Lynn's Accidental Women's Challenge

[Lynn, Revisit the Shelf]

I did not mean to plan out a Women Authors Challenge this year. I thought with monthly reads, Bingo, and the Old and New School Challenge I would have enough to do. In the process of regular reading I have almost completed a Century Challenge so I thought I would post. One or two more books should complete it.

[Lynn, Revisit the Shelf]

1910s Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton 1911

1920s A Room of One's Own by Virginia Woolf 1929

1930s Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier 1938

1940s A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith 1943
also The Member of the Wedding by Carson McCullers 1946

1950s The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson 1959

1960s To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee 1960

1970s Greenwitch by Susan Cooper 1974 and Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice 1976

1980s Moon Tiger by Penelope Lively 1987

1990s

2000s The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger 2003

2010s A Christmas Garland by Anne Perry 2012

The authors who were new to me were: Betty Smith, Carson McCullers, Harper Lee, Anne Rice, Penelope Lively, Audrey Niffenegger, and Anne Perry.

[Katy, New School Classics]

Lynn wrote: "I did not mean to plan out a Women Authors Challenge this year. I thought with monthly reads, Bingo, and the Old and New School Challenge I would have enough to do. In the process of regular readin..."

Good for you. Love when this happens!

[Laurie]

That's great and your list has some fabulous books. You couldn't have done better if you planned it.

[Lynn, Revisit the Shelf]

Laurie wrote: "That's great and your list has some fabulous books. You couldn't have done better if you planned it."

Thanks Katy and Laurie.

[Bob, Short Story Classics]

I’ve read seven of your selections, all were good. Several were outstanding, truly classic. The surprise 5 star read for me was The Hunting of Hill House. Shirley Jackson was a gifted writer.

[Sue]

Great job Lynn! The 90's should be an easy slot to fill.

[Terris]

You've read some really good books! Great job! :)

[Lynn, Revisit the Shelf]

Sue wrote: "Great job Lynn! The 90's should be an easy slot to fill."

Thanks. Right now I am so covered up at work that I cannot even finish Gulliver's Travels. Arggghh. Hopefully, I can find that one book from the 90s by Christmas.

[Lynn, Revisit the Shelf]

Bob wrote: "I’ve read seven of your selections, all were good. Several were outstanding, truly classic. The surprise 5 star read for me was The Hunting of Hill House. Shirley Jackson was a gifted writer."

I agree. I really enjoy Shirley Jackson's writing.

[Lynn, Revisit the Shelf]

I have purchased a kindle book to read for the 1990s Rose Cottage by Mary Stewart. Mary Stewart is one of my favorite writers and this book has been on my TBR list for a while. After my last two books, Gulliver's Travels and The Sound and the Fury, I am ready for something a little lighter.

[Lynn, Revisit the Shelf]

For 2019 my plan was two challenges: Bingo and The Old and New Classic Challenge. I added one more because I almost had enough books to complete the Women Authors Challenge. In the end I only completed one of my three challenges. I was two books short in the Old and New Classics and one book short on the Women Authors Challenge. That is Ok.

2019 Achievements:
1. I completed Bingo.
2. I read 130 books, children's books, or short stories total.
3. I read 41 books or short stories from the Group Bookshelf.
4. I focused on the books I wanted to read and only struggled to finish two of my 130 selections.

Overall it was a great reading year. I could have pushed to finish the last three books during my Christmas Break from school, but with family and other interests I really wanted to take things a little more slowly and I'm glad I did.

One other challenge I faced this year is that I have been working on my health. A little history: in 1993 when I had my third child I was diagnosed with diabetes. I went to nutrition classes by the American Diabetic Association and learned about their exchange program. I was able to keep my blood sugar under control with diet and exercise for 26 years!!! But not surprisingly as a 57 year old, controlling this became a little harder. Oct 22 I was put on medicine for diabetes. Since then I have lost 28 pounds (almost all water) and tightened up even more on my diet. So I have spent many, many hours on cooking, watching doctors on youtube and reading nutrition articles. - The guidelines for diabetics have been almost completely rewritten! Yet it is funny to note that I have been intermittent fasting for the last 26 years before it even had a name!! Overall 2019 was also a good year because I feel healthier than I have in quite a while and am wearing clothes that I bought about 12 years ago!! Now on to 2020.

(I will copy and paste and put this in a couple of threads.)

[Laurie]

I am glad you had a great reading year. And while I am so sorry you had to start taking medication for your diabetes, it sounds like you have a great handle on getting as healthy as you can. Congratulations on your weight loss which is simply hard as we get older. Best of luck in 2020 in your reading and your health!

[Lynn, Revisit the Shelf]

Laurie wrote: "I am glad you had a great reading year. And while I am so sorry you had to start taking medication for your diabetes, it sounds like you have a great handle on getting as healthy as you can. Congra..."

Thank you Laurie and Happy New Year!

[Kathleen]

Your efforts are an inspiration, Lynn--both your reading and your health accomplishments. Wishing you the happiest new year!