Random Reading Challenge

Since defining reading deliberately for myself, I’ve looked at several reading challenges for 2010 that will help me live up to the potential of my ideas. One of the challenges I’ve been pondering is CaribousMom’s Random Reading Challenge. Here is some information about this challenge:

For this challenge, readers will be choosing books randomly from their TBR stacks. You may select one of three levels of participation:

Level I: You are just a tad compulsive about your reading – you love your lists and schedules. Being spontaneous is not something that comes naturally to you. To complete the challenge, force yourself out of your rut and read just six books.

Level II: You really want to break away from all those lists, but you do still have a responsibility to your reading groups, other challenges and all those review books. Six books is too little, but twelve is too much. Stretch a little and read nine books for the challenge.

Level III: Throw away the lists, don’t look at your schedule, bring on the joy that comes with the freedom to chose books randomly. Read twelve books for the challenge.

Rules:

NO lists allowed. Books for the challenge are chosen one at a time when the mood strikes.
Sign up at any time during the challenge period using Mr. Linky below. Please give me a direct link to your blog post about the challenge. If you do not have a blog, no worries. Simply enter your name and leave the URL box on Mr. Linky blank.
Book reviews are not required, but if you want to write a review I will be providing a review Mr. Linky after August 1st.
Books are selected one at a time randomly. You can check out CaribousMom’s post to find out more.

I am signing up for Level I. I thought long and hard about Levels II or III because up to two books a month is reasonable, but I don’t want it to dominate the first half of the year. The point of reading deliberately is to prevent my reading by being dominated by anything other than my own desires. My plan is to use it to make a dent in my previously requested books. I’m hoping that in and of itself doesn’t constitute a list (that just occurred to me, hmmm…). I have them tagged in LibraryThing, so I’ll use that numbering when I pick my random book. This should be a fun way to read about 13% of that list.

At this point, this and What’s In a Name?3 will be my only reading challenges. I’ve considered any number of historical fiction reading challenges, but I think two challenges is going to be my limit.

At 2010.01.02 17:29, Kathy R (Bermudaonion) said:

Good luck with your challenges, Jennifer!

[Reply]

At 2010.01.02 18:25, A Bookshelf Monstrosity said:

This is the first challenge I ever signed up for right after I started blogging. I’ve really enjoyed it so far. Good luck with your 2 challenges in 2010. (I’m also signed up for What’s in a Name.)

At 2010.01.02 18:33, Stacy said:

Choosing only 2 challenges is very smart. I went a little crazy this year. Good luck!

Mark Ruffalo was in that? Quiz

At 2010.01.02 18:44, Sandy said:

I’m participating in this one, but I’m sucking at it. I insanely signed up for 12 books, and have only read 3. Gonna have to get moving on this one.

At 2010.01.02 19:53, Lisa said:

I’m doing this one but am still plugging away on my first book. I’m so hoping that now that the holiday are past, I can really get back to my reading. It’s too cold to do anything else!

At 2010.01.02 23:23, The Kool-Aid Mom said:

LOL… that’s how I’ve always read, which I why I’ve gone to planning just about every book to read for the whole year, as well as making list monthly and trying to hit that. It would seem that I need a little organization.

Good luck with both of your challenges I’m doing the What’s in a Name?3 Challenge, too. I’ve made a list for that already, too

Push Winners, Hibernatin’s Over, and I’m Gonna Kill That Darn CAT!

At 2010.01.03 19:00, Margot said:

Wow – only two challenges! Good for you. You are my hero when it comes to Reading Deliberately but I guess I should have followed your minimalist example when it came to challenges. Good luck with your reading year.

Wondrous Words #161

Hello fellow word-lovers. After three weeks off to mend my aching hand, I’m back to share a few words I’ve discovered in my reading. While reading The Red Pony I found some interesting new[...]

At 2010.01.03 21:08, Fyrefly said:

You should consider joining the Go Review That Book! group on LT – it’s not exactly random, but it is someone else picking your next read for you – and you can have them pick from whatever tag you’d like.