My 2024 Book Challenges
The Demon of Unrest: A Saga of Hubris, Heartbreak, and Heroism at the Dawn of the Civil War by Erik Larson - 565 pages
Germinal by Émile Zola - 596 pages
Magpie Murders: A Novel by Anthony Horowitz - 501 pages
Captain Fracasse by Théophile Gautier - 478 pages
How the Mountains Grew: A New Geological History of North America by John Dvorak - 464 pages
The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby by Charles Dickens - 831 pages
2024 Nonfiction Reader Challenge
12/12 Completed
The aim of the Nonfiction Reader Challenge is to encourage you to make nonfiction part of your reading experience during the year. This challenge is hosted by Book'd Out.
How it works:
You can select, read, and review a book from the categories listed below during the year for a total of up to 12 books; OR select, read, and review any nonfiction book. A book may be in print, electronic or audio format.
Categories:
History:
The Demon of Unrest by Erik Larson
Biography/Memoir:
All the Beauty in the World by Patrick Bringley
Science:
The Underworld: Journey to the Depths of the Ocean by Susan Casey
Food:
Relish: My Life in the Kitchen by Lucy Knisley
Health:
Cheerfulness by Garrison Keillor
True Crime:
The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory by Tim Alberta
Culture:
The Secret Lives of Booksellers and Librarians by James Patterson
Transportation:
The Night Lives On by Walter Lord
The Future:
Rooted: Life at the Crossroads of Science, Nature, and Spirit by Lyanda Lynn Haupt
Pets/Animals:
Kingbird Highway by Kenn Kaufmann
Architecture:
Paris and Her Cathedrals by R. Howard Bloch
Published in 2024:
Somehow by Anne Lamott
Choose a goal:
Nonfiction Nipper: Read & review 3 books, from any 3 listed categories.
Nonfiction Nibbler: Read & review 6 books, from any 6 listed categories.
Nonfiction Nosher: Read & review 12 books, one for each category.
Nonfiction Grazer: Read & review any nonfiction book. Set your own goal.
- All books must have been written at least 50 years ago; therefore, books must have been written by 1974 to qualify for this challenge. The ONLY exceptions are books published posthumously.
- E-books and audiobooks are eligible! You may also count books that you read for other challenges.
- Books may NOT crossover within this challenge.
- You can change your list at any time. Books may also be read in any order.
1. A 19th century classic. Any book first published from 1800 to 1899
2. A 20th century classic. Any book first published from 1900 to 1974. All books must have been published at least 50 years ago; the only exceptions are books that were written by 1974 and posthumously published.
3. A classic by a woman author.
4. A classic in translation. Any book first published in a language that is not your primary language. You may read it in translation or in its original language, if you prefer.
5. An award-winning classic. It could be the Newbery Award, the Prix Goncourt, the Pulitzer Prize, the James Tait Award, etc. Any award is fine.
6. Classic detective fiction. It must include a detective, amateur or professional. This list of books from the Golden Age of Detective Fiction is a great starting point if you're looking for ideas.
7. A classic travel or journey narrative, fiction or non-fiction. The journey itself must be the major plot point -- not just the destination. Good examples include The Hobbit, Around the World in 80 Days, Unbeaten Tracks in Japan, Kon-Tiki, Travels with Charley, etc.
A Lady's Life in the Rocky Mountains by Isabella L. Bird
8. Classic children's book. Indulge your inner child and read that classic that you somehow missed years ago. Short stories are fine, but it must be a complete volume. Young adult and picture books don't count!
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum
9. A nonfiction classic. Travel, memoirs, and biographies are great choices for this category.
The Night Lives On by Walter Lord
10. Humorous/satirical classic. Find the classic book that's been hanging around unread the longest, and finally cross it off your list!
The Complete Cosmicomics by Italo Calvino
11. Banned or censored classic. This has been a hot topic lately. Here's a list from the American Library Association to get you started.
Germinal by Emile Zola
12. Free choice. Read any book you like.
The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby by Charles Dickens
2/20 Completed
- The Chronicles of Narnia (January 1-April 14)
- The Magician’s Nephew (January 1-14)
- The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (January 14-30)
- The Horse and His Boy (January 31-February 13)
- Prince Caspian (February 14-27)
- The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (February 28-March 13)
- The Silver Chair (March 13-29)
- The Last Battle (March 30-April 14)
- Lord of the Rings (April 15-June 15)
- The Fellowship of the Ring (April 15-26)
- The Two Towers (April 27-May 6)
- The Return of the King (May 7-27)
- Harry Potter Series (June 16-December 31)
- Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (June 16-July 2)
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (July 3-20)
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (July 21-August 11)
- Harry Potter and Goblet of Fire (August 12-September 17)
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (September 18-October 25)
- Harry Potter and Half-Blood Prince (October 26-November 24)
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (November 25-December 31)
Lory at Entering the Enchanted Castle will start a readalong of the Oz books by L. Frank Baum. The Book Stop, home of a fellow Oz fan, will be joining Lory as co-host.
There are 14 books, and the plan is to start in December and read in published order through January of 2025.
If you’re not up for such a commitment, though, there will be a stopping point at the end of the first six books. Baum actually tried to end the series here — he wanted to write other things — but his fans wouldn’t let him, so he reluctantly went back to writing an Oz book a year till the end of his life. The later books have some good parts, but the first six are probably the strongest. You’ll get a good taste of Oz that way, even if you don’t go further.
It’s not necessary to read all of them, or read them in order. Feel free to dip in as you wish.
There will be a monthly post on each book, at The Enchanted Castle or at The Book Stop or both, and a roundup of any posts that are shared with us. #Ozathon24 is the hashtag for sharing.
Part I: Essential Oz adventures
- December, 2023: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
- January, 2024: The Marvelous Land of Oz
- February, 2024: Ozma of Oz
- March, 2024: Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
- April, 2024: The Road to Oz
- May, 2024: The Emerald City of Oz
Partb II: Further journeys in Oz
- June, 2024: The Patchwork Girl of Oz
- July, 2024: Tik-Tok of Oz
- August, 2024: The Scarecrow of Oz
- September, 2024: Rinkitink in Oz
- October, 2024: The Lost Princess of Oz
- November, 2024: The Tin Woodman of Oz
- December, 2024: The Magic of Oz
- January, 2025: Glinda of Oz
Creativity Reading Challenge 2024
This challenge is about reading books on creativity, art, crafts, writing, film making, photography, cosmetology, DIY, cooking, music and any other topic that helps you live a more creative life.
How It Works:
- Runs January 1 to December 31, 2024.
- Read as many books as you want.
- Books may be nonfiction, memoir, how-to, self help, coffee table books, instructional, picture books, and even fictional books if they are about people who are creative.
- You may include books of any format including traditional books, ebooks or audiobooksYou may reread books.
- Books may count towards other reading challenges in which you are participating.
- Ideas for books to include: 40 of the Best Books to Unlock Your Creativity; Goodreads Creativity List; and 20 Best Creativity Books of All Time.
Please join us in knocking out some of those books that have been waiting for attention for weeks...months...even years.
Challenge Levels:
Pike's Peak: Read 12 books from your TBR pile/s
Mount Blanc: Read 24 books from your TBR pile/s
Mt. Vancounver: Read 36 books from your TBR pile/s
Mt. Ararat: Read 48 books from your TBR pile/s
Mt. Kilimanjaro: Read 60 books from your TBR pile/s
El Toro*: Read 75 books from your TBR pile/s (*aka Cerro El Toro in South America)
Mt. Everest: Read 100 books from your TBR pile/s
Mount Olympus (Mars): Read 150+ books from your TBR pile/s
The Rules:
*Once you choose your challenge level, you are locked in for at least that many books. You are welcome to voyage further and conquer taller mountains after your commitment is met. All books from lower mountains carry over towards the next peak.
*Challenge runs from January 1 to December 31, 2024
*You may sign up at any time--no matter when you see this challenge. All qualifying books read after January 1st count.
*Books must be owned by you prior to January 1, 2024--items requested or ordered prior to January 1, may count even if they arrive in the new year. No library books~. If you're looking for a library book challenge or one that counts books on your non-owned TBR list, then please see Mount TBR's sister challenge: the Virtual Mount TBR Challenge.
~The ONLY exception to the library rule: If you own the book in any form and have a reason to check out a version from the library instead, then you may count it. For example--if you own a hard copy, but are planning on taking a trip where listening to the audio version would be a great way to knock out a book while you drive, then by all means check out the audio version and have a wonderful trip! Please check with My Reader's Block if you have questions.
*Rules for Rereads: Any reread may count, regardless of how long you've owned it, provided you have not counted it for a previous Mount TBR Challenge.
*Audiobooks and E-books may count provided they are yours prior to January 1. ARCs are also fine.
*You may count any "currently reading" book that you begin prior to January 1--provided you had 50% or more of the book left to finish when January 1 rolled around. I will trust you all on that. The only exception is if you have participated in Mount TBR in 2023 and were unable to finish the book in time for the final Check-in Post. Then--if you finish the book post-January 1, you may count it as your first step of the new challenge.
*You may count "Did Not Finish" books provided they meet your own standard for such things, you do not plan to ever finish it, and you move it off your mountain [give it away, sell it, remove from e-resources, etc.]. For example, my personal rule (unless it's a very short book) is to give it 100 pages. If I decide I just can't finish it and won't ever, then off the mountain it goes and I count it as a victory--the stack is smaller!
*Books may be used to count for other challenges as well.
*Feel free to submit your list in advance or to tally them as you climb.
*A blog and reviews are not necessary to participate. If you have a blog, then please post about the challenge and link that post (not your home page) in the form below. My link provider has limited the number of link "parties" I can have open at a time--so I will be using Google forms for all my sign-up links this year. Non-bloggers may enter their names only without a blog link OR members of Goodreads are welcome to join the Goodreads group HERE.
*If you post on Facebook, Instagram, or other social media to log a book, please use #MountTBR2024.
* As I have in the past, I will have a headquarters link in the left hand side-bar which will offer links to this original post, monthly review links, and the final wrap-up. I will update it at the beginning of the new year The Headquarters will also have a link to a list of our climbing crew with their commitments.
Happy climbing!
I am aiming for climbing Pike's Peak.
The Book of (More) Delights
A Winter in New York
Photo Ark
Jayber Crow by Wendell Berry
The Power of Myth by Joseph Campbell with Bill Moyers
Virgil Wander by Leif Enger
If on a Winter's Night a Traveler by Italo Calvino
The Penguin Book of Spiritual Verse
A Wind in the Door by Madeleine L'Engle
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
A Swiftly Tilting Planet by Madeleine L'Engle
The Complete Cosmicomics by Italo Calvino
Teaching a Stone to Talk by Annie Dillard
Summer by Edith Wharton
Daily Rituals: Women at Work by Mason Currey
Teaching a Stone to Talk by Annie Dillard
Marianne Dreams by Catherine Storr
Captain Fracasse by Theophile Gautier
Joie by Ajiri Aki
The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi
Everyone can participate! If you don't have a blog you can post a link to your review if it's posted on Goodreads, Facebook, or Amazon, or you can add your book title and thoughts in the comment section if you wish.
Add the link(s) of your review(s) including your name and book title to the Mister Linky we’ll be adding to the monthly post (please use the direct URL that will guide us directly to your review)
Any sub-genre of historical fiction is accepted (Historical Romance, Historical Mystery, Historical Fantasy, Young Adult, History/Non-Fiction, etc.)
During the following 12 months, you can choose one of the different reading levels:
20th Century Reader - 2 books
Victorian Reader - 5 books
Renaissance Reader - 10 books
Medieval - 15 books
Ancient History - 25 books
Prehistoric - 50+ books
To join the challenge you only need to make a post about it, add your link in Mr. Linky here or just leave a link to your blog if you are not yet ready to post about it yet. If you don't have a blog you can just leave a comment for this post saying that you are joining, and link to your Facebook, Goodreads or other social media page where you will be sharing your reviews.
World of Pies by Karen Stolz
Lady Tan's Circle of Women by Lisa See
Pit Pony by Joyce Barkhouse
Friedrich by Hans Peter Richter
The Stolen Child by Ann Hood
Jacqueline in Paris by Ann Mah
Countdown by Deborah Wiles
James by Percival Everett
Last Dance on the Starlight Pier by Sarah Bird
It looks like you have a great year of reading ahead of you!!! So many great challenges. Good luck! Cindy from Cindysbookcorner.blogspot.com
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