Where to Discuss the Beowulf on the Beach Reading Challenge

So many of you have left comments about the books you've chosen for the Beowulf on the Beach Reading Challenge. I'm impressed at all of the reading that has already occurred and is being planned for the rest of the Summer. At the urging of a BOTNS listener, I've set up a couple places for you to discuss your reads.

Goodreads - I've set up a folder for any discussion threads on particular books. I've started a thread on Moby Dick already. For more info check out this post.

Facebook - Unfortunately, Facebook doesn't allow you to group certian topics in a folder like Goodreads does, so check out this post to see how to format new topics.

and now, without further ado, here's this week's video!

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Reading Challenge Update... How are YOU Doing?

Okay, I admit it. I'm probably not going to get through four classics this Summer. I think I was a little ambitious in my planning. Work reading is taking up the bulk of my time right now. I'm still reading Moby Dick when I've got a spare moment, and will be taking it with me on vacation (to the beach) next weekend. But it looks like I'll be sticking to the true letter of the reading challenge rules and reading at least ONE book from Beowulf on the Beach. (Though I'd really still love to get to Great Expectations this summer...)

All that being said, I know I'm not alone. For one thing, I keep asking Ann how she's doing with War and Peace and, oddly, she always changes the subject. And then, there's this article from The New Yorker's Book Bench column, which says that most people's major summer reading projects are destined to fail.

What about the rest of you? Use the comments section below to let me know how goes the challenge.

In the meantime, here's this week's video of Jack reading a favorite line, this time from King Lear.

[If you click through to the New Yorker article you'll notice that I "borrowed" the image they used to illustrate their column. It was just too perfect to pass up! Thanks so much to Joseph Robertson for taking such a great photo and for posting it on flickr!)
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Beowulf on the Beach Reading Challenge and GIVEAWAY!

Presenting the first ever Reading Challenge from Books on the Nightstand! (Since it's our first, I'm still a little unsure of the do's and don't's of creating a reading challenge, so I hope all of you RC veterans out there will look kindly on our freshman effort!)

A new book arrives in U.S. stores today, May 19th; Beowulf on the Beach by Jack Murnighan is an accessible, funny and extremely readable guide to 50 great works of literature, as chosen by the author. You can hear me rave more about this book on episode 31 of the podcast, which goes live May 20th.

Long story short, I was embarrassed at how few of the 50 books I had read, and have committed, this summer, to reading 4 classics I've never read before. Want to join me? The reading challenge is very flexible, but here are few "rules:"

• The reading challenge runs from May 25 - September 7, 2009 (Memorial Day to Labor Day)
• Read at least one book featured in Beowulf on the Beach, though you can, of course, read more.
• Write about your challenge and reading experience (on a blog, Facebook, Goodreads, Twitter, etc.)
• Feel free to use one of our beautiful reading challenge buttons on your blog (see above and below)

Pretty simple, huh? Click into this widget to see the Table of Contents, listing all of the books covered:

and now, for some free books:

Win one of FIVE signed copies of Beowulf on the Beach!

There are four different ways to enter:

1. Comment on this blog post, telling us what your favorite classic is
2. Comment on the discussion at Goodreads
3. Comment on the discussion at Facebook
4. Tweet the following on Twitter: "BOOKS ON THE NIGHTSTAND is giving away five signed copies of BEOWULF ON THE BEACH! To enter, tweet this! http://is.gd/Bn7A"

We'll pick two winners from the blog comments and one from each of the other three "venues." We'll announce the winners on Sunday May 31st, so you'll still have plenty of time to participate in the challenge... Good Luck and Good Reading!

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We encourage you to write down or print out the title information and shop at your local bookstore. Titles link to LibraryThing, a social networking site that allows you to catalog your home library. LibraryThing also links to various online purchasing options. Here are the books from this post:

Beowulf on the Beach by Jack Murnighan, Three Rivers Press trade paperback

(all information is for the U.S. editions).