Jules' 2012 Challenges

War Through the Generations Challenge WWI - 2012

2012-01-05T07:30:00.000-05:00

Challenge Summary:

Rules:

- This year you have options when reading your fiction, nonfiction, graphic novels, etc. with the WWI as the primary or secondary theme.

- Books can take place before, during, or after the war, so long as the conflicts that led to the war or the war itself are important to the story.

- Books from other challenges count so long as they meet the above criteria.

Dip: Read 1-3 books in any genre with WWI as a primary or secondary theme.
Wade: Read 4-10 books in any genre with WWI as a primary or secondary theme.
Swim: Read 11 or more books in any genre with WWI as a primary or secondary theme.

Additionally, we’ve decided that since there are so many great movies out there about WWI, you can substitute or add a movie or two to your list this year and have it count toward your totals.You can decide which books you’d like to read right away, or you can choose them during the course of the challenge.
Check out the Recommended Reading: WWI page for suggestions.

Hosted by/Link: War Through the Generations. War Through the Generations - WWI Challenge

Challenge Start and Ends Dates:January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012

My Progress:0/3

My List:

Speculative Fiction Challenge

2012-01-05T07:18:00.001-05:00

Challenge Summary:

Sign Up
- Anyone can join, blog or not, you just need somewhere to post your reviews to share with the world. If you have a blog, a post about the challenge would be nice!Just add your details to the linky below to sign up. I’ve made a couple of buttons and have modified the traditional challenge button for this year. Feel free to put them in your sidebar and use them in your review posts! Just save the image of your choice to your computer first please!

- Timeline: 01 Jan 2012 - 31 Dec 2012. You can sign up from now right up until 31 Nov 2012.Rules: The levels are back this year! Just pick your level and declare it in your post or in the comments below:

Nosey: 3 novels
Excited: 6 novels
Content: 12 novels
In Nirvana: 24 novels
Obsessed: 48 novels

There is no need to list your books now (unless you are like me and love making lists), just pick as you go along and have fun! Books can most definitely be counted towards other challenges. I will post a monthly link up for you to share your reviews. There are no prizes other that a sense of satisfaction at reaching your goal (*interpretation* We are broke college students with no sneakily awesome publishing contacts).

Any book format (ebook, print, audio) counts!And because it can sometimes get a bit confusing (from Carolyns original post),

Genres:
• Science Fiction: hard/soft SF, cyberpunk, time travel, alternative history, space opera
• Fantasy Fiction: dark fantasy, urban fantasy, magic realism, quest, mythical fantasy, steampunk
• Horror Fiction: paranormal, gothic literature, splatterpunk
• Supernatural Fiction
• Superhero Fiction
• Utopian and Dystopian Fiction
• Apocalyptic and Post-Apocalyptic Fiction

Hosted by/Link: Baffled Bookshttp://baffledbooks.com/. Speculative Fiction Challenge

Challenge Start and Ends Dates:January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012

My Progress: 4/24

My List:

1) Science Fiction - Allegiance (SGA 18) - Amy Girswold and Melissa Scott
2) Utopian/Dystopian Fiction - Gathering Blue - Lois Lowry
3) Utopian/Dystopian Fiction - Messenger - Lois Lowry
4) Science Fiction: - Transitions (SG-1 18) Sabine Bauer

Short Stories Challenge

2012-01-05T07:09:00.000-05:00

Challenge Summary:

Rules:

• Challenge runs from January 1, 2012 to December 31st, 2012. You can join anytime.
• Books from other challenges count as long as they are a collection of short stories.
• Books can be children's, middle-grade, YA and adult fiction and non-fiction.
• Write a post and link it below including the URL to that sign-up post.

Levels:
• Tell me a Story: 1 to 3 books.
• Stories Abound: 4 to 6 books.
• Tales Galore: 7 to 9 books
• Anthology Supreme: 10 to 12 books.

Hosted by/Link: Library of Clean Reads. Short Stories Challenge

Challenge Start and Ends Dates: January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012

My Progress: 1/12

My List:

1) The Lost Salt Gift of Bood - Alistair MacLeod

New Author Reading Challenge

2012-01-05T07:05:00.000-05:00

Challenge Summary:

The guidelines:

1. The challenge will run from January 1, 2012 through December 31, 2012.
2. Since this is an author challenge, there is no restriction on choosing your novels. They can definitely be from other challenges. However, the authors must be new to you and, preferably from novels. Anthologies are a great way to try someone new, but only a third of your new authors can be from anthologies.
3. I want this to be an easy challenge, so you can pick to do either 15, 25 or 50 new authors. It all depends on how fast you read and how adventurous you want to be. For me, I want to say I’m going to do another 50 new authors, but with two kids, I didn’t made my goal in 2011, so I’m going to be smarter and say 25. If you reach your goal halfway through the year, don’t stop. Any new author you try can be added to Mr. Linky. We all want to know about your new experience.
4. After reading your new author, write your review and then come back here and add your link to Mr. Linky. Make sure you include your name and the author, but adding the title is completely up to you.
5. Bloggers or Non-Bloggers alike are welcome. You don’t have to have a site to participate. You can link up via Facebook, GoodReads or even Amazon if you’d like. Once you reach your goal, you don’t have to stop.

Any new author you try, go ahead and head back here and add it to the list. Introduce us all to whoever you find. Afterall, there’s no reason to stop trying new authors, right?

Hosted by/Link: Library Escapism. New Author Reading Challenge

Challenge Start and Ends Dates: January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012

My Progress: 7/50

My List:

1) Alexi Zentner (Touch)
2) Alison Pick (The Dream World)
3) Patrick deWitt (The Sisters Brothers)
4) Aphra Behn - (Oroonoko and Other Writings)
5) Andre Alexis - (Childhood)
6) Wayne Johnston (The Colony of Unrequited Dreams)
7) Sabine Bauer - Transitions (SG-1 18)

Mount TBR Reading Challenge

2012-01-05T06:55:00.001-05:00

Challenge Summary:

Challenge Levels

Pike's Peak: Read 12 books from your TBR pile/s
Mt. Vancouver: Read 25 books from your TBR pile/s
Mt. Ararat: Read 40 books from your TBR piles/s
Mt. Kilimanjaro: Read 50 books from your TBR pile/s
El Toro: Read 75 books from your TBR pile/s
Mt. Everest: Read 100+ books from your TBR pile/s

And the rules:

*Once you choose your challenge level, you are locked in for at least that many books. If you find that you're on a mountain-climbing roll and want to tackle a taller mountain, then you are certainly welcome to upgrade.

*Challenge runs from January 1 to December 31, 2012.

*You may sign up anytime from now until November 30th, 2012.

*Books must be owned by you prior to January 1, 2012. No ARCs (none), no library books. No rereads. [To clarify--based on a question raised--the intention is to reduce the stack of books that you have bought for yourself or received as presents {birthday, Christmas, "just because," etc.}. Audiobooks may count if they are yours and they are one of your primary sources of backlogged books.]

*Books may be used to count for other challenges as well.

*Feel free to submit your list in advance (as incentive to really get those books taken care of) or to tally them as you climb.

*A blog and reviews are not necessary to participate. If you have a blog, then please post a challenge sign up and link THAT post (not your home page) into the linky below. Non-bloggers, please leave a comment declaring your challenge level.

*A progress site for reviews will go up in January and I will post the link in my sidebar for easy access.

Hosted by/Link: My Reader's Block. Mount TBR Reading Challenge

Challenge Start and Ends Dates: January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012

My Progress: 4/50

My List:

1) Oroonoko and Other Writings - Aphra Behn
2) Childhood - Andre Alexis
3) For Those Who Hunt the Wounded Down - David Adams Richards
4) The Colony of Unrequited Dreams - Wayne Johnston

Ireland Reading Challenge 2012

2012-01-05T06:52:00.001-05:00

Challenge Summary

Here are the new guidelines:

~ The challenge runs from January 1, 2012 to November 30, 2012.
~ Any books read for this challenge can also apply to other challenges you are working on.
~ Re-reads are allowed.
~ Any book written by an Irish author, set in Ireland, or involving Irish history or Irish characters, counts for the challenge – fiction, non-fiction, poetry, audiobooks, children’s books – all of these apply. (I will be posting a list of books previously reviewed for the challenge in the next day or two, if you’re looking for suggestions.)

~ Choose your commitment level:

Shamrock level: 4 books
Luck o’ the Irish level: 6 books
Kiss the Blarney Stone level: 8 books
Ceilidh level: 10+ books

~ Write up a post indicating that you are participating (feel free to copy the lovely graphic at the top of this post), and then add your challenge post’s link to the Mr. Linky here or on the main challenge page.
~ You don’t have to list your books ahead of time – just have fun reading throughout the year.
~ I will put up a page for the challenge in my header, and add a Mr. Linky for reviews and wrap-up posts. ~ Everyone who fulfills their challenge level and writes at least one review will get one entry in the giveaway at the end of the challenge.

Hosted by/Link: Books and Movies. Ireland Reading Challenge

Challenge Start and Ends Dates:January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012

My Progress: 0/6

My List:

Global Reading Challenge 2012

2012-01-05T06:44:00.002-05:00

Challenge Summary:

Rules:

- As in the past, the Global Reading Challenge (GRC) challenges you to expand your reading boundaries, go where you haven't been before, move a little outside your comfort zone.

- You may read any genre so long as the books are fiction.Decide which level you will attempt, although you can change that later if you wish.

- Use the Mr Linky to sign up with your name, the level you intend to attempt, and your blog URL.Feel free to include the logo in your blog posts or on your blog (with a link to this page)

- Your reading will take place in the calendar year 2012.Return to this page to add the books you have read into the relevant Mr Linky - see the sections below

- You may like to consult Global Reading Challenges for 2011 and 2010 for suggestions of books.

The Easy ChallengeRead one novel from each of these continents in the course of 2012:
Africa
Asia
Australasia-Oceania/
Europe
North America
South America (please include Central America where it is most convenient for you)
The Seventh Continent (here you can either choose Antarctica or your own ´seventh´ setting, eg the sea, the space, a supernatural/paranormal world, history, the future – you name it).

From your own continent: try to find a country, state or author that is new to you.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Medium Challenge

Read two novels from each of these continents in the course of 2012:
Africa
Asia
Australasia
Europe
North America
South America (please include Central America where it is most convenient for you)
The Seventh Continent

Try to find novels from fourteen different countries or states.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Expert ChallengeRead three novels from each of these continents in the course of 2012:

Africa
Asia
Australasia
Europe
North America
South America (please include Central America where it is most convenient for you) /

The Seventh ContinentSelect novels from twenty-one different countries or states if possible. (For Australasia, selecting a different state for your last book will be acceptable)

Hosted by/Link: Mysteries in Paradise. Global Reading Challenge

Challenge Start and Ends Dates: January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012

My Progress: 3/14

My List: This year I'm going to do the medium challenge

Africa
1
2

Asia
1 - Sri Lanka - Anil's Ghost - Michael Ondaatje
2

Australasia/Oceania
1
2

Europe
1
2

North America/Central America
1 - Canada/Newfoundland - The Colony of Unrequited Dreams
2

South America/Caribbean
1
2

Seventh Continent
1 - The Pegasus Galaxy - Allegiance (SGA -18) - Amy Griswold and Melissa Scott
2

Finish That Series Challenge 2012

2012-01-04T19:33:00.001-05:00

Challenge Summary:

Here are the rules guidelines.

1) All books that are part of a continuing series qualify (i.e. Debbie Macomber's Cedar Cove, Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum, James Patterson's Alex Cross, etc. etc.)
2) It doesn't matter if you have 1 or 10 books in a series to complete it, it qualifies (i.e. if you only need to read one more Sookie Stackhouse book to complete the goal, that's fine) The goal is to complete a series from wherever you are up to until the last published book

3) The qualification period is January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012. Books must be read during this time frame to count.

4) Take the button above and post about it. Use the Mr. Linky at my new blog for this challenge. Click here to sign up and go over there now, but make sure you link it directly to your post about this challenge.

5) If you don't have a blog, that's fine. Just leave a comment to sign up and tell us what you are reading.

6) Any format of book counts - audio, ebook, etc.

7) You should choose the series you want to finish before the challenge begins, but it isn't necessary. It's fine to change series during the year - as long as you complete whichever series it is.

8) Choose a level....
Level 1 - Complete 1 series.
Level 2 - Complete 2 series.
Level 3 - Complete 3 or more series.

Hosted by/Link: Socrates Book Reviews. Finish That Series Reading Challenge

Challenge Start and Ends Dates: January 1 - December 31, 2012

My Progress: 0/3 Series Finished

My List:
Series 1 - Woman of the Otherworld (3 books, 4 if the 12 comes out in paperback)
9
10
11

Series 2 - Mistborn - 2 books
2
3

Series 3 - Trade Pack Universe - 2 Books
2
3

Series 4 - Unofficial- Wheel of Time (I'm unofficially attempting to finish the series. I'm tracking my progress and hopefully finish it, but I will count the challenge as complete if I finish the other three.)
7
8
9
10
11
12
13

E-Book Reading Challenge - 2012

2012-01-04T19:26:00.000-05:00

Challenge Summary:
Challenge Guidelines:

1. This challenge will run from Jan 1, 2012 - Dec 31, 2012.
2. Anyone can join, you don't need to be a blogger. If you don't have a blog, feel free to sign-up in the comments. You can post reviews to any book site (i.e. Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords, Goodreads, etc).
3. Any genre or length of book counts, as long as it is in ebook format.
4. You can list your books in advance or just put them in a wrap-up post. If you list them, feel free to change them as the mood takes you.
5. When you sign up in the linky, put the direct link to your post about joining the E-Book Reading Challenge.
6. You can move up levels, but no moving down.
7. Sign-ups will be open until Dec 15, 2012, so feel free to join at any time throughout the year.

Levels:

1. Floppy disk - 5 ebooks
2. CD - 10 ebooks
3. DVD - 25 ebooks
4. Memory stick - 50 ebooks
5. Hard drive - 75 ebooks
6. Server - 100 ebooks
7. Human brain - 150 ebooks

Hosted by/Link: Workday reads. EBook Reading Challenge

Challenge Start and Ends Dates: January 1 - December 31, 2012

My Progress: 7/25

My List:

1) Touch - Alexi Zentner
2) The Dream World - Alison Pick
3) The Sisters Brothers - Patrick deWitt
4) Allegiance (SGA - 18) Amy Griswold and Melissa Scott
5) Alone in the Classroom - Elizabeth Hay
6) Gathering Blue - Lois Lowry
7) Messenger - Lois Lowry

Canadian Award Winners Challenge - 2012

2012-01-04T19:20:00.002-05:00

Challenge Summary: Here’sthe scoop on the ways you can enter:

Toe-dipper: one book from the list ofaward winners of each of “main” prizes: the Governor-General’s Award, theGiller Prize, and the CAA Prize. (Total 3 books)

Chance-taker: one book from each of the “main”lists plus one from the Amazon.ca First Novel Award winners. (Total 4 books)

Bluenoser: One book from each of the“main” lists plus one from the Atlantic Book Award winners. (Total 4 books)

CanLit Lover: one book from each of the fivelists. (Total 5 books)

Here’sa list of the prize winners:

Governor-General’sAward for Literature

CanadianAuthors Association Award for Fiction

GillerPrize

Amazon.ca FirstNovel Award

ThomasHead Raddall Atlantic Fiction Prize

Hosted by/Link: Exurbains / Canadian Award Winner Challenge

Challenge Start and Ends Dates: January 1 - December 31, 2012

My Progress: 5/5 - Completed January 24, 2012

My List:

Governor-General's Award for Literature - 2011 - The Sisters Brothers - Patrick deWitt
Canadian Authors Association Award for Fiction - The Colony of Unrequited Dreams - Wayne Johnston
Giller Prize - Anil's Ghost - Michael Ondaatje
Amazon.ca First Novel Award - Childhood - Andre Alexis
Thomas Head Raddall Atlantic Fiction Prize - For Those Who Hunt the Wounded Down - David Adams Richards

Final Thoughts

I really enjoyed the challenge, and was surprised on how much I enjoyed some of the books. From personal experience, before and during this challenge, I find I prefer the Giller winners over the GG winners. But many of the books on this list are ones I'd recommend.

A - Z Challenge 2012

2012-01-04T19:13:00.001-05:00

Challenge Summary:Welcome in the Alphabet Challenges group!
This group is for anyone that wants to participate in an alphabet challenge.
You can create your alphabet from the first letters of the books titles or from the first letters of the authors names or from anything else.

Two possible challenges are:
- The authors alphabet - books written by authors which last name start with every letter of the alphabet
- The books alphabet - books which titles start with every letter of the alphabet

The alphabets can be done in order or without order - up to everyone's preferences. Welcome and good luck :)
PS: If you have troubles finding an author starting with a given letter, http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk is a good resource.

Hosted by/Link: LibraryThing Group: The Alphabet Challenge

Challenge Start and Ends Dates:January 1 - December 31, 2012

My Progress: 11/26

My List:This Year I'm going to do the Authors Challenge. Reading 26 Books on book per letter of the alphabet where the authors last name starts with the corresponding letter.

A - Andre, Alexis (Childhood)
B - Behn, Aphra (Oroonoko and Other Writings)
C
D - deWitt, Patrick (The Sisters Brothers)
E
F
G
H - Hay, Elizabeth (Alone in the Classroom)
I
J - Johnston, Wayne (The Colony of Unrequited Dreams)
K
L - Lowry, Lois (Gathering Blue)
M - MacLeod, Alistair (The Lost Salt Gift of Blood)
N
O - Ondaatje, Michael (Anil's Ghost)
P - Pick, Alison (The Dream World)
Q
R - Richards, David Adams (For Those Who Hunt the Wounded Down)
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z - Zentner, Alexi (Touch)

Book Review: 1001 Books to Read Before You Die - 2012

2012-01-04T07:20:00.002-05:00

Challenge Summary:

Rules:
• Challenge runs January 1 2012 – December 31 2012.
• You don’t have to make a list beforehand.
• You DO need to choose your level at the beginning so you have a chance to win the prize!
• You can use any version of the list, not just the current, since they update it every couple years. I figure, once a book is on the list, it is always on the list!
• Books that cover other challenges are not only permitted, but encouraged!

• **ADDED*** Non bloggers are welcome to participate! Just sign up and leave a comment on this post letting me know what you are going for. At the end, provide a list of what you read this year via shelfari, LibraryThing, goodreads, or just a list of books! But if you review anything on those sites, link to the review post so we can see what you thought!
• You do NOT have to review every book you read for this challenge – it is an extra so that the rest of us can see what you thought!
• Sign up in Mr Linky!

Hosted by/Link: Pub Writes - 1001 Books To Read Before You Die Challenge 2012

Challenge Start and Ends Dates: January 1 - December 31, 2011

My Progress:1/15

My List:

1) Oroonoko and Other Writings - Aphra Behn

100+ Reading Challenge - 2012

2012-01-04T07:13:00.002-05:00

Challenge Summary:

Rules and Details

• Read 100+ books in 2012 (any genre)
• You don't have to select your books ahead of time, you can just add them as you go. Also if you do list them upfront you can change them, nothing is set in stone! The books you choose can crossover into other challenges you have on the go.
• You can join at anytime. All books read in 2012 count towards the challenge regardless of when you sign up.
• At the beginning of Jan 2012, you will find a link to specific month to add your reviews.
• Audiobooks do not count, but all other formats are accepted.
• Only fiction, no non-fiction.
• This challenge can crossover to other challenges.
• You don't have to have a blog to join in - for those without a blog but who use Goodreads, Amazon, LibraryThing etc, you can add the URL to where you track your books.

Hosted by/Link: The Book Chick City. 100+ Reading Challenge 2012

Challenge Start and Ends Dates:January 1 - December 31, 2011

My Progress: 14/100

My List:

1) Touch - Alexi Zentner
2) The Dream World - Alison Pick
3) The Sisters Brothers - Patrick deWitt
4) Oroonoko and Other Writings - Aphra Behn
5) Childhood - Andre Alexis
6) For Those Who Hunt the Wounded Down - David Adams Richards
7) Allegiance (SGA-18) - Amy Griswold and Melissa Scott
8) The Lost Salt Gift of Blood - Alistair MacLeod
9) Alone in the Classroom - Elizabeth Hay
10) Gathering Blue - Lois Lowry
11) Messenger - Lois Lowry
12) The Colony of Unrequited Dreams - Wayne Johnston
13) Anil's Ghost - Michael Ondaatje
14) Transition (SG-1 18) - Sabine Bauer

12 in 12 Reading Challenge

2012-01-04T07:00:00.000-05:00

Challenge Summary:
This group is for anyone who wants to read books from 12 different categories in 2012.

You can structure the categories in any way you choose, and you can read any number of books in each category. The format of your challenge is entirely up to you!

The challenge will "officially" begin on January 1, 2012, but earlybirds and latecomers are welcome.Share recommendations, be nice, and have fun!

Hosted by/Link: Found on LibraryThing Groups: 12 in 12

Challenge Start and Ends Dates: January 1 - December 31, 2012

My Progress: 14/144

My List:

1 1001 Books (Will try to read only authors I haven't read before)
2 Around the World in 12 Books (12 Books from 12 different countries North America not included)
3 Authors A,B,C & X,Y,Z
4 TBR No More
5 Short Stories, Novellas, Anthologies Collections Galore
6 2012 Countdown - Read 1 book for every year in the last 12 years
7 Decades of Decades -Year 2000 and under.
8 Canadian Award Winners (Canada Reads, Geller and Governer Generals Awards - 4 from each)
9 The Ones that Didn't Win (Short Lists and Long Lists from above)
10 Travel Through the Stargate and Beyond (Stargate books)
11 Kobo Express (Ebooks )
12 Seriously, Serious About Reading Books from a Series

1001 Books - 1/12

1) Oroonoko and Other Writigns - Aphra Behn
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Around the World in 12 Books - 0/12

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Authors A,B,C & X,Y,Z - 1/12

1) Zentner, Alexi - Touch
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TBR No More - 0/12

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Short Stories, Novellas, Anthologies Collections Galore - 1/12

1) The Lost Salt Gift of Blood - Alistair MacLeod
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2012 Countdown - 3/12

1 - 2012
2 - 2011 - Alone in the Classroom - Elizabeth Hay
3 - 2010
4 - 2009
5 - 2008 - The Dream World - Alison Pick
6 - 2007
7 - 2006
8 - 2005
9 - 2004 - Messenger - Lois Lowry
10 2003
11 - 2002
12 - 2001

Decades of Decades - 0/12

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Canadian Award Winners - 2/12
1) Canada Reads
2) Canada Reads
3) Canada Reads
4) Canada Reads
5) Giller Prize - 2000 Winner - Anil's Ghost - Michael Ondaatje
6) Giller Prize
7) Giller Prize
8) Giller Prize
9) Governor Generals Award - 2011 Winner - The Sisters Brothers - Patrick deWitt
10) Governor Generals Award
11) Governor Generals Award
12) Governor Generals Award

The One's That Didn't Win - 3/12

1) 1998 Governor General Award - Childhood - Andre Alexis
2) 1993 Giller Prize - For Those Who Hunt the Wounded Down - David Adams Richards
3) Canada Reads - The Colony of Unrequited Dreams - Wayne Johnston
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Travel Through the Stargate and Beyond - 2/12

1) Allegiance (SGA 18) - Amy Griswold and Melissa Scott
2) Transitions (SG-1 18) - Sabine Bauer
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Kobo Express - 0/12

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Seriously Serious About Reading Books from a Series - 1/12

1) Gathering Blue - Lois Lowry
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Fall into Reading 2011

2011-09-23T06:12:00.002-04:00

Challenge Summary:

Essentially, Fall Into Reading 2011 is a fun, low-pressure reading challenge open to anyone and everyone. It will take place September 23rd-December 21st (which, as you may have guessed, lines up with the fall of 2011).To participate, here’s what you need to do:

Create a list of some books you’d like to read or finish this fall. This is the only real requirement for participating in the challenge.
Feel free to set some additional reading goals (such as reading to your kids two hours per week, getting through your pile of magazines, etc.). However, this is not required; setting additional goals is completely optional.
Write a blog post that includes the list of books you want to read (and any additional goals you’ve set), and get ready to post it on your blog on September 23rd.
Visit Callapidder Days on September 23rd to sign up for the challenge. I’ll have an official launch post up that morning, complete with an area for you to submit a link to your personal Fall Into Reading post, where it will be added to the master list of participants.
Read! Work on your goals throughout Fall 2011.
Report your results. Write another blog post in December to let everyone know how you did. (I’ll post an official wrap-up to the challenge on December 22nd, where you’ll be able to share your results.)
Have fun! Visit other participants to see what they’re reading. Write reviews if you’re so inclined. But most of all, enjoy your fall reading!Pasted from

Hosted by/Link: Callapidder Days - Fall into Reading 2011

Challenge Start and Ends Dates:September 23 - December 21, 2011

My Progress: 10/14 - FAILED - 71 % Complete

My List:

Since there are approximately 13 and a half week, my goal is to read one book for each week.

1. Clara Cullen - Richard B. Wright
2. ~~Shadow of the Wind - Shadow of the Wind~~ We: A Novel - Eugene Zamiatin
3. Irish County Doctor - Patrick Taylor
4. Cat's Eye - Margaret Atwood
5. ~~Best of Friends - Cathy Kelly~~ Portrait of an Artist as a Young Man - James Joyce
6. Personal Demon - Kelley Armstrong
7. The Seamstress - Frances Des Ponte Peebles
8. Mister Pipp - Lloyd Jones
9. Belong to Me - Marisa de los Santos
10. Sophie's Choice - William Styron
11. The Night Circus - Ernin Morgenstern
12. Thrall's Tale - Judith Lindberg
13. An Empty Room - Mu Xin
14. Good to a Fault - Marina Endicott

Final Thoughts

I keep attempting this challenge, and I keep failing. I need to make my list smaller for starters, and I need to be okay with changing my list as needed. I always feel like I'm cheating if I change my list. Still, I did read some great books in this challenge. Maybe 2012 will be my year!

Canadian Book Challenge V

2011-07-03T18:29:00.011-04:00

Challenge Summary: The Canadian Book Challenge is an online reading challenge in which participants from Canada and around the world aim to read and review 13 or more Canadian books in a one year span: Canada Day to Canada Day. Reviews must be posted online and participants are asked to share links to their reviews with other participants. Follow the link below for more details.

Hosted by/Link: John of the Book Mine Set - Canada Reading V Challenge

Challenge Start and Ends Dates: July 1, 2011 - July 1, 2012

My Progress: 30/13 - COMPLETED OCTOBER 31, 2011

My List:

1) The Fire-Dwellers - Margaret Laurence

2) The Jade Peony - Wayson Choy

3) The Three Day Road - Joseph Boyden

4) Broken - Kelley Armstrong

5) Room - Emma Donoghue

6) The Penelopiad - Margaret Atwood

7) Wake - Robert J. Sawyer
8) No Humans Involved - Kelley Armstrong
9) The Cat's Table - Michael - Ondaatje
10) An Irish Country Doctor - Patrick Taylor
11) Valmiki's Daughter - Shani Mootoo
12) Good to a Fault - Marina Endicott
13) Bluebeard's Egg - Margaret Atwood

14) Personal Demon - Kelley Armstrong
15) The Antagonist - Lynn Coady
16) The Free World - David Bezmogis
17) Better Living Through Plastic Explosives by Zsuzsi Gartner
18) Half-Blood Blues - Esi Edugyan
19) A Map of Glass - Jane Urquhart
20) The Piano Man's Daughter - Timothy Findley
21) A Bird in the House - Margaret Laurence

*Read in 2012*
22) Touch - Alexi Zentner
23) The Dream World - Alison Pick
24) The Sisters Brothers - Patrick deWitt
25) Childhood - Andre Alexis
26) For Those Who Hunt The Wounded Down - David Adams Richards
27) The Lost Salt Gift of Blood - Alistair MacLeod
28) Alone in the Classroom - Elizabeth Hay
29) The Colony of Unrequited Dreams - Wayne Johston
30) Anil's Ghost - Michael Ondaatje

Spring Reading Thing 2011

2011-03-21T07:04:00.018-04:00

Challenge Summary: Make a list of books you want to read (or finish reading) this spring. Your list can be as long or as short as you’d like. (Also, feel free to modify your list during the challenge if it’s not working for you.)

Write a blog post containing your list and submit it to this post using the Mr. Linky HERE.

Get reading! The challenge goes from today, March 20th, through June 20th.

Check out other participants’ lists and add to your own to-read-someday pile!

Write a post about your challenge experience in June, telling us all about whether you reached your goals and how Spring Reading Thing went for you. But remember: this is a low-pressure challenge that should be fun. As long as you do some reading this spring (and enjoy it!), that’s good enough for me ( Katrina of Callapidder Days.)

Hosted by/Link: Katrina of Callapidder Days.

Challenge Start and Ends Dates: March 20, 2011 - June 20th, 2011

My Progress: 14/16 - FAILED

My List: Made my list a lot shorter this year, although I do have a couple of chunksters on it this time around, lets see how I do!

1) Purple Hibiscus - Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche
2) Haunted - Kelley Armstrong
3) The Best Laid Plans - Terry Fallis
4) Annabel - Kathleen Winter
5) The Red Badge of Courage - Stephen Crane
6) Never Let Me Go -
7) Petals from the Sky - Mingmei Yip
8) Quatrain - Sharon Shinn
9) Evening Class - Maeve Binchy
10) The Witch Doctor's Wife - Tamar Myers
11) Tale of Two Cities - Charles Dickens
12) Left Neglected - Lisa Genova
13) Daughter's of Rome - Kate Quinn
14) A Thousand Words for Stranger - Julie Czerneda
15) Northanger Abbey - Jane Austen

16)The Lightning Thief - Rick Riodan

WRAP UP - I came so close to finishing this. I finished Never Let Me Go a day after the challenge ended. I had to change my list a lot to fit my reading habits. I think it's why I have so much trouble with challenges where you make a list before hand, sometimes you're just not in the mood to read Book X. Ah well, I was close to it, had fun, so that's all that counts!

Book Bucket Reading List

2011-01-09T14:51:00.017-05:00

Challenge Summary: Feel free to join me (Bookworm Lisa), make a list of books that you will read for 2011. Cross them off as you go. See if you can finish your list before I(Lisa) finish mine. Make a list of 10 or however many you feel is "do"able for you.

Hosted by/Link: Bookworm Lisa

Challenge Start and Ends Dates: January 1, 2011 - December 31, 2011

My Progress: 18/26 - FAILED (70% Complete)

My List:

This year I'm turning 26, so my Book Bucket List will have 26 books! List I have two lists, with the intention of finishing the first, them moving on to the second, as an extra bit of a challenge. What will likely happen is I'll read books from both lists simultaneously, so as long as I read 26 of these books I'll be happy.

List A

1) Half the Yellow Sun - Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
2) Little Women
3) Alias Grace - Margaret Atwood
4) Mists of Avalon
5) The Vicomte de Bragelonne - Alexandre Dumas
6) The Piano Man's Daughter
7) Sea of Poppies
8) A Thousand Splendid Suns
9) The Hunchback of Notre Dame
10) Geomancer
11) A Crown of Swords
12) Winter's Heart
13) The Poison Wood Bible
14) The Historian
15) The Birth House
16) The Forgotten Garden
17) The Seamstress
18) The Shipping News
19) The Heart Specialist
20) Shangri Girls
21) Unless
22) Lotus Eaters
23) Major Pettigrew's Last Stand
24) The Help
25) The Stone Carvers
26) The Last Crossing

List B

1) The Blind Assassin
2) Little Giant of Aberdeen County
3) Three Day Road
4) If on a Winters Night a Traveller
5) Girl with a Pearl Earing
6) Belinda
7) Cold Mountain
8) The Outlander
9) Beautiful Creatures
10) Wizards First Rule
11) A Farwell to Arms
12) Tetarch
13) Crossroads of Twilight
14) One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest
15) The Ship of Brides
16) Dr. Zhivargo
17) Interview with a Vampire
18) Northanger Abbey
19) The Women in White
20) Middlemarch
21) Kidnapped
22) Gulliver's Travels
23) Catcher in the Rye
24) The Jade Peony
25) Autumn of the Patriarch
26) Never Let Me Go

Final Thoughts

I failed the challenge, this particular one was more of a oh, I'll read that book later. And of course I never did. Having a list of books to read in a challenge, instead of pick as you go is a downfall for me. And one of the main reasons I didn't complete the challenge, sometimes you're jsut not in the mood to read book X. Ah well, I knocked some books of the list, progress right?

War Through the Generations

2011-01-03T19:03:00.002-05:00

Challenge Summary:
War Through the Generation‘s 2011 reading challenge will be the U.S. Civil War. The challenge will run from January 1, 2011, through December 31, 2011.

Rules:
This year you have options when reading your fiction, nonfiction, graphic novels, etc. with the U.S. Civil War as the primary or secondary theme.
Books can take place before, during, or after the war. Books from other challenges count so long as they meet the above criteria.

Dip: Read 3-5 books in any genre with the U.S. Civil War as a primary or secondary theme.
Wade: Read 6-10 books in any genre with the U.S. Civil War as a primary or secondary theme.
Swim: Read 11 or more books in any genre with the U.S. Civil War as a primary or secondary theme.

Additionally, we’ve decided that since there are so many great movies out there about U.S. Civil War, that you can substitute or add a movie or two to your list this year and have it count toward your totals. We nabbed this idea from a few challenges in 2009, particularly The Everything Austen Challenge at Stephanies’s
Written Word.

**Note**
*Participants anywhere in the world are eligible for most prizes in the post-challenge drawing!**
*Prize drawings will be for participants finishing the minimum 3-5 books.
*Participants can always read more than their initial goals, and even if you sign up for 11+, but read just 3-5, you officially completed the challenge and are eligible for prizes.
You can decide which books you’d like to read right away, or you can choose them during the course of the challenge. Check out the Recommended Reading: U.S. Civil War (page is coming soon) page for suggestions.

***Attention Participants***
We wanted to try something a little different this year, and we thought that it would be fun to do a group review here on War Through the Generations midway through the challenge. Book to be determined in the coming months.
How to sign up:
Leave a comment on this page with your reading goal. Please spread the word about the challenge on your blogs. Feel free to do a sign up post and leave a link to your post here.
Everyone who signs up will be listed on the U.S. Civil War Challenge Participants page.
Sign ups will be ongoing.

**Once you’ve signed up, please visit the Buttons page to snag some for your blog for use in your sign up post and book reviews! (New U.S. Civil War Challenge buttons forthcoming)**

Share your reviews with fellow participants:
If you have a blog and have reviewed a book you’re counting toward the challenge, please email the review links to warthroughgenerations AT gmail DOT com. We’d be happy to post the first paragraph (or the first few sentences, depending on paragraph length) and a link to your blog.

If you don’t have a blog but would like to share your thoughts on a book you’ve read for the challenge, please write up a review and email it to warthroughgenerations AT gmail DOT com. Please include the name you wish to be displayed as author of the review.
If you have any questions, please email us at warthroughgenerations AT gmail DOT com. We hope you will join us for a year filled with great books!

***Please follow War Through the Generations in your feed readers and on Twitter @wargenerations for updates, giveaways, and more***

Hosted by/Link: War Through the Generations

Challenge Start and Ends Dates: January 1,2011 - December 31, 2011

My Progress: FAILED - 4/5 - 80% Complet

My List:

1) Cold Mountain - Charles Frazier

2) The Red Badge of Courage - Stephen Crane
3) My Name is Mary Sutter - Robin Oliveira
4) Little Women - Louisa May Alcott

Final Thoughts\

Another challenge I've attempted 3 or 4 times, and one I keep getting close, but not finishing in the end. This one was harder to find books that interested me. But it also forced me to read Little Woman, which I never read before and had been on my TBR list for a while, so in the end I'm happy with how the challenge went for me.

Take a Chance 3 Challenge

2011-01-03T18:43:00.004-05:00

Challenge Summary:

Basic Information
The concept of the challenge is to take chances with your reading by finding books to read in unusual or random ways. I’ve listed 10 different ways to find books below. Feel free to complete at many as you want. However, anyone completing all 10 challenges by December 31, 2011 will be entered in a prize drawing to win a book of their choice from Amazon.
The challenge will run from January 1, 2011 until December 31, 2011.
Crossover books from other challenges is fine. You can read books in any format.
On January 1, 2011, I will post pages for each of the 10 challenges so you can link up your completed posts.

The 2011 Challenges
1: Staff Member’s Choice: Go to a bookstore or library that has a “Staff Picks” section. Read one of the picks from that section.

2: Loved One’s Choice: Ask a loved one to pick a book for you to read. (If you can convince them to buy it for you, that is even better!)

3: Blogger’s Choice: Find a “Best Books Read” post from a favorite blogger. Read a book from their list.

4: Critic’s Choice: Find a “Best of the Year” list from a magazine, newspaper or professional critic. Read a book from their Top 10 list.

5: Blurb Book: Find a book that has a blurb on it from another author. Read a book by the author that wrote the blurb.

6: Book Seer Pick: Go to The Book Seer and follow the instructions there. Read a book from the list it generates for you.

7: What Should I Read Next Pick : Go to What Should I Read Next and follow the instructions there. Read a book from the list it generates for you.

8: Which Book Pick: Go to Which Book and use the software to generate a list of books. Read a book from that list.

9: LibraryThing Pick: Go to LibraryThing’s Zeitgeist page. Look at the lists for 25 Most Reviewed Books or Top Books and pick a book you’ve never read. Read the book. (Yes … you can click on MORE if you have to.)

10: Pick A Method: Pick a method for finding a book from the choices listed below (used in previous versions of the challenge).

Random Book Selection. Go to the library. Position yourself in a section such as Fiction, Non-Fiction, Mystery, Children (whatever section you want). Then write down random directions for yourself (for example, third row, second shelf, fifth book from right). Follow your directions and see what book you find. Check that book out of the library, read it and then write about it. (If you prefer, you can do the same at a bookstore and buy the book!)
Public Spying. Find someone who is reading a book in public. Find out what book they are reading and then read the same book. Write about it.
Random Bestseller. Go to Random.org and, using the True Random Number Generator, enter the number 1950 for the min. and 2010 for the max. and then hit generate. Then go to this site and find the year that Random.org generated for you and click on it. Then find the bestseller list for the week that would contain your birthday for that year. Choose one of the bestsellers from the list that comes up, read it and write about it.

Hosted by/Link: Take a Chance 3

Challenge Start and Ends Dates: January 1, 2011 - December, 31 2011

My Progress: 9/10 - FAILED - 90% Complete

My List:

1) Staff Members Pick: The Night Circus - Erin Morgernstern
2) Loved One's Choice: The Piano Man's Daughter - Timothy Findely
4) Critic's Choice: The Tiger's Wife - Tea Obreht
5) Book Blueb (found on 'One Amazing Thing'): The Namesake - Jhumpa Lahiri

6) Book Seer Pick (entered Daughters of Rome): The Irish Princess - Karen Harper
7) What Should I Read Next (entered 'Cold Mountain'): Snow Falling on Cedars - David Guterson

8) Which Book Pick: The Zigzag Way - Anita Desai

9) LibraryThing Pick: A Thousand Splendid Suns - Khaled Hosseini
10) Random Book Selection: Beautiful Assassin - Michael White

Final Thoughts

So close! This was a interesting challenges as it made me read some books I may not have read otherwise, particularly Beautiful Assassin, which has made my top books read in the years, so it did something right. It also had me read some books I didn't enjoy, but I treid them and went out my normal reading zones a few time, so I think I did pretty good.

New Author Challenge

2011-01-03T17:27:00.027-05:00

Challenge Summary:
The idea behind this is to find new authors that you’ve never tried before. They can be in your genre of choice or be brave and try something new. You never know what you’re going to like until you try it. If you’re looking for some suggestions, you can check out the Author page here at Literary Escapism or the 2009 and 2010 Challenge pages. With over 1000 reviews posted, I’m sure there will be something there for everyone.

Here are the guidelines:

The challenge will run from January 1, 2011 through December 31, 2011.

Since this is an author challenge, there is no restriction on choosing your novels. They can definitely be from other challenges. However, the authors must be new to you and, preferably from novels. Anthologies are a great way to try someone new, but only a third of your new authors can be from anthologies.

I want this to be an easy challenge, so you can pick to do either 15, 25 or 50 new authors. It all depends on how fast you read and how adventurous you want to be. For me, I’m trying another 50 new authors. If you reach your goal halfway through the year, don’t stop. Any new author you try can be added to Mr. Linky.

We all want to know about your new experience.

After reading your new author, write your review and then come back here and add your link to Mr. Linky. Make sure you include your name and the author, but adding the title is completely up to you.
Bloggers or Non-Bloggers alike are welcome

Once you reach your goal, you don’t have to stop. Any new author you try, go ahead and head back here and add it to the list. Introduce us all to whoever you find. Afterall, there’s no reason to stop trying new authors, right?

Hosted by/Link: Literary Escapism - New Authors Challenge

Challenge Start and Ends Dates: January 1, 2011 - December 31, 2011

My Progress: 25/25 - COMPLETED May 23, 2011

My List:

1) Hunt and Run (SGA 13) - Aaron Rosenberg

2) Rising (SGA #1) - Sally Malcolm

3) Major Pettigrew's Last Stand - Helen Simonson

4) The Birth House - Ami McKay

5) Moonlight in Odessa - Janet Skeslien Charles

6) A Thousand Splendid Suns - Khaled Hosseini

7) The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath

8) The Book of Days - James L. Rubart

9) Alice's Adventure's in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass - Lewis Carroll

10) Anne of Green Gables - L.M. Montgomery

11) Spider Bones - Kathy Reichs

12) Ysabel - Guy Gavirel Kay

13) The Scarlet Pimpernel - Baroness Emmuska Orczy

14) Purple Hibiscus - Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

15) One Amazing Thing - Chitra Divakruni

16) Blindness - Jose Saramago

17) Late Nights on the Air - Elizabeth Hay

18) The Best Laid Plans - Terry Fallis

19) A Thousand Words for Stranger - Julie Czerneda

20) The Help - Kathryn Stockett

21) The Sojourn - Andrew Krivak

22) The Namesake - Jhumpa Lahiri

23) Left Neglected - Lisa Genova

24) The Bone Cage - Angie Abdou

25) Petals From the Sky - Mingmei Yip

Mental Illness Advocacy

2011-01-03T14:57:00.002-05:00

Challenge Summary:
Reading, both fiction and nonfiction, is an excellent way to broaden one’s horizons and expose one to new ideas and ways of thinking and being. Many reading challenges already exist in the book blogging community to address racism, sexism, and homophobia, but I could not find any to address the stigma faced by those suffering from mental illness. In spite of mental illnesses being recognized by the scientific community as diseases just like physical ones, many still think those suffering from one are at fault for their own suffering. I hope reading and reviewing books featuring characters struggling to deal with mental illness, whether their own or another person’s, will help remove the stigma faced on a daily basis by those with a mental illness. They already have to struggle with an illness; they shouldn’t have to face a stigma too.

Challenge Levels:
Acquainted–4 books
Aware–8 books
Advocate–12 books

Rules:
Books read for the challenge must address mental illness in some way. If it’s fiction, a character has a mental illness. It can also be non-fiction ranging from self-help books to academic books on the topic.
No book read for the challenge may demonize the mentally ill. They certainly can be presented as 3-dimensional, flawed characters, but absolutely not demonized or presented as “crazy” etc… That goes against the purpose of this challenge.
Books you read for this challenge can be counted for other challenges as well.
Be sure to point out what mental illness or illnesses are addressed in the book in your review of the book. If you use LibraryThing or GoodReads in lieu of blogging, please just note it in the tags on the book or in the comment stating you’ve completed the book.
Reading Suggestions and Review Links:
Check out the official MIA Reading Challenge page to find reading suggestions. Also use the comments section on that page to post links to your reviews. (Go to the link at the hosted by section)

Spread the Word:
Help get the word out on the challenge! Blog, tweet, facebook, email, whatever you can think of to do about it! Please feel free to grab the image above to post on your blog as well. This is a fun way to address an important cause.

Hosted by/Link: Opinions of a Wolf - Mental Illness Advocacy Challenge

Challenge Start and Ends Dates: January 1, 2011 - December 31, 2011

My Progress: 12/12 - COMPLETED December 30, 2011.

My List:

I'm doing the Advocate level of 12 books. Advocacy for mental illness is something important to me. So, when I complete this challenge, I will make a donation to the Schizophrenic Society of Canada.

1) The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath (Depression)

2) Alias Grace - Margret Atwood (Multiple Personalities?)
3) Speak - Laurie Halse Anderson (Depression, PSTD)
4) The Awakening - Kate Chopin (Depression)
5) A Map of Glass - Jane Urquhart (Possibly Autism)
6) About a Boy - Nick Hornby (Depression)
7) Catcher in the Rye - J.D. Salinger (Depression)
8) The Piano Man's Daughter - Timothy Findley (Possibly Schizophrenia)
9) Halfway House - Katharine Noel (Bipolar)
10) Woman on the Edge of Time - Marge Piercy (Schizophrenia)
11) Tender is the Night - F. Scott Fitzgerald (Not specified)
12) Unless - Carol Shields (Not specified)

Final Thoughts

This was a good challenge, and I read some interesting and fantastic books in the process, all bringing to light some of the harsh realities of mental illness, in various forms. This was a great challenge to help bring awareness to mental illness, and as promised, I made a donation to the Schizophrenic Society of Canada. Thanks to the challenge host for this challenge!

Ireland Reading Challenge

2011-01-03T14:43:00.003-05:00

Challenge Summary:
Welcome to the second annual Ireland Reading Challenge! Last year’s challenge was a lot of fun, and helped me clear some of my Ireland-related titles off of my to-read shelves. Of course, I’ve since added more. In the next week or so, I will be posting a list of suggested titles and authors to help with your challenge.

For those of you interested in joining me in the challenge, here are the details:
~ The challenge runs from January 1, 2011 to November 30, 2011.
~ Any books read for this challenge can also apply to other challenges you are working on.
~ Re-reads are allowed.
~ Any book written by an Irish author, set in Ireland, or involving Irish history or Irish characters, counts for the challenge – fiction, non-fiction, poetry, audiobooks, children’s books – all of these apply.

~ Choose your commitment level:
Shamrock level: 2 books
Luck o’ the Irish level: 4 books
Kiss the Blarney Stone level: 6 books
~ Write up a post indicating that you are participating (feel free to copy the lovely graphic at the top of this post), and then add your challenge post’s link to the Mr. Linky on the main challenge page.
~ You don’t have to list your books ahead of time – just have fun reading throughout the year.

Hosted by/Link: Books and Movies - Ireland Reading Challenge

Challenge Start and Ends Dates: January 1, 2011 - November 30, 2011

My Progress: 6/6 - Completed November 24, 2022

My List:

1) Tipperary - Frank Delaney

2) Evening Class - Maeve Binchy

3) The Irish Princess - Karen Harper
4) An Irish Country Doctor - Patrick Taylor
5) Brooklyn - Colm Toibin
6) Portrait of an Artist as a Young Man - James Joyce

Final Thoughts

I really enjoyed this challenge and was able to read some fantastic books, and introduced to some new authors. I participated in the read-a-long, and while I didn't enjoy the book I did enjoy participating in the challenges. My favourite book is a toss up between Tipperary and Irish County Doctor. My leas favourite was Irish Princess.

Historical Reading Challenge

2011-01-03T14:30:00.009-05:00

Challenge Summary:
Each month, a new post dedicated to the HF Challenge will be created. To participate, you only have to follow the rules:

everyone can participate, even those who don't have a blog (you can add your book title and thoughts in the comment section if you wish)

add the link(s) of your review(s) including your name and book title to the Mister Linky we’ll be adding to our monthly post (please, do not add your blog link, but the correct address that will guide us directly to your review)

any kind of historical fiction is accepted (HF fantasy, HF young adult,...)
you can overlap this challenge with others kind of challenges
During these following 12 months you can choose one of the different reading levels:
Severe Bookaholism: 20 books
Undoubtedly Obsessed: 15 books
Struggling the Addiction: 10 books
Daring & Curious: 5 books
Out of My Comfort Zone: 2 books

Hosted by/Link: Historical Tapestry - Historical Reading Challenge

Challenge Start and Ends Dates: January 1, 2011 - December 31, 2011

My Progress: 10/10 -COMPLETED - June 12, 2011

My List:

1) Shanghai Girls - Lisa See

2) Tipperary - Frank Delaney

3) Alias Grace - Margaret Atwood

4) The Scarlet Pimpernel - Baroness Emmuska Orczy

5) The Help - Kathryn Stockett

6) The Sojourn - Andrew Krivak

7) Midwife of Venice - Roberta Rich

8) Cold Mountain - Charles Frazier

9) The Witch Doctor's Wife - Tamar Myers

10) The Red Badge of Courage - Stephen Crane

Global Reading Challenge

2011-01-03T14:18:00.013-05:00

Challenge Summary:
The Easy Challenge
Read one novel from each of these continents in the course of 2011:

Africa
Asia
Australasia
Europe
North America
South America (please include Central America where it is most convenient for you)

The Seventh Continent (here you can either choose Antarctica or your own ´seventh´ setting, eg the sea, the space, a supernatural/paranormal world, history, the future – you name it).

From your own continent: try to find a country, state or author that is new to you.

The Medium Challenge
Read two novels from each of these continents in the course of 2011:

Africa
Asia
Australasia
Europe
North America
South America (please include Central America where it is most convenient for you)

The Seventh Continent
Try to find novels from fourteen different countries or states.

The Expert Challenge
Read three novels from each of these continents in the course of 2010:

Africa
Asia
Australasia
Europe
North America
South America (please include Central America where it is most convenient for you)
The Seventh Continent
Select novels from twenty-one different countries or states if possible. (For Australasia, selecting a different state for your last book will be acceptable)

Hosted by/Link: 2011 Global Reading Challenge

Challenge Start and Ends Dates: January 1, 2011 - December 31, 2011

My Progress: 19/21 - FAILED - 90% Completed

My List:

Africa
1 Nigeria - Purple Hibiscus - Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
2 Congo - The Witch Doctor's Wife - Tamar Myers
3

Asia
1 - Afghanistan - A Thousand Splendid Suns - Khaled Hosseini
2 - China - Petals From the Sky - Mingmei Yip
3 - Russia - Beautiful Assassin - Michael White

Australasia/ Oceania
1 - New Zealand - The Garden Party and Other Stories - Katherine Mansfield
2 - Papua New Guinea - Mister Pip - Lloyd Jones
3

Europe
1 - Scotland - Kidnapped - Robert Louis Stevenson
2 -Ukraine - Moonlight in Odessa - Janet Skeslien Charles
3 - Ireland - Tipperary - Frank Delaney

North America / Central America
1 - Canada - The Birth House - Ami McKay
2 - Mexico - The Zigzag Way - Anita Desai
3 - USA - Halfway House - Katharine Noel

South America / Caribbean
1 - Jamaica - Pao - Kerry Young
2 - Trinidad - Valmiki's Daughter - Shani Mootoo
3 - Brazil - The Seamstress - Frances De Pontes Peebles

The Seventh Continent
1 - Space/Pegasus Galaxy - Hunt and Run (SGA #13) - Aaron Rosenberg
2 - Ancient/Mythological Greece/Afterlife - The Penelopiad - Margaret Atwood
3 - The Red and Mediterranean Seas - The Cat's Table - Michael Ondeetje

Final Thoughts

So close! So Close! I even had my two books I had left for the challenge chosen. The hardest Continent was Australasia/Oceania. I wanted to do three different countries. Either way, I did travel the World through reading and visited some new places in the process,

Futeristic/Sci-Fi Challenge

2011-01-03T14:06:00.007-05:00

Challenge Summary:

The goal of this challenge is to read novels that take place in the future or on an alternate planet. Your books can be of any format (ie. paperback, ebook, audiobook, etc.). No short stories. Re-reads and crossovers from other reading challenges are fine. You can list your books in advance or list them as you read them.

**Anyone can join. You don't need a blog to participate.

For bloggers: You can either list your books on your challenge post, sidebar, or a page dedicated to your challenges.

Levels:
1. Explorer: 4 futuristic/sci-fi novels
2. Pioneer: 8 futuristic/sci-fi novels
3. Dweller: 12 futuristic/sci-fi novels

Hosted by/Link: Book Obsessed - 2011 Futeristic/Sci-Fi Challenge

Challenge Start and Ends Dates: January 1, 2011 - December 31, 2011

My Progress: 8/8 - COMPLETED September 25, 2011.

My List:

1) Hunt and Run (SGA #13) - Aaron Rosenberg

2) Rising (SGA #1) - Sally Malcolm

3) A Matter of Honor (SG-1 3) - Sally Malcolm

4) The Cost of Honor (SG-1 5) - Sally Malcolm

5) A Thousand Words for Stranger - Julie Czerneda

6) Never Let Me Go - Kazou Ishiguro

7) Wake - Robert J. Sawyer
8) The Invisible Man - H.G. Wells

Fantasy Reading Challenge

2011-01-03T13:40:00.007-05:00

Challenge Summary:
A) The challenge is open to everyone. If you don't have a blog, it's okay, just leave your information in the comment.

B) There are four levels:
Curious – Read 3 Fantasy Fiction novels.
Fascinated – Read 6 Fantasy Fiction novels.
Addicted – Read 12 Fantasy Fiction novels.
Obsessed – Read 20 Fantasy Fiction novels.
C) You don't have to list the books right away. It's your choice and you can always change whenever you feel want to.

D) The challenge runs from January 1 through December 31, 2011.

E) You can join anytime between now and December 31, 2011.

F) Starting on January 1st trough December 31st, 2011, you can start posting your review on my 2011 Fantasy Reading Challenge Reviews Page. But of course it must be read on 2011 only and I don't mind if you re-read.

G) If you successfully finish the challenge, according to your selected levels, write a wrap up challenge post and leave the link at the 2011 Fantasy Reading Challenge wrap up at my page. Noted: only if you finish the challenge. It will run through until December 31st, 2011.

H) And the fun part is that, on January 1st, 2012; 2 reviews from 2011 Fantasy Reading Challenge Reviews Page and 1 lucky person from the wrap up challenge post will be randomly selected to win $10 to pick a Fantasy Fiction of their choice from the Book Depository. But the trick is, the choice of the book will come from any books from the books reviewed by other participants. So, you must always link your review and wrap up post at the page to be selected.

I) If you're a blogger, you must write up a sign-up post that includes the URL to this post so that others can join in (not your blog address). Feel free to use the button above. When you sign up in the Linky, put the direct link to your 2011 Fantasy Reading Challenge post. Please put your name/nickname and blog on the subject e.g. Darlyn@Darlyn and Books.

Thanks and good luck!

Hosted by/Link: Darlyn & Books - Fantasy Challenge

Challenge Start and Ends Dates: January 1, 2011 - December 31, 2011

My Progress: 12/12 - Completed - December 31 2011

My List:

1) Industrial Magic - Kelley Armstrong

2) Blood Feud - Alyxandra Harvey

3) Alice's Adventure's in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass - Lewis Carroll

4) Ysabel - Guy Gavriel Kay

5) The Lightning Thief - Rick Riodan

6) Broken - Kelley Armstrong

7) Mistborn - Brandon Sanderson
8) The Night Circus - Erin Morgernstern
9) The Sleeping Beauty - Mercedes Lackey
10) Dead Until Dark - Charlaine Harris
11) Personal Demon - Kelley Armstrong
12) Dragonflight - Anne McCaffrey

Chunkster Challenge

2011-01-03T13:33:00.004-05:00

Challenge Summary:

RULES

Definition of a Chunkster:
• A chunkster is 450 pages or more of ADULT literature (fiction or nonfiction) ... A chunkster should be a challenge.
• If you read large type books your book will need to be 525 pages or more ... The average large type book is 10-15% longer or more so I think that was a fair estimate.
The Rules:
• No Audio books in the chunkster. It just doesn't seem right. Words on paper for this one folks.
• No e-Books allowed - we are reading traditional, fat books for this challenge.
• Short Stories and Essay collections will not be counted.
• Books may crossover with other challenges
• Anyone may join. If you don't have a blog, just leave me a comment on this post with your progress (and to let me know you are playing)
• You don't need to list your books ahead of time.
• Once you pick a level, that's it...you're committed to that level!

You must pick a level of participation:
1. The Chubby Chunkster - this option is for the reader who wants to dabble in large tomes, but really doesn't want to commit to much more than that. FOUR Chunksters is all you need to finish this challenge.
2. The Plump Primer - this option is for the slightly heavier reader who wants to commit to SIX Chunksters over the next twelve months.
3. Do These Books Make my Butt Look Big? - this option is for the reader who can't resist bigger and bigger books and wants to commit to SIX Chunksters from the following categories: 2 books which are between 450 - 550 pages in length; 2 books which are 551 - 750 pages in length; 2 books which are GREATER than 750 pages in length (for ideas, please refer to the book suggestions page for some books which fit into these categories).
4. Mor-book-ly Obese - This is for the truly out of control chunkster. For this level of challenge you must commit to EIGHT or more Chunksters of which three tomes MUST be 750 pages or more. You know you want to.....go on and give in to your cravings.

Hosted by/Link:Chunkster Reading Challenge 2011

Challenge Start and Ends Dates: February 1, 2011 - January 31, 2012

My Progress: 5/8

My List:

1)Alias Grace - Margaret Atwood - 560 Pages

2) Evening Class - Maeve Binchy - 520 Pages

3) Annabel - Kathleen Winter - 461 Pages

4) Mistborn - Brandon Sanderson - 643 Pages
5) The Seamstress - Frances De Pontes Peebles - 641

11 in 11

2011-01-03T12:36:00.070-05:00

Challenge Summary:
This group is for anyone who would like to read books from 11 different categories in 2011. The number of books per category is entirely up to you, and it need not be the same number for each category (e.g., "step" challenges are fine)!

The challenge will "officially" begin on January 1, 2011, but earlybirds and latecomers are welcome!

Once you get started, refer to the "Challenge Tagging" thread (http://www.librarything.com/topic/97189) and tag your books; that way we can all see what you're reading and be inspired!

Share recommendations, be nice, and have fun!

Hosted by/Link: LibraryThing - Group 11 in 11

Challenge Start and Ends Dates: January 1, 2011 - December 31, 2011

My Progress: 102/121 - FAILED - 84% Complete

My List:

CATEGORIES

1 - War Time Fiction
2 - I've Been Meaning to Read You (Books I've been meaning to read, but never had time)
3 - Asian and Middle Eastern Fiction
4 - 1, 2, 3, SERIES (books that are part of a series)
5 - Women Kick Butt! (Women Writers)
6 - And the Winner Is…. (Award Winners)
7 - You Look Familiar (Books by Authors I've read before)
8 - It Cam From the Library (Library Books)
9 - Cross Country Reading (Books from 11 different provinces or territories in Canada)
10 - Put Out the Fire, and Read the Book! (Banned/Challenged Books)
11 - Premier Classic Books (11 Books from a Set of 51 Classic Novels I Own)

War Time Fiction (*11 books from 11 different Wars) 5/11

1) WWI - The Sojourn - Andrew Krivak
2) WWII - Wings: A Novel of World War II Flygirls - Karl Friedrich
3) VIETNAM WAR
4) CIVIL WAR - The Red Badge of Courage - Stephen Crane
5) FRENCH REVOLUTION WAR
6) RUSSIAN REVOLUTION WAR
7) SPANISH CIVIL WAR
8) OPIUM WARS
9) CIVIL WAR - My Name is Mary Sutter - Robin Oliveira
10) NAPOLEONIC WARS
11) WWII - Beautiful Assassin - Michael White

BONOUS - FANTASY WARS
Substitute War - Korean
* I have changed this as of August to any type of War Time Fiction due to time constraints.

I've Been Meaning To Read You, But…. (Books I've said I'd read/want to read, but never find the time) - 10/11

1 - The Help - Kathryn Stockett

2 - Never Let Me Go - Kazou Ishiguro

3 - Mistborn - Brandon Sanderson

4 - Belong to Me - Marisa de los Santos

5 - Mister Pip - Lloyd Jones

6 - The Castle of Otranto - Horace Walpole

7 - Year of Wonders: A Novel of the Plauge - Geraldine Brooks

8 - The Seamstress - Frances De Pontes Peebles

9 - About a Boy - Nick Horby

10 - The Piano Man's Daughter - Timothy Findley

11 - Tender is the Night - F. Scott Fitzgerald

Asian and Middle Eastern Fiction (8/11)

1 - A Thousand Splendid Suns - Khaled Hosseini

2 - Shanghai Girls - Lisa See

3 - Petals From the Sky - Mingmei Yip

4 - Pearl of China - Anchee Min

5 - Pao - Kerry Young

6 - A Cup of Friendship - Deborah Rodriguez

7 - An Empty Room - Mu Xin

8 - The Cloud Messenger - Aamer Hussein

1, 2, 3 - Series! (Books that are part of a series) - 11/11

1 - Hunt and Run (SGA #13) - Aaron Rosenberg

2 - Rising (SGA #1) - Sally Malcolm

3 - Blood Feud - Alyxandra Harvey

4 - A Matter of Honor (SG-1 3) - Sally Malcolm

5 - Homecoming - (SGA 16) - Jo Graham and Melissa Scott

6 - Spider Bones - Kathy Reichs

7 - Haunted - Kelley Armstrong

8 - The Cost of Honor (SG-1 5) - Sally Malcolm

9 - Blindness - Jose Saramago

10 - The Witch Doctor's Wife - Tamar Myers

11 - The Lost (SGA #17) - Jo Graham and Amy Griswold

Women Kick Butt! (Women Writers) 11/11

1 - Industrial Magic - Kelley Armstrong

2 - Major Pettigrew's Last Stand - Helen Simonson

3 - Moonlight in Odessa - Janet Skeslien Charles

4 - The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath

5 - Jezebel - Irene Nemirvoksy

6 - Alias Grace - Margaret Atwood

7 - Purple Hibiscus - Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

8 - One Amazing Thing - Chitra Divakruni

9 - Evening Class - Maeve Binchy

10 - A Thousand Words for Stranger - Julie Czerneda

11 - Left Neglected - Lisa Genova

And the Winner Is …. (Books that have won awards) - 10/11

1 - National Book Award - Cold Mountain - Charles Frazier

2 - CBA Libris Fiction Book of the Year - Three Day Road - Joseph Boyden

3 - Commonwealth Writers' Prize for Best Book - Room - Emma Donoghue

4 - 2010 Aurora Award Best Long Form in English - Wake - Robert J. Sawyer

5 - 2009 Costa Award - Brooklyn - Colm Toibin

6 - 2010 Man Booker Prize - The Finkler Question - Howard Jacobson

7 - 2011 Giller Prize - Half-Blood Blues - Esi Edugyan

8 - Orange Prize - The Tiger's Wife - Tea Obreht

9 - 2007 Ken/Nami Award - Halfway House - Katharine Noel

10 - 1968 Hugu Award (Novella) Dragonflight - Anne McCaffrey

You Look Familiar … (Author's I've read in the past) 11/11

1 - Tipperary - Frank Delaney

2 - Xingu and Other Stories - Edith Wharton

3 - Quatrain - Sharon Shinn

4 - Dust to Dust - Timothy Findley

5 - The Fire-Dwellers - Margaret Laurence

6 - Broken - Kelley Armstrong

7 - The Penelopiad - Margaret Atwood

8 - Sisterhood Everlasting - Anne Brashares

9 - Fire in the Blood - Irene Nemirovsy

10 - The Invisible Man - H.G. Wells

11 - Valmiki's Daughter - Shani Mootoo

It Came From The Library (Library Books) 11/11

1 - Ysabel - Guy Gavriel Kay

2 - The Best Laid Plans - Terry Fallis

3 - The Namesake - Jhumpa Lahiri

4 - Midwife of Venice - Roberta Rich

5 - Daughter's of Rome - Kate Quinn

6 -The Lightning Thief - Rick Riodan

7 - The Zigzag Way - Anita Desai

8 - The Irish Princess - Karen Harper

9 - I Am Number Four - Pittacus Lore

10 - The Sleeping Beauty - Mercedes Lackey

11 - The Antagonist - Lynn Coady

Cross Country Reading (Books from 11 different provinces or territories in Canada) (10/11)

1 - Nova Scotia - The Birth House - Ami McKay

2 - Ontario - Unless - Carol Shields

3 - New Brunswick - Evening Snow Will Bring Such Peace - David Adams Richards

4 - Prince Edward Island - Anne of Green Gables - L.M. Mongomery

5 - Northwest Territories - Late Nights on the Air - Elizabeth Hay

6 - Alberta - The Bone Cage - Angie Abdou

7 -Newfoundland & Labrador - Annabel - Kathleen Winter

8 - British Columbia - The Jade Peony - Wayson Choy

9 - Saskatchewan - Good to a Fault - Marnia Endicott

10 - Manitoba - A Bird in the House - Margaret Laurence

BONUS - Read remaining 2 provinces/territories.

Put Out the Fire, and Read the Book (Banned/Challenged Books) 6/11

1 - Snow Falling on Cedars - David Guterson

2 - Speak - Laurie Halse Anderson

3 - Cat's Cradle Kurt Vonnegut

4 - A Farewell to Arms - Ernest Hemingway

5 - Dead Until Dark - Charlaine Harris

6 - We - Yvegeny Zamyatin

7 - Catcher in the Rye - J. D. Salinger

Premier Classic Books (11 Books from a Set of 51 Classic Novels I Own) 7/11

1 - Kidnapped - Robert Louis Stevenson

2 - Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass - Lewis Carroll

3 - The Scarlet Pimpernel - Baroness Emmuska Orczy

4 - Northanger Abbey - Jane Austen

5 - The Awakening - Kate Chopin

6 - Portrait of an Artist as a Young Man - James Joyce

7 - Little Women - Louisa May Alcott

Final Thoughts

So I did pretty good with this challenge, despite the fact I failed it. My hardest category was War Time Fiction, finding books for 11 different books was hard (more because of the availability of the books where I am, not lack of books written), which is why I changed it part way through. The other three categories that I didn't finish off were books that I want to read, but either not in the mood, or could have been used in multiple categories. Many books in Premier Classics and Banned Books often crossed over. So I kept putting them off. I am geared up for the 12 in 12 challenge. And for the most part I altered categories to make them a little easier to complete. The hardest part of this challenge is in the beginning, when you have books that could go in multiple categories, and which one to place it in.

2011 Countdown Challenge

2011-01-03T12:12:00.042-05:00

Challenge Summary:

he goal is to read the respective number of books for the year (for example: 11 books for 2011, 10 books for 2010, 9 books for 2009, etc.)

Hosted by/Link: Reading Comes from Writing - 2011 Countdown Challenge (Well, they are doing the challenge on their own, and others can join in. Really enjoyed attempting this challenge in 2010, so glad a few others still want to carry it on!- Great way to find new books of 2011 :))

Challenge Start and Ends Dates: October 10, 2010 - November 11, 2011

My Progress: 60/66 - FAILED November 11, 2011.

My List: This challenged started in 2010, so some books were read in 2010, they have been marked.

2011

1 - The Book of Days - James L. Rubart
2 - Homecoming (SGA 16) - Jo Graham and Melissa Scott
3 - The Sonjourn - Andrew Krivak
4 - Left Neglected - Lisa Genova
5 - Midwife of Venice - Roberta Rich
6 - Daughter's of Rome - Kate Quinn
7 - Wings: A Novel of World War II Flygirls - Karl Friedrich
8 - Sisterhood Everlasting - Anne Brashares
9 - The Lost (SGA #17) - Jo Graham and Amy Griswold
10 - Pao - Kerry Young
11 - The Cat's Table - Ondeetje

2010

1 The Jewel of St. Petersburgh (2010)
2 Hunt and Run (SGA #13) - Aaron Rosenberg
3 Blood Feud - Alyxandra Harvey
4 Major Pettigrew's Last Stand - Helen Simonson
5 Moonlight in Odessa - Janet Skeslien Charles
6 Spider Bones - Kathy Reichs
7 Petals From the Sky - Mingmei Yip
8 Annabel - Kathleen Winter
9 - The Irish Princess - Karen Harper
10 - Room - Emma Donoghue

2009

1 Night Runner - Max Turner (2010)
2 Evermore - Alyson Noel (2010)
3 Day After Night - Anita Diamant (2010)
4 Shanghai Girls - Lisa See
5 One Amazing Thing - Chitra Divakruni
6 The Help - Kathryn Stockett
7 Quatrain - Sharon Shinn
8 -The Witch Doctor's Wife - Tamar Myers
9 - Wake - Robert J. Sawyer

2008

1 Belong to Me - Marisa de los Santos
2 Valmiki's Daughter - Shani Mootoo
3 Mister Pip - Lloyd Jones
4 Good to a Fault - Marina Endicott
5 Personal Demon - Kelley Armstrong
6
7
8

2007

1 - Rising (SGA #1) - Sally Malcolm
2 - A Thousand Splendid Suns - Khaled Hosseini
3 - Tipperary - Frank Delaney
4 -Ysabel - Guy Gavriel Kay
5 - Late Nights on the Air - Elizabeth Hay
6 - The Best Laid Plans - Terry Fallis
7 The Bone Cage - Angie Abdou

2006

1 Water for Elephants - Sarah Gruen (2010)
2 The Birth House -Ami McKay
3 Broken - Kelley Armstrong
4 Mistborn - Brandon Sanderson
5 Exogenesis (SGA #5) - Sonny Whitelaw and Elizabeth Christensen
6 Halcyon (SGA #4) - James Swallow

2005

1 The Hour Before Dawn - Sarah MacDonald (2010)
2 The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - Stieg Larsson (2010)
3 Haunted - Kelley Armstrong
4 The Cost of Honor (SG-1 5) - Sally Malcolm
5 The Lightning Thief - Rick Riodan

2004

1 Dime Store Magic - Kelly Armstrong (2010)
2 Industrial Magic - Kelley Armstrong
3 A Matter of Honor (SG-1 3) - Sally Malcolm
4 The Zigzag Way - Antia Desai

2003

1 Purple Hibiscus - Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
2 The Namesake - Jhumpa Lahiri
3

2002

1 - Unless - Carol Shields
2

2001

1 - Year of Wonders: A Novel of the Plague - Geraldine Brooks

Final Thoughts:

Yup, I failed the challenge. I cam so close, but just missed it. The hardest year for me to complete, 2008. I was scrambling in the end for that one.

1001 Books to Read Before You Die

2011-01-03T11:59:00.008-05:00

Challenge Summary:
The challenge is simple – read some books from the list! If you don’t own the actual book, you can find a simple list online. For the most basic, check out the Listology list. There are spreadsheets outs there that you can look at too that are more complex.

Levels:

High Schoo Diplomal: 5 books from the list
Bachelor’s Degree: 6-10 books from the list
Master’s Degree: 11-15 books from the list:
PHd: 16+

Rules:
Challenge runs January 1 2011 – Decemeber 31 2011.

You don’t have to make a list beforehand.

You can use any version of the list, not just the current, since they update it every couple years

Hosted by/Link: Pub Writes - 1001 Books to Read Before You Die

Challenge Start and Ends Dates: January 1, 2011 - December 31, 2011

My Progress: 16/16 - Completed November 27, 2011

My List:

I have the 2010 edition of the book, so I'm going to attempt the PHd. version of this. I also have lists of the other two editions, which I will likely use to.

1) Kidnapped - Robert Louis Stevenson
2) Unless - Carol Shields
3) The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath
4) Alice's Adventure's in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass - Lewis Carroll
5) Alias Grace - Margaret Atwood
6) Northanger Abbey - Jane Austen
7) Never Let Me Go - Kazou Ishiguro
8) The Awakening - Kate Chopin
9) Cat's Cradle - Kurt Vonnegut
10) A Farewell to Arms - Ernest Hemingway
11) The Invisible Man - H.G. Wells
12) The Garden Party and Other Stories - Katherine Mansfield
13) The Castle of Otranto - Horace Walpole
14) Portrait of an Artist as a Young Man - James Joyce
15) We - Yevgeny Zamyatin
16 Little Women - Louisa May Alcott

Final Thoughts

I managed to knock 16 more books of the list, which still hasn't put much of a dent into the list, but Im scratching the surface. I think my favourite book I rad was Alias Grace or Unless both of those books I highly recommend. I'd also recommend the Garden Party and We. I was also happy with the range of books I read, I managed to read books from the 18th century, up to the present sci-fi, horror and contemporary literature - there really is something for everyone on the list.

100+ Reading Challenge

2011-01-03T11:41:00.066-05:00

Challenge Summary:*This challenge is usually hosted over at J. Kaye's Book Blog, but I haven't heard anything from her about hosting it.

As of today, I have read and reviewed 278 books for 2010. I have many more to post before the finish date of December 31, 2010. I know that I will be able to finish this challenge next year, but I am challenging you to beat your 2010 record this year! Can you read over 100 books this year?

DETAILS:
1. The goal is to read 100 or more books. Anyone can join. You don't need a blog to participate. Posting on GoodReads or wherever you post your reviews is good enough.

2. Audio, Re-reads, eBooks, YA, Manga, Graphic Novels, Library books, Novellas, Young Reader, Nonfiction – as long as the book has an ISBN or equivalent or can be purchased as such, the book counts.

What doesn't count: Individual short stories or individual books in the Bible.

3. No need to list your books in advance. You may select books as you go. Even if you list them now, you can change the list if needed.

4. Crossovers from other reading challenges count.

5. Challenge begins January 1st thru December, 2011. Books started before the 1st do not count. You can join at anytime.

6. When you sign up under Mr. Linky, put the direct link to your post where your books will be listed. Include the URL to this post so that other viewers can find this fun challenge. If you’d prefer to put your list in the sidebar of your blog, please leave your viewers the link to the sign up page. Again, so viewers can join the challenge too.

Hosted by/Link: My Overstuffed Bookshelf

Challenge Start and Ends Dates: January 1, 2011 - December 31, 2011

My Progress: 100/100 - COMPLETED November 9, 2011

My List:

1) Industrial Magic - Kelley Armstrong

2) Hunt and Run (SGA #13) - Aaron Rosenberg

3) Kidnapped - Robert Louis Stevenson

4) Rising (SGA #1) - Sally Malcolm

5) Blood Feud - Alyxandra Harvey

6) Major Pettigrew's Last Stand - Helen Simonson

7) The Birth House - Ami McKay

8) A Matter of Honor (SG-1 3) - Sally Malcolm

9) Moonlight in Odessa - Janet Skeslien Charles

10) Unless - Carol Shields
11) A Thousand Splendid Suns - Khaled Hosseini

12) The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath

13) Jezebel - Irene Nemirvosky

14) The Book of Days - James L. Rubart

15) Shanghai Girls - Lisa See

16) Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass - Lewis Carroll

17) Homecoming (SGA 16) - Jo Graham and Melissa Scott

18) Evening Snow Will Bring Such Peace - David Adams Richards

19) Tipperary - Frank Delaney

20) Anne of Green Gables - L.M. Montgomery

21) Alias Grace - Margaret Atwood

22) Spider Bones - Kathy Reichs

23) Ysabel - Guy Gavriel Kay

24) Haunted - Kelley Armstrong

25) The Cost of Honor (SG-1 5) - Sally Malcolm

26) The Scarlet Pimpernel - Baroness Emmuska Orczy

27) Purple Hibiscus - Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

28) One Amazing Thing - Chitra Divakruni

29) Blindness - Jose Saramago

30) Northanger Abbey - Jane Austen

31) Late Nights on the Air - Elizabeth Hay

32) The Best Laid Plans - Terry Falls

33) Evening Class - Maeve Binchy

34) A Thousand Words for Stranger - Julie Czerneda

35) The Help - Kathryn Stockett

36) The Sojourn - Andrew Krivak

37) The Namesake - Jhumpa Lahiri

38) Left Neglected - Lisa Genova

39) The Bone Cage - Angie Abdou

40) Petals From the Sky - Mingmei Yip

41) Annabel - Kathleen Winter

42) Midwife of Venice - Roberta Rich

43) Cold Mountain - Charles Frazier

44) Xingu and Other Stories - Edith Wharton

45) Quatrain - Sharon Shinn

46) The Witch Doctor's Wife - Tamar Myers

47) The Red Badge of Courage - Stephen Crane

48) Daughter's of Rome - Kate Quinn

49) The Lightning Thief - Rick Riodan

50) Never Let Me Go - Kazou Ishiguro

51) The Zigzag Way - Antia Desai

52) Dust to Dust - Timothy Findley

53) The Fire-Dwellers - Margaret Laurence

54) The Jade Peony - Wayson Choy

55) Three Day Road - Joseph Boyden

56) Broken - Kelley Armstrong

57) The Irish Princess - Karen Harper

58) Mistborn - Brandon Sanderson

59) Room - Emma Donoghue

60) Wings: A Novel of World War II Flygirls - Karl Friedrich

61) The Penelopiad - Margaret Atwood
62) Pearl of China - Anchee Min
63) Sisterhood Everlasting - Anne Brashares
64) The Lost (SGA #17) - Jo Graham and Amy Griswold

65) Pao - Kerry Young

66) Fire in the Blood - Irene Nemirovsky

67) Wake - Robert J. Sawyer
68) No Humans Involved - Kelley Armstrong
69) Snow Falling on Cedars - David Guterson
70) Speak - Laurie Halse Anderson
71) The Awakening - Kate Chopin
72) My Name is Mary Sutter - Robin Oliveira
73) Cat's Cradle - Kurt Vonnegut
74) A Farewell to Arms - Ernest Hemingway
75) The Cat's Table - Michael Ondeetje
76) A Cup of Friendship - Deborah Rodriguez
77) The Invisible Man - H.G. Wells
78) An Irish Country Doctor - Patrick Taylor
79) An Empty Room - Mu Xin
80) Belong to Me - Marisa de los Santos
81) Brooklyn - Colm Toibin
82) I Am Number Four - Pittacus Lore
83) Beautiful Assassin - Michael White
84) The Night Circus - Erin Morgernstern
85) The Garden Party - Katherine Mansfield
86) The Sleeping Beauty - Mercedes Lackey
87) Valmiki's Daughter - Shani Mootoo
88) The Finkler Question - Howard Jacobson
89) Mister Pip - Lloyd Jones
90) Roswell (SG-1 #9) - Sonny Whitelaw and Jennifer Fallon
91) Dead Until Dark - Charlaine Harris
92) The Castle of Otranto - Horace Walpole
93) The Cloud Messenger - Aamer Hussein
94) Good to a Fault - Marina Endicott
95) Exogenesis (SGA #5) - Sonny Whitelaw and Elizabeth Christensen
96) Bluebeard's Egg - Margaret Atwood
97) Personal Demon - Kelley Armstrong
98) The Antagonist - Lynn Coady
99) Year of Wonders: A Novel of the Plague - Geraldine Brooks
100) Halcyon (SGA #4) - James Swallow

Final Thoughts/Wrap-UP:

This is my third of forth attempt at this challenge and it's the first time I've finished it, with a lot of time to spare. Managed to read some good books, and some not good ones, but I'm happy I finished the challenge. Reading 100 books in a year has been a challenge of mine since I started blogging.

A - Z Reading Challenge

2011-01-03T10:36:00.044-05:00

Challenge Summary: 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

Hosted by/Link: Becky - A - Z Challenge 2011

Challenge Start and Ends Dates: January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2011

My Progress: 52/52 - COMPLETED December 9, 2011

My List:

As usual, I'm doing both Authors and Titles. And will try my best to have the authors last name start with each letter, and title start with each letter of the alphabet!

Authors

A - Atwood, Margaret (Alias Grace)
B - Binchy, Maeve (Evening Class)
C - Carroll, Lewis (Alice Adventure's in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass)
D - Delaney, Frank (Tipperary)
E - Endicott, Marina (Good to a Fault)
F - Fallis, Terry (The Best Laid Plans)
G - Genova, Lisa (Left Neglected)
H - Harvey, Alyxandra (Blood Feud)
I - Ishiguro, Kazou (Never Let Me Go)
J - Jacobson, Howard (The Finkler Question)
K - Krivak, Andrew (The Sojourn)
L - Lahiri, Jhumpa - (The Namesake)
M - McKay, Ami (The Birth House)
N - Nemirvosky, Irene (Fire in the Blood)
O - Orczy, Baroness Emmuska (The Scarlet Pimpernel)
P - Plath, Sylvia (The Bell Jar)
Q - Quinn, Kate (Daughter's of Rome)
R - Reichs, Kathy (Spider Bones)

S - Simonson, Helen (Major Pettigrew's Last Stand)
T - Taylor, Patrick (An Irish Country Doctor)
U - Urquhart, Jane (A Map of Glass)
V - Vonnegut, Kurt (Cat's Cradle)
W - Winter, Kathleen (Annabel)
X - Xin, Mu (An Empty Room)
Y - Yip, Mingmei - Petals From the Sky
Z - Zanyatin, Yevgeny (We)

Titles

A - Anne of Green Gables - L.M. Montgomery
B - Book of Days, The - James L. Rubart
C - Cold Mountain - Charles Frazier
D - Dust to Dust - Timothy Findley
E - Evening Snow Will Bring Such Peace - David Adams Richards
F - Fire-Dwellers, The - Margaret Laurence
G - Garden Party and Other Stories, The - Katherine Mansfield
H - Hunt and Run (SGA #13) - Aaron Rosenberg
I - Industrial Magic - Kelley Armstrong
J - Jezebel - Irene Nemirvoksy
K - Kidnapped - Robert Louis Stevenson
L - Late Nights on the Air - Elizabeth Hay
M - Moonlight in Odessa - Janet Skeslien Charles
N - Northanger Abbey - Jane Austen
O - One Amazing Thing - Chitra Divakruni
P - Purple Hibiscus - Chimamand Ngozi Adichie
Q - Quatrain - Sharon Shinn
R - Rising (SGA #1) - Sally Malcolm
S - Shanghai Girls - Lisa See
T - Thousand Splendid Suns, A - Khaled Hosseini
U - Unless - Carol Shields
V - Valmiki's Daughter - Shani Mootoo
W - Witch Doctor's Wife, The - Tamar Myers
X - Xingu and Other Stories - Edith Wharton
Y - Ysabel - Guy Gavriel Kay
Z - The Zigzag Way - Antia Desai

Final Thoughts

This was my fourth attempt at the challenge I believe, and the first time I've finished it. It's one of my favourite challanges, as at times, it forces you to go outside your comfort zones to get that book. I think that the "X" title was my hardest as titles go. As for authors the letter "N" was my hardest (surprisingly, X authors, were easier to find than I thought).

NaJuReMoNoMo - 2011

2011-01-03T10:19:00.008-05:00

Challenge Summary: It's hard to believe it has been five years since the first ever National Just Read More Novels Month (or NaJuReMoNoMo for the abbrevophillic) and it has grown bigger every year. Celebrated every January, it is devoted to the appreciation of fiction. Just in case you are new to it or need a refresher, here is this year's version of the official rules:

Must Be A Novel. Works of fiction only, please. Memoirs, non-fiction, how-to books, and Doonesbury collections, no matter how thick, don't count, no matter how obviously fictional.
Memoirs Aren't Novels. No matter how made up the story, anything ostensibly true isn't a novel. This used to be known as The James Frey Rule, but is now called the Decision Point.
Start and Finish in January. I guess if you got some cool books for Christmas, Hanukkah or some other gift-giving event and jumped the gun, you can't be blamed. But I only count books I start and finish within the 31 day window.
Re-reading Doesn't Count. Try something new. Read something by your favorite author or try an entirely new author. This is a great chance to cut down on the height of the nightstand stack.
Have Fun. Nobody is grading you or paying you or judging you. Read what you like and like what you read.

Last year we started the Facebook group, which anyone can join. It has several dozen members and it just keep growing.

This year NaJuReMoNoMo is expanding to Twitter. Anytime you finish a novel, just tweet about it with the hashtag #NaJuReMoNoMo.Someone will be curious enough to try to figure it out.

In the past, people have claimed to not have enough notice about the start, so I am posting this a few days early so you can clear the decks and get those novels ready to be read at the stroke of midnight on New Years. It only takes one novel to declare yourself a winner.

Hosted by/Link: Foma* - NaJuReMoNoMo

Challenge Start and Ends Dates: January 1, 2011 - January 31, 2011

My Progress: 8 Novels Read

My List:

1) Industrial Magic - Kelley Armstrong

2) Hunt and Run - Aaron Rosenberg

3) Kidnapped - Robert Louis Stevenson

4) Rising (SGA #1) - Sally Malcolm Publish Post

5) Blood Feud - Alyxandra Harvey

6) Major Pettigrew's Last Stand - Helen Simonson

7) The Birth House - Ami McKay

8) A Matter of Honor (SG-1 3) - Sally Malcolm

Canadian Book Challenge 4

2010-07-01T16:47:00.010-04:00

Challenge Summary:It's time once again to explore, celebrate and promote Canadian books. You have one year to read 13 Canadian books* and review them somewhere online**, Canada Day, July 1st, 2010- Canada Day, July 1st, 2011. There will be check-ins at the beginning of each month to see how everyone is progressing and have their current status marked in the sidebar of this blog. Participants are encouraged to read each others' reviews, discuss the books, and cheer one another on.

Hosted by/Link: The Book Mine Set (John Mutford)/ The Canadian Book Challenge 4

Challenge Start and Ends Dates: July 1, 2010 - July 1, 2011

My Progress: 20/13 - Completed March 6, 2011. But I'm going to see how many I can read before the challenge ends.

My List:

1) Nights Below Station Street - David Adams Richards
2) The Outlander - Gil Adamson
3) The Year of the Flood - Margaret Atwood
4) No Great Mischief - Alistair MacLeod
5) A Jest of God - Margaret Laurence
6) Bitten - Kelly Armstrong
7) Chef: A Novel - Jaspreet Singh
8) Hearts at Stake - Alexandra Harvey
9) Night Runner - Max Turner
10) Water for Elephants - Sarah Gruen
11) The Birth House - Ami McKay

12) Unless - Carol Shields

13) Evening Snow Will Bring Such Peace - David Adams Richards

14) Anne of Green Gables - L.M. Montgomery

15) Alias Grace - Margret Atwood

16) Ysabel - Guy Gavriel Kay

17) Late Nights on the Air - Elizabeth Hay

18) The Best Laid Plans - Terry Fallis

19) A Thousand Words for Stranger - Julie Czerneda
20) The Bone Cage - Angie Abdou

21) Annabel - Kathleen Winter

22) Midwife of Venice - Roberta Rich

Possibilities: Appearances by Margaret Atwood, Timothy Findley, Margaret Laurence, David Richards Adams (These authors will for sure be on my list, just don't know which books yet)

Outlander, Good to Fault, The Heart Specialist, Stone Diaries, Away, Unless, The Tin Flute, Bitten, The Last Crossing, The Winters Vault, No Great Mischief are some other possibilities.