Name in Titles Mini Challenge
I am hosting a low-pressure mini challenge that I have been wanting to do for ages, and the rules could not be simpler. For the next few months, read books with a person’s name in the title. That is it. That is the whole challenge.
The Rules
- The book’s title must include a person’s name (first name, last name, full name, nickname).
- Both fiction and nonfiction count.
- Audiobooks, ebooks, and print all count.
- Re-reads count.
- DNFs do not count, but partial reads of 50% or more do.
- Track in any way you like (Goodreads shelf, blog post, scrap of paper).
Why Name in Titles?
Books with names in their titles are everywhere once you start looking. From classics like Jane Eyre and Anna Karenina, to contemporary like Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine, to romance like The Hating Game (okay, no name there, but you get the idea, just look at any romance backlist). Mysteries are full of them. Memoirs even more so. Once you start a “name in titles” shelf, it fills up fast.
The fun of this challenge for me is the way it nudges you to pick up books you might not otherwise have noticed. A name in a title is often a sign that the book is character-driven, and character-driven books are some of the best reads.
Levels
If you like a tiered challenge, here are some optional levels:
- Light reader: 3 name-in-title books.
- Solid reader: 6 name-in-title books.
- Devoted reader: 10 name-in-title books.
- Show-off: 15+ name-in-title books.
But truly, no judgment if you just want to read one and call it a win.
How to Sign Up
Drop a comment with your blog name, link, and your goal level (or no goal at all). I will keep a running list of participants in this post. Use the hashtag #NameInTitles when you share reads on social.
My Picks
Here are a few I am putting on my own list to start:
- A literary novel where the protagonist’s name is the title.
- A historical mystery with a detective’s name in the series titles.
- A memoir whose title is just the author’s name.
- A romance with a hero’s name in the title.
I will share my reads on the blog throughout the year and tag #NameInTitles. Come read along, share your discoveries, and let us see how many names we collect by year-end.
Sign up below. Let the challenge begin!