Sunday, January 13, 2013

Sunday Salon - January 13, 2013 - 2013 challenges

The Sunday Salon.com



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?

13 comments:

  1. "Yes, Chef" is sitting on my end table and waiting patiently for me to read it. :) Can't wait to hear what you think!

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  2. Wonderful challenges, Colleen. Good luck!

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  3. Great challenges! Good luck with all of them. I may join the Ireland Challenge as well. Have fun! :-)

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  4. I enjoyed doing the Ireland Challenge a couple of years ago. This year (as I did last year), I'm doing the Mt. TBR Challenge, which is like your Off the Shelf.

    I like how quickly the stacks diminish when faced with that kind of challenge.

    Enjoy!

    Here's MY SUNDAY SALON POST

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  5. Wow! I'm impressed!! I gave up challenges last year and haven't looked back.

    Good luck!!

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  6. I am new to challenges and blog writing. I signed up for my first, the Ireland Reading Challenge, at the Luck 'o the Irish level (6 books) last week. I like two of the other challenges you mention, British Books and Off the Shelf...I think I'll be joining those too. Good luck to both of us and all other participants!

    Catherine
    bookclublibrarian.com

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  7. Good luck with your challenges! The 7 Continents, 7 Billion People, 7 Books challenge sounds like fun! I tried to avoid challenges this year as I don't have a good track record with them, but did sign up for the What's In A Name challenge.

    Have fun!

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  8. Welcome back to the Ireland Challenge!

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  9. I don't usually do well with the challenges, but the idea of virtual travel intrigues me.
    Ann

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  10. I love the sound of all these challenges! I'll be joining you for a couple of them.

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  11. Thanks for signing up for my challenge again! I think you will love The Help when you get to it. I hope you do, anyway! Good luck with all your challenges!

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  12. Welcome to the British Books Challenge! I hope you enjoy taking part and find some fabulous new authors :o)

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