Books Into Movies Challenge

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

Dates: 1 January to 31 December 2009
Host: Kathrin (CozyMurders.com)
Guidelines:

Read two or more books that were made into movies or relate to TV shows (or that originated as movies or TV shows).

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

READING LIST:

1. The Age of Innocence. Edith Wharton [See Review]
2. Angels & Demons. Dan Brown [See Review]
3. Angels & Insects. A.S. Byatt [See Review]
4. Cover Her Face. P.D. James (this was made into a mini-series for British TV and shown on Masterpiece Theater in the U.S.) [See Review]
5. Hotel Du Lac. Anita Brookner (this was made into a film for British TV and shown in the U.S. on the A& E Network) [See Review]
6. Solaris. Stanislaw Lem [See Review]
7. The Way Through the Woods. Colin Dexter (this became an episode of the "Inspector Morse Mysteries," shown in this country on PBS) [See Review]
   

Chunkster Challenge 2009

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

Dates: Ends November 15, 2009
Host: Dana, of So Many Books, So Little Time
Guidelines:

• A chunkster is 450 pages or more of ADULT literature (fiction or nonfiction).
• If you read large type books your book will need to be 525 pages or more. I asked around and the average LT book is 10-15% longer or more so I think that was a fair estimate.
• No Audio books in the chunkster. It just doesn't seem right. Words on paper for this one folks.
• You may start any time after signing up. You must complete your reads before or on Nov 15th.
• Short Stories and Essay collections will not be counted.
• Books may crossover with other challenges (see option 4 for a collaborative effort with TBR challenge).
• Only option 4 requires that you make a set list of books to complete the challenge.

There are several reading level options to choose from:

1. The Chubby Chunkster - this option is for the reader who has a large tome or two to read, but really doesn't want to commit to more than that. 2 books is all you need to finish this challenge.
2. Do These Books Make My Butt Look Big? - this option is for the slightly heavier reader who wants to commit to 3-5 Chunksters over the next ten months.
3. Mor-book-ly Obese - This is for the truly out of control chunkster. For this level of challenge you must commit to 6 or more chunksters OR three tomes of 750 pages or more. You know you want to.....go on and give in to your cravings.
4. And lastly, in an intriguing collaboration with the wildly popular Miz B of the TBR Challenge we have:
   Too Big To Ignore Anymore - this option is for those chunksters on your TBR list. You may select any number of books over 450 pages but you must LIST THEM to complete the challenge and they must be on your TBR list as well

I'm going to be doing the first level (the "Chubby Chunkster").

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

See the official challenge blog here.

READING LIST (completed books)

1. Angels & Demons. Dan Brown (572 pages) [see review]
2. Brimstone. Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child (500 pages)
3. Dance of Death. Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child (451 pages)
4. Rabbit Is Rich. John Updike (467 pages) [see review]
5. The Angel's Game. Carlos Ruiz Zafon (470 pages)
6. The Fire. Katherine Neville (451 pages) [see review]

The Victorian Challenge

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

Dates: January 1 to June 30, 2009
Host: Alex

Guidelines:

• This challenge is open to everyone who wishes to participate.
• You can choose the number of books you want to read by selecting one of the reading levels proposed (see below).
• There is a dedicated blog for the challenge. You can share your reviews or make a small update of your readings in this blog. It's entirely up to you.
• Books allowed can be written during the Victorian Era, set during that period, or about that period, including biographies.

Reading Levels:

• A drink at Whitechapel: 3 books
• A walk in Hyde Park: 4 books
• A tour of the British Museum: 5 books
• A visit to Buckingham Palace: 6 books

I'm going with Level 2: A Walk in Hyde Park
See my original post about the challenge here.
See my wrap-up post here.
See the challenge announcement page here.
See the challenge blog here.

READING LIST (books read):

1. The Age of Innocence, by Edith Wharton [See Review]
2. The Master, by Colm Toibin [See Review]
   
3. Angels & Insects, by A.S. Byatt [See Review]
   
4. The Valley of Fear, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle [See Review]
   

Romance Reading Challenge 2009

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

Dates: January 1 to December 31, 2009
Host: Naida (The Bookworm)
Guidelines:

• Read and review five books in the romance genre. (from the challenge announcement page: "There is a huge selection of books in this category such as contemporary romance, historical romance, romantic suspense and paranormal romance to name a few. As long as the story has romantic love between the two main characters your selection will fit this challenge.")
• Post links to reviews on the challenge page.
• You can change your choices at any time.
• Crossovers between other challenges are allowed.

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

READING LIST:

1. Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen
2. Daughter of the Stars, by Phyllis A. Whitney
3. Mistress of Mellyn, by Victoria Holt
4. The Age of Innocence, by Edith Wharton [See Review]
   
5. The Stormy Petrel, by Mary Stewart

SUPPLEMENTAL LIST:

1. The Woman In White, by Wilkie Collins
2. The Moonstone, by Wilkie Collins
3. The Monk, by Matthew Gregory Lewis
4. Castle of Otranto, by Horace Walpole
5. The Mysteries of Udolpho, by Ann Radcliffe