Another Challenge!

I have decided to join one more challenge this year, and it is the Dystopia Challenge hosted by BA Reading Challenges.  This is an area I have neglected a bit this past year so I have decided to do this as a way to integrate some more of these books into my reading.  And it certainly helps that I know I have some of these books sitting on my shelf so it forces me to head to my TBR pile to do some reading.

I am going to tackle the Contagion Level - 15 books.  It would be great if I could read more, but I am not going to stress myself out by trying to read more than I can handle. 

The challenge runs from 01 January 2011 to 31 December 2011.  Head on over to BA Reading Challenges for more information and to sign up for a very interesting challenge.

A-Z Reading Challenge

I promised myself that I wouldn't join another challenge, but I am joining my last one today.  This time it's absolutely final, except for maybe the mini-challenges that keep kicking around once in a while that are fun and interesting to do.  This one is hosted by The Thoughts of a Book Junky

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All you have to do is read 26 books this year, which sounds pretty easy for fanatical book bloggers like ourselves, one for each letter of the alphabet.

Here's how to enter:
* Make a post with your list of 26 books and fill out the entry form.
* If you don't have a blog don't worry.. you can post your list on Facebook, Goodreads or anywhere else you prefer...just add your link to where you posted your list!!

When you have posted your link, you are now eligible to start winning some prizes.
Here's my list:
A - Across the Universe by Beth Revis
B - Bride of New France by Suzanne Desrochers
C - Chime by Franny Billingsley
D - Delirium by Lauren Oliver or Darkness Becomes Her by Kelly Keaton
E - Echo by Jack McDavitt
F - First Grave on the Right - Darynda Jones
G - Goddess Test by Aimee Walker
H - Haven by Kristi Cook
I - I Am Number Four by Lore Pittacus
J - Jekel Loves Hyde by Beth Fantaskey
K - Kat, Incorrigble by Stephanie Burgis
L - Linger by Maggie Stiefvater
M - Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
N - Never Eighteen by Megan Boshe
O - Once A Witch by Carolyn MacCallough
P - Poison Study by Maria Snyder
Q - Queen of the Dead by Stacey Kade
R - Ruby Red by Kierstin Gier
S - Sudden Moves by Kelli Sue Landon
T - Timeless by Alexandra Monir
U - Unearthly by Cynthia Hand
V - Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead
W - Wither by Lauren DeStefano
X - XVI by Julia Karr
Y - You Had Me At Halo by Amanda Ashby

Support Your Local Library Challenge 2011

Support Your Library Challenge 2011

Oh, yes, I'm an addicted challenge person, but since I'm on a book buying ban for quite a while, I am borrowing a lot of my books from the library.  So this challenge is perfect for me!!!!

Support your local library is hosted by Jamie @ Book Junkie's Bookshelf.

Guidelines:


1. Anyone can join. You don't need a blog to participate. Just create a post for the challenge and link to your challenge post in the linky below.
2. There are four levels to this challenge...Pick your poison:
--The Mini – Check out and read 30 library books.
--"Fun" Size – Check out and read 40 library books.
--Jumbo Size – Check out and read 50 library books.
--Mega Size – Check out and read 51+ library books.
3. Audio, Re-reads, eBooks, YA, Young Reader – basically any book counts just as long as it is checked out from the library. Books MUST be checked out like with a library card, books purchased at a library DO NOT count.
4. 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.
5. Crossovers from other reading challenges count.
6. Challenge begins January 1st 2011 and goes thru December 31 2011.

I am going for the Mega-Size Challenge and hope to read far more than 51 books. 

2011 E-Book Reading Challenge

I am addicted to challenges and to books.  I told myself I wasn't going to sign up for anymore of these, but I got a Kobo ereader for Christmas and now I find myself signing up for just one more challenge.  And I promise, this is my last or I don't think I will be able to successfully complete some of them if I don't stop here.  Thank goodness for crossovers from one challenge to another though!!!!

The 2011 E-Book Challenge is hosted by The Ladybug Reads.




Challenge Guidelines:

1. Anyone can join.  2. There are four levels:
- Curious – Read 3 e-books.
-- Fascinated – Read 6 e-books.
--- Addicted – Read 12 e-books.
---- Obsessed – Read 20 e-books.
3. Challenge runs from 01 January 2011 until 31 December 2011.

Head on over to The Ladybug Reads for more information and to sign up. 
I have decided to go for the Addicted Level this year. 

2011 YA Reading Challenge: Another One!!!

I told myself I wasn't going to do another one, and here I am signing up for what was probably one of my favourite and easiest ones to do last year.  I am really happy that Jamie @ For the Love of YA is taking over this challenge (thank you Jamie), so I have decided to participate and up the ante a little bit as well.  Last year I decided on 25 books and read well over that amount so I am going to try the most difficult level, the Mega Size YA Reading Challenge.

The Rules are:

1. Anyone can join. You don't need a blog to participate. Create a post about the challenge and link your challenge post up in the linky at http://jamielovesya.blogspot.com/.

2. There are four levels:
--The Mini YA Reading Challenge – Read 12 Young Adult novels.
--The "Fun Size" YA Reading Challenge – Read 20 Young Adult novels.
--The Jumbo Size YA Reading Challenge – Read 40 Young Adult novels.
--The Mega size YA Reading Challenge – Read 50+ Young Adult novels.

3. You can choose from audio, ebooks, print, and re-reads as they all count.

4. You do not need to list your books in advance.

5. The Challenge starts on 01 January 2011 and goes until 31 December 2011.

Here's to challenges!!!!

Gothic Reading Challenge

Gothic Reading Challenge 2011

I think I have an addiction to challenges as I've just entered another one.  I couldn't resist as I love reading about this kind of stuff.  Give me old crumbling castles, dark, rainy nights, eerie ambiances, and I'm hooked.  So, here I am, entering another challenge, hosted by Well-Mannered Frivolity.

I've decided to sign up for The Darkness Within category whereby I need to read five (5) books for this challenge.  I think that is perfectly attainable amongst all my other challenges.

Rules
* Anyone can join and you don't need a blog to participate.
* Audio, Re-reads, eBooks, YA, Young Reader – basically, anything goes as long as it has element(s) of the Gothic.
* Crossovers to other challenges are permitted.
* List your books in advance on your blog, or choose your books as you go along.
* Runs from 01 January 2011 to 31 December 2011.

Speculative Fiction Reading Challenge 2011

The Speculative Fiction Reading Challenge is now being hosted by Floor to Ceiling Books in 2011.  Speculative fiction can include anything in the realm of science fiction, fantasy, and/or horror, any subgenre, as Magemanda is aiming to make this challenge as inclusive as possible.

I'm excited about this challenge as I feel like I've kind of let my reading in this genre kind of slide to the wayside, similiar to paranormal romance, which is why I've decided to participate.

Sign Up
To sign up you must do two things: 1) Make a post on your blog about participating in the Challenge, and 2) Add the button to your sidebar, with links, so others can join the challenge.



Other Details

• Timeline: 01 Jan 2011 - 31 Dec 2011
• Rules: To read a minimum of 12 Speculative Fiction novels in 2011.
• You don't have to choose your books ahead of time, you can add them as you go. If you do list them upfront, you can change them. Books for this challenge can be used to fulfil other challenges.
• At the beginning of Jan 2011 (and the beginning of all subsequent months in 2011), you will find a link to add your reviews. Magemanda is going to be putting up a monthly prize. You must be signed up to the challenge and add the link to your review to be entered into the monthly prize draw!

I have no idea at this point what I will be choosing, but here are a couple of possibilities:

The King's Bastard (Book One, Chronicles of King Rolen's Kin) by Rowena Cory Daniels
A Darkness Forged in Fire (Book One, The Iron Elves) by Chris Evans
The Way of Shadows (Book One, Night Angel Trilogy) by Brent Weeks

And that's it my lovely readers!  Happy reading everyone!

Mystery and Suspense Reading Challenge 2011

I participated in the Mystery and Suspense Reading Challenge 2010 and completed it successfully (although I do really need to work on updating my blog, another challenge entirely!!!!).  I love reading thriller, suspense, and mystery novels ever since I was introduced to a particular ghost/thriller book when I was eight years old. 

Book Chick City is hosting this challenge again, which is being sponsored by Simon & Schuster.   This wonderful publisher is giving an ARC of The Survivor by Sean Slater to anyone who signs up for the challenge as long as you do the following things: 1) Write a post about the challenge showing your committment to follow through and, 2) Add the button with a link back to the original post on Book Chick City's blog.  For further details, please visit Book Chick City. 

Rules:
•Timeline: Runs from January 1st, 2011 to December 31, 2011.

•You need to read a minimum of TWELVE (12) mystery & suspense novels in 2011, but you can read more if you wish!

•You don't have to select your books ahead of time. If you do list them upfront, you can change them as  nothing is set in stone! The books you choose can crossover into other challenges you have on the go.

•You can join anytime between now and the later part of next year.

•At the beginning of Jan 2011, you will find a link to specific month to add your reviews. There will be a monthly prize, courtesy of the lovely Simon & Schuster - you must be signed up to the challenge and add the link to your review to be entered into the monthly prize draw.

So, go sign up for some more reading fun!

YA Historical Fiction Challenge 2011

The Challenge


I am a huge fan of historical fiction and have already joined several challenges in that domain, so when I saw this challenge, I couldn't resist.  Hosted by Stephanie @ Books Are a Girl's Best Friend, she has also compiled a list of a variety of books that can help the newbie YA reader to find books to get started.  If interested, go take a look and sign up!!!


Levels:  You can choose any of the following levels to aim for. 1) Inquisitive- read 1-3 YA HF novel in 2011
2) Fascinated- Read 5 YA HF novels in 2011
3) Captivated- Read 10 YA HF novels in 2011
4) Head over heels in love- Read 15 YA HF novels in 2011
5) Addicted- Read 15+ YA HF novels in 2011


Rules
All books read for the challenge must be YA (or for slightly younger children.) For the purposes of this challenge, anything set in the past and centering around the historical period will count.


The challenge is open to everyone, and you do not need a blog to participate. 


It does not matter when the books were published or what time period they were set in.


The challenge starts on 1st January 2011 and ends on December 31st and you can sign up anytime.

Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge

My goal for 2010 was to read 100 books and I read quite a bit over that.  I stopped counting at 120, but it is not unusual for me to read that many books in one year.  I am a prolific reader, but I don't like to post about every book I read on my blog as it makes it seem more like a job and I don't ever want to make reading seem like a chore.  I would like to aim for 150 books this year and I know this is doable.    So, it is game on!!!!  Who knows?  Maybe I can reach 200 books in one year.  Except for the past couple of years, I don't think I've ever kept track of exactly how many books I've read in one year so this should be interesting.  The only challenge getting in my way is kids and work, kids and work, kids and work....you get the picture. (And sometimes hubby too (lol))!!!

Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge hosted by The Book Vixen

Details:


•Runs January 1, 2011 through December 31, 2011 (books read prior to 1/1/11 do not count towards the challenge). You can join at anytime. You can sign up on The Book Vixen’s blog.


•The goal is to outdo yourself by reading more books in 2011 than you did in 2010. See the different levels below and pick the one that works best for you. Nothing is set in stone; you can change levels at any time during the challenge.


•Books can be any format (bound, eBook, audio).


•Re-reads and crossovers from other reading challenges are fine.


•You can list your books in advance or list them as you read them. It is not required that you review the books you read for this challenge but feel free to do so.


•Post this reading challenge on your blog so you can keep a list of the books you’ve read for this challenge. Please include a link back to this post so readers can join the challenge too.


•You do not have to be a book blogger to participate. You can keep tabs on books you’ve read for this challenge on Goodreads or LibraryThing if you’d like (maybe make a shelf for “Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge”). If you are not on either of those sites then you can list the books you read for this challenge in the comments on my wrap-up post, which will be up at the end of 2011.


Levels:

Getting my heart rate up – Read 1–5 more books
Out of breath – Read 6–10 more books
Breaking a sweat – Read 11–15 more books
I’m on fire! – Read 16+ more books


I've decided to go for I'm on fire! and read 16+ more books than last year.  Last year I took a course in the summer and went on two trips which hampered my reading.  No course and no trips this year and I should have a lot more time for reading, hopefully.  Painting my house might get in the way, but really, who doesn't make time for reading at least once per day?  That's what an addiction is all about, isn't it?

2011 Debut Author Challenge

2011 Debut Author Challenge

I have decided to participate in the 2011 Debut Author Challenge, hosted by The Story Siren, where the objective is to read at least twelve (12) Young Adult or Middle Grade authors from January 2011 to December 2011.  You can definitely read more than this if you want to however, which should not be a problem. I know from participating in a YA challenge last year that I easily met the 25 books for which I signed up, as I do tend to read a lot of Young Adult and Middle Grade authors.   This one is a little different though, as the authors must debut their novels in 2011, although they can be previously published in another area. 

For more information, check out The Story Siren and all the particulars about this challenge on her blog.  Go sign up, and get reading!!! 

Here are some of the authors I plan on reading this year:

Witch Eyes by Scott Tracey

The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab

Entwined by Heather Dixon

Blood Magic by Tessa Gratton

Moonglass by Jesse Kirby

Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton

Haven by Krish Cook

I am really looking forward to this!!!!!