999 Challenge - Finished!

I finished the 999 Challenge yesterday with O Velho que esperava por D. Sebastiao, a collection of short stories I picked up at the book fair in Coimbra (a snip at 2 Euros). It was nice to finish with a Portuguese book, as I am living in Portugal just now. Although I only had 9 books in my 1001 Book group, I was pleased to read many more and was able to slot them into other categories. I have now read over 50 1001 Books this year, something that was made possible with this challenge, it has been good to focus the mind. I flew through the beginning of the challenge, but slowed down when I had to wait to get books. I used Bookmooch and Bookcrossing to help complete categories, but friends and family were also great. I read 9 books for each category, but have put below the top reads for each group, though this was harder in some groups than others. You can see my challenge here: soffitta1's 999 Challenge

I look forward to 10/10/09, when I will start the 1010 Category Challenge, this time 10 books per category. Right now, I am trying to stay away from the temptation of reading the books I have earmarked for that challenge, but it's so hard! ;)

Group 1: Oceania and Islands

I chose this group as I was planning an Oceania and Islands Bookbox.

Top Reads - Reef Mr. Pip The Book Thief

The Flamboya Tree Masters of the Dew Theft A Love Story
Mr. Potter The House at Riverton The Pirate's Daughter

Group 2: Portugal
Books about Portugal or written by Portuguese speaking writers. I have recently moved to Portugal and feel I should get to know more about the people and culture. This has really been a fun and enlightening group, I have discovered a whole other world!

Top reads: The Journal of Beckford in Portugal and Spain Night Train to Lisbon Gabriela, Clove and Cinnamon

O Velho que esperava por D. Sebastiao 50 years of dictatorship Dona Flor and her two husbands
Brida The Return of the Water Spirit (African Writers Series) Ossobo

Group 3: 1001 Books

I am trying to read as many of the 1001 books as possible (from both lists), not just for the sake of it, but to expand my reading and read some of those classics I should have already read. This group was easy to complete thanks to the 1001-library.

Top Reads: On Beauty Possessing the Secret of Joy

Intimacy Les Liasons Dangereuses Mansfield Park & Northanger Abbey
The Turn of the Screw: AND The Aspern Papers (Penguin Classics)
The Yellow Wall-paper and Other Stories (Oxford World's Classics) London Fields

Group 4: Children's Books

To get in touch with my inner child :)

Top Reads: The 13 Clocks (Childrens Collection) Good-Bye, Mr. Chips

Aesop's Fables (Wordsworth Children's Classics)
Thanks to Pete for the books from A series of Unfortunate Events : Mau Começo (Desventuras em Serie, Livro Primeiro The Bad Beginning - Book 1 of A Series of Unfortunate Events The Reptile Room (Series of Unfortunate Events) The Wide Window (Series of Unfortunate Events) The Miserable Mill (A Series of Unfortunate Events No. 4) The Austere Academy (A Series of Unfortunate Events No.5)

Group 5: British Authors

I wanted to read more authors from home, including some 1001 books.

Top Reads: The Thirteenth Tale: A Novel (new author)The Moonstone (Penguin Popular Classics) (new author)

When Will There be Good News? The Second Plane: September 11, 2001-2007
Enduring Love: A Novel Evelina ( Everyman library no. 352.) (new author)
Emotionally Weird(in Portuguese) Amsterdam To the Lighthouse (new author)

Group 6: Controversial

I found a list online of banned books and was very surprised at some of the entries.

Top Reads: Brave New World (Reading Guide Edition) Petals of Blood

The Satanic Verses A Clockwork Orange (Essential Penguin) Beloved
Gulliver's Travels (Wordsworth Classics) Lolita One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest
Their Eyes Were Watching God

Group 7: Travel

My favourite hobby

Top Reads: The Emigrants The Old Patagonian Express: By Train Through the Americas Snow (Vintage International)

Wall to Wall: From Beijing to Berlin by Rail Facing it Something of Samoa (Penguin 60s)
The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano: Written by Himself (Bedford Series in History & Culture) Four Corners: A Journey into the Heart of Papua New Guinea Blood River

Group 8: Canongate

A great Scottish press, printing great British and international writers.

Top Reads: The Earth Hums in B Flat A Night Out with Robert Burns: The Greatest Poems The Penelopiad: The Myth of Penelope and Odysseus (Canongate Myths)

The Poison That Fascinates The End of Mr Y Tsotsi
Rembrandt's Whore Being Emily Binu and the Great Wall of China (Myths)

Group 9: Historical

-either non-fiction or with a historical setting.

Top Reads: The City of Falling Angels The Go-between (Penguin Modern Classics) Tipping the Velvet

Blood Meridian: Or, the Evening Redness in the West (Picador Books) Montenegro: A Novel
World's End Swift as Desire The Last Concubine The Forgotten Garden

999 Challenge August Update

I have now finished a couple more of the groups, so am well onto the final stretch, with only 8 books to go. I still need to find a few books to complete the challenge (Portugal, Canongate), but I reckon I am well on track for this challenge.

Group 1: Oceania and Islands COMPLETE

Group 2: Books about Portugal or written by Portuguese speaking writers. I have recently moved to Portugal and feel I should get to know more about the people and culture. 3/9
1. The Journal of Beckford in Portugal and Spain
2. Gabriela, Clove and Cinnamon
3. Dona Flor and her two husbands

Group 3: 1001 Books COMPLETE

Group 4: Children's Books COMPLETE A bookcrosser lent me the Series of Unfortunate Events, which help me wrap up this section.
1. The 13 Clocks
2. Aesop's Fables
3. Mau Começo
4. Goodbye, Mr. Chips
5. The Bad Beginning
6. The Reptile Room
7. The Wide Window
8. The Miserable Mill
9. The Austere Academy

Group 5:
British Writers (pref. new to me) COMPLETE


Group 6:
Controversial or banned Books 8/9
1. Petals of Blood
2. The Satanic Verses
3. A Clockwork Orange
4. Gulliver's Travels
5. Lolita
6. Beloved
7. Their Eyes were watching God
8. One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest

Group 7: Travel COMPLETE
1. The Emigrants
2. Wall to Wall A Woman's Travels from Beijing to Berlin
3. Facing it: Angel Valerie
4. Something of Samoa
5. The interesting Narrative of Oluanah Equiano
6. Four Corners A Journey into the Heart of Papua New Guinea
7. Snow
8. The Old Patagonian Express
9. Blood River

Group 8:
Canongate Books - a great Scottish press. 8/9
1. The poison that Fascinates
2. The end of Mr. Y
3. A Night out with Robert Burns
4. Tsotsi
5. Rembrant's Whore
6. Being Emily
7. The Penelopiad
8. Binu and the Great Wall of China

Group 9: History COMPLETE

999 Challenge June update

Have slowed down with the challenge, as I have been trying to pick up books to fill up the categories. 2 more groups completed and now I have read at least 2 books from each category.

Group 1: Oceania and Islands 9/9
1. Reef
2. Mr. Pip
3. The Flamboya Tree
4. Masters of the Dew
5. Theft A Love Story
6. Mr. Potter
7. The Book Thief
8. The House at Riverton
9. The Pirate's Daughter

Finally getting somewhere with Group 2, have changed it a wee bit so it now includes all Portuguese speaking writers:
2/9 Books about Portugal or written by Portuguese speaking writers. I have recently moved to Portugal and feel I should get to know more about the people and culture.
1. The Journal of Beckford in Portugal and Spain read
2. 50 years of dictatorship currently reading
3. Dona Flor and her two husbands read

Group 3 - finished

Group 4:
Children's Books 3/9
1. The 13 Clocks
2. Aesop's Fables
3. Mau Começo

Group 5:
British Writers (pref. new to me) 9/9
1. The Thirteenth Tale (new author)
2. When will there be good News
3. The Second Plane
4. Enduring Love
5. Evelina (new author)
6. The Moonstone (new author)
7. Emotionally Weird in Portuguese
8. Amsterdam
9. To the lighthouse (new author)

Group 6:
Controversial or banned Books 7/9
1. Petals of Blood
2. The Satanic Verses
3. A Clockwork Orange
4. Gulliver's Travels
5. Lolita
6. Beloved
7. Their Eyes were watching God

Group 7:
Travel 8/9
1. [The Emigrants]
2. [Wall to Wall A Woman's Travels from Beijing to Berlin]
3. [Facing it: Angel Valerie]
4. [Something of Samoa]
5. [The interesting Narrative of Oluanah Equiano]
6. [Four Corners A Journey into the Heart of Papua New Guinea]
7. [Snow]
8. [Blood River]

Group 8:
Canongate Books - a great Scottish press. 4/9
1. The poison that Fascinates
2. The end of Mr. Y
3. A Night out with Robert Burns
4. Tsotsi

Group 9: complete

Feeling happy about this challenge, not only has it helped me shape my reading, but also helped fill in gaps. Already thinking about next year, which categories, which books ... Glutton for punishment?!

999 Challenge April update

Over half way now on the challenge. Had a change of ideas with the categories, got rid of Prize winners and exchanged it for Banned or Controversial Books, a little more interesting. Trying to vary my reading, though am a bit behind on the Portuguese category, though at least have a couple of books now for it.

Group 1:
Oceania and Islands 8/9
1. Mr. Pip
2. The Flamboya Tree
3. Masters of the Dew
4. Theft A Love Story
5. Mr. Potter
6. The Book Thief
7. The House at Riverton
8. The Pirate's Daughter

Group 2: 0/9
Books about Portugal or written by Portuguese writers. I have recently moved to Portugal and feel I should get to know more about the people and culture.

Group 3:
1001 Books 9/9
1. Intimacy
2. The Turn of the Screw & The Aspern Papers
3. Northanger Abbey
4. The Yellow Wallpaper
5. London Fields
6. Mansfield Park
7. On Beauty
8. Possessing the Secret of Joy
9. Dangerous Liasons

Group 4:
Children's Books 2/9
1. The 13 Clocks
2. Mau Começo

Group 5:
British Writers (pref. new to me) 7/9
1. The Thirteenth Tale (new author)
2. When will there be good News
3. The Second Plane
4. Enduring Love
5. Evelina (new author)
6. The Moonstone (new author)
7. Amsterdam

Group 6:
Controversial or banned Books 5/9
1. Petals of Blood
2. The Satanic Verses
3. A Clockwork Orange
4. Gulliver's Travels
5. Their Eyes were watching God

Group 7:
Travel 4/9
1. The Emigrants
2. Wall to Wall A Woman's Travels from Beijing to Berlin
3. Four Corners A Journey into the Heart of Papua New Guinea
4. Snow

Group 8:
Canongate Books - a great Scottish press. 4/9
1. The poison that Fascinates
2. The end of Mr. Y
3. A Night out with Robert Burns
4. Tsotsi

Group 9:
Historical -either non-fiction or with a historical setting. 9/9
1. Montenegro
2. World's End
3. Blood Meridian Or the Evening Redness in the West
4. Tipping the Velvet
5. The Go-Between
6. The Last Concubine
7. The City of Falling Angels
8. The Forgotten Garden
9. Swift as Desire

Reading in the Sun

Finally, the weather has turned here, so I can return to one of my favourite hobbies - reading outside. (Double happiness, as my flat is freezing!) For the last couple of weeks, we have been on semester break at the uni, so have had more free time than usual. I've been reading quite a few 1001 books, especially as have had some to pass on. I have also managed to squeeze most of the books into my 999 Challenge. I think the 999 Challenge is going well, up to 16 books read and have managed to pick up a few more for different categories. The hardest one will be the Portuguese one, but will keep looking on Bookmooch.

Enduring Love 1001 book, 999 Challenge - British Writer
The 13 Clocks 1001 book, 999 Challenge - Children's book. This was sent to me via the 1001-library by KaKo27
Intimacy (1001 book) 1001 book, 999 Challenge - British Writer. Sent to me by katrinat, again through the1001-library
The Go-between (Penguin Modern Classics) 1001 book, 999 Challenge - Historical. Sent to me by ArwenG through the 1001-library and now on its way to the States to perryfran.
Mansfield Park & Northanger Abbey 2 1001 books in a double volume, 999 Challenge - 1001 books. I have had this for a while, but its size kept putting me off.
On Beauty 1001 book, 999 Challenge - British Writer. Another book I had on my shelf for a while, enjoyed this much more than the Autograph Man.