Carl is running another challenge, and this time I’m going to join in. And I think I’m going to do Quest 3:
Read at least one book from each of the four genres of story, and finish up the challenge with a June reading of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
And the categories are: Mythology, Folktale, Fairy Tale, and
Fantasy.
For the Fairy Tale category I’m going to go with Neil Gaiman’s Stardust. First of all because Carl recommended it. Second of all because I’m a big Gaiman fan, yet haven’t managed to read this one yet. Thirdly it is being made into a film and I know I’ll want to see it, so may as well read the book too.
My mythology read will be Morgan Llewllyn’s On Raven’s Wing. This is a reread, but it has been a while, and it is an old favourite of mine. It’s a retelling of The Táin, or The Cattle raid of Cooley saga in Irish mythology. If you’ve ever been by the GPO in Dublin you may have seen a bronze statue in the window, that is Cúchulainn, the hero of On Raven’s Wing.
For folklore I’m a bit unsure, but as Carl mentioned that de Lint fits in here, and as I’ve just picked up The Blue Girl by him I’ll probably go with this one. Can’t hurt now can it? I love that cover, although now thinking about it having a cover with a young girl in vaguely revealing clothes and with a title like Blue Girl might suggest something else entirely ;)
And finally, the Fantasy category I’ve taken a look through some of my unread books and think I’ll go with Celtika by Robert Holdstock. It also fits in with the general mythology theme that is almost going on with the other books.
And then there’ll be A Midsummer Night’s Dream which I’ve never read before, although I have seen a film version. Plus I may add a few more titles to the list when I think about it again. All depends how many I get through between now and June 21st, doesn’t it.
* Long long ago, the Irish version of Once Upon a Time
Great list, and glad to see you're joining in!
Surprised you haven't read Stardust yet, but hey, maybe that's a Good Thing – saving the best for last, sort of. Not really last obviously, but I'm sure you get my drift.
I haven't read The Blue Girl as yet, but do love Charles de Lint's work.
I'm sorta surprised I haven't read it too Quixotic :) I've read one or two others by de Lint and enjoyed them, so hopefully this'll be as good.
Ooh, Stardust is fantastic! One of the characters almost made my list from the other day. A fairly quick read, too.
I read Celtika a few months ago, and will be reading the sequel for the challenge. It was a pretty good book, I hope you'll enjoy it. :)
Great! So glad you're in. Nice choices! Blue Girl is one I want to read as well. I'm psyched that you're reading Stardust and can't wait to hear what you think of it, one way or another.
Good luck with the challenge!
Scott, I love your gravatar.
I've decided to start with Celtika Court, although so far I'm not overly impressed, mainly because I don't really like any of the characters. We'll see what happens.
Carl, I'm sure I'll enjoy it, after all I don't think that there is one of Gaiman's books that I haven't liked. Then again, there is always a first time :)
Thanks weenie. It'll be fun