Summer Reading Challenge 2019 @ Messy Middle

 Will gets as many as I can for this one.

It will start on June 1  and run through August 16, 2010. To enter, read seven books from 25 categories. Along the way, I’ll touch base and have several book giveaways planned.

What is different? 

• For fun, I scrapped the previous reading challenge and created a fresh one for us.
• Many categories will be similar because reading is reading. But you will notice a few new gems —an audiobook, a book with a verb in the title, a book under 100 pages. People, I love this challenge so much I almost added more book as I wrote this paragraph. I need help!
• This year if you do not read your “penalty” book, you will subtract two books from your total (last year we were only docked one book).

What is the same?

• Counting a book of more than 700 pages as two books.
• Choosing a penalty book within the first week of the year. A penalty book or category you will read or be penalized. Last year I picked The Bully Pulpit: Theodore Roosevelt and the Golden Age of Journalism, as my penalty book at it worked! I finally read a book I had planned for at least three years to read. My intention is strong and will weak. And I am all the richer for reading it. I even blogged about Ten Takeaways from The Bully Pulpit.
• More fun categories than ever!

What’s in it for you?

• All who comment on August 16-19th with the names of the books they read will be entered to win one of ten $10 Amazon gift cards.

Drumroll . . . here are the categories!

A Biography: Titian--Stefano Zuffi

A book I already own: Welcome to Temptation--Jennifer Crusie

A book a friend recommended: Keeper of the Light--Diane Chamberlain

A Young Adult book (YA): Bloodrose--Andrea Cremer

A book with a great cover: Josh & Hazel's Guide to Not Dating--Christina Lauren

A book of poetry: Love--Pablo Neruda

A memoir or autobiography: Courage to Soar-Simone Biles

A graphic novel: On a Sunbeam--Tillie Walden

A book you might disagree with: The Backstagers, Volume1--James Tynion IV

A book for professional development (loosely defined): Creatocracy--Elizabeth Wurtzel

A book longer than 700 pages (counts as two books): The Tale of Genji--Murasaki Shikibu

A book with a verb in the title: Faking It--Jennifer Crusie

A play: Our Town--Thornton Wilder

A book about a country or culture you have never visited: The Temple Dancer--John Speed

A book about history: Roses and Radicals--Susan Zimet

A book that won an award: Long Way Down--Jason Reynolds

A classic: Jo's Boys--Louisa May Alcott

A novel by an author you have never read before: Rebel--Beverly Jenkins

An audiobook: Do This For Me--Eliza Kennedy

A book related to a skill: Integrated Robots--Erik Richardson

A book recommended by someone you know: The Vineyard--Barbara Delinsky

A book with an animal: How to Train Your Dragon--Cressida Cowell

A book less than 100 pages: Piper Morgan in Charge!--Stephanie Faris

A book you want to discuss with others: The Joy Luck Club--Amy Tan

My Penalty Book: Bright Lights, Big A**--Jen Lancaster


24 books (+ penalty book) completed on August 11