Semi Charmed Winter Book Challenge 2014 Preliminary List

Even though Baby Hall is coming in November, I'm going to attempt to complete the Winter Book Challenge. This is my preliminary list and I may change my mind about what I'm reading as the months go on. I also want to see what other people are reading to get ideas.

Semi Charmed Winter Book Challenge
For complete rules and categories, visit Semi-Charmed Kind of Life's post. 

5 points: Freebie! Read any book that fits the general rules.
If I Stay by Gayle Forman

10 points: Read a book written by an author who has published at least 10 books.
The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult

10 points: Read a book of short stories.
The Best Short Stories of O. Henry by O. Henry

10 points: Read a book with a food in the title.
All's Fair in Love and Cupcakes by Betsy St. Amant

15 points: Read the first book in a series that is new to you.
The Selection by Kiera Cass

15 points: Read a book that was originally written in a language that is not your native language.
Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

15 points: Read a book written by a local author (either an author from your state if you live in the United States, or from your country if you live somewhere else).
Undecided- I'll probably reread a Nicholas Sparks' book that I haven't read in a while.

20 points: Read a "bookish book" (in which books play an important role, e.g. the setting involves a bookstore or library, a major character is an author, or a book that celebrates reading and books.
The Jane Austen Book Club by Karen Joy Fowler

20 points: Read a book with a direction in the title (e.g. north, south, east, west or any combination of those).
East of Eden by John Steinbeck 

25 points: Read a book from a genre you don't usually read.
Carrie by Stephen King

25 points: Read a book with a song lyric in the title. Be sure to tell us the song name and artist as well! 
Remember Me by Mary Higgins Clark (song of the same title by Mark Schultz)

30 points: Read two books with a different meal in each title (e.g. breakfast, lunch, dinner, supper, brunch).
Thirteen at Dinner by Agatha Christie and Marshmallows for Breakfast by Dorothy Koomson

Do you have any recommendations for any of these categories? I'm not set on this list. 

#SCSBC14 Recap

This challenge ends in a few days, so I thought I'd recap the books I read for it. Last summer,  I participated in and was one of the first finishers of the Semi Charmed Summer Book Challenge 2013. Then, I attempted to participate in the Autumn Book Challenge and failed miserably. These challenges are hosted by Megan at Semi-Charmed Kind of Life. I like some of the changes that she recently made to the challenges. She now hosts less of them in a year and she has extended the time to complete the challenge.

When I set out on this challenge, I honestly didn't think I'd get this far. I didn't actually finish the challenge because I could never figure out a book to read that was published before I was born. The thing I liked about doing this challenge this year is that I didn't read anything I wasn't already planning to read. I just made the things I was reading fit into the categories. I also didn't let the challenge keep me from reading anything else that I wanted to read. So, these are not the only books I've read between May and August.  

5 points: Freebie! Read any book that is at least 200 pages long.

Wedding Night by Sophie Kinsella (464 pages, 3 stars)

I didn't like this book as much as some other Sophie Kinsella novels I've read. I didn't find it as funny as it was promised to be. Longer review can be found here. 

10 points: Read a book that was written before you were born.

This is the one category I didn't find a book for. 

10 points: Finish reading a book you couldn't finish the first time around. (You must have at least 150 pages left in the book to use it for this category.)

 Confessions of a Shopoholic by Sophie Kinsella (312 pages, 3 stars)

This is another category that I didn't think I'd find a book for. I have very few books I haven't finished and if I haven't finished them, I really have no desire to. Then, I remembered I started this book in college after seeing the movie, but couldn't get into it. After reading it, I enjoyed the movie better, but I'm still trying to get through the whole series. It's an easy read. Longer review coming up on Monday.

10 points: Read a book from the children’s section of the library or bookstore.  

City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare (725 pages, 3 stars)

This was the final book in the Mortal Instruments series and overall I was disappointed. Instead of just focusing on ending this series, the author was trying to get you interested in reading her next series. Longer review can be found here. 

15 points: Read a book that is on The New York Times' Best Sellers List when you begin reading it.

One Plus One by Jojo Moyes (384 pages, 4 stars)

I have seen so many bloggers rage over Jojo Moyes, so I finally read one of her books and loved it. I will definitely be reading more. Longer review can be found here. 

15 points: Read a historical fiction book that does not take place in Europe.

One Thousand White Women: The Journals of May Dodd by Jim Fergus (434 pages, 4 stars)

I had seen a few bloggers who really enjoyed this book so I decided to read it too. It definitely was an interesting story and unlike anything I'd ever read before. Longer review coming Monday. 

15 points: Read a book another blogger has already read for the challenge.  

Dark Places by Gillian Flynn (349 pages, 4 stars)

I liked this one better than Gone Girl. The way the chapters are divided into different people's point of view and the past and present make it VERY hard to put down. Longer review here.

20 points: Read a book with “son(s),” “daughter(s)” or “child(ren)” in the title.  

The Preacher's Daughter by Beverly Lewis (349 pages, 3 stars)

This book is a part of a series and at first I wasn't sure if I was going to finish the series. Then, something happened at the end that made it impossible for me not to see what would happen next. Longer review coming Monday. 

20 points: Read a book that was/will be adapted to film in 2014. (Here are 16 ideas to get you started, but I know there are plenty more options.)  

A Long Way Down by Nick Hornby (333 pages, 2 stars)

I'm not really sure what to think of this book. It's definitely not one I'd go around recommending to people, but it wasn't awful either. Longer review here.

25 points: Read a book written by a blogger. 

Goodbye for Now by Laurie Frankel (289 pages, 2 stars) (blogs here)

I found the concept of this book very intriguing which is why I picked it up to read. However, I was disappointed with the execution. It was not what I thought it would be. Longer review here. 

25 points: Read a biography, autobiography or memoir.

I Didn't Come Here to Make Friends: Confessions of a Reality Show Villain by Courtney Robertson (262 pages, 3 stars)

I haven't watched the Bachelor or Bachelorette since about 2009, so I wasn't familiar with this person or her season on the Bachelor. Mainly, I read it because I was interested in getting a look at the making of a reality show. I liked that aspect of the book. Longer review coming Monday.

 
30 points: Read a pair of books with antonyms in the titles.  

Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella (435 pages, 4 stars) 

 I enjoyed this Kinsella novel better than the other ones I read for this challenge. It was silly and unrealistic, but it was fun. Longer review here.

and About a Boy by Nick Hornby (307 pages, 3 stars)

This book was more depressing that I had expected. I read it, but it wasn't really enjoyable. It was more that I just wanted to finish the book. Longer review here.

I'm also trying to complete a 50 State Challenge and A-Z Challenge. You can read more about my challenges here or you can follow me on Goodreads here.

Have you read any good books lately? I'm always looking to add to my to-read list.

2014 Book Challenges

Happy Wednesday!

I'm sitting at home because there's a possibility of snow and school is cancelled. This brings our total to 5 days of school missed that we have to make up on Saturday-one of the cons of year round school. I need to be productive, but I probably won't be. I made a trip to the grocery store last night to try and buy this edible, safe cookie dough I just found out about (as if I don't eat the kind of cookie dough you're not supposed to eat).

image via The Cookie Dough Cafe

But the store was all out. :(

Sitting on my couch eating cookie dough sounded like the perfect snow day activity. I guess I'll have to settle for catching up on Shark Tank (my newest obsession) and maybe reading a few guilty pleasure romance books (which I'm about to make a trip to the library for).

Last year, I amazed myself by reading 79 books. This year, I am starting out with a goal of 50 (and I'm already behind). I'd love to read more and I'll raise the goal if I meet the 50 book mark before the year is up.

I also started participating in some challenges last year. Some of those I'm carrying over to this year, but I'd really love to challenge myself to complete them this year.

You can keep up with my challenges and read more about how I review books on my Bookshelf page.

Here are the challenges I'd like to complete this year. If they're carrying over from last year, I'm including what I've already done:

Goodreads Challenge: I set a goal to read 50 books. I hope I can raise that amount.

40 Book Challenge: This challenge runs through the school year. I gave this challenge to my students and I'm participating with them. I lack 14 books to completing it. Technically, I have read some of these genres this school year, but they've been children's books. I also have 2 books I'm currently reading that will finish out the biography/autobiography category and get me closer to finishing the informational text category.

Your choice - 10
Insurgent by Veronica Roth
Megan's Mate by Nora Roberts
Matched by Ally Condie
Crossed by Ally Condie
Reached by Ally Condie
Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend by Matthew Dicks
Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
Defending Jacob by William Landay
Looking for Alaska by John Green
Allegiant by Veronica Roth
Mythology - 2
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
Poetry Anthology - 1
Biography or Autobiography - 2
Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling
Historical Fiction - 3 
Garden of Stones by Sophie Littlefield
The Dressmaker by Kate Alcott
The Ruby Brooch by Katherine Lowry Logan
Realistic Fiction - 2
The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger
Wonder by R.J. Palacio 
Informational Text - 3
Pandora's Lunchbox by Melanie Warner
Mystery - 2
Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys
Fairy Tale - 1
A Tale Dark and Grimm by Adam Gidwitz
Folktale - 2
Tall Tale - 1
Fable - 1
Cultural - 5
And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
The Color Purple by Alice Walker
Graphic Novel - 1
Fantasy - 2
Protector by Joanne Wadsworth
Warrior by Joanne Wadsworth
Science Fiction -1
Divergent by Veronica Roth
Newbery Honor or Winner - 1

50 State Challenge: I saw this challenge being done by other people. Some bloggers host this as a year long challenge, but I didn't link up. I decided to try and complete it in 2 years. I started it last summer, so technically I have another year and a half. However, I'd love to finish it this year. I've read books from 11 different states so far.

View 50 State Challenge in a larger map

Alabama- Looking for Alaska by John Green- finished 10/23/13

Alaska

Arizona

Arkansas

California

Colorado

Connecticut

Delaware

Florida Paper Towns by John Green- finished 11/11/13

Georgia The Color Purple by Alice Walker- finished 8/18/13

Hawaii

Idaho

Illinois Divergent by Veronica Roth- finished 7/21/13

Indiana

Iowa

Kansas

Kentucky The Last MacKlenna by Katherine Lowry Logan- finished 1/17/2014

Louisiana Phantom Evil by Heather Graham-finished 6/26/13

Maine Megan's Mate by Nora Roberts- finished 8/18/13

Maryland

Massachusetts Defending Jacob by William Landay- finished 10/5/13

Michigan

Minnesota Breadcrumbs by Anne Ursu- finished 11/1/13

Mississippi

Missouri

Montana

Nebraska Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell- finished 9/17/13

Nevada

New Hampshire

New Jersey

New Mexico

New York The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger- finished 7/20/13

North Carolina

North Dakota

Ohio

Oklahoma

Oregon

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

South Carolina

South Dakota

Tennessee

Texas

Utah

Vermont

Virginia

Washington

West Virginia

Wisconsin

Wyoming 

Alphabet Soup Reading Challenge: In this challenge, you try to read one book with a title starting with every letter of the alphabet. I just started this challenge, so I'm not very far.

A-
B-
C- The City of Fallen Angels- completed 1/27/14
D-
E-
F-
G-
H-
I-
J-
K-
L- The Last MacKlenna -completed 1/17/14
M-
N-
O-
P-
Q-
R-
S-
T-
U-
V-
W-
X-
Y-
Z-

I'm trying to keep it simple this year and very open so I can still read what I want without feeling trapped by my challenges. 

Are you doing any book challenges this year? Are you challenging yourself to anything else this year?