Fall Into Reading 2008

The temps here in Colorado are still mild and warm, but today is the first day of fall. That means it's time for the Callapidder Days Fall Into Reading 2008 challenge, a fun way to get reading recommendations and interact with hundreds of other readers in the blogosphere.

Earlier this year, I heard about the 888 Challenge, in which participants read 8 books in 8 different categories in 2008. That seemed like too much for me to bite off, but I like the idea so I've categorized my list for this challenge. I don't expect to read all of these books by December 20 (it doesn't include any of the titles I'll be reviewing for CFBA or any nonfiction) and I might add a few more books after I read other readers' Fall into Reading lists. However, I like compiling a longer list so that I can choose books according to my current mood.

Classic Books and Authors
!Fahrenheit 451 (Ray Bradbury): I'm a little embarrassed to admit I've never read this one before! Our library is doing it for The Big Read and will have several discussions and other related events.
*!The Fountainhead (Ayn Rand)
The Good Earth (Pearl S. Buck)
*Island (Aldous Huxley)

Books to Reread
The Old Man and the Sea (Ernest Hemingway): I hated this book in high school and am curious to see whether my perspective has changed in the almost 20 years (eek!) since then. [It did!]
!Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (JK Rowling): It's the 10-year anniversary of the story of Harry's first year at Hogwarts (the original British version, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, premiered in 1997). [As much fun the second time around as the first, and now I see Neville (one of my favorite characters in the whole series) in a new way!]
*!A Wrinkle in Time (Madeleine L'Engle): I read this a long time ago but don't remember much about it.
Harriet the Spy (Louise Fitzhugh): This was my favorite book as a girl!

Middle Grade or Young Adult Fiction
The Shakespeare Stealer (Gary Blackwood)
Romancing Hollywood Nobody (Lisa Samson): Lisa won a Christy award for the first book in this fun series, Hollywood Nobody.
The Mysterious Benedict Society (Trenton Lee Stewart)
!The Giver (Lois Lowry)

Recommendations
Jayber Crow (Wendell Berry): Recommended by Sherry at Semicolon
One for the Money (Janet Evanovich): My Mom likes the Stephanie Plum books and I've been meaning to read them for some time. Jenny B. Jones also mentioned them in my interview with her this summer.
Cassandra and Jane (Jill Pitkeathley): Recommended by Lisa at 5 Minutes for Books
The Shape of Mercy (Susan Meissner): Recommended by Publishers Weekly as one of the best books of 2008

Starred titles are also on my list for the LOST Books Challenge, which involves reading books that have been referenced on my favorite show, LOST. Titles marked with an exclamation point have at one time another been banned or challenged; Banned Books Week is September 27-October 5 this year.

Happy reading!