In 2013 I gave the Eclectic Reader Challenge a shot, and just like the TBR Pile Challenge, I didn’t quite make it through—I read 8 of the 12 (67%). I was hesitant at first to join this one again, but I still have quite a few books on my unread shelf that I’d like to knock down, and it was a lot of fun anyway to participate. Here goes nothing!
The 2014 Eclectic Reader Challenge is hosted by Shelleyrae at book’d out: in twelve months, read a book in each of the twelve varied categories. (Note: it doesn’t have to be in any particular order and you can go at your own pace.)
I haven’t picked out everything for this challenge yet, but we’re allowed to choose as we go through the year—no need to come up with everything in advance. The only one I’m kind of nervous about is the “Cozy mystery” genre… it really is completely out of my comfort zone so I’ll have to dig at the library a bit to find something that fits.
I’m considering Let’s Explore Diabetes with Owls by David Sedaris for the “Travel” genre and possibly another Richard Preston book for the “Medical thriller,” after enjoying his The Hot Zone in 2013.
Just like the last year, I’ll write review posts on every book I read in 2014, and when I finish one of these books I’ll check them off and add the links on my master list page under the Book Challenges tab in the menu here.
| Award-winning* | — | The Orphan Master’s Son (2013 Pulitzer) … Andy Johnson |
| True crime** | — | Midnight in Peking … Paul French |
| Romantic comedy | — | The Rosie Project … Graeme Simsion |
| Alternate history | — | The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay … Michael Chabon |
| Graphic novel | — | The Walking Dead Compendium 1 … Robert Kirkman, et al |
| Cozy mystery | — | tbd |
| Gothic | — | Wuthering Heights … Emily Brontë |
| War/military | — | Sophie’s Choice … William Styron |
| Anthology* | — | tbd |
| Medical thriller | — | tbd |
| Travel** | — | tbd |
| Published in 2014* | — | The Martian … Andy Weir |
all fiction except: * — either fiction or non fiction, ** — non fiction
I think i can comfortably recommend a cozy mystery for you. Admittedly it’s by a friend of mine and self published, but I also think it’s really great. Murder at Mount Moriah by Mindy Quigley. It’s available on Amazon.
Thanks! I will check that out. Knowing me, I’ll likely put this genre off until the very end
I’ll be cheering you on to make it this year 🙂 Good luck!
Thanks! Right now I feel a little less pressure, I think for a couple reasons: 1) I didn’t finish last year, and 2) I haven’t locked down all my selections in advance. I’m just going to go with the flow! 🙂
Looks like a few of us will be reading The Walking Dead for our graphic novels 🙂
I can recommend Maisie Dobbs or Phyrne Fisher for cosy crimes.
Good luck
Thanks! I’ll keep those in mind to check out when I get to that genre 🙂