Given that I love all things Jane Austen, I just had to sign up for the Everything Austen II challenge hosted by Stephanie’s Written Word. The challenge runs from July 1, 2010, to Jan. 1, 2011, and you need only complete 6 books, movies, crafts, etc., related to Jane Austen. This is what I plan to read:
To Conquer Mr. Darcy by Abigail Reynolds
Mr. Darcy’s Obsession by Abigail Reynolds
Mr. Darcy’s Little Sister by C. Allyn Pierson
Darcy’s Voyage by Kara Louise
Old Friends and New Fancies by Sybil Brinton
Jane Bites Back by Michael Thomas Ford
Also, since 2010 is about half over, I figure it’s time to see where I am with the other challenges in which I am participating.
For the Jane Austen Challenge hosted by the Life (and Lies) of an Inanimate Flying Object, I chose the “Fanatic” level, which requires me to read 6 works by Jane Austen and 5 sequels, re-imaginings, etc. (Click here to see my original reading list)
So far, I’ve read 1 work by Jane Austen and 7 sequels/Austen-esque novels:
Mansfield Park Revisited by Joan Aiken
Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy: The Last Man in the World by Abigail Reynolds
The Darcys & the Bingleys by Marsha Altman
The Plight of the Darcy Brothers by Marsha Altman
Mr. Darcy’s Great Escape by Marsha Altman
Sanditon by Jane Austen
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dawn of the Dreadfuls by Steve Hockensmith
Mr. Darcy Broke My Heart by Beth Pattillo
All I need to do is finish 5 works by Austen, and I’m done!
Finally, for the War Through the Generation’s Vietnam War Reading Challenge (which I’m co-hosting with Serena), I’ve finished 7 of the 11+ books I signed up to read. If you read my original reading list, you can see I’ve strayed just a bit, but I’m fine with that.
Playing Basketball With the Viet Cong by Kevin Bowen
The Lotus Eaters by Tatjana Soli
Dien Cai Dau by Yusef Komunyakaa
Song of Napalm by Bruce Weigl
Letter to My Daughter by George Bishop
Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann
A Hundred Feet Over Hell by Jim Hooper (I’ll be reviewing this next week.)
When I think about how fast the months pass, I’m glad I limited myself to only a handful of challenges, although there are so many good ones out there. I don’t think about challenges as deadlines, but as ways to either broaden my reading horizons or focus on a topic, author, etc. that really interests me. This keeps them fun. And if I don’t finish the challenge, well, that’s life.
How are all of you progressing with your reading challenges?
© 2010 Anna Horner of Diary of an Eccentric. All Rights Reserved. Please do not reproduce or republish content without permission.
Diary of an Eccentric 
well I already posted my update and you can see I bit off more than I can chew!
LikeLike
As long as you don’t feel pressured and beat yourself up if you don’t finish, I say go for it!
LikeLike
Sounds like you’re doing great on your challenges. I’m pretty much on track although promising myself to cut back next year.
LikeLike
That’s great! There are so many challenges I’d like to join, but keeping the War Through the Generations challenge blog updated takes up so much time.
LikeLike
Anna, you are doing so well with your reading challenges. I’m behind in a few of mine. I love this Austen challenge, but I’m also cutting back on the reading challenges for the rest of the year.
LikeLike
Thank you! I only allow myself to sign up for a few each year because there’s only so much time in a day to read. And I’d hate to not complete my own challenge!
LikeLike
wow! the austen challenge sounds like a lot of fun!
LikeLike
I had a blast with it last year. You should give it a try!
LikeLike
You’re doing great on your challenges. I just finished my 100+ Reading Challenge last night with book #100. I’m almost done with the Historical Reading Challenge and I’m working hard on the others. The only one that I’m tanking on it the Sookie Challenge!
LikeLike
Thanks! Congrats on completing a challenge already!
LikeLike
I’m so glad that you’ve decided to join EAII! You can never have too much Austen! 😉
LikeLike
That’s for sure! Thanks for hosting again!
LikeLike
I signed up for the Everything Austen Challenge I and completed zip, zero, nada 😦 I would love to sign up for version II – but am rather hesitant. I know it will be so much fun!!
LikeLike
I came very close to not completing the challenge last year, so I’m very glad that movies count because I watched two on New Year’s Eve to finish it up.
I think you should sign up and give it a go. Even if you don’t complete the challenge, it’s worth a try.
LikeLike
I’ve got to get signed up for Everything Austen II! I won the prize package at the end of the last one so I have lots of great choices of material to choose from.
LikeLike
That’s awesome! I say go for it!
LikeLike
Congrats on doing so well with your challenges Anna! There are a few other challenges I’d like to do but I’m running so behind on mine. I am joining the Austen challenge though because how can I resist! I’m still trying to figure out which books & movies I want to put on my list. Anyway, enjoy!
LikeLike
Thanks! I’m looking forward to seeing what you choose to read and watch for the challenge.
LikeLike
I agree… no such thing as too much Austen.
I’ve read all of the Marsha Altman books and loved each one!
LikeLike
Amen! I really enjoyed the Altman books, too, especially the first one.
LikeLike
This sounds like a fun challenge. I know I can only read two books though. Have fun with your list. I have Darcy’s Voyage and will be reading that one.
LikeLike
I’ll keep an eye out for your Darcy’s Voyage review. Happy reading!
LikeLike
It looks like you are doing great! Congrats on reaching the halfway poit of the challenge!
LikeLike
Thanks, Kim!
LikeLike