historical fiction too! Here's what the challenge is all about...

The challenge will run from 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2011. Each month, a new post dedicated to the HF Challenge will be created. To participate, you only have to follow the rules:

* Everyone can participate, even those who don't have a blog (you can add your book title and thoughts in the comment section of the challenge blog if you wish)

* Add the link(s) of your review(s) including your name and book title to the Mister Linky we’ll be adding to our monthly post (please, do not add your blog link, but the correct address that will guide us directly to your review)

* Any kind of historical fiction is accepted (HF fantasy, HF young adult,...)

* You can choose one of the different reading levels:

• Severe Bookaholism: 20 books
• Undoubtedly Obsessed: 15 books
• Struggling the Addiction: 10 books
• Daring & Curious: 5 books
• Out of My Comfort Zone: 2 books

I'll be "Daring & Curious" with this challenge. I tend to pick out historical fiction for pleasure, so 5 books should be a reachable goal. (I just couldn't choose "2 books" because I'm totally in my comfort zone with historical fiction!) My reading group also loves historical fiction and I'm sure we'll be reading some great titles this year that will fit perfect into this genre. Up for the challenge? You can find out all the details and sign up at the Historical Fiction Reading Challenge 2011 Blog.

Japanese Literature Challenge 4

The Japanese Literature Challenge 4

Another Reading Challenge! I've been looking forward to The Japanese Literature Challenge since last year, when I was introduced to the beautiful prose and slight supernatural elements found in the writing of such Japanese authors as Takuji Ichikawa and Taichi Yamada. Dolce Bellezza is hosting the challenge again welcoming us with open arms into the world of Japanese Literature! There is a review site to post links to the books you've read, and a list of reading suggestions to help us along!

The Challenge is simple... Read one or more works of Japanese Literature between June 1, 2010 and January 30, 2011. Are you up for the Challenge?! I am! Visit Dolce Bellezza to learn more! And in the meantime, I'll be putting the beautiful Challenge Button up on my sidebar and you can click on it to see how I'm doing on the Challenge. I'll post all links to the books I've read for the Challenge here! Want to see how I did last year? You can find out at Japanese Literature Challenge 3. The Challenge didn't nudge me hard enought to read Haruki Murakami, which I wanted to accomplish, but there's always this year!

Happy reading... Suzanne

The 2010 EW Summer Books Challenge

The 2010 EW Summer Books Challenge

It's Reading Challenge time again... How many books can one girl challenge herself to read!? Well, I just couldn't resist this one! Booking Mama created this reading challenge after reading Entertainment Weekly's 18 Books We Can't Wait to Read This Summer. There were quite a few books on the list that are on my TBR list, such as The Passage by Justin Cronin, Here's the full list...

This Body Of Death by Elizabeth George

Half Life by Roopa Farooki

Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok

The Invisible Bridge by Julie Orringer

The Last Stand by Nathaniel Philbrick

Slow Love: How I Lost My Job, Put On My Pajamas And Found Happiness by Dominique Browning

WAR by Sebastian Junger

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets Nest by Stieg Larsson

The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner by Stephenie Meyer

The Passage by Justin Cronin

So Cold The River by Michael Koryta

The Cookbook Collector by Allegra Goodman (July 6)

Lucy by Laurence Gonzales (July 13)

Red Hook Road by Ayelet Waldman (July 13)

I Curse The River of Time by Per Pettersson (August 3)

You Lost Me There by Rosecrans Baldwin (August 12)

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins (August 24)

Here are the details on how you can sign up!

Levels:

1-3 Books: Polliwog

4-6 Books: Gupp

7-9 Books: Minnow

10-12 Books: Fish

13-15 Books: Flying Fish

16-18 Books: Shark

The 2010 EW Summer Books Challenge will run from May 1, 2010 through September 6, 2010 (Labor Day). You don't need to pick your books, just the level you're going to do. After you read a book, just write a review to share your thoughts with others! You can sign up at Booking Mama, grab the challenge button, announce your level and start reading! I'll post links to the books I've read from the challenge right here, so you can see how I did this summer!

I'm playing it safe here... I'm officially announcing my Polliwog level! (Besides, I never really learned to swim...)

Challenge Books Read... (Links to the reviews)

*The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner by Stephanie Meyer

Manga Reading Challenge 2010

Discover Another World... Manga

If you've ever ventured into the Manga section of your local bookstore, you may feel overwhelmed... I know I did. I was confronted with colorful covers, titles that gave me no clue as to what the book was about ("Fruit Basket"?), and books that had over 27 issues in a series! The artwork is highly stylized (big eyes, small mouths, wild colorful hair), but some of it is absolutely amazing. Between the covers there is love, sex, violence, and a whole range of emotional stories. I decided that I wanted to learn a little more about this wildly popular genre, and while I was at it, I searched for a Manga reading challenge, which I found... but more about the challenge later. Right now, let me share what I found out about Manga...

First, the definition of Manga:

Manga are Japanese comic books. Manga is often made into Japanese cartoons, or Anime. The art in Manga has a very definite look to it and is often referred to as “Manga Style.”

Next, how do you Pronounce 'Manga':

(Maw – Nnnnn – Gah) In Japanese, it is actually three syllables, although the middle "N" is spoken very quick. Americans have a habit of pronouncing it "Man-Gah", but that is not actually correct.

How to Read Manga:

Traditional Manga is read from the back of the book to the front, right to left; text and images read right to left... see illustration at right... The bold numbers represent the boxes that contain the drawings, and the circled numbers represent the order of the dialogue.

Types of Manga: These are just some of the categories

Shônen – Boy’s Manga – (Pronounced Show-Nen) Usually involves action & adventure.

Shôjo – Girl’s Manga – (Pronounced Show-Joe) Usually has romance & is more lighthearted.

Seinen – Men’s Manga – (Pronounced Say-Nen) usually for a mature audience.

Josei (or redikomi) – Women’s Manga – (Pronounced Joe-Say) usually for a mature audience.

Kodomo – Children’s Manga – (Pronounced Kow-Dow-Mow)

The word Manga can be translated as, “humorous pictures.” Manga became very popular in the 20th century when laws prohibiting the publication of those kinds of items were lifted. It has since become a huge part of Japanese culture. Unlike in America, Manga is read by most people in the country. The artists and writer of Manga are well respected for their work, much like the writers of literature in America. The stories first usually appear in serial form in a Manga magazine. If they become popular, they are reprinted in book form, usually small digests.

So now that we know a little about Manga, how do you figure out what to read? Recommendations from people who read Manga are my first choice. Next I would look through the books at my local bookstore and see what artwork & story-lines capture your attention. On the website Manga Worth Reading there is a section called 'Manga starting points', which highlights some books. And of course the online bookstores all have a comic & graphic novel section, which would include Manga. Another way, is to join a challenge and find reviews and recommendations from other people who are part of the challenge! Not only does a challenge give you a goal, but it's fun to chat with other people you meet about what everyone is reading. So, I joined the Manga Challenge 2010, hosted by Rhinoa of Rhinoa's Ramblings.

Here's the Rules of the Challenge...

The Manga Challenge will be running from it's own dedicated blog, Manga Challenge Blog. You can join throughout the year at the Manga Challenge Blog (there is no cut off time to sign up) and it ends on 31st December 2010. The goal is to read a minimum of 6 mangas. There will be the odd prize throughout the year and bonus points if you manage to watch at least one anime film or 3 episodes of a series.

So, it's as easy as that! Sign up at the Manga Challenge Blog and read Manga and review what you've read. If you don't have a blog to link your review, you can email Rhiona directly about posting your reviews on the Manga blog. So, are you up for the challenge? Any of you Manga readers out there? - what are YOU reading!? I would love to hear suggestions here too!

*BTW, the beautiful Manga Challenge Button above was designed by Nymeth's boyfriend. Who's Nymeth? She has a blog called things mean a lot, and she's part of the Manga challenge too!

As I begin to read and review the Manga stories, I'll post review links here... Right now I'm reading my first one called solanin by Inio Asano. The artwork is pleasing and the story is really good! This is it's description,

"College graduates struggle to cope with the real world. Music offers refuge in this modern manga with an American attitude."

Manga is a bit of a reach for me, but it was interesting to learn more about what it is all about. Some of the suggestions I've gotten have been Emma: Volume 1 by Kaoru Mori which is a victorian story, Fruit Basket: Volume 1 by Natsuki Takaya which is a series with mysterious family curses, and Vagabond, Volume 1 by Takehiko Inoue, Nominated for an Eisner Award in the category for Best Writer/Artist, and is based on the life of a true samurai warrior. What do you think about Manga? Is it something you were ever curious about?