WINNER for the 2013 Summer Reading Challenge

Sooo, I'll be quick and tell you who won! Right after this brief commercial break. . .

(I had everyone who completed the challenge listed on a document, in no particular order just how I happened to record them down, and then counted the total books read. I used random.org to generate a random number. Whatever number book the random number correlated with was the winner! Just so everyone knows I tried to make sure it was random, but fair. I had no say over who the winner was.)

SAVANNAH W.

Yay, go Savannah!!! With 8 books read during this five week challenge, I guess it's no wonder she won! I am so glad that I had multiple people reading alongside me, it was a lot of fun and I hope to do it again. Would you like to know what some of you read for this challenge? Then keep on reading!

Savannah read:

Chosen by Ted Dekker

How do I love thee? by Nancy Moser

The Tutor's Daughter by Julie Klassen

20 Duggars and Counting by Michelle & Jim Bob Duggar

The Silent Gift by Michael Landon Jr. & Cindy Kelley

Renegade by Ted Dekker

Black by Ted Dekker

The Girl in the Gatehouse by Julie Klassen

"My favorite book from this challenge was Black (first of the circle series) by Ted Dekker. Sometimes Ted's books can be a bit too dark and scary for my taste, but this one was not that way at all. I really enjoyed the suspense and uncertainty of the story, it kept me wanting to always read more. I hope to read the second book in this series as soon as possible." - Savannah W.

Jackson read:

Life After Art by Matt Appling

The Heir by Paul Robertson

Afloat by Erin Healy

"The 5 in 5 book challenge encouraged and motivated me to devote more time to reading. It came during a time where I was already quite busy with various projects I had going on, but I was still able to read over 3 books. Even though I didn't make it to the goal of 5 books, I'm still glad I joined in, because I read a lot more than I would have without the challenge. Just goes to show that most people have enough time to read, they just have to sit down and do it." - Jackson D.

He also started Amanda Bell by Jeff Minick, but didn't finish it before the challenge ended... Now Sarah didn't complete the challenge either, but she got some stuff read and listened to!

Sarah read:

Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle

French Women Don't Get Fat by Mireille Guiliano

"So, my battle plan to conquer the challenge was this genius scheme involving specific books with the difficulty level according to how busy my schedule was. Genius, yeah? Here’s more how it went:

1. As an avid fan of both the movies and the BBC show, I’d threaten turning in my geek card if I didn’t read the original Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. Great kickoff, right?
2. Criminy. Barely halfway a week later. Why did I choose the 200 year old crime novel that requires more attention than a chemistry textbook? Cue frantic reaching for something a little lighter. Maybe involving kittens or rainbows or food.
3. When in doubt, just blaze through that book you’ve already polished off 27 ½ times before! French Women Don’t Get Fat to the rescue. Phew. 2 weeks, 2 books.
4. Forgot about that 10 day mission trip. Time to break out the killer thriller (The Bride Collector). Maybe something intense will keep me up at night and practically read itself! Maybe not greatest idea in a foreign country.
5. At least my excuse is good. I was too busy serving God! Got some great looks/comments on the plane ride, e.g. “The Bride Collector? Is that about Mormons?” and “Wow Sarah, are those meat hooks on the cover?”
6. And my cousin flies in for the week! Went to B&N and successfully blew enough time reading sections of roughly 43.2 dozen books to have read just one. (Flower Arrangement Recipes! Wait: Artemis Fowl graphic novel?! I’ve always wondered what Divergent was about… Hold the phone! The Making of Downton Abbey! Crafting With Cat Hair—yep, gotta check it out…)
7. Maybe the Great Gatsby movie might count….?
8. Aha! Little Critter’s Big Book of Kid’s Stories is over 200 pages!
9. Last day? I give up—and give in to the audiobook (The Tipping Point)! Not only did I make half a scarf listening to it, I got a fascinating discussion prompt about the steep decline in New York’s crime in 1996! Just ask my friends, though—they did not find it as interesting as I did.

This was how it went for me, but I know this has got to be close to what happens to you readers! That book that’s a bite more than you can chew…that one you’re slightly embarrassed to admit you read since it might be thought of as a few reading levels below you…that over-read go-to…that quarter-read one that practically owns a bookmark…
Readers unite!
There’s always next summer.
And we can borrow the book the winner gets with the gift card, right? :) " - Sarah M.

Haha, at least all of you who didn't finish the challenge can feel better knowing I didn't either! Be on the lookout for some book reviews headed your way. . .

Stop by again some time soon!