Reading Books Again

Honorable Mentions go to half of the books that I read! Dragon Hoops, Windows on the World, The Oracle Code, Almost American Girl, Catherine's War, Paying the Land and This Was Our Pact. Frankly, everything I read was fabulous with the exception of two books: Creation and Mozart in Paris. I didn't include Saga in my favorites because it was published several years ago. Of course, it would be the best book of the year.

2020 was a great year for comics. Let's hope that 2021 is just as good.

Tuesday, December 8, 2020

Wrap Up of 2020 Creativity Reading Challenge

I read 4 books for the Creativity Reading Challenge. I expected to read more but was busy using these books for instruction and inspiration in my own artwork. I have completed 5 colored pencil drawings in the past six months. The books that I read were:

Botanical Drawing in Color by Wendy Hollander

Allie Aller's Crazy Quilting by Allie Aller

Lisbon Sketchbook by Fabrice Moireau

Landmarks of Malaysia Sketchbook by Chin Kon Yit

Favorite Book: Botanical Drawing in Color. I have used this book a lot throughout the year as I move into botanical drawings. I have worked with colored pencils for 20 years but am just starting to draw these types of drawings. The book has been extremely helpful.

Second Favorite Book: Lisbon Sketchbook. I have all of Fabrice Moireau's sketchbooks and view them often. I am learning a lot about perspective and how to draw detail by absorbing his drawings. The sketchbook is part of a series of watercolor travelogues.

I am planning on participating in this challenge next year. Perhaps I will read and review all the weaving books that I bought this year but never got around to reading.

Victorian Reading Challenge

I decided to join the Victorian Reading Challenge this afternoon. Anthony Trollope is one of my favorite authors from this time period. I have been thinking for a few months that I would like to reread some of his classics or, better yet, find new ones to read. It is hard to find his books these days but I hope to expand my personal library with more of them. I have about 15 of his books.

The challenge runs the calendar year from January 1 through December 31, 2021. The goal is to read a minimum of 4 books either written or published between 1837 and 1901. Becky at Becky's Book Reviews is the challenge host.

Sunday, December 6, 2020

2021 Library Love Reading Challenge Sign-Up

I did well with the Library Love challenge this year even though my public library was closed for a few months due to the pandemic shutdown. The Chicago Public Library plans on staying open throughout 2021 so I will rejoin this reading challenge at the Library Card on Fire Level which requires that I read 60+ library books. I know that this will be easy for me to complete and cannot wait to get started. The rules for the challenge are:

1. The challenge runs from January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2021.

2. Crossovers from other challenges are accepted.

3. There is a 12 book minimum for the challenge.

4. Any genre is accepted.

5. All book formats are accepted. This includes audio and ebooks.

6. There is a Goodreads group for the challenge.

Join me in the Library Love Reading Challenge!

Friday, December 4, 2020

2021 New Release Reading Challenge Sign-Up

I have participated in a similar challenge in the past to the 2021 New Release Reading Challenge and plan on doing this challenge next year. The challenge host is the Unconventional Bookworms blog. The rules are simple. The challenge runs the 2021 calendar year, crossovers with other challenges are accepted, and books must be at least 100 pages to qualify for the challenge. I am signing up at the New Release Newbie level. It requires me to read between 1 and 30 books.

2021 Cloak and Dagger Reading Challenge Sign-Up

I love reading mysteries so I will be rejoining this challenge again next year. I plan on reading 36-55 books which will meet the challenge's Special Agent reading level. The challenge host is once again the Carol's Notebook blog and the challenge rules are:

1. All mystery sub-genres are accepted for the challenge.

2. The challenge will run the 2021 calendar year.

3. Crossovers with other challenges are accepted.

I already have many mysteries on my Kindle ready for me to read but am looking forward to favorite authors publishing new ones. I especially like Daniel Silva, Brad Thor, Daniel Palmer, P. K. Adams, S. D. Sykes, James Rollins, Mary Higgins Clark and Cleo Coyle. On to 2021!

2021 Memoir Reading Challenge

I tried this challenge about 2 years ago but didn't read any memoirs. I already have a few related books on my Kindle so I plan on joining the challenge again. I especially like memoirs from famous chefs like Julia Child and Jacques Pepin as well as memoirs from Christian missionaries. Jamie Ghirone from the Whatever I Think blog is the challenge host. There are no requirements for this challenge. It runs during the 2021 calendar year.

Here are the categories of memoirs that you can choose from:

_ Mental Illness Memoir
_ Other Illness Memoir
_ Political Memoir
_ Food Memoir
_ Animal Memoir
_ Music Memoir
_ Travel Memoir
_ Written by a person of color
_ Written by a woman
_ Written by a person who identifies as LGBTQIA
_ Written by an actor or a comedian
_ Written by an author or journalist
_ Written by any other celebrity
_ Written by someone under 40
_ Written by someone over 40
_ Written by someone from a country different from your own
_ One you find thought-provoking
_ Made into a movie
_ Graphic Novel memoir
_ Bestselling memoir
_ Humorous memoir
_ Fictional memoir
_ Won an Award
_ Published in 2021
_ Published in 2020 or earlier
_ Under 300 pages
_ Over 300 pages
_ One you want to re-read
_ On a favorite subject
_ By a favorite celebrity
_ Free choice
_ Free choice
_ Free choice

Creativity Reading Challenge 2021

I am an artist and love this challenge. I am planning on participating in it again next year. Jamie Ghirone from the Whatever I Think blog is the challenge host. There are no requirements for this challenge. If you love art, crafts, photography, writing, film making, cosmetology, DIY, or cooking then you may like this reading challenge too.

Non-Fiction Reader Challenge Sign-Up

The Non-Fiction Reader Challenge is another reading challenge that is new to me. It will run throughout the 2021 calendar year. I am joining at the Nonfiction Nipper Level which requires me to read 3 books from any of the below categories:

1. biography

2. travel

3. self-help

4. essay

5. disease

6. oceanography

7. hobbies

8. indigenous cultures

9. food

10. wartime

11. book published in 2021

12. inventions

I think this will be a fun challenge. I don't normally read nonfiction but have thought about it a lot during the past month. The challenge host is the Book'd Book'd Out blog.

2021 Cruisin' Through the Cozies Sign-Up

I did not participate in the Cruisin' Through the Cozies Challenge in 2020. I have done the challenge in the past though and plan on rejoining it again at the 1st level- snoop-which requires me to read 10 books during the 2021 calendar year. The challenge is hosted by the Socrates Book Reviews blog.

There are two choices that participants can choose from. You can either:

1). Read any cozies of your choice; or

2). Read 1 book from each of the following cozy sub-genres:

culinary

animal related

craft related

paranormal

career based

holiday themed

travel

historical

one of your choice ( a freebie)

I have selected the second option. I am already a follower of authors who write culinary, animal themed, craft related, career based, and historical cozies so I think I can get through this challenge.

2021 Historical Fiction Reading Challenge Sign-Up

I will be rejoining this challenge again next year. It is my favorite reading challenge. Since I read so much historical fiction this year, I am going to rejoin it at the Prehistoric Level which requires that I read 50+ books per year. It is an ambitious challenge but I think I can do it. The challenge is being hosted by Marg at The Intrepid Reader blog.

2021 Monthly Key Word Reading Challenge Sign-Up

I have not participated in this challenge before but it sounds interesting to me. You must read a book with one or more key words for that month in the title of a book. The challenge is hosted by the Girlxoxo blog and runs the calendar year. A participant must read books each month in the following categories:

January: end, princess, dance, midnight, court, why, winter, story

February: over, edge, rain, blade, red, come, none, glass

March: dear, ink, mercy, fly, lost, never, match, true

April: last, watch, save, garden, girl, sun, tell, tomorrow

May: away, wait, book, raven, lake, angel, island, nine

June: beneath, crown, sing, rule, earth, find, happen, cruel

July: ever, shine, gone, search, wood, under, road, like

August: one, secret, will, tree, blue, you, flame, thousand

September: country, house, top, man, wild, sweet, once, wake

October: fear, night, silent, wicked, hidden, bones, lied, ghost

November: again, loud, star, stray, air, when, since, race

December: cold, room, life, bell, kiss, dream, until, drink

I am looking forward to this challenge!