Wednesday, October 19, 2016

Semi-Charmed Winter 2016 Book Challenge

photo via Instagram


It's almost time for the next installment of the Semi-Charmed Book Challenge series! Click on the link to see the full rules and to sign up.


General Guidelines:
  • The challenge will run from November 1, 2016, to January 31, 2017. No books started before 12 a.m. on November 1 or finished after 11:59 p.m. on January 31 will count.
  • Each book must be at least 150 pages long. Audiobooks and large-print books are fine, as long as the regular print version meets the length requirement.
  • A book can only be used for one category, and each category can only be completed once.
  • The highest possible total is 200 points, and the first five people who finish the challenge will be invited to contribute a category for the summer 2017 challenge.
  • Have fun! Read some books you might not have read otherwise. Discover new authors and make new bookworm friends. (Yes, these are the most important rules!)

Challenge Categories (with my proposed books--will confirm and link reviews as I go):
5 points: Freebie! Read any book that is at least 150 pages long. 
Black Widower by Patricia Moyes [212 pages] (11/6/16)

10 points: Read a 2016 finalist (longlist or shortlist) for one of the following literary prizes: National Book Award, Man Booker or Man Booker International.
When the Sea Turned to Silver by Grace Lin [National Book Award Finalist; 384 pages] (1/24/17)

10 points: Read a brand-new release (something published between November 1, 2016, and January 31, 2017).

The Jekyll Revelation by Robert Masello (477 pages) [publish date 11/8/16] (11/15/16)
 
15 points: Read a book by an author of a different race or religion than you.
March: Book Two by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin & Nate Powell [192 pages] (1/27/17)

15 points: Read a book featuring a main character who is of a different race or religion than you.
The Black Count by Tom Reiss [414 pages] (1/21/17)

20 points: Read a modern retelling of a classic (e.g. an Austen Project novel, Vinegar Girl by Anne Tyler, etc.) — Submitted by SCSBC16 winner Kaity.
Grendel by John Gardner [174 pages] (12/28/16)

25 points: Read a book with an alcoholic beverage (neat or cocktail) in the title. — Submitted by SCSBC16 winner Kerry. (And she was nice enough to come up with a long list of suggestions for you!) 
Cocktails & the Killer by Peter Cheyney [159 pages] (11/30/16)

30 points: Read a book with a character that shares your first or last name. (Alternate spellings are okay, e.g. Megan and Meghan or Smith and Smyth.) — Submitted by SCSBC16 winner Ericka.
Beverly Gray's Mystery by Clair Blank [207 pages] (11/22/16)

30 points: Read two books: a nonfiction book and a fiction book with which it connects. For example: A is for Arsenic: The Poisons of Agatha Christie and one of Christie's mystery novels that features poison, or The Monuments Men and All the Light We Cannot See. The possibilities are endless, so have fun with this one! — Submitted by SCSBC16 winner Bev. (And remember you must finish both books to get the 30 points! No partial points will be awarded.)
The Life & Times of Miss Jane Marple by Anne Hart (bio of Christie's detective; 161 pages) AND The Body in the Library by Agatha Christie (3rd Miss Marple mystery; 151 pages) [both reviewed 11/13/16]
 
40 points: Read two books: one by an author whose first name is the same as the last name of the author of the other book. For example: You may read a book by Martin Cruz Smith and a book by George R.R. Martin, or a book by James Joyce and a book by Joyce Carol Oates. The shared name must be spelled exactly the same, no variations. — Submitted by SCSBC16 winner Jamie. (And remember you must finish both books to get the 40 points! No partial points will be awarded.)
The Unconscious Witness by R. Austin Freeman [258 pages] (1/28/17) AND A Losing Game by Freeman Wills Crofts [224 pages] (1/31/17)


2 comments:

Debbie Rodgers said...

I thought I was signed up to get these notices but I guess I wasn't. Thanks for bringing it to my attention - it sounds like fun again!

Megan said...

Yay, glad to have you back!! Good luck as always. :)