I don’t know what it is but I am so excited about reading challenges this year. I think it’s because I’ve had a bit of a break in the past couple of years and last year I did ok with my reading challenges so I thought why not just go for it this year?
Today I’ll tell you about three I’m joining and I’ll do another post with a few more. For all of my challenges one added caveat is that I need to try to use books that I already own. So here we go:
Poetry Reading Challenge. This one is hosted by Serena at Savvy Verse & Wit and there are several levels of participation. I’m going to do the third level which involves reading as many books of poetry as you can in one year. I already sign up for the poem-a-day email so that’s covered.
I know I said I wanted to read books from my shelf for these challenges but for the poetry challenge all the poetry books I have on my shelf I have already read so I may do some re-reads or treat myself to some poetry books. I would love to read: Devotions by Mary Oliver, Only As the Day is Long by Dorianne Laux and Be Recorder by Carmen Gimenez Smith.
Japanese Literature Reading Challenge. Now in it’s 14th year, this one is hosted by Dolce Bellezza and all you have to read is at least one Japanese book. First off, I’m very exited by a new Kazuo Ishiguro book coming out soon but some possible selections from my stacks are:
The Traveling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa; translated by Philip Gabriel; The Inugami Curse by Seishi Yokomizo; translated by Yumiko Yamakazi and The Aosawa Murders by Riku Onda; translated by Alison Watts. I’ve heard great things about some of these books.
Historical Fiction Reading Challenge. I love historical fiction whether its mysteries set in the Victorian era or WWII novels and anything in between. This challenges is hosted by Marg of The Adventures of an Intrepid Reader. I’m going to go for the Renaissance level which means I will be reading 10 books.
Here are some options: The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton, The Night Watch by Sarah Waters and Burial Rites by Hannah Kent.
I would love to hear if you are joining some of these challenges. And, let me know if you’ve read any of these books. I have a hard time sticking to a selected assortment of books so no doubt my mood may take me to other reads but at least I have some options for what to start with for these challenges.
As I said, I’m joining a few others so more on those in the next post.
Looks like you’ll have a busy reading challenge year. I love historical fiction. Thanks for joining the Poetry Reading Challenge. If you need any more poetry, feel free to stop by Poetic Book Tours to check out the blog tours.
Good luck with these challenges, Iliana. I’ve found I don’t do too well with them, but I think so many of them are quite interesting in their focus. I’ve read The Forgotten Garden and Burial Rites and can recommend each of the books. We discussed both of them in our mystery group. Burial Rites was definitely a bit different for that group, but most liked it. It is a little bleak, but the historical aspects are wonderful. And who wouldn’t like a book that takes it’s inspiration from The Secret Garden. 🙂
I know what you mean – I am very excited to do some reading challenges this year. In some ways, the pandemic and continuing stay-home situation is what is encouraging me to plan that way. I think you have some great challenges planned! Good luck!
Your enthusiasm has me questioning my decision to opt out of challenges this year. I hope you enjoy the books you’ve chosen… The Forgotten Garden and Burial Rites were both good reads. Good luck!
Good luck on these challenges, Wendy! I look forward to your reviews!
Uh, not Wendy. Iliana . And there is a letter on the way to you (hopefully with the correct name and address given my current mistake)!
Yay, look forward to seeing you around Japanese Lit and Historical Fiction challenges. Arikawa and Forgotten Garden are on my challenge list too.
The Poetry challenge looks awesome. May I recommend Rupi Kaur’s works too for that one? I think you’ll like her pieces.
Serena – Thank you again for hosting this challenge and you bet, I’ll have to visit Poetic Book Tours and hopefully find some new poets to try.
Kay – For the most part I used them as inspiration so I don’t end up just focusing on one type of fiction. We’ll see how I do with them. I tend to start with high hopes and sort of fizzle out by mid year. haha.. Granted then I join other reading events like R.I.P., etc. Really glad you liked both books!
Athira – Although we are still in the middle of this awful pandemic I feel like because we started off the year in it, now that’s helped me plan. Whereas last year it was just so crazy to understand what was even happening. Can’t wait to hear you do on your reading challenges – have fun!
Joann @ Gulfside Musing – I may have gotten too caught up in the moment as I’m actually joining six challenges! haha… Glad to hear you enjoyed those two books. They look so promising!
Jen – Ha, I’ve done that before no worries. Can’t wait for your letter. Hope you are having a great start of the year!
Lex @ Lexlingua – I’ve only read a poem or two from Rupi Kaur so thank you for the recommendation. I need to read one of her collections. So glad you are also joining the Japanese and Historical fiction challenges. Enjoy!
I’m looking forward to a few reading challenges this year, too. I’ll plan to participate in 20 Books of Summer, Paris in July, RIP, and Nonfiction November and like you, will focus on the books I already own. I’m thinking about the poetry challenge since Rod gave me FOUR Mary Oliver books for my birthday!! I can’t wait to start reading those. She is one of my favorite poets. Of the novels you mentioned, I’ve read The Night Watch (reviewed here. I have one of her older books (Fingersmith) on my shelf, but haven’t gotten around to reading it. Yet. Have fun with your challenges!
I don’t know why either, but I am excited about reading challenges this year too. My goal is to read books I already have on hand too. I am doing the Historical Fiction Reading Challenge and Poetry Challenge too! I hope you enjoy The Traveling Cat Chronicles. I really liked it when I read it. I wish you good luck with your challenges! Most of all, have fun with them!
I went crazy with reading challenges this year. I read so many light books last year that I’m excited to get a push back toward more meaningful reads. I decided that even if I don’t complete all my challenges, at least I’ve made an attempt, right?
I don’t read much Japanese Literature but I will recommend The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yoko Ogawa. You may have read it already it but it was a beautifully written book.
Good luck!
I’d really like to do the Poetry Challenge. Can I take on one more challenge?
Les in OR – Oh you lucky girl with those Mary Oliver books. I love her poetry too. And, I’m right there with you, I hope to do those reading events later in the year too. Thank you for reminding me about your review of Night Watch. I’ve really enjoyed several of her novels and so I hope I get to this one.
Literary Feline – Yay, so glad you are also joining in on various challenges. I can’t wait to see what books you read and I’m sure I’ll get some good ideas. And, you are right, the best thing to remember is to have fun!
Jen at Introverted Reader – I agree, I think even if you don’t complete them so what. It is all about enjoying the literary journey. I like to think of challenges as a good way of remember some of the books I wanted to read at one point and hopefully getting to them finally. Thank you for the recommendation of the Ogawa book. I have not read it but sounds very familiar.
Deb Nance at Readeerbuzz – You can do it! 🙂
Those all sounds like great challenges. I go in phases with challenges and reading projects and am, currently, more absorbed in my own projects, but maybe next year. Mary Oliver’s poems are so lovely. I’m not sure I’ve read that one, though. In Canada, Lorna Crozier writes a lot like her (but with more cats than dogs). I love Sarah Waters writing. Have you read The Paying Guests yet? If you don’t fall immediately into the war story (it’s very good though, too), keep that one in mind, as it’s a similar time frame but a little more plotty (which is perhaps extra-nice while reading in COVID-time). Good luck with your challenges!