Reading Challenges for 2013

In January 2010, I was challenged by Melissa Klug, director of marketing for Glatfelter book paper manufacturers, to take up the original 10-10 challenge for Reading in 2010. The challenge called for reading 10 books in 10 categories by October 10. We were to report in to the challenge by following the Twitter hashtag #101010reading and also on the 101010Reading blog. I enjoyed the challenge so much in 2010, that I have continued it since then.

I modified the challenge as follows: Read any number of books in 10 categories, other than the categories I normally read, by December 10 to finish the challenge. Here's what I read in 2013. As you can see, this was not a good year for adventurous reading for me.

Detective, Mystery, Crime, Thriller
—"What Darkness Brings" by C.S. Harris
—"Sweet Talk" by Julie Garwood

Chick-Lit & Women's Fiction
—"The Good Daughter" by Jane Porter

Literary Fiction
—"Girl Gone" by Gillian Flynn
—"Remarkable Creatures" by Tracy Chevalier

Children's & Young Adult
—"Lightning Thief" by Rick Riordan

Humor & Poetry
—"Poetry of William Blake" selected by Peter Butter

Nonfiction
—"What would Michelle Do?: A Modern Day Guide to Living with Substance and Style" by Allison Samuels
—"What Not To Wear" by Trinny Woodall & Susannah Constantine

Biographies & Memoirs
—"A Journal of My Son's First Son" by Anne Lamott

Organizational Tips
—"The Pomodoro Technique" by Francesco Cirillo

Parenting Tips
—"Super Baby Food" by Ruth Yaron
—"On Becoming BabyWise" by Gary Ezzo & Robert Bucknam
—"On Becoming BabyWise: Book Two" by Gary Ezzo & Robert Bucknam
—"A Journal of My Son's First Son" by Anne Lamott

On Writing
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I also took part in Wendy Crutcher's 2013 TBR Challenge. The challenge is where readers pick up a long neglected book from their TBR pile, read it, comment on that book on the third Wednesday of every month, and post links to the comments on social media sites (blog, Facebook, GoodReads, Twitter, a message board, etc.) The comments do not have to be extensive, could be as short as a small paragraph or pages of it, if you so choose.

I decided to let my TBR do double duty, so I also signed up to participate in the Off The Shelf! reading challenge by Bookish Ardour. In order to participate, you have to choose a challenge level before you start (I was in the Tempted category). Only books from the TBR pile can be included. No books purchased after the challenge has begun or acquired any time during 2013 can be included.

The different Challenge Levels are:
Tempted — Choose 5 books to read
Trying — Choose 15 books to read
Making A Dint — Choose 30 books to read
On A Roll — Choose 50 books to read
Flying Off — Choose 75 books to read
Hoarder — Choose 76-125 books to read
Buried — Choose 126-200 books to read

These are the books I culled from my TBR mountain and read in 2013. Like the 10-10 Challenge, I didn't succeed in meeting this goal, in fact, I got only halfway there.

—"Poetry of William Blake" selected by Peter Butter
—"What Not To Wear" by Trinny Woodall & Susannah Constantine
—"Super Baby Food" by Ruth Yaron
—"The Pomodoro Technique" by Francesco Cirillo
—"On Becoming BabyWise" by Gary Ezzo & Robert Bucknam
—"On Becoming BabyWise: Book Two" by Gary Ezzo & Robert Bucknam

I have signed up for the 2014 TBR Challenge. Do sign up if you're likewise interested.