Basic Information
- The challenge will run from January 1, 2010 until December 31, 2010.
- Here are the participation levels. Feel free to do whatever level you want. You can also switch up or down midway through the challenge.
A Small Gamble: Complete any 3 of the 12 challenges described below.
A Moderate Gamble: Complete any 6 of the 12 challenges described below.
Gambling It All: Complete all 12 of the challenges described below.
- Each challenge you complete and link up in the correct Mr. Linky spots (which will be posted on January 1, 2010) will earn you entries into a prize drawing at the end of the challenge. Some of the challenges are harder and will earn you more entries. If you complete all 12 challenges, you will earn 5 extra entries into the drawing.
- The prize is a book of the winner's choice from Amazon (worth $25 or less).
- Crossover books from other challenges is fine.
So here are the 12 challenges for you to pick from. The "easier" challenges are listed first, followed by the harder challenges that are worth more entries into the prize drawing.
The 12 Challenges
Challenge 1: Read Your Doppelganger (worth 1 entry)
Find an author who has either the same initials, the same first name, the same last name, or the exact same name as you. Read a book by this author and write a post about it. (If you try to keep your identity anonymous on your blog, you don't have to reveal what part of the author's name is the same as your name.)
Example: If your name is Susan Kasischke, you might read a book by Stephen King (same initials), Susan Donovan (same first name), Laura Kasischke (same last name) or Susan Kasischke (same exact name).
Challenge 2: Blogroll Roulette (worth 1 entry)
Find a blogroll at either your book blog or a book blog you like that has at least 15 book blogs on it. Go to
Random.org and, using the True Random Number Generator, enter the number 1 for the min. and 15 for the max. and then hit generate. Then find the blog that is that number on the blogroll you selected. (For example, if you get 10 at Random.org, then count down the list of blogs until you get to the tenth one). Go to that blog and pick a book to read from the books that they have reviewed on their blog. Read it and write a post about it.
Be sure to link to the blog post you picked the book from!
Challenge 3: 100 Best Book (worth 1 entry)
Choose one of the lists below and go to the link provided. Choose a book to read from the list that you haven't read before. Read the book and write about it.
Challenge 4: Prize Winner Book (worth 1 entry)
Pick one of the major literary awards from the list below. Click on the link for the award you picked. You will find a brief description of the award and links to past winners. Pick one of the past winners, read the book and write about it.
Challenge 5: Title Word Count (worth 1 entry)
Go to
Random.org and, using the True Random Number Generator, enter the numbers 1 for the min. and 5 for the max. and then hit generate. Find a book to read that has that number of words in the title. Read the book and write about it.
Example: If you get 1 for your number, read a book that has a one word title. If you get 2, read a book that has a two word title and so on and so forth.
Challenge 6: Genre Switch-Up (worth 1 entry)
Go to
this list of book genres and pick a genre that you have NEVER read before. Find a book from that genre, read it, and write about it. Note: If you seriously cannot find a genre that you have never read, then pick the genre that is as far away from what you normally read.
Challenge 7: Break A Prejudice (worth 1 entry)
We all have reading prejudices--authors we don't like, genres we don't like, or even publishers we don't like. For this challenge, think of a reading prejudice you have and then find a book that is an example of this type of book. Read the book and then write about the reading prejudice you had BEFORE you read the book and how reading the book either changed your prejudice or reinforced it.
Examples: I always say I can't stand James Patterson; therefore, I might read a James Patterson book for this challenge. Or, if you sneer at "chick lit" books, you might read a "chick lit" book. Or, if you think books published by Harlequin are pure drivel, you might read a book published by Harlequin. If you turn up your nose at the Twilight books, then you might read one of the Twilight books.
Challenge 8: Real and Inspired (worth 2 entries)
Many authors or books inspire others to pay homage to them by writing another book inspired by the original work. For this challenge, read both an original work and a book inspired by that original work. Write about both books in one post. Note: This might require some research on your part and requires reading two books so it worth 2 entries.
Examples: Christopher Moore's Fool is based on Shakespeare's play King Lear so I plan on reading both King Lear and Fool. Another example is Jane Austen, who inspired the book Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. For this challenge, you might read both Pride and Prejudice and the zombie version. (There are tons of other Austen-inspired books out there too.) Another idea would be a graphic novel version of a "standard" novel. The only real requirement is that the "inspired by" book must clearly state what original work inspired it.
Challenge 9: Same Word, Different Book (worth 2 entries)
Find two books that have the same word in the title. Read both books and write about them. (Worth 2 entries because you have to read two books).
Example: If you pick the word "Love," you could read any two books that both have Love in the title. To help you find books that have the same word, you could go to Amazon.com, type a word into the Search box and see what books come up with that word.
Challenge 10: Become A Character (worth 2 entries)
For this challenge, you can read any book you want. However, you have to write about the book as one of the characters from the book. The character can comment on his/her treatment by the author, other characters, the "untold story," what happened next, and so forth. You could even have two characters interviewing each other! Your imagination is the only limit. Because of the difficulty level of this challenge, it is worth two entries.
Challenge 11: All in the Family (worth 2 entries)
The writing gene often runs in the family. For this challenge, you need to find two authors from the same family (either by blood or by marriage) and read a book by each of the authors and then write about both books. Because of the research involved and having to read two books, this challenge is worth two entries.
Examples: The Bronte sisters; Stephen King and his wife Tabitha OR his son Joe Hill; Jonathan Kellerman (husband) and Faye Kellerman (wife); Michael Chabon (husband) and Ayelet Waldman (wife); Joan Didion (wife) and John Gregory Dunne (husband); Mary Higgins Clark (mother) and Carol Higgins Clark (daughter)
Challenge 12: Author Anthology Pick (worth 2 entries)
Find an anthology of your choice. Read at least 5 entries in the anthology. Of the 5 entries you've read, pick your favorite one and then find a book by that writer and read it. (If your first choice doesn't have a book, then pick your next favorite until you find a writer that has a book.) Write about the anthology, your favorite pick from the anthology, and the book you read by your favorite pick. Because of having to obtain and read two books, this challenge is worth two entries.
Thanks to J.T. Oldfield at Bibliofreak who partially inspired this challenge.
Example: If you choose a poetry anthology, you would at least 5 different poems, pick your favorite, and then seek out a book of poetry by that poet. If you read a short story anthology, you would read at least 5 different short stories, pick your favorite, and then seek out either a novel or another book of short stories by that writer.
I'm dying to hear what you think about these challenges! I think they might be even harder than the previous challenge, but I'm really excited about the possibilities. I hope you are excited too. If you do a post about the challenge to announce your participation and help me promote it, you can gain an extra entry into the drawing. Simply link up that post in Mr. Linky below.
I've been thinking about joining this challenge for a while now & decided to sign up!
I'll go with the 2nd level: A Moderate Gamble & try to complete 6-12 challenges!
Challenge 1: Read Your Doppelganger
My name is Alexandra, so I read the book You're the One That I Don't Want by Alexandra Potter!
Challenge completed!
Challenge 2: Blogroll Roulette
I got number 1, which was the blog All Things Urban Fantasy & I chose to read Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick. Here's the review!
Challenge completed!
Challenge 3: 100 Best Book
I went to the Top 100 Sci-Fi Books & chose Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card.
Challenge completed!
Challenge 4: Prize Winner Book
Newbery Medal winner in 1994 - The Giver by Lois Lowry!
Challenge completed!
Challenge 5: Title Word Count
I got 1, so I'll read a book that has one word title.
The first one-word-title book I read is Aurelia by Anne Osterlund.
Challenge completed!
Challenge 6: Genre Switch-Up
I don't really read non-fiction, so I decided to read a non-fiction book! That book is The Monster of Florence by Douglas Preston & Mario Spezi!
Challenge completed!
Challenge 7: Break A Prejudice
If I do this challenge, I'll have to read Twilight, but I don't think I'll be able to do that, so I don't think I'll complete this challenge!
Challenge 8: Real and Inspired
Real: Persuasion by Jane Austen - read
Inspired: His Cunning or Hers by June Menzies
Challenge half completed!
Challenge 9: Same Word, Different Book
My word will be Leviathan. I'll actually read 2 books named Leviathan! The first is by Boris Akunin (my copy's title is only Leviathan, but it's also published as Murder on the Leviathan) & the second is by Scott Westerfeld!
Challenge completed!
Challenge 10: Become A Character
Challenge 11: All in the Family
I decided to read books from Stephen King & his son Joe Hill! I'll read Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill & The Gunslinger by Stephen King.
Challenge 12: Author Anthology Pick
I read Vacations from Hell - a collection of stories by Libba Bray, Cassandra Clare, Claudia Gray, Maureen Johnson & Sarah Mlynowski! I haven't read books from these authors, although I've been planning to, so that's why I chose this anthology! It was hard to decide which story I loved more - Libba Bray's or Maureen Johnson's, but I decided that I love Maureen Johnson's story a little more, so I'll read her book Girl at Sea.
Challenge completed!
This was a great book! I was gripped from the start and couldn't wait to finish it and when I did, I wasn't disappointed. I was even a little surprised. I loved the newspaper articles through the book. They gave good insights on the police investigation & the killer's influence on the public, because the story is told from the killer's point of view. I don't want to write too much, 'cause I don't want to spoil the story for anyone. This is Craig Robertson's exceptional debut novel and I hope there'll be more in the future. I highly recommend this book, especially if you're fan of Jeff Lindsay's Dexter like me!
