Since I’m a bit stalled on the classics readalong that Karen and I are supposed to be working on (I just don’t feel like reading Walden right now), I thought I’d join some other readalongs, reserving the right to change my mind as I go along. The first one started last week:
Once Upon a Time II (hosted by Carl)
Once Upon a Time…
For me these four words conjure images of four classifications of story: Fantasy, Folklore, Fairy Tales, and Mythology. These four classifications, or genres, or subgenres of story can exist separately or in various combinations but their one common factor in my mind is that they can all very easily begin:
Once Upon a Time
Carl offers a number of options, but I think I’m going to pursue Quest the Third:
Fulfill the requirements for … Quest the Second* AND top it off with a June reading of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
The challenge runs from the first day of spring through the last.
*Quest the Second: Read at least one book from each of the four categories. In this quest you will be reading 4 books total: one fantasy, one folklore, one fairy tale, and one mythology.
The books I’m hoping to read are:
- Fantasy: The Amber Spyglass by Philip Pullman
- Folklore: Mules and Men by Zora Neale Hurston
- Fairy Tale: The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale
- Mythology: The Titan’s Curse by Rick Riordan
Don’t those sound like interesting choices? Any other takers? Karen? Grey Kitten? Jenn?
I love your blog header…reminds me of Pushing Daisies for some reason. It is delightful. I am so glad you are joining in on the Once Upon a Time II Challenge. You did indeed list some interesting choices. I look forward to your reviews!
Comment by Carl V. 03.25.08 @ 10:45 pmI loved Of Mules and Men. I generally love Zora Neale Hurston, in fact.
Comment by Elspeth 03.26.08 @ 11:09 amAlready in my “to read” queue are:
Dark Tower Series: 5, 6, 7
– Wolves of the Calla
– Song of Susannah
– The Dark Tower
Warriors Series: 4, 5, 6
– Rising Storm
– A Dangerous Path
– Darkest Hour
Complete books of Oz
(maybe not all of them straight through, though)
Ranger’s Apprentice series: 4
– The Battle for Skandia
Dresden Files series: 9
– White Knight
Jason Bourne series: 3
– The Bourne Ultimatum
Percy Jackson and the Olympians: 4
– The Battle of the Labyrinth
(preordered from Amazon, releases on May 8th)
The Silver Wyrm: 3
– The Shadow Isle
(preordered from Amazon, releases on May 8th)
Septimus Heap: 4
– Queste ()
(preordered from Amazon, releases on April 10)
Artemis Fowl, Book 6
– The Time Paradox
(preordered from Amazon, releases on July 17th)
Okay, so a July release puts us well out of the bounds of the challenge, but that’s my to-read list as of right now.
I’d say I’ve got Quest the First well covered. Everything in my list counts as Fantasy except the Robert Ludlum story, and there’s much more than four there.
Quest the Second would be a little harder. If Riordan’s Titan’s Curse counts then the follow-up The Battle of the Labyrinth would too. That gets me Fantasy and Mythology.
Would any of those I have listed count as Fairy Tale or Folklore? I’d lean towards “no” on the Folklore category. Anyone disagree?
Technically, Artemis Fowl is about fairies, so it could be argued to be a Fairy Tale, but it’s not as good a fit for the genre as your choice. Having already read The Goose Girl, perhaps I should add Enna Burning to my list for this category?
Comment by Grey Kitten 03.27.08 @ 11:13 pm