Winter 2015 Book Challenge: Month 1

photo via @megtristao

Hello, readers! It's been one full month since the winter 2015 book challenge began, which means it's already time to check in with your progress! If you are new to the challenge, feel free to review the general rules here and the categories below. If you aren't new, feel free to check out the categories again anyway, as I've done my best to clarify when readers have questions:

5 points: Read a book that has between 100 and 200 pages.
10 points: Read a debut book by any author. (The book does not have to be a 2015 debut.)
10 points: Read a book that does not take place in your current country of residence.
10 points: Read a book that someone else has already used for the challenge. — Submitted by SCSBC15 finisher Kristen @ See You in a Porridge. [Edited to add: The book must be at least 200 pages long.]
15 points: Read a book published under a pseudonym (e.g. Robert Galbraith, Sara Poole, J.D. Robb, Franklin W. Dixon, Mark Twain, etc.). — Submitted by SCSBC15 finisher Megan M. [Edited to add: The edition you read must be attributed to the pseudonym.]
15 points: Read a book with “boy,” “girl,” “man” or “woman” in the title (or the plural of these words).
15 points: Read a book with a one-word title (e.g. Attachments, Americanah, Uglies, Wild, etc.).
20 points: Read a book with a person's first and last name in the title (e.g. The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry, The Story of Edgar Sawtelle).
20 points: Read a food-themed book. — Submitted by SCSBC15 finisher Jamie @ Whatever I Think Of!
20 points: Read a book with a verb in the title. (For any grammar nerds out there, I mean “verb” in the most general sense, so gerunds count. For non-grammar-inclined people, just use any book that appears to have a verb in the title!)
30 points: Read two books with the same title (by different authors). — Submitted by SCSBC15 finisher bevchen @ Confuzzledom. [Edited to add: The titles must be the SAME save for alternate spellings. For example, The Alchemist and Alchemist would be two different titles and would not work for the challenge, but The Alchemist and The Alchemyst would work.]
30 points: Read a nonfiction book and a fiction book about the same subject (e.g. a biography and historical fiction novel about the same person; two books about a specific war or event; a nonfiction book about autism and a novel with a character who has autism, etc. The possibilities are endless!). [Edited to add: This one is very broad! Just have fun with it!]

Remember, all books you have read dating back to November 1 count, even if you just joined the challenge yesterday (or today)! Continue reading after the jump to learn how to check in with your progress.

Please comment on this post in the following format to check in. Please do not forget page numbers! Remember all books must be at least 200 pages long unless otherwise specified. You may also link to your reviews or own check-in post if you wish, but that is not required. We operate on the honor code here, but I would love to read your posts and/or reviews if you have them! I also ask that you put a simple rating next to each book in your check-in post (on a scale of 1 to 5). Past participants have requested this feature to help them decide what to read next. :)

5 points: Read a book that has between 100 and 200 pages: Between the World and Me, Ta-Nehisi Coates (152 pages, 4 stars)
20 points: Read a book with a verb in the title: The Hours Count, Jillian Cantor (368 pages, 3 stars)

PREVIOUS POINTS: 0
TOTAL POINTS: 25 points

I'm currently reading The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, which will count for the first and last name category and for my "banned book" for the PopSugar Ultimate Reading Challenge. I'm only six books away from finishing! Eep!

Please record your progress thus far by December 7 in order to be included in the first scoreboard, which will be posted with the next check-in on January 1. Good luck!

P.S. — Don't forget to share your books on Twitter and Instagram with the hashtag #SCWBC15!