UPDATE: If you’re looking for the list of Fall into Reading participants (and a place where you can add your name to the list!), click on over to HERE.
In my few short months of blogging, I’ve discovered that I am not the only person who has stacks of books yet to be read, who buys new books before finishing the old, who has grand intentions of reading certain books…intentions that sometimes get left behind. I’m not the only one who has several books going at once or who loves the feel and smell of a brand new book. I’ve got lots of company! Many of you shared in the comments to this post that you love reading as much as I do – and I’m so glad to know that!
In an effort to challenge myself, and to allow all of us to share a little more of our love of reading and books, I’m introducing a Fall Into Reading Challenge. Here’s the scoop:
Who: Everyone is invited to join in!
What: The Fall Into Reading Challenge encourages you to set goals for your personal and/or family reading. Everyone who wants to participate will make a list of books that they’d like to read (or finish) during the next few months. We’ll share these goals with each other, and then share our results at the end of the challenge.
When: Um…Fall. 
The challenge will take place from September 23, 2006 to December 21, 2006.
Where: I’ll put up a Mr. Linky here on Callapidder Days on September 21st where you can submit a link to your own Fall Into Reading Challenge blog post. All I ask is that your post include a list of the books you want to or plan to read this Fall, and include a link back to my post that contains the Mr. Linky, so we can spread the book-love around.
Why: To engage in a little goal-directed reading. I love to read and will do it no matter what, but I’m thinking that a solid, stated goal will help me read through some of the books that I’ve been intending to read, or books that I’ve started but not finished. Shocking as it may sound, I sometimes spend more time blogging and reading blogs than I do reading all the books scattered throughout our house. I want to make sure that I keep working my way through all the great books I already have.
How: Start thinking now about the books you want to put on your list. Browse through Barnes & Noble and ask friends for recommendations. Maybe there’s a classic that you want to read, maybe you started a Bible study but never finished it, maybe you’ve been meaning to read that book on parenting or marriage but just haven’t picked it up yet. Get that list together (you have a good two weeks to work on it), write your post and then come by on September 21st to enter your link!
Some other thoughts:
*Be creative. Are there books you want to read to your children? Put them on the list! Want to stack up your books and post a picture of your goal along with your list? Go for it! Want to promise not to buy any more books until you read all the ones on your list? Do it! (Just don’t expect me to do the same – I don’t think I’m that strong!)
*Be ambitious. The important thing isn’t whether or not you are able to cross off every single item on your list. It’s reading more, reading things you want to read, and enjoying the books that you do read. So don’t list every book you ever want to read in your entire life – the challenge is just three months, you know. But make a list that will challenge you to go a little further than you might have done without these goals to spur you on.
*Be motivated. As a little extra incentive, I will be sending one lucky participant a $10 gift certificate to (where else?) Amazon.com. I’ll do a random drawing from the names of everyone who posts both an initial list and a post about their results at the end of the challenge.
Feel free to grab the Fall Into Reading graphic on my sidebar and include it on your blog.
I’m looking forward to seeing who will take me up on this challenge!
Oh HOW exciting. Me, Me Me….I want to be in. I will come back the 21st =))
I’m definitely in, especially with the possibility of winning $10 for more books! I have been thinking of books I want to read, but oftentimes my non-fiction books get set aside for fiction, and even fiction that I want to read sometimes gets pushed aside for whatever else I end up picking up.
I also love the idea of including a few read aloud books, which I have been sort of pushing aside as well.
Well, seeing you were talking about me in the 1st paragraph, I am so in! Give me a good novel and I can finish it quickly but I’ve got “harder” books, that I wanna finish but just have to make a goal of it! Will need a reminder before Sept. 21 to put up a post!
So, are you getting a kickback from Amazon or Barnes & Noble or any other book stores for this?
Good idea, but I will not be guilted into reading books that are perfectly happy collecting dust on my nightstand!
Can I draw the name at the end?
(the real anonymous)
LOVE it!!! I for one don’t have to look farther than my nightstand. I can think of four of the top of my head that I sooo want to finish and just can’t seem to get to. This will surely help motivate me. Awesome!!!! Laura
I’m in…This is such a terrific plan! It will be great to see everyone’s lists.
And just because I’m annoyed at the real anonymous, I want to say that I don’t feel GUILTED, I feel INVITED. It’s a much nicer way to be, I think.
What a great idea! This is exciting for me because the only way I can participate is by getting my blog site up and running before September 21. Please pray that will happen! Otherwise I will miss the blessing and not be entitled to the drawing
Yay! I love stuff like this! Great idea! I’ll be compiling my list in these next 2 weeks; maybe even a homeschool list for my son and I to read aloud, too.
Hmmmm, my gears are turning…
Brilliant idea. I love the challenge and
want to do this. But my goal will be laughable. If I can just figure out a way to read a book while rehearsing, I’d stand a chance.
Okay, maybe the accountiblity will spur me on. Count me in.
Too cool! I just finished participating in the Summer Reading Challenge (see here), and wanted to do something like it for Fall — you’ve given me the opportunity! Thanks!
I’ll be back on the 21st with my list of books (there’s ALWAYS a huge stack on my dresser, as I review books, and can’t seem to stay away from the library… not to mention my OWN collection of unread books! LOL)
<>< Mizbooks
I love this idea. I told my husband about it and he wants to participate as well.
Absolutely count me in. I marked it on my blogging calendar (yes, I DO have one.) I’ll sart compiling a list with what’s sitting on my nightstand, end tables, etc. and come back on the 21st. Great idea!
This is SO me! But, I’m starting the Daniel Beth Moore study, so no time for extraneous reading for a while!
I’d like “book reports”! Nothing is better than not being able to read, but getting a great synopsis with a few quotes!
My, now, this is very creative! My problem isn’t BUYING the books…it’s not even STARTING them…it’s FINISHING them (lol). I like this little challenge.
Hmmmm, already thinking what’s gonna be on this list
.
I think I might just try this. I’m not very good at keeping goals. But it will be neat to see what others are reading.
This is great, everyone! I’m so glad you all are interested in participating! I’ll post a reminder next week. I’m really looking forward to seeing everyone’s list and finding out how we all do with the challenge.
Thanks!
qHow fun.
I’m in.
Well you had to go ahead and say “prize” now, didn’t you? I could pass on the challenge otherwise! Seriously this is a good challenge. I’m going to go put a stack together and post a picture.
Hi, this my first time at your blog, and I must say, I love the color. My favorite color is green.
Anyway, “Fall into Reading” is a great idea. Count me in!
Sounds like a great idea! I read voraciously, and get a lot of books from the library, so I don’t always know what I’m going to read from month to month. But, I do have a fair amount of books I have bought and still are waiting to be read. Believe it or not, a few weeks ago, I started trying to “work on my stack” – so this will be perfect.
Thanks for sponsoring this!
I think this is a wonderful thing. I’d love to join in
My reading sure will go down as soon as the semester starts, but I think I can read about 3 books a month.
I have almost 100 books on Mt. TBR and I keep buying books. Heck, I’m a student, I can’t afford buying books
I really need to do this. I’m bad about not reading for myself now, and I’m like you – sometimes I read more blogs than books.
What a GREAT idea! I need to read the stacks of books that keep finding themselves into my house (how DO they do that?), so this will be great accountability! Thanks!
I don’t know how I missed this post, but I just posted about my “to be read” pile yesterday – well, actually, “to be finished.” Maybe I’ll even get a little fiction in…
Please remind me, though (easily distracted one, here!)!
Thanks, Katrina!
Love the idea, but as I’m already a very active reader, I don’t know that I need (or that my family wants) me to read even more…
But I think this is a fabulous idea. Anything to get people reading is a good thing.
What a GREAT idea! Thanks for sharing.
Kilikina
My Blog
Email Me
Sounds like a great idea and I love reading so I’d like to be in!
Thanks for thinking of it.
I wasn’t going to do this at first because my reading tends to fall along the lines of whatever my favorite authors have out, and, if there is nothing on that front, whatever else captures my eye at the Christian book store. But there are a few books that I’ve been wanting to read “some day,” this this would be a good way to actually get those off the back burner. So, I’m in!
I’m definitely in. I need to force myself to get back to my first love, reading (books, not blogs).
This sounds like a lot of fun. I have at least 400 books in what I call my library. I better start the list.
Christina all that blog
I’m in!! You describe me perfectly. I have at least 100 (honest) used books I’ve bought over the years sitting on my closet shelf waiting to be read. In the meantime I still haunt the used book stores, buy new books and check books out of the library. If I limit myself to the books on that shelf, I may actually whittle that pile down.
I want to play!! I’m a bit computer stupid, though, and haven’t yet figured out how to “link”. When I accomplish that, I would be delighted to add your very cute button and a link on my page. I’ll keep working on it! Great idea, by the way!
It sounds like fun! I can’t wait to see everyone’s lists. Good idea, Katrina!
Even though I’ve already met my goal of reading 60 books in ’06, I’m ready to play some more!
I’m going to work on getting my list up, and I’ll be back on the 21st to post my link.
Okay, I’m in, too! I’m excited, as I have been a bookworm all my life. I have a pile of books waiting for me. I’ll see you tomorrow!
Judy
I’m in! I will have to spend a little time getting my list together. See you soon.
Ooh, I love this! I’m in:)
I’m in. Getting my list together.I’ll have it together by the 23rd.
I’m in, too! I LOVE this idea, thanks for sharing it!!
Katrina,
I posted an entry on my blog about the challenge. I’m looking forward to it!
Christy
Finally ot around to it, just because.
I love this challenge and plan to participate. When I started gathering my books to make my list, I started reading and finished the first book before I even finished the list. I still need to finish and post my list – I mean to soon – but in the meantime, I blogged about your challenge and my first book completed toward it.
I hope I can still join in on this challenge!
Is it too late to join?
KarenW – Please join in – it’s not too late! Just post your link on this post.
Hi! I’d like to join. Please add my name to your list.