Book: Read a book set in Africa or the Caribbean, by an African, Caribbean, or African-American author, with a green, red, or black cover, or with crops of the earth or a native African animal on the cover (Lion, giraffe, cheetah, etc.).
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Task 2: Watch a favorite Christmas movie.
I typically watch new Christmas movies more often than I rewatch old ones each year. However, I did rewatch one favorite this year - A December Bride. I'm a sucker for fake relationship romances.
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Book: Read a book about light, miracles, featuring Jewish characters, set in Israel, that is the second book in a series, with the word “two” in the title, or with a light on the cover.
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Task 2: Yaldā Night task (Persia / Iran): Stay up all night reading a good book (or at least stay up past your usual bedtime).
I was on a flight that didn't land until a little after midnight, which puts it at solidly past my bedtime. Since I was awake already, I spent that time reading A Thousand Beginnings and Endings. It was definitely a good book.
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Book: Read a book that takes place in December, with ice or snow on the cover, where all events take place in a single day or night, that revolves around the solstice, set in Persia / Iran, China or the American Southwest or prominently featuring Persian / Iranian, Chinese or Native American characters, or a collection of poetry.
This is a collection of short stories based on mythology and folklore from East and South Asia, so some of the stories feature Chinese characters or are based in China.
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Task 3: Bibliomancy: Ask a question related to your reading plans or experience in the coming year, open one of your weightiest tomes on page 485, and find the answer to your question in line 7.
I want to know if I will find new books to love in the coming year, so I consulted my copy of Carry On.
"What have you done?" He's shaking Simon, and beating on
Well, that doesn't sound good. I may have screwed things up somehow for Simon by asking my question. No answer though. Sorry, Simon! I'll leave you alone to solve your problem and stop bothering you with my questions.
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Task 1: Tell us: What are your reading goals for the coming year?
My goals for 2020 will be pretty similar to my goals for 2019.
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Book: Read a book set in Scandinavia / Northern Europe, by a Northern European / Nordic author, with a predominantly white cover (or white with red lettering), newly released in November or December of this year, or set in the candle-lit world (i.e., before the discovery of electricity – roughly, that is, before the late 19th century).
Book: Read a book featuring a strong female character (or characters), by an author from any minority group, a story about a minority overcoming their oppressors, or revolving around the rights of others either being defended or abused, a book set in New York City, or a book originally written in a language other than English and / or your mother tongue or by anyone not Anglo-Saxon.
Book: Read a book with an orange or red cover, set in the Netherlands or Germany, by a Dutch or German author, or with nuts, chocolate, coins, canals or beer on the cover.
Book: Read a book set in Russia, by a Russian author, featuring a story within a story (like a Russian “matryoshka” doll), or featuring a character who is a mother.
Task 1: Share your reading philosophy with us – do you DNF? If so, do you have a page minimum to read before you declare it a DNF?
I have no problems with deciding to DNF a book. I used to be more stubborn about finishing things, but my TBR has grown far too large, and I realized I needed to be pickier. I don't have a page minimum I have to read before dropping it. If a book is boring me, I don't push myself to keep reading it. I just DNF and move on.
Book: Read a children’s or YA book or a book where children or teenagers play a significant role, or written by an author who was under the age of 18 at the time of publication.
Task 1: Find a redeeming quality in a book you read this year and didn’t like.
I don't want to say anything nice about the book I liked least this year, but I don't have to. I went with a different book I disliked this year, A Night to Surrender. Even though I disliked the story and the romance overall, it did amuse me at times. It made me laugh repeatedly.
Book: Read a book about tolerance, or outside your comfort zone, or set in Paris (seat of UNESCO).
