Saturday, November 14, 2009

Christmas Reading Challenge

UPDATE:  Originally, I had stipulated reading 1-3 books in this challenge.  I would also like to add that you can read more books than what is listed.  What with Jenn's Bookshelves' Thankfully Reading Weekend and Dreadlock Girl's Read Read-a-Thon and Haley's Christmas Break Challenge: A Book-a-Day, I figure (for me, at least) these events will give extra opportunities to read more Christmas books...yay! So read as many books as you want as long as you read at least one.  Happy Reading!


In honor of the release of The Christmas List by Richard Paul Evans today, I am announcing my first reading challenge ever...and it's a Christmas Reading Challenge! I know it may seem early (for people who are not Christmas fanatics, like me), but I want people to have plenty of time to decide what they want to read.

First, here are the details about The Christmas List:

Dear Reader,


When I was in seventh grade, my English teacher, Mrs. Johnson, gave our class the intriguing (if somewhat macabre) assignment of writing our own obituaries. Oddly, I don't remember much of what I wrote about my life, but I do remember how I died: in first place on the final lap of the Daytona 500. At the time, I hadn't considered writing as an occupation, a field with a remarkably low on-the-job casualty rate.

What intrigues me most about Mrs. Johnson's assignment is the opportunity she gave us to confront our own legacy. How do we want to be remembered? That question has motivated our species since the beginning of time: from building pyramids to putting our names on skyscrapers.

As I began to write this book, I had two objectives: First, I wanted to explore what could happen if someone read their obituary before they died and saw, firsthand, what the world really thought of them. Their legacy.

Second, I wanted to write a Christmas story of true redemption. One of my family's holiday traditions is to see a local production of Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol. I don't know how many times I've seen it (perhaps a dozen), but it still thrills me to see the change that comes over Ebenezer Scrooge as he transforms from a dull, tight-fisted miser into a penitent, "giddy-as-aschoolboy" man with love in his heart. I always leave the show with a smile on my face and a resolve to be a better person. That's what I wanted to share with you, my dear readers, this Christmas -- a holiday tale to warm your season, your homes, and your hearts.

Merry Christmas

About the Author

RICHARD PAUL EVANS is the #1 best-selling author of The Christmas Box. His thirteen novels have each appeared on the New York Times bestseller list; there are more than thirteen million copies of his books in print. His books have been translated into more than 22 languages and several have been international best sellers. He is the winner of the 1998 American Mothers Book Award, two first place Storytelling World Awards for his children's books, and the 2005 Romantic Times Best Women Novel of the Year Award. Evans received the Washington Times Humanitarian of the Century Award and the Volunteers of America National Empathy Award for his work helping abused children. He is the founder and CEO of BookWise, an international direct sales business. Evans lives in Salt Lake City, Utah, with his wife, Keri, and their five children. (from Amazon)


I am really looking forward to reading this.  The Christmas Box is one of my favorite Christmas books by Mr. Evans so I'm sure I will love this one as well!

Now, on to the challenge details.

The Christmas Reading Challenge:
  • will run from Thanksgiving Day, November 26 through New Year's Eve, December 31, 2009
  • you can choose 1 - 3 books...I know it seems a small amount, but it's a busy time of year and the challenge is only a little over a month.
  • These must be Christmas novels, books about Christmas lore or a book of Christmas short stories (sorry, no children's books, but YA novel is okay).
  • Be sure to check back here in a couple of days, I will have a list of new Christmas books coming out and some old favorites to recommend.
  • Be sure to come back and link your post here on Mr. Linky.  This is my first time using it so if it doesn't work, leave your link in the comments.  Please leave a comment after you post your link in Mr. Linky. Thanks!




Here is a smaller picture if you want to put one up on your blog:









Hope everyone is as excited about this challenge as I am!

Happy (Holiday) Reading!

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59 comments:

Thank you for visiting and taking the time to comment. It means so much.

I apologize for word verification, but as soon as I changed the settings from only users with Google accounts, I started receiving a ton of spam comments...within one hour of changing the settings. The bots are on high alert apparently.

  1. I will have to come back and enter this soon . . . I LOVE Christmas books! :-)

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  2. This sounds fun! Are you taking suggestions? I have a small Xmas book collection which I add to almost every year.The kids have one too, and its one of our favorite Xmas boxes to unpack annually :)

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  3. Anything you would like to suggest is fine with me. Let me warn you though...I have a sizeable Christmas book collection! So I may already have it...LOL! I keep mine out year round. I'm just a Christmas fanatic!

    By all means, if you have any suggestions, come back and leave a comment! Thanks for joining the challenge =o)

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  4. I am totally doing this challenge! I get in a Christmas mood at Thanksgiving time.
    I had alot of Richard Paul Evan books, but I don't know where they went. I loved The Christmas Box. I hope I can find them

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  5. I forgot to comment after I signed up wiht Mr. Linky. I'm excited for this challenge as I love Christmas. I only have one book though so I better get started on collecting some more.

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  6. I am definitely signing up for this challenge. Matchless was already on my list si i just have to pick one more! Thanks for this! so much fun.

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  7. This sounds great! Sad to say but I've never read a Christmas book, that's why I'm really into this challenge. Love the suggestions, I have no idea what to read.

    Melissa

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  8. This is only my second challenge but one I will enjoy as I also am a Christmas addict. Come by in November for my "Holiday Books" month, or December for my "Buy Books for the Holidays" theme...should be lots of titles to use for the challenge as well as to enter to win. Thanks for doing this! I hope it is OK to start early as I have SO many now to read and review for those two months...oh, joy! I can't wait..thank you!
    PS..I am now a follower of your new blog

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  9. I picked my two books. I am going to read Matchless by Gregory Maguire and The Christmas Cookie Club by Ann Pearlman.

    Yeah! Exciting! Hopefully my life will even out and I can actually get some reading done this winter.

    Take Care,
    Michelle

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  10. I have posted my link! I am very excited about this challenge!

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  11. Fun! I'm participating....now, on to pick out my books!

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  12. I've got a bunch of Christmas books on my TBR mountain, but never manage to read any of them during the season. Thanks for the great motivating challenge.

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  13. I love, love your blog. Have taken a button. Thank you.

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  14. I love reading christmas related books between Thanksgiving and New Year's Eve so I love this challenge. I hopefully will be able to do it and will be back in a few days to sign up (I hope!) The Christmas Box is a wonderful Christmas Story!

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  15. Thank you for hosting! I was so hoping there would be a Christmas challenge:)

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  16. This sounds like a challenge I can meet. I've already been pulling out Christmas-themed books with the intention of getting through as many of them as I can end of November through December. There are more than I can possible read in one year!

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  17. I would love to join this challenge! I don't have a book blog, may I still join? Darlene
    wrig9945@charter.net

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  18. I love to read Christmas books and I just purchased The Christmas List but dang it, now I have to wait to read it.

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  19. I love Christmas and I'm totally into reading challenges this year. I'll be back to see the list of new releases in a few days. Thanks for hosting.

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  20. I posted your challenge on my blog here:

    http://bookendcrossing.blogspot.com/2009/10/christmas-reading-challenge-ho-ho-ho.html

    Thanks again for hosting!

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  21. This sounds like a wonderful challenge-just what I need to get in the Christmas Spirit!

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  22. I'm really looking forward to this challenge. I've already read 2 Christmas books and Halloween isn't over yet, so I'm ready and rarin' to go! Thanks for hosting this challenge!

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  23. I don't see mr. linky so I am posting my link to my post here. What a great challenge!
    *smiles*
    Kim
    http://pageafterpage-kim.blogspot.com/2009/10/jingle-bells.html

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  24. I'm in the process of resolving the issue with Mr. Linky...sorry!

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  25. such fun! I will definitely be a part of the holiday challenge!

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  26. Funny...this person above me has my name! :)
    I have joined the challenge as Christmas is my FAVORITE time of the year and i have many many many books to read and review that are christmas themed!!! Thanks for hosting this challenge!!!


    I'll be posting the little pic with a link on my blog...www.buuklvr81.blogspot.com

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  27. Hi, I'm a new book blogger looking for my first challenge. This one sounds fun!

    Here's my post:
    http://helenlovesbooks.blogspot.com/2009/11/christmas-reading-challenge.html

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  28. I've joined up, and can't wait!

    http://mealibris.wordpress.com/challenges/christmas-reading-challenge/

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  29. I joined under Mr Linky but will post my link here just in case.

    http://jensbooktalk.blogspot.com/2009/11/christmas-reading-challenge.html

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  30. I will join in on this one. Just created a blog, so I keep track of challenges that I am participating in. (hope it worked....lol) If anyone does decide to visit it, please excuse the fact that it is pretty empty right now, as I am just starting. Feel free to make suggestions!
    http://lovemykidsandbooks.blogspot.com/

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  31. I love Christmas too. And I have already started by getting Katherine Hall Page's latest one The Body inthe Sleigh, now I have to save it utnil the 26th..shoot

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  32. Sounds like a good challenge; see my most recent post for the books that I wish to read for my challenge.

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  34. Sounds like fun. I am going to change, for myself, the boundaries of the challenge. Rather than shopping on black Friday, I will curl up with the Autobiography of Santa by Jeff Guinn. Look for my review at myshelfrunnethover.blogspot.com. I will also be reading Charles Dickens's non Christmas Carol Christmas stories. If there are any other Christmas titles I should read in the weeks following Thanksgiving, please advise!

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  35. Hi there. glad to be a part of this book challenge!!
    l

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  36. Great idea - I'm signing up. Thanks for hosting!

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  37. I'm doing a Christmas category in my 999 challenge on LT---so I've signed up here. My post about my nine books is here

    I love Christmas also...it's my favorite time of the year. So THINK SNOW.

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  38. I'm doing a Christmas category in my 999 challenge on LT---so I've signed up here. My post about my nine books is here

    I love Christmas also...it's my favorite time of the year. So THINK SNOW.

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  39. What a neat challenge! Tonight or tomorrow I'll be finishing my third Christmas read for this fall so I'm not sure if I'll be reading three more but if I do I'll join. (I read "A Perfect christmas" by Debbie Macomber, "A Creed Country Christmas" by Linda Lael Miller and am finishing "You Better Not Cry" by Augusten Burroughs.)

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  40. This looks like a challenge I can do. Thanks for hosting!

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  41. Hi, Michelle. I found your site through Laura's Book Review. This is a great challenge, and I just ordered several Christmas books recently (One of which is The Christmas Box)...guess I'm really in the mood this year.

    Here are the others I ordered:

    Glad Tidings by Debbie Macomber
    A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
    Tidings of Great Joy by Sandra Brown
    The Life of Saint Nicholas by R.O. Blechman (This is very cartoonish and has very little text, but looked interesting/strange)

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  42. I already finished one of my books and posted the review. I guess I am a little ahead of myself. I'll repost it after Turkey Day!

    It was for The Chirstmas Cookie Club by Ann Pearlman. Not so good, I'm afraid. !

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  44. I'm so glad I found this challenge before Thanksgiving started. I love Christmas! What a great way to help celebrate it!

    I posted my intro entry and reading list here. I also made a few buttons and posted them there as well, I hope you don't mind! I just love making buttons!

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  45. What a great idea for a challenge! I signed up and posted on my blog: http://withagoodbook.com/2009/11/the-christmas-reading-challenge/

    Thanks for hosting.

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  46. I'm so glad I found your blog! I love to read and love my cats too. :) I'm signing up for your challenge because every December, I like to devote myself to Christmas themed books so this is right up my alley! :)

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  47. Finished my first book for the challenge. You can find it here: http://jaynesbooks.blogspot.com/2009/11/christmas-carol-by-charles-dickens.html

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  48. I would like to recommend _The Autobiography of Santa Claus_ to those who have something of a secular Christmas spirit. This interesting and charming novel weaves together the known facts about how various Christmas traditions came into being and a completely fictional account of who Santa's helpers really are. It was fun to read as a Christmas-loving adult, and I think it would be great to read to older children who might just be on the verge of doubting, and thereby losing much of the joy of Christmas.

    -myshelfrunnethover.blogspot.com

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  49. Thank you to everyone for joining the challenge! I hope everyone is enjoying themselves with their festive reading!

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  50. I've got four books picked out so far and the mp3 player loaded with Christmas music. Now all I need is some hot chocolate and I'm ready to read.

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  51. Curled up on the couch with tea and a Christmas book right now =]

    Thanks for the great challenge! I just linked =]

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  52. I'm joining in and encouraging my readers to do the same! Will be posting the challenge on my blog tomorrow (December 9).

    www.coconutlibrary.typepad.com

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  53. I joined you on twitter and also am following your blog, I love to read and love Christmas book year round, I don't have a collection of just Christmas books it is which ever one I pull of the shelf is the one I read, weather it be Christmas or not.

    mamat2730(at)charter(dot)

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  54. I finished it!

    http://anecasworld.blogspot.com/2009/12/christmas-reading-challenge-completed.html

    Thank you for hosting this! :-)

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  55. I just finished!!

    http://readingwithtequila.blogspot.com/2009/12/completed-christmas-reading-challenge.html

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  56. Christmas Reading Challenge Completed!!! This was fun and thanks for allowing me to play!

    Here is my post!

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  57. Okay, I decided to do it anyway bringing my fall adult Christmas books up to 6. Thanks for the fun challenge!

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