Here we go again! Each year, Bev - the keeper of the keys at the marvelous blog called My Reader's Block - sponsors a reading challenge involving vintage mysteries. Not one to rest on her laurels for long, Bev has announced plans to hold two vintage mystery reading challenges in 2014 - one "Gold" and the other "Silver."
Both of the challenges will be in the form of a Bingo game. The Gold and Silver cards are identical: each consists of 36 squares, in a six-by-six grid (regular Bingo is played on a card with 25 squares in a five-by-five grid). Each square contains a "rule" - in order to get credit for that square, you must read a mystery that meets the criteria set by that rule. For example, one of the squares says, "Read one book with a color in the title." When you do, you can claim the square. There are all different ways to win - fill in a row or column of six squares, for example.
So what's the difference between the Golden and Silver challenges? Well, for the Golden challenge, all the books must have been first published before 1960. And for the Silver challenge, the books must have been first published between 1960 and 1989. The challenge begins on January 1, 2014, and runs all the way through the year.
For full details, including copies of the Golden and Silver Challenge Cards, be sure to check out the registration site at Bev's blog, where you'll find all the rules, get an idea about the prizes, and register for the challenge. You do NOT have to be a blogger to join in the fun - and to win some books, while you're at it! I'll certainly be going for the Gold...and may try to fill in some squares on the Silver card as well!
Great to have you back for another round, Les! I had quite a few folks tell me how much they like mysteries that are just a little bit more recent than my usual vintage cut-off. And when I sat down and though about it....the 60s, 70s and 80s aren't quite as recent as they used to be. {Weird how that happens as one gets older....} And I've got plenty of mysteries in those ranges that need reading too. I thought the Bingo card style would lend itself well to the different levels. I hope you all enjoy it!
Posted by: Bev Hankins | November 15, 2013 at 08:52 PM
I'm really looking forward to it. And I've started adding in more reviews in that 1960-1989 time period anyway - although it's still really hard to think of that as "vintage" when I was living through those years!
Posted by: Les Blatt | November 15, 2013 at 09:05 PM
Les - This sounds like an interesting twist on the more traditional reading challenge. I'll be looking forward to your posts on it.
Posted by: Margot Kinberg | November 16, 2013 at 05:56 PM
Les...I know what you mean about thinking of '60-'89 as vintage--but I'm the graduate secretary at a university and so many of these young people come through and have no clue about things that I just casually mention from those years. It makes me feel really old. There were a few years (when I first started) when I was the same age as most of the grad students. It's getting to the point where I'm now old enough to be the mom of those who come in straight from their BA. A very sobering thought.....
Posted by: Bev Hankins | November 16, 2013 at 06:21 PM
Margot, Bev's challenges are always interesting and lively. You might want to consider signing up...!!
Posted by: Les Blatt | November 16, 2013 at 07:32 PM
How well I know, Bev. I remember how I felt one day back in the early 80s (I think) walking down the hall behind two young workers from the mailroom...and one said to the other, "Hey, did you know that Paul McCartney was in some group before Wings?" I crawled off looking for my walker... ;-)
Posted by: Les Blatt | November 16, 2013 at 07:33 PM