2014 Netgalley Reading Challenge

Dates: January 1 - December 31, 2014
Hosted by: Ariel Avalon

Guidelines:

Basically, the idea is to read the books you've gotten from Netgalley.  Continue to request galleys, or just read the ones you already have.  "The point is to get your feedback ratio closer to the recommended 80%." 

I'm signing up at the Hard Level (11-15 books)


~ See my original post about the challenge HERE.
~ See the challenge announcement/sign-up page HERE.

MY READING LIST (books read, with links to reviews): 

1. While Beauty Slept. Elizabeth Blackwell
2. The Bookman's Tale. Charlie Lovett
3. Midnight in Europe. Alan Furst
4. The Antiquarian. Gustavo Faverón Patriau
5. The Collector of Dying Breaths. M.J. Rose
6. The Weight of Blood. Laura McHugh
7. The Two Hotel Francforts. David Leavitt
8. The Dirty Book Murder: A Rare Book Mystery. Thomas Shawver
9.
10.
11.

These are NetGalley books I still need to read (more will come):

The Antiquarian. Gustavo Faverón Patriau
The Asylum. John Harwood
Berlin Noir (Three Novels). Philip Kerr
The Blazing World. Siri Hustvedt
The Bookman's Tale. Charlie Lovett
The Collector of Dying Breaths. M.J. Rose
The Dirty Book Murder: A Rare Book Mystery. Thomas Shawver
Hammett Unwritten. Owen Fitzstephen
Heads You Lose. Christianna Brand
The Hundred-Year House. Rebecca Makkai
Kind of Cruel. Sophie Hannah
Last Summer at Mars Hill. Elizabeth Hand 
Midnight in Europe. Alan Furst
The Midnight Side. Natasha Mostert
The Quick. Lauren Owen
Saffron and Brimstone: Strange Stories. Elizabeth Hand
Season of the Witch. Natasha Mostert
Small Blessings. Martha Woodroof
Stranded. Alex Kava 
Sweet Thunder. Ivan Doig 
This House is Haunted. John Boyne
The Two Hotel Francforts. David Leavitt
The Weight of Blood. Laura McHugh
While Beauty Slept. Elizabeth Blackwell
The White Cottage Mystery. Margery Allingham

R.eaders I.mbibing P.eril / VIII

***Challenge completed***

Dates: September 1 through October 31, 2013
Hosted by: Carl V. at Stainless Steel Droppings

Guidelines:

✸ There are several different levels of participation:

• Peril the First: Read four books of any length, from any subgenre you choose.
• Peril the Second: Read two books of any length, from any subgenre you choose.
• Peril the Third: Read one book of any length, from any subgenre you choose.
• Peril of the Short Story: An extra option, for those who want to read shorter works.
• Peril on the Screen: Another extra option, for those who like to watch scary or suspenseful fare on the large or small screen.
• Peril of the Group Read: A third extra -- there will be several group reads during the challenge. See announcement page for info.

✸ Choose your books from the following subgenres:

• Mystery
• Suspense
• Thriller
• Dark Fantasy
• Gothic
• Horror
• Supernatural

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

I signed up at the Peril the First level (four books), and I'll be combining that with Peril on the Screen.

MY BOOK LIST (books read; with links to reviews):

1. Night Film. Marisha Pessl
2. The Small Hand and Dolly. Susan Hill  
3. The Case of Charles Dexter Ward. H.P. Lovecraft

MY SCREEN PERIL LIST, Part I (Movies):

1. The Baby's Room (2006) Spanish horror film, apparently made for TV.  Altogether a fairly mediocre movie, but the shtick of ghostly happenings recorded on baby monitors was good and creepy.
2. Badlands (1973) Very disturbing film about a couple of very disturbed individuals.  And who does disturbed-and-disturbing better than Martin Sheen and Sissy Spacek?
3. Cat People (1942) Simone Simon is fascinatingly feline in this original version directed by Jacques Tourneur.
4. The Devil Doll (1936) Lionel Barrymore in drag! Who wouldn't love that?
5. Diary of a Madman (1963) Vincent Price screamer set in France; from a story by Guy de Maupassant.
6. The Fall of the House of Usher (1960) Vincent Price OWNS Edgar Allan Poe, doesn't he?  I've always loved the way the house sinks into the bog at the end - wonderfully cheesy.  (Oops! spoiler alert!)
7. The Haunted Palace (1963) More Vincent Price; this time in a film version of H.P. Lovecraft's "The Case of Charles Dexter Ward" - with a title borrowed from Edgar Poe.
8. Horror Castle (1963) Italian horror flick with Christopher Lee. Women being tortured and killed by a deformed, hooded, holocaust survivor.  Felt like taking a shower after this one.
9. Horror of Dracula (1958) One of the best versions of Bram Stoker's tale; probably my favorite, although I do love Frank Langella as the Count.
10. The Legend of Lucy Keyes (2005) Evil real estate developers? Now that's scary.
11. Mary Reilly (1996) I'm not a Julia Roberts fan, but she's actually pretty good in this. Love Malkovich, though, and he makes a great Hyde.
12. The Mask of Fu Manchu (1932) Boris Karloff as the evil Dr. FM. Can't believe I'd never seen this one before.
13. Mirrors (2008) Another one of those stories with mirrors as a gateway for ghosts and spirits. Actually a pretty watchable film, but the ending was a little confusing.
14. The Mummy (1932) The "original" version with Boris Karloff and Zita Johann - still the best and the scariest.
15. The Ninth Gate (1999) One of my all-time favorite films, by one of my all-time favorite directors, based on one of my all-time favorite books. What could be better?
16. Nosferatu (1922) A creepy classic. 
17. The Reeds (2010)  What the....?  Have no idea what was going on in this one.  In the running for worst horror film ever made.
18. Sea of Love (1989) Love Pacino. Love cop movies. Pacino + cop movie = perfection.
19. The Seventh Victim (1943) Satanic cults in Greenwich Village. Yeah, I can buy that. Kim Hunter in her very first film.
20. 007 - I also watched a handful of James Bond movies.  Not spooky, but I suppose they do qualify in the suspense/mystery/thriller category.  The list:
    Dr. No (1962)
    From Russia With Love (1963)
    The Man With the Golden Gun (1974)
    The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)
    For Your Eyes Only (1981)
    Licence To Kill (1989)

MY SCREEN PERIL LIST, Part II (TV shows):

1. The Blacklist (2013; pilot episode)
2. Broadchurch (2013; mini-series)
3. Doctor Who: The Power of Three (2012; Season 7/Episode 4)
4. Doctor Who: The Angels Take Manhattan (2012; 7/5)
5. Doctor Who: The Snowmen (2012; 7/6)
6. Doctor Who: The Bells of St. John (2013; 7/7)
7. Doctor Who: The Rings of Akhaten (2013; 7/8)
8. Doctor Who: Cold War (2013; 7/9)
9. Doctor Who: Hide (2013; 7/10)
10. Inspector George Gently: Gently Northern Soul (2012; Season 5/Episode 1)
11. Midsomer Murders: The Electric Vendetta (2001; Season 4 / Episode 3)
12. Midsomer Murders: Who Killed Cock Robin? (2001; 4/4)
13. Midsomer Murders: Dark Autumn (2001; 4/5)
14. Midsomer Murders: Tainted Fruit (2001; 4/6)
15. Midsomer Murders: Market for Murder (2002; 5/1)
16. Midsomer Murders: A Worm in the Bud (2002; 5/2)
17. Midsomer Murders: Ring Out Your Dead (2002; 5/3)
18. Midsomer Murders: Murder on St. Malley's Day (2002; 5/4)
19. Midsomer Murders: A Talent for Life (2003; 6/1)
20. Midsomer Murders: Death and Dreams (2003; 6/2)
21. Midsomer Murders: Painted in Blood (2003; 6/3)
22. Midsomer Murders: A Tale of Two Hamlets (2003; 6/4)
23. Midsomer Murders: Birds of Prey (2003; 6/5)
24. Midsomer Murders: The Green Man (2003; 7/1)
25. Midsomer Murders: Bad Tidings (2004; 7/2)
26. Midsomer Murders: The Fisher King (2004; 7/3)
27. Midsomer Murders: Sins of Commission (2004; 7/4)
28. Midsomer Murders: The Maid in Splendour (2004; 7/5)
29. Midsomer Murders: The Straw Woman (2004; 7/6)
30. Midsomer Murders: Ghosts of Christmas Past (2004; 7/7)
31. Midsomer Murders: Things That Go Bump in the Night (2004; 8/1)

2013 ARC Reading Challenge

Dates: Throughout 2013
Hosted by: Teddy Rose @ So Many Precious Books, So Little Time

Guidelines (quoted from the announcement/sign-up page):

• You can join this challenge at anytime throughout the year. 
• You don't have to make a list of which ARC's you plan to read, but you can if you want. If you choose a lower level, you can always change it to a higher level if you like. However, you cannot go from a higher level back down to a lower level.
• Crossovers with other challenges are allowed and Audio-books and ebooks are allowed as long as they are ARC's. 
• Read the books and review them on your blog. If you don't have a blog, you can post your review on sites like Powells, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, etc. 

Levels:

1. Level Bronze:
   a. All of us who have or will have less than 12 ARCS must read all of the ARCS we have. Note, that if you have 11 ARC's and then receive a 12th one you will be bumped up to category b.
   b. All of us who have or will have 12 or more than 12 ARCS must read and review at least 12.
2. Level Silver: Read 24 ARCS
3. Level Gold: Read 30 ARCS
4. Level Platinum: Read 35 or more ARCS

See my challenge wrap-up post HERE.
See the challenge announcement/sign-up page HERE.
See the review page for May HERE.
See the review page for June HERE.

✷ I'll be going for the Bronze Level again.  My plan is to read ALL the books in my Current Pile, and then as many as possible of the "left behind" books on the second list here.  I know I probably won't get them all read this year, but I really need to try.

MY READING LIST
(These are the ARCs and other books from publishers or authors that I need to read. As I read and review a book, I'll cross it off the list and add a link to the review.)

~ CURRENT PILE:  Books published / to be published in 2013 or 2014:

1. & Sons: A Novel. David Gilbert (July 23, 2013)
2. After I'm Gone. Laura Lippman (February 2014)
3. Andrew's Brain. E.L. Doctorow (January 14, 2014) 
4. The Antiquarian. Gustavo Faveron Patriau (June 3, 2014)
5. The Asylum. John Harwood (May 21, 2013)
6. Bellman & Black. Diane Setterfield (November 5, 2013)
7. The Bookman's Tale. Charlie Lovett (May 28, 2013)
8. The Book of Secrets. Elizabeth Joy Arnold (July 2, 2013)
9. The Burgess Boys. Elizabeth Strout (March 26, 2013)
10. Children of the Revolution: Inspector Banks #21. Peter Robinson (5 March, 2014)
11. Cold Remains. Sally Spedding (12 February, 2012 - UK publication)
    
12. A Cold Season. Allison Littlewood (September 24, 2013)
13. The Days of Anna Madrigal. Armistead Maupin (1 January, 2014)  
14. The Dead in Their Vaulted Arches: Flavia de Luce #6. Alan Bradley (14 January, 2014)
15. A Delicate Truth. John LeCarré (May 7, 2013)
16. A Fatal Likeness. Lynn Shepherd (August 20, 2013)
17. A Fearful Madness. Julius Falconer (March 21, 2013)
18. The Good Luck of Right Now. Matthew Quick (February 11, 2014)
19. Guilt. Jonathan Kellerman (February 12, 2013)
20. Hunting Shadows: Inspector Rutledge #16. Charles Todd (31 December, 2013)
    
21. Is This Tomorrow. Caroline Leavitt (May 7, 2013)
22. Kind of Cruel. Sophie Hannah (August 6, 2013)
23. Last Summer at Mar's Hill. Elizabeth Hand (May 14, 2013)
24. No Man's Nightingale: Inspector Wexford #24.  Ruth Rendall (5 November, 2013)
25. Ripper. Isabel Allende (8 Janury, 2014)
26. Sexplosion: From Andy Warhol to A Clockwork Orange - How a Generation of Pop Rebels Broke All the Taboos. Robert Hofler (15 January, 2014)
27. The Small Hand & Dolly. Susan Hill (September 24, 2013)
28. Stranded. Alex Kava (July 16, 2013)
29. Sweet Thunder. Ivan Doig (August 20, 2013) 
30. Ten Lords A-Leaping. C.C. Benison (December 3, 2013) 
31. Time Will Tell. Donald Greig (paperback edition, May 1, 2013)
32. The Two Hotel Francforts. David Leavitt (October 15, 2013)
33. The Universe Versus Alex Woods. Gavin Extence (June 25, 2013) 
34. The Weight of Blood. Laura McHugh (March 11, 2014) 

~ THE LEFT-BEHIND PILE: Books published in 2012 and earlier (embarrassing, but yes, I do have a stack left over from former years):

1. Altar of Bones. Philip Carter 
2. The Blue Death. Joan Brady
3. Istanbul Passage. Joseph Kanon
4. The Map of the Sky. Felix J. Palma
5. The Map of Time. Felix J. Palma
6. The Secret Keeper. Kate Morton
7. Torn. Casey Hill
8. The Yard. Alex Grecian
9. The House of Velvet and Glass. Katherine Howe
10. Prophecy. S.J. Parris
11. Dreams of Joy. Lisa See
12. Iron House. John Hart
13. The Painted Caves. Jean M. Auel

Once Upon a Time VII

Dates: 21 March - 21 June, 2013
Hosted by: Carl V. @ Stainless Steel Droppings

Guidelines (quoted from the challenge announcement page):

• Readings should come from these four genres: fantasy, fairy tale, folklore and mythology. 
• Participants can choose one or more of the following levels (or Quests):

1. The Journey - Read at least one book from any of the four genres. No need to commit to any set number of books.
2. Quest the First - Read at least 5 books that fit somewhere within the Once Upon a Time III criteria. They might all be fantasy, or folklore, or fairy tales, or mythology…or your five books might be a combination from the four genres.
3. Quest the Second - Read at least one book from each of the four categories. In this quest you will be reading 4 books total: one fantasy, one folklore, one fairy tale, and one mythology.
4. Quest the Third - Fulfill the requirements for Quest the First or Quest the Second AND top it off with a June reading of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream OR a viewing of one of the many theatrical versions of the play.
5. Short Story Quest - This quest involves the reading of one or more short stories that fit within at least one of the four genres during the course of the weekend. Ideally you would post about your short story readings on Sundays or Mondays, but this is not strictly necessary.
6. Quest on the Screen - To participate in this quest simply let the other participants know about the films and/or television shows that you feel fit into the definitions of fantasy, fairy tales, folklore or mythology that you are enjoying during the challenge.

✸ I'm signing up at the "Journey" level, so I'll be reading at least one book, but (as usual) hope to read a few more.

See my original post about the challenge HERE.
See the challenge announcement/sign-up page HERE.
See the challenge review page HERE.

MY READING LIST (books read, with links to reviews):

1. Half Magic. Edward Eager 
2. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. L. Frank Baum 
3. Mistress Masham's Repose. T.H. White

LIST OF POSSIBLE CHOICES:

The 13 Clocks. James Thurber
The Bell at Sealey Head. Patricia A. McKillip
The Book of Lost Things. John Connolly
The Castle of Llyr. Lloyd Alexander
The City of Dreaming Books. Walter Moers
The Crystal Cave. Mary Stewart
The Eyre Affair. Jasper Fforde
The Fairy-Tale Detectives (Sisters Grimm #1). Michael Buckley
Five Children and It. E. Nesbit
Inkheart. Cornelia Funke
The Mabinogion.
The Magic of Finkleton. K.C. Hilton
Magic or Not? Edward Eager
Mistress Masham's Repose. T.H. White
The Mists of Avalon. Marion Zimmer Bradley
The Moon of Gomrath: A Tale of Alderley. Alan Garner
The Phantom Tollbooth. Norton Juster
Photographing Fairies. Steve Szilagyi
The Prince of Mist. Carlos Ruiz Zafon
The Princess and the Goblin. George MacDonald
The Red Pyramid. Rick Riordan
Silver on the Tree. Susan Cooper
Stuart Little. E.B. White
The Trumpet of the Swan. E.B. White
The Well-Wishers. Edward Eager
The Wind in the Willows. Kenneth Grahame
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. L. Frank Baum

2013 Books in Translation Reading Challenge

**Challenge complete. See my wrap-up post HERE.**

Dates: 1 January - 31 December, 2013
Hosted by: The Introverted Reader

Guidelines:

• Read translations of books, from any language into the language(s) you're comfortable reading in; books don't have to be in English. 
• Any genre is allowed, and books can be for any age range. 
• Crossovers with other challenges are OK. 
• Any format that you choose is acceptable. 
• You don't need a blog to participate. 

Levels:

1. Beginner: Read 1-3 books in translation 
2. Conversationalist: 4-6 
3. Bilingual: 7-9 
4. Linguist: 10-12 

** I'm signing up at the "Beginner" level, so I'll be reading 1-3 books.

See my original post about the challenge HERE.
See my challenge wrap-up post HERE.
See the challenge announcement/sign-up page HERE.

MY READING LIST (books read, with links to reviews):

1. Ignorance. Milan Kundera; translated from the French by Linda Asher  
2. Invisible Cities. Italo Calvino; translated from the Italian by William Weaver 
3. Chéri. Colette; translated from the French by Roger Senhouse 

2013 Nonfiction Reading Challenge

**Challenge complete.  See my wrap-up post HERE.**

Dates: 1 January - 31 December, 2013
Hosted by: The Introverted Reader

Guidelines: (quoted from challenge announcement page) "Read any non-fiction book(s), adult or young adult. That's it. You can choose anything. Memoirs? Yes. History? Yes. Travel? Yes. You get the idea? Absolutely anything that is classified as non-fiction counts for this challenge."

Levels:

1. Dilettante -- Read 1-5 non-fiction books
2. Explorer -- Read 6-10
3. Seeker -- Read 11-15
4. Master -- Read 16-20 

** I'm signing up at the "Dilettante" level, so I'll be reading 1-5 books.

See my original post about the challenge HERE.
See my challenge wrap-up post HERE.  
See the challenge announcement/sign-up page HERE.

MY READING LIST (books read, with links to reviews):

1. Darwin's Ghosts: The Secret History of Evolution. Rebecca Stott

2013 Pre-1960 Classic Children's Books Reading Challenge

**Challenge complete.  See my wrap-up post HERE.**

Hosted by: Kimberly @ Turning the Pages
Dates: 1 January - 31 December, 2013

The goal here is to read classic children's books: any number, but only participants who read/review at least one book per month will be eligible for the challenge giveaway.

Guidelines:

• All books must have an original publication date of 1960 or earlier.
• All formats are allowed
• Books must be at least 60 pages in length
• Re-reads are OK
• Reviews are only required to qualify for prizes
• There will be monthly "Challenge in Review" posts for links to reviews/progress reports

See my original post about the challenge HERE.
See my challenge wrap-up post HERE.
See the challenge announcement/sign-up page HERE.
See the page for January wrap-ups HERE.
See the page for February wrap-ups HERE.
See the page for March wrap-ups HERE. 
See the page for April wrap-ups HERE.
See the page for May wrap-ups HERE.



MY READING LIST (books I read):

1. The Happy Hollisters. Jerry West (1953)
2. Half Magic. Edward Eager (1954)
   
3. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. L. Frank Baum (1900)  
4. Pretty Polly Flinders. Mary Frances Blaisdell (1914)
5. The 13 Clocks. James Thurber (1950)

LIST OF POSSIBLE READS:

The 13 Clocks. James Thurber (1950)
Anne of Green Gables. L.M. Montgomery (1908)
Beezus and Ramona. Beverly Cleary (1955)
Black Fox of Lorne. Marguerite de Angeli (1957)
Five Children and It. E. Nesbit (1902)
Half Magic. Edward Eager (1954)
Hitty Her First Hundred Years. Rachel Field (1929)
The Hundred and One Dalmatians. Dodie Smith (1956)
Magic by the Lake. Edward Eager (1957)
Magic or Not? Edward Eager (1959)
Miss Hickory. Carolyn Sherwin Bailey (1946)
Mistress Masham's Repose. T.H. White (1946)
Stuart Little. E.B. White (1945)
Tom Sawyer, Detective. Mark Twain (1896)
The Well-Wishers. Edward Eager (1960)
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. L. Frank Baum (1900)

2013 Mystery / Crime Reading Challenge

**Challenge complete.  See my wrap-up post HERE.**

Dates: 1 January - 31 December, 2013
Hosted by: Amy @ The Crafty Book Nerd (now @ A Bookish Girl)

Guidelines:

• No set number of books.  All novels, short stories, or authors qualify, just so long as the genre is mystery/crime.
• Anything over 100 pages counts as a novel; five short stories equal one novel.
• There will be a monthly link for reviews/progress reports.
• There will also be monthly prizes for participants who link up.
• You don't need a blog to participate: link up through GoodReads or Flickr.

At the end of the year, participants will receive a rank depending on the amount read:

• 5 books = Detective 
• 10 books = Sergeant 
• 15 books = Lieutenant 
• 20 books = Captain 
• 25 books = Chief 
• 30+ books = Sherlock Holmes

See my original post about the challenge HERE.
See the challenge announcement / sign-up page
See my challenge wrap-up post HERE.  
See the January page for linking reviews HERE.
See the February page for linking reviews HERE.

MY READING LIST (books read, with links to reviews):

1. Cat on the Scent. Rita Mae Brown
2. The Lost Symbol. Dan Brown
3. Cold Remains. Sally Spedding
4. Guilt. Jonathan Kellerman
5. Fer-de-Lance. Rex Stout 
6. A Fearful Madness. Julius Falconer
7. Inferno. Dan Brown
8. Death By a HoneyBee. Abigail Keam
9. A Fatal Likeness. Lyn Shepherd
10. The Book of Secrets. Elizabeth Joy Arnold
11. Night Film. Marisha Pessl 
12. Double Indemnity. James M. Cain
13. Evil Under the Sun. Agatha Christie

2013 Middle East Reading Challenge

**Challenge complete. See my wrap-up post HERE.**

Dates: 1 January - 31 December 2013
Hosted by: Maphead

Guidelines:
The goal here is to read as many books as you like, related to the Greater Middle East area (or MENA--Middle East/North Africa).  Books can be fiction or nonfiction, and there are four levels of participation:

1. Tourist (1-5 books)
2. Diplomat (5-10 books)
3. Foreign Policy Specialist (10-15 books)
4. Scholar (15 books or more)

Books can be written by Middle Eastern authors, take place in the Middle East, or be concerned with the Greater Middle East; and they can deal with either contemporary or historical Middle Eastern issues.

Regions (quoted from the challenge blog):
"Referred [to] by many nowadays as the "Greater Middle East" or "MENA" (Middle East/North Africa), our challenge will focus on the North African nations of Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Libya and Egypt; the Levantine nations of Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Jordan and the Palestinian Territories; all the nations within, bordering or relatively close proximity to the Arabian Peninsula including Iran, Iraq, Kuwait and the Gulf Emirates.

• After a great deal of agonizing I've decided to not include Turkey. Nothing personal, it's just a judgement call. However, if you come across a book dealing with that nation's role in the Middle East by all means feel free to include it. Of course, since much of the Middle East was ruled by the Ottoman Empire until the end of WWI, books dealing with [that] period of history are cool too. 
•  I've also decided to not include the nations of the Horn of Africa or its neighbors Sudan and South Sudan. Yet another judgement call." 

 ~ I'm signing up at the "Tourist" level, so I'll be reading 1-5 books.

See my original post about the challenge HERE.
See my challenge wrap-up post HERE. 
See the challenge announcement / sign-up page HERE.
See the challenge blog HERE.
See the page for reviews HERE.

MY READING LIST (books read, with links to reviews):

1. Clea. Lawrence Durrell

Finishing the Series Reading Challenge 2013

Dates: 1 January - 31 December 2013
Hosted by: Yvonne @ Socrates' Book Reviews

Guidelines:

• Books must be part of a continuing series to qualify. 
• Doesn't matter how many books you have left to read in the series -- the goal is to complete the series.
• Books must be read between January 1st and December 31st, 2013.
• You don't need a blog to participate.
• Any format of book counts -- audio, e-book, etc.
• You should have some idea of what series you want to complete when you begin the challenge, but you can change your mind during the course of the challenge.

Levels of Participation:

1. Level 1 - Complete 1 series
2. Level 2 - Complete 2 series
3. Level 3 - Complete 3 or more series

~ I'm signing up at Level 1, and I'll probably try to complete the Mrs. Malory mystery series, by Hazel Holt (I have two books to go). But I have quite a few other series I could work on (see my list HERE), if I get that one wrapped up.

~ See my original post about the challenge HERE.
~ See the challenge announcement / sign-up page HERE.

MY READING LIST (books read, with links to reviews):

European Reading Challenge 2013

**Challenge complete. See my wrap-up post HERE.**

Dates: 1 January 2013 - 31 January 2014
Hosted by:  Rose City Reader

Guidelines:

• Read books by European authors; or books set in European countries, no matter where the author comes from.
• All genres are allowed.
• Each book read must be by a different author and set in a different country.
• For this challenge, "Europe" refers to the list of 50 sovereign states that mostly fall within the geographic territory of the continent of Europe (or those countries that belong to international European organizations such as the Council of Europe).  See the list of countries, below.
• All books must be read between January 1, 2013 and January 31, 2014.
• You don't need to commit to your choices now; you can change your mind about books at any time. 
• Overlap with other challenges is allowed -- and encouraged! 
• Re-reads count. 
• Audiobooks count. 
• E-books count. 
• Self-published books count. 
• You don't need a blog to participate. 
• As you progress, please link to your reviews on the review list page. However, reviews are not mandatory, unless you're going for a prize, in which case only books reviewed count. 

The List of Countries: Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Macedonia, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, and Vatican City.

Levels of Participation:

1. Five Star (Deluxe Entourage): Read at least five books by different European authors or books set in different European countries. 
2. Four Star (Honeymooner): Read four qualifying books. 
3. Three Star (Business Traveler): Read three qualifying books. 
4. Two Star (Adventurer): Read two qualifying books. 
5. One Star (Pensione Weekender): Read just one qualifying book. 

~ I'm signing up at the Five Star Level, so I'll be reading at least 5 books.

~ See my original post about the challenge HERE. 
~ See my challenge wrap-up post HERE. 
~ See the challenge announcement / sign-up page HERE.

MY READING LIST (books read, with links to reviews):

1. Cold Remains. Sally Spedding (Wales, UK)
2. Ignorance. Milan Kundera (mostly set in Czechoslovakia)
3. Inferno. Dan Brown (Italy)
4. Chéri. Colette (France)

Chunkster Reading Challenge 2013

***Challenge done (well, half of it anyway)***

Dates: 1 January - 31 December 2013
Hosted by: Caribousmom and Vasilly

Guidelines:

• Books must be at least 450 pages to qualify as a "chunkster" (large print editions must be at least 525 pages)
• No audio books allowed (some exceptions)
• No e-books allowed (some exceptions)
• Books may be fiction or nonfiction
• Crossovers with other challenges are allowed
• You don't need a blog to participate
• No advance lists required
• Once you've picked your level, you're committed to it for the duration of the challenge

Levels:

1. The Chubby Chunkster – read 4 chunksters
2. The Plump Primer - read 6 books that qualify
3. Do These Books Make my Butt Look Big? - read 6 chunksters from the following categories:
   2 books which are between 450 - 550 pages in length;
   2 books which are 551 - 750 pages in length;
   2 books which are GREATER than 750 pages in length
4. Mor-book-ly Obese - Read 8 or more chunksters of which three MUST be 750 pages or more

~ I'm signing up for Level 1 ("Chubby Chunkster"), so I'll be reading 4 books.

~ See my original post about the challenge HERE.
~ See my wrap-up post HERE. 
~ See the challenge sign-up page HERE.
~ See the challenge blog HERE.
~ See the link for reviews HERE.


MY READING LIST (books read, with links to reviews):

1. The Lost Symbol. Dan Brown (509 pages in hardcover) 
2. Night Film. Marisha Pessl (602 pages in hardcover)

2013 Historical Fiction Reading Challenge

**Challenge complete. See my wrap-up post HERE.**

Dates: 1 January - 31 December, 2013
Hosted by: Historical Tapestry

Guidelines (quoted from challenge announcement page):

"The challenge will run in the same way as it has over the last couple of years that we have hosted the challenge. The only thing that has changed is the names of the categories....Each month, a new post dedicated to the HF Challenge will be created. To participate, you only have to follow the rules:

• everyone can participate, even those who don't have a blog (you can add your book title and thoughts in the comment section if you wish) 
• add the link(s) of your review(s) including your name and book title to the Mister Linky we’ll be adding to our monthly post (please, do not add your blog link, but the correct address that will guide us directly to your review) 
• any kind of historical fiction is accepted (HF fantasy, HF young adult,...)"

Levels:

1. 20th century reader - 2 books 
2. Victorian reader - 5 books 
3. Renaissance reader - 10 books 
4. Medieval - 15 books 
5. Ancient History -25+ books 

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

** I'm signing up at the second level ("Victorian reader"), so I'll be reading five books.

MY READING LIST (books read, with links to reviews):  

1. The Heat of the Sun. David Rain
2. The Flamethrowers. Rachel Kushner 
3. Clea. Lawrence Durrell (review to come)
4. Is This Tomorrow. Caroline Leavitt (review to come)
5. A Fatal Likeness. Lyn Shepherd (review to come)
6. The Shooting Party. Isabel Colegate  
7. The 13 Clocks. James Thurber 

2013 Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge

**Challenge complete. See my wrap-up post HERE.**

Dates: 1 January - 31 December, 2013
Hosted by: The Book Vixen

Guidelines (quoted from the Challenge announcement page):

• The goal is to outdo yourself by reading more books in 2013 than you did in 2012.
• 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.
• Books can be any format (bound, ebook, audio).
• Novellas that are at least 100 pages in length, as well as full-length novels, will count for this reading challenge.
• Re-reads and crossovers from other reading challenges are allowed.
• You do not have to be a book blogger to participate; you can track your progress on Goodreads or LibraryThing.

Levels:

1. Getting my heart rate up – Read 1–5 more books 
2. Out of breath – Read 6–10 more books 
3. Breaking a sweat – Read 11–15 more books 
4. I’m on fire! – Read 16+ more books

** I'm signing up at the second level ("Out of breath").

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

See the Challenge announcement/sign-up page here.
See the Challenge review link-up page here.

MY READING LIST (books read, with links to reviews):

1. The Lost Symbol. Dan Brown 
2. Cat on the Scent. Rita Mae Brown
3. Darwin's Ghosts. Rebecca Stott 
4. The Heat of the Sun. David Rain
5. Farewell, Dorothy Parker. Ellen Meister
6. Guilt. Jonathan Kellerman 
7. Cold Remains. Sally Spedding
8. The Happy Hollisters. Jerry West
9. Half Magic. Edward Eager
10. The Gordonston Ladies Dog Walking Club. Duncan Whitehead
11. Clea. Lawrence Durrell
12. Seduction. M.J. Rose
13. Fer-de-Lance. Rex Stout 
14. The Flamethrowers. Rachel Kushner
15. & Sons: A Novel. David Gilbert 
16. Inferno. Dan Brown 
17. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. L. Frank Baum
18. A Fearful Madness. Julius Falconer
19. Death By a HoneyBee. Abigail Keam
20. Is This Tomorrow. Caroline Leavitt 
21. A Fatal Likeness. Lyn Shepherd 
22. Pretty Polly Flinders. Mary Frances Blaisdell
23. The Good Luck of Right Now. Matthew Quick 
24. The Buddhist Catechism. Henry Steel Olcott
25. Bunnicula.  James Howe & Deborah Howe
26. The Book of Secrets. Elizabeth Joy Arnold
27. Night Film. Marisha Pessl
28. The Small Hand & Dolly. Susan Hill
29. The Case of Charles Dexter Ward. H.P. Lovecraft
30. Ignorance. Milan Kundera
31. The Shooting Party. Isabel Colegate
32. Time Will Tell. Donald Greig
33. Heroic Measures. Jill Ciment
34. Invisible Cities. Italo Calvino
35. Double Indemnity. James M. Cain
36. Evil Under the Sun. Agatha Christie
37. The 13 Clocks. James Thurber
38. Chéri. Colette 

Vintage Mystery Reading Challenge 2013: Scattergories

**Challenge complete (sort of). See my wrap-up post HERE.**

Dates: 1 January - 31 December, 2013
Hosted by: Bev @ My Reader's Block

Guidelines:

• Read at least 8 books from 8 different categories
• All books must have been originally written before 1960 and be from the mystery category (crime fiction, detective fiction, espionage, etc.). 
• Short story collections are OK so long as all the stories included were originally written pre-1960. 
• Each book may count for only one category. 
• Books may count towards any other challenges. 
• Challenge runs from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2013. Sign up any time between now and November 30, 2013. Any books read from January 1 on may count regardless of your sign-up date. 
• Reviews are not required. 
• Once you have met the 8 book minimum, you may repeat any category (except the last one) any number of times to reach the 16+ level. 
• There will be a site for reviews/progress reports. 
•  Mini-Challenge Level--for those who would like to participate at a lower commitment. Choose any 4 categories for a commitment of 4 books. Challengers who complete this level will be eligible for a separate year-end prize drawing.

 Categories:

1. Colorful Crime: a book with a color or reference to color in the title 
2. Murder by the Numbers: a book with a number, quantity in the title 
3. Amateur Night: a book with a "detective" who is not a P.I.; Police Officer; Official Investigator (Nurse Keate, Father Brown, Miss Marple, etc.) 
4. Leave It to the Professionals: a book featuring cops, private eyes, secret service, professional spies, etc. 
5. Jolly Old England: one mystery set in Britain 
6. Yankee Doodle Dandy: one mystery set in the United States 
7. World Traveler: one mystery set in any country except the US or Britain 
8. Dangerous Beasts: a book with an animal in the title (The Case of the Grinning Gorilla; The Canary Murder Case; etc.) 
9. A Calendar of Crime: a mystery with a date/holiday/year/month/etc. in the title (Hercule Poirot's Christmas, Holiday Homicide, etc.) 
10. Wicked Women: a book with a woman in the title--either by name (Mrs. McGinty's Dead) or by reference (The Case of the Vagabound Virgin) 
11. Malicious Men: a book with a man in the title--either by name (Maigret & the Yellow Dog) or by reference (The Case of the Haunted Husband) 
12. Murderous Methods : a book with a means of death in the title (The Noose, 5 Bullets, Deadly Nightshade, etc). 
13. Staging the Crime: a mystery set in the entertainment world (the theater, musical event, a pageant, Hollywood, featuring a magician, etc) 
14. Scene of the Crime: a book with the location of the crime in the title (The Body in the Library, Murder at the Vicarage, etc.) 
15. Cops & Robbers: a book that features a theft rather than murder 
16. Locked Rooms: a locked-room mystery 
17. Country House Criminals: a standard (or not-so-standard) Golden Age country house murder
18. Murder on the High Seas: a mystery involving water 
19. Planes, Trains & Automobiles: a mystery that involves a mode of transportation in a vital way--explicitly in the title (Murder on the Orient Express) or by implication (Death in the Air; Death Under Sail) or perhaps the victim was shoved under a bus.... 
20. Murder Is Academic: a mystery involving a scholar, teacher, librarian, etc. OR set at a school, university, library, etc. 
21. Things That Go Bump in the Night: a mystery with something spooky, creepy, gothic in the title (The Skeleton in the Clock, Haunted Lady, The Bat, etc.) 
22. Repeat Offenders: a mystery featuring your favorite series detective or by your favorite author (the books/authors you'd read over and over again) OR reread an old favorite 
23. The Butler Did It...Or Not: a mystery where the butler is the victim, the sleuth....(gasp) the criminal....or is just downright memorable for whatever reason. 
24. A Mystery By Any Other Name: any book that has been published under more than one title (Murder Is Easy--aka Easy to Kill [Christie]; Fog of Doubt--aka London Particular [Christianna Brand], etc.) 
25. Dynamic Duos: a mystery featuring a detective team--Holmes & Watson, Pam & Jerry North, Wolfe & Goodwin, or....a little-known team that you introduce to us. 
26. Size Matters: a book with a size or measurement in the title (Death Has a Small Voice, The Big Four, The Weight of the Evidence, etc.) 
27. Psychic Phenomena: a mystery featuring a seance, medium, hypnotism, or other psychic or "supernatural" characters/events 
28. Book to Movie: one vintage mystery that has appeared on screen (feature film or TV movie). 
29. The Old Bailey: a courtroom drama mystery (Perry Mason, anyone? Witness for the Prosecution...etc.) OR a mystery featuring a judge, lawyer, barrister, D.A., etc. 
30. Get Out of Jail Free: This is a freebie category. One per customer. 

See my original post about the challenge here.
See my challenge wrap-up post here. 
See the Challenge Announcement page here.
See the review site here.

MY READING LIST (with links to reviews):

1. Fer-de-Lance. Rex Stout (first published 1934)
   ~ Since this is the first book in Stout's Nero Wolfe/Archie Goodwin series, it's definitely in the "Dynamic Duo" category (Category #25).
2. Evil Under the Sun. Agatha Christie (first published 1941)
   ~ I loved the film with Peter Ustinov, Maggie Smith, and Diana Rigg. How have I neglected to read the book all these years? Category #28 (Book to Movie)

What's in a Name 6

**Challenge complete.  See my wrap-up post HERE.**

Dates: 1 January - 31 December 2013
Hosted by: Beth Fish Reads

What it's all about -- Between January 1 and December 31, 2013, participants will read one book in each of the following Categories:

1. A book with up or down (or equivalent) in the title
2. A book with something you'd find in your kitchen in the title
3. A book with a party or celebration in the title
4. A book with fire (or equivalent) in the title
5. A book with an emotion in the title
6. A book with lost or found (or equivalent) in the title

Guidelines (quoted from Challenge announcement page):

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

See my original post about the challenge here.
See my challenge wrap-up post here. 
See the challenge announcement/sign-up page here.
See the gateway to review link-ups here.

MY READING LIST (books read, with links to reviews):

• Category #1: Evil Under the Sun. Agatha Christie
• Category #2: Death By a HoneyBee. Abigail Keam
• Category #3: The Shooting Party. Isabel Colegate
• Category #4: The Heat of the Sun. David Rain (See Review)
• Category #5: The Happy Hollisters. Jerry West (See Review)
• Category #6: The Lost Symbol. Dan Brown (See Review)

Fall Into Reading 2012

***Challenge completed***

Dates: 22 September - 21 December 2012
Hosted by: Katrina @ Callapidder Days

Guidelines (quoted from the challenge announcement page):

• Create a list of books you’d like to read or finish this fall. This is the only real requirement for participating in the challenge. 
• Feel free to set some additional reading goals (such as reading to your kids two hours per week, getting through your pile of magazines, etc.). However, this is not required; setting additional goals is completely optional. 
• Write a blog post that includes the list of books you want to read (and any additional goals you’ve set), and get ready to post it on your blog on September 22nd. 
• Visit Callapidder Days on September 22nd to sign up for the challenge. 
• Read! Work on your goals throughout Fall 2012. 
• Report your results. Write another blog post in December to let everyone know how you did.
• Have fun! Visit other participants to see what they’re reading. Write reviews if you’re so inclined. But most of all, enjoy your fall reading! 

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

MY BOOK LIST (Books read):

1. The Little Stranger. Sarah Waters 
2. Mrs. Malory and No Cure For Death. Hazel Holt 
3. The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. Stieg Larsson 
4. Lost Boy Lost Girl. Peter Straub 
5. The Nursing Home Murder. Ngaio Marsh
6. The Bartender's Tale. Ivan Doig
7. The Trial. Franz Kafka

LIST OF POSSIBLE READS:

The Bartenders' Tale. Ivan Doig
Darwin's Ghosts. Rebecca Stott
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. Stieg Larsson
The House of Velvet and Glass. Katherine Howe
Istanbul Passage. Joseph Kanon
The Little Stranger. Sarah Waters
The Nursing Home Murder. Ngaio Marsh
The Pale Horse. Agatha Christie
The Secret Keeper. Kate Morton
The Yard. Alex Grecian

R.eaders I.mbibing P.eril / VII

***Challenge Completed***

Dates: September 1 through October 31, 2012
Hosted by: Carl V. at Stainless Steel Droppings

Guidelines:

✸ There are several different levels of participation:

• Peril the First: Read four books of any length, from any subgenre you choose.
• Peril the Second: Read two books of any length, from any subgenre you choose.
• Peril the Third: Read one book of any length, from any subgenre you choose.
• Peril of the Short Story: An extra option, for those who want to read shorter works.
• Peril on the Screen: Another extra option, for those who like to watch scary or suspenseful fare on the large or small screen.
• Peril of the Group Read: A third extra -- there will be several group reads during the challenge. See announcement page for info.

✸ Choose your books from the following subgenres:

• Mystery
• Suspense
• Thriller
• Dark Fantasy
• Gothic
• Horror
• Supernatural

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

I signed up at the Peril the Second level (two books), but hope to do much better than that; and I'll be  combining that with Peril on the Screen.

MY BOOK LIST (books read):

1. The Little Stranger. Sarah Waters  
2. Mrs. Malory and No Cure For Death. Hazel Holt 
3. The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. Stieg Larsson 
4. Lost Boy Lost Girl. Peter Straub
5. The Nursing Home Murder. Ngaio Marsh

MY SCREEN PERIL LIST (movies/TV shows watched, with links to any reviews):

1. Waking the Dead: A Simple Sacrifice (TV Series; 2000)
2. Waking the Dead: Every Breath You Take (TV Series; 2000)
   
3. Waking the Dead: Death Watch (TV Series; 2002)
4. Waking the Dead: Life Sentence (TV Series; 2002)
5. Wallander: The Dogs of Riga (TV series; 2012)
6. Wallander: An Event in Autumn (TV series; 2012)
7. Wallander: Before the Frost (TV series; 2012) 
8. 10 Rillington Place (film; 1971; directed by Richard Fleischer) 
9. 23 Paces to Baker Street (film; 1956; directed by Henry Hathaway)
10. Black Swan (film; 2010; directed by Darren Aronofsky)
    
11. The Eclipse (film; 2009; directed by Conor McPherson)
12. The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (film; 2011; directed by David Fincher)
13. The Haunting (film; 1963; directed by Robert Wise) 
14. The Horror of Dracula (film; 1958; directed by Terence Fisher)
15. Mark of the Vampire (film; 1935; directed by Tod Browning)
16. The Mummy (film; 1932; directed by Karl Freund)
17. Mystery of the Wax Museum (film; 1933; directed by Michael Curtiz)
18. Phantoms (film; 1998; directed by Joe Chappelle)
19. Shutter (film; 2008; directed by Masayuki Ochiai)
20. The Town That Dreaded Sundown (film; 1976; directed by Charles B. Pierce) 
21. The Uninvited (film; 1944; directed by Lewis Allen)
22. Vampyr (Not Against the Flesh) (film; 1932; directed by Karl Theodor Dreyer)

Once Upon a Time VI

Hosted by: Carl V. of Stainless Steel Droppings
Dates: 21 March - 19 June, 2012

Guidelines:

• Readings should come from these four genres: fantasy, fairy tale, folklore and mythology.
  
• Participants can choose one or more of the following levels (or Quests).

1. The Journey - Read at least one book from any of the four genres. No need to commit to any set number of books.
2. Quest the First - Read at least 5 books that fit somewhere within the Once Upon a Time III criteria. They might all be fantasy, or folklore, or fairy tales, or mythology…or your five books might be a combination from the four genres.
3. Quest the Second - Read at least one book from each of the four categories. In this quest you will be reading 4 books total: one fantasy, one folklore, one fairy tale, and one mythology.
4. Quest the Third - Fulfill the requirements for Quest the First or Quest the Second AND top it off with a June reading of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream OR a viewing of one of the many theatrical versions of the play.
5. Short Story Quest - This quest involves the reading of one or more short stories that fit within at least one of the four genres during the course of the weekend. Ideally you would post about your short story readings on Sundays or Mondays, but this is not strictly necessary.
6. Quest on the Screen - To participate in this quest simply let the other participants know about the films and/or television shows that you feel fit into the definitions of fantasy, fairy tales, folklore or mythology that you are enjoying during the challenge.

✸ I'm signing up at the "Journey" level, so I'll be reading at least one book, but (as usual) hope to read a few more.

See my original post about the challenge here.
See the challenge announcement/sign-up page here.
See the challenge review page here.
See the page with all the links to wrap-ups here.
See my challenge wrap-up post here.

MY READING LIST (books read; with links to reviews):

1. Seven-Day Magic. Edward Eager (Fantasy)
2. 
   

LIST OF POSSIBLE CHOICES:

The 13 Clocks. James Thurber
The Bells at Sealey Head. Patricia A. McKillip
The Book of Lost Things. John Connolly
The Castle of Llyr. Lloyd Alexander
The City of Dreaming Books. Walter Moers
The Crystal Cave. Mary Stewart
The Eyre Affair. Jasper Fforde
The Fairy-Tale Detectives (Sisters Grimm #1). Michael Buckley
Five Children and It. E. Nesbit
Inkheart. Cornelia Funke
The Mabinogion.
The Magic of Finkleton. K.C. Hilton
Magic or Not? Edward Eager
Mistress Masham's Repose. T.H. White
The Mists of Avalon. Marion Zimmer Bradley
The Moon of Gomrath: A Tale of Alderley. Alan Garner
The Phantom Tollbooth. Norton Juster
Photographing Fairies. Steve Szilagyi
The Prince of Mist. Carlos Ruiz Zafon
The Princess and the Goblin. George MacDonald
The Red Pyramid. Rick Riordan
Silver on the Tree. Susan Cooper
Stuart Little. E.B. White
The Trumpet of the Swan. E.B. White
The Well-Wishers. Edward Eager
The Wind in the Willows. Kenneth Grahame
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. L. Frank Baum

Books in Translation Reading Challenge 2012

Hosted by: The Introverted Reader
Dates: 7 January - 31 December, 2012

Guidelines:

• The challenge goal is to read any book that's been translated from its original language into another language that you're comfortable reading.
• Any genre, format, or age range is accepted.
• Crossovers with other challenges are OK.
• You don't need a blog to participate; link up through Good Reads, Library Thing, etc.

Levels:

1. Beginner: Read 1-3 books in translation
2. Conversationalist: 4-6
3. Bilingual: 7-9
4. Linguist: 10-12

✷ I'm signing up at the "Conversationalist" level, so I'll be reading 4-6 books.

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

MY READING LIST (books read, with links to reviews)

1. The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. Stieg Larsson 
2. The Trial. Franz Kafka (reading now)

POSSIBLE CHOICES:

Buddenbrooks. Thomas Mann
The Castle. Franz Kafka
Chess Story. Stefan Zweig
The Double. Jose Saramago
Farewell Waltz. Milan Kundera
If on a winter's night a traveler. Italo Calvino
Ignorance. Milan Kundera
Invisible Cities. Italo Calvino
Last Year at Marienbad. Alain Robbe-Grillet
Skylark. Kosztolanyi Dezso
Steppenwolf. Hermann Hesse
The Trial. Franz Kafka