Fall Reading Challenge

[Lyndsie]

It's time to strap in because it's fall, y'all! To ring in the season, we are beginning our first ever Goodreads Challenge!

The challenge is fall-themed and simple -- you'll pick the number of books you want to read for the duration of the challenge and assign them to a specific shelf when read! Voila! It's that easy.

The challenge will run from October 1 through November 30, giving you plenty of time to read some seasonal books before we usher in winter.

What books count for this challenge, you may ask? Anything you deem worthy! We're talking spooky horror novels, fall cookbooks and craft books, books with autumn-y words in the title, novels with leaves on the cover...you choose!

Make sure to stop by the Adult department and check out our fun themed displays for inspiration, or ask a staff member for suggestions!

To enroll in the challenge:
The challenge will appear on the Goodreads group page under "Challenges" on October 1. You will simply enter a number into the box of how many books you wish to read for the duration of the challenge, and create a new shelf name (like "fall reading challenge" for example). Any book you shelve on that shelf will count toward your reading challenge! If you need help enrolling in the challenge or assigning books to your challenge shelf, don't hesitate to ask!

Use this thread to recommend titles to other readers, discuss what you've read, and more!

[Lyndsie]

The challenge is now live and available for sign-up! I pledged to read 10 books, which is maybe a bit ambitious, but we'll see! I plan to start with Bad Man by Dathan Auerbach, author of probably my favourite "horror" novel of all time (Penpal) which I highly recommend if you want to be creeped out!

Also to be read include Apartment 401 by Boris Bacic and Paperbacks from Hell: The Twisted History of '70s and '80s Horror Fiction, which is a long overdue read for me!

I'm a big baker, so I'll also be checking out a Halloween themed cookbook or two!

What will you be reading for this challenge?

[Cas]

Oh my gosh Lyndsie, Paperbacks from Hell! My mom was a big horror reader in the 70s and 80s. I think I am going to have to read this to relive my childhood. Cover Art is such a part of the book experience-- if you tell me a title, there's a good chance I'll have no idea if I read it. But if I see the cover, I know instantly.

[Lyndsie]

I think our copy is on the display facing the check-out if you get tempted! ;)

[Cas]

Thanks! I think I will!

[Nancy]

What a fun challenge! I'm not really into "horror" but I'll stretch myself a little for this since it's good to read outside our comfort zones now and then, right? I set a low bar at 4 fall-themed books, including "Slade House" by David Mitchell, which my daughter recommended due to its lack of gore. Nice that she's looking out for me!

[Lyndsie]

Nancy wrote: "What a fun challenge! I'm not really into "horror" but I'll stretch myself a little for this since it's good to read outside our comfort zones now and then, right? I set a low bar at 4 fall-themed ..."

Nancy -- I just finished The Resting Place by Camilla Sten which was great! Bit haunted house-vibe, not too terribly scary but enough people shelved it as "horror" that I counted it! A good read. I also enjoyed her first novel, The Lost Village! That one was kind of creepy too -- I'd say they both count for light horror!

[Nancy]

Thanks for the suggestions! And I like the "light horror" moniker. :)

[Lyndsie]

I just finished Nothing But Blackened Teeth, which I was excited for despite the mediocre reviews (including one from our very own Scott!) but wow, I am disappointed. I know horror is an art and hard to perfect, but this fell far, FAR short of the mark.

Any one else unhappy (or deliriously happy?) with their reading challenge choices so far?

[Lyndsie]

Thanks everyone for participating in our Fall Reading Challenge! We will be launching another challenge - 50 Books in 50 Weeks! We will post more information on this closer to January 1, but we encourage you to track your progress virtually here on Goodreads, and then physically (if able) come into the Library to pick up your prize!

As always, the library staff will be eagerly awaiting your requests for reading materials, and can't wait to recommend some new stuff for you to try!