Thursday, August 1, 2013

Summer 2013 Book Challenge: Month 1


It's time for the first Semi-Charmed Summer 2013 Book Challenge check in! We've already had at least one reader finish the entire challenge (congratulations Natasha!), but I won't be posting a full, official scoreboard until September 1, when I post the next check-in.

In order to check in, you must leave a comment on this post letting me know what you've read so far, in the following format:
10: Read a book with a color in the title. — The Silver Linings Playbook, Matthew Quick (289 pages)
10: Read a book that is not the first in its series (Robert Langdon series). — The Lost Symbol, Dan Brown (509 pages)
15: Read a book it seems everyone but you has read! — Memoirs of a Geisha, Arthur Golden (428 pages)
25: Read a book that is at least 400 pages long. — The Aviator's Wife, Melanie Benjamin (416 pages)
25: Read a book with a main character who shares your first name (Meggie). — Inkheart, Cornelia Funke (534 pages)
PREVIOUS POINTS: 0
TOTAL POINTS: 85
I don't want to speak too soon, but ... I think this might be the first challenge I actually finish! And considering it's my challenge, it's about time I completed one. :)

If you're new to the challenge or just want to review the rules, check out the original post with the full categories and guidelines here. Please record your progress for the first month by August 10, so I can include you in the September scoreboard. If you don't check in by August 10, please wait until the September 1 post and record all your progress there. And remember I also have a challenge button available for you to share on your blog:



Good luck! I can't wait to see what y'all have been reading.

22 comments:

Gypsi said...

5 points: Freebie!
The Barakee Mystery, Arthur Upfield (336 pages)

5: Read a book that is less than 150 pages long.
The Thirty-Nine Steps, John Buchan (148 pages)

10: Read a book with a color in the title.
The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey, Walter Mosley (288 pages)

10: Read a book that is not the first in its series.
From This Dark Stairway, Mignon Eberhart (314 pages; the fourth book in the Nurse Sarah Keate series)

15: Read a book it seems everyone but you has read!
The Martian Chronicles, Ray Bradbury (256 pages; I was late in "discovering" Bradbury--it seems that all my fellow fantasy and sci fi literary nerds had read this long ago!)

20: Read a book written by a celebrity.
If You Ask Me (And of Course You Won't), Betty White (272 pages)

20: Read a non-fiction book that is not a memoir.
Becoming Myself: Embracing God's Dream of You, Stasi Eldrige (256 pages)

20: Read a book that takes place in a state you have never been in.
The House without a Key, Earl Derr Biggers (240 pages; Hawaii)

25: Read a book that is at least 400 pages long.
The Book of Secrets, Elizabeth Joy Arnold (464 pages)

Megan said...

5: Read a book that is less than 150 pages long.- Stop Asking Jesus Into Your Heart by J.D. Greear (128 pages)

10: Read a book that is not the first in its series.- Insurgent by Veronica Roth (2nd in the Divergent Trilogy/525 pages)

15: Read a banned book. - The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky (on the 2009 list/213 pages)

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 (e.g. James Franco)- Seriously, I'm Kidding by Ellen DeGeneres- (241 pages)

20: Read a book that takes place in a state you have never been in. - The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger (New York/448 pages)

25: Read a book that is at least 400 pages long.- And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini (404 pages)

30: Read a book written by an author who was born in the same year as you.-Divergent by Veronica Roth (both born in 1988/487 pages)

PREVIOUS POINTS: 0

TOTAL POINTS: 125

Jessica Bucher said...

5: Freebie! - The Girl You Left Behind by JoJo Moyes (384 pages)
15: A book that everyone else has read - Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (310 pages)

Previous points: 0
Total points: 20

MHM1314 said...

I'm at 60 points and did a whole post on BHB:

http://blairsheadband.blogspot.com/2013/08/semi-charmed-life-summer-reading-check.html

Unknown said...

5 points - Room (freebie)

20 points - Lone Wolf (state you've never been--New Hampshire)

5 points - The Maze Runner (freebie)

25 points - The Book Thief (book over 400 pages)

5 points - Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close (freebie)

5 points - The Light Between Oceans (freebie)

25 points - City of Bones (book over 400 pages)

20 points - Born Standing Up (book written by a celebrity - Steve Martin)

TOTAL: 105 points

Sarah said...

I have 10 points and I just decided to start today.,.. That's good right lol

Bev Hankins said...

5 points: Freebie! The Mummy Case Mystery by Dermot Morrah [292 pages] (7/3/13)
5 points: Less than 150 pages long : Twenty First Century Blues by Richard Cecil (98 pages) [7/13/13]
10 points: Color in the title: The Black Stage by Anthony Gilbert [215 pages] ( 7/27/13)
10 points: Not the first in its series (but must be in a series): The Hollow Chest by Alice Tilton [aka Phoebe Atwood Taylor] (#5 in Leonidas Witherall Series) [284 pages] (7/12/13)
15 points: Everyone but you has read!: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern (387 pages) [7/16/13]
15 points: Banned book: The Call of the Wild by Jack London (banned classic) [my copy: 210 pages] (7/14/13)
20 points: Written by a celebrity. Memoir or fiction book by someone already famous by another means. Photo by Sammy Davis, Jr. (photos by and commentary through taped interviews with the Rat Pack Era Celebrity--text written up and edited by Burt Boyar) [338 pages] OR If You Ask Me (And of Course You Won't) by Betty White [259 pages] (7/19/13)
20 points: Non-fiction book that is not a memoir: The Mind of the Maker by Dorothy L Sayers (Christian Commentary) [229 pages] (7/31/13)
20 points: Takes place in a state you have never been in: The Case of the Careless Kitten by Erle Stanley Gardner (California) [246 pages] (7/23/13)
25 points: At least 400 pages long: The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger [536 pages] (7/10/13)
25 points: Shares your first name: Dead Old by Maureen Carter (Bev Morris is the character) [289 pages] (7/22/13)
30 points: Written by an author who was born or died in your birth year: Mist on the Saltings by Henry Wade (died May 1969) [255 pages] (7/26/13)

Previous Points: 0
Total Points: 200--Finished!

Judi said...

5 points: Freebie! Carly's Voice by Arthur Fleischmann (391 pgs)
5: Read a book that is less than 150 pages long. Politically Correct Bedtime Stories by James Finn Gardner (79 pgs)
10: Read a book with a color in the title. Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout (270 pgs)
10: Read a book that is not the first in its series. Insurgent by Veronica Roth (525 pgs) (Divergent series)
15: Read a book it seems everyone but you has read! The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffeneggar (546 pgs)
15: Read a banned book. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini (371 pgs)
20: Read a book written by a celebrity. The Notes: Ronald Reagan's Private Collection of Stories and Wisdom by Ronald Reagan (299 pgs)
20: Read a book that takes place in a state you have never been in. A Thorn in my Pocket by Eustacia Cutler (224 pgs) (Massachusetts/New York)
25: Read a book that is at least 400 pages long. Divergent by Veronica Roth (487 pgs)
25: Read a book with a main character who shares your first name. (Judi - character was Judith) To Be Sung Underwater by Tom McNeal (436 pgs)

TOTAL POINTS:150

Natasha L'nei said...

Thanks,Megan!I had a lot of free time this past month to devote to reading. Thanks for hosting. Good luck!

Anonymous said...

5 points: Freebie!
The Jane Austen Marriage Manual by Kim Izzo (336 pages)

15: Read a book it seems everyone but you has read!
The Last Runaway by Tracy Chevalier (320 pages)

20: Read a book written by a celebrity.
Someday, Someday, Maybe by Lauren Graham (344 pages)

20: Read a non-fiction book that is not a memoir. It can be pure non-fiction or narrative non-fiction.
Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain (333 pages)

20: Read a book that takes place in a state you have never been in.
The Whistling Season by Ivan Doig (Montana) (345 pages)

25: Read a book that is at least 400 pages long.
Tuck by Stephen Lawhead (452 pages)

Previous Points: 0
Total Points: 105

Halfway there!

Fran said...

10 points: Not the first in its series (but must be in a series): Dead Reckoning (Sookie Stackhouse/True Blood Series) by Charlaine Harris
20: Read a book that takes place in a state you have never been in: Summerland by Elin Harris (Massachusetts)

Previous Points: 0
Total Point: 30

jessica said...

10: Book not first in its series.
Son, Lois Lowry (Giver quartet, 400 pages)

20: Book written by a celebrity.
Through a Window, My Thirty Years with the Chimpanzees of Gombe, Jane Goodall (320 pages)

20: Book that takes place in a state I've never been.
The One and Only Ivan, Katherine Applegate ( Washington & Alabama, 305 pages)

30: Book written by an author who was born or died in your birth year
Matilda, Roald Dahl ( died 1990, 240 pages)

previous points: 0
Total points: 80

Anonymous said...

5: Freebie! Read any book you'd like, as long as it follows the above rules. Frontline - Alexandra Richland

15: Read a banned book. The Perks of Being A Wallflower - Stephen Chbosky

20: Read a book that takes place in a state you have never been in. More Than Rivals - Mary Whitney

25: Read a book with a main character who shares your first name. My One and Only - Kristan Higgins

5: Read a book that is less than 150 pages long. Fair Play - Tracy A. Ward

30: Read a book written by an author who was born in the same year as you. Poughkeepsie - Debra Anastasia



Previous Points: 0
Total Points: 100

Megan said...

I just finished one more book tonight.

15: A book that everyone else has read - The Book Thief (550 pages)

That brings my total from 125 to 140.

(I was so close to finishing it when I posted my first comment, but didn't want to count it until I was done)

Lindsay Cochrum said...

Book set in a state you’ve never visited: Where’d You Go, Bernadette, 33pgs (20 points)
Color in the title: Girls in White Dresses, 294 pgs (10 points)
Not first book in a series: TTFN, 256 pgs (10 points)
Less than 150 pages: Fish! A Remarkable Way to Boost Morale and Improve Results, 107 pgs (5 points)
Banned book: TTYL, 209 pgs (15 points)
Book written by a celebrity: Someday, Someday Maybe, 344 pgs (20 points)

Previous Points: 0
Current Points: 80 points

Nina said...

5: Read a book that is less than 150 pages long. WATCHING YOU- GEMMA HALLIDAY
15: Read a book it seems everyone but you has read! THE TIGER'S WIFE - TEA OBREHT
15: Read a banned book. THE GLASS CASTLE - JEANETTE WALLS

Previous Points: 0
Current Points: 35

smug princess said...

Oh man! Everyone is kicking my a**. I was in the middle of 2 books when I started, so I feel like that hurt my progress. lol. I'd link up my progress, but it's just depressing! =]

sharongracepjs said...

Jumping in midstream thanks to BHB!
I also did a whole post: http://ceilingflickers.blogspot.com/2013/08/reading-challenge-not-oxymoron.html

Total points at 75!

And if anyone knows of a book with a character named Sharon, please holla at me.

Hannah said...

25: Read a book with a main character who shares your first name (Hannah). - The Girl's Guide to Love and Supper Clubs by Dana Bates (320 pages)

5: Read a book that is less than 150 pages long. - The Diary of Darcy J. Rhone by Emily Giffin (68 pages)

10: Read a book that is not the first in its series. - Deadlocked by Charlaine Harris (12th in Sookie Stackhouse series) (327 pages)

25: Read a book that is at least 400 pages long. - The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult (460 pages)

5 points: Read any book you'd like. - The Bungalow by Sarah Jio (290 pages)

10: Read a book with a color in the title. - Tigers in Red Weather by Liza Klaussmann (353 pages)

Previous Points: 0
Current Points: 80

Michelle Stockard Miller said...

Woo hoo!

10: Read a book with a color in the title.--The White Queen, Philippa Gregory (445 pages)
25: Read a book that is at least 400 pages long.--The Secret History, Stephanie Thornton (448 pages)

PREVIOUS POINTS: 0
TOTAL POINTS: 35

Unknown said...

400 pages - Postcards from Last Summer, Roz Bailey
Author Same year as me (1973) - Adored, Tilly Bagshawe
Freebie - Hunger Games (had to finish the entire series)

Floating in the Sea of Gigi - www.freetobegigi.weebly.com

Unknown said...

Oops, I didn't follow the format. I'm sorry.

5: Freebie - Hunger Games (the series)
25: Read a book that is at least 400 pages long - Postcards from Last Summer, Roz Bailey
30: Read a book written by an author who was born in the same year as you (1973) - Adored, Tilly Bagshawe

Previous Points: O
Total Points: 60