BW1: Welcome to our 2022 reading adventures

 

Happy New Year, my darlings and I’m so glad you are joining me for another round of Read 52 Books in 52 Weeks. Can you believe it's our 14th blogoversary? We'll have to think of a special mini challenge to celebrate. We have some great new challenges this year and as always, you can choose to play along or chart your own path in your quest to read.  

If you are new to Read 52 Books in 52 Weeks, the goal to read 52 books. How you get there is up to you.  We all read at different paces and I don't want anyone to sacrifice quality for quantity by reading short books just to make the goal. I want you to enjoy yourself.  If you have only managed to read one book in a year, challenge yourself to read two.  Five? Then shoot for ten.  Years ago when we started this challenge, there were a few people who were sure they'd never be able to read 52 books in a year.  Maybe 12, maybe 30, but 52, forget about it.  Guess what?  Many are reading 52 books or more.  Never say never. Set your own goal, read what you want, explore and dive into those longer books, engage your mind and soul and don't worry.  Do your best, challenge yourself and see what happens.  

We have some exciting challenges this year including one a bit different - a new weekly A to Z and Back Again reading challenge with a writing element for the folks in our group who like to journal, write short stories or novel length stories as well as fan fiction, flash fiction and non fiction. Each week I'll present the letter and word of the week.  You can read a book or author starting with the letter, or find a character that emulates that characteristic or job.  Find a synonym or antonym; maybe form an aptigram or antigram.  Rhyme or reason doesn't apply.  Write a story or  poem and let your thoughts fly. How you do it is up to you.  This week we start with A, go through the alphabet and back again to end with A on week 52. I'll post a link to an example on My Two Blessings so you can see what my wild and wacky brain came up with in response to the word of the week. I hope you'll play along. 

Letter and word of the week:  A - Antiquary

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And now for something even more exciting.  I'm very happy to announce a brand new Crime Spree reading challenge cohosted by two of our Book a Week readers: Amy (alias – aggieamy) & Sandy (alias- mumto2).  Take it away ladies:

 

We are pleased that you’ve committed to a life (or at least a year) of crime. Consider Sandy and I your get away drivers and accomplices as we delve into just a few of the wonderful sub-genres of mystery over the next 12 months. We’ll start each month with a new challenge and new authors to explore.

This is lighthearted and fun, so tweak the challenges as you want and join the discussion.

Pack your bags. Grab a disguise. Plan an alibi. Let’s go!

PS - And many thanks to the Godmother of our BaW crime family, Robin, for allowing us to hold up the thread once a month.

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We’re going to kick off our crime spree with the beloved writers who started it all: Grandparents of Crime. We’ve chosen to highlight just a few of the famous early writers that produced stories we wouldn’t put down! Have you read any of these authors? Who would you nominate for the prestigious Grandparent of Crime title?

For more information on early mystery writers, check out: goldenageofmystery.com

Authors to explore:

Edgar Allen Poe is not only one of the most famous historical short story writers in the US but also started the mystery genre with his short story “The Murders in the Rue Morgue” in 1841. He was writing from 1827 until his death at 40-years-old in 1849.

Wilkie Collins is credited with two important contributions to the mystery genre—inventing the mystery novel genre (The Woman in White) and then inventing the detective novel (The Moonstone). He was writing between 1850-1885.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle could be considered one of the most famous mystery writers, with over 60 Sherlock Holmes short stories and novels published from 1887 to 1927.

Mary Roberts Rinehart is known as the “American Agatha Christie” and is considered the inventor of the “had I but known” literary style in modern mysteries and even better known for creating “the butler did it” trope. Her active years of writing were 1908-1952. 

Challenge: Enter a life of crime by choosing a novel from one of the highlighted Grandparents of Crime or any mystery written before 1910.

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I'm excited and ready to get started. If you're new to 52 books, all the links to the challenges are in the menu bar above.  Our first reading week will run from January 1st through Saturday, January 8th.  Take your time to explore the different challenges, links to book resources, visit your fellow readers and of course, read.  I look forward to hearing all about your adventures. 

~Cheers to a wonderful new reading year!

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