2013 Challenges

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In 2012 I failed to make about half of my challenges, but I learned something about myself along the way.  For one thing, I learned that I set way too many challenges for the number of books that I can possibly read in a given year!  Also, I learned that I use my challenge lists more as "selection" lists than as "I am going to complete these lists by the end of the year" lists.  For example, at the end of the year, I could have read a couple of very short, fluff books that were both on my physical shelf and published in 1995, and thus completed both my Pick a Year and my Trim That TBR Challenges.  Instead, I chose to read the 560+ page All Soul's Rising, off my Randomizer Challenge, which I didn't stand a chance of finishing, and finish a rather heavy nonfiction work on Libya that I had promised to review for a publisher.  In essence, I want my "challenge" lists to serve me, not to be my master.

With those thoughts in mind, I am still going to set many of the same "challenges", but with the idea that they will serve as my "selection lists" throughout the year.  I keep a virtual shelf of books on the online site "Shelfari"; my dream list there of book that I would like to read currently exceeds 1,100 titles, so having a smaller selection of books here to pick from is helpful when I am pondering that ever present query, "What shall I read next?"  So, here are my "challenge" lists for 2013:

Share-A-Shelf Challenge: (read 5 books selected off from each of the Shelfari shelves of four different friends-20 books total. This is the one challenge which I really intend to view as a "challenge" as opposed to a "selection" list.  These great reading friends invested a fair amount of time in helping me to put together these lists.  You can see all of their great comments and their suggestions for books that didn't make the cut on my Personal "To Be Read" Shortlist blog page.  Michelle and I are still working on her list at present.) (completion dates will be annotated)


My list from BooknBlues's Shelf:
Hero: The Life and Legend of Lawrence of Arabia by Michael KordaThe Places in Between by Rory StewartDoc by Mary Doria Russell The Orphan Master's Son by Adam JohnsonRiver of Doubt by Candice Maillard 
My list from Mary B.'s Shelf: 
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne BronteA Room with a View by E.M. ForesterThe Traitor's Wife by Susan HigginbothamThe Greatest Traitor by Ian MortimerFour Queens by Nancy Goldstone
My list from Michelle G.’s Shelf: (these are tentative-still discussing with Michelle)
The Painted Veil by W. Somerset MaughamThe Sense of an Ending by Julian BarnesThe Seven Storey Mountain by Thomas MertonCanada by Richard FordMatterhorn by Karl Marlantes
My list from Regina's Shelf: 
Desert Queen by Janet WallachThe Girl from the Coast by Pramoedya Anantya ToerRooftops of Tehran by Mahbod SerajiBirds without Wings by Louis de BernièresThe Kitchen Boy by Robert Alexander


Randomizer Challenge 2013: (These books are selected by taking the number of books on my virtual "To Be Read" shelf on Shelfari and entering it on random.org.  I matched the first thirty numbers generated with my books in list format on Shelfari, and these were the titles.  It is doubtful I will get all of them read, but it gives me a nice selection to choose from over the year.) (completion dates will be annotated)


The Wreath by Sigrid UndsetAn American Tragedy by Theodore DreiserHarlot’s Ghost by Norman MailorThe Titled Americans by Elizabeth KehoeThem by Jon RonsonThe Children’s Blizzard by David LaskinUnnatural Selection by Mara HvistendahlJude the Obscure by Thomas HardyBeauty by Robin McKinleySlaughte-House Five by Kurt VonnegutThe Legend of Sigurd and Gudrun by J.R.R. TolkienMaking Toast by Richard RosenblattThe Measure of Our Days by Jerome E. GroopmanThe German Mujahid by Boualem SansalThe Memory Chalet by Tony JudtFactory Girls by Leslie T. ChangWhiteman by Tony D’SouzaWe Are All Welcome Here by Elizabeth BergIn the Garden of Beasts by Erik LarsonI am the Messenger by Markus ZusakSukkwan Island by David VannSacred Hearts by Sarah DunantMcKinley Station by Tom WalkerSpies of the Balkans by Alan FurstThe Birth of Venus by Sarah DunantNo More Words: A Journal of My Mother by Reeve LindberghBlack Swan Green by David MitchellA River Runs Through It by Norman MacLeanSea of Poppies by Amitav GhoshWingshooters by Nina Revoyr 
Long Book Challenge: (I would like to read at least 4,000 pages in books 600 pages or longer.)
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Classics Monthly Group Read: (I would like to read all 6 group reads)
Jan/Feb North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell (will fill in date when completed)
Mar/Apr
May/Jun
Jul/Aug
Sep/Oct
Nov/Dec


PBT Monthly Tag Read: (I would like to read at least one book for each monthly tag-if I read more, I will only record the first one here.)
Jan/France-

This will be the format for my challenges page, which will be found as a tab from now on at the top of the blog.  I wish all of you the best of luck in your reading challenges and selections this New Year!