January 16, 2018

Modern Mrs. Darcy Reading Challenge 2018 (suggestions welcomed)


This year, I'm going to join in on this challenge. 12 books in 1 year is something I can do. This just takes a little proactive thought on my part. 

1. A classic you've been meaning to read. Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie. I'll call this a classic. It's the most-read mystery of all time. Who decides what "classic" means anyway? 

2. A book recommended by someone(s) with great taste. Sworn to Silence by Linda Castillo. This is recommended by several bloggers so I'll give it a try. 

3. A book in translation. Britt-Marie Was Here by Frederick Backman. I don't have a strong "like" record with his books but I like the title of this one and I'll give him one more chance. 

4. A book nominated for an award in 2018. Wolf Hollow by Lauren Volk. This is a Newbery Honor book and I can't figure why it was nominated in 2017 and isn't being published until this April. I'm calling it as fitting the category though for that discrepancy. I had to pre-order it. It has a long list of awards on the Amazon page so it'll work. 

5. An essay collection. Heating and Cooling by Beth Anne Fennelly

6. A book you can read in a day. Suggestions??? I'm thinking The Lathe of Heaven because Anne Bogel recommends it as a book you can read in a day...but I don't always love her suggestions (and now I know you're wondering why I'm doing this challenge, right?)

7. A book over 500 pages. The Distant Hours by Kate Morton. This is the most ambitious pick on the list. I'm a fan of Morton but I don't have a great track record with long books these days. Do you have a different one you've loved?

8. A book by a favorite author.  Deadly Summer by Denise Grover Swank. This is her new series, now that Rose Gardner is mostly wrapped up. 

9. Suggestions for something recommended by a librarian or bookseller? I don't know any. 

10. Suggestions for a banned book?

11. A Memoir. What Made Maddy Run by Kate Fagan. This was recommended by Carly and it seems interesting and meaningful. 

12. A book by an author of a different race, ethnicity, or religion than your own. Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng. I didn't finish this within my library loan time, so I put myself back on the holds list. I'm currently #48. Then, Kristen generously sent me her copy since she was done with it, so I can read it at my own (snail's) pace!  Thanks Kristen! I'll be happy to pass it on to whoever wants it next and is a victim of a long wait list. Let me know!

Any suggestions? I'm drawing a few blanks. Also, are you doing a book challenge this year? 
I always gravitate toward non-fiction so picking for fiction is so hit and miss for me. I have 4 books on my nightstand (all gifts) and they're all non-fiction.

6 comments:

  1. Wolf Hollow was definitely already published. I saw that many people are leaving that MMD category blank for now because we don't know what will be nominated yet in 2018 :) Any award winning book is a great choice though if it interests you! I am mailing you Sworn to Silence this week! I have a couple of packages ready to go. It might take awhile (and sorry it has taken so long) but I hope you like it :) I loved Murder on the Orient Express!! For books you could read in a day (maybe), I just read a couple of Penny Reid books last week (the first in the beard series and the first in the Knitting in the City series) and I think those might be a bit up your alley (i.e. maybe similar to Sophie Kinsella/Denise Grover Swank?!) A middle grade one might be a good choice for reading in a day too :) Good luck!!!

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  2. I love these book challenges, I worry I will find myself in a rut if I try to be particular about I need to read but I also get some great ideas from them!

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  3. Fun challenge! I'm doing a couple but nothing this restricted...I think I'd have a tough time figuring out something for each category too. LOL

    I really enjoy reading non-fiction sometimes too; You could totally use non-fic for some of these, like the one you can read in a day or something! Other one-day reads would be Number the Stars or Bridge to Terabithia; both MG books, but I love them.

    For banned books, there are so many options so I'd suggest looking things up on a list but some that I love that I'm pretty sure are banned:

    Perks of Being A Wallflower
    Looking for Alaska
    Persepolis (it's a graphic novel)
    The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
    Brave New World (the classic novel)
    Of Mice and Men (another classic)
    A Wrinkle in Time

    -Lauren
    www.shootingstarsmag.net

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  4. This is such a good idea! I might have to copy this. I had a lofty goal of 40 books last year and I think I read 22? Something about having a baby, yadda yadda yadda.

    Dummy alert: I didn't know what a "book in translation" meant. Hello, Google.

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  5. Wolf Hollow is amazing! It was my favorite book of 2016. The paperback is due out in 2018 with a different cover and I'm not sure how I feel about that. I'm still not over the ending.

    My suggestion as a school librarian (I'm elementary but I read a lot of YA) is "Far From the Tree" by Robin Benway. It won the National Book Award for youth last year. It was my favorite book of 2017.

    I just read a book called "Ban This Book" (Fiction) for intermediate grades. It centered around "The Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler" as the banned book. I just want to read it to figure out why.

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  6. I'm doing a different reading challenge (Erin of texerin-in-sydneyland). I didn't know this challenge existed but I may participate since a lot of the categories overlap. I read Heating/Cooling in a day. Currently reading another essay collection by Cheryl Strayed who also wrote Wild. I agree with Lauren's suggestions for banned book- I really enjoyed The Absolutely True Diary of a Part- Time Indian, and Angie Thomas' The Hate U Give. Loved Little Fires Everywhere- I hope you enjoy it too!

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