Susan's 2016 Reading Blog: Let’s go to the Olympics! Challenge

Let’s Go to the Olympics! Challenge

June 15, 2016 through September 14, 2016

The Games of the XXXI Olympiad, or 2016 Summer Olympics, will take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from August 5 to August 21, 2016. This is expected to be the largest Olympic Games in history, with more than 10,500 athletes from 206 nations scheduled to participate. Let's celebrate their accomplishments with a challenge!

Levels:

Bronze Medal: Read 10 books

Silver Medal: Read 15 books

Gold Medal: Read 20 books

World Record Holder: Read 25 books

Bonus: The bonus can be added to any level, and read at any time during the challenge.

The Games (5 books)

1. Summer: Read a book that takes place in the summer, or that is set somewhere that is known for warm/hot weather

2. Winter: Read a book that takes place in the winter, or is set in a location known for cooler/cold weather

3. Paralympics: Read a book with a character who suffers from some sort of illness or disability (physical or mental), or other physical defect (scars, injury, etc.)

4. Youth Games: Read a children’s or YA book, or a book in which a child figures prominently in the storyline

5. Ancient Games: Read a Historical novel or a book with an older character

Countries (10 books)

6. Greece (GRE): The home of the Ancient Olympic Games, and location of the first modern Olympic Games

7. Brazil (BRA): Host nation of this year’s Summer Olympic Games

8. Switzerland (SUI): Home of the headquarters of the International Olympic Committee

Nations that have hosted the Olympics (Winter or Summer) at least three times:

9. United States (USA)

10. France (FRA)

11. Japan (JPN)

12. Great Britain (GBR)

13. Canada (CAN)

14. Italy (ITA)

15. Germany (GER)

For each of the above countries, read a book that is set in that country, has an author or character from there, or where the three letters in the country’s abbreviation can be found in the title and/or author of the book.

Colors and Symbols (10 books)

The colors on the Olympic Flag:

16. Blue: Read a book with blue on the cover, or that is set on or near the water.

17. Black: Read a book with black on the cover, or with a darker storyline or a character that you would consider a “bad guy”.

18. Red: Read a book with a red cover, or that has a suspenseful or mysterious storyline.

19. Yellow: Read a book with yellow on the cover, or with a happy, funny, or lighthearted character or storyline.

20. Green: Read a book with green on the cover, or that is set primarily outdoors or includes an animal or animals prominently in the storyline (shifters count!)

21. White: Read a book with white on the cover, or with a shy, naïve, or virginal character.

22. Olympic Rings: Read a book with something round on the cover, or a story with multiple POVs or connected storylines.

23. Torch/Flame: Read a book with fire or some other light source on the cover, or with a “hot” storyline.

24. Medals: Read a book that has won or been nominated for an award of any kind. If you need ideas, see the Goodreads Book Awards page

25. Olympic Motto "Faster, Higher, Stronger": Read a short book that you can finish Fast, a longer book with a High page count, or a book with a character that is either physically or mentally Strong.

**For the colors, the cover does not need to be most or all that color, but if not it must be something that stands out on the cover, not something that just blends in and wouldn’t be noticed if the color were different.

Bonus:

The following sports are currently included in either the Summer or Winter Olympic Games:

Alpine Skiing, Aquatics, Archery, Athletics (Track & Field), Badminton, Basketball, Biathlon, Bobsleigh, Boxing, Canoeing, Cross-Country Skiing, Curling, Cycling, Equestrian, Fencing, Field Hockey, Figure Skating, Football (Soccer), Freestyle Skiing, Golf, Gymnastics, Handball, Ice Hockey, Judo, Luge, Modern Pentathlon, Nordic Combined, Rowing, Rugby, Sailing, Shooting, Short Track Speed Skating, Skeleton, Ski Jumping, Snowboarding, Speed Skating, Table Tennis, Triathlon, Volleyball, Weightlifting, Wrestling

Read one (or more) book in which a MC participates in one of the Olympic sports. Note: This doesn’t have to be in a professional or even organized manner. For example, if one of the MCs lifts weights as part of a workout, it can be used for weightlifting.

1. A SEAL's Desire - Tawny Weber (HB #896 - June 2016) (Texas/summer) - July 6

2. Wild Cowboy Ways - Carolyn Brown (Forever - Dec 2015) (winter) - July 9

3. The Boss and His Cowgirl - Silver James (HD #2452 - June 2016) (breast cancer) - June 20

4. A Conard County Baby - Rachel Lee (HSE #2390 - Mar 2015) (child/teen) - July 24

5. My American Duchess - Eloisa James (Avon - Feb 2016) (historical) - July 21

6. It Happened One Christmas - Carla Kelly, Georgie Lee, Ann Lethbridge (HH #1255 - Nov 2015) - The Viscount's Christmas Kiss by Georgie Lee (letters) - Aug 25

7. Ambush at Dry Gulch - Joanna Wayne (HI #1647 - July 2016) (letters BRA) - July 8

8. In Pursuit of His Wife - Kristi Gold (HD #2444 - May 2016) (letters SUI) - July 17

9. Out Rider - Lindsay McKenna (HQN - May 2016) - Aug 13

10. Fortune's Prince Charming - Nancy Robards Thompson (HSE #2473 - May 2016) (letters FRA) - July 14

11. Marriage Made in Hope - Sophia James (HH #1285 - June 2016) (letters JPN) - July 5

12. The Rogue Not Taken - Sarah MacLean (Avon - Jan 2016) (in GBR) - June 30