451 Fridays Challenge ~ 2010

451 Fridays is based on an idea from Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. In his novel, a group of people (Bradbury calls them Book People) are trying to keep the ideas found in books alive. Instead of actually saving the books, the Book People each “become” a book – memorizing it, word for word, and passing it down to the next generation.

451 Fridays asks what books you feel passionate about. What book do you think is so important that you would be willing to take on the challenge of “becoming”?

We have compiled an amazing list of books this year in our weekly 451 Fridays posts, and it’s time to start reading them! So, the 451 Challenge was born.

Here is how it will work: between January 1, 2010 and November 30, 2010, participants are challenged to read books on the 451 master list. There will be several levels of participation:

Spark – read 1-2 books from the master list
Ember – read 3-4 books from the master list
Flame - read 5-6 books from the master list
Blaze – read 7 or more books from the master list

Re-reading is acceptable, as are crossovers with other challenges. Audio, print, and e-books are all acceptable. Each month, participants will be encouraged to post their reviews on the challenge blog, and each review posted will be an entry into a grand prize drawing for a $25 gift card to the online bookseller of the winner’s choice.

I have decided to participate in this challenge at the Blaze level which means that I will need to read 7 or more of the listed books.  I’m considering these:

1. A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens
2. Fingersmith, by Sarah Waters
3. Geek Love, Katherine Dunne
4. Gone With The Wind, by Margaret Mitchell
5. Jane Eyre, Charlotte Bronte
6. Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott
7. Persuasion, by Jane Austen
8. Sea Glass, by Anita Shreve
9. The Joy of Cooking, by Rombauer, Becker, and Becker
10. To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee
11. Wuthering Heights, by Emily Bronte

Actual:

• A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens