Monday 11 January 2021

Playing Book Bingo!

At last I've found my second reading challenge for 2021. Lark put me onto it with her post but the challenge is being hosted by Unruly Reader.


 How to Play:


  • Read a book that fits the category. Each book can qualify for only one category.
  • Complete just one row or column, or go for blackout by reading a book in every category.
  • All books must be finished in 2021. Books started in 2020 but finished in 2021 count.
  • We’ve provided some definitions, but you can free-style it if you like—as long as you can make a case that the book fits the category. (This is one of my favorite sports)
  • All categories can be fiction or nonfiction (your choice), unless otherwise specified.

The sign-up post and more information can be found here.

I absolutely love the sound of this as the categories are a bit different and open to interpretation. In fact I've already read a book in 2021 that fits the challenge, this:


Into the Planet: My Life as a Cave Diver by Jill Heinerth. I just have to decide which category to put it under as it fits several. 'Survival' I fancy, given some of the things that happen.

I think the way I'll approach this is just to read normally, choosing what I fancy, and then see if any of the books fit a category.


13 comments:

Lark said...

Yay, you're playing book bingo, too. I think I'm going to do mine like you...just read what I want and then see if the book fits any of the categories. Mostly I just have fun filling in the squares. :D

Sam said...

Looks like fun, and the randomness of just reading what you want to read and not what you "have" to read will keep it from becoming just another chore you want to finish before the end of the year.

TracyK said...

How could you do this? I still have another 5 challenges to sign up for and now this one looks so appealing. I like your approach of reading what you want and seeing what works for the challenge. Based on your reading, that seems like it would work really well.

I checked out the sign up post for the descriptions. Some of the topics sound really appealing (1000 books before you die , Eye Catching, Edwardian) and others sound difficult (Instant Classic, Rabbit Hole).

I also saw a Bingo challenge at FictionFan's Book Reviews, called Wanderlust Bingo, which aims for a different country for each square, but some of the topics are general, like River, Forest, Train

Cath said...

Lark: Yes, I was so taken with all the categories where you can use your imagination that I just had to give it a go too. So pleased you posted about it! I've done book bingos before and they're always a lot of fun.

Sam: Yes, I really think you're right in that the randomness of categories will ensure it stays fun. Plus there's no pressure to fill in 'all' of the squares. I suspect I'll be all over the place and then, near the end of the year I can look at it and see what I need to fill in to make a Bingo.

Tracy: LOL! I'm so sorry. It is appealing isn't it. I was very taken with the interesting prompts. I think the trick will be deciding which category to put books into. And yes, I'm sure some will be difficult... Instant Classic I agree about.

Margaret @ BooksPlease said...

Yes, some of the categories are interesting, but some of them are so random that I think I won't do this one - I'd spend ages dithering over what they mean. I want to keep things simple this year. I'm looking forward to seeing what you find for this challenge.

Anca said...

This looks like fun. I tried a similar challenge, with a different genre each month and it did not work for me, but I love the idea and I hope it will work for you. :)

Anonymous said...

hi again Cath - I am keen to do this but I’m not entirely sure I understand some of the boxes - eg what is ‘narrative non-fiction’ ? Does it cover things like biography?

And 1000 Books Before You Die is a book, isn’t it? So are you meant to read that or what?

I’m probably being too literal here!

It does look enticing though!

Cath said...

Margaret: I can quite understand why some are put off by the randomness of the categories but that is actually what appeals to me. I feel like I'm doing a real challenge as I'm going to have to think about it.

Anca: Thank you. I think it will be an interesting one to do.

Rosemary: If you check out the main page for the challenge you'll find a section underneath with some very useful ideas and explanations for each category. It certainly gave me a few ideas.

From what I can gather you just have to read one book from '1000 Books to Read Before You Die'. And there is a website you can visit to get some ideas. I would almost guarantee that you already own something from the list. I decided a few months ago to read The Count of Monte Cristo and that's one of the 1000 books, so that's probably what I'll read.

I think it looks enticing too, and something to keep my brain ticking over during lockdown.

Rosemary said...

Thanks Cath - I will do just that.

And I hope this reply doesn't look so anonymous!

CLM said...

Yes, if you approach it like a puzzle, it will be fun for you and your readers!

Yvonne @ Fiction Books Reviews said...

Hi Cath,

I like to think that I would be able to approach this one like you say you are going to, just read what you want and then see if you can fit it into a category afterwards. However, if you are anything like me, I would have to secretly keep rearranging my pile so that a book which I know would fit one of the categories I needed, would always be at the top! Then it becomes a challenge rather than a game - and a challenge needs to be completed!!

After writing down exactly what I know I would do and what the outcome might be, I think I'm going to remain challenge free again!

Enjoy though and keep us up to date with your progress :)

Susan said...

This one sounds super fun, but I'm doing too many challenges already. Have fun with it!

Cath said...

Rosemary: No you're not anonymous this time. :-)

Constance: I find it fun, when doing a book bingo challenge, to just fill in what I read through the year and then around about November check to see what I have to do to get a line. Usually works unless all I have left is a category I don't want to do. LOL

Yvonne: Over the years I've trained myself to believe that it's not a catastrophe if I don't complete a challenge. There won't be a police raid at six o'clock in the morning. ;-) And the other thing is, this is a flexible challenge and I can already see how to fit a lot of the books on my tbr shelf into these categories. It is helped I think by how varied my reading tends to be.

Susan: I'm sticking to two, which is what I did last year, it's anumber which seems to work for me.