Romance Readers Reading Challenges discussion

I'm having a hard enough time with the men we love geek/nerd/techie category. If I read my one book for that, leaves me nothing else for another similar category.

Awwww, but geeks can be so much fun. If you need book recs for that category, come over the Nerd Appreciation Society group. We'll help you out.;-)

Nerd in Shining Armor is the only one I know of that I have, although I'm sure Harlequins gotta have someone geeky at some point. lol

As long as there isn't any restriction about the sex of the geek character I think it wouldn't be a big problem for me. About four titles I want to reread cross my mind... (Shelly Laurenston "Go Fetch" and "Miss Congeniality" ("When He Was Bad"), Susan Elizabeth Phillips "Nobody's Baby But Mine", Nalini Singh "Hostage To Pleasure" - geekiness of women characters in those books varies, but I think it would count)

I would be remiss if I didn't recommend a M/M geek book :) Tech Support

Perhaps it's time read something by a Goodreads Author again.

Few more ideas:



Read a book from your favorite genre
Read a book that takes place in a small town. (List that town)
Read a book that takes place in a big city. (List that city)
(Summer category) Read a book that takes place during winter time.
(Winter category) Read a book that takes place during summer time.
Read a book and then write a (short) review and post it on GR.
Read a book that has less than 100 raitings on Goodreads.
Read a 5 star book from one of your friend's shelves.
Read a book from one of the mod's shelves.

One more:

Read a book which title starts with one of your initials.

(So if my initials are: K. S. - anything along the lines would do: "Sabriel", "King must die", "Story of the Eye", "Specials", "Succubus Heat", "Kissing Sin", "Kitty goes to Washington")

Love the suggestions, Kasia. Will be keeping them in mind for the next challenges.

Hmm, I don't know if it was mentioned already...
- book originally written in language other than one's native and other than English as well.
- love triangle theme
- one of character's is a writer

Read a book that's "short" (under 250 pages).

Kasia wrote: "Read a book that's "short" (under 250 pages)."

I think almost any Harlequin would fit that category.

Except for the historicals. They usually run around 275 pages.:-)

- How about a book borrowed from a friend or family. Presumably recommended by them. (A form of recycling, even if we give it back).
- Time to read a Goodreads author again?
- Two different books, by different authors, with the same title.
- read a book from a genre you don't normally read to expand your horizons
- read a non-fiction book
- read a book that was made into a movie

I don't know if this would make sense to do or if it'd be to much work. But I know these challenges are fun. The "state/country" reads. So I thought it'd be need to have a master list of the suggestions and crop them off into topics. I am sure you have them saved somehow Yz.

Ex:
State Suggestions
Edge of Hunger by Rhyannon Byrd (CO)

Or even go as far as giving tips for other challenges with suggestions:

State Suggestions; A-Z Characters
Edge of Hunger by Rhyannon Byrd (CO)
Characters: Ian Buchanan, Molly

Looking for category suggestions for the last three months of the year.:

October, November and December

Oct 30 - Devil's Night - Read something with a demon or devil in it (any really evil bad guy), or something with a predominately red cover (or a devil on cover would work).

Oct 31- Halloween/All Hallows Eve - Read something spooky or with a witch or bat in it, or something with a predominately black cover. Anything halloween themed would count.

Nov 1 - All Saints Day - Read something with a saint or angel in it, or has a predominately white cover (or has an angel on the cover or in the title).

Fall - Read something with a predomiately orange cover, has fall leaves on the cover, or the words Fall or Autumn in the title.

Dec 25 - Christmas - Read something holiday themed (could include Christmas, Hannukah, etc.)

Winter - Read a book that takes place during winter, or something with alot of snow/ice in it.

some other loose ideas:

Moon Festival (something on china/east asia)
a book on farmers or food (might be just food on the cover) or harvest (World Food Day)

United Nations Day (a book on war/peace, politics, politicians, international relations or a book that takes characters through 2 or more countries)

Thanksgiving
a book about/by/featuring Native Americans

All Saint's Day and Day of the Dead (a ghost story would make sense here)

International Men's Day (a book with male protagonist)

Halloween (a horror story/ something scary)

Black Friday (a book that features shopping or book with an all black cover)

Cyber Monday (a book about computer geeks, hackers, technology or anything futuristic or even explore genre:sci-fi)

Eid al-Adha (Festival of Sacrifice) (a book with Muslim accents or a book that features ritual sacrifice of some sort)

Winter: Ice, Snow, Cold, Frost or something similar in title

World AIDS Day (???)

Human Rights Day (???)

winter solstice (read a faritale, a fantasy book or something about magic)

Hanukkah (something Jewish about/by/featuring Jews)

Christmas (Christmas tree, lights, mistletoe, presents on the cover)

Father Frost / Santa Claus - a story featuring an old man, or any guy with a beard

For world AIDS day you could read a book [fic. or non-fic.:] about a character affected w/ HIV or AIDS. Magic Johnson is HIV positive but I am not sure he has a book. I once read a 'diary' of a 14 y o with AIDS. It was good.

Human Rights-you could read a book about a character you feel has been [historically:] liberated by the human rights movement. Women, Gays, Black people etc.

Thanks! :D

Oct. 3 - Music Lover's Day - Read a book that has a musician as a main character or a musical instrument on the cover.

Oct. 4-10 - National Fire Prevention Week - Read a book with a firefighter as a main character or on the cover.

Oct. 5 - World Teacher's Day - Read a book with a teacher, professor, tutor or governess as a character.

Oct. 15 - National Poetry Day - Read a book of poetry or about a poet or that has a poet as a character.

Oct. 17 - Sweetest Day - Read a book with something sweet (candy, cookies, cake, etc.) on the cover or in the title OR read a "sweet" romance.

There are lots of animal-related theme holidays in Oct. - Farm Animals Day, Wildlife Day, Adopt a Dog Month, Reptile Day, Dinosaur Month, Black Cat Day - any of these could be turned into an animal themed category.

Oct. is Clergy Appreciation Month - Read a book with a minister, priest, rabbi or other clergy person as a character.

Nov. 1 - National Author's Day - Read a book with an author as a character.

I second Kasia's idea of a Native American category. In addition to Thanksgiving, Nov. is also National Native American Month.

Nov. 11 - Veteran's Day - Read a book with a character in the military. (I can't remember if we've done that one before or not, but I wouldn't mind doing it again even if we have.:-))

Universal Children's Day is Nov. 20 and International Children's Day is Dec. 13 - Read a book with a prominent child character.

Dec. 3 - International Day of the Disabled Person - Read a book with a character who has a disability.

I'll also second any of the holiday themed reads especially Christmas and cold/snowy books. I love reading those during Dec. to get me in the mood for the holidays.:-)

November is National Adoption month. We could read a book with an adoption storyline.

How about a romance novel written by a man? Or one from only a man's POV?

Photojim wrote: "How about a romance novel written by a man? Or one from only a man's POV? "

Sounds good :)

Few other ideas:
- book with a number in the title
- book with one/two/three word title
- name of hero/heroine / place / object in the title
- your current profession in the book
- your dream job in the book
- art theme (hero/heroine in an artist or forger or art thief or works in gallery etc)
- place your initials (first letter of your name or surname is the first letter of the setting in the book - country, state, city)
- book that relates to the thing you are most thankful for
- book wrtitten by two authors
- addiction theme
- Random Word Generator - book with one of ten first generated words in the title

Written by a man is hard enough. I don't know of a single romance novel written exclusively from a man's point of view.

Briansgirl "Master Book Sale Huntress" wrote: "Written by a man is hard enough. I don't know of a single romance novel written exclusively from a man's point of view. "

Honestly, I can think of two that I've read. Several people would not classify them as romance novels as there are no women involved. (I'm willing to read anything once. And twice if I thought maybe it was the book or author style before crossing a genre off my list.) I just really didn't get the whole homo-erotica thing. Maybe I just don't understand the culture enough to appreciate character actions.

like the book with one/two/three word title and book written by two authors.

How about character in the book has the same first name as reader? (sure Jim/James is easier than many people)

Yz would have a problem with the name thing. lol So would Kasia and Kenjii. Perhaps if you can't find the same name, you can use first initial.

I have no desire to read any homo-erotica. I read romance novels but even then I don't read erotica. So I have no idea how to find a book from soley a man's point of view that's classififed as a romance. I've got some WWII war novels with no women in them. lol

Briansgirl "Master Book Sale Huntress" wrote: "Yz would have a problem with the name thing. lol So would Kasia and Kenjii. Perhaps if you can't find the same name, you can use first initial."

Actually Kasia (Katarzyna) translates easily to Katharine so it's not that hard :) First initial is a good solution, I think.

Briansgirl I have no desire to read any homo-erotica. I read ..."

I doubt I will ever read another. Then again, I can say the same thing about James Joyce novels. The difference being that one is written in a stream of consciousness dialog that doesn't have the common decency to stick to a storyline and the other has a serious 'ick' factor (I'll let you decide which is which). No offense intended to those of you who enjoy reading such things (yeah, I'm talking to you James Joyce Fan) but it's just not my cup of tea.

Ok, I have never heard the name Yz before in print or otherwise. Although it is an intriguing name. Perhaps a surname could be used? Kenjii is not that uncommon
of a name. Or maybe I just have teenage sons enamored with Japanese manga/anime/games and I think it is more common than it actually is. Anyway it was just a suggestion.

A handful more suggestions:
- hero or heroine is wrongfully imprisoned
- hero or heroine is imprisoned for just cause (sure they embezzled $2 mil but they are reformed)
- Farm life (either set on a farm or characters are farmers)
- language barriers (characters can't speak a common language at the start of the relationship)
- with a rebel yell (characters are freedom fighters, insurgents, or just looking to overthrow the govt. This can be anything from American colonists in the 1770's to members of the Fremen holds harassing the Baron's spice production [random Dune reference:])

oohh... you like picking categories that we'd have to work for to find books to fit. Some romances set in Europe might fit the language barrier one. Many historicals (especially scotish highland ones) might fit the rebel yell. Imprisioned wrongly or for a just cause, either would be difficult since Harlequin doesn't tend to have anyone incarcerated. Means we'd have to look elsewhere to fit that category. (Poison study might fit but I'm about to read that now.)

I'm not so sure about the not being able to find books about guilty cons. Just last month I read two Harlequin Blaze books with guilty criminals as main love interests. Taken by Tori Carrington and Anticipation by Jennifer LaBrecque. Also some of the Jennifer Crusie books about the con family. I think Faking It and Bet Me are both part of that crime family.

As for overthrowing the gov't books, how about the historicals set in the American Civil War? Revolutionary War? Or fantasy books where the young couple must work together to defeat the evil overlord? But if you are looking for contemporaries, you are going to have to go with a terrorist group or setting outside the US.

As for working for it, isn't that why it is called a CHALLENGE? ;-P

Yes, they are called challenges for a reason, but they also must be something that is reasonably easy, not extremely difficult to fulfill. Not everyone has access to the same books. Some use a library, others purchase all their books with no library available. Others are trying to use only their extensive unread books at home to fill categories. This is an international group with folks from all over the world. The categories usually have just enough leaway to give us options to find books to fit without being too narrow a category.

Ok, Photojim yes these are supposed to be a challenge.

However, most of the time a *blurb* or *synopsis* of a book doesnt go into too many details and some of your suggestions are rather specific and you would have to have already READ the book to know if the book had that sort of stuff in it.

And if you have already read the book I find that to be cheating in this sort of challenge. No?

As Briansgirl has stated, everyone gets their books in different ways - Take Yz for example, the creator of the group for those who dont know, she gets a lot of her books via a library system.

I on the other hand purchase all my books.

Back to my main point, if you make it too specific - unless having read the book (in which I feel is cheating the system for the challenge) we wont know how to find the book for the challenge.

Amen, Tricia. Too specific categories put me off the challenge. Part of the fun is trying to fit my books into the categories and vice versa.

Girls, girls, stop bullying photojim...LOL!...or you are going to scare him away. Of course, I hope he is made of sterner stuff, and excuse everybody's over zealousness....LOL

You guys give great suggestions actually, and I'm always open to them. As most people in this thread have discovered, I've taken most of their suggestions and revised them for a more general category to accommodate everybody's reading taste. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. But then that's the fun part of being in a diverse group.

I can still remember the heat I got for that Gay/Lesbian category...*grins*

Yeah, I gave you a hard time on that one. lol

Am not bullying, just saying that if the categories are too hard people wont bother.

*is sufficiently bullied*

I understand what you are saying and fully agree with you. I apologize for my thoughtlessness. OTOH, sneaking a toughie in every now and then wouldn't be too bad.

I get about 70% of my books through the library. But I am fortunate enough to have 20 or so good libraries within half hour or so's drive. I'm only a member of four of them, but knowing the option is out there is good. I buy new 10% of the time and used 20%. I guess I get books as gifts and trade too. Maybe that accounts for 120% of my books?

And I take no offense to what people say. I work as a photographer. You have to have some pretty thick skin to have people evaluate your work and say bad things about it.

I don't know if someone mentioned these, so I'll just write anyways..
Time travel (for example The Outlander)
Foreigner (as in two people from different cultures, like indian and english\british)
Ghosts
Suicide
Coming back to life\Revived - one of the mains dies and is back to life (not necessarily as a vampire)
Bitchy\strong\sarcastic\kicking ass main protagonist
Action and romance (as in girl fighting really well, not just getting saved every time by the male)
Sad (ending) that just made people sob
basically just some traits..

Good ideas Yulia but I don't know how many books I could use to fill those categories unless I'd already read them and were familiar with the plots and storylines.

Ghosts of Challenges Past! - read one book you set aside for a challenge but never got around to reading.

Good one! I like it.

ooohhhh, like that one!
On the off chance that you're one of those fortunate enough not to have any books you havn't read for a challenge having read them all, perhaps they can read a book off their Read your Lifetime in books challenge. Or oldest book in their TBR folder.

How about-
Second Chances: reading a book by an author you've previously disliked the work of

or

First Impressions: reading a book from an author you've never read for whatever reason

Interesting. I like both ideas.

I like those too.

Don't know if anyone has already suggested this, but an idea I got from our "collaboration" category this month - read an author under their own name and a book written under their pseudonym Nora Roberts aka J D. Robb or Jayne Anne Krentz aka Amanda Quick aka Jayne Castle

I like that idea, LL.