The last couple of years I’ve barely joined any challenges. I’ve done a few here and there but nothing like back in 2009 when I joined 11 challenges. What was I thinking? Well, I was probably thinking of all the fun and of course expanding my reading horizons. So, I haven’t gone crazy and joined 11 challenges but I’m joining the following four:
The Romance Reading Challenge hosted by Naida. I don’t read a lot of romances of the Harlequin variety but I do enjoy love stories. Gimmie some Jojo Moyes, Georgette Heyer, etc. I even like my mysteries with a bit of romance.
Surely I can read five books throughout the next year that would fulfill the requirement for this one right?
If you’ve got a good love story for me to add to my list let me know.
Next up is The Chunkster Reading Challenge hosted by Vasilly. I love the idea of reading big, chunky books but in reality I tend to put the books longer than 500 pages back on the shelf. Too tired, not enough time, etc. but really I have to get over that.
I have so many big books that are just waiting to be read. Villette, Vanity Fair, The Moonstone. Hmm, lots of classics. Which would be a good thing too!
For this challenge a chunkster is any book longer than 450 pages. There are no levels of participation but I am going to aim for three!
A new to me challenge is the Vintage Mystery Bingo Challenge hosted by My Reader’s Block. The goal is to play a Gold or Silver Mystery Bingo Score Card. I love a good mystery but most of my mysteries are modern reads and I think it would be great to mix in some from the Golden Age of mystery.
I’m selecting a Gold Score Card which means all mysteries have to have been written before 1960. I see some Agatha Christie’s in my future but I’d also love to read some Dorothy Sayers, Ngaio Marsh, and Margery Allingham.
The mystery also lasts all year and a valid bingo requires filling six spaces on the card. You do get a free space. This is going to be fun!
Finally I love letters so when I heard about the Postal Reading Challenge hosted by The Indextrious Reader I couldn’t pass it up. The key is to read books with a postal theme. It could be a non-fiction book on the subject of letter writing or it could be a novel in epistolary form (which I love).
This challenge does have some levels of participation, and I’ll go with the Postcard level which requires reading four books. I don’t have any books in mind for this one yet but I’m going to have fun finding some that meet the requirements.
I’m sure there will be more challenges to join, readalongs and readathons. I see lots of good reading ahead. Now if you have some great books to recommend for any of these do let me know. How about you, have you gone challenge crazy too? Which ones are you joining?
Oh, yay! I am doing the Chunkster challenge and the Postal Reading Challenge, too. If you need recommendations for the Postal Challenge there are lots of good recommendations if you read through the wrap-up posts. Actually, I made a list on Pinterest. I will see if it will let me send you the link via email. Have fun and Happy Holidays!!
Wow, that’s a lot of challenges! Good luck and have fun! 🙂
Happy to see that you’re joining the Postal Reading Challenge! I love epistolary novels too, obviously, which is why I created this challenge… I read a fabulous pick that met both the Chunkster & Postal challenges this year, Sir Charles Grandison. What a fun classic to read!
Welcome to the Vintage Mystery Challenge! I’m so glad to have you join us! Can’t wait to see what you decide to read.
Kailana – You kept posting such great challenges I just had to join some! 🙂 Thank you for the pinterest link too. I am so excited about the Postal challenge but all of a sudden I was drawing a blank of what books I could read.
Stefanie – I know, I went a little overboard didn’t I? All the enthusiasm for these is hard to resist!
Melwyk – Thank you for hosting the challenge and I’m really excited to join in! I also had a look at some of your recommendations and took note of some the books. Can’t wait to see what I discover.
Bev@My Reader’s Block – Thank you for hosting! I love mysteries but have read very few from the Golden Age (mainly Christie’s) so this will be a good challenge for me to discover some new authors. I think this could be dangerous! haha.
These challenges are so tempting! I am still contemplating what to pick up first for the Vintage Mystery challenge, though I have it narrowed down to two books finally. I just need to dive in and start reading! Although I think I won’t formally join–I hope to read more books of letters next year–either novels or actual letter collections. Looking forward to seeing which books you choose to read!
Yes, it is a little dangerous to dip one’s toes into the Vintage Mystery waters. Once I started on them, I couldn’t stop. 🙂
OOOOOooooo, I am so tempted by the Postal Reading Challenge – thank you for telling us about it. I will look into it. I only do the What’s in a Name Challenge – 5 books over the year and it gets me to read books on my shelf already. I do love readalongs and will probably do a few of those this year, I hope, but nothing yet scheduled.
*yay* Thanks for joining my Romance Challenge. Happy reading and good luck with the challenges 🙂
The Postal Reading Challenge made me think of a book I put on my Amazon wishlist: A History of Britain in Thirty-six Postage Stamps by Chris West. I think he intends to write one about American stamps as well. I collected stamps as a child, and they are full of fascinating history. I just love looking at them. I went ahead and just ordered it, and I’ll join in the challenge so I can count it!