If you’re anything like me you already have a stack of books on your bedside table in a ‘To Read’ pile. I’m sure that most of them will somehow fit into at least one of the 25 categories in the Dance Dance, Ramble Ramble Reading Challenge.
If you haven’t checked the reading challenge out already, click the link above and see what it’s about!
The great thing about the challenge is that many of the books you read will fit more than one category, making it a little easier (or harder, depending on how many books you read!) to find a category to fit your book.
So, you want to do the challenge but… there’s so many categories! Where do you start?Need some help deciding what to read this year? Look no further.
There’s quite a few categories that will ease you into the challenge.
There’s no better place to start than A book you just want to read!
Any book falls under this category. Perhaps it’s a trusted favourite, or a book you’ve been meaning to re-read for a while. Or maybe you recieved a book as a Christmas gift.
Take a look on your own bookshelf; A book you own but haven’t yet read.
If you’re anything like me there’s more than one or two books on the shelf that are waiting to be picked up and devoured!
Or perhaps there’s a book from a series you like that you need to start, or catch up on.
The Seven Sisters series has been increasing in popularity recently. Or you may like to fall back on an old favourite; mine is The Rizzoli & Isles series. I’ll be reading a Rebus or Strike novel for this category myself. I find Detective fiction helps me break up the space and time between more emotionally intense texts I’ve read. Retreating to visit old friends amongst pages can be just as comforting as discovering new ones.
Looking to discover something new? A debut novel is perfect!
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine has been one of the more talked about debuts recently, and fits many of the #DDRRreadingchallenge categories! It’ll certainly make you laugh out loud and Reese Witherspoon has bought the rights to the film.
This list of 31 Debut Novels from Bustle from 2018 has a good range of novels on it, with something for almost everyone.
Another place to start is A book recommended by a friend. Reading is such a personal journey that when you recommend a book to someone, it’s almost as if you’re telling them a little about yourself; ‘this book was excellent and I think you’d like it too’. Either that, or the book wasn’t your cup of tea but you think it might be someone elses! Regardless, if someone has thought to recommend a book to you; there’s a reason for it. Trust in that, and you may just discover something you didn’t know you were looking for! At least 1/4 of the books I read each year are recommendations from others and of those, half of them are books I never would have picked for myself.
Or perhaps you’re wanting to stretch your horizons right from the outset.
There’s a few categories which are specific to your location;
A book which includes language indigenous to your land
UNESCO has designated 2019 the Year of Indigenous Languages, which makes this a perfect category for 2019.
Being based in New Zealand, I’ll be looking for a book which incorporates Te Reo Maori.
In Scotland? A book with Gaelic or Scots. Wales? Welsh.
Australia? A text which includes Aboriginal language. USA & Canada; First Nations.
Do a bit of research, maybe you’re about to discover something magical.
Ask some friends if they know of any good books that might fit this challenge.
A book set in the country you live & A book by a local author
Here you’re just going to have to do a bit of searching.
Finding texts set in your country will be relatively easy. A local Author however, may be a slightly tricky if you live a little more remotely.
Visit or email your local library; they’re bound to know of local Authors, and they love giving recommendations.
Don’t forget… It doesn’t have to be modern fiction either!
We’ve covered eight of the 25 categories in the challenge.
Hopefully you’ve found a starting point for your #DDRRreadingchallenge for 2019.
If you have any recommendations for any of the categories don’t forget to use the #DDRRreadingchallenge hashtag on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, or you can email in on this website. I can’t wait to see what you’re all reading!
I’ll post more prompts for the remaining 17 categories as we progress throughout the beginning of the year.
But for now, wherever in the world you may be; snuggled up inside under a blanket, or on a beach in the sunshine… happy reading!
Dance Dance, Ramble Ramble 