2019 Reading Challenges

Hang tight! Here's a list of reading challenges I'm signing up for in 2019...


Here at In the Bookcase, you'll find the Louisa May Alcott challenge during June:




I also host A Literary Christmas during November/December:




Please join me for these 2 annual events in 2019! We always have a ton of fun, setting our own goals, connecting with other readers, and getting really good book recommendations. :)



Now, for all the other challenges I'm joining too...




The Goal: To finally read 12 books from your "to be read" pile (within 12 months).

Note to self: Monthly check-in on the 15th.
When finished, leave comment on original post.

My 2019 TBR Pile Challenge List:
1.  A Horse Called Hero by Sam Angus
2.  Almost Perfect by Diane Daniels Manning
3.  As Chimney Sweepers Come to Dust by Alan Bradley
4.  Light in My Darkest Night by Catherine Marshall
5.  Anon, Sir, Anon by Rachel Heffington
6   Capital Gaines by Chip Gaines
7.  The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
8.  Mistress Pat by L.M. Montgomery
9.  Swept to Sea by Heather Manning
10.  Louisa and the Missing Heiress by Anna Maclean
11.  Doc Susie by Virginia Cornell
12.  The Wizard of Oz FAQ by David J. Hogan

Alternates:
1.   The Fellowship of the Ring by J. R. R. Tolkien
2.   The Mysterious Island by Jules Verne






The Goal: To read 12 classics that fit within 12 specific categories.

Note to self: Link up each review as I finish it.
When finished, write a wrap-up post.

19th Century Classic: The Inheritance by Louisa May Alcott
20th Century Classic: His Last Bow by Arthur Conan Doyle
Classic By A Woman: Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie
Classic in Translation: The Mysterious Island by Jules Verne
Classic Tragic Novel: The House on the Strand by Daphne du Maurier
Classic Comic Novel: My Man Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse
Very Long Classic: A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court by Mark Twain
Classic Novella: Village Diary by Miss Read
Classic From the Americas or Caribbean: The Horse and Buggy Doctor by Arthur E. Hertzler
Classic From Africa, Asia, or Oceania: Tarzan of the Apes by Edgar Rice Burroughs
Classic From A Place You've Lived: Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls
Classic Play: Macbeth by William Shakespeare






The Goal: Read book titles that start with all the letters of the alphabet, one book for each letter.

Note to self: Link up each review as finished. Monthly mini challenges, quarterly read-a-thons.

A.  As Chimney Sweepers Come to Dust by Alan Bradley

B. Busted! by Jerry B. Jenkins, Tim LaHaye

C. City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab

D.  Doc Susie by Alan Bradley
.
F.  Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien

G.  Glinda of Oz by Frank L. Baum

H.  His Last Bow by Arthur Conan Doyle

I.  Icebreaker by Lian Tanner

J.  Jamie MacLeod: Highland Lass by Michael Phillips & Judith Pella

K. The Khipu and the Final Key by Gertrude Chandler Warner

L.  The Landscapes of Anne of Green Gables by Catherine Reid

M.  My Man Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse

N. No Way Out by Dan Poblocki

O. Only Gossip Prospers by Lorraine Tosiello

P.  Paw Prints on My Soul by Jane Biehl
.
R.  Rise of the Wolf by Jennifer Nielsen

S.  The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

T.  The Tin Woodman of Oz by L. Frank Baum

U. The Underground by Jerry B. Jenkins, Tim LaHaye

V. Village Diary by Miss Read

W. West from Home by Laura Ingalls Wilder
.
Y.  You Can't Hide by Dan Poblocki
.





The Goal: Bronze – 10 NetGalley books

Note to self: Monthly link-up on the 1st.

April: 2 books
August: 3 books
October: 5 books
December: 7 books

TOTAL: 17




The Goal: Group together 5 reads that share something specific in common, as often as possible.

Note to self: New link-up every 2 months

March: 5 books from Goosebumps: Horrorland series
May: 5 books by R.L. Stine, any series
October: 5 books with Louisa May Alcott theme
December:  5 books that take place in Scotland, 5 books that take place in England, 5 books with "Christmas" in the title, 5 books related to the Wizard of Oz, 5 last books of a series, 5 books with modes of transportation on the cover







The Goal: Read older books that have been piling up in my TBR pile/list [I'll try for 100+ books!].

Note to self: Books must be published before 2018 & already be in my TBR pile/list.
Link up on review linky as I finish each book.


Feb: 10
Aug: 12
Oct: 27
Dec: 44

TOTAL: 92




The Goal: Library Addict - 48 books

Note to self: Link up on review linky as I finish each book.
Mid-Year Library Check-in, during June/July.

Jan: 4
Dec: 15





The Goal: Amateur Sleuth - 5-15 books

Note to self: Mystery/Suspense/Thriller/Crime genres, 100+ pages.
Quarterly link-ups (Jan-March, April-June, July-Sept and Oct-Dec).
Giveaway at halfway mark and at end.

Jan-Mar: 1
Jul-Sep: 6
Oct-Dec: 8

TOTAL: 15




The Goal:

1. Read at least 125 books, from all formats.
2. Review, review, review! -- Make sure to review every book I read this year.
3. In with the old! -- Read at least 25 books that are published before the year 2000.
4. Listen while I "work"! -- Listen to at least 35 audio books.
5. Increase my NetGalley feedback ratio -- Finish at least 10 NetGalley books.
6. Read more titles from indie authors this year -- at least 12.
7. Tackle something big! -- Read 2 books that have 500+ pages each. (Yes, I must try.)
8. Complete at least 8 year-long reading challenges (to doubly make sure I finish them off!).
9. Finish what I start! -- Finish off at least 4 different book series.
10. All formats of books combined, conquer reading 25,000 pages (according to Goodreads stats).

Note to self: Checkpoints on May 1st, September 1st, and in December.

TOTAL: 5/10




The Goal: Creative Conversationalist - 11-20 blog posts

Note to self: Monthly link-ups on the 1st.

Back to the Classics 2018: My Final 12

This year I joined the Back to the Classics challenge (for the second time... yes, it was just THAT fun!).

This is a look back at the 12 books I chose to read for the challenge.

That's 3 entries in the end-of-year giveaway! 

All titles are linked back to my reviews. Please, feel welcome to comment on any of them. I love chatting about old, classic books.


 .......... Karen, if by any chance you need to contact me about a prize (hey, I can hope!) you can click over to my Contact Me page. Thanks! >>>



And here's my list!

19th Century Classic: Oliver Twist

20th Century Classic: The Keys of the Kingdom

Classic by a Woman Author: Village School

Classic in Translation: Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea

Children's Classic: Swiss Family Robinson

Classic Crime Story: The Valley of Fear

Classic Travel or Journey: A Long Fatal Love Chase

Classic With a Single-Word Title: Siddhartha

Classic With a Color in the Title: Pat of Silver Bush

Classic By a New-To-You Author: Magnificent Obsession

Classic That Scares You: Moby Dick

Re-Read a Favorite Classic: Anne of Green Gables

Book Review: Magnificent Obsession

Magnificent Obsession

written by Lloyd C. Douglas

434 pages // published in 1929 // religious classic literature

BOOK DESCRIPTION

When Robert Merrick's life is saved at the expense of the life of an eccentric but adored surgeon, the carefree playboy is forced to reevaluate his own path. Merrick embarks on a course of anonymous philanthropy, inspired by reading the doctor's private papers. An engaging and dramatic story of personal redemption and private sacrifice, this spiritual tale has served as an inspiration for both the stage and screen.

A wonderful, thought-provoking book. Makes a fantastic read in November/December around the holidays. Part of the storyline takes place around that time on the calendar. Due to the nature of the story, it's a very giving book, providing the reader with such good principles on living a well-spent life... So the "giving" themes presented run true at Christmastime even moreso than usual, maybe even placing you directly in Dr. Hudson's footsteps, just like it does young Bobby Merrick.

What the story boils down to is a non-believer of religion finding God by scientifically executing generosity, and through that, learning to feel empathy for others' plights. After young, spoiled Bobby Merrick finally catches sight of the meaning behind abundant living, he glimpses the shining light of glory ahead, and chases it down with all his might. He ends up making discoveries about life that he never thought possible before. He espies a legacy that is worth duplicating as his own... and maybe we all should too.

The book just gleams with the polish of a master storyteller. No doubt about it. As the chapters flew by for me, I could just feel the intensity of the tale smoldering right off the copy in my hand. There's many layers to the plot too, which is why it feels eternally intense, abysmally deep.

Note to the discerning reader: There is mild swearing and saying God's name in vain; due to the frequency of this, I have to drop a star off my rating, regretfully.

Personally, for me? I don't quite agree with all the religious type of logic illustrated in the story... it's not always clearly shown as following Christ. Instead the acts of kindness portrayed are referred to as "expanding one's personality" (it is better to give than to receive)... but it's still inspirational, nonetheless, and was written in an effort to reach the harvest fields of the world.

Overall? I rejoice in the fact that I got to read Magnificent Obsession at this point in my life. It's one to remember and reflect upon. (Plus, I think I need to go re-watch the old film version of it again. I remember just loving it as well.)

EXCEPTIONAL.

paperback // e-book // hardcover

This is book #12 for me in the Back to the Classics 2018 challenge.
[CATEGORY: New-To-You Author]




P.S. Like and vote for this review on Goodreads and Amazon.

Book Review: A Christmas by the Sea

A Christmas by the Sea

written by Melody Carlson

169 pages // published in 2018 // contemporary Christian fiction

BOOK DESCRIPTION

When Wendy Harper inherits her family's beachside cottage in Seaside, Maine, she sees it as a way to finally pay off the debts that have mounted since her husband died. But before it can be sold, the neglected property must be renovated. She and her 12-year-old son Jackson move in--temporarily, she reminds him--in order to do the work themselves, even though Christmas is coming. The charming town, along with local craftsman Caleb Colton, pulls on both Wendy and Jackson, who even registers himself for school in a bid to get his mom to move them there permanently. Wendy knows that the most responsible thing to do is to sell the cottage and return to Ohio, but the lure of the sea is hard to resist.

Join award-winning author Melody Carlson for a Christmas story that will warm your heart and have you dreaming of your own enchanted seaside holiday.

What I love:
• The beautiful, vibrant winter scene on the cover. (It's so inviting... I want to go there!)
• The title... it really drew me in.
• The plot about inheriting a beach cottage and needing to fix it up... The ideas are limitless!
• Wendy's son, Jackson. He is such a sweet teenager, and should be the role model for kids everywhere.
• The ocean.
• Sea shells.
• Sand dollars. (Very inspirational element in the story. Right after both my mom and I both read this book, we had a similar experience to Wendy and Jackson's beach-combing... Which we instantly christened "Our Sand Dollar Moment".)
• Intriguing business endeavors. (The craftiness of inventive ideas.)
• The loveliness of the overall story.

What I didn't care for:
• The too-quick romance. (I feel like the would have been better without it, to be honest.) Or the romance could have been done better if it felt like the two characters in "love" had taken the time to deeply get to know each other.

Overall?
I'm a sucker for Melody Carlson's Christmas books. And it's a clean read. So I enjoyed the book greatly!

e-book // audio

P.S. Like and vote for this review on Goodreads and Amazon.

Are you sharing about any Christmas books? (on your blog, Goodreads, Instagram, etc?) Share it below!

'Tis the season for merry reading...
Please link to your sign-up posts, book reviews, and other Christmas book posts here:

Book Review: Oliver Twist

Oliver Twist

written by Charles Dickens

608 pages // published in 1838 // British classic literature

BOOK DESCRIPTION

One of Dickens’s most popular novels, Oliver Twist is the story of a young orphan who dares to say, "Please, sir, I want some more." After escaping from the dark and dismal workhouse where he was born, Oliver finds himself on the mean streets of Victorian-era London and is unwittingly recruited into a scabrous gang of scheming urchins. In this band of petty thieves Oliver encounters the extraordinary and vibrant characters who have captured readers’ imaginations for more than 150 years: the loathsome Fagin, the beautiful and tragic Nancy, the crafty Artful Dodger, and perhaps one of the greatest villains of all time—the terrifying Bill Sikes.

Rife with Dickens’s disturbing descriptions of street life, the novel is buoyed by the purity of the orphan Oliver. Though he is treated with cruelty and surrounded by coarseness for most of his life, his pious innocence leads him at last to salvation—and the shocking discovery of his true identity.

The rawness of humanity. The lowest scum on the streets. A boy thrown ito the mix, tossed and turned, this way and that. Oliver Twist.

Before taking on this novel, I had certainly forgotten how humorous that Dickens is in his writing. Even though the story may be so sorrowful, filled with the lowest of emotions, the basest of human actions, and the darkest of hopeless thoughts... he still infuses comedy into the commonplace and he knows just how to poke fun at the characters to make them appear ridiculous in their own peculiarities. Renewed again, I love reading Dickens for this reason.

This is an ideal Victorian novel, that shows both sides of the coin in terms of social status. Little Oliver gets the chance to experience it all. He gets thrown back and forth a bit between lives, but as the reader, we can really take in the contrast. It makes for an excellent historical study about England too.

Note to the discerning reader: May contain some mild swear words, and many are crossed out (only showing the first letter).

What memorable characters and heart-rending scenes this classic boasts. I enjoyed every page.

paperback // e-book

This is book #11 for me in the Back to the Classics 2018 challenge.
[CATEGORY: 18th Century Classic]




P.S. Like and vote for this review on Goodreads and Amazon.

WINNER of A Literary Christmas giveaway!

Thank you to everyone who entered the giveaway for the lovely Christmas Ball Ornament made from book pages! ... Today it's time to announce the WINNER!

What literary-minded person wouldn't want one of these?

And... if you're not the special winner to be blessed with this gift, you can get these ornaments from the Etsy shop Sweet Berry Gifts -- for any of your book-lovin' friends (and yourself, of course!).


So!


Here's the big announcement!


WHO WON???


>  >  >


Congratulations to Antoinette M!

(I've already sent you an email, Antoinette. Please reply soon.)


- - - - - - - -


And in other news...

A Literary Christmas reading challenges continues!


If you're reading any holiday-themed books this month, please join us.

#LASTCHANCE to win this Christmas book ornament!

Today is the VERY LAST DAY to win this adorable Book Page Ornament! Just a few hours left...

ENTER NOW... and get EXTRA BONUS points if you sign up for A Literary Christmas reading challenge too! *hint~hint*