Semi-Charmed Winter 2015 Book Challenge

Hosted by Megan at Semi-Charmed Life. Since I was an early finisher of the Summer Reading Challenge, and got to submit a category for the Winter Challange, I just have to get in on the Winter Challenge. It starts on November 1 and runs till the end of January so I've got some time.  Sign up here.

photo via @mcstroup

It's time for the next installment of the Semi-Charmed Book Challenge series! Whether you are a newcomer to the challenge or a repeat reader, I am excited to have you here today. Continue reading after the jump for the winter challenge rules and categories.

General rules:

• The challenge will run from November 1, 2015, to January 31, 2016. No books that are started before 12 a.m. on November 1 or finished after 11:59 p.m. on January 31 will count.
• Each book must be at least 200 pages long, unless otherwise noted. Audiobooks and large-print books are fine, as long as the regular print version meets the length requirement.
• A book can only be used for one category, and each category can only be completed once. If you want to switch the category of a book during a later check-in, that's fine, just be sure to account for that in your point total.
• Rereads can be used for a maximum of three books in the challenge. This rule is meant to encourage you to try new books while still allowing you to revisit books from your childhood or young adulthood that you might get more out of now. Please reread the entire book within the timeframe of the challenge in order to count it; no simply finishing old books or partial rereads.
• The highest possible total is 200 points, and the first five people who finish the challenge will be invited to contribute a category for the summer 2016 challenge.

And now for the exciting part: the challenge categories!

5 points: Read a book that has between 100 and 200 pages.   Mind Race--Patrick E. Jamieson (174 pages, 3 stars) 

10 points: Read a debut book by any author. (The book does not have to be a 2015 debut.)  The Christmas Cookie Club--Ann Pearlman (274 pages, 3 stars)

10 points: Read a book that does not take place in your current country of residence.  Three Cups of Tea--Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin (349 pages, 2 stars)

10 points: Read a book that someone else has already used for the challenge. — Submitted by SCSBC15 finisher Kristen @ See You in a Porridge.   After You--Jojo Moyes (626 pages, 3 stars)

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.  Shopaholic to the Rescue--Sophie Kinsella (Madeline Wickham) (466 pages, 3 stars)

15 points: Read a book with “boy,” “girl,” “man” or “woman” in the title (or the plural of these words).   The Girls of Mischief Bay--Susan Mallery (538 pages, 3 stars)

15 points: Read a book with a one-word title (e.g. Attachments, Americanah, Uglies, Wild, etc.). Grey--E.L. James (559 pages, 3 stars)

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).   The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle--Avi (244 pages, 3 stars)

20 points: Read a food-themed book. — Submitted by SCSBC15 finisher Jamie @ Whatever I Think Of!  Blackberry Pie Murder--Joanne Fluke (339 pages, 3 stars)

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!)  Revenge Wears Prada--Lauren Weisberger (400 pages, 3 stars)

30 points: Read two books with the same title by different authors. — Submitted by SCSBC15 finisher bevchen @ Confuzzledom.   Boy Toy--Michael Craft (272 pages, 3 stars)  and  Boy Toy--Barry Lyga (410 pages, 4 stars)

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!). Bipolar Disorder: Detour: My Bipolar Road Trip in 4-D--Lizzie Simon (nonfiction)(211 pages, 3 stars) and  Leaving Time--Jodi Picoult (fiction) (398 pages, 3 stars)

Challenge completed on December 19