Out with the old, in with the new. 2020’s reading list takes us to 30 items, with some new categories to keep things interesting. The list is below. This year we removed book you can read in one day and book set where you live (too easy for my friend (London), too hard for me). We modified memoir to include biography, and added a play, a book you think you ought to read, a book chosen (not just recommended) by the other member, and a book on religion or philosophy.

It’s still just a club of two, but we’re enjoying learning from each others book selections, and cross-pollinating even more. Here’s to 2020!

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2020 Reading Challenge (RS style)

1. A book with a body part in the title
2. A book published before 1939.
3. A book published in 2018.
4. A book about language
5. A non-fiction book about travel.
6. An author’s debut novel
7. A book written by a female author.
8. A book that is (or is becoming) a film.
9. A book of non-fiction essays.
10. A book recommended by a fellow book-clubber in 2019
11. A book you feel you ought to read.
12. A book set somewhere you’ve never been.
13. A book with someone’s name in the title.
14. A book with a number in the title.
15. A book with a colour in the title.
16. A book with a place name in the title.
17. A book of short stories.
18. A book you can finish in a day.
19. A book chosen for you by a fellow book-clubber.
20. A book translated from (or in) another language.
21. A book of poetry.
22. A biography, memoir, journal or book of letters.
23. A book about food or cooking (not a cookbook, although it can include recipes).
24. A book by an author whom you’ve never read.
25. A (non-fiction) book about science
26. A book received as a gift
27. A book from a genre you do not normally read
28. A book you have previously left unfinished
29. A play
30. A book on philosophy or religion

General guidelines:

• No more than four books can be ones you’ve read before.
• You can reassign a book from one category to another throughout the year. As your reading progresses, you may decide that your number 7 book would be better as your number 15 book, as you’ve found another male author you’d like to read.
• After completing a book, the reader should email the others with a very brief synopsis and review. This may help others seeking that elusive book-of-poetry-they-can-get-through.

• Uncategorized