It’s Back: Take A Chance Challenge 3
by Jenners • 12/18/2010 • Reading Challenges • 106 Comments
Several of you asked if I’d be hosting the Take A Chance Challenge again. At first, I wasn’t sure, but once I started thinking about it, I got all excited. So here are the details for the 2011 version of the challenge.
- The concept of the challenge is to take chances with your reading by finding books to read in unusual or random ways. I’ve listed 10 different ways to find books below. Feel free to complete at many as you want. However, anyone completing all 10 challenges by December 31, 2011 will be entered in a prize drawing to win a book of their choice from Amazon.
- The challenge will run from January 1, 2011 until December 31, 2011.
- Crossover books from other challenges is fine. You can read books in any format.
- On January 1, 2011, I will post pages for each of the 10 challenges so you can link up your completed posts.
The 2011 Challenges
1: Staff Member’s Choice: Go to a bookstore or library that has a “Staff Picks” section. Read one of the picks from that section.
2: Loved One’s Choice: Ask a loved one to pick a book for you to read. (If you can convince them to buy it for you, that is even better!)
3: Blogger’s Choice: Find a “Best Books Read” post from a favorite blogger. Read a book from their list.
4: Critic’s Choice: Find a “Best of the Year” list from a magazine, newspaper or professional critic. Read a book from their Top 10 list.
5: Blurb Book: Find a book that has a blurb on it from another author. Read a book by the author that wrote the blurb.
6: Book Seer Pick: Go to The Book Seer and follow the instructions there. Read a book from the list it generates for you.
7: What Should I Read Next Pick : Go to What Should I Read Next and follow the instructions there. Read a book from the list it generates for you.
8: Which Book Pick: Go to Which Book and use the software to generate a list of books. Read a book from that list.
9: LibraryThing Pick: Go to LibraryThing’s Zeitgeist page. Look at the lists for 25 Most Reviewed Books or Top Books and pick a book you’ve never read. Read the book. (Yes … you can click on MORE if you have to.)
10: Pick A Method: Pick a method for finding a book from the choices listed below (used in previous versions of the challenge).
- Random Book Selection. Go to the library. Position yourself in a section such as Fiction, Non-Fiction, Mystery, Children (whatever section you want). Then write down random directions for yourself (for example, third row, second shelf, fifth book from right). Follow your directions and see what book you find. Check that book out of the library, read it and then write about it. (If you prefer, you can do the same at a bookstore and buy the book!)
- Public Spying. Find someone who is reading a book in public. Find out what book they are reading and then read the same book. Write about it.
- Random Bestseller. Go to Random.org and, using the True Random Number Generator, enter the number 1950 for the min. and 2010 for the max. and then hit generate. Then go to this site and find the year that Random.org generated for you and click on it. Then find the bestseller list for the week that would contain your birthday for that year. Choose one of the bestsellers from the list that comes up, read it and write about it.
Want to join in? Here is the linky to sign up! Help spread the word. The more, the merrier!
Pingback: Carrie Vaughn: Kitty Goes to Washington « Mervi's Book reviews
Pingback: Catch Up and Wrap Up « Cafe Shree
Is it too late to join this challenge? Sounds fun!
Not at all. Join in and have some fun.
I have my post ready, went to the link and oops, it says Mr. Linky expired.
Thanks for the heads up. I will see what is going on.
Wahoo! I’m so excited to do this challenge, and I’m really glad I found your blog!
I am so happy you are excited! Hope you get good books.
How do I get the button? Am I just missing it somewhere?
I didn’t make any code for it. I will e-mail it to you and you can use it like any other graphic.
I hope it’s not too late to join. Your challenge sounds like so much fun!
It is not too late … feel free to sign up!
Hi Jenners!
I’m taking my chances and joined your fun challenge!
Thanks so much for hosting.
Yay! Glad to have you on board! Wishing you fun, rewarding and surprising reads!
Ah yet another reading challenge to add to my list LOL
Crazy isn’t it? There are so many cool challenges out there but this year I’m going to be good.
Love finding new places to find books. This will be exciting! Is their a button for the challenge?
Glad you are joining in. There is a button for the this challenge (it is the green one). I’ll send you a separate e-mail and attach it.
I’m so excited for this challenge! I love your creative ways to find the books!
Glad you enjoy the idea of it. By the way, today I set up a special spot for linking up finished posts. Here is the URL: http://www.takeachance.lifewithbooks.com/
This sounds like a great way to develop one’s repertoire so to speak! Count me in!!!
I’m looking forward to this challenge again this year!
Pingback: Hello, 2011! | The Feminist Texican [Reads]
I discovered this challenge at A Novel Challenge and it was so intriguing that I just couldn’t pass it by. I love discovering new books and new authors, so this will just feed my obsession with reading. Thanks so much for sponsoring the challenge.
I failed horribly at this challenge this year, but hey . . . I’m throwing in the towel again for fun! Thanks for hosting and let’s see if I can do you a bit more proud in 2011!
This is a great challenge!! I haven’t seen any like it…. I happily added it to my challenges for 2011! Thanks for doing this one!
This is such a fun idea for a challenge!
Pingback: Take a Chance Challenge 3 « Cafe Shree
Great challenge again this year!
This challenge looks like it would be really fun!
I can’t wait to get started!
Found it through another blog, but it sounds really cool. Always looking for ways to make my reading list interesting!
This sounds like so much fun! I’ll participate.
I am excited to be joining again this year even if I didn’t get to finish last year. This is a great one.
Haha – I appreciate your response to Beth Fish, as her thoughts mirrored mine. Such fun … but I’m not ready to commit
Oh, I’m so tempted to try this challenge. I’ll have to think it over a bit first….maybe….oh, so tempted!
This sounds like so much fun. I’m looking forward to all 10 challenges!
Pingback: Take A Chance
Oh, I love to read. This challenge sounds fun, and sometimes we all need a little guidance here! Thank you so much.
Glad to have you joining in! I think it will be a lot of fun. I wish you great and surprising reads!
Great idea for a challenge! I’m in.
Yay! So glad you’re joining in! I hope you have fun … and find great books to read!
Pingback: Take A Chance Challenge « Mervi's Book reviews
How did I not see this challenge? Not that I needed another challenge…thanks a lot.
I’ll come back and officially sign up once my challenge page is up.
I like the new blog look, by the way. (For all I know, it’s been up forever, but I usually just read feeds in my reader.)
You probably didn’t see this challenge because I just got around to posting about it! (A bit late … others started in November with their challenge info.) Glad to hear you can join in!
And thanks for the feedback on the blog look … I tinker with it CONSTANTLY!
Pingback: Challenge: Take a Chance 3 | Bonjour, Cass!
I DO want to join! This is gonna be FUN! I will have my post up about it on Thursday, playing catch up here, lol. :0)
Yay!! I’m so excited! I never knew you were such a reader — I’m glad I put my blogs together and we got to know this side of each other!
Love your ideas – Thanks for hosting again. I didn’t get around to it last year because over committed to too many things. Keeping it light this year.
I’ve scaled way back on challenges too … that is why I tried to make this one fun and flexible. Thanks for joining in!
I’m glad to see your up to another round–thanks for hosting. I find your challenge, truly challenging
I’m so glad you enjoy it. I think this year will be a bit “easier” but will result in lots of surprises.
that sounds like a fun challenge!
If you can, I hope you can join in for a few!
I still have my “final” (ha!) challenges I’m joining post to write. I am seriously tempted….
The words “final list” and “of challenges” do not really go together! Hope you can join in … if only for a few! : )
just an fyi, my blogging bud from Italy is now reading Musashi. It’s catchy.
That is so neat!!! I hope she likes it!
I LOVE this idea. Do I only link up once I’ve selected a book?
WISHING you a wonderful holiday season!
You can link up whenever you want. If you post about the challenge, you can link up that post or just link up your blog URL. Then, when you complete a book for the challenge, you can link up your post in the appropriate spots, which I’ll post on January 1. If you decide not to post about the book you read, you can just leave a comment instead. I’m pretty easy! It would be great if you can join in as much as you are able … it is fun challenge.
Happy Holidays to you and yours!
Delighted to sign up for this one- it looks like lots of fun! (And I adore your blog header!)
Glad to have you join in! It should be lots of fun and full of surprises (hopefully all good ones). Thanks for the feedback on the header!
I love how you switch things up a little bit with this challenge each year! I’ve made a list of challenges I’m considering for 2011, and this one is definitely on the list.
I almost didn’t do it because I was out of ideas but then I found some cool sites that jumpstarted it and I was off. I tried to make it simpler too (for me and for participants.) Honestly, I’m a bit burnt out on challenges.
This looks like fun! I’m a newbie to this challenge and I can’t resist a surprise.
That is what I like about it … the unknown aspect and seeing what you find. Have fun with it!
All great ideas! I usually ask my book-crazy sister for tips… She and I have similar tastes and she always has great recommendations.
Well, if she is unavailable, check out that Which Book site … it is really fun to play with.
I knew I wouldn’t be able to resist. I should have just by-passed the struggle and joined up right away! Looking forward to the challenges.
Glad to see you “caved.” It will be fun … I promise. : )
No fair! I wanted to keep challenges to a minimum this year but this one sounds fun! Now I have to think about it
I’m cutting back on challenges too … but then I got convinced to do this one again and now I’m all excited. It is like doing a scavenger hunt for books.
Love the idea of this challenge, and it’s one that I actually think I might be able to complete! Thanks for sharing this with me!
Yay .. I hope you can join in. I tried to make it as easy and appealing as possible — and fun too. I’m a bit burnt out on challenges myself so I wanted to do something that would appeal to my need for less “burdensome” challenges.
I’m in! I like a challenge – and I generally lack direction when it comes to choosing books, so this will be good for me. Thanks!
Yay … glad you are joining in. I think you’ll have fun … and the web sites that are part of the challenge will be a great tool for helping you find direction when picking a book.
I’m a sucker for challenges, I’m not done my 2010 challenge officially, and I’m having a hard time linking up to it. Where is it posted on your “new”site?
Here is the link to the places to post your challenges for the 2010 site: http://www.lifewithbooks.com/2010/01/posting-your-take-another-chance-challenge-entries/
Pingback: 2011 Challenges: Take A Chance Challenge | Books Review
This sounds fun! I am not joining challenges, but I like the randomness of yours. I sometimes find them easier to complete than more specific or themed ones because of so many books can be made to fit.
Exactly … I like the open-endedness of it and the random factor. I tried to make it as flexible as possible too because I’ve been feeling out of sorts with challenges. If nothing else though, check out those cool reading sites … especially Which Book. It was beyond cool!
Just checked out Which Book. What a neat site! I put in “France” as a setting, and I got a huge list of all kinds of books, lots of French books (translated) and lots of very popular authors, like Marie Desplechin and Amelie Nothomb.
Thanks for the heads-up!
Isn’t that a cool site? I fell in love with it when I saw it. I can see it as a fantastic tool to use for years to come.
Jenners, you temptress…I’m already signed up for ten challenges (including my own). I’m about as good at rsisting challenges as I am at resisting chocolate. I’m putting up a mighty fight…but don’t be surprised if I don’t jump on your band wagon. This looks way too cool to miss.
And I made it as stress-free as possible … do what interests you. (And I can’t resist chocolate or challenges either … though I vowed I wouldn’t go overboard on challenges this year.)
Well…all that struggle was pointless. I’m in. I knew I wouldn’t be able to resist. Now to go find some chocolate.
Sounds interesting. Its funny you should mention ‘public spying’ as one of my good friends is about to marry the man she met doing just this. She saw him reading one of the Harry Potter books (which one I forget) whilst on a train and asked him why. A great way to meet people, wouldn’t it be lovely if this was also to happen to one of the bloggers doing your challenge.
What a wonderful story! It would be neat to have two bloggers doing the challenge to somehow spy on each other! : )
Pingback: Challenges that Attract me (2011) « Mar gheall ar a léim
Ah this one sounds so good. I’m waffling, really I am. Maybe I’ll add it to the unofficial list…
If nothing else, check out the book web sites … they are really fun!
oh no…here come the challenges!
…and once again i will be doing…NONE.
I’m getting a little burnt out on challenges myself so I’m doing this and RIP and that is IT!!!! (Maybe. I think. We’ll have to see.)
But if nothing else, check out some of those cool reading sites like Book Seer and Which Book. They are really fun to play with!
Yay!! I was just wondering if you were going to do this again!
2010′s was so much fun (Well, minus the James Patterson)!
You kind of spurred me on to do this. Glad you’ve been having fun … but James P. will ruin any reading party (in my opinion.)
This is going to be fun! I’m excited to try again. I’ll put up my post soon
I think the 2011 version is more low-key and more fun. I’m excited for it.
Thanks for finding the time to host this challenge again.
I really enjoyed this years (still one review to try and get done) and and although I’m seriously restricting challenges next year this one definitely gets a place.
Looking forward to visiting those interesting sites.
So glad to hear you’ll be joining in again. I still have a post to write to finish it up too. You have all year and then it comes down to a crunch at the end. I tried to make the 2011 version simpler and more fun.
I’m in! Looking forward to it…finally!
I almost didn’t do it … I’m burned out on challenges myself. So I tried to make it fun and more open-ended and not as involved as last year. Glad you’re joining in! I think it will be fun. The web sites I found are really cool.
Oooo, this could be fun!! I’m already signed up for two challenges (Beth’s ‘What’s in a Name 4′ and Dorte’s ‘Global Reading Challenge’) so I don’t know if I should risk over-extending myself. I know I’ll want to do the RIP Challenge again along with the Cozy Mystery Challege, both of which come later in the year.
*sigh* I’m gonna have to think about it.
I tried to make it as low stress as possible. If nothing else, check out the Which Book web site … it is really neat!
This looks fun! I have still have one left to do for this year’s challenge. I’m pretty sure I’ll join, but I’m going to try to come up with my list before I sign up with Mr. Linky.
For me, coming up with the list is the funnest part! Wait till you see the Which Book site … it is really really cool!
I’m in! I’ve selected most of my books too! I’m excited to get started. The book finding sites were really fun. I loved whichbook. I was able to find a book that takes place where I live!
I am in love with those book finding sites … aren’t they the coolest? I love that you could find a book that takes place where you live … that will be a treat to read!