bookworm

Let’s talk about the reading challenge

loesielou8 Comments

Friend E and I were talking the other day and the topic turned to reading, which doesn’t happen a lot because E is not a big reader. She is a wonderful and supportive friend, and as such patiently listens to my ramblings about bookish things and is a loyal reader of this blog (hi, E! *wave*).
The conversation kicked off with: ‘So, what’s up with the reading challenge?’
The answer to that was short, because with 8 weeks of the year left + 13 items of the reading challenge to go = I admit defeat.
But I assure you as I did her: I will still read on and try to get as far as possible.

Then we discussed the 2026 reading challenge, which I hadn’t really thought of yet as I’m a terrible planner and especially the end of the year has a way of sneaking up on me. But E was On It, and her enthusiasm was catchy and with her permission I’m totally running with her idea.
And this idea is that – drumroll – the Reading Challenge 2026 is open to suggestions. Yes, that’s right: YOU can create an entry for the new reading challenge!
I’m not talking about book titles, but about item descriptions. Want me to read a book that has something particular on the cover? Let me know! Want me to read a book that is set in your home country? A book that contains pictures? A book that is about your hobby or profession? Let me know, let me know, let me know! Check this year’s Reading Challenge for inspiration.
Go crazy, have fun! Anything goes and nothing is off limit because I’ll try anything; I’m excited to find out what you’ll come up with!

The reading challenge will have 25 spots available, and entries will be on a first come, first serve base.
You can leave your suggestion in the comments below or reach out via email (yay, there is now official email! bookworm@bookworminthecity.com), and of course your input will be acknowledged!

Back in action

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I cannot recall a time in my life where I went so long without the urge to pick up a new book. Library books were returned unread. I went to the bookstore and bought a book just because I felt I had to, not because my heart was in it: haven’t touched it since I brought it home.
This went on for months, and it got to a point where I was starting to get worried: what was wrong with me?
Turns out, it was just Life. Under normal circumstances, books are my escape from reality but these past few months, reality got a bit too real. Several friends and family members were dealing with some serious stuff all at the same time, and it made it difficult for me to focus on anything other than them. Thankfully things are moving upwards, and I’ve found my fingers itching to get hold of a bundle of paper, my nose twitching at the smell of a bookstore. So, I went to my stack of comfort reads to get myself started again and find myself currently in the middle one of Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum novels.
What a relief to be able to announce: I’m back!

Notorious Nineteen / Janet Evanovich

d’oh

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Here I was wondering why the heck my posts weren’t being sent/published. Turns out, December 2025 is a long way out. Oops. Now that I know how I made that mistake I can’t promise I won’t make it again, but I will be paying closer attention. Also, I’ve reset the upcoming posts so keep an eye out!

Blurred lines

loesielouLeave a comment

It’s been a very productive year for this bookworm, averaging a book a week. I don’t think I ever managed to do that before. Whether it’s dedication, or a tendency to ignore the real world with its grown-up responsibilities, I’ve been reading so much that the letters on the page started to become blurry.
The optician I went to see for this problem assured me that the books weren’t the problem, but I was. “Don’t worry, it’s very common for people your age.”
…
Bad news: I can no longer ignore the fact that I’m aging.

Good news: turns out, I look great in glasses (maybe he lied to make me feel better after his earlier comment, but I choose to believe it anyway)

Best news: I can get back to reading!

Reading challenge 2024 – update

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No, I have not forgotten about the reading challenge!
I’ve just enjoyed a lot of books that didn’t fit any of the categories remaining. Rest assured, the upcoming posts will be reading challenge categories. And although we’re already in September (yikes!), I’m confident that I’ll make it to a finished list this year.
What the list currently looks like:

  1. A book based on a historic event
  2. A memoir
  3. A book set in the 70s
  4. A graphic novel
  5. A book I started but never finished
  6. A book set in the future
  7. A nonfiction book
  8. A book with bad reviews
  9. A book set in my country
  10. A book published this year
  11. A book with a number in the title
  12. A book written by an author with the same initials as me
  13. A book set during a holiday
  14. A book that is set in the decade I was born
  15. A book I own but never read
  16. A book with a green cover
  17. A book with an antonym in the title
  18. A book everyone is talking about
  19. The title starts with M
  20. A book with a body part in the title
  21. A book with a verb in the title
  22. A trilogy

Onto the next book!

The Bookworm packs a suitcase

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Hiking boots, sunglasses, and SPF50.
Check, check, and check.
One big book.
…
Two medium-sized books.
Check.
A third medium-sized book, for just-in-case.
…
Two medium-sized books, so there’ll be space left for a book souvenir.
Check, check.
It turns out there’s not enough space in my bag for two books. Toss a coin to decide which one.
Check.

Read: 20 pages.
Bought: 4 books. (borrowed space from travel companion to get them home)

Blurbs

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Blurbs confuse me.
They can annoy me, especially when they take up so much space that the back of a book has no summary.
They can make me suspicious if they appear on the front cover and the back alike. It makes me wonder why the book needs all these recommendations: it feels a bit like an over-eager salesperson jumping at you.
Blurbs can leave me stumped. Some books have the blurbs continued on the inside, and they can take up several (several!) pages. Three, four, pages of nothing but raving quotes just seems a tad much to me. Is there such a thing as a magic number for blurbs?
And sometimes blurbs surprise me, with names of people I don’t know. I do tend to look these people up, after I finished the book and agree with what they said because I’ll reason that if we liked the same book, they might have published something themselves that I might like. Is that why blurbs exist? To sell us other books?
Blurbs confuse me.

Reading Challenge 2024

loesielouLeave a comment

Oh yes, this is happening again!
New year, new reading opportunities. And I’m starting months earlier this year, so I have high hopes for a fully checked list by the time we reach end of December.
So, with the appropriate fanfare and glee, I hereby present: Reading challenge 2024!

  1. A book based on a historic event
  2. A memoir
  3. A book set in the 70s
  4. A graphic novel
  5. A book I started but never finished
  6. A book set in the future
  7. A nonfiction book
  8. A book with bad reviews
  9. A book set in my country
  10. A book published this year
  11. A book with a number in the title
  12. A book written by an author with the same initials as me
  13. A book set during a holiday
  14. A book that is set in the decade I was born
  15. A book I own but never read
  16. A book with a green cover
  17. A book with an antonym in the title
  18. A book everyone is talking about
  19. The title starts with M
  20. A book with a body part in the title
  21. A book with a verb in the title
  22. A trilogy

Anyone else doing a reading challenge?