Dystopian Challenge @ Parajunkee’s View

Posted on January 28, 2010 by Parajunkee
4310961425 87851ded6c o Dystopian Challenge @ Parajunkees View Dystopian Challenge @ Parajunkees View
Dystopian Fiction Reading Challenge 2010
I’ve placed this challenge upon myself, so I decided to share it with the blogoverse. I enjoyed books such as The Hunger Games and Uglies so much that I planned on revisiting them this year, along with others in this category for comparison purposes.  Therefor why not a challenge? First one that I am hosting. The challenge with end Aug 24th, in tribute to the release of the 3rd Hunger Games book.  Participants in this challenge will be entered to win the 3rd book in a random drawing.
dys·to·pi·a (dĭs-tō’pē-ə)
  1. An imaginary place or state in which the condition of life is extremely bad, as from deprivation, oppression, or terror.
American Psychological Association (APA):
dystopia. (n.d.). The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Retrieved January 28, 2010, from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/dystopia

Dystopian Fiction in it’s basic state is described as the opposite of Utopian fiction, but that is almost  too simplistic a term to describe the genre.

Here are features of Dystopian Fiction: 

  • Post-apocalyptic setting,  usually there is the background story of natural disaster, revolutions, war, climate change, some kind of devastating event that changed society
  • Dystopians are normally future based 
  • A difference in the standard of living than what we enjoy in today’s society.  This can be a poorer standard of living, as in The Hunger Games, or sometimes a more materialistic environment, like such in Brave New World and Uglies.
  • The main character questions society, or is exposed to the baser ideals of their society within the plot, leading them to the knowledge that something is terribly wrong with their world.
  • There is usually a group/revolution occurring within the novel that the controlling state does not have control over that the protagonist teams up with or strives to join/become like, although nothing is being changed by the character or group.  In Brave New World, this group is comprised of the people on the reservation.
  • Dystopian fiction typically elaborates on the darker society trends that effect us today.  Usually the reader can identify things within our own society that could lead to this future terrible state.
  • Within the plot of a dystopian fiction, the protagonist usually will try to escape or bring down the society that restricts them
Get your Dystopian Fiction Reading on!
Time Constraints:
Jan 1 2010 to Aug 24 2010
Deets:
  1. Open to everyone (if you do not have a blog, just state in the comments section that you read the book and on what date)
  2. Any book format – Wiki list of dystopian lit
  3. Books can be chosen throughout the year, but must have been read within the timeline.  Just because your read Fahrenheit 451 in 7th grade doesn’t mean it counts.
  4. Sign-up below with Mr. Linky
  5. Post your reviews in the comments area
  6. Three Levels:
  • Level 1 – Experimental – 5 books
  • Level 2 – Addict – 10 books
  • Level 3 – Junkee – 20 books

Dystopian Challenge @ Parajunkees View Dystopian Challenge @ Parajunkees ViewLevel 3 participants will get a dystopian button with their blog or name on it and entry into a contest to win The Hunger Games: Book 3.


This is on your honor, so please play nice!

Buttons:

4310900533 103ab2b746 o Dystopian Challenge @ Parajunkees View

4311637578 90e577cd61 o Dystopian Challenge @ Parajunkees View

4310900519 1e6333eddd o Dystopian Challenge @ Parajunkees View

4311637492 538d9ede07 o Dystopian Challenge @ Parajunkees View

4311637532 32bced9273 o Dystopian Challenge @ Parajunkees View

About Parajunkee

Rachel, whom you might know as Parajunkee, is the blog owner of parajunkee.com and the design blog parajunkee.net. Rachel has been blogging for close to four years, designing / web programming for over twelve, but her real love, reading, has been her favorite hobby since childhood. Rachel has won numerous awards for her writing, the blogs she has created and her design work.
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71 Responses to Dystopian Challenge @ Parajunkee’s View

  1. ninefly says:
    January 28, 2010 at 17:34

    I'm definitely joining this! and may I say these buttons are very pretty =D

    Reply
  2. Tina says:
    January 28, 2010 at 17:49

    How do you have time for all this coolness???
    Im signing up…this genre is one of my favs!!!!

    Reply
  3. Juju at Tales of Whimsy.com says:
    January 28, 2010 at 18:33

    SWEET! I'm signing up!

    Reply
  4. PeaceLove&Pat says:
    January 28, 2010 at 21:42

    this sounds awesome but I'm still thinking if I'm up for it… hmmm…

    Reply
  5. Lindsay's Photographys says:
    January 28, 2010 at 23:55

    I would like to sign-up for this but I don't see the Mr. Linky. Can I still sign-up for it??

    Reply
  6. Emily says:
    January 29, 2010 at 00:54

    Great idea- I'm totally in! I'm not seeing Mr. Linky though…

    Reply
  7. Kate says:
    January 29, 2010 at 14:43

    Count me in! LOVE dystopian lit.

    Reply
  8. Healing Hands says:
    January 29, 2010 at 17:23

    im in great way to lower my tbr pile :)

    Reply
  9. Trini says:
    January 29, 2010 at 18:28

    I hope I'm doing this right. Here are three reviews from my Dystopia reading list.
    #1. The Hunger Games Review:http://abook- loversreview.blogspot.com/2009/09/hunger-games-by-suzanne-collins.html
    #2. Catching Fire Review:http://abook-loversreview.blogspot.com/2009/09/hunger-games-by-suzanne-collins.html
    #3. Brave New World Review:http://abook-loversreview.blogspot.com/2009/10/brave-new-world-by-aldous-huxley.html
    I'm ordering the whole Uglies Series today and will start on them ASAP. I'm about to start The Maze Runner and have heard lots of good things about it so I hope it's good.

    abook-loversreview.blogspot.com

    Reply
  10. Misty says:
    February 2, 2010 at 02:00

    Hey. I oopsed, and I think I am going to be on your linky list twice, so delete the first one, please. I don't know exactly how many I am going to be able to read, but I am aiming for Junkee, cause I love me some dystopian.
    Two questions:
    Why August? Why not make it the whole year? Just because of HG3?
    Also, have you read Oryx and Crake? If not, PUT IT ON YOUR LIST!!!

    Reply
  11. ParaJunkee says:
    February 2, 2010 at 04:47

    @Misty ending it August just cause of HG3 – thought I would spice it up with an HG3 giveaway to make things more interesting, and if I extended it until December might lose the momentum, since people joining this challenge are probably big dystopian fans and when you think dystopian in 2009 you think HG. Hmmm…rambling. Does that make sense?

    @Trini yes you are doing it right. I want to read Maze Runner so bad. Heard excellent things about it, have you seen the trailer…ack!

    Reply
  12. Jessica Secret says:
    February 2, 2010 at 04:58

    Count me in!!!!!

    Reply
  13. Trini says:
    February 8, 2010 at 06:28

    Here's number four review.
    #4 The Maze Runner
    I'm going to read The Giver by Lois Lowry next probably by this weekend.

    Trini @A Book-Lovers' Review

    Reply
  14. jenn says:
    February 8, 2010 at 14:27

    I am completely in love with this challenge. Thank you!

    Reply
  15. Juju at Tales of Whimsy.com says:
    February 10, 2010 at 14:51

    Here is my 1st review: Animal Farm

    Reply
  19. stiletto storytime says:
    February 19, 2010 at 16:21

    Review for The Sky Inside and The Walls Have Eyes at Stiletto Storytime:

    http://stilettostorytime.wordpress.com/2010/01/29/clare-b-dunkle-series/

    Courtney
    Stiletto Storytime

    Reply
  20. Baggins says:
    February 20, 2010 at 01:45

    Count me in! Looking forward to it.

    This is my first challenge ever, so this may be a silly question – but does a series count as one, or does each book count seperately? Say the Obernewtyn Chronicles – as one, or as 5 because there's 5 books in the series so far?

    Thanks for your time and help – and for running this challenge!

    Baggins.

    Reply
  21. Rachael(BookLove:Teen) says:
    February 20, 2010 at 09:03

    Second review:The Shadow Speaker
    http://www.bookloveteen.com/2010/02/shadow-speaker-by-nnede-okorafor-mbachu.html woot two down already! I love this Challenge!

    Reply
  22. ck.twilighter (Chasity) says:
    February 21, 2010 at 09:55

    OMG!!! this contest is awesome!! Only recently have I been turned on to this genre. I am in love with The Hunger Games…. and I just read Girl in the Arena by Lise Haines….. EXCELLENT as well!!!

    I want to try this contest but first I am going to see if I can make a list of 20 books in the genre that I really want to read!!–I love to have romance as a big element so I will see what I can find!!=)

    Reply
  23. Mrs. DeRaps says:
    February 26, 2010 at 02:29

    My first review: Incarceron by Catherine Fisher can be found at http://derapsreads.blogspot.com/2010/02/book-review-incarceron.html

    On to another title!

    Reply
  24. Misty says:
    February 26, 2010 at 23:19

    You should do a Mr Linky page for reviews. (no pressure, just saying. ;p)

    Reply
  25. Ruthann says:
    February 27, 2010 at 14:30

    I'm just joining. I have a few books already on my TBR stack so I hopefully I can find a bunch more to add.

    Reply
  26. The Gnomadic Librarian says:
    March 1, 2010 at 02:14

    Hello! Hope i'm not too late to join in? I'm pretty new to blogging and i'm still finding my feet so to speak. I've lined up quite a few more dystopian novels for my Blog reading challenges, so I'm aiming for Junkee level! This is gonna be fun!

    Reply
  27. Rachael(BookLove:Teen) says:
    March 1, 2010 at 09:19

    Third review! I'm a total junkie…Feed by M.T. Anderson(audio)
    http://www.bookloveteen.com/2010/02/listen-up1.html

    Reply
  28. oO Mariana Oo says:
    March 1, 2010 at 23:15

    This is awesome, and I dont know how could I not see it sooner. I have two questions, can I still join? and the second, book 2 or 3 in a series count? (like Catching Fire)

    Reply
  29. Kelsey says:
    March 3, 2010 at 23:13

    Just making sure: Epitaph Road is a dyptopian book, correct?

    Thanks,
    Kelsey

    Reply
  31. The Gnomadic Librarian says:
    March 17, 2010 at 01:59

    O.k. Time to post a review!
    Noughts and Crosses:
    http://gnomadiclibrarian.blogspot.com/2010/03/noughts-crosses-by-malorie-blackman.html

    Lots more soon…

    Reply
  38. *Andye* says:
    April 1, 2010 at 14:18

    I'd like to participate! Not sure how many I'll get through, but it sounds fun!

    Reply
  40. WonderBunny says:
    April 1, 2010 at 18:35

    My first review for this challenge (signed up under Ruthann)

    The Children of Men by PD James

    http://cookiesbooksbikes.blogspot.com/2010/03/children-of-men-by-pd-james.html

    Reply
  41. Bella says:
    April 2, 2010 at 20:08

    Hey (",), I'd like to participate as a Junkee!

    Here's the list of books I'll be reading and reviewing: http://paranormal-obsession.blogspot.com/2010/04/dystopian-challenge-2010.html (I did a little research, and that's what I came up with, so hopefully everything does in fact count as Dystopian Fiction)

    Here's my first review of Hunger Games and Catching Fire: http://paranormal-obsession.blogspot.com/2010/03/hunger-games-suzanne-collins.html

    Happy Easter xx

    Reply
  42. Bella says:
    April 2, 2010 at 20:11

    LoL, linked to a post instead of simply to my blog, please remove the first link, but keep the second (",).

    Reply
  43. The Gnomadic Librarian says:
    April 3, 2010 at 04:39

    …and now for some Dystopian mini-reviews, for sequels I read whilst laid up with a cold:
    Knife Edge and Checkmate by Malorie Blackman, The Resistance by Gemma Malley, Gool by Maurice Gee and Carbon Diaries 2017 by Saci Lloyd:
    http://gnomadiclibrarian.blogspot.com/2010/04/dystopia-sequel-itis.html

    Reply
  44. Trini says:
    April 7, 2010 at 23:40

    OMG I just noticed that the first three books I posted on here are from 2009. I'm sorry just ignore them I have more anyway..YA!!
    Ok since the first three don't count but my #4 does which is The Maze Runner it is now my #1 entry. I hope I make since. Well here are two more of my entries.
    #2 The Line by Teri Hall
    #3 The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan
    Im working on my review for The Dead-Toss Waves right now and will post it tomorrow.

    Reply
  45. Juju at Tales of Whimsy.com says:
    April 8, 2010 at 18:06

    Oh dear! I don't think I can complete this. Can I withdraw my name?

    Reply
  46. Cinnamon says:
    April 9, 2010 at 18:46

    Flipping awesome challenge!

    My review of Inside Out by Maria V. Snyder.

    Does that count?

    Reply
  48. Mel says:
    April 14, 2010 at 20:58

    Here are my first four reviews:

    1. Incarceron by Catherine Fisher http://bookgirl-mel.blogspot.com/2010/03/book-review-incarceron-by-catherine.html

    2. Maze Runner by James Dashner http://bookgirl-mel.blogspot.com/2010/03/book-review-maze-runner-by-james.html

    3. Fever Crumb by Philip Reeve http://bookgirl-mel.blogspot.com/2010/03/book-review-fever-crumb-by-philip-reeve.html

    4. Dead Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan http://bookgirl-mel.blogspot.com/2010/04/book-review-dead-tossed-waves-by-carrie.html

    Question: Would This World We Live In by Susan Beth Pfeffer count? Natural disaster, struggle for food, elite communities cropping up, etc….

    Reply
  49. WonderBunny says:
    April 17, 2010 at 17:23

    (just noticed I signed up as Ruthann, so WonderBunny=Ruthann)

    I read a dystopian graphic novel that is part of a series. I don't think the first half of the series was really dystopian, but it is turning more towards that. Anyway, here is my review for Y: The Last Man – Girl on Girl by Brian K. Vaughan.

    http://cookiesbooksbikes.blogspot.com/2010/04/y-last-man-girl-on-girl-by-brian-k.html

    Reply
  50. *Andye* says:
    April 21, 2010 at 13:20

    The Dead-Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan. Oh my goodness! LOVE!

    http://readingteen.blogspot.com/2010/04/review-dead-tossed-waves-by-carrie-ryan.html

    Reply
  51. The Gnomadic Librarian says:
    April 22, 2010 at 21:14

    Couple of new reviews done!

    The Road by Cormac McCarthy: http://gnomadiclibrarian.blogspot.com/2010/04/road-by-cormac-mccarthy.html

    A Small Free Kiss in the Dark by Glenda Millard:
    http://gnomadiclibrarian.blogspot.com/2010/04/small-free-kiss-in-dark-by-glenda.html

    Reply
  53. Rachael(BookLove:Teen) says:
    April 23, 2010 at 19:18

    Fourth Review:
    http://www.bookloveteen.com/2010/03/good-things-come-in-small-packages2.html
    I'm behind! Good thing I have a nice pile of dystopian titles standing by.

    Reply
  56. Bella says:
    May 2, 2010 at 13:23

    Here's my review of The Adoration of Jenna Fox, which is a brilliant novel :)

    http://paranormal-obsession.blogspot.com/2010/05/adoration-of-jenna-fox-mary-e-pearson.html

    Reply
  57. Leeswammes says:
    May 3, 2010 at 09:25

    Hello, I joined a little late, but I've read a few dystopian novels already this year. They're not all on my blog, I'll start with the one that is:

    book 1 – The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

    http://leeswammes.wordpress.com/2010/04/22/the-hunger-games-by-suzanne-collins

    Reply
  58. Leeswammes says:
    May 3, 2010 at 11:36

    I'm joining rather late, but I have already read some dystopian novels this year. One is on my blog, the others I read before I had a blog.

    Book 1: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (finished April 22, 2010) http://leeswammes.wordpress.com/2010/04/22/the-hunger-games-by-suzanne-collins/

    Book 2: The Stand by Stephen King (Finished January, 30th, 2010)

    A great adventure in which most of humanity died because of a virus. The survivors are called to one of two places, in their dreams. One is the place of Mother Abigail, the "good" person, the other is the place of Randall Flagg, the "bad" person. This is going to be a fight between good and bad. Guess who wins?

    Book 3: The Carhullan Army by Sarah Hall (Finished April 6th, 2010)

    In the book, the diary of an unknown woman is reproduced. She lives in England, where after an economic crisis and the fall of the government, a strict Authority rules. People are not allowed to leave town or have babies, and live in cramped circumstances in a dirty, depressing town.
    The woman decides to leave her husband and try and move to a community of women that are living illegally in the hills of the Lake District.
    Most of the book is about her living with the community. This is interesting to read, but not really much happens until the end. The mood of the book reminds me of The Handmaid's Tale (Margaret Atwood).

    Book 4: Sulphuric Acid by Amelie Nothomb (Finished May 2nd, 2010)

    Unsuspecting people are randomly taken from a square in town and placed in a concentration camp. No, there's no war, this is for a Big Brother-type tv show.
    The group is divided in bosses and prisoners. The bosses can do whatever they want to the prisoners, who spend most of their day doing hard labor. Every morning, the bosses choose a number of prisoners that are too weak to work, and they are executed.
    Pannonique is a beautiful young woman prisoner who tries to keep morale up by treating everyone very politely. She'll help wherever she can. The others see her as someone to look up to. Meanwhile, one of the boses, a woman called Zdena, has also taken an interest in Pannonique. After some weeks of beating her up every day, she takes another approach and give Pannonique extra food, so she will live longer. When Pannonique wants Zdena's help to excape, Zdena has to choose between keeping her beloved Pannonique in the camp with her, or letting her go, and possibly never see her again.

    Reply
  60. Mrs. DeRaps says:
    May 5, 2010 at 22:17

    Forgot to add this–Review #3 is for The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness. Great read!

    http://derapsreads.blogspot.com/2010/01/book-review-knife-of-never-letting-go.html

    Reply
  61. Leeswammes says:
    May 6, 2010 at 09:05

    I forgot about these two, so they make number 5 and 6:

    5. Gone by Michael Grant (Finished March 13th, 2010)
    6. Hunger by Michael Grant (Finished April 5th, 2010)

    Reply
  63. JL says:
    May 7, 2010 at 16:39

    Hi! I just started my book blog and am excited to participate in this contest. I think it's a great idea and will post first review soon.

    Reply
  64. Leeswammes says:
    May 12, 2010 at 09:22

    Book 7: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins. My review is here: http://leeswammes.wordpress.com/2010/05/12/catching-fire-by-suzanne-collins

    Reply

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