Once Upon a Time III

Each year, Carl at Stainless Steel Droppings hosts the Once Upon a Time challenge. It’s a chance to read fantasy, mythology, folklore and fairy tales. It is, of course, right up my alley. I’ve never dared join in before, but since this is my year for challenges, I’m going to give it my best shot. Fortunately, it’s my kind of challenge, where you don’t need to post a list in advance and there’s a lot of leeway for making decisions.

I’ve decided to aim for “Quest the Third”. The challenge is to read at least 5 books that fit somewhere within the Once Upon a Time III criteria. They might all be fantasy, or folklore, or fairy tales, or mythology…or your five books might be a combination from the four genres AND top it off with a June reading of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream OR a viewing of one of the many theatrical versions of the play. I’m planning to watch the play rather than read it.

The timetable for the challenge is between Saturday, 21st March and Friday, 20th June 2009.

My Once Upon a Time III reading list (reviews over on Saving My Sanity...):

1. The Ordinary Princess - M. M. Kaye
2. Alphabet of Thorn - Patricia A. McKillip
3. The Forest of Hands and Teeth - Carrie Ryan
4. The Night Bird - Catherine Asaro
5. Silver on the Tree - Susan Cooper

   Book component completed: 22nd April 2009

6. Giants of the Frost - Kim Wilkins
7. The Initiate - Louise Cooper

This challenge ended on the 20th June, 2009. I was partially successful with it, completing the books component, but not getting A Midsummer Night's Dream watched. I've been unwell since the 20th April or thereabouts and that impacted on my participation in the challenge. All the same, I'm glad I joined in and I'll be signing up again next year.

Cumulative Totals – February 2009

2009 Reading:
Books read this year = 23
DNFs this year = 1
10/10 reads this year = 0
New reads this year = 19
Rereads this year = 4
paper books : eBooks = 10 : 12 = 55% : 45%

2009 Challenges Progress:
100+ Reading Challenge = 21
Support Your Local Library Challenge = 6
Romance Reading Challenge = 5 (Challenge Completed 25-02-09)
YA Reading Challenge = 5
eBook Reading Challenge = 11 (Challenge Completed 24-02-09)
Patricia A. McKillip Reading Challenge = 1

2009 Non-Challenges Progress:
SF/Fantasy books read = 16
Audiobooks listened to = 1

February 2009 Reading

1. A Thousand Words for Stranger – Julie E. Czerneda
   Trade Pact Universe, Book 1; SF; eBook; Reread; 8/10
2. Princess of the Midnight Ball – Jessica Day George
   YA; Fantasy; Library Book; 7/10
3. Secrets of a Summer Night – Lisa Kleypas
   Wallflowers, Book 1; Romance, eBook; 8/10
4. Starcross – Philip Reeve
   Larklight, Book 2; Children; Library Book; 7/10
5. Shades of Dark – Linnea Sinclair
   Dock Five, Book 2; SF Romance; eBook; 8/10
6. The Sharing Knife: Horizon – Lois McMaster Bujold
   The Sharing Knife, Book 4; Fantasy; 9/10
7. The Prophet of Yonwood – Jeanne duPrau
   The Books of Ember, Book 3; YA; SF; eBook; 6/10
8. The Eye of Night – Pauline J. Alama
   Fantasy; eBook; 9/10
9. The Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever – Julia Quinn
   Romance; eBook; Reread; 8/10
10. Magician’s Gambit – David Eddings
    Fantasy; Audiobook; Reread; DNF
11. Angel’s Pawn – Nalini Singh
    Urban Fantasy; eBook; 7/10
12. Bone Crossed – Patricia Briggs
    Urban Fantasy; 9/10

February Reading:
Books read this month = 11
DNFs this month = 1
10/10 reads this month = 0
New reads this month = 9
Rereads this month = 2
paper books : eBooks = 5 : 6 = 55% : 45%

February Challenges Progress:
100+ Reading Challenge = 10
Support Your Local Library Challenge = 2
Romance Reading Challenge = 3 (Challenge Completed 25-02-09)
YA Reading Challenge = 2
eBook Reading Challenge = 6 (Challenge Completed 24-02-09)
Patricia A. McKillip Reading Challenge = 0

February Non-Challenges Progress:
SF/Fantasy books read = 8
Audiobooks listened to = 0