Unread Authors Challenge

And another one, but how could I possibly pass this up??

This is the 2nd Unread Authors Challenge and is hosted by Pour of Tor. The challenge is to read 6 books by authors that you've always wanted to read but haven't yet. It lasts from 1 August 2008 to 30 January 2009, so the same timing as the challenge I'm hosting. But I really like this idea!

Completed: 6/6 as of 22 December 2008

Here are some authors that I've always wanted to discover but haven't got around to it yet, plus possible books:
1) Zadie Smith (On Beauty)
2) Joanne Harris (Chocolat)
3) Anna Gavalda (Hunting and Gathering)
4) Agatha Christie (probably whatever is the first one)
5) Elizabeth Berg (Dream When You're Feeling Blue or The Year of Pleasures - any thoughts?)
6) Orson Scott Card (Ender's Game)
7) Lorna Landvik (Angry Housewives Eating Bonbons)
8) Fannie Flagg (Daisy Fay and the Miracle Man)
9) Philippa Gregory (The Other Boleyn Girl)
10) Sue Monk Kidd (The Secret LIfe of Bees)
11) Laurie Halse Andersen (Speak)
12) Cecilia Ahern (P.S. I Love You)
13) Meg Cabot (Queen of Babble)

I'll read six from that list, I think! :-)

Bang Bang Book Challenge

Here's another one that enticed me - and there are more coming, I'm just doing my lists! :-) The Bang Bang Book Challenge is hosted by Kelsey and asks me to read five books set during one or more wars, between 1 September 2008 and 28 February 2009.

Completed: ALL 5/5 as of 28 February 2009 (view my wrap-up post here)

1. Briar Rose by Jane Yolen

2. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

3. Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi

4. Night by Elie Wiesel

5. The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid

What a great idea, Kelsey, thanks!

Japanese Literature Challenge 2

I stumbled upon this interesting challenge and decided to join in the fun, partly because I'm joining everything that comes along for some reason and partly because I've enjoyed everything I've read in this genre so far and would like to discover more! Bellezza is hosting - check out the rules over at her blog. Basically you have to read three books by Japanese authors between 30 July 2008 and 30 January 2009. I'd only planned one Japanese book for this year, but I'm sure I can manage two more! :-)

Completed: only 2/3 as of 30 January 2009 :-(

This is what I'm planning on reading:

1) Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami

2) Out by Natsuo Kirino

3) Kitchen by Banana Yoshimoto

I'm looking forward to it!