A NEW READING CHALLENGE

RAE’S READS

about

This year (2025) finds me with 53 years of teaching “under my belt.” I have taught all levels from pre-K “(library lady” or “book lady”–volunteer) to juniors, seniors, and graduate students enrolled in my Advanced Writing class at the university where I have just completed 34 years. My first paying teaching job was junior high, and I spent 13 years with ages 12-13, the “difficult years.” I had some of the “funnest” experiences with this age group. When I was no longer the “young, fun teacher,” I taught in an elementary school setting before sixth graders went on to junior high, teaching language arts blocs, an assignment that was a “dream-fit” for me. After completing graduate school in my 40s, I went on to community college, then university teaching. This past fall I accepted a part-time teaching job at Apogee Gulf Coast Schools in its first year at the Alvin campus. After my Better Half died n 2022, I achieved a lifelong dream: opening a bookstore of my own, Rae’s Reads. A year later, I sold the house we had lived in for 47 years and moved into the bookstore. My goal is to circulate and repurpose books. Just as teaching is “in my blood,” so is a passion for reading, writing, libraries, and everything bookish. This blog will be open to anyone who loves books, promotes literacy and wants to “come out and play.”

A NEW READING CHALLENGE

January 4, 2018

I so enjoyed my “Color Coded Book Challenge” I took on last Labor Day (2017) that I earnestly searched for a new book challenge and discovered one I NEED to participate in. The idea is rather than buy or check out books for a Readathon or challenge, to instead, read the books you already own but haven’t read. What a novel idea! (pun intended).

I have a couple of shelves in the study closet in my house that is filled with TBR books, so that will be my source. I am setting my own goals here, keeping in mind that January 17th I will be teaching again, so my reading for fun time will be limited. I am arbitrarily going to set my own “rules” for the challenge.

First, the challenge shall last from today through February 28th. I will attempt to read six books from my shelves.(That’s not even a book a week.) Hopefully, I can stop requesting books from the library inter-branch loans etc. for a while, and not purchase any books I see reviewed in the newspaper or the New Yorker etc., which would only nullify my efforts.

Who wants to join me? Leave your response in the comments section. I will report in irregularly and spasmodically on my progress and would like you to do the same.

I CHALLENGE MYSELF AND YOU!

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13 responses to “A NEW READING CHALLENGE”

readerbuzz

January 4, 2018

Yes, I know I should do this. But I don’t want to. I choose to do something similar but with a key difference: I try my own books, and, if I decide not to finish a book, I give it away. Using this approach, I can continue to wade through the books at my house without having to resort to actually having to swim.

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1. Rae Longest
  
  January 4, 2018
  
  I like your pragmatic approach. I doubt I’ll find a book I own I don’t like, for someone has given them to me who liked them, or I have purchased them, or I have “inherited” them from donations from friends for the LFL and have granted me first dibs on reading them. LOL
  
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sjhigbee

January 4, 2018

I’ll join you:)). I’d like to get through at least 6 books from my groaning shelf in the spare room…

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1. Rae Longest
  
  January 4, 2018
  
  YAY! Welcome aboard!
  
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  1. sjhigbee
    
    January 4, 2018
    
    Thank you! I will also keep you in touch with my progress…
    
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Luanne

January 4, 2018

Rae, what a fabulous idea! I am sort of trying to do that (recently). I would join you, but have made a writing challenge for myself, and that’s all I can handle right now (with Perry the cat who is driving me crazy hour by hour!). But you’ve inspired me to try even harder to go through all those books on my shelf (it really is ridiculous).

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1. Rae Longest
  
  January 4, 2018
  
  You can do it! That meow you here is Lena telling Perry to help you out? (besides emptying out shelves with a paw!)
  
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  1. Luanne
    
    January 4, 2018
    
    LOL, I’ll tell him! (Not sure he’ll listen!)
    
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carhicks

January 6, 2018

I am doing a similar challenge. Mine is to read through the alphabet using only physical books I own. I have read A and am working on B, so I guess I am in. I would like to read 8 by the end of February though.

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1. Rae Longest
  
  January 7, 2018
  
  I’m going to take on your Alphabet challenge at the END of February. If I don’t have a letter in the alphabet, should I skip that letter, or check out a library book for that letter? Thoughts? I lean toward the latter because I don’t like incomplete things…LOL
  
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  1. carhicks
    
    January 7, 2018
    
    If I don’t have an actual book starting with a letter, “j” for example, I will either read one I might have on my tablet or get one from the library. I agree, I don’t want to just skip a letter. I am starting “c” tonight.
    
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Sunday Post – 7th January, 2018 | Brainfluff

January 7, 2018

[…] New Reading Challenge https://powerfulwomenreaders.wordpress.com/2018/01/04/a-new-reading-challenge/ In amongst all the reading challenges coming at readers and book bloggers, this one particularly […]

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Rae Longest

January 7, 2018

I am definitely starting this at the end of February if not before! It is a novel idea and your clarification as to how you will handle a letter you have no book for matches my preferences perfectly! We are in this one together, friend.

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