Happy Saturday, everyone! Do you love the weekend as much as I do? To be honest, while I always loved having a couple of low-key days I loved them more once I got Little One. I can’t think of anything that I like more than a lazy morning sitting with Little One, a cup of coffee and a book.
I have always liked book challenges and have signed up for many, although I don’t know if I ever actually completed one (aside from yearly book goals), but when I saw Emily’s first post about the Semi-Charmed Summer Book Challenge, I knew I’d be participating too. Let’s see if I manage to complete this one. I started one of my books this morning (Reconstructing Amelia) so I guess I’m off to a good start.
Megan hosts the challenge and you can see a list of rules at her blog. The categories and what I think I’ll be reading for each one are listed below. I’m not very good with planning out what I’m reading, so we’ll see if I stick to this list or if I switch it up a bit.
5 points: Freebie! Read any book that is at least 200 pages long.
The Starter House, by Sonja Condit (400 pages)
10 points: Read a book that was written before you were born.
Anne of Green Gables, by L.M. Montgomery (336 pages) – Last year I decided I was going to read this series throughout spring/summer so I bought the boxed set, but never did. This year I decided the same thing, but wasn’t sure if I’d actually do it, so I thought this prompt would be the perfect opportunity to make sure that I start the series at least.
10 points: Finish reading a book you couldn’t finish the first
time around. (You must have at least 150 pages left in the book to use
it for this category.)
Sophie’s World, by Jostein Gaarder (544 pages) – I almost got rid of this book earlier this year when I cleaned out books. I had the hardest time reading it and eventually stopped about five years ago, but I’ve heard such good things about this that I really want to finish it. I’ll start it from the beginning since it’s been so long, but I know I was only about halfway through the book when I stopped.
10 points: Read a book from the children’s section of the library or bookstore.
The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls, by Claire Legrand (352 pages)
15 points: Read a book that is on The New York Times‘ Best Sellers List when you begin reading it.
Reconstructing Amelia, by Kimberly McCreight (400 pages) – Currently #13 on Combined Print & E-Book and #8 on E-Book Fiction.
15 points: Read a historical fiction book that does not take place in Europe.
Gods and Generals, by Michael Shaara (512 pages) – This is the first in a series about the Civil War in the US. My high school history teacher raved about this series so I bought them back then and haven’t touched them yet. I know, high school was a long, long time ago.
15 points: Read a book another blogger has already read for the
challenge. (Yes, you will have to wait until the first check-in to
choose this book! So no one will be able to finish this challenge in
only one month; sorry!)
TBD
20 points: Read a book with “son(s),” “daughter(s)” or
“child(ren)” in the title. No other words will count—including kids,
offspring, etc.—so please don’t ask. š
The Twin’s Daughter, by Lauren Baratz-Logsted (416 pages)
20 points: Read a book that was/will be adapted to film in 2014. (Here are 16 ideas to get you started, but I know there are plenty more options.)
Dark Places, by Gillian Flynn (368 pages) – I did a double-take when I saw this on the list. I knew that Gone Girl is coming out this year, but didn’t realize this would be a movie too. How cool for Ms. Flynn that two of her books will be out as movies by the end of 2014! I’ve read Gone Girl, so Dark Places it is, although there are a couple of other books on my to-read list that would also count.
25 points: Read a book written by a blogger. (Submitted by Jessica of The Tangerine.)
Let’s Pretend This Never Happened, by Jenny Lawson (384 pages)
25 points: Read a biography, autobiography or memoir.
The Girl in the Red Coat, by Roma Ligocka (304 pages)
30 points: Read a pair of books with antonyms in the titles.
The Shining Girls, by Lauren Beukes (400 pages) & The Burgess Boys, by Elizabeth Strout (352 pages) – I was walking through the book section at Target mulling over all of the categories in this challenge and these two books were sitting next to each other on the shelf. I was just like, “Perfect!” This might change, since it was decided on a whim, but The Shining Girls has been on my to-read list for awhile and the whole situation was just so perfect that I almost have to read these, right?
