Beginning on March 20, and ending on June 21, feel free to join in my Springtime Seasonal Reading Challenge! Anybody and everybody is welcome to participate at any time, even after it has begun.

The challenge is in two levels, Level 1 being a four book challenge and Level 2 being a six book challenge. The goal is to choose a level, pick the books you want to read provided that they fit into the categories given, and be the first to read them all before the end of the season. Winner of the Level 2 challenge will be awarded a point from me (unless, of course, I win!). The books chosen have to be at least 150 pages long, to keep the challenge fair for everybody. To participate, just post a list of the books you want to read, matching them to the corresponding numbers of the categories they fit into (see my entry below as an example), and then keep us updated as you read each one. If anybody needs clarification on the rules or suggestions for books to choose from, feel free to either post here about it or shoot me an email and I'd be glad to help. :-)

This challenge is a little bit different from others out there, because we not only read the books, but we also discuss them with each other and share our thoughts about them as we get to know each other. While discussing the books isn't required for participation, feel free to join us in our conversations. It's fun, and you might even make some new friends along the way!

All the best to you and yours, and let us all #SpringIntoReading together! :-D

1. Read a book by author Tom Clancy.
2. Read a book with the first letter of the title being "I".
3. Read a book with a person's name in the title.
4. Read a book by an indie author.
5. Read somebody's debut novel.
6. Read a book with one of the following shapes in the title: circle, square, triangle, oval, rectangle, octagon, hexagon, pentagon, star, or crescent. (I'd say heart, too, but that would make it too easy, since every fourth romance novel seems to have that word in the title.)

My choices:

1. The Teeth of the Tiger, by Tom Clancy
2. Inventors and Impostors, by Daniel Diehl and Mark P. Donnelly
3. The Log from the Sea of Cortez, by John Steinbeck
4. A Devil of a Time, by Gretchen Jeannette
5. Preserving Patients: Anecdotes of a Junior Doctor, by Tom Parsons
6. The Lone Star Ranger, by Zane Grey

An indie author is an author who independently publishes his/her books. There are a lot of them coming out in recent years, and they could really use our help in reading, reviewing, or otherwise publicizing their books. You can usually tell if a book is published independently if it a) doesn't list a publishing company anywhere on or in it or b) lists Createspace as a publisher, which is a popular platform for indie authors to use.

Interesting choices! I've never heard of any of those books before. What is the Steven King one about?

I did decide to switch out, "Gerald's Game" by Stephen King for "Are you there Vodka, It's me Chelsea" by Chelsea Handler. I will be starting late and Gerald's game is another 400+ page book that I started before and didn't get very far on. The Handler book is under 300 and looks like an easier read.

Stephen King is very hit or miss for me. I took this book summary from Amazon:

“And now the voice which spoke belonged to no one but herself. Oh my God, it said. Oh my God, I am all alone out here. I am all alone.”

Once again, Jessie Burlingame has been talked into submitting to her husband Gerald’s kinky sex games—something that she’s frankly had enough of, and they never held much charm for her to begin with. So much for a “romantic getaway” at their secluded summer home. After Jessie is handcuffed to the bedposts—and Gerald crosses a line with his wife—the day ends with deadly consequences. Now Jessie is utterly trapped in an isolated lakeside house that has become her prison—and comes face-to-face with her deepest, darkest fears and memories. Her only company is that of the various voices filling her mind…as well as the shadows of nightfall that may conceal an imagined or very real threat right there with her…

Doesn't really interest me right now. I will get to it eventually.

Still working on Ben Hur, but sooooo close.

I'd love to hear what you think of The Kite Runner when you read it. I read it for a past challenge... or at least tried to. I switched books because I really wasn't enjoying it much.

The book you are currently reading sounds very interesting! I'd like to hear what you think of it.

Congrats on finishing Ben Hur! Woot woot! :-D So glad you liked it!

I'm going to start on The Log from the Sea of Cortez first. I'm really looking forward to that one. I really like seafaring tales, I really like nonfiction, and I really like Steinbeck's writing, so the book certainly looks promising.

King novels I liked:
Misery **** (the movie is very accurate to the book)
Dark Tower series (read first 3 - don't judge book by the movie)****
Salem's lot ***
Needful Things *** (movie is good too)

King Novels that I didn't like:
Longoliars
Pet Cemetary *
TommyKnockers

I want to read more King Classics like Cujo, but he puts so much filler into his books....Stephen King was asked once, what scares him. He said: I am lying in bed and there is a noise. I reach for the light switch but can't find it. Something grabs my hand and puts it on the switch. Do I turn on the light? Love that.

I remember your attempt at Kite Runner. I hope I have better success.

I am also a fan of Steinbeck. It is hard to imagine not liking one of his books. I hope you like The Log from the Sea of Cortez.

I am starting, Are you There, Vodka? It's me Chelsea by Chelsea Handler. Moving into a much lighter read.

I Am Malala sounds very interesting, indeed. I always like to read nonfiction showing different points of view around the world.

I'm starting on my Steinbeck book tonight. I'm looking forward to it very much.

Hope you enjoy your Chelsea book! :-)

Looking forward to hearing about the Steinbeck book, Daisy.

I finished, It Wakes in Me and I liked it. The tribal history of the sex rituals used in the book are taken from true accounts which is interesting. I liked the tribal politics of the book. This is book 2 in a trilogy. I found the third one and ordered the first one, so I guess I liked it enough :)

I started Kite Runner and so far I like it. I am only a few chapters in.

How are you doing Daisy?

I'm glad that you liked your book choices!

I'm doing well, thank you. I'm really slacking in this challenge, though, because of all of the other books I have that I need to write reviews for. I've been trying to get caught up on all of those, and haven't been able to attack my other book choices.

I'm still reading Steinbeck's book, and it is very good and definitely quite enjoyable.

How have you been? Enjoying the warm weather (finally!)?

I wish it would stay warm. We keep getting beautiful days then cool. I am glad not to have to turn on the air yet, though. Garden mostly in, so I feel accomplished there. :)

I finished Kite Runner. I know you didn't care much for it, but I liked it a lot. I really enjoyed reading about Kabul before Russia and the Taliban. Books like this break down stereotypes in my opinion. Just a terrible thing happening in so many countries and then stereotypes abound and are applied incorrectly across cultures most of us don't understand and can't differentiate. I work with refugees and their resilience always amazes me. Their hope after all they have suffered is inspiring and I can only hope in the same situation, I would be as resilient and resourceful.

I enjoyed the story and cried at several points. I am glad it has a hopeful ending, even though it was a bit unrealistic that Amir would have gotten out of a Taliban house alive. That was the only part that I thought stretched a bit far. Otherwise, I recommend it to anyone interested in learning more about a refugee's experience in a war torn world.

I finished solidly ahead of schedule for the first time. 4 not 6 books! I will take a breather and look forward to the next challenge. I hope you are up for it and good luck in your work.

However, would anybody be interested in a Winter Reading Challenge this year?