My Thoughts: Talking Heads 2 by Alan Bennett

This book contains a series of monologues which originally were written to be performed on the BBC television programme, they since have been recorded for radio and for theatre performance. I read the book of transcripts and I will certainly be looking out for an audio book version of the first series.
The monologues are all told by various people, people you may pass unnoticed on the street, the neighbour, the elderly lady at the bus stop etc. Yet each character has an unseemly story behind their ordinary exterior; they are a peadophille, they are married to a serial killer or they have befriended their neighbour who killed her husband after years of abuse at his hands.
The truth is gradually revealed after you feel that you have gotten to know the person. The monologues are all fairly short, no longer than 15 pages each but each one tells an extraordinary story.

Challenges:
999 (Short Story Collections)
A-Z (Title)
Themed Read (Move 'em Along)
What's in a Name (Body Part)

My Thoughts: Wicked by Gregory Maguire

I've been meaning and meaning to read this book for ages, I love retellings and interpretations of stories whether it is through novels, films or poetry. For the few people who don't know this book tell the life of the Wicked Witch of the West. Now before we go any further I will say I have never seen The Wizard of Oz, so I went into this with just the basic information about the background story.
Elphaba is born green all over, with an aversion to water, religion and compassion for other people. The novel covers her birth till her death and all the intervening event in between.
I have a really mixed view of this book, I loved sections of it and happily curled up on the sofa to read about her childhood, college days and days in love. When she moved to free herself of her guilt, and her son into Sarima's house I found myself wondering how much more of the book I had to read, I kept checking the page numbers and felt like I was pulling myself through. The final section was too wordy and by the end I had lost my desire to know what happened to Elphaba or to care for her fate. In my opinion it needed a good edit, and some pace at the end.
Challenges:
999 (Fantasy/fairytale)
A-Z (Title)
Themed Read (Move 'em along)
Chunkster Challenge (496 pgs)

2009 Themed Challenge Feb 1st- July 31st 2009

The Rules:

1. Books should be chosen from the reader’s TBR pile (this may be an actual physical pile or a virtual pile). The challenge will from February 1, 2009 - July 31, 2009.

2. The goal is to read 4 to 6 books linked by theme.

3. Overlaps with other challenges are allowed.

4. Readers may change their list of books at any time.

5. Readers may choose three different levels of participation:

- Read at least 4 books with the same theme.

- Read at least 5 books that share at least TWO themes.

- Read at least 6 books that share MORE than two themes.

I'm torn between picking Contemporary Classics or Move 'em Along (Bookcrossing Books) both of which I have plenty of unread options for. Hopefully by February I will have picked.