August Challenge: Palimpsest by Catherynne M. Valente
I'm cheating.
I know I said that you would have through today, Thursday June 10th to vote for the August challenge, but I'm posting the results today for a couple of reasons:
1) The winner is a CLEAR favorite and there's a snowball's chance in hell that something else would win at this point and
2) Instead of writing and posting a review today, I want to read a book. As it happens, Friday's a better review-focused day anyway, so instead of getting TWO posts on Friday, you're just going to get this one early. :)
And now, the results of the August Challenge!
For those of you wondering, here's where each book ranked in my interest level:
Already owned: the Mieville and the Valente
Curious about: the Sawyer
Wasn't interested in AT ALL: the Wilson
But thankfully, you all are saving me money this month, and after 47 awesome votes, the winner is . . .
Palimpsest (2009)
Written by: Catherynne M. Valente
Theme: 2010 Hugo Award Nominees
ISBN: 0553385763
I'm pretty excited to read this. I bought the book when it came out, but just hadn't had a chance to really sit down with it, so I'm glad you all are making me. I've read Valente before, and all I have to say about her work is this: some people read J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings every year. If I were to make an annual reading tradition, it would be both volumes of Valente's The Orphan's Tales. I can't speak to Palimpsest, but what I've read of hers gives me very high expectations. :)
Who can participate?
Anyone who's interested in the book. You don't have to have an LJ to participate in the challenge. Just read the book sometime between NOW and the month of AUGUST and then feel free to engage in discussion at the end of the month. Or, if you have a book blog of your own, post your review there and provide me with a link in mine. :) For your sake, I'll hold off posting my review until the end of AUGUST so no one feels rushed to finish the book. I want people to read at their own speed and to enjoy themselves.
Also, you DO NOT have to participate in the discussion to participate in the CHALLENGE, but you get points for both reading and commenting. While I love the discussion, I look very closely at the number of people who read the book for the challenge, so feel free to read even if you're not comfortable commenting! :)
As always, feel free to talk about the book challenge and encourage others to read what you are. After all, the more the merrier!
When do I participate?
Any time between NOW and August 31st. As long as you read the selection within this particular time frame, you've participated. This way, if you're a slower reader, you've got much more time. :) And if you're a fast reader, and want to participate in the discussion with the book fresh on your mind, then go ahead and wait until August!
How do I participate?
Get your hands on the book. You can buy, borrow, or swap, but please try and get your hands on the book. If you're having trouble finding this book, let me know and I'll try and point you in the right direction. This book's been around a while, which means you should be able to find it in used book stores at least. Don't worry, you can still buy it new online as well!
Also: sign up when I post the reminder in August letting me know you're gonna try and participate. It's a good way for me to gauge just how many participants we'll have, and by August 1st, you should know if you can get your hands on the book or not. But don't delay! Get your copy now!
Okay, okay, okay! But what about NEXT'S month's challenge? Taking suggestions for that?
Okay, so here's the deal: as far as un-named challenges go, we've got four months left in the theme-based challenges. January 2011 will start author-centric challenges, so if there's a theme you're dying to see, now's the time to tell me! Here's what I have in mind in terms of themes, but I'm not married to these. Feel free to suggest books that fit these themes OR suggest themes (with book selections) you're dying to see.
Theme-centric short story anthologies
Author-centric short story collections
Zombies
Publisher-centric titles
Historical Fantasy
Ghost Stories
Any YA theme (we haven't done YA since January!)
Lay it on me, folks! :)
I know I said that you would have through today, Thursday June 10th to vote for the August challenge, but I'm posting the results today for a couple of reasons:
1) The winner is a CLEAR favorite and there's a snowball's chance in hell that something else would win at this point and
2) Instead of writing and posting a review today, I want to read a book. As it happens, Friday's a better review-focused day anyway, so instead of getting TWO posts on Friday, you're just going to get this one early. :)
And now, the results of the August Challenge!
For those of you wondering, here's where each book ranked in my interest level:
Already owned: the Mieville and the Valente
Curious about: the Sawyer
Wasn't interested in AT ALL: the Wilson
But thankfully, you all are saving me money this month, and after 47 awesome votes, the winner is . . .
Palimpsest (2009)
Written by: Catherynne M. Valente
Theme: 2010 Hugo Award Nominees
ISBN: 0553385763
I'm pretty excited to read this. I bought the book when it came out, but just hadn't had a chance to really sit down with it, so I'm glad you all are making me. I've read Valente before, and all I have to say about her work is this: some people read J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings every year. If I were to make an annual reading tradition, it would be both volumes of Valente's The Orphan's Tales. I can't speak to Palimpsest, but what I've read of hers gives me very high expectations. :)
Who can participate?
Anyone who's interested in the book. You don't have to have an LJ to participate in the challenge. Just read the book sometime between NOW and the month of AUGUST and then feel free to engage in discussion at the end of the month. Or, if you have a book blog of your own, post your review there and provide me with a link in mine. :) For your sake, I'll hold off posting my review until the end of AUGUST so no one feels rushed to finish the book. I want people to read at their own speed and to enjoy themselves.
Also, you DO NOT have to participate in the discussion to participate in the CHALLENGE, but you get points for both reading and commenting. While I love the discussion, I look very closely at the number of people who read the book for the challenge, so feel free to read even if you're not comfortable commenting! :)
As always, feel free to talk about the book challenge and encourage others to read what you are. After all, the more the merrier!
When do I participate?
Any time between NOW and August 31st. As long as you read the selection within this particular time frame, you've participated. This way, if you're a slower reader, you've got much more time. :) And if you're a fast reader, and want to participate in the discussion with the book fresh on your mind, then go ahead and wait until August!
How do I participate?
Get your hands on the book. You can buy, borrow, or swap, but please try and get your hands on the book. If you're having trouble finding this book, let me know and I'll try and point you in the right direction. This book's been around a while, which means you should be able to find it in used book stores at least. Don't worry, you can still buy it new online as well!
Also: sign up when I post the reminder in August letting me know you're gonna try and participate. It's a good way for me to gauge just how many participants we'll have, and by August 1st, you should know if you can get your hands on the book or not. But don't delay! Get your copy now!
Okay, okay, okay! But what about NEXT'S month's challenge? Taking suggestions for that?
Okay, so here's the deal: as far as un-named challenges go, we've got four months left in the theme-based challenges. January 2011 will start author-centric challenges, so if there's a theme you're dying to see, now's the time to tell me! Here's what I have in mind in terms of themes, but I'm not married to these. Feel free to suggest books that fit these themes OR suggest themes (with book selections) you're dying to see.
Theme-centric short story anthologies
Author-centric short story collections
Zombies
Publisher-centric titles
Historical Fantasy
Ghost Stories
Any YA theme (we haven't done YA since January!)
Lay it on me, folks! :)