Summer 2013 Book Challenge: The Preliminary List

The Semi-Charmed Summer 2013 Book Challenge starts today! Unfortunately, I am already about 20 pages into a new book that I'm really excited about, so I want to finish that one before I start the challenge, but this is what I'm hoping I can read in the next three months:

5 points: Freebie! Read any book you'd like, as long as it follows the above rules. :) — Undecided. I'll save this category if I find a book I really can't wait to read that doesn't fit any other categories.
5: Read a book that is less than 150 pages long. — Three Cups of Deceit, Jon Krakauer (77 pages)
10: Read a book with a color in the title. — Blue Like Jazz, Donald Miller
10: Read a book that is not the first in its series. — The Two Towers, J.R.R. Tolkien
15: Read a book it seems everyone but you has read! — Memoirs of a Geisha, Arthur Golden
15: Read a banned book. (The book must be found on one of these lists.) — Slaughterhouse-Five, Kurt Vonnegut
20: Read a book written by a celebrity. This can be a memoir or a fiction book published by someone who was already famous by another means. — Palo Alto, James Franco
20: Read a non-fiction book that is not a memoir. It can be pure non-fiction or narrative non-fiction. — Under the Banner of Heaven, Jon Krakauer
20: Read a book that takes place in a state you have never been in. If you have been to all 50 states, choose a book that takes place in a country you have never been in. Also do the latter option if you are not American. — Riversong, Tess Thompson (Oregon)
25: Read a book that is at least 400 pages long. — Wicked, Gregory Maguire (406 pages)
25: Read a book with a main character who shares your first name.** —  Undecided. I have found a few books with main characters named Megan, but I'm not wild about any of them yet. Any suggestions? If you've found a good resource for searching books by character names, please share with me so I can post them for the other participants!
30: Read a book written by an author who was born in or died in your birth year.* — The Girl with Borrowed Wings, Rinsai Rossetti (1990)

*I know a lot of readers, especially those born in the last 25 years, have had trouble finding authors who share their birth year. I found my author born in 1990 on this website; maybe it will help you too! I've also decided a book written by an author who died in the year you were born will count for this category. A list of those authors can also be found on this website. :)

****Edited to add: I've decided to amend this category to allow nicknames of your first name and alternate spellings of your first name. I recognize this category is difficult and I don't want anyone to give up looking! :)

If you have readers who you think will enjoy this challenge, please post this button on your blog to spread the word:


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Have you planned out your books for #SCSBC13 already? Link up below with your list! And if you're having trouble finding a book for a particular category, look to see what other people have found. Remember to check out the full rules here to ensure your books will qualify. Good luck! And be sure to return on August 1 for the first check-in post. :)