2015 Ultimate Reading Challenge

[dorothyinAus]

2015 Ultimate Reading Challenge

1. [ ] A book with 500 pages
2. [ ] A classic romance
3. [ ] A book that became a movie
4. [ ] A book published this year
5. [ ] A book with a number in the title
6. [ ] A book written by someone under 30
7. [ ] A book with nonhuman characters
8. [ ] A funny book
9. [ ] A book with a female author
10. [ ] A mystery or thriller
11. [ ] A book with a one-word title
12. [ ] A book of short stories
13. [ ] A book set in a different country
14. [ ] A nonfiction book
15. [ ] A popular author's first book
16. [ ] A book from an author you love that you have not read yet
17. [ ] A book a friend recommended
18. [ ] A Pulitzer Prize winning book
19. [ ] A book based on a true story
20. [ ] A book at the bottom of your to-read list
21. [ ] A book your mom loves
22. [ ] A book that scares you
23. [ ] A book more than 100 years old
24. [ ] A book based entirely on its cover
25. [ ] A book you were supposed to read in school but didn't
26. [ ] A memoir
27. [ ] A book you can finish in a day
28. [ ] A book with antonyms in the title
29. [ ] A book set somewhere you've always wanted to visit
30. [ ] A book that came out the year you were born
31. [ ] A book with bad reviews
32. [ ] A trilogy -- part 1
33. [ ] A trilogy -- part 2
34. [ ] A trilogy -- part 3
35. [ ] A book from your childhood
36. [ ] A book with a love triangle
37. [ ] A book set in the future
38. [ ] A book set in high school
39. [ ] A book with a color in the title
40. [ ] A book that made you cry
41. [ ] A book with magic
42. [ ] A graphic novel
43. [ ] A book by an author you've never read before
44. [ ] A book you own but have never read
45. [ ] A book that takes place in your hometown (or close to where you live)
46. [ ] A book originally written in a different language
47. [ ] A book set during Christmas
48. [ ] A book written by an author with your same initials (helpful site for finding authors)
49. [ ] A play
50. [ ] A banned book
51. [ ] A book based on or turned into a TV show
52. [ ] A book you started but never finished

[noodleskooze]

(On the app and saw this.)

This is a cool idea! Do you let books count toward more than one of these? No way do I have time to read a book a week (unfortunately).

[aurora]

Dec 24, 2014 8:23:53 GMT -5 noodleskooze said:

(On the app and saw this.)

This is a cool idea! Do you let books count toward more than one of these? No way do I have time to read a book a week (unfortunately).

I've never done an organized challenge like this before, but I was thinking each book would only count once. I think many of us wouldn't make it through the whole list (including me).

[dorothyinAus]

I think most people are trying to read as many books as possible.

I've signed up to do it with several groups and the "rules" are slightly different for each group.  A couple of groups are saying one category per book, and another is saying up to three categories per book, and still another allows two categories per book.

The original site indicates it's supposed to be a personal challenge to read more and different books than you normally do or have in the past.  But I think more and different are relative terms.  I'm good with whatever you think you can do or however you interpret the rules.

Personally, I'm trying to see how many of the books on my to-be-read pile I can get through without having to buy new books, so I may not hit the different part of the original challenge.  But I think it will be fun to see how many I can tick off just the same.

[secretlyevil]

I want to try.

[Pippin]

I'm putting this list in my planner this year:) I'm probably going to let a book count for up to 3 of these categories otherwise I'll never finish it haha.

[zizibet]

I'm going to try too. Should we do a sticky thing to keep track of progress?

[Deleted]

I totally joined this after seeing it on another board I frequent.

I am going to try and get out of my usual YA/Fantasy stuff. YAY!!

[Booze Raccoon]

This is awesome!!! Thank you for posting it.

[bluelikejazz]

No way I can finish, but looks like a great place to start!

[msmerymac]

Bumping this because I was reminded of it in the January books thread. I'm trying to plug in my books. I have a goal of reading 75 books in 2015, so I will see how many I can fit into these categories and try to go outside my realm to find books that fit some categories, I imagine.

[panicked]

I think this is great! I can't get to the library that often, so if anyone would like to loan me some great books that meet one or more of the categories, I have the kindle app on my iPad.

[aurora]

h, I'm still doing the challenge, or at least sort of. But, I'm not having a good reading year so I definitely won't finish.

So far I have just 15:

1. [ ] A book with 500 pages - Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
3. [ ] A book that became a movie - The Shawshank Redemption
7. [ ] A book with nonhuman characters - A Memory of Light
9. [ ] A book with a female author - Written in my Own Heart's Blood
10. [ ] A mystery or thriller - The Cuckoo's Calling
11. [ ] A book with a one-word title - Elantris
12. [ ] A book of short stories - The Lottery and Other Stories
14. [ ] A nonfiction book - Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers
16. [ ] A book from an author you love that you have not read yet - The Body
29. [ ] A book set somewhere you've always wanted to visit - The Mummy Case
37. [ ] A book set in the future - The Fall of Hyperion
38. [ ] A book set in high school - The Fault in Our Stars
41. [ ] A book with magic - The Eyes of the Dragon
43. [ ] A book by an author you've never read before - Pillars of the Earth
51. [ ] A book based on or turned into a TV show - A Storm of Swords

I'm letting myself count re-reads.

[aurora]

I've been trying to decide if I can count the first 3 books of series that are 5+ books as my trilogy since I'm re-reading both HP and GoT. Seems like it's in the spirit of the law but not the letter.

[h]

Jun 8, 2015 21:46:56 GMT -5 aurora said:

I've been trying to decide if I can count the first 3 books of series that are 5+ books as my trilogy since I'm re-reading both HP and GoT. Seems like it's in the spirit of the law but not the letter.

This seems fair to me.

I have struggled with only counting books in one category versus counting them in two, but I think it have decided to do the latter because that is the only way I have a hope of finishing.

[dorothyinAus]

Jun 8, 2015 21:46:56 GMT -5 aurora said:

I've been trying to decide if I can count the first 3 books of series that are 5+ books as my trilogy since I'm re-reading both HP and GoT. Seems like it's in the spirit of the law but not the letter.

I think it's fair.  I read a mystery series that was discontinued by the author after 3 books, so not technically a trilogy, but three connected books.

[dorothyinAus]

I'm still doing this challenge.  I've finished:

[✓] A book published this year: All the President's Menus -- Hyzy, Julie
[✓] A book with a number in the title: Around the World in 80 Days -- Verne, Jules
[✓] A book with nonhuman characters: The Litter of the Law -- Brown, Rita Mae & Sneaky Pie Brown
[✓] A book with a female author: Snake in the Glass -- Atwell, Sarah
[✓] A mystery or thriller: An Old Betrayal -- Charles Finch
[✓] A book of short stories: Death Dines at 8:30 -- Bishop, Claudia and Nick DiChario
[✓] A book set in a different country: Emily Goes to Exeter -- Beaton, M.C.
[✓] A book from an author you love that you have not read yet: Nine Lives to Die -- Brown, Rita Mae & Sneaky Pie Brown
[✓] A book more than 100 years old: A Little Princess -- Burnett, Frances Hodgson
[✓] A book based entirely on its cover: The Clockwork Teddy -- Lamb, John J.
[✓] A book you can finish in a day: Belinda Goes to Bath -- Beaton, M.C.
[✓] A book set somewhere you've always wanted to visit: Double Take -- Carlson, Melody
[✓] A book that came out the year you were born: A Proud Taste for Scarlet & Miniver -- Konigsburg, E.L.
[✓] A trilogy -- part 1: Death at Buckingham Palace -- Benison, C.C.
[✓] A trilogy -- part 2: Death at Sandringham House -- Benison, C.C.
[✓] A trilogy -- part 3: Death at Windsor Castle -- Benison, C.C.
[✓] A book from your childhood: Annie Oakley: Little Sure Shot -- Wilson, Ellen
[✓] A book with a love triangle: Huckleberry Spring -- Beckstrand, Jennifer
[✓] A book with a color in the title: The Orchid Affair -- Willig, Lauren
[✓] A book that made you cry: Love in Sight -- Gilliatt, Holly
[✓] A book written by an author with your same initials: Bite the Biscuit -- Johnston, Linda O.
[✓] A book you started but never finished: The Little Girls -- Bowen, Elizabeth

I have several more in progress, but I'm reading a bit of the book each day, so it will take me all year to finish:
[ ] A book with 500 pages: Women's Devotional Bible 1 -- New International Version
[ ] A book set in the future: Nineteen Eighty-Four -- Orwell, George
[ ] A book by an author you've never read before: A Reader's Book of Days -- Nissley, Thomas

[aurora]

Jun 10, 2015 1:30:12 GMT -5 dorothyinAus said:

...
I have several more in progress, but I'm reading a bit of the book each day, so it will take me all year to finish:
[ ] A book with 500 pages: Women's Devotional Bible 1 -- New International Version
[ ] A book set in the future: Nineteen Eighty-Four -- Orwell, George
[ ] A book by an author you've never read before: A Reader's Book of Days -- Nissley, Thomas

Can I just LOL a bit about the fact that you have 1984 as your book set in the future? I mean, I see your point (it was written as a futuristic novel, the elements are still futuristic today), but the chronology is funny now that it's 2015.

[dorothyinAus]

Jun 10, 2015 22:13:49 GMT -5 aurora said:

Jun 10, 2015 1:30:12 GMT -5 dorothyinAus said:

...
I have several more in progress, but I'm reading a bit of the book each day, so it will take me all year to finish:
[ ] A book with 500 pages: Women's Devotional Bible 1 -- New International Version
[ ] A book set in the future: Nineteen Eighty-Four -- Orwell, George
[ ] A book by an author you've never read before: A Reader's Book of Days -- Nissley, Thomas

Can I just LOL a bit about the fact that you have 1984 as your book set in the future? I mean, I see your point (it was written as a futuristic novel, the elements are still futuristic today), but the chronology is funny now that it's 2015.

Of course you can.  I thought about it and I'm not really into a lot of science fiction.  I know the idea is to expand your reading, but there's no old in it is you're not going to enjoy or will struggle through the choices hating them.  And when DH chose it as his book for our weekly story-time, it was perfect for that task.  That's why it's an in-progress book; we're reading it a couple of chapters at a time -- and actually we've had to pause it for a few weeks because we borrowed his mother's original Penguin Classics copy and it fell apart in DH's hands as he read it.  We ordered another copy, but then his mother needed it back to read with one of her English tutoring students.  I'm ready to get back to it though.