The Triple-8 Challenge

(Updated from original post on 27 January 2008. Current count: 25/56 after 47 weeks.)

In the interest of making the sacrifice of those trees who died to fill my bookcases not in vain, I've decided to kick my reading up a notch this year by attempting the Triple-8 Challenge. Basically it's 8 lists of 8 books each, with 8 overlaps. Total annual consumption: 56 books. Books will be struck through when completed, and I'll possibly post a review or twenty. We shall see. I also reserve the right to replace books if they suck.

On we go.

List 1: That was Then (Histories)
1. Dark Sun - The Making of the Hydrogen Bomb by Richard Rhodes
2. The Gangs of New York by Herbert Asbury
3. Nothing Like It in the World by Stephen Ambrose
4. Isaac's Storm by Erik Larson
5. The Jasons by Ann Finkbeiner
6. The Eugenics Wars Vol. 1 - The Rise and Fall of Khan Noonien Singh by Greg Cox
7. The Eugenics Wars Vol. 2 - The Rise and Fall of Khan Noonien Singh by Greg Cox
8. The Perils of Peace by Thomas Fleming (Overlap)

List 2: Research for my Progeny (Kid and Young Adult Fiction)
1. The Golem's Eye by Jonathan Stroud
2. Ptolemy's Gate by Jonathan Stroud
3. The Long-Lost Map by Pierdomenico Baccalario (Ulysses Moore)
4. The House of Mirrors by Pierdomenico Baccalario (Ulysses Moore)
5. The Golden Hour by Maiya Williams
6. The Hour of the Cobra by Maiya Williams
7. Foundling: Monster Blood Tattoo 1 by D.M. Cornish
8. Artemis Fowl 6 - The Time Paradox by Eoin Colfer

List 3: My People (Books by and about Jews)
1.
2.
3. Sabbath's Theater by Philip Roth
4. Gentleman of the Road by Michael Chabon
5. The Yiddish Policemen's Union by Michael Chabon
6. Outwitting History by Aaron Lansky (Overlap)
7. Hitler's Gift by Medawar and Pike
8. Overclocked: Stories of the Future Present by Cory Doctorow

List 4: Mangia!
1. I'm Just Here For the Food by Alton Brown
2. I'm Just Here for More Food by Alton Brown
3. On Food and Cooking by Harold McGee
4. The Fortune Cookie Chronicles by Jennifer 8. Lee (Overlap)
5. The Billionaire's Vinegar by Benjamin Wallace (Overlap)
6. Eats, Shoots & Leaves by Lynne Truss
7. Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain
8. Comfort Me with Apples by Ruth Reichl

List 5: In Order to Suck Less (Bridge, not Vampires)
1. Bridge for Dummies by Eddie Kantar
2. Why You Lose as Bridge by S.J. Simon
3. Right Through the Pack by Darvas & De V. Hart
4. 25 Bridge Conventions You Should Know by Seagram/Bird
5. 25 More Bridge Conventions You Should Know by Seagram/Bird
6. The Play of the Hand at Bridge by Louis Watson
7. Murder at the Bridge Table by Matthew Granovetter
8. The Backwash Squeeze and Other Improbable Feats by Edward McPherson (Overlap)

List 6: More than Dragons (High Fantasy and Sci-Fi)
1. A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
2. Otherland by Tad Williams
3. The Sam Gunn Omnibus by Ben Bova
4. Star Wars - Legacy of the Force 2 - Bloodlines
5. Star Wars - Legacy of the Force 3 - Tempest
6. Star Wars - Legacy of the Force 4 - Exile
7. Star Wars - Legacy of the Force 5 - Sacrifice
8. Star Wars - Legacy of the Force 6 - Inferno

List 7: Popcorn
1.Star Wars - Legacy of the Force 7 - Fury (Extra Credit)
2. Star Wars - Legacy of the Force 8 - Revelation (Extra Credit)
3. Star Wars - Legacy of the Force 9 - Invincible
4. Crooked Little Vein by Warren Ellis
5. Last Night at the Lobster by Stewart O'Nan
6. Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency by Douglas Adams
7. Blonde Faith by Walter Mosley (Overlap)
8. Always Outnumbered, Always Outgunned by Walter Mosley

List 8: Free Advanced Proofs (I get these from the wife's annual conferences. More of a physical discriminator than a topical one, but I get to make some of the rules)
1. The Perils of Peace by Thomas Fleming (Overlap)
2.
3.
4. The Fortune Cookie Chronicles by Jennifer 8. Lee (Overlap)
5. The Billionaire's Vinegar by Benjamin Wallace (Overlap)
6. Outwitting History by Aaron Lansky (Overlap)
7. Blonde Faith by Walter Mosley (Overlap)
8. The Backwash Squeeze and Other Improbable Feats by Edward McPherson (Overlap)