2011 Take a Chance Challenge

January 1-December 31, 2011

Life With Books is hosting the third Take a Chance Challenge. This unique reading challenge is all about how we choose what books we read. By participating in this challenge, I am sure to find some great books that I would otherwise have missed out on.


There are ten different "challenges" or ways in which we can select what we read:


1: Staff Member’s Choice: Go to a bookstore or library that has a “Staff Picks” section. Read one of the picks from that section.


2: Loved One’s Choice: Ask a loved one to pick a book for you to read. (If you can convince them to buy it for you, that is even better!)


3: Blogger’s Choice: Find a “Best Books Read” post from a favorite blogger. Read a book from their list.


4: Critic’s Choice: Find a “Best of the Year” list from a magazine, newspaper or professional critic. Read a book from their Top 10 list.


5: Blurb Book: Find a book that has a blurb on it from another author. Read a book by the author that wrote the blurb.


6: Book Seer Pick: Go to The Book Seer and follow the instructions there. Read a book from the list it generates for you.


7: What Should I Read Next Pick : Go to What Should I Read Next and follow the instructions there. Read a book from the list it generates for you.


8: Which Book Pick: Go to Which Book and use the software to generate a list of books. Read a book from that list.


9: LibraryThing Pick: Go to LibraryThing’s Zeitgeist page. Look at the lists for 25 Most Reviewed Books or Top Books and pick a book you’ve never read. Read the book. (Yes … you can click on MORE if you have to.)


10: Pick A Method: Pick a method for finding a book from the choices listed below (used in previous versions of the challenge).


•Random Book Selection. Go to the library. Position yourself in a section such as Fiction, Non-Fiction, Mystery, Children (whatever section you want). Then write down random directions for yourself (for example, third row, second shelf, fifth book from right). Follow your directions and see what book you find. Check that book out of the library, read it and then write about it. (If you prefer, you can do the same at a bookstore and buy the book!)
•Public Spying. Find someone who is reading a book in public. Find out what book they are reading and then read the same book. Write about it.
•Random Bestseller. Go to Random.org and, using the True Random Number Generator, enter the number 1950 for the min. and 2010 for the max. and then hit generate. Then go to this site and find the year that Random.org generated for you and click on it. Then find the bestseller list for the week that would contain your birthday for that year. Choose one of the bestsellers from the list that comes up, read it and write about it.


I think this is a fun and creative challenge. I will hopefully be able to do all ten.  If you'd like to participate too, visit Life With Books to sign up.