Challenge: Once Upon a Time IV – March 21 – June 20, 2010

This gorgeous badge links to the challenge site and information below is taken directly from Stainless Steel Droppings.

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Carl V. States:

What reader hasn’t recognized that “curious thrill” at one time or another? It is the opiate that we so often chase whenever we pick up the next book, that readiness to experience something, to connect on a level deeper than mere ink on the page. That chance for something “remote and strange and beautiful” is what repeatedly draws me back to fantasy, folklore, fairy tale, and mythology. Tales of this ken are built upon foundations of storytelling that date back to our most ancient ancestors. There is just “something” about this kind of story.

The fourth annual Once Upon a Time Challenge officially begins on Sunday, March 21st and ends June 20th. In addition to the usual goings on over here at Stainless Steel Droppings, the next three months will see features on art, music, film and of course literature of a fantastical, mythical nature. The purpose of the challenges that I host is always to first and foremost have fun and secondly to promote a sense of community across the blogosphere, so I encourage you to become involved in any way that feels comfortable for you. To give the challenge some structure, I offer several options.

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Please see Stainless Steel Droppings for more information about all the options.  I believe there are six.

For my level of commitment I have chosen the following two elements of the challenge – The Journey and Short Story Weekends. Below are their descriptions taken from the challenge site - underlined text is for informational purposes:

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1.) This is really as simple as the name implies. It means you are participating, but not committing yourself to any specific number of books. All reading is a journey, perhaps none more so than reading fantastical fiction. By signing up for The Journey you are agreeing to at least read one book within one of the four categories during March 21st to June 20th period. Just one book. If you choose to read more, fantastic! If not, then we have still had the pleasure of your company during this three month reading journey and hopefully you have read a great book, met some interesting people, and enjoyed the various activities that occur during the challenge. It has always been of utmost importance to me that the challenges that I host be all about experiencing enjoyable literature and sharing it with others. I want you to participate. Hence, The Journey.

and:

2.) This quest involves the reading of one or more short stories that fit within at least one of the four genres during the course of the weekend. Ideally you would post about your short story readings on Sundays or Mondays, but this is not strictly necessary.

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Join the fun! Even if its for only one book and/ or a short story. And for further enticement there will be prizes! Very nice prizes!

Here is where all the books will be posted.

All completed reviews and links for this challenge will be posted below:

Read at least one Fantasy, Myth, or Fairytale related book:

1. Keeper by Kathi Appelt (young adult/tween, mythic - slipstream)
2. The Russian Dreambook of Color and Flight by Gina Ochsner (slip stream, literary)

Read any number short stories of the same:

1. “Antickes and Frets” by Susanna Clarke
2. “The Goosle” by Margo Lanagan

This challenge is complete but I will keep posting till June 20th.