Boxonow

Challenge Basics:   Name: Keep the Books Off the Shelf Challenge Hosts: Me! Starts: January 1, 2019 Ends: December 31, 2019 Goal: 15 books Eligible Books: Books you acquire in 2019 Why I'm Interested:   I'm not sure if anyone is actually hosting a challenge like this, but it's a challenge I'm giving myself, again. Last year I read a ton off books I acquired in 2018, and rather than feel bad about neglecting my previously owned books, instead I felt like I was accomplishing something with every new book I acquired and read. And I was! Every year I participate in the Read My Own Books Challenge where I try to read as many books I own as possible. Downside? Those challenges don't count books you acquire during the challenge year, and I think they should! Sure, I know the goal is to read all those books that have been languishing year after year, but what about preventative measures? I think those should be rewarded, too! (I feel like a health insu...

21/15 books Challenge Basics:   Name: 2019 Historical Fiction Reading Challenge Hosts: Passages to the Past Starts: January 1, 2019 Ends: December 31, 2019 Eligible Books: YA and adult historical fiction books. Non-fiction included. Levels: I am going to try for 15 books Why I'm Interested:   Historical Bio and Historical Non-Fiction : These are the weightier, meatier books that I want to make top priority. They go into detail about actual people and events and I'll learn the most from them. I've thrown in the non-fiction books onto this shelf, too. I've been toe-dipping into non-fiction, and I'd like to continue that toe-dip. Historical Fantasy : These vary as far as actual historical learning goes. Some have a ton of historical detail, but most just use a historical setting. Some of my favorite books come from this shelf and I don't want to neglect them just because they're not heavy historical fiction. Historical Lite : These are a ...

22/12 books How do you make a progress bar?  Challenge Basics:   Name: Read My Own Damn Books Challenge Previous Hosts: Estella's Revenge Starts: January 1, 2019 Ends: December 31, 2019 Eligible Books: Books you own prior to 2019. Levels: I'm going to try to read and/or DNF and get rid of 12 books I own. Why I'm Interested:   I seriously have too many books and they keep sitting on my shelves unread. I did this challenge in 2015 and ended up getting rid of almost all the books I read for the challenge, which means I've carted around and found room for all those books that I didn't even end up liking. Before I move again, I need to reevaluate the books I'm bringing with me and make sure they're books I actually want. Some books I'm considering:  Anything on my Own-Unread shelf that I acquired prior to 2019. At the start of 2019, here's where I stand as far as what books I own and what percentage of them I've read: 26% read of books acquir...

Challenge Basics:   Name: The Re-Read Challenge Hosts: Belle of the Literati (in 2016) Starts: January 1, 2019 Ends: December 31, 2019 Eligible Books: Books you've already read. Why I'm Interested:   Whether it's re-reading for comfort or to revisit old favorites, I want to make sure I enthusiastically dive into re-reading whenever I feel the urge. Some books I'm considering: My Special Shelf favorites , of course. Also, books I liked enough or am curious enough to re-listen to on audio. Books Completed: 10. Heart's Blood by Juliet Marillier 9. A Study in Scarlet by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle 8. A Pearl Among Princes by Coleen Murtagh Paratore 7. The Decoy Princess by Dawn Cook 6. Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones 5. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J. K. Rowling 4. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J. K. Rowling 3. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J. K. Rowling 2. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J. K. Rowling 1. Harry Po...

6 Challenges...how did I do? The Re-Read Challenge Goal: Re-read as many books as I want Books read:7 Goal achieved? Yes! I ended up re-reading 7 books this year, none of which were on audio. Audio books were a way I ended up rereading a lot of books, but with my current barely-five-minute commute, I don't have much room for audio books right now. This was an unusual year for rereads, as none of the "usual suspects" made an appearance this year. No Karen White, Amelia Atwater-Rhodes, and L. J. Smith. For the second year in a row now, no Anne Bishop and Sarah J. Maas. These are my standby comfort reads, but 2018 didn't lead me to seek out this kind of comfort read. Or, perhaps the way I approached 2018 had something to do with that.  Instead, I revisited some old favorites that I hadn't read in years and years, including the Hero's Guide series and Harry Potter. While I wanted the lighthearted humor of the Hero's Guide books in part because I wanted a l...

I made a really big list It's that time of year again! I started making these lists because I'm a list kind of person, but they've become so much more. I've found myself returning to them time and again almost like a scrapbook. It's been a nice way to reflect, remember, and reminisce. Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death by M. C. Beaton Agatha Raisin makes me think of my co-worker in one of the libraries I worked in years ago. She became my friend and felt like another grandmother to me and helped me grow in ways I don't think I was able to fully realize until I got older. Both realize in the sense of be aware of and realize in the sense of put into action. Some things you just need to be the right age for, and I think as I'm getting older those lessons are more applicable to my current life experiences. This friend liked the Agatha Raisin series and reading them now I feel like I'm reading them with her. Agatha Raisin and the Vicious Vet by M. ...

I made a really big list It's that time of year again! I started making these lists because I'm a list kind of person, but they've become so much more. I've found myself returning to them time and again almost like a scrapbook. It's been a nice way to reflect, remember, and reminisce. The Little Book of Pooh-isms A review book. Hardly a "book" in the reading challenge sense, this was a quick read filled with quotes from the Pooh books and movies. Sweet, charming, and somewhat silly, this book was nice because it reminded me of the other books and movies. My husband and I read through the quotes together while making dinner one night. Which, really does make this book a good way to spend some time. Emily Goes to Exeter by M. C. Beaton Belinda Goes to Bath by M. C. Beaton I wasn't ready to let go of this author yet, so I picked her her Traveling Matchmaker series. These books have the best covers yet, but not the best stories. Oh they're great, a...