Tag: Reading Challenges

When Are You Reading? Challenge 2023 Progress Update

whatcathyreadnext5 Comments

when-are-you-reading-2023The When Are You Reading? Challenge is being hosted again in 2023 by Sam at Taking on a World of Words. It involves reading a book set in each of twelve time periods. Determining what year a book belongs in is the decision of the participant. On the whole, the rule is to choose a year where the largest part of the action occurs or the most important event.

I thought I’d take a look at how I’m doing so far. Surprisingly good is the short answer although there have been quite a lot of changes from the books I originally identified for each time period.  Books with a green tick are ones I’ve read and the links from the book title will take you to my review. Otherwise the links will take you to the book on Goodreads.

If you love historical fiction but often find yourself sticking to one or two favourite time periods, or if you’re keen to read more historical fiction in 2023, there’s still time to sign up and join in.

Pre-1200:           Bellatrix by Simon Turney Tick

1200-1499:        The Painter of Souls by Philip Kazan

1500-1699:        Rivers of Treason by K. J. Maitland Tick

1700-1799:        The Warlow Experiment by Alix Nathan Tick

1800-1899:        A Gift of Poison by Bella Ellis Tick

1900-1919:        The Heart Stone by Judith Barrow

1920-1939:        Sepulchre Street by Martin Edwards Tick

1940-1959:        The English Führer by Rory Clements Tick

1960-1979:        Nothing Special by Nicole Flattery Tick

1980-1999:       Old God’s Time by Sebastian Barry Tick

2000-Present: Ponti by Sharlene Teo Tick

The Future:       A Winter Grave by Peter May Tick

20 Books Of Summer 2023 Reading Challenge #20booksofsummer23

whatcathyreadnext14 Comments

20-books-of-summerI cannot believe it’s already time for this annual challenge run by my namesake Cathy at 746 Books.  This year it takes place between Thursday 1st June and Friday 1st September 2023.  I’ve participated for the past few years but only managed to complete it once, in 2021.

As (the other) Cathy explains, the rules are simple.  Take the Books of Summer image, pick your own 10, 15 or 20 books you’d like to read and add your link to Cathy’s master post so she knows you’re taking part.

The rules are accommodating as well.  Want to swap a book? Go for it.  Fancy changing your list half way through? No problem.  Deciding to drop your goal from 20 to 15? She’s fine with that too.

I’m aiming for the full 20 once again and, as last year, I’m targeting the paperback books that have been in my TBR pile the longest according to Goodreads. Most are books I bought myself; a few (whisper) are review copies. All have been there an embarrassingly long time. Why just paperbacks? Well, because they’re double-stacked at the moment and it looks untidy on my bookshelf! If I enjoy them and think I might want to read them again, they’ll go back on the bookshelf.  If not, they’ll go on the pile for the charity bookshop. I’ve also included a couple of unread hardback books from prior years’ challenges.

You can find my list below.  Links from the titles will take you to the book description on Goodreads. I’ll update them with links to my reviews when – note, not if – I’ve read them.

  1. Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz (waiting since October 2017)
  2. Treason by James Jackson (waiting since November 2017)
  3. Transcription by Kate Atkinson (waiting since January 2018)
  4. The Draughtsman by Robert Lautner (waiting since March 2018)
  5. The Legacy of Elizabeth Pringle by Kirsty Wark (waiting since March 2018)
  6. The Painter of Souls by Philip Kazan (waiting since April 2018)
  7. Appetite by Philip Kazan (waiting since April 2018)
  8. Anna of Kleve by Alison Weir (waiting since June 2018)
  9. Wrecker by Noel O’Reilly (waiting since August 2018)
  10. China Blue by Madalyn Morgan (waiting since October 2018)
  11. Chasing Ghosts by Madalyn Morgan (waiting since October 2018)
  12. Blood Orange by Harriet Tyce (waiting since March 2019)
  13. Finding Dorothy by Elizabeth Letts (waiting since March 2019)
  14. In Two Minds by Alis Hawkins (waiting since March 2019)
  15. The Cross and the Curse by Matthew Harffy (waiting since May 2019)
  16. Invitation to a Bonfire by Adrienne Celt (waiting since August 2019)
  17. A Stranger in my Grave by Margaret Millar (waiting since September 2019)
  18. The Night Raids by Jim Kelly (waiting since January 2020)
  19. The Forgotten Letters of Esther Durrant by Kayte Nunn (waiting since February 2020)
  20. To Calais, In Ordinary Time by James Meek (waiting since February 2020)

Wish me luck! If you’re taking part too, enjoy your summer of reading.