So, I created the
Postal Reading Challenge
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| image via the amazing Cathe at Just Something I Made |
What is the Challenge?
The key is to read and review books with a postal theme. These can be non-fiction on the subject of letter writing, collections of real letters, or epistolary fiction of any era. Be creative! Review each one and link back to the challenge -- there will be quarterly roundup posts for you to link reviews and posts to as you create them.
The challenge runs from January 1st, 2013 to December 31st, 2013. You can sign up ANY TIME throughout the year.
Any books chosen can overlap with any other challenge, and rereads are allowed. Just remember to review them somewhere online in order for them to count toward the challenge. Lists don't have to be made in advance, though feel free to share your choices and inspire other readers if you wish!
How do I join in?
There are a few ways to participate in this challenge.
Postcard Level: Read and review 4 books with a postal theme.
Snail Mail Level: Read and review 8 books with a postal theme.
Parcel Post Level: Read and review 12 books with a postal theme.
Air Mail Express Level: Read and review 12 books with a postal theme AND commit to sending more old fashioned letters this year. At least 12 pieces of mail (or more!), and you can share numbers or even images of your mail art in the quarterly roundups.
Anyone who completes the challenge at any level will have their names thrown into a draw to win some letter-related goodies at the end of the year. In addition, if you complete the Air Mail Express Level, you'll get a chance to win a lifetime membership to (and some goodies from) the Letter Writers Alliance!
Wondering what you might read? Find some inspiration --
To join in, sign up below. If you aren't a blogger, just add a comment. How to add your link:
1. Click on the icon below
2. Add a link to your sign up post or your overall blog/tumblr etc if you are just joining generally for now
Snail Mail Level: Read and review 8 books with a postal theme.
Parcel Post Level: Read and review 12 books with a postal theme.
Air Mail Express Level: Read and review 12 books with a postal theme AND commit to sending more old fashioned letters this year. At least 12 pieces of mail (or more!), and you can share numbers or even images of your mail art in the quarterly roundups.
Anyone who completes the challenge at any level will have their names thrown into a draw to win some letter-related goodies at the end of the year. In addition, if you complete the Air Mail Express Level, you'll get a chance to win a lifetime membership to (and some goodies from) the Letter Writers Alliance!
Wondering what you might read? Find some inspiration --
- Some of the epistolary choices I've read over the years
- Danielle at A Work in Progress has made a couple of lists, A Thursday Thirteen and a follow-up Part 2! And now, Part 3!
- Wikipedia has, of course, listed some epistolary suggestions
- Goodreads has 26 pages of readers' favourite epistolary reads
- Some ideas for non-fiction reads as well as novels, from the Letter Exchange
To join in, sign up below. If you aren't a blogger, just add a comment. How to add your link:
1. Click on the icon below
2. Add a link to your sign up post or your overall blog/tumblr etc if you are just joining generally for now
I would like to join the Postal Reading Challenge. I signed up with Mr. Linky and used my Tumblr blog address. Is this enough to join the challenge?
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to this addition to my reading list this year!
CarmenGirl - I just changed the Mr Linky as I was having a bit of an issue -- sign up again with the inlinkz if you wish, or this comment will also stand as your sign up! Have you decided what level you are aiming for?
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for joining in, and I look forward to seeing the titles you choose :)
Great idea Melwyk. Have just signed up and joined the Letter Writers Alliance too.
ReplyDeleteJust when I said I wasn't going to be tempted you've come along and tempted me! :) I am going to have to contemplate possible reads. Thanks for linking to my list--now I need to go back and revisit it myself! I also love epistolary novels and am a great fan in general of letter writing!
ReplyDeleteShonna - I joined LWA this year and think it is so entertaining! Happy to hear that you've joined up already -- have fun with all the cool resources
ReplyDeleteDanielle - hope you decide to join us before the end of year as well :)
What a novel idea!
ReplyDeleteYou might want to read The Postmistress by Sarah Blake. I read it for my library's book group last year, and we all loved it!
I haven't decided yet which challenges to join but will definitely consider this one.
Sue
http://bookbybook.blogspot.com/2012/07/fiction-review-postmistress.html
Sue - how funny, I have just picked up The Postmistress after having on my to-read shelves for at least 2 years! Thanks for the link!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun idea! I've just started reading The Perks of Being a Wallflower, which should qualify, so why not sign up?
ReplyDeleteValerie - great! That is the perfect book for this challenge :)
ReplyDeleteI'm in, not sure what level just yet, but... at least 4.
ReplyDeleteIrene - great!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun idea! I love reading books of letters (and already send a few letters a year, although would love to send more.) I'm going to see how Reading Presently goes, but I might well sign up later in the year.
ReplyDeleteI don't do challenges as a rule - and I won't sign up for this one - but I love it nonetheless. I do write snail mail letters - have been writing pretty well one a week to a friend in California since early 1994. (I live in Australia). We both still love receiving a letter even though we communicate occasionally via email and Facebook. I have been, over the last few years, reading Jane Austen's letters bit by bit, and have read some of her epistolary novels.
ReplyDeleteOh, and I'm a retired librarian. I came here via So Many Books and just wanted to say hello.
Simon - I hope you will, it would be fun to have you reading along!
ReplyDeleteWhispering Gums - thanks for stopping by! I'm glad to know that there are others out there who are still writing paper letters and enjoying them.
I am so tempted to try this challenge. It sounds like something I'd enjoy... but I'm making a sincere effort not to sign up for challenges unless I absolutely know I can complete them. I'm just not sure I could finish this one.
ReplyDeleteI've decided I am going to do this. I just need to decide at what level and then I'll post and link.
ReplyDeleteThanks for hosting! I love your challenge and I look forward to getting to know you this year!
ReplyDeleteI shared your challenge at
Create With joy
http://www.create-with-joy.com/2013/01/2013-reading-challenges.html
Jo - thrilled you've decided to join in. I never worry about finishing the challenges I sign up for -- it's the list making and sharing reviews that I love. This is a very relaxed challenge ;)
ReplyDeleteCreate with Joy - thanks so much! Glad you think it's a good idea for a challenge, too.
I rarely (read: never have before) do challenges, but this is so up my alley that I can't resist. I probably send 12 pieces of mail a month, at least, between letters and postcards and I'm always reading at least one collection of letters, albeit very slowly.
ReplyDeleteThe only question will be whether or not graduate school eats me alive before the year is out...
Thanks for hosting this challenge!
mbolit - you are brave to take on a reading challenge while in grad school! I hope your research is into epistolary history, then it would be quite easy... ;)
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea! Good encouragement to read some of the books on my shelf too like "Next to Love", "Feeling Sorry for Celia" and "Daddy Long Legs".
ReplyDeletei'm not sure if we're supposed to continue posting links here when we do a book review or not, but just in case, here's my latest one for Gone Girl. this book has extensive diary entries so I think it counts. if you want these posted elsewhere, just let me know. http://valerierlawson.wordpress.com/2013/02/23/gone-daddy-gone-your-love-is-gone-a-postal-challenge-review/
ReplyDeleteValerie, you can add links to your reviews on the Jan-Mar link up page for easy access (click on the postal challenge icon in the sidebar to get all the links to all the PC pages) Thanks for reading along, I haven't read Gone Girl yet myself. I'm also a big fan of diary fiction, though focusing more on correspondence this year.
ReplyDeleteThis looks like a fun challenge. Someone pointed it out on the Lettermo (A Month of Letters Challenge) forusm.
ReplyDeleteHi Amber - thanks for checking it out! I've had such a great Letter Month...soon will post about it.
ReplyDeleteI signed up for 16 challenges this year, but this is the one I am MOST excited about. Can't wait to dig in!
ReplyDeleteMegan, that's great to hear! Can't wait to hear which titles you choose!
ReplyDeleteI'm late, but I'm in! Love this idea!
ReplyDeleteBIP - Excellent! Know you'll find some great stuff :)
ReplyDeleteHello canuck neighbour. Happy Easter to everyone! On letter-writing alone I'd ace it. I haven't stopped using real mail all my life. For books? I'll have to see what I have. How about an author who used diaries/letters to write her book (even if they aren't contained within)?
ReplyDelete{I'm on dial-up: replies at my blog/e-mail are gratefully appreciated. I inquire all over the place}.
I made it in, Melanie! Greetings to everyone else from a life long letter-writer. :) I tell people, it's easy to type into a word program instead of e-mail; then instead of pressing "send", you press "print" and mail it!
ReplyDeletehttp://cmriedel.wordpress.com/2013/04/08/colour-names-postal/
Welcome! Will look forward to your choices, thanks for sharing the latest ones already :)
DeleteHi, I'd like to join in! I saw this at the beginning of the year, but forgot to sign up. Can I still join?
ReplyDeleteMy blog is
www.piepost.blogspot.com
Absolutely! Glad to see you're interested, and hope to find some new reading in your titles, too!
DeleteIs there somewhere we post on your website when we've written a review? I just did my first one: http://piepost.blogspot.com/2014/04/to-letter-book-review.html
ReplyDelete