Friday Finds

I know that Friday Finds is supposed to be about books you've newly discovered, but I'm being different today. Since I'm relatively new to this, I'm listing my discoveries in the book blogosphere.

My biggest discovery was Novel Challenges. This blog lists the reading challenges that are going on in the book blog world. I've already joined a couple of challenges as a result. I can already tell that I'm going to be in trouble if I'm not careful.

I also discovered memes, many of which are listed on the Book Blogger Appreciation site.

(Much thanks to Jackie at Farm Lane books for pointing me in the right direction.)

Beyond the Bayou by Kate Chopin

I chose a short story for today’s Throwback Thursday. Beyond the Bayou is from the book Kate Chopin: Complete Novels and Stories (Hardcover: 1075 pages 1931082219).
This is a short story written near the turn of the 20th century. Apparently set in the time of slavery in Louisiana, it is the story of overcoming fear.

The main character, Jacqueline, experienced a fearful moment in her childhood. As a result, she has reached the age of 35 without leaving the small plot of land around her cabin. But when emergency strikes her favorite of the slave owner’s children, she must overcome this fear.

The author artfully illustrated the appearance of the bayou as well as what I suppose was the dialect of the time.

I think that I liked this story because I enjoy the feeling of combating fears and coming out triumphant. I love to see people who realize that they are more than they’ve given themselves credit for. It was a quick read, and one you might enjoy. (I read it via DailyLit.)

Childhood challenge

I can tell I'm headed in a dangerous direction. I added Novel Challenge to my feed reader, and I keep finding tempting challenges. Perhaps I can combine some challenges. (Notice that I didn't suggest quitting.)

Anyway, I found the childhood favorites challenge, and I can't resist. But I can pick short books, and they can be bedtime reading for me and my girls, right? And I have a year to read five books. No problem!

24 hour read-a-thon

I think that I'm going to give it a try! October 24-25, 2009. More info at http://24hourreadathon.com/