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Challenges, challenges, challenges! Many of us like to create and participate in challenges. For most of us it is a motivating tool and can help us stay on track with our reading. Group challenges aside many people also set up personal goals/challenges. This folder is for our member's to have a place where they can create and save personal challenges or personal reading goals.

This folder is open to any member wishing to have a place for their reading goals. **Moderators ask that you limit yourself to one thread for listing all your goals/challenges. If you are already a goal driven person then you have plenty of ideas for goals/challenges. If you like the idea of creating a personal goal/challenge but need help here are some ideas.

Ideas for Challenges & Goals
Geographic- read books from different countries/states. Around the World in 80 countries, etc.

Top 10 Birth Year List- read the 10 best selling books from the year you were born. You can use other family member's birth years when you complete yours.

Birth to Present- read a book from every year of your life.

1001 Books List- read books from the various 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die Lists.

Twentieth Century Challenge- read a book for every year of the 20th century. (I know a Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ member who is doing this challenge in chronological order)

Alphabet/Name Challenge- read a book starting with the first letter of family members names, kids, grandkids, etc.

Bob, I'm a little confused, are we suppose to put bingo challenges and 2016 Women Writer Challenges and such here? I see folks creating threads and reserving spaces on their own threads. What is that all about?

Dave wrote: "Bob, I'm a little confused, are we suppose to put bingo challenges and 2016 Women Writer Challenges and such here? I see folks creating threads and reserving spaces on their own threads. What is th..."

Hi Dave,

This folder is for members to keep track of personal reading challenges they have chosen to work on individually. For example, some people might choose to work on reading all the works of a particular author, or books set in specific geographical areas, or reading a certain number of classics in a given time period. (The possibilities are endless!) The challenges we are working on as a group, like the Bingo Challenge and the Women Writer Challenge, should be tracked in their designated folders or threads.

Dave wrote: "Bob, I'm a little confused, are we suppose to put bingo challenges and 2016 Women Writer Challenges and such here? I see folks creating threads and reserving spaces on their own threads. What is th..."

Dave, Christine is right in saying that this folder is for personal goals/challenges more or less anything goes. You also asked about the reserving of spaces, most of the time it's for future planning. Adding new challenges as time goes by, but still keeping them grouped together. Good luck with the Coast to Coast, it should keep you busy for a few years.

Thanks Bob.

I like the idea of reading the top 10 books for my birth year, (or at least I'm curious what they might be) but I've tried to google a bit and I can't find any statistics on best sellers in years past. Any tips for me? Where did you discover yours, Bob? (Though I imagine it might be easier for America than for other countries.)

Leni, Google "best sellers 19xx." (Your birth year). There are links to various lists.

Leni, I just checked Publishers Weekly bestselling list on Wikipedia. If I can help just let me know the year you want and I will try and get the info for you.

Thanks, I found the Wikipedia article. :) Also found the New York Times no. 1 list. Except I've found different versions. :P One list contained Stephen King, Tolkien, and the Thorn Birds, the other didn't. I also have a feeling that the UK list might look a bit different (and a Norwegian list likewise), but the Americans seem to be the only ones to organise their stats online! So I guess I'll have to be guided by that. I'll snoop around some more and see what books show up. It's not like I've run out of challenges and need to start this one asap! Lol

I've tried looking for books for the year of my birth in the past, but to me it seemed like a very barren year (1977) or at least they're not the sort of books that I enjoy for the most part.

Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ has lists of most popular books for each year if you need some more ideas.

Heh, I found a wiki article about the best selling books of all time, on a global scale. Only one book there was from my year (1978). And that happens to be no. 10 on the National Digest list, and also the only one of the ten I have read. (Eye of the Needle by Ken Follet). I think I saw two books from 1977, but can't remember which they were.

I used google translate to search for

Bestselgende norske bøker 1978

Not sure what I found but there were a number of links.

Another approach is to consult Wikipedia's list of Literary prizes and cherrypick winners from your target year for prizes relevant to country or genre you are interested in.

Dave wrote: "Another approach is to consult Wikipedia's list of Literary prizes and cherrypick winners from your target year for prizes relevant to country or genre you are interested in.

..."

What an amazing list!!!!!!!!!!!!

This has just opened up a whole new dimension for my Bingo challenge - thank you!

Dave, I tried the Norwegian search, and the results are not at all applicable. But the book award link, now we're talking! I think I'd rather read award winning books in particular categories than bestsellers. And yes, what scope for the bingo challenge!

I read the book and saw the movie. The movie did an excellent job of sticking to the spirit of the book. I enjoyed them both.

My wife sent me this list some time ago. Am up to my 24th, The Good Soldier, then have to find a way of tackling Clarissa. This has really helped me to learn more about myself, what I like and don't like. And I find that having goals like this keeps me focused in the long term.

Bruce.

that is indeed a good little "subset" list Bruce
all 25 of those are already on my radar (I have Middlemarch and Wuthering Heights scheduled for early 2017), but like you I suspect that Clarissa, or, the History of a Young Lady will be the last one I get to! :oO

Nice list. I have read 11 of those. Or 12. I know I read David Copperfield as a child, but I can't actually remember it, so I'm not sure I should count it. lol

I have a few more of them on my immediate and not so immediate radar, but I don't think I have even heard of Clarissa!

Or, actually, looking at the book blurb I believe I have heard of it. (Probably in this group.) I have the feeling that the only way I'll read this is chunk by chunk. I see that it comes in 9 volumes, and I think I'd tell myself to read one or two volumes per month. (But I don't think this will happen any time soon.)

That is a nice list. I like that there are 8 (by my count) female authors who are frequently under represented in most "best of" lists. I've read 16 of these and I doubt I would ever complete it since a couple don't interest me much like Clarissa and Tom Jones. But it's got many which I agree are must reads if one wants to read British classics.

Bruce wrote: "

My wife sent me this list some time ago. Am up to my 24th, The Good Soldier, then have to find a way of tackling Clarissa. ..."

Thanks for posting Bruce! :)

Darren wrote: "that is indeed a good little "subset" list Bruce
all 25 of those are already on my radar (I have Middlemarch and Wuthering Heights scheduled for early 2017), but like you I suspect that [book:Clari..."


I enjoyed both WH and M. If u saw the movie WH dont let that deter u. Much more, as usual, in the book.

Laurie wrote: "That is a nice list. I like that there are 8 (by my count) female authors who are frequently under represented in most "best of" lists. I've read 16 of these and I doubt I would ever complete it si..."

Hi Laurie. Darren also mentioned Clarissa. Its only rated 3.33 on here and its very long so not sure i will read it all. Perhaps i will read a "notes" version then scan thru the book. Is that cheating!?

Leni wrote: "Nice list. I have read 11 of those. Or 12. I know I read David Copperfield as a child, but I can't actually remember it, so I'm not sure I should count it. lol

I read a few of them years and years ago and am certainly counting them! In fact perhaps thats why I liked the list - I already had a head start.

Laurie wrote: "That is a nice list. I like that there are 8 (by my count) female authors who are frequently under represented in most "best of" lists. I've read 16 of these and I doubt I would ever complete it si..."

You mentioned female authors. V. Woolf is here three times. I hated her books. Clearly I am missing something that others are getting. I would love some day to read her (I have her "selected works...) and be able to say, yes, I get her now. Any thoughts or is it just a case of personal preference?

Yes, thanks for the list, Bruce (or thank your wife!). I've read 16, and have several on my TBR list. I read "Middlemarch" this year, so at least that one is marked off the list!

Bruce, while I am happy to see the female authors I will admit to not being a fan of Virginia Woolf or at least not Mrs. Dalloway and To the Lighthouse which are both on the list. Those are her only novels I've read. I enjoyed A Room of One's Own though, so maybe it's just her fiction I don't like. I would like to read Orlando someday so I am willing to give her another shot.

Laurie wrote: "Bruce, while I am happy to see the female authors I will admit to not being a fan of Virginia Woolf or at least not Mrs. Dalloway and To the Lighthouse which are both on the list. Those are her onl..."

Laurie, you said just what I was thinking. Those are also the only two novels of hers that I have read. However, when I read A Room of One's Own (just this year!), I really enjoyed it. I'm not sure if I'm giving her another shot or not. Perhaps if she comes up in a challenge...

Bruce wrote: "

My wife sent me this list some time ago. Am up to my 24th, The Good Soldier, then have to find a way of tackling Clarissa. ..."

Full disclosure, I guess. I choose to read "The History in Miniature of Clarissa Harlowe" which is a condensed version (144 pages) of the original. Now finished. Was free online inPlay Books. Original looks to be over 1500 pages and online free versions of the original volumes are of poor quality. Might yet read the original if text is cleaned up ("f" used for "s" for example).

How did you find the condensed version? I guess that must be very condensed, so it's hard to tell how it would compare to the full book.

I'm unsure if I'll ever read Samuel Richardson's books, as they're long and problematic, but on the other hand they're important works in literature, so I feel like I should tackle them one day.

Pink wrote: "How did you find the condensed version? I guess that must be very condensed, so it's hard to tell how it would compare to the full book.

I'm unsure if I'll ever read Samuel Richardson's books, as ..."

I thought the condensed version was good but imho, the story and plot wasn't that complicated so I could appreciate some of the comments about the book that the original was too long (not that the plot should be the deciding factor in story length). I would also like to read the original some day. Perhaps one volume a year - hope I live that long! I found a great site for download if you're interested.

I've meant to read Clarissa for the longest time but have kept putting it off. Hopefully 2017 will finally be the year. Maybe I'll nominate it for a long quarterly read.

I have only been able to find one edition of the full text in paperback which is very unusual for a classic.

Pink wrote: "How did you find the condensed version? I guess that must be very condensed, so it's hard to tell how it would compare to the full book.

I'm unsure if I'll ever read Samuel Richardson's books, as ..."

I guess I hate loose ends (see my reply to you a minute ago). Link is a good download site.

Hailee wrote: "I've meant to read Clarissa for the longest time but have kept putting it off. Hopefully 2017 will finally be the year. Maybe I'll nominate it for a long quarterly read.

I have only been able to f..."

Hi Hailee,
See my replies to Pink in case it helps. Yes, I haven't found the paperbook close to home either. Good luck!

Thanks for the ebook link. I might tackle it slowly one day, the same with Pamela, which I haven't read either. I can't remember if they were published in serial format, but I suppose they're meant to be read and savoured at a slower pace, so I could spread them out over the course of a year or so. It's just that there are so many other books that take precedence each year!

I hear ya. I just sent a text to my kids to get me The Sellout and The Sympathizer for Christmas.

Bruce if your interested you can start your own Personal Challenge thread. It may make it easier to have a permanent place to store the challenge information you are listing.

At almost a million words Clarissa is one of the 10 longest novels ever written, almost double the length of War and Peace. Still, if and when I ever read it, I don't think I could read an abridged version

Of course, that's just me, but I might change my mind if it gets boring.

Bob wrote: "Bruce if your interested you can start your own Personal Challenge thread. It may make it easier to have a permanent place to store the challenge information you are listing."

Sorry, Bob. I cud sense a really polite and patient moderator in the background! I have a bit of a focus on pulitzer and booker lists so might do as u suggest Thank you.

This might be a dumb question, but are we able to start a personal challenge thread at any time? I was thinking of starting one.

Angie wrote: "This might be a dumb question, but are we able to start a personal challenge thread at any time? I was thinking of starting one."

Yep you can start anytime. The other 2017 challenges will be posted on the 1st Dec, so you might want to wait a couple of days incase Bob has any modifications to make, but I think we're going to keep this same folder for personal challenges. That way people can start new threads for next year, or carry on if they're working on a longer personal challenge goal.

Correct me if I've got that wrong Bob!

Angie, Pink is correct. I set this folder up for members to have a place to track their personal reading goals. I should have been clearer about members starting a thread of their own. This thread is open for members who want a space to plan and record their reading and a thread can be started any time.

If you haven't yet, check through some of the challenges, and you will see members are tracking and planning their reading and much of it has nothing to do with our group reads.

I have not considered any modifications, but I am always looking for ways to make the group better. any ideas please let me know. Any questions just ask.

Manda wrote: "It's a wonderful idea having own challenge threads, just about to set up mine...."

Looking forward to seeing how it goes for you and of course what books you will be reading.

I am like super late onto this challenge, but here goes my list.
Classical antiquity: 1.Aeneid 2. De re publica
3. The Republic by plato
Medieval and Renaissance: 4. Decameron
5. Divine Comedy
6. the prince
Premodern: 7. the Jew of Malta 8. Ethics by Spinoza
9. don quixote 10. The misanthrope by Moliere

Age of Enlightenment: 11. Candide by Voltaire 12. Democracy in America by Tocqueville

Romanticism; 13. Les miserables 14. Hunchback of notre Dame
Gothic: 15. Dracula 16. The scarlet letter
Realism: 17. Boule de suif 18. Tess of the D'urbervilles
19. Nicholas Nickleby
AfroAmerican; 20. Speak by Anderson 21. kindred by Butler
stream of consciousness: 22. a room of one's own
world war 1: 23. A farewell to arms 24. all quiet on the western front
jazz age: 25. Babbitt 26. Red harvest
great depression: 27. Grapes of wrath
world war 2: 28. the book thief 29. slaughterhouse five
beats generation: 30. Big Sur
dystopian: 31. Brave new world 32. the handmaid's tale

Kt wrote: "I am like super late onto this challenge, but here goes my list.
Classical antiquity: 1.Aeneid 2. De re publica
3. The Republic by plato
Medieval and Renaissance: 4. Decameron
5. Divine Comedy ..."

Big Challenge/Good challenge! I am interested in a good number of these books. Do you want to buddy read in August or later? I am particularly interested in
The Prince
Don Quixote]
Candide
Les Misérables
Nicholas Nickleby
Babbitt
Let me know =)

Kt wrote: "I am like super late onto this challenge, but here goes my list.
Classical antiquity: 1.Aeneid 2. De re publica
3. The Republic by plato
Medieval and Renaissance: 4. Decameron
5. Divine Comedy ..."

What a great list! Good luck :)

Best of luck Kt and Cynda! 🤗

Kt wrote: "I am like super late onto this challenge, but here goes my list.
Classical antiquity: 1.Aeneid 2. De re publica
3. The Republic by plato
Medieval and Renaissance: 4. Decameron
5. Divine Comedy ..."

I love your genres and your choices! Enjoy.

nice way to organize a reading list!