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JANUARY: NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS CHALLENGEDuration: January 1 - 31, 2014
It's time for New Year's Resolutions, and this challenge explores some of the most popular ones.
1. Save more money. Instead of buying a book, read a book you borrowed (from a friend or the library) or was given to you as a gift.
3. Exercise more. Read a book whose cover shows people being active in some way OR read a book in which one of the main characters is an athlete. This was a free book on kindle and I thought, great someone who is an athlete, it did have a little, no a lot of, TMI in the romance scenes for my taste
5. Watch less TV. Instead of watching TV or going to the movies, read a book that got turned into a movie or TV show.does it count if they are going to be made into a movie?
7. Go on a trip. Read a book that takes place in a country you've never been to. (This can be a made up country.) Denmark
January's Let it Snow! Mini ChallengeJanuary 1 - 31, 2014
For those of us living in cold, northern climates during this time of year, it can be very snowy indeed. Let's do a snow-inspired challenge!
1. Let it Snow! is a song written in 1945. Read a book written in the 1940s. have checked out from library ... just need to read in the last couple days FAILED!
3. All snowflakes have six sides. Read a book with the number 6 in its page number. (For example, The Golem and the Jinni has 486 pages.) 462 pages
4. Is winter over yet? Read a long book (a book with 500 or more pages). 526 disappointing pages
DAPHNE'S CHALLENGE: EXPLORATIONS IN LOVEDuration: February 1 - 28, 2014
start with 4 and go from there - got 6
Love comes in all flavors right?
1. Philia. Translated from the ancient Greek as brotherly love. Read a book that features some sort of ‘bromance’ or two strong male characters.
2. Love triangle. There are some pretty famous ones. In honor of Aphrodite, Hephaistos, and Ares, read a mythic fantasy novel.
4. Autassassinophilia. Another way to say you love death, destruction, or mayhem. Read a mystery, horror, or thriller.
5. Chronophilia. When you only date people of a certain age group, derived from the God Chronos (father time). Read a book where the main characters are vastly different age ranges he's an old vampire, she is his assistant
6. Biophilia. A love of nature. Coined by the great E. O. Wilson. Read a book whose setting takes place in nature or wild and untamed lands Texas in the 1800's was pretty wild!
8. Mechanophilia. Who doesn't love cool machines? read a book that machines (like a spaceship) play a big role.
CANDY HEARTS MINI CHALLENGEDuration: February 1 - 28, 2014
1. Love me. This one's easy! Read a romance novel.
2. Puppy love. Read a book that features animals.
3. Love bug. The word "bug" means a few different things. Read a book with a title that contains a word with multiple meanings.
an act of biting into something in order to eat it, a sharp or pungent flavor - or used as slang "This really bites!"
FIRST QUARTER CHALLENGE: THE CHINESE ZODIAC (Shēngxiào)Duration: January 1 - March 31, 2014
trying for 6 - 11/6 - couldn't get that non-fiction book
Thank you to Danielle for the inspiration for this challenge!
1. The Horse. On January 31, 2014, it becomes the Year of the Horse! Horses like being the center of attention. Read a book where the main character is famous OR read a memoir about or a biography of a celebrity.
2. The Goat. Home is where Goats feel the most comfortable. Read a book that takes place in the country you were born in.
3. The Monkey. Monkeys are the masters of practical jokes. Read a humorous book.some of the situations she gets into ...:)
4. The Rooster. Roosters tend to "tell it like it is." Read a non-fiction book.
5. The Dog. While loyal and faithful, Dogs have trouble finding mates. Read a book that contains a troubled romance.
6. The Pig. Pigs love to have fun but tend to prefer spending to saving. Read a book you have purchased (rather than borrowed).
7. The Rat. Constantly seeking knowledge, Rats are curious and clever. Read a book that teaches you something. taught me way more than I ever wanted to know about torts, mass litigation ...
8. The Ox. Oxen aren't very sociable and prefer life-long friendships to casual acquaintances. Read a book in which the main character could be described as an introvert. one reviewer summed him up good "a man who very seldom talks, speaks volumes with this actions"
9. The Tiger. Tigers love to be challenged. Read a book you find challenging in some way maybe because of its length, style, or subject matter.
10. The Rabbit. Rabbits tend to enjoy meeting people from different places and learning about different cultures. Read a book about a culture not your own.
11. The Dragon. The Dragon is often considered to be the strongest sign, and the only one that is a mythical animal. Read a book that contains a mythical or paranormal creature.
12. The Snake. Snakes work hard but tend to be easily bored. To prevent boredom, read a short book (i.e., one with fewer than 100 pages).
FIRST QUARTER CHALLENGE: LILAC'S RAINBOW CHALLENGEDuration: January 1 - March 31, 2014
Thank you to Lilac for this lovely idea! Make a rainbow out of the book covers. You can use as few as four books (red, yellow, green, blue) or as many as you like as long as the final result is a rainbow of books.
Red - Orange - Yellow - Green - Blue - Indigo -Violet -
THE MNEMONIC CHALLENGE - try for 4Duration: March 1 - 31, 2014
4/4
"Spring forward, fall back" is a mnemonic device to help you remember which way to change your clocks during daylight savings time. A mnemonic is a memory aid. Let's explore other mnemonics in this challenge.
3. Thirty days hath September, April, June, and November. Read a book that has a page number count that includes the digits 3 and 0 (in any order). 309
5. Mrs. Baker is used to remember the eight common law felonies (murder, rape, sodomy, burglary, arson, kidnapping, escape, robbery). Read a book in a which one of these felonies takes place.
6. Please excuse my dear Aunt Sally (PEMDAS) is to remember the order of operations in math (parenthesis, exponents, multiplication & division, addition & subtraction). Read a book that has a Goodreads description that includes parentheses.
7. Every good boy does fine is the mnemonic for the notes on the five lines of the treble clef. Read a book that involves music in some way.
DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME MINI CHALLENGEDuration: March 1 - 31, 2014
In many parts of the northern hemisphere, Daylight Savings Time begins in March. Below is a map showing the usage of Daylight Savings Time around the world. Blue is for areas currently using it, and red and orange areas do not.
1. Read a book set in a place that currently uses daylight savings time.
2. Read a book set in a place that does not currently use daylight savings time.
3. Daylight savings time was first implemented in 1916. Read a book that takes place before 1916.
4. Daylight savings time was first proposed by a man named George Veronon Hudson. Read a book by an author who shares an initial with George Vernon Hudson.
THE SHOWER DISAMBIGUATION CHALLENGEDuration: April 1 - 30, 2014
starting with 4, managed 1 more - 5/4
Wikipedia has lots of entries for the word "shower." Let's explore them!
3. A juggling pattern. The more objects in the shower, the more difficult. The same can be said for page numbers. Read a book with more than 350 pages.
4. The 1999 short film. This film is only 10 minutes long. Read a short book (fewer than 150 pages).
6. The episode of The O.C. The O.C. was an American teen drama that took place in Orange County, CA. Read something you would consider to be a teen drama.
7. Baby shower. Read a book in which a character has a baby
8. Bridal shower. Read a book you received as a gift OR read a book in which someone gets married.
LITTLE APRIL SHOWER MINI CHALLENGEDuration: April 1 - 30, 2014
Little April Shower is a song from the Disney movie, Bambi. You can watch it here. Let's take a look at other Disney movies that contain rain.
1. Beauty and the Beast. Read a book that has "Romance" listed as a genre OR a book where the main character misjudges someone. it's a romance and Stephanie misjudges someone!
2. The Rescuers. Read a book that has "Adventure" listed as a genre OR a book in which someone needs rescuing.
3. The Little Mermaid. Read a book that contains mythical creatures.
5/5THE MAY HOLIDAY COVER HUNT (with alternatives)
Duration: May 1 - 31, 2014
Let's take a look at various holidays around the world. Cover hunts can be hard, and because this one is running for just a single month, we've provided a non-cover alternative for you for each task.
1. May Day is lei day in Hawaii. Read a book with a flower on its cover
2. World Press Freedom Day. Read a book with a form of media on its cover (such as a book, a newspaper, or a CD) and in which a character is a reporter.
4. Children’s Day. こどもの日. Read a young adult book.
5. Cinco de Mayo. Read a book with the number 5 somewhere on its cover (even if it’s in the title!)
6. National Train Day. Read a book with a mode of transportation on its cover OR read a book in which a character takes a train ride.
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THE VERY MINI BIRTHDAY CHALLENGEDuration: May 1 - 31, 2014
1. Read a book that was published year you were born.
one of my favorite series ... the first book was published the year I was born. Think I'll have to reread it.
✔2. Read a book from an author who shares a birthday or birth year with you.
will have to choose a book written by
Jodi Picoult
✔
SECOND QUARTER CHALLENGE: #READWOMEN2014Duration: April 1 - June 30, 2014
goal is 6 - 8/6
For this challenge, decide how many new-to-you female authors you would like to read. Once your goal is set, read! And come back and tell us who your favorites were to get great female authors more exposure. Each author can only count once.
Kate Atkinson
Gretchen Rubin
Claire Cook
Betta Ferrendelli
Maggie Toussaint
Gem Sivad
Gretchen Galway
Lila Ashe
SECOND QUARTER CHALLENGE: FINISH THOSE SERIES!Duration: April 1 - June 30, 2014
This challenge focuses on finishing series you've started. They can be series you started as a child and want to know what happened to your favorite childhood characters (for example, Lowry's The Giver or L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time), they can be series you would like to start and finish within the span of the quarter, or they can just be any series you started but never finished.
Goal to finish 4? 2/4 - only able to finish 2
Finishing Hannah Swensen Joanne Fluke
Completed 17/17 (17 just came out!)
✔Reading lots of different series but too many books left to finish :( in 3 months (Morganville Vampires, Sookie Stackhouse, Stephanie Plum)
Going to read and finish The Maze Runner Series - unless I hate it!
✔
I'll eventually finish this series, it is just very popular summer reading - hard to get the books from the library since he is a local author
Finish the Inkworld Trilogy currently reading - will finish just waiting to get it back from the library again - another popular summer reading book
Maybe finish the House of Night Series (I got tired of it)
✔ finished until October when this one comes out - maybe I'll read it if it really is the last one!
THE JUNE SCHOOL YEAR CHALLENGEDuration: June 1 - 30, 2014
TRY FOR 4 or 5
2. Good teacher: “Good” is entirely subjective so think about your favorite teacher, trainer, or educator who really made an impact on your life.
Read a book that explores the subject that person taught - Favorite teacher - Coach Henshaw, he taught history
6. Juniors: Juniors are looking forward to their last year, sending applications (college, job or other) and hoping that they know themselves well enough to make the right choice.
Read a book where a character struggles with his/her identity or is trying to figure out who they are
7. Sophomores: Sophomore comes from two Greek words meaning “wise” and “foolish.”
Read a book on a subject or a character who is wise, foolish or both
10. Varsity: This is the paramount achievement for any athlete; yet even after reaching the Varsity team, athletes must work to maintain to their status.
Read a book involving a power struggle
11. Junior Varsity: For athletes in the making, getting a spot on the JV team gives them the opportunity to learn new skills in order to reach Varsity.
Read a book by an author that is new to you
JULY: THE HOARDERS CHALLENGEDuration: July 1 - July 30, 2014 extended into August
As we move into the second half of the year, it's time to clear those shelves!
1. Read the book that has been on your Goodreads TBR list longest.
2. Read a book from your physical book shelf or any other stash of books.
3. Read a book you got as a gift or for free.
4. Read a book recommended by or borrowed from a friend. read in August
5. Read a group read that you missed. You can see them all here: https://www.goodreads.com/group/books...
6. Read the next book in a series that you've neglected.read in August
7. Read the book that you've most recently added to your TBR list. read in August
8. Read a book you started and never finished.
9. Read a book you bought with great intentions to read and just haven't got to it yet.
10. Read a book that you should have read in high school or college but you faked through instead.
OCTOBER: SCREAM!Duration: October 1 - 31, 2014
3/3
Our group theme for October is scream!, so let's explore different places we find the word.
1. Scream! was Michael and Janet Jackson's song. Read a book that takes place in a spaceship
2. I scream for ice cream! Read a book that at least partially takes place in ice cream parlour OR read a book that has ice cream on its cover.
3. Scream is a series of American slasher films and consists, to date, of four motion pictures. Read a book about a serial killer OR read a book from series that has at least four books.
THE STRING THEORY CHALLENGEDuration: January 1 - December 31, 2014
try for 6 - 6/6 all done!
At some point in our lives, most of us have read something in a book we wanted to know more about—be it a time in history, a location, or even a hobby one of the characters has. The point of this challenge is to broaden your horizons, to learn more about the things that interest you.
Pick a book, any book, and note the things you find interesting in the story. After that first book is read, you'll select another book that links with something from the first book.
Example: Let's say you started reading The Hunger Games. The Hunger Games is a dystopian book, the main character has a great bond with her sister, children fight each other to the death, and Katniss enjoys hunting and archery. So let's say you are really interested in books about archery. Then you can decide to read something like The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood. Maybe you think "What a great classic book! I want to read more." You continue on this same route until you've reached your goal.
First book was about aliens here on earth
this lead to the second book about earthlings in space traveling to a new planet - while traveling they are experimenting with DNA - genetics
now where will the third book take me? ...how about the third book where the main character is actually a genecist
Fourth book I may look for a book with a matchmaker? As Don - the main character in the previous book likened his project that of what a matchmaker would do.
Now where? Their sister is missing ... read a book where someone is trying to find their family?
Okay for the final book I think I will read a book about a stolen identity since someones identity was stolen in the last book ...
JULY: THE HOARDERS CHALLENGEDuration: July 1 - July 30, 2014 extended into August
As we move into the second half of the year, it's time to clear those shelves!
1. Read the book that has been on your Goodreads TBR list longest.
2. Read a book from your physical book shelf or any other stash of books.
3. Read a book you got as a gift or for free.
4. Read a book recommended by or borrowed from a friend. read in August
5. Read a group read that you missed. You can see them all here: https://www.goodreads.com/group/books...
6. Read the next book in a series that you've neglected.read in August
7. Read the book that you've most recently added to your TBR list. read in August
8. Read a book you started and never finished.
9. Read a book you bought with great intentions to read and just haven't got to it yet.
10. Read a book that you should have read in high school or college but you faked through instead.
THIRD QUARTER CHALLENGE: ALWAYS A NOMINEE, NEVER A WINNERDuration: July 1 - September 30, 2014
There are tons of wonderful books out there that have never won any awards, no matter how many awards they've been nominated for.
For this challenge, choose a literary award (or two or three) that appeals to you. For a list of literary awards, click here: https://www.goodreads.com/award
Your goal is to read as many books as you can that have been nominated for but never won that specific award. Set your goal, and do your best to reach it by the end of the quarter!
try for six goodread award nominees 2/6
Maybe these ones ...
✔
✔
✔
THIRD QUARTER CHALLENGE: HUNGER GAMESDuration: July 1 - September 30, 2014
try for 9 - only 7:(
May the odds be ever in your favor.
The Capitol: The capitol is filled with beautiful extravagant people. Read a book with “beauty” in the title OR read a book where the main character is said to be extraordinarily beautiful.
District 1: District 1 produces luxury items. Read a book where a piece of jewelry plays an important role.
District 2: District 2 produces weapons and trains peacekeepers. Read a book about with a cop as one of the characters.
District 3: District 3 makes electronics. Read a book about a technologically advanced society OR read a book with a computer (or robot) as a main character.
District 5: District 5 is the source of electrical power. Reada book that is set in a place without electricity.
District 6: District 6 is the hub of transportation. Read a book written by an author from a different country OR read a book that takes place in a real location you could visit.
District 7: District 7 produces lumber and paper. Read a book that takes place in a forest OR read a physical book made out of paper (as opposed to an ebook).
District 11: District 11 is an agricultural district and Rue, a young herbalist, originated here. Read a book where a young person dies
District 12: District 12 is the mining district, and Katniss and Peeta, its tributes, wear clothes that catch fire. Read a book that has the word “coal” somewhere in it (add a quote of the sentence where you found the word)he is investigating the Belinda Coal Company
District 13: District 13 is a rebellious district that specialized in nuclear technology. Read a book centered around a nuclear disaster OR read a book where the main character is rebellious.
CELEBRATIONS AROUND THE WORLDDuration: November 1 - 30, 2014
Let's take a look at major celebrations found around the world. The inspiration and pictures for this challenge were taken from this article.
2. Oktoberfest - Munich, Germany
Oktoberfestbiers are the beers that have been served at the festival since 1818. Read a book in which the characters drink alcohol.
4. Saint Patrick's Day - Ireland
Some cities dye rivers green to celebrate. Read a book that takes place in Ireland OR read a book with a green cover.
6. The Carnival of Venice - Italy
The Carnival ends just before Lent (Ash Wednesday), and attendees wear masks. Read a book that takes place in Italy OR read a book in which a character tries to keep his or her identity a secret at some point.
7. Halloween - USA
Halloween is celebrated by kids (and adults) dressing up in costumes and trick-or-treating. Read a book in which a character wears a costume or pretends to be someone else. main character is a ventriloquist - works with puppets
8. La Tomatina - Buñol, Spain
Tomatoes are thrown for fun, and the entire city becomes covered in tomato paste. Read a book that takes place in Spain OR read a book with a red cover.
9. Burning Man Festival - Nevada, USA
The festival has been described as "an experiment in community, art, radical self-expression, and radical self-reliance." Read a book that takes place in the United States
THE BANNED BOOKS CHALLENGEDuration: September 1 - 30, 2014
1. Banned Books Week is September 21st-27th. Order your TBR List by Date Added and read a book that you added on the 21st, 22nd, 23rd, 24th, 25th, 26th, or 27th of any month or year.
7. Lastly, if all these controversial books are making your blush or get squirmy, read one of these books instead from a Goodread's listopia as a less offensive option.
AUGUST: GREAT EMPIRESDuration: August 1 - 30, 2014
Our theme for the month is empires, so this challenge is about a few of the greatest ones.
5. It was said that the sun never set on the British Empire (1497 – 1997). Read a book that is set in several countries around the world.
6. The Russian Empire was officially founded by Peter the Great who brought European ideas to Russia. Read a book where a character is unhappy with his or her life.
7. The Roman Empire (Western: 27 BC – 476 AD; Eastern: 330 AD – 1453 AD) borrowed from Greek mythology and was well known for its fighting in the Colosseum. Read a book that includes a physical fight.
8. The Holy Roman Empire (off and on 800 – 1806) was an attempt to revive the Western Roman Empire and spent most of its existence very fragmented. Read a book where characters try hold on to something longer than they should.
9. The Mongol Empire (1206 – 1368) was the largest land empire (that covered only joining land) spanning from China to Europe and fell because Genghis Khan’s grandchildren kept fighting over leadership. Read a book that a contains siblings fighting.
2026 Reading Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
Kiss Me While I Sleep (other topics)Hello, Gorgeous! (other topics)
Vampires Rule (other topics)
Forever Christmas (other topics)
Top Secret Twenty-One (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
MaryJanice Davidson (other topics)Neil Gaiman (other topics)
Janet Evanovich (other topics)
Huntley Fitzpatrick (other topics)
Joanne Fluke (other topics)
More...
Duration: January 1, 2014 - December 31, 2014
This is a modified spell out challenge where each month of the year is spelled out in a different language!
For each letter, read a book where that letter is contained somewhere in the title or the author's name. It does NOT need to be the first letter of the word. The book used must be read in the month it represents. I'll move each month over her at the end of the month
January: Kapampangan (a language of the Philippines)5/5
**this also happens to be the spanish word for January, I'll be in Mexico for 2 weeks, maybe I'll have to read un libro en espanol ... books on my kindle which I'm taking no book in Spanish :( but I did complete the goal for the month
E ✔
N ✔
E ✔
R ✔
O ✔
February: Arabic (Algeria & Tunisia)5/5
F ✔
I ✔
F ✔
R ✔ Kathy Reichs
I ✔
March: Malay (a language of places like Indonesia etc)3/3
M ✔
A ✔
C ✔
March: Malay (a language of places like Indonesia etc)3/3
April: Papiamento (a language of the Caribbean ABC Islands => Aruba, Bonaire & Curacao)5/5
A
P
R
E
L
May: Romanian (Romania)3/3
M
A
I
June: Greenlandic (Greenland)4/4
J J D Robb
U
N Allison Brennan
I
July
J
U
L
A
I
August: Japanese (Japan)6/6
H Huntley Fitzpatrick
A
D
U
K
I
September: Basque (Basque Country, Spain)5/5
INeil Gaiman
R
AJanet Evanovich
IKathy Reichs
L
October: Ewe (is a Niger–Congo language spoken in southeastern Ghana and southern Togo)4/4
K
E
L
E
November: Venda (South Africa) (is a Bantu language predominately spoken in the Limpopo Province, Botswana)4/4
L
A
R
A
December: Niuean (Niue Island, Tokelau)6/6
T
E
S
E
M MaryJanice Davidson
O