Lucy Maud Montgomery Reading Challenge :: 2012

It's time! It's time!

Oh, I love this particular reading challenge (being that Lucy Maud Montgomery is one of my top favorite authors.) I love to get lost somewhere (anywhere) on Prince Edward Island with Montgomery's characters. I also particularly enjoy doing this every January because it sort of eases me into the new reading year. The holidays are still wearing off (and, at times, that can prove more exhausting than others!) and Montgomery's works really do not require a lot of attention or added stress. They are perfect lazy reads for cold but cozy winter days. Ironic, given that Montgomery herself hated winter and always entered into a funk/depression when winter rolled around. Perhaps she wrote herself out of winter? She entered into her fantasy worlds so that she could personally escape her own cold and in so doing, gave us a chance to warm up our imaginations as well.

So what is the Lucy Maud Montgomery Reading Challenge? How long does it last? What's the goal? What is required of you?

As I mentioned, we're all winding down from the holidays so I think it rather important to keep this challenge rather simple.

How do you participate? By reading as many Lucy Maud Montgomery books as you like during the month of January. You can read one book or her entire collection of stories (should you be feeling so very ambitious!) Read at your own pace and your own interest. You may also wish to watch a Montgomery-related movie. (The first two Anne movies count, the second two DO NOT. The Road to Avonlea series absolutely counts!)

Perhaps you are familiar with Montgomery and want to visit with some old friends of yours. Perhaps you have yet to complete one of her series (like, oh, say, ANNE?!) and would like an opportunity or an excuse to get some books read! I merely provide the challenge. You set your own reading priorities.

Due to the fact that Montgomery's writings take us back in time to days when people used to sit out on their front porch and collect news and information from passers-by, I really like it when people write up their own post sharing what their reading goals for the month are and why their goals are set just so. Then I also like it when people visit around and see what others are saying and sharing about Montgomery.

Please consider writing up a post saying that you are participating in the Lucy Maud Montgomery Challenge and then come and link your post back up to THIS post in the comment section. Then, on January 31st I will post a concluding post for the challenge and will invite you to link up all of your Montgomery-related posts at that time so that others can read them.

Here is code you can use to link back to this original post via the button graphic you see at the top of this page:

<a href="http://www.readingtoknow.com/2012/01/lucy-maud-montgomery-reading-challenge.html"><img alt="L. M. Montgomery Reading Challenge" src="http://www.bluecastlephoto.com/misc/lmm-challenge.gif" border="0" /></a>

Note: Throughout the month I will host various Montgomery-related giveaways. If you are participating in the challenge (and have written up a blog post with a link back to this initial Challenge post) then you will receive two entries per contest. Just an added perk of officially joining in!

So! Go forth! Read Montgomery! We'll meet back here on January 31st and compare notes.

Enjoy!

(P.S. If you have any specific questions related to this challenge, please leave them in the comment section and I will answer immediately.)