Calico's Dare: June 2011
Welcome to Calico's Dares! This is a new feature that sort of goes along with the 2011 Book Club, but you don't have to be signed up for the book club to participate. How does it work? Let me show you:
1) At the start of every month, I'm going to select a book I've already read and reviewed and dare you to read it. Don't worry: I'm not going to suggest something I hated. Rather, the books will come from my highest rated reviews, so you get a chance to read something I've loved and see if I'm on track or on crack. Every reader is different, after all!
2) There are NO LIMITS to the titles I choose, other than the fact I've read and reviewed them and given them a high rating. What does that mean? Well, I could pick a sequel of a book. Or I could select a book that's out of print. ANYTHING. The sky's the limit, and it'll be up to YOU to get your hands on the book to read it.
3) NO ONE IS REQUIRED to participate. This is meant to be fun, which is why I'm not worrying about sequels or out-of-print titles. I will warn you if said DARE is a sequel or out of print, don't worry. I won't let you find that out on your own.
4) I will try, but not always succeed, in selecting a book that balances the current book club selection. By balance, I mean if we're reading epic fantasy, I'm not going to give you another epic fantasy. If we're reading paranormal romance, I'm not gonna give you a paranormal romance.
5) I will give you the link to my original review. All discussion must be posted there. I will not send out reminder emails, nor will I post a separate discussion. The Weekend Update will list the current month's dare, but that's all the reminder you'll get.
6) Dares will be announced in the month they're due. If you can't read a dare in a given month, no big deal. You're not getting penalized or anything. Now, if you've signed up for the 2011 Book Club, you do get participation points for participating, but don't break your neck trying to do two books in one month for participation points, okay? If it's gonna be one or the other, I'd prefer you to read the current book club selection, not the dare.
Clear as mud? Do you have any questions? If not, let's announce the next Calico's Dare, to be read in June!
The Veil of Gold ***
by Kim Wilkins
Fantasy (2008)
Calico's Rating: Must Have
*** = known as Rosa and the Veil of Gold outside of the US
It was hard to pick a Dare for this month, because I had so many great titles available. But every time I looked at my list, I was constantly struck by how I rarely hear anyone talk about Kim Wilkins' little gem, a book that I adore. I worry it's because the mass market paperback makes the book look like something it's not, which is why I included the hardcover art as well, to show you that this book has a kind of serious mystique. It's also the first book I read that utilized Russian folklore and mythology in a way that really engaged me (I think it's due to the strength of the characterization), and I enjoyed the book so much that I went out of my way to find the author's other work, even though it's seriously hard to get in the US.
The Veil of Gold (or, if you're outside of the US, Rosa and the Veil of Gold) is a lovely, enjoyable book, and it's one I'd love to see get a bigger audience. So what do you say? Are you ready to give it a shot?
TO DISCUSS: please click here and comment. :) Feel free to read my original review and people's previous comments, but don't be shy about starting up a new discussion either!
And if you've already read the book? Comment anyway! Let's hear what you think!
Happy Reading!
1) At the start of every month, I'm going to select a book I've already read and reviewed and dare you to read it. Don't worry: I'm not going to suggest something I hated. Rather, the books will come from my highest rated reviews, so you get a chance to read something I've loved and see if I'm on track or on crack. Every reader is different, after all!
2) There are NO LIMITS to the titles I choose, other than the fact I've read and reviewed them and given them a high rating. What does that mean? Well, I could pick a sequel of a book. Or I could select a book that's out of print. ANYTHING. The sky's the limit, and it'll be up to YOU to get your hands on the book to read it.
3) NO ONE IS REQUIRED to participate. This is meant to be fun, which is why I'm not worrying about sequels or out-of-print titles. I will warn you if said DARE is a sequel or out of print, don't worry. I won't let you find that out on your own.
4) I will try, but not always succeed, in selecting a book that balances the current book club selection. By balance, I mean if we're reading epic fantasy, I'm not going to give you another epic fantasy. If we're reading paranormal romance, I'm not gonna give you a paranormal romance.
5) I will give you the link to my original review. All discussion must be posted there. I will not send out reminder emails, nor will I post a separate discussion. The Weekend Update will list the current month's dare, but that's all the reminder you'll get.
6) Dares will be announced in the month they're due. If you can't read a dare in a given month, no big deal. You're not getting penalized or anything. Now, if you've signed up for the 2011 Book Club, you do get participation points for participating, but don't break your neck trying to do two books in one month for participation points, okay? If it's gonna be one or the other, I'd prefer you to read the current book club selection, not the dare.
Clear as mud? Do you have any questions? If not, let's announce the next Calico's Dare, to be read in June!
The Veil of Gold ***
by Kim Wilkins
Fantasy (2008)
Calico's Rating: Must Have
*** = known as Rosa and the Veil of Gold outside of the US
It was hard to pick a Dare for this month, because I had so many great titles available. But every time I looked at my list, I was constantly struck by how I rarely hear anyone talk about Kim Wilkins' little gem, a book that I adore. I worry it's because the mass market paperback makes the book look like something it's not, which is why I included the hardcover art as well, to show you that this book has a kind of serious mystique. It's also the first book I read that utilized Russian folklore and mythology in a way that really engaged me (I think it's due to the strength of the characterization), and I enjoyed the book so much that I went out of my way to find the author's other work, even though it's seriously hard to get in the US.
The Veil of Gold (or, if you're outside of the US, Rosa and the Veil of Gold) is a lovely, enjoyable book, and it's one I'd love to see get a bigger audience. So what do you say? Are you ready to give it a shot?
TO DISCUSS: please click here and comment. :) Feel free to read my original review and people's previous comments, but don't be shy about starting up a new discussion either!
And if you've already read the book? Comment anyway! Let's hear what you think!
Happy Reading!