Monday, March 1, 2021

Sisters' March Reading Challenge

I've been enjoying the Brighter Winter Reading Program the last two months. It has helped me stay offline, read books that have been lingering on my shelf, and connect with other readers. The Brighter Winter Reading Program is organized by Daughters of Promise magazine for two months in the winter. Each month has twenty challenges.

In January I had lots of extra time to read, partly because my little girls had the chicken pox and I stayed home more than usual. But in February I had far less time than usual, partly because of being in North Carolina for a week. I really had to push to finish the challenges.

I couldn't (and probably shouldn't) keep reading at the rate that I did this winter. The pace is a little exhausting. But I do love the  way a reading challenge helps me to read deliberately. And I love how it helps me to connect with other friends who are also doing the reading challenge.

Since we didn't want the fun to end, my sister Charity and I decided to come up with our own reading challenges for the month of March. We set five challenges, three with specific book topics and two with activity-related challenges. 

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Sisters' March Reading Challenge

1. Read a book set in Ireland (in honor of St Patrick's Day).
Examples: 
Let Me Die in Ireland or Patrick of Ireland by David Bercot (historical fiction about St. Patrick)
Nory Ryan's Song (middle-grade fiction on the Irish potato famine)
In the Company of Others by Jan Karon (from the Mitford series)

2. Read a book written by a female missionary.
Example of authors:
Elisabeth Elliot
Amy Carmichael
Isobel Kuhn
Darlene Diebler Rose
Kate McCord
Katie Davis

3. Read a book about food
Examples:
Garlic and Sapphires by Ruth Reihl (a food memoir)
Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver
A nonfiction book about gardening, nutrition, or even chemistry
A biography about a chef

4. Write out a quote from a book and tape it to your mirror.
This could be something inspirational, humorous, or convicting from something you read--even a Bible verse.

5. Mail a book to a child, invalid, or friend.
Share the love of books with a surprise package. You can mail a book from your personal collection or purchase book from Abebooks or Amazon and have it directly mailed to your friend.

These challenges are just for fun. No pressure and no prizes--just a way to encourage each other to read more books and spend less time on our phones. (I know, you are probably reading this on your phone.)

 At the end of the month, I'll share what I did for these challenges and invite you to do the same.

Share in the comments if you want to join us and what suggestions you have for these challenges. I need an idea for an Irish book.

6 comments :

  1. I never understood the fighting between Protestant and Catholic Ireland - until I read Trinity by Leon Uris. The appalling abuse of power and privilege still resonates within me. (I was Catholic at the time I read it.) Tomie De Paola wrote and illustrated a children's book about St. Patrick that is quite good. You could tie in family books with learning to make a nice Irish meal! Irish Soda Bread? Corned Beef and Cabbage? Shepherd's Pie? Listen to some Irish music. Learn a few words of Gaelic. Wear green on the 17th!

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  2. I thoroughly enjoyed the Brighter Winter Reading Challenge. I've been wanting to read Let Me Die in Ireland. I would like to try some of the challenges listed.

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  3. Hi Gina, I live in Australia and have been following your blog and praying for your family from afar for over 3 years. I love this challenge idea so I am joining in and will be interested to see what books we all choose. I have read books by several of the women missionaries already so I will be looking for something new. Thanks for posting on this.

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  4. The third book in a Christian historical-romance-fiction trilogy I read years ago, was partially set in Ireland. The books were written by Maryann Minatra, The Alcott Legacy. Because it's been a while, I can't remember if it's a "must" to read the first two books (The Tapestry and The Masterpiece) in order to make sense of book number three (The Heirloom). Thanks for sharing all the book info and ideas of late. I just finished reading "Talking to Strangers" and The Road Back To You, both very interesting.

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  5. I am not Mennonite but I am a conservative Christian. Some of the best books I've read are from the Mennonite publishing companies. I just love them! There is a lending library that has a lot of these books in Myerstown, PA, which I would love to use. But I live in the South. My family is from Lebanon County. I have thought about getting the Daughters of Promise magazine too but haven't yet. Chris W.

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    Replies
    1. I ordered two magazines and I'm really looking forward to to reading them. :) God bless you richly. Chris W.

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