The number of reading challenges for the year continues to grow. Even if I did have the luxury of reading all day and night I doubt I would be able to fit in each and every challenge. I haven't even started on the one challenge I did sign up for this year. Let's not think about that right now, okay?Instead I am more in the mood to consider another of those many challenges I am not joining this year but which was awfully tempting.
This past year, I participated for the first time in Annie's What's in a Name Challenge. I nearly didn't make it to the finish line but crossed over just in the nick of time. It is fun matching titles to themes, and I especially enjoyed making my reading list for that challenge. Considering the unmentionable number of books in my TBR collection, I probably could have completed the challenge ten times over if I'd set my mind to it.
Beth of Beth Fish Reads is hosting this year's What's in a Name Challenge and has come up with some great categories. The idea is to read one book fitting each category (no overlapping of categories allowed!). I've included just a small few titles from my own TBR shelves that would fit the set categories. Remember, I am not actually joining the challenge, just having a little one night stand.
1. A book with a food in the title:
I Was Told There'd Be Cake by Sloane Crosley
The Greatest Thing Since Sliced Bread by Don Robertson
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows
The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley
2. A book with a body of water in the title:
The Day the Falls Stood Still by Cathy Marie Buchanan
Color of the Sea by John Hamamura
The Diving Pool by Yoko Ogawa
The Draining Lake by Arnaldur Indridason
3. A book with a title (queen, president) in the title:
Don of the Dead by Casey Daniels
Pope Joan by Donna W. Cross
Detective Inspector Huss by Helene Thursten
Priestess of the White by Trudi Canavan
4. A book with a plant in the title:
The Family Tree by Sheri S. Tepper
The Blood of Flowers by Anita Amirrezvani
Forcing Amaryllis by Louise Ure
The Lotus Eaters by Tatjana Soli
5. A book with a place name (city, country) in the title:
The Fall of Atlantis by Marion Zimmer Bradley
Guernica by Dave Boling
Shanghai Girls by Lisa See
Murder on Moloka'i by Chip Hughes
6. A book with a music term in the title:
The Islands of the Divine Music by John Addiego
Sing Them Home by Stephanie Kallos
The Singer's Gun by Emily St. John Mandel
Whale Song by Cheryl Kaye Tardif
- Have you read any of the books I've listed? Any I absolutely must read right now?
- What books have you read or want to read that might fit into this challenge?
As an added caveat, I am considering taking Callista up on her idea to read one book from each one night stand challenge I feature here at Musings of a Bookish Kitty. In her words: "It's like sampling the challenges!" It seems to fit better with the whole idea of a one night stand too, if you think about it. By just making the lists, aren't I only really flirting? If I actually read a book from each list this year, it will feel more like a true one night stand. If I do this, I will not read the books on anyone's schedule but my own. I won't be saying which book I will be reading--although your suggestions and comments will be taken under advisement. I may read more from a list than just one and I may choose to overlap. No real pressure. What do you think? Am I over-committing when I said I wouldn't commit at all? Or is this a worthy goal?
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Although a brilliant idea, this challenge is too complicated for me, I'll get lost trying to keep track of everything. All the best with yours :)
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of this challenge, and I do so like Candance, so I was tempted. Unfortunately, I have signed up for so many challenges this year, I fear I won't even finish those. Maybe next year I just need to save room for this one!
ReplyDeleteViolet - The What's In a Name Challenge was a lot of fun last year. I don't think it's more difficult than any other challenge if the challenge participant keeps a list handy of what books they're considering reading for it. Just check 'em off as you go. There's a lot of flexibility in it as well. I guess it just depends on the participant and how he or she approaches it.
ReplyDeleteSandy - I love the idea of it too and definitely would have participated in it if I was signing up for more challenges. Even so, I had fun making the list!
I am doing the What's in a Name Challenge and have been wondering what I would do for water, so I'm glad you mentioned The Day the Falls Stood Still!
ReplyDeletePope Joan! It's one of my all-time favorites, and it's REALLY overdue for a re-read.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read ANY of those books. I do have The Guernsey Literary etc. book, but that's the only one, so I can be of no help in this situation. I am excited to see which one you choose, though :-) Most likely, if you enjoy it, it will end up on my wish list!
ReplyDeleteI think you should augment your One-Night Stands with Callista's suggestion. You've already made the list - just pick something and go with it! Of course, then there's the issue of having time to actually READ it...so maybe it's best to stick to flirting :-).
ReplyDeletehave fun with this one Wendy. I tried and failed miserably last year!! I think that we should just read whatever we want for the year then scour all of the challenges and see how many we accomplished!! Yeah...I know, that's cheating! :)
ReplyDeleteKathy - I was surprised at just how many books I had that would fit the body of water category. My husband said snow and rain don't count though. LOL I don't see why not though--they're kind of their own body of water . . .
ReplyDeleteAndi - I've had Pope Joan forever it feels like. One of these days I'll get around to reading it.
Aarti - I actually was aiming to list a few lesser known titles amongst the known. The food and plant categories were the hardest for me. I evidently don't have a whole lot of books that fit those categories.
Florinda - If I'm smart, I can rig it so I list at least one book I've already decided I have to read this year. At least mostly. ;-)
Staci - LOL I like that idea--getting to the end of the year and just seeing which challenges you completed without trying. :-)
I'm not actually joining this one--just having fun making the list.:-)
I love this idea! We can all join challenges in a virtual way -- Yay you finished!
ReplyDeleteAnd making lists is a lot of the challenge fun for me. Play on the sidelines or not at all -- it's all for fun!
great list of books, you big flirt.
ReplyDeleteI think for your own personal challenge, you can easily read one book from each list you've made, since you just listed 24 books! but that will be the first step you know, on your downhill descent into challenge lists...
Pope Joan, The Draining Lake, The Greatest Thing Since Sliced Bread, and the two pie books are great.
ooh, Stephanie Kallos! I am one book, or maybe two, from reading Broken for You. I swear, I am reading it soon.
Gah! I loved I was told there'd be cake! Read it.
ReplyDeleteI am doing the What's In a Name Challenge, but haven't checked any off my list yet. :)
ReplyDeleteGuernsey Literary .... and Guernica are both excellent - but very different - historical fiction. I loved them both. I tried Islands of Divine Music, but it was a "did not finish" for me.
This sound like fun meme. Although I'm doing a meme that is similiar to this one but using our Yahoo Group for our monthly challenge. The one we do it not only have titles but other stuff too. Like finding a book with the first paragraph describing the heroine. Beside the Yahoo Group, I've been posting it at my blog too...although I've been missing the last two months challenge and I need to play catch up on it :)
ReplyDeleteGood luck to you on this challenge!
I was going to say, "I'm doing this one." Then I realized that I'm not actually doing it yet. In fact, of the 11 challenges I've signed up for, I've hardly started. Gotta get off the computer and go read!
ReplyDeleteHey thanks for the mention and link! I guess it depends on how many you sign up for. You could go with a goal to read 5 books, one from each a different challenge, or 10 books, or whatever sounds plausible to you.
ReplyDeletePick the smallest of the books hehe
What a great list!! You know, out of all of those books, I have not read a single one, lol. I have heard of several, however. This sounds like such a fun challenge!
ReplyDeleteBeth - Haha! We'd have a lot to celebrate then. :-)
ReplyDeleteComing up with the reading lists is my favorite part.
Raidergirl3 (Elizabeth) - I did make it easy for myself by listing so many, didn't I? :-)
I hope you enjoy Broken For You. It's one of my favorites.
Amanda - I am looking forward to reading I Was Told There'd Be Cake. I am glad you liked it!
Carrie - I'm finally going to be tackling one for the Vietnam War Challenge this month. Maybe two if I can swing it. :-)
I've read mixed reviews about Islands of Divine Music. It'll be interesting to see what I think of it when I get to it.
Julia - It's a fun challenge. If I was signing up for more challenges this year, I'd jump on board with this one. Maybe next year.
Lisa - LOL I know what you mean. And I haven't even been on the computer all that much . . . I do need to spend more time reading though.
Callista - I thought of that too. LOL Especially if I ended up making lists for too many challenges. I am not that fast of a reader after all. :-)
Thank you for the idea!
April - Thanks. It was fun making the list. I tried to add a few books that are lesser known.
Now, this is the good sort of one night stand. LOL! I haven't read any of the books you've listed here but I do have The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society and Shanghai Girls is on my wish list. :D
ReplyDeleteAlice - Yes, it's definitely the preferred one night stand. ;-)
ReplyDeleteI don't think this one is that difficult.
ReplyDeleteThanks for pointing to it.
I signed up and already have two books (The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie and The Sea Captain's Wife)
You always have such interesting things in your blog.
Shonna - Those are both good choices for the challenge. I hope to get to The Sweetness of the Bottom of the Pie at some point this year. Good luck with the challenge!
ReplyDelete