Sunday Salon - January 13, 2013 - 2013 challenges

Happy Sunday! I hope you all had a good weekend. This was a rough week at work - I kept wondering how we were only 8 days into the new year  - so I was happy to have two days of down time. I spent some time working on the blog and planning my 2013 challenges and here are my sign-ups:

7 Continents, 7 Billion People 7 Books - I love to travel and when I can't do it in person, I like to do it in my books so this challenge grabbed my attention.  The purpose of this challenge is to explore the world by reading 7 books each from a different angle:

The challenge: to select and read seven books, each belonging to one of the following categories:
- the 7 countries with the most population

- the 7 highest countries in the world

- the 7 oldest countries of the world

- one of the 7 megacities of the world

- the 7 countries with the most immigrants

- the 7 richest (or poorest) countries

- the 7 most rainy (or dry) countries

The Ireland Challenge - This will be my third year participating in this one and it is one of my favorites.  I love Ireland and its authors so this challenge is perfect for me!  This year I will be participating at the Kiss The Blarney Stone level (8 books).  Some picks: The Forgotten Waltz by Anne Enright,  A Week in Winter by Maeve Binchy, City of Hope by Kate Kerrigan, Empty Family by Colm Toibin

British Books Challenge I am an anglophile and really enjoy books set in the UK and by British authors.  This challenge requires 12 books (which I failed at last year) so I will need to be more intentional about reading British authors rather than just reading along and figuring I will hit the target. Some titles to consider this year  - Family Pictures by Jane Green, The Line Of Beauty by Alan Hollinghurst, A Week in December by Sebastian Faulks, Serving Victoria by Kate Hubbard

What's In a Name 6  - this is another repeat challenge for me but I finally finished it last year so I am encouraged to try again!  I love how the categories really get me thinking about books that could qualify.  The challenge is to read one book in each of the following categories:

1. A book with up or down (or equivalent) in the title: TBD
2. A book with something you'd find in your kitchen in the title: Yes, Chef by Marcus Samuelson
3. A book with a party or celebration in the title: TBD
4. A book with fire (or equivalent) in the title: TBD
5. A book with an emotion in the title: Tapestry of Love by Rosy Thornton
6. A book with lost or found (or equivalent) in the title: And Then I Found You by Patti Callahan Henry

Southern Literature Challenge - this will be my second year participating in this challenge too.  Last year I read three books but this year I am going to try for four at the "Y'all come back now" level.  A few choices for this challenge are Whistlin' Dixie in a Nor'easter by Lisa Patton, Looking For Me by Beth Hoffman, The Help by Kathryn Stockett (I might be the only person left not to have read this book!)

Off the Shelf - my shelves are overflowing so anything that motivates me to read what I already have sounds like a good idea! This is the first time I have joined this challenge but I am looking forward to thinning the unread books in my collection.  In my effort to get off to a good start, some of the books I have identified  for the challenges above are currently on my shelf and soon to be off the shelf. I am joining at the "trying" level (15 books)

Immigrant Stories Challenge - I am hosting this challenge again this year and am looking forward to seeing what the participants read and also featuring some great new immigrant stories and their authors.  Some that I have in my sights for this year are American Dervish by Ayad Aktar, Fresh Off The Boat by Eddie Huang


Are you joining any reading challenges this year?