28 December 2010

The 2011 Roberto Bolaño Reading Challenge


You are cordially invited to join the 2011 Roberto Bolaño Reading Challenge. There is no initiation ceremony. The challenge starts on January 1, 2011.

The goal is to read Bolaño's books in any format (book, audio, ebook) and in any language (translation or original Spanish). Titles in English are listed in the left panel.

There are 14 available titles in English to date, including the book of interviews. Four Three translated titles are coming in 2011 - a book of essays and criticism (Between Parentheses), a novel (The Third Reich), a prose collection (The Secret of Evil), and a poetry collection (Tres). In addition, the posthumous novel Los sinsabores del verdadero policía is published early this year in Spanish.

Books by Bolaño that you have previously read can be counted in your total books read. There is a separate category for rereads.

You only need to finish the remaining unread books for the category on first-time reads. You can "worm" your way into the challenge by reading at least 2 books by Bolaño published this year.

You can join in any of the 2 categories or in both. You can adjust your level of target reads as you go. Links to participating blogs will be added in this blog.


TO JOIN:

You can join the challenge by replying to this post containing the following information: your name and link to your blog/website if you have one. You may also mention your current reading level ("new" if you haven't read a single book by Bolaño) and your target reading category and level for this year.

You can also join by sending an email to XXXXXXXXX. Send any of your questions and inquiries also to this email. My name is Rise. I'm hosting this challenge for the first time. Let's discover and rediscover the visceral writings of one of the critically and popularly acclaimed writers in Latin America.


Category 1 (First-time reads, books read before 2011 will count)
  
Levels: 
Mesmerist: 1 book read
Critic: 3 books read
Vagabond: 5 books read
Poet: 7 books read
Detective: 10 books read
Godzilla: 13 or more books read
Worm: 2 books published in 2011 read

Category 2 (Rereads)

Levels:
Pierre Pain: 1 book reread
Lalo Cura: 3 books reread 
Arturo Belano: 5 books reread







BADGES: You can download the above images for your own blog. Just right-click and save the image to your computer. You can resize them.


TO ENTER REVIEWS: Reply below this page or send links and titles to XXXXXXXXX.


This page will link you to submitted reviews.

This page provides answers to frequently asked questions.


¡Feliz año nuevo!


Badge photo credit: Gerardo Suter (detail from A Night Visitor, 1987).

31 comments:

  1. Hi, Rise! I think it's high time for me to tackle Bolano, and you've given me the perfect opportunity.

    Name: Honey
    Blog: Coffeespoons (http://fantaghiro23.blogspot.com)
    Current reading level: New
    Target Category/Level: Category 1, Mesmerist (for now)

    Thank you for hosting something like this.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oh put me done Rise I ll try for 3 to 5 will finish 2666 just in new year so will put that as 1 ,ALL THE BEST STU

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  3. Best Wishes for the new year to all Bolano fiends.

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  4. My current Bolaño reading level: Godzilla

    http://www.dalkeyarchive.com/book/?fa=customcontent&GCOI=15647100467800&extrasfile=A076BEFA-B0D0-B086-B628F25917E38703.html

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hey New Directions! Put Bolano on Kindle! PLEASE!

    (And H.D. would be good, while you're at it...)

    ReplyDelete
  6. This is great! thanks

    Name: Ryan O'Connor
    Website: www.nthword.com
    Blog: http://shorts.nthword.com/
    Level: Detective

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thanks for proposing this, Rise - count me in. I'll try to add at least another two to the three already read, bringing me up to Target: Vagabond.

    Name: Scott
    Blog: http://seraillon.blogspot.com

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  8. Name: Alicia Kennedy
    Website: blog.alicia-kennedy.com
    Level: Detective

    ReplyDelete
  9. Name: Josh Anastasia
    Website: http://irunfrombears.com
    Level: Critic

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  10. Name: Sean
    Blog: www.onlyskincomics.com
    Level: Poet

    ReplyDelete
  11. Name: b alexander
    Website: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=549864573
    Current level: Poet

    ReplyDelete
  12. Ok, Rise, I'm hoping these will work, as here is my list of Bolano Novels posted so far, thankfully for both our sakes I've not included posts where I've discussed favourite Bolano books or news items on new books. If I remember correctly I'm aiming for an area somewhere between Detective & Gorilla, with the option to change my semi-functioning mind if it warrants.
    Thanka again for this challenge & best of luck
    Parrish.

    last evenings on earth
    http://parrishlantern.blogspot.com/2010/08/roberto-bolano-last-evenings-on-earth.html

    by night in chile
    http://parrishlantern.blogspot.com/2010/11/by-night-in-chile.html

    Distant Star http://parrishlantern.blogspot.com/2010/11/roberto-bolano.html

    Nazi literature in the Americas
    http://parrishlantern.blogspot.com/2010/10/roberto-bolano.html

    Amulet.
    http://parrishlantern.blogspot.com/2010/09/amulet.html

    2666
    http://parrishlantern.blogspot.com/2010/07/2666-by-roberto-bolano-translated-by.html


    The Savage Detectives.
    http://parrishlantern.blogspot.com/2010/05/savage-detectives-roberto-bolano-trans.html

    ReplyDelete
  13. Name: Jen
    Blog: www.JenandthePen.com
    Level: Mesmerist
    Link to post about the challenge: http://www.jenandthepen.com/?p=408

    ReplyDelete
  14. Name: Amanda
    URL: www.twitter.com/amcalderon
    Level: Detective/Lalo Cura

    So excited!

    ReplyDelete
  15. So its time for me to read my Bolanos. Here goes
    Name: Madhuri
    Blog: Shifting Sands (http://slidingsands.blogspot.com)
    Level: Vagabond

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  16. And here's my submission for By Night in Chile; http://slidingsands.blogspot.com/2009/06/by-night-in-chile-bolano.html

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  17. I found this challenge and thought you might like to know that we're running a read-a-long of 2666 in March. So if anyone wants to join that, they'd be very welcome.

    It would be great to have some real Bolano enthusiasts, as for most of us, it's our first book by him.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Des
    http://home.exetel.com.au/descarne/.
    New.
    Mesmerist: First in Spanish
    Critic: 1 Spanish + 2 English
    Now I need to know where I can get eBook versions in either language

    ReplyDelete
  19. Hello Rise, hows thing with you, here's my next addition to your challenge, The Skating Rink

    http://parrishlantern.blogspot.com/2011/02/skating-rink.html

    have recently received The Romantic Dogs, which I hope to get to soon.
    Thanks,
    Parrish.

    ReplyDelete
  20. hey there,

    Name: Anthony

    Level: Detective

    Blog: http://anthonynavasreviews.blogspot.com/

    Hoping to read Monsieur Pain soon, even though I've heard mixed reviews about that one. Anyone like it? Planning on re-reading 2666, the three-book edition.

    Thanks

    ReplyDelete
  21. Hello, Rise!

    Just finished my first read for the challenge, but here are the links to my last three Bolaño write-ups (all dual language Spanish and English) from Caravana de recuerdos. Will be sending more at some point since I'm going for Godzilla status, ha! Thanks.

    The Skating Rink
    http://caravanaderecuerdos.blogspot.com/2011/04/la-pista-de-hielo.html

    The Third Reich
    http://caravanaderecuerdos.blogspot.com/2010/07/el-tercer-reich.html

    Nazi Literature in the Americas
    http://caravanaderecuerdos.blogspot.com/2010/04/la-literatura-nazi-en-america.html

    ReplyDelete
  22. Hi Rise,

    Here are some more links for you--sorry about 2666 being so spread out!

    2666
    http://caravanaderecuerdos.blogspot.com/2009/06/2666-la-parte-de-los-criticos.html

    http://caravanaderecuerdos.blogspot.com/2009/06/2666-la-parte-de-amalfitano.html

    http://caravanaderecuerdos.blogspot.com/2009/07/2666-la-parte-de-fate.html

    http://caravanaderecuerdos.blogspot.com/2009/08/2666-la-parte-de-los-crimenes-1.html

    http://caravanaderecuerdos.blogspot.com/2009/08/2666-la-parte-de-los-crimenes-2.html

    http://caravanaderecuerdos.blogspot.com/2009/08/2666-la-parte-de-los-crimenes-3.html

    http://caravanaderecuerdos.blogspot.com/2009/08/2666-la-parte-de-los-crimenes-4.html

    http://caravanaderecuerdos.blogspot.com/2009/09/2666-la-parte-de-los-crimenes-5.html

    http://caravanaderecuerdos.blogspot.com/2009/10/2666-la-parte-de-archimboldi.html

    Amulet
    http://caravanaderecuerdos.blogspot.com/2009/04/amuleto.html

    Distant Star
    http://caravanaderecuerdos.blogspot.com/2008/12/estrella-distante.html

    ReplyDelete
  23. ¡Hola Rise!

    Got a new one for you on Los sinsabores del verdadero policía a/k/a The Troubles of the Real Police Officer:

    http://caravanaderecuerdos.blogspot.com/2011/05/los-sinsabores-del-verdadero-policia.html

    Cheers,

    Richard

    ReplyDelete
  24. Hello Rise, been a while but here's my next offering to this great appreciation of Roberto Bolano.
    Parrish.
    The Parrish Lantern
    Romantic Dogs
    http://parrishlantern.blogspot.com/2011/08/romantic-dogs-by-roberto-bolano.html

    ReplyDelete
  25. Dear readers,



    How are you finding the challenge so far?

    We're inviting you to a January group reading of  The Savage Detectives.



    Join us if you have the time.



    Yours,

    Rise

    ReplyDelete
  26. Hi Rise,
    Hope you welcome latecomers here -
    I am currently at CRITICal mass but hope to become a Vagabond by years end.
    I've read:
    Savage Detectives (pre blog)
    2666 - http://theknockingshop.blogspot.com/2011/01/100-books-in-2011.html
    Amulet - http://theknockingshop.blogspot.com/2011/10/amulet.html
    Nazi Literature in the Americas - http://theknockingshop.blogspot.com/2011/10/nazi-literature-in-americas.html

    Bolano seems to spurn the charity shop shelves that I meet my reading matter in so I guess I'll have to crack out the credit card again. Which one should I read next? All advice will be appreciated, although it may be ignored. (I'm very price sensitive)

    ReplyDelete
  27. Welcome to the challenge, Séamus!

    I recommend By Night in Chile and Monsieur Pain.

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  28. Thanks, Rise - I went for By Night in Chile.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Rise, please add my The Insufferable Gaucho "review" to the mix:

    http://caravanaderecuerdos.blogspot.com/2011/11/el-gaucho-insufrible.html

    As you already know, I thought that while the title character might have been "insufferable," the collection as a whole was definitely not! Thanks, blog maestro!!

    ReplyDelete
  30. Hi Rise, my review of By Night in Chile is at http://theknockingshop.blogspot.com/2011/11/by-night-in-chile.html
    That makes me a vagabond ; )

    ReplyDelete
  31. Thank you all for joining!

    Let's keep on reading.

    ReplyDelete