Challenge Round Up
2010 was hit or miss for me when it came to challenges, but that’s not going to keep me from trying again in 2011! In trying to be selective, I’ve decided to sign up for the following challenges:
Between January 1 and December 31, 2011, read one book in each of the following categories:
- A book with a number in the title
- A book with jewelry or a gem in the title
- A book with a size in the title
- A book with travel or movement in the title
- A book with evil in the title
- A book with a life stage in the title
There are two ways for a book to qualify for the South Asian Challenge
(1) A book must be by a South Asian author. For these purposes, South Asia includes the following countries: India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, and the Maldives. There are no limitations on what the book can be about.
(2) A book must be about South Asia. In this case, it can be set in a South Asian country or be about South Asians living abroad. It can also be a biography or memoir of a South Asian, or of a non-South Asian traveling or working in South Asia. In this case, the author does not need to be South Asian, as long as the subject matter focuses on the region, peoples, or cultures in some way.
Any type book qualifies, as long as it meets one of the two guidelines above – a cookbook, short story or essay collection, travel guide – I’m not picky!
What are the levels?
South Asian Encounter – 1 book
South Asian Wanderer – 3 books
South Asian Explorer – 5 books
South Asian Adventurer – 7 books
South Asian Hero/Heroine – 10 books
South Asian Guru – Over 10 books (you can set your own goal)
I’m going for the South Asian Encounter on this one.
War Through the Generations Challenge
This year you have options when reading your fiction, nonfiction, graphic novels, etc. with the U.S. Civil War as the primary or secondary theme.
Books can take place before, during, or after the war. Books from other challenges count so long as they meet the above criteria.
Dip: Read 3-5 books in any genre with the U.S. Civil War as a primary or secondary theme.
Wade: Read 6-10 books in any genre with the U.S. Civil War as a primary or secondary theme.
Swim: Read 11 or more books in any genre with the U.S. Civil War as a primary or secondary theme.
Additionally, we’ve decided that since there are so many great movies out there about U.S. Civil War, that you can substitute or add a movie or two to your list this year and have it count toward your totals.
I’m going to be a dip in this one!
Memorable Memoirs Reading Challenge
Requirements: It’s up to you! I want this to be a fun and low-key challenge, yet one that will be worthwhile of your valuable reading time. If that means reading one memoir, that’s great. If that means reading three dozen, even better. You decide what works for you. Overlaps with other challenges are more than fine … even encouraged. 
Together we’ll explore the world of good food writing. That may take the form of a cookbook or a biography or even a novel centered around food.
Here’s how it works:
1. Decide how many food books you want to read in 2011 and choose your level of reading. Keep in mind this is a challenge – a thrown-down. Go a bit beyond what you think you can really do. Levels:
- Nibbler: 1 to 3 books
- Bon Vivant: 4 to 6 books
- Epicurean: 7 to 9 books
- Gourmet: 10 to 12
- Glutton: More than 12
I”m going to go for the Bon Vivant level of this challenge.
Ongoing challenges I will continue with (it’s not too late to sign up for any of these):
My post is going up in a few days and looks almost exactly like yours. We’ll have to keep each other in check.
Very diverse challenges! Hope you enjoy them!
I signed up for so many different ones and lost track of the challenges…so sad…I’ve decided that next year in 2011 I’ll just challenge myself to read more books on my own personal shelves!
Good luck with your challenges.
Great mix of challenges. I think I’m sticking with Okra, Reading From My Shelf, and Reagan Arthur. Oh, and there’s the War & Peace chapter a day readalong. Good luck to both of us
Looks like a great selection of challenges!!
I love all of your challenges — me and the foodie one might have to happen! xox Happy Holidays, Kathy!
I am challenged just reading these challenges…today…after wrapping presents all day and going to lunch and stopping for stuff for dinner and planning more food shopping tomorrow…I don’t have the energy to read…let alone think about a challenge…but I am going to look at them again the day after Christmas and try one or two out…thanks for the challenge!!!
Good luck with your challenges! I see you have been smart and didn’t go challenge happy like I did. haha
GL with your challenges!! I am looking forward to the What’s In A Name Challenge..first time for me.
Good luck with all of these reading challenges, Kathy. They sound wonderful, but I am challenged when it comes to challenges. I’ve found that I really must limit myself to only a few.
Have a wonderful Christmas!
I want to do the foodie challenge as well…I’ve also heard about War and Peace (1 chapter a day)…I’m contemplating that one…I don’t want to overwhelm myself but I do want reading to take a more prominent place in my life; it brings me such joy and needs to become a priority
Looks like some great challenges. I am going to host both the ARC Reading Challenge and Books Won challenge again. I am going to do both those and couple other but am really going to try to limit them this year. I know I say that every year but this year I mean it. LOL!
The fun in challenges is the attempt! Good luck for 2011.
Thanks so much for signing up for WIAN4. We are in a few others together as well. Have fun and don’t stress about finishing.
Good luck with your challenges this year Kathy
You seem to have a nice variety!
Those look fun! I’m going to try a year without challenges and see what I think. I got a little burnt out this year!
Ooh! You picked some good ones this year, and I wish you much luck with them. I am not going to be joining very many this year, as I never actually complete them, and then I feel bad about myself!!
My challenges in 2010 sucked as well, but that doesn’t stop me either from signing up for more in 2011. Good luck to 2011!
I’m so glad you decided to join in on the Foodie’s Reading Challenge. I’m looking forward to seeing your choices. I’m also in the Civil War and the What’s In A Name challenges. 2011 will be an interesting year.
I had similar hot and cold success with challenges this year, Kathy … but that won’t stop me from trying again!
I have a few wrap-ups to write this next week, and will figure out which new challenges I’m going to take on.
Good luck!
Now that’s what I call a list for challenges!
All the best on this since I know you’ll get them all done in a winning manner.
Go Girl! Girl reading power activate
Good luck! I’m trying to be selectives this year too, especially since my reading time is so limited.
Looks like you’ve got some great challenges to look forward to. I’ve got you listed on the war blog’s participants list for 2011.
I had hoped you would consider my poetry challenge of just reading 1 book of poetry in 2011, if you missed the details, please check them out here: http://savvyverseandwit.com/2010/12/2011-fearless-poetry-reading-challenge.html
Good luck with all of the challenges you’ve chosen to participate in for 2011! I look forward to getting lots of book ideas from all of these.
Glad to see you’ll be joining us for the Civil War Challenge next year! Good luck with all your challenges. I’m still figuring out what I want to join and will be posting soon.
Good luck with the challenges, Kathy! I’m not joining any challenge this year but I may change my mind…
You signed up for some great challenges! I’ll be participating in the What’s In a Name challenge with you! Good luck! And Happy New Year!
You have a nice mix of challenges there … and they all seem “doable.” I keep forgetting to sign up for What’s In A Name … thanks for the reminder.