2014 Lucky No. 14 Reading Challenge

From Books to Share:

This challenge will require you to read 14 books (or more) from 14 categories below. You can combine the books you read with other challenges, but can not use the same book for different categories in this challenge.

Try to match the categories from your TBR piles. But if you don’t have any suitable books in your TBR – and want to find an excuse to buy a book for this challenge, that’s totally fine too!

Here are the 14 categories:

1. Visit The Country: Read a book that has setting in a country that you really want to visit in real life. Make sure the setting has a big role in the book and it can make you know a little bit more about your dream destination.

2. Cover Lust: Pick a book from your shelf that you bought because you fell in love with the cover. Is the content as good as the cover?

3. Blame it on Bloggers: Read a book because you’ve read the sparkling reviews from other bloggers. Don’t forget to mention the blogger’s names too!

4. Bargain All The Way: Ever buying a book because it’s so cheap you don’t really care about the content? Now it’s time to open the book and find out whether it’s really worth your cents.

5. (Not So) Fresh From the Oven: Do you remember you bought/got a new released book last year but never had a chance to read it? Dig it from your pile and bring back the 2013.

6. First Letter’s Rule: Read a book which title begins with the same letter as your name (for me, Astrid means A, and I can read anything that started with the letter A). Remember: Articles like “a”, “an” or “the” doesn’t count.

7. Once Upon a Time: Choose a book that’s been published for the first time before you were born (not necessarily has to be a classic book, just something a little bit older than you is okay. You can read the most recent edition if you want to)

8. Chunky Brick: Take a deep breath, and read a book that has more than 500 pages. Yep, the one that you’ve always been afraid of!

9.  Favorite Author: You like their books, but there are too many titles. This is your chance, choose a book that’s been written by your fave author but you haven’t got time to read it before.

10. It’s Been There Forever: Pick up a book that has been there on your shelf for more than a year, clean up the dust and start to read it now.

11. Movies vs Books: You’ve seen the movie adaptation (or planned to see it soon) but never had time to read the book. It’s time to read it now, so you can compare the book vs the movie.

12. Freebies Time: What’s the LAST free book you’ve got? Whether it’s from giveaway, a birthday gift or a surprise from someone special, don’t hold back any longer. Open the book and start reading it now.

13. Not My Cup of Tea: Reach out to a genre that you’ve never tried (or probably just disliked) before. Whether it’s a romance, horror or non fiction, maybe you will find a hidden gem!

14. Walking Down The Memory Lane: Ever had a book that you loved so much as a kid? Or a book that you wish you could read when you were just a child? Grab it now and prepare for a wonderful journey to the past.  Comic books or graphic novels are allowed!

RULES:

1. To complete the challenge, you have to read at least one book for each category, or total of 14 books during the challenge period. You can set your own pace and do not need to follow the categories in particular order. You can also read more than one book for each category. You have to write your reviews in your blog/FB note/Goodreads page/tumblr/etc.

2. Please write a master post about this challenge in your blog/Goodreads/FB notes/etc, and submit your link below for signing up. You can use this master post to sort down the book(s) that you’ll read for each category, and edit them later if necessary. The sign-up linky will be opened from November 12, 2013 throughout the year until December 1, 2014.

3. There are also linkies for each category of the challenge. Please submit your link of review posts for each category in their respective linkies. These linkies will be opened in January 1, 2014 until December 31, 2014.

4. At the end of the challenge, write down a wrap-up post and submit the link in the linky too. The linky for wrap-up posts will be opened until January 10, 2015 to give you more time for wrapping things up. It’s okay if you don’t finish the challenge but you are not eligible to be selected as the winner.

5. After the wrap up post linky is closed, I will pick two lucky winners who had completed the challenge for winning great bookish prizes (including book vouchers, novels, and other exclusive bookish gimmicks/goodies  ) The prizes will be revealed soon, so please stay tuned. You must have delivery address in Indonesia to be eligible for the two grand prizes.

6. If you are an international participant who doesn’t have Indonesian mailing address, don’t worry, I’ll also choose two winners, each winner can pick any book from The Book Depository for maximum of $ 10.

7. I’ll try to write a round-up post every month and pick some of the most interesting reviews. And who knows? Probably there will be some surprise gifts and giveaways throughout the year.

Now, let’s start this wonderful 2014 and get ready to tackle some great books!

This sounds like a fun collection of categories to try.  Plus, it's a completely new challenge to me.

My tentative TBR:

1. Visit The Country: The Awakening by Kate Chopin
2. Cover Lust: Ember by Kristin Callihan
3. Blame it on Bloggers: Flesh and Bone by Jonathan Maberry
4. Bargain All The Way: TBD
5. (Not So) Fresh From the Oven: The Zombie Whisperer by Jesse Petersen
6. First Letter’s Rule: Ten Things I Love About You by Julia Quinn
7. Once Upon a Time: TBD
8. Chunky Brick: Time Enough for Love by Robert Heinlein
9. Favorite Author: American Gods by Neil Gaiman
10. It’s Been There Forever: Mirror Mirror by Gregory Maguire
11. Movies vs Books: TBD
12. Freebies Time: TBD
13. Not My Cup of Tea: Sherlock Holmes selection
14. Walking Down The Memory Lane: Wicked by Gregory Maguire

2014 52 Books in 52 Weeks Reading Challenge

Are you ready for another round of Reading 52 books in 52 Weeks? Whether you are just joining in or continuing on for another round, the rules are very simple. The goal is to read one book (at least) a week for 52 weeks. Make the year easy and casual or kick it up by exploring new to you authors and genres. Challenge yourself to read at least some classics or delve into that chunkster (more than 500 pages) you always wanted to tackle. Do you have books gathering dust on the shelves just waiting to be read? Then now is the time. The goal is to read 52 books. How you get there is up to you.

I have included several mini challenges to make it fun:

• Read Around the World:  You can read books set in and/or written by an author of a different country each week.  You can hang out in one country, exploring their history and culture or strike out across the world, mixing and mingling.  It's entirely up to you how fast and how far and how many books you want to read.  Have fun exploring!
• Nobel Prize Winners in Literature:  read books written by winning authors
• Well Educated Mind:  Continuing exploring the classics in 5 categories: Fiction, Autobiography, History/Politics, Drama and Poetry.
• 52 BaW Reader Recommendations:  Read books recommended by participants in 2013
• Dusty Mini challenge: Limit buying new books for 1 - 4 months and read 4 to 12 or more books gathering dust on your shelves prior to 2013.
• Chunky Mini Challenge -books more than 500 pages.

 The mini challenges and weekly challenges are optional, Mix it up anyway you like.

1. The challenge will run from January 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014.
2. Our book weeks begin on Sunday.
3. Participants may join at any time.
4. All books are acceptable except children books.
5. All forms of books are acceptable including e-books, audio books, etc.
6. Re-reads are acceptable as long as they are read after January 1, 2013.
7. Books may overlap other challenges.
8. Create an entry post linking to this blog.
9. Sign up with Mr. Linky in the "I'm participating post" below this post.
10. You don't need a blog to participate. Post your weekly book in the comments section of each weekly post.
11. Mr. Linky will be added to the bottom of the weekly post to link to reviews of your most current reads.

Another round for me.  Obviously the book list won't be set.  I just pick a book a week to use for this challenge.

2014 Mount TBR Reading Challenge

From My Reader's Block:

Challenge Levels:

Pike's Peak: Read 12 books from your TBR pile/s Mount Blanc: Read 24 books from your TBR pile/s Mt. Vancouver: Read 36 books from your TBR pile/s Mt. Ararat: Read 48 books from your TBR piles/s Mt. Kilimanjaro: Read 60 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 Mount Olympus (Mars): Read 150+ 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.  All books counted for lower mountains may carry over towards the new peak.

*Challenge runs from January 1 to December 31, 2014.

*You may sign up anytime from now until November 30th, 2014.

*Books must be owned by you prior to January 1, 2014. No ARCs (none), no library books. No rereads. *You may count any "currently reading" book that you begin prior to January 1--provided that you had 50% or more of the book left to finish in 2014.  I will trust you all on that.

*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.

*There will be quarterly check-ins and prize drawings!

*A blog and reviews are not necessary to participate.

This year I am scaling back a bit.  I know that life with an infant deters my rampant reading habit.  So I am going for the Mt. Vancouver level of 36 books.  That will still be a huge chunk out of my TBR piles.

TBR List:

1. The Second Sex by Simone de Beauvoir
2. Living History by Hillary Rodham Clinton
3. The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
4. Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
5. Graceling by Kristin Cashore
6. City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
7. A Feast for Crows by George R.R. Martin
8. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
9. The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley
10. Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning
11. Neuromancer
12. Contact by Carl Sagan
13. Dune by Frank Herbert
14. Something Wicked This Way Comes
15. Fingersmith
16. Beloved
17. A Room with a View by E.M. Forster
18. Siddartha by Herman Hesse
19. The Nanny Diaries
20. High Fidelity by Nick Hornby
21. The Devil in the White City
22. Casino Royale by Ian Fleming
23. The Little Prince
24. The Long Dark Teatime of the Soul by Terry Pratchett
25. Choke by Chuck Palahniuk
26. John Adams
27. Washington
28. American Lion
29. Woodrow Wilson
30. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
31. The House of Riverton by Kate Morton
32. Bel Canto by Ann Patchett
33. Alexander Hamilton
34. Private World of Georgette Heyer
35. What Ifs of American History
36. TBD

2014 New Author Reading Challenge

From Literary Escapism:

Here are the guidelines:

1. The challenge will run from January 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014.
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 short stories/novellas or 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.  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.

I'm going to sign up for 15 new authors... and I will try to make all 15 of them fiction authors.  Not quite sure of my TBR pile yet, but I'm sure they will start appearing soon.

2014 Women Authors Reading Challenge

From Peek a Book:

Welcome to the second edition of the “Women Challenge”!

This challenge will make us want to read more books of any kind written by women, so choose whatever you like and get involved! Set your level and, if you like, leave me a comment on this post listing your three favourite women writers, in order to suggest new names to other participants as well.

Rules:

* anyone can join; * you don't need a blog to partecipate: if you are a non-blogger please leave a comment with a link (if you review elsewhere) to your review or with the list of the books you read and the level you choose; * audio, e-books, bound books and re-reads are ok; * create a sign up post on your blog and post the link in the Linky below (scroll down please, it's at the end of the italian translation); * challenge goes from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2014; * here you can link for your reviews.

Levels:

Level 1: BABY GIRL - read 5 books written by a woman author Level 2: GIRLS POWER - read 6 to 15 books written by a woman author Level 3: SUPER GIRL - read 16 to 20 books written by a woman author Level 4: WONDER WOMAN - read 20+ books written by a woman author

Second year in a row!  And of course I am jumping on this challenge.  I think this year I'll be going for the Super Girl level of 20 books.  My TBR is very tentative right now, but I know I have authors like Hillary Rodham Clinton, Julia Quinn, Kate Chopin, Mary Wollstonecraft, and Cherie Priest on my to read list.

2014 Ebook Reading Challenge

From Workaday Reads:

Challenge Guidelines:

1. This challenge will run from Jan 1, 2014 – Dec 31, 2014.
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 plan your books in advance or as you read them.
5. When you sign up in the linky, put the direct link to your post about joining the E-Book Reading Challenge.
6. Sign-ups will be open until Dec 15, 2014, 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

At the beginning of each month there will be a roundup post for you to add your reviews for that month. The linky will remain open for the remainder of the year, so if you forget, feel free go back and add them when you remember.

Another year of the Ebook challenge.  I'm reading more and more ebooks each year (but I still have a ton of physical books to get through).  This year I'm going to shoot for the DVD level of 25 ebooks.  That seems about manageable...

TBR List:

1. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
2. Time Enough for Love by Robert Heinlein
3. Roaring Midnight by Colleen Gleason
4. American Gods by Neil Gaiman
5. Mirror Mirror by Gregory Maguire
6. Sherlock Holmes selection by Arthur Conan Doyle
7. The Audacity of Hope by Barack Obama
8. Medium Raw by Anthony Bourdain
9. TIthe by Holly Black
10. Ember by Kristen Callihan
11. Yellow Crocus by Laila Ibrahim
12. In the Company of Secrets by Judith Miller
13. The Angel's Kiss by Justin Richards
14. TBD
15. TBD
16. TBD
17. TBD
18. TBD
19. TBD
20. TBD
21. TBD
22. TBD
23. TBD
24. TBD
25. TBD

2014 Reading Challenges -- Perpetual Edition

Overall, I want to focus most of my 2014 reading challenges of knocking out some of my perpetual reading challenges.  So I've chosen a few books from each challenge to help me reach my ultimate goals.

Fantasy Project: 20 Books

1. The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
2. Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
3. Graceling by Kristin Cashore
4. City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
5. A Feast for Crows by George R.R. Martin
6. American Gods by Neil Gaiman
7. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
8. The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley
9. Wicked by Gregory Maguire
10. Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning
11. Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie
12. The Little Prince by
13. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkein
14. TBD
15. TBD
16. TBD
17. TBD
18. TBD
19. TBD
20. TBD

Nonfiction Adventure: 20 Books

1. The Second Sex by Simone de Beauvoir
2. Living History by Hilary Rodham Clinton
3. The Audacity of Hope by Barack Obama
4. John Adams by
5. Washington by
6. American Lion by
7. Woodrow Wilson by
8. Alexander Hamilton by
9. The Private World of Georgette Heyer by Jane Aiken Hodge
10. What Ifs of American History by
11. A Vindication on the Rights of Women by Mary Wollstonecraft
12. Becoming Mona Lisa by Donald Sassoon
13. The Emperor of Maladies by
14. TBD
15. TBD
16. TBD
17. TBD
18. TBD
19. TBD
20. TBD

NPR Scifi and Fantasy: 10 Books

1. The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
2. Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
3. A Feast for Crows by George R.R. Martin
4. American Gods by Neil Gaiman
5. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
6. The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley
7. Neuromancer by William Gibson
8. Contact by Carl Sagan
9. Dune by Frank Herbert
10. Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury

NPR Teen Books: 10 Books

1. Graceling by Kristin Cashore
2. City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
3. Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury
4. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
5. Dune by Frank Herbert
6. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
7. TBD
8. TBD
9. TBD
10. TBD

Top 100 YA Novels: 5 Books

1. Graceling by Kristin Cashore
2. City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
3. Tithe by Holly Black
4. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
5. TBD

21st Century Women Authors: 5 Books

1. The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
2. Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
3. Fingersmith by Sarah Waters
4. House of Riverston by Kate Morton
5. Bel Canto by Ann Patchett

United States of YA: 5 Books

1. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
2. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
3. TBD
4. TBD
5. TBD

Time Top 100: 5 Books

1. Neuromancer by William Gibson
2. Beloved by Toni Morrison
3. TBD
4. TBD
5. TBD

Rory Gilmore: 10 Books

1. The Second Sex by Simone de Beauvoir
2. Living History by Hilary Rodham Clinton
3. The TIme Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
4. Beloved by Toni Morrison
5. A Room with a View by E.M. Forster
6. Siddartha by Herman Hesse
7. The Nanny Diaries by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus
8. High Fidelity by Nick Hornby
9. The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson
10. Bel Canto by Ann Patchett

1001 Books: 10 Books

1. Neuromancer by William Gibson
2. Contact by Carl Sagan
3. Fingersmith by Sarah Waters
4. Beloved by Toni Morrison
5. A Room with a View by E.M. Forster
6. Siddartha by Herman Hesse
7. Casino Royale by Ian Fleming
8. Choke by Chuck Palahniuk
9. The Little Prince by
10. The Long Dark Teatime of the Soul by Douglas Adams

U.S. Presidents: 5 Books

1. The Audacity of Hope by Barack Obama
2. John Adams by
3. American Lion by
4. Washington by
5. Woodrow Wilson by

2014 Books to Movies Reading Challenge

From Doing Dewey:

Like last year, the rules are simple and few. I’ll post a linky where you can share your reviews, but this thing works on the honor system. If you want to challenge yourself to only watch movies coming out this year or to make sure you always read the book and watch the movie during 2014, that’s great. But I won’t hold you to it. Personally, I usually count two hours of a TV show as enough to call it watched since that’s about as long as most movies. Again though, this challenge is all about having fun, so it’s really up to you.

To enter, just click through to the linky at the bottom of this post and link to a post on your blog mentioning the challenge and the challenge level you’re attempting. You can change challenge levels at any time and the challenge levels are the same as last year:

Movie Fan - read 3 books and watch their movies Movie Devotee - read 6 books and watch their movies Movie Lover - read 9 books and watch their movies Movie Aficionado - read 12 books and watch their movies Movie Auteur - read 24 books and watch their movies

I love this challenge! And it's never a problem finding books and movies to enjoy.  This year I will be going for the Movie Aficionado level of 12 books and movies.

Tentative TBR:

1. The Nanny Diaries
2. The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones
3. Casino Royale
4. The Mists of Avalon
5. Contact
6. Dune
7. Beloved
8. High Fidelity
9. The Fault in Our Stars
10. Peter Pan
11. TBD
12. TBD

2014 Seriously Series Reading Challenge

From Reading the Paranormal:

For this challenge, a series is defined as a collection of two or more books that belong together and where the second book is published before the end of 2014. This is a pretty broad definition of series, and it includes traditional series like the Black Dagger Brotherhood series, less traditional series like Stephanie Perkins's YA contemps (Anna and the French Kiss, Lola and the Boy Next Door), and shorter series, like Kendare Blake's Anna series (Anna Dressed in Blood, Girl of Nightmares).

A series is considered complete in one of two ways: either as finishing all the books that you own in the series or as obtaining and reading all the books that have been published in the series to date. Because we don't want this challenge to become a financial burden, how you choose to define completion is left to your discretion.

How It Works

To allow for the greatest level of flexibility, we've separated series into three categories: series started before 2014, series started in 2014, and series rereads.

• Series started before 2014 are defined as series that you have started reading before Jan. 2014 and that you still have unread books to get current in (or finish) the series.
• Series started in 2014 are defined as any series that you start reading between Jan. and Dec. 2014, and the second book in the series must be published before December 2014.
• A series reread is defined as books that are part of a series that were read before Jan. 2014 and that are reread between Jan. 2014 and Dec. 2014. A series reread does NOT have to include the full series.

For each category, there are different levels of seriousness about series that you can choose. Semi-serious is reading 1 to 6 series, seriously serious is reading 7 to 12 series, super seriously serious is reading 13 to 18 series, and seriously spectacular series star is reading more than 18 series. What this ends up looking like is this:

series started before 2014series started in 2014series rereads

Semi-Serious1-6 series1-61-6

Seriously Serious7-127-127-12

Super Seriously Serious13-1813-1813-18

Seriously Spectacular Series Star18+18+18+

FYI, reading novellas and short stories from a series does count here -- if you want it to!

You choose which categories you want to attempt and which level to shoot for.

Goals and Progress

Want to sign up? Create a post or page about this challenge, what goals you would like to accomplish (mine is here, as an example--currently, it's my 2013 page, but it'll switch over to the 2014 challenge in January), and then link up your post here at Reading the Paranormal. In addition to the sign up, every three months, there will be a check-in, where you can report your progress and reassess your original goals. That schedule will look like the following:

• April 1st: January--March
• July 1st: April--June
• October 1st: July--September
• January 1st, 2015: October--December

I have a ton of partial series laying around the house.  This challenge is to get me to clean out some of those series.  I have lots of authors on my list to choose from, but I am only committing myself to finishing 5 old series and 5 new series throughout this coming year.  So I am going for the semi-serious level for two categories.

Started before 2014:

1. Locke and Key -- #6
2. Opal Cowan by Maria Snyder -- #2, #3
3. Bevelstoke by Julia Quinn -- #2, #3
4. Living with the Dead by Jesse Petersen -- #3.5, #4
5. Ashfall by Mike Mullin -- #3

Started in 2014: Going with just author names right now.  Some of these authors have multiple series that I can start...

1. Diana Gabaldon
2. Mary Balogh
3. Holly Black
4. Gregory Maguire
5. Cherie Priest
6. Anne Bishop
7. Kristen Callihan
8. Carole Nelson Douglas
9. Dorothy Dunnett
10. Jeaniene Frost
11. Diane Haeger
12. Karen Marie Moning
13. Deanna Raybourn
14. Melissa Mayhue
15. Julia Quinn

2014 Well-Rounded Reader Reading Challenge

Well Rounded Reader: 25 Books I wanted to have a more specific reading challenge, but I wanted something that could incorporate my owned books.  I ran across the idea of being a well-rounded reader on many other blogs and decided to create my own challenge.

1. Self-help/self-improvement --
2. History -- What Ifs of American History
3. Classic -- The Beautiful and the Damned by F. Scott Fitzgerald
4. Graphic Novel/Comic -- Locke and Key Vol. 6
5. Chick Lit -- Summer Rental by Mary Kay Andrews
6. Historical Romance -- Lessons in French by Laura Kinsale
7. Mystery -- Sherlock Holmes Story by Arthur Conan Doyle
8. SciFi -- Time Enough for Love by Robert Heinlein
9. YA/NA --
10. Steampunk/Dystopian -- Dreadnought by Cherie Priest
11. Paranormal Romance --
12. Anthology/Short Story Collection -- Stranger Than Fiction by Chuck Palahniuk
13. Art/Design -- Becoming Mona Lisa by Donald Sassoon
14. Fable/Fairy Tale/Folklore -- The Tales of the Brothers Grimm
15. Fantasy/Adventure -- A Feast for Crows by George R.R. Martin
16. Historical Fiction -- Duchess of Aquitaine by Margaret Ball
17. Home/Garden/Decor/Cooking --
18. Music/Television/Theater --
19. Horror --
20. Philosophy -- A Vindicaiton on the Rights of Women by Mary Wollstonecraft
21. Science -- The Emperor of Maladies
22. Politics -- Alexander Hamilton
23. Biography/Autobiography/Memoir -- The Private World of Georgette Heyer by Jane Aiken Hodge
24. Humorous --
25. Children's Literature -- Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie

2014 Picture Book Reading Challenge

From Book Dragon's Lair:

Guidelines:

• Challenge runs from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2014
• Read picture books.
• Pick a number and go for it. Twelve too easy? Go for 20. Piece of cake? Go for 40.
• Books you own and library check outs count. So do ebooks and re-reads.
• Please post about the challenge and sign up with a direct link.
• A blog is not necessary, just link to where you talk about the challenge
• Reviews are not necessary but would be nice (so we know which ones to read ourselves!) A link for reviews will be posted in January.

With having a new baby, I'm so up for reading some good picture books.  My goal is 100 books.  That seems like a lot, but they are picture books and I'm sure we will be hitting the library often.  I have no TBR list so far...

2014 Back to the Classics Reading Challenges

From Books and Chocolate:

Okay, you've convinced me -- I had a lot of encouraging responses when I suggested that I might take over Sarah's Back to the Classics Challenge next year -- how could I refuse?  It's official!!!  Here's the post where you sign up.

The challenge will be very similar to the way Sarah created it.  Like last year, there will be six required categories that all participants must complete.  Everyone who reads and reviews six eligible books and writes a wrap-up post will automatically be entered into the drawing for an Amazon gift card for $30 (U.S) or a choice of book(s) from The Book Depository.

There will also be five optional categories for additional entries.  Participants who three of those (with corresponding posts) will also get an additional entry into the prize drawing;  those completing posts in  all five categories will get two more entries, for a total of six.  To receive the maximum of six entries, you would need to post eleven times.

I am making one slight change, other than varying the book categories.  I'm a little stricter than Sarah regarding the definition of a classic.  In my opinion, a classic is a book that has endured for some reason ; therefore, I am defining a classic as a book that was published at least 50 years ago. Therefore, any book published after 1964 is ineligible. Here are the rest of the guidelines:

• All books must be read in 2014.  Books started prior to January 1, 2014 are not eligible.  Reviews must be linked by December 31, 2014.
• E-books and audiobooks are eligible!  Books can count for other challenges you may be working on.  However, books may NOT crossover categories within this challenge.  You may NOT count the same book twice for different categories in this challenge.  
• If you do not have a blog, you may link your review from Goodreads or other publicly accessible online format.
• Please sign up for the challenge using the linky below BEFORE MARCH 1, 2014.  Please link to your sign-up announcement post (if possible/applicable).
• You do not have to list your books prior to starting the challenge, but it is more fun that way :).  You can always change your list at any time.  You can read the books in any order (including mixing in the optional categories at any time).
• You can decide to attempt the optional categories at any point (you can also bow out of the optional categories at any point as well).
• Please identify the categories you've read in your wrap-up post so that I can easily add up your entries for the prize drawing!

Required:

1. A 20th Century Classic
2. A 19th Century Classic
3. A Classic by a Woman Author
4. A Classic in Translation  If English is not your primary language, then books originally published in English are acceptable.  You could also read the book in its original language if you are willing and able to do so.
5. A Wartime Classic  2014 will be the 100th anniversary of the beginning of World War I.  Any book relating to a war is fine -- WWI, WWII, the French Revolution, the War of the Worlds -- your choice.
6. A Classic by an Author Who Is New To You This can be any author whose works you have not read before.  It doesn't necessarily have to be an author you've never heard of.

Optional Categories:

1. An American Classic
2. A Classic Mystery, Suspense or Thriller 
3. A Historical Fiction Classic.  This is any classic set at least 50 years before the time when it was written.  For example, Margaret Mitchell publishedGone with the Wind 70 years after the end of the Civil War; therefore, it is considered a historical novel.  A Tale of Two Cities and The Scarlet Letter are also historical novels.  However, older classics set during the period in which they were written are not considered historical; for example, the novels of Jane Austen.
4. A Classic That's Been Adapted Into a Movie or TV Series.  Any period, any genre!  This is practically a free choice category.  However, it's a separate category than the required categories.
5. Extra Fun Category:  Write a Review of the Movie or TV Series adapted from Optional Category #4.  This should be some kind of posting reviewing the book read for the previous optional category above.  It can be any adaptation -- does not have to be adapted before 1964.  For example, if you chose Pride and Prejudice as your the optional classic above, you could review any adaptation -- 1940, 1980, 1995, 2005, etc. These two optional categories go together, but this must be a separate blog posting -- no fair just mentioning it in the book review!

And to clarify, you have to read different books for each category -- you can repeat authors or genres, but no fair using the same book multiple times within this challenge! The only book that you can repeat is in the movie/TV adaptation review.

Another reading challenge for this year. I always love my selection of classics throughout the year.

My tentative TBR:

Required:

1. A 20th Century Classic -- A Room with a View by E.M. Forster
2. A 19th Century Classic -- The Awakening by Kate Chopin
3. A Classic by a Woman Author -- A Vindication on the Rights of Women by Mary Wollstonecraft
4. A Classic in Translation --
5. A Wartime Classic  2014 will be the 100th anniversary of the beginning of World War I.  Any book relating to a war is fine --
6. A Classic by an Author Who Is New To You -- Tess of the d'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy

Optional Categories:

1. An American Classic -- The Beautiful and the Damned by F. Scott Fitzgerald
2. A Classic Mystery, Suspense or Thriller -- Sherlock Holmes selection
3. A Historical Fiction Classic.  This is any classic set at least 50 years before the time when it was written.  For example, Margaret Mitchell publishedGone with the Wind 70 years after the end of the Civil War; therefore, it is considered a historical novel.  A Tale of Two Cities and The Scarlet Letter are also historical novels. --
4. A Classic That's Been Adapted Into a Movie or TV Series --
5. Extra Fun Category:  Write a Review of the Movie or TV Series adapted from Optional Category #4 --

2014 Chunkster Reading Challenge

 From Chunkster Reading Challenge:

Wondering what’s a chunkster? A chunkster is an adult or YA book, non-fiction or fiction, that’s 450 pages or more.

Rules for this challenge:

• Audio books and e-books are now allowed. You want to listen to a chunkster on audio? Be my guest.
• Essay, short story, and poetry collections are allowed but they have to be read in their entirety to count.
• Books may crossover with other challenges.
• Anyone can join.
• You don’t have to list your book ahead of time.
• Graphic novels don’t count. Sorry guys but reading a chunkster graphic novel isn’t the same as reading a non-graphic chunkster.

I’ve been thinking long and hard about the levels of participation that have always been a part of this challenge. This year we’re going to try something new: there won’t be any levels.

Don’t get me wrong. This is still a reading challenge. Challenge yourself without being locked in to a certain number. If you didn’t read any chunksters in 2013 and want to change that in 2014, come up with a number and try to read that amount.

I do love me some big books.  I think I will challenge myself to 10 chunksters.  Shouldn't be hard to do.  

2014 Re-reading Reading Challenge

From Caffeinated Life:

While my to-read pile is constantly expanding and shrinking, there’s always been a couple of books in the back of my head that I’ve been meaning to re-visit, either to see if my understanding of the novel has changed or just re-read it for fun, but I keep putting it off for one reason or another. So I decided to that maybe a reading challenge will compel me to re-visit a couple of these books in 2014 and thought maybe others would be interested in joining me for this.

The (very brief) rundown to this challenge:

• This reading challenge runs from 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2014
• You can join at any time
• Any book is acceptable in this challenge so long as you’ve read it in the past; perhaps it was a DNF you wanted to revisit, perhaps it’s a book you’ve read and loved but don’t remember the details too much. It’s totally up to you how you want to define this.
• Linking your reviews to the separate Linky Widget (that I will be posting up on 31 December 2013 and will remain live until the end of 2014) is optional but strongly recommended just so that we can share titles and thoughts with other bloggers, learn new titles out there and get to know each other in the process.

Levels (sorry, not feeling very creative coming up with these levels, lol; I’m pretty laxed about this):

• 1 – 4 books — Occasional re-reader
• 5 – 9 books — Re-reading pro!
• 10+ books — Re-reading champ!

I'm sure there are a few books sitting on my piles that I want to reread (looking at you The Awakening!).  So, I'm adding this one to my challenges.  However, I think I'm just going to aim for the lowest level to focus on new-to-me books.

Tentative TBR:

1. The Awakening by Kate Chopin
2. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
3. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
4. A Vindication of the Rights of Women by Mary Wollstonecraft

2014 Read Your Freebies Reading Challenge

From The Book Vixen:

• Runs January 1, 2014 – December 31, 2014 (books read prior to 1/1/2014 do not count towards the challenge). You can join anytime before 9/30/2014. Sign up on The Book Vixen’s blog.
• The goal is to read at least twelve (12) free ebooks. While twelve is the minimum, there is no maximum limit. See the different levels below and pick the one that works best for you. You can move up a level as often as you’d like but no moving down.
• This reading challenge is for LEGALLY obtained FREE ebooks. We do not condone ebook piracy. These can be books offered through bigger sites, such as Amazon and Barnes & Noble, or smaller sites, such as Smashwords and All Romance Ebooks. Ebooks offered through author or publisher websites are acceptable as well, provided they are available free to everyone at the time of download.
• Any ebook format will work for this challenge (azw, EPUB, iBooks, mobi, PDF, etc.). You DO NOT need to have an ereader to participate in this challenge. You can read ebooks using Amazon’s Free Kindle Reading Apps, which you can download for your iPhone, iPad, Mac, PC, Blackberry and more. Free audiobooks also count towards this challenge provided they are free to the public. They can't be free as a condition of signing up for a service and they can't be provided by the publisher for review.
• Only ebooks and audiobooks that were available free, in a legal manner, to the public will count towards this challenge. eARCs, library books, ebooks free through Amazon Prime, and/or books won or gifted are not eligible for this challenge.
• Books can be any genre (fiction, nonfiction, romance, fantasy, mystery, thriller, horror, etc.).
• Crossovers from other reading challenges are allowed, however, re-reads are not eligible for this challenge. The goal is to read the freebies you’ve legally acquired so that they are off your TBR pile.
• To join this challenge, grab the 2014 Read Your Freebies! Reading Challenge button and post this reading challenge on your blog to track your progress. Please include a link back to this sign-up post so others can join the reading challenge too. You do not have to be a book blogger to participate; you can track your progress on Goodreads, LibraryThing, BookLikes, Libib, etc., so as long as you have adedicated shelf for the 2014 Read Your Freebies! Reading Challenge and your profile is not private. The point of linking up is to have a place where people can see what you’re reading.

I have decided to forgo the review link-up for 2014. If you plan to review the books you read for this challenge, link them up in your 2014 Read Your Freebies! Reading Challenge post.

Levels:

Coupon Clipper: read 12 books Penny Pincher: read 24 books Buying in Bulk: read 36 books Super Saver: read 50 books Extreme Couponer: read 100+ books

I have a ton of free books that I've hoarded just sitting on my iPad.  I'm jumping on this challenge at the low level of "Coupon Clipper."  My reading list will be created as I read.

2013 Reading Challenge Round-Up -- Completed Edition

Look at all these finished challenges!  I did good this year...

Goal: 35/35 books   DONE!!!!!

1. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak (9/28/13)
2. The Angel’s Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon (10/20/13)
3. The World is Flat by Thomas Friedman (10/9/13)
4. The Road by Cormac McCarthy (12/6/13)
5. Witches 101 by Melissa de la Cruz (10/1/13)
6. The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry (11/16/13)
7. Gulliver’s Travel’s by Jonathan Swift (10/3/13)
8. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas (11/22/13)
9. The Billionaire Wins the Game by Melody Anne (11/3/13)
10. Her Ladyships Companion by Evangeline Collins (10/9/13)
11. The Sandman Vol. 11 (9/27/13)
12. The Sandman Vol. 12 (9/27/13)
13. Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman (10/7/13)
14. The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman (9/29/13)
15. Boneshaker by Cherie Priest (12/14/13)
16. Tanglefoot by Cherie Priest (12/15/13)
17. Cape Storm by Rachel Caine (10/1/13)
18. Total Eclipse by Rachel Caine (10/5/13)
19. Iron’s Prophecy by Julie Kagawa (10/10/13)
20. Rose of Fire by Carlos Ruiz Zafon (10/21/13)
21. Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides (10/27/13)
22. Saving Wishes by G.J. Walker-Smith (11/7/13)
23. Hyperbole and a Half by Allie Brosh (11/26/13)
24. San Diego 2014 by Mira Grant (10/1/13)
25. 100 Days in Deadland by Rachel Aukes (11/11/13)
26. Lady Susan by Jane Austen (10/10/13)
27. Love and Friendship by Jane Austen (11/11/13)
28. The Watsons by Jane Austen (11/13/13)
29. Jane Austen and the Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor by Stephanie Barron(11/20/13)
30. Vanity Fair by Thackeray (12/18/13)
31. Inside the Creative Studio by Cate Coulacos Prato (12/11/13)
32. B is for Baby by Suzonne Stirling (12/11/13)
33. Universal Rights Down to Earth by Richard Thompson Ford (12/13/13)
34. Final Jeopardy by Stephen Baker (12/13/13)
35. Me Before You by Jojo Moyes (12/3/13)

Goal: 10/10 books  DONE!!!!!!

The Required Categories:

1. 19th Century Classic — Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray (12/18/13)
2. 20th Century Classic — The Reader by Bernhard Schlink (1/24/13)
3. Pre-18th or 18th Century Classic — Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift (10/3/13)
4. Classic that relates to the African-American Experience – The Color Purple by Alice Walker (6/24/13)
5. Classic Adventure — The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas (11/22/13)
6. Classic that prominently features an Animal - Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne(9/10/13)

Optional Categories:

1. Re-read a Classic — Emma by Jane Austen (5/22/13)
2. Classic Non-Fiction title –The Jungle by Upton Sinclair (9/8/13)
3. Classic Children’s/Young Adult title — The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett (4/30/13)
4. Classic Short Stories – The Selected Stories of O. Henry (8/18/13)

Goal: 10/10 books DONE!!!!!

1. Mansfield Park by Jane Austen (2/3/13)
2. Persuasion by Jane Austen (1/21/13)
3. Pride and Prescience by Carrie Bebris (6/6/13)
4. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (8/28/13)
5. Cotillion by Georgette Heyer (9/14/13)
6. Lady Susan by Jane Austen (10/10/13)
7. Love and Friendship by Jane Austen (11/11/13)
8. The Watsons by Jane Austen (11/13/13)
9. Jane Austen and the Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor by Stephanie Barron(11/20/13)
10. Sandition by Jane Austen (12/18/13)

Goal: 5/5 books  DONE!!!!!!

1. The Doomsday Vault by Steven Harper (3/20/13)
2. The Impossible Cube by Steven Harper (5/4/13)
3. The Dragon Men by Steven Harper (9/2/13)
4. Boneshaker by Cherie Priest (12/14/13)
5. Tanglefoot by Cherie Priest (12/15/13)

Goal: 60/60 Books   DONE!!!!!!!!

1. Wanted by Mark Millar (1/2/13)
2. Chicken with Plums by Marjane Satrapi (1/2/13)
3. Ill Wind by Rachel Caine (1/12/13)
4. Heat Stroke by Rachel Caine (1/12/13)
5. Valley of Silence by Nora Roberts (3/17/13)
6. Morrigan’s Cross by Nora Roberts (3/3/13)
7. Dance of the Gods by Nora Roberts (3/9/13)
8. Chill Factor by Rachel Caine (1/13/13)
9. Firestorm by Rachel Caine (2/16/13)
10. The Hostage by Susan Wiggs (5/22/13)
11. The Mistress by Susan Wiggs (6/4/13)
12. Thin Air by Rachel Caine (2/22/13)
13. Windfall by Rachel Caine (2/11/13)
14. Change of Fortune by Jen Turano (1/3/13)
15. One Day by David Nicholls (1/29/13)
16. A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin (1/9/13)
17. The Reader by Bernhard Schlink (1/24/13)
18. Almost America by Steve Tally (1/14/13)
19. Locke and Key Vol 1: Welcome to Lovecraft (1/4/13)
20. Locke and Key Vol 2: Head Games (1/4/13)
21. Locke and Key Vol 3: Crown of Shadows (1/5/13)
22. Locke and Key Vol 4: Keys to the Kingdom (1/6/13)
23. MWF Seeking BFF by Rachel Bertsche (5/31/13)
24. A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court by Mark Twain (6/23/13)
25. The Firebrand by Susan Wiggs (6/13/13)
26. The Color Purple by Alice Walker (6/24/13)
27. A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin (7/26/13)
28. The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen (8/17/13)
29. The Rest Falls Away by Colleen Gleason (7/13/13)
30. Rises the Night by Colleen Gleason (7/15/13)
31. When Twilight Burns by Colleen Gleason (8/5/13)
32. The Bleeding Dusk by Colleen Gleason (8/1/13)
33. As Shadows Fade by Colleen Gleason (9/5/13)
34. The Jungle by Upton Sinclair (9/8/13)
35. Gale Force by Rachel Caine (9/9/13)
36. Bachelor Girl by Betsy Israel (9/10/13)
37. Cotillion by Georgette Heyer (9/14/13)
38. Storm Glass by Maria V. Snyder (9/17/13)
39. Cape Storm by Rachel Caine (10/1/13)
40. Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift (10/3/13)
41. Total Eclipse by Rachel Caine (10/5/13)
42. Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman (10/7/13)
43. Her Ladyship’s Companion by Evangeline Collins (10/9/13)
44. The World is Flat by Thomas Friedman (10/9/13)
45. Iron’s Prophecy by Julie Kagawa (10/10/13)
46. The Angel’s Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon (10/20/13)
47. Rose of Fire by Carlos Ruiz Zafon (10/21/13)
48. Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides (10/27/13)
49. The Billionaire Wins the Game by Melody Anne (11/3/13)
50. Saving Wishes by G.J. Walker-Smith (11/7/13)
51. 100 Days in Deadland by Rachel Aukes (11/11/13)
52. Love and Friendship by Jane Austen (11/11/13)
53. The Watsons by Jane Austen (11/13/13)
54. The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry (11/16/13)
55. Jane Austen and the Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor by Stephanie Barron(11/20/13)
56. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas (11/22/13)
57. Hyperbole and a Half by Allie Brosh (11/26/13)
58. Boneshaler by Cherie Priest (12/14/13)
59. Tanglefoot by Cherie Priest (12/15/13)
60. Vanity Fair by Thackeray (12/18/13)

Goal: 52/52 books DONE!!!!!

1. Wanted by Mark Millar (1/2/13)
2. Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett (1/10/13)
3. Almost America by Steve Tally (1/14/13)
4. A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah (1/21/13)
5. Thomas Paine by Craig Nelson (1/28/13)
6. Chicks Dig Time Lords by Lynne Thomas and Tara O’Shea (2/3/13)
7. Windfall by Rachel Caine (2/11/13)
8. Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen (2/18/13)
9. The Complete Hans Christian Anderson Fairy Tales (2/26/13)
10. Death: At Death’s Door by Jill Thompson (3/4/13)
11. Girl of Nightmares by Kendare Blake (3/11/13)
12. The Doomsday Vault by Steven Harper (3/20/13)
13. Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman (3/30/13)
14. Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain (4/5/13)
15. P.S. I Love You by Cecelia Ahern (4/13/13)
16. Zom-B by Darren Shan (4/13/14)
17. Birth by Tina Cassidy (4/20/13)
18. A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin (4/28/13)
19. Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand (5/11/13)
20. Sixteen Brides by Stephanie Grace Whitson (5/12/13)
21. The Hostage by Susan Wiggs (5/22/13)
22. The Postman by David Brin (5/27/13)
23. The Mistress by Susan Wiggs (6/4/13)
24. Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion (6/13/13)
25. A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court by Mark Twain (6/22/13)
26. Fables 18: Cubs in Toyland (6/23/13)
27. The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins (7/7/13)
28. The Paris Wife by Paula McLain (7/7/13)
29. Rises the Night by Colleen Gleason (7/15/13)
30. The Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan (7/24/13)
31. The Walking Dead: Rise of the Governor by Robert Kirkman (7/27/13)
32. When Twilight Burns by Colleen Gleason (8/5/13)
33. Wedding of the Century (8/14/13)
34. Selected Stories of O. Henry (8/18/13)
35. The Sandman Vol. 8 (8/29/13)
36. M is for Magic by Neil Gaiman (9/1/13)
37. The Jungle by Upton Sinclair (9/8/13)
38. Storm Glass by Maria V. Snyder (9/17/13)
39. The Sandman Vol. 11: The Dream Hunters (9/27/13)
40. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak (9/28/13)
41. Her Ladyship’s Companion by Evangeline Collins (10/9/13)
42. The Angel’s Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon (10/20/13)
43. Rose of Fire by Carlos Ruiz Zafon (10/21/13)
44. Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides (10/27/13)
45. The Billionaire Wins the Game by Melody Anne (11/3/13)
46. 100 Days in Deadland by Rachel Aukes (11/11/13)
47. Jane Austen and the Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor by Stephanie Barron(11/20/13)
48. Hyperbole and a Half by Allie Brosh (11/26/13)
49. Me Before You by Jojo Moyes (12/3/13)
50. Inside the Creative Studio by Cate Coulacos Prato (12/11/13)
51. Tanglefoot by Cherie Priest (12/15/13)
52. Sandition by Jane Austen  (12/18/13)

Goal: 15/15 books  DONE!!!!!!

1. History- US, World, European – Almost America by Steve Tally (1/14/13)
2. Autobiography, Biography, Memoir – A Long Way Gone by Ishamel Beah (1/21/13)
3. Food – Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain (4/5/13)
4. Family, Relationships, Parenting, Dating, Love – MWF Seeking BFF by Rachel Bertsche (5/31/13)
5. Music, Film, TV – Chicks Dig Time Lords by Lynne Thomas and Tara O’Shea (2/3/13)
6. Health, Medicine – Birth by Tina Cassidy (4/20/13)
7. Religion, Spirituality, Philosophy – The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins (7/7/13)
8. Anthropology, Archaeology – Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond (8/12/13)
9. How To – A Beautiful Mess Photo Idea Book by Elsie Larson and Emma Chapman (9/10/13)
10. Cultural Studies – Bachelor Girl by Betsy Israel (9/10/13)
11. Business, Finance, Management – The World is Flat by Thomas Friedman (10/9/13)
12. Home – Inside the Creative Studio by Cate Coulacos Prato (12/11/13)
13. Crafts – B is for Baby by Suzonne Stirling (12/11/13)
14. Technology – Final Jeopardy by Stephen Baker (12/13/13)
15. Government – Universal Rights Down to Earth by Richard Thompson Ford (12/13/13)

Goal: 12/12 Books  DONE!!!!!

• January (cold) – Chill Factor by Rachel Caine (1/13/13)
• February (family) – The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert Heinlein (2/7/13)
• March (valley) – Valley of Silence by Nora Roberts (3/17/13)
• April (garden) – The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett (4/30/13)
• May (name) – Emma by Jane Austen (5/22/13)
• June (never) – Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro (6/20/13)
• July  – Rises the Night by Colleen Gleason (7/15/13)
• August – The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen (8/17/13)
• September (shadow) – As Shadows Fade by Colleen Gleason (9/5/13)
• October (witch) – Witches 101 by Melissa de la Cruz (10/1/13)
• November (number) – The Billionaire Wins the Game by Melody Anne (11/3/13)
• December – The Road by Cormac McCarthy (12/6/13)

Goal: 20/20 movies/books  DONE!!!!

1. The Reader (1/24/13)
2. Mansfield Park (2/3/13)
3. A Game of Thrones (1/9/13)
4. One Day (1/29/13)
5. The Secret Garden (4/30/13)
6. Emma (5/22/13)
7. Never Let Me Go (6/20/13)
8. Coraline (3/21/13)
9. Stardust (4/11/13)
10. Cowboys vs. Aliens (2/9/13)
11. 300 (2/12/13)
12. Warm Bodies (6/13/13)
13. The Color Purple (6/24/13)
14. The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill (6/26/13)
15. Guns, Germs, and Steel (8/12/13)
16. The Host (8/24/13)
17. Pride and Prejudice (8/28/13)
18. The Count of Monte Cristo (11/22/13)
19. Gulliver’s Travels (10/3/13)
20. The Road (12/6/13)

Goal: 10/10 books  DONE!!!!!

1. Morrigan’s Cross by Nora Roberts (3/3/13)
2. Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman (10/7/13)
3. MWF Seeking BFF by Rachel Bertsche (5/31/13)
4. Stardust by Neil Gaiman (4/11/13)
5. Matched by Ally Condie (2/21/13)
6. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas (11/22/13)
7. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn (2/9/13)
8. Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain (4/5/13)
9. Storm Glass by Maria Snyder (9/17/13)
10. Every Day by David Levithan (8/15/13)

Goal: 20/20 books   DONE!!!!

1. 300 (2/12/13)
2. Cowboys and Aliens (2/9/13)
3. The Walking Dead Book 5 (5/14/13)
4. Fables Vol 17 Inherit the Wind (2/4/13)
5. Wanted (1/2/13)
6. Chicken with Plums (1/2/13)
7. Locke and Key Vol. 1 (1/4/13)
8. Locke and Key Vol. 2 (1/4/13)
9. Locke and Key Vol. 3 (1/5/13)
10. Locke and Key Vol. 4 (1/6/13)
11. Locke and Key Vol. 5 (3/1/13)
12. A Game of Thrones: The Graphic Novel (3/1/13)
13. Death: At Death’s Door by Jill Thompson (3/4/13)
14. The Walking Dead Book Six (5/14/13)
15. The Walking Dead Book Seven (5/17/13)
16. The Walking Dead Volume 17 (5/17/13)
17. Fables 18: Cubs in Toyland (6/23/13)
18. Fun Home by Alison Bechdel (8/19/13)
19. American Vampire Vol. 1 (8/21/13)
20. Hyperbole and Half by Allie Brosh (11/26/13)

Goal: 5/5 books  DONE!!!!

1. Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen (2/18/13)
2. Dance of the Gods by Nora Roberts (3/9/13)
3. Storm Glass by Maria Snyder (9/17/13)
4. Witches 101 by Melissa de la Cruz (10/1/13)
5. The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry (11/16/13)

Goal: 6/6 books  DONE!!!!!

1. Zom-B by Darren Shan (4/14/13)
2. The Walking Dead: Rise of the Governor by Robert Kirkman (7/27/13)
3. The New Deadwardians (8/19/13)
4. Apocalypse Z by Manel Loureiro (9/1/13)
5. San Diego 2014 by Mira Grant (10/1/13)
6. 100 Days in Deadland by Rachel Aukes (11/11/13)

Goal: 12/12 books  DONE!!!!!

1. Translated fiction – The Reader by Bernhard Schlink (1/24/13)
2. Historical mystery – The Beekeeper’s Apprentice by Laurie King (2/26/13)
3. Romantic suspense – As Shadows Fade by Colleen Gleason (9/5/13)
4. Made into a movie – P.S. I Love You by Cecelia Ahern (4/13/13)
5. New Adult – Saving Wishes by G.J. Walker Smith (11/7/13)
6. Urban Fantasy –London Eye by Tim Lebbon (3/15/13)
7. Dystopian – Crossed by Ally Condie (3/1/13)
8. Memoir – Let’s Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson (3/15/13)
9. LGBT – Every Day by David Levithan (8/15/13)
10. Action Adventure –The Doomsday Vault by Steven Harper (3/20/13)
11. Humour– Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett (1/10/13)
12. Published in 2013 – And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini (8/8/13)

Goal: 5/5 books  DONE!!!!

1. The Wedding Gift by Lucy Kevin (1/24/13)
2. The Firebrand by Susan Wiggs (6/13/13)
3. The Billionaire Wins the Game by Melody Anne (11/3/13)
4. Her Ladyship’s Companion by Evangeline Collins (10/9/13)
5. Wedding of the Century (8/14/13)

Goal: 15/15 books DONE!!!!!

1. Almost America by Steve Tally (1/14/13)
2. Thomas Paine by Craig Nelson (1/28/13)
3. Heat Stroke by Rachel Caine (1/12/13)
4. The Passage by Justin Cronin (1/20/13)
5. Thin Air by Rachel Caine (2/22/13)
6. The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins (7/7/13)
7. When Twilight Burns by Colleen Gleason (8/5/13)
8. Selected Stories of O. Henry (8/18/13)
9. The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen (8/20/13)
10. The Angel’s Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon (10/20/13)
11. Gulliver’s Travel by Jonathan Swift (10/3/13)
12. Bachelor Girl by Betsy Israel (9/10/13)
13. Gale Force by Rachel Caine (9/9/13)
14. Cotillion by Georgette Heyer (9/14/13)
15. The Jungle by Upton Sinclair (9/8/13)

Goal: 15/15 books  DONE!!!!!!!

ROMANCE

1. Contemporary – P.S. I Love You by Cecelia Ahern (4/13/13)
2. Historical – Sixteen Brides by Stephanie Grace Whitson (5/12/13)
3. Paranormal – Vampire for Christmas by Felicity Heaton (7/12/13)

HORROR

1. Science Fiction – London Eye by Tim Lebbon (3/15/13)
2. Psychological – Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn (2/9/13)
3. Young Adult – Girl of Nightmares by Kendare Blake (3/11/13)

THRILLER/SUSPENSE

1. Historical – A Foreign Affair by Caro Peacock (1/22/13)
2. Action – Heat Stroke by Rachel Caine (1/12/13)
3. Supernatural – Chill Factor by Rachel Caine (1/13/13)

SCIENCE/FANTASY

1. Vampire – Morrigan’s Cross by Nora Roberts (3/3/13)
2. Dystopian – Crossed by Ally Condie (3/1/13)
3. Epic Fantasy – A Game of Thrones by George Martin (1/9/13)

MYSTERY/CRIME

1. Historical – The Angel’s Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon (10/20/13)
2. Romantic – Change of Fortune by Jen Turano (1/3/13)
3. Classic Whodunit – The Beekeeper’s Apprentice by Laurie R. King (2/26/13)

Goal: 25/25 Ebooks  DONE!!!!!

1. The Wedding Gift by Lucy Kevin (1/24/13)
2. The Fairy Tales of Hans Christian Anderson (2/26/13)
3. Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert Heinlein (2/7/13)
4. Beauty or the Bitch by Jasmine Haynes (1/9/13)
5. Mansfield Park by Jane Austen (2/3/13)
6. Coraline by Neil Gaiman (3/21/13)
7. 300 (2/12/13)
8. Persuasion by Jane Austen (1/21/13)
9. Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett (1/10/13)
10. Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman (3/30/13)
11. Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain (4/5/13)
12. Stardust by Neil Gaiman (4/11/13)
13. The Postman by David Brin (5/27/13)
14. The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins (7/7/13)
15. Vampire for Christmas by Felicity Heaton (7/12/13)
16. Lost by Gregory Maguire (7/12/13)
17. And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini (8/8/13)
18. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (8/28/13)
19. Max Stops the Presses by Colleen Gleason (9/5/13)
20. Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne (9/10/13)
21. Witches 101 by Melissa de la Cruz (10/1/13)
22. Lady Susan by Jane Austen (10/10/13)
23. The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman (9/20/13)
24. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak (9/28/13)
25. San Diego 2014 by Mira Grant (10/1/13)

Goal: 8/8 series DONE!!!!

Started in 2012

1. Neil Gaiman’s Sandman series (6,7,8,9,10,11,12) (9/27/13)
2. Rick Riordan’s Heroes of Olympus series (3) (7/24/13)
3. Kendare Blake’s Anna Dressed in Blood series (2) (3/11/13)

Started in 2013

1. Rachel Caine’s Weather Warden series (1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9) (10/5/13)
2. Jennifer Armintrout’s Lightworld/Darkworld series (1,2,3) – DNF’d
3. Nora Robert’s Morrigan’s Cross series (1,2,3) (3/17/13)
4. Ally Condie’s Matched series (1,2,3) (7/12/13)
5. Susan Wiggs’ Chicago Fire series (1,2,3) (6/13/13)
6. Colleen Gleason’s Gardella Vampire Chronicles (1,2,3,4,5) (9/5/13)

Goal: 15/15 books  DONE!!!!!

1. Neverwhere (3/30/13)
2. Good Omens (1/10/13)
3. Coraline (3/21/13)
4. Stardust (4/11/13)
5. M is for Magic (9/1/13)
6. Sandman Vol 6 (8/19/13)
7. Sandman Vol 7 (8/19/13)
8. Sandman Vol 8 (8/29/13)
9. Sandman Vol 9 (8/29/13)
10. Sandman Vol 10 (8/29/13)
11. Sandman Vol 11 (9/27/13)
12. Sandman Vol 12 (9/27/13)
13. Anansi Boys (10/7/13)
14. The Graveyard Book (9/20/13)
15. The Ocean at the End of the Lane (9/29/13)

Goal: 30/30 books  DONE!!!!!

1. Matched by Ally Condie (2/21/13)
2. Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen (2/18/13)
3. The Passage by Justin Cronin (1/20/13)
4. Crossed by Ally Condie (3/1/13)
5. A Foreign Affair by Caro Peacock (1/22/13)
6. Thomas Paine by Craig Nelson (1/28/13)
7. Terror by Night by Ambrose Bierce (2/14/13)
8. Chicks Dig Time Lords by Lynne Thomas and Tara O’Shea (2/3/13)
9. Fables Vol 17 Inherit the Wind (2/4/13)
10. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn (2/9/13)
11. Cowboys vs. Aliens (2/9/13)
12. The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton (2/14/13)
13. Let’s Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson (3/15/13)
14. A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin (4/28/13)
15. Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro (6/20/13)
16. Pride and Prescience by Carrie Bebris (6/6/13)
17. Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond (8/12/13)
18. Wedding of the Century (8/14/13)
19. The Sandman Vol 6 (8/19/13)
20. The Sandman Vol 7 (8/19/13)
21. Selected Stories of O. Henry (8/18/13)
22. The New Deadwardians (8/19/13)
23. The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen (8/20/13)
24. The Host by Stephenie Meyer (8/24/13)
25. The Sandman Vol. 8 (8/29/13)
26. The Sandman Vol. 9 (8/29/13)
27. The Sandman Vol. 10 (8/29/13)
28. M is for Magic by Neil Gaiman (9/1/13)
29. Apocalypse Z by Manel Loureiro (9/1/13)
30. The Dragon Men by Steven Harper (9/2/13)

Goal: 6/6 Books  DONE!!!!!!

1. Up or Down: Windfall by Rachel Caine (2/11/13)
2. Kitchen Find: The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen (8/20/13)
3. Party or Celebration: The Wedding Gift by Lucy Kevin (1/24/13)
4. Fire: Firestorm by Rachel Caine (2/16/13)
5. Emotion: Terror by Night by Ambrose Bierce (2/14/13)
6. Lost or Found: Lost by Gregory Maguire (7/12/13)

Goal: 18/18 Books  DONE!!!!!!

1. Contemporary – One Day by David Nicholls (1/29/13)
2. Historical – The Paris Wife by Paula McLain (7/7/13)
3. Paranormal – Windfall by Rachel Caine (2/11/13)
4. Fantasy – A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin (7/26/13)
5. Romance – The Mistress by Susan Wiggs (6/4/13)
6. Thriller – The Rest Falls Away by Colleen Gleason (7/13/12)
7. Nonfiction – The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill by Mark Bittner (6/26/13)
8. Women’s Fiction – The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton (2/14/13)
9. Chick Lit – The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen (8/1713)
10. Dystopian – Matched by Ally Condie (2/21/13)
11. Horror – Terror by Night by Ambrose Bierce (2/14/13)
12. Biography – Thomas Paine by Craig Nelson (1/28/13)
13. Fairy Tales – The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen (8/20/13)
14. Classics – A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court by Mark Twain (6/23/13)
15. SciFi – The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert Heinlein (2/7/13)
16. Short Stories – The Complete Hans Christian Anderson Fairy Tales (2/26/13)
17. Erotica – Beauty or the Bitch by Jasmine Haynes (1/9/13)
18. Epic Fantasy – A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin (4/28/13)

Goal: 25/25 authors  DONE!!!!!

1. Jane Austen (1/21/13)
2. Carrie Bebris (6/6/13)
3. Alison Bechdel (8/19/13)
4. Rachel Bertsche (5/31/13)
5. Kendare Blake (3/11/13)
6. Rachel Caine (1/12/13)
7. Tina Cassidy (4/20/13)
8. Ally Condie (3/1/13)
9. Gillian Flynn (2/9/13)
10. Jessica Day George (3/2/13)
11. Colleen Gleason (8/1/13)
12. Jasmine Haynes (1/9/13)
13. Felicity Heaton (7/12/13)
14. Laura Hillenbrand (5/11/13)
15. Stacey Kade (3/8/13)
16. Jenny Lawson (3/15/13)
17. Paula McLain (7/7/13)
18. Kate Morton (2/14/13)
19. Nora Roberts (3/9/13)
20. Marjane Satrapi (1/2/13)
21. Lynne Thomas (2/3/13)
22. Jill Thompson (3/4/13)
23. Alice Walker (6/24/13)
24. Stephanie Grace Whitson (5/12/13)
25. Susan Wiggs (5/22/13)

Goal: 25/25 authors   DONE!!!!!!

1. Cecelia Ahern (4/13/13)
2. Sarah Addison Allen (2/18/13)
3. Ishmael Beah (1/21/13)
4. Mark Bittner (6/26/13)
5. David Brin (5/27/13)
6. Ally Condie (2/21/13)
7. Justin Cronin (1/20/13)
8. Jared Diamond (8/12/13)
9. Jessica Day George (3/2/13)
10. Colleen Gleason (7/13/13)
11. Steven Harper (5/4/13)
12. Joe Hill (1/4/13)
13. Stacey Kade (3/6/13)
14. Laurie King (2/26/13)
15. Tim Lebbon (3/15/13)
16. David Levithan (8/15/13)
17. George R.R. Martin (1/9/13)
18. Craig Nelson (1/28/13)
19. David Nicholls (1/29/13)
20. Caro Peacock (1/22/13)
21. Nora Roberts (3/3/13)
22. Bernhard Schlink (1/24/13)
23. Darren Shan (4/14/13)
24. Steve Tally (1/14/13)
25. Jen Turano (1/3/13)

Goal: 24/24 books  DONE!!!!!

1. Girl of Nightmares by Kendare Blake (3/11/13)
2. Locke and Key Vol. 5 (3/1/13)
3. A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah (1/21/13)
4. The Beekeeper’s Apprentice by Laurie King (2/26/13)
5. A Game of Thrones: Graphic Novel Vol. 1 (3/1/13)
6. Princess of Glass by Jessica Day George (3/2/13)
7. Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George (3/2/13)
8. Death: At Death’s Door by Jill Thompson (3/4/13)
9. The Ghost and the Goth by Stacey Kade (3/6/13)
10. Queen of the Dead by Stacey Kade (3/8/13)
11. London Eye by Time Lebbon (3/15/13)
12. The Doomsday Vault by Steven Harper (3/20/13)
13. Zom-B by Darren Shan (4/14/13)
14. Birth by Tina Cassidy (4/20/13)
15. The Impossible Cube by Steven Harper (5/4/13)
16. Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand (5/11/13)
17. Sixteen Brides by Stephanie Grace Whitson (5/12/13)
18. The Walking Dead Book Five (5/14/13)
19. The Walking Dead Book Six (5/14/13)
20. The Walking Dead Book Seven (5/17/13)
21. The Walking Dead Volume 17 (5/17/13)
22. Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion (6/113/13)
23. Fables 18: Cubs in Toyland (6/23/13)
24. Reached by Ally Condie (7/12/13)

2013 Reading Challenge Round-Up -- Failed Edition

Not too bad this year.  I didn't have a ton of failed challenges...  but here they are.

Goal: 10/12 books

1. Vampires — The Passage by Justin Cronin (1/20/13)
2. Werewolves/Shifters –
3. Fey — Iron’s Prophecy by Julie Kagawa (10/10/13)
4. Angels/Nephilim — As Shadows Fade by Colleen Gleason (9/5/13)
5. Mermaids –
6. Dragons — Rose of Fire by Carlos Ruiz Zafon (10/21/13)
7. Zombies — Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion (6/13/13)
8. Demons — The Bleeding Dusk by Colleen Gleason (8/1/13)
9. Witches/Wizards — Valley of Silence by Nora Roberts (3/17/13)
10. Ghosts — The Ghost and the Goth by Stacey Kade (3/6/13)
11. Aliens — The Host by Stephenie Meyer (8/24/13)
12. Other (Djinn) — Ill Wind by Rachel Caine (1/12/13)

 Goal: 4/6 books

1. The Postman by David Brin (5/27/13)
2. Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro (6/20/13)
3. The Road by Cormac McCarthy (12/6/13)
4. 1984 by George Orwell
5. Reahed by Ally Condie (7/12/13)
6. Children of Men by P.D. James

Goal: 3/5 books

1. Princess of Glass by Jessica Day George (3/2/13)
2. Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George (3/2/13)
3. Lost by Gregory Maguire (7/12/13)
4. TBD
5. TBD

Goal: 1/5 books

1. Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides (10/27/13)
2. All for Love
3. The Devlin Diary by Christi Philips
4. The Rossetti Letter by Christi Philips
5. Pope Joan
6. Lady Elizabeth by Alison Weir

Goal: 2/5 books

1. Queen of the Dead by Stacey Kade (3/8/13)
2. The Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan (7/24/13)
3. TBD
4. TBD
5. TBD

1 from TBR — Change of Fortune by Jen Turano (1/3/13)

2 from TBR — Chicken with Plums by Marjane Satrapi (1/2/13); Wanted by Mark Millar(1/2/13)

3 from TBR — Locke and Key Vol. 1 (1/4/13), Locke and Key Vol 2 (1/4/13), Beauty and the Bitch by Jasmine Haynes (1/9/13)

4 from TBR — The Wedding Gift by Lucy Kevin (1/24/13), The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert Heinlein (2/7/13), Cowboys vs. Aliens (2/9/13), Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman(3/30/13)

5 from TBR — One Day by David Nicholls (1/29/13), A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court by Mark Twain (6/22/13), The Walking Dead: Rise of the Governor by Robert Kirkman (7/27/13), The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen (8/17/13), Fun Home by Alison Bechdel (8/19/13)

1 from series — Fables Vol 17 Inherit the Wind (2/4/13)

2 from series — Locke and Key Vol. 3 (1/5/13), Locke and Key Vol. 4 by Joe Hill (1/6/13)

3 from series — Pride and Prescience by Carrie Bebris (6/6/13), The Firebrand by Susan Wiggs (6/13/13), Reached by Ally Condie (7/12/13)

4 from series — Heat Stroke (1/12/13), Chill Factor (1/13/13), Firestorm (2/16/13), Thin Air by Rachel Caine (2/22/13)

5 from series — Princess of the Midnight Ball (3/2/13),Princess of Glass by Jessica Day George (3/2/13), The Ghost and the Goth (3/6/13), Queen of the Dead by Stacey Kade(3/8/13), The Impossible Cube by Steven Harper (5/4/13)

1 from 2013 releases — Fables 18: Cubs in Toyland (6/23/13)

2 from 2013 releases — And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini (8/8/13), Max Stops the Presses by Colleen Gleason (9/5/13)

4 from 2013 releases — A Beautiful Mess Photo Idea Book (9/10/13); The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman (9/29/13); Saving Wishes by G.J. Walker-Smith(11/7/13); 100 Days in Deadland by Rachel Aukes (11/11/13)

5 from 2013 releases — Hyperbole and a Half by Allie Brosh (11/26/13)

1 from everyone but me — The Passage by Justin Cronin (1/20/13)

2 from everyone but me — The Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan (7/24/13), A Storm of Swords by George Martin (7/26/13)

3 from everyone but me — Every Day by David Levithan (8/15/13), The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman (9/20/13); The Book Thief by Markus Zusak (9/28/13)

4 from everyone but me — Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman (10/7/13); Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides (10/27/13); The Road by Cormac McCarthy (12/6/13)

5 from everyone but me — A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin (4/28/13), The Walking Dead Book Five (5/14/13), The Walking Dead Book Six (5/14/13), The Walking Dead Book Seven (5/17/13), The Walking Dead Volume 17 (5/17/13)

1 reread — Lost by Gregory Maguire (7/12/13)

2 rereads – Coraline by Neil Gaiman (3/21/13), The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett (4/30/13)

3 rereads — The Host by Stephenie Meyer (8/24/13); Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne(9/10/13); The World is Flat by Thomas Friedman (10/9/13)

4 rereads — Persuasion (1/21/13), Mansfield Park (2/3/13), Emma (5/22/13), Pride and Prejudice (8/28/13)

5 rereads –

Free space — Me Before You by Jojo Moyes (12/3/13)

Point Total: 190/250

1. Read the second book in a series – The Impossible Cube by Steven Harper (5/4/13)
2. Read a book with water on the cover –
3. Read a book with a colour in the title –
4. Read  a book set in the 1900′s – And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini   (8/8/13)
5. Read a book whose author name begins with M (First or last) – Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion (6/13/13)
6. Read a book published during your birth year – The Color Purple by Alice Walker (6/24/13)
7. Read a book with a door, lock or key on the cover –
8. Read a book with a flower/flowers on the cover – Wedding of the Century (8/14/15)
9. Read a book with something ‘hot’ in the title (sun, fire, heat, etc) – The Firebrand by Susan Wiggs (6/13/13)
10. Read a book whose author name begins with J (first name only) – The Walking Dead: Rise of the Governor by Robert Kirkman and Jay Bonansinga (7/27/13)
11. Read a book currently on a bestseller list – The Paris Wife by Paula McLain (7/7/13)
12. Read a book that shows a woman from behind – The Hostage by Susan Wiggs (5/22/13)
13. Read a book with a moon or stars on the cover –
14. Read a book with an adjective in the title – The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill by Mark Bittner (6/26/13)
15. Read a book whose author name begins with J (last name only) –
16. Read any book in one weekend (Friday to Sunday) – Fables Vol 18: Cubs in Toyland (6/23/13)
17. Read a book with a child on the cover – Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro (6/20/13)
18. Read a book with over 400 pages – Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand (5/11/13)
19. Read a book with an animal on the cover – A Storm of Swords by George Martin (7/26/13)
20. Read a book whose author name begins with A (first or last) – Emma by Jane Austen (5/22/13)

Point total: 245/250

1. Read a book with a famous painting on the cover –
2. Read a book with a man and woman on the cover – Beauty or the Bitch by Jasmine Haynes (1/9/13)
3. Read a book by a new to you author – Locke and Key Vol 2 by Joe Hill (1/4/13)
4. Read a book that you’ve read before – Mansfield Park by Jane Austen (2/3/13)
5. Read a book whose author name begins with J (First or last) – Change of Fortune by Jen Turano (1/3/13)
6. Read a book that’s a collection of short stories – Stories of Hans Christian Anderson (2/26/13)
7. Read a book about family – The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton (2/14/13)
8. Read a book currently on the NYT Bestsellers list – Let’s Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson (3/15/13)
9. Read the first book in a series – Ill Wind by Rachel Caine (1/12/13)
10. Read a book whose author name starts with F (first or last) – Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn (2/9/13)
11. Read a bio/auto bio/memoir – A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah (1/21/13)
12. Read a book with a first and last name in the title – Good Omens (Agnes Nutter) by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett (1/3/13)
13. Read a historical mystery – A Foreign Affair by Caro Peacock (1/22/13)
14. Read a book by a female author – Chicken with Plums by Marjane Satrapi (1/2/13)
15. Read a book whose author name begins with M (first or last) – Wanted by Mark Millar (1/2/13)
16. Read a cult classic – Locke and Key Vol 4 Keys to the Kingdom (1/6/13)
17. Read a book no longer under copyright – Persuasion by Jane Austen (1/21/13)
18. Read a fantasy/scifi/steampunk – A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin (1/9/13)
19. Read a book you got for Christmas – Locke and Key Vol 3 Crown of Shadows by Joe Hill (1/5/13)
20. Read a book whose author begins with A (first or last) – Terror by Night by Ambrose Bierce (2/14/13)

Dusty Bookshelf Reading Challenge Wrap-up

I completed this challenge back in September by reading 15 books that had been sitting on my shelves for way too long.  Some of them has been there for 5+ years!  I'm so glad I finally got around to reading some of them, especially Thomas Paine, Bachelor Girl, The Passage, and The Angel's Game.

Official read list:

1. Almost America by Steve Tally (1/14/13)
2. Thomas Paine by Craig Nelson (1/28/13)
3. Heat Stroke by Rachel Caine (1/12/13)
4. The Passage by Justin Cronin (1/20/13)
5. Thin Air by Rachel Caine (2/22/13)
6. The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins (7/7/13)
7. When Twilight Burns by Colleen Gleason (8/5/13)
8. Selected Stories of O. Henry (8/18/13)
9. The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen (8/20/13)
10. The Angel’s Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon (10/20/13)
11. Gulliver’s Travel by Jonathan Swift (10/3/13)
12. Bachelor Girl by Betsy Israel (9/10/13)
13. Gale Force by Rachel Caine (9/9/13)
14. Cotillion by Georgette Heyer (9/14/13)
15. The Jungle by Upton Sinclair (9/8/13)

Back to the Classics Wrap-up Post

I've finished this one!  Woohoo!  I really didn't think I was going to make it.  I left Vanity Fair until last and it is quite a chunkster.  Somehow I finished it with time left.  I completed all 6 required categories and 4 of the optional categories (no Russian classic for me), which entitles me to 2 entries for the big drawing.

My final read list:

1. 19th Century Classic — Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray (12/18/13)
2. 20th Century Classic — The Reader by Bernhard Schlink (1/24/13)
3. Pre-18th or 18th Century Classic — Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift (10/3/13)
4. Classic that relates to the African-American Experience – The Color Purple by Alice Walker (6/24/13)
5. Classic Adventure — The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas (11/22/13)
6. Classic that prominently features an Animal - Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne(9/10/13)
7. Re-read a Classic — Emma by Jane Austen (5/22/13)
8. Classic Non-Fiction title –The Jungle by Upton Sinclair (9/8/13)
9. Classic Children’s/Young Adult title — The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett (4/30/13)
10. Classic Short Stories – The Selected Stories of O. Henry (8/18/13)

Mount TBR Final Checkpoint

From My Reader's Block:

Wow. We're almost done with 2013 and it's time to get ready for the Final Mountaineering Checkpoint. Where does the time go? I'm ready to hear how all our mountain-climbing team members have done out there on Pike's Peak, Mt. Ararat, Mt. Everest....whichever peak you've chosen. Checkpoint participation is absolutely voluntary and is not considered necessary for challenge completion.

For those who would like to participate in this checkpoint post, I'd like you to at least complete the first of these two things.  And if you feel particularly inspired (or generous about humoring me this holiday season), then please do both.

1. Tell us how many miles you made it up your mountain (# of books read). If you've planted your flag on the peak, then tell us and celebrate (and wave!).  Even if you were especially athletic and have been sitting atop your mountain for months, please check back in and remind us quickly you sprinted up that trail. And feel free to tell us about any particularly exciting adventures you've had along the way.

2. My Life According to Mount TBR: Using the titles of the books you read this year, please associate each statement with a book read on your journey up the Mountain.  I have given my titles as examples.

Are you male or female?:  The Lady Vanishes Describe yourself: I'm one of Four Lost Ladies Describe where you currently live: In the Shadow of Gotham If you could go anywhere where would you go?: London Particular Your favorite form of transportation:  Mystery Train What's the weather like?:  Mist on the Saltings Favorite time of day?: The Small Hours of the Morning (i.e. late at night) Your relationships: Slippage You fear: the Black Widow What is the best advice you have to give?:  The Mountains Have a Secret If you could change your name, you would change it to:  Mary Poppins My soul's present condition: A Private History of Awe

I made it to the top of my mountain!  Finally!  Last year, I failed miserably... This year I only went for 60 books or Mount Kilimanjaro.  I am happy to say that I reach the peak this month.  My final read list:

1. Wanted by Mark Millar (1/2/13)
2. Chicken with Plums by Marjane Satrapi (1/2/13)
3. Ill Wind by Rachel Caine (1/12/13)
4. Heat Stroke by Rachel Caine (1/12/13)
5. Valley of Silence by Nora Roberts (3/17/13)
6. Morrigan’s Cross by Nora Roberts (3/3/13)
7. Dance of the Gods by Nora Roberts (3/9/13)
8. Chill Factor by Rachel Caine (1/13/13)
9. Firestorm by Rachel Caine (2/16/13)
10. The Hostage by Susan Wiggs (5/22/13)
11. The Mistress by Susan Wiggs (6/4/13)
12. Thin Air by Rachel Caine (2/22/13)
13. Windfall by Rachel Caine (2/11/13)
14. Change of Fortune by Jen Turano (1/3/13)
15. One Day by David Nicholls (1/29/13)
16. A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin (1/9/13)
17. The Reader by Bernhard Schlink (1/24/13)
18. Almost America by Steve Tally (1/14/13)
19. Locke and Key Vol 1: Welcome to Lovecraft (1/4/13)
20. Locke and Key Vol 2: Head Games (1/4/13)
21. Locke and Key Vol 3: Crown of Shadows (1/5/13)
22. Locke and Key Vol 4: Keys to the Kingdom (1/6/13)
23. MWF Seeking BFF by Rachel Bertsche (5/31/13)
24. A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court by Mark Twain (6/23/13)
25. The Firebrand by Susan Wiggs (6/13/13)
26. The Color Purple by Alice Walker (6/24/13)
27. A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin (7/26/13)
28. The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen (8/17/13)
29. The Rest Falls Away by Colleen Gleason (7/13/13)
30. Rises the Night by Colleen Gleason (7/15/13)
31. When Twilight Burns by Colleen Gleason (8/5/13)
32. The Bleeding Dusk by Colleen Gleason (8/1/13)
33. As Shadows Fade by Colleen Gleason (9/5/13)
34. The Jungle by Upton Sinclair (9/8/13)
35. Gale Force by Rachel Caine (9/9/13)
36. Bachelor Girl by Betsy Israel (9/10/13)
37. Cotillion by Georgette Heyer (9/14/13)
38. Storm Glass by Maria V. Snyder (9/17/13)
39. Cape Storm by Rachel Caine (10/1/13)
40. Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift (10/3/13)
41. Total Eclipse by Rachel Caine (10/5/13)
42. Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman (10/7/13)
43. Her Ladyship’s Companion by Evangeline Collins (10/9/13)
44. The World is Flat by Thomas Friedman (10/9/13)
45. Iron’s Prophecy by Julie Kagawa (10/10/13)
46. The Angel’s Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon (10/20/13)
47. Rose of Fire by Carlos Ruiz Zafon (10/21/13)
48. Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides (10/27/13)
49. The Billionaire Wins the Game by Melody Anne (11/3/13)
50. Saving Wishes by G.J. Walker-Smith (11/7/13)
51. 100 Days in Deadland by Rachel Aukes (11/11/13)
52. Love and Friendship by Jane Austen (11/11/13)
53. The Watsons by Jane Austen (11/13/13)
54. The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry (11/16/13)
55. Jane Austen and the Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor by Stephanie Barron(11/20/13)
56. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas (11/22/13)
57. Hyperbole and a Half by Allie Brosh (11/26/13)
58. Boneshaler by Cherie Priest (12/14/13)
59. Tanglefoot by Cherie Priest (12/15/13)
60. Vanity Fair by Thackeray (12/18/13)

I'm so excited that I actually finished this one.  I'm joining for next year, but am decreasing my goal due to my reading time limitations.