Tag: challenge

Posted in book, books, life

I finished the Challenge

Posted on by Dede

This is the third year I have participated in my library’s 50 books in 50 weeks in 50 categories challenge. The first two years it took me all 50 weeks to finish. This year I finished early. The library gives the categories and the reader is free to choose any book which fulfills the category.

I started this challenge because I had gotten in a rut and reading only a few genres. This has opened me up to so many good books I would have never considered reading. So step out of your comfort zone and pick up a new genre. If you haven’t read in a long time, don’t be overwhelmed. Find a title or cover that appeals to you and get started. You won’t regret it.

Here is the list of 50 books I read:

Stephen King: On Writing

Kent Haruf: Plainsong

Asphyxia: The Words in my Hands

Maxie McCoy: You’re not Lost

Katherine Arden: The Bear and The Nightingale

Rita Mae Brown: Claws for Alarm

Amanda Gorman: Call us What They Carry

Zane Grey: Desert Gold

Erik Larson: The Devil in the White City, murder, magic and madness

Camille DiMaio: The First Emma

Marina Elena Sandovici: Storms of Malhado

Jo Walton: Farthing

James Runcie: Sidney Chambers and the Shadow of Death

Stephen Crane: The Red badge of Courage

Taylor Jenkins Reid: Atmosphere

Lucy Foley: The Guest List

David Sedaris: Me talk Pretty One day

Banu Mishtaq: Heart lamp selected stories

Axie Oh: The Girl who fell beneath the Sea

Katherine Reay: Dear Mr. Knightley

Philip Deck: The Man in the High Castle

Walter Wangerin Jr: The Book of God

Claire Keegan: Small Things Like These

Shirley Wachtel: The Baker of Lost Memories

Kristina McMorris: Sold on a Monday

Madeline Miller: The Song of Achilles

Edmond Rostand: Cyrano de Bergerac

Vyvyan Evan’s: The Babel Apocalypse

Elly Griffiths: The Last Word

Ina Caro: Paris to the Past: Traveling through History by Train

Claire Swinarski: The Funeral Ladies of Ellerie County

Claire Leslie Hall: Broken Country

Carsten Henn: The Door to door Bookstore

Shonda Rhimes: Year of Yes

Beth O’Leary: The No Show

Neil Hayward: Lost Among the Birds: Accidentally Finding Myself in one Very Big Year

Wendy Corsi Staub: The Fourth Girl

Loretta Ellsworth: Stars over Clear Lake

Rachel Joyce: The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry

Shawntelle Madison: The Fallen Fruit

Diana Gabaldon: Go Tell the Bees that I am Gone

Jojo Moyes: We All Live Here

Kathleen Grissom: The Kitchen House

Hilary Leichter: Terrace Story

Lauren Roberts: Reckless

Julie Hatcher: Not Quite by the Book

Matthew Inman: How to tell if your cat is plotting to kill you

Percival Everett: James

Louise Penny: The Hangman

Margaret Craven: I Heard the Owl call my Name

Reading will change your life.

Posted in life

Book Club

Posted on by Dede
Just finished

This is the third year I have participated in my library’s 50 books in 50 weeks in 50 categories book club. I like going to the monthly meetings but it’s not necessary. You can still participate without attending.

The challenge initially seemed overwhelming. I decided to try it because I had been limiting myself to only a couple of genres. It was time to branch out and explore. Fortunately the library supplies the categories and if you need help they can even provide you a list of books.

I just finished The Song of Achilles. I think everyone must remember reading The Iliad and The Odyssey in high school. They were long epic tales of Greek heroes and myths. This is a modern retelling of part of The Iliad.

Written in a contemporary voice it is a moving tale of love, friendship, power, arrogance, and sacrifice.

Without the library challenge I doubt I would have read many of the books, I’ve read over the past 2+ years. And some of them have become favorites. So do not limit yourself to one genre whether it’s in books, movies, music and even people. Branch out and explore.

Posted in Uncategorized, WordPress, words, Writing

38,000 and counting 

Posted on by Dede


You would think with all the time I’ve had on my hands I would have spent it writing the book I’ve always said I’d write. I would begin and then think this story is dumb no one will read it. Then I went to a Meetup group for aspiring writers. I met writers who had actually written books, self published and made money!! 

I spoke to one afterwards express in my belief no one would read what I wrote. She assured me in no uncertain terms if I wrote a book, self published it, someone would read it. Maybe that’s all I need to hear because as present I am at 38,000 words and counting. According to Internet gurus I need approximately 80,000 words for an adult novel. So I am not quite halfway.

Hoping to finish before I move out and into the unknown I’m using my time during the day to do nothing but write. The story probably makes no sense at all but it has given me something to focus on during the day. Now to find something other than hopelessness to fill my night. 

Posted in Blogging, book, choices, communication, Dreaming, Experience, fear, Fun, Goal, love, Moving, New life, novels, people, questions, Uncategorized, vacation, WordPress, Writing, Writing 201, writing lessons, writing101

Experience Passport 

Posted on by Dede

  
I am a collector of books. Typically I read every book I buy but sometimes I buy a book that requires interaction. This summer I purchased the above Experience Passport from  Chronicle Books. It gives 45 ways to broaden your horizon without going anywhere. Since my life circumstances have changed, it is unlikely I will be doing any extensive traveling again. I thought this looked like a way to have fun and push myself out of the cocoon I have created for myself.

Some of the suggestions are easier to accomplish than others but all will open up my life to new possibilities. You don’t have to do them in any particular order. I’ve done #2, #7 and #26. I will share some of the things I learn while using my experience passport. Care to travel with me?

#26 Favorite quotes from an award winning piece of fiction. I will share one quote from Still Life by Louise Penny. 

“Life is change. If you aren’t growing and evolving, you’re standing still and the rest of the world is surging ahead.”

Posted in daily prompt, WordPress, words, Writing, writing101

Wrap up challenge

Posted on by Dede

I learned that while writing can be expressive if unchecked it can turn depressive. I learned the world of bloggers has many kind and caring people. I was reminded how much I love words and writing. And I challenge myself to write a novel by 12-31-16. Thanks everyone