Tag Archives: reading challenge

everyday matters | book review

By Posted in Memoir, Nonfiction Tagged , , , , , , , 1 Comment

Whoot! Finished my very first book of the year! Well, it did contain mostly pictures BUT it was a book and it was a good book so I’m happy :D

Everyday Matters

Everyday Matters by Danny Gregory

Rating: 4.0 – 5.0

Danny Gregory is just a regular guy living in New York with his wife Patti and their 10 month old baby.  A tragic accident turns their lives upside down and Danny is forced to look at his life in a completely different way.  Needing an outlet to deal with the challenges and this new perspective, he turns to drawing.

Everyday Matters isn’t about the details of the everyday struggles that happen when your life is turned upside, rather it’s what goes on in your head when your faced with those struggles.  How do you cope?  What are you feeling?  What are you considering?  It’s like the author hands you a sketchbook and says “Wanna see what I did after the accident?”  And those moments aren’t very often brilliant–they’re messy, mundane, and seemingly insignificant.  But therein lies the beauty.  The accident forced Gregory to be more deliberate in living life, to pay attention to his surroundings, to pause, to muse, to consider, capture what he saw with pen and paper.  What he discovered was that life does go on and everyday has something about it to enjoy, something that matters!

As much as I enjoyed the book, I didn’t give it a five-star rating because it wasn’t exactly what I thought it would be and I would have enjoyed a little more writing.  However, it was a book about drawing so I think the art was what it needed to be and I enjoyed the pictures as well!

There were a couple of word-bombs dropped, just so you know.  There’s no explicit content but it is adult life stuff so I’d still have to rate it closer to a PG-13 than just PG…(I’m trying to think what I’d do if I had kiddos…)…yeah, closer to a PG-13.

It’s a quick read, quite inspiring for the writer or artist.  It makes you want to take out pen and paper and get words and/or sketches out for yourself!  Definitely a good first-book-of-the-year :D

Happy reading y’all!

This book counts towards the following challenges:

2015 TBR List

By Posted in Challenge, Classics Club Tagged , 1 Comment

I’m almost done with one of the titles off of my TBR list and I just realized I never posted my list!

Here’s what I’m hoping to complete this year:

  1. An American Tragedy by Theodore Dreiser
  2. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
  3. Stop Dating the Church by Joshua Harris
  4. For Whom the Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway
  5. Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline
  6. Happier at Home Gretchen Rubin
  7. Everyday Matters by Danny Gregory
  8. Shadow of the Almighty by Elizabeth Elliot
  9. What is He Thinking? by Rebecca St. James
  10. Defiant Daughters: Christian Women of Conscience by Marcy Heidish
  11. When Dreams Come True by Eric & Leslie Ludy
  12. Here I Stand by Roland H. Bainton

TBR 2015

Alternates:

  1. Start: Punch Fear in the Face, Escape Average and Do Work that Matters by Jon Acuff
  2. Paper Towns by John Green

I’m suuuuuper excited!!

Happy reading y’all :)

Book Challenges for 2015

By Posted in Challenge, Reading Event Tagged , , , 11 Comments

Another year has gone by!  It’s time for a new set of book challenges for 2015!!  Here’s my master post for signing up and linking up with the events I’ve chosen for next year!

2015 Audiobook Challenge

Hosted by The Book Nymph & Hot Listens

I didn’t quite make my 2014 goal but I’m going give it another go in 2015!

Here are the levels:

  • Newbie (I’ll give it a try) 1-5
  • Weekend Warrior (I’m getting the hang of this) 5-10
  • Stenographer (can listen while multi-tasking) 10-15
  • Socially Awkward (Don’t talk to me) 15-20
  • Binge Listener (Why read when someone can do it for you) 20-30
  • My Precious (I had my earbuds surgically implanted) 30-50
  • Marathoner (Look Ma no hands) 50+

I’m going to try for Stenographer.

Click HERE for full details!

2015 Authors A to Z Reading Challenge

2015-authors-bannerHosted by Samanatha Lin

The goal is to read a book by authors with last names from A to Z by December 31, 2015.

Click HERE for full details!

2015 Bookish Resolutions

Hosted by Laura & Michelle

I’m reeeeeeally loving the concept of this challenge.  I’ve been scouring Pinterest for the past few weeks looking for all kinds of different resolutions and challenges so this looks super fun!  The goal is to create 1-5 resolutions related to book/blogging.  At the end of every month, blog your progress and link up with the hosts.  There is a giveaway at the end of the year and a list of example goals to choose from at the sign-up post.

Click HERE for full details!

 

Back to the Classics Challenge 2015

backtotheclassics2015BUTTONHosted by Books and Chocolate

2014 was a complete fail as I did not keep up with this one at all!!  For some reason my fiction focus fell more on historical fiction than classics so I didn’t finish any title on my Classics Club list. AAAGHHH!! Sooooo, I’m going to try again!  Here are the categories to choose from:

  1. A 19th Century Classic — any book published between 1800 and 1899.
  2. A 20th Century Classic — any book published between 1900 and 1965.  Just like last year, all books must have been published at least 50 years ago to qualify as a classic.  The only exception is books that were published posthumously but written at least 50 years ago.)
  3. A Classic by a Woman Author.
  4. A Classic in Translation. As in last year’s category, this can be any classic book originally written or a published in a language that is not your first language.  Feel free to read it in its original form if you are comfortable reading in another language.  
  5. A Very Long Classic Novel — a single work of 500 pages or longer.  This does not include omnibus editions combined into one book, or short story collections.  
  6. A Classic Novella — any work shorter than 250 pages.  For a list of suggestions, check out this list of World’s Greatest Novellas from Goodreads.
  7. A Classic with a Person’s Name in the Title.  First name, last name, or both, it doesn’t matter, but it must have the name of a character.  David Copperfield, The Brothers Karamazov, Don Quixote — something like that. It’s amazing how many books are named after people!
  8. A Humorous or Satirical Classic.  Humor is very subjective, so this one is open to interpretation.  Just tell us in the review why you think it’s funny or satirical.   For example, if you think that Crime and Punishment and funny, go ahead and use it, but please justify your choice in your post. 
  9. A Forgotten Classic.  This could be a lesser-known work by a famous author, or a classic that nobody reads any more.  If you look on Goodreads, this book will most likely have less than 1000 ratings.  This is your chance to read one of those obscure books from the Modern Library 100 Best Novels or 1001 Books to Read Before You Die.  Books published by Virago Modern Classics,Persephone, and NYRB Classics often fall into this category.  
  10. A Nonfiction Classic.  A memoir, biography, essays, travel, this can be any nonfiction work that’s considered a classic, or a nonfiction work by a classic author.  You’d be surprised how many classic authors dabbled in nonfiction writing — I have nonfiction books by Dickens, Trollope, Twain, and Steinbeck on my shelves. 
  11. A Classic Children’s Book.  A book for your inner child!  Pick a children’s classic that you never got around to reading.  
  12. A Classic Play.  Your choice, any classic play, as long as it was published or performed before 1965.  Plays are only eligible for this specific category.

There are no required categories and there is a drawing for a giveaway at the end.

Click HERE for full details!

 

Full House Reading Challenge 2015

Hosted by Book Date

The goal is to complete the card below by December 2015.

Full House Challenge final A

There is a giveaway at the end!

Click HERE for full details!

 

2015 Library Challenge

PrintHosted by Geeky Bloggers Book Blog & The Book Nympho

The goal is to read at least 12 books from the library.  They can be in any format and can be from any genre.  Here are the levels:

Dewey Decimal: read 12 books
Thrifty Reader: read 24 books
Overdrive Junkie: read 36 books
Library Card on Fire: read 50+ books

Click HERE for full details!

 

2015 Monthly Key Word Challenge

15854036895_c3087978fb_zHosted by Bookmark to Blog

 

Each month as a list of keywords. At leas one of those words must be in the title of the book you read that month.  How fun!!

Click HERE for more details!

The host suggests the extra challenge of pairing this event with this next one she is also hosting.

 

2015 Monthly Motif Challenge

15852031811_8813f0bf11Hosted by Bookmark to Blog

Each month has an assigned motif and the task is to read a book within that theme.  The rules are not strict so no worries if you skip a month or read out of order.

Click HERE for more details!

New Authors Challenge 2015

NAC.2015Hosted by Literary Escapism

The challenge is to read books by 15, 25, or 50 new authors by the end of the year.  Yeeeeeeah, I’m shooting for 15….lol.

Click HERE for full details!

New to You 2015 Reading Challenge

Hosted by Herding Cats and Burning Soup

Lovely flexible rules.  Whatever is ‘new to you’ counts in this one.

Hosts suggest:

This can be a debut author.
A brand new to you author.
And old favorites “debut” book.
A new series.
A first time reading a new genre (ex if you read your first New Adult book)
or any other new that crosses your path

Annnd here are the levels:

Level 1: 6 “new to you”s

Level 2: 12 “new to you”s

Level 3: 24 “new to you”s

Level 4: 36 “new to you”s

Level 5: 48 “new to you”s

Level 6: 72 “new to you”s

Level 7: 100+ “new to you”s

Click HERE for full details!

2015 Nonfiction Reading Challenge

Hosted by The Introverted Reader

 

Out of the titles I read this year, a good number of them were non-fiction so I’m looking forward to knocking out more titles.  Anything non-fiction counts on this one. Pretty straight forward!

Here are the levels:

Dilettante–Read 1-5 non-fiction books

Explorer–Read 6-10

Seeker–Read 11-15

Master–Read 16-20

I have chosen to try for Seeker.

Click HERE for full details!

 

2015 Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge

OY2015_bannerHosted by The Book Vixen

The title says it all, yeah?  This was my goal anyway but why not get some real blogger credit while I’m at it? Here are the levels:

  • Getting My Heart Rate Up: read 1–5 more books (or 250–1,499 more pages)
  • Out of Breath: read 6–10 more books (or 1,500–2,749 more pages)
  • Breaking a Sweat: read 11–15 more books (or 2,750–3,999 more pages)
  • I’m on Fire!: read 16+ more books (or 4,000+ more pages)

Click HERE for full details.

 

 The Official 2015 TBR Pile Challenge

2015tbrbuttonHosted by Adam @ RoofBeam Reader

Once again, it’s time to select 12 titles from that TBR pile and tackle them through a new year.  I have yet to accomplish this, but here I go again!  I haven’t put my 2015 list together but I will post it as soon as I have chosen my 12.

Click HERE for full details.

Whew!!  Here’s to another year of great reads!

What are you reading this year?

Operation Deepen Faith 2014

By Posted in Bible, Challenge, Scripture, Spiritual Growth Tagged , , , , , , , 5 Comments

I know I said in my previous post that I’m keeping my reading goals modest this year.  Yeeeah, well, I’ve kind of disregarded that already.  I’ve already pledged to read 100 titles this year instead of the 50 I tried for last year.  Notice I said ‘tried for‘ because I didn’t quite make it.  Almost, but not quite.  Is that going to stop me from the temptation of pledging to read 100 titles?  Pshh, ‘course not!  You can check out book reading pledges on GoodReads and 50 Book Pledge

But I’m starting off-topic.  Let’s get to the purpose of this post.  There is one more reading challenge I want to participate in and it deserves it’s own post.

OPERATION DEEPEN FAITH

OperationDeepen

Hosted at Operation Actually Read Bible

I tried to read the whole Bible last year and didn’t finish (I’m noticing a trend in book reading failure :P).  I found this great challenge and decided to give it a go.  Here’s how it works:

I. Wonderful Words of Life. Goal: Read the Bible using a Bible Plan

  • I’m going to be reading the Bible chronologically this time around.  I’ve chosen the Chronological Life Application Study Bible KJV. It’s on it’s way from Amazon now and will arrive on Saturday :). Sooooo excited to begin!!!

II. How Firm A Foundation. Goal: STUDY one book of the Bible throughout the year.

  • I’m not quite sure which book I’m going to choose yet… I’ll keep you posted!

III. Deep and Wide; Goal: read multiple books of the bible in multiple translations.

  • My pastor is doing a study on different Bible versions so this is perfect!  I’ll pick a few to go through specifically this year!

VI. Christian Nonfiction. 

  • My minimum goal will be to read at least 10 Christian nonfiction titles.  And they can be in any genre: spiritual growth, women’s interest, biography, etc.

I am super stoked about this challenge!! Check out the complete details for Operation Deepen Faith and peruse the whole website by clicking HERE.

Stay blessed and Happy Reading!!

Book Challenges for 2014!

By Posted in Challenge, Reading Event Tagged , , , 6 Comments

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

I can’t believe a brand new year is already here!  I think back to this time last year and I don’t know where the time has gone!!  I look ahead to the future and I see lots of hard work, many lessons to learn, God’s blessings to be realized and, as always, more books to read!!  So after looking through the list of great challenges on A Novel Challenge, I’ve chosen to participate in some reading challenges again!  This will serve as my master post that I’ll link to each event post.  I’ll also be making a separate page for each challenge to track my progress through the year.

I’m going to be realistic in my expectations and aim low.  That way, I’ll be more likely to reach my goals and not feel like a failure.  Not a practice I recommend in more important life matters, but no harm here!!  If I read more than I planned then great!!  But for now, my goals are modest.

2014 Audio Book Challenge

audiobookchallenge2014

Hosted at Teresa’s Reading Corner

I tried this one for 2013 and didn’t reach the level I chose.  There are five to choose from:

  • Flirting-Listen to 6 Audio Books
  • Going Steady- Listen to 12 Audio Books
  • Lover- Listen to 25 Audio Books
  • Married-Listen to more than 25 Audio Books
  • You Define the Relationship- Create your own challenge (choose your own name and level starting as low or going as high as you’d like)

I’m going to try it again, only this time, I’m going to be a bit more realistic in my expectations. I’ll shoot for Going Steady – 12 audio books.

Click HERE for the details.

Back to the Classics 2014

backtotheclassics2014

Hosted at Books and Chocolate

This is one of several challenges that will go nicely with my Classics Club reads.  I want to finish many more titles this year I did last year.  Among other guidelines, this challenge has a list of required categories:

  1. A 20th Century Classic
  2. A 19th Century Classic
  3. A Classic by a Woman Author
  4. A Classic in Translation  If English is not your primary language, then books originally published in English are acceptable.  You could also read the book in its original language if you are willing and able to do so.
  5. A Classic About War  2014 will be the 100th anniversary of the beginning of World War I.  Any book relating to a war is fine — WWI, WWII, the French Revolution, the War of the Worlds — your choice.
  6. A Classic by an Author Who Is New To You This can be any author whose works you have not read before.  It doesn’t necessarily have to be an author you’ve never heard of.

Should be fun!

Click HERE for full details.

2014 Historical Fiction Reading Challenge

historicalfictionreadingchallenge2014

Hosted at Historical Tapestry

There are 6 different reading levels to choose from:

  1. 20th century reader – 2 books
  2. Victorian reader – 5 books
  3. Renaissance Reader – 10 books
  4. Medieval – 15 books
  5. Ancient History – 25 books
  6. Prehistoric – 50+ books

I’m going for Victorian reader – 5 books.

Click HERE for full details.

2014 Historic Fiction Reading Challenge

2014-Historic-Fiction-Reading-Challenge-SweetMarie83_zps26ece3fb

Hosted at Ramblings of a Daydreamer

Basically the same as above, but I figured, why not? :)
~Levels~
1-5 books ~ Testing the bonds of time
6-12 books ~ Slipping through time
13-20 books ~ Traveling back in time
21+ books ~ Living in the past
I’m going to do Testing the Bonds of Time – 1-5 books
Click HERE for full details!

2014 Series Challenge

Series-Challenge-Button-take2Hosted at Read. Sleep. Repeat.

I’ve got a couple of series I’d like to read this year so this is perfect!  The rules are as follows:

  • You have to FINISH the series
  • If the series isn’t complete yet, or will not be completed before December 1st, 2014 read up to the most recent book in said series.
  • Novellas count, but are optional.
  • HAVE fun
  • If you decide to break up with a series after book one, it does not count!
  • You do not have to START the series in 2014, you just have to FINISH it in 2014
  • Series that you started prior to 2014 are fine as long as you FINISH the series in 2014
  • The series has to have at least 2 books out prior to December 1st, 2014
  • Proof that you finished the book is required. It could be a full review, a mini review, or a rating with a few lines.
  • DNF’s do not count. PERIOD.

Click HERE for further details.

2014 TBR Pile Challenge

2014tbrbutton

Hosted at Roof Beam Reader

This is another one that I didn’t finish last year.  I’m going to try for it once again!  The goal is to read 12 books that have been on your bookshelf or “To Be Read” list for at least a year.

Click HERE for full details.

A Year in Re-Reading: a 2014 Reading Challlenge

readingchallenge-reread2014

Hosted at Caffinatedlife.net

A good portion of my CC list consists of rereads.  I’m hoping to knock out most of them this coming year!

Click HERE for full details.

That should do it for now! Have a blessed 2014!!

Happy reading :)

The Count of Monte Cristo Check-In #2

By Posted in Classics Club, Reading Event Tagged , , , , , , 5 Comments

Hello Readers!

How’s everyone doing so far?  I must confess I’m still dreadfully behind.  This past week began my first term of online classes at Thomas Edison State College and it has been quite a challenge to find extra time for anything else. But I’m trekking along and will make it through before the month is out –  I’m determined!  For now, I open this post for y’all to check-in, comment and share your thoughts!

TCOMC RA Button

I’m was so very glad to see the positive comments from last check-in.  This is a really good book, yeah?  It doesn’t lose speed and you never know what’s coming up next!  As much as I will always love the movie, I can’t help wishing they had stuck more with the original story.  BBC needs to get on that…

I hate to run off, but I have 2 assignments to finish for school!

Wishing everyone a fabulous week!

Happy reading!

 

The Pilgrim’s Progress Check-In #4

By Posted in Classics Club, Reading Event Tagged , , , 2 Comments

Large ButtonHello Readers!

I know I’m still super behind but I am catching up!  Two more check-in posts after this one and we shall be finished!  I don’t know about you but as much as I’ve enjoyed this book, I am so ready to be with this book!

This first installment of Christiana’s journey had me thinking that I wasn’t going to like the second part as much as the first.  I couldn’t help wondering why Bunyan even bothered writing a second part.  Christian made to the Glorious City, the end right?  I know that Christian was heartbroken that his wife and children did not accompany him, but really, Bunyan covered so much theology and made so many parallels to real people and situations to finish the story comfortably.  But then I got to the part when the Interpreter asks Christiana why she decided to become a Pilgrim.

“Christiana answered, First, the loss of my Husband came into my mind, at which I was heartily grieved; but all that was natural affection. Then, after that came the troubles and Pilgrimage of my Husband into my mind, and also how like a churl I had carried it to him as to that. So Guilt took hold of my mind, and would have drawn me into the pond; but that opportunely I had a dream of the well-being of my Husband, and a Letter sent me by the King of that country where my Husband dwells to come to him.  The dream and the Letter together so wrought upon my mind, that they forced me to this Way.”

Okay, Bunyan, I get it.  There’s so much more to explore.  Alright, let’s go.  So I continued.

Then comes Great-Heart and the discussion between him and our two lady Pilgrims about Christ’s Righteousness and the gift He imparts to people.  Mind blown.  I have never heard the Righteousness of Christ explained that way.  It was quite an interesting breakdown.  I’m going to have to go over that and see what I think about it…

Did anyone else find it interesting how Mercy breaks into song?  This, of course, isn’t the first time there is singing or verse but it amused me how there’s solemn conversation about how the three men, Simple, Sloth, and Presumption are hanging and Mercy ‘turned it into a Song’ and proceeds to sing about how their hanging shall be a sign to others.  It reminded me of the singing Clown in Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night.  I’m not exactly sure why, but that’s what came to mind.

That is it for now my friends.  I’m on a weekend trip with my brother and cousins and I’m tired and in a bit of a silly mood right now.  If it’s coming through my notes, I do apologize but I needed to get this finished so I can get on with the next section!  Two more to goooooooo!! I may actually make it :)).

How are you all making out?  Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Stay blessed and happy reading :).

Little Women Read Along Announcement

By Posted in Classics Club, Reading Event Tagged , , , , , , 10 Comments

LittleWomen Button

Mark your reading calendars!!  Join me during the Christmas season in reading my favorite classic, Little Women!  In answering the first CC Meme question last year I blogged about how much I love this story.  Ever since, I’ve been wanting to read it again.  Well, December is going to be it :).  It felt like a great, homey choice for the most wonderful time of the year!

Leave a comment below if you’d like to sign up.  I’ll be posting details in the next several weeks.

Happy reading y’all!

The Count of Monte Cristo Read Along Announcement

By Posted in Classics Club, Reading Event Tagged , , , , , 9 Comments

TCOMC RA Button

I’m planning ahead.  I was looking through the rest of the books I need to read this year and this is one of them.

The Count of Monte Cristo is one of my favorite movies!  I’ve been wanting to read the book for years so I stuck it on my TBR 2013 list.  So I’m inviting you to mark your calendars for October to read this classic!

Just leave a comment below to sign up :).  I’ll be posting details in the next several weeks.

Happy reading, y’all!