2014 14-New-Authors Challenge

[Scheherazade]

Anyone willing to take up the challenge this year?

:D

[papayahed]

HaHa, it took me three years to complete the 2011 challenge.

[Scheherazade]

HaHa, it took me three years to complete the 2011 challenge.I got a feeling that you will do it this year!

So far:

1. Susan Cooper ~ The Dark is Rising (N1/W1) ~ 7/10

2. Jean Rhys ~ Wide Sargasso Sea (N2/W2/SO1) ~ 8/10

3. Karen Russell ~ Swamplandia! ~ 8/10

4. Ambrose Bierce ~ The Monk and the Hangman's Daughter 7/10

5. Keith Roberts ~ Pavane 4/10

6. Raymond Carver ~ What We Talk About When We Talk About Love 10/10

7. PD James ~ Death Comes to Pemberley 4/10

8. Richard Matheson ~ I am Legend 6/10

9 Patrick O'Brien ~ Master and Commander

[Dark Muse]

I was looking forward to the renewal of this challenge. I am surprised by how many new authors I am already currently reading.

[Dark Muse]

1. The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner by James Hogg -6/10

[papayahed]

1. Pavane by Keith Roberts - 7/10
2. Year Zero by Rob Reid - 6/10

[Dark Muse]

*Updated*

1. The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner by James Hogg - 6/10
2. Iceland's Bell by Halldor Laxness - 6/10

[Dark Muse]

*Updated*

1. The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner by James Hogg - 6/10
2. Iceland's Bell by Halldor Laxness - 6/10
3. White Teeth by Zadie Smith - 7/10

[papayahed]

1. Pavane by Keith Roberts - 7/10
2. Year Zero by Rob Reid - 6/10
3. Bimbos of the Death Sun by Sharyn McCrumb - 7/10

[Emil Miller]

3. Bimbos of the Death Sun by Sharyn McCrumb - 7/10

I didn't believe this until I Googled it. I know it's not necessary to bold the salient feature of this Wickipedia synopsis, but it's just too irresistible:

The novel takes place at Rubicon, a fictional science fiction convention taking place in the Virginia suburbs of Washington, DC, and at which the guests of honor are Appin Dungannon, a fantasy author noted for his books about hero Tratyn Runewind, and Dr. James O. Mega, an electrical engineering professor at Virginia Tech, who, under the pen name Jay Omega, has written one novel. That novel, a hard science fiction book about a space station crew whose female members are affected by radiation from a star (their intellect is diminished), was retitled "Bimbos of the Death Sun" and given an R-rated cover by the publisher.

:willy_nilly:

[qimissung]

Lol. I googled it, too, all the while wondering how something called "Bimbos of the Death Sun" could only be rated 7/10.

[Mohammad Ahmad]

Ok, let me share this year, although I am not sure from the success because it is the first time for me in a foreign forum, however, enroll my name it is just participation.

[papayahed]

Ok, let me share this year, although I am not sure from the success because it is the first time for me in a foreign forum, however, enroll my name it is just participation.

Cool!

[papayahed]

I didn't believe this until I Googled it. I know it's not necessary to bold the salient feature of this Wickipedia synopsis, but it's just too irresistible:

The novel takes place at Rubicon, a fictional science fiction convention taking place in the Virginia suburbs of Washington, DC, and at which the guests of honor are Appin Dungannon, a fantasy author noted for his books about hero Tratyn Runewind, and Dr. James O. Mega, an electrical engineering professor at Virginia Tech, who, under the pen name Jay Omega, has written one novel. That novel, a hard science fiction book about a space station crew whose female members are affected by radiation from a star (their intellect is diminished), was retitled "Bimbos of the Death Sun" and given an R-rated cover by the publisher.

:willy_nilly:

erm... I ignored that part.


Lol. I googled it, too, all the while wondering how something called "Bimbos of the Death Sun" could only be rated 7/10.

haha. It was a recommendation from Calidore in my vacation reading thread. http://www.online-literature.com/forums/showthread.php?77043-Vacation-Reading&highlight=vacation

I gave it a seven because the murder occurred halfway through the book.

[Emil Miller]

Lol. I googled it, too, all the while wondering how something called "Bimbos of the Death Sun" could only be rated 7/10.

It reminds me of L.Halliwell's critique of the film 'I Was a Teenage Werewolf' :

'Hilarious farago with a title that achieved a splendour of its own.'

[Mohammad Ahmad]

Cool!
If you said cool I have too much warm soul and I challenge you all, so don't be fool or I shall kick you as the ball. ?
For what you feel cool against me! Do you have friendship with me? Do we have previous acquaintance?
If you still feel arrogantly as an American soldier to take Iraqis into your less consideration, I shall make my pen as a weapon!
From now you are not allowed to reply or I shall give your name to the administration.

[Emil Miller]

If you said cool I have too much warm soul and I challenge you all, so don't be fool or I shall kick you as the ball. ?
For what you feel cool against me! Do you have friendship with me? Do we have previous acquaintance?
If you still feel arrogantly as an American soldier to take Iraqis into your less consideration, I shall make my pen as a weapon!
From now you are not allowed to reply or I shall give your name to the administration.

Crikey, remember what happened to Salman Rushdie.

[papayahed]

If you said cool I have too much warm soul and I challenge you all, so don't be fool or I shall kick you as the ball. ?
For what you feel cool against me! Do you have friendship with me? Do we have previous acquaintance?
If you still feel arrogantly as an American soldier to take Iraqis into your less consideration, I shall make my pen as a weapon!
From now you are not allowed to reply or I shall give your name to the administration.

Whoo there partner, don't kick me.

"Cool" is a term that I used to mean that I am happy that you are going to participate in the challenge.

Definition of cool:
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=cool

[Mohammad Ahmad]

Do you teach me English! Cool it is not interjection but if it is used as an interjection, however, it does not mean disgrace, but it does mean that you feel discouraged to this man or you are less happy against him or his item does not admire you and in all its meanings it has not any positive sense.
It is as if we almost used the expression in Arabic as we said when we feel the place is not friendly warmth or when the conversation doesn't attract you as you feel frustrated and you will like to say:
I feel cold although the time is amidst of summer. Of course summer is a hot season and to feel cold is unordinary thing.
To look into dictionaries you will find the strange and the non- identical, everyone has different idea, also I can introduce many links from internet but not all sites are wise.
http://www.almaany.com/home.php?word=cool

It is not advice but let me say I see it is better to use the exclamation available icons than to use words.

[Lykren]

in all its meanings it has not any positive sense.

Actually, the word 'cool' is often used in a colloquial sense, meaning 'awesome', or 'great'. Such a meaning may not appear in all dictionaries (though it should), but I assure you, in the slang of English-speaking countries it is often used that way.

[Mohammad Ahmad]

Crikey, remember what happened to Salman Rushdie.
Himmmm!
what did happen to Slaman Rusdie? I just know he is a novelist British but Indian origin, then as I read his career one of his novels " children of midnight" which stirred crisis in the religious world, whatever the reason is, let say; I am not like those or at least I am open- minded, free, and liberal

[Mohammad Ahmad]

Actually, the word 'cool' is often used in a colloquial sense, meaning 'awesome', or 'great'. Such a meaning may not appear in all dictionaries (though it should), but I assure you, in the slang of English-speaking countries it is often used that way.
You Lykern, if you say it doesn't include bad sense, I will believe you.

[Tallulah]

Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke - 7/10
American Gods by Neil Gaiman - 9/10

[Paulclem]

Cool!

I may be able to do this challenge this year as I've got a few books by previously unread authors in my pile.

1) Rendezvous with Rama by Arthur C Clarke

[papayahed]

1. Pavane by Keith Roberts - 7/10
2. Year Zero by Rob Reid - 6/10
3. Bimbos of the Death Sun by Sharyn McCrumb - 7/10
4. The Strain by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan - 6/10. I received it for Christmas and I couldn't put it down until about halfway through when it started to get a little drawn out. I probably won't read the rest of the trilogy.

[Dark Muse]

*Updated*

1. The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner by James Hogg - 6/10
2. Iceland's Bell by Halldor Laxness - 6/10
3. White Teeth by Zadie Smith - 7/10
5. The Ten Thousand by Michael Curtis Ford - 6/10

[Dark Muse]

*Updated*

1. The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner by James Hogg - 6/10
2. Iceland's Bell by Halldor Laxness - 6/10
3. White Teeth by Zadie Smith - 7/10
5. The Ten Thousand by Michael Curtis Ford - 6/10
6. Jack Maggs by Peter Carey - 9/10

[Dark Muse]

*Updated*

1. The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner by James Hogg - 6/10
2. Iceland's Bell by Halldor Laxness - 6/10
3. White Teeth by Zadie Smith - 7/10
5. The Ten Thousand by Michael Curtis Ford - 6/10
6. Jack Maggs by Peter Carey - 9/10
7. Pavane by Keith Roberts - 6/10

[Paulclem]

1) Rendezvous with Rama by Arthur C Clarke
2) After Dark by Haruki Murakami 7/10

[Paulclem]

1) Rendezvous with Rama by Arthur C Clarke
2) After Dark by Haruki Murakami 7/10

3) Greybeard by Brian Aldiss 8/10

[Dark Muse]

*Updated*

1. The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner by James Hogg - 6/10
2. Iceland's Bell by Halldor Laxness - 6/10
3. White Teeth by Zadie Smith - 7/10
5. The Ten Thousand by Michael Curtis Ford - 6/10
6. Jack Maggs by Peter Carey - 9/10
7. Pavane by Keith Roberts - 6/10
8. Purge by Sofi Oksanen - 8/10

[JBI]

Hoffmann, The Land of Five Flavors - A Cultural History of Chinese Cuisine, 2013: Columbia - 6.5/10 - interesting premise but rather shallow research for an academic book. It's hard to convince someone that one nationality likes to eat more than another - all people like to eat.

[Lykren]

Hoffmann, The Land of Five Flavors - A Cultural History of Chinese Cuisine, 2013: Columbia - 6.5/10 - interesting premise but rather shallow research for an academic book. It's hard to convince someone that one nationality likes to eat more than another - all people like to eat.

I Googled that book and found a review of it that contained the following sentence:

"This fact, along with most of what comprises “The Land of Five Flavors,’’ points to how integral food has been (and remains) to the inhabitants of China."

Food! Integral to human beings! What a thought.

[Dark Muse]

1. The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner by James Hogg - 6/10
2. Iceland's Bell by Halldor Laxness - 6/10
3. White Teeth by Zadie Smith - 7/10
5. The Ten Thousand by Michael Curtis Ford - 6/10
6. Jack Maggs by Peter Carey - 9/10
7. Pavane by Keith Roberts - 6/10
8. Purge by Sofi Oksanen - 8/10
9. The Circus of Dr. Lao by Charles G. Finney 8/10

[Dark Muse]

*Updated*

1. The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner by James Hogg - 6/10
2. Iceland's Bell by Halldor Laxness - 6/10
3. White Teeth by Zadie Smith - 7/10
5. The Ten Thousand by Michael Curtis Ford - 6/10
6. Jack Maggs by Peter Carey - 9/10
7. Pavane by Keith Roberts - 6/10
8. Purge by Sofi Oksanen - 8/10
9. The Circus of Dr. Lao by Charles G. Finney 8/10
10. Casino Royale by Ian Fleming 5/10

[papayahed]

1. Pavane by Keith Roberts - 7/10
2. Year Zero by Rob Reid - 6/10
3. Bimbos of the Death Sun by Sharyn McCrumb - 7/10
4. The Strain by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan - 6/10. I received it for Christmas and I couldn't put it down until about halfway through when it started to get a little drawn out. I probably won't read the rest of the trilogy.
5. Less Than Zero by Ellis, Brett Easton - 7.5/10
6. Plaster City by Shaw, Johnny - 7.6/10 (Sheer entertainment)

[Paulclem]

1) Rendezvous with Rama by Arthur C Clarke 7/10
2) After Dark by Haruki Murakami 7/10
3) Greybeard by Brian Aldiss 8/10
4) Q by Luther Blisset 8/10

Excellent new authors so far.

[Dark Muse]

*Updated*

1. The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner by James Hogg - 6/10
2. Iceland's Bell by Halldor Laxness - 6/10
3. White Teeth by Zadie Smith - 7/10
5. The Ten Thousand by Michael Curtis Ford - 6/10
6. Jack Maggs by Peter Carey - 9/10
7. Pavane by Keith Roberts - 6/10
8. Purge by Sofi Oksanen - 8/10
9. The Circus of Dr. Lao by Charles G. Finney 8/10
10. Casino Royale by Ian Fleming 5/10
11. The Vickar of Wakefield by Oliver Goldsmith 6/10

[Paulclem]

1) Rendezvous with Rama by Arthur C Clarke 7/10
2) After Dark by Haruki Murakami 7/10
3) Greybeard by Brian Aldiss 8/10
4) Q by Luther Blisset 8/10
5) Less Than Zero by Bret Easton Ellis 7/10

[Yaur]

Anyone willing to take up the challenge this year?

:DI got messed up with 2013 cause I couldn't get through satanic verses, but I'll give it a go. So far this year:
1) Saul Bellow, Humbolt's Gift -- The execution of the book didn't really live up to its ideas. Purdy does a better job taking a swipe at artistic orthodoxy IMO.
2) Oscar Wilde, Picture of Dorian Gray -- The "drama" parts are good. The fantasy parts are.... not his thing
3) Mo Yan, Red Sorghum -- Very pretty and very sad.
4) Jonathan Lethem, Chronic City -- It was fun up until the big reveal, at which point I realized I had already read a better version of essentially the same story. Slogged through it, but plot driven books where I can predict every "surprise" twist in the last 100 pages are not good.
5) Mario Vargas Llosa, War of the end of the World -- Kind of a Latin Falukner. IDK yet, but maybe my favorite book ever.

[Dark Muse]

*Updated*

1. The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner by James Hogg - 6/10
2. Iceland's Bell by Halldor Laxness - 6/10
3. White Teeth by Zadie Smith - 7/10
5. The Ten Thousand by Michael Curtis Ford - 6/10
6. Jack Maggs by Peter Carey - 9/10
7. Pavane by Keith Roberts - 6/10
8. Purge by Sofi Oksanen - 8/10
9. The Circus of Dr. Lao by Charles G. Finney 8/10
10. Casino Royale by Ian Fleming 5/10
11. The Vickar of Wakefield by Oliver Goldsmith 6/10
12. The Way of the Wyrd by Brian Bates 9/10

[Dark Muse]

*Updated*

1. The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner by James Hogg - 6/10
2. Iceland's Bell by Halldor Laxness - 6/10
3. White Teeth by Zadie Smith - 7/10
5. The Ten Thousand by Michael Curtis Ford - 6/10
6. Jack Maggs by Peter Carey - 9/10
7. Pavane by Keith Roberts - 6/10
8. Purge by Sofi Oksanen - 8/10
9. The Circus of Dr. Lao by Charles G. Finney 8/10
10. Casino Royale by Ian Fleming 5/10
11. The Vickar of Wakefield by Oliver Goldsmith 6/10
12. The Way of the Wyrd by Brian Bates 9/10
13. Three Men in a Boat by Jerome K. Jerome 6/10

[Dark Muse]

*Updated*

1. The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner by James Hogg - 6/10
2. Iceland's Bell by Halldor Laxness - 6/10
3. White Teeth by Zadie Smith - 7/10
5. The Ten Thousand by Michael Curtis Ford - 6/10
6. Jack Maggs by Peter Carey - 9/10
7. Pavane by Keith Roberts - 6/10
8. Purge by Sofi Oksanen - 8/10
9. The Circus of Dr. Lao by Charles G. Finney 8/10
10. Casino Royale by Ian Fleming 5/10
11. The Vickar of Wakefield by Oliver Goldsmith 6/10
12. The Way of the Wyrd by Brian Bates 9/10
13. Three Men in a Boat by Jerome K. Jerome 6/10
14. Zroba the Greek by Nikos Kazantzakis 9/10

[Yaur]

1) Saul Bellow, Humbolt's Gift -- The execution of the book didn't really live up to its ideas. Purdy does a better job taking a swipe at artistic orthodoxy IMO.
2) Oscar Wilde, Picture of Dorian Gray -- The "drama" parts are good. The fantasy parts are.... not his thing
3) Mo Yan, Red Sorghum -- Very pretty and very sad.
4) Jonathan Lethem, Chronic City -- It was fun up until the big reveal, at which point I realized I had already read a better version of essentially the same story. Slogged through it, but plot driven books where I can predict every "surprise" twist in the last 100 pages are not good.
5) Mario Vargas Llosa, War of the end of the World -- Kind of a Latin Falukner. IDK yet, but maybe my favorite book ever.
6) Herta Müller, Land of Green Plums -- Starts slow and strange, kind of flounders in the middle, and ends very strong.
In progress, Tropic of Cancer.

[Paulclem]

1) Rendezvous with Rama by Arthur C Clarke 7/10
2) After Dark by Haruki Murakami 7/10
3) Greybeard by Brian Aldiss 8/10
4) Q by Luther Blisset 8/10
5) Less Than Zero by Bret Easton Ellis 7/10

6) In the Miso Soup by Ryu Murukami 5.5/10

[papayahed]

1. Pavane by Keith Roberts - 7/10
2. Year Zero by Rob Reid - 6/10
3. Bimbos of the Death Sun by Sharyn McCrumb - 7/10
4. The Strain by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan - 6/10. I received it for Christmas and I couldn't put it down until about halfway through when it started to get a little drawn out. I probably won't read the rest of the trilogy.
5. Less Than Zero by Ellis, Brett Easton - 7.5/10
6. Plaster City by Shaw, Johnny - 7.6/10 (Sheer entertainment)
7. Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter: A Novel by Mario Vargas Llosa - 6.8/10

[papayahed]

1. Pavane by Keith Roberts - 7/10
2. Year Zero by Rob Reid - 6/10
3. Bimbos of the Death Sun by Sharyn McCrumb - 7/10
4. The Strain by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan - 6/10. I received it for Christmas and I couldn't put it down until about halfway through when it started to get a little drawn out. I probably won't read the rest of the trilogy.
5. Less Than Zero by Ellis, Brett Easton - 7.5/10
6. Plaster City by Shaw, Johnny - 7.6/10 (Sheer entertainment)
7. Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter: A Novel by Mario Vargas Llosa - 6.8/10
8. Koko takes a Holiday by Kieran Shea - 7.6/10
9. Annihilation: A Novel (The Southern Reach Trilogy) by Jeff VanderMeer - 7/10

[bouquin]

1. Stella GIBBONS, Cold Comfort Farm
2. Sylvia PLATH, The Bell Jar
3. Iris MURDOCH, The Bell
4. Zadie SMITH, On Beauty
5. Rebecca WEST, The Thinking Reed
6. Siri HUSTVEDT, What I Loved
7. Kate CHOPIN, The Awakening and Other Stories
8. Elizabeth BOWEN, The Last September
9. Halldor LAXNESS, Independent People
10. Isabel ALLENDE, La Maison aux Esprits
11. Patrick WHITE, Voss
12. Marivi SOLIVEN, The Mango Bride
13. Haruki MURAKAMI, Kafka on the Shore
14. Nikolaï LESKOV, Le Voyageur Enchanté

[Clopin]

Alice Munro
Tasso
Flann O Brian
Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Henry James
Italo Calvino

I think that's it unfortunately, I actually did a lot of rereading this year.

[ennison]

Anyone want to try this again this year?

[Dark Muse]

I would be up for it.

[ennison]

I take it we choose our own new authors.
So far I have a short story anthology "Blow-Up and other stories" Julio Cortazar. I am not very impressed.
I am nearing the end of Iain Pears "Arcadia". He is not really a new author for me as I read "Stone's Fall" a couple of months ago but until then I had never heard of him.

[Dark Muse]

1. Snowblind by Ragnar Jonasson

On the whole I am not a great reader of mysteries/ crime fiction but I have come to like much of the Nordic crime novels. In part because of the snowy and often stark landscapes they often have. They also tend to be generally darker and bleaker than American crime. As well I tend to find Nordic crime books have more in depth characters and more complicated plots.

All in all I really enjoyed this book. It was a rather fast paced read and kept my interest. I did find the ending a little rushed but I know a part of it was trying to lead into the next book in the seies. In some ways I just wished this story felt more complete.

[ennison]

1 Arcadia by Iain Pears. I'd give this an 8/10. It has several plot lines, a vast array of characters, many playful ideas and a sense of humour. It has no distinctive language but a decent novel does not have to be Joycean or Jamesian. It has several strongly imagined characters and a few stock characters. Very entertaining and could be read and enjoyed by all ages. There is an app - apparently - which adds an extra level of appeal for younger readers. References to Tolkein, Shakespeare, le Carre, Dr Who, sci-Fi, fantasy and several others give a dimension that adds intellectual stimulation.

2 A short story by a Scottish writer called Joan Jukes. It is titled "On The Floor" I'd give it 10/10. First person narrative point of view. Interior monologue. Black humour. But these are only technical aspects of a very fine story about an invalid.

3 The Cortazar collection is ongoing but so far I'd only give it 5.

4 Just begun The Lost Sailors by Jean Claude Izzo. It appears to be... gentle?

[Dark Muse]

1. Snowblind by Ragnar Jonasson

On the whole I am not a great reader of mysteries/ crime fiction but I have come to like much of the Nordic crime novels. In part because of the snowy and often stark landscapes they often have. They also tend to be generally darker and bleaker than American crime. As well I tend to find Nordic crime books have more in depth characters and more complicated plots.

All in all I really enjoyed this book. It was a rather fast paced read and kept my interest. I did find the ending a little rushed but I know a part of it was trying to lead into the next book in the seies. In some ways I just wished this story felt more complete.

2. The City Always Wins by Omar Robert Hamilton

A rather intersting look at the revolution in Egpyt. I rather enjoyed the narrarive style and the way the author addresses both the political and personal/emotional complexities of revolution. It also reveals some rather bitter and poignant truths. I appreciated Hamilton’s insights into the events that took place and the thoughts and motivations of the people envolved.