I'm in Yellowknife today. I came here a few days ago in an attempt to buy a house. I failed. Feeling a little disappointed, (but not crushed, so reserve your sympathy please) I tried to head back to Iqaluit. It's only been a short time away, but I miss my family. Unfortunately, the weather in Iqaluit resulted in a cancelled flight and it looks like I'm here until Sunday.
Because of my lack of ability to entertain myself, I'm bored and now doing something I vowed not to do: begin another blog challenge. It's not like the challenge scene is over- saturated or anything (cough), but I wanted to devote all my attention to the Canadian Book Challenge.
Lately, however, I've been intrigued by obscure books. More than a few bloggers out there have mentioned books that I've never heard of written by authors of whom I thought I'd been well informed. I threw out the idea of hosting a challenge to highlight those shadowed books, hoping someone else would run with it. Alas, no. Which perhaps means no one's interested in participating either. I guess that'll remain to be seen. Anyway, to take the work away from me, I've decided to be more hands-off with this challenge than I am with the Canadian Challenge. All I'm committing to is giving permission for others to join this blog and write posts about their chosen books. Email me and I'll add your name to the member's roll.
It's just one measly book. You can do it. Throw it in with another challenge if you like. Steal the cheesy logo and help promote it.
Have fun uncovering those rarities!
skip to main |
skip to sidebar
If you wish to be a member, email John jmutford[at]hotmail[dot]com
A challenge to read lesser-known books by well-known authors. If you're unsure what constitutes an obscure book, Google the author. If you see "Best known for books such as" and the book you have is listed, it doesn't qualify. Use your judgement. I'd say Pasternak's "The Last Summer" is in, while "Dr. Zhivago" is out. Maybe you'd disagree. There are no deadlines. There are no prizes, except perhaps improving your Jeopardy score.
The Obscure Challenge
If you wish to be a member, email John jmutford[at]hotmail[dot]com
Rare Participants
17 comments:
Hi John, I'm game. It's one book, and obscurity is subjective. ;) Cheers! Athena from aquatique.net
I have a tiny question--since obscurity is so subjective depending in what book circles you run in. I'm reading Fanny Burney's Camilla would that count? I'm guessing that unless folks are English majors they probably won't recognize Fanny Burney as ever-so-popular and might classify everything Burney as obscure, but since Burney's best known work is Evelina, I'm hoping Camilla will qualify as 'obscure' or doubly obscure even.
Athena: Glad to have you on board!
Becky: As it says on the front page, use your judgement. I personally haven't heard of Burney, so no, I probably wouldn't use her for this challenge. I was thinking more along the lines of popular authors, unpopular books. Then again, I used a Pasternak example and plenty people would scoff that he was ever popular. I'm not trying to discourage you from using Burney by any means, in fact, I'd say go ahead. Maybe half the fun of reading what others post will be debating whether or not they fit the challenge's rather loose criteria.
Oh and Athena and Becky, in order to add you as participants (i.e., allow you access to add your posts to this blog, I'll need your email addresses. Just email me using the address on the front page- your emails will be kept confidential!)
Thanks John -- was wondering where else I could post a review for The Autobiography of Upton Sinclair.
Jan (in Edmonds)
I will do it, not sure where to go to find obscure books????
Grilsgood: Just pick an author that you think most people have heard of. Google him/her or look them up in Wikipedia. Then pick a book by them that you haven't even heard of. Then you'll have to find a copy somewhere-- library maybe?
To be added to the challenge, send me an email. jmutford(at)hotmail(.)com
I'm in! I just have to think a bit more. I'll be back when I have posted about it.
I have too many obscure books.
I suppose The Townsman by Pearl S Buck qualifies!
Then there are some..
So I am in.
I am going to email you ASAP!
Okay I'm in: http://smsbookreviews.blogspot.com/2008/04/obscure-challenge.html
Count me in! I don't know what I'll choose yet, but it sounds fun!
Please count me in, but I'll have to think about what to read.
Mandy and Geranium Cat, I've sent you both permissions to post on the blog. Thanks for you interest!
I am closing out the year since I wil be away and dont'have blog. Here is whatI read:
Sitc;off. Rpse,aru The Light in the Forest
Lewis, C. S. Till We Have Faces
After the fact, I realize when I read Ukridge, by PG Wodehouse, that it could be considered on of his more obscure works.
http://raidergirl3-anadventureinreading.blogspot.com/2008/12/book-ukridge-by-pg-wodehouse.html
bad books by well-known writers. Alcott as template for Harlequin Romances-didn`t Miller lambast that world in Tropic of Cancer...well, I was wondering whether you`ve read Kerouac. I would rate his ``Satori in Paris`` as a deeply forgettable reading experience.
Spear: Not necessarily going for "bad" books by well-known authors, more obscure books by well-known authors. Often, though, I assume there'll be an overlap. In any case, Satori in Paris sounds like a sure bet.
Post a Comment