Inspired by POPSUGAR, Uborka is randomly choosing January as an excuse to set a challenge. For those too lazy to click, here’s the list:
- A book with more than 500 pages.
- A classic romance.
- A book that became a movie.
- A book published in the last 12 months.
- A book with a number in the title.
- A book written by someone under 30.
- A book with non-human characters.
- A book that was originally written in a different language.
- A mystery or thriller
- A book with a one-word title.
- A book of short stories.
- A book set in a different country.
- A non-fiction book.
- A popular author’s first book.
- A book from an author you love, that you haven’t read yet.
- A book a friend recommended.
- A Pulitzer-prize winning book.
- A book based on a true story.
- A book from the bottom of your to-read list/pile.
- A book your mum loves.
- A book that scares you.
- A book more than 100 years old.
- A book you chose based entirely on its cover.
- A book that is usually required reading in school.
- A memoir.
- A book you can finish in a day.
- A book with antonyms in the title.
- A book set somewhere you’ve always wanted to visit.
- A book that came out the year you were born.
- A book with bad reviews.
- A trilogy.
- A book from your childhood.
- A book with a love triangle.
- A book set in the future.
- A book set in high school.
- A book with a colour in the title.
- A book that is reputed to make people cry.
- A book with magic.
- A graphic novel.
- A book by an author you’ve never read before.
- A book you have owned for more than a year but have never read.
- A book that takes place in your hometown.
- A book set during Christmas.
- A book written by an author with the same initials as you.
- A book you saw recommended on twitter.
- A play.
- A banned book.
- A book based on or turned into a TV show.
- A book you started but never finished.
- A children’s book.
[This list is not identical to the original one. The Editorial Team didn’t approve of “A book written by a female author,” so inserted something else instead].
We’re going to have Book Club updates on Tuesdays. Perhaps not every Tuesday, but as often as the lazy Uborkans can manage. The idea is to get people to update with what they have been reading, and recommend books to others. Lisa and I are attempting to do as much as possible on the list, without buying any new books, because our to-read piles are ridiculous.
There will be a prize [a book] for the Uborkist who can tick the most boxes by the end of the year.
One point of order remains: Can one book tick multiple boxes? Discuss.
I think there should be a prize for the book that ticks the most boxes.
I was thinking about that, too. That can be an additional challenge.
Is this just in January? That’s quite the challenge in that case… (And I do think books can count in more than one category, but it’s up to you really!)
Ah – by the end of the year. Bell-end, Lyle, learn to read.
Learning to read would be a good start.
If we didn’t have books that ticked more than one box we’d all be committing to reading 53 books in one year. I could do that if I did nothing but read books this year, or if I read almost nothing but Children’s Lit. and YA books.
Still– I do love books, so I’m in, but someone has to explain
“a book based entirely on its cover” ???
Who designs a cover and then writes a book to go with it?
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Well, I think that means you choose the book because you like the cover, doesn’t it? Badly worded.
That sounds plausible.
Agree that the wording on that category is poor.
I also vote for multiple ticks for a single book.
Edits: At Lisa’s suggestion, I have numbered the categories; and I have amended the wording on the one about choosing the book by its cover.
I’m reading a book at the moment that ticks 5 categories, although I’m including category 41 which is the easiest to achieve – simply buy and book and then read it, as by definition it will be a book you own but have never read. Perhaps you should change that too – maybe a book you have owned for more than a year, but never read.
I’m also taking “this year” in category 4 to mean “in the last 12 months”.