Happy Friday all! I have some exciting news to share – I am
officially the new co-host of Kay & Kari’s book club! The new name for the
book club is Literary Ladies because
we are ladies and we like literature… and because alliteration.
Kay and Kari are two of my
favourite bloggers and if you aren’t following them already, you need to be. I’m
super excited to be a part of their book club and I really hope you will join
us a time or two! You don’t need to be a lady, or a blogger – you just have to
want to read a book and talk about it!
On the first Tuesday of the month, we will review the book we've selected, host a link-up for
your reviews and announce the book for the following month. There will
also be discussion boards up on Goodreads. We will also be doing twitter chats
using the hashtag #literaryladies on the last Thursday of the month if you’d like to join. Don’t worry, we will
remind you of the exact dates each month!
Oh and another announcement!
The three K’s (no?) decided to launch a summer reading challenge! We know they are
not everyone’s cup of tea but we enjoy them and thought that we could create
one that was more fun and less stressful / difficult.
- The Literary Ladies book challenge will run from June 21, 2015 until September 21, 2015. Only books read during that time will count.
- There are 10 categories to be completed. Once you complete all 10 reading all of the books necessary to satisfy each category, you have won.
- You are allowed 2 rereads for this challenge in order to be considered for the prizes.
- Switching around books from your preliminary list is fine, but you can only use a book once to satisfy one category.
- All books must be 200 pages in length. If you are listening to your books, be sure that it complies accordingly.
- The first 3 categories are mandatory. But if you do not like one or two of the other 7 categories, you can skip it and replace it with one of our book club picks! You can do this twice.
We will be announcing July’s book (our first book!) on the 17th of
June. From then on, we will be announcing the next book in the recap post for
the previous book.
The first 3 winners will receive a prize.
Winners must prove they have successfully completed the challenge by sharing a
brief commentary of each book on either a blog post or the google forms document we will provide. We might even quiz you to
make sure you are telling the truth. Wink.
The prizes are as follows:
1st winner: $50 amazon gift card + small
surprise
2nd winner: $25 amazon gift card + small
surprise
3rd winner: $15 amazon gift card + small
surprise
Wildcard winner: we understand not everyone
can – or wants to – read 10 books in a month, so as long as you finish within
the 3 months (and you are not one of the other 3 winners) you will have the
chance to win an extra prize. It’s a surprise!
International participants are welcome, and we
can alter the gift cards to suit what’s best for you if Amazon doesn’t work.
Alright,
here are the categories:
1. A YA
book - Mandatory
If YA isn’t your jam, don’t
be alarmed – this is such a huge genre you are sure to find something that will
interest you! Suggestions: We Were Liars, the Anna & the French Kiss series, The Lunar Chronicles, anything by Gayle Forman, the Selection series, heck technically The Book Thief is YA.
2. Non US
Author - Mandatory
Suggestions: Khaled Hosseini, Anne Frank, Michael Ondaatje (author of The English Patient), Bessie Head, Liane Moriarty, JoJo Moyes,Carlos Ruiz Zafón, Buchi Emecheta, Keri Hulme, Edwidge Danticat, Ha Jin or Kamala Markandaya.
3. A book
that was recommended by a blogger (or instagrammer / you-tuber / goodreads-er) - Mandatory
Great blogs for
recommendations: Steph's, Jana's, (heck, just check out their link up! So many great bloggers and their recommendations) Jamie's, Lisa's, Kristin's, Erin's.. then of course, there is me (check out what I've read), Kay & Kari. No rereads for this category.
4. A book
that has been on your TBR list for a year or more
5. A book
with a kickass female character
What makes a kickass
female? You decide! It could be Lizzie Bennet, Cinder, Jane Eyre, Anne Boleyn… Harry Potter (Hermione), The Help, The Hunger Games, The Millennium Series, the possibilities are endless. Because women are badass.
6. A book
that is or will be a movie (or TV show)
Suggestions: The Hunger Games, Harry Potter, Twilight, Outlander, Divergent, The Help, The Lovely Bones, Pride and Prejudice, City of Bones, The Martian, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, The Fault in our Stars, Water for Elephants, The Time Traveler's Wife, The Book Thief, The Princess Bride or Something Borrowed.
7. A book
written by a comedian or celebrity – or even a memoir if neither of those are
your jam.
Suggestions: Yes Please, Bossypants, Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?, Seriously I'm Kidding, Happy Accidents, Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang, It's A Long Story, The Book of Joan, Going Off Script, Stories I Only Tell My Friends, or My Story.
8. A book
with a one word title.
Suggestions: Persuasion, Room, Neverwhere,Watchmen, Wonder, Landline, Overseas, Rebecca, Mercy or Rush.
9. A suspenseful
book – a mystery, a thriller, a book about revenge!
Suggestions: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Dark Places, In the Woods, The Girl on the Train, You or Horns.
10. A
book about Summer, with Summer in the title, or in any way related to Summer
because this is a Summer challenge!
Suggestions: The Summer I Turned Pretty, A Hundred Summers, A Midsummer Night's Dream, That Summer, Summer Sisters, Twenty Boy Summer, The Last Summer, Summer People, One Summer, Summerland, My Life Next Door, Since You've Been Gone, The Last Song or We Were Liars.
We will be posting our preliminary lists on the 21st of June, and if you would like to participate you will be able to link up your own post as well. If you are not a blogger, or do not wish to do a post then we will have a google forms document to complete.
On the 21st of July & August we will be doing a 'check in' post where you can link up. You can also instagram with the hashtag #literaryladies if you do not wish to do that. Our final post will be the 21st of September and will be a link up or google forms document if you are not a blogger.
Apparently I am incapable of using non-Disney reading related gifs.. so, sorry about that. We really hope you will join us for the book club or the summer challenge! Have a good weekend everyone - oh, and a good two weeks, see you on the other side! Don't forget I'll be overgramming my holiday!
On the 21st of July & August we will be doing a 'check in' post where you can link up. You can also instagram with the hashtag #literaryladies if you do not wish to do that. Our final post will be the 21st of September and will be a link up or google forms document if you are not a blogger.
Apparently I am incapable of using non-Disney reading related gifs.. so, sorry about that. We really hope you will join us for the book club or the summer challenge! Have a good weekend everyone - oh, and a good two weeks, see you on the other side! Don't forget I'll be overgramming my holiday!
I totally do not need another book challenge in my life. But OF COURSE, I'm going to participate!!!
ReplyDeleteI was about to comment almost the exact same thing!
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DeleteAhhhhh! I'm so excited, and I just can't hide it :)
ReplyDeleteCongrats on co-hosting!! I would normally love to be part of this kind of challenge but now that I'm moving, I have a feeling my summer is going to be consumed with home projects...so maybe I'll try to be that wildcard winner! :)
ReplyDeleteYayyy! I was so tempted to do the SCSBC, and I held back because I have free books to get through first. But now that you're hosting a challenge, I'm definitely doing it! I already know I'm doing The Selection Series for the YA category, and Yes Please for the comedian. The rest I'll have to think about.
ReplyDeleteI love this! This is just the motivation I need to get back into regular reading. I love it but struggle to make time for it a lot of the time. I'm definitely going to join in on the fun!! X Carly
ReplyDeleteomg, i've read all of your suggested books in all categories this year...does this mean i've already won?? EASIEST CHALLENGE EVER!! :D
ReplyDeleteYay!!! So excited for this!!! :D
ReplyDeleteSounds so lovely!! Wish work this summer wasn't going to be quite so swamping (weird word?) but I'll read along for as long as I can xx
ReplyDeleteHow fun!! You are of course the perfect choice to lead the Book Club! :)
ReplyDeleteThis might be the kick in the ass I need to get to reading more!! Love the challenge!!
ReplyDeleteCount me in! I used to be a book blogger, so reading is my JAM :D
ReplyDeleteI love this idea. I so hope that I can do this, I so need to read more.
ReplyDeleteI typically avoid challenges but these prompts aren't too bad. I might have some books that fit them now.
ReplyDeleteThanks for pimping me & Jana and our linkup!
I'm obsessed with challenges, but have yet to finish one. I'm obviously going to join in! I'm excited to see what is selected for the book club!
ReplyDeleteWooohoo! I love new linkups and book clubs! I'm in!
ReplyDeleteYayyy! This is such a fun idea and I'm excited to see what the book pick will be for July! Every time I've tried to do a book club I always fail or the book club doesn't last or something goes wrong, haha. Also, I probably missed this somewhere in the rules up there, but can you use books for this challenge you're using for another challenge if you haven't started/read them yet?
ReplyDeleteI looove this idea! Reading more was one of my 2015 goals so count me in for the reading challenge! Can't wait!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the shout out! Making my list now...I've never stuck with a book challenge. Too much pressure :)
ReplyDeleteI am so excited about this! Thank you ladies for hosting! I am all over this!
ReplyDeleteI have never been part of a book club or a book challenge so I am super excited!!!! And some awesome ladies hosting? Even better!!!
ReplyDeleteI want to win. No sleep book reading marathon for June 21st! Father's Day? SORRY DAD.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I don't keep TBR lists, I pretty much only got back into real books a month or 2 ago. What can I pick for #4?
DeleteIts like y'alls the new Oprah with the book clubs :) Love it! More reason to read!
ReplyDeleteHooray this is awesome! I love it, more incentive to read and read and read. :) XO-Alexandra
ReplyDeleteSimply Alexandra: My Favorite Things
YESS! So many books and fun to be had!!! :)
ReplyDeleteI can totally get down with those categories!!!
ReplyDeleteI am so excited that you're a co-host! Can't wait to pick out my books for the challenge! :)
ReplyDeleteAre non-fiction books allowed? Just thinking for a couple of the categories...but if not, I am still having a tough time selecting books for it! (Good thing I have some time ;))! Can't wait!!
ReplyDeleteomg, this post is perfection with the Disney gifs. <3
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness. Okay so wait is it 10 books per month or over the whole summer? Are those 10 categories just for June? #confused because maybe I don't pay attention. Also, I need something else to put on my list like I need a hole in the head, but I'll try this out for sure! And PLEASE remind us of the dates, because I never seem to remember when Kay's book club is posting or catch what the book is until I read the latest review!
ReplyDeleteAlso, would Eleanor & Park work for #5?
DeleteYou had me at the Disney gifs! Now I want to go home and watch 101 Dalmations and Beauty and the Beast <3
ReplyDeleteI need to try this. Which means I will be looking through my current nightstand books as well as what's on hold and adjust accordingly.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to the challenge!
I'm so excited to participate in this as it's my first book challenge and because this sounds like so much fun! :)
ReplyDeleteGood luck to everyone who participates!
Amy @ http://befilledwithj0y.blogspot.com/
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DeleteI'm sorry about all of the comments/deleted ones and questions. I have one quick questions:
Delete1. The book I want to read for #6 was a Lifetime movie, does that count for this catergory?
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ReplyDeleteCongrats, miss co-host! Love this!! Have a great weekend :)
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ReplyDeletewhat! AHHH I need more time in my life for books. I used to read every single night for like an hour until I moved out and went to college. I probably won't make the challenge but I pinky promise to start reading again! I'm so sad I got out of the habit :'(
ReplyDeletexo, Candace | Lovely Little Rants
Duh. I'm totally participating in this challenge. Yep, that's 5 challenges simultaneously because I love books. So...does Pride & Prejudice have a kickass female? Because I've promised you I will read that, and since you're co-hosting a challenge and all, I probably should do it.
ReplyDeleteI really shouldn't participate in more challenges this year, but I cannot resist. These categories are great - I like that they are more like guidelines and everyone should be able to find books the'll enjoy.
ReplyDeleteSoooo it's not a coincidence that you're posting this just as I'm about to start my vacation, is it?? :)
ReplyDeleteI'm currently doing a few other challenges, but these categories fit in PERFECTLY with books I had already planned on (and a few are going to be the extra push to get me to finally read a few I've been putting off!)
SO excited!! Count me in! I'm not sure I will be able ti read 10 in a month, but I can sure try! I love these categories!
ReplyDeleteOoh, how fun and exciting!!! The book challenge is not happening for me, but I would love to try keeping up with the book of the month. And I would say go ahead and go with the three Ks (or perhaps 3K). My only input would be to avoid using KKK as your nickname. :)
ReplyDeleteCongratulations, Kristen! Don't know if I'll be able to swing a reading challenge this summer, but it looks like fun!
ReplyDeleteWow this sounds like a great challenge! I don't know if I can fit 10 books in, but I will sure try! At least I've got a week to start putting my reading list together!
ReplyDeleteI may have to get in on this...
ReplyDeleteI've been reading your blog for a while, but, since I can be a lazy commenter, this is my first time commenting.
ReplyDeleteI've never done a reading challenge before (well, unless you count my super generic "I want to read 50 books in a year" personal challenge), so I'm really excited to participate! I may also join in on the book club from time to time (something I've also never done).
Now I need to put my reading list together ...
Ahh this sounds like fun! I'll be sure to link up my next book post with my picks for all the categories! :)
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