Once Upon a Time IX

All artwork for the challenge by Kimberly Kincaid

Ya think winter is FINALLY over? Got my fingers crossed.  Even though this was supposedly the WARMEST winter on record for the whole planet, around here it was cold, wet and nasty.  And much too looooong!

But spring must be here because Carl, over at Stainless Steel Droppings, has announced the beginning of this year's Once Upon a Time reading challenge/event (number 9!) -- something I've been looking forward to for weeks now. The "challenge" runs from March 21 to June 21, and you can read all about it and sign up over on the challenge announcement page. There are very few rules.

I love this challenge, even though I never manage to read or review as many books as I'd like.  It has a lovely symbolism that lifts my spirits, and it gives me a reason to indulge in some of my favorite literary genres.

Once again, I'll be signing up at the Journey level which means reading just one book. But as usual, I'll be hoping to read more than that.

I might also try to do the Screen Quest this year, although I think I sort of wiped out on that last year. So that's a little tentative right now.

During the course of the challenge, I'll be tracking my progress and making my lists over on my challenge blog (HERE). Haven't yet decided exactly what book/books I'll read, but here are some I'm considering:

• Beastkeeper, by Cat Hellisen. A re-imagining of the beauty-and-the-beast tale for young readers, that's been getting a lot of positive reviews lately.
• Elidor, and/or The Moon of Gomrath, by Alan Garner.  I read The Weirdstone of Brisingamen, by Garner, many years ago. It's the first book in a trilogy (Tales of Alderley) and I've been meaning to read the second book (Gomrath) ever since.
• Five Children and It, by E. Nesbit. Can't believe I've never read any of Nesbit's books.
• The Mabinogion, by Gwyn Jones. There are many editions and compilations of the traditional Welsh tales and legends. I think this is the version I've got on the Kindle. So much literature is based on these stories.
• Magic or Not? and The Well-Wishers, by Edward Eager. Two books in his classic Tales of Magic series from the 1950s. I've read lots of Eager's books and loved every one of them.
• The Mists of Avalon, by Marion Zimmer Bradley. Every year I say this will be the year I finally read this one, and every year it's just too much for me. Maybe this year?
• Silver on the Tree, by Susan Cooper. The fifth and final book in her Dark is Rising series. Read the first four novels for past Once Upon a Time challenges. 
• The Wind in the Willows, by Kenneth Grahame. Another of the many classic children's books I never read as a child -- or adult.