Book Challenges

So, I've been lured into three new book challenges. Granted, I haven't quite fulfilled the Casual Classics challenge set at beginning of the year, but I am working on it. Slowly. Three down, one more to go, and the title I have slotted for book four will also fill one of the new challenges below. Feel free to take the plunge and join me!


First up is the Really Old Classics Challenge. Yes, I know, I just said I still haven't completed the current classics challenge, and now I've gone and joined another. This one requires that you read no more than ONE classic written before 1600 AD between November 2009 and February 2010. Looking over the list of suggested readings, I discovered that I have in fact already read a few that qualify (some in both French and English), and realized that, aside from these works, I also have one not yet read in my TBR pile: Homer's The Odyssey. There you go, a book I can slide into January. And, since I intend to set myself the goal of reading at least four classics again in 2010, it will fulfill two challenges at once. Nice!


Next up is the Christmas Challenge — read at least three Christmas-themed books from 26 November 2009 through 31 December 2009. YA counts, children’s books do not. I had already gone through my TBR pile and pulled out a mess of Christmas titles before stumbling across this challenge, so this one should be easy to complete (and then some). Umm...yeah. You don't want to know how long that list is. There are books that have been languising in the TBR a decade or more. Sad, I know. And while I know I will not get through that entire list this year, at least I will make a healthy dint in it.


Last but not least is the Year of the Historical: A 2010 Reading Challenge. This challenge has no set book requirements, only asks that you read as many historicals as you can fit into your regular reading during the next year. Looking over the TBR, I realized that, if I read only one Johanna Lindsey a month, I will (finally) be caught up on her books. I used to devour her books, but realize the reason I fell behind wasn't because I tired of her writing, but because they switched from printing them in mass market pb to hardcover. A coup for her, but not for the reader. So, while I've continued to automatically buy each book, I haven't been so good at keeping up. This will be the year to do so!

There was a fourth challenge that intrigued me, but I have decided not to commit to it, feeling three are enough for the time being, but I will mention it in case anyone else wants to join. It's the Shelf-Discovery Challenge. This challenge asks that you look through the book by Lizzie Skurnick, then choose any six YA books mentioned in the book, whether it be one you want to reread as an adult, or one you missed as a teen, to read between 1 Nov 2009 – 30 April 2010. If you can't get your hands on a physical copy of the book, go to amazon.com and browse the book's table of contents; you can amass quite a reading list from that alone!


Let me know if you decide to join any of these. If these aren't your cuppa, but you like the idea of a reading challenge, check out A Novel Challenge. You're sure to find something that will suit you and your reading tastes!