11
Oct
2009
The November Novella Challenge
As if I don’t join enough challenges as it is, I’ve decided to host my own.
The novella is, I feel, a marginalized type of fiction. Longer than a short story, shorter than a novel, sometimes called a novelette, it’s tough to define. In general, I consider it to be somewhere between 70 and 120 pages. Perhaps it’s better to say what it is not? It is not a play. It is not epic poetry. It is not a slim book of short stories. It is not any sort of tract or treatise or manifesto or other such nonfiction.
But it IS perfect for a few things: curling up in front of a fire on a windy night, you can finish it off in one sitting. And, alliteration? Awesome.
For this challenge, there are 4 levels of participation:
Level I: Read one (just one!) novella by November 30, 2009
Level II: Read four novellas (one each week, mayhaps?) by November 30, 2009
Level III: Read eight novellas (two a week?) by November 30, 2009
Level IV: AKA, the As Many As You Freakin’ Can level: Read as many novellas as you freakin’ can by November 30, 2009
Now, the “rules”. I use that word loosely as there aren’t any rules…just some suggestions for cheating: Cross-overs with other challenges are fine, audiobooks are fine, reading (and reviewing) before November starts (especially if you’re taking part in the 24 hour read-a-thon on October 24th!) is totally cool. I’ll put the Mr. Linky up for reviews sometime in the next week or two.
I do ask you to make a list in advance, but swapping out books on your list as you go is no problem.
If you don’t have a blog, that’s O.K.! You can still participate by writing a short review in the comments section of the review page. When signing up, just leave the URL in the Mr. Linky blank. put a link to this post, and leave your reading list in a comment of this page. Same thing when you review something on the review page.
Most importantly, there will be PRIZES.
O.K., so maybe you still don’t really know what a novella is. So far I’ve reviewed three of them on this blog:
Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad
Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse
The Pearl by John Steinbeck
And here are some resources for finding lists of novellas:
List of novellas on Wikipedia
List of novellas from B&N
Novellas.org
What comes up if you search for novellas on Amazon
Or check out what some other people are reading on their lists below.
The most important thing, of course, is to have fun! Happy reading!
Related posts:
- My November Novella Challenge Reading List One of the things I forgot to tell you guys about novellas, is that they are often ridiculously cheap. I’ve been collecting some for this challenge recently,...
- Review Page for the November Novella Challenge Yo! Let’s get this party started! Or, you know, Mr. Linky. Whatever. This is the page to post all of your reviews for the 2009...
- Win The Turn of the Screw! This is an INTERNATIONAL give away, open to all participants of The November Novella Challenge! I have TWO copies of The Turn of the...
- 2010 A to Z Challenge I wanted to do the A to Z Challenge this year, but I never signed up and then since the year was like, half over...
- 2010 New Author Challenge The year is almost over, and some of us are already looking forward to the reading challenges we’ll be doing next year. Jackie at Literary...
I’m considering this. I just need to see how many ‘novellas’ I have in my possession. I reallyyyy can’t bring anymore books into my house right now – as I’m sure you understand! lol My bookshelf is overflowing as it is. I’ll be searching my shelf today. More suggestions would be great if anyone has any!
I’m debating . . . I want to, but I really cannot add more books to my list!! I’ve got to take care of those that are already there!! I did a little looking at some of the options and discovered that I think I have one of them. I may be back after I verify that that one is on my shelf!!
Hi! I found about your challenge through A Novel Challenge and I’m very happy to join you in it!
BTW, other useful lists of novellas are the Hugo and Nebula Awards for Best Novella
I’m totally nutty about novellas and I’m in for Level II.
I’ll put a join-up post on my blog later. In the meantime check out the Melville House Publishing Art of the Novella series … or even anything you can find in English by Theodor Storm – a German master of the form.
I will read at least one novella during November.
Trish of Hey Lady! hosted a novella challenge a couple of years ago-that might be a good resource for those looking for lists.
I’ll definitely be joining in!
I have lots of novellas in myy read-a-thon pile…so we can start reading and reviewing novellas *now* for the challenge? Or wait until the last week of October? Or maybe read in October and review in November?
lol. Obviously, I do better with rules.
Ok-I’m back with one more question.
Is the 120 pages a hard-and-fast rule? Right now I’m ‘reading’ (actually listening to) a book by A.S. Byatt right now subtitled “Two Novellas” and it’s 350 pages long, which means the novellas would average 175 pages. And most of the books I was thinking of as novellas in my read-a-thon pile (because they’re around or under 200 pages) are longer than 120!
Of course, it’s totally your challenge-I just wanted to confirm so that I could make my book pool! (And I swear I’ll stop harassing you now, lol.)
Martina: I hear ya! but I tell you what…I’ll jong your challenge if you join mine.
Tif: read as many as you have!
Bea: Welcome to both my blog and Challenge! And thanks for the tips!
LizzySiddal: Great! I look forward to your post! And thanks for the ideas.
Mellisa W: That’s why I love challenges w/ levels!
Eva: You can start reading/reviewing right away. In fact, if anyone finishes the November Novella Challenge in October, I think that that would be quite comical. And no, the 120 pages is not a hard and fast rule at all. If A.S. Byatt (and his publisher) call them novellas, I think they count. I mean, it’s not like it’s so popular it’s being used as a marketing device!
You should read Tolstoy’s Hadji-Murat. Only ~120 pages and an absolute gem.
(this is Ian on Lindsey’s computer, if that wasn’t abundantly clear.)
ooo, i’m in. good one. gotta compile my list and and linky it later.
Well, maybe I can read just one!!! I’ll look into getting them … it might boost my number of books read for the 100+ reading challenge!! HAHA! Great idea!
Hmm, I’ll have to think about this one. I think I’ll just start out with one…but I’ll let you know!
I’m in–I’m just going to read one (Level I), but I’m in!
I’m such a doof–I signed up in Mister Linky, but I don’t have a post up yet on my blog with what I’m going to read. I’m planning on reading Legends of the Fall by Jim Harrison. I’ll get a post up on it later this week.
I’m definitely thinking about doing this one. I’ve always enjoyed reading novellas, and I’ve got quite a few in my TBR stack already. I’ll get my list together and then come back and make it official.
OK, I got my post up here.
I’ve signed up for Level III! I might end up at Level IV though-we’ll see.
Hi!
Would love to join in on this challenge. I have posted about this at my place, Sherrie’s Stuff and got my list of books. I found this challenge over at A Striped Armchair. I am also doing the Dewey’s Read-a-Thon. Have a great day!
Sherrie
We’re joining in on Level II and each selecting two novellas to read together. We want to encourage other couples to join as a team – it’s a great way to share a common interest.
I will sign up for level one-I will read “Hard Boiled” by Banana Yoshimoto
An excellent idea – I’m in for level II !
Finally made our picks – well, mostly: http://tdreads.blogspot.com/
One more challenge i say.. I’m going to try for Level II
I’m excited for this! Definitely in for Level II
I just signed up at a Level II!!!
Just signed up and posted a little note on my blog. I’m going with Level I, and then hope to do better!
I signed up for Level I (but will hopefully read more!) and just posted about it on my blog. Thanks for hosting, JT!
I am going to not give myself a level for definate but just aim to read a few I will pop a post up about this later in the week once have done some digging to see just how many novella’s I actually own!
I have succumbed! A lovely idea and even though I have plenty of unfinished challenges I will join you. Am going to try for 4 novellas. Thank you for hosting.
Would the story “The Love of a Good Woman” be considered to be a novella? The reason I ask is that the story takes up about 90 pages in the book of the same and I would like to read it.
I’m in! Just posted my list. Already halfway to Level II.
I committed to just one novella, which i have already read-I just now posted a review of Banana Yoshimoto’s Hardboiled-a beautiful 89 page story
Melissa: Sure. Why not? I’m pretty flexible
My review of Hard Luck by Banana Yoshimoto
This is my third novella for the challenge-I have decided to go for four after all!
Love this challenge and sort of joined in by accident with The Stepford Wives after picking it up in the Library.
Finished the challenge. You can find the review here: http://jaynesbooks.blogspot.com/2009/11/christmas-carol-by-charles-dickens.html
I commented on the review of *Siddartha*…one of my favorite books!
hybroanglid at aol dot com