The Reading Challenge Group discussion

We're now accepting nominations for themes to start off our new monthly challenge in January! Is there a topic you'd like to explore? A place or time? A specific author, category or genre?

Nominations are open until Friday, December 23rd.

It may not interest the entire group, but Coming of Age sort of novels could work well with the New Year often representing change? Just a thought :)

I think a winter theme would do well for January. If people don't have winter where they live, they can read about it- and not freeze.

There is a tradition in France regarding the Wise Men in January. They are called Kings (Rois). We eat an almond pie called "galette" that has a littlemthing hidden in it. Whoever finds it becomes "king" for the day. I believe there is something similar in Spain as well. It's one of my favourite celebrations.

So, to cut the story short, I propose for a theme Kings, Queens, Princes and Princesses.

I second the winter theme. It would be great for January. I like this idea of themes, hopefully it will promote more discussions.

I like Coming of Age for the New Year. That implies young adult books but I think there are books for us older people who embrace Coming of Age in the age 30-50. Would be interested in nominations.

What about change/ self-improvement/ new beginnings?

I second the new beginnings theme. The New Year represents starting over and new beginnings.

I find many people here tend to travel in January to get away from the cold. I suggest a 'travelling' theme where we could read a book about travel or a book written in a country different from our own.

I kinda like the idea of reading the Royals because of 3 Kings. It's just so different from anything we've done.

I agree with the Royals theme, it works with the three kings day very well.

So far all the themes sound like good options.

Marianne wrote: "I second the new beginnings theme. The New Year represents starting over and new beginnings."

Nice. I had not thought of that. Would be a good thing.

I like the theme about royalty or even travelling

Tina wrote: "I like the theme about royalty or even travelling"

Royalty doesn't interest me. Sorry.

I think it's going to be hard to pick only one of these themes!

We have almost a years full already! Some really good suggestions here everyone!

Lynnette wrote: "Tina wrote: "I like the theme about royalty or even travelling"

Royalty doesn't interest me. Sorry."

The way I see it, a theme can be taken widely. For example, if you read a fairy tale with a princess in it, it counts as royalty. Or a non-fiction book on the history of Russia, given that they had tsars. That's more what I'm interested in!

I love fairy tales. Many of them can also be considered a coming of age story. I just read The Snow Queen by Hans Christian Andersen. It had these two themes- plus winter.

I like all of the ideas but I will vote for the Winter theme for January or February. I like the Royals idea, too.

I know royalty is kind of a hard theme. Sometimes I'm just in the mood for mindless reading - that's when I pick a Danielle Steel book (please don't judge me - lol). She has a book called H.R.H or there is a book about the Kennedy's called After Camelot. There are possibilities with that theme

Marianne wrote: "I know royalty is kind of a hard theme. Sometimes I'm just in the mood for mindless reading - that's when I pick a Danielle Steel book (please don't judge me - lol). She has a book called H.R.H or ..."

I don't judge. We all read for different reasons. I wouldn't read DS for any reason.

There are times when I need light reading, that's when I read children's literature. Sometimes I revisit old favourites, at other times I find new books to read that I missed when they were first published.

Maybe even Hollywood "royalty" would do.

Once a theme is chosen for January, members may want to consider suggesting a Buddy Read for a book they plan to read that others might also enjoy.