Rounding into the home stretch on the challenge!

So how has it been working for everyone? Has it forced you out of your comfort zone at all? Or have you been able to just fill all the categories with books from your TBR?

I've been forced a little out of my comfort zone, but mostly the challenge just rearranged the books on my TBR -- instead of reading only the stuff that I like best, I've been reading a lot more of the stuff that I planned to read someday but with no real urgency because the descriptions weren't that interesting and/or it was an author I didn't know.

I really haven't been forced out of my comfort zone by the challenge, as I generally like to experiment with new authors on a regular basis.  I can only really say that the challenge has rearranged the books on my TBR in the sense that I am reading fantasy more often, where normally I like to genre-hop with each new book.  Normally I go back and forth between fantasy, sci-fi, and non-fiction but I'll occationally throw a horror author in when the mood strikes me.  I've been meaning to read more historical fiction and mystery novels but they usually end up put to the side for something else.

Once I get down to some of the harder to fill categories it definately will be causing me to dig a lot deaper into my TBR pile, but I'm pretty sure I can fill everything using books I was already planning to read.

I'm having a lot of fun with the fantasy reading challenge.  I have tried several new authors and have just completed The Carpet Makers by Andreas Eschbach (thanks Phoenix).  In addition, I have found myself  sidetracked to read several other new authors recommended by friends on goodreads and PBS.  Haven't been able to snare copies of some of the books I listed to read.   Guess I'll need to check the library to see how long the waits are.  Have so many books on my shelves that I don't really want to buy any more right now.  Maybe I'll try to fill some of the categories with what I have.  What did I think of The Carpet Makers?  It's an excellent read by a most creative and imaginative author.  I hope that I can find more of his work.  This is a story about planet after planet of people who dedicate their lives to the industry of carpet making.  A carpet maker may have several wives but only one son who will continue the carpet making tradition, generation after generation.  Any other sons born to a man must be killed.  But, what happens to all the carpets?  The people on thousands of planets are told that they are used in the emperor's palace but the truth lies within a man's vast ego and is part of his revenge upon another.  I highly recommend this read to those who enjoy fantasy.  It's one of the best I've read during this challenge.

I am really enjoying the challenge, mostly. And I have definitely read new authors and things I never even realy thought of before. I am nearly done the challenge and hope to do next year's as well (assuming there is one).

I'm really enjoying doing this challenge.  This is my first time doing anything like this, and I'm reading a whole bunch of stuff I've been meaning to get around to for a while.  Right now I'm trying to find a quest structure traveling book that I find interesting.  Someone suggested Chalice by Robin McKinley, but I can not get interested in it.  Anyone else have any suggestions?

It has long been out of print, but if you can find it The Book of Knights by Yves Meynard is probably the best quest story I've come across.

I am really enjoying the challenge as well. Phoenix, do you think we are going to start next year's challenge in Jan? For this month I am going to try and start and finish "Paladin of Souls" by Lois McMaster Bujold.  

Yep, the plan is definitely to start next year's challenge on Jan. 1st. I was planning on putting up a thread asking for suggestions for next year's challenge in November. :)

Glad to hear that. I am going to take both the Sci-Fi and Fantasy challenges to Dec 31.