In the last couple of years, I have become quite an avid fan of them. They are fantastic for discovering new-to-you authors or genres you’ve never tried before. The thing I really love about them is seeing which of the books in my towers and piles will work for each category.
I’ve finally decided to design my very first reading challenge, and you’re the first to learn the categories here on Writing to Inspire.
This reading challenge will be for the second half of 2017, and since autumn is smack in the middle of these months, I’ve titled it “Autumn 2017 Reading Challenge.” Because summer’s also in there, I’ve created levels with a beach theme. This challenge is active from July through December of this year.
To keep track of who’s participating and how many books they sign up for, I’ll be editing this article to include the participants’ names and number of books they’re aiming for (I’m going ahead and marking myself down to give you an example of what this will look like). To get your name on the list, leave me a comment letting me know that you’re in and how many books you’re striving to read for this challenge.
Once the challenge gets going, make sure to leave another comment once a month or so to update me on how many books you’ve read toward the challenge, that way I can update your entry in the reading challenge.
There are four different levels for this challenge:
Testing the Water – 6 books (1 per month)
Wading In – 12 books (2 per month)
Swimming to the Buoy – 18 books (3 per month)
Open-Water Swimming – 24 books (4 per month)
For the first three levels, you can choose any of the categories to reach your number of books. For the largest level, all the categories must be completed.
Here are the twenty-four categories for the
Autumn 2017 Reading Challenge:
1. A book that was turned into a movie
2. A book set in Germany
3. A book that’s over 400 pages
4. A book with only two colors on the cover
5. A book whose cover has the author’s name in larger print than the title
6. A book featuring a road trip
7. A book that takes place on a boat
8. A book about brothers
9. A borrowed book
10. A book with a quilt on the cover
11. A book with “daughter” in the title
12. A book with jewelry on the cover
13. A book that made you laugh out loud
14. A book with a wedding dress on the cover
15. A book that takes place in two or more time periods
16. A book with yellow lettering on the cover
17. A book with a POV character with a diverse cultural background
18. A book with stars on the cover
19. A book written by a new-to-you author
20. A book with an eccentric character
21. A book with a theme of “trust”
22. A book with a two-word title
23. A book written by one of your favorite authors
24. A book you read without first reading the back cover
Here’s a picture version of the categories. Feel free to save it to your computer for future reference. I’ll also have it on my Reading Challenges Pinterest board if you want to share it with your friends.
Which level are you in for?
Which categories are the most intriguing to you?
Have you ever before participated in a reading challenge?
You can also find it in the right-hand sidebar of my website for the rest of the year.
I have a few books to add, a question, and a request. :)Books:Book #10 Mrs. Pollifax on the China Station#20 An eccentric characterMy Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2092239661Book #11 Motorin' Along#6 Featuring a road tripMy Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2096904349Book #12 A Daughter of the Land#11 \”daughter\” in the titleMy Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2105597207My question:What do you mean by \”A POV character with a diverse cultural background? Are you talking about a character who has a different background then another main character? (As in one grew up in the city, another on a farm?) Or are you meaning something else?My Request:Would you move my goal to the highest one? I already have books picked or at least some ideas for at least 8 or more books, and have a feeling I'll end up reading all 24 categories anyway. Thanks. 🙂 And I'm having fun!
So glad you're having fun! A diverse cultural background can be from a far-away country or of more than one ethnicity. The one I found for this category was The Lady and the Lionheart, in which the lead male character was the son of a lion tamer and a Romani Gypsi aerialist. I thought that combination of genetics was quite diverse.Great job on sailing through the categories! I'll get you moved up to the highest one. So excited for you!
So, what about a story where the couple getting married are from totally different backgrounds? You have both cultures shown in the story even if there are two main characters.
That would be diversity within the story, but it wouldn't be one POV character with a diverse cultural background.
Thanks. That's what I was thinking, but I thought I'd check. 🙂
You're welcome!
Hi Andrea. I think I'll join with swimming to the buoy. This looks like fun! Can we go back to July to add those books if they work?
Book #13 The Road to Paradise#16 Has yellow lettering on the coverMy review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2105607235Book #14 Grandma's Wedding Quilts – The Prequel#10 A quilt on the coverMy review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2106532136
Yes, Paula, definitely the books that qualify that you read in July should be included. Thanks for joining in!
Fantastic job!
Andrea,I finished my 4th book… The Rescue by Nicholas Sparks. The category is \”A book whose cover has the author's name in larger print than the title.\”I hope you have a very blessed week!Dawn Cox (Mom)
I'm amazed, Mom. You are flying through the books right now! Great job. 🙂
Book #15 Brentwood#24 A book I read without reading first reading the back cover. (It didn't have anything one the back cover. :))My Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2108573727Book #16 The Daybreakers#1 Book turned into a movieMy Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2113726538
Andrea,When we stated, I entered at level Testing the Water-6 books… but since I have been reading more than 6 books (1 book per month), guess I should upgrade my level to Swimming to the Buoy-18 books (3 per month). Not ready to change to Open-Water Swimming-24 books even though I have almost read that many books as I haven’t been able to read from all the 24 groups listed.Book #16…Becoming Awesome Beauty #1 Awesome Love by Sheila Holmes…#19, new-to-me author.Book #17…Luke: Slave & Physician #3 Men of God by Katheryn Maddox Haddad…#3, over 400 pages.Book #18…The Cherished Quilt #3 The Amish Heirloom Series by Amy Clipston…#10, quilt on cover. Book #19…Mail-Order Bride Collection: A Timeless Romance Anthology (6 Novellas) by Stacy Henrie, Kristin Holt, Annette Lyon, Sarah M. Eden, Heather B. Moore & Sian Ann Bessey…#19, new-to-me authors.Blessings, Tina
Here's what I have so far. #3: A Name Unknown by Roseanna White#4: The Case of the Clobbered Cad by Debra Marvin#8: No Way Up by Mary Connealy#13: Ready to Fumble by Christy Barritt #17: The Promise of Breeze Hill#19: A Season to Dance by Patricia Beal#20: The Cat in the Cradle by Jan Fields#21: With You Always by Jody HedlundI have figured our some more but need to read them and I may switch them up.
Andrea, would you help with a little more definition of #17? I used Promise of Breeze Hill. The heroine is a daughter of a plantation owner and the hero is an indentured servant from Ireland. Thanks. If that's not correct, I'll move that book to another category and read your pick! ( Lady and the Lionheart)
Andrea, please remove my name from this contest. Life has gotten more hectic then I anticipated, elderly parent, me working more and just can't fit in this challenge. Maybe next one you offer, thanks dear.
Book #17 Under the Lilacs#23 By a favorite author (It's a good think it just had to be A favorite author, because I don't think I can find any more by my very favorite author. :))My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2118276816Book #18 Sackett's Land#17 POV character with a diverse cultural backgroundMy Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2120739467%5BOnly 6 more books to go to read the end of this challenge! It's been fun!]
Fantastic job, Rebekah.
I'll get your name moved to Swimming to the Buoy in just a moment. You're flying through the books! Well done.
Paula, a diverse cultural background can be from a far-away country or of more than one ethnicity. Since the hero in your book is from Ireland (a far-away country as compared to the United States), I will count that for #17. I do recommend you add The Lady and the Lionheart to your reading list, though. It's such a wonderful and emotional story. I hope you enjoy it!
Wonderful start! Thanks for checking up on me over on Facebook. I've been so busy with copyediting the past couple of weeks that blog updates have fallen to the back burner. Getting to them now, though.
Goodness, girl, you may be finished with this challenge before Halloween! Great job!
Here are three more:#16: A Secret Courage by Tricia Goyer#23: These Healing Hills by Ann Gabhart #22: Double Edge by Thomas LockeI will certainly put The Lady and The Lionheart back on my TBR pile! Thanks Andrea!
Update on my list:#1 Turned into a movie – Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan; 9/15/17; 5 stars#5 Author's name larger than title – Covenant Child by Terri Blackstock; 8/31/17; 2 stars#12 Jewelry on cover – Michaela's Choice by Lisa Harris; earrings worn by lead woman on cover; 8/11/17; 5 stars#13 Laugh out loud – The Sentinels of Andersonville by Tracy Groot; 8/16/17; 3 stars#15 Two or more time periods – Destination: Romance by five authors (including one of my favorites, Kim Vogel Sawyer); 1863, 1888, and present-day; 9/12/17; 4 stars#17 POV character with a diverse cultural background – The Lady and the Lionheart by Joanne Bischof; Charlie Lionheart – his father was a lion tamer, and his mother was a Romani Gypsy aerialist; 8/17/17; 4 stars#20 Eccentric character – The Zookeeper's Wife by Diane Ackerman; Fox Man; 9/11/17; 4 stars#24 Read without first reading back cover – The Inheritance by Tamera Alexander; 8/31/17; 2 stars
Glad to help a fellow reader find great books. Which is your favorite of Ann Gabhart's books? I've been meaning to try one of hers and would love your input.
Angel Sister is sooo good! I liked These Healing Hills just as much. Her writing has heart. The cozies were good but the other two I mentioned just spoke to me! You can see my review on goodreads. I haven't read her Shaker series but I enjoyed the single historical and wish she would write more like that one. Locking forward to the next books in this new series!
I wouldn't be surprised if I am. I have almost all of the other books chosen. But I can't seem to find a two or more time periods. But I can read the others while I keep looking. 🙂
Have you read any of Lisa Wingate's books? The Prayer Box and The Story Keeper, I believe, both have dual time periods. Also, Kristy Cambron's The Butterfly and the Violin features a non-linear timeline, covering both WWII and present-day. I enjoyed all three of those books, but I'll warn you: you might need tissues.
Paula, thank you for the recommendations. I'll make a note of those titles and check out your reviews. She sounds like an author of books I would enjoy, especially if she writes with heart. That's a huge selling point for me.
Book #19 Her Father's Daughter#3 A book over 400 pagesMy Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2127824115Book #20 Walt Disney: Young Movie Maker#18 Stars on the Cover (I'd never noticed before that the blue of the Childhood of Famous Americans was covered in stars!)My Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2129898931Book #21 Luther the Leader#2 A Book Set in GermanyMy Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2132584050Just 3 more books to read, and they're all sitting right here waiting for me. 🙂
Well done, Rebekah! You'll be finished with all twenty-four categories before the rest of us can blink.
Hi, Andrea! Question: would Sara Sundin's When Tides Turn be OK for #7 takes place on a boat? Or should I use Mark of the King? Julianne was on a ship crossing from France to the Colonies. Thanks.
Good morning Andrea.Book #20…Hannah’s Choice #1 Journey to Pleasant Prairie by Jan Drexler….#21, theme of trust.Book #21…The Inn at Ocean’s Edge #1 Sunset Cove by Colleen Coble…#5, author’s name in larger print than the title.Book #22…A Christmas Belle: Christmas Mail-Order Angels by Anne Greene…#21, theme of trust. Book #23…Hello God, Are You There? by Vickie Fisher…#19, new-to-me-author.Blessings, Tina
Andrea, I love the movie, Sarah, Plain and Tall but have never read the book. Also the other 2 movie sequels following that movie…Skylark and Winter's End. Blessings, Tina
Yes, the entire movie series is amazing, isn't it? I was surprised to see the book was very short, but it was still a delight to read. I hope you get the opportunity some day.
I have not yet read When Tides Turn. Do portions of it take place on a boat or submarine? If yes, I would count that for #7 takes place on a boat. If no, then Mark of the King should work since Julianne was on a ship for a portion of the story. Thanks for asking! I am glad you're enjoying this challenge.
Tina, well done! You've read so many books already! I've got you down for having used 12 different categories (some used more than once, which is fine). Keep up the great work, my friend.
Thanks, then put me down for Mark of the King for that category. There was a hurricane with two ships at the end — so that works great!
Thank you Andrea. On the Goodreads reading challenge I have read 100 books so far this year since January (including the books I posted here for this challenge). Blessings, Tina
When Tides Turn does take place partly on a ship but I haven't read it as yet! Shame on me! Got to get to it! Sarah is one of my all time favorites.
Paula, I'll get your numbers updated to include Mark of the King in just a few moments. Thank you!
Wow! Congratulations! One hundred books already? That's amazing.
My final three books!Book #22 Thunder Dog#21 Theme of Trust (most certainly!)My Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2134387419Book #23 Little League Double Play#4 Two colors on the cover (If I take the dust jacket off it's two colors. 😉 )My Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2136461044My Final Book #24 Bringing Maggie Home#15 Two or More Time PeriodsMy Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2052147942Thank you for creating this Reading Challenge, Andrea! I enjoyed it immensely and read books I probably would never have gotten around to reading. 🙂
even though I won't be able to finish this challenge; I read one book, A book written by a new-to-you author- cup of dust Susie Finkeiner and have to read Sisters on the fly Irene Rawlings
Congratulations on being the first person to complete all twenty-four categories! I'm so grateful you had fun with this challenge and read some books you might not have tried otherwise. Be looking for another challenge close to the new year.
Carolyn, great job! I hope you will continue with us. There are still a couple of months to go in this challenge, as it goes through December 31. And I'll be hosting at least one more challenge in 2018 as well. I hope you'll be able to join in on that one too.
Finished the challenge! :)Book 3: Stars in the Grass by Ann Maria Stewart (a book with stars on the cover) 5 stars!Book 4: Saving Sailor by Renee Riva (a book that made you laugh out loud) 4.5 starsBook 5: I'll Watch the Moon by Ann Tatlock (a book by one of your favorite authors) 5 stars!Book 6: Promise to Return by Elizabeth Younts Byler (a book by a new-to you author)
I haven't updated here in awhile….I'm getting close to reaching my goal! I've read books for 17 different categories, so I keep looking to find a book to fit in one of the others, so I can reach this goal! 🙂 I've actually read a total of 44 books since I started this challenge, but I can't fit them all into categories. I'm hoping to come back here and give a final update once I reach that goal!
Fantastic job, Olivia! You reached your goal in October, well done. There are still two more months in this challenge, so feel free to keep reading. You never know how many more categories you'll get.