“A book is a dream that you hold in your hand.”
~ Neil Gaiman
Do you love to read?
In January a group of us embarked on the inaugural Cauldrons and Cupcakes Reading Challenge.
Already we have read some fine books, and learned about new reading possibilities from our friends who have posted their own recommendations. My personal reading list is now long enough to get me through until next year, and it was a wonderful resource when it came to loading up on e-books and audio books before I went on holidays.
For those of you who are just joining us now let me explain the Challenge to you. It’s pretty easy!
It involves four simple steps:
- Read or otherwise consume a book each month. You might borrow a book from the library, or buy one. It might be gifted to you, or it might have been waiting for you in some pile beside the bed since who knows when… Or it could be an e-book, or an audio book. It can be any kind of book at all. A novel, a romance, crime, children’s or young adult’s, a non-fiction book like a memoir or a cookbook or a travel book. It could be a graphic novel. Or even a textbook.
- Post the name of the book you are currently reading here on the blog or over on our Cauldrons and Cupcakes Facebook or Instagram page. Feel free to suggest another book that you have already read and enjoyed. That way you’ll be adding to a list of books that we can all dip into and choose from. I love finding new reading recommendations!
- Download the Reading Challenge Bingo Sheet. Each month write the name of the book you have read in the corresponding square. If you read two books in one month it’s fine to allocate one to another month. Or add the extra book to your existing month. Then add a small amount of money to a jar for each book you read. It could be as little as ten cents per book. Here’s the Bingo Sheet for you to download – just click on this link: Book Reading Challenge Bingo Sheet Then start filling it in when you’ve read your first book.
- In December I am going to ask you to use the money you have saved to buy and donate a book to a charity for a Christmas gift OR donate the money to a literacy project or similar. (Even if you only saved ten cents each month $1 will buy you a decent second-hand book just about anywhere.) It will feel great to help someone else to experience the pleasure and comfort that reading brings. The world needs more readers. If you want to team up for this challenge that’s a great idea too!
For those of you who are already participating, I can’t wait to hear about your book recommendations! Pop them in the comments below.
But if you haven’t joined us yet, it’s not too late. And I’d love you to get your friends involved too, so please feel free to share this post far and wide.
On the first Saturday of every month (unless that coincides with the first day of the month, where I post my energetic forecast for the month ahead – in which case, like this month it’s the second Saturday) I’ll post an update here on the blog, and ask you what you are reading and if you have any recommendations to share.
All year we will practice kindness to ourselves by reading.
At year’s end we will pass some of that kindness on to someone else.
Do you want to join me?
Go ahead and write your name below, or pop over to Facebook and join me there.
Happy Reading!
Lots of love, Nicole ❤ xx
That’s such a lovely idea. I need to get reading regularly and have lots of books lined up and have just joined our local book group except it’s in Spanish so I need the translations! It was a challenge Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Marquez
Finished “Into The Magic Shop” A Neurosurgeon’s Quest to Discover the Mysteries of the Brain and the Secrets of the Heart by James Doty MD . Loaned it to my daughter. Well written. Also finished “Glimpsing Heaven” Stories and Science of life after death by Judy Bachrach. Not as delightful as the Magic shop but good non the less. Probably not books anyone else is looking to read.
i will have to try writing short stories of my own.
I recently ordered a lot of book to put my self away from my phone…
I’m going to join and invite my book club ladies to do the same thing.
Oh, how wonderful! Thank you xx
“Caravan of no despair” by Mirabai Starr – quite an awesome read… enjoyed it immensely, love Paul
I’ve recently finished two books (my Feb and March efforts). ‘Ghost Empire’ by Richard Fidler. 2000 years of the history of Constantinople – very good if you enjoy a bit of history. My main take on this one – throughout history the innocent masses have been governed by lunatics and religion. Christians, Muslims and Jews all committing mass slaughter in the name of their own ideology. Nothing’s changed. I think we all should study a bit of history – a real eye opener considering current world events. My March book was ‘Gold Fame Citrus’ by Claire Vaye Watkins. Also relevant to our time – this story is set in the not too distant future, where we’ve stuffed up the environment. Quite different but an easy read and it got me in.
I am going to join in now Nicole.
Reading has always been one of my big loves. 2 kids later my reading is all about green sheep and bigger diggers lol
Time to get back into it and this challenge is perfect. Now to decide on my first book 😁
You know that kids books and reading to kids counts too! I totally heart that you read to them ❤💜💚
I have just read and loved The house of secrets by Sarra Manning.
My little jar is filling up too Nicole. I’ve rentals read Go Set A Watchman by Harper Lee and I’m just about to finish Everest from Sea to Summit by Tim Macartney Snape. I’m already looking forward to the next one.
Watchman was quite an interesting read and I though more ‘real’ than the lyrical beauty of To Kill a Mockingbird
That’s it navasolanature it was more real. 👍