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Mini Challenge: The Page 69 Test


Welcome to all the Readers from the Spring's Serenity Read-a-Thon. This is a week-long read-a-thon, so if you're not signed up yet, you may still have time! Just hop over to The True Book Addict to sign up!

I'm hosting my very first mini challenge. A few weeks ago, I came across a blog called The Page 69 Test. From what I've read, this test was suggested in a book by John Sutherland called How to Read a Novel: A User's Guide. Basically, he says if you're browsing books and want to find out if you'd be interested in a particular book, you should read page 69. This should give you an idea as to whether the book is right for you.

So, my mini challenge, should you choose to accept it, is for you to go to page 69 of the book that you're currently reading, and leave a comment ~ or write a blog post and leave a link to it in the comments ~ telling us about page 69 of your book. What's happening on the page and does it impact the way you feel about the book? If you read more than one book, feel free to come back and comment for each book you read. I'll draw a winner at the end of the read-a-thon.  

If you're concerned about reading ahead in your book, just wait until you're up to page 69, and then enter the mini challenge. The challenge will be open throughout the entire read-a-thon. A winner will be drawn using random.org.

The winner will get a paperback copy of Last Snow by Eric Van Lustbader, courtesy of the publisher.

Good luck and have fun reading!
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Comments

  1. Michelle Stockard MillerApril 25, 2011 at 2:30 AM

    Hi Julie,

    I have the starting line post up for the read-a-thon and I have announced and linked to your mini-challenge. Here's the link: http://thetruebookaddict.blogspot.com/2011/04/springs-serenity-read-thon-starting.html

    Have fun!

    ReplyDelete
  2. UnknownApril 25, 2011 at 8:12 PM

    My current read is Mistress of Rome by Kate Quinn. Page 69 is essentially about the central gladiator character drowning himself in wine after a great battle and the main slave girl character coming in to deliver a message to him. I think this works well with what I have read so far because these types of scenes between the two characters seem to happen often and you get to see a little heart in the characters.

    Great mini-challenge.

    dolleygurl[at]hotmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  3. JulieApril 26, 2011 at 9:18 AM

    That's great! Thanks for entering!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Julie April 26, 2011 at 5:01 PM

    So ... I've read through 1 1/2 books and listed page 69 of each in today's update (since it's one post, I don't know whether or not it counts as two entries):) The Sandalwood Tree by Elle Newmark and Changeless by Gail Carriger

    http://www.knittingandsundries.com/2011/04/spring-serenity-read-thon-day-2.html

    knittingandsundries(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  5. Alexia561April 27, 2011 at 10:13 PM

    What a fun challenge! I'm reading Bitter Frost by Kailin Gow, and have posted my mini-challenge on my blog.

    Definitely like the Page 69 idea!

    ReplyDelete
  6. FICTION STATE OF MINDApril 28, 2011 at 1:50 AM

    great idea! my current read is haven by kristi cook and I havent really been drawn into the book :9 Page 69 is about the character discussing the energy of fencing. It's kinda confirming this book isnt for me :(

    ReplyDelete
  7. JulieApril 28, 2011 at 9:26 AM

    That's interesting that page 69 is so indicative of the book and shows it's not really for you. It sounds like maybe you need to move on to a different book! Thanks for participating!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Julie April 28, 2011 at 10:33 PM

    Page 69 of The Dragon's Path by Daniel Abraham discusses a caravan of differing races journeying, as well as giving a glimpse into some of the characters. If I went just to that page, my interest in the rest of the story would definitely be piqued: http://www.knittingandsundries.com/2011/04/spring-serenity-read-thon-day-3.html

    ReplyDelete
  9. Julie April 28, 2011 at 10:34 PM

    Page 69 of Chime by Franny Billingsley is definitely interesting. The style of writing is different from most, and we can see that someone has recently died. and there are ghosts .. which is pretty cool.

    http://www.knittingandsundries.com/2011/04/spring-serenity-read-thon-day-3.html

    ReplyDelete
  10. Julie April 28, 2011 at 10:37 PM

    Page 69 of Blameless by Gail Carriger: If I hadn't read the book, the page would not really give me enough information to know whether it was interesting or not. It DOES, however, speak of the Templars and supernaturals, which might be enough for me to want to know more.
    http://www.knittingandsundries.com/2011/04/spring-serenity-read-thon-day-4.html

    I think that with my next book, Secret Daughter, I will read page 69 first to get a truer impression of what the page makes me feel, as doing it after could be influenced by my feeling about the entire book.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Julie May 1, 2011 at 12:31 PM

    Page 69 of Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld would be a bit confusing without reading more, but it was still interesting: http://www.knittingandsundries.com/2011/05/spring-serenity-read-thon-day-6.html

    ReplyDelete
  12. Julie May 1, 2011 at 12:32 PM

    Page 69 of Oscar Wilde and the Vampire Murders by Gyles Brandreth: Definitely a book that I'd want to read based on this page! http://www.knittingandsundries.com/2011/04/spring-serenity-read-thon-day-5.html

    ReplyDelete
  13. Julie May 1, 2011 at 12:33 PM

    Page 69 of The Secret Daughter by Shilpi Somaya Gowda is rather a snoozer; if it was all I had to judge by, I likely wouldn't want to read the rest: http://www.knittingandsundries.com/2011/04/spring-serenity-read-thon-day-5.html

    ReplyDelete

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