Now, more than ever, people are turning to books to help them cope during these trying times. I'm starting this quite late, but I was hoping to resurrect my Seasonal Reading Challenge. Anybody is welcome to join; if you're new to the game, welcome, and if you've participated before, then welcome back!

Starting March 19, and ending June 20, I am hosting my Seasonal Reading Challenge for Spring. If you have read books between March 20 and now that fit into these categories, feel free to count them. For those new to the challenge, the rules are pretty easy:

A Level 1 challenge is four books, a Level 2 challenge is six books (please list the books and authors below), they must fit into the categories provided, and the first to complete each level before the end of the season wins! The first person to complete 6 before me will get a mooch from me! Also, no books under 150 pages are allowed. When you finish the challenge, just post here to let everybody know, and please feel free to discuss with us your opinions of the books you chose as you read them. And if you ever need any help choosing books or understanding the rules, or if you have any ideas you'd like to share for future categories, feel free to contact me either on the forum or by email.

Thank you for your participation in my little battle-of-the-books. Ready, set, read!

1. Read a book by author Dan Brown.
2. Read a book with the first letter of the title being "K".
3. Read a book that is a classified as a cozy mystery.
4. Read a book about somebody who is sick. (Pretty sure everybody here knows where the inspiration for this one came from. ;-) )
5. Read a book taking place in the future.
6. Read an inspirational book. (Something written purposely to uplift your spirits; I think we can all use a little of that right now.)

My choices: (I'm going to do Level 2)
1. Deception Point, by Dan Brown
2. Killing Floor, by Lee Child
3. Cakewalk to Murder, by M.K. Scott
4. Last Wishes, by Brian David Floyd
5. Utopia Pending, by Fallacious Rose, editor (a collection of short stories)
6. Let's All Make the Day Count, by Charlie Daniels (I started this book back in March, I believe, but I'm still reading it.)

2. Kite Runner by khaled hosseini
4. My sisters keeper by Jodi picoult
5. Artemis by Andy Weir
6. Go ask Alice by anonymous

Lindsay

Thanks for joining the challenge! Great choices. I read The Kite Runner a while back, for this challenge actually, and was not very impressed, but I hope you enjoy it. I've heard of Artemis, but I don't know much about it. What is it about? Have you read it before?

Also, what categories do these choices fit into? Just curious. :-)

Artemis - about someone who smuggles contraband to the moon but then gets offered another opportunity to earn lots of money. Artemis is the first city on the moon.

Kite runner is my book beginning with k
My sisters keeper about someone who is sick
Artemis about the future
Go ask Alice my inspirational book - someone recommended this book to me it’s about a teenager whose drink gets spiked and then her life is never the same again.

What made you choose your books?

Artemis sounds quite interesting. I can't wait to know what you think of it when you read it. :-)

I chose my books because most of them (although not all) are books that authors asked me to review for them. I love reviewing books.

When I read Kite Runner, it was just too graphic for me. I don't really care to read love scenes, much less rape scenes. I didn't care very much for the story, either. That said, the author seemed to have talent, and if he had applied himself to a different kind of tale, I might have enjoyed it. Glad you liked it. :-)

What book is next on your list?

I'm nearly finished both Utopia Pending and Let's All Make the Day Count. Both are very good so far. Utopia Pending is very interesting, a collection of short stories by different authors about how they would picture a utopian world. Really enjoying it.

How are you coming along?

Cakewalk to Murder is next on my list. What are you reading now?

I’m currently reading Artemis. It’s set on the moon and the main character has been asked to sabotage the main company who supplies oxygen so another company can take over. I’m not too far into it as my little person has changed her sleep pattern and has been going to bed later, but I have enjoyed the bits I’ve read so far.

How is your grandmother? I hope her shoulder is recovering well.

My grandmother is doing as well as can be expected, considering. She's healing very, very slowly. Thank you for asking.

I found the Kite Runner to be a very moving and realist book. I have worked with refugees and this story is tame compared to actual experiences. It is sad, but their resiliency is inspiring.

I seem to recall Loolat when I participated before. Nice to see familiar people! Congrats on your new family member.

Will you be continuing this with all you have going on?

I can see why somebody would like Kite Runner, it just wasn't my kind of book. :-)

If enough people would like to join, I can do another on September 22, for Fall. Would you be in?

How about you, Loolat? Would you like to give it another go in Fall?

I'm sorry you ended up with a stinker or two in the last batch. Let's hope there's some better ones next time around. Glad you liked Kite Runner, anyway. :-)

If anybody has any good catagory ideas that we haven't done before, feel free to let me know. We've done so many, it's starting to get hard coming up with new ideas, haha.

My ideas:
Book that begins with an "L" :) I think I have only missed "A" and "K", darn.
Read a previously banned book
Read a book about an immigrant experience in America
Read a book recommended by a family member
Read a book you picked up second hand
Read a book with a paranormal theme
Read a book turned into a movie that you have seen and compare them

Looking forward to your fall challenge!