(Art by Melissa Nucera)
“Come away, O human child: To the waters and the wild with a fairy, hand in hand, For the world’s more full of weeping than you can understand.”
~William Butler Yeats
As I walked along a wooded trail in nearly 70 degree temperatures over my lunch break I was indeed aware that Spring…had sprung. Or at least it has poked its head out of the ground for a few days before it turns cold again. Sigh.
At any rate, the calendar is telling us that the season has changed and that still small voice is calling, “Come away…”
It is that voice that beckons us to Middle-earth and Newford, that calls out from the gap in the village of Wall and from the world of London Below. It is the voice that packs so much promise into four little words…
“Once upon a time…”
Perhaps you too have heard that voice whispering on the spring wind, or perhaps Old Man Winter continues to drown out the sound; either way that time has come: Once Upon a Time is here!
Friday, March 21st begins the eigth annual Once Upon a Time Challenge. This is a reading and viewing event that encompasses four broad categories: Fairy Tale, Folklore, Fantasy and Mythology, including the seemingly countless sub-genres and blending of genres that fall within this spectrum. The challenge continues through June 21st and allows for very minor (1 book only) participation as well as more immersion depending on your reading/viewing whims.
Don’t like the word “challenge”? We have something special just for you.
Come away, and I’ll tell you more…
“I felt a curious thrill, as if something had stirred in me, half wakened from sleep. There was something very remote and strange and beautiful behind those words, if I could grasp it, far beyond ancient English.”
~J.R.R. Tolkien, on reading the Cynewulf lines about the star Earendel
Now, for the particulars:
The Once Upon a Time VIII Challenge has a few rules:
Rule #1: Have fun.
Rule #2: HAVE FUN.
Rule #3: Don’t keep the fun to yourself, share it with us, please!
Rule #4: Do not be put off by the word “challenge”.
While this event retains the word “challenge” from its earliest days, the entire goal is to read good books, watch good television shows and movies, and most importantly, visit old friends and make new ones. There are several ways to participate, and I hope you can find at least one to your liking:
This is really as simple as the name implies. It means you are participating, but not committing yourself to any specific number of books. By signing up for The Journey you are agreeing to read at least one book within one of the four categories during March 21st to June 21st period. Just one book. If you choose to read more, fantastic! If not, then we have still had the pleasure of your company during this three month reading journey and hopefully you have read a great book, met some interesting people, and enjoyed the various activities that occur during the challenge. It has always been of utmost importance to me that the challenges that I host be all about experiencing enjoyable literature and sharing it with others. I want you to participate. Hence, The Journey.
Read at least 5 books that fit somewhere within the Once Upon a Time categories. They might all be fantasy, or folklore, or fairy tales, or mythology…or your five books might be a combination from the four genres.
Read at least one book from each of the four categories. In this quest you will be reading 4 books total: one fantasy, one folklore, one fairy tale, and one mythology. This proves to be one of the more difficult quests each year merely because of the need to classify each read and determine which books fit into which category. I am not a stickler, fear not, but I am endlessly fascinated watching how folks work to find books for each category.
Fulfill the requirements for The Journey or Quest the First or Quest the Second AND top it off with a June reading of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream OR a viewing of one of the many theatrical versions of the play. Love the story, love the films, love the idea of that magical night of the year and so this is my chance to promote the enjoyment of this farcical love story.
This quest involves the reading of one or more short stories that fit within at least one of the four genres during the course of any weekend, or weekends, during the challenge. Ideally you would post about your short story readings on Sundays or Mondays, but this is not strictly necessary.
Stories are not just limited to the printed page. Many entertaining, moving, profound or simply fun stories are told in the realm of television and film. To participate in this quest simply let us know about the films and/or television shows that you feel fit into the definitions of fantasy, fairy tales, folklore or mythology that you are enjoying during the challenge.
If you review any of the books you read or shows you watch for the challenge, please link to them in the Review Site by clicking the link (or by clicking on the banner on the right hand side of my blog), that way we can come and visit you.
Over the years various well meaning, and not so well meaning, people have tried to dismiss this kind of literature as childish, no longer relevant, escapist, etc.
Terri Windling, in her marvelous essay “On Tolkien and Fairy Stories” writes:
It was only in the nineteenth century that magical literature and art was pushed into the nursery — ironically, at a time when adult interest in them could not have been higher. Prior to this, ancient epics and myths held a central place in the literary arts, while their country cousins, folk and fairy tales, were told to young and old alike. When fairy tales moved from the oral to the literary tradition, they did so as adult stories.
The literature that falls into these categories speaks to me in a way that no other literature does. I think it is all the history. Ancient folklore and mythology inform so many types of stories and there is something very special about those fantasy stories that in some way build upon that foundation. They are not kids stories to me. They never were. But they do retain the magic that they had when I was a child. And I am thrilled that it is that time of year for us to share these stories with one another.
Artist Melissa Nucera was generous enough to once again allow me to utilize her art for this challenge. I’ve put together a some different sized banners so that you can choose what you need. If you need anything sized differently, please let me know.
If you are joining us and are doing a post on your site about the challenge, please post a link to it below. If you don’t have a blog or are signing up to join but don’t plan on doing an opening post, feel free to sign up as well. We want to visit one another and enjoy the community.
I can’t believe that I got here first! I am very psyched for this year’s challenge. And the artwork is gorgeous, as always! I am going to try for Quest the First!
Congrats! You were right on top of it! I’m very happy Melissa let me use her artwork again. It always evokes the feelings I have about Spring. Welcome!
So excited about this event, I’ve been waiting for it since January! I’ve planned for lots of great books to read and actually started on one a couple of days ago. Couldn’t wait. 🙂
Me too, Delia. I’ve been piling up the books too. I plan on diving in to a couple of those on my pile this weekend.
Wonderful artwork for this one. I don’t tend to do challenges anymore, but maybe I will unofficially join?
Sure. That is why I have the one book only option, so it doesn’t have to be a “challenge” per se. If you do read any books for it, be sure to post your reviews over on the review site so people can come by and check out your blog.
I have been waiting for this challenge with a few books planned. I will be writing a joining post soon. Lovely artwork. I am so excited.
I am too, Tracy. Hard to believe Spring is finally here. Harder to believe when we have beautiful Spring days followed by Winter-like temps. Ugh!
So, here I am, halfway between the high board and the pretty turquoise water…I hope I did the signup thingy right.
This is my first time. Any tips from the veterans?
Have fun? ^-~
More seriously, it’s always been a wonderfuly relaxed and pressure-free challenge. If you want to keep up with fellow participants, it might be an idea to create a prominent bookmark to the review site/mr linky, so you don’t have to go hunting around for it all the time, but that’s about all I can think of in terms of tips.
And try out different things with the weekend posts. I’m terrible at them in part because my blogging habits don’t mesh too well with the structure for them if I don’t schedule things well in advance.
But mostly I think the best tip is to approach the challenge in a way that’s enjoyable to you. ^_^ There’s never been any pressure (that I’ve felt) to go about things in a certain way or time frame.
I hope that helps and that you’ll have a wonderful time!
I echo Lynn, Terry. HAVE FUN!!!
The best thing about these events is the visiting of other blogs and getting to know people. It has always been about community, with the extra added benefit of getting to read great books…or potentially great books, at any rate.
Don’t get hung up on the word “challenge”. The only reason it is still on there is that I’ve done this for 8 straight years now and it seems weird to change it.
Welcome!!!
If you did want to change it at any point, you might want to make an announcement fairly far in advance to give us all a chance to get used to the idea. ^-~
I could, I suppose. I’m sucker for tradition, so it is hard to let it go entirely.
Thank you! I hope to! I”m actually something of an over-planner (my career was in the Planning Dept. of the state environmental agency) so I’m intending to consult with my librarian friend who is also a major fantasy/sf lover. I went around the house last night and collected what appropriate reading I’ve got that I haven’t already read – it’s an odd assortment. Greek mythology, Jim Hines’s Codex Born, Pueblo Gods and Myths, Gulliver’s Travels, and Shakespeare, of course. The muscle between my ears is already feeling flexy!
Always good to stretch that muscle…to get the little gray cells firing. Over-planning can be a blessing, and it makes it fun when you are doing things like this event! Happy to see that you are diving right in, you’ve certainly caught the spirit of the thing.
I wish I had the ability to plan… Or the discipline to stick to it. I’m not sure which is at fault.
That sounds like an amazing assortment! I hope you’ll enjoy them!
Ha! I have the “ability to plan” with the best of them. Like you, it is the “discipline” part that I struggle with.
Eight? Really? Wow, how the years fly. Good for you. Since I’m here in Monterey, CA hip deep in a mystery convention, I’ll have to wait until the spell of crime and it’s solving wears off before plunging in here. As usual I’ll do what I can.
Yes, its crazy. It will be 9 for R.I.P. this year. Absolutely wild to think how quickly time passes.
I can understand spells, Richard. Have a great time at the con!!!
Eeeeeeeee!!! OuaT is here! YAY! *dances* I hope it’ll be a fantastic (er, pun intended?) time for everyone who joins in and for you! <3
I hope you're well and that the season is off to a good start for you!
I do as well, Lynn. Thanks for your excitement and for taking part again.
All is going well this year thus far, just super-busy with Spectrum Fantastic Art Live promotion. Less than two months away. I can’t wait!
Thank you for hosting it again. ^_^
I’m glad to hear everything is going well. I hope you’re having fun with the promotion and that it’ll be a fantastic experience again! Is there anything in particular that you’re looking forward to this year?
It has been a great time. In general I’m just looking forward to seeing artists I’ve become friends with, like John Picacio and Ed Howard, and meeting new people. Abigail Larson is one artist I am particularly excited about meeting.
Count me in! I’m so happy to see this event is back. I can’t wait to start reading. Thanks, Carl!
You are counted! Wonderful to have you in again, Vasilly. Hope yours is a fantastic Spring, in your reading and in all other ways.
I couldn’t make it last year and was so sorry. i swore that wouldn’t happen again.
Yay for the begiining of spring and Once Upon A Time. 🙂
Welcome back! I’ve had years where, in essence, I’ve missed out on my own challenges too, so I know what that is like. But this year we are going to rock it! Pinky-swear!
Yey!, I’ve been waiting for this one since March started. Is my first time participating and I am very exited about it. I think I will go for Quest The First, since, ha is my First ;). I think I have a good line up, but I have a doubt about Shadow and Bone, would it fit for this challenge or not?
Welcome to your first go ’round! Hope you enjoy every minute of it. Shadow and Bone definitely fits…and fear not, I have a VEEERY broad mind when it comes to what fits and what might not.
Hooray! So happy to join in for my fourth (!) year participating. Can’t wait to see what everyone reads. And you always have gorgeous artwork for your challenges, but this might be my favorite yet!
Year 4!!! So cool. Glad you are joining in again. I always wait with anticipation and dread to see what everyone is reading…because two things always happen: I spend money, and I get good reading experiences. One trade off is worth the other, though.
Oh yes! Sign me up! I swear I’ve been waiting for your post for about 3 weeks (I get a bit excited for OuAT).
Happy dance.
Lynn 😀
I’ve been Happy Dancing too! What a coincidence! 🙂
I’ve been putting aside books and titles for months in anticipation of this post. Looking forward to solidifying my choices “in print” over the weekend!
Me too, sprite! Now, can we get them read?
I can’t believe I forgot about this, and that I read Anansi Boys last month, and Not the End of the World last week!
There were no other books really calling to me, but then I remembered the Odyssey is in graphic novel form, and I could add the Penelopiad (ATwood) to add some CanLit content. Then, omigosh, I remembered how much I liked Francesca Lia Block’s writing, and her newest book, Love in the Time of Global Warming is out in paperback this spring. Then I read the description – a modern retelling of the Odyssey! Perhaps I’ll offer a comparative lit class. Now I am a wee bit excited by my choices.
Oh heck, add your reviews for these to the review site!
Your choices are enticing, glad you caught that it was once again time for Once Upon a Time!
Fun, fun! Guess I’m behind everyone in stockpiling books. All I know so far is Gaiman’s Ocean at the End of the Lane. That one I’ve been saving.
Thanks again for this opportunity to indulge!
I’m sure you are like the rest of us, Deb, in that books seem to someone mysteriously just stack up all over the place! I swear they share their ability to propagate with rabbits.
I think I am the most unprepared of all! This is my first time and came to know about this challenge from Lyn’s blog. So I though why not figure it as I read it!
Welcome Parichita! I’m glad you found out about the event on Lynn’s blog! And figuring it out by just diving in and having fun reading is THE BEST way to do it. 🙂
As soon as I finish running my Diana Wynne Jones month, I’ll be jumping over to join your event! Even though I’m up to my nose in fantasy and mythology from one of the masters, I’ll keep the two events separate. See you soon! 🙂
Perfect! Although I recommend rolling your DWJ stuff now into OUaT. After all, DWJ couldn’t be more Once Upon a Time.
I definitely need to think of a way next year to launch this event within mine. 🙂
Finally got a kick-off post up …
http://webereading.com/2014/04/joining-up-once-upon-time-viii.html
So thrilled that it’s that time of year again. I’m in as always and hoping to get books off my tbr mountain this year. Yeah right…….
Me too! Would be more so if I wasn’t seeing snow outside and instead it was truly Spring!
Really looking forward to taking part in this Carl, a genuine sign of spring
Thanks! Glad you are coming along again.
Wish Mother Nature would take this as a cue that Spring has begun.
*yay* This even has inspired me to read some great fantasy works in the past and I look forward to doing so again. Thanks for hosting this one again Carl 🙂
Me too, Naida. I love getting recommendations from what others are reading and loving.
Yay! I was just going to start Graham Joyce’s Some Kind of Fairy Tale last week but then I thought, isn’t OUaT starting soon. Better hold off and keep it for that 🙂 So I have at least one book for OUaT7 (7!!)
oops, missed an I that should be OUaT8! 🙂
Yes, 8. How crazy is that!?!?!
I’m going to try to participate with the first option, read one book. I start a 10 programming class on Monday and am not sure how much work it will be. I also have about 500 pages left in “Dhalgren.” I just bought “The Golem and the Jinni” and two Helen Oyeyemi books (she came through our bookstore, Powell’s, on her book tour) that I’d love to read for the challenge, but we’ll see how it goes.
Oops, that was supposed to say 10-week programming class…
Best wishes for your class, Steve.
I was out with a friend yesterday who bought The Golem and the Jinni on my recommendation…and I’ve not even read it! Just heard A TON of good things.
Looks like “The Golem and the Djinni” is quite a popular book for this challenge. I’ve seen it on a few people’s blogs and I’m reading it too right now. 🙂
It’s really good. Hope you enjoy it! 🙂
It is, the buzz everywhere makes it very enticing.
I just finished it today. It was amazing, I loved it. I need some time to put my thoughts together but the review is coming soon. 🙂
I’ve made my list and can’t wait to get started!
Yay!!! And we are off…!!!!
Thank goodness it’s back! And thanks so much for doing this again.
Thank you, Joy, for doing it again with us.
I’m in! I’ve been looking forward to this event and piling up fantasy! And it feels like perfect time for it! As usual, I adore the art you choose for the button. It’s always a pleasure to have it on one’s sidebar for three months 🙂
Thanks Ekaterina, wonderful to have you in again.
I really am thankful Melissa Nucera is so generous with her art. Like you, I want to see something cool on the sidebar.
I am in for sure! I can’t believe I am late signing up, but we were away and I haven’t blogged or blog-hopped in a week. I will remedy the sign-up in the next couple days. 🙂
Completely understand. It is nice to step away once in awhile and recharge. Wouldn’t be OUaT without you, so I’m glad you are in.
Thanks, Carl! I am just not feeling very ‘spring-like’ after a snowstorm on Wednesday but I did sign up!
I love taking part in this event but I have been so busy recently I forgot that it was starting. It was a really nice surprise when I spotted your announcement post. I am looking forward to seeing what I read.
Thank you Jessica, hope all is well and that things settle down for you.
I can’t resist, I’m signing up! But not being over-ambitious, so it’s a very short list. 🙂
Short lists are good! And doable! 🙂
Yay! So glad it’s time for Once Upon a Time. I’ll be doing an intro post tomorrow. 🙂
I will be trying to catch up with all the intro posts as the week unfolds, once I get back from our mini trip.
This is my first time doing one of these challenges, so I’m excited to find out what it entails. I put up an intro post to formally commit myself… it’s at http://raosyth.com/blog/?p=1125. And of course, as a newby I’m signing up for Quest the First.
Exciting to have you join us for the first time, Patricia! Thank you! Hope you have a wonderful time and meet some great fellow bloggers.
So excited to get started!!
Thanks, me too Angie. I’m cracking into my first read tonight.
Looking forward to participating this year!
It is great to have you!
Love this! Just finished a couple of books that fit: The Hakawati by Rabih Alameddine and The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker. Won’t count them since I posted about them yesterday and discovered this challenge this morning (have posted about that). I’ll do this as a two part challenge: uest of the First and Short Story Quest.
Thanks to Annabel’s House of Books for leading me here.
Have seen so many excellent references to The Golem and the Djinni that I’ve just downloaded it to my Kindle app and it may make its way onto the list!
Reading The Words of Radience so I’m in for The Journey. I hope to watch some GOT season 4 as well.
Really excited to join this challege! This is my first time!
Excellent! Thanks for hosting again.
I just planned my reading for spring and there are two fantasy books on it. I’m so pleased that’s enough to join in with Once Upon a Time VIII!
I didn’t think I’d try this year (too many other books planned), but then you mentioned “Middle Earth” and I remembered that I’m supposed to be rereading LOTR, and then I realized that some other books might work…so I’m in! I’ll even be ambitious and try for Quest the Second. This should be fun!
This is such an enjoyable reading event! I’m so happy to be participating again this year. Thanks, Carl!
I am joining the fun! Thank you for hosting. Looking forward to reading some good fantasy and other myth-based literature.
I did not know about this! Lucky I found it. I’m in the middle reading 2 fantasy books, plus I hope to get to a mythological book soon, too. Half of the books I’m reading are standard fantasy, and even an urban fantasy. That’s ok?
It’s been a couple years since I participated in this challenge, and I hope I have as much fun this time as last. My goal is The Journey–but I want to read books that have been languishing in my home library. So we’ll see if I already own books from all the genres.
I’ve just signed up for this year, and linked to my post, Carl. I love, just love, the painting chosen for this year. It really capture the mood of fantasy, the idea of the searching/quest, the animal companion, and the nature setting – going into the wild for answers. Fabulous.
I just signed up! Yaaay! I have my post linked above. I’m so excited again this year.
I love, love, love the painting chosen for the year, Carl. It seems to capture everything that is fantasy and mythic. Fabulous.
Thanks for doing this again, Carl 🙂
I plan on doing “The Journey”, “Short Story Quest” and “Quest on Screen”.
I’m really excited about this challenge and can’t wait to begin. I’m going to play it by ear for now as to which quests I take on, but I also plan to push myself. I’m really glad I stumbled onto your site!
Showing a little love: http://thebusybookbelle.wordpress.com/2014/03/27/once-upon-a-time-viii-challenge/
Here we go again!
things have been pretty bad the last several months but you know I will try to take “the journey”..the difference is, that this year that may be all I can do… but I wouldn’t miss this for anything.. I will try to get a page up soon
I’ve been wondering when you would pop in here and join in. It would be devastating to not have you take part in Once Upon a Time. I’m not sure what I would do! Hope you can manage to get more reading done than you expect.
I’m a bit late to the party, but of course I have to sign up! Look forward to your challenges every year, Carl. Thanks for the joy!
We’ve got a LONG way to go, so you aren’t that late. 🙂 Welcome again!
I am planning on doing Quest the First, assuming I can find 5 I haven’t read yet! 😉 I have the problem of reading the review site immediately after the last challenge and spending the summer reading those books instead of saving them for next year’s challenge! 😉
I know the feeling. Glad to have you joining us, Jenn! 🙂
oh dear! see what happens when I abandon the internet for a week! @_@
I’m in for challenge the first for sure & will attempt to tackle the 2nd. Have a GREAT weekend of reading everyone!
I participated last year in one of your challenges, and just realized today you are starting another one. This time around I am reading dystopian sci-fi, the Sand Omnibus by Hugh Howey. I enjoyed the Wool Omnibus awhile back, so thought I would branch out of my comfort zone and read this choice for The Journey challenge. Thanks!
Slightly late, but I’m here! 😀
This is just the jolt of happy I needed to infuse my reading with fun again! Can’t believe I’m so late signing up…ahh, but scatterbrained has become the story of my life. Annie really wants to participate too, so I’m sure she’ll be by to sign up (but she doesn’t have a blog anymore, so she’ll likely just post on mine). Thanks yet again, Carl–8 years now, isn’t that mind-boggling?!!
I’m officially in. Posting a button to my site later today and my first review tomorrow.
Not sure what I’ll end up doing, but I have a little stack of books I’d like to read before the end.
Better late than never :p 8 years!!! Hard to believe!
My first time to join! Glad I chanced upon your blog, as I love fairy tales and fantasy!
I am glad you did as well! Thanks for joining in. 🙂
Posted my first review of the challenge: The Wanderers, which I put in the fairy tale category. Next up: Beagle’s Tamsin and Gaiman’s The Ocean at the End of the Lane. Now, time to check out what others are reading…
I just heard about your contest. I love fairy tales! I’m going to join at “The Journey” level but hopefully I’ll read more than that between now and June. Thank you for hosting a fairy tale reading challenge!
I am a bit late, but better late than never! I am currently working on Quest the Second. Woot woot!
I’m another one of the “late to the party” crowd, so I’ve decided to do The Journey and Short Story Quest. Can we do two categories like that? I know I can finish one book and a short story or two between now and June 21st.
Did a link/mention on my blog with your URL. And I’m picking “Life After Life” for the book, based on this book review by one of my followers… http://peninherhand.com/book-review-life-life/.
Glad to have found your site. Looking forward to the fun!
Its never too late! Welcome! So glad you found us and decided to join in. And yes, you can join in as many categories as you would like. Life After Life is one book I’m really interested in picking up, sounds very intriguing.
Finally reviewed one of the books I’ve read–I went off on a completely different reading journey than anticipated!
http://myhighlandcottage.blogspot.com/2014/06/the-sugar-queen-is-sweet-treat.html
Done!!! I did it, all of my 5 reviews are up. First time doing this challenge and it was a lot of fun :). Can’t wait for R.I.P though 😀 I have a nice line up of books waiting to be read 😉
You rock!!! I’m looking forward to R.I.P. too. I’ve identified a few books that I want to save until that time.
I’m sad to see this event is nearly over. This week I’m co-hosting Angela Carter Week on my blog, I finished The Bloody Chamber and now I’m making my way slowly through Nights at the Circus.
Have you read Angela Carter’s work?
I’ve read The Bloody Chamber collection. Wow! It is so amazing. I have your posts on her up on my feedly feed and plan to get to them soon.
This has been an awesome challenge for me. Despite taking Intro to Interactive Programming in Python, and having some extended illness in the family, I read 9 books: 5 fantasy, one of which was Science/Fantasy and one horror; 3 mythology; and 1 folklore. I also wanted to read Helen Oyeyemi’s “Boy, Snow, Bird” for the fairy tale category, but my book queue turned into a stack.
Also during this time, I got to see Helen Oyeyemi and Jo Walton on their book tours at Powell’s Books here in the Portland OR area. They were both honest, sincere, and fun.
Thanks for hosting Carl! I really enjoy your blog!