Reading Challenges: 2023

2023 has begun and it is time to sign-up for a few new challenges. I am going to keep my progress record on this page.

Backlist Reader

Details: Here

Goal: 25 +

  1. No Dust in the Attic by Anthony Gilbert
  2. Combat of Shadows by Manohar Malgonkar
  3. Miss Milverton by Anne Hocking
  4. He Walked in Her Sleep by Peter Cheyney
  5. Murderers Make Mistakes by Freeman Wills Crofts
  6. Stud. Chem. Helene Willfuer by Vicki Baum
  7. Steffan Green by Richmal Crompton
  8. Death on the Boat Train by John Rhode
  9. Murder at the Lilac Cottage by John Rhode
  10. The So Blue Marble by Dorothy B. Hughes

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Bookish Resolutions

One of the most interesting challenges, I have found this year, is the Bookish Resolutions challenge, hosted @ Because Reading. You can read the details here, but in short it is about making at least bookish resolutions and trying to finish them this year.

Here are the five, I have made:

  1. Clear My Shelves: There are many books lying on my shelves/ in my kindle which I have read but not written about on my blog. In order to clear up some space, I will be writing about them and taking them off the shelves/ kindle.
  2. Read the Classics: I joined the Classics Club last year but haven’t made any progress as such. This year, I aim to read and review at least 15 titles on that list.
  3. Read at least one book of ancient literature (written in BCE though the translation could be of any century).
  4. Participate in at least three Reading events this year.
  5. Read at least five books of Indian literature.

Have you made certain resolutions too? Why not participate in the challenge to keep yourself properly motivated?

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Cloak and Dagger

Details: Here

Goal: Sherlock Holmes: 56+ books

  1. Death in Ambush by John Bude
  2. Whistle for the Crows by Dorothy Eden
  3. The Nursemaid who Disappeared by Philip MacDonald
  4. No Dust in the Attic by Anthony Gilbert
  5. A Head full of Ghosts by Paul Tremblay
  6. Dead Man’s Secret by Mary Plum
  7. Miss Milverton by Anne Hocking
  8. Third Time Unlucky by Laurence W. Meynell
  9. The Smartest Grave by R.J. White
  10. Dead Man’s Effects by H.C. Bailey
  11. He Walked in Her Sleep by Peter Cheyney
  12. Clough Plays Murder by Luke Parsons
  13. Murderers Make Mistakes by Freeman Wills Crofts
  14. Missing from Their Homes (ed.) H.E. Bates
  15. Death on the Boat Train by John Rhode
  16. Murder at the Lilac Cottage by John Rhode
  17. The Four Faces by Han Suyin
  18. Scandal at the Home Office by Frank A. Clement

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COYER (Clean Out Your E-Reader)

My Kindle is just loaded with books that I download from various sites on the Net. It’s time I started reading them too. So I am signing up for the COYER 2023 challenge which incidentally is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year. For the rules and signing-up, go here.

  1. A Head full of Ghosts by Paul Tremblay
  2. Death on the Boat Train by John Rhode

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EUROPEAN READING CHALLENGE

I did awful in the European Reading Challenge, last year but am determined to do a lot better this year. Signing up as usual for Five-Star Deluxe Entourage which means I will be reading at least five books set in different European countries or written by different European writers. Hosted @ Rose City Reader, you can find the details here.

UK: Death in Ambush by John Bude

Ireland: Whistle for the Crows by Dorothy Eden

France: The Occupation Trilogy by Patrick Modiano

Germany: Stud. Chem. Helene Willfuer by Vicki Baum

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Library Love Challenge

Details: Here

Goal: Overdrive Junkie: 36 books

  1. Death in Ambush by John Bude
  2. The Nursemaid who Disappeared by Philip MacDonald
  3. Dead Man’s Secret by Mary Plum
  4. Miss Milverton by Anne Hocking
  5. Third Time Unlucky by Laurence W. Meynell
  6. The Smartest Grave by R.J. White
  7. Dead Man’s Effects by H.C. Bailey
  8. Clough Plays Murder by Luke Parsons
  9. Murderers Make Mistakes by Freeman Wills Crofts
  10. Stud. Chem. Helene Willfuer by Vicki Baum
  11. Missing from their Homes (ed.) H.E. Bates
  12. The Best of Science Fiction (ed.) Groff Conklin
  13. Steffan Green by Richmal Crompton
  14. Murder at the Lilac Cottage by John Rhode
  15. The Four Faces by Han Suyin
  16. Scandal at the Home Office by Frank A. Clement
  17. The Disappearance of General Jason
  18. What Came to Cinderella by Curtis Yorke

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The TBR Pile Challenge Year 10

The TBR Pile Challenge hosted @ Roof Beam Reader is one of my favourite challenges though in all the years of participation, I have completed it successfully only once. The rules are simple: Make a list of 12 books (and two alternates) from your shelves or TBR list which have a publication date prior to 1st January 2022. Finish them before 2024 begins and you might be lucky to win a giveaway.

Here is my list of books:

  1. Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi ki Jail Diary (ed) Suresh Salil
  2. Rang Basanti by Pratap Sehgal
  3. Viplavi Battukeshwar Dutt by Bhairab Lal Das
  4. Jatindranath Das by Kiran Das
  5. The Execution of Bhagat Singh by Satwinder Singh Juss
  6. Walking with Bhagat Singh soon after Independence by Amarkant Jttu
  7. Zakhire Mein Shahadat (ed) Sudhir Vidyarthi
  8. Krantikari Shahid Chandra Shekhar Azad ki Jeevan Gatha (ed) Sudhir Vidyarthi
  9. The Sixth River by Fikr Tausnavi
  10. Punjabi Saga by Prakash Tandon
  11. Duryodhan by Kaka Vidhate
  12. All Lies says Krishna by J. Rajasekharan Nair

And the two alternates:

India from Curzon to Nehru by Durga Das

Truth about the Indian Press by J.N. Sahni

You want to participate, you could do it here but hurry up, sign-ups close 31st January.

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Vintage Scavenger Hunt

I am also taking part in the Vintage Cover Scavenger Hunt @ My Reader’s Block at both the golden and silver level which means I have to find at least eight items on the lists below. Details over here.

GOLDEN AGE

  1. Any other Weapon: Death in Ambush by John Bude (Hand Grenade)
  2. Nurse: The Nursemaid who Disappeared by Philip MacDonald
  3. More than 2 People: Dead Man’s Secret by Mary Plum
  4. Bottle/ Glass for Drinking: Miss Milverton by Anne Hocking
  5. Bloodstains: He Walked in Her Sleep by Peter Cheyney
  6. Two People: Murderers Make Mistakes by Freeman Wills Crofts
  7. A Brunette (Man): Missing from Their Homes (ed.) H.E. Bates
  8. Pipe: Murder at Lilac Cottage by John Rhode
  9. Mask: Scandal at the Home Office by Frank A. Clement

SILVER AGE

  1. Damsel in Distress: Whistle for the Crows by Dorothy Eden
  2. Two People: No Dust in the Attic by Anthony Gilbert

While I Was Reading

I failed in this last year but am determined to read books in all the twelve categories this year. Hosted by Ramona Mead, you can find the details here.

And the twelve categories:

  1. A book with a protagonist over 40: Portrait in Brownstone by Louis Auchincloss
  2. A book considered a classic: Chhata Darya (The Sixth River) by Fikr Taunsvi
  3. A graphic novel.
  4. A book that has been banned or challenged.
  5. A book set in a place on your bucket list: The Occupation Trilogy by Patrick Modiano (Paris)
  6. A book published before you were born: Miss Milverton by Anne Hocking (1941)
  7. A book related to a goal you have for 2023: Stud. Chem. Helene Willfuer by Vicki Baum (on my Classics Club list which I need to read)
  8. A book by an author of color: Combat of Shadows by Manohar Malgonkar
  9. A book with a clever title: A Head full of Ghosts by Paul Tremblay
  10. A book by a famous author you’ve never read: The Nursemaid who Disappeared by Philip MacDonald
  11. A non-fiction book about a topic you love: The Golden Boy of Centre Court by Graham Denton
  12. A novella.