Magical March Challenge Wrap-Up

And so the readalong comes to an end!

I'm really happy with the reading I've done this month, since I've read more than I would usually and have managed to clear an entire shelf of books (in terms of reading...I haven't thrown them away or otherwise). The books that I've read as part of the challenge where:

• Spire by Aaron Safronoff
• The Pain Merchant's (Shifter) by Janice Hardy
• We by Yevgeny Zamyatin (whose name I proudly know how to, by heart, spell)
• The Eleventh Plague by Jeff Hirsch
• Dark Haven by Gail Z. Martin
• Dark Lady's Chosen by Gail Z. Martin
• The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson

For me, the books got better later on, but that may have been partly to do with the fact that I got into the groove of things and was reading more eagerly and enjoying it because my desire to read was so powerful. I think you probably understand, as readers yourselves!!!

It also means that I come under the Wizard's Class. In some ways I'm annoyed since I just missed getting into the Grand Merlin Class but I read more than I anticipated so I'm pleased in that respect.

To find every single review from this event, click here! There's a lot (131 last time I looked) and even I haven't read them all. But I found it nice, as a fantasy reader, to just look through and pick out the ones liked the sound of or already want to read myself. So you're welcome!

But in case I've missed any, please feel free to post other fantasy books you adore underneath.

Okay, that's me done. C'est tout. Alex out.

Magical March Challenge

A reading challenge, hosted by Adam from RoofBeamReader.net, is one that seems perfect for me. The aim is to read books that fall under any kind of fantasy label, be they Urban, Young Adult or Epic Fantasy; Science Fiction, so Dystopians or Steampunk are also good; as well as Magical Realism... which I'm not sure as to the meaning. These must be read throughout March. The rules, direct from the source, are:

1. You must register with the Mister Linky below prior to March 5^th in order to be eligible to participate.
2. You must read only “new” books – meaning, no re-reads are allowed.  Books for other challenges can be cross-used for this one, but you must read the book and review it in the month of March (previously completed books for other challenges do not qualify).
3. You must link up each book review to a separate Mister Linky, which will be available on March 5^th (once registrations close).
4. Challengers must post on their blog an “Announcement” post, indicating they are participating in this challenge and which level they hope to attain. One completer from each “Class” will be randomly selected to win the corresponding prize for that level. 
   1. You do not need to meet your level in order to win a prize.  If you aim for “Grand Merlin Class” but only achieve “Magician’s Class,” you will still be entered into the Magician’s Prize Pool!
   2. You do not need to list your books in advance, but I plan on doing so (to keep me motivated and to help me stay organized). 
5. Any Fantasy, Science Fiction, or Magical Realism books will qualify.  This means you can read Young Adult, Dystopian, Steampunk, or Alternative Histories.

There are levels of participation, based upon how much you think you'll read for the hop. They are:

Magician’s Class:               1-2 Books Read & Reviewed        1 Book $10 or Less

Sorcerer’s Class:                3-5 Books Read & Reviewed        1 Book $12 or Less

Wizard’s Class:                  6-7 Books Read & Reviewed         1 Book $15 or Less

Grand Merlin Class:            8+ Books Read & Reviewed          1+  Book(s) $20 or Less

I'd like love to go for the Grand Merlin class because I have more than 8 books that fall into those categories. Besides my classics, I think most of my to-read novels fall into that category. This is fantastic for me so I'm really going to try. But, I'm only going to aim for the Sorcerer's Class since it is the one I know I can achieve notwithstanding a sudden death. 

However, I'm going to try for Grand Merlin as much as possible!

I won't plan my books, since I won't enjoy them as much, but I'm hoping to read a few of my series (i.e. Lord of the Rings, Song of Ice and Fire and Chronicles of the Necromancer) and possibly get the Eleventh Plague (by Jeff Hirsch), Runemarks (by Joanne Harris) and The Girl of Fire and Thorns (by Rae Carson) in there between the others. 

Top Ten Authors I Want At My Thanksgiving Dinner (and a Challenge)

We don't actually have Thanksgiving, but its the top American Celebration I wish we did have. It seems so pleasant and honest (and kind of like an early start for Christmas). This is kind of my Disclaimer.

1. This has to be JK Rowling. She is the epitome of my second most favourite series and I could ask her a truckload of question- Harry Potter ones as well as about reading, her life, opinions- because as well as a being a good writer, she's marvellously opinionated. She's just a great Human Being.
2. David Eddings. He's dead, I think, or at least very old. This is a sad thing because he is the author of my favourite series, and I'd love him to tell me about how he wrote the books, the inspiration and also what he was like when younger. Mostly I want him to tell me more stories within the world he created.
3. Veronica Roth. Divergent's probably my favourite book this year, and I follow her blog, so I think I have an idea on this Lady's opinions and stuff. Mostly I'd just like to hear more about them. She's sounds relatively similar to me so I'd like to see how far this extends (and whether I'm just complementing my ego).
4. Muriel Barbery, as the author of my favourite book, also would have to be there. She's another of those really intelligent ones and someone who makes me think with almost every point she makes and question everything I do. I'd be self-conscious with her there, but I'd also be the better for it.
5. I have to invite Suzanne Collins too since I have to know about her books. I know where she got her inspiration, but I have to know what drove her to finish as she did. Theorising is great and interesting, but I want to hear it from the horse's mouth. Why did she write as she did in the last book?
6. Stephen Fry is kind of a solely English Celebrity (though I think most people do know him in the English-speaking world). He's intelligent, witty and just a mesmerising speaker who uses the most resonant vocabulary known to man. He's just...I don't know. I am in awe to a point of speechlessness.
7. Jenny Lawson (AKA The Bloggess) because she could make me howl with laughter, but would also say something really sweet and thought-provoking. Also, as much as I love them, the above writers probably have a tendency to withdraw into their own little worlds and Jenny would draw them out and we could all be outrageous, yet happy, fools together. There's the problem that she doesn't like lots of people but I'd get around that. She isn't actually published but will be soon!
8. Allie Brosh, who write Hyperbole and a Half (if you didn't know), is another really funny writer who hasn't really finished her book yet, but has lots of material online. She's be a hoot and I'd love her to tell us all some funny (hyperbolic) stories too. And she's been absent online for a while, partly due to depression. I need my hyperbolic fix, and maybe I could help her in some manner. 
9. Kathryn Stockett, who wrote The Help, is also a necessary addition because she moves me and wrote another of my favourite books from this year. I'd just have to hear about her experience while writing and the what Mississippi was like when she was there.
10. My final is Jane Austen. Of all my authors, she'd the least likely to even consider coming. Not that any probably are, but bar one, she's the only one who is undeniably dead. Makes it kind of hard. But she wrote amazing books: romances that I enjoyed. I'd want to know what she thought of the people in her time and how she would react to our modern society.

That's the cut off point. I can think of at least 5 classic authors I would invite too, but I tried to concentrate on modern writers. Jane Austen is there because no way could I miss her. She's my favourite Classic writer for the time being. Anyway, part two of the post.

I've decided that I'm going to take part in the Shakespeare Reading Month hosted by Allie at A Literary Odyssey. Shakespeare is a writer I really like and respect, and I'm disappointed I've hardly read him. I've read A Midsummer Night's Dream and Romeo and Juliet, but they were both with the school. I also argue that I've read Hamlet, since I saw the play done (without cuts) and it had the lines coming up on the sides, which I read. Hence, I read it. But that is a fraction of his work. I've seen more that I've read (Richard III, Titus Andronicus, MacBeth, King Lear) but that's still only a total of 7 of 38 (not including other poetry), perhaps a fifth of them. I need to rectify this.

I've heard it said that you should read the Bard not just to understand; that it is even advisable to read merely for the pleasure of fluent writing and enrapturing imagery. To read him merely for the experience. I have no illusions that I'll read loads: I'm aiming to read but one if I can. For that reason, I will be taking part. 

Happy reading!