#ReadingMyLibraryChallenge

I said to myself no more challenges, but decided to allow for some short-term ones.  With three already done and one to be over in April, I decided to give this one a try.

I already frequent my library but have only checked about a few books this month.  I wanted to try reading from my piles of books at home (I always join a TBR challenge and am making sure not to neglect it), and will try to do so for the rest of this month.  I need to read more for my Dystopian, Nonfiction, Mental Illness Awareness, LGBT, Graphic Novels, Feminism, Fairy Tales Retold, Curvy Heroine, Diversity, Erotic Romance and Classics challenges and have one more month for the Play challenge.  I don't own a lot of books that fit these challenges (in most cases, none at all), so borrowing from the library for a month will help me catch up on some of these.  I get most of my audiobooks and picture books from the library, and some of my other challenges have categories of books I will need to borrow.

I'm going to try to see if I can go without buying books for all of April.  Most of them I buy at second-hand stores, including one in my town that sells then for 50 cents to one dollar.  If I do buy any, they will not be read until after April.   I think I can do all this.

Here are the details for the challenge. Sign up by April 15 at Read What I Like.

Both Stefani at Caught Read Handed and Amy at Read What I Like work in libraries, where they order tons of books each month that come in and are put on the shelves. As any librarian will do, all the books they order are ones they wish they had time to read themselves but they seldom have the time to do just that. This challenge started in the comment section on a post about bookish resolutions – one of which was a book buying ban. What better way to save money on buying books than checking out books from your local library (or the one where you work)? Just in case it wasn’t clear – THERE IS NO BETTER WAY! The challenge started as a buddy read of library books and turned into a month long celebration of libraries and all that they offer. The hashtag #ReadingMyLibrary came out of the need for a catchy, simple hashtag and a desire to make it clear we appreciate our libraries. We hope you’ll join us!

Make sure you check out THE RULES and THE SCHEDULE and THE QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE pages

More about the challenge:

• The #ReadingMyLibrary Challenge will run from Wednesday, April 1 – Thursday, April 30, 2015.
• You only have to read ONE (1) book to participate in the challenge! If you happen to read more, it just means more chances for you to win the #ReadingMyLibrary Challenge giveaway! You get an extra entry for every FIVE (5) books you read over that initial ONE (1).
• There will be HUGE library scavenger hunt that will run from April 15 – 30 which will include its own giveaway.
• There is no required amount of time you must spend reading, commenting, tweeting, etc. The scavenger hunt and giveaways are all optional.
• We would LOVE if you shared your TBRs, current reads, library recommendations, library pictures, or really ANYTHING you want to share about your library using the hashtag #ReadingMyLibrary!

Signing up is super easy! Create a post on your blog, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube (really anywhere that you can share something) announcing your participation and linking back to either Stefani’s or Amy’s sign up post. Post it and go here to link up! It’s that simple! (If you wanted to include the button/banner for the challenge and/or a list of your TBR, we’d love that too, but it isn’t required)

Here is what I am reading:

Week One (April 1-4)

1. Zoot Suit and Other Plays--Luis Valdez
2. Maigret and the Loner--Georges Simenon
3. The House on Mango Street--Sandra Cisneros (audio)
4. Just Desserts--G.A. McKevett

Week Two (April 5-11)

1. Strawberry Girl--Lois Lenski
2. Suddenly You--Lisa Kleypas
3. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian--Sherman Alexie
4. The Selection--Kiera Cass
5. Kira-Kira--Cynthia Kadohata (audio)
6. The Elite--Kiera Cass

Week Three (April 12-18)

1. The One--Kiera Cass
2. The Yellow-Lighted Bookshop--Lewis Buzbee
3. Memoirs of a Geisha--Arthur Golden
4. For God, Country and Coca-Cola--Mark Pendergrast

Week Four (April 19-25)

1. Little Bitty Lies--Mary Kay Andrews
2. Bet Me--Jennifer Crusie
3. Hannah--Hannah Westberg
4. Don't Look Back--Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer

Week Five (April 26-30)

1. The Queen Geek Social Club--Laura Preble
2. Mama Cat Has Three Kittens--Denise Fleming
3. Madeline--Ludwig Bemelmans

JELLY BELLY JELLY BEANS (Goodreads Reading Challenge)

Another reading challenge, but this one is from Goodreads and I have never tried any of their challenges.  Been wanting to do so for some time, but haven't really found any Goodreads challenges that have interested me.  This one however, sounded like fun.    This does not have a deadline to finish, but those wishing to sign up must do so before March 1, 2016.  I like that there is no deadline to finish, so I can take my time on this one, and will try to cross over books with this challenge for others whenever possible.  Here is the link to sign up at Goodreads.

Begins 3/1/15, No deadline

As with all of our no-deadline challenges, sign-ups will be accepted for one year after the start date.
Sign-up Deadline is 3/1/16.


Most everyone has tasted a Jelly Belly jelly bean, but did you know...?
* They are gluten free, peanut free, dairy free, fat free, and vegetarian friendly.
* Certified OU Kosher.
* Each jelly bean is 4 calories.
* 25 jelly beans weigh approximately 1 ounce.
* Made in more than 100 different flavors.
* After 20 years, Peanut Butter flavor was retired.

Because this is one of our crazier crazy challenges, we are offering a choice of levels that you can complete, depending on just how crazy you are!

Thanks to Barb for creating this monster challenge!


LEVELS - Choose which level you intend to complete when you sign up. (You can change your mind later.)

PENNY CANDY - Complete all 50 scavenger tasks. I will be choosing this level.  

SAMPLER - Spell only Beanboozled flavors.

HONEYDUKES REGULAR (For those who don't know, Honeydukes is a sweets shop in the Harry Potter world.) - Spell only Bertie Bott's flavors.

SWEET TOOTH - Spell only Miscellaneous Favorite and Retired flavors.

SUGAR COATED - Spell out ALL flavors.

CONFECTION CONNOISSEUR - Choose 30 scavenger tasks AND spell Bertie Bott's flavors. (You get a "discount" on the scavenger tasks for doing a spelling section too.)

SUGAR FREAK - Choose 30 scavenger tasks AND spell Miscellaneous Favorite and Retired flavors (You get a "discount" on the scavenger tasks for doing a spelling section too.)

GLUTTON - Complete all 50 scavenger tasks AND spell out ALL flavors.


CHALLENGE RULES: 
♦ If you want to participate in a challenge, please sign up by posting at least a partial list of the challenge requirements. This gives us a post to link you to, which you can use to update your books as the challenge progresses. 

♦ Unless otherwise noted, books must be at least 150 pages long. Books may only be used for one task in this challenge, but cross-challenge posting is encouraged :) Re-reads are allowed, as long as you read the entire book and not simply skim through it.

♦ For each book you read, please post a link to the title, and indicate the author and the date you finished reading it. If a challenge task gives several options, please make it clear which option you’ve chosen. If the task calls for an item on the cover, include a link to the book cover. If it’s not obvious from the book title or cover, be sure to explain how your book fits the task. If you don’t, you won’t get credit for completing that task. 
* If you don’t know how to post a link to the book title, cover or author, see the instructions here: 
Add a link to the book title, book cover and/or author 

♦ If you choose one of the spelling options, you may use the first letter of the first word in the book’s title – excluding A, An and The – the author’s first or last initial (middle names or initials can NOT be used), or the FIRST initial of a main character from the book. 

♦ When you complete the challenge, please post your entire list as a new message to make it easier for everyone to see what you’ve read :) If you don’t repost your list, your name will not be added to the list of those who have completed the challenge.  Link


7-Up – Read a book with a number in the title.  One Day--David Nicholls

A&W Cream Soda – Read a book with “AND” in the title.  Maigret and the Loner--Georges Simenon

A&W Root Beer – Read a book with at least one consecutive double letter in the author’s first or last name (Steve BeRRy, SaMMi Carter, David BaldaCCi).  Just Desserts--G.A. McKevett

Apple Pie A La Coldstone – Read a book with a dessert on the cover or in the title.  The Cupcake Queen--Heather Hepler    

Berry Blue – Read a book with a cover that is at least 50% blue.  Bet Me--Jennifer Crusie

Birthday Cake Remix Cold Stone – Read a book in which a celebration of some sort occurs.
Gossamer Ghost--Laura Childs (Halloween)


Bubble Gum – Read a YA book.   Art Geeks and Prom Queens--Alyson Noel


Buttered Popcorn – Read a book that you couldn’t put down.  The Yellow-Lighted Bookshop--Lewis Buzbee 

Candy Corn – Read a book with some sort of candy on the cover or in the title.    Candy Apple Dead--
Sammi Carter 


Cantaloupe – Read a book with a round object occupying at least 25% of the cover.
The Poison Apples--Lily Archer

Cappuccino – Read a thriller.   The Girl on the Train--Paula Hawkins

Caramel Corn – Read a book that is “sweet.”   The Sweet Spot--Stephanie Evanovich

Chocolate Devotion Cold Stone – Read a book from your favorite genre.  Laguna Cove--Alyson Noel

Chocolate Pudding – Read a book with a cover that is more than 50% chocolate brown.  
Storm Front--Jim Butcher



Cinnamon – Read a book whose title begins with "C" (disregard A, An and The).   The Chocolate Cat Caper---Joanna Carl

Cotton Candy – Read a book with a cover that is more than 50% pink.  Pink Ice--Susanna Carr



Crushed Pineapple – Read a book set in a tropical climate.  Sunset in St. Tropez--Danielle Steel

Dr. Pepper – Read a book with a character who is a doctor or nurse.   For All Their Lives--Fern Michaels

French Vanilla – Read a book set in a European country.  Outlander--Diana Gabaldon

Grape Crush – Read a book with a cover that is more than 50% purple  The Diamond Slipper--Jane Feather


Green Apple – Read a book with a fruit on the cover or in the title.   Strawberry Girl--Lois Lenski 

Honey Bean – Read a book by an author whose first OR last initial is "H" or "B."
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall--Anne Bronte


Island Punch – Read a book in which at least one scene occurs on an island.    A Salty Piece of Land--Jimmy Buffett

Juicy Pear – Read a book with a beverage on the cover or in the title.   The Little Coffee Shop of Kabul--Deborah Rodriguez

Lemon Drop – Read a book with a cover that is at least 50% yellow.  Don't Look Down--Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer 



Mango – Read a book with the word “MAN,” intact, in the title or the author’s name.   The House on Mango Street--Sandra Cisneros

Margarita – Read a book whose cover is at least 50% green.  Cat With an Emerald Eye--Carole Nelson Douglas



Mint Mint Chocolate Chocolate Chip – Read a book whose title includes at least one repeated word. 
Hush, Hush--Becca Fitzpatrick


Mixed Berry Smoothie – Read a book that combines two of your favorite genres (historical fiction AND mystery, for example).  Wuthering Heights--Emily Bronte

Mojito – Read a book that relaxes you.  Suddenly You--Lisa Kleypas

Orange Crush – Read a book by an author whose first AND last initial can be found in ORANGECRUSH.   Not Another Bad Date--Rachel Gibson

Orange Sherbet – Read a book set in a cold climate.  Ice Kissed--Amanda Hocking

Our Strawberry Blonde – Read a book with a blonde on the cover.  Hannah--Hannah Westberg


Peach – Read a book by an author whose first OR last initial is "P."  The Queen Geek Social Club--Laura Preble

Peach Bellini – Read a book whose cover is at least 50% orange.  Carrot Cake Murder--Joanne Fluke



Plum – Read a book whose title begins with "P" (ALL WORDS COUNT, including A, An and The). 
Pride and Prejudice--Jane Austen


Pomegranate – Read a book that a friend recommended to you.   This Present Darkness--Frank E. Peretti

Pomegranate Cosmo – Read a book in which the first letter of EVERY WORD of the title can be found in POMEGRANATECOSMO (minimum three words; to use a letter more than once, it must appear more than once).    Cream Puff Murder--Joanne Fluke

Red Apple – Read a book by one of your favorite authors.  Little Bitty Lies--Mary Kay Andrews

Sizzling Cinnamon – Read a romance (any kind – romantic-suspense, paranormal romance, ‘pure’ romance, whatever).   Light of the Moon--Luanne Rice

Strawberry Cheesecake – Read a book whose cover is at least 50% white.  The One--Kiera Cass

Strawberry Daiquiri – Read a book with snow and/or ice on the cover.  Frostfire--Amanda Hocking



Strawberry Jam – Read a book whose cover is at least 50% red.  Assault and Pepper--Tamar Myers




Sunkist Lemon – Read a book with the sun on the cover .     Hot Pursuit--Kathryn Jensen



Sunkist Orange – Read a book with a grove of trees or a forest on the cover.   
Blue Ridge Reunion--Mia Ross  


Toasted Marshmallow – Read a book of short stories.  Summer Days--Lisa Jackson

Top Banana – Read the book that is currently at the top of your TBR pile.   Murder Past Due--Miranda James

Tutti-Frutti– Read a book whose cover is at least three BRIGHT colors.  Oh My Stars--Lorna Landvik



Watermelon – Read a book set in the summer.  Second Chance Summer--Morgan Matson

Wild Blackberry – Read a book whose cover is at least 50% black.   1st to Die--James Patterson




Challenge completed on October 31