Well here we are in June. It would be nice if I were on the ball and posting these challenge updates every month, but that does not appear to be at all realistic. My last update was at the beginning of April. Let’s check in again.
Where Are You Reading? is hosted by Sheila at One Person’s Journey Through a World of Books. The idea is to read one book from each of the 50 states within the 2011 year. (Bonus points are awarded for foreign locations.) Take a look at my map to see where I’ve been. So far, I’ve read in 17 states:
New York
Illinois
South Dakota
Texas
Maine
Nebraska
Michigan
California
Missouri
Minnesota
Massachusetts
Washington
Iowa
Colorado
New Jersey
Georgia
New Mexico
….and 9 foreign locations:
London
Stockholm
Dublin
Paris
Canada: Toronto and BC
St. Mark’s
Switzerland
Kenya
Dresden
This is a fun challenge because, so far, I’m not hunting down locations at all, just keeping track; and it’s interesting to see where I’m reading.
The Classics Challenge is hosted by Courtney at Stiletto Storytime, and I signed up for the bachelor’s degree level, meaning 10 classics in 2011. I’m catching up a bit, having now read — classics, and it’s been a great motivator for me, too. I still aspire to a few long ones this year; on my list are Gone with the Wind, Don Quixote and Lady Chatterley’s Lover, among others. But so far, I’ve read:
- Main Street by Sinclair Lewis
- The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
- Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
- Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut
- Tender Buttons by Gertrude Stein
What’s In a Name? is hosted by Beth Fish Reads. The goal is to read books with certain title attributes.
- A book with a number in the title: 61 Hours by Lee Child
- A book with jewelry or a gem in the title: I would like to get away with Tender Buttons by Gertrude Stein but fear that might be stretching things a bit.
- A book with a size in the title: The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler
- A book with travel or movement in the title: Running Blind by Lee Child
- A book with evil in the title: Very Bad Men by Harry Dolan
- A book with a life stage in the title
Well hopefully this one will come along all by itself.
I have found challenges in general to be great fun. I’ve only had this blog, oh, 8 months or so now; but it’s really expanded my world in ways that are satisfying both in my job and in my personal life. It’s a bit like having a book club that I can meet with whenever it’s convenient for me, lol. I get book recommendations (both for me, personally, and for purchase for the library where I work). I find out about book trends. I even got a gig writing book reviews for Shelf Awareness. The best parts are the parts that involve being part of a community. Memes like Teaser Tuesdays and Book Beginnings on Fridays call for participation; and challenges are another important way in which I get to interact. So thank you, challengers!
Filed under: book reviews, challenges Tagged: | classics challenge, lists, what's in a name?, where are you reading?
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