Sunday, February 1, 2009

The Second Unread Authors Challenge

Behold! The Second Unread Authors Challenge is upon us!

Last year I ran this challenge from September to February, and the premise was this: almost all of us have authors who we have long meant to read, but somehow never gotten around to. Perhaps you have always been intrigued but intimidated by their work. Perhaps "required reading" and your favorite authors have taken up most of your time. Perhaps they have been sitting on your shelves for years, continually trumped by new fascinations. Well, now is their time.

The rules:
  1. The challenge will run from August 1, 2008 to January 31, 2009. You may join at any time before or during those six months.
  2. During those six months, read at least SIX books by an author whose work you have never read before.
  3. You may choose six different "unread" authors to introduce yourself to, or you may choose just one or two and explore their work in greater depth.
  4. Authors may be drawn from any genre of literature. The only requirement is that they be authors whose work you substantially regret not having read yet.
  5. Your choices may overlap with other challenges you have underway.
To join the challenge:
  1. Make your list of at least six unread authors or works.
  2. Write a comment in response to this post expressing your immense, irrepressible desire to join the Unread Authors Challenge. If you have a blog, include a link to the entry in which you lay out your challenge goals. (Be sure to link to the specific entry, rather than to the blog as a whole, for the ease of those who want to view your choices.) If you don't have a blog, type out your list in the comment.
  3. If you would like to join the Unread Authors Blog (which will allow you to post copies of your list and any reviews you write directly to the blog), and you are not already a member, include an email address. I suggest using the format "email AT email DOT com" to avoid evil bots who seek out your email address for their own nefarious purposes. I will then send an invitation to join the blog's authorship to that email address.
Feel free to browse the entries below from last year's challenge participants for inspiration. Enjoy your flirtations with the new and long-ignored!

51 comments:

Wendy said...

I've added this to A Novel Challenge Blog :) Of course, I'll be participating again!!

Grilsgood said...

I hope it starts in July I read a couple this month. I am in for it. No blog, just use the links here.

Lindy

Grilsgood said...

Didnt' realize you wanted all my books up front, i mostly just pick up things and read them.

My list
1. Sala, Sharon Snowfall
2. Rollins, James The Judas Strain
3. Reich, Christopher Numbered Account
4. Donaldson, D. J. New Orleans Requim
5. Islieb, Roberta Deadly Advice
6. Koontz, Dean The Funhouse

alternates
Leonard, Elmore Get Shorty
Picoult, Jodi The 10th Circle

Sycorax Pine said...

Welcome to the challenge, Lindy! You should feel free to change your list as the challenge progresses, if you like (I almost always do, which is why my list of alternates is so long. :) ).

NotJustLaura said...

I think this is a great idea and will enjoy participating.

http://notjustreading.blogspot.com/2008/07/unread-authors-challenge-ii.html

Anonymous said...

yes, I am glad to see this challenge back. I am up for it.
kim in ohio

Jan in Edmonds said...

Guess I signed up for this as I see my name on the list but not my blog site. So -- see http:// jottingsfromjan@blogspot.com

My list is:
1. Moon Tige - Penelope Lively
2. Staying On - Paul Scott
3. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest - Ken Kesey
4. The Conservationist - Nadine Gordimer
5. The Line of Beauty - Alan Hollinghurst
6. The Gathering - Anne Enright

katrina said...

I'm joining, I've listed way more than six in my blog as I can rarely stick to a list.
My list is here: http://katrinasreads.blogspot.com/2008/07/second-unread-authors-challenge-aug-1st.html

My email is katrinathomas UNDERSCORE uk AT yahoo DOT co DOT uk

Wendy said...

I've listed way more than six so I have choices...here's my list.

Shonda said...

Sign me up! I have a long list of new-to-me authors. My list can be found here: http://memybookandthecouch.blogspot.com/2008/07/2nd-unread-authors-challenge.html

Anonymous said...

Yay! Sign me up! I'd love to join!

My list/post is here: http://princesshoney.wordpress.com/2008/07/27/20089-unread-authors-challenge/

Book challenge page is here: http://princesshoney.wordpress.com/book-challenge/

Blog is here: http://princesshoney.wordpress.com

E-mail is: krrismahoneyATliveDOTcom

Kim said...

I am joining too! Here is a link to my post--
*smiles*
Kim
http://pageafterpage-kim.blogspot.com/2008/07/yesiree.html

Lizzy Siddal said...

Oh yes - count me in.

Link to my initial list of authors:

http://lizzysliterarychallenges.wordpress.com/2008/07/28/unread-authors-challenge/

Kathleen said...

I'm in again! Here's my list: http://smsbookreviews.blogspot.com/2008/07/unread-authors-challenge-2008.html

Whitney said...

I'd love to join! Thanks for hosting.

My List
1. The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory
2. The Constant Princess by Phillipa Gregory
3. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
4. Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
5. Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice
6. The Witching Hour by Anne Rice

joanna said...

I'd love to join as well!

My possibles are here:

http://lostinagoodstory.blogspot.com/2008/07/unread-authors-challenge.html

Anna said...

Great idea. :D

Link to my post: http://unreadauthorshope.blogspot.com/

I'd love to be added so I can post on here, too. My e-mail address is hopesblog AT hotmail DOT com.

hope.

Whitney said...

I forgot to add my email so I can post to this blog, please

whitterbehr AT mchsi DOT com

Kristi said...

Last challenge to sign up for today! Can't wait to get started - my list can be found here:
http://booksandneedlepoint.blogspot.com/2008/08/unread-authors-challenge.html

Randi said...

This sounds like fun.
My List:
1.) Nightkeepers by Jessica Andersen
2.) Enchanting the Lady by Kathryne Kennedy
3.) Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin
4.) One Night Stand by Cindy Kirk
5.) Dancing Shoes and Honky Tonk Blues by LuAnn McLane
6.) With One Look by Jennifer Horsman

The link to my blog http://randiromancereader.blogspot.com/search/label/unread%20author%20challenge

Randi said...

This sounds like fun!

My List:
1.) Nightkeepers by Jessica Andersen
2.) Enchanting the Lady by Kathryne Kennedy
3.) Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin
4.) One Night Stand by Cindy Kirk
5.) Dancing Shoes and Honky Tonk Blues by LuAnn McLane
6.) With One Look by Jennifer Horsman

http://randiromancereader.blogspot.com/search/label/unread%20author%20challenge

Ashley said...

I'm a little bit late but I'd still like to give this a shot.

My list:
http://girlthatreads.blogspot.com/2008/08/second-unread-authors-challenge.html

Lena said...

I am not currently updating my blog at all, but I am trying to get some reading done and I really want to join in the fun of this challenge so here are the six books I'll be reading:

1. The Atonement Child by Francine Rivers
2. The Rice Mother by Rani Manicka
3. Island of the Sequined Love Nun by Chirstopher Moore
4. Everything is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer
5. Never Let Me Go bu Kazuo Schlink
6. The Reader by Bernhard Schlink

Nicole (Linus's Blanket) said...

I want to join in.

Here is my list:
Veronika Decides to Die, Paul Coelho
Atonement, Ian McEwen
Journal of A Solitude, May Sarton
The Quiet American, Graham Greene
The Yiddish Policeman's Ubion, Michael Chabon
The Road, Cormac McCarthy

http://linussblanket.com

Anonymous said...

I will come up with a list soon. I know that there are authors, but I just cannot come up with any right now. Sorry, Judy

Shane said...

I'm thinking about the list I'm going to choose. COUNT ME IN!!!!!!

krin said...

I enjoyed doing this challenge last year, so of course I'm doing it again this year!

My list is here.

readerbean said...

I'm really excited to participate in this challenge. What a great way to motivate myself to finally pick certain books off my bookshelf. My mother is also participating and I'll be posting both of our reviews for our books each month. To see what we are reading go to my blog entry at: http://gettingbydreamingbig.blogspot.com/2008/08/another-reading-challenge.html

Anonymous said...

Hey - thought I had signed up for this one (have had it on my blog since 8/1 with all my books picked out!) My list is here - http://booksandneedlepoint.blogspot.com/2008/08/unread-authors-challenge.html

Thanks! - Kristi

Deb B. said...

Sign me up!

Anonymous said...

Sign me up! I have a lot of upcoming books by authors that I never read before. Judy

Kristi said...

I've finished my first book for this challenge - A Thousand Splendid Suns - Review can be found here:
http://booksandneedlepoint.blogspot.com/2008/09/thousand-splendid-suns.html

Anonymous said...

Immense, irrepressible desire to join the challenge? Oh yes, I'm in.
Blog entry here: http://web.me.com/akagracie/Site/Blog/Entries/2008/9/3_The_Second_Unread_Authors_Challenge.html

Happy to see someone else has a Christopher Moore book on his challenge. I "discovered" Moore through last year's challenge and continue to read him.
Two books from last year's list remain unread, so they're back. It would be too shaming to carry them over another year!
Thanks for hosting, Ariel

krin said...

I made a mistake and removed this blog from my dashboard. Could I be a posting member again? email: krin5292 at gmail dot com

Thanks!

Anonymous said...

I plan on participting again!

1morechapter said...

My list is up now. You can find it here.

Anonymous said...

There are a ton of authors I've never read, I don't think I'll have any trouble with this challenge.

Sandra said...

Finally found out where to join. I have got my button and have been doing this on my own already. Please sign me up. Thank you.

Anonymous said...

I know that the challenge is halfway over, but I can come up with 6 authors, but I will make my list as I go as I do not know what new authors I will encounter each month. Judy

Anonymous said...

Hello,

Have finished 4 books for this challenge - reviews can be found here:
http://booksandneedlepoint.blogspot.com/search/label/Unread%20Authors%20Challenge

Thanks!
Kristi

Desert Rose said...

I added this challenge to my blog with a specific link. I'm still working on my list so I will be posting it soon.

http://desertrosechallenges.blogspot.com/2008/11/second-unread-authors-challenge.html

E mail is
desert dot rain at runbox dot com

:)

Desert Rose said...

I've started and read 6 books for this challenge and was surprised that I did not even sign up here!! I guess I was over excited LOL!
Anyways my link to this challenge is this..

http://desertrosechallenges.blogspot.com/2008/11/second-unread-authors-challenge.html

Anonymous said...

Hello,

I have finished this challenge! My reviews of all six of my books are here: http://booksandneedlepoint.blogspot.com/search/label/Unread%20Authors%20Challenge
Must say - doesn't look much like my original list!

Thanks for hosting!
Kristi

Anonymous said...

I am ready for this one. I love reading unread authors and had fun with last year's challenge.
kim in ohio

Marina said...

I know I'm really late, but I'd still like to participate in your challenge.
here's the link to my list:

http://texasbookwoman.blogspot.com/2008/11/unread-authors-challenge-8108-13109.html

here's by blog:
http://texasbookwoman.blogspot.com/

and here's my contact:
anntigoneatgmaildotcom

Jan in Edmonds said...

Just wanted to say that I've officially completed this challenge & have read a total of 25new authors (including 5 of the 6 I originally listed). See my blog for reviews and details about this challenge.

aka Jan in Edmonds

Anonymous said...

I am willing to give it a try again. Real life got in the way. I will come up with a list closer to the time. I think that I signed up for a challenge that is similar to this one, and I want to put my list of unread authors to that challenge, first. Thanks for your understanding!

Judy/Intergalactic Bookworm

http://intergalacticbookworm.blogspot.com

Kristen said...

I thought I'd officially signed up for this way back when you first created it. Apparently not. But I have been participating since then. LOL! So now I'm officially signing up.

http://unreadauthors.blogspot.com/2008/07/second-unread-authors-challenge.html

raidergirl3 said...

I'm not sure I officially signed up, but in November I took on this challenge, and completed it in January. Here's my wrap up post:
http://raidergirl3-anadventureinreading.blogspot.com/2009/01/challenge-unread-authors-update.html

I think I did it twice over since I've been reading so many new authors.

Sandra said...

I did this but never wrote a post about it. I hope there's another challenge like this one again.

Jenny said...

Here is the link to my reviews.
http://jennysimpsonjenny.blogspot.com/search/label/Unread%20authors for some reason the post about the challenge isn't coming up. I had different books listed on my blog than on my excel challenge page and I did the ones on the excel page. Fun challenge. Always lots of authors that I want to read.