tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16430326163960090962011-10-18T11:25:07.534-07:0010 Books. 10 Genres. By 10/10/10. Come join us.10-10-10 Reading Challengehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07853504835324074132noreply@blogger.comBlogger121100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643032616396009096.post-23885416502682471662010-10-11T09:23:00.000-07:002010-10-11T09:27:22.071-07:00Well, I'm done. Finished book #100 (Bad Marie by Marcy Dermansky) Friday night.<br /><br />Glad that's over. (The challenge, not the book!)<br /><br />This was an interesting challenge (read 100 books across 10 categories by 10/10/10) and one I'm not certain I want to repeat. While I expanded *what* I was reading--Mystery, Short Stories, Biography/Autobiography--I don't like how I was reading. First, the good.<br /><br />I learned that short stories really are okay. I like a certain type: one that isn't deliberately obtuse but wraps-up somewhat neatly. The character don't have to live Happily Ever After (I'm not a fan of that type of book anyway) but what I mean about that is so many short stories leave me thinking, "What in the world just happened?" I like them a bit more linear than that. It's hard to express to others what the specific quality is (qualities are) but let's just say I like some short story writers more than others. I know 'em when I read 'em.<br /><br />I've always known that I like bio and autobio but I don't read enough of them. I did cheat with a few "memoirs" but really tried to focus my reading on the more solid, researched works.<br /><br />As far as mystery/crime go--a genre mostly new to me--I learned that I like crime/thriller better than I do "mysteries." I found most of the genre mysteries to be predictable and somewhat flat. I'll try more, definitely, but found I liked the thriller/crime novel reads more.<br /><br />Indie Presses: I probably read more indie press books than the average reader but this year I decided to put my money where my mouth is and focus on reading more of them. I read some wonderful books that don't always get the press coverage and buzz others do and I will continue to expand my reading in this area.<br /><br />On to the bad. Ugh, I don't like how this made me read. I read too quickly a lot of the time and rarely stopped to savor a book. I got anxious trying to finish books. It's also a strange experience to track your reading on an Excel spreadsheet. Walking into a bookstore or library made me twitch. I'd put down books I want to read because I had to fit books into categories. I counted and recounted the books on my spreadsheet and panicked when numbers didn't add up. I did it again this morning.<br /><br />Yesterday I was in Tattered Cover to pick up a copy of Lonesome Dove (#101) and was browsing the shelves. What a relief when I realized I could pick up ANYTHING. It didn't have to fit into a column on a spreadsheet. And savoring Bad Marie was a delight. I picked Marcy's book on purpose and it was well-worth the wait. (It is a fantastic book--read it.) I'm looking forward to reading like a normal person again, minus the twitching.<br /><br />So, what were my favorites? (And then we'll look at some numbers.)<br /><br />These aren't necessarily the books that will make my end-of-the-year list though many probably will. This are my favorites in each of my ten categories. Some books fit into more than one category (most did, as a matter-of-fact) but this list is based on where I slotted them for the challenge.<br /><br />9, 10, 11 (books published in 2009, 2010, 2011): Just Like Us by Helen Thorpe<br /><br />Authors New to Me: Twins by Marcy Dermansky (which is why I picked Bad Marie for my last book)<br /><br />YA: Wanting Mor by Rukhsana Khan<br /><br />Not Yet Read Classics: Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin<br /><br />Biography/Autobiography: Tie between Soupy Sez (which is a book my company publishes, for full disclosure) and Adam Schrager's excellent The Principled Politician: The Story of Ralph Carr<br /><br />Indie Presses: Tie between Elise Blackwell's An Unfinished Score (Unbridled Books) and Sourcebooks' A Seat at the Table by Joshua Halberstam<br /><br />Mystery/Crime: Collusion by Stuart Neville<br /><br />One Word Titles: Tie between Middlesex by Jeffery Eugenides and Taqwacores by Michael Mohammed Knight<br /><br />Guilty Pleasures: Tie between Room by Emma Donaghue and Bad Marie by Marcy Dermansky<br /><br />Short Stories: Six Kinds of Sky by Luis Alberto Urrea<br /><br /><em>Now, some numbers. </em><br />There's been some chatter lately about women writers getting short-shrift in the book review media and also that we (collectively) take male writers more seriously somehow. 48 of the books I read were written by women.<br /><br />51 of the books I read were published in 2009, 2010, or 2011 (though I don't think I have read any 2011 galleys for this challenge.)<br /><br />70 were written by authors I've never read before.<br /><br />30 were published by independent presses. (Including but not limited to Unbridled Books, Sourcebooks, Greywolf, Algonquin, Soft Skull, Europa, New York Review of Books Press, Candlewick, MacAdam Cage, and Soho. There is some GREAT indie publishing happening out there--read 'em!)<br /><br />So, that's it in a nutshell. Glad I did it. Glad it's over. Won't do it again. Thanks to all who cheered me on along the way! (And let me know your thoughts about anything I've said--please! Maybe you can help me articulate my short story thing better?)<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1643032616396009096-2388541650268247166?l=101010reading.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>10-10-10 Reading Challengehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07853504835324074132noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643032616396009096.post-73199502020823632202010-08-04T13:45:00.000-07:002010-08-04T14:00:33.200-07:00<span style="font-style:italic;"></span>Written by Melissa <br /><br />Kalen reports in on her progress...as of August 2, she is on book #71, IF I LOVED YOU, I WOULD TELL YOU THIS by Robin Black. She's finished with two categories: Young Adult and One Word Titles. Coming up for the rest of the pack, with the number read:<br /><br />Pub'd in 09, 10, or 11: 7 read<br />Authors New to Me: 8 read<br />NY Times Book Review Classics: 6 read<br />Bio/Autobio: 9 read<br />Indie Presses: 6 read<br />Mystery/Crime: 8 read<br />Guilty Pleasures: 1 read<br />Short Stories: 7 read<br /><br />One thing Kalen and I both agree on--this challenge has left us feeling like we have reading assignments--all of our books have to "fit" in a category, which right now is preventing us from reading certain things we'd rather. I have a lot of books on my TBR pile that I'm itching to read, but since they don't fit into one of my 10-10-10 categories, I have to leave it alone. <br /><br />Interested in whether the other 10-10-10ers feel the same, or if it's energizing you to have the categories?<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1643032616396009096-7319950202082363220?l=101010reading.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>10-10-10 Reading Challengehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07853504835324074132noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643032616396009096.post-87202631129866266552010-08-04T13:41:00.000-07:002010-08-04T13:45:45.943-07:00Last night, I finished my 82nd book of the year...LET'S TAKE THE LONG WAY HOME, a gorgeous book by Gail Caldwell. This was a perfect way to fully complete my non-fiction category for 10-10-10! Of my 10 original categories, I've completed two: non-fiction and audiobooks. This is one of the surprises of the challenge--typically I really dislike non-fiction, so it's funny to me that I managed to finish it as a category much earlier than some of my favorites (like mystery or "authors new to me".) <br /><br />Here is what I have left: <br />Authors new to me: 1<br />My choice: 1<br />On TBR shelf too long: 3<br />Young Adult: 4<br />Mystery: 1<br />Novella: 2<br />Graphic Novel: 2<br />Business books: 4<br /><br />Tell me about your progress! Comment here or email me at 101010reading@gmail.com.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1643032616396009096-8720263112986626655?l=101010reading.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>10-10-10 Reading Challengehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07853504835324074132noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643032616396009096.post-10599505936651745522010-08-02T06:05:00.000-07:002010-08-02T06:07:22.835-07:00I am happy to report that I've finished book #78 in the challenge as of yesterday...HOMER AND LANGLEY by E.L. Doctorow. Let us know how you're progressing! Is it getting tedious? Or still challenging and fun?<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1643032616396009096-1059950593665174552?l=101010reading.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>10-10-10 Reading Challengehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07853504835324074132noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643032616396009096.post-2213581924489523602010-05-08T08:38:00.000-07:002010-05-08T09:00:18.989-07:00Time to check in on our progress in the 10-10-10 Reading Challenge!! There are 155 reading days left until October 10--so there is still PLENTY of time to achieve your reading goals, no matter what they may be. We have several new readers who have joined our challenge. Many people are choosing to read one book in 10 categories--so 155 days is a great amount of time in which to finish that goal! <br /><br />Melissa finished book 47 last night (THE UNWRITTEN, a graphic novel recommended by @mkindness). Here is my current list of completed books by category:<br /><br />YOUNG ADULT<br />The Hunger Games<br />When You Reach Me<br />The Westing Game<br /><br />NOVELLAS <br />Food Rules<br />Fly-Over State<br />The Comfort of Strangers<br />The Clothes They Stood Up In<br />A Touch of Dead<br /><br />GRAPHIC NOVELS <br />The Complete Persepolis<br />Superman Red Son<br />Tales From Outer Suburbia<br />The Last Man: Unmanned<br />The Unwritten<br /><br />MYSTERY/THRILLER <br />The Scarpetta Factor<br />The Man From Beijing<br />Heresy<br />Shoot to Thrill<br />Under the Dome<br /><br />MY CHOICE/GUILTY PLEASURE<br />The Singer's Gun<br />The School of Essential Ingredients<br />Living Dead in Dallas<br />Club Dead<br /><br />ON TBR SHELF TOO LONG<br />This is Where I Leave You<br />Sacred Hearts<br />Bloodroot<br />The Swimming Pool <br /><br />AUTHORS NEW TO ME<br />Union Atlantic<br />Blame<br />The Passage <br />Shadow Tag<br />The Unit<br />Secrets of Eden<br />Bloodsucking Fiends <br /><br />AUDIOBOOKS <br />Dexter By Design<br />Dark Places<br />Evidence<br />True Detectives<br />Waiting For Columbus<br />Bones<br />The Black Ice<br />Deception <br /><br />NON-FICTION <br />Bonk<br />The Lost City of Z<br />The Lady in the Tower<br />Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang<br />Reality Hunger<br /><br />BUSINESS BOOKS <br />The Happiness Project<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1643032616396009096-221358192448952360?l=101010reading.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>10-10-10 Reading Challengehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07853504835324074132noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643032616396009096.post-22262814103252031022010-04-18T19:10:00.000-07:002010-04-18T19:17:06.646-07:00Recently, I (Melissa) had the pleasure of being a guest on the podcast for one of my favorite book websites, Books on the Nightstand (www.booksonthenightstand.com). Here is the link in case you are interested in listening--I talk a little about paper in books, plus the indie choice awards, and I talk about the lovely book TINKERS which went on to win the Pulitzer a few days later!! <br /><a href="http://booksonthenightstand.com/2010/04/botns-books-podcast-73-paper-on-the-nightstand.html"></a><br />In the podcast, I talk about the 10-10-10 Reading Challenge. I am pleased that I've received several emails from people joining the challenge--I will post the new names this week.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1643032616396009096-2226281410325203102?l=101010reading.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>10-10-10 Reading Challengehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07853504835324074132noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643032616396009096.post-87067899760230897572010-02-10T12:41:00.000-08:002010-02-10T12:43:59.398-08:00We were very pleased to have Lauren Barack (a challenge participant) write an article about the 10-10-10 Reading Challenge in a recent edition of the School Library Journal. Here is a link to the article. <br />http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6716759.html?q=10-10-10<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1643032616396009096-8706789976023089757?l=101010reading.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>10-10-10 Reading Challengehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07853504835324074132noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643032616396009096.post-3252554203288716402010-02-10T11:17:00.000-08:002010-02-10T12:41:13.009-08:00JULIE DARLING (Young Adult Librarian)<br />1). Edgar Award Winners-YA<br />2). Science Fiction-YA<br />3). Coretta Scott King Award Winners/Honors<br />4). Gentle Books for Young Teens<br />5). Ultimate Reading List on TeenReads.com<br />6). Non-Fiction not related to parenting<br />7). Picture Books<br />8). Historical Fiction<br />9). Graphic Novels<br />10). Philosophy/Spiritual<br /><br />CAROLYN ROYS (High School media specialist)<br />Travel<br />Books kids give me - "you have to read this Mrs. R"<br />Teen romance<br />Sci-fi/fantasy<br />Mysteries<br />Horror/thriller<br />Graphic novels<br />Non-fic - topics I haven't tried yet<br />Award winners<br />Best-sellers<br /><br />DANAE LEU (@librariest)<br />1) Non-Fiction/memoir/autobiography/biography<br />2) Newbery/Honors heretofore never read<br />3) First in series of early chapter books<br />4) Graphic Novels<br />5) Debut authors<br />6) 2010 titles<br />7) Non-US Authors<br />8) Found in Adult section (adult as in grown-up not racy)<br />9) Published before my birth - 1963<br />10) 10 Oldest Books on Goodreads TBR shelf<br /> <br />DANIELLE JONES<br />Not YA or Kid-lit<br />Graphic Novels<br />Books with scary monsters, fantastical creatures, maybe even a vampire<br />Poetry<br />Short stories or essays<br />Non-fiction/biographies<br />Author’s debut novels<br />Multicultural middle-reader or young adult<br />Printz award or honor winners<br />Published 2010<br /><br />STACEY GORDON (@nightwritercomm)<br />Classics<br />History<br />Biography/Autobiography <br />Spiritual Growth<br />Web Content and Design<br />Favorite YA Books of My Youth<br />British Mysteries <br />Essays<br />Japanese Writers<br />Prize Winners<br /><br />LAUREN BARACK (@Llauren)<br />1. Graphic novels<br />2, Classics I have never been able to Finish<br />3. New-ish Young Adult Fiction (published after 2006)<br />4. Politics<br />5. Newbery Medal Winners<br />6. Poetry<br />7. Banned/challenged books<br />8. Fiction based in Los Angeles<br />9. Anything Goes<br />10. Non-fiction science or math (not textbooks)<br /><br />JENNY (@JennywithaY) <br />1. Authors who have been on or who write for "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart"<br />2. Authors who have been on or who write for "The Colbert Report"<br />3. Books recommended by friends<br />4. Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences<br />5. Humor<br />6. Newberry Awards<br />7. Science, Health, or Wellness<br />8. Biographies and Memoirs<br />9. Genres Not Usually Read<br />10. Authors on Twitter<br /><br />AMANDA FORD <br />Classics<br />Fantasy/Sci-Fi<br />Dysfunctional Life/Family<br />Humor<br />Award Winners<br />Recommended by Friends<br />Non-Fiction<br />New-To-Me Authors<br />Historical Fiction or Non-Fiction<br />Miscellaneous<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1643032616396009096-325255420328871640?l=101010reading.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>10-10-10 Reading Challengehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07853504835324074132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643032616396009096.post-90016578592602446192010-01-17T07:10:00.000-08:002010-01-25T11:33:08.290-08:00So pleased to say hello to some new challenge friends. (I was going to put "challengers" but I thought, what is this, The Hunger Games? We're not challenging to COMPETE or WIN, we're just challenging ourselves, duh! So--if you have a good name we can call each other, throw it my way.)<br /><br />MARGIE WHITE (@justbooks)<br /><br />-Poetry<br />-Graphic Novels<br />-Middle Grade/Young Adult<br />-History/Bio Nonfiction<br />-Historical Fiction<br />-Short Story/Essay Collections<br />-Guy-friendly reads<br />-Chicago Authors or Settings<br />-Fiction with food in the title or on the cover (seriously, one of our local book clubs does this with just fruit -- it's easier than you'd think, e.g., Where the God of Love Hangs Out by Amy Bloom; Last Night in Montreal by Emily St. John Mandel, Travelling with Pomegranites by Sue Monk Kidd.)<br />-Customer Recommendations<br /> <br />MLA (@thepapertyger)<br /><br />Mystery/Thriller/Detective<br />Beach Read/Guilty Pleasure<br />Classics I Skimmed in School<br />First Books by Well-Known Authors<br />Books That Inspired Films<br />Post WWII Fiction<br />Memoir/Biography/Authobiography<br />Sci-Fi/Fantasy<br />Books in French<br />Graphic Novels<br /><br />ALYSON BEECHER<br /><br />Mysteries/Crime/Thriller<br />Historical Fiction<br />A book turned into a movie/prior to the movie release<br />Dystopian<br />Zombies/werewolves/vampires - from an author I haven't read<br />A Classic children's book I have never read<br />A book about food/food central to the theme<br />YA Realistic Fiction<br />A Debut Author<br />A book where the main character has a disability/central to story<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1643032616396009096-9001657859260244619?l=101010reading.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>10-10-10 Reading Challengehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07853504835324074132noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643032616396009096.post-37411264119514747162010-01-08T12:01:00.000-08:002010-01-08T12:05:46.698-08:00A hearty welcome to our newest 101010 participants....<br /><br />ED MCKELL (@edword)<br />Science Fiction<br />Fantasy<br />History (non-fiction)<br />Historical Fiction<br />Authors I have never read<br />Theology<br />Books I have read previously<br />Mystery/Thriller<br />Books I would not normally read<br />Award winning<br /><br />KARA SCHAFF DEAN (@tardisgrl)<br />YT Bestsellers<br />American Classics<br />Sci-Fi<br />Biography/Memoirs<br />Printz Winners<br />non-fiction<br />Books in translation<br />Poetry<br />Childrens books I'm ashamed to admit I've never read<br />Essays<br /><br />HAIDEE WILLIAMS<br />historical fiction<br />classic literature<br />memoir<br />mystery/crime/thriller<br />self-help<br />humor<br />political drama<br />author new to me<br />something off Oprah's list<br />romance<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1643032616396009096-3741126411951474716?l=101010reading.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>10-10-10 Reading Challengehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07853504835324074132noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643032616396009096.post-87468699367652803092010-01-01T21:48:00.000-08:002010-01-04T06:56:07.579-08:00Here are a few people who are joining the 10-10-10 Reading Challenge, and their categories....WELCOME!<br /><br />LAUREN STROHECKER (@lkstrohecker)<br /><br />Non-fiction<br />Poetry/Novels in Verse<br />Science Fiction/Fantasy<br />Mystery/Crime/Thriller<br />Too Long TBR<br />Graphic Novels<br />Philadelphia Fiction<br />As-Yet-Unread Classics<br />Twitter Authors<br />Twitter Recommendations<br /><br />KEIRA SOLEORE (@KeiraSoleore)<br />Food as Central Theme<br />Biographies, Memoirs<br />Mystery, Crime, Thriller<br />Elevating Snobby Fiction<br />Epistolatory<br />Travel<br />Mythological Fairytales<br />In French<br />Writing Craft<br />Spiritual and Organizational<br /><br />SARAH RETTGER (@sarahrettger)<br />Shakespeare-related<br />Poetry<br />Biography<br />Contemporary young adult<br />Children's non-fiction<br />Science fiction<br />History<br />Mystery<br />Written before 1900<br />Pulitzer winners<br /><br />LAURA BROWN (@3under5mom)<br />Short Story Collections<br />History Books (Non-Fiction)<br />Guilty Pleasure<br />Spiritual Growth<br />Classics<br />Sports<br />Biographies / Memoirs<br />Historical Fiction<br />Work-Related<br />Young Adult<br /><br />ANDREA KOETZ (@akoetz)<br />Mystery<br />Authors that are new to me<br />Young Adult (Chapter) books I can read to my daughter<br />Guilty Pleasures<br />Books Recommended on Social Media (Twitter/Facebook)<br />Books published in 2010<br />Non-Fiction<br />Award Winners<br />NY Times Bestsellers List<br />Short Stories<br /><br />DEANA GLASS<br />children’s literature <br />historical fiction<br />professional books<br />realistic fiction<br />series books<br />memoirs <br />mystery<br />new york bestsellers<br />recommended books (either by a friend or website)<br />books that are the first written by a particular author<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1643032616396009096-8746869936765280309?l=101010reading.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>10-10-10 Reading Challengehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07853504835324074132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1643032616396009096.post-87841422140381432672010-01-01T07:47:00.000-08:002010-01-01T08:51:37.639-08:00Greetings, intrepid bookish friends! I am Melissa, and I'm happy you've decided to come check out the 10-10-10 Reading Challenge. This was introduced to me via Twitter, which has developed a fantastic community of book people--authors, readers, publishers, editors and agents. Kalen Landow, (@kalenski on Twitter) introduced us to this link from Library Thing (http://www.librarything.com/groups/1010challenge). <strong>She upped the ante a little by suggesting 10 books in 10 genres/categories by October 10.</strong> Although this is a very audacious goal, I know I feel excited about ratcheting up my reading by an order of magnitude. I, like many, tend to gravitate toward one or two categories of books (for me, mysteries and literary fiction)--so to branch out will be a great goal on its own; to read 100 books by Oct 10 will be a very challenging benchmark. <br /><br />Here are the basic "rules"--which are free to be modified in any manner that works for you. To me, this challenge is about branching out in reading, not a checklist of do and don't. <br />1. Choose 10 different categories or genres.<br />2. Start reading books from these categories, with a goal to read 10 books of each by 10/10/10.<br />2. 10 books may count as multiple categories: i.e., if I choose "mystery" and "authors I've never read" and read a book by Joseph Wambaugh, that may count as two categories.<br />3. Catalog your progress by emailing me at 101010reading@gmail.com. I will add your categories/genres and books read as I receive them. <br /><em></em>If 10 books is too audacious of a goal, make a goal that is reasonable for you--perhaps one book in each of 10 genres, or 5. The point again is to branch out.<br /><br />I look forward to "meeting" everyone and challenging each other to read widely and well in 2010!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1643032616396009096-8784142214038143267?l=101010reading.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>10-10-10 Reading Challengehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07853504835324074132noreply@blogger.com5