Taren and Steph said, “Know what? We need a way to spice up this new year.” So they both came to the simultaneous conclusion that we’re making this a themed year—V.C. Andrews (hereafter VCA) will proliferate in their blogs. Which goes to say they’ll do a VCA post once in a while, but it’ll be an ongoing thing; their regular blog activities will continue to ensue the majority of the time, don’t worry.
But wait, that doesn’t work if most of their (more so Steph’s than Taren’s) readership isn’t familiar with the novels, does it? They’ll be doing recaps, essay-style posts, so on so forth (way funnier than it sounds, promise), and they don’t want to alienate anyone. Both do hope to draw in new people, but also keep their oldies (and—don’t let anyone know this but—besties).
So! They contemplated. And…! Since everyone’s got these reading challenges going on, THEY WILL, TOO.
Henceforth:
The V.C. Andrews “Read the Good-Trash” MovementHow will it work?
It is generally understood that there are 12 months in a year, yes? Well, this is a year-long thing, but only 11 books have to be read, one a month, at the end. You get a freebie month somewhere, whenever you so choose.
Because Taren feels the newer books suck ass, we’ll be limiting the eligible titles to VCA’s earliest series—Dollanganger, Casteel, Cutler, Landry and Logan—and her sole standalone, My Sweet Audrina. Here’s the list:
Dollanganger series
Flowers in the Attic
Petals on the Wind
If There Be Thorns
Seeds of Yesterday
Garden of Shadows
Casteel series
Heaven
Dark Angel
Fallen Hearts
Gates of Paradise
Web of Dreams
Cutler series
Dawn
Secrets of the Morning
Twilight’s Child
Midnight Whispers
Darkest Hour
Landry series
Ruby
Pearl in the Mist
All That Glitters
Hidden Jewel
Tarnished Gold
Logan series
Melody
Heart Song
Unfinished Symphony
Music in the Night
Olivia
This gives you a pool of 26 books, and you only have to choose 11 of them. You can read two complete series and My Sweet Audrina, or you can jump around, divide and conquer, whatever. It’s your choice.
How do I participate?
You make a challenge post on your blog like you would with anything else, enumerating your progress. Make sure to link to THIS post on either Steph’s blog or Taren’s blog, whichever you found it in. Also, feel free to use the banner if you need some sort of illustration. And if you feel like being extra awesome, you can even mention it on your sidebar…
Here are some images you can use. Please host them on your own. If you use the smaller ones without our links, make sure to include those in there so people can be directed here! More will come later!
Well, firstly because both Taren and Steph are, and they’re awesome, and this is random, and with awesome + random, you can’t go wrong.
Secondly, because there are two types of trashy in this world: the good and the bad. (A third, lesser known, type is Breaking Dawn, but let’s not go there.) V.C. Andrews—if only in these aforementioned series—is decidedly the good kind. You’d be exploring these books with a group of people, and by pacing yourself slowly, they wouldn’t fall to the wayside to be read “someday.”
Thirdly, they’re cheap. Print that list out and go to any used bookstore and we guarantee you can walk out with at least three of those books. Bonus points if you get a keyhole cover—Melissa Walker would be very jealous of you.
Find out more:
Taren did an excellent and highly readable post on the VCA pattern, sans spoilers, over on her blog.
Also check out the Complete VCA site. Beware of spoilers on the book pages, though.
What now?
If you want to participate, leave a comment below. We want to have a comprehensive list of everyone taking part. If you don't have a blog, not to worry! Leave a comment anyway, or you can email either one of us.
Please refer to 'How do I participate?' for further instructions.
62 comments:
I'll participate! I don't have a blog so I can't advertise for you, but I'll be a silent participant. ;)
I think it's pretty darn amazing that VCA has such staying power and funny enough, I'm staring at an old copy of Flowers in the Attic right now. Hmm, gotta think about participating in this one. Guess now's as good a time as any to start deciding which challenges I want to participate in this year. :)
We're going to have so much fun with this! I can't wait -and Amee, I'm off to look for a copy of FITA for you right now!
I'm not going to participate, I just wanted to say that My Sweet Audrina is a wonderful book. I read it in 5th grade and it was the only VCA book I read. I really enjoyed it!
I'll have to think this over once I've done my research about VCA and his genres and such :]
I think I might just have to use one of this little icon guys. It's too cute. You know what's stupid and lame, when bookstores try and sell beat up copies of these books for like 4 dollars! I saw that once and am not surprised that store is out of business now!
I shall think about this. I would have to buy them new because 1) I am obsessive and need things to be in pristine condition and 2) I have no used bookstores. It's most distressing.
Against my better judgement, I'm actually going to participate. We'll see if I can do it! I'll definitely head over to half priced books and see if I can snag a few of the titles. I'm going to read the Logan Series for sure because one of the books has my name. :) And probably the Dollanganger series too. Sounds fun!
Oh, but beaten up with holes in the cover is better than brand new! Vlogging about this tonight. EXCITED.
I am raising my hand to become more involved in the YA Lit Blogging Sphere and participating in this challenge. I have already stated my intent to complete it and have you in my sidebar, girls.
It's been approx. 15 years since I have read a VC Andrews book. I was 12 and the thought of reading it at that age scared me a little. I do solemnly swear to read and blog about my progress ;)
I'm not going to participate, sorry, I already have a bunch, but I just wanted to say it amazes me how many of those I've read. At least half! lol
Hi. I'm interested in this challenge idea, but when I started looking for some of them I'm having trouble finding a complete series. Any problem with reading some that aren't on the list as long as they are VCA books?
Also could you refer me to a blogger who has a current challenge posted so I can get an idea of how to set it up? I'll check back later. Thanks.
Hi Readingjunky!
You don't have to read a complete series or anything. One from one, a couple from another, whatever. I'd definitely recommend reading in order though (you can read any of the prequels first since you won't technically miss anything, but a lot of times they give away secrets from the other books). They're pretty easy to come by -your local library probably has some, as do every flea market/used bookstore I've ever been to. Amazon Marketplace is also a great source, as is ebay where people tend to sell huge lots of them (with keyhole covers!).
I've never actually done a challenge either, but all you have to do (and you don't *have* to if you don't want to) is maybe make an initial post about it, linking to Steph's and/or my blog in case any of your readers want to check it out. Then over the next year, just read 11 VCA books and post your thoughts about them. You can also post about VCA in general, it's all really open ended and totally up to you. You can also post any of the icons that Steph made that she posted above in your posts or on your sidebar.
This is going to be so much fun and I can't wait to see what everyone has to say!
Thanks for the help. Read on!
Flowers in the Attic and the rest of that series, as well as My Sweet Audrina totally rocked, but I couldn't get into any of the other books once VC Andrews herself quit writing them.
Do Jacqueline Susann next! Valley of the Dolls is amazing!
I don't have a blog either, but, I just figured out that our library has 114 of V.C. Andrew's books (although, I think some of them definitely are repeat copies, with different covers), so please count me in! I'm off to see the range we've got!
Yes! Who didn't love these books?!
Definitely the best of the worst...
;)
I'm in. Sorta. (:
I'm in. Posted here: http://inbedwithbooks.blogspot.com/2009/01/my-vc-andrews-movement-progress.html
I haven't thought of these books in YEARS! My mom and I read them simultaniously - I think I was 11 or 12 at the time. Hee.
Oh what the hell, I'm in.
This is awesome. Plus I have all of those books on my book shelf (I bought them all at thrift stores during my entire adolescence), most with key holes. I am looking forward to this.
This is great! I don't know if I'll have time to do it as I'm still getting used to being a new mom, but I have to say that I read all those books listed above in jr. high - college. Love, love, love them!
My Sweet Audrina was my absolute favorite of all the VCA books. It took me two years of bugging my daughter to get her to read it. Once she did, she LOVED it (just as I knew she would).
I'm in.
My challenge post is here.
I am so ridiculously excited for this. I love VC Andrews, but I had almost forgotten about her. Super excited to read her books this year
I'll be participating at my blog, Adventures in Katidom (http://031771.blogspot.com/).
This is a terrific idea!
This is fabulously brilliant! I was completely obsessed with these books when I was 12.
Oops! I wont be writing about this challenge on my food blog (via the blogger profile), but I will happily post about it at my personal blog (http://xoxoerin.com/)
I am all over this! :)
Finally, a New Year's Resolution I can believe in!
I'll be reading along with you guys this year! My challenge post is at http://mybookniche.blogspot.com/2009/01/my-2009-reading-challenge.html.
Totally in! And it's my first resolution of the year!
Heck yea! I love VCA! I'll use any excuse to re-read her books.
This is too great! I actually re-read the Dollanganger books just last year. It has probably been 20ish years or so since I had read them last before that. It is different reading them as an adult then it was as a young teen. I'm SOOOOO in!
.. off to the thrift store to search for the other books :)
I will definitely participate! I have the complete Landry and Logan series sitting in a box waiting to be read, so there's 10 books already! I blog over www.xanga.com/star_dust_649 (sporadically), so I'll update that every so often. This year is bound to be fun!
I'd love to join this challenge, but can't as I've already read every single book on your list! She's a great author, and I'm sure you'll all enjoy reading the books!
Jackie
http://www.farmlanebooks.co.uk
Jackie, you can still join the challenge. I've read them all and am either going to re-read or go from memory on all of my challenge related posts. Since you've read them before, it might actually be more fun for you.
I just ordered the Dollanganger series from paperbackswap. But I read these books over 20 years ago! But I'll promote it!
I'm in!
I will definitely be at least participating in the reading part of this challenge, if not posting about the books. (I might though.)
V.C. Andrews also wrote a science fiction book called Gods of Green Mountain, it's only available as an ebook but it's first on my list.
I collected these books until some point in high school so I should have most of them somewhere, but I'm starting with the one (that VCA herself wrote) that I haven't read.
I would like to participate in this challenge. I'll post about it tomorrow or Monday. :)
I have the first 3 books in the Dollangager series and will be getting the rest sometime soon.
Im not going to participate but I have to say I have all vcandrew books. Handed down from my late grandmother. I really love the older books and your right the newer ones are not so good.
I have to say I am a HUGE fan of VC Andrews..always have been. I had collected almost all of her books old and new but when I moved I lost all the old ones...so I am starting all over again. I would LOVE to participate in this challenge!
Crystal
Love her!
I have never posted a blog before and don't know how to link stuff..I have created an account and have added the sweet audrina picture but I don't know what to do from there...can you help me and explain it to me like a two year old..lol...so I can do the challenge correctly please...thanks!
HEre is my addy if needed
http://crystal46-crystal.blogspot.com
Hey Crystal, I'm Taren, the one doing the challenge with Steph. What's your email? I can help you out.
I'll participate. I've never read a V.C. Andrews book, but now seems as good a time as any to start.
i'll give it a go however i love vc andrews and i'm a fast reader so i doubt it will take me 12 months - hey i'll do the flowers and castell series and audrina that 11 and c how fast i can go
Michelle
Hi, I would like to join in as well. Here's a link to my post: http://list-miss.blogspot.com/2009/01/vc-andrews-book-challenge.html
I remember reading all of her older books when I was too young to be reading them. I am so in. No blog though. If I start one, I'll repost :D
I'm in! Already finished Flowers and Petals, and blogged about Flowers today at http://dogearedandwellread.wordpress.com/! Such a fun challenge!
This is genius! What a great idea - I'm in!
I'll definately particiate! =D Why couldn't I have found out about this earlier??
Its a great idea, terrific! Finally, theres a group of people that WANTS to do this.
Great idea! Sounds like fun. I'm gonna start this week and start posting here: http://vvb32reads.blogspot.com/
ill participate. ive aready read all the dollanger sereis and am on gates of paradice in the casteel series. and i already read my sweet audrina so i only have to finish my book then read the last one and i win! i guess...
I am so excited! i love a challenge..i definatley want to do this!!
i cant believe i was reading vc when I was 8 years old . . . . it will be a pleasure to rekindle childhood memories! how did i get my hands on those books ! ! crazy . . 20 years later and i am still thinking about them.
I think I'd like to play...er, join? Participate! Yeah, we'll go with that word. Have many blogs and will circulate.
My Aunt brought VCA to my attention the other day and how I should read her AGAIN. I was just surfing around when I found your site and I thought ok why not? My only problem is it is already July and that's a lot of VCA to stomach before the end of the year but, I'm game! So, here I go!
Here's a link to my post.
VCA certainly has staying power! Got to love it!
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Hey! For some reason, this embedded comment form makes most people click twice before the comment is processed and published. It's not you - it's just that it's a new Blogger feature with kinks and all that. (But I adore it and don't wanna get rid of it!) I removed Captcha to make the process easier. You don't have to rewrite the comments twice; just click on SUBMIT twice and it should work. If not, email me. Thanks! -Steph