You may have noticed that I don’t really do reading challenges. Don’t get me wrong, there are some absolutely fantastic ones knocking around but… I just can’t do them.
I get stressed out and I flap and it’s all a bit of a faff…
This year, however, I’ve decided to set myself one. It’s not really a challenge, more of a challengette*
It all came about when the brilliant A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness won the CLIP Carnegie Medal last year. I was moseying about on the website, reading up about the history of the medal, the long list and, more importantly, the past winners.
Now I consider myself as pretty well read but for some reason there is a CLIP Carnegie Medal shaped hold in the books I’ve read.
As an aspiring writer, I want to write the kind of books that will be mentioned in the same breath as writers such a Frank Cottrell Boyce, Patrick Ness, Neil Gaiman, Anne Fine, Siobhan Dowd, Philip Pullman and Terry Pratchett and so on and so on…
I do dream of winning the CLIP Carnegie Medal, so I figure reading the books that came before me (heh heh… Oh come on, I’m kidding) and seeing just what it takes is the only place to start.
Obviously, there are a lot of books that have won this prize and there is no way I’ll be able to read them all. So I thought of reading the books that have been awarded it since 1989.
It being my birth year and all…
There’s a weird thing which I don’t completely understand where before 2007 the book is listed on the year of publication and not the year it was awarded the medal but for the sake of my sanity from trying to work out what the hell happened to 2006, I’ve listed them with when they won it.
Sorry if there’s any confusion with the dates… but basically, I’m going to be reading some prize winning books and I’ll write stuff about them.
The List.
2012 – A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness. READ.( My review. )
2011 – Monsters of Men by Patrick Ness. READ (My review.)
2010 - The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman.
2009 – Bog Child by Siobhan Dowd
2008 – Here Lies Arthur by Philip Reeve
2007- Just in Case by Meg Rosoff
2006 – Tamar by Mal Peet
2005 - Millions by Frank Cottrell Boyce
2004 – A Gathering Light by Jennifer Donnelly. READ (Review to come)
2003 - Ruby Holler by Sharon Creech.
2002- The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents by Terry Pratchett
2001 – The Other Side of Truth by Beverley Naidoo
2000 – Postcards From No Man’s Land by Aidan Chambers
1999 – Skellig by David Almond READ.( My review.)
1998 - River Boy by Tim Bowler.
1997 – Junk by Melvin Burgess- READ (No review because I’ve still not managed to unjumble my thoughts on this one. Such a brilliant yet difficult book. Highly recommended but definitely not for the faint hearted)
1996 - His Dark Materials: Book 1 Northern Lights by Philip Pullman. READ (Review-ish)
1995 - Whispers in the Graveyard by Theresa Breslin
1994 – Stone Cold by Robert Swindells
1993 - Flour Babies by Anne Fine
1992 – Dear Nobody by Berlie Doherty
Just look at that cover. Brilliant. THAT is what I call a werewolf.
1991- Wolf by Gillian Cross
1990 – Goggle-eyes by Anne Fine
1989 – A Pack of Lies by Geraldine McCaughrean
I’ve read 6 out of the last 24 so obviously I’m not going to be reading them again, but I’ve included them in the list so you can see how many you’ve read! What’s your number? Is it as tragic as mine? Are there any you’re desperate to read? Let me know in the comments!
*It’s a thing, let’s move on.
Oh, this looks like such a cool idea! Good luck with completing your goal. :)
Maybe, one day, someone will think to do a Carnegie challengette, and your novel will be on the list. ;)
Ha, thanks Jess!
And a girl can dream, wish, hope, pray, right? ;)
Oh dear. I’ve only read 5. Although I may have read the Anne Fine one at school as it sounds familiar. Let’s say 6.
Surprised Just in Case is on that list. I adore Meg Rosoff, but that is my least favourite out of all her books.
Let’s have a Bog Child readalong!
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