This is my seventh consecutive year at the much-loved A to Z Challenge and it makes me so proud of myself that I feel like doing a little jig right away. If you haven’t read this blog post on The Ultimate Guide to A to Z Blogging Challenge where I have mentioned how to choose a theme and also some tips and tricks to nail the challenge.
Here are my themes from the last six years and looking at that, you can see a pattern. These are all the things that I love in life.
- In 2014, I wrote about Recipes from Kerala Cuisine (this was a food blog back then)
- 2015 saw me writing about 26 hours before my wedding – A to Z Shakespearean Idioms.
- In 2016, I wrote about My Life as an Army Wife. This is till date, my absolute favorite theme and had been loved by many. I was also a part of the co-host Pam Brown Margolis’s team, helping the official A to Z Challenge crew. I enrolled my Food Blog for sharing A to Z Chicken Recipes.
- In 2017, I wrote about My Vacay in Thailand and A to Z Popular Indian Foods.
- In 2018, I wrote All About Muffy, my then four-month-old Golden Retriever and on my food blog, I wrote about A to Z Army Party Recipes.
- In 2019, it was about another favorite hobby of mine- which I can proudly say, I am nothing without it – Books! and Kerala Food.
This year, however, I have got a lot on my plate.
It is time to move from this beautiful station for the soldier husband has got another deployment. We are super pumped to begin the next phase in life and I am already packing my bags right now as you read this post.
Muffy will be traveling with us for the first time and Gosh! We will also be in Kerala for a month before moving to the next location. I hope and pray, Corona subsides by then.
My sane mind tells me that I will not be able to pull this challenge (especially on two blogs) this time. But is that holding me back from participating in the challenge?
Definitely not! A to Z Challenge brings a lot of bloggers together and it is a great way of reading new bloggers and make friends with those who share the passion for writing. I can’t let that go now, can I?
#AtoZChallenge Theme Reveal 2020
Without further ado, I’m going ahead and letting the cat out of the bag!
Drumrolls, please!
My theme for A to Z Challenge 2020 is Celebrating the Bibliophile in Me!
Yes, it’s the same theme as last year.
Why this theme again, you may ask.
The most important reason is to Celebrate #ReadingWithMuffy Challenge. I’m humbled and overwhelmed by the love this 2020 monthly reading challenge has received, especially on bookstagram A to Z Challenge is the perfect way to appreciate it.
Follow Muffytales NOW! All those popular and much-loved book bloggers and bookstagrammers cannot be wrong!
“Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested.” – Francis Bacon
This quote is close to my heart. I remember participating in a “My Hobby” Elocution competition in Grade Four. Of course, my Mom had prepared a two-minute speech for me and all I had to do was by heart the whole thing. She had mentioned that “Reading” was my hobby (because well, she was is an avid reader and maybe she hoped against hope that one day, I would be too).
I used to read books back then but I couldn’t dare call myself a bibliophile. I was introduced to books at a very early age and Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer were my best friends. The stories of Panchatantra and Jataka tales had their place in my bedtime stories. I wasn’t introduced to Enid Blyton, Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew until I was twelve. Danielle Steele and Mills and Boon novels were strictly out of bounds during my teen years.
Anyway, she had used this quote on the speech and I vividly remember asking her what it meant. I think this was the moment I fell in love with reading. I wanted to know which books are to be read with full diligence and which others only for amusement or only in parts. Thousands of books were read after that and I can only thank my Mum for inculcating this habit in me.
So, this April,
I would be talking about the books, authors, and fictional characters that I love, loathe and tolerate.
I would dust off all the beautiful books on my bookshelf and may even share a few from my Mom’s collection.
Pin this Post for Later!
I’ll be amongst packing cubes, bubble wraps, and black soldier trunks most of April! But I’m so looking forward to reading your posts.
I hope you’d drop by my blog every day this April! I can’t wait to hear about your thoughts and opinions on the books and authors I share. Wishing you a fantastic A to Z!
Please drop by my Food Blog to know my theme for the A to Z Challenge.
JazzFeathers says
Sending all my good wished your way, for you journey and your new beginning. Let’s hope by the time you’ll move, the world will be a safer place.
I love any bookish challenge, so here I am eager to read yours! I’ll be cheering you on!
JazzFeathers recently posted…Living the Twenties (#AtoZChallenge 2020) Theme Reveal
Shalini says
Thank you very much. I need all the good wishes now!
Unishta says
I discovered you during your A to Z journey and am glad I did . But I must say you are a glutton for punishment if you want to participate in the A to Z Challenge with two different blogs when you are in the middle of a transfer ???
Good luck to you and looking forward to reading your posts
Shalini says
Hahaha. I seem to work wonders under pressure. So, yay me! I can’t wait to read your posts too.
Suchita Agarwal says
God you are shifting and you’re attempting AtoZ with 2 blogs?! You are too cool! Talking about books is always so much fun. Hope you are able to finish the challenge and keep your streak up.
Roshan Radhakrishnan says
Lovely to hear… still can’t understand how you manage 52 posts in a month when I struggle for 3!!
Roshan Radhakrishnan recently posted…My theme for the 2020 #BlogchatterA2Z Writing Challenge is…
Jyoti Jha says
Best wishes for your blog journey and the new beginning! Hats off. Can’t wait to dive into your book world.
Mayuri Nidigallu says
Looking forward to some really stunning pics, Shalini (as usual) and of course , your posts! All the best with the packing and moving!
Maya Bhat says
I am also planning to write around books. So I am equally excited to read yours. My theme will be revealed soon 🙂. All the best Shalini
Lisa says
I love books, so am really looking forward to your take on 26 of them!
Varsh says
I can never tire reading about books! I remember showing your Harry Potter post to my son last year and he asked me if you’ll be writing about him again. 😀
Happy moving, Shalini. Will come back for lots more in April.
Varsh recently posted…Theme Reveal #BlogchatterA2Z #AtoZChallenge
Jade Li says
I look forward to hearing your thoughts on one of your favorite topics, books. Being a lifelong reader, I’m always interesting in good ones to read. See you on the A2Z trail!
Sonia Dogra says
Shalini salute for being the soldier on the A to Z front… I will sometime look to take lessons from you on how you do this… Happy shifting. I will be eagerly waiting to read your posts.
T.S. Valmond says
Excellent theme choice! Glad you’re back again this year. Have fun!
Karen says
Good luck preparing for your move! Looking forward to seeing which books you pick for your challenge. Weekends In Maine
Swarnali Nath says
Books are love. Glad you chose this theme to bring the bibliophile in you out to the world. Eagerly waiting for your posts. Best of luck dear.
Rakhi Jayashankar says
Mine is also similar topic.
Shilpa Garg says
Same pinch! I am writing all about books too this April. Looking forward to your bookish posts, Shalini. Good luck for yoru move and writing from 2 blogs!! Cheers!
Mayura Amarkant says
Wow! Such a wide universe identified under books! Looking forward to this series! All the best Shalini!
Deborah Weber says
I always love book-ish themes for the challenge, and can’t wait to read your posts.
T.S. Valmond says
I love a girl who knows her books. Happy A-Z 2020!
lissa says
So it’s all about books then? I’m a book lover so I’ll probably drop by to see what you will offer. Good luck with the challenge.
Have a lovely day.
lissa recently posted…Blogging From A to Z April Challenge – No Theme
K.V.S.S. Narayana Rao says
Books that you have read and have an opinion. You will look back at them. I have now with me almost 50 years old books. Many of them are my textbooks. Reading them has benefit even today.
This April I am to document IE practice in Top Global Engineering Companies. #AtoZChallenge April Writing
Industrial Engineering Practice in Top Global Manufacturing Companies – Top 100
Sa says
Books are one of my greatest loves and libraries are my second home. I look forward to learning about the books that have touched your life! I’ll be writing flash fiction this year:
Enjoy A-to-Z
Ninu Nair says
Wow…what an amazing journey you have with A to Z…loved your posts last year and this year, its extra special as you take up your love for books as the theme. Best wishes!!
Alpana says
Writing on your favorite books will be fun. I am sure you must be a really good in managing time. Handling two blogs, moving and A2Z..its not easy. Kudos to you!! and good luck with your move.
Sundeep Ananth Dubey (rightpurchasing.com) says
An amazing theme Shalini. I can’t wait to read your posts.
Looking forward to an eventful A2Z. Good luck to you.
Surbhi Prapanna says
This year looking like a book special A2Z..and it seems we get a chance to read so many A2Z posts revolve around the books. all the best and looking forward to read your posts.
Ritu says
Got to give it to you, Shalini. Postings are a royal pain and you are planning two A2Z challenges among the craziness. Looking forward to your posts.
Namratha Varadharajan says
You’ll do it again! All the best! Looking forward to reading your posts
A-Z @ NamySaySo
Kikzbee says
ALL THE BEST WISHES, WILL BE READING YOUR POSTS! 😉
Kikzbee
Kikzbee recently posted…A Letter to you #COVID2019
Shweta Suresh says
Hey you, so glad to know that you will be participating. Being a bibliophile myself, I’m totally in love with your theme. I can’t wait to read your posts. All the best to you. 🙂
Shweta Suresh recently posted…#AtoZChallenge 2020 – Theme Reveal #BlogChatterA2Z