Showing posts with label 2021 Reading Challenges. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2021 Reading Challenges. Show all posts

Saturday, April 03, 2021

2021 Reading Challenges: MAY 1900-1950 Readathon


Hosted by Books and Things a book tuber on YT. Here's the video link to her announcement vlog.  And here's the GoodRead's Book Group.

May 2021 

---The challenges--- 

1. Read a book published 1900–1950 from the country you’re from 

2. Read a book published 1900–1950 from a different country 

3. Read a genre classic, published 1900–1950 (such as classic crime, classic sci-fi, classic fantasy, historical fiction, etc) 

4. Read something published 1900–1950 that isn’t a novel (such as non-fiction, plays, poetry, short stories, etc) 

5. Read a work of literature published 1900–1950 set during or exploring WWI or WWII 

Bonus challenge: Read a book from every decade of the period (1900s, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s)

Books Read For the Reading Challenge:

1) Baby Island. Carol Ryrie Brink. Illustrated by Helen Sewell. 1937. 160 pages. [Source: Review copy]

2) Five Children and It (Five Children #1) E. Nesbit. 1902. 237 pages. [Source: Bought]

3)

4)

5)

6) 

© 2021 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Monday, December 28, 2020

2021 Reading Challenges: Georgian (my sign up)

 

Georgian Reading Challenge
Host: Becky's Book Reviews (sign up here)
Duration: December 1, 2020 - December 31, 2021
# of books: minimum 4

 1) Jane Austen's Best Friend: The Life and Influence of Martha Lloyd. Zoe Wheddon. 2021. Pen and Sword. 224 pages. [Source: Review copy]

2) Robinson Crusoe. Daniel Defoe. 1719/2019. AmazonClassics. 571 pages. [Source: Bought]

3) Belinda. Maria Edgeworth. 1801. 544 pages. [Source: Bought]

4) A Most Clever Girl: How Jane Austen Discovered Her Voice. Jasmine A. Stirling. Illustrated by Vesper Stamper. 2021. [March] 48 pages. [Source: Review copy]

5) Sixteen Scandals. Sophie Jordan. 2021. [May] 256 pages. [Source: Review copy]

6) The Talisman Ring. Georgette Heyer. 1936/2009. Sourcebooks. 303 pages. [Source: Review copy]

7) The Captain's Daughter: Essential Stories. Alexander Pushkin. TRANSLATED BY ANTHONY BRIGGS. (New translation copyrighted 2021). 224 pages. [Source: Review copy] 

8. Miss Lattimore's Letter. Suzanne Allain. 2021. [August] 256 pages. [Source: Review copy]

9.  Pride and Premeditation. (Jane Austen Murder Mystery #1) Tirzah Price. 2021. [April] 368 pages. [Source: Review copy]
10. Love and Lavender (Mayfield Family #4) Josi S. Kilpack. 2021. [November] 320 pages. [Source: Review copy]

© 2020 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

2021 Reading Challenges: Victorian (my sign up)

 

Victorian Reading Challenge
Host: Becky's Book Reviews (sign up here)
Duration: January 2021 - December 2021
Goal: Read between 4 to 6 Books (4 minimum)

I hope to do a little in each of the categories.

January - March

1) Pinocchio. Carlo Collodi. 1883. 160 pages. [Source: Bought]

2) The Bostonians. Henry James. 1886. 460 pages. [Source: Bought]

I watched 1975 North and South.

3) Ruth. Elizabeth Gaskell. 1853. 432 pages. [Source: Bought] 

4) The Importance of Being Earnest. Oscar Wilde. 1895. 76 pages. [Source: Bought]

5) Lady Windermere's Fan. Oscar Wilde. 1893. 70 pages. [Source: Bought]

6) An Ideal Husband. Oscar Wilde. 1893. 78 pages. [Source: Bought] 

7) A Tale of Two Cities. Charles Dickens. 1859. 446 pages. [Source: Review copy] 

8) Far from the Madding Crowd. Thomas Hardy. 1874. 433 pages. [Source: Bought]

I watched 2004 North and South

April - June

1) Favorite Poems of Emily Dickinson. Emily Dickinson. 1978. 160 pages. [Source: Family copy]

2)

July - September

1)

2)

October - December 

1) A Christmas Carol. Charles Dickens. 1843. 96 pages. [Source: Bought]

2)

January/February The theme is ADAPTATIONS. Read any book that has been adapted into a movie, miniseries, or television show. OR read any book that you think SHOULD be adapted into a movie. If you choose that option you can even make a case for WHO should star in it.

1) Pinocchio. Carlo Collodi. 1883. 160 pages. [Source: Bought]

2) The Bostonians. Henry James. 1886. 460 pages. [Source: Bought] *there was a film in 1984, I have not watched it...at least not yet.

I watched 1975 North and South

3) Ruth. Elizabeth Gaskell. 1853. 432 pages. [Source: Bought]

4) The Importance of Being Earnest. Oscar Wilde. 1895. 76 pages. [Source: Bought]

February/March The theme is LOVE and MARRIAGE. Read any book where characters fall in love, or fall out of love, or court, or become engaged, or get married. It doesn't have to be an epic romance with a happily ever after. (Though it can!)

1) Lady Windermere's Fan. Oscar Wilde. 1893. 70 pages. [Source: Bought]

2) An Ideal Husband. Oscar Wilde. 1893. 78 pages. [Source: Bought]

March/April The theme is JOURNEYS and TRAVELS. Read any book where a character goes on ANY journey. (For example, Pickwick Papers, Three Men in a Boat, Jane Eyre, Can You Forgive Her?, Great Expectations, Treasure Island, Alice in Wonderland, etc.) The journey does not have to be a grand adventure or luxurious vacation.

1) A Tale of Two Cities. Charles Dickens. 1859. 446 pages. [Source: Review copy]

2) Far from the Madding Crowd. Thomas Hardy. 1874. 433 pages. [Source: Bought]

April/May The theme is SECOND CHANCES. Give an author a second chance. Give a book a second chance. Give a genre a second chance. 

1) Favorite Poems of Emily Dickinson. Emily Dickinson. 1978. 160 pages. [Source: Family copy]

2)

May/June The theme is FAVORITE AUTHORS, NEW-TO-ME Books. Choose a favorite author and read a book by him/her that you've never read before. 

1)

2)

June/July The theme is NONFICTION. Read nonfiction books (autobiographies, biographies, etc.) published during the Victorian era OR nonfiction books about the Victorian era or specific Victorians.

1)

2)

July/August The theme is NAMES AS TITLES. Read any book where a proper name (a person, a place, etc) is the title of the book. 

1)

2)

 

August/September The theme is BACK TO SCHOOL. Read (or reread) any book that you were assigned to read in school or university. OR Read any book where a character's education is emphasized (Great Expectations, Nicholas Nickleby, Jane Eyre, etc.) OR Read any book that you think SHOULD be required reading for high school or university. OR Read a Victorian children's classic. 

1)

2)

September/October The theme is CRIME OR TRUE CRIME. Thrillers. Mysteries. Suspense. Horror. GOTHIC. This would be a great place to fit in general nonfiction about the Victorian era. Some great true crime books have been published. 

1)

2)

 

October/November The theme is HOME AND FAMILY. Read any book with a focus on family life and relationships between family members. (The relationships do not have to be healthy.) 

1)

2)

 

November/December The theme is COMFORT READS. Reread a book (of any length) that just makes you HAPPY. 

1) A Christmas Carol. Charles Dickens. 1843. 96 pages. [Source: Bought]

2)

 

January Through December: The super-bonus theme is BEARDED VICTORIANS.

1) A Tale of Two Cities. Charles Dickens. 1859. 446 pages. [Source: Review copy]

2) A Christmas Carol. Charles Dickens. 1843. 96 pages. [Source: Bought]

3)

4)

5)

 

 

© 2020 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

2021 Reading Challenges WW2 (my sign up)

J. Howard Miller 1918-2004, artwork details on wikimedia commons

 


2021 World War II Challenge
Host: Becky's Book Reviews (sign up here)
Dates: January - December 2021
Goals: Read, Watch, Listen, Share WWII related stuff

What I read

1) My Chocolate Year: A Novel with Twelve Recipes to Make Your World A Little Sweeter. Charlotte Herman. Illustrated by LeUyen Pham. 2008. 176 pages. [Source: Review copy]

2) War and Millie McGonigle. Karen Cushman. 2021. [April] 224 pages. [Source: Review copy]

3) Freiheit! The White Rose Graphic Novel. Andrea Grosso Ciponte. 2021. [February] 112 pages. [Source: Review copy]

4) Blackout. Connie Willis. 2010. 610 pages. [Source: Bought]

5) In Times of Rain and War. Camron Wright. 2021. [April] 320 pages. [Source: Review copy]

6) The Historians. Cecilia Ekback. 2021. [January] 464 pages. [Source: Review copy] 

7) The Tobacco Girls. Lizzie Lane. 2021 [January] 318 pages. [Source: Review copy] 

8)  Chasing Shadows. Lynn Austin. 2021. [June] 432 pages. [Source: Review copy] 

9)  Boy from Buchenwald. Robbie Waisman with Susan McClelland. 2021. [May] 288 pages. [Source: Review copy] 

10) The Forgotten Orphan. Glynis Peters. 2021. [May] 400 pages. [Source: Review copy] 

11)  Rescue. Jennifer A. Nielsen. 2021. [March] 400 pages. [Source: Library] 

12) The Light of Days: The Untold Story of Women Resistance Fighters in Hitler's Ghettos. Judy Batalion. 2021. 288 pages. [Source: Library]

13) Last Witnesses (Adapted for Young Adults) Svetlana Alexievich. 2021. 288 pages. [Source: Library]

14) Dear Mrs. Bird. (Emmy Lake Chronicles #1) A.J. Pearce. 2018. 281 pages. [Source: Library] 

15)  Don't Tell the Nazis. Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch. 2019. 226 pages. [Source: Library] 

16) The Bookshop of Dust and Dreams. Mindy Thompson. 2021. [October 26] 272 pages. [Source: Library]
17) The Red Horse. (Billy Boyle #15) James R. Benn. 2020. 336 pages. [Source: Bought]

What I watch

1) The Dig (2021)

2) The Exception (2016)

3) Then There Were Giants (When Lions Roared) (1994)

4) The Last Years (1998)

5) Steal Me a Pencil (2007)

What I listen to

1)

2)

3)

4)

5)

6)

7)


© 2020 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Thursday, December 10, 2020

2021 Reading Challenges: Chunkster

Chunkster Reading Challenge

Impressions in Ink (sign up here

Duration: January - December 2021

Goals: I'm aiming for 6 books but there are no minimum number of books

Guidelines:
1. The books read must be 450 pages or more to be considered chunkster books.
2. The books can be a hard copy, e-books, or an audio book. As long as each of these formats equal to 450 pages or greater (if it were a hard copy book).  

MY BOOKS:

1. Robinson Crusoe. Daniel Defoe. 1719/2019. AmazonClassics. 571 pages. [Source: Bought]

2. To Say Nothing of the Dog. (Oxford Time Travel #2) Connie Willis. 1998. 512 pages. [Source: Bought]
3. Blackout. Connie Willis. 2010. 610 pages. [Source: Bought]
4. The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America's Shining Women. Kate Moore. 2017. 479 pages. [Source: Review copy]
5. Belinda. Maria Edgeworth. 1801. 544 pages. [Source: Bought]
6. The Historians. Cecilia Ekback. 2021. [January] 464 pages. [Source: Review copy]
7. The Eye of the World (Wheel of Time #1) Robert Jordan. 1990. Tor. 814 pages. [Source: Bought]
8. The Great Hunt. (Wheel of Time #2) Robert Jordan. 1991. 705 pages. [Source: Bought]

9. The Dragon Reborn. (The Wheel of Time #3) Robert Jordan. 1991. 624 pages. [Source: Bought]

10. The Shadow Rising. (The Wheel of Time #4) Robert Jordan. 1992. 672 pages. [Source: Bought]

11.  The Fires of Heaven. (The Wheel of Time #5) Robert Jordan. 1993. 704 pages. [Source: Bought] 

12. The Knife of Never Letting Go. (Chaos Walking #1) Patrick Ness. 512 pages. [Source: Bought] 

13. The Bone Maker. Sarah Beth Durst. 2021. [March] 496 pages. [Source: Review copy]

© 2020 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

2021 Reading Challenges: Netgalley and Edelweiss

2021 Netgalley and Edelweiss Reading Challenge

Hosted by Socrates Book Reviews (sign up here)

Duration: January - December 2021

Goals:  100+ Books

Challenge guidelines… 

  • The challenge runs from January 1, 2021 – December 31, 2021. There is no deadline to sign up.
  • Everyone is welcome to participate – you do not need to have a blog.
  • Any genre, release date, length, etc. counts – it just needs to be a book from NetGalley or Edelweiss.
  • Books can count for more than one challenge that you are participating in.
  • The first day of each month I will post a monthly “link-up” for you to link your reviews. If you forget one month, no worries, just catch up the next month.

 1. Georgana's Secret. Arlem Hawks. 2021. [January] Shadow Mountain. 320 pages. [Source: Review copy]
2. The Abbey Mystery (Jane Austen Investigates #1). Julia Golding. 2021. [April] 192 pages. [Source: Review copy]
3. Jane Austen's Best Friend: The Life and Influence of Martha Lloyd. Zoe Wheddon. 2021. Pen and Sword. 224 pages. [Source: Review copy]
4. Reuben and the Amazing Mind Machine. Jonathan M. Hughes. 2021 [January] 128 pages. [Source: Review copy]
5. Twenty-One Days. (Daniel Pitt #1) Anne Perry. 2018. 303 pages. [Source: Review copy]
6. Max and the Spice Thieves. (Secrets of the Twilight Djinn #1) John Peragine. 2021. [April] 274 pages. [Source: Review copy]
7. My Remarkable Journey: A Memoir. Katherine Johnson, Joylette Hylick, and Katherine G. Moore. 2021. [May] 224 pages. [Source: Review copy]
8. Worst-Case Collin. Rebecca Caprara. 2021. [September] 256 pages. [Source: Review copy]
9. The Children's Blizzard. Melanie Benjamin. 2021. [January] 368 pages. [Source: Review copy]
10. We Also Served: The Forgotten Women of the First World War. Vivien Newman. 2014/2021. 224 pages. [Source: Review copy]
11. War and Millie McGonigle. Karen Cushman. 2021. [April] 224 pages. [Source: Review copy]
12. In Times of Rain and War. Camron Wright. 2021. [April] 320 pages. [Source: Review copy]
13. A Captain for Caroline Gray. Julie Wright. 2021. [March] 336 pages. [Source: Review copy]
14. Surviving Savannah. Patti Callahan. 2021. [March] 432 pages. [Source: Review copy]
15. The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America's Shining Women. Kate Moore. 2017. 479 pages. [Source: Review copy]
16. Real. Carol Cujec and Peyton Goddard. 2021. [February] 224 pages. [Source: Review copy]
17. Triple Jeopardy. (Daniel Pitt #2) Anne Perry. 2019. 288 pages. [Source: Review copy]
18. The Vines. Shelley Nolden. 2021. 391 pages. [Source: Review copy]
19. The Historians. Cecilia Ekback. 2021. [January] 464 pages. [Source: Review copy]
20. Pride, Prejudice, and Poison. (A Jane Austen Society Mystery #1) Elizabeth Blake. 2019. 330 pages. [Source: Review copy]
21. Stan Lee: How Marvel Changed the World. Adrian Mackinder. 2021. [May] 192 pages. [Source: Review copy]
22. Sixteen Scandals. Sophie Jordan. 2021. [May] 256 pages. [Source: Review copy]
23. The Tobacco Girls. Lizzie Lane. 2021 [January] 318 pages. [Source: Review copy]
24. Violet and Daisy: The Story of Vaudeville's Famous Conjoined Twins. Sarah Miller. 2021. [April] 320 pages. [Source: Review copy]
25. The Wife Upstairs. Rachel Hawkins. 2021. [January] 290 pages. [Source: Review copy]
26. Mrs. Rochester's Ghost. Lindsay Marcott. 2021. [August] 398 pages. [Source: Review copy]
27.  Isabelle and Alexander. Rebecca Anderson. 2021. [May] 324 pages. [Source: Review copy]
28. Big Apple Diaries. Alyssa Bermudez. 2021. [August] 288 pages. [Source: Review copy]
29. John Eyre. Mimi Matthews. 2021. [August] 312 pages. [Source: Review copy]
30. Sword of the Seven Sins. (The Seven Sins #1) Emily Colin. 2020. [August] 300 pages. [Source: Review copy]
31. Siege of the Seven Sins. (Seven Sins #2) Emily Colin. 2021. 300 pages (made up page count because publishers are meanies) [Source: Review copy]
32. Fan Fiction. Brent Spiner with Jeanne Darst. 2021. [October] 256 pages. [Source: Review copy]
33. The Captain's Daughter: Essential Stories. Alexander Pushkin. TRANSLATED BY ANTHONY BRIGGS. (New translation copyrighted 2021). 224 pages. [Source: Review copy]
34. Mr. Malcolm's List. Suzanne Allain. 2009/2020. 254 pages. [Source: Review copy]
35. The Bone Maker. Sarah Beth Durst. 2021. [March] 496 pages. [Source: Review copy]
36. Miss Lattimore's Letter. Suzanne Allain. 2021. [August] 256 pages. [Source: Review copy]
37. Red Wolf. Rachel Vincent. 2021. [July] 368 pages. [Source: Review copy]
38.  Measuring Up. Lily LaMotte. Illustrated by Ann Xu. 2020. [October 27] 208 pages. [Source: Library]
39. Wendy, Darling. A.C. Wise. 2021. [June] 352 pages. [Source: Review copy]
40. Boy from Buchenwald. Robbie Waisman with Susan McClelland. 2021. [May] 288 pages. [Source: Review copy]
41. The Forgotten Orphan. Glynis Peters. 2021. [May] 400 pages. [Source: Review copy]
42. Time Travel for Love and Profit. Sarah Lariviere. 2021. 320 pages. [Source: Review copy]
43. The Merchant and the Rogue. (The Dread Penny Society #3) Sarah M. Eden. 2021. 368 pages. [Source: Review copy]
44. Miss Kopp Investigates. (Kopp Sisters #7) Amy Stewart. 2021. [September] 304 pages. [Source: Review copy]
45. Eyes of the Forest. April Henry. 2021. [April] 272 pages. [Source: Review copy]
46. Pride and Premeditation. (Jane Austen Murder Mystery #1) Tirzah Price. 2021. [April] 368 pages. [Source: Review copy]
47. The Matchmaker's Lonely Heart. Nancy Campbell Allen. 2021. 336 pages. [Source: Review copy]
48. While I Was Away. Waka T. Brown. 2021. [January] 310 pages. [Source: Review copy]
49. Love and Lavender (Mayfield Family #4) Josi S. Kilpack. 2021. [November] 320 pages. [Source: Review copy]
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© 2020 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Wednesday, December 09, 2020

2021 Reading Challenges: Read It Again, Sam

Read it Again, Sam 2021 Rereading Challenge

Host: My Reader's Block (sign up here

Duration: January - December 2021

My goal: Living in the Past -- 16+ Books

1. Pinocchio. Carlo Collodi. 1883. 160 pages. [Source: Bought]
2. Ruth. Elizabeth Gaskell. 1853. 432 pages. [Source: Bought]
3. Pygmalion. George Bernard Shaw. 1912. 96 pages. [Source: Bought]
4. To Say Nothing of the Dog. (Oxford Time Travel #2) Connie Willis. 1998. 512 pages. [Source: Bought]
5. Blackout. Connie Willis. 2010. 610 pages. [Source: Bought]
6. The Eye of the World (Wheel of Time #1) Robert Jordan. 1990. Tor. 814 pages. [Source: Bought]
7. The Great Hunt. (Wheel of Time #2) Robert Jordan. 1991. 705 pages. [Source: Bought]
8. The Dragon Reborn. (The Wheel of Time #3) Robert Jordan. 1991. 624 pages. [Source: Bought]
9. The Shadow Rising. (The Wheel of Time #4) Robert Jordan. 1992. 672 pages. [Source: Bought]
10. The Fires of Heaven. (The Wheel of Time #5) Robert Jordan. 1993. 704 pages. [Source: Bought]
11. The Knife of Never Letting Go. (Chaos Walking #1) Patrick Ness. 512 pages. [Source: Bought]
12. Out of My Mind. Sharon M. Draper. 2010. 295 pages. [Source: Library]
13. Shout. Laurie Halse Anderson. 2019. Penguin. 304 pages. [Source: Library]
14. Abel's Island. William Steig. 1976. 117 pages. [Source: Bought]
15. Letters From Father Christmas. J.R.R. Tolkien. 1976/1999. 160 pages. [Source: Library]
16. Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry. Mildred D. Taylor. 1976. 288 pages. [Source: Library]
17. The Nutcracker Comes To America: How Three Ballet-Loving Brothers Created a Holiday Tradition. Chris Barton. Illustrated by Cathy Gendron. 2015. Millbrook Press. 36 pages. [Source: Library]
18. A Christmas Carol. Charles Dickens. 1843. 96 pages. [Source: Bought]
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© 2020 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Friday, December 04, 2020

2021 Victorian Reading Challenge

Victorian Reading Challenge
Host: Becky's Book Reviews (sign up here)
Duration: January 2021 - December 2021
Goal: Read between 4 to 6 Books (4 minimum)

Choose to participate in the basic challenge (quarterly) or the advanced challenge (themed months). All books must fall into the "Victorian" category being either a) books originally published between 1837 and 1901 b) books originally written (but not published) between 1837 and 1901 c) general nonfiction about the Victorian era (the times, the culture, the people, the events) d) biographies of Victorians.

Sign up by leaving a comment.

 I. Quarterly Victorian Challenge

Read ONE book between January 1, 2021 and March 31, 2021
Read ONE book between April 1, 2021 and June 30, 2021
Read ONE book between July 1, 2021 and September 30, 2021
Read ONE book between October 1, 2021 and December 31, 2021

II. There will be ELEVEN themed monthly posts. (And ONE Super-Bonus Theme that will cover all twelve months). You can sign up for this level of the challenge and not "have" to participate every month. The goal is to read at least four to six books throughout the whole year. It is also more important to finish your current book than start a new theme. So if a new month comes and you're still halfway through your book...finish your book...and don't worry about keeping up with that month's theme.

January/February The theme is ADAPTATIONS. Read any book that has been adapted into a movie, miniseries, or television show. OR read any book that you think SHOULD be adapted into a movie. If you choose that option you can even make a case for WHO should star in it.

February/March The theme is LOVE and MARRIAGE. Read any book where characters fall in love, or fall out of love, or court, or become engaged, or get married. It doesn't have to be an epic romance with a happily ever after. (Though it can!)

March/April The theme is JOURNEYS and TRAVELS. Read any book where a character goes on ANY journey. (For example, Pickwick Papers, Three Men in a Boat, Jane Eyre, Can You Forgive Her?, Great Expectations, Treasure Island, Alice in Wonderland, etc.) The journey does not have to be a grand adventure or luxurious vacation.

April/May The theme is SECOND CHANCES. Give an author a second chance. Give a book a second chance. Give a genre a second chance.

May/June The theme is FAVORITE AUTHORS, NEW-TO-ME Books. Choose a favorite author and read a book by him/her that you've never read before.

June/July The theme is NONFICTION. Read nonfiction books (autobiographies, biographies, etc.) published during the Victorian era OR nonfiction books about the Victorian era or specific Victorians.

July/August The theme is NAMES AS TITLES. Read any book where a proper name (a person, a place, etc) is the title of the book.

August/September The theme is BACK TO SCHOOL. Read (or reread) any book that you were assigned to read in school or university. OR Read any book where a character's education is emphasized (Great Expectations, Nicholas Nickleby, Jane Eyre, etc.) OR Read any book that you think SHOULD be required reading for high school or university. OR Read a Victorian children's classic.

September/October The theme is CRIME OR TRUE CRIME. Thrillers. Mysteries. Suspense. Horror. GOTHIC. This would be a great place to fit in general nonfiction about the Victorian era. Some great true crime books have been published.

October/November The theme is HOME AND FAMILY. Read any book with a focus on family life and relationships between family members. (The relationships do not have to be healthy.)

November/December The theme is COMFORT READS. Reread a book (of any length) that just makes you HAPPY.

January Through December: The super-bonus theme is BEARDED VICTORIANS. I've listed a few examples below.

Charles Dickens

Anthony Trollope
Wilkie Collins

George MacDonald

 

© 2020 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

2021 Georgian Reading Challenge

 

Georgian Reading Challenge
Host: Becky's Book Reviews (sign up here)
Duration: December 1, 2020 - December 31, 2021
# of books: minimum 4

What counts:

  • Novels, poems, plays, short stories, novellas, letters, diaries, essays, nonfiction published in Great Britain (or its colonies) during the Georgian era. (1714-1837) or (1714-1830)
  • Nonfiction books published about the Georgian era. Including, of course, biographies on the royal family. 
  • Historical fiction set during the Georgian era. 
  • Books, e-books, audio books.  
  • Movies and television series set during this period--if you review them--can count. But try to keep things balanced.
You may make a list if you want to plan ahead...or read according to your whimsy.

Sign up by leaving a comment. No blog is required--no review either. But if you do have a blog, I'd love a link to it. Same with GoodReads if that is where you review books. (Comment moderation is turned on.)

You may follow me on twitter @blbooks.

 

 

© 2020 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Thursday, December 03, 2020

2021 Reading Challenges: Back to the Classics 2021

Back to the Classics Challenge 2021

Host: Books and Chocolate (sign up here)

January - December 2021

Goal: Read 9 to 12 books in specific categories and link up on her blog

1. A 19th century classic: any book first published from 1800 to 1899
 


2. A 20th century classic: any book first published from 1900 to 1971. All books must have been published at least 50 years ago; the only exceptions are books which were written by 1971 and posthumously published.

3. A classic by a woman author.
 
Ruth. Elizabeth Gaskell. 1853. 432 pages. [Source: Bought]

4. A classic in translation, meaning any book first published in a language that is not your primary language. You may read it in translation or in its original language, if you prefer. 
 
The Captain's Daughter: Essential Stories. Alexander Pushkin. TRANSLATED BY ANTHONY BRIGGS. (New translation copyrighted 2021). 224 pages. [Source: Review copy]

5. A classic by BIPOC author; that is, a non-white author.

6. A classic by a new-to-you author, i.e., an author whose work you have never read.

Belinda. Maria Edgeworth. 1801. 544 pages. [Source: Bought] 


7. New-to-you classic by a favorite author -- a new book by an author whose works you have already read. 

8. A classic about an animal, or with an animal in the title. The animal can be real or metaphorical. (i.e., To Kill a Mockingbird).

9. A children's classic. 
 

Pinocchio. Carlo Collodi. 1883. 160 pages. [Source: Bought]

10. A humorous or satirical classic.
 
The Bostonians. Henry James. 1886. 460 pages. [Source: Bought] *Wikipedia and Goodreads seems to think this is a satirical novel about the Feminist movement. 

11. A travel or adventure classic (fiction or non-fiction). It can be a travelogue or a classic in which the main character travels or has an adventure. 

A Tale of Two Cities. Charles Dickens. 1859. 446 pages. [Source: Review copy]
 
12. A classic play. Plays will only count in this category.

 Pygmalion. George Bernard Shaw. 1912. 96 pages. [Source: Bought]

If you're new to the challenge, here's how it works:
  • Complete six categories, and you'll get one entry in the drawing; 
  • Complete nine categories, and you'll get two entries in the drawing; 
  • Complete all twelve categories, and you'll get three entries in the drawing

 

  • All books must have been written at least 50 years ago to qualify; therefore, books must have been published no later than 1971 for this challenge. The only exceptions to this rule are books which published posthumously but written before 1971. Recent translations of classic novels are acceptable. 

© 2020 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Wednesday, December 02, 2020

2021 World War II Challenge

J. Howard Miller 1918-2004, artwork details on wikimedia commons

 


2021 World War II Challenge
Host: Becky's Book Reviews (sign up here)
Dates: January - December 2021
Goals: Read, Watch, Listen, Share WWII related stuff

Books

  • Fiction published during 1939-1945
  • Fiction set during 1939-1945
  • Fiction that is about the leading up to the war
  • Fiction that is about the direct aftermath of the war
  • Nonfiction books about the War
  • Biographies or Autobiographies with sections about the war
  • Poetry or verse novels with a WWII setting OR publication date
  • Essays, Articles, Op-Ed pieces
  • historical-historical (straight up historical with no sub-genres)
  • historical romance
  • historical mysteries
  • historical coming-of-age
  • historical thrillers/suspense/spy novels

Music

Films and documentaries

  • any film made/released during 1939-1945
  • any film set during the war 
  • any documentary about the war

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If you would like check-in posts throughout the year, please mention it in your sign up comment. If you are neutral or don't like checking-back-in mention that too, if you don't mind. I'll do what most want--or try to remember to do so. Let's be honest, intentions at the start of the year don't always stick.

© 2020 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

2021 Reading Challenges Historical Fiction

Historical Fiction Reading Challenge 2021

Host: The Adventures of an Intrepid Reader (sign up post)

Dates: January - December 2021

Goal: Ancient History -- 25 books (I figure I'm close to the 48 range really but 50 seems like it might be trying to do too much)

1. Georgana's Secret. Arlem Hawks. 2021. [January] Shadow Mountain. 320 pages. [Source: Review copy]
2. The Abbey Mystery (Jane Austen Investigates #1). Julia Golding. 2021. [April] 192 pages. [Source: Review copy]
3. My Chocolate Year: A Novel with Twelve Recipes to Make Your World A Little Sweeter. Charlotte Herman. Illustrated by LeUyen Pham. 2008. 176 pages. [Source: Review copy]
4. Twenty-One Days. (Daniel Pitt #1) Anne Perry. 2018. 303 pages. [Source: Review copy]
5. The Children's Blizzard. Melanie Benjamin. 2021. [January] 368 pages. [Source: Review copy]
6. War and Millie McGonigle. Karen Cushman. 2021. [April] 224 pages. [Source: Review copy]
7. In Times of Rain and War. Camron Wright. 2021. [April] 320 pages. [Source: Review copy]
8. A Captain for Caroline Gray. Julie Wright. 2021. [March] 336 pages. [Source: Review copy]
9.  Surviving Savannah. Patti Callahan. 2021. [March] 432 pages. [Source: Review copy]
10.  A Tale of Two Cities. Charles Dickens. 1859. 446 pages. [Source: Review copy]
11.  Triple Jeopardy. (Daniel Pitt #2) Anne Perry. 2019. 288 pages. [Source: Review copy]
12.  The Historians. Cecilia Ekback. 2021. [January] 464 pages. [Source: Review copy]
13. Sixteen Scandals. Sophie Jordan. 2021. [May] 256 pages. [Source: Review copy]
14. The Talisman Ring. Georgette Heyer. 1936/2009. Sourcebooks. 303 pages. [Source: Review copy]
15. The Tobacco Girls. Lizzie Lane. 2021 [January] 318 pages. [Source: Review copy]
16. Isabelle and Alexander. Rebecca Anderson. 2021. [May] 324 pages. [Source: Review copy]
17. John Eyre. Mimi Matthews. 2021. [August] 312 pages. [Source: Review copy]
18. Chasing Shadows. Lynn Austin. 2021. [June] 432 pages. [Source: Review copy]
19. Mr. Malcolm's List. Suzanne Allain. 2009/2020. 254 pages. [Source: Review copy]
20. Miss Lattimore's Letter. Suzanne Allain. 2021. [August] 256 pages. [Source: Review copy]
21. Amber and Clay. Laura Amy Schlitz. 2021. [May] 544 pages. [Source: Review copy]
22. Jo & Laurie. Margaret Stohl and Melissa de la Cruz. 2020. [June] 384 pages. [Source: Library]
23. The Forgotten Orphan. Glynis Peters. 2021. [May] 400 pages. [Source: Review copy]
24. Rescue. Jennifer A. Nielsen. 2021. [March] 400 pages. [Source: Library]
25. The Silver Blonde. Elizabeth Ross. 2021. [July] 400 pages. [Source: Library]
26. The Merchant and the Rogue. (The Dread Penny Society #3) Sarah M. Eden. 2021. 368 pages. [Source: Review copy]
27. The House of Serendipity. Lucy Ivison. 2021. 224 pages. [Source: Library]
28. The Light of Luna Park. Addison Armstrong. 2021 [August] 336 pages. [Source: Library]
29. . Dear Miss Kopp (Kopp Sisters #6). Amy Stewart. 2021 [January] 320 pages. [Source: Review copy]
30. Dear Mrs. Bird. (Emmy Lake Chronicles #1) A.J. Pearce. 2018. 281 pages. [Source: Library]
31. Miss Kopp Investigates. (Kopp Sisters #7) Amy Stewart. 2021. [September] 304 pages. [Source: Review copy]
32. Pride and Premeditation. (Jane Austen Murder Mystery #1) Tirzah Price. 2021. [April] 368 pages. [Source: Review copy]
33. Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry. Mildred D. Taylor. 1976. 288 pages. [Source: Library]
34. A Christmas Waltz. Josi S. Kilpack. 2020. [November] 130 pages. [Source: Library]
35.  Don't Tell the Nazis. Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch. 2019. 226 pages. [Source: Library]
36. The Matchmaker's Lonely Heart. Nancy Campbell Allen. 2021. 336 pages. [Source: Review copy]
37. Love and Lavender (Mayfield Family #4) Josi S. Kilpack. 2021. [November] 320 pages. [Source: Review copy]
38. The Red Horse. (Billy Boyle #15) James R. Benn. 2020. 336 pages. [Source: Bought]
39. The Last Daughter of York. Nicola Cornick. 2021. [November] 368 pages. [Source: Library]
40. All He Knew. Helen Frost. 2020. [August] 272 pages. [Source: Library]

 

© 2020 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews