Saturday, January 4, 2014

Reading Challenges for 2014

Secret Santa gift from the lovely Simon at Stuck-in-a-Book


A belated Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all from a stinking hot Brisbane.

How was your Silly Season?

Was it full of books and lots of lovely reading?

I reached my goal of reading 50 books last year for the first time - hoorah!

This year I will try and do the same but mix it up a bit with a few reading challenges.

My first reading challenge is one I've joined on Librarything through the Virago Group.



For that I hope to read the following:

  1. William an Englishman by Cecily Hamilton
 William : an Englishman by Cicely Hamilton

    2.   One of Ours by Willa Cather

One of Ours (Virago Modern Classics) by…

   3.   Testament of Youth by Vera Brittain

Testament of Youth by Vera Brittain

   4.   Not so quiet by Helen Zenna Smith

Not So Quiet...: Step-Daughters of War by…

   5.   The Return of the Soldier by Rebecca West

The Return of the Soldier by Rebecca West


I have also signed up for the Eclectic Reader Challenge

eclecticchallenge2014_300

I am really looking forward to this as I need to broaden my reading particularly for the work I do in a public library.  These are the books/genres I hope to read:

  1. Award Winning - I'll seek my inspiration from this website and given that I have just discovered Penelope Fitzgerald, I reckon I'll read Offshore for this one.
Offshore by Penelope Fitzgerald

2. True Crime (Non Fiction) - well I do have The Gatton Murders by Stephanie Bennett  by my bed or The Baby Farmers by Annie Cossins or Three Crooked Kings by Matt Condon, so I think that's that covered off

Cover - Link opens in a new windowCover - Link opens in a new windowThree crooked kings : Terry Lewis, the rat…

3. Romantic Comedy - I'm a bit non-plussed about this - want to give me a suggestion?  Otherwise I'll be heading for Can You Keep a Secret? by Sophie Kinsella

Cover - Link opens in a new window

4. Alternate History Fiction - Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke appeals to me

Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna…

5. Graphic Novel - I suspect this will be like eating dry All Bran for Me - I'm choosing Watchmen 

Watchmen by Alan Moore

6.  Cosy Mystery Fiction - unless you have a better suggestion (and I am all ears, really I am) I will plump for Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death by MC Beaton I suppose.

Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death by M.…

7.  Gothic Fiction - I'm ashamed to say that I have never read Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier so that's a definite

Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier

8.  War/Military Fiction - see my first reading challenge ! ;0

9. Anthology - this is kind of curious.  I looked on Goodreads Listopia and Forever Friends by Shelagh Watkins was top of the list so I guess I'll give it a go!

Forever Friends by Shelagh Watkins

10 Medical Thriller Fiction - hmmm I'd appreciate a bit of advice on this category too otherwise I'll plump for Michael Crichton's Andromeda Strain

The Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton

11 Travel (Non Fiction) - I feel guilty that I've never read Bill Bryson so I think I'll choose 
A Walk in the Woods

A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America…

12 Published in 2014- ummmm well it's only 4 January but I can tell you now it will be one of the ones nominated for the Booker Prize that was published this year.

And just when you thought I was done....my third reading challenge will be the 


I'm aiming low - Dilettante level 1-5 books.  I've got two covered already in my eclectic reader challenge: travel and true crime.  I guess I'd like to read history, biography and genealogy as well.  But perhaps knitting will get a look in too.  Or social media or library stuff.  Lots of room for thought there.

What about you?  What reading challenges are you hoping to achieve this year?


7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Good luck with your challenges! I'm keeping it as simple as I can - apart from the Great War readalong I shall follow my whim!

GeniAus said...

I'll be following your reading journey with interest. I also hope to read 50+ books this year, fell below that in 2013 but have read my first for 2014. I haven't joined any reading challenges but you may inspire me to do that.

Joy said...

Looks like some fun reading. Good luck!


I'm joining you on the nonfiction challenge. I hope to learn a little something!


Joy's Book Blog

Anonymous said...


You have made some great choices for the challenge, thanks for joining me and good luck!

Shelleyrae @ Book'd Out

Alex Daw said...

Kaggsy - I think you are very smart....I'm dropping the ball already. Just one thing read so far...well one thing that I planned to read that is.

Thanks Jill - Good luck with your goals!

Thanks Joy - that's great. I suspect that may be the most difficult challenge of all but I would like to give it a go.

Thanks Bookdout and thanks for the idea!

Captain Nick Sparrow said...

Yay, you found some challenges! I really liked The Watchmen so hopefully it won't be too terrible for you.

XOXO

DougVernX said...

Oh you've got to read Bill Bryson. I've read most of his books. I'm looking at his "Walk in the Wood's" on my bookshelf right now. You will love it.