Thursday 6 October 2011

Challenge Me 2012 - The Long List

A couple of weeks ago I asked you all to challenge me. I wanted you to help me decide which twelve books I should read next year at the rate of one a month. You came back a huge selection of books and I wanted to give you the long list that was supplied before they are passed onto Liz from My Favourite Books who will choose the final twelve. Now Liz has made some suggestions too, so I am allowing her to pick up to two from her list to add to the selection. Once the final list has been made I will write another post for you to see some of the books I will be reading in 2012.

I have highlighted the ones in red which I have already read.

The Diary of a Nobody by George and Weedon Grossmith
- chosen by Verity from CardiganGirlVerity

Agnes and the Hitman by Jennie Crusie.
A Madness of Angels by Kate Griffin     
 - both chosen by Rosie Lane from Climbing To The Light


The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver 
The Life O'Reilly by Cohen 
Benny and Shrimp by K Mazetti
Misery by Stephen King                        
 All four chosen by Naida from The Bookworm


Little Black Dress by Susan McBride 
- chosen by Darlene from Peeking Between The Pages


Faerie Tale by Raymond Fiest 
- chosen by The Slowest Bookworm


The Help by Kathryn Stockett 
- chosen by Laura from Scattered Figments


A Long Way Down by Nick Hornby
On Checil Beach by Ian McEwan
In For A Penny by Rose Lerner
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer.
Old Man's War by John Scalzi
Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion
Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta       

 - all chosen by Mari from Escape In a Book


Allison Hewitt is Trapped by Madeleine Roux. 
Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman 
I Am Legend by Richard Matheson      
 - all chosen by Carolyn at Book Chick City


The Princess Bride by William Goldman
Stardust by Neil Gaiman
A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness
I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
The Sopranos by Alan Warner
The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
How It Ended by Jay McInerney   

 - chosen by Willa from Wicked Wonderful Words



Firebrand by Gillian Philip
The Corinthian by Georgette Heyer
Frederica by Georgette Heyer  
- both chosen by Rebecca Brown


Once by James Herbert
The Masqueraders by Georgette Heyer
Fables: Legends in Exile by Bill Willingham (graphic novel) 
The Dervish House by Ian McDonald 
Ysabel by Guy Gavriel Kay 
Company of Liars by Karen Maitland 
Ash by Mary Gentle 
Running with the Demon by Terry Brooks 

- chosen by Liz De Jaeger from My Favourite Books

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Tankborn by Karen Sandler
Paper Towns by John Green
Unwind by Neal Shusterman
Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult
Shades of Grey by Jasper Fforde 

  - chosen by Pretty Books

Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman
The Heart Shaped Box by Joe Hill  
- chosen by Susan Mann

Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
- chosen by Kara Malinczak from Great Imaginations

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Foer
The History of Love by Krauss.    
 - chosen by Trish from Love, Laughter and a Touch of Insanity

The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough
The Gate to Women's Country by Sheri S. Tepper
Stone's Fall by Iain Pears
Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali
Hiroshima Diary by Michihiko Hachiya
Madam Secretary by Madeleine Albright
London by Edward Rutherford
Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi
Doomsday Book by Connie Willis
The Lotus Eaters by Tatjana Soli
The Caliph’s House by Tahir Shah
The Glass Castle by Jeannette Wells  
 

 - chosen by Alyce from At Home With Books

Trainspotting by Irvine Welsh
The Enemy by Charlie Higson 
- chosen by Raimy  from Readaraptor!

Wow! What a list. I now pass the baton over to Liz and wait to see what books she has chosen for me. Thanks to everyone who took part. 

18 comments:

  1. Wow what a fabulous list. Can't wait to see what you get to read :D

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  2. I'm looking forward to seeing what the final books are :D

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  3. Aussies are well represented! I think you'll enjoy any combination from this super list. Have fun!

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  4. Aw, you must have asked for suggestions while I was away. I'm sorry to have missed the chance! But there are some excellent books on the list. I'm sure the final twelve will be great.

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  5. A fab list, I know what would make my top 12. From a totally selfish point of view I'd love for you to read The Help and The book Thief as these are two of my favourite books.

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  6. Some of my favorite books are on this list as well as others I've been meaning to read for awhile! What a fun idea :)

    Also, clearly I haven't been in here in awhile! I love the new blog design, it's GORGEOUS.

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  7. Emma - Hehehehe - I have seen the finished list and it looks good.

    Pretty Books - not long now.

    Monique - I was surprised by how many Aussies there were.

    Nymeth - I did wonder if you had seen this. I was going to ask you if you would join in but thought you were probably busy.

    Petty Witter - my lips are sealed!

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  8. Viv, first I love your new blog design. It's great! Secondly, this is a great list. There are so many good books on it. I can't wait to see the final list.

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  9. Great list!!! And if you've read History of Love and liked it then you must read Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close!

    Also, you haven't read The Book Thief?! Oh you must! As well as Atwood, one of my favorite authors.

    PS--love the new look of the blog. Even if I do miss seeing your face on twitter...

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  10. Oooh, I cannot wait to see the short list. So many wonderful suggestions on the long list, it's going to be a difficult task for Liz.

    I'm tempted to do the same(crediting you for the idea of course), but I'm not sure I could do 12 books perhaps 6.

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  11. Jen _ thanks Jen. Anyone can use the idea. I don't mind.

    Darlene - I have seen the final list and I am very excited.

    Trish - the book you mentioned has come up twice this week. I must look it up. Thank you - I am sure I will change it back to my ugly mug soon.

    Mari - go for it. I am going to read one a month and review at the end. I think I can include them in between my review books.

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  12. Wow is right! I admire you for being so open to the suggestions of others. I've read many from your list of books. I think you have a lot of great reading ahead, Vivienne!

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  13. Your new blog design is fabulously pretty! I love it!

    I hadn't realized that I left you such a long list of books in my comment. I'm kind of embarrassed now. I can't wait to see what you pick though! :)

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  14. Wow! I've heard of very few of those! Hopefully you'll love all 12 Liz picks.

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  15. Ooh - Once is tied with Magic Cottage as my favourite James Herbert!

    What a list! Can't wait to see the final one!

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  16. I really cant wait to see the finished list for this Viv! there are some great books on this longlist! :D

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  17. wow, thats quite the list to chose from!

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Hiya, thanks for stopping by, it is always nice to hear what you have to say, so do leave a comment if you have time.