Bibliofreakblog

The Pre-Printing Press Challenge

I’ve never done a reading challenge before.  I don’t know why, I just haven’t.  But I’m already hooked!  I’ve just begun and have already signed up for three of them.  I know everything that I’m reading for the first two, but I want to give them each their own special post.

This one is the third challenge I signed up for, hosted by Elena of All Booked Up.  Elena is a Classical Studies major, with a minor in Medieval Studies, so she took what she loves and made a challenge to bring the rest of us up to date with the past.  She calls it the Pre-Printing Press Challenge.   Here’s the rules:

1. All books must have come out before 1440, when the printing press was first invented.
2. Books chosen for this challenge can overlap with other challenges.
3. Books can be translated into the language of your choice.
4. All the books you’ve chosen must be read by April 30th 2010.
5. You can read 1-3 books, 4-6 books, 7-9 books or 10 or more books if you’re feeling particularly ambitious.
6. The choice of books is up to you. There are no set reading lists, and you don’t have to set one when you join.
7. Post your blog address where you’ll be posting your comments on your choice of books in the comments of this post when you join, and tell me how many books you’ve chosen. I’ll set up a link to participating blogs from here.
8. Above all, Have fun.

I remember sometime in 1999, my Mom and I watched almost the whole special of the top (100?) most influential people of the second millenium (CE).  My Mom, smart lady that she is, guessed correctly the #1 spot: Johan Gutenberg.  I was only 16, and what did I know about Gutenberg?  But I’ve loved him ever since.  I think that setting a challenge before his great invention really reinforces the fact that the printing press revolutionized communication.  

So here’s what I’m reading:

1. The Histories by Herodotus
2. Gilgamesh
3. The Koran
4. The Republic by Plato

I was only going to do three, but then started thinking about how I’ve never read all of the Republic, so I decided to up my ante to the 4-6 range.  Maybe I will end up reading more, I don’t know.  

I will be posting my review of each of these books as I finish them.  It might not be any time soon, since I have until next spring!

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