The What's in a Name 6 reading challenge runs from January 1 to December 31, 2013. Six books in the following categories:

A book with up or down (or equivalent) in the title:

A book with something you'd find in your kitchen in the title: The Cat's Table by Michael Ondaatje

A book with a party or celebration in the title:

A book with fire (or equivalent) in the title: Old Flames by Kim Moritsugu

A book with an emotion in the title:

A book with lost or found (or equivalent) in the title:

I'll be keeping track of my progress on this post!

Published: 2005

About The City Man: In 1934, a reporter ventures into the world of Toronto's pickpockets.

A really fast read, partly because it was short but mostly because it was fascinating. I had a hard time putting it down. Full review: The City Man by Howard Akler

Published: 2010

About Edith's War: In 1940, Edith Maguire moves in with her mother-in-law, next door to an Italian family. In 2002, Edith's sons await her arrival in Venice.

I thought Smith did a good job of showing what life was like during the war. I enjoyed the historical aspects more than the relationships but I'm sure the opposite would be true for others. Full review: Edith's War by Andrew Smith

Published: 2007

About Queen's Court: Louise Bingham is recently widowed and moving back to Montreal.

The writing was good for the most part and I did enjoy reading the book. I didn't love it though. Full review: Queen's Court by Edward O. Phillips

Published: 2010

About Spin: A woman goes to rehab to get a story on a celebrity and, maybe, land her dream job.

Funny and thought-provoking and might make you question certain aspects of your own life. Full review: Spin by Catherine McKenzie

Challenges: 3rd Canadian Book Challenge, Countdown 2010, 2010 A to Z Challenge

Published: 2009

About Waiting for Columbus: A man is brought to the Sevilla Institute for the Mentally Ill in Spain, claiming to be Christopher Columbus.

A book to be not just read, but experienced. Full review: Waiting for Columbus by Thomas Trofimuk

Challenges: 3rd Canadian Book Challenge, Countdown 2010

Published: 2009

About The World More Full of Weeping: An 11-year-old boy is missing in the woods behind his house.

Lots of layers and symbolism and an interesting read. Full review: The World More Full of Weeping by Robert J. Wiersema

Challenges: 3rd Canadian Book Challenge, Countdown 2010, 2010 A to Z Challenge

Published: 2009

About The Day the Falls Stood Still: A young woman meets a riverman in Niagara Falls.

A touching romance with some history on Niagara Falls. Full review: The Day the Falls Stood Still by Cathy Marie Buchanan

Challenges: 3rd Canadian Book Challenge, Countdown 2010

Published: 1926

About The Blue Castle: An unhappy woman makes radical changes to her life after learning she only has a year to live.

A charming read and I enjoyed it. Full review: The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery

Challenges: 3rd Canadian Book Challenge

Published: 2007

About The End of the Alphabet: A dying man and his wife go on an alphabetical tour of their favourite places.

The story is beautiful, the writing is beautiful, and the book itself is beautiful. Full review: The End of the Alphabet by CS Richardson

Challenges: 3rd Canadian Book Challenge

Published: 2010

About Red Snow: A madman is on the loose in Whistler in the days leading up to the 2010 Olympics.

Those who like their thrillers bloody won't be disappointed. Full review: Red Snow by Michael Slade

Challenges: 3rd Canadian Book Challenge, 2010 A to Z Challenge, Countdown 2010

Published: 2009

About Old City Hall: A popular radio host is charged with the murder of his wife.

Old City Hall had some really nice twists and I was often surprised. Full review: Old City Hall by Robert Rotenberg

Challenges: 3rd Canadian Book Challenge, Countdown 2010

If I had an eraser of life, I'd start at the top of the morning and work my way down. I have a feeling, though, that whoever drew this day pressed the pencil really hard and even if I rubbed and rubbed and rubbed, little horrible bits of it would still be left behind.

...Amphibian by Carla Gunn, page 8.

The What's in a Name 3 challenge runs from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2010.

So here's how it works: Between January 1 and December 31, 2010, read one book in each of the following categories:

A book with a food in the title
A book with a body of water in the title
A book with a title (queen, president) in the title
A book with a plant in the title
A book with a place name (city, country) in the title
A book with a music term in the title

I think this one is going to be harder than it looks. I'll be keeping track of my progress on this post.

Food: Hamish X and the Cheese Pirates by Sean Cullen

Body of water: The Frozen Thames by Helen Humphreys

Title: Queen's Court by Edward O. Phillips

Plant: The Jade Peony by Wayson Choy

Place name: Cape Breton Road by D.R. MacDonald

Music term:

This A to Z challenge runs from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2010.

How does this reading challenge work? Choose the option that works best for you...

Authors — Read alphabetically by author. Commit to 26 books.
Titles — Read alphabetically by title. Commit to 26 books.
Authors & Titles — Commit to reading 52 books.

If you want to give the X's a go... For authors, try to find an X in the first name, middle name, or last name. For titles, it doesn't have to be the starting word. Try to find an X somewhere in a title, and it'd count in my book.

I'm going to do this challenge by title. I'll be keeping track of my progress on this post.

1. Amphibian by Carla Gunn
2. The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery
3. The City Man by Howard Akler
4. Dooley Takes the Fall by Norah McClintock
5. Edith's War by Andrew Smith
6. The Frozen Thames by Helen Humphreys
7. Green Grass, Running Water by Thomas King
8. Home Schooling by Carol Windley
9. It's a Snap! by Monica Kulling
10. The Jade Peony by Wayson Choy
11. Kit's Law by Donna Morrissey
12. Love You to Death by Gail Bowen
13. The Middle Ground by Zoe Whittall
14. Names of the Dead by Diane Schoemperlen
15. One Hockey Night by David Ward
16. Plain Kate by Erin Bow
17. Queen's Court by Edward O. Phillips
18. Red Snow by Michael Slade
19. Spin by Catherine McKenzie
20. Toby: A Man by Todd Babiak
21. Underground by June Hutton
22. Vengeance Road by Rick Mofina
23. The World More Full of Weeping by Robert J. Wiersema
24. Hamish X and the Cheese Pirates by Sean Cullen
25. Y in the Shadows by Karen Rivers
26. Zoom by Robert Munsch