This year I took part in the 2017 Modern Mrs. Darcy Reading Challenge. In fact, I took on the challenge of completing both lists, which was a stretch for me. Somehow, blessedly, I finished both lists and feel like a rock star for it. This year, it seems there’s only the one list and I can’t wait to start figuring out which books I’m going to select for this list. I’ve already picked a few, but I will update this post as I finish up my selections.
The list and more information about the reading challenge can be found here.
Below I’ll list the books I’m selecting for the challenge (and will mark them off as I read them.)
A classic you’ve been meaning to read
Persuasion by Jane Austen
A book recommended by someone with great taste
A book in translation
The Neverending Story by Michael Ende
A book nominated for an award in 2018
A book of poetry, a play, or an essay collection
The Fire This Time edited by Jessamyn Ward
A book you can read in a day
Ferals by Jacob Grey
A book that’s more than 500 pages
A book by a favorite author
Turtles All the Way Down by John Green
A book recommended by a librarian or indie bookseller
A banned book
In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
A memoir, biography, or book of creative nonfiction
A book by an author of a different race, ethnicity, or religion than your own
First impressions: I’m going to have the most trouble with a book I can read in a day, a book that’s more than 500 pages, and a book by someone with great taste. I’m worried about a book I can read in a day because I’m actually a pretty slow reader. And I’m worried about a book with more than 500 pages because I’m a slow reader. I’m worried about reading a book recommended by somebody with great taste, because I hate everybody’s favorite books.
There was a time when nonfiction would have scared me, but I’ve since found nonfiction books that I love. I’ve found that Laura Hillenbrand reads like a novel. I’ve found that some memoirs are not so bad. (But memoirs on audiobooks can sometimes be insufferable.)
I’m excited to start this challenge this year. Are you taking it? Which books are you including in your challenge? Which books should I include in mine? Leave a comment below!
Yours,
The Plucky Reader
My mother, who is 77, still lives in Russia, is re-reading Resurrection by Leo Tolstoy and picking up thing she never saw before. She has been on and on about the bottomless depth of this novel. I believe it is the last novel written by him. Look like it will be on my reading list. This is a good challenge.