10th Annual Graphic Novels & Manga Challenge

I am new to the world of graphic novels and manga. I admit I have been reluctant to try this medium, and I am taking part in this challenge to force myself to try it and that way I will be able to tell whether I really don't like this format of book, or whether it is just me getting in my own way (which is totally possible, I'll admit!) My oldest son (age 10) looooves all things text bubbles and pictures so I have decided that I will complete half of my required books for this challenge reading along with stories he chooses, and the other half of it reading graphic novels intended for adults.

For all those wanting to join the challenge along with me you can sign up over here.

There are levels:

• Modern Age: read and review 12 books during the year (that's only 1 book a month)
• Bronze Age: read and review 24 books during the year (Can you handle 2 books a month.)
• Silver Age: read and review 52 books during the year (Are you up to a book a week!)
• Golden Age: read and review 104 books during the year (Are you addicted? 2 books a week!)

I will be aiming for the Modern Age, so 6 books with Tobias and 6 books for grownups like me :)

Alison's bookshelf: 2017challenge-graphicnovels

The Outside Circle: A Graphic Novel

by Patti Laboucane-Benson

Hyperbole and a Half: Unfortunate Situations, Flawed Coping Mechanisms, Mayhem, and Other Things That Happened

by Allie Brosh

Relish: My Life in the Kitchen

by Lucy Knisley

Maus I: A Survivor's Tale: My Father Bleeds History

by Art Spiegelman

The Sandman, Vol. 1: Preludes and Nocturnes

by Neil Gaiman

Fables, Volume 1: Legends in Exile

by Bill Willingham

American Born Chinese

by Gene Luen Yang

Zeus: King of the Gods

by George O'Connor

Meanwhile

by Jason Shiga

Trickster: Native American Tales, A Graphic Collection

by Matt Dembicki

Foiled

by Jane Yolen

Ready, Set, Reading Challenges 2017

All this week I'll be posting my introductory posts for the reading challenges I am planning to complete this year. I'll add links to those posts into the 2017 Reading Challenges page above once they are live.

I plan on taking part in 11 year long reading challenges, as well as other mini challenges or read-alongs throughout the year. I am really looking forward to reading all the books and I am hoping the challenges help motivate me to stay on track.

I'm going to kick off the year by taking part in Bout of Books 18. Join me and others taking part. A bit about Bout of Books:

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda Shofner and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, January 2nd and runs through Sunday, January 8th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 18 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

Blog Reboot, Now With More Books

It's been 2 years since I last posted anything on this blog. I didn't think I'd ever start here again, but the time has come for that to change. I have decided to get more intentional about my reading and I want a place to keep my thoughts organized. I don't know if anyone else will read any of it, but even if that is the case, writing it for me and being able to refer back is exactly what I need right now.

I've gotten into two bad reading habits. One is starting many books, but finishing few. I was already someone who always had 6-10 books on the go at any given moment, ever since I was a child. Now I am a grown up and I have three kids who are all old enough to be listening to me read or buddy reading novels of many lengths, so I have their books "on the go" as well. It's become a logistical nightmare and I can't help but think we may have started books that we like, but we've totally forgotten about them because we have so many on the go. I want to come up with a more reasonable number of books to be reading at any given time, so that we get to enjoy all of the books we want to enjoy.

The second habit is even worse though. I have gotten into a rut of reading the next thing, whatever that is. I am reading things I don't even like, just because it was recommended to me somewhere. I want to break that habit and make sure I am asking myself if I really am interested in the book at all before I begin. I also will be working on giving myself permission to abandon books more freely if they aren't my thing after I start them.

A few years ago I did a bunch of reading challenges and it was a great year of reading. I am going to do several of them again this year, since I know I will read a lot of books either way, but doing the challenges gives a sense of community doing them with other readers. Plus some of them have prizes and that's cool too! ;)

That's the plan. Read. Read some more. Maybe some reviews. Challenges with the online reading community. Read even more. Starting January 1st it's go time. Read all the books!