2021 Reading Challenges

2021 reading challenges I'm following

As in the past, mostly the challenges listed here help me direct my reading. As such, some will not provide a challenge, simply indicate how well I am doing. Some of the challenges are external to this blog while others are hosted here or on a blog that I manage. In practical terms I do allow some challenges to overlap, that is, most books will appear in more than one challenge. Most of the challenges are simply continuations of ones I took on last year as I have found that these work for me.

This page is a work in progress
Last updated 1 January 2022

• 2021 Good Reads Reading Challenge. I have set my challenge at 95. Currently: 100
  
• Good Reads A-Z of titles: Currently: 18
• Agatha Christie Reading Challenge Completed in 2014, titles read in 2021: 11
• USA Fiction Challenge So far 29/51, this year: 6
• 2021 Aussie Author Reading Challenge: aiming for 20: currently 28
• 2021 Australian Women Writers Challenge: aiming for 20. Currently 15
• British Books Challenge 2021 currently 56
• 2021 Ebook Reading Challenge currently 55
• New to me authors - a personal challenge currently 33
• Not crime fiction - a personal challenge currently 2
  
• Nordic reading challenge - a personal challenge, currently 1
• New Zealand reading challenge -again a personal challenge. currently 3
• Translated crime fiction - a personal challenge that will overlap with many of the other reading challenges that I have undertaken. currently 4
• Snagged through the Library currently: 56
• Audio books: currently: 2
• 2021 Historical Reading Challenge. Currently: 12
  

A visual summary

A to Z Reading Challenge For each letter A through Z, read a book in which the title begins with that letter. For the hard letters Q, X, Y and Z, you may use a book in which the letter is found anywhere in the title. Currently: 17 A: 4.5, AGENT RUNNING IN THE FIELD, John Le Carre B: 4.4., THE BLUFFS, Kyle Perry C: 4.8, THE CUTTING PLACE, Jane Casey D: 4.9, THE DARKEST EVENING, Ann Cleeves E: 4.7, AN ELDERLY LADY IS UP TO NO GOOD, Helene Tursten F: 4.5, THE FAMILY DOCTOR, Debra Oswald G: 4.4, THE GIRL IN THE MIRROR, Rose Carlyle H: 4.5, HAVE YOU SEEN ME? Kate White I: 4.5, INNOCENCE DIES, Colin Falconer J: K: 4.5, KILL A STRANGER, Simon Kernick L: 4.8, LOCKDOWN, Peter May	2021 Good Reads Reading Challenge. I have set my challenge at 95 completed My progress will be recorded on 2021 Reviews.  Currently: 100 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ M: 4.4, THE MIST, Ragnar Jonasson N: 4.5, THE NIGHT SWIM, Megan Goldin O: 4.6, OLD BONES, Aaron Elkins P: 4.4, THE POSTSCRIPT MURDERS, Elly Griffiths Q: R: S: 4.5, STICKS AND STONES, Katherine Firkin T: 4.7, THE TALLY STICK, Carl Nixon U:4.6, THE UNHEARD, Nicci French V: W: 4.5, WHITE THROAT, Sarah Thornton X: Y: Z:
	Agatha Christie Reading Challenge How to join the Agatha Christie Reading Challenge This is one that I host. I completed the challenge in 2014 and so here this year I'll record blog posts related to Agatha Christie, probably mainly related to short stories. The time may have come to do some re-reading Currently: 11 4.5, THE MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR AT STYLES 4.4, THE MURDER ON THE LINKS 4.5, THE MURDER ON THE LINKS,- audio book  4.4, THE MURDER OF ROGER ACKROYD 4.2, THE BIG FOUR 4.5, THE MYSTERY OF THE BLUE TRAIN 4.5, THE MURDER AT THE VICARAGE  4.5, THE BODY IN THE LIBRARY 4.5, THE MOVING FINGER 4.5, A MURDER IS ANNOUNCED 4.4, THEY DO IT WITH MIRRORS, Agatha Christie
USA Fiction Challenge ongoing	USA Fiction Challenge ongoing This is one I'm hosting on its own site. I'm keeping my own records on a page on my blog. So here I will just keep a summary of the number of states covered, as well as a list of US crime fiction I've read in 2018. Total so far 29/51 Books read 2021: 6 4.6, OLD BONES, Aaron Elkins 4.3, THE LAST MOVE, Mary Burton 4.4, DYING ON THE VINE, Aaron Elkins  4.4, THE BONE CODE, Kathy Reichs 4.5, HAVE YOU SEEN ME? Kate White  4.6, TODAY A WOMAN WENT MAD IN THE SUPERMARKET, Hilma Wolitzer
British Books Challenge 2021 - mine will be crime fiction	The aim is to read at least 12 books by British authors. This is really not much of a challenge for me as I read so much British crime fiction, so the challenge is really just a way of keeping my records. Not sure I will join an "official" challenge. Currently: 56 4.9, THE DARKEST EVENING, Ann Cleeves  4.5, THE MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR AT STYLES, Agatha Christie 4.8, LOCKDOWN, Peter May 4.4, THE POSTSCRIPT MURDERS, Elly Griffiths  4.3, MYSTERY ON HIDDEN LANE, Clare Chase 4.4, THE MURDER ON THE LINKS, Agatha Christie  4.5, THE MURDER ON THE LINKS, Agatha Christie - audio book  4.5, A STRANGER'S HOUSE, Clare Chase 4.5, AGENT RUNNING IN THE FIELD, John Le Carre 4.4, THE MURDER OF ROGER ACKROYD, Agatha Christie 4.3, A LATE PHOENIX, Catherine Aird  4.5, A LESSON DYING, Ann Cleeves   4.0, THE PORT OF LONDON MURDERS, Josephine Bell 4.5, MURDER IN MY BACKYARD, Ann Cleeves  4.2, THE BIG FOUR, Agatha Christie  4.5, KILL A STRANGER, Simon Kernick 4.6, GREENWICH PARK, Katherine Faulkner  4.4, A DAY IN THE DEATH OF DOROTHEA CASSIDY, Ann Cleeves 4.6, THE PRIVATE FACE OF MURDER, John Bonett  4.5, THE SOUND OF MURDER, John Bonett 4.5, THIS SIDE MURDER, John Bonett  4.5, THE MYSTERY OF THE BLUE TRAIN, Agatha Christie  4.6, KILLJOY, Ann Cleeves 4.8, THE CUTTING PLACE, Jane Casey   4.5, NOT DARK YET, Peter Robinson 4.5, THE HEALERS, Ann Cleeves  4.7, THE LANTERN MEN, Elly Griffiths 4.8, THE TRESPASSER, Tana French  4.6, THE BABY-SNATCHER, Ann Cleeves 4.5, THE MURDER AT THE VICARAGE, Agatha Christie  4.4, THE LAST GIRL, Jane Casey  4.4, THE COFFINMAKER'S GARDEN, Stuart MacBride 4.4, THE MARLOW MURDER CLUB, Robert Thorogood  4.4, HER LAST HOLIDAY, C. L. Taylor  4.6, THE NIGHT HAWKS, Elly Griffiths 4.5, THE THURSDAY MURDER CLUB, Richard Osman  4.5, THE BODY IN THE LIBRARY, Agatha Christie 5.0, THE STONE CIRCLE, Elly Griffiths  4.8, THE DARK ANGEL, Elly Griffiths  4.8, A DIVIDED LOYALTY, Charles Todd  4.5, THE MOVING FINGER, Agatha Christie 4.7, A FATAL LIE, Charles Todd   4.5, A MURDER IS ANNOUNCED, Agatha Christie 4.4, THE SILENCE OF THE GIRLS, Pat Barker  4.3, THE SKELETONS OF BIRKBURY, Diana Febry 4.5, HOLDING, Graham Norton  4.7, 1979, Val McDermid 4.8, THE KILLING KIND, Jane Casey 4.4, THEY DO IT WITH MIRRORS, Agatha Christie 4.6, HOME STRETCH, Graham Norton 4.7, A SLOW FIRE BURNING, Paula Hawkins  4.4, BELLS ON HER TOES, Diana Febry   4.7, THE BLOOD DOCTOR, Barbara Vine 4.6, MURDER AT ST ANNE'S, J. R. Ellis  4.6, THE UNHEARD, Nicci French  3.9, MR BOWLING BUYS A NEWSPAPER, Donald Henderson
	The Aussie Author Challenge 2021 is being hosted at Booklover Book Reviews I'm aiming initially at Emu (24 titles) Read and review 24 titles written by Australian Authors of which at least 10 of those authors are female, at least 10 of those authors are male, and at least 10 of those authors are new to you; Fiction or non-fiction, at least 4 different genre. My genre will likely be restricted to crime fiction. Currently: 28 4.4., THE BLUFFS, Kyle Perry 4.5, STICKS AND STONES, Katherine Firkin 4.4, THE SAFE PLACE, Anna Downes  4.5, THE NIGHT SWIM, Megan Goldin  4.5, SHELTER, Catherine Jinks  4.5, WHITE THROAT, Sarah Thornton 4.4, MY BEST FRIEND'S MURDER, Polly Phillips  4.4, THE BURNING ISLAND, Jock Serong   4.6, THE NIGHT WHISTLER, Greg Woodland 4.5, DOOM CREEK, Alan Carter  4.5, THE FAMILY DOCTOR, Debra Oswald 4.8, TELL ME LIES, J. P. Pomare 5.0, WHEN YOU ARE MINE, Michael Robotham  4.6, LUCIFER FALLS, Colin Falconer   4.5, INNOCENCE DIES, Colin Falconer 4.6, THE THREE MISS ALLENS, Victoria Purman  4.5, THE LONG GAME, Simon Rowell 4.6, THE ORCHARD MURDERS, Robert Gott  4.7, THE GOOD TEACHER, Petronella McGovern  4.4, BENEVOLENCE, Julie Janson 4.2, THE NANCYS, R.W.R McDonald 4.3, THE ATTACK, Catherine Jinks  4.6, TREASURE & DIRT, Chris Hammer  4.6, THE DROVER'S WIFE, Leah Purcell   4.7, APPLES NEVER FALL, Liane Moriarty 4.5, THE HOUSEMATE, Sarah Bailey  4.8, THE WAY IT IS NOW, Garry Disher 4.4, THE CURLEW'S EYE, Karen Manton
	2021 Australian Women Writers Challenge I will be aiming to read about 20 titles, all crime fiction. They will also count for the Aussie Author Challenge (above) Stella: read 4 – if reviewing, review at least 3 Miles: read 6 – if reviewing, review at least 4 Franklin: read 10 – if reviewing, review at least 6 Create your own Challenge Currently: 15 4.5, STICKS AND STONES, Katherine Firkin 4.4, THE SAFE PLACE, Anna Downes 4.5, THE NIGHT SWIM, Megan Goldin   4.5, SHELTER, Catherine Jinks 4.5, WHITE THROAT, Sarah Thornton  4.4, MY BEST FRIEND'S MURDER, Polly Phillips  4.5, THE FAMILY DOCTOR, Debra Oswald 4.6, THE THREE MISS ALLENS, Victoria Purman 4.7, THE GOOD TEACHER, Petronella McGovern  4.4, BENEVOLENCE, Julie Janson  4.3, THE ATTACK, Catherine Jinks  4.6, THE DROVER'S WIFE, Leah Purcell  4.7, APPLES NEVER FALL, Liane Moriarty 4.5, THE HOUSEMATE, Sarah Bailey  4.4, THE CURLEW'S EYE, Karen Manton
	2020 Ebook Reading Challenge - a personal challenge About one third of my reading is done on my Kindle and I am also now using Libby Currently: 54 Kindle: 31 4.5, THE MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR AT STYLES, Agatha Christie 4.5, SHELTER, Catherine Jinks 4.5, WHITE THROAT, Sarah Thornton  4.4, THE MURDER ON THE LINKS, Agatha Christie 4.6, OLD BONES, Aaron Elkins  4.6, A MURDER AT MALABAR HILL, Sujata Massey  4.4, THE MURDER OF ROGER ACKROYD, Agatha Christie 4.7, THE TALLY STICK, Carl Nixon  4.2, MURDER ON THE MENU. Fiona Leitch 4.6, THE NIGHT WHISTLER, Greg Woodland   4.2, THE BIG FOUR, Agatha Christie 4.6, THE PRIVATE FACE OF MURDER, John Bonett 4.5, THE SOUND OF MURDER, John Bonett 4.5, THIS SIDE MURDER, John Bonett 4.5, THE MYSTERY OF THE BLUE TRAIN, Agatha Christie  4.8, THE CUTTING PLACE, Jane Casey  4.3, T HE GINZA GHOST, Keikichi Osaka 4.8, THE TRESPASSER, Tana French  4.5, THE MURDER AT THE VICARAGE, Agatha Christie 5.0, WHEN YOU ARE MINE, Michael Robotham  4.4, THE LAST GIRL, Jane Casey 4.5, THE BODY IN THE LIBRARY, Agatha Christie 4.5, THE MOVING FINGER, Agatha Christie  4.5, A MURDER IS ANNOUNCED, Agatha Christie  4.3, THE SKELETONS OF BIRKBURY, Diana Febry  4.4, THEY DO IT WITH MIRRORS, Agatha Christie  4.7, A SLOW FIRE BURNING, Paula Hawkins 4.4, BELLS ON HER TOES, Diana Febry  4.6, MURDER AT ST ANNE'S, J. R. Ellis  3.9, MR BOWLING BUYS A NEWSPAPER, Donald Henderson       Libby: 23 4.9, THE DARKEST EVENING, Ann Cleeves 4.4, THE GIRL IN THE MIRROR, Rose Carlyle 4.5, THE NIGHT SWIM, Megan Goldin   4.5, A LESSON DYING, Ann Cleeves 4.5, DOOM CREEK, Alan Carter   4.5, MURDER IN MY BACKYARD, Ann Cleeves 4.6, KILLJOY, Ann Cleeves  4.5, THE HEALERS, Ann Cleeves 4.6, THE BABY-SNATCHER, Ann Cleeves   4.5, THE THURSDAY MURDER CLUB, Richard Osman 4.8, A DIVIDED LOYALTY, Charles Todd  4.6, THE THREE MISS ALLENS, Victoria Purman  4.7, A FATAL LIE, Charles Todd 4.5, THE SATAPUR MOONSTONE, Sujata Massey  4.7, NEVER FORGET, Michel Bussi 4.6, THE ORCHARD MURDERS, Robert Gott  4.4, BENEVOLENCE, Julie Janson 4.7, AN ELDERLY LADY IS UP TO NO GOOD, Helene Tursten 4.6, TREASURE & DIRT, Chris Hammer  4.6, THE DROVER'S WIFE, Leah Purcell  4.5, THE HOUSEMATE, Sarah Bailey 4.8, THE WAY IT IS NOW, Garry Disher 4.4, THE CURLEW'S EYE, Karen Manton
	This is a personal challenge. I intend to read as many new-to-me authors as I can. Currently: 35 4.4., THE BLUFFS, Kyle Perry 4.5, STICKS AND STONES, Katherine Firkin 4.4, THE MIST, Ragnar Jonasson  4.4, THE GIRL IN THE MIRROR, Rose Carlyle 4.4, THE SAFE PLACE, Anna Downes  4.5, SHELTER, Catherine Jinks  4.4, MY BEST FRIEND'S MURDER, Polly Phillips  4.3, MYSTERY ON HIDDEN LANE, Clare Chase   4.6, OLD BONES, Aaron Elkins 4.3, THE LAST MOVE, Mary Burton  4.7, THE TALLY STICK, Carl Nixon  4.2, MURDER ON THE MENU. Fiona Leitch 4.6, THE NIGHT WHISTLER, Greg Woodland   4.3, A STUDY IN STONE, Michael Campling 4.5, THE FAMILY DOCTOR, Debra Oswald  4.0, THE PORT OF LONDON MURDERS, Josephine Bell  4.5, KILL A STRANGER, Simon Kernick  4.6, GREENWICH PARK, Katherine Faulkner  4.6, THE PRIVATE FACE OF MURDER, John Bonett  4.5, HAVE YOU SEEN ME? Kate White  4.3, THE GINZA GHOST, Keikichi Osaka  4.4, THE MARLOW MURDER CLUB, Robert Thorogood  4.4, HER LAST HOLIDAY, C. L. Taylor 4.6, LUCIFER FALLS, Colin Falconer  4.5, THE THURSDAY MURDER CLUB, Richard Osman  4.6, THE THREE MISS ALLENS, Victoria Purman  4.5, THE LONG GAME, Simon Rowell  4.3, THE SKELETONS OF BIRKBURY, Diana Febry  4.5, HOLDING, Graham Norton  4.4, BENEVOLENCE, Julie Janson  4.2, THE NANCYS, R.W.R McDonald  4.6, THE DROVER'S WIFE, Leah Purcell  4.6, TODAY A WOMAN WENT MAD IN THE SUPERMARKET, Hilma Wolitzer  3.9, MR BOWLING BUYS A NEWSPAPER, Donald Henderson  4.4, THE CURLEW'S EYE, Karen Manton
Not crime fiction	Not crime fiction Another personal challenge: a reminder to myself that I need occasionally to read outside the crime fiction genre. Currently: 2 4.4, BENEVOLENCE, Julie Janson 4.6, TODAY A WOMAN WENT MAD IN THE SUPERMARKET, Hilma Wolitzer
	Nordic Reading challenge Another personal challenge: a reminder to myself that I want to keep an eye on Nordic/Scandinavian crime fiction and to keep records of my reading.  Currently: 1 4.4, THE MIST, Ragnar Jonasson
New Zealand authors	New Zealand Reading challenge Another personal challenge: a reminder to myself that I want to keep an eye on New Zealand crime fiction and to keep records of my reading. Currently: 3 4.4, THE GIRL IN THE MIRROR, Rose Carlyle 4.7, THE TALLY STICK, Carl Nixon 4.2, MURDER ON THE MENU. Fiona Leitch
	Translated crime fiction This will overlap with a number of the other challenges and is really just a record of translated titles that I've read this year. Currently: 3 4.4, THE MIST, Ragnar Jonasson (Icelandic) 4.3, THE GINZA GHOST, Keikichi Osaka (Japanese) 4.7, NEVER FORGET, Michel Bussi (French)
Audio Books	Audio Books A Personal challenge/record   Currently: 2 4.5, THE MURDER ON THE LINKS, Agatha Christie 4.5, AGENT RUNNING IN THE FIELD, John Le Carre
Campbelltown Library SA	Snagged at the Library I am a consistent "supporter" of my local library, but it will help me keep a nice record of my borrowed books. That is a picture of my local library on the left. This includes books on Libby as these come through the Library service.  Currently: 56 4.4., THE BLUFFS, Kyle Perry 4.5, STICKS AND STONES, Katherine Firkin 4.9, THE DARKEST EVENING, Ann Cleeves e-book   4.4, THE MIST, Ragnar Jonasson 4.4, THE GIRL IN THE MIRROR, Rose Carlyle  4.4, THE SAFE PLACE, Anna Downes  4.8, LOCKDOWN, Peter May  4.4, THE POSTSCRIPT MURDERS, Elly Griffiths 4.5, THE NIGHT SWIM, Megan Goldin 4.5, SHELTER, Catherine Jinks   4.3, MYSTERY ON HIDDEN LANE, Clare Chase 4.5, A STRANGER'S HOUSE, Clare Chase  4.3, THE LAST MOVE, Mary Burton 4.3, A LATE PHOENIX, Catherine Aird   4.5, A LESSON DYING, Ann Cleeves 4.0, THE PORT OF LONDON MURDERS, Josephine Bell   4.5, MURDER IN MY BACKYARD, Ann Cleeves 4.4, DYING ON THE VINE, Aaron Elkins  4.5, KILL A STRANGER, Simon Kernick 4.4, A DAY IN THE DEATH OF DOROTHEA CASSIDY, Ann Cleeves  4.6, KILLJOY, Ann Cleeves 4.8, TELL ME LIES, J. P. Pomare  4.5, HAVE YOU SEEN ME? Kate White 4.5, THE HEALERS, Ann Cleeves  4.7, THE LANTERN MEN, Elly Griffiths 4.6, THE BABY-SNATCHER, Ann Cleeves 4.4, THE COFFINMAKER'S GARDEN, Stuart MacBride  4.4, THE MARLOW MURDER CLUB, Robert Thorogood   4.4, HER LAST HOLIDAY, C. L. Taylor 4.6, LUCIFER FALLS, Colin Falconer  4.6, THE NIGHT HAWKS, Elly Griffiths 4.5, THE THURSDAY MURDER CLUB, Richard Osman  4.5, INNOCENCE DIES, Colin Falconer  5.0, THE STONE CIRCLE, Elly Griffiths 4.8, THE DARK ANGEL, Elly Griffiths   4.8, A DIVIDED LOYALTY, Charles Todd 4.6, THE THREE MISS ALLENS, Victoria Purman  4.7, A FATAL LIE, Charles Todd 4.5, THE LONG GAME, Simon Rowell  4.5, THE SATAPUR MOONSTONE, Sujata Massey 4.4, THE SILENCE OF THE GIRLS, Pat Barker  4.5, HOLDING, Graham Norton 4.7, NEVER FORGET, Michel Bussi 4.6, THE ORCHARD MURDERS, Robert Gott  4.4, BENEVOLENCE, Julie Janson  4.2, THE NANCYS, R.W.R McDonald 4.3, THE ATTACK, Catherine Jinks   4.7, AN ELDERLY LADY IS UP TO NO GOOD, Helene Tursten 4.6, TREASURE & DIRT, Chris Hammer  4.8, THE KILLING KIND, Jane Casey 4.6, THE DROVER'S WIFE, Leah Purcell  4.6, HOME STRETCH, Graham Norton   4.5, THE HOUSEMATE, Sarah Bailey 4.7, THE BLOOD DOCTOR, Barbara Vine  4.8, THE WAY IT IS NOW, Garry Disher 4.4, THE CURLEW'S EYE, Karen Manton
2021 Historical Fiction Reading Challenge	A challenge hosted at Passages to the Past Again mainly a record just for me. I'm going to be a bit flexible here and allow myself to include books that have a fair bit of history included in the story. They will still be crime fiction. I will indicate which historical period they relate to. Currently: 12 4.4, THE BURNING ISLAND, Jock Serong  4.6, OLD BONES, Aaron Elkins 4.6, A MURDER AT MALABAR HILL, Sujata Massey  4.0, THE PORT OF LONDON MURDERS, Josephine Bell  4.6, THE THREE MISS ALLENS, Victoria Purman  4.5, THE SATAPUR MOONSTONE, Sujata Massey 4.4, THE SILENCE OF THE GIRLS, Pat Barker  4.6, THE ORCHARD MURDERS, Robert Gott   4.7, 1979, Val McDermid 4.4, BENEVOLENCE, Julie Janson 4.6, THE DROVER'S WIFE, Leah Purcell  4.7, THE BLOOD DOCTOR, Barbara Vine