Read Scotland 2014

Dates:  January 1 - December 31, 2014
Hosted By:  Peggy Ann @ Peggy Ann's Post

Guidelines:

• Read and review Scottish books - either written by a Scottish author (by birth or immigration), or set in Scotland.
• Any genre or format is allowed.
• Books can overlap with other challenges.
• You don't need a blog to participate.
• There will be a page for linking up reviews. 
• There is a group at GoodReads you can join.

Levels:

1. Just A Keek (a little look): 1-4 books read 
2. The Highlander: 5-8 books 
3. The Hebridean: 9-12 books 
4. Ben Nevis: 13+ books 

✷ I'm signing up for the second level ("The Highlander"), so I'll be reading 5-8 books. 

● See my original post about the challenge HERE.
● See the challenge announcement/sign-up page HERE.
~ See the review/progress/chit-chat page HERE.
~ See the GoodReads group HERE.

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

1. The Only Problem. Muriel Spark (author born in Edinburgh)
2. Doctor Who and the Loch Ness Monster. Terrance Dicks (set mostly in Scotland)
3. The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (author born in Edinburgh) 
4. The Light Princess. George MacDonald (author born in Scotland)
5. 
   

European Reading Challenge 2014

**Challenge completed**

See my wrap-up post HERE.

Dates: January 1, 2014 - January 31, 2015
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 Four Star Level (Honeymooner), so I'll be reading at least 4 books.

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


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

1. FRANCE: The Only Problem. Muriel Spark
   (Even though the book is about English characters, written by a Scot, the action takes place in France.)
2. UK (Wales): Love Story, with Murders. Harry Bingham 
3. SPAIN: The Good Suicides. Antonio Hill
4. PORTUGAL: The Two Hotel Francforts. David Leavitt 

Newbery Reading Challenge 2014

***Challenge completed***

See my wrap-up post HERE

Dates: January 1 - December 31, 2014
Hosted by: Julie @ Smiling Shelves

Guidelines:

• Choose books from among Newbery Award winners, Newbery Honor Books, and Caldecott Medal winners
• Rereads count 
• Audiobooks and e-books count
• All books must be read between January 1, 2014, and December 31, 2014. Books begun before January 1 don’t count. 
• Books can overlap with other challenges
• You don’t have to have a blog to participate. You can link up reviews from Amazon, Goodreads, etc., or leave your remarks in the comments.
• Reviews are encouraged, but not necessary
• There will be a monthly link up for reviews
• Choose your point level. You can always aim for a higher point level, but you can't move to a lower one.

Each book you read is worth points:

• 3 points for a Newbery Medal Winner
• 2 points for a Newbery Honor Book
• 1 point for a Caldecott Medal Winner

Choose a level to aim for.  "You can get to this level with any combination of points you want. You can read all Newbery Medal winners. You can throw in a few Honor Books. If you want, you can even read 75 Caldecott Medal winners! How you get to your point level is totally up to you."

1. L'Engle: 15 - 29 points
2. Spinelli: 30 - 44 points
3. Avi: 45 - 59 points
4. Lowry: 60 - 74 points
5. Konigsburg: 75+ points

✷ I'm signing up at the first level (L'Engle = 15-29 points)

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

~ See the list of Newbery Medal Books HERE.
~ See the list of Caldecott Medal Books HERE.
~ See the challenge review page HERE. 


MY READING LIST (books I've read):

1. Fog Magic. Julia L. Sauer (Newbery Honor Book, 1944) = 2 points 
2. The Hundred Dresses. Eleanor Estes; illus. by Louis Slobodkin (Newbery Honor Book, 1945) = 2 points
3. The House in the Night. Susan Marie Swanson; illus. by Beth Krommes (Caldecott Winner, 2009) = 1 point 
4. The Family Under the Bridge. Natalie Savage Carlson; illus. by Garth Williams (Newbery Honor Book, 1959) = 2 points 
5. My Father's Dragon. Ruth Stiles Gannett; illus. by Ruth Chrisman Gannett (Newbery Honor Book, 1949) = 2 points
6. Missing May. Cynthia Rylant (Newbery Medal Winner, 1993) = 3 points
7. The Cat Who Went to Heaven. Elizabeth Coatsworth (Newbery Medal Winner, 1931) = 3 points

POSSIBLE  CHOICES: Newbery Winners

The Cat Who Went to Heaven. Elizabeth Coatsworth (1931)
Dead End in Norvelt. Jack Gantos (2012)
The Door in the Wall. Marguerite De Angeli (1950)
Ginger Pye. Eleanor Estes (1952)
Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! Voices from a Medieval Village. Laura Amy Schlitz (2008)
The Higher Power of Lucky. Susan Patron (2007)
Hitty, Her First Hundred Years. Rachel Field (1930)
Miracles on Maple Hill. Virginia Sorensen (1957)
Miss Hickory. Carolyn Sherwin Bailey (1947)
Missing May. Cynthia Rylant (1993)
Roller Skates. Ruth Sawyer (1937)
Strawberry Girl. Lois Lenski (1946)
The Tale of Despereaux. Kate DiCamillo (2004)
Thimble Summer. Elizabeth Enright (1939)
The Trumpeter of Krakow.  Eric P. Kelly (1929)
The View from Saturday. E.L. Konigsburg (1997)
The Westing Game. Ellen Raskin (1979)
The Wheel on the School. Meindert De Jong (1955)
When You Reach Me. Rebecca Stead (2010)
The Witch of Blackbird Pond. Elizabeth George Speare (1959)
Young Fu of the Upper Yangtze. Elizabeth Lewis (1933)

POSSIBLE  CHOICES: Newbery Honor Books

Afternoon of the Elves. Janet Taylor Lisle (1990)
Black Fox of Lorne. Marguerite De Angeli (1957)
By the Shores of Silver Lake. Laura Ingalls Wilder (1940)
The Cricket in Times Square. George Selden (1961)
The Family Under the Bridge. Natalie Savage Carlson (1959)
Feathers. Jacqueline Woodson (2008)
Fog Magic. Julia Sauer (1944)
The Golden Name Day. Jennie Lindquist (1956)
Gone-Away Lake. Elizabeth Enright (1958)
The Headless Cupid. Zilpha Keatley Snyder (1972)
The Hundred Dresses. Eleanor Estes (1945)
The Light at Tern Rock. Julia Sauer (1952)
Little Town on the Prairie. Laura Ingalls Wilder (1942)
The Long Winter. Laura Ingalls Wilder (1941)
Millions of Cats. Wanda Gág (1929)
The Moorchild. Eloise McGraw (1997)
My Father's Dragon. Ruth S. Gannett (1949)
Penny from Heaven. Jennifer L. Holm (2007)
Ramona and Her Father. Beverly Cleary (1978)
Ramona Quimby, Age 8. Beverly Cleary (1982)
Splendors and Glooms. Laura Amy Schlitz (2013)
Surviving the Applewhites. Stephanie S. Tolan (2003)
These Happy Golden Years. Laura Ingalls Wilder (1944)
Three Times Lucky. Sheila Turnage (2013)
The Witches of Worm. Zilpha Keatley Snyder (1973)

POSSIBLE  CHOICES: Caldecott Winners

The Funny Little Woman. llustrated by Blair Lent; text: retold by Arlene Mosel (1973)
Golem. David Wisniewski (1997)
The House in the Night. Illustrated by Beth Krommes, written by Susan Marie Swanson (2009)
The Invention of Hugo Cabret. Brian Selznick (2008)
Many Moons. Illustrated by Louis Slobodkin; text: James Thurber (1944)
Owl Moon. Illustrated by John Schoenherr; text: Jane Yolen (1988)
Sylvester and the Magic Pebble. William Steig (1970)

New Author Reading Challenge 2014

**Challenge completed**

See my wrap-up post HERE

Dates: January 1 - December 31, 2014
Hosted by: Literary Escapism

Guidelines:

• Authors must be new to you
• Novels are preferred
• Books can overlap with other challenges
• Only a third of your new authors can be from short stories/novellas or anthologies
• Pick 15, 25 or 50 new authors
• If you reach your goal halfway through the year, don’t stop
• You don’t have to have a blog to participate. You can link up via Facebook, GoodReads or even Amazon if you’d like. 

✷ I'll be trying for 15 new authors.

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


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

1. Coup de Grâce. Marguerite Yourcenar 
2. Fog Magic. Julia L. Sauer 
3. The Universe Versus Alex Woods. Gavin Extence 
4. Tens Lords A-Leaping. C.C. Benison 
5. While Beauty Slept. Elizabeth Blackwell 
6. The Thief of Always. Clive Barker 
7. The Innocent Sleep. Karen Perry 
8. The Bookman's Tale. Charlie Lovett 
9. Love Story, with Murders. Harry Bingham 
10. Midnight in Europe. Alan Furst 
11. The Antiquarian. Gustavo Faverón Patriau
12. The Quilter's Apprentice. Jennifer Chiaverini
13. The Good Suicides. Antonio Hill
14. Doctor Who and the Loch Ness Monster. Terrance Dicks
15. The Colors of Space. Marion Zimmer Bradley
16. The Weight of Blood. Laura McHugh 
17. The Transcriptionist. Amy Rowland 
18. Island Girls. Nancy Thayer 
19. The Two Hotel Francforts. David Leavitt
20. The Celtic Dagger. Jill Paterson
21. The Dirty Book Murder. Thomas Shawver 
22. Murder at the Painted Lady. Barbara Warren 
23. Bliss House. Laura Benedict 
24. The Days of Anna Madrigal. Armistead Maupin
25. The Family Under the Bridge. Natalie Savage Carlson

2014 Historical Fiction Reading Challenge

**Challenge completed**

See my wrap-up post HERE.

Dates: January 1 - December 31, 2014
Hosted by: Historical Tapestry

Guidelines:

• Challenge is open to anyone, even those who don't have a blog
• Any kind of historical fiction is accepted (HF fantasy, HF young adult,...)
• There will be a monthly link-up for reviews

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 
6. Prehistoric - 50 books

✷ I'm signing up at the second level, Victorian reader (5 books).

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

~ Review link pages:  January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, (no review page for September), October, (no review page for November), December. 


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

1. Coup de Grâce. Marguerite Yourcenar (first published 1931; set in the last years of the first World War)
2. Midnight in Europe. Alan Furst (first published 2013; set mostly in France during 1937) 
3. The Two Hotel Francforts. David Leavitt (first published 2013; set in Portugal in 1940) 
4. The Mist in the Mirror. Susan Hill (first published 1992; set in England, early 20th Century)
5. The Dead in Their Vaulted Arches (Flavia de Luce #6). Alan Bradley (first published 2014; set in England in 1951) 

2014 Finishing the Series Reading Challenge

**See my wrap-up post HERE**

Dates: January 1 - December 31, 2014
Hosted by: Yvonne @ Socrates' Book Reviews

Guidelines:

• All books that are part of a continuing series qualify.
• It doesn't matter how many books you need to read to complete a series (if you only need to read one book, that's OK). The goal is to complete a series from wherever you are up to until the last published book.
• Books must be read during the time period from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2014.
• You don't need a blog to participate.
• There will be a GoodReads group for the challenge, for participants to join.
• Any format of book counts - audio, e-book, etc.
• You can choose the series you want to finish before the challenge begins, but it isn't necessary. 
• It's OK to change series during the year.

Levels:

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

✷ I'm signing up at Level 1 (complete 1 series), and I'll probably try to finish up one of these series: the Mrs. Malory mystery series by Hazel Holt (I have three more books in the series to finish); the Inspector Alan Grant mystery series by Josephine Tey (four more books); the Flavia de Luce mystery series by Alan Bradley (five more books).
Update (July 2014): Change of direction. I'm thinking of trying to read all the Philip Marlowe books I haven't read (Raymond Chandler's classic detective series). That would be seven books, not counting the books written by other authors, after Chandler's death.

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


MY READING LIST (with links to reviews):

1. The Lady in the Lake. Raymond Chandler (1943; Philip Marlowe mystery series)
2. The High Window. Raymond Chandler (1942; Philip Marlowe mystery series)
3. 
   

2014 Netgalley and Edelweiss Reading Challenge

Dates: January 1 - December 31, 2014
Hosted by: Emily @ Falling For YA

Guidelines:

• You don't need a blog to participate
• Any genre, release date, request date, length, etc. is acceptable so long as it comes from Edelweiss or Netgalley
• There will be monthly link-ups for reviews; if you forget to link up one month, you can add your reviews the next month
• You can change level, up or down, at your own discretion

Levels:

1. Aluminum – 5 books 
2. Bronze – 10 books 
3. Silver – 25 books 
4. Gold – 50 books 
5. Platinum – 75 books 
6. Diamond– 100 books 

✷ I'm signing up at the Silver Level (25 books).

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


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

1. The Universe Versus Alex Woods. Gavin Extence 
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 Mist in the Mirror. Susan Hill 
8. The Two Hotel Francforts. David Leavitt
9. Children of the Revolution. Peter Robinson
10. The Dirty Book Murder. Thomas Shawver 
11. The Dead in Their Vaulted Arches. Alan Bradley
12. Bliss House. Laura Benedict 
13. 
    

NetGalley books I need to read:

1. The Antiquarian. Gustavo Faverón Patriau
2. The Asylum. John Harwood
3. Berlin Noir (Three Novels). Philip Kerr 
4. The Bookman's Tale. Charlie Lovett
5. The Collector of Dying Breaths. M.J. Rose
6. The Dirty Book Murder. Thomas Shawver 
7. Hammett Unwritten. Owen Fitzstephen
8. Heads You Lose. Christianna Brand
9. Kind of Cruel. Sophie Hannah
10. Last Summer at Mars Hill. Elizabeth Hand  
11. Midnight in Europe. Alan Furst 
12. Stranded. Alex Kava 
13. Sweet Thunder. Ivan Doig 
14. This House is Haunted. John Boyne
15. The Two Hotel Francforts. David Leavitt
16. The Weight of Blood. Laura McHugh
17. The White Cottage Mystery. Margery Allingham

Edelweiss books I need to read:

1. An Illustrated Death. Judi Culbertson
2. Bellman & Black. Diane Setterfield
3. Black Dog. Stephen Booth 
4. Bliss House. Laura Benedict 
5. Blood from Stone. Frances Fyfield
6. Children of the Revolution. Peter Robinson
7. A Cold Season. Alison Littlewood
8. The Days of Anna Madrigal. Armistead Maupin
9. The Dead in Their Vaulted Arches. Alan Bradley
10. Hunting Shadows. Charles Todd 
11. The Mist in the Mirror. Susan Hill
12. No Man's Nightingale. Ruth Rendell 
13. The Pierced Heart. Lynn Shepherd
14. Ripper. Isabel Allende
15. Sexplosion: From Andy Warhol to A Clockwork Orange - How a Generation of Pop Rebels Broke All the Taboos. Robert Hofler 
16. The Universe Versus Alex Woods. Gavin Extence
17. The 7th Woman.  Frédérique Molay

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