2012 Reading Challenges Update #1

I thought it would be a good idea to do a periodic checkup on my reading challenges.  A way of reminding myself of my successes and failures.  So here goes... Total Challenges: 0/25   0%

Total Spots: 193/707  27.3%

Individual Challenge Progress:

• Goodreads 52/200  26%
• Zombies 12/24 50%
• Young Adult 3/12 25%
• Fantasy 4/10 40%
• Vampires 2/10 20%
• Romance 4/10 40%
• Telling Tales (fairy tales) 0/10 0%  ****
• Historical Fiction 2/10 20%
• Graphic Novels 7/20 35%
• Shakespeare 3/12 25%
• SciFi 1/5 20%
• Outlander series 0/5 0%  ***
• Mixing It Up 3/16 18.8%
• Back to the Classics 1/9 11.1%
• Harry Potter series 3/7 42.9%
• Fables 4/5 80% ***
• Read Your Name 20/23 87% ***
• A to Z 14/26 53.8%
• What's in a Name? 5 3/6 50%
• Library 18/37 48.6%
• Mount TBR 24/150 16%
• Dewey Decimal System 4/41 9.8%
• Book2Movie 2/20 10%
• MyYears 9/30 30%
• Color Coded 1/9 11.1%

Successes: Fables and Read Your Name are almost finished.  Very excited about that!  Plus I have made some great headway with some others (HP, Romance, Fantasy, Zombies)

Failures (Needs Improvment): I really need to get moving on a couple of the challenges (Fairy tales and Outlander).  I revised my master month-by-month spreadsheet plan (yes, I am that dorky) to try and compensate for my failures so far.  I don't think I'm going to finish all 25 reading challenges, but I am shooting for a 75% completion rate by December.  Hopefully by June I will have knocked out a few  challenges...

2012 Color Coded Reading Challenge

Last one... I think...

From My Reader's Block:

For your challenge reading pleasure, I will once again host The Color Coded Reading Challenge:

*Read nine books in the following categories.

1. A book with "Blue" in the title.
2. A book with "Red" in the title.
3. A book with "Yellow" in the title.
4. A book with "Green" in the title.
5. A book with "Brown" in the title.
6. A book with "Black" in the title.
7. A book with "White" in the title.
8. A book with any other color in the title (Purple, Orange, Turquoise, Pink, Magneta, etc.).
9. A book with a word that implies color (Rainbow, Polka-dot, Plaid, Paisley, Stripe, etc.).

* Any book read from January 1 through December 31, 2012 will count.

*Crossovers with other challenges are fine.

*Everyone who completes all nine categories will be entered in a year-end drawing for a book-related prize package.

*Please post about the challenge on your blog. Sign ups accepted until Nov 30, 2012.

*Please sign up using the Linky below. *Please use the Review Pageto post review links and a final wrap-up post when you finish the challenge.*No blog? That's okay. Post a comment here to announce your entry into the challenge and when you have completed the challenge just post a comment at the review site with a list of your books.

I found this one interesting, so I'm going to join. Now the problem is finding books to fit. I'm sure I have a few lying around that can be useful. Guess I'll be hunting through the bins tonight.

TBR:

1. Blue -- TBD
2. Red -- TBD
3. Yellow -- TBD
4. Green -- TBD
5. Brown -- TBD
6. Black -- TBD
7. White -- TBD
8. Other Color -- TBD
9. Word that implies color -- TBD

2012 Mixing It Up Reading Challenge

From Musings of a Bookshop Girl:

Feel like branching out a little for 2012?  Then this challenge might just be for you!

Welcome to my first challenge!  The premise is really very simple.  It's all about mixing up your reading, pushing your boundaries and exploring new genres.  Take a look at the categories below, and choose one book for each category.  It's that easy!  You can choose to try anything from a gentle 4 to the full 16 different genres, and the book you pick for each is entirely up to you!

~ THE CATEGORIES ~

1. CLASSICS -- This can be any classic work, from Alcott to Zola.  Always fancied trying Great Expectations, or finally feel like tackling Jane Eyre?  Now's your chance!  From the fun to the frightening, the gentle satire to the all-out swashbuckling epic, there are hundreds of years' worth of books to choose from.

2. BIOGRAPHY -- This can be modern or historical, biography or autobiography.  From the latest celebrity autobiography to an academic biography of Henry VIII - it all counts!  Perhaps you fancy a book on your favourite classic movie star, athlete or musician?

3. COOKERY, FOOD AND WINE -- Ideas for this one range from a delectable cookery book to a food memoir (like Nigel Slater's Toast or Anthony Bourdain's Kitchen Confidential), a book on wine to the history of marmalade.

4. HISTORY -- More scope to indulge a whole range of interests here, including local history, military history or world history.  It might be a biography of Anne Boleyn,a book on World War II aircraft, a study of the American civil war, or something with a much smaller focus, like Bill Bryson's At Home or Mark Kurlansky's Salt: A World History.  Whatever floats your boat!

5. MODERN FICTION -- This covers literary and popular fiction, so you can't really go wrong with this one.  From Sophie Kinsella to Haruki Murakami, Wilbur Smith to Isabel Allende, Jenny Colgan to Kate Mosse, you should be able to find something to fit your tastes!

6. GRAPHIC NOVELS AND MANGA -- This will be an entirely new genre for me, but I'm looking forward to hitting the library to see what all the fuss is about!  First on my 'to check out' list will be Neil Gaiman's Sandman: Preludes and Nocturnes and Alan Moore's V for Vendetta.

7.  CRIME AND MYSTERY -- This category will cover everything from the genteel Agatha Christie and the scrummy Hannah Swensen Mysteries by Joanne Fluke, through Henning Mankell and Stieg Larsson, to the gruesome forensics of Martina Cole and Val McDermid.

8. HORROR -- One for Hallowe'en, perhaps!  Maybe a modern writer like Stephen King or James Herbert, or you could turn to the classics with Edgar Allen Poe or the ghostly writings of M.R. James?  Some YA novels would also fit into this category - Darren Shan, or Lindsey Barraclough's Long Lankin - but no paranormal romance!

9. ROMANCE -- I'd say the cheesier the better for this one, but it's up to you!  Mills and Boon, paranormal romance, chick lit fluff, whatever.  Personally I'll be browsing our Mills and Boon shelf at the shop and pulling out the trashiest title I can find!  :)

10. SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASY -- Again, plenty of scope here.  From the hilarious characters of Terry Pratchett's Discworld to Tolkien's epic Lord of the Rings, Charlaine Harris'sSouthern Vampire Mysteries to Frank Herbert's Dune, you can go modern or classic, and pick from any number of sub-genres.

11. TRAVEL -- The world is your oyster, as it were!  Maybe you're going somewhere interesting on holiday and want to read up on it first?  Rough Guides, Lonely Planet guides, that kind of thing.  You could pick a Bill Bryson (always popular) or choose a book on a particular city, country or continent, like Francesco da Mosto's Venice or one of Michael Palin's books.  Then there are all the delectable memoirs by people who've moved abroad and opened a taverna/olive farm/vineyard!

12. POETRY -- This could be a book of love poems, a collection by a particular poet, a novelty book of limericks, or if that sounds a bit daunting, a single, longer narrative poem.  How about 'The Rime of the Ancient Mariner', 'Hiawatha' or 'The Waste Land'?  My particular favourite is probably Christina Rossetti's 'Goblin Market', which is more like a simple fairytale that just happens to rhyme.

13. JOURNALISM AND HUMOUR -- This one might take a little more thinking about, but it should be a bit of fun!  Journalism collections can range from Nick Hornby's Shakespeare Wrote for Money to Marian Keyes's Under the Duvet, Jeremy Clarkson's The World According to Clarkson to Bill Bryson's Notes from a Big Country.  Anything that's been published in a newspaper or magazine first!  Humour could be a book of cartoons, a novelty joke book or The Wicked Wit of Oscar Wilde! 

14. SCIENCE AND NATURAL HISTORY -- Again, this one throws the doors wide open for you to follow your interests.  Always fancied learning more about space?  Are you curious about the life of Charles Darwin?  Or got a lifelong love for a particular animal?  There are some wonderful 'popular science' books around too, including things like The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, David Attenborough's natural history books,and the entire works of the brilliantly funny Mary Roach.

15. CHILDREN'S AND YOUNG ADULT -- This leaves the way open for pretty much anything, whether it's reading The Hungry Caterpillar or The Magical Faraway Tree to your kids, revisiting the joys of The Secret Garden or Treasure Island, or devouring something from the modern tide of YA.  Lots of dystopian fiction, coming-of-age novels and supernatural shenanigans to choose from!

16. SOCIAL SCIENCES AND PHILOSOPHY -- Another wide area!  Books on society and women (Female Chauvinist Pigs, Living Dolls), books on society and children (Toxic Childhood, Nurtureshock), books on how television and the internet are affecting our lives, Jostein Gaarder's Sophie's World, books on Freud or Marx...

~ LEVELS OF PARTICIPATION ~

MEASURING JUG: Playing it safe with 1-4 categories CUPCAKE MIX: Livening things up with 5-8 categories MIXING BOWL: Branching out with 9-12 categories TWO-TIER CAKE: Getting ambitious with 13-15 categories ALL THE TRIMMINGS AND A CHERRY ON TOP: Going for gold with the full 16!

~ HOW TO PARTICIPATE ~

1. Read one book from each of the challenge categories, using the guidelines above.  Don't use the same book for more than one category!
2. The challenge will run until December 31st 2012, so you can sign up any time during the year.
3. Create a blog post for the challenge, to keep track of what you've read.  Add review links for each completed book so we can see how you're getting on.
4. The URL you leave in the Mr Linky MUST be a direct link to your challenge post, not to your blog homepage - I don't have time to comb through several months' worth of posts searching for it as the year wears on!
5. Leave a comment on this post with your blog name (so I can match you to your Linky entry) and your chosen level of participation.
6. Bookmark this post so you can come back later!  I'll be adding links to update posts over the year, plus you'll have the category guidelines handy if you need them!
7. At the end of the year, everyone who has read along and hit their chosen target will be entered into a bookish giveaway.  Prizes to be determined!

Another different type of reading challenge, loving the category approach.  I'll be going for the "All the Trimming with the Cherry on Top" so that means all 16 categories.  My tentative TBR:

~ THE CATEGORIES ~

• Classics -- The Bostonians by Henry James (1886)
• Biography -- Living History by Hilary Rodham Clinton (2003)
• Cookery, Food, and Wine -- TBD
• History -- Mayflower by Nathan Philbrick (2007)
• Modern Fiction -- P.S. I Love You by Cecelia Ahern (2008)
• Graphic Novel and Manga -- TBD
• Crime and Mystery -- Silent in the Grave by Deanna Raybourn (2007)
• Horror -- Year Zero by Jeff Long (2006)
• Romance -- The Maiden's Hand by Susan Wiggs (2009)
• Science Fiction and Fantasy -- The Magicians by Lev Grossman (2010
• Travel -- TBD
• Poetry -- TBD
• Journalism and Humor -- TBD
• Science and Natural History -- TBD
• Children's and Young Adult -- The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan (2010)
• Social Sciences and Philosophy -- The Bust Guide to the New Girl Order (1999)

2012 Support Your Local Library Challenge

From The Eclectic Bookshelf:

Rules:

• Anyone can join.
• You don't need a blog to participate.  If you are a Non-blogger please leave a comment with a link (if you review elsewhere) to your review or with the book(s) you read.
• Audio, ebooks bound books are ok.
• No re-reads
• Create a sign up post and post the link
• Challenge goes from January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012

Levels:

Level 1 - Read 12 library books

Level 2 - Read 24 library books

Level 3 - Read 36 library books

Level 4 - Read 37+ library books

Last year, I read over 100 library books.  This year I want to focus on my own TBR piles (mountain?) so my library checkouts will be lower.  I am still going for

Level 4

.  I know I have more than 36 library books that will get checked out this year.

2012 Vampire Reading Challenge

Rules:

• Starts January 1, 2012 and ends December 31, 2012
• Anyone can join
• You don’t have to have a blog to participate.
• Non-Bloggers feel free to share your list of books in the comment section of the monthly link up post.
• Reviews though not required are always nice.
• Audio, E-books, Bound and re-reads all count
• There is no need to come up with your list of books in advance.
• Challenge crossovers ok
• Create a sign up post and link up in the linky below.

Levels:

Level 1 – Read 1-5 Vampire Novels Level 2 – Read 6-10 Vampire Novels Level 3 – Read 11-20 Vampire Novels Level 4 – Read 21+ Vampire Novels

I am going for Level 2: 10 books.  My tentative TBR list:

1. Halfway to the Grave -- Jeaniene Frost (Night Huntress #1) (2007)
2. One Foot in the Grave -- Jeaniene Frost (Night Huntress #2) (2008)
3. At Grave's End -- Jeaniene Frost (Night Huntress #3) (2008)
4. Destined for an Early Grave -- Jeaniene Frost (Night Huntress #4) (2009)
5. This Side of the Grave -- Jeaniene Frost (Night Huntress #5) (2011)
6. One Grave at a Time -- Jeaniene Frost (Night Huntress #6) (2011)
7. American Vampire -- Jennifer Armintrout (2011)
8. The Passage -- Justin Cronin (2011)
9. The Radleys -- Matt Haig (2011)
10. Sunshine -- Robin McKinley (2010)
11. Haunted by Your Touch -- Jeaniene Frost (2010)

2012 Historical Fiction Reading Challenge

From Historical Tapestry:

After 3 years organizing the Historical Fiction Challenge, the girls of The Royal Reviewsgracefully passed over this exciting event to our team at Historical Tapestry last year and we are very excited that the challenge is going to be returning in 2012!  During 2011 there were hundreds of books read by the participants and we hope that we continue to create a wonderful place to share and discuss our favourite (and maybe not quite so favourite) historical fiction books for the next year.

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,...)
• During these following 12 months you can choose one of the different reading levels:

1. Severe Bookaholism: 20 books
2. Undoubtedly Obsessed: 15 books
3. Struggling the Addiction: 10 books
4. Daring & Curious: 5 books
5. Out of My Comfort Zone: 2 books 

The challenge will run from 1 January 2012 to 31 December 2012. 

I do like historical fiction books.  Guess I had to add another challenge. This year, I am going for the Struggling the Addiction level of 10 books.

1. The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott -- Kelly O'Connor McNees (2010)
2. Palace Circle -- Rebecca Dean (2009)
3. The Firemaster's Mistress -- Christie Dickason (2008)
4. The Birth of Venus -- Sarah Dunant (2004)
5. Burning Bright -- Tracy Chevalier (2007)
6. Remarkable Creatures -- Tracy Chevalier (2010)
7. Lost in Austen -- Emma Campbell Webster(2007)
8. The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane -- Katherine Howe (2009)
9. Cotillion -- Georgette Heyer
10. The Rossetti Letter -- Christi Phillips (2008)

2012 Romance Reading Challenge

The Reading Romances Challenge is not about the amount of books you read, but the variety of titles you’ll have read when the challenge is over! Our goal is to read a bit of everything related to romance and open our minds to new genres we wouldn’t usually read.

Challenge Guidelines:

1. The 2012 Reading Romances Challenge will run from Jan 1, 2012 – Dec 31, 2012.
2. Anyone can join, you don’t need to be a blogger. 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. I’ll post a list of romance sub-genres and a few cool themes for you to choose from each month (you can read all of them or just a couple).
4. You can list your books before reading them or just put them in a wrap-up post. If you list them, don’t feel obligated to read them, changes are welcomed!
5. When you sign up in the linky, put the direct link to your post about joining the Reading Romances Challenge.
6. You don’t have to participate every month, but please try to!
7. Sign-ups will be open until Dec 15, 2012, so feel free to join at any time throughout the year.

• I will never tell you to read one specific author, but I might suggest a few titles and authors to give you some ideas.
• You can read the same author more than once and the books can be old or new, but they must be read during the course of the challenge.
• Books used in this challenge may be used in other challenges.
• Books can be in any format – paper, audio, ebook.
• Post the button to post on your sidebar, this way others can find their way back to this post and join in the fun!

Another Challenge...  Going for another romance one this year, but not locking myself into contemproary romance.  I will be reading from all sub-genres in romances.  My tentative TBR:

1. At the Queen's Summons -- Susan Wiggs (Tudor Rose #3) (2009)
2. Regency Romance (2010)
3. Flirting for Forever -- Gwyn Cready (2010)
4. Seducing the Heiress -- Olivia Drake (2009)
5. Never Trust a Rogue -- Olivia Drake (2010)
6. Scandal of the Year -- Olivia Drake (2011)
7. The Hostage -- Susan Wiggs (2010)
8. The Mistress -- Susan Wiggs (2010
9. The Firebrand -- Susan Wiggs (2010)
10. Aching for Always -- Gwyn Cready (2010)

2012 Zombie Reading Challenge

From Book Chick City:

To sign up you MUST make a post on your blog about participating in the challenge - you then use the DIRECT URL of the post to sign up to the challenge by adding it to Mr Linky below. DO NOT just add your blog URL - this will be deleted.

You must add the button to your sidebar - make sure that it links back to this post so others can join the challenge if they wish. Easiest way to do this is to copy and paste the code displayed below!Challenge Details

• Timeline: 01 Jan 2012 - 31 Dec 2012

• Rules: There are FOUR (4) LEVELS to choose from: 

- One Chomp: Read 6 Zombie books in 2012

- Two Chomps: Read 12 Zombie books in 2012

 - Three Chomps: Read 18 Zombie books in 2012

- Four Chomps: Read 24 Zombie books in 2012

• 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.• At the beginning of Jan 2012, you will find a link to add your reviews.

I love zombies!  I had to include a zombie reading challenge for this year.  I'm going to be a bit ambitious and commit to Three Chomps (18 zombie novels).  My tentative TBR:

1. The Undead World of Oz (2009)
2. Alice in Zombieland (2011)
3. You are So Undead to Me -- Stacey Jay (Megan Berry, Zombie Settler #1) (2009)
4. Undead Much -- Stacey Jay (Megan Berry, Zombie Settler #2) (2010)
5. Generation Dead -- Daniel Waters (Generation Dead #1) (2009)
6. Kiss of Life -- Daniel Waters (Generation Dead #2) (2010)
7. Passing Strange -- Daniel Waters (Generation Dead #3) (2011)
8. Allison Hewitt is Trapped -- Madeleine Roux (2011)
9. Night of the Necromancer -- Kyle West (2011)
10. Feed -- Mira Grant (Newsflesh #1) (2010)
11. Deadline -- Mira Grant (Newsflesh #2) (2011)
12. Blackout -- Mira Grant (Newsflesh #3) (2012)
13. Zombie Blondes -- Brian James (2009)
14. Sadie Walker is Stranded -- Madeleine Roux (2012)
15. The Dark and Hollow Places -- Carrie Ryan (Forest of Hands and Teeth #3) (2011)
16. TBD
17. TBD
18. TBD

2012 Science Fiction Reading Challenge

From Curiousity Killed the Bookworm:

What books count as sci-fi?

There's more to science fiction than aliens and spaceships. The dictionary definition is: fiction dealing principally with the impact of actual or imagined science on society or individuals or having a scientific factor as an essential orienting component. So that includes dystopias, zombie viruses, genetic engineering gone awry, time travel, steampunk, extreme weather, space exploration and, of course, aliens.

Not a book blogger?

That's OK. As long as you are willing to write some words about the book on a publicly accessible site (eg. Goodreads, personal blog) you can join in. If you're not sure where you'll be posting you can sign up with a social network account.

Monthly giveaways!

Yes, each book you read will get you an entry into some great giveaways throughout the year.

Don't know where to start?

I'll be choosing a featured book each month as an optional readalong. If you'd like to treat it as a book group, we can arrange discussions too.

Another year of science fiction is upon us.  I'm trying some more of J's recommendations.  We'll see how it goes.

1. The Host by Stephenie Meyer (2008)
2. TBD
3. TBD
4. TBD
5. TBD

2012 What's in a Name? 5 Reading Challenge

From Beth Fish Reads:

Here's How It Works

Between January 1 and December 31, 2012, read one book in each of the following categories:

1. A book with a topographical feature (land formation) in the title: Black Hills, Purgatory Ridge, Emily of Deep Valley
2. A book with something you'd see in the sky in the title: Moon Called, Seeing Stars, Cloud Atlas
3. A book with a creepy crawly in the title: Little Bee, Spider Bones, The Witches of Worm
4. A book with a type of house in the title: The Glass Castle, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest, Ape House
5. A book with something you'd carry in your pocket, purse, or backpack in the title: Sarah's Key, The Scarlet Letter, Devlin Diary
6. A book with a something you'd find on a calendar in the title: Day of the Jackal, Elegy for April, Freaky Friday, Year of Magical Thinking

The book titles are just suggestions, you can read whatever book you want to fit the category.

Other Things to Know

• Books may be any form (audio, print, e-book).
• Books may overlap other challenges.
• Books may not overlap categories; you need a different book for each category.
• Creativity for matching the categories is not only allowed but encouraged.
• You do not have to make a list of books before hand.
• You do not have to read through the categories in any particular order.

I thought I would try something a little different.  I like the idea of interesting title pieces.  My tentative TBR:

• Topographical Feature --  Valley of Silence by Nora Roberts
• Something in the Sky -- Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
• Creepy Crawly --  Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters
• Type of House -- Palace Circle by Rebecca Dean
• Something from Your Pocket -- The Dark Compass by Philip Pullman
• Something on a Calendar -- The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott by Kelly O'Connor McNees

2012 Telling Tales Reading Challenge

From An Armchair by the Sea:  

Rules:

· Challenge runs from January 1st 2012 to December 31st 2012. You may sign up to participate at any point between these dates.

· In your sign up post you must mention the level of participation you intend to complete

· Any genre counts as long as it is related to fairytale, folklore, or mythology in some way. If you’re not sure if it counts – as long as you can make a case for why it should, then it does!

· You can re-read books for this challenge as long as the reviews you link are written during 2012, and the challenge can also overlap other challenges.

· Whatever you read must either be a version of a fairytale or myth, or contain fairytale or mythological characters, settings, or sequence of events.

· Every month there will be update posts either here or on my sister’s blog. Please link up your reviews for that month on this post.

The Categories

Each category contains five levels, which are as follows:

Level 1: Read 5 books

Level 2: Read 10 books

Level 3: Read 15 books

Level 4: Read 20 books

Level 5: Read 25 books

Twisted Fairytales – retellings or modern interpretations of fairytales or myths. Classics – Myth and fairytale from the classics genre (e.g. Homer, Grimm, Virgil, Hans Christian Andersen)

Graphics – Graphic novels and comics based around or containing elements of mythology and fairytale. Examples include Neil Gaiman’s Sandman series and Bill Willingham’s Fables series among others.

Poetry & Drama – We’ve put this in because we’re sure there must be some, but currently neither Esther nor I can think of any (Homer aside!) Any suggestions please let us know!

Non- Fiction – Anything about myth, fairytale, folklore or fantasy in general that doesn’t belong to the fictional genre.

Adaptation Amalgamation – Watch a film and read the book it is based on. This category can incorporate as many other categories as you like (i.e all your films do not have to be based on graphic novels, but some can be, and some twisted fairytale, some non-fiction etc)

Mix n Match – Exactly what it says. Sign up for a level and pick that number of books from any or all of the other categories.

Fairy Tales...  I love them, but how have I not done a reading challenge yet?  That's okay, this year I am rectifying that oversight.  Behold my committment to Level 2:  10 books based on fairy tales.  I am choosing the Mix n Match category, as I am still choosing my books.  My tentative TBR:

1. The Goose Girl -- Shannon Hale (Books of Bayern #1) (2005)
2. Enna Burning -- Shannon Hale (Books of Bayern #2) (2006)
3. River Secrets -- Shannon Hale (Books of Bayern #3) (2008)
4. Forest Born -- Shannon Hale (Books of Bayern #4) (2011)
5. Mythology -- Edith Hamilton (1999)
6. Beauty -- Robin McKinley (2005)
7. Pegasus -- Robin McKinley (2010)
8. TBD
9. TBD
10. TBD

2012 Harry Potter Reading Challenge

From The Reading Fever:

Whether you have read the series 30 times, just once, or are--like me--hiding your ignorance in the closet, this challenge is for you. Don't let the spirit of Potter die with the last movie. Bring it back by reading the books!

The challenge:

Read all seven books in the Harry Potter series during 2012.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

• The challenge will run from January 1st, 2012, to  December 31st, 2012. Books read before or after this time frame do not count. You can join anytime until the challenge ends.
• Books can be in any format: Print, ebook, audiobook, etc..
• You do nothave to review the books to participate, although you are more than welcome to. If you choose not to review, you can also do the following and still be eligible for prizes:
  • Answer the discussion questions each month
  • Create a post talking about each book after you finish (any topic)
  • Just update your kickoff post after each book
  • Those without blogs can leave a comment with their thoughts/review/review link.
  • Because this is open to those who have already read HP, old reviews will be accepted. Whether you have read the books within the challenge time frame is on the honor system, so please be honest!
  • Be sure to leave the relevant links in each linky to be entered into the drawings for prizes (more on that below).

Once the challenge begins, there will be a new item in the menu bar titled: 2012 HPRC. This will take you to a page that will list all the related posts and linkys where you can post your reviews or discussions.

Extra Credit:

• Read at least one book per month, starting in January. If you do this you will be done well before September, which is when you can join me at Potter Con 2012, the first online HP conference!
• Each month, I will have a new linky on my blog where you can come to post your reviews/discussions of each book you have read. These will correspond with that month's book (Jan. = Sorcerer's Stone, Feb. = Chamber of Secrets, and so on).
• In addition, I will post discussion questions about each book that you can answer on your blog, or in the comments of that post.
• Watch the corresponding movie at the end of each book, and experience them with a fresh new viewpoint.
• Tweet with me throughout the year! #2012HPRC

Of course I will be reading all of the novels.  and I'm going to try and read them one each month starting in January.  Plus, I own all the movies.  I am going to rewatch the movies after reading.  All in all, it sounds like a great time!

2012 My Years Reading Challenge

In honor of my 30th birthday this year, I thought i would create a reading challenge centered around the years I've been alive.  So I will read a book published in every one of my 30 years.  I'm also having a month long birthday celebration coming in March complete with my first contest.  And Music Monday will be featuring songs popular during past years.

• 1982
• 1983
• 1984
• 1985
• 1986
• 1987
• 1988
• 1989
• 1990
• 1991
• 1992 - Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon (Outlander #2)
• 1993
• 1994
• 1995 -- The Dark Compass by Philip Pullman (His Dark Materials #1)
• 1996
• 1997 -- Drum of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon (Outlander #4)
• 1998
• 1999 -- HP 2 by J.K. Rowling
• 2000 -- HP 4 by J.K. Rowling
• 2001 -- The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon (Outlander #5)
• 2002
• 2003 -- Ill Wind by Rachel Caine (Weather Wardens #1)
• 2004
• 2005
• 2006
• 2007
• 2008
• 2009
• 2010
• 2011
• 2012

Run, Runner, Run!!!

2012 Dewey Decimal Challenge

I ran across the idea for this reading challenge at the end of last year.  I wanted to read more nonfiction this year, so I thought why not?  I have to tell you a little secret...  I have the Dewey Decimal system memorized and I don't even work in a library.  I just spend way too much time in them.  The idea is to read one book for every 100 category in the system.  I am also going to read one book for every 10 in the 300s, 700s, and 900s (my three favorite 100s).  That's 41 books total!  Do you think I can do it?

000 – Generalities 100 – Philosophy and Psychology 200 – Religion 300 – Social Sciences 400 – Language 500 – Natural Sciences + Math 600 – Technology 700 – The Arts 800 – Literature and Rhetoric 900 – Geography and History

• 0-99
• 100-199
• 200-299
• 300-309 -- Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond (2005) / Collapse by Jared Diamond (2011) / The History of the Wife by Yalom (2002)
• 310-319
• 320-329
• 330-339
• 340-349
• 350-359
• 360-369
• 370-379
• 380-389
• 390-399
• 400-499
• 500-599
• 600-699 -- The Ghost Map by Steven Johnson (2007)
• 700-709
• 710-719
• 720-729
• 730-739
• 740-749
• 750-759
• 760-769
• 770-779
• 780-789
• 790-799
• 800-899
• 900-909
• 910-919
• 920-929
• 930-939
• 940-949
• 950-959
• 960-969
• 970-979 -- What Ifs of America (2004) / Founding Myths (2004)
• 980-989
• 990-99

2012 Book2Movie Reading Challenge

From Martina Bookaholic:

The goal for this challenge is to read a book/ watch a movie in each of the 12 categories, which are further down, during the year of 2012 + 1 bonus category, if someone can’t find a book in one of the 12 categories.

You want to join?: Then please write me an e-mail to: martina.bookaholic@gmx.net with your book choices with the category #number and your blog address and the name, which I should use in this post.

Blogger Info:‘Book 2 Movie’ Button which should be linked back to this MAIN POST on my blog. Thanks

Categories -- Read a book/watch the movie:

1.  … where the movie is more famous than the book
2.  … to a TV- Series
3.  … which is based on a cartoon/ fairy tale or where the main characters are animals
4.  … where your favorite actor/ actress is playing in the movie.
5. … to a book classic which was made into a movie after 1990
6. … where the book was written for the movie
7. … from an author of your home country (for English joiners: from an author who is not  from an English speaking country)
8. . … where the story is about love and where you’ll probably cry OR where the story is about blood, murder and horrific killers.
9. … which is focused on a social critic topic (misogyny, racisms, cruelty,…)
10. … where the story is set at least 100 years ago.
11.  … where the story is playing in the future OR where the story is playing in Asia or Africa
12. … where the movie to the book is coming to the cinemas 2012
13. bonus category: … for all who have a problem to find a book/movie in one of this categories.

I’m happy and I’m really looking forward to this challenge and I’m also excited and so curious how everything will work out! So please, join and send me your details and tell all of your friends. That would be fabolous!! Thanks Greetings, Tina

I loved doing this challenge last year, so I thought I would repeat it this year.  Plus I am increasing my goal to 20 books to movies for this year.  For purposes of variety, I will not be including the Harry Potter movies even though I will be reading the novels and watching the movies.  I am going to try and seek out movie versions that I haven't seen...  Tentative TBR:

1. Water for Elephants -- Sara Gruen (2007)
2. Something Borrowed -- Emily Giffin (Adventures of Darcy #1) (2005)
3. P.S. I Love You -- Cecelia Ahern (2008)
4. The Hunger Games -- Suzanne Collins (The Hunger Games #1) (2009)
5. TBD
6. TBD
7. TBD
8. TBD
9. TBD
10. TBD
11. TBD
12. TBD
13. TBD
14. TBD
15. TBD
16. TBD
17. TBD
18. TBD
19. TBD
20. TBD

2012 Fantasy Reading Challenge

From Logically:

It has come to my attention recently that there are roughly eleventy billion fantasy books out there that I have not read. To combat this, I’ve decided to create a reading challenge, because I always do better when I hold myself accountable. So, who wants to join me?

The fantasy reading challenge will run from January 1st, 2012 – December 31st, 2012. Sign up begins today and lasts until February 1st, 2012.

Your mission, should you choose to accept it:

1. Sign up with the link below. If you don’t have a blog, you can link your Goodreadsaccount.

2. Grab the image on the left for your site.

3. Choose your level.

4. Leave a comment letting me know what level you’ve chosen.

Challenge Levels:

• Hobbit: 5 books
• Elf: 10 books
• Vampire Slayer: 15 books
• Wizard: 30 books
• Brothers Grimm: 50 books
• Dragonrider: 75 books
• Curse Breaker: 100 books
• Titan: 130+ books

More info: the books you choose can be in any sub-genre of fantasy, and can be adult, YA, or MG. Comics and graphic novels also count.

I really enjoy fantasty.  Of course I was going to sign up for a fantasy reading challenge.  I've chosen to go for the Elf Level of 10 books.   Tentative TBR:

1. Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters (2009)
2. Hand of Isis -- Jo Graham (2010)
3. Ill Wind -- Rachel Caine (2003)
4. Heat Stroke -- Rachel Caine (2004)
5. The Kingdom of Ohio -- Matthew Flaming (2010)
6. Chill Factor -- Rachel Caine (2005)
7. Windfall -- Rachel Caine (2005)
8. Queene of Light -- Jennifer Armintrout (2009)
9. Child of Darkness -- Jennifer Armintrout (2009)
10. Veil of Shadows -- Jennifer Armintrout (2009)

2012 Mount TBR Reading Challenge

From My Reader's Block:

If you are a bookaholic like me, then you can't let a bookstore (used or new, it doesn't matter) go by without stopping in ("just to look") and walking out with at least something--if not an armload. I wait all year for the Red Cross Book Sale in October so I can cart them out by the bagful. And, well, that means that I wind up with gigantic piles of TBR books stacked up around my backroom. I don't have a TBR shelf. Oh, no. I have "Mount TBR"...possibly a whole mountain range.

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, no library books. No rereads.
• 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.
• A progress site for reviews will go up in January and I will post the link in my sidebar for easy access.

I am going to try and climb Mt. Everest.  I easier have more than 100 books sitting on my shelves unread.  I am going to try and clean those out this year.  (To make room for new to me books....)  Oops, did I type that?  Of course, I'm not going to buy any new books this year.  *wink wink* My reading list will be determined as I read.

2012 A to Z Reading Challenge

 I'm trying this yet again.  I failed last year, but just barely.  I'm going to try and seek out some new authors to fill these spots.  I'm going for a combined list of Authors and Titles. 

• A -- P.S. I Love You by Cecelia Ahern
• B -- Rebel Angels by Libba Bray
• C -- Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
• D -- Dance of the Gods by Nora Roberts
• E --
• F -- Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert
• G -- Hand of Isis by Jo Graham
• H -- The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
• I --
• J -- Zombie Blondes by Brian James
• K -- King Lear by Shakespeare
• L -- The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan
• M -- The Maiden's Hand by Susan Wiggs
• N --
• O -- One Goot in the Grave by Jeaniene Frost
• P -- The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe
• Q -- Queen of Light by Jennifer Armintrout
• R -- Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
• S -- A Sweet Far Thing by Libba Bray
• T -- This Side of Paradise by F. Scott Fitzgerald
• U --
• V -- Voyager by Diana Gabaldon
• W -- Lost in Austen by Emma Campbell Webster
• X --
• Y -- Year Zero by Jeff Long
• Z --

2012 Graphic Novel Reading Challenge

From Graphic Novels Challenge:

Hello Folks! This is Nicola @ Back to Books here. I will be your new host for the Graphic Novels Challenge. I've been a member of this challenge since the beginning when Dewey started it. I read a huge amount of graphic novels & manga each year and was a Panelist for the Cybil Award Graphic Novels Category for two years, 2009/10. I love it when new people discover that GNs are not just for kids and are not just collections of comic books. Of course, some of them are those things, not that there's anything wrong with that!, but there is a world of viable literature that can be found in the graphic form also.

One change I'm making this year is simplifying the goal. This year we will make the target to read 12 books between Jan.1 and Dec. 31, 2012. This will give us a goal to reach.

I've definitely fallen in love with graphic novels and comics.  My upping the challenge level to 20 for this year.

1. Hatter M Vol. 1
2. Hatter M Vol. 2
3. Hatter M Vol. 3
4. The Boys Vol. 9
5. The Walking Dead Book 4
6. The Walking Dead Book 5
7. The Walking Dead Book 6
8. 300
9. TBD
10. TBD
11. TBD
12. TBD
13. TBD
14. TBD
15. TBD
16. TBD
17. TBD
18. TBD
19. TBD
20. TBD

2012 Read Your Name Challenge

From the Read Your Name Challenge site:

Hi, I am Victoria and this is the first challenge & only challenge I have ever hosted/probably will host. (It's a lot of work!) I have hosted this challenge in the past (2010), but in 2011, I chose not to host it. But here it is again for 2012!

Anyhoo, the challenge is to read your name in book title first letters, ultimately spelling out your name. That means:

Using your first name, or blogger name, or your pets name, or even your favorite literary character's name; whichever you like, choose books with first title letters that spell out your name. Such as my name: Victoria. the first book's title would start with the letter V, then the next book title begins with I, etc. Make sense? (I hope so!)

Rules/Guidelines:

1. Whenever you have finished a book for this challenge: If you have a blog, come back here and leave your review link in the Mr. Linky that will be up; for the book you've read & reviewed. If you do not have a blog, please just leave your progress in a comment. :)
2. The challenge runs from Jan. 1st 2012, to Dec. 31st 2012. You may join at any time between Jan 1st and Nov 30th.Last but not least, be sure to sign up using Mister Linky Below! & If you want to, leave a comment with what name you're going to use and where it came from. :) Oh, and don't forget to link back (with the above button, top of this post) to the challenge from your blog to show you're participating! (If Mr. Linky does not appear to be working, then please just leave a comment with your info!)

Other (minor) Details:

• NAMES ONLY PLEASE! You DO NOT have to use your whole name; just your first name if you want, & initials are okay. No words like: water, book, blue, etc. please, just regular old official NAMES.
• Books read before 1/1/12 do not count. Audio books and eBooks are okay. & Crossovers with other challenges are also okay.
• You could read the books in any order you wish, I certainly can't show up at your door threatening to banish you from the challenge if you don't! But then what is the point of READING YOUR NAME out in book title first-letters if you're not going to do it in order? You're basically just re-arranging a bunch of letters to spell out your name, and that's not really the point of this challenge, lol. :)

I heard about this challenge last year and thought I should add it, but didn't.  So I'm going to do it this year.  I decided to include all three of my names which makes for 23 books.  I'm counting books based on the author last name or the title. 

T --

O -- Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

B -- The Birth of Venus by Sarah Dunant

E --

F -- The Kingdom of Ohio by Matthew Flaming

R -- HP and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling

A -- At the Queen's Summons by Susan Wiggs

N -- Night of the Necromancer by Kyle West

C -- Remarkable Creatures by Tracy Chevalier

E --

S -- Sunshine by Robin McKinley

B -- Burning Bright by Tracy Chevalier

U --

F -- The Firemaster's Mistress by Christie Dickason

F -- Feed by Mira Grant

E --

N --

B -- A Great nd Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray

A -- Allison Hewitt is Trapped by Madeleine Roux

R -- Morrigan's Cross by Nora Roberts

G -- The Magicians by Lev Grossman

E --

R -- Regency Romance Anthology