Weekly Geeks #9: Challenges

Dewey's challenge for Weekly Geeks #9 gently urges us reflect upon the challenges we've participated in, and where we are now, in terms of progress. I'm glad she thought of this, because I was totally unaware that I had gone completely off-course with my Graphic Novel Challenge.

1. The Canadian Book Challenge, Eh? - This one finishes at the end of this month, but stick a fork in me already -- I'm done. I managed to read books from 6 provinces: Alberta, Manitoba, British Columbia, Quebec, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. I feel extreme guilt spikes for not getting to Ontario since good friends CanadaBoy and Aaron are from there. Thank goodness for...

2. The 2nd Canadian Book Challenge, Eh? - I was going to say that my compulsion to join these challenges is all John's fault, but upon reflection, I think it all started about 20 years ago when I first became a rabid Jeopardy! fan and Alex Trebek would look so disappointed/disgusted when the contestants wouldn't know.... caribou droppings about whole Canadian categories. Anyway, I'm in. Here's my list.

3. In Their Shoes Reading Challenge - I was so looking forward to this challenge starting. Giddy with excitement, I made and unmade and remade my list several times, but surprisingly, I've only managed 5 books from it so far this year. I blame this lapse on my besotted and blinkered involvement with The Pulitzer Project.

4. The Graphic Novel Challenge - Yikes! I've completely deviated from this list, but I have read some good stuff like Pyongyang, which is now my new favorite graphic novel, and a really well-done graphic novel about Lizzie Borden from Rick Geary's Victorian Murders series. I was less impressed with a well-researched but cluttery-looking graphic biography of anarchist Emma Goldman. The upcoming Readathon (June 28-29) is a perfect chance to get a little more caught up on this particular challenge.

5. Orbis Terrarum Challenge - 9 books, 9 months, 9 countries! My Tough & Cool Inner Bookworm is always beating me over the head with a rolled-up map for not reading more authors from other countries. What the hell...? She didn't act like this before we became expats three-and-a-half years ago!

I'm off to a good start on this one -- US, Argentina and South Korea. I was thinking about substituting The Little Prince for Cousin Bette (my pick for France) because I want to get something out of that whole wretched experience, but my curiosity about Balzac's work has stayed my hand. I need to get back to work on this challenge. You can read my original post, full of naive energy and misty-eyed enthusiasm here.

6. The Pulitzer Project Challenge - This is the one that's been taking all my attention lately, and the challenge I'm enjoying the most. Luckily, my book group read The Known World and Middlesex lately, but I've also completed A Summons To Memphis and The Executioner's Song since joining back on April 9. I don't know why, but this list of prize-winning fiction is my glittering object.

7. The Triple-Digit Challenge - This is my own personal challenge to myself -- I'm actually surprised that it's not a real challenge already out there! Proud bookworm that I am, I've never managed to read 100 books a year. I think my current record is in the low 70s somewhere, so I've got my work cut out for me...I just finished book #48 for 2008.

I got the idea to do this from 200 Books, who is trying for the number in her title. She's nuckingfuts...married, two tiny kids, co-owner of a business and an Everyman's Library reading list! I hope Mandi makes her goal, but I also hope she doesn't lose her sanity in the process. She finished The Aeneid and Sense And Sensibility this week. Damn!!! I feel dull, unwashed and illiterate in comparison. My T&CIB is muttering something about quitting me and going over to live with Mandi permanently.