Books

A-Z Mystery Author Challenge

Red Headed Book Child is hosting this challenge. Read any author within the mystery genre; thriller, noir, suspense, etc. Use last names as the letter (i.e. S= John Sandford) and see if you can complete the whole alphabet!!!

I read several mystery series, so I didn’t think I would be able to tackle the whole alphabet this year and set my goal as half the alphabet, or 13 authors. It’s December and I just made it.  [Read more…] about A-Z Mystery Author Challenge wrap-up

 Literary Loners Reading Challenge 2016

I was invited by the author of Whatever I Think Of! to join her new challenge and I am game! There are two options: characters or authors and I chose main or secondary characters identified as a loner, outcast, recluse, wallflower, or introvert. She did not prescribe levels so I just started being cognizant of identifying loners in my reading, and here’s what I found. [Read more…] about Literary Loners Reading Challenge 2016 wrap-up

 Retellings Reading Challenge 2016

This challenge is hosted by Once Upon a Bookcase. I had fun playing along with this challenge and chose the Medium: 5-8 retellings level and read 13 so I actually leveled up and made the Hard level. I didn’t get through all the retellings on my shelves so will have to read some more next year!

The Challenge:
Easy: 1-4 retellings
Medium: 5-8 retellings
Hard: 9-12 retellings

[Read more…] about Retellings Reading Challenge 2016 wrap-up

2016 Nonfiction Reading Challenge

The Challenge: Read any non-fiction book(s), adult or young adult.
Dilettante–Read 1-5 non-fiction books
Explorer–Read 6-10
Seeker–Read 11-15
Master–Read 16-20

This chaIlenge is hosted by The Introverted Reader and thanks for hosting! I chose the Explorer level: 6-10 books and ended up accomplishing the Seeker level with 15 books so it’s always good to above and beyond. Here is my eclectic list of nonfiction titles, with Life is So Good being my favorite. [Read more…] about 2016 Nonfiction Reading Challenge wrap-up

 2016 World Reading Challenge

Hosted by Dorothee at life is a journey, the idea of this reading challenge is to explore the world by books from different continents and countries. To join the challenge, select and read seven books, one book from each continent. I have finished up this challenge, and although all the authors weren’t native to the continents, the books gave good introductions to each continent.

–Africa: Lion in the Valley (Amelia Peabody #4), Elizabeth Peters (this is a historical mystery series about archaeologists, but the author spent considerable time digging in Africa and gives a lot of historical and geographical information in each novel)

– Asia: The Piano Teacher, Janice Y.K Lee (set in Hong Kong by a Hong Kong author)

– Australia/Ozeania: Jellicoe Road, Melina Marchetta (set in Australia by an Australian author)

– Europe: The Revolving Door of Life (44 Scotland Street #10), Alexander McCall Smith (set in Scotland by a Scottish author)

– North America: Anne’s House of Dreams (Anne #5), L.M. Montgomery (set in Canada by a Canadian author)

– South America:  The Mapmaker’s Wife: A True Tale of Love, Murder, and Survival in the Amazon, Robert Whitaker (nonfiction book by an author who lived in Ecuador)

– Antarctica (or a book with a journey from one continent to another): Shackleton’s Stowaway, Victoria McKernan (YA historical novel based on fact and well-researched)