Join Our Book Reading Challenge – October 2017

“Fairy tales are more than true: not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten.” 
~ Neil Gaiman, Coraline

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, at least.

It’s still not too late to join us .Let me explain the Challenge to you:

It involves four simple steps:

1. 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 audiobook. 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.
2. 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!
3. 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.
   
4. 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, 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.

So, that’s our Reading Challenge.

What books have you been reading or listening to this past month?

Go ahead and tell us in the comments below, or pop over to Facebook and join me there.

Happy Reading!

Lots of love, Nicole ❤  xx

Here’s my Completed Reading List for September:

• My memoir final draft, again! Night Sky Walkabout tells the story of my year in the Kimberley where I met and was forever changed by the love and guidance of my Aboriginal Aunties. Only a few changes left to go and it will be all done.
• Tarin of the Mammoths – the Exhile by my good friend, Jo Sandhu. This book, for middle grade children, is an engaging and thought-provoking tale about a boy called Tarin who has a twisted leg, and cannot become a hunter the way other boys and men of his tribe are expected to. It is set in the Stone Age, and entwines themes of being different, journeying, friendship, spirituality and nature. I absolutely loved it and can’t wait to read the second book in the series.
• I also listened to What I Know For Sure by Oprah Winfrey – narrated by Oprah herself with her reassuring and familiar voice, she explores the lessons and wisdoms she’s gathered to her through life. I found myself replaying parts over and over because the messages were relevant, supportive and inspiring.

And for October I’ve just finished Peter Shankman’s ‘Faster Than Normal – Turbocharge your focus productivity and success with the secrets of the ADHD brain’. It was so good that I’m now listening to the audio version of it. Please go buy this book – if you or someone you love had ADHD it’s a godsend. And if you don’t it will still give you so many solid tips for increasing your focus and productivity, as well as becoming an all-round better human being. Peter also has an excellent Podcast by the same name.