We're now halfway through the year so I thought I would do an update on my reading challenges. I decided this year to only do two... also that both should be easy, books that I would read anyway. I tend to put a lot of pressure on myself at the beginning of a new year by trying to do too many challenges that I haven't a hope of completing. So, this year, just two.
First up, The European Reading Challenge, 2018, which is being hosted by Rose City Reader.
This runs from the 1st. January 2018 to the 31st. Jan 2019. I'm doing:
FIVE STAR (DELUXE ENTOURAGE): Read at least five books by different European authors or books set in different European countries. So far I've read five books:
1. Summer in the Islands - Matthew Fort (ITALY)
2. A Climate of Fear - Fred Vargas (FRANCE)
3. Snow Blind - Ragnar Jónasson (ICELAND)
4. As I Walked Out One Midsummer Morning - Laurie Lee (SPAIN)
5. Travellers in the Third Reich - Julia Boyd (GERMANY)
So, five books read which is enough to say I've finished but I haven't. I plan to read on and hopefully explore more countries. I have to say, this is definitely one of my favourite ever reading challenges.
My second and last challenge for 2018 is the What's In A Name? challenge, which is being hosted by The Worm Hole.
This runs from the 1st. January 2018 to the 31st. December 2018. These are the categories:
1. The word ‘the’ used twice.
2. A fruit or vegetable.
3. A shape.
4. A title that begins with Z
5. A nationality.
6. A season.
I'm not doing quite as well with this one. Two books read:
1. The Word 'the' used twice The Lost Book of the Grail - Charlie Lovett
3. A shape: The Cheltenham Square Murder - John Bude
I'm currently reading a third book for 'a nationality' which will put me at halfway through after half the year has gone so that's not too bad. I also have books for the other three categories, I just need to read them!
6 comments:
I really like the idea of the European Challenge, too, though I haven't ever signed on. Our book group read 2 European titles: Snowblind, which I liked a lot and most didn't, and A Year in Provence by Peter Mayle, which no one in the group had ever read.
They want the next book to be set in Australia! Well, there goes the European book group idea. So, I'm thinking of the memoir that's written by a woman who went solo adventuring across Australia with camels. Do you know that one? I'll suggest it.
Judith: LOL... yes... Oz is about as far from Europe as you can possibly get. Yes, I do know that book, it's Tracks: A Woman's Solo Trek Across 1700 Miles of Australian Outback by Robyn Davidson isn't it? I thought I had it on my 'Women Travellers' shelf on Goodreads and there it was. I haven't read it but would like to at some stage. My other favourite Aussie book is Down Under by Bill Bryson but to be honest I've not read many books about the country.
You keep amazing me! I'm glad you are my Sis!! lol.. to bad fast reading didn't rub off on me .. or puzzles... gah.. how can two sis's be like that? sheesh..
Well done! One challenge completed with half the year left and one nearly half done! I like the look of the European Challenge - just out of interest I'm going to check which countries I've covered in my reading so far.
Hi Cath,
Yes, you nailed the book right on the head. But you know, I'm thinking I personally would really prefer the Bill Bryson book. So I'll suggest that, with favorable reviews. Everyone in the group likes Bill Bryson, so I think it might just be a go. Thanks!!
You are doing nicely on the European Challenge, and I like that you include nonfiction books. I wish I got along better reading nonfiction but I often get bogged down. I like the sound of Snowblind and will have to look for that one. I have books set in Iceland from three different authors, and my favorite so far is Quentin Bates. They are pretty straightforward police procedurals but I really like the main character.
Post a Comment