POLLYANNA’S READING IN WONDERLAND CHALLENGE
1. ‘…at least I know who I was when I got up this morning, but I think I must have been changed several times since then.’: Read a fiction book in a genre you don’t usually read.
This is a tough one for me, because I read just about anything!
2. “Reeling and Writhing, of course, to begin with,” the Mock Turtle replied, “and the different branches of Arithmetic—Ambition, Distraction, Uglification, and Derision.”: Read a non-fiction or how-to book about a new topic. Choose something that you are curious about, something that is really far from your current life, work, college major, and hobbies.
I just read Origami for Beginners with my kiddo. I still can't fold paper, but she's a whiz at it.
3. “How doth the little crocodile”: Read a biography or autobiography about someone whose life is/was vastly different than yours. Or, read a history book or historical fiction about a completely different time or place.
Lol, Ozzy has to count for this. Drug addicted / alcoholic millionaire rock star who grew up dirt poor. that's pretty much the polar opposite of little ol' teetotaler moi.
4. ”Well, if I eat it, and if it makes me grow larger, I can reach the key; and if makes me grow smaller, I can creep under the door: so either way I’ll get into the garden, and I don’t care which happens”: Read a book that includes food. You could read a cooking or travel book. Or a fiction book with recipes like “Fried Green Tomatoes At the Whistle Stop Cafe” or “Like Water for Chocolate.” Or a book that mentions food a lot, or has food as a plot point or part of the title. Now try some of the food from the book. You can cook it, buy it, or eat out.
Oh! The Apple Turnover Murder, by Joanne Fluke. Cookie baking amateur sleuth Hannah is back. And this time she's trying to find out who killed an old flame. It was an ok book. I'm a little tired of Hannah waffling between the two men in her life. Then again, I'm a little tired of the boring men in her life, period. But as always the recipes in the book sound oh so tempting. Get this book from the library and wander through for the recipes ;) Until I have time or energy to make some apple turnovers for myself, I think I'll head to the local bakery and get one there. Yum!
5. Alice thought the whole thing very absurd, but they all looked so grave that she did not dare to laugh: Read a book that’s just for fun. This could be anything – a historical romance, a cosy English mystery, P.G. Wodehouse, lighthearted non-fiction, a classic Erma Bombeck, complete and utter porn – whatever. Anything that makes you happy.
I've had a real problem finding books lately that just make me happy. I've picked some real snoozers lately. But I have to say Ozzy's autobiography made me laugh from cover to cover, so he wins this category as well. Really though, everything I ready is because I want to and it makes me happy. That's what reading is all about ;)
6. ‘Why is a raven like a writing-desk?’: Find a book that has been made into a movie. Read the book. See the movie. In whatever order works for you.
Harry Potter anyone? Maybe I shall finally watch The Order of the Phoenix.
7. The chief difficulty Alice found at first was in managing her flamingo: Read a classic book you’ve never read and always meant to.
Sadly, I can't really think of any classic book that I've wanted to read, but haven't. I'm a philistine, I don't much go for classics, ever since a bad run in with one in a lit class ;) But I'll see what I can see online. Maybe classic doesn't have to be boring. Or can I cheat and count Jane Bites Back by Michael Thomas Ford? It's about Jane Austen after all...
8. ‘But what did the Dormouse say?’ one of the jury asked. ‘That I can’t remember,’ said the Hatter. ‘You must remember,’ remarked the King, ‘or I’ll have you executed.’: Re-read one of your all-time favorite books. Remember all over again why you love it. Blog about it so we will all want to read it too.
I do this all the time. The real challenge is deciding which one to blog about
9. ‘And what is the use of a book,’ thought Alice, ‘without pictures or conversations?’: Read a children’s picture book. If you don’t have any small ones in your life to share their books with you, go to the bookstore or library. Find a picture book that really appeals to you and read it. I highly recommend you don’t skip this one. There are some amazing picture books out there.
It's funny, because recently at the library my daughter and I were looking through the Carl books by Alexandra Day. She loved those books when she was really little. We would "read" them at bedtime and she would tell me the story. (They are truly picture books, with very few words in them except at the very beginning and the end). Of course now she doesn't remember them at all, but they brought back lovely memories. They are very well illustrated and fun.
10. “Oh my fur and whiskers!”: Read a children’s or young adult book. It can be something you loved as a child, or one you’ve never read.
Which one to pick? Anne, Harry, Claudia or maybe I should read the Fablehaven books my daughter devoured recently.
11. “After a fall such as this, I shall think nothing of tumbling downstairs!”: Read a banned or challenged book.
Sadly, there are so many to chose from.
12. ‘But I don’t want to go among mad people,’ Alice remarked. ‘Oh, you can’t help that,’ said the Cat: ‘we’re all mad here. I’m mad. You’re mad.’: Read a book from a different country and culture. The author can be from a country you have never visited. The book can be translated from a different language. The book can be set in a country you have never visited. If you read a lot of books from one country, for this category, read something different.
Just not sure on this one...
