2014 Reading Challenge
Monday, January 20, 2014
As you may have seen over in the right-hand sidebar, I joined the Goodreads 2014 reading challenge. Each year for the past three years, I’ve increased the number of books I’ve read, and I want to do that again this year. In 2013, I read 42 books. I’m challenging myself to do 50 this year.
Along with that, I want to challenge myself as to what I’m reading as well—I need to branch out more, read different genres, new authors, old favorites, and classics that, as an English major, I should have read but never did. So in addition to challenging myself with a number goal, I’m challenging myself with different categories as well.
So here’s how I’m breaking those down, along with the books I either know I want to read, the books I’ve already read, or options for books I might want to read that fall into those categories. If you have suggestions for any of these categories in addition to those I’ve listed, and I’d love your input!
2014 Reading Challenge Categories
| Category | Suggested Titles |
|---|---|
| 1. From my Books to Sample list | Rosings by Karen Aminadra Delia’s Shadow by Jaime Lee Moyer At the Bride Hunt Ball by Olivia Parker Whitney, My Love by Judith McNaught |
| 2. Classic American Literature | Death Comes for the Archbishop by Willa Cather The Portrait of a Lady by Henry James Herland by Charlotte Perkins Gilman |
| 3. Classic British Literature | Sir Gawain and the Green Knight The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins Frankenstein by Mary Shelley Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott Idylls of the King by Alfred Lord Tennyson The Virginians by William Makepeace Thackeray |
| 4. Classic “Other” Literature | My Brilliant Career by Miles Franklin (Australia) Bel-Ami by Guy de Maupassant (France) Faust by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (Germany) The Underdogs by Mariano Azuela (Mexico) |
| 5. Inspirational Contemporary Romance | Once Upon a Prince by Rachel Hauck If the Shoe Fits by Sandra D. Bricker Made to Last by Melissa Tagg A Wedding Date in Hot Springs, Arkansas by Annalisa Daughety |
| 6. General Market Contemporary Romance | Dangerous Curves Ahead by Sugar Jamison Love Overdue by Pamela Morsi Me Before You by Jojo Moyes Wife by Wednesday by Catherine Bybee |
| 7. Fantasy | The Hero’s Lot by Patrick W. Carr Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch Merlin’s Blade by Robert Treskillard |
| 8. Historical Fiction (non-romance) | Shadows and Strongholds by Elizabeth Chadwick The Winter King by Bernard Cornwell Pope Joan by Donna Woolfolk Cross My Lady of Cleves by Margaret Campbell Barnes The Forbidden Queen by Anne O’Brien The Inquisitor’s Wife by Jeanne Kalogridis The Agincourt Bride by Joanna Hickson |
| 9. Inspirational Historical Romance | The Dancing Master by Julie Klassen Love Comes Calling by Siri Mitchell Forsaken Dreams by MaryLu Tyndall The Heiress of Winterwood by Sarah E. Ladd Stealing the Preacher by Karen Witemeyer |
| 10. Lifelong Favorite (re-read) | (too many options to list!) |
| 11. Mystery | Spider Woman’s Daughter by Anne Hillerman A Royal Pain (Her Royal Spyness Mysteries, #2) by Rhys Bowen Murder, She Barked by Krista Davis The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith |
| 12. Nonfiction: History or Biography | Zealot by Reza Aslan Prairie Fever: British Aristocrats in the American West 1830-1890 by Peter Pagnamenta Between Women: Friendship, Desire, and Marriage in Victorian England by Sharon Marcus I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai |
| 13. Nonfiction: Literary Criticism | COMPLETE: What Matters in Jane Austen? by John Mullan |
| 14. Nonfiction: Writing/Professional Development | The Emotion Thesaurus by Angela Ackerman How to Read Literature Like a Professor by Thomas C. Foster Teaching Unprepared Students by Kathleen F. Gabriel Nuts & Bolts: A Practical Guide to Teaching College Composition, Thomas Newkirk, ed. |
| 15. Horror/ Paranormal | The Stand by Stephen King Amish Vampires in Space by Kerry Nietz |
| 16. Romantic Suspense | Suggestions appreciated! |
| 17. Science Fiction | The Atlantis Gene by A.G. Riddle Starship Troopers by Robert A. Heinlein Hyperion by Dan Simmons The Songs Of Distant Earth by Arthur C. Clarke |
| 18. Young Adult | COMPLETE: Divergent by Veronica Roth |
| 19. New-to-Me Romance Author | Currently Reading: Lisa Kleypas, Secrets of a Summer Night |
| 20. New-to-Me Non-Romance Author | There are so many on this list already—I will most likely use one of the books listed in another category (which I don’t read for that category) and count it here. |
| 21. General (non-romance) Fiction | S. by J. J. Abrams Six Years by Harlan Coben Dangerous Women, George R.R. Martin and Gardner R. Dozois, eds. |
| 22. Nonfiction: Religious or self-improvement | Rise of the Time Lords: A Geek’s Guide to Christianity by Michael Belote Health at Every Size by Linda Bacon Jesus Feminist: An Invitation to Revisit the Bible’s View of Women by Sarah Bessey Hot & Heavy: Fierce Fat Girls on Life, Love & Fashion, Virgie Tovar, ed. |
| 23. Time Travel | Return of the Rose by Theresa Ragan Lightning by Dean Koontz 11/22/63 by Stephen King Doomsday Book by Connie Willis |
| 24 & 25. SHU-WPF Common Core Book | Spring: The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
Fall: TBD |
| 26. Other | When He Was Wicked (Bridgertons #6) by Julia Quinn |
| 27. Other | It’s in His Kiss (Bridgertons #7) by Julia Quinn |
| 28. Other | On the Way to the Wedding (Bridgertons #8) by Julia Quinn |
| 29. Other | Marriage of Mercy by Carla Kelly |
| 30. Other | Darling Beast (Book 7, Maiden Lane Series) by Elizabeth Hoyt (Fall 2014) |
| 31. Other | |
| 32. Other | |
| 33. Other | |
| 34. Other | |
| 35. Other | |
| 36. Other | |
| 37. Other | |
| 38. Other | |
| 39. Other | |
| 40. Other | |
| 41. Other | |
| 42. Other | |
| 43. Other | |
| 44. Other | |
| 45. Other | |
| 46. Other | |
| 47. Other | |
| 48. Other | |
| 49. Other | |
| 50. Other |
KayeDacus.com 
I want to read more romantic suspense this year as well. I read a lot of romance and I used to be a big fan of mysteries, but for some reason I just don’t blend those two together enough! I started off the year with No One to Trust by Lynette Eason, which I’d definitely recommend. Marta Perry, Mindy Starns Clark and Karen Harper also write good ones.
Good luck with your challenges!
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For Romantic Suspense Inspy suggestions, I’d definitely recommend trying Irene Hannon. She reminds me of classic Dee Henderson but, IMO, better. 🙂
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so thrilled to see Scott Lynch here 🙂
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I read 45 books in onlh 10 month. I didn’tget to read in November and December. I hope that I can read more this year.
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I don’t read a lot of romantic suspense, but I started reading Danni Pettrey’s novels and enjoyed them. I also liked Camy Tang’s Protection for Hire duology! My mom reads a lot of Inspy Romantic Suspense and some of her favorite authors are Dee Henderson, Lynette Eason, Irene Hannon, Ronnie Kendig, etc.
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Just finished The Heiress of Winterwood…..Awesome story!!! I didn’t want to put it down and, unfortunately for my alarm clock, ended up reading much further into the night than was good for me (at least to allow me to be upright and un-cranky during the day!). Enjoy!
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