OK, I haven't even completed the 2009 challenge, but I'm already thinking about a challenge for 2010. Is that obsessive, or what?

Valli, you lead us through this year. Are you interested in doing it again?

What do you all think about categories? In another thread, I expressed an interest in some changes, mostly because I like doing different things. But what ideas you all have?

Sure, I'm happy to make the threads again this year, but I'll also be happy if someone else wants a try at it this year too. It's not fair for me to hog everything!

We definitely need new categories this year. It wouldn't be fun to do the same ones again. I have a few idea's that I've been jotting down as I think of them, but I don't want to say what they are in case I end up hosting the challenge again. I like surprises!

I think the idea's I have this year are much better than last year, but that isn't suprising since we decided we wanted a challenge and I threw it together very quickly so that we'd have it at the beginning of the year. I think we could do much better if we really think about it. The last one was fun, of course, but we definitely want something different or it would get stale. I'm glad you started this thread so we can have a chance to see what everyone would like in the next challenge. If we all put our brilliant heads together, we can come up with some great ideas! ;-)

On Monday, I'm going to be starting a holiday thread, so everyone watch for that! :-)

It's funny that you posted this because Shelley and I were just talking about it today. See, great minds really do think alike, lol.

This is funny, I came to this forum today to take a look at the 2009 challenge thread, because I was thinking of joining next year's challenge.  I'm a mystery fan, and just started reading some historical mysteries the last couple of years.  I wanted to see if the 2009 challenges were things that could apply to historical mysteries specifically, and most of them were.  I know the idea of a challenge is to expand your horizons a little, but being fairly new to this genre I don't want to bite off more than I can chew!  LOL

It looks like this is really an active forum and you guys are having lots of fun with the 2009 challenge.

Count me in for 2010.  I certainly expanded my horizens with the last one. At least four of the books I would not have read, otherwise, and 3 of the 4 were good, glad I read them.

As I said in another thread, I love the challenge!  That's kind of how I started out with this forum.  And how I finally started reading books that had been getting lost in my Mt. TBR!  I had an idea for one challenge topic earlier, but now I don't remember what it was.  If I think of it I'll throw it out there!

Since I joined in March last year and didn't truly know my way around PBS, I didn't take part in the challenge.  But, I am game for this coming years challenge.

Well, it seems there's lots of interest. I think Shelly said in another thread that she might be interested in leading us in 2010. Shelly, is this right, or did I misunderstand?

I'd rather not lead as I have sufficient distractions in my work life right now.

Valli, I think you did a capital job in 2009. If you listen carefully, you'll hear the applause.

I too have been watching the 2009 challenge and just ordered a historical for my area (Kansas) because I was inspired by one the the threads here.

Count me in for 2010.  I have a huge stack of historicals that I just never have gotten around to reading.  Hopefully the challenge for 2010 will help me dwindle away at it.

I would be in! I had so much fun finding new-to-me authors and sub-genres this year.

Ok, it looks like I'm failing miserably at the 2009 challenge (maybe 3 or 4 out of the 10).  Can I still participate in 2010? please, please.  I've been reading, just not books that fit into the challenge.

I had a blast and would totally be game again!

Thank you, Valli!

I'll likely participate although I have been terrible about posting on the appropriate threads for this years challenge - even though I've read the books!  (I'm having that problem in other challenges as well...).  I seriously need to get caught up.

I think Shelly would be a great "Empress of Historical Fiction" for 2010!! Maybe we should just draft her...We can stick the crown on her head while she's not online!!   :-D

Seriously, I don't want you guys to think that I'm trying to get out of hosting it because I'm truly, honestly not, but I really do think it would be great if someone different hosted it each year because that way it would stay new and exciting. Everyone has a different style of doing things so it would be like a whole new game if someone different did it each year. Now, I do have to warn you that I am being greedy about hosting the holiday stuff; that one is all mine!

If someone does volunteer to do it this year, they wouldn't have to think of all the goals because we are all great at coming up with good ideas. We could brainstorm up a bunch of ideas for goals and then our hostess could pick the ones she wanted to use or use her own, either way. Dear future Empress, you won't be left all alone to think up the whole challenge!

Genie, thanks for the applause! LOL!

I was thinking maybe we could 'read our way thru history'---see if we could find titles from pre-history thru present, reading in chronological order of years/eras/epoch, to the extent we could, but different books....

I would also be happy to join the 2010 challenge, even though I still have 1 1/2 books to finish for this year! My move didn't help me out at all when it comes to reading. One of my buddies just asked me yesterday what the HF challenge was all about - maybe another contender(?)

I will also be thinking of categories if that helps out.

And Valli, no one will be whining and crying if you take it for another year - you are great at this. Shelley would be great too!

I would love a "read a book recommended by one your HF buddies" category since everyone here gives great recommendations.  I am definitely in for 2010 (although I am stil struggling to finish up the 2009 books).

I plan to participate again!

I love some of the ideas already posted. You'll have lots to choose from, Valli! (And I'm quite in favor of our Empress continuing on in her role!) Some ideas I've had include:

• Classic - Read/re-read a classic
• Roots - Book set in your ancestor's home country.
• Book published at least 30 years ago (Older the violin, sweeter the music). I got this idea based on a review from someone who had read a Schoonover book.
• What we do in the name of Love - a book about one of the great relationships in history; or about a leading historical figure and his/her spouse. examples: Nicholas & Alexandria; Casaer & Cleopatra; Henry & Eleanor; Louis & Marie Antoinette; George & Martha Washington.
• Remember those Newberry Medal Award books? - Read/re-read a Newberry; preferably with a historical fiction theme, but not necessary. Examples include: Witch of Blackbird Pond, Rifles for Waitie, Door in the Wall, Shadow of the Bull, etc.

Kelly

Hey. Me, again ... I just want to give an endorsement for some of the categories of the 2009 challenge that were fun & worthy of a repeat performance next year. I really enjoyed ...

• Patron of the Arts - forced us to read a book that may have mouldered for yet another year if not for this challenge.
• New to you Author - great idea for expanding our horizons.
• Non-fiction book - a worthwhile endeavor; and very rewarding after forcing ourselves to do it!

Kelly (& Linda)

Great ideas Kelly!

Kelly, the "30+ year old book" is something I had thought of.  For instance, I have things like Devil Water and The Shining on my shelf that were written well over 20 years ago.  I like that idea!

OK, y'all, if we don't hear from Shelly about leading the 2010 challenge, I'll do it. I think y'all will agree that Valli has done a fantastic job in leading this year's challenge, plus all the mini-challenges, plus being our PBS advocate, guide, and general all-round leader. I think she's due a break. <g>

Keep the category ideas coming!

Also, how does everyone feel about 10 plus one bonus category? Is this sufficient? Do you want more? Do you want to do something on the order of a game? I saw suggestions for the alphabet or by chronology (early history to modern history). How do you feel about these?

Personally, Genie, I like the 10 plus bonus. It gives me a chance to read some of MY OTHER STUFF that I'm trying to get through! Perhaps an advanced challenge or more than one bonus would appeal to those who want to read more (?)

Oh, and by the way, I think you would be an outstanding leader for this challenge (although I get a little nervous about "your dark side") lol!!!