Life Right Now #1

As I look outside my window: There's an interesting pattern of clouds in the sky.

Right now I am: Resting on the couch. We have all caught a stomach bug this weekend. No one is doing much at all.

On my bedside table: The Bostonians by Henry James; Arabian Nights

On my tv this week: Dirk Gently S2; The Good Place; Teachers

Listening to: Cold War Kids

On the menu for this week:

Monday - Broccoli Beef
Tuesday - Leftovers
Wednesday - Balsamic Glazed Pork Roast
Thursday - Cajun Stuffed Chicken Breast
Friday - Apple Bacon Sweet Potatoes
Saturday - Cheesy Artichoke Pasta
Sunday - Chili and Cornbread

On my to do list: I need to start tackling the items on my January goals list. The biggest items are making various appointments.

Happening this week:

Monday - Home day to recover from sickness
Tuesday - Oakland Zoo
Wednesday - Grocery run
Thursday - ???
Friday - Hellyer Park playdate
Saturday - Stamp Club
Sunday - OBM Live in San Francisco!!!!

What I am creating: Lots of card using the new Occasions Catalog products

My simple pleasures: A healthy toddler (he was sick this weekend); chocolate cake; stocked grocery stores; moderate temperatures

Looking around the house: I need to do a a serious house clean, but seeing as I can't stand for more than 5 minutes right now, it's going to have to wait.

From the camera: Making a dinosaur model

Next up on the TBR pile:

2018 Library Love Reading Challenge

From Angel's Guilt Pleasures:

Welcome to the second annual Library Love Challenge hosted by Angel’s Guilty Pleasures & Brooke Blogs.

I hope you will join use in celebrating and support libraries.

If you are like use then you like to purchase every book you want to read. And, well that can put a hurt on your wallet. One way to help lessen the hurt is to check out books (prints, ebooks, or audios) from the library. If you do this then it will help save you LOTS of money $$.

Getting a library card in most places is FREE. So, if you love to read and/or listen to books then grab your library card and join the challenge.

Details:

Runs: January 1, 2018 – December 31, 2018. You can join any time.

Put a sign up post on your blog or (dedicate a Goodreads shelf or LibraryThing) and link it below. Make sure it’s public.
The goal is to read at least twelve (12) books from the library, but you can read more. While twelve is the minimum, there is no maximum limit. See the different levels below and pick the one that works best for you.
Any format will work for this challenge (prints, ebooks, or audios); as long as you checked it out from the library, it counts.
Books can be any genre (fiction, nonfiction, romance, fantasy, mystery, thriller, horror, etc.).
Crossovers from other reading challenges are allowed, including re-reads. The goal is to support your local library and save money.
Write a review to enter the giveaway – 2 sentences or an essay, whatever works for you, but there is a minimum of 2 sentences. Not sure what to write? How about something like, “The plot was a delight, but the characters didn’t capture me.” “I enjoyed the story and really liked the characters.”
As an added bonus: We are offering up a GIVEAWAY with this Challenge. Winner will be picked at the end of the year!! The entries are the direct links to your book reviews and you will have until Jan. 3rd, 2019to enter your reviews in the linky and then the Rafflecopter. Go here to enter the giveaway: 2018 Library Love Challenge Review Link-ups.

Levels:

Dewey Decimal: Read 12 books
Thrifty Reader: Read 24 books
Overdrive Junkie: Read 36 books
Library Addict: Read 48 books
Library Card on Fire: Read 60+ books

To join the 2018 Library Love challenge,

Please link your sign-up post in the linky below
To enter the giveaway make sure you use the 2018 Library Love Challenge Review Link-ups page foundHERE
Grab the 2018 Library Love 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 (as long as you have a dedicated shelf someplace).

I always frequent the library and this year will be no different. I'm going to sign up for the Overdrive Junkie level of 36 books.

2018 Modern Mrs. Darcy Reading Challenge

I've thought about joining this challenge for the past three years, but just never actually committed. So, I'm jumping in this year!

2018 Reading Assignment Reading Challenge

From Because Reading:

The Rules

The 2018 Reading Assignment Challenge runs from January 1st to December 31st 2018. You may sign up anytime before October 1, 2018.
You may only participate for the months AFTER you sign up (so if you sign up in February, January doesn’t count)
Commit to reading 1, 2, 3, or 4 books a month and MAKE A LIST of the SPECIFIC books you will read in January – June. This is one of our changes… rather than committing for a year, you’re just picking the books for the first half of the year. You’ll make a new list and commit to a new number of books per month in June for July – December. So 2 books a month works for January – June, but only 1 for July – December? That’s fine!
You may read any genre or any format (i.e., eBook, Audiobook, Paperback, Hardcover). But they must be published before January 1, 2018 and they must be at least 100 pages.
Pick a level and make your list. REMEMBER: you’re committing to not just those books, but that number of books a month. You CANNOT read them all in one month.
At the end of each month, cross off the book(s) you read. We will have a link-up each quarter for you to link your progress.
Tweet your progress to #2018HW and keep an eye out for random tweets from us.
There will also be a grand prize drawing in January 2019. The number of entries you get in the grand prize giveaway will depend on how you perform in the quarterly Report Cards and what percentage of books you read from your list.

The Levels

Reading Level 1:
12 books (1 book/month)

Reading Level 2:
24 books (2 books/month)

Reading Level 3:
36 books (3 books/month)

Reading Level 4:
48 books (4 books/month)

Note: This year DNFs count as having read the book – you will NOT need to replace books that you DNF.

The Quarterly Report Cards

You get a do-over. Every quarter.

Here’s what you’ll need to do every time you turn in your Quarterly Report Card:

Report which books you read, during which months.
Report which months, if any, you didn’t make it.
Link to your review and/or reading progress on Goodreads showing you read the book(s).
Your final grade for the quarter, based on this chart:
- I made an A! Read all your books all three months of the quarter.
- I made a B! Read all your books for two months of the quarter.
- I made a C! Read all your books for one month of the quarter.
- I made an F!Didn’t read all your books during any months of the quarter.

So what if you made an F for that quarter? Yeah, it stinks, but it’s a new quarter and you get a chance to start over with your spring semester list in January – June and your fall semester list in July – December. At the end of the year, when you enter the final giveaway you’ll get extra credit based on your grade for each quarter. To get the extra credit, though, you must have turned in your report card for that quarter.

We’ve come to realize that making a list for the whole year just doesn’t leave enough room for your mood to change, though. So the other do-over we all get is a second chance to make a reading list. You’re making two lists, the first one is due at the start of the challenge (January 1, or the first day you participate), with the books you’ll read in the Spring Semester (January – June). When July rolls around, you get to make a Fall Semester reading list with the books you’ll read July – December. This gives a lot more room for mood changes throughout the year.

And that’s it! This is a bit stricter than a lot of year-long challenges, but that’s because we want it to be a little harder and hopefully more satisfying when you rock it!

Time to Make Your Spring Semester 2018 Reading Assignment List!

Make the list of the books you WILL read for the challenge, picking your level. Remember you’re only picking the books for January -June. Also remember, you must read the number of books you say you will each month. If you have any questions now or at any point during the challenge, email Berls (berls@fantasyismorefun.com) or Michelle (limabean74@aol.com).

I'm going to attempt this challenge once again. I tried two years ago and failed miserably, but that's probably because I didn't pick books I was excited to get to... For January-June, I'm going to go with Reading Level 1 of 1 book per month. And here are my selections for the first half of the year:

January - Arabian Nights
February - Herland by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
March - Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning
April - The Words We Live By by Linda Monk
May - Anne of Avonlea by Lucy Maud Montgomery
June - A History of the Wife by Marilyn Yalom

2018 Graphic Novel Reading Challenge

This challenge has been moved to a Facebook group this year. I'm down for it! I'm going to attempt another 24 comics this year. I'm sure I will surpass 24, but doubt I will get to 52 for the year. Currently my comic stack includes:

Diana Prince Wonder Woman Vol. 1
Diana Prince Wonder Woman Vol. 2
Diana Prince Wonder Woman Vol. 3
Diana Prince Wonder Woman Vol. 4
Wonder Woman Rebirth Vol. 1
Wonder Woman Rebirth Vol. 2
The Walking Dead Vol. 27

2018 Share-a-Tea Reading Challenge

From: Becky's Book Reviews:

Duration: January - December 2018
# of books: minimum of 2

Love drinking tea? Love reading books? Love reading a book while drinking tea? Have I got a reading challenge for you! In 2018, I'll be hosting the Share-a-Tea Reading Challenge again.

Who can join? Anyone who enjoys reading. You don't need to have a blog. You don't need to have a twitter account.

Are coffee drinkers welcome? Well. You can still join in, I suppose. But you might be outnumbered by tea drinkers.

Which books count towards the challenge? Any book that you primarily read while drinking tea. Not every single page needs to have been read while drinking tea. (I'm not that strict!!!) But this challenge is all about celebrating SLOWING DOWN and SAVORING the moments.

How many books? Is there a set minimum? This challenge is about QUALITY and not quantity. It's not about reading fifty books or even twelve books. This is an anti-rush reading challenge. Enjoy where you are in a book, and, engage fully in it. Live in the book.

This challenge has a focus on SHARING. How can you share? Several ways:

1) When you sign up in a comment below, share one favorite tea and one favorite book. And if you've got one handy: a favorite quote.
2) If you write a post on your blog announcing the challenge (and making a place to keep track of what you've read), consider sharing a bit about yourself--your reading and drinking habits. You might consider a longer list of recommendations!
3) If you're on twitter, tweet me as often as you like. @blbooks OR @operationbible Tweet about favorite teas, favorite books, favorite authors, favorite quotes, what you're currently reading, what you've just finished reading, etc.
4) Consider adding me and fellow participants to your blogroll, and cheer on other participants by reading reviews and leaving comments.
5) At the end of each month, I'll publish a check-in post. You can leave comments sharing what you're reading, what you've read, tea recommendations, etc. Even if you haven't finished a book, you can share where you're at. Remember, it isn't about how many books you read per month!

Be aware that comment moderation is turned on. So if you sign up for the challenge, and don't see your comment published, it just means I haven't published it...yet. But I will.

Do ask questions if you have them. I'll do my best to answer them.

I love drinking tea and reading a good book! This challenge sounds like it was made for me. Currently my favorite tea is have is any kind of Chai, but I love most teas I try. I'm going to attempt to read 20 specific books while enjoying a nice cup of tea. Some of these books may come from my unread shelves, but I imagine I will pick up a few library books here and there.

The Origin of Satan by Elaine Pagels

Title: The Origin of Satan: How Christians Demonized Jews, Pagans, and Heretics

Author: Elaine Pagels

Publisher: Vintage Books 1995

Genre: Nonfiction - Religion

Pages: 214

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual (NonAd); Mount TBR; A to Z: O

From the religious historian whose The Gnostic Gospels won both the National Book Award and the National Book Critics Circle Award comes a dramatic interpretation of Satan and his role on the Christian tradition. With magisterial learning and the elan of a born storyteller, Pagels turns Satan’s story into an audacious exploration of Christianity’s shadow side, in which the gospel of love gives way to irrational hatreds that continue to haunt Christians and non-Christians alike.

I really enjoyed Pagels's The Gnostic Gospels and hoped this one would be just as good. Unfortunately, I found this volume to be too meandering but also dense. I was bogged down by all the information included. I really enjoyed history tomes, but this one bored me a little too much. I was hoping for a much more lively account of the history of the Satan figure.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Bout of Books 21 Update #2

Pages Read: 214 (Origin)
Page Read Total: 1374

Books Read: 1
Books Read Total: 5

Comments: I started and finished a book that's been on my shelf for years.

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda Shofner and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, January 8th and runs through Sunday, January 14th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 21 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

Next up on the TBR pile:

2018 What's in a Name? Reading Challenge

From The Worm Hole:

The basics

The challenge runs from January to December. During this time you choose a book to read from each of the following categories. (Examples of books you could choose are in brackets – translations and other languages most definitely count!):

The word ‘the’ used twice (The Secret By The Lake; The End Of The Day, The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time)
A fruit or vegetable (The Guernsey Literary And Potato Peel Pie Society; The Particular Sadness Of Lemon Cake)
A shape (The Ninth Circle, The Square Root Of Summer, Circle Of Friends)
A title that begins with Z – can be after ‘The’ or ‘A’ (Zen In The Art Of Writing; The Zookeeper’s Wife, Zelda)
A nationality (Anna And The French Kiss; How To Be A Kosovan Bride; Norwegian Wood)
A season (White Truffles In Winter; The Spring Of Kasper Meier; The Summer Queen; Before I Fall; The Autumn Throne)

As usual I’ve tried to include some easy categories and some not so. Remember the titles I’ve given here are only examples, you can by all means use them if you want to but it’s not necessary. There are plenty of other books that will fit the categories and you may have some in mind already or even some on your shelves you can read.

Extra information

Books can be any format (print, audio, ebook).
It’s preferred that the books don’t overlap with other challenges, but not a requirement at all.
Books cannot overlap categories (for instance my example of The Square Root Of Summer could be used for ‘a shape’ or ‘a season’ but not both).
Creativity for matching the categories is not only allowed, it’s encouraged!
You don’t have to make your list of books beforehand, you can choose them as you go.
You don’t have to read your chosen books in any particular order.

Everything else

On January 1 I’ll publish 7 posts, one for each category and one for your wrap-up post. These posts will be published as WordPress pages and linked to from the What’s In A Name logo on the sidebar. You will be able to post your links to your reviews or leave comments, depending on whether you’re a blogging reader or a non-blogger reader. If you are a blogger, please leave one review per category. You’ll be able to find the gateway post through a link I’ll be adding to the navigation section of my sidebar.

If you have trouble finding a book for a category, have a look at the corresponding page for it here once the challenge has started – readers who’ve already completed the category will have linked to their reviews and added titles that you can look through.

To join the challenge, sign up using the Mr Linky if you’re a blogger, and if you’re not a blogger please email me your details (I’ve had to turn off comments on this post because the spam has become too much). If at any time you have difficulties adding your link, email me at the address on my contact pagewith your information, and I’ll add it myself.

How to use Mr Linky: put your name and/or your blog’s name in the top box and the URL (web address) of your blog in the second box. If you have a Tumblr or use a Facebook page instead of a blog, use the web address to that instead.

How you link is up to you, but it’s suggested that you include both your name and blog name in the first box.

If you have any suggestions for this year’s challenge, let me know in the comments (again, if you’ve not commented here before the comment will show up after I’ve approved it as part of my site spam moderation).

And remember that you don’t have to sign up today – as the challenge runs until the end of 2018, you can sign up at any time during the year.

Hope you enjoy the challenge and best of luck! The hashtag for Twitter is #whatsinaname2018 (the number included so we don’t get lost amongst various Romeo And Juliet quotes!)

I have no idea what books I will be reading, but I'm going to attempt again this year.

2018 TBR Pile Reading Challenge

From Roof Beam Reader:

The Goal: To finally read 12 books from your “to be read” pile (within 12 months).

Specifics:

1. Each of these 12 books must have been on your bookshelf or “To Be Read” list for AT LEAST one full year. This means the book cannot have a publication date of 1/1/2017 or later (any book published in the year 2016 or earlier qualifies, as long as it has been on your TBR pile). Caveat: Two (2) alternates are allowed, just in case one or two of the books end up in the “can’t get through” pile.

2. To be eligible, you must sign-up with the Mr. Linky below. Link to your list (so create it ahead of time!) and add updated links to each book’s review. Books must be read and must be reviewed (doesn’t have to be too fancy) in order to count as completed.

3. The link you post in the Mr. Linky below must be to your “master list” (see mine below). This is where you will keep track of your books completed, crossing them out and/or dating them as you go along, and updating the list with the links to each review (so there’s one easy, convenient way to find your list and all your reviews for the challenge). See THIS LINK for an idea of what I mean. Your complete and final list must be posted by January 15th, 2018.

4. Leave comments on this post as you go along, to update us on your status. Come back here if/when you complete this challenge and leave a comment indicating that you CONQUERED YOUR 2018 TBR LIST! Every person who successfully reads his/her 12 books and/or alternates (and who provides a working link to their list, which has links to the review locations) will be entered to win a $50 gift card from Amazon.comor The Book Depository!

5. Crossovers from other challenges are totally acceptable, as long as you have never read the book before and it was published before 2017!

*Note: You can read the books on your list in any order; they do not need to be read in the order you have them listed. Audiobooks count. Graphic novels count. Poetry collections? Essay collections? All good! As you complete a book – review it, go to your original list and turn that title into a link to the review. This will keep the comments section here from getting ridiculously cluttered. For an example of what I mean, Click Here.

Monthly Check-Ins: On the 15th of each month, I’m going to post a “TBR Pile Check-In.” This will allow participants to link-up their reviews from the past month and get some recognition for their progress. There will also be small mini-challenges and giveaways to go along with these posts (Such As: Read 6 books by the June Check-in and be entered to win a book of your choice!) I’m hoping this will help to keep us all on track and make the challenge a bit more engaging/interactive. I started these mini-challenges in 2014, and I think they were a great success, so I am continuing them this year!

Chat: On Social Media, please use #TBR2018RBR

I'm joining this year hoping to knock off some reads from my unread shelves.

Nefertiti by Michelle Moran
The Bostonians by Henry James
Their Eyes were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
The Dress Lodger by Sheri Holman
School Spirits by Rachel Hawkins
Parasite by Mira Grant
The Rose Labyrinth by Titania Hardie
Birthmarked by Caragh O'Brien
A Poisoned Season by Tasha Alexander
Stealing Fire by Jo Graham
The Birth of Venus by Sarah Dunant
Little Bee by Chris Cleave
The Firemaster's Mistress by Christie Dickason
An Object of Beauty by Steve Martin

2018 Picture Book Reading Challenge

From Becky's Book Reviews:

Duration: January - December 2018
Goal: To have adults read more picture books. To celebrate the fact that picture books are for everyone! Families are, of course, welcome to join in!
# of books: minimum of 6

Option 1: Read six picture books of your choice.
Option 2: Choose one author to focus on. Perhaps read through an entire author's work.
Option 3: Read as few as six, or as many as you like, from the checklist below

Feel free to copy/paste this. You can replace the _ with an X or a ✔ (copy/paste it) when you finish reading a book. If you list the books you read, that may help other people decide what to read.

_1. Title beginning with A
_2. Author beginning with A
_3. Title beginning with B
_4. Author beginning with B
_5. Title beginning with C
_6. Author beginning with C
_7. Title beginning with D
_8. Author beginning with D
_9. Title beginning with E
_10. Author beginning with E
_11. Title beginning with F
_12. Author beginning with F
_13. Title beginning with G
_14. Author beginning with G
_15. Title beginning with H
_16. Author beginning with H
_17. Title beginning with I
_18. Author beginning with I
_19. Title beginning with J
_20. Author beginning with J
_21. Title beginning with K
_22. Author beginning with K
_23. Title beginning with L
_24. Author beginning with L
_25. Title beginning with M
_26. Author beginning with M
_27. Title beginning with N
_28. Author beginning with N
_29. Title beginning with O
_30. Author beginning with O
_31. Title beginning with P
_32. Author beginning with P
_33. Title or Author beginning with Q
_34. Title beginning with R
_35. Author beginning with R
_36. Title beginning with S
_37. Author beginning with S
_38. Title beginning with T
_39. Author beginning with T
_40. Title or Author beginning with U
_41. Title or Author beginning with V or W
_42. Title or Author beginning with X or “Ex”
_43. Title beginning with Y
_44. Author beginning with Y
_45. Title or Author beginning with Z
_46. An alphabet book
_47. A counting book
_48. A color word in the title
_49. A number word in the title
_50. Concept book of your choice— picture book
_51. Concept book of your choice — board book
_52. bedtime book —board book
_53. bedtime book — picture book
_54. book that rhymes —picture book
_55. book that rhymes — early reader OR board book
_56. holiday of your choice — board book or early reader
_57. holiday of your choice — picture book
_58. wordless picture book
_59. new to you author
_60. new to you illustrator
_61. favorite author
_62. favorite illustrator
_63. free choice
_64. fairy or folk tale adaptation
_65. fairy or folk tale traditional
_66. a title with the word “first” in it
_67. a book set in the state you live
_68. a book set in a place you’d like to visit
_69. a book set in an imaginary place
_70. a book set in the past — fiction or nonfiction
_71. a book set in the present
_72. one word title
_73. long title (four or more words)
_74. a book about playing (hide and seek, tag, or peekaboo, etc.)
_75. a book about school
_76. a book about hobbies (art, dance, music, crafts, sports)
_77. a title that is a question
_78. a title that is an exclamation
_79. an award winner or an honor book
_80. a collection (of poems OR stories)
_81. a book with animals (fiction)
_82. a book with animals (nonfiction)
_83. a book about books or reading
_84. a book celebrating family
_85. book with an adventure or misadventure
_86. a book about a pet
_87. Impulse Pick
_ 88. Picture book published in 2018

Sign up by leaving a comment. Do indicate which option you're leaning towards. And if you have a blog, please leave your blog address so I can visit you.

Reviews are not a requirement. But if you do review, you can share links to your reviews. I'm thinking of having check-in posts on the 15th of every month.

I'm going to take the list of 104 categories and pair them down to the 88 categories that I will conceivably read. Arthur definitely enjoyed this challenge in 2017 so it shouldn't be too hard to get moving in 2018.

2018 A to Z Reading Challenge

From Ginger Mom:

This challenge isn’t just for people who want to read their way through the alphabet. Are you an author and want us to review your book as part of the challenge? How about an interview? We would love to hear how you got started writing! And as we are also doing a #kidlit version of this challenge, we are looking for authors with adorable picture books that we can spotlight each month throughout the year! Does this sound like something you’re interested in? Then email Megan or Crystal at gingermomquest17[at]gmail[dot]com!

Are you ready to accept this quest? Have you written your sign-up post, optimistically announcing to the world that you are going to read a book starting with every letter of the alphabet in 365 days? Then leave your name and your link in the comments below and grab our cool challenge button there at the top of the post. (That way you can proudly display your intent to take on this insane amazing challenge!) Then tweet it (#2018AtoZChallenge) and tell all your booknerd friends!

Why spread the word? Here’s the exciting part – each month, we will have link-ups for your reviews. And each review earns you 1 point. Each point is worth an entry into our Grand Prize at the end of the year (hint: it’s a $100 Amazon gift card!) So you collect entries that way. The other way? Each person you refer (all they have to do when they sign up is say you sent them our way) earns you an extra entry! How easy is that?

We can’t wait for January to come, bringing with it Instagram challenges, Twitter #AtoZChats with some of our favorite new (and old) authors, prizes and so much more! Sound like fun? We can’t wait to see you there!

I'm going to attempt this one in 2018. I don't have a list of books to read yet, but I'm sure I'll think of some very quickly.

2018 Finishing the Series Reading Challenge

From Celebrity Readers:

This challenge is focused on finally finishing those series that you’ve started but not yet completed. We participated in a similar challenge in 2016 hosted by Bea’s Book Nook, but we couldn’t find one for 2017. So we decided we would host our own version for 2018!

Guidelines:

While we’re pretty lax about how you wish to set up this challenge for yourself, we do have a few guidelines to follow.

The challenge will run from January 1st, 2018 to December 31st, 2018. Books must be read during this time frame to count. Sign up is open from now until December 1st, 2018, so you may join even just for the last month of the year.
Series can be already completed as well as still ongoing. For ongoing series, the goal is to catch up to the most recent book published. For example, I’m hoping to catch up on the Winston Brothers series by Penny Reid, but I know there will still be another book coming in 2019 before that series is considered complete. I would just need to read all the books published before the end of 2018 to qualify it as completed for this challenge. So assuming the release schedule remains the same, that would include Dr. Strangebeard but not Beard Necessities.
We don’t care if you have only 1 book or 10 books to read in order to finish your series, as long as you’ve started the series before 2018 (ie read at least one book in the series), it counts. Re-reads are not required.
Any format and length of book counts – print, ebook, audio, ARC, etc.
Series can be any length (even if it’s just a Duet).
Crossovers from other challenges are totally acceptable!
Reviews are not required, but highly encouraged.

How to Play:

Declare your intentions to participate in this challenge somewhere on the internet!! You do not need to be a blogger to participate, there are many ways to declare. You could write a blog post, create a reading challenge page, create a Goodreads shelf containing series you hope to finish, post about it on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.
Some things you could include (but that aren’t required):
- A link to this page so that others may find us and join the fun as well (feel free to download the button at the top to use in your posts).
- A list of series you hope to read for this challenge. You could even get fancy and list the length of the series, or the books you’ve already read, etc.
- The level you are aiming for.
Sign up for the challenge using the link up below, and link directly to where you’ve declared your intentions (ie to the specific blog post, the goodreads shelf, the facebook post, etc).
We will be posting monthly link ups for you to add links to your reviews or any wrap-up/overview posts you wish to share.
Go forth and READ!! And have fun!!
Use the hashtag #FinishingTheSeries2018 on any social media to keep up with other participants!

The Reward:

Uh…your own sense of pride in achieving a goal? Sorry folks, we’re not actually that motivated by prizes ourselves, so we’re just offering bragging rights. But we can offer you some pretty graphics to either declare your goal or to use as a badge once achieved!

The Levels:

We offer you 3 different “Celebrity” levels of achievement for this reading challenge:

C-LIST SERIES FINISHER ⇒ COMPLETE 1-4 SERIES.

B-LIST SERIES FINISHER ⇒ COMPLETE 5-8 SERIES.

A-LIST SERIES FINISHER ⇒ COMPLETE 9+ SERIES.

I'm going to go with the B-List level of 5-8 series finished. I know that Juliet Blackwell's Witchcraft Mystery series is on my list. I also want to try and finish Jodi Taylor's Chronicles of St. Mary's.

2018 Popsugar Reading Challenge

tmp_wtY30s_09deced064eb85ab_PS17_11_1_IG_ReadingChallenge_1456x1456.jpg

I've done this challenge for the past two years. Joining in yet again!

Made into a movie I've already seen --
True Crime --
Next book in a series I started --
Involving a heist --
Nordic noir --
Based on a real person --
Set in a country that fascinates me --
A time of day in the title --
About a villain or antihero --
About death or grief --
Female author who uses a male pseudonym --
LGBTQ+ Protagonist --
Also a stage play or musical --
Author of a different ethnicity than me --
About feminism --
About mental health --
Borrowed or was give as a gift --
By two authors --
Involving a sport --
Local author --
Favorite color in the title --
Alliteration in the title --
Time travel --
Weather element in the title --
Set at sea --
Animal in title --
Set on a different planet --
Song lyrics in the title --
About or set on Halloween --
Characters who are twins --
Mentioned in another book --
From a celebrity book club --
Childhood classic I've never read --
Published in 2018 --
Goodreads Choice Awards winner --
Set in the decade I was born --
Meant to get to in 2017 but didn't --
Ugly cover --
Involves a bookstore or library --
Fave prompt from 2015, 2016, or 2017 Popsugar Reading Challenge --

Advanced

Bestseller from year I graduated high school --
Cyberpunk --
Being read by a stranger in a public place --
Tied to my ancestry --
Fruit or vegetable in the title --
Allegory --
Author with the same first or last name as you --
Microhistory --
About a problem facing society today --
Recommended by someone else taking the Popsugar Reading Challenge --

2018 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 carry over towards the new peak.

*Challenge runs from January 1 to December 31, 2018.

*You may sign up anytime from now until November 1st, 2018.

*Books must be owned by you prior to January 1, 2018. No library books. If you're looking for a library book challenge or one that counts books on your non-owned TBR list, then there may be challenges out there that do that. This one does not.

*Rereads may count only in the following circumstances: If you did not own the book when you read it long ago and far away [based on your age, you can decide what that might mean] and you bought the book pre-January 1, 2018 intending to reread it now that it's your very own. [To clarify--the intention is to reduce the stack of books that you have bought for yourself or received as presents {birthday, Christmas, "just because," etc.}. Audiobooks and E-books may count if they are yours and they are one of your primary sources of backlogged books.]

*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 when January 1 rolled around. I will trust you all on that.

*You may count "Did Not Finish" books provided they meet your own standard for such things, you do not plan to ever finish it, and you move it off your mountain [give it away, sell it, etc. OR remove it from your e-resources]. For example, my personal rule (unless it's a very short book) is to give a book at least 100 pages. If I decide I just can't finish it and won't ever, then off the mountain it goes and I count it as a victory--the stack is smaller!

*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. If you have a blog, then please post a challenge sign up and link THAT post (not your home page) into the linky below. Non-bloggers, please leave a comment declaring your challenge level--OR, if you are a member of Goodreads, I will once again put together a group for the challenge there. Feel free to sign up HERE if that's where you want to participate. At the beginning of the year, I will update the sidebar link called Mount TBR Review Headquarters for current reviews and progress updates.

Of course I'm joining this challenge once again this year. I'm going to sign up for the Mount Ararat level of 48 books. Still hoping to knock those unread books off my shelf...

2018 Perpetual Reading Challenge

I have a whole list of Perpetual Reading Challenges that I've been trying to tackle for the past few years. To help myself out, I make a yearly Perpetual Reading Challenge. This year, I'm going to shoot for 30 books to read off my perpetual lists. I have a list of 39 choices to start with. A lot of these books are from my own shelves. Some of these I will be visiting the library to acquire. The words in parentheses are in reference to which perpetual challenges they come from. Pop on over to my Perpetual Reading Challenge Page to see the complete lists.

Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow (NonAd)
Frida by Hayden Herrera (NonAd)
The Girls of Atomic City by Denise Kiernan (NonAd)
The Words We Live by Linda Monk (NonAd)
The Origin of Satan by Elaine Pagels (NonAd)
Arabian Nights (FanPro)
The Alchemist by Paulo Coehlo (FanPro)
Blood and Chocolate by Annette Curtis-Klause (FanPro)
Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning (FanPro)
Bloodfever by Karen Marie Moning (FanPro)
The Dark Tower by Stephen King (NPR Scifi)
The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde (NPR Scifi)
Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon (NPR Scifi)
Looking for Alaska by John Green (NPR Teen, 100 YA)
Delirium by Lauren Oliver (NPR Teen, US of YA, 365)
I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith (NPR Teen)
Fairest by Gail Levine (100 YA, YA Retellings)
Princess Academy by Shannon Hale (100 YA)
Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (21st Century)
Arcadia by Lauren Groff (21st Century)
The History of Love by Nicola Krauss (21st Century)
The Diviners by Libba Bray (US of YA, 365)
White Cat by Holly Black (US of YA)
Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh (Time 100)
Possession by AS Byatt (Time 100)
Bitch by Elizabeth Wurtzel (Rory, Feminism)
The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende (Rory)
Out of Africa by Isak Dineson (Rory)
Ramses 2 by Anne Rice (Anne Rice)
The Interview with a Vampire by Anne Rice (Anne Rice)
The Vampire Lestat by Anne Rice (Anne Rice)
How to be a Woman by Caitlyn Moran (Feminism)
Herland by Charlotte Perkins Gilman (Feminism)
The Boundaries of Her Body (Feminism)
Bad Feminist by Roxane Gay (Feminism)
The Selection by Kiera Cass (365)
For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund (365, YA Retellings)
After the End by Amy Plum (365)
Alice in Zombieland by Gina Showalter (YA Retellings)

Bout of Books 21 Update #1

Pages Read: 338 (Governess) + 130 (TWD) + 338 (Daughter) + 354 (Refuge)
Page Read Total: 1160

Books Read: 4
Books Read Total: 4

Comments: I started this week out strong with a romance trilogy and a great ongoing comic series. My reading was a bit interrupted today as I traveled back home to California. Hoping to find some more time to read during the rest of the week.

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda Shofner and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, January 8th and runs through Sunday, January 14th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 21 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

Next up on the TBR pile:

A Refuge at Highland Hall by Carrie Turansky

Title: A Refuge at Highland Hall (Edwardian Brides #3)

Author: Carrie Turansky

Publisher: Multnomah 2015

Genre: Historical Romance

Pages: 354

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: A to Z - R; Library Love; Finishing the Series

Penny Ramsey has always considered Highland Hall her home, but when Britain becomes involved in World War One she travels to London to assist her sister Kate with the eight orphan children she and her husband Jon have taken into their home. Doing her part for the war effort takes priority over Penny’s dreams of romance until she meets Alex Goodwin, a Royal Naval Air Service pilot in training.

Alex is determined to prove his worth and do his part to defend his country. Knowing he is heading off for the dangerous assignment of chasing Zeppelins across the front line in France, he feels it’s unwise to form any romantic attachments. But he can’t help admiring the pretty, warmhearted Penny and wondering what it would be like to find her waiting when he returns home from the war.

As Penny writes to Alex, their friendship blossoms, and she becomes his tie to home and normalcy as he faces the hardships war. But being an RNAS pilot means confronting the enemy, and the fallout from those experiences push Alex beyond Penny’s reach. Can God mend the brokenness left by the losses of war? Will faith and forgiveness bring them together again?

A strong finish to a decent romance trilogy. I think Penny and Alex were my absolute favorite pair of the series. I was all-in immediately with their story. Setting the book during WWI was an interesting change to the usual historical romance setting. I appreciated that Turansky got into the down and dirty of the war instead of glossing over it in favor of focusing on the romance. The inclusion of the German prisoners was surprising, but interesting. I sped through this book and enjoyed my time.

Edwardian Brides:

#1 The Governess of Highland Hall
#2 The Daughter of Highland Hall
#3 A Refuge at Highland Hall

Next up on the TBR pile:

52 Weeks of Arthur 2017: W46-52

Continuing this project from 2016, I'll be posting a roundup of Arthur pics every 9 weeks. See W1-9 here. W10-18 here, W19-27 here, W28-36 here, W37-45 here. And now on to W46-52:

W52: Checking out the aquarium at the library

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Daughter of Highland Hall by Carrie Turansky

Title: The Daughter of Highland Hall (Edwardian Brides #2)

Author: Carrie Turansky

Publisher: Multnomah 2014

Genre: Historical Romance

Pages: 338

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: A to Z - D; Library Love; Finishing the Series

Strong-willed and beautiful, debutante Katherine Ramsey feels ready to take the London social season by storm, and she must. Her family estate, Highland Hall, has been passed to older male cousin Sir William Ramsey, and her only means of securing her future is to make a strong debut and find a proper husband. With her all-knowing and meddling aunt as a guide, Katherine is certain to attract suitors at the lavish gatherings, sparkling with Great Britain’s elite.

When a shocking family scandal sidelines Katherine, forcing her out of the social spotlight, she keeps a low profile, volunteering with the poor in London’s East End. Here Katherine feels free from her predictable future, and even more so as a friendship with medical student Jonathan Foster deepens and her faith in God grows. But when Katherine is courted anew by a man of wealth and position, dreams of the life she always thought she wanted surface again. Torn between tradition and the stirrings in her heart for a different path, she must decide whom she can trust and love—and if she will choose a life serving others over one where she is served.

Second volume in this Christian romance series. I actually liked this one more than the first. Katherine and Jon are better characters with more interesting storylines than William and Julia. I enjoyed the move to London and the added storyline of Lydia and her sister. Nice little book to get me through some of the frigid temperatures while still in Indiana for the holidays.

Edwardian Brides:

#1 The Governess of Highland Hall
#2 The Daughter of Highland Hall
#3 A Refuge at Highland Hall

Next up on the TBR pile: