Bout of Books 10 Book Pairing Challenge

Bout of Books 10 Book Pairing Challenge

Bout of Books

Today, or tonight, really, as it’s growing late, I’m trying my hand at the challenge from My Overstuffed Shelves. The idea is to pair a book with another book or movie or meal, etc.

I’m all about books, so two books it is. I tried to avoid obvious choices such as The Language of Flowers with White Oleander (aside from the horticultural influence, both novels deal with a teen’s struggle in the foster care system). Or The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time with House Rules (two quite different examinations of an autistic teen and his place in the family and community).

Instead:

Neverwhere + The Robber Bride = reading bliss

What I settled on was Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman with The Robber Bride by Margaret Atwood. First, I love both books. Second, the writers’ voices make me want to hang up my pencil. They are that good. Gaiman and Atwood write with delicious irony and humor and rich language. In particular, what made me pair them are their nods to mythology and fairy tale tropes. As you read both novels, images of Alice in Wonderland, Wizard of Oz, Rapunzel and many more stories will dance in your head. And yet each author brings a unique spin to all allusions. Yum.

Please check them out and let me know what you think. Have you read either of these novels? Did you love them as much as I did?

 

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4 thoughts on “Bout of Books 10 Book Pairing Challenge

  1. Hi Deb,
    Dang! I was too late to sign up for the Bout Of Books challenge, really wish I’d made it. I’ve been laid up with a bad leg this week, so would’ve been the perfect time. Plan on making the next one.
    Still, commenting on what you’ve read…. When I looked it up, The Robber Bride sounds familiar to me. Think I read it a long time ago. Neverwhere looks interesting. Call me “out of it”, but I didn’t even know there was a TV show! I might check that one out (the book, not the show).
    Last few days I’ve read:
    Force Of Nature by Dana Mentink. It goes on a bit too long, but very suspenseful and a good look into the lives of Hispanics in Florida (love story revolved around drug-smuggling during a hurricane). Really enjoyed it.
    I also read The Shape Shifter by Tony Hillerman, a murder mystery with a Navajo Tribal Police detective on a reservation. Gives a great glimpse into the Navajo way of religion and thought.
    Read another book too… The Reluctant Witness by Kathleen Tailer… but I can’t really recommend it, so I’ll end this comment here.
    Keep reading! DJ 🙂

    1. Hi DJ,

      Sorry to hear about your knee. I’m glad you will check out Neverwhere and The Robber Bride. I love all of Tony Hillerman books–love the glimpse into the lives of the Navajo and Hopi tribal police. Jim Chee is a sweet guy struggling to find himself. Several books have Force of Nature as their titles. I suppose you mean the Brockman one? I’ve enjoyed some (but not all) of her books. Guess I should check this one out.

      Thanks for commenting!

      1. Hi! No, the Force of Nature book is by Dana Mentink. It has a picture of palm trees in a hurricane on the cover.
        Thanks for the “knee sympathy”. But at least I have time to read more books!

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