Winter Book Challenge Check-In

This is the third check-in for the Winter Book Challenge, but only my first. This challenge has been quite the fail for me. I hit a reading roadblock, but I’ve got a couple of books on my kindle that should rekindle my reading interest (see what I did there?) until the final check-in March 1.

5 points: Freebie! Read any book that fits the general rules.
The Valley of Amazement by Amy Tan. This was a little bit different from Amy Tan’s usual books. There was still a mother-daughter theme, but the overall story had quite a different feel to it.

10 points: Read a book written by an author who has published at least 10 books.
The Hundred Secret Senses by Amy Tan. I’m still on an Amy Tan kick. I just love these culture-clash type books.

10 points: Read a book of short stories.
Sister Caravaggio by Maeve Binchy and others. It’s not really a book of short stories, but one story written by different authors. So it sort of counts, right?! 

10 points: Read a book with a food (not a drink!) in the title.

15 points: Read the first book in a series that is new to you (so no rereads for this one!).

15 points: Read a book that was originally written in a language that is not your native language.

15 points: Read a book written by a local author (either an author from your state if you live in the United States, or in your country if you live somewhere else—note: author must be from where you currently live).

20 points: Read a “bookish book” (in which books play an important role, e.g. the setting involves a bookstore or library, a major character is an author, or a book that celebrates reading and books. Examples: The Book Thief, The Shadow of the Wind, The Thirteenth Tale, etc.)
The Sisterhood by Helen Bryan. The story had potential, but the main character didn’t have much of a personality. There wasn’t a ton of follow-up with the events that entwined the past and the present.

20 points: Read a book with a direction in the title (e.g. north, south, east, west or any combination of those).

25 points: Read a book from a genre you don’t usually read.

25 points: Read a book with a lyric in the title. Be sure to tell us the song name and artist as well!

30 points: Read two books with a different meal in each title (e.g. breakfast, lunch, dinner, supper, brunch; update: meals like feast, banquet, picnic will also count, but try not to get too “creative” with your meal words!).
The Dinner by Herman Koch. I don’t know about this book. It was interesting, but not a very satisfactory ending. I guess that’s why it’s been compared to Gone Girl? I didn’t like that I had to fill in so many gaps for myself. Just tell the story! Not so much with the innuendo.

Breakfast Served Anytime by Sarah Combs. I had to skim to finish this book. I kept waiting for something to happen, but it never really did. YA is one of my favorite genres, but this one just didn’t interest me.

That’s a grand total of 75 points. Boooo!

What are you reading? I could use some suggestions!