Did you participate in any library reading programs when you were a kid? I did.
I also helped my class set goals and earn a pizza party through a reading program in my early years as a teacher. (It was the Book it! Program for those who are familiar with that.)
Incentivized reading programs are great ways to encourage kids to read.
And if the success of Goodreads challenges and such are any indication, that drive to meet a reading challenge doesn’t end with childhood for many readers.
Are you one of those? Do you regularly take part in reading challenges? Do you have any on the go right now? I’d love to hear about them.
I’ll admit that I’m not overly familiar with that world as an adult. Perhaps it’s because I don’t want my reading to become a chore because I will make it a chore to hit a goal if I set one. (I can be competitive to a fault at times. That being said, I do try to hit a one book per week goal privately.)
Or perhaps it’s because I kind of don’t like being told what to read, 😀and so many posts in reader groups on social media are looking for specific book recs to fit a category for a challenge.
Neither of those reasons is particularly flattering, but there they are. And they are the inspiration for this:
“What about a book club? That could be fun.” Ava looked from Gran to Trish. “I mean, you’re going to be a married lady soon, and you won’t be part of the singles’ group.”
“I don’t like to read anything unless I picked it. I’m not into homework,” Trish said.
Ava crossed her arms and tapped her pen on her upper arm. There had to be some sort of group they could form that would give her a reason to get away from her keyboard and out of the house on a regular basis. “What if we make it a book club without a specific book to discuss?”
(from Don’t Tell My Heart It Can Heal)
That club becomes The Book Drop. A book club that meets once a month to discuss books (any books) they have been reading.
And that leads Ava, who keeps the specifics about her writing a secret from most people, into a few uncomfortable situations when one or another of the ladies in the group happens to be sharing about a book she wrote. Which is what is happening here:
A few other ladies of various ages had entered the room, but that didn’t stop Clara from launching into her review of the book she had brought.
Ava stood. “Save my place,” she whispered to Trish.
“You’re not sticking around for this review?” she asked in a teasing tone.
“I need cookies.” And she might need to either stop writing books or stop attending the Book Drop if she didn’t want to spend several minutes of each meeting at the snack table trying to avoid being seen while someone critiqued her book. At this rate, she was going to have to trade in her jeans for the next size up.
When she glanced back at the group of ladies, Gran was watching her.
Gran arched a brow and tipped her head toward Clara.
Ava sighed. How was it that that woman could decipher secrets so easily? Ava lifted and lowered a shoulder before nodding, which caused Gran to grin.
Ava bit into a soft chocolate chip cookie. Her eyes closed as she savoured the flavours of brown sugar and chocolate melting in her mouth. She’d keep writing and attending this group as long as these cookies had her back and offered a sweet escape when the conversation became uncomfortable. Even if it meant shopping for new jeans.
(from Don’t Tell Anyone I Read Romance)
Reading is fun. And that is the point of reading challenges, book clubs, and summer reading programs, isn’t it? To let people, both young and old, have fun while reading.
On the subject of books…
If you are a library reader and your library doesn’t yet have my Hatfield Falls books, this month is a great time to request that they add them, since they are part of the Overdrive Adult Fiction sale. I have my books marked 50% off.
And if you’re a Kobo reader in the US or Canada, Don’t Tell Anyone I Read Romance has been chosen to be part of their Great Reads Under $5 promotion, and it is reduced in price during this sale.
Summer reading hasn’t officially started here in Nova Scotia just yet. The last day of school is June 30, and the library summer reading program kicks off on June 3.
My plans for reading this summer are the same as any other time of the year: I hope to read one book per week. Currently, I’ve been reading some fun kisses-only Regency romances.
What are your summer reading plans?
<3 Annilee
PS. It was my turn to post over at the Sigh-Worthy Romance Tearoom this month, so if you’d like to see what I’ve been up to so far this year and how I’m attempting to get past a bit of writer’s block, you can read that article by clicking here to be taken to it.
