These two mini-challenges are compatible--very compatible--with the Cardathon Challenge. But you don't have to be a participant in the Cardathon to join one of the mini-challenges. These "mini-challenges" are not as open-ended as most challenges. But they're not strict either.
One would be to read and/or watch at least two Jane Austen novels/movies in 2008. Masterpiece Theatre is showing all 6 movies in the 2008 season. I am going to be aiming for all 6. But if you want to just watch two movies and blog about them, that is fine too. It would still be participating. For those that may not get PBS, rent (or buy) two Austen movies--any version--and you'll still qualify as a participant. Want to read an Austen biography as a substitute for one of the novels, go for it. Or watch Becoming Jane as a substitute for one of the movies. I'll allow it. Just read two Austen-related books. OR watch two Austen-related movies. You can always read more or watch more. What about audio books? Sure. Listening would count as well. Whatever you want. It's supposed to be fun.
The second challenge would be an Inkling-related challenge. One would commit to reading at least two books by C.S. Lewis (I suggest the Chronicles of Narnia, a seven book series) and reading two books by J.R.R. Tolkien. Movies once again are acceptable. If you want to watch the somewhat new and forthcoming movies The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe and Prince Caspian that would be fine. A biography of Lewis or Tolkien can be substituted for one of the books. You can watch a mix of Lord of the Rings and Narnia movies. Or you can stick to the books. Whatever you want. I'll be wanting to read all seven of the Narnia books. The Hobbit. And the Lord of the Rings Trilogy. Want another book substitute? Try Here There Be Dragons by James A. Owen. And the sequel, The Search for Red Dragon. These books have Lewis and Tolkien appearing as fictional characters.
If you're interested in either please leave a comment. (But be specific as to which one you're considering.) These challenges *officially* start in January 2008. The Masterpiece season begins then. But you could begin whenever you want. But I'm not planning on starting until the new year.
DailyLit is a service that may or may not appeal to you. You can have various classics including the six Austen novels in question delivered bit by bit daily into your inbox.
I'm in for both! I had already planned on reading Northanger Abbey next year, so I'll just add another Austen book and I'll definitely be watching all of the Masterpiece Theaters. I love the BBC's Austen productions!
ReplyDeleteThe Lewis and Tolkien Challenge is awesome! Once again, I'm already re-reading the Narnia books for the series and cardathon challenge and I had planned on re-reading the Lord of the Rings trilogy too!
So this works for me :)
Glad, you're joining in Chris. I knew the Narnia books where on your list. But I wasn't sure on the Austen :) I think it will be fun, and the movies will provide the *motivation* for me I think. That and the fact that they're "for" a challenge. I don't know why challenges are so addictingly fun. Strange but true.
ReplyDeleteI'm definitely in for the Austen challenge. I'm the last person on earth who has not read Pride and Prejudice, so this is a perfect way to remedy the situation. I've not read Emma, either, so that will be my second. So glad to know that Masterpiece Theater is showing these!
ReplyDeleteI'll go ahead and sign up for the Lewis/Tolkien challenge, too. I've been wanting to read books by both authors. I've not read Lewis at all, and I haven't read Tolkien in 35 years. These should coincide nicely with the Once Upon A Time Challenge in the spring.
I was already planning on reading 4 Austens and 3 Lewis's AND watching ALL the Austen on Masterpiece Theatre. Count me in.
ReplyDeleteEx Libris, 3M, Welcome, welcome, welcome. :) Glad to have you both join.
ReplyDeleteOh Becky...you're killing me here! After you posted about the Masterpiece productions, I'd already decided that I'd be watching them and hopefully reading all 6 as well. So that challenge is a definite go.
ReplyDeleteAnd as for the other...well, count me in. This is shamefully embarrassing for me to admit, but I've never read anything by either Lewis or Tolkien. Pathetic, huh? Especially since my 10-year-old daughter has read all the Narnia books and the Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Hobbit, and The Silmarillion. Nothing like being put to shame by your kid. Not sure specifically which ones I'll be reading yet though.
I'm doing (and planning to do) so many challenges already that I can barely keep track of them! So, I'm not going to take on these mini challenges (congratulate me on my self-restraint, please!) I am planning to read 8 Jane Austen-related books for the 888 challenge, and I'm also going to read Lord of the Rings for the R.I.P. Challenge. I'm also planning to watch the Jane Austen movies, so I'll blog about them regardless.
ReplyDeleteBecky, Becky, Becky....you are almost single-handedly setting my 2008 reading list!! Ack! Another challenge that I want to participate in??? What's a girl to do??
ReplyDeleteFor the record, I haven't read P&P either. In fact, the only Austen I HAVE read is Persuasion!! So...since I am so in need of reading this classic lit, I'm in!
I'm in for the Austen challenge!!!!!
ReplyDeleteCount me in on the Austen challenge. I'd love to say I'd be watching the movies, but (bemoaning lack of cable again) I'll just be reading them.
ReplyDeleteWelcome Debi, Stephanie, Pattie, and Melissa! I'm glad to have you join in!
ReplyDeleteSusan, technically speaking since you're already reading 8 Austen related titles, you'll be reading the 'required' two anyway. :) Becky's rule for any challenge is to always make sure that a book counts in more than one challenge :) That's a given round here unless the host forbids it upfront.
Count me in - I'm not a huge Tolkien fan (gasp, I know), but I will try and if nothing else, wach the movies for that one. This should be so much fun!
ReplyDeleteWelcome, Debbi! Don't worry on the Tolkien. I'm not a *huge* fan either. I've read the trilogy once, but wasn't blown away. But I did enjoy the movies a great deal. So I'm trying again to see if the movies help me through the novel :)
ReplyDeleteHail to the great leader of our insanity!
ReplyDeletehmm, I'm thinking. I didn't really like Austen (gasp!) and Tolkein doesn't appeal to me, but I should read them eventually. The movies sound doable perhaps. I'm going to do Cardathon however, I'll sign up on that later.
Mostly, I wanted to comment on the dailylit link. It's awesome and free and a great way to read some classics that don't appeal as much. I read Northanger Abby on dailylit last year.
I'm SO tempted to do this. I've never read anything by Jane Austen and I'm pretty sure I've never seen anything either. I have read the Lord of the Rings trilogy before (and seen the movies) though. The Narnia books have been in my TBR mountain for awhile too.
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty sure I'm going to join this challenge lol but I'm trying to talk myself out of it with logic... so far not working!
Hi! What a great challenge! Count me in!!!
ReplyDeleteKate, welcome! Ladytink_534, I hope you will join us :) We'll have lots of fun. Raidergirl3 you can sign up for the challenge and just do movies, if you want. It doesn't have to be a reading challenge. But if this isn't your thing, that's fine too :) I'm glad you're going to be joining the Cardathon challenge!
ReplyDeletei'm in for the Austen challenge. i've never read any of her books or seen any of the movies.
ReplyDeleteHi I would love to join this challenge. I do not have a blog yet but I will set one up as soon as possible. My ame is Shannan. The challenge I am signing up for is Jane Austen Challenge.
ReplyDeleteWelcome, Soleil and Shannan! I'm glad to have you both. Shannan, I hope you enjoy blogging! I find it very fun and quite addictive :)
ReplyDeleteJust created my blog. Its not as good as your but once I learn the ins and outs of blogging.
ReplyDeleteI had to change my link because I could not access my other blogger account it is set up the same. Well I changed my challenge a little and decided to read all her books hopefully I can do it. I will have a lot of books to read next year lol!
ReplyDeleteSounds like fun, I'm in for the Austen Challenge. She is one of my favorites and I enjoy the movie versions. I posted my
ReplyDeletechoices here
I've read Tolkien's The Hobbit and Lord of The Rings and enjoyed them. I've got so much on my TBR list so I won't join this part of the challenge.
I would like to re-read the Austen novels. Hence count me in!
ReplyDeletePlease count me in on both the Austen & Lewis. Thanks for thinking of this!
ReplyDeleteBecky, I posted my list for the Austen Mini-Challenge. You can see it HERE. I'm really looking forward to this one. It's just the impetus I need to read more of Austen's work. And the Masterpiece Theatre is going to be a treat.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Becky.
Hi Becky,
ReplyDeleteI definately want to join this challenge.
Susan L
http://www.susanlovestoread.blogspot.com/
Hi Becky,
ReplyDeleteSorry, in my first comment I forgot to specify which challenge. I would like to join the Jane Austen Challenge.
Susan L
So glad you're joining the Austen challenge, Susan!
ReplyDeleteThis is the year that I will begin to officially sign up for book challenges! I"m in for the Jane Austen challenge. I'll commit to reading Emma and Northanger Abby, but hopefully I'll also read Persuasion.
ReplyDeleteHi Becky - I went to the theatre to see Shadowlands on Thursday with Charles Dance as CS Lewis. I saw it in Richmond many years ago when it was first written - absolutely wonderful. I would like to join the Lewis and Tolkein challenge. I know I can't count the play but I can still rave about it!
ReplyDeleteHi, I'm new to book challenges. How does it go about? I'm interested in the Jane Austen challenge. If I'm joining, I might go for Northanger Abbey and something else. :)
ReplyDeletensr
ReplyDeleteWelcome to the challenge! To join all you have to do is say you want to participate. So you're 'in.' If you have a blog, you might want to blog about it. But if you don't have a blog, no worries. It is NOT a requirement by any means.
Thanks becky! I'd love to join then but I'm still undecided which ones to read. :)
ReplyDeleteHi Becky,
ReplyDeleteI am new to this as well, I don't have my blog up yet, with this long crazy weekend I don't think I will have time. but I will have it up soon. I am one of those readers that has not read any of the Austen books I'm in for the Austen challenge :-)
Happy Reading
Lisa
I would like to do the Jane Austen challenge, would do C. S, Lewis if he was alone.
ReplyDeleteI use the list to post my stuff.
Lindy:
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you're joining this challenge. Just so you know, I have revised the rules a bit for the Inkling challenge. You may now read 4 books by C.S. Lewis instead of the '2 Lewis + 2 Tolkien' rule. I posted about it here:
http://blbooks.blogspot.com/2007/11/inklings-mini-challenge.html
I know I am way late, but the yahoo groups says this challenge hasn't started yet, so I'm joining it.
ReplyDeleteMy book will be Darcy's Story by Janet Aylmer.
And my movies will be Emma (with Gwyneth Paltrow and the new one Becoming Jane - because I have not seen either of them yet. I might try and see Sense & Sensibility as well - is that the one with Emma Thompson?
Here's my post
http://bibliobiography.blogspot.com/2007/12/anyone-for-jane-austen.html
Hi Becky - I have already said I'm in. I was in Oxford today and enjoyed a drink and a bite to eat in the Inkling pub 'The Eagle and Child'. I thought of your challenge and looked this link up when I got back. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/main.jhtml?xml=/travel/2005/12/03/etlewis03.xml
ReplyDeleteEnjoy!
Julie
Oxfordshire England
I plan to read 2 Jane Austen novels.
ReplyDeleteThat's cool that all 6 movies are going to be shown in 2008. There's something to look forward too! I even got my teenage step daughter interested after I made her watch Sense and Sensibility. ;)
I have at least 4 C. S. Lewis books here and have wanted t read him for some time. Guess I will have to try. I have a lot on my plate with 14 challenges now, but a;; O cam dp os try, and I do want ot upgrade my reading from mysteries and historical romance...lol
ReplyDeleteI'm in for the Inklings Challenge. I just started reading The Chronicles of Narnia for the first time and I'd really like to re-read The Lord of the Rings trilogy again.
ReplyDeleteSign me up for the Austen challenge! This is the kick in the pants that I need to finally sit down and read Pride and Prejudice!
ReplyDeleteI just read inthe paper that the Jane Austen series on Masterpiece Theater is starting on Jan 13. I need to find out the first and read it before I see it.
ReplyDeleteI am in for the Jane Austin Challenge! I love Pride & Prejudice A&E movie! And it looks like that is in the Master Piece collection. I can't wait to see some of the other ones!
ReplyDeleteI don't have a blog but would like to do the Austen challenge. I'm not really sure how it works, but will give it a shot! I will read Persausion and Mansfield Park, and watch all of the PBS shows (thanks to Tivo).
ReplyDeleteI'm in for the Austen challenge! I'll try to read Persuasion and Pride and Prejudice. Most problably I'll watch some movies but not sure which. Thanks for the challenge!
ReplyDeleteHi Becky! I'd like to participate in the Jane Austen Mini-Challenge. I plan to watch 2 movies. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteHi, I would love to join the Austen mini-challenge! I've been planning to read Northanger Abbey and Lesley Castle, so I'll do that at a minimum. But I'll also likely watch all of the PBS productions, even if I don't read any additional Austen.
ReplyDeleteBecky, I would love to join in on the Jane Austen Challenge! I greatly enjoy her and this sounds like fun! I may also try the Lewis and Tolkien Challenge as well - that would be a bit of a new genre for me, so may be fun.
ReplyDeleteI'm in on this one too! I'll be reading Emma and Pride and Prejudice...and watching the Masterpiece Theater presentations! Thanks again for all the challenges!
ReplyDeleteI'm in for some Jane Austen action. I don't have cable, but I'm going to try and figure out some way of laying eyes on the PBS productions. I am tentatively planning to read Sense and Sensibility and Pride and Prejudice, maybe something new.
ReplyDeletehttp://rhinocerosrunning.wordpress.com/right-now-im-reading/jane-austen-mini-challenge/
I'll be reading Emma and Northanger Abbey. I'll also be watching ALL of the Masterpiece Theatre movies. I love Jane Austen so this is right up my alley!
ReplyDeleteI'm totally doing this one. Reading Emma with my best friend. So I just need to figure out which other book I want to read!
ReplyDeleteI think I can safely join in on the Austen Mini-Challenge; I've already read every single full length novel by Austen and enjoyed each. And I've got a fair number of the adaptations on DVD as well.
ReplyDeleteI think I'll join the Austen challenge because I already planned on reading "Emma" this year. Adding on another Austen novel shouldn't be too much of a burden.
ReplyDeleteHi, I'm updating my list:
ReplyDeleteMansfield Park
Lost in Austen (finished- review here:
http://chris-book-a-rama.blogspot.com/2008/01/lost-in-austenreview.html
And as an added bonus: Lesley Castle
I still haven't read Persuasion or Mansfield Park, so I'm in the Austen challenge for those two. Plus, we're going to be having some watching parties for the PBS movies.
ReplyDeleteThanks for hosting a fun challenge!
Ohhh...I hope I am not too late!!! This sounds like so much fun and I am such a fan of Jane Austen! I am so glad I came across your blog! I would love to join in on the Austen Challenge, as I have yet to read or see *gasps* either Northanger Abbey or Mansfield Park.
ReplyDeleteNo, it's not too late, Jen. Welcome to the challenge :)
ReplyDeleteI'd love to try the Austen mini-challenge. I've read all her novels, but it's probably time for a reread. Or maybe the movies? Either way, count me in!
ReplyDeleteHi I would love to participate in the challenge. My intention is to watch every single one of the Masterpiece series books. I have read every single Austen except for EMma which is what I would like to do as well. I am soooo excited for Northanger Abbey tomorrow evening.
ReplyDeleteI hope its not too late...
Hi Becky, I've just re-read Pride & Prejudice, my fav Austen novel.
ReplyDeletehttp://thebookworm07.blogspot.com/2008/01/pride-prejudice.html
The PBS Masterpiece Theaters movies are great!
I'm so glad I stumbled upon this challenge. I'm currently taking a class on C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien. This is perfect! Thanks, Becky.
ReplyDeleteAm I too latefor this.How long does it run.I would love to join the Austen challenge,
ReplyDeleteYou are not too late, Laxmi. The challenge ends December 31, 2008.
ReplyDeleteI am joining in on the C S Lewis/J R R Tolkien challenge. I am planning on taking my 15 year old niece Emily to see Prince Caspian and I just finished reading Out of the Silent Planet for one of the science fiction groups that I belong to over at Yahoo! Judy
ReplyDeleteI meant to ask what is the Inkling group and are they open to new members? Thanks, Judy
ReplyDeleteJudy, the Tolkien/Lewis challenge is the Inklings challenge. They're the same. And we're still taking new participants :) so consider yourself signed up :)
ReplyDeleteJust wanted to say I have finished the challenge. I read 2 books and saw one movie. NONE of them were the original novels.
ReplyDeleteI tried watching Becoming Jane, but could not get past the long lounge scene near the begining. I was unable to laocate a copy of the movie Emma. I did watch The Jane Austen Book Club (movie) and really enjoyed it. Much more than I expected to.
I am going to do the Austen challenge! This is my first ever challenge. Yay!
ReplyDeleteHi Becky,
ReplyDeleteI am going to complete the Jane Austen mini-chalenge. I'm going to read Emma and Mansfield Park, and watch the films too. I'm excited! Regards, Bee.
I fulfilled the challenge. I reread all 6 of the novels in this calendar year, 2008, and also saw all of the Masterpiece Theatre versions.
ReplyDeleteSince I dont' have a blog and will be away at year end, I am posting my endsing now.
ReplyDelete1/20 Northanger Abbey
1/27 Mansfield Park
Lindy
Since year end is fast approaching, and I will be away and still dont'have a blog, I am posting early.
ReplyDelete1. The Great Divorce
2. Praying with C. S. Lewis Charles C. Taliaferro
3. Till We See Your Face
4. Mere Christianity