Wednesday, December 31, 2008

MysteryReaderCafe Reading Challenge 2009

***Challenge completed. See list of books read, below.***

Dates: Throughout 2009
Host: Kari (Another Book On The Stack)

Guidelines: This challenge is actually part of the Mystery Reader Cafe Group at Yahoo.com, but participants don't have to be members of the group to join.
  • Read a mystery with the word "murder" in the title.
  • Read a mystery set in your region.
  • Read a mystery that has been on your shelf for at least a year.
  • Read a mystery from a "new to you" author.
See my original post about the challenge here.
See the challenge announcement page here.

READING LIST:
  1. Murder in the title - Index to Murder: A Miss Zukas Mystery, by Jo Dereske [review to come]
  2. Set in my region (Virginia) - Santa Clawed: A Mrs. Murphy Mystery, by Rita Mae Brown [see review]
  3. On the shelf for at least a year - Crewel Yule: A Needlecraft Mystery, by Monica Ferris [see review]
  4. A "new to me" author - Grave Goods: A Mistress of the Art of Death Mystery, by Ariana Franklin [see review]

Sunday, December 28, 2008

The Winter Reading Challenge 2008-2009


**Challenge completed. See my wrap-up post here.**

Dates:
21 December 2008 - 20 March 2009
Host: Robin (My Two Blessings)
Guidelines:
  • Choose any number of books you would like to read and post them on your blog.
  • Books can be fiction or nonfiction, including e-books and audiobooks.
  • Books can overlap with other challenges.

See my original post about the challenge here.
See the challenge announcement page here.
See the review page here.
See the wrap-up links here.

READING LIST:
Drawers & Booths by Ara 13 [See Review]
Cover Her Face by P.D. James [See Review]
The Master by Colm Toibin [See Review]
Rest In Pieces by Rita Mae Brown
Hotel Du Lac by Anita Brookner [See Review]
Solaris by Stanislaw Lem [See Review]
Index to Murder: A Miss Zukas Mystery by Jo Dereske
Land of Marvels by Barry Unsworth
The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton [See Review]
The Great Victorian Collection by Brian Moore [See Review]
Blasphemy by Douglas Preston
Angels & Insects: Two Novellas by A.S. Byatt [See Review]

Friday, December 26, 2008

2009 TBR (Lite) Challenge

Dates: 1 January 2009 through 31 December 2009
Host: Jenn
Guidelines:

There are three levels of participation –
  • OPTION A: read 6 books in 12 months ~ your list of books CANNOT be changed, but you are allowed to have an “Alternates” list to choose from (like in the Original TBR Challenge).

  • OPTION B: read 6 books in 12 months ~ you CAN change your reading list throughout the year

  • OPTION C: make up a list of however many books you think you could get read in 12 months, as long as they are from your TBR stack/list, and then read them between January 1st and December 31st. You must have at least 3 books on your list.
And the other general guidelines are these:
  • You are allowed to overlap with other challenges
  • Audiobooks are allowed
  • e-Books are allowed, but must still be books that you’ve wanted to read for at least 3, or more, months
  • You should still have a list of books posted somewhere for others to see
  • You don’t have to read your books in the order you put them on your list
I've chosen Option B (six books in twelve months).

See my original post about the challenge here.
See the challenge announcement page here.
See the Yahoo Group for the challenge here.

READING LIST (finished books):
  1. Cover Her Face. P.D. James [see review]
  2. The Age of Innocence. Edith Wharton [see review]
  3. The Master. Colm Toibin [see review]
  4. Rest In Pieces. Rita Mae Brown
  5. Hotel Du Lac. Anita Brookner [see review]
  6. Solaris. Stanislaw Lem [see review]
  7. The Great Victorian Collection. Brian Moore [see review]
  8. Blasphemy. Douglas Preston
  9. Angels & Insects. A.S. Byatt [see review]
  10. The Private Patient. P.D. James
  11. Angels & Demons. Dan Brown [see review]
  12. The Way Through the Woods. Colin Dexter [see review]
  13. The Optimist's Daughter. Eudora Welty [see review]
  14. Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH. Robert C. O'Brien [see review]
  15. Moon Tiger. Penelope Lively
  16. Rabbit Is Rich. John Updike [see review]
  17. Victory Over Japan. Ellen Gilchrist [see review]

Monday, December 15, 2008

20 Books in 2009

**Challenge completed. See my wrap-up post here.**

For the 20 in 2009 Challenge, we have to create a dedicated page where we'll track our progress. This will be my page (see reading list, below).

Dates: Runs throughout 2009
Host: Lynn
Guidelines:
  • You must have a website since you have to keep an online progress page. You can get free ones from wordpress.com or blogspot.com if you need to.
  • You must create a progress page, which will be updated each time you complete one of your 20 books. For more information about progress pages and an example of how you can do them, click here.
  • You can read as many books as you want by an author or in the same series.
  • If the book is a re-read, it must be from a year ago.
  • If you begin the book in 2008 and finish it in 2009, it does count for this challenge.
  • The following do not count: comics, catalogs, manga, journals.
  • You must link back to this challenge with the button provided or one that you make for your own personal use, or even a text link.
  • If you intend to participate, leave a comment on the main entry stating so. You will then be added to the participants list.
  • Everyone who successfully completes the 20 in 2009 challenge will win a small award graphic to display on their website
See my original post about the challenge here.
See my challenge wrap-up post here.
See the challenge announcement page here.
See the posts about finished books here.

READING LIST (finished books):
  1. Drawers & Booths, by Ara 13 [see review]
  2. Cover Her Face, by P.D. James [see review]
  3. The Master, by Colm Toibin [see review]
  4. Hotel Du Lac, by Anita Brookner [see review]
  5. Solaris, by Stanislaw Lem [see review]
  6. The Age of Innocence, by Edith Wharton [see review]
  7. The Great Victorian Collection, by Brian Moore [see review]
  8. Angels & Insects, by A.S. Byatt [see review]
  9. Angels & Demons, by Dan Brown [see review]
  10. The Way Through the Woods, by Colin Dexter [see review]
  11. The Book of God and Physics. Enrique Joven [see review]
  12. The Old Man and Me. Elaine Dundy [see review]
  13. The Optimist's Daughter. Eudora Welty [see review]
  14. Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH. Robert C. O'Brien [see review]
  15. To Dance with the White Dog. Terry Kay [see review]
  16. The Unit. Ninni Holmqvist [see review]
  17. The Longshot. Katie Kitamura [see review]
  18. Grave Goods. Ariana Franklin [see review]
  19. Fear the Worst. Linwood Barclay [see review]
  20. Rabbit Is Rich. John Updike [see review]

2nds Challenge, 2009

***Challenge completed. See my wrap-up post here.***

Dates: 1 January 2009 to 31 December 2009
Host: J. Kaye (J. Kaye's Book Blog)

Guidelines:
  • Anyone can join. You don't need to have a blog to participate.
  • Read 12 books by authors that you have only read once. It doesn't have to be a series.
  • You can join anytime between now and December 31, 2009. Don't start reading until January.
  • You may list your chosen books any time during the year. Change the list if needed.

See my original post about the challenge here.
See my wrap-up post here.
See the challenge announcement page here.
See the list of reviews here.
See participants' completed reading lists here.

READING LIST (books read):
  1. A.S. Byatt: Angels & Insects [see review]
  2. Dan Brown: Angels & Demons [see review]
  3. Eudora Welty: The Optimist's Daughter [see review]
  4. Douglas Preston: Brimstone (with Lincoln Child) [review to come]
  5. Penelope Lively: Moon Tiger [review to come]
  6. Carolos Ruiz Zafon: The Angel's Game [review to come]
  7. John Updike: Rabbit Is Rich [see review]
  8. Ellen Gilchrist: Victory Over Japan [see review]
  9. Lincoln Child: Dance of Death (with Douglas Preston) [review to come]
  10. Susan Hill: The Woman in Black [see review]
  11. Bram Stoker: The Lair of the White Worm [see review]
  12. E.L. Doctorow: Homer & Langley [review to come]

Lost In Translation Reading Challenge

***Challenge completed. See my wrap-up post here.***

Dates: 1 January 2009 to 31 December 2009
Host: Frances (Nonsuchbook)

Guidelines: Read six books in translation, during the year.

See my original post about the challenge, here.
See my wrap-up post, here.
See the challenge announcement page, here.

READING LIST (books read):
  1. Solaris. Stanislaw Lem [see review]
  2. The Book of God and Physics. Enrique Joven [see review]
  3. The Unit. Ninni Holmqvist [see review]
  4. The Angel's Game. Carlos Ruiz Zafon [review to come]
  5. The Friend of Madame Maigret. Georges Simenon [see review]
  6. The Lover. Marguerite Duras [review to come]

Read Your Own Books (RYOB) Challenge

***Challenge completed. See list of books read, below.***

Dates: 1 January 2009 to 31 December 2009
Host: MizB

Guidelines: Read as many of your own books as you can during the year. Or as many as you decide you want to read.

See my original post about the challenge here.
See the challenge announcement page here.
See the RYOB Yahoo Group here.

READING LIST:
  1. Drawers & Booths, by Ara 13 [see review]
  2. Cover Her Face, by P.D. James [see review]
  3. The Master, by Colm Toibin [see review]
  4. Rest In Pieces, by Rita Mae Brown [review to come]
  5. Hotel Du Lac, by Anita Brookner [see review]
  6. Solaris, by Stanislaw Lem [see review]
  7. Index to Murder, by Jo Dereske [review to come]
  8. Land of Marvels, by Barry Unsworth [review to come]
  9. The Age of Innocence, by Edith Wharton [see review]
  10. The Great Victorian Collection, by Brian Moore [see review]
  11. Blasphemy, by Douglas Preston [review to come]
  12. The Private Patient, by P.D. James [review to come]
  13. Angels & Demons, by Dan Brown [see review]
  14. The Book of God and Physics, by Enrique Joven [see review]
  15. The Old Man and Me, by Elaine Dundy [see review]
  16. The Optimist's Daughter, by Eudora Welty [see review]
  17. Ellen Foster. Kaye Gibbons [review to come]
  18. Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH. Robert C. O'Brien [see review]
  19. The Unit. Ninni Holmqvist [see review]
  20. Moon Tiger. Penelope Lively [review to come]
  21. The Longshot. Katie Kitamura [see review]
  22. The Valley of Fear. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle [see review]
  23. The Angel's Game. Carlos Ruiz Zafon [review to come]
  24. Sacred Hearts. Sarah Dunant [review to come]
  25. The Fire. Katherine Neville [see review]
  26. Fear the Worst. Linwood Barclay [see review]
  27. Dance of Death. Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child [review to come]
  28. Rabbit Is Rich. John Updike [see review]
  29. Victory Over Japan. Ellen Gilchrist [see review]
  30. From Doon with Death. Ruth Rendell [see review]
  31. The Friend of Madame Maigret. Georges Simenon [see review]
  32. Homer & Langley. E.L. Doctorow [review to come]
  33. The Uncommon Reader. Alan Bennett [review to come]
  34. The Lover. Marguerite Duras [review to come]
  35. Santa Clawed. Rita Mae Brown [see review]
  36. Christmas Card Magic. Margaret Perry [see review]
  37. Stardust. Josef Kanon [review to come]
  38. Crewel Yule. Monica Ferris [see review]

The Suspense-Thriller Reading Challenge

***Challenge completed. See my wrap-up post here.***

Dates: Runs through December 2009
Host: J. Kaye (J. Kaye's Book Blog)
Guidelines:
* Read SIX (6) different sub-genres of thrillers in 2008.
* Read SIX (6) different sub-genres of thrillers in 2009.
By the end of this challenge, you will have read 12 different sub-genres of thrillers.

See my original post about the challenge here.
See my wrap-up post here.
See the challenge announcement page here.
See the review page here.
See participants' completed lists here.

READING LIST:
  1. Action Thriller: Blasphemy, by Douglas Preston [finished; review to come]
  2. Amateur Detective Mystery: Wish You Were Here, by Rita Mae Brown [See Review]
  3. Cozy Mystery: Mrs. Malory and Death By Water, by Hazel Holt [See Review]
  4. Drama Thriller/Mystery: The Private Patient, by P.D. James [finished; review to come]
  5. Historical Thriller: Land of Marvels, by Barry Unsworth [finished; review to come]
  6. Literary Thriller: The Bookman's Wake, by John Dunning [finished; review to come]
  7. Murder Mystery: Cover Her Face, by P.D. James [See Review]
  8. Police Procedural Thriller: The Way Through the Woods, by Colin Dexter [See Review]
  9. Psychological Thriller: Mr. White's Confession, by Robert Clark [See Review]
  10. Religious Thriller: Angels & Demons, by Dan Brown [See Review]
  11. Serial Killer Thriller: Dance of Death, by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child [review to come]
  12. Supernatural Thriller: Brimstone, by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child [review to come]

The Book Awards II Challenge

**Challenge completed. See my wrap-up post here**

Dates: 1 August 2008 to 1 June 2009
Host: Michelle (1 More Chapter)

Guidelines: Read ten books from at least five different award groups

See my original post about the challenge here.
See my wrap-up post here.
See the challenge announcement page here.
See the challenge wrap-up page here.

READING LIST (books read):
  1. The Age of Innocence. Edith Wharton (Pulitzer Prize, 1921) [See Review]
  2. The Great Victorian Collection. Brian Moore (Governor General's Award, 1975) [See Review]
  3. Hotel du Lac. Anita Brookner (Man-Booker Prize, 1984) [See Review]
  4. The Master, by Colm Tóibín (IMPAC Dublin Award, 2006) [See Review]
  5. The Way Through the Woods. Colin Dexter (Gold Dagger Award, 1992) [See Review]
  6. The Optimist's Daughter. Eudora Welty (Pulitzer Prize, 1973) [See Review]
  7. Ellen Foster. Kaye Gibbons (Sue Kaufman Prize, American Academy & Institute of Arts & Letters) [review to come]
  8. Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH. Robert C. O'Brien (Newbery Medal, 1972) [See Review]
  9. To Dance with the White Dog. Terry Kay (Outstanding Author of the Year, 1991, Southeastern Library Association) [See Review]
  10. Moon Tiger. Penelope Lively (Man-Booker Prize, 1987) [review to come]

What An Animal! Reading Challenge

**Challenge completed. See my wrap-up post here.**

Dates
: 1 July 2008 to 30 June 2009
Host: Kristi (Passion for the Page)
Guidelines: Read at least six books that fulfill any of these requirements:
an animal in the title of the book; an animal on the cover of the book; an animal that plays a major role in the book; a main character that is or turns into an animal (define that however you like).
See my original post about the challenge here.
See my challenge wrap-up post here.
See the challenge announcement page here.

LIST OF BOOKS:
  1. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, by Mark Haddon [See Review]
  2. Wish You Were Here: A Mrs. Murphy Mystery, by Rita Mae Brown [See Review]
  3. Rest In Pieces: A Mrs. Murphy Mystery, by Rita Mae Brown [review to come]
  4. Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH. Robert C. O'Brien [See Review]
  5. To Dance with the White Dog. Terry Kay [See Review]
  6. Moon Tiger. Penelope Lively [review to come]

The 42 (Sci-Fi) Challenge

**Challenge completed. See my wrap-up post here.**

Dates: Runs through 3 December 2009
Host: Becky (Becky's Book Reviews)
Guidelines: Read, watch, listen, and review (or list) 42 sci-fi related items. These can be books, film, TV shows, etc.

See my original post about the challenge here.
See my personal list of challenge items here.
See my wrap-up post here.
See the challenge announcement page here.

To Be Continued...(The Perpetual Challenge)


Dates: Indefinite (this is an ongoing challenge)
Host: Marcia (The Printed Page)
Guidelines: This is a challenge for readers of series books. No deadlines, no lists required, no official sign-up time. All genres are allowed.

See my original post about the challenge here.
See the challenge announcement page here.

READING LIST:

Mrs. Malory and Any Man's Death. Hazel Holt (reading now)
Mrs Malory and Death by Water. Hazel Holt [see review]
Wish You Were Here: A Mrs Murphy Mystery. Rita Mae Brown [see review]
Rest in Pieces: A Mrs Murphy Mystery. Rita Mae Brown [review to come]
Santa Clawed: A Mrs Murphy Mystery. Rita Mae Brown [see review]
Cover Her Face (An Adam Dalgliesh Mystery). P.D. James [see review]
The House with a Clock in Its Walls (Lewis Barnavelt series). John Bellairs [see review]
Index to Murder (A Miss Zukas Mystery). Jo Dereske [review to come]
The Private Patient (An Adam Dalgliesh Mystery). P.D. James [review to come]
The Way Through the Woods (An Inspector Morse Mystery). Colin Dexter [see review]
The Valley of Fear (A Sherlock Holmes Mystery). Sir Arthur Conan Doyle [see review]
From Doon With Death (An Inspector Wexford Mystery). Ruth Rendell [see review]
Crewel Yule: A Needlework Mystery. Monica Ferris [see review]