Tag: Reading Challenges

When Are You Reading? 2022 – Challenge Completed!

whatcathyreadnext

when-are-you-reading-2022-final-1The When Are You Reading? Challenge hosted by Sam at Taking on a World of Words is one of my favourite reading challenges.  It involves reading a book predominantly set in (or written in) each of twelve time periods.

I’m delighted to say I’ve now matched all the time periods and completed the challenge ahead of time. There were quite a few changes from my original list with, sadly, those that were replaced still languishing in my TBR pile.  However, there’s always next year… Links from each title will take you to my review.

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 2022, it’s still not too late to join in.

Pre-1300:           Deposed by David Barbaree A Night of Flames by Matthew Harffy

1300-1499:        The Painter of Souls by Philip Kazan Essex Dogs by Dan Jones

1500-1699:        Tidelands by Philippa Gregory Traitor in the Ice by K. J. Maitland

1700-1799:        The Foundling by Stacey Hall That Bonesetter Woman by Frances Quinn

1800-1899:        The Language of Food by Annabel Abbs

1900-1919:        A House of Ghosts by W. C. Ryan Sell Us the Rope by Stephen May

1920-1939:        The Summer House Party by Caro Fraser Fortune by Amanda Smyth

1940-1959:       These Days by Lucy Caldwell

1960-1979:       The Reading Party by Fenella Gentleman

1980-1999:       The Matchmaker by Paul Vidich

2000-Present:   Yinka, where is your huzband? by Lizzie Damilola Blackburn How To Save a Life by Clare Swatman

The Future:       Villager by Tom Cox

20 Books Of Summer 2022 Reading Challenge Wrap-Up #20booksofsummer22

whatcathyreadnext2 Comments

20-books-of-summerThis annual challenge, run by my namesake Cathy at 746 Books, takes place between 1st June and 1st September.  The rules are simple: pick 10, 15 or 20 books you’d like to read and read them!

Although the rules are accommodating – allowing swaps, change of target, etc – I stubbornly decided to stick to my original list (see below) consisting of the 20 paperback books that have been in my TBR pile the longest according to Goodreads.

First the good news. Between 1st June and 31st August I read 39 books. The bad news is only five of them were on my list and one of those I still need to write a review for. Was I overly optimistic? Yes. Did I start reading books from my list too late? Yes. Did I fail to take account of other review commitments? Yes. Will I try again next year? Yes!

Thanks to Cathy for hosting the challenge once again.

The Cleaner of Chartres by Salley Vickers Read and reviewed
The Boy Who Saw by Simon Toyne Read and reviewed
The Women of the Castle by Jessica Shattuck Read and reviewed
Before the Fall by Noah Hawley Read and reviewed
If We Were Villains by M. L. Rio Read – not yet reviewed
Island of Secrets by Patricia Wilson Currently reading
The Plague Charmer by Karen Maitland  (waiting since May 2017)
The House of Birds by Morgan McCarthy (waiting since July 2017)
The Honey Farm on the Hill by Jo Thomas (waiting since August 2017)
Rivals of the Republic by Annelise Freisenbruch (waiting since August 2017)
The Girl from Simon’s Bay by Barbara Mutch (waiting since September 2017)
My Mother’s Shadow by Nikola Scott (waiting since October 2017)
Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz (waiting since October 2017)
Treason by James Jackson (waiting since November 2017)
The Draughtsman by Robert Lautner (waiting since March 2018)
The Legacy of Elizabeth Pringle by Kirsty Wark (waiting since March 2018)
The Painter of Souls by Philip Kazan (waiting since April 2018)
Appetite by Philip Kazan (waiting since April 2018)
Ponti by Sharlene Teo (waiting since April 2018)
Where Roses Never Die by Gunnar Staalesen (waiting since May 2018)

If you took part in the challenge, how did you get on? (Better than me, I hope.)

20 Books of Summer 2022