Romance Readers Reading Challenges discussion

Love the suggestions, Kasia. Definitely putting them in the list.

To everyone, with February already up and running, we are once again soliciting ideas for categories suggestions.

- book with an animal in the title
- book with a non-Western setting or involving a foreign culture (not a gimmick, like the sheikh steals the bride or some such)
- book starring a man in uniform

That's all I got right now, LOL.

- book with a man in uniform on the cover

- book with green on the cover

- book with a clover on the cover (could be symbols as well, not just a real image) (this will be a hard one I think lol)

oh..very cool ideas....*updating master list*..LOL

Here's some interesting things I found for March:

March, 2009 Bizarre and Unique Holidays

Month:

* Irish American Month
* Music in Our Schools Month
* National Craft Month
* National Frozen Food Month
* National Irish American Heritage Month- designated by Congress in 1995.
* National Nutrition Month
* National Peanut Month
* National Women's History Month
* Poetry Month
* Red Cross Month
* Social Workers Month

Did you Know? March was named for the Roman God "Mars"

Week Celebrations:

* 2nd Week National Bubble Week
* 2nd Week Crochet Week

Each Day:

1 National Pig Day

1 Peanut Butter Lovers' Day

2 Old Stuff Day

3 I Want You to be Happy Day

3 If Pets Had Thumbs Day

3 National Anthem Day

3 Peach Blossom Day

4 Holy Experiment Day

4 Hug a GI Day

5 Multiple Personality Day

6 Dentist's Day

6 National Frozen Food Day

6 National Salesperson Day - first Friday in the month

7 National Crown Roast of Pork Day

8 Be Nasty Day

8 International (Working) Women's Day

9 Employee Appreciation Day

9 Panic Day

10 Middle Name Pride Day

11 Johnny Appleseed Day

11 Worship of Tools Day - guys, you can relate

12 Girl Scouts Day

12 Plant a Flower Day

13 Ear Muff Day

13 Jewel Day

14 Learn about Butterflies Day

14 National Potato Chip Day

14 National Pi Day- Why today? Because today is 3.14, the value of Pi.

14 National Quilting Day - third Saturday of month

15 Everything You Think is Wrong Day

15 Ides of March

15 Incredible Kid Day

15 Dumbstruck Day

16 Everything You Do is Right Day

16 Freedom of Information Day

17 Submarine Day - the hero sandwich or the boat??

17 Saint Patrick's Day

18 Goddess of Fertility Day

18 Supreme Sacrifice Day

19 Poultry Day

20 International Earth Day

20 Extraterrestrial Abductions Day

20 Proposal Day

21 Fragrance Day

22 National Goof Off Day

23 National Chip and Dip Day

23 Near Miss Day

24 National Chocolate Covered Raisin Day

25 Pecan Day

25 Waffle Day

26 Make Up Your Own Holiday Day

27 National "Joe" Day

28 Something on a Stick Day

29 National Mom and Pop Business Owners Day

29 Smoke and Mirrors Day

30 National Doctor's Day

30 I am in Control Day

30 Take a Walk in the Park Day

31 Bunsen Burner Day

31 National Clam on the Half Shell Day

Lori - Wow.

If pets had thumbs day? Really?

I'm boycotting Middle Name Pride Day 'cause I don't have one. But I am all over Smoke and Mirrors Day.

I'm kinda liking the Hug a GI day. Pair that with Something On A Stick day and....well, you get the idea.

Lori wrote: "I'm kinda liking the Hug a GI day. Pair that with Something On A Stick day and....well, you get the idea."

LOL..... Ah, you make me laugh.

Yz wrote: "Oh..Stephanie..you need to read Harry Potter. The books are way better than the movies..not that the movies are bad. I love the Harry Potter series."

I agree. The books are so much better and there is so so much more in them. I've read all of them (but the last one) twice and some I've read 4 times. lol

Kasia wrote: "Back to suggestions for future categories in monthly challenges...
- a book that's been made into a movie (but you shouldn't have seen it so far)

I do this with my son. After he reads a book, he gets rewarded with the movie. It's fun to see the differences between the two. He's almost 12. He finished all the Harry Potter books, is reading Swiss Family Robinson now, and up next is 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. (He gets the illustrated children's classic and I get the full blown Jules Verne version.)

Suggestions...

- as it's 2009, read a book by an author that has 9 letters in their first or last name.
- read a book that starts with the letter of that month (you did that for February already) or author whose name starts with that letter. This is challenging but fun.
- read something that's considered a classic (there are so many books in so many different categories that people should be able to find something that interests them)
- something by an author you've never read before
- read a historical romance
- read a romance novel where one of the characters is royalty
- read a romance novel where one of the characters is a millionaire or billionaire
- For Oct/Halloween read a book with a witch or a ghost in it
- read a book of another member's bookshelf on goodreads (someone else's suggested it and I like that one)
- for May (mother's day) read a book about a single mother or an expecting mother or with "mommy" or "mother" in the title
- for June (father's day) read a book about a single father, or a man left to raise a baby, or with "father" or "Daddy" in the title
- since so many covers show couples on them, find a romance novel cover with just one person on the cover
- for that matter, read a romance novel with no picture on the cover! ha lol
- read a book set in the applicable season (spring, winter, etc.)
- for Dec read a christmas romance
- read first book in a new series
- like someone's suggestion for finishing a book you've put down
- for April (april fool's day) read a book with a funny title
- for March (St. Patrick's Day) read a book by an Irish author, set in Ireland, or have an Irish character in it. Or have a green cover, have celtic knotwork on the cover, or a four leaf clover (something irish on the cover).
- for spring, a book with a flower in the title or on the cover
- liked someone's suggestion for the summer rodeo season to read a book with a cowboy on the cover
- read a book set in Europe
- read a book set in Australia
- as someone else suggested, read a book that's been turned into a movie (wether you've seen the movie or not)
- As this year is the 60th anniversary of Harlequin, read a Harlequin book from any of their series. (For PNR fans there is a nocturne series that might interest you). They are offereing 16 ebooks for free downloads, one in each of their different series here: http://www.eharlequin.com/store.html?...

Think that's enough. lol I'm getting carried away. Some others have already suggested that I listed again as I liked them. :0)

Great list, BriansGirl. This is so much fun. Of course, not all will be used in the next month..but we have many months to come...LOL..

I just came up with what I consider to be a good one. hehe

- read a romance novel written by a man!

Perhaps you could use that in June to coincide with Father's Day.

Just thought of another one
-a book with any kind of food mentioned in the title

BriansGirl wrote: "read a romance novel written by a man!"

*gaspshockhorror* What?! LOL, JK. That might be a good idea, actually.

new_user wrote: "BriansGirl wrote: "read a romance novel written by a man!"

*gaspshockhorror* What?! LOL, JK. That might be a good idea, actually.

"

The only author that readily comes to mind is Nicholas Sparks. I'm sure there are others but I don't think Harlequin's publishes any (that I know of.) Might be interesting to read one from a man's point of view, so to speak. Will be a tough category to fill I think.

These challenges seem to be great for chipping at the TBR (or making it bigger, as the case may be).
What if we had a category that was "re-read an old favorite"? I am so busy reading new books and adding to my TBR that I sometimes neglect my favorites that sit and call to me to be read again...

"BriansGirl wrote: "read a romance novel written by a man!"

There are some erotica romance books written by men...if you're into that sort of thing :)

Lori wrote: ""BriansGirl wrote: "read a romance novel written by a man!"

There are some erotica romance books written by men...if you're into that sort of thing :) "

I've not gotten into Erotica books. I read mostly traditional romances. Closest I would get to erotica is Harlequin Desires (HD), which I'm sure are tame in comparison. The HD I read last night I didn't like as the obligatory sex scenes ran into chapters not pages. The book didn't seem to have much plot other than the girls eventual deflowering and their budding romance. Usually there's something else thrown in there! lol What little other plot their was, wasn't developed until the last chapters and then they left it hanging and you have to read some other book in the series (12 books each by a different author) to find out what happened. Hate that. It's a .... to be continued. And although I'd like to know what happened... I didn't like this enough to bother looking for the rest of the series. It's a 2005 HD series, and I don't have it and the library's paperback romance section is limited.

Inspired by the read your name challenged I suggest also a "Read the Month" challenge.
Would work the same way as the name:

F
E
B
R
U
A
R
Y

etc etc

Tricia,

Cool idea...considering that we must be fully booked for February...I'll launch it next month...How's that?

Cool :D

BriansGirl wrote: "new_user wrote: "BriansGirl wrote: "read a romance novel written by a man!"

*gaspshockhorror* What?! LOL, JK. That might be a good idea, actually.

"

The only author that readily comes to ..."

Re - the male author thing. Check this out!!

http://www.bostonphoenix.com/alt1/arc...

AND...

http://teachmetonight.blogspot.com/20...

Tricia wrote: "Inspired by the read your name challenged I suggest also a "Read the Month" challenge.
Would work the same way as the name:

F
E
B
R
U
A
R
Y

etc etc"

Like this idea a lot Tricia! In some ways be easier to fill.

- a book with a reference to a fairy tale (cinderella theme, etc.)
- read a book recommended by someone else
- one of the lead characters is a virgin (quite often listed in the title)
- where one of the main characters in the love story is older than the other, significant age gap
- Sun, Moon, or Star(s) is in the title
- this won't work for everybody (thinking Yz, lol), but read a story where one of the main characters shares your first name (bonus category)
- read a book published in 2009
- I think you could repeat the category to read a book by a Goodreads author again
- keep up with the read from a birthday girl's shelves
- read a book where the man on the cover has facial hair (beard, mustache, goatee)

- this won't work for everybody (thinking Yz, lol), but read a story where one of the main characters shares your first name (bonus category)

not me either, perhaps I could sub. my nickname, Kim =)

For April (holiday themed)
-Patriot's Day (read an american hero themed book)
-April Fool's (silly theme's we love in romance)
-Easter (title with type of candy or sweet)
-Admin/Professional's Day (a profession in the title. I was thinking even PN profession like vampire hunter etc would be fun)

Kenjii,

Great ideas. Yes, I'm already looking for them for April..LOL

Kenjii wrote: "- this won't work for everybody (thinking Yz, lol), but read a story where one of the main characters shares your first name (bonus category)

not me either, perhaps I could sub. my nickname, Kim =..."

The book I got in the March Pick-it for me has one of the two main characters with my first name (Kate). :0)

Honestly, surprisingly enough, I don't recall ever reading a book where one of the main characters was named Nichole... it's not that uncommon a name really, but I don't come across it that often.

For those of us in New Zealand/Australia - April comes with Anzac Day - 25 April. So, for us, it would mean a book set in World War I, or with a WWI vet in it. So that could be our equivalent of Patriots Day.

What is the name that encompasses military, army, navy SEAL's? That is the word I was going for with American hero, lol. Not just "American". Would it be war/wartime hero? Something like that. Are there many romances set in to a war-theme as with other historical periods?

I was thinking about that and was like American hero is not what I was going for totally.

Kenjii wrote: "What is the name that encompasses military, army, navy SEAL's? That is the word I was going for with American hero, lol. Not just "American". Would it be war/wartime hero? Something like that. Are ..."

Are you thinking of veteran? That covers anyone currently serving as well as anyone who has served.

~Briansgirl
Retired U.S. Air Force

Briansgirl: That would work, thanks =)

Someone above suggested reading the first book in a new series. I LOVE that idea.

Somewhere else I also saw the idea of putting your TBR list in order of date and read the first book on your list (the first book you added that you have not read yet).

Like those suggestions, Courtney. I will work it in for April.

LibraryLass wrote: "Re - the male author thing. Check this out!!"

Wow, LLass, I had no idea! I see Leigh Greenwood's name all the time. That's pretty cool. Those men are definitely secure, LOL. ;) Now I'm really curious to read one of them. Thanks for the links. :)

Looking for ideas for May...

Let's see...

- something Mexican (Cinco de Mayo)
- something about mom and motherhood (Mother's Day)
- something from our B-Day gals bookshelves (my favorite)

Since it's the 5th month:
- one of your friends favourite book (or with 5 star rating)
- go to your to-read shelf and pick either 5th book from the end of the list or 5th from the beginning

- M for May (mother also)
- book with an animal on the cover or in the title (spring yay!)
- book by a foreign author (can be translated from a different language, but say if you're from US - British book would be a go)
- read a book that's been turned into a movie (I don't think we did this yet)
- "Share-the-Love: Read a book written by a Good Reads Author." (last time I liked that a lot)

I can't think of any more than I already posted earlier.

no worries, Briansgirl. I still go back and check previous suggestions. Thanks for them.

- book set in or around hospital; hero/heroine is a nurse (International Nurses Day)
- book of author who was born or who died in May
- book with nerd/geek hero or heroine (Nerd Pride Day)

Books with the same title. (I can think of several pairs without too much trouble.)

For example:

Wicked Pleasure, Nina Bangs
Wicked Pleasure, Lora Leigh

That's a cool idea Melody.

Lori wrote: "That's a cool idea Melody."

:O) I'm reading the Lora Leigh this month and every time I add the title to my list I see the Bangs and wonder...

Here's another thought: maybe read a book with the same title as another book you've already read. Adds 1 to the list instead of 2.

Another idea:
Read several (3, 5, whatever) books that all have the same word or phrase in the title.

Example: One Bite

One Bite Stand, Nina Bangs
One Bite With A Stranger, Christine Warren
Just One Bite, Kimberly Raye
Another One Bites the Dust, Jennifer Rardin

Oooh...that's cool too! What a creative bunch we have here.

I think that one would be hard. Easier with one word than two, but still not easy.

Briansgirl wrote: "I think that one would be hard. Easier with one word than two, but still not easy."

Hehe, I cheated and used the add book/author function. :O) There are a number of words that offer a plethora (those romance chatchall words we all know). Like, try searching "lover". You'll start to see common phrases (between lovers, love me) that you can search and before you know it:

Love/s/d Me

The Vampire Who Loved Me, Teresa Medeiros
The Nerd Who Loved Me, Vicki Lewis Thompson
The Viscount Who Loved Me, Julia Quinn
He Loves Me, He Loves Me Hot, Stephanie Rowe
Say You Love Me, Johanna Lindsay

Well, you get the idea. And it only took about 5 minutes. (Ooo, and the Vampire, the Viscount, and the Nerd can probably be made to fit the Men We Love challenge!!)

eep, I can't remember all the great suggestions already made, but just in case noone's added this one:

I just browsed a title featuring a librarian and thought I'd toss the librarian/bookstore-owner theme (one of my favorites) into the hat. :O)

How about "Build Your Own Boxset"? (something I've done with movies that should translate to books): choose 3 or 4 titles (by different authors that are not part of a series) that relate by theme or by title (title your boxset and/or explain your reasoning).

Example (related by title):
(Un)Dressing Your Cowboy, one book at a time:

Blue Jeans, Tuesday Morrigan
Dark Roots and Cowboy Boots, Luann McLane
Scrooge Wore Spurs, Janet Daily
Under This Cowboy's Hat, Rob Knight

Hmm...I like that boxed set idea, Melody.