“Whenever you read a good book, somewhere in the world a door opens to allow in more light.”
~Vera Nazarian
Hello Lovelies!
How is your year of reading going? I’m pretty happy with the pile of books and audio books that I’ve managed to get through so far. What about you?
If you are new to my blog, let me get you up to date. In January a group of us embarked on the inaugural Cauldrons and Cupcakes Reading Challenge. We’re reading books and sharing our recommendations, and putting a little money aside for every book, which we will then donate at Christmas.
Already we have read some fine books, and learned about new reading possibilities from our friends who have posted their own recommendations. I’ve discovered so many wonderful new books and authors, and I won’t be running out of reading ideas any time soon.
It’s still not too late to join us. Here’s what you need to do.
The Book Reading Challenge 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, come on board. 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, 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.
I look forward to hearing about your August reading and what you have planned for September.
Go ahead and them, or pop over to Facebook and join me there.
Happy Reading!
Lots of love, Nicole ❤ xx
I think this is a good idea, but I don’t think I’ll have time to do it. :,( How does sharing work? I’ve never done it before.
Reading Rudolf Steiner’s “Atlantis and Lemuria.” Finished “Angels of Wrath,” by Gordon Winterfield.
How did you find the Steiner book? I’d love to know!
In August I read the following books:
-The Animators by Kayla Rae Whitaker. I discovered this book after hearing the author speak at the Byron Bay Writers Festival. It’s the story of two misfit and poor young women at a posh university who become friends and dynamic collaborators with their own animation studio. It follows their lives and friendship through sudden illness, family tragedy and deaths. I loved this book and have continued to think about the characters long after I turned the last page.
– The Paris Wedding by my friend and fellow Sister of the Pen, Charlotte Nash. Have you ever made a choice that closed off other choices to you, and you didn’t realise just how much your decision had cost you until much later, even though it was the right one? That’s the central premise of this book. The Paris Wedding is a sweeping tale that takes us from outback New South Wales to Paris, and that examines the big questions about love, loyalty, family and what it takes to follow your heart. I’m so ready for a trip to Paris now, based on the evocative descriptions in this book, and maybe a detour to the Elvis Festival in Parkes, NSW as well. Loved this read, Char!
Audio Books I listened to:
– The Life Changing Magic of Not Giving a F*ck – written and narrated by Sarah Knight. Oh my goodness I laughed listening to this, but it’s also an excellent book, full of practical ideas about how to care less about what other people think. I needed the laughs, and I needed this book. Highly recommend! And warning – it’s full of swears so think twice about where you listen to it.
– Sleep Smarter: 21 essential strategies to sleep your way to a better body, better health and bigger success. Written and narrated by Shawn Stevenson. I’d already read the book, and listening to it as an audio book was brilliant. SO much wisdom here and it has really helped me to manage my sleep better. If you struggle with sleep issues this is the book or audio book for you!
And I read my own memoir in draft. Again. Happy to note that it is getting better with every draft 🙂
Curious about The Animators. Will add onto TBR list. As will finding a print version of The Life Changing Magic book.
Paris, I can never decide if I want to go to, always oscillate over a visit there. Probably wait til do with family (sister & brother-in-law have apartment in 2nd quarter which Charlotte knows better than me 🙂 )
I have Liz Gilbert’s book in print. Happy to lend it to you. Paris? You must! Animators? God, loved it! Beautifully written, well crafted characters that stay with you. Wish I’d bought the print book – mine’s a kindle version. Still might buy the print copy as I’d love to be able to read it again and pick it apart as a study in writing style.
I have placed hold at library for Animators (which will give me time to read others first).
I didn’t copy/paste full title successfully *headdesk* I meant Sarah’s book The Life-Changing Magic of Not Giving a F*ck: How to Stop Spending Time You Don’t Have with People You Don’t Like Doing Things You Don’t Want to Do (not Gilbert’s book, which has never appealed to me for some reason, no idea why).
Paris is, complicated.
Due to a variety of unwellness-es across the entire month of August, not much reading done (audio books are exhausting for me as they need me to “listen” aka concerted, focused attention – one of the hardest things to do when tired mixed with my deafness).
Actually had to look goodreads up to see if I did manage anything. Yay I did!
I read “Aunty Lee’s Chilled Revenge” (Singaporean Mystery #3) by Ovidia Yu.
This series could probably be classed as cozy mysteries. Being in set in Singapore with the lead character an older lady who runs a cafe means a place/culture I do not know much about, crime and lots of food (recipes in back of the book, though I’m not about to start trying to make my own lotus moon cakes 🙂 )
Am hopeful September will be better for reading:
Currently reading a YA novel, “Frogkisser” by Garth Nix (half fantasy/fairy tale style).
Next is “The art of stillness : adventures in going nowhere” by Pico Iyer.
Have picked up from library “Medical Medium” by Anthony William which keeps coming across my path in many directions
Plus I have a book for dabbling in “A user’s guide to the universe : surviving the perils of black holes, time paradoxes, and quantum uncertainty” by Dave Goldberg. It’s a little old (2010) but hopefully will help me to expand my lexicon and understanding for connecting into some of my team (cause asking my son is just brain-hurty territory even if he does do a good job of making it pleb friendly lol 😀 )
Lotus moon cakes!! Hurry up, Chinese New Year 😀
I know! (not helped by finding a store that stocks them nearly all year 😀 )
You should definitely not have told me that! But I think my birthday warrants tea and mooncakes and colouring. Don’t you?
Absolutely! On all fronts!