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.
Rosalyn, I'm so proud of you! Forty-four books is a lot to read in only four months. I hope you'll find another one or two (at least) that work into the remaining categories. There are still two months in this challenge, so I'm sure you'll be able to do it. Happy reading!
Time for an update: #9 Borrowed book from library: The Elusive Miss Ellison by Carolyn Miller.#6 . Featuring a road trip: A Twist I’d Faith by Pepper Basham #15. Takes place in 2 or more time periods: The Butterfly and the Violin by Kristi Cambron.#24 book read without first reading the back cover: Grime Beat by Marji LaineSorry if I submitted some of these titles before. I’m trying to write them all down!
Andrea,I finished my 5th book entitled \”The Wedding Shawl\” by Sally Goldenbaum. (#19 A book written by a new-to-you author)Dawn
Ooh, Paula, I'm so glad to see The Butterfly and the Violin on your list! That book shook my world when I read it. Very emotional and well written.
Fantastic job! You've almost reached your goal!
Good afternoon Andrea. It’s been a while since I posted, so here is an update.Book # 24…Her Rocky Mountain Highness by Darlene Franklin…#6, they took a road trip (it was a short road trip). Book #25…Colors of Christmas: 2 Contemporary Stories Celebrate the Hope of Christmas by Olivia Newport…#18, stars on cover. Book #26…My Heart Belongs in the Shenandoah Valley: Lily’s Dilemma (My Heart Belongs series) by Andrea Boeshaar…#24, read without first reading the back cover. Book #27…Runaway Romance by Miralee Ferrell…#1, turned into a movie (will premiere on UPtv on January 7, 2018!) Blessings, Tina
I’m adding a couple titles.#14: A wedding dress on the cover : The Isaac Project by Sarah Monzon #10: A quilt on the cover: Waking Lucy by Lorin GraceI only have six more catagories so maybe I’ll shoot for more.
And I just finished:#18: book with stars on the cover: Home at Last by Deborah Raney. Happy Thanksgiving!
Here’s one more: #11 a book with daughter in the title.The Icecutter’s Daughter by Tracie Peterson
Fantastic work, Mrs. Tina! You have done so well during this challenge. I'm so proud of you.
Well done, Paula! You only have four more categories to go. I think you can do it! How did you like The Icecutter's Daughter? That one's in my ever-expanding to-be-read pile.
I thought it was very good ( my review is on goodreads). It is part of a series but I think it can stand alone. Tracie Peterson has been a longtime favorite author. I may have another title in a couple of days. But it’s a Barbour collection. I am more than halfway done.
Andrea,I finished book #6: #24-A book you read without first reading the back cover entitled \”A Basket Brigade Christmas by Judith Miller, Nancy Moser, and Stephanie Grace Whitson. The challenge has been enjoyable and has helped me read through some of my books! Merry Christmas to everyone!!
Hi Andrea, can I change a title to a different catagory! I’d like to switch A Season to Dance by Patricia Beal to #2 A book set in Germany. Part of the book, they are living in Germany. So for #19: New to me Author, I’d like to put Criss Cross by C.C. Warrens. It was really great, suspenseful! And then I’ll add #5 Author’s name bigger than title : Christmas at Carnton by Tamera Alexander. I think that Just leaves #1 book made into a movie, which I may or may not get done. Got the book picked out though!
Nope I’m almost done with #12 jewelry on the cover. Two more novellas in a collection. I might make them all!
I've hit all but two categories, so thought I'd update here.1. The Mountain Between Us by Charles Martin3. Tiffany Girl by Deanne Gist4. A Fool and His Monet by Sandra Orchard5. Sea Rose Lane by Irene Hannon6. Weaver's Needle by Robin Caroll7. Out of the Ordinary by Jen Turano8. Convicted by Jameel McGee & Andrew Collins9. The Elusive Ellison by Carolyn Miller10. The Alliance by Jolina Petersheim12. An Inconvenient Beauty by Kristi Ann Hunter13. True to You by Becky Wade14. The Wedding Shop by Rachel Hauck15. The Memory Weaver by Jane Kirkpatrick16. Threads of Suspicion by Dee Henderson17. The Confessions of X by Suzanne Wolfe18. Christmas at Gate 18 by Amy Matayo19. Where Dandelions Grow by Lydia Howe20. The Hanover Square Affair by Ashley Gardner21. Looking Glass Lies by Varina Denman22. Blind Spot by Dani Pettrey23. Crown of Souls by Ronie Kendig24. The Noble Servant by Melanie Dickersonand reading over some other comments, I just realized I do have a book here to read that could give me my book for #2, A Season to Dance by Patricia Beal. I plan to read it during Christmas vacation, but I haven't started it yet. Thanks again for doing this fun challenge! I enjoyed it!!
Great job on meeting your goal, Mother! So proud of you. Merry Christmas!
Paula, I got that switch made in my notes. Thanks for updating me!
I have a feeling you're going to get all twenty-four categories. Girl, you have been sailing through this reading challenge! I'm so proud of you.
Rosalyn, well done! You've filled in nearly every category. I'm so proud of you. Be sure to come back for new reading challenges next year (2018). I've got some pretty fun categories in mind for monthly challenges.
OK Andrea! I just finished #12 a book with jewelry on the cover: a Barbour collection Of Rags and Riches by Michelle Griep and others! One more to go! The book made into a movie. I chose Lynn Austin’s Hidden Places. Now just to get reading on it! So glad you will have another challenge next year! I can hardly wait! Thanks Andrea and Merry Christmas blessings!
Happy New Year’s Eve Andrea and everyone! Thought I had better update since it is the last day of the year…wow!Book #28…Winter’s Secret #1 Northern Lights by Lyn Cote…#16, yellow lettering on the cover. Book #29…Maple Notch Romance: 8 Couples Finding Love Over the Years by Darlene Franklin…#3, over 400 pages.Book #30…The Beloved Christmas Quilt: 3 Stories of Family, Romance & Amish Faith by Wanda Brunstetter, Jean Brunstetter and Richelle Brunstetter…#10, quilt on the cover. Book #31…50 Hours by Loree Lough…#23, two-word title. Blessings, Tina
Andrea! I did it! The last book is #1 book made into a movie : Hidden Places By Lynn Austin! Happy New Year Blessings!
I did it– I read two more books – to qualify for the last two categories! So I made it for Swimming for Open Water!!#2 A Season to Dance by Patricia Beal#11 Raising a Daughter after God's Own Heart by Elizabeth GeorgeThanks so much for a fun challenge, I'll definitely be interested in more for 2018! Happy New Year!
I hope you had a merry Christmas, Paula!
Fantastic work, Tina. You blew this one out of the water by getting 31 total books.
Congratulations, Paula! I'm so proud of you!
Well done, Rosalyn! I'm so proud of you for finishing every category. I hope you'll join in at least a few of my monthly challenges for 2018. Happy new year!
Here are my final books logged in for this one. I made it to all twenty-four categories.#2 set in Germany – After the Train by Gloria Whelan 12/25/17 3 stars#4 only two colors on cover – XYZ by Anna Katharine Green 10/24/17 4 stars#6 road trip – The Bronte Plot by Katherine Reay 11/21/17 3 stars#10 quilt on cover – The Austen Escape by Katherine Reay 10/26/17 4 stars#11 \”daughter\” in title – The Apothecary's Daughter by Julie Klassen 12/8/17 5 stars#14 wedding dress on cover – Once Upon a Prince by Rachel Hauck 10/4/17 3 stars#16 yellow lettering – Many Sparrows by Lori Benton 9/27/17 3 stars#18 stars on the cover – Counted with the Stars by Connilyn Cossette 12/22/17 4 stars#23 favorite author – The Foot Book by Dr. Seuss 9/20/17 5 starsFantastic job to everyone! All those books read, all those categories filled… y'all, I am so impressed by each of you. Thank you so much for jumping on the bandwagon for my first attempt at hosting a reading challenge. You made it extra special.