Friday 23 March 2012

Once Upon a Time VI

Almost the first thing I did after I'd unpacked (just back from a few days in Cardiff - some photos soon) was check to see if Carl's post for Once Upon a Time VI was up yet. Of course, it *was* and I'm once again thrilled that it's spring and it's time to turn my thoughts to one of my favourite genres of books: Fantasy.




“Come away, O human child: To the waters and the wild with a fairy, hand in hand, For the world’s more full of weeping than you can understand.”

~William Butler Yeats



What a fantastic pic and I love the quote to bits.

Here's what Carl says:

The Once Upon a Time VI Challenge has a few rules:

Rule #1: Have fun.

Rule #2: HAVE FUN.

Rule #3: Don’t keep the fun to yourself, share it with us, please!

Rule #4: Do not be put off by the word “challenge”.


While this event retains the word “challenge” from its earliest days, the entire goal is to read good books, watch good television shows and movies, and most importantly, visit old friends and make new ones. There are several ways to participate, and I hope you can find at least one to your liking:


As usual there are several levels of participation. The one I've chosen is:




Which is to:

Read at least 5 books that fit somewhere within the Once Upon a Time categories. They might all be fantasy, or folklore, or fairy tales, or mythology…or your five books might be a combination from the four genres.


My shelf of books has been sitting waiting for a few weeks now:




A fair mix there I think, including... *peers at photo*... two that shouldn't be there at all. Oh well... Also fairly obvious is the fact that one book has a bookmark already in it. This is because I'm already more than halfway through my first read for the challenge: West of the Moon by Katherine Langrish (it's excellent).

And of course *cough* I'm just back from holiday and tend to buy books when I'm away. And *of course* I had a particular challenge in mind while I was looking in Waterstones, Cardiff. Here's what I nabbed:




I haven't checked these out properly on FantasticFiction yet but I think all three are first books in their respective series. If anyone has read any of them, let me know what you thought...

The only other thing to add is that I noticed Carl is going to have group read of Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman in May and I may well join that as I've long wanted to read that one.

OK then... I'm off to investigate what others are going to read.
~~~oOo~~~

10 comments:

Nan said...

You will have such fun with this challenge!!

DesLily said...

well now.. it's a shame you have nothing to choose from LOL..

I've read 3 of the books on the shelf..Woodwife/ Thirteenth Child and Name of the Wind...the first two I read some time ago and can't remember a lot about them lol..but I know whatever ones you decide to read will be good ones! Glad you are home and in on OUaT already!

Anonymous said...

Welcome back, Cath! I know that you love this event each year and I wish you lots of good reading. Fantasy is not really my area, but, I wonder if watching the TV show GRIMM would count? LOL

Cheryl @ Tales of the Marvelous said...

Haha, you seem very well-prepared! I've had a vague list in mind for months, but most of them I need to start requesting from the library... Have fun reading through your shelf!

Kailana said...

Yay for buying books! Now, I think you should drop everything and read Name of the Wind because it is FANTASTIC! That's all I have to say... Well, Pratchett is good, too.

Cath said...

Nan: I hope so... I usually do.

Pat: Yes, terrible isn't it. LOL!

The Woodwife and Name of the Wind are books I definitely hope to get to this time around. I reckon I've put The Wood Wife on my OUaT lists for four years in a row!

Thanks, Kay. Yes, this is one of my favourite challenges to do every year. I was trying to think of some kind of fantasy you might like and came up with Robin Hobb. Her books are beautifully written and full of suspense and intrigue.

I'll be honest... I don't know what GRIMM is. LOL. But it sounds like I ought to go and find out...


Cheryl: Yes, I've been thinking about this challenge for a few weeks now. I want to read a few off the shelf just to reduce my tbr mountain a bit.

Kelly: Yeah, I know I *really* need to read Name of the Wind. I gave it to my daughter to read while she got over her op and she absolutely adored it and had to get the sequel from the library immediately. So it must be good!

Susan said...

I have Boneshaker and Ship of Magic to read too on my list!!! Hmmm, don't suppose you fancy another joint read, do you? We have lots of time! I love the books you have on your list....I also have Lies of Locke Lamora on my list......I have to do my post, I will shortly. You have some wonderful choices there to choose from, Cath.

I hope you had a good trip, I'm looking forward to your pictures!

Anonymous said...

Cath, GRIMM is a new TV show here. First season. It's a crime show with a fairy tale twist. The lead detective finds out that he is a descendent of the Grimm brothers of fairy tale fame. He is charged with protecting people from all kinds of creatures, such as the "Big Bad Wolf", who actually exists albeit in a form sort of unlike the fairy tale. Anyway, we've enjoyed it and it's been renewed for next year. Fairy tales with a crime twist, that's GRIMM.

Susan said...

PS I read Name of the Wind last year too, and thoroughly enjoyed it. I've been waiting for the sequel in softcover to come out, now I just have to get it. It really is one of the best fantasies to come out in a while.

Cath said...

Susan: Yep... that missing comment I left on your post mentioned four books we have in common and several on your list that I've read - The Stolen Child for instance. And I remembered the book I wanted you to read from your list - Kraken by China Mieville.

Yes, I definitely hope to get to The Name of the Wind this time around.

Welsh pictures are now up!

Kay: GRIMM sounds like something I would really like. I checked it out on Amazon and the dvds are not yet available. When they are I'll buy the first season.