Winter 2014 Book Challenge: The Preliminary List

Happy Wednesday, everyone! The Semi-Charmed Winter 2014 Book Challenge starts next weekend, and this link-up will be open until then to share (and get!) some ideas of what to read for this challenge. The preliminary link-up is not mandatory to join the challenge, but it is usually quite fun to participate. :) Also, be sure to check out the challenge post one more time before you choose your books, as I've clarified some categories per reader requests. Check out my list after the jump, and I look forward to seeing what you plan to read!

5 points: Freebie! — We'll wait and see which non-challenge book I just can't resist. :)
10 points: Read a book written by an author who has published at least 10 books. — Leaving Time, Jodi Picoult (author of 23 novels; 416 pages)
10 points: Read a book of short stories. — Fairy Tales of Hans Christian Andersen (Kindle edition, 208 pages)
10 points: Read a book with a food in the title. — The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society, Mary Ann Shaffer (274 pages)
15 points: Read the first book in a series that is new to you. — Outlander, Diana Gabaldon (I know! I can't believe I haven't started this series yet, either; 627 pages)
15 points: Read a book that was originally written in a language that is not your native language. — The Shadow of the Wind, Carlos Ruiz Zafon (originally written in Spanish, 487 pages)
15 points: Read a book written by a local author. — The Valley of Amazement, Amy Tan (Born in Oakland and even attended San Jose State University! 589 pages)
20 points: Read a "bookish book." — The Thirteenth Tale, Diane Setterfield (406 pages)
20 points: Read a book with a direction in the title. — Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, Gregory Maguire (406 pages)
25 points: Read a book from a genre you don't usually read. — Beautiful Disaster, Jamie McGuire (romance, 319 pages)
25 points: Read a book with a song lyric in the title. — The Here and Now, Ann Brashares ("Here & Now," Seether; 242 pages)
30 points: Read two books with a different meal in each title. — Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant, Anne Tyler (303 pages) & ______ (This one is really hard! I'm going to wait and steal one of your suggestions hehe.)

Have you read any of these books? Are there any you endorse (or recommend I stay away from?). Link up with your own preliminary reading list below!