Reading Challenge: January, February, March

[Gravy]

No poll for this round, and these challenges will be active for only three months: January, February, and March.
If all goes well, I'll have brand new challenges for you, beginning in April!

Please post what you decide to read, to give the rest of us suggestions if nothing else, and perhaps we can even have some fun discussions!

So...to get back on track...

You're mission, should you decide to accept it, is to read a book to fit each of the following challenges:

January:
The theme of January's challenge is 'New', so pick up something by a debut author, or just one that's new-to-you.

February:
February's theme is 'Love', but with a twist. Read something that focuses on any type of non-romantic love.

March:
Read any book that is set (even partially) in Ireland.

Bonus #1:
With Chinese New Year in February, let's give it an honorable mention. Read any book that somehow relates to one of the animals of it's zodiac (list provided at the bottom.)

Bonus #2:
With February being the shortest month of the year, this bonus challenge is to read something under 100 pages.


Animals in the Chinese Zodiac

• Rat
• Ox
• Tiger
• Rabbit
• Dragon
• Snake
• Horse
• Goat
• Monkey
• Rooster
• Dog
• Pig

Have fun!

[gali]

No poll for this round, and these challenges will be active for only three months: January, February, and March.
If all goes well, I'll have brand new challenges for you, beginning in April!

Please post what you decide to read, to give the rest of us suggestions if nothing else, and perhaps we can even have some fun discussions!

So...to get back on track...

You're mission, should you decide to accept it, is to read a book to fit each of the following challenges:

January:
The theme of January's challenge is 'New', so pick up something by a debut author, or just one that's new-to-you.

February:
February's theme is 'Love', but with a twist. Read something that focuses on any type of non-romantic love.

March:
Read any book that is set (even partially) in Ireland.

Bonus #1:
With Chinese New Year in February, let's give it an honorable mention. Read any book that somehow relates to one of the animals of it's zodiac (list provided at the bottom.)

Bonus #2:
With February being the shortest month of the year, this bonus challenge is to read something under 100 pages.


Animals in the Chinese Zodiac

• Rat
• Ox
• Tiger
• Rabbit
• Dragon
• Snake
• Horse
• Goat
• Monkey
• Rooster
• Dog
• Pig

Have fun!

Sounds like fun!

I have to think about it.

[kandscreeley]

I agree... I think those challenges are fabulous! The great thing about the challenge for January is if you are part of the review team, you read novels by debut authors often. That's what a lot of the reviews are for. I just read one that was written by a 12 year old boy... Island Games. Boy was I impressed!!

[Gravy]

I just read one that was written by a 12 year old boy... Island Games. Boy was I impressed!!

That does sound impressive!


Any suggestions for the February theme would be welcome! I don't really have anything for that in mind.

Also, if anyone is in need of a suggestion for the Chinese New Year theme, The Great Zoo of China by Matthew Reilly is all about dragons.

[gali]

Ok, for January I chose "Out of Darkness" by M A Richards. I am reading it right now.

[kandscreeley]

Hmmm. Non-romantic love. What about like parent/child relationships? Just brainstorming here. Some kind of non-fiction?

[Gravy]

Hmmm. Non-romantic love. What about like parent/child relationships? Just brainstorming here. Some kind of non-fiction?

That could work.

Maybe I'll read Dean Koontz's memoir, A Big Little Life. Surely 'puppy' love counts, right?

It could also work for my zodiac book!

[R-g-R]

What great challenges!

So far all three books I’ve read in January have been new, plus one was by a new author. Check.

February will be interesting...love of a different kind and one of the animals of the Chinese Zodiac.
Thinking...thinking...

An’ sumpthin’ Irish in March...sounds loovely (uses best attempted Irish accent )

[Gravy]

I've decided on The Memory Painter for my January book.

[gali]

I've decided on The Memory Painter for my January book.

I finished "Out of Darkness" by M A Richards and liked it. If "The Memory Painter" will become the BOTM, I will read it as well this month.

[SPasciuti]

Hmmm. Non-romantic love. What about like parent/child relationships? Just brainstorming here. Some kind of non-fiction?

I'm sure a lot of non-fiction books could probably work. I think, in this case, if you're looking for fiction, though, anything about familial love could work? I think My Sister's Keeper might be a good one, actually, though I haven't read it or seen the film so I can't say for sure. I'm also considering Spinning Starlight which involves a girl trying to save her brothers.

As for my January challenge book, I'm counting my read of The Wendy by Erin Michelle Sky and Steven Brown since it is both a new book to me and new author's I've never read before.

[Kaomelunna88]

January, something "new": Through the Gate in the Sea by Howard Andrew Jones (Pathfinder Tales).
My husband & I just finished reading this book. It's fairly new having been published in February of 2017. It's the first book in the Pathfinder Tales Library (by Paizo & printed by TOR) that we've read & our first encounter with the authors works.

[uyky]

For Chinese new years it's ok to pick up dog and dragon books so that the challenge I'll do. If you haven't yet read it, I think Cornelia Funke has a lovely children's book on that topic. Dragon and his rider or something like that. Or Flowers for Algernon features rats. I will be checking this topic often for everything else. I would be grateful for any suggestions for the March challenge.

[Gravy]

Here's a link for books set in Ireland, in case anyone needs some suggestions.

I actually plan to read the most recent Anita Blake by Laurell K Hamilton. Been putting it off for awhile.

[AbbyGNelson]

haha this is fun