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When I think back to what I did this summer it will involve a lot of books. I used to take part in summer reading programs at the local library as a kid and I was thinking this spring that I kind of missed those. I wished they had similar programs for adults that were not book clubs. Thankfully a blogger, Amanda of Amanda's Weekly Zen, came through for me. She had noticed that a lot of bloggers were posting their summer reading lists and was wondering if anyone was interested in a joining a Summer Reading Challenge. The challenge could be whatever you wanted to make it – a specific number of books, exploring new genres, etc. The challenge circulated through blogs and suddenly there were over 100 readers signed up. Yowza! A forum was launched and I think it probably goes with out saying my book list and blogroll both exploded.
Today marks the final day of the challenge. My personal challenge was to read 28 books within specific categories. Some of them were designed to take me outside my normal reading parameters. Others were to get me on my track with my own personal library where books tend to get neglected in favour of library books since they have deadlines. On top of these 28 books I also had my “regular"? reading to do too. I was not about to drop everything on my request list at the library or stop buying books.
Was my challenge successful? Yes and no.
Thanks to the challenge I was able to finally get a few books that I had struggled with for years behind me. The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins was one of those books. I still remember the first day I purchased it. It was a classic. It looked interesting. I liked the cover. I took it home and started to read it. I hated it. I gave up on it. Every now and then over the next 5 years I’d pick it up and try again only to put it back on the shelf. I finally ended up throwing it into a charity box. But when the challenge came up this summer I knew it was time. And I got through it. I can’t say I really enjoyed it (or liked it for that matter) but I did garner a certain appreciation for it.
Why wasn’t it a success? It’s quite simple. I didn’t finish. I only read 19 of my 28 books. But that’s okay with me. Challenges are supposed to be challenging right? I’ll keep plugging away at my list and if I’m lucky I’ll finish it before the end of the year. Or before next summer starts. As far as I’m concerned the challenge did what I wanted it to in that it got me out of my reading comfort zone.
Did you take part in the Summer Reading Challenge? How did you fare?
Are you looking for something to help guide your reading now that summer's almost over? Want to get your spook on this autumn? Carl V at Stainless Steel Droppings has launched the Readers Imbibing Peril (R.I.P) Autumn Challenge. Carl suggests that books meet the broad criteria of being “scary, eerie, moody, dripping with atmosphere, gothic, unsettling, etc? Pick out five books that fit in those categories and let Carl know in the comments or via email that you intend to read along. Contact him before September 6, 5pm central standard time and he’ll put your name in to win a prize pack including a copy of Bram Stoker’s The Essential Dracula.
Seeing as I haven’t finished the summer challenge I may need to sit the autumn one out. Although, I haven’t read The Legend of Sleepy Hollow yet. Or Dracula. Or Frankenstein. And I could throw in some Poe; I’ve been meaning to read some Poe. Oh, I think I have a collection of Roald Dahl’s short stories hiding someplace…. So maybe I will. I probably won’t finish the five I select but that’s okay too. After all, it’s the journey that counts - not the finish line.
