December 09, 2007

Man Booker Challenge

So let's say I was wanting to commit myself to just one more reading challenge; and let's say I was looking for something thought provoking and award winning; and let's say I would only join it if I had enough books already on my shelves so I wouldn't have to buy anything new. Then I would choose the Man Booker Challenge hosted by Dewey at The Hidden Side of a Leaf. Read 6 books in 12 months that were short-listed, long-listed or won the Man Booker Award. I looked through the shelves and then I looked through the lists here. These are the books I came up with:

  • The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro
  • On Beauty by Zadie Smith
  • Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
  • Atonement by Ian McEwan
  • The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje
  • Disgrace by J.M. Coetzee
  • Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood
  • The Stone Diaries by Carol Shields

The top three are titles I already have on the Book Awards Challenge list so I am really only committing to read three other books for the entire year, with the possibility of reading a couple of extras. I already planned to read Atonement as the movie looks so good. And I watched The English Patient last weekend so that one was also on my mind lately. The others I've picked up used here and there because of some great blog reviews.

So it looks like I've joined yet another reading challenge.

5 comments:

verbivore said...

Disgrace is one of my all-time favorite books. A hard one, but very good. I'll be interested to see what you think.

Ana S. said...

I'm going to join this one as well. I'm still thinking of what to pick, though. I absolutely loved "The Remains of the Day".

PS: I love the festive look of your blog :)

Petunia said...

Verb-it was one of those books I hadn't heard of before but it sounded interesting from the back cover. Glad to hear it's a good one.

Nymeth-oh goodie. I'll be waiting to read which books you choose. And thanks for the compliment.

Trish @ Love, Laughter, Insanity said...

Oh, I sooooo want to do this one, but I'm all challenged out. I am going to have to cut down my reading next year :( and hate making commitments I can't keep. Blah! Great list!! Maybe I'll just make a list for fun. ;)

Dewey said...

I'm glad you're joining us! I've read several of your choices, and they're all great reads. And I have to say, whether it's your real name or just a blog name, Petunia is such a pretty name.