Winter 2014 Book Challenge Preliminary List

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Over the summer, I unofficially competed in Megan’s Summer Book Challenge. “Unofficially” because I didn’t start this blog until July. I loved the challenge to read new books outside of my comfort zone.

Now that winter is almost upon us (especially for those of us who live in OHIO), the Winter 2014 Book Challenge is about to begin! I’ve put together my preliminary list of books I might read to fit each category. As the book review columnist for Enchanted Conversation, I have the additional challenge of trying to find fairy tale books to read that fit these categories.

General rules:

• The challenge will run from November 1, 2014, to February 28, 2015. No books that are started before 12 a.m. on November 1 or finished after 11:59 p.m. on February 28 will count.
• Each book must be at least 200 pages long. Audiobooks are fine, as long as the print versions meet the page requirements. Large-print books are also acceptable, as long as the regular-print version exceeds 200 pages in length.
• A book can only be used for one category, and each category can only be completed once. If you want to switch the category of a book during a later check-in, that’s fine, just be sure to account for that in your point total.
• Rereads can be used for a maximum of three books in the challenge. This rule is meant to encourage you to try new books while still allowing you to revisit books from your childhood or young adulthood that you might get more out of now. Please reread the entire book within the timeframe of the challenge in order to count it; no simply finishing old books or partial rereads (unless the category explicitly states otherwise, of course)!
• The highest possible total is 200 points, and the first five people who finish the challenge will be invited to contribute a category for the next challenge. Good luck!

5 points: Freebie! Read any book that fits the general rules. I really love Kelly Oram’s books. It’s time for me to read Serial Hottie.

10 points: Read a book written by an author who has published at least 10 books. Phillipa Gregory is my all-time favorite author, but I haven’t read one of her books in over a year. The Kingmaker’s Daughter is the fourth book in her series The Cousins’ war–I own the first three already. I might ask for this for Christmas!

10 points: Read a book of short stories. I’ve been reading a lot of Holly Black’s books lately. Having recently finished rereading Tithe and Valiant, and reading Ironside for the first time, I want to read her short story collection The Poison Eaters: and Other Stories.

10 points: Read a book with a food (not a drink!) in the title. I’m both incredibly lucky, and a genius, that the third book in the Lunar Chronicles is called Cress, which is also an herb. Can you tell which books I plan on reviewing for Enchanted Conversation?

15 points: Read the first book in a series that is new to you (so no rereads for this one!) I’ve been wanting to try Marissa Meyer’s futuristic, sci-fi fairy tale adaptations, the Lunar Chronicles. The first book in the series is Cinder, about a cyborg living with her stepmother and stepsister.

15 points: Read a book that was originally written in a language that is not your native language. I read The Hangman’s Daughter by Oliver Potzsch last May. The next book is The Dark Monk. They were originally written in German.

15 points: Read a book written by a local author (either an author from your state if you live in the United States, or in your country if you live somewhere else—note: author must be from where you currently live). This is one I can’t really choose yet. Dan and I will most likely be moving in January or February out-of-state. Or maybe I’ll read a book by Toni Morrison, and I’ll just be sure to read it before we leave Ohio.

20 points: Read a “bookish book” (in which books play an important role, e.g. the setting involves a bookstore or library, a major character is an author, or a book that celebrates reading and books). Sometimes I like to read fluffy teen romances. They’re fun and fast and romantic in an unrealistic way. I recently read How to Date a Nerd and How to Seduce a Band Geek by Cassie Mae. In January, her third book in the series debuts, How to Hook a Bookworm.

20 points: Read a book with a direction in the title (e.g. north, south, east, west or any combination of those). I actually own the book The Widow of the South. I just haven’t read it. Maybe now is my chance.

25 points: Read a book from a genre you don’t usually read. While I definitely watch a lot of science fiction aka Star Trek, I rarely read it. Scarlet is the sequel to Cinder.

25 points: Read a book with a song lyric in the title. Be sure to tell us the song name and artist as well! There is a song called
“Wuthering Heights.” Maybe I should finally read the classic novel.

30 points: Read two books with a different meal in each title (e.g. breakfast, lunch, dinner, supper, brunch; update: meals like feast, banquet, picnic will also count, but try not to get too “creative” with your meal words!). I’m a little embarrassed to admit that I have not yet read A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway, but this challenge is a great reason to finally pick it up! Now I just need to find one more book with a meal in the title… Any suggestions?

 

Are you participating in the Winter 2014 Book Challenge? What category is your biggest challenge? Let me know in the comments!