I've really enjoyed participating in the Spring Reading Thing (see side bar). I began to wonder if we would have a summer challenge; some of my spring books need to move to a new list. ::snort:: I checked with Katrina and she only does a spring and fall challenge.
I continued to consider hosting a summer challenge. YOU will set YOUR goals (personal or family). I find that challenges/goals are really effective for me. I loved the exercise and nutrition challenges that we did on CWLR (thanks Lisa). I was surprised to find this spring reading thing worked the same way for me in the realm of reading (no I never planned to read ALL the books on my list, but I've read more than I would have if I'd not listed them!). I decided to host a summer challenge - but I needed help with a graphic. THANK YOU TO ANDREW (Yvonne's talented son) who zipped out the above graphic for me.
I've really liked the way the Spring Reading Thing worked and so this challenge will probably be similar. If you have ideas, things you like, or didn't like about previous challenges you've participated in, feel free to leave your thoughts in the comment section.
I am considering setting up a ring for those who participate, please let me know if you would participate in the ring? You can be a participant in the challenge without signing up for the ring.
If you think you'd like to participate, begin composing your list now. I'll post rules and such in the next few days or so....
25 comments:
Oh yea!!! Thanks so much for doing this, De'Etta. I really enjoy reading and find that if I have set goals I'm more much likely to read more than if I were doing it on my own, kwim?
I definitely have some spring books that will be moving to my summer list but it's a good thing. :)
Can you explain to me what a *ring* is? TIA.
Again girl, you rock! I'm in ~ my list is already in the making. I'll be "stealing" your graphic to post on my blog, and I'll link it back to this post so people who visit my blog can join in the fun, too. :) (I'm guessing you might put that in the rules.......) I'd participate in a ring if you started one. And I LOVE the idea of it being a challenge, not a contest ~ you remember my aversion to competitivie board/card games? Same principle applies here.........
Trish
http://ordinarylife.typepad.com
I am excited about this. Thanks to your challenge I am going to commit to reading for one hour each day (hopefully on my balcony). I have a number of books about Aspergers that I"m requesting through ILL because I suspect there is something more to Theresa than ADHD. I am also going to check out Nursery Crimes (not sure if it's my genre, but I'm going to try), I have spiritual books I want to read and maybe even some to get ahead of the kids with TOG.... I am going to make my initial list 10 books... that's about a book per week...
I’m interested in the reading challenge, but I’m going to need some help. I don’t know how to get the challenge picture on my blog. I’ve also noticed how some go through and mark out the ones they read….it would be great to be able to do that. Any other blogging help to make it more accessible, I would greatly appreciate. I’m also going to have to list books that I hope to receive this summer and be able to read but can’t guarantee. (since we live in Thailand) Since, I live overseas I really like it when folks comment about the book so I can know if it is something I want to put on my wish list or not. I’m not sure those who have books readily accessible have this same desire, or not. So, those are my thoughts….I’m looking forward to it!!
Blessings,
Jamie Z.
Great job pulling this together so quickly, De'Etta. The graphic is great. Super job, Andrew!
I've got a ton of non-fiction in my pile. I need to work on that fiction section.
Question, can we add books after the challenge starts? I'm always finding new things to read.
Michelle,
I'm thinking that the summer challenge will begin by June 1st - but I have no trouble with those who are doing the spring challenge moving their books to the summer on the 21st - that is what I will do - or they can wait and join the 21st.
A web ring - o.k. you have those little icons....those who are in the ring sign up and you then put the icon on your blog, you can click next to find another blog that is doing the challenge...or you can click random and whatever....
If everyone put their links in the comment section of the intro post when I start it - folks could simply click THERE and we'd not have to mess with the ring....
I could also manually make a link list for the side bar - like I did with the book discussion links.....
But I think the comment section would work fine.
Trish - yes, I'm going to have folks grab the graphic and put it on their blogs if they participate....I will eventually want them to link to the post with the RULES and the list of participants.....
Maybe I need to take time tonight and get this set up....mainly I want folks to know it's coming, spread the word and be thinking about their lists.
Details will follow.
With the graphic be sure to save it to your computer and then load it.....
Sounds good Renee.
My spring list is huge and I'm amazed how many of them I've managed to read. LOL BUT there is no pressure...your list can be three books or 30 books. LOL
Also - if you need fun - make it all light - if you need to challenge yourself put some non-fiction on there....it's all up to each person.
The challenge is to read. The prize will be a random drawing from all who participate...we'll all be winners....
Hey Jamie - finally a photo of you. I'll post more detailed instructions as we go.
To get the graphic. Right click, click save as, I then save it to a folder that I've named "books" under my pictures....then you upload it as you would upload any other photo to your blog.
I can't remember how to cross out books - I change the ones I've read to RED. LOL
You can add to your list, or throw some off as the challenge goes.
The "rules" will be few and simple.
Debbie, sure - add books as you go. For instance, I started with a variety of fiction and non for the spring challenge. One of the books was the Yada Yada - I enjoyed it so much that I added the rest of the series to my list. ::snort::
Folks will be able to join anytime during the summer....I will have a deadline to join if you want to participate in the drawing...but other than that....
I'll join this. It's summer, though, and I'll be reading all kinds of fluffy stuff. That's ok, right?
I'd do the ring, too.
I didn't participate in the spring challenge and I don't know what CWLR is but I'll try this one. I am fine with a ring or whatever you decide or the majority want.
I have my list ready! I hope you give us some extra time at the end since we are overlapping 24 days of the spring thing. :-) I have long lists! LOL
I don't have a blog. May I still join the challenge? I need to get motivated to finish some books I've gotten bogged down in.
Does reading longer books to the children count? I've been sporadically reading Eragon to my oldest.
Sounds like FUN! Love the icon. I actually made a list for the spring challenge, but never did get around to posting the list because my blog was in the process of being overhauled at that time.
Kelly,
Fluff is fine. YOU pick your books, decide how many you will read etc. Some may even chose to make it a "read aloud challenge" - I will read 5 books to my children this summer. Or I will read 20 minutes a day of picture books to kids.
Remember it's a challenge not a contest so we don't have to all be doing the same thing, in the same way....and really....I'm going to keep rules to the minimum - you'll only have to follow the rules if you want to be eligible for prize drawings. LOL
**hope you give us some extra time at the end since we are overlapping 24 days of the spring thing. :-)
Remember, it's a challenge....you win regardless of how many books you read. LOL I don't have a problem with folks having books on my list that are on their spring list too.
I am thinking giving more than 3 days to post your summer list would take care of any overlap problem with spring reading. I mean if I give you longer to post your summer list, and you can update your summer list to include any spring books you didn't finish at the end of that challenge...there really is no problem...and if you just don't like looking like you've not read many summer books, I'll even let you get double duty - put your spring ones read in June on your summer list and count them. I don't care. I'm easy. LOL It's YOUR challenge. LOL
**I don't have a blog. May I still join the challenge?
Darshia, anyone can participate in the challenge. Now for being eligible for prizes they will be posting a few things. I think that those without blogs can email those things to me and still be eligible for drawings...or they can do the challenge, and not email anything - and that is fine - just not eligible for the prizes. Make sense?
**Does reading longer books to the children count?
You can make your whole challenge about reading to the children if you'd like. It's up to you. You determine your goals.
Cindy,
You're in good shape then. YOu can use your spring list for our summer challenge. LOL
Still not sure if I should do a ring or not. LOL
I'd love to participate. I'd also join a blog ring if you go that route. :-)
Lisa
Ok, I tried it. I saved it to my computer and then tried to upload it to my blog. It just went on and on and on and on for about 15 min. saying it was loading but not doing anything else. Maybe the internet is slow right now? It's 6am in the morning and usually one of the fastest times but I'll try again later. I've started my list!
Jamie Z.
Here's the link to my Summer Reading Challenge page : http://ordinarylife.typepad.com/lifeartist/summer_reading_list.html I'll list it again when you get all the "official" rules done up if you want. :)
Hmmm, well, I'm not sure why that didn't post as a link.....but you can go to my blog http://ordinarylife.typepad.com then click on "Challenge: Summer Reading List" in the side bar.
**saved it to my computer and then tried to upload it to my blog
Jamie - hopefully your connection is just slow. Does it take that long to load photos to your blog? It should be quicker than a photo - at least it is for me. Did you save it as a jpg file?
Work on that list and we'll get the graphic to work for you - even if I have to email it to you and you load it from there.
**I'll list it again when you get all the "official" rules done up if you want. :)
Yes, Miss TRISH, I WILL want you to list it again in the official rules spot...because THAT is where I'll have a link on my blog for folks who want to check out everyone's list.
Way to go.
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