2015 Women's Fiction Reading Challenge

Women's Fiction Reading Challenge 2015

Hosted by: Kathryn T @ Book Date
Dates: January 1 - December 31, 2015 (sign-ups are open until mid-October)

Kathryn T. is hosting this reading challenge for readers who enjoy women's fiction. As she defines it, women's fiction is "mainly written for women (although that doesn't stop men reading them)." It "may contain elements of romance but the book mainly centres around the development of women or a woman throughout the book. Women centered books, that might focus on the issues relating to women, it may be a mainstream novel, slightly less or slightly more."

But she also says that each challenge participant should define the term for herself (or himself), and use that as a guide. She includes a definition from the Romance Writers of America organization that says women's fiction is:

"...about a woman on the brink of life change and personal growth. Her journey details emotional reflection and action that transforms her and her relationships with others, and includes a hopeful/upbeat ending with regard to her romantic relationship." 

...and I think I can pretty much go along with that, except for the part about the hopeful/upbeat ending -- personally, I don't think that's an absolute requirement (nice, but not necessary). I've read plenty of books that I'd label as "women's fiction" that had more ambiguous endings, as well as some that didn't involve actual romantic relationships at all. So, I guess my definition will be a little broader than most.

See the announcement page for more info and to sign up. The challenge has several levels of participation to choose from:

1. Motivated 1- 5
2. Savvy 6 - 10
3. Classy 11- 20
4. Go-getter 20 -30
5. Fearless 30+ 

Books can overlap with other challenges, and all formats are allowed.  I'll probably play it safe and sign up at the first (Motivated) level. Pretty sure I can handle at least a few books that fit the requirements. I did a quick scan of my TBR lists, and came up with quite a few -- here's a sample (not necessarily ones I'll actually read, but some definite possibilities):

• Dreams of Joy, by Lisa See (also her Shanghai Girls)
• The Elm Creek Quilters series, by Jennifer Chiaverini
• The Evolution of Jane, by Catherine Schine
  
• The Pull of the Moon, Tapestry of Fortunes, and What We Keep, all by Elizabeth Berg
• The Road to Lichfield, by Penelope Lively
• Sarah's Key, by Tatiana de Rosnay
• The Seven Sisters, by Margaret Drabble
• Still Life with Bread Crumbs, by Anna Quindlen
• The Summerhouse, by Jude Deveraux
• While I Was Gone, by Sue Miller

Most of these are authors I've never read before, so that's an added plus. I'll be tracking my progress (and listing more possibilities) over on my challenge blog.