Once Upon A Time Challenge

[calissa]

Even if you have only visited this journal briefly, you'll likely be aware that I have a moderately enormous pile of books to read--a sizeable number of which are fantasy. So when I saw lynnoconnacht post up her introduction to the Once Upon A Time challenge I thought I'd give it a go.

The Once Upon A Time challenge runs from 21 March (yes, I'm late) until 21 June. The idea is to encourage the reading of fantasy, fairy tales, folklore and mythology.

The Once Upon a Time VIII Challenge has a few rules:

Rule #1: Have fun.

Rule #2: HAVE FUN.

Rule #3: Don’t keep the fun to yourself, share it with us, please!

Rule #4: Do not be put off by the word “challenge”.

While this event retains the word “challenge” from its earliest days, the entire goal is to read good books, watch good television shows and movies, and most importantly, visit old friends and make new ones.

Since I love making friends and reading fantasy, how could I resist? :)

Fulfill the requirements for The Journey or Quest the First or Quest the Second 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. Love the story, love the films, love the idea of that magical night of the year and so this is my chance to promote the enjoyment of this farcical love story.

I love A Midsummer Night's Dream so I couldn't resist signing up for this challenge... even though 21 June marks Midwinter here rather than Midsummer.

I'll be taking the Quest the First option which is:

Read at least 5 books that fit somewhere within the Once Upon a Time categories. They might all be fantasy, or folklore, or fairy tales, or mythology…or your five books might be a combination from the four genres.

This will more than likely be five fantasy books, since that is what is predominantly in my Mt TBR, but I'm hoping to get the time to explore the other categories a bit (recommendations are very welcome!)

A conservative list of possibilities includes:

The Meeting of the Waters by Caiseal Mor
Wolfskin by Juliet Marillier
The Earthsea Quartet by Ursula Le Guin
Battleaxe by Sara Douglas
The Women's Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets by Barbara G Walker
Dragonclaw by Kate Forsyth
Lion of Senet by Jennifer Fallon
Blood of Elves by Andrzej Sapkowski
Dreams Underfoot by Charles de Lint
The Lore of the Unicorn by Odell Shepard
The Shadow of Tyr by Glenda Larke
Midnight and Moonshine by Lisa Hannett & Angela Slatter
Ishtar edited by Amanda Pillar & K.V. Taylor
The Wild Girl by Kate Forsyth
Shadowfell by Juliet Marillier
The Last Stormlord by Glenda Larke
The Hidden Queen by Alma Alexander
Red Seas Under Red Skies by Scott Lynch