Book Challenge by Erin 4.0

 

I host a book challenge on facebook.  If you've read this blog for any amount of time at all, you know I love books.  I read.  I like to talk about books.  I'm a sucker for book challenges.  I started my own challenge a year ago hosting it through this facebook group page.  My thought was this: if I host it through facebook, that's another venue to talk about books with my fellow readers.  I am already in a few challenges that link back to blogs, but not facebook.  I'm pretty happy and proud of the group I've got happening on facebook.  It's so fun to see a collection of readers that are my high school friends, friends of friends, friends around the globe, blogger friends, all coming together for a mutual love of books.  If you're a reader, please join us.  Even just join the group to follow along with the fun.  Or jump in and rock the challenge!  AND, if you are not a fan of facebook, but want to play along, please do. 

Here's the information about the next challenge (and there's a tab at the top of this blog that stays there all the time with this info too):

Book Challenge by Erin 4.0

General Rules

• First and foremost, have fun. Don't stress. No one is being judged, graded, or penalized. Even if you finish only one book the entire challenge, if you enjoy it and it's an accomplishment for you, then that's awesome.
• The challenge will run from January 1, 2016 to April 30, 2016. No books that are started before 12 a.m. on January 1 or finished after 11:59 p.m. on April 30 will count.  (We live in different time zones – follow this according to your own time zone.)
• Each book must be at least 200 pages long.   Audio books are fine too.
• A book can only be used for one category, and each category can only be completed once. If you want to switch the category of a book, or change the book you originally chose, no worries. 
• You can read your books in any order you choose.
• Rereads can be used only once.  If a book you love fits into a category, go ahead and visit it again.  Read it in its entirety.  But, only do this once for the challenge.
• There will be a photo album for each category with links to books chosen.  Please comment on the photo for each of your books when you finish reading them.  (ask for help if you need it)  A comment can include a review, a rating, a recommendation…other readers want to hear what you thought of your choice. 
• There will be 10 book categories with a possibility of earning 200 points.   That’s 10 books in four months.  For some of you, this will be a BIG challenge; for others it will be easy peasy.  It’s all for fun, remember!
• Book categories will be posted December 1st to give you time to gather books in preparation. 
• After the categories are posted, please post a preliminary list to the facebook group page with books of your choice according to their categories on the facebook group page by December 15^th (if possible).  If you need help with a particular category or want a book suggestion, we as a community of reading enthusiasts can help each other.  (Late entries will still be accepted)
• Participants can join the challenge at any time.
• The first three people who finish the challenge will be invited to contribute a category for the next challenge. The top winner will get a small prize from me!  Plus, everyone who completes the challenge will gets all sorts of recognition and support!
• Lastly, have fun.  Don't stress. No one is being judged, graded, or penalized. Even if you finish only one book the entire challenge, if you enjoy it and it's an accomplishment for you, then that's awesome.  Wait, I’ve read that somewhere before…Good luck!

Categories announced today................

Book Challenge by Erin 4.0

Categories

·         5 points:  Read a book, any book that is at least 200 pages long. 

·         10 points:  Read a book that begins with the letter “D”.  (Yes, I put 25 letters in jar – I left out X – and drew randomly)

·         10 points:  Read a book with a four word title. 

·         15 points:  Read a book with one of the following words in the title: “mother(s)”, “father(s)”, “son(s)”, “daughter(s)”, or “child(ren)”. 

·         20 points:  Amazon ranks their “most popular authors”, and they update this list hourly.  Based on when you make your book list, look at the top 100 authors, and pick a book to read from one of those authors, but here’s the catch – it needs to be an author new to you…one of the most popular authors, yet you’ve never read them before.  http://www.amazon.com/author-rank

·         20 points:  Read a book set in any country in Asia.  (In previous challenges, we’ve been to Europe, Latin America, and a country you’ve never visited.  Stick around, we’ll tour the world!)

·         25 points:  Read a book with a “Season” in the title.  (I start the challenge in Summer and end in Autumn; many of you start in Winter and end in Spring…so the title of your book should have Summer, Autumn/Fall, Winter, or Spring in the title.)

·         30 points:  Read a book that will make you laugh from the list attached. (submitted by Bernadette, previous winner) http://www.buzzfeed.com/erinchack/books-guaranteed-to-make-you-laugh-out-loud

·         30 points:  Read a book that is a friend or family member’s favorite book (or the favorite book of another participant from this challenge).  (submitted by Peggy, previous winner)

·         35 points:  Read a book published the year you were born. (submitted by Meredith, previous winner)

If you are stuck on any of these categories, ask for help or recommendations!  GOOD LUCK!

  

Wait....there's more...my choices because, you know, I lead by example or I had a head start because I compiled the list:

5pts - Read a book, any book that is at least 200 pages long. - The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
10pts - Read a book that begins with the letter "D". - Dancing with Myself by Billy Idol
10pts - Read a book with a four word title. - The Life We Bury by Allen Eskens
15pts - Read a book with one of the following words in the title: "Mother(s), Father(s), Son(s), Daughter(s), Child(ren). - Secret Daughter by Shilpi Somaya Gowda
20pts - Read a book by amazon's top 100 authors from an author that you've never read before - The Silent Girls by Eric Rickstad (never even heard of him, but he's #47 as I type this)
20pts - Read a book set in Asia. - The Pearl that Broke Its Shell by Nadia Hashimi
25pts - Read a book with a season in the title ("Summer", "Spring", "Winter", "Autumn", I'll even allow "Fall") - The Winter of Frankie Machine by Don Winslow
30pts - Read a book that will make you laugh from the attached list: - Kill Your Friends by John Niven
30pts - Read a book that is a friend or family member's favorite (or favorite book from another participant of this challenge)  - Same Kind of Different as Me by Ron Hall (my college roommate and favorite friend, Katy, lists this as one of her faves)
35pts - Read a book published the year you were born. - Child of God by Cormac McCarthy

My entire list via goodreads

Alright.  That was a long one.  You're dismissed.  But, first, go sign up for the challenge!