Rising to the Challenge!
Back in 2008, a conversation on the Romance Potpourri Message Board revealed two things: Many of us had massive to be read piles and most of us had no real motivation to pull books off of them. In order to conquer those dual issues we created the Unofficial 9 in 2009 AAR Reading Challenge. The goal was to read at least nine books on your TBR. I did it, loved it (as did several others) and we have been doing the Reading Challenges ever since.
Here’s why the challenges are so great. Reason one is that it has definitely helped expand my reading experiences. I don’t know about the rest of you but I will often read a review on AAR, buy the book – and then let it languish in the TBR pile. Because a part of the challenge is often to tackle new to you authors, it inspires me to tackle those books which were well reviewed at AAR written by authors unfamiliar to me. I’ve found several DIK’s (and new authors to glom) thanks to that aspect of the challenge.
I also discovered a new sub genre thanks to the challenge: one notable year I wound up falling in love with Inspirational romance. Now about a third of what I read comes from that sub-genre.
Another reason I enjoy doing the challenges is the sheer fun of them. In 2010, we titled our challenge At the Movies and read books based on things like epic films, classic films or adventure films. In 2013 we did the Lean Mean Thirteen and had challenges based on the thirteen official Beatles albums, a challenge based on movies with the number thirteen in the title such as Oceans 13 and 13 Going on 30 and a challenge to read a book set in each of the first thirteen colonies of the United States. 2014 saw us doing the Back to School Challenge and tackling the Sonnet challenge (where we located books that matched the subjects or lines from one of Shakespeare’s sonnets) and the School Day challenge where we matched books to school subjects, such as a book about athletes matching the subject phys ed. For me, the creativity involved in hunting down a book that meets the challenge criteria when the option offered is so fun is part of the inspiration. It turns cleaning out my TBR into a pleasure rather than a task.
Of course the main reason for doing them is to whittle down the TBR. Mine is massive and I’ve reached a point where I’m not sure I will ever be able to rid myself of all those books. At least with the challenges I am making headway, however small that headway may be.
Since the boards aren’t active right now*, and since this has been such a fun thing to do for many, AAR has decided to continue the challenge as a monthly blog. Here is how it will work:
Step 1: If you have an idea for a challenge, please post it in the comments.
Step 2: During the first week of January we will compile the various challenges and post them in a blog.
Step 3: You can comment on the blog all month long, posting the books you read and what challenge they are a part of.
Step 4: A new blog post will be opened up on the 1st of every month for you to continue to post about the books you’re reading for your chosen challenge.
Thanks for participating and Happy Reading!
~ Maggie Boyd
*(from Dabney) At this point, we are not sure if we will re-establish the message boards. That’s not a final decision but, until we can find a program that doesn’t drag down the site, we are living message boards free. It is our hope that we can move much of the discussions that took place on the message boards to the blogs.
Just in case this doesn’t get reposted by the creator, here’s the magazine challenge. They aren’t in the original order as I’d already sorted out the 17 I want to do with the books I plan to read, so I just made them alphabetical. . Seventeen Magazine(s)! Challenge There are a lot more than 17 magazines listed below. Select at least 10 or as many as 17 from those below and follow the requirements laid out. Bon Appetite – Read a romance in which the setting is a diner, restaurant, bakery or involves any job in the hospitality industry, such as a bed and breakfast. Or read a romance involving at least some French characters. Cat Fancy/Modern Dog – Read a romance which features a pet or pets as supporting characters. Cosmopolitan – Read a romance in which the heroine is “an experienced lady,” mistress, or playgirl. Entertainment Weekly – Read a romance featuring a hero or heroine who works in *any* form of the arts or entertainment, whether it be acting, writing, dancing, singing, visual arts, or sports, etc. Family Circle – Read a romance from a series of books which features a member from one family, group of friends, or colleagues in each book. Field and Stream – Read a romance set on a farm, a ranch, or a working estate. Or, read a romance about an outdoorsman/woman. Fortune/Money – Read a romance in which the hero and/or heroine are the scion or heir/heiress of a wealthy family. Or read a romance in which the hero and/or heroine is a self-made man or woman of wealth. Or read a romance in which the hero or heroine is pursuing someone with a fortune or who will inherit a fortune. Ladies Home Journal – Read a regency, a “just kisses” romance, or an inspirational. Or, playing off the word journal, read a epistolary romance, featuring either letter writing or modern day emails, texting, and tweeting. Men’s Health/Women’s Day – Read a romance featuring a same sex romance, whether as the main romantic pair or supporting characters. Mother Jones/The Weekly Standard – In homage to journals reflecting two sides of the U.S. political spectrum, read a romance in which the hero and heroine are on two sides of an issue whether political, business, environmental, social, or cultural and butt heads over it. Or, read a romance in which the hero and/or heroine are in politics. National Geographic – Read a romance in which the hero and/or heroine set off on an adventure or visit/travel to an exotic (to them) land. Parents – Read a romance where the hero or heroine is dealing with/taking care of an “elderly” parent and/or is a parent themselves. People – Read a romance featuring multiple couples in the same story, like an ensemble cast. Or, read a book from the chick lit genre in which the heroine has one or more relationships before finding “the one”! Playboy – Read a romance where the hero is considered a rake or a player. Or read an erotic romance. Popular Mechanics – Read a romance in which the hero and/or heroine works with their hands, whether with machinery, with flora and fauna, or in the service industry. Popular Science – Read a romance in which the hero and/or heroine work in the science field, including medicine. Or read a futuristic romance. Rolling Stone – Read a romance in which the hero and/or heroine are in the music business. Or read a romance in which either of the lead characters are black sheep or rebels. Or read a romance where most of the action takes place “on the road.” Seventeen Magazine – Read a young adult or new adult romance. Southern Living – Read a romance set in “the South,” whether the Southern U.S. or the Southern half of the planet, such as Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Argentina, etc. Sports Illustrated – Read a romance featuring a sports theme and athletes or one involving a hero, heroine, or both who are artists. The Economist – This is about economy. Read a novella, an anthology, or a category romance less than 200 pages. The New Yorker – Read a romance set in New York City or set in any major, international city with a large population. Or, read an Urban Fantasy. Time – Read a romance set at least 100 years in the past, any time in the future, or which involves time travel. Travel and Leisure – Read a… Read more »
I also want to do the magazine challenge that was posted on the board, so hopefully that one will get reposted here.
Maybe you could add a notation on the “Connections – Message Boards” page in addition to the boards being discontinued, that the 17 in 2017 Reading Challenge will be here on the blog. Or maybe there’s a way to “sticky” the challenge post(s) on the sidebar.
I’ve been checking the blog more often to see if anything was posted about the status of the boards, but I somehow missed this post until today. It’s just very easy to miss stuff with a blog format.
Here’s the ones I had posted to the board. The Alphabet Challenge Q is the 17th letter of the alphabet. Read 10, 12, or 17 books where the title or author’s name begins with the letter Q. The Alphabet Challenge Variation Variation read 17 books where the title/author name begins with the letter A, then B, C, etc. through Q. The 21st Century Challenge Read 17 books, one per year published in 2001, 2002 through 2017 The 20th Century Challenge Read 17 books, one per year published in 2000, 1999 back through 1984 The Breakfast Cereal Challenge Read 10, 12, or 17 books which fit the following categories: All-Bran (1916) = This cereal is marketed as an aid to digestive health. Read a romance where the hero or heroine is involved with the health services industry, e.g. doctor, nurse, paramedic, physical therapist, etc. Alpha Bits (1958) = Read a romance where the hero or heroine is involved with education, e.g. teacher, principal, school counselor, etc. Or a romance where the hero or heroine has an occupation involving writing, e.g. author, reporter, editor, etc. Cap’n Crunch (1963) = Read a romance where the hero or heroine is in the Coast Guard, Navy, or another branch of the military. Or a police officer, sheriff, deputy, etc. Cheerios (1941) = Read a humorous romance. Chex (1937) = Chex mix is a popular holiday treat. Read a romance set during Christmas time or any other holiday. Cocoa Pebbles/Fruity Pebbles (1969) = these cereals are the oldest brands based on characters from a TV or movie. In honor of The Flintstones, read an historical romance. Corn Flakes (1907) = Read a romance in which the hero or heroine is a farmer or lives on a farm or ranch. Count Chocula/Franken Berry (1971) & Boo-Berry (1972) = Read a paranormal romance. Frosted Flakes (1952) = The mascot for this cereal is Tony the Tiger. Read a paranormal romance where the hero or heroine has the ability to shift into an animal. Golden Crisp (1947) / Honey Smacks (1953) = These contain the most sugar content of all breakfast cereals. Read a “sweet” romance or one that is “kisses only.” Golden Grahams (1976) = Read a romance featuring an older hero and/or heroine. Grape-Nuts (1897) = This a cereal people either love or hate. Read a friends-to-lovers or enemies-to-lovers romance. Or read a romance where the hero or heroine is a dentist. Honeycomb (1965) = A honeycomb is a structure of adjoining cavities or cells. Read a romance that is part of a series. Life (1961) = Read a romance where the hero or heroine is at a turning point in their life. Or read a romance featuring multi-generational characters. Lucky Charms (1964) = This cereal has a leprechaun mascot. Read a romance set in Ireland. Or read a paranormal romance featuring magic or magical creatures (fairies, dragons, etc.) Mini-Wheats (1978) = Read a novella or short-story. Muesli (1900) = Created by a Swiss physician. Read a romance set in Europe. Nutri-Grain (1976) = This cereal was first introduced in Australia. Read a romance set in Australia or New Zealand. Oatmeal/Porridge (1854) = Read a “hot” or erotic romance. Product 19 (1967) = Read a Young Adult or New Adult romance (none of the characters need be 19). Rice Krispies (1929) = The mascots for this cereal are Snap, Crackle and Pop. Read a romance that is part of a trilogy. Or read a ménage romance. Special K (1955) = This cereal is marketed as a way to lose weight. Read a romance in which the hero or heroine undergoes some sort of makeover. Or read a romance where the hero or heroine’s name begins with the letter K. Total (1961) = Read any book in your TBR pile if needed to make your goal (or total *wink*). Trix (1954) = “Silly rabbit, Trix are for kids.” Read a romance in which the hero and/or heroine have children. Vector = sold only in Canada. Read a romance set in Canada. Wheaties (1924) = “The Breakfast of Champions.” This cereal features athletes on the box. Read a romance in which the hero or heroine is involved with sports, e.g. athlete, coach, team owner, etc. Simply Seventeen Challenge (The Whittler) Read any 10, 12, or 17 books in your TBR pile Edge of Seventeen Challenge Read 10, 12, or 17 books by the same author, in the same multi-author series, in the same category line (e.g. Harlequin Intrigue, Silhouette… Read more »
I feel like such an outlier because I have no TBR pile at all! The closest thing I have is the list of books on reserve at the library that won’t come in for months because other people are ahead of me. When they finally show up I forgot that I reserved them in the first place.
The Cocktail Challenge – This challenge uses famous drinks as our starting point. Read 17 books from any of the following categories:
1. Angel Face- Read an angel or demon romance.
2. Arnold Palmer – Read a book where the h/h is a golfer or works in a profession typically associated with golf, such as lawyer, accountant, real estate agent or read a book set in Scotland or about Scottish characters.
3. Aviation – Read a novel where the h/h is a pilot or works with planes in some way.
4. Boilermaker- Read a book about a working class hero.
5. Bee’s Knees – Read a book set in the roaring 20s or 30s.
6. Bloodhound – Read a book where the h/h has a dog.
7. Blue Lagoon – Read a book where the h/h are stranded for some portion of the story.
8. Buttery Nipple – Read a book where the h/h is a baker or cook.
9. Casino – Read a book that involves a casino, gambler or a bet.
10. Chicago Cocktail – Read a book set in Chicago or a book about firemen.
11. Churchill – Read a book set in WWII.
12. Clover Club Cocktail – Read a book set in Ireland or with Irish characters. Or a book with “lucky” in the title.
13. French Connection – Read a book set in France, or a book about police officers as in the movie The French Connection.
14. Four Horsemen – These gents are associated with the apocalypse. Read an apocalyptic or futuristic romance.
15. Four Score – Read a book set in the Civil War era.
16. Fuzzy Naval – Read a book where a character has amnesia or mental illness (PTSD, depression etc.) or where the past is a significant factor.
17. Grasshopper – Read a book where the h/h is a farmer or landscaper or florist or works with the land in some way.
18. Horse’s Neck – Read a book where the h/h works with horses, is a cowboy/cowgirl or a book set in Kentucky horse country.
19. Hot Toddy – Read a book about an old maid.
20. Incredible Hulk – Read a book where the h or h has a dual identity or where they are pretending to be someone they are not or where they are a contradiction (virgin sex therapist, virgin erotica writer, virgin prostitute/mistress etc.)
21. London Fog – Read a book about a weather person or where the weather plays a significant part of the plot or read a book set wholly or partly in London.
22. Margarita – Read a book set in Mexico or Spain or with Hispanic or Spanish characters.
23. Savoy Corpse Reviver – Read a book involving ghosts or zombies.
24. Salty Dog – Read a book about a sailor, set on the sea or where the h/h are involved with water in a professional capacity (marine biologist, scuba diver, pool company, lifeguard etc.) or live near the water.
25. Shirley Temple – Read a book about a teacher or someone who works with kids or a book where the h/h is a single parent or where a pregnancy is important to the plot.
26. Sidecar – Sidecars are used for passengers on motor cycles. Read a book about a biker or someone who works with motorcycles.
27. Slippery Nipple – Read a book where the h/h is a thief or criminal/mobster or believed to be one.
28. Stinger – Read a book about a beekeeper or a novel with honey in the title.
29. Tom and Jerry – Read a book about an artist or cartoonist.
30. Vesper Martini – This drink was invented and named by Ian Fleming in the 1953 James Bond novel Casino Royale. Read a book about spies, FBI agents, CIA agents or alphabet letter/secret agencies of any kind.
New to You
Read 5 books from new to you authors.
Read 5 books from a new to you sub-genre or genres.
Read 5 debut romance novels.
Read 2 “first” books – first in a series, first by an author, first book in a publishing line, books published in the first year of a century or decade etc.
Staples of the Challenge
The Whittler – Whittle away at your TBR by reading any 17 books in the pile.
The Serie(ous) Challenge – Read any 17 books that are part of a series. Can be a mix such as the The Huxtable Quintet, The Simply Quartet, The Wallflower Series, and the Mistress Trilogy. Different authors, different sagas but they are all series books.
The Location Challenge
Option 1: The United States Challenge
Read a book set in each of the first 17 states in the Union or read 17 books set in 17 different states in the union (can be the first 17 or any of the 50 states). National Geographic breaks the U.S. into five different areas – read a total of 17 books where each of those areas is represented at least once. They are West, Southwest, Midwest, Southeast, and Northeast. Or read 17 books in the U.S. historical period during which the first seventeen states are set up. Or any combination thereof.
Delaware 1 December 7, 1787
Pennsylvania 2 December 12, 1787
New Jersey 3 December 18, 1787
Georgia 4 January 2, 1788
Connecticut 5 January 9, 1788
Massachusetts 6 February 6, 1788
Maryland 7 April 28, 1788
South Carolina 8 May 23, 1788
New Hampshire 9 June 21, 1788
Virginia 10 June 25, 1788
New York 11 July 26, 1788
North Carolina 12 November 21, 1789
Rhode Island 13 May 29, 1790
Vermont 14 March 4, 1791
Kentucky 15 June 1, 1792
Tennessee 16 June 1, 1796
Ohio 17 March 1, 1803
Option 2: Read 17 books set in 17 different locations. Can be fantasy worlds.
The Floral Challenge: Read 12 or 17 Books based on the language of flowers
1. Amaryllis- dramatic. Read a book with high drama, like an Epic romance or a Downton Abbey style romance.
2. Apple Blossom – promise. Read a reunion book where the promise of love is originally broken and then rediscovered.
3. Azalea- abundance. Read a book where the h/h are wealthy. Or a book with millionaire/billionaire/duke/tycoon in the title.
4. Baby’s Breath – festivity. Read a book that revolves around a party of some kind or where the h/h meet at a party. Alternately, read a book where the h/h have a child(ren) or where they are together because of a pregnancy.
5. Bird of Paradise – Read a romance with an exotic location.
6. Carnation – White carnations suggest pure love, read a “clean” or inspirational romance.
7. Chrysanthemum- A chrysanthemum is the symbol of the throne of Japan. Read a romance set in Japan or anywhere in Asia.
8. Crocus- foresight. Read a novel where one of the characters has “the sight” of some kind –dreams, visions, clairvoyance etc.
9. Daffodil -chivalry. Read a medieval romance.
10. Forget-Me-Not remember me forever – or don’t. Read a novel with an amnesia plot or conversely, where the h/h are childhood sweethearts and have been together forever. Or a reincarnation plot.
11. Larkspur – beautiful spirit. Read a novel with a ghost or spirits or where the h/h can talk to spirits (medium)
12. Lavender – distrust. Read a book with a big misunderstanding.
13. Lilac – first love. Read a book that is about a first love.
14. Magnolia- dignity. Read a book that involves a matter of honor or that has honor in the title. Alternately, in America we associate magnolias with the south. Read a book that takes place in the Southern U.S.
15. Nasturtium- patriotism. Read a book that takes place during a war.
16. Orchid- sympathy. Read a book revolving around a death, someone being ill or a will.
17. Passion flower passion. Read a “hot” romance.
18. Poinsettia – the Christmas flower. Read a Christmas or winter romance or a book with snow/winter scene on the cover.
19. Rhododendron beware. Read a romantic suspense or a book with “fear” or a variation of that theme in the title.
20. Rose yellow friendship. Read a friends to lovers romance.
21 Read a book with a flower in the title such as For the Roses, A Gift of Daisies etc.
The 17th Letter of the Alphabet is Q. Read 17 (or 12) Books that have something to do with the letter Q. Here is a list to get you started:
1. Quiz – read a book that involves games or competitions, such as a card playing hero or an h/h that make a wager or gambling in some way.
2. Quill – read a book about a writer or someone who makes their living through writing or words such as lawyers or advertising execs or politicians.
3. Quartet – Read a book with a strong secondary romance or where two couples fall in love. Or the fourth book in a series or a series made up of four books.
4. Quack – We often call a bad doctor a quack. Read a medical romance or a romance with a con artist.
5. Queen – Read a romance with royalty or the nobility.
6. Quickie – Read an erotic romance, or a romance that starts with a one night stand.
7. Quixotic – exceedingly idealistic; unrealistic and impractical. Read a romance a sci-fi/fantasy romance or a romance that has an unrealistic premise like a Duke marrying the governess.
8. Quality – Read an award winning romance.
9. Quintet – Read five books in a series or the fifth book in a series
10. Quirky – Read a book with a quirky hero or heroine, such as a Susan Elizabeth Phillips book.
11. Quilter – Read an Amish romance or a book about a heroine who is in fashion or sews. Or a book with quilt in the title.
12. Quiet – Read a book with a shy hero or heroine, or a loner. General idea: Read a book about someone who is alone or considered quiet (like a librarian) for some reason.
13. Quote – Read a book with a famous quote or song title/song lyrics in the title or a variation on a song lyric/song title (ie Earls Just Wanna Have Fun)
14. Quit – Read a book about a h/h who change in career or are forced to move.
15. Quest – Read a book that involves a quest or a search of some kind. Can be searching for a child or a criminal etc.
16. Qadi – a qadi is an Islamic judge. Read a book that involves a judge or a book about characters in or from the Middle East.
17. Quaint- which means attractively unusual or old fashioned. Read an older romance (more than a decade old.)
I thought we might title the challenge this year “Just 17, You know what I mean :-)” after the line in the popular Beatles song Saw Her Standing There.
Seventeen Genres Challenge – Read one book from each of these seventeen genres (those doing a shorter version could read 12 books, one each from any of these genres)
Historical Romance
Contemporary Romance
Paranormal Romance
Fantasy Romance
Romantic Suspense
Romantic Comedy
Multi-Cultural Romance
LGBT Romance
Inspirational Romance
New Adult/YA Romance
Western Romance
Holiday Romance
Science Fiction Romance
Military Romance
Sports Romance
Time Travel Romance
Gothic Romance
This gets my vote!!!!!
Though I’m blown away by all the creative ideas!
Here is the suggestion I had in the old message boards. 17 Fun Facts 1) The number 17 has wide significance in pure mathematics. Read a book where one of the main characters is a mathematician, scientist, professor or student. Or read a book with 17 chapters. Or the 17th book in a series, or the 17th book in a “Top Something” list (for instance, the 17th book at AAR 2013 Top 100 list is The Black Hawk by Joanna Bourne). 2) Seventeen is the name of a popular South Korean boy band. Read a book where one of the main characters is a musician, knows how to sing or play an instrument. Or a book where one of the main characters is Asian (or of Asian descent). Or read a contemporary book. 3) Number Seventeen is a movie directed by Alfred Hitchcock Read a book where one of the main characters works in the entertainment industry. Or read a mystery or suspense book. 4) In the Harry Potter universe, 17 is the coming of age for wizards. It is equivalent to the usual coming of age at 18. Read young adult book. Or read a fantasy book. 5) The number of guns in a 17-gun salute to U.S. Army, Air Force and Marine Corps Generals, and Navy and Coast Guard Admirals. Read a book where one of the main characters is, or used to be, in the military. Or read a book where war is an important factor in the plot. Or read a book where one of the main characters owns a gun. 6) In the Nordic countries, the seventeenth day of the year is considered the heart and/or the back of winter. Read a book set in winter, or at a cold place, or set in the Nordic countries. Or a book with the words “heart”, “winter”, “day” or “year” in the title. 7) In Italian culture, the number 17 is considered unlucky. Read a book set in Italy, or where one of the main characters is Italian (or of Italian descent). Or read a book where one of the main characters makes a bet, or is a gambler. Or a book where one of the main characters is “down on luck”. 8) 17 is the number to call Police in France. Read a book set in France, or where one of the main characters is French (or of French descent). Or read a book where one of the main characters is a police officer, a detective or a private investigator. 9) 17 is the declared percentage alcohol content (by volume) of Baileys Irish Cream – an Irish whiskey and cream based liqueur, made by Gilbeys of Ireland. Read a book set in Ireland, or where one of the main characters is Irish (or of Irish descent). Or read a book where one of the main characters works in a restaurant or bar. 10) 17 is the atomic number of chlorine. The most common compound of chlorine, sodium chloride (common salt), has been known since ancient times. Read a book where one of the main characters knows how to cook. Or read a historical romance. 11) “Chicago 17”, is a 1984 album by the band Chicago Read a book set in Chicago, or at any large city. Or a book set in North America. Or read a book set in the 80s. 12) The jersey number 17 has been retired by several North American sports teams in honor of past playing greats or other key figures. Curiously, however, no NFL team has retired the number yet. Read a book where one of the main characters works in sports. Or a book where one of the main characters retires, or makes a career change. 13) “17 Again” is a 2009 American comedy film directed by Burr Steers. In the movie Mike (Matthew Perry) has to relive what it is like to be teenager – almost like time traveling… Read a time-travel book. Or a funny romance. Or a book where one of the main characters is 37 years-old or 17 years-old. 14) “City 17” is a dystopian metropolitan area in Eastern Europe that forms the primary setting for the game Half-Life 2. Read a Science Fiction/Dystopian book. Or a book set in Europe. 15) A Haiku is a very short form of Japanese poetry. Traditional haiku consist of 17 syllables, in three phrases of 5, 7, and 5 on respectively. Read where one of the main characters is… Read more »
Yep, that’s what I meant by putting my paltry efforts to shame – these are awesome :)
This is all good :) So some suggestions:
Titles/authors from the first 17 letters of the alphabet
17 books from as many different romance sub-genres as you can, with no more than 2 (or 3?) books taken from the same sub-genre
17 books – each book published in a different year from 2000 to 2016 (inclusive)
These are simple ideas – some of the posters at the old message boards had some fabulous ideas for themes, so here’s hoping some of them will show up and put my paltry efforts to shame…
I love reading challenges, so I am in for 17 for 17.
I’m also up for 17 in 17!
I would be super interested in this. I get stuck in my comfort zone with books and I probably miss a lot of great stuff that just sits on my TBR pile otherwise.
I would do 17 in 17.
I’ll do 17 in 17.
Are we going with seventeen in 17?
I would LOVE to participate in any sort of challenge that clears my TBR pile! For all of the reasons you mentioned above, some books just keep falling farther and farther off my radar. I have lots of different genres languishing on my Kindle – perhaps a challenge that has readers selecting a number of books (9? 10?) each from a different genre? I’ve got PNR, HR, Fantasy, M/M, Contemporary….all just waiting for me to read.
I LOVE THIS IDEA.
em