What’s In A Name Reading Challenge 2018: Challenge Update

What's In A Name 2018

The What’s In A Name Challenge 2018 is hosted by Charlie at The Worm Hole. The challenge involves reading a book that matches each of the categories shown below.

With a few swapping of titles from my original list, I’ve managed to read books that fit four of the six categories.  (Follow the link from the title to read my review or the book description on Goodreads.) I’m about to start Bitter Orange and am hopeful of finishing it before the end of the year. I’ve had no luck finding a book with a title starting with Z from my TBR pile.   At the moment, I don’t even own a copy of the one I’ve listed, Zoo Station, although it has been on my wishlist for ages!


The word ‘the’ used twice    The Boy At The Door by Alex Dahl

A fruit or vegetable               Bitter Orange by Claire Fuller

A shape                                    Diamond Cut Diamond by Jane Jakeman

A title that begins with Z      Zoo Station by David Downing
(can be after ‘The’ or ‘A’)

A nationality                          Prussian Blue by Philip Kerr

A season                                 The Winter Soldier by Daniel Mason

When Are You Reading? Challenge 2018: Challenge Update

When Are You Reading Challenge 2018

One of the reading challenges I signed up to for 2018 was this one hosted by Sam at Taking on a World of Words.  It involves reading a book predominantly set in each of the twelve time periods.

I’m happy to say that, with the help of a few swaps from my original list, I’ve managed to complete the challenge a few days ahead of the deadline.  Hooray! It does help, of course, that I read a lot of historical fiction.  You can see my list below with links to my reviews.

Sam has just launched the 2019 edition of the challenge.  You can find more details here.  I’ll certainly be taking part again and will publish my sign-up post in the next few days.


Pre 1500                               1066: What Fates Impose by G. K. Holloway

1500-1599                           Forsaking All Other by Catherine Meyrick

1600-1699                           Traitor (Mercia Blakewood #3) by David Hingley

1700-1799                           The Optickal Illusion by Rachel Halliburton

1800-1899                           False Lights by K. J. Whittaker

1900-1919                           The Power House by John Buchan

1920-1939                           The Dark Tide by Vera Brittain

1940-1959                           Dear Mrs Bird by A J Pearce

1960-1979                           All The Beautiful Girls by Elizabeth Church

1980-1999                           The Glass Diplomat by S. R. Wilsher

2000-Present                     Three Things About Elsie by Joanna Cannon

The Future                         The Rain Never Came by Lachlan Walter