This past year I did not participate in my favorite reading challenge, and regretted it. I did not want to make the same mistake again this coming year. One of the things I enjoy most about the What's In a Name Reading Challenge hosted by Charlie of The Worm Hole is how open it is. The checklist is not long (only six books) and I can easily fit books I want to read into the categories--the only obligation is that the title contain one of the designated words or fit into the categories. It's fun to try to find books to fit each category. Creativity in matching categories is strongly encouraged.
The challenge runs from January through December, offering me plenty of time to complete the challenge. Here are the 2016 categories along with some ideas from my own shelves I might want to read:
- The Great Zoo of China by Matthew Reilly
- The Last King of Scotland by Giles Foden
- The Princess of Burundi by Kjell Eriksson
An item of clothing
- The Girl in the Red Coat by Kate Hamer
- The Dress Shop of Dreams by Mena van Praag
- The Girl in the Flammable Skirt by Ammie Bender
An item of furniture
- Curio by Evangeline Denmark
- Tolstoy and the Purple Chair: My Year of Magical Reading by Nina Sankovitch
- Smoke and Mirrors by Tanya Huff
A profession
- Within a Captain's Hold by Lisa A. Olech
- The Spymistress by Jennifer Chiaverini
- Chaperone by Laura Moriarty
A month of the year
- June by Miranda Beverly-Whittemere
- The September Society by Charles Finch
- The Violets of March by Sarah Jio
A title with the word ‘tree’ in it
-Under the Udala Trees by Chinelo Okparanta
-The Janissary Tree by Jason Goodwin
- The Walnut Tree by Charles Todd
Can you think of any books you would recommend that would fit in these categories?
Another challenge I am joining is the Clean Out Your E-Reads Challenge, otherwise known as COYER, hosted by Fantasy is More Fun,
Because Reading Is Better Than Real Life, and
Books, Movies, Reviews! Oh My! The idea is to read e-books that are either free or nearly free that have been piling up in your e-reader. NetGalley, Edelweiss and I have become a little too well acquainted over the past few months, and what better motivation than to join this wonderful support group challenge? The challenge runs from December 19th to March 4th (Eeks! Just before for my daughter's 5th birthday!). I have gone back and forth about setting a number limit, but will refrain from doing so. Ultimately, I think the biggest challenge for me will be posting my reviews and linking them to the main site as required and in a timely fashion. That always seems to be my downfall with these challenges.
Just a small sampling of the titles I am looking forward to reading:
The Kindness of Enemies by Leila Aboulela
I'm Not Her by Cara Sue Achterberg
The Guest Room by Chris Bohjalian
Witches Protective Program by Michael Phillip Cash
World of Ink and Shadow by Lena Coakley
The Gulf of Time and Stars by Julie E. Czerneda
Moonlight Over Paris by Jennifer Robson
Are your e-books adding up in your e-reader, whether purchased, free or otherwise?
I must confess I have never been a big fan of the game Truth or Dare. I will almost always pick truth over dare. Actually, I cannot think of a time when I wouldn't. Of course, the dares were always more fun, weren't they? I have always been too much of a scaredy-cat to take part in the final The TBR Triple Dog Dare hosted by James of James Reads Books, but I decided to give it a go this coming year. James is very clear that this is not a challenge, but simply a dare.
The TBR Triple Dog Dare: From January 1 to April 1, 2016, read only the books that were already in your TBR stack as of midnight December 31, 2015. These can include books you have ordered but have not yet received, and include e-books, print books, and audio books. Exceptions are allowed if participants state them up front. Readers can set their own goal length, from a month to all three or anything in between. This is not meant to be a book buying ban--although participants can do that too, if they want. Any books bought during the length of the dare, however, are not to be read.
After talking it over with James, my main focus will be reading the many review books I seem to have amassed because they sounded too good to pass up. Some of these are books coming out in the next few months, while others may be older titles. This ties in nicely with the COYER Challenge I am taking part in. I think the TBR Triple Dog Dare will give me added focus while at the same time not make me feel pressured to complete yet another challenge.
Along with the TBR Triple Dog Dare, I am also challenging myself to turn off the games and cut down on my social media time in order to spend more time actually reading books. I want to spend my time more productively.
As James allows for exceptions, I am making four:
1. Books I am already scheduled to review for an upcoming book tour but have not yet received (This actually amounts to one book. I have all the others already.)
2. Books I read for my Postal Book Club (which will amount to two books during the Dare's time frame)
3. Audiobooks (any I might listen to will have been purchased before 01/01, which meets the criteria, but will not be review books)
4. Books I read with my daughter (the TBR Triple Dog Dare is for my own personal reading, not including any reading I do with my daughter, which may include books she receives as gifts or we check out from the library during the Dare time frame)
How is your TBR collection looking these days? Are you brave enough to take on the TBR Triple Dog Dare?
Just a small sampling of the titles I am looking forward to reading:
The Kindness of Enemies by Leila Aboulela
I'm Not Her by Cara Sue Achterberg
The Guest Room by Chris Bohjalian
Witches Protective Program by Michael Phillip Cash
World of Ink and Shadow by Lena Coakley
The Gulf of Time and Stars by Julie E. Czerneda
Moonlight Over Paris by Jennifer Robson
Are your e-books adding up in your e-reader, whether purchased, free or otherwise?
I must confess I have never been a big fan of the game Truth or Dare. I will almost always pick truth over dare. Actually, I cannot think of a time when I wouldn't. Of course, the dares were always more fun, weren't they? I have always been too much of a scaredy-cat to take part in the final The TBR Triple Dog Dare hosted by James of James Reads Books, but I decided to give it a go this coming year. James is very clear that this is not a challenge, but simply a dare.
The TBR Triple Dog Dare: From January 1 to April 1, 2016, read only the books that were already in your TBR stack as of midnight December 31, 2015. These can include books you have ordered but have not yet received, and include e-books, print books, and audio books. Exceptions are allowed if participants state them up front. Readers can set their own goal length, from a month to all three or anything in between. This is not meant to be a book buying ban--although participants can do that too, if they want. Any books bought during the length of the dare, however, are not to be read.
After talking it over with James, my main focus will be reading the many review books I seem to have amassed because they sounded too good to pass up. Some of these are books coming out in the next few months, while others may be older titles. This ties in nicely with the COYER Challenge I am taking part in. I think the TBR Triple Dog Dare will give me added focus while at the same time not make me feel pressured to complete yet another challenge.
Along with the TBR Triple Dog Dare, I am also challenging myself to turn off the games and cut down on my social media time in order to spend more time actually reading books. I want to spend my time more productively.
As James allows for exceptions, I am making four:
1. Books I am already scheduled to review for an upcoming book tour but have not yet received (This actually amounts to one book. I have all the others already.)
2. Books I read for my Postal Book Club (which will amount to two books during the Dare's time frame)
3. Audiobooks (any I might listen to will have been purchased before 01/01, which meets the criteria, but will not be review books)
4. Books I read with my daughter (the TBR Triple Dog Dare is for my own personal reading, not including any reading I do with my daughter, which may include books she receives as gifts or we check out from the library during the Dare time frame)
How is your TBR collection looking these days? Are you brave enough to take on the TBR Triple Dog Dare?
© 2015, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.
What's in a Name is a challenge that remains near and dear to me! And I really should join one of the eReader challenges ... but, well. I'm going challenge-free next year.
ReplyDeleteBeth - I always think of you when I think of the challenge. :-) I don't blame you for going challenge free. I have tried that in the past, but I always end up joining at least one or two challenges before the year is out anyway. Best laid plans and all that . . . Hopefully you will have better luck sticking to your resolve.
DeleteHave fun with these challenges!
ReplyDeleteKathy - Thanks, Kathy!
DeleteGlad to see you are taking part in the What's In A Name challenge. I only have to find a book with 'tree' in the title.
ReplyDeleteI thought I had decided on which challenges to do but must admit that I'm tempted by the TBR Triple Dog Challenge.
Anyway, good luck. I look forward to reading of your progress.
Tracy - Somehow I managed to find multiple books in every category that I already have on hand, so I take that as a good sign. :-)
DeleteI think the TBR Triple Dog Dare will be fun.
Thanks for the good luck wishes!
Challenges always scare me---the will power! Especially for the Triple Dog Dare! Although.... I do have a stack that could see me thru. I might do What's in a Name tho. Have fun!
ReplyDeleteDebbie - I seem to be hit and miss with challenges. I do better with the ones where I have more leeway in what I choose to read and don't have to make an exact list I have to stick to. The Dare will be hard though--especially since I've limited myself even further.
DeleteHappy reading, Wendy! Reading challenges are always fun but I think I'll give them a miss again next year.
ReplyDeleteMelody - Thank you! I'm keeping them light this year and planning to keep it fun. :-)
DeleteThe What's in a Name Challenge sounds so fun! And it looks like you're all set for it. I'm excited to look at my (huge) to-read list and see what I have that might fit those titles!
ReplyDeleteLindsay - I had fun matching titles to the categories. That's one of my favorite parts of any challenge, to be honest. Making the lists. Haha
DeleteWhat's in a Name? I have The Last King of Scotland that I need to read too! Princess of Burundi was a good mystery.
ReplyDeleteMonths - Tenth of December or December Heat(Luiz Alfredo Garcia-Roza) a South AMerican mystery
Good luck on your challenges - I wouldn't dare!
Elizabeth - I have had The Last King of Scotland on my shelf forever. I have heard great things about Princess of Burundi. I haven't read anything by Luiz Alfredo Garcia-Roza. I will have to look for December Heat.
DeleteGreat challenges! I love the idea of the Triple Dog Dare especially as I need to get my TBR pile down a bit before it completely takes over. I'm skipping challenges this year but I love seeing all the different kinds. Good luck! Can't wait to see what you choose for the name challenge and the different books you read.
ReplyDeleteKatherine - I subscribe to the blog that lists all the challenges and it's been interesting to see the variety come through. Some are more tempting than others, but I think so far I am satisfied with these.
Delete:) Sounds as if you are looking forward to your challenges. Good luck and happy reading!
ReplyDeleteJenclair - I am! I think it will be a good year in reading. :-)
DeleteThese are fun challenges! I am still trying to figure out what I want 2016 to be like on the reading front. The Triple Dog Dare is one that I am eyeing but I have not yet decided about it.
ReplyDeleteAthira - I seem to always just go with the flow. Haha! I think the Triple Dog Dare is a good one. I've always been tempted to join, but always chicken out. Not this coming year!
DeleteI'm doing COYER too, but I've never come across the other two challenges before. The Triple Dare sounds like fun but too extreme for me -- I need the option to re-read old favorites when the mood strikes me, especially when I'm stressed out. I love the sound of the What's in a Name challenge, though. Have fun with all of them, and good luck!
ReplyDeleteLark - Yes, I'm more nervous about the dare than I am the other two challenges! I don't re-read books often and so that won't be an issue for me, but I do know what you mean. Suddenly all my other TBR books are looking pretty good, and I won't be able to touch them for the next three months. :-S I can do this though. I just have to stay strong! :-)
DeleteMissed this. You've reminded me I wanted to read Sarah Jio a while back... Blackberry something? Anyway, glad to have you, Wendy :)
ReplyDeleteCharlie - She wrote Blackberry Winter, which is the one you may be thinking of. I read The Look of Love by her and enjoyed it quite a bit. I keep meaning to read more by her.
Delete