Author: Carol

And the last of my 2024 challenges (probably) is the Uncorked Reading Challenge. There are quarterly Bingo cards. Work toward reading books/watching movies to score a “Bingo” in any direction, horizontal, vertical, or diagonal. As always, read (and watch) as much or as little as you like. Of course, you may do all of the topics on a card too – or at least try. The hashtag is #UncorkedReading....

Another new challenge for me for 2024 is the European Reading Challenge hosted at Rose City Reader. I might just need a vacation, but right now books are probably a better choice. The idea is to read books set in European countries or books by European authors. You can participate at different levels, but each book must represent a different country -- either written by an author from a different country or set in a different country, no two books from the same country. It's supposed to be a tour! The hashtag is #europeanreadingchallenge. For this challenge, we use the standard list of 50 sovereign states that fall (at least partially) within the geographic territory of the continent of Europe and/or enjoy membership in international European organizations such as the Council of Europe. These 50 European sovereign states are: Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary,...

The Literary Escapes Challenge hosted at Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book is a new one for me. The goal is to read 1 book set in each of the 50 states + the District of Columbia. (51 Points). If you complete the challenge you earn 50 Bonus Points. You also can earn Bonus Points for books set in Countries around the world. 1 Bonus Point for each country - no repeats. States: Alabama Alaska Arizona - Off the Air by Christina Estes Arkansas California - A Midnight Puzzle by Gigi Pandian Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida - The Manatee Did It by Kay Dew Shostak Georgia - In the Wick of Time by Valona Jones Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine - I’ll Be Home for Mischief by Jacqueline Frost Maryland Massachusetts - The Sign of Four Spirits by Vicki Delany Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey - Dog Day Afternoon by David Rosenfelt New Mexico New York - Motherless Brooklyn by Jonathan Lethem North Carolina -Death by Demo by Callie Carpenter North Dakota Ohio - Peking Duck and Cover by Vivienne Chien Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South...

I’m joining the Diversity Reading Challenge hosted at Celebrity Readers again for 2024. The basic goal is to intentionally read more diverse books. The author or the main character – or one of the leads, who preferably has a POV – has to belong to a diverse group. According to the definition of We Need Diverse Books: “We recognize all diverse experiences, including (but not limited to) LGBTQIA, Native, people of color, gender diversity, people with disabilities*, and ethnic, cultural, and religious minorities. *We subscribe to a broad definition of disability, which includes but is not limited to physical, sensory, cognitive, intellectual, or developmental disabilities, chronic conditions, and mental illnesses (this may also include addiction). Furthermore, we subscribe to a social model of disability, which presents disability as created by barriers in the social environment, due to lack of equal access, stereotyping, and other forms of marginalization.” The mini-challenge involves monthly themes: JANUARY – diverse folktales/culture/mythology; or diverse retelling; or non-western setting The Sacrifice by Rin Chupeco FEBRUARY –...

I’m joining the Nonfiction Reader Challenge hosted by Shelleyrae at Book’d Out again this year. The hashtag is #ReadNonFicChal. The challenge is to read nonfiction books from twelve different categories. I’m going with the Nonfiction Nibbler option reading six from any six categories. The categories are: History Biography/Memoir Science Food Health True Crime - Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt Culture Transportation The Future Pets Architecture - The Plaza by Julie Satow Published in 2024 Books read:...

I’m joining the Cruisin’ thru the Cozies Reading Challenge hosted by Yvonne at Socrates’ Book Reviews for 2024. I’m aiming at being an investigator, reading 20 cozy mysteries of my choice hopefully including one from each of the categories below. One from culinary - Cheddar Off Dead by Korina Moss One from animal-related - Between a Flock and a Hard Place by Donna Andrews One from craft related - In the Wick of Time by Valona Jones One from paranormal - Thanksgiving Dinner Death by Leighann Dobbs One from cozy mysteries based outside the US - Once Upon a Murder by Samantha Larsen One career-based cozy mystery - The Sign of Four Spirits by Vicki Delany One holiday based - A Killer Romance by Maggie Blackburn (Valentine's Day) One travel mystery - Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies by Catherine Mack One historical mystery - Deadly Summer Nights by Vicki Delany One is your choice! - The Manatee Did It by Kay Dew Shostak Books read:...