Starting December 21 and ending on March 20, I an hosting my Seasonal Reading Challenge for Winter. This challenge is always open to anybody and everybody interested in participating, so feel free to join in any time!

The challenge is in two levels, Level 1 being a four book challenge and Level 2 being a six book challenge. The goal is to choose a level, pick the books you want to read provided that they fit into the categories provided, and be the first to read them all before the end of the season. Winner of the Level 2 challenge will be awarded a point from me (unless, of course, I win!). The books chosen have to be at least 150 pages long, to keep the challenge fair for everybody. To participate, just post a list of the books you want to read, matching them to the corrosponding numbers of the categories they fit into (see my entry below as an example), and then keep us updated as you read each one. If anybody needs clarification on the rules or suggestions for books to choose from, feel free to either post here about it or shoot me an email and I'd be glad to help. :-)

This isn't like most other reading challenges you see. This one has a twist. We are also a kind of book group, and we discuss the books and our opinions of them as we read them, getting to know eachother better as we do so. While discussing the books isn't required for participation, feel free to join us in our conversations. It's fun, and you might even make some new friends along the way!

May the best reader win! :-D

1. Read a book by author Michael Connelly.
2. Read a book with the first letter of the title being "H".
3. Read a book with a title of four letters or less.
4. Read a book with a Biblical theme. (This one's for Honibabi... and it doesn't have to be Ben Hur! ;-P)
5. Read a book with a number in the title.
6. Read a book by an author who uses at least one initial in his/her pen name.

My choices:
1. The Best American Mystery Stories, by Michael Connelly, editor
2. The Honorable Rosalind's Heart; A Regency Romance Novel, by Bridget Barton
3. W, by John Banks (I really wanted to read Sink, by Perrin Briar, but it's only 146 pages... can you believe that?!)
4. A Woman God Can Use, by Alice Mathews
5. Wisdom of the 90s, by George Burns and Hal Goldman
6. The Mountain, by Charles G. Thompson

2. Read a book with the first letter of the title being "H"; House of Secrets by Lowell Cauffiel
4. Read a book with a Biblical theme. (This one's for Honibabi... and it doesn't have to be Ben Hur! ;-P) Yes it does..lol. Ben Hur by Lew Wallace...unabridged.
5. Read a book with a number in the title. "Agent 6", by Tom Rob Smith the 3rd book in a series that I love! 1st book was "Child 44," Second was, "The Secret Speech".
6. Read a book by an author who uses at least one initial in his/her pen name. "Stories by O. Henry."

We all know, Daisy is the best reader among us! Go Daisy! I love George Burns. Gracie, A love story is one of my favorite biographies. Hope you love your George Burns book.

Ooooo, Ben Hur. Ouch. How many pages is your copy? About 750? Good luck! And feel free to switch books if you change your mind!

I love O. Henry's stories! Great reading for all ages.

What is Agent 6 about? It sounds interesting!

I really like Gracie: A Love Story, too! I hope this one is as good. :-)

Agent 6 description copied from goodreads:
How far would you go to solve a crime against your family?

It is 1965. Leo Demidov, a former secret police agent, is forbidden to travel with his wife and daughters from Moscow to New York. They are part of a "Peace Tour," meant to foster closer relations between the two Cold War enemies. On the tour, Leo's family is caught up in a conspiracy and betrayal that ends in tragedy. In the horrible aftermath, Leo demands one thing: that he be allowed to investigate and find the attacker that struck at the heart of his family on foreign soil. From the highest levels of the Soviet government, he is told No, that is impossible. Leo is haunted by the question: what happened in New York?

In a surprising, epic story that spans decades and continents—from 1950s Moscow to 1960s America to the Soviet war in Afghanistan in the 1980s—Leo's long pursuit of justice will force him to confront everything he ever thought he knew about his country, his family, and himself.

I almost don't want to read it having gotten to know the characters from the first 2 books and if Raisa and the girls die in this one as is strongly suggested in the description (maybe tragedy is not death...), I will be mad! These books really take you into the horror of living in Soviet Russia starting in 1933 with Child 44. Much like The Book Thief, you feel like you are there experiencing the horrors governments have forced on their people. I love the main character, Leo. Child 44 was made into a movie and while it isn't as good as the book they do a good job sticking to the story if you don't get to the book.

Looking forward to your picks, Lyn.

2. Read a book with the first letter of the title being "H".
Head Over Heels in the Dales by Gervase Phinn

3. Read a book with a title of four letters or less.
Thin by grace bowman

5. Read a book with a number in the title.
Two brothers by Ben Elton

6. Read a book by an author who uses at least one initial in his/her pen name.
Brothers in war by E.v Thompson

Hopefully I get through them all and am looking forward to hearing about your books.

Lyn, I really enjoyed. "Emma". I hope you do to.

Loolat, welcome to the challenge! I'm so happy you could join us! :-D Interesting choices. Brothers in War sounds particularly interesting. Can you share with us what it's about? Also, it's not a big deal, but number two doesn't really fit into that category... can you think of any others to read instead? If there are no "H" books on your bookshelf, it's okay, though. Whatever works. It would be nice if it fit the category, though. :-)

Lyn, so glad you like the challenge. Good luck! Like Honibabi, I'd love to hear your opinion of Emma when you read it. It's been on my TBR for a while. I'd love to hear your opinion of the Connelly book, too! And good luck with the pup!

All your book choices sound really interesting and can't wait to hear about them.

Mine are a bit of a random mix. Head Over Heels in the Dales is about a school inspector who starts a new role and the challenges he faces with the children. It's a comedy.

Thin is a true story about the writers battle with anorexia.

Two brothers in based in Germany in 1920. The brothers are faced with an unimaginable choice.....

Lastly brothers in war is set in Cornwall in 1945, Britain reeling from the Great War. For Ben Retallick owner of a clay works the conflict will affect all that he has ever known as his life becomes entwined with secrecy and suspicion.

Two Brothers and Brothers in War both sound like really great books, I'd love to hear what you think of them when you finish them! I'm a big historical fiction fan, myself.

Loolat - All your books sound interesting. Look forward to your reviews.

Lyn - how to be a women has been on my reading list for a while. I am really looking forward to your review. Sounds funny and poignant.

I apologize now for all the complaining I may be doing as I trudge through Ben Hur in the winter challenge. You can blame, Daisy..LOL :)

Good luck everyone!

I started Stories by O'Henry. While Gift of the Magi (which I just read) is the most famous, so far I like The Social Triangle best. It is a story about how a very poor man looks up to the newly elected Mayor. He admires him and what he stands for. The mayor in turn is thrilled to meet a well known billionaire with very strong philanthropic beliefs. The billionaire in the end wants to shake the hand of the poor man and get to know him. Probably like this one because I work in social services. :)

I was not familiar with O'Henry before now and see why he has such a respected place as an author. He really gets the point across in 10 pages or less! I do have to admit, though, having to look up about 5 words per story in the dictionary is slowing me down. LOL.

I never heard of Blade Runner… what is it about? I wonder if the books/movies any good. I, too, am looking forward to your review, Lyn!

Honibabi, I’m glad you like O’Henry so far. I really like his short stories, although it has been a while since I read them last, so I can’t tell you which ones were my favorites. I do remember liking several of his a lot better than The Gift of the Magi, though, although it was good, too. I’ll have to reread The Social Triangle some time and refresh my memory about it, because so far I’m drawing a complete blank, LOL. I probably didn’t have the same problem with the vocabulary, though… I’ll generally just gather what the words mean from their context if they are unfamiliar to me. Although using a dictionary is definitely a better idea, there is never one around when I need one, and I’m usually so caught up in a book that I don’t want to put it down and go get one, haha. ;-P

I’m currently reading both W and Wisdom of the 90s. W is very jumpy and slow-moving so far, and I’m not really sure what to think of it. And other than George Burns being a bit of a “dirty old man”, I got quite a few laughs from the book and find it enjoyable enough. The book is dirtier than Gracie: A Love Story, so I do not like it as much as I liked Gracie.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYBODY!!!!

I just finished the George Burns book. I'm still working on W.

Happy New Year to you, too!

I bet Blade Runner is a good read, I've seen the old film and it was fab. Had no idea there was a book.

Honibabi - the social triangle sounds really good. I work in social services too. So am always interested in books that link to behaviour and how people interact with one another.

Daisy - I hope your book picks up the pace. Your comments about the dirty old man made me chuckle.

Stacy - I look forward to seeing your book choices.

I've started with Head Over Heels in the Dales. It's about a school inspector who partly inspects but also helps at schools. There have been a few funny bits with how the author describes the children talking to him but I'm hoping the story picks up a bit. I'm 5 chapters in.

Our little group is not so little any more. Great to hear about everyone's reading choices and looking forward to all the reviews and discussions.

Stacey, I agree that I can usually get the gist by context but O. Henry definitely throws me off. There are many terms that are no longer common today and some regional. "Rowels" for example. There isn't much history of them in Northern Ohio, but still very relevant in cowboy states. "I saw my old friend, Deputy Marshal Buck, Caperton, stumble, with jingling rowels into a chair in the Marshal's outer office...." I don't typically think part of a spur when one talks about jingling rowels into a chair. LOL.

Loolat - 5 chapters is very optimistic. The curse of the social worker. LOL. Hope it gets better.

Happy New Year!

Honibabi: Actually, I said that about the context. :-) Hahaha, okay, yeah, I see what you mean. That's funny!

Lyn: That's awesome! Thank you very much for sharing about that book, and I'm glad you found it so enjoyable! :-D It certainly sounds interesting... makes me want a pet ostrich, LOL. I hear their eggs make great omelets for a family of four... ;-P Brrr, you stay warm, too! It's freezing here.

I finished Stories by O'Henry. I enjoyed it overall. Each story has a neat ending where everyone gets what they deserve, good or bad. A few stories are just observational, like the one narrated by a $10 bill that talks about it's journey from person to person. Still has a point as the bill encounters singles and $20's and how each one has a different journey tied to it's value. The Pimiento Pancakes was my second favorite after The Social Triangle (explained in an earlier post). It was a funny story about one suitor tricking another and winning the girl over a made up pancake recipe.

I am starting House of Secrets next.

Stay warm!

Lyn, savoring a book is always a wonderful thing. :-D Awwww, congratulations about Bruiser, he sounds adorable! How old is he?

I picked a Bible-themed book and started it. I'm pressed for time at the moment, so more on that later. :-)

I am almost half way through House of Secrets. I am grateful that it isn't as graffic as the cover suggested, but saddened by the story. A story of sexual, mental and physical abuse of kids by their lying parents. Murderous parents. Humanity at it's worst, unfortunately. The editing is atrocious, but the story is compelling. How do you not look up the right spelling of towns? I only know the atrocity because I have family in Wheeling. Not, Willing! Misspelled at least twice! Several grammar errors too. On goodreads a common complaint about the book.

Still, a story that is sucking me in.

I find it hard to find humor in recent events, but I am looking forward to your review of How to be a women. It has been on my reading list for a while.

Stacy, Loolat, how are you guys coming along? And Lyn, where did you go? All of your posts just vanished in a puff of smoke!

I'm taking a short break from W. I'm not enjoying it very much so far. :'-(

I finished House of Secrets. It was a good book, despite the poor editing. The story is easy to read and I appreciate that it wasn't really graphic. While the incidents are talked about, there is not a lot of gory detail. You don't really need it. Just thinking about parents sexually abusing their kids is enough. Sad story but one that should be told.

I toiled about which book to read next and have decided on Ben Hur. I have an out of town trip this week. I usually get a lot of reading done on business trips so I am tackling the most daunting of my final two books.

Hope to hear from everyone, soon.

Honibabi, I'm very thankful that you're still here, and I'm very happy that you enjoy my little challenge so much! :-D I'm glad that you thought House of Secrets was a good book, it does indeed sound interesting. Oh, and about W... basically, it's been so far about ten different stories. One story is about a crude collage boy writing home to his younger brother, one is about a modern woman who continues to send emails to a man named William who she knows is dead, one is about a Viking family and their travels, and another is about a pioneer heading west writing home to the girl he left behind. No connections between any of these stories are apparent yet, and the way that the author jumps right from the middle of one story and into another one, then back, then to a different one, with no apparent rhyme or reason, is very disjointed, confusing, and annoying.

I hope you like Ben Hur, Honibabi!

I just noticed that I'd neglected to fill y'all in on the Bible-themed book I had read. It was called A Woman God Can Use, and it was oo-kay, but not terrific. Still, it was worth reading, and not a BAD book.

Hope to hear from Loolat, Lyn and Stacy soon....

I hope the challenge continues no matter how few of us there are.

Thanks, Daisy.

Honibabi, I'm glad you're enjoying Ben Hur so much! It's really a great book. :-D Thanks for keeping us updated!

I'm reading The Best American Mystery Stories right now, and I'm about 1/3rd through it. It's pretty good. Some of the stories are much better than others, though, which is how it usually is for anthologies of this sort. Still, the good has outweighed the bad so far.

I am really enjoying Ben Hur. Due to the tiny font my eyes get tired after about 20 pages but I love the dialogue.

I'm about 2/3rds through Best Mysteries, and I also read Honorable Rosalind's Heart. I enjoyed it enough, I suppose, but not so much that I'd recommend it or ever read it again. Way too warm-and-fuzzy and unrealistic for my tastes. *shrugs*

I just heard back from Stacy. It turns out that she still wants to participate in the challenge here, but was accidentally vacationed from Bookmooch, despite the fact that she was an active member. She sent me her post, though, to post for her, and she hopes that this can be fixed soon so that she can be back on here like normal. :-)

By the way,

Stacy's post:

For the bookmooch challenge, here is my review of Kingdoms at War :
(the Christian book selection)

I really liked this book and feel it is a must read for anyone of the Christian faith. It has an extensive bibliography for further study and several appendixes and footnotes section. Kingdoms At War is a wonderful introduction and food for thought comparing secular humanism with Christianity. Even though written in 1985, it is still very relevant for today as the differing world views are even more evident in daily life and in the media, education, business and politics. Each chapter ends with study questions for the reader-- not so much question/ answer stuff, but more for reflection on what the reader personally thinks. Each chapter also summarizes with a table comparing secular humanism viewpoints with Christianity. This book has definitely sparked my interest in the subject and wish to seek out more of the books mentioned for further reading.

For the letter h book:

The Headmaster: Frank L. Boyden of Deerfield:

What a great story of the most unlikely leader! Frank Boyden became headmaster at Deerfield Academy in 1902, fresh out of Amherst at 22 yrs. old and the town of Deerfield thought he wouldn't last a day. Of the 14 boys enrolled as students at Deerfield Academy, a school on its last legs and which the board of directors was seriously closing, several the town were very afraid of, and Mr. Boyden was a slight man, standing at 5' 4" and they thought he didn't stand a chance. He might not have been large in stature, but he was in character and heart. His dedication to the school and his students elevated the school from oblivion to being internationally known for turning out exemplary young men. His devotion to all thing regarding his school was well known, and there was nothing he wouldn't do for it-- in the early years, when the sports teams were short of players, he played with them. In an effort to get boys from the community to go to school, many of them from farms that could little afford to have the boys gone-- he would pay for farm labor out of his pocket so the boy could get educated. A large proportion of the enrollment was on scholarship because he could not bear the thought of turning one away, and the scholarship recipients never were allowed to know that they were on scholarship because he did not want those students to feel there was any difference between them and the regular boys. The scholarship students did not have extra duties either, as is common in many educational institutions, for the same reason. In his 62 years as headmaster, he only had to expel 6 boys as he was famous for "extra chances" and determined that the offender would amount to something, and the boys for all those decades, in spite of his willingness to give extra chances, never saw him as a pushover. He commanded respect, and many of his students went on to greatness, and remembered with fondness their headmaster who took a deep interest in each of their educations. He wanted to be constantly aware of what was going on with the students and in the school that he didn't even have a separate office-- his desk was set in the middle of the entrance to the school so he could talk to boys in passing to their classes. It was a family affair as well-- his wife was the chemistry teacher and renowned in her own right for her brilliance in teaching the subject. The couple were so committed to the school, that every evening, their living room was packed, many times with over 50 present, with faculty for after dinner coffee and talk, or other times with the students themselves after a game. As well as running the school, he often taught some of the subjects and for 60 years coached the baseball, basketball and football teams himself, even at 87 when he was still headmaster. The man was amazing and an inspiration as too what vision, passion, and concern of one person can accomplish if the desire and persistence are there.

So, it doesn't look like I'll be able to finish this challenge. I kept putting off finishing W, because it just was too convoluted and hard to follow, and wasn't very enjoyable. And time passed, and now it's almost out of time. So this will in all likelihood be the first time that I have not completed my own challenge! :'-( Oh well, there's always next time.

Speaking of next time, sorry I'm behind in getting my Spring Challenge posted. Rest assured, it will be up very shortly!

How are you coming along, Honibabi? Thing you'll finish Ben Hur in time?

You are so far into Ben Hur... don't give up now! And I'll tell you what, if there are 150 or more pages left in it to read, there is at least one category that the book can fit into in my new challenge, soooo... ;-)

Oh, and I got my challenge up at last! I usually try to do it a week in advance, not a day or two in advance, so I apologize for the delay.

There is definitely more than 150 pages, but that sounds like cheating to me. LOL. You're the organizer, so I will follow your rules.

Have to start figuring out my next reads for the challenge. HHMMM..

Glad I finally read it.