Saturday Review Challenge

Jul2

I’m not joining any reading challenges these days because
a) I have too many projects of my own already, and
b) I have a dismal track record for completing the challenges and projects I’ve started in the past.

However, being a (temporary) non-joiner doesn’t keep me from starting my own challenge. It’s called the Saturday Review of Books Reading Challenge, and it’s very simple. Read six of the books that have been linked to reviews at the Saturday Review of Books in the past year. Read the six books by December 31, 2007, review them at your blog, and leave a link to your reviews at the Saturday Review of Books. Use one of the buttons, designed by my very own Brown Bear Daughter, in your posts or in your sidebar if you’d like.

To choose your books, you can go to this (incomplete) alphabetical list of books, or look at the archives of Saturday Reviews. Either way choose six books, an average of one per month, to read between now and the end of the year. Any book that’s been reviewed and linked at the Saturday Review at any time since last July is fair game. Post your choices at your blog, or in the comments if you don’t have a blog, and start reading. Link your challenge post here, and PLEASE link your reviews at the Saturday Review of Books as you complete the challenge.

One more thing, as you choose your books leave a comment at the site of each book’s reviewer saying something like, “Thanks for the review. I’m going to read this book for the Saturday Review Challenge at Semicolon because you recommended it.” Won’t that be encouraging for everyone involved!

All those who take the challenge will be eligible to win a copy of my not-so-famous book, Picture Book Preschool, and a copy of Nancy Pearl’s Book Crush: For Kids and Teens—Recommended Reading for Every Mood, Moment and Interest.

By the way, I started the Saturday Review of Books on July 29, 2006, and seventeen hardy souls participated. Participation has gone up to an all-time high, so far, of eighty-one reviews on June 9, 2007. Thanks to everyone for reviewing and linking.

Challenge Participants (Link here to your post telling which books you will be reading for the challenge):

56 thoughts on “Saturday Review Challenge”

  3. I do not have a blog, but I wanted to participate and found many of the books on my TBR shelves have been reviewed here. So this is my list for the challenge:

    1. The Girls’ Guide to Hunting and Fishing by Melissa Bank

    2. Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom

    3. The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield

    4. The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver

    5. Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro

    6. Bee Season by Myla Godlberg

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  6. Welcome everybody. Lena, I’m glad you’re participating. Be sure to let us know how it’s going —either in the comments here or in the comments at the Saturday Review each Saturday.

  8. Urg! I’m still debating this one, but it sounds great. I have a few questions, though – can we re-read books we’ve already read? For example, I’ve been dying to re-read The Handmaid’s Tale (read it about 5 years ago). No, I’m not trying to cheat because I will be actually re-reading. Also, can we cross-post our books with other challenges?

    Thanks!

    Trish

  9. Yes, you can certainly re-read, and yes, you can cross-post. The purpose is to get people discussing the books that have been reviewed at the Saturday Review. The more the merrier.

  11. Pingback: Saturday Review of Books: July 7, 2007 at Semicolon

  12. Oooh, this is fun. I’m going to have to think about it, but I think I’m in. It’s a good way to tackle the “I really want to read that book.” I can already think of a few formerly reviewed books that I want to read.

  16. Pingback: Saturday Review of Books: July 14, 2007 at Semicolon

  18. Sherry, great idea for a challenge! I am in! Also just wanted to let you know that my links in your Saturday Book Review links for Balzac and Night have changed to my book blog muchadoaboutbooks.blogspot.com they are book in September 2006. Thanks.

    Your new challenge had me on your website for ages! 🙂

  19. Sherry–I’m a real “rules” person, so I have a question. Would it be okay if I posted three or four books, and then left a few spots open that I would update as I find books on the review lists in the next couple of months? I would love to be able to “seize the moment” and add a book to my list right away and read it before the end of the year.

  20. Sandra, jane and Verbivore: Welcome!

    Jennifer: That will be fine. I’m planning to do the same since I haven’t made my list or joined my own challenge yet!

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  43. I just found your blog, and reading challenge, via Mental Multivitamin and although I am way late, I couldn’t resist joining! Here’s to two months of speed reading….

  44. Pingback: Saturday Review of Books: November 10, 2007 at Semicolon

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  49. I completed this challenge yesterday! Thank you for hosting it – I read some FANTASTIC books 🙂 Here is the link to my challenge post and wrap up.

  50. Pingback: Saturday Review of Books: December 15, 2007 at Semicolon

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