Posted on No Comments on 2013 Classics Challenge

2013 Classics Challenge

One of my goals this year is to read some classics that I’ve never read.    I think my goal will be to read at least 6 classic novels this year.  Here are some things I’d like to read:

  • Les Miserables by Victor Hugo
  • A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
  • Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
  • A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
  • The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

Books Read:

  1. Lord of the Rings Trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien (finished 3/23/13) – I liked these books, but I had a hard time staying into them when there were pages and pages of walking.  I liked the battles and when stuff was actually going on.

 

Posted on No Comments on 2013 Feminist Reads Challenge

2013 Feminist Reads Challenge

I am trying to not start too many challenges this year, but this one looks like a good one!

The 2013 Feminist Reads Challenge

I am going to start with the Medium Challenge and commit to read 5-10 books that feature strong female characters or support feminist ideals in 2013!  I haven’t decided which books they will be, but I will update this post as I read them.
  1. Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein (2/2/13)
  2. The Cadet of Tildor by Alex Lidell (4/27/13)
Posted on No Comments on 2010 Challenge – Complete!

2010 Challenge – Complete!

I finished my 2010 Challenge!  I am very excited about this.  A month ago, I really didn’t think it would be possible, but I am so glad I did it.  It was a huge challenge (for me at least) and I feel really accomplished.  It also pushed me to read things I wouldn’t normally pick up on my own, like historical novels (like them, but don’t usually read them) and award winning books that I might have otherwise overlooked.

So now I am gearing up for next year’s challenge.  My original plan was to tone it down a bit, but I like challenges, so I have joined a few.  My 2011 Challenge will linked under the header all year.  Between the British Books Challenge, the Debut Author Challenge, the PaperBackSwap YA Challenge, and my personal TBR challenge, I think I will have my hands full.  But in a good way! :)

Oh, and two challenges I forgot to mention above: Nonfiction Challenge, because I really need to read the nonfiction I accumulate, and Pick an Author Challenge.  I did that in 2010 with John Green and really enjoyed it, so this year I have picked Melina Marchetta.  I have already read one of her books, Jellicoe Road, and loved it, so I’m excited to read everything else!

Posted on 1 Comment on Debut Author Challenge 2011

Debut Author Challenge 2011

In 2010, I read 14 Debut Authors.  I’m sure I can match that this year, so I am joining the 2011 Debut Author Challenge hosted by The Story Siren.

Debuts Read:

  1. Across the Universe by Beth Revis
  2. Entangled by Cat Clarke
  3. XVI by Julia Karr
  4. So Shelly by Ty Roth
  5. Unearthly by Cynthia Hand
  6. Wither by Lauren DeStefano
  7. Bumped by Megan McCafferty
  8. Divergent by Veronica Roth
  9. Human.4 by Mike Lancaster
  10. Paper Covers Rock by Jenny Hubbard

Debuts I Own:

  1. Liar Society by Lisa Roecker, Laura Roecker
  2. Illegal by Bettina Restrepo
  3. Department 19 by Will Hill
  4. Falling for Hamlet by Michelle Ray

The list is subject to change, of course!  I’ll update this post as I read the books! :)

Posted on 1 Comment on British Books Challenge 2011

British Books Challenge 2011

After a big 2010 YA Reading Challenge, I told myself that I was going to do something much smaller for 2011 and concentrate more on just reading the books I own.  But today I came across this and I can’t pass it up!  I love all (well most) things British and love reading books by UK Authors.

I linked to it above, but you can read more about the challenge here on the hostess’ (The Bookette) blog.  For international folks, there are two options – Winston Churchill (6 books) and the Royal Family (12 books).  At this point, I am only committing to Winston Churchill, but after making a list of the books I own that work for the challenge, I will probably end up as part of the Royal Family!

Books Read:

  1. Trash by Andy Mulligan (1/11/11)
  2. Angus, Thongs and Full Frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison (1/21/11)
  3. Entangled by Cat Clarke (2/2/11)
  4. Pretty Bad Things by C.J. Skuse (5/7/11)
  5. Rockoholic by C.J. Skuse (6/9/11)
  6. 0.4 by Mike Lancaster (10/16/11)
  7. The Lord of the Flies by William Golding (11/27/11)

I am not committing to reading all of these, but here’s what I own right now:

  1. Skins by Ali Cronin
  2. Split by a Kiss by Luisa Plaja
  3. My Invisible Boyfriend by Susie Day
  4. Big Woo by Susie Day
  5. On The Bright Side, I’m Now the Girlfriend of a Sex God by Louise Rennison
  6. The Declaration by Gemma Malley
  7. When I Was Joe by Keren David
  8. Almost True by Keren David
  9. Charmed Life by Diana Wynne Jones
  10. The Lives of Christopher Chant by Diana Wynne Jones
  11. Fever Pitch by Nick Hornby
  12. Slam by Nick Hornby
  13. About a Boy by Nick Hornby
  14. How to Be Good by Nick Hornby
  15. Coraline by Neil Gaiman
  16. Looking for JJ by Anne Cassidy
  17. The Ask and The Answer by Patrick Ness
  18. The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde
  19. One Day by David Nicholls

Plus there are several books coming out in 2011 that I know I want to read, like Jessie Love NYC by Keris Stainton, so this list will grow and change.  I’m sure I also own books by UK Authors that I just don’t realize are from the UK.  Will be doing more research on that!

So I’ll be back in 2011 to update this post as I read the books!

Posted on No Comments on Out With the Old Challenge – Week 4 Recap

Out With the Old Challenge – Week 4 Recap

The challenge is over!  I didn’t get to read as much this week because I have a big project for work that is taking up a lot of my time, but I still feel I did pretty okay.  Short books helped! :)  I can’t wait for my project to be over so I can read some of the exciting 2009 books I’ve been putting off for most of this challenge!

Number of Books Read: 7
Number of Books Not Finished: 0
Total Points: 3100
Books Read:

  1. Angels Watching Over Me by Lurlene McDaniel (1996) – 500 pts
  2. Lifted Up By Angels by Lurlene McDaniel (1997) – 500 pts
  3. Until Angels Close My Eyes by Lurlene McDaniel (1999) – 500 pts
  4. Nick & Nora’s Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan (2006) – 250 pts
  5. Little Men by Louisa May Scott (1871) – 1000 pts
  6. Such a Pretty Girl by Laura Wiess (2007) – 250 pts
  7. The Ex-Games by Jennifer Echols (2009) – 100 pts

Hopefully I’ll have good new tomorrow when I come back to update my placement!

I do have good news!  I ended up in 5th out of 34.  I won two PBS credits!  (I don’t exactly need those, but hey – I won something!)

Posted on No Comments on Out With the Old Challenge – Week 3 Recap

Out With the Old Challenge – Week 3 Recap

So Week 3 is done!  Only one week left.  Yay!  The Challenge has been fun, but I’m ready to just grab something off the shelf and read it and not worry about how long it is or how many points it is worth. :)

Number of Books Read: 9
Number of Books Not Finished: 0
Total Points: 3700
Books Read:

  1. Size 14 Is Not Fat Either by Meg Cabot (2006) – 250 pts
  2. Confessions of a First Daughter by Cassidy Calloway (2009) – 100 pts
  3. Big Boned by Meg Cabot (2007) – 250 pts
  4. Beauty by Robin McKinley (1978) – 500 pts
  5. Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane (1895) – 1000 pts
  6. Run With the Horsemen by Ferrol Sams (1982) – 500 pts
  7. Bed of Roses by Nora Roberts (2009) – 100 pts
  8. Put Me In Coach by Barbara Dooley (1991) – 500 pts
  9. Someone Like You by Sarah Dessen (1998) – 500 pts

I am still in 4th this week!

Posted on No Comments on Out with the Old Challenge – Week 2 Recap

Out with the Old Challenge – Week 2 Recap

So this was week 2 of the Challenge.  I thought my total would be lower this week because Jane Eyre was a beast, but it helped that I read several shorter books around it.  (BTW, Jane Eyre was great!  I am glad I read it.)  Pretty Monsters just didn’t hold my attention, so I gave it up after reading the minimum to get points.

Number of Books Read: 8
Number of Books Not Finished: 1
Total Points: 3875
Books Read:

  1. That Summer by Sarah Dessen (1996) – 500 pts
  2. A Room with a View by E. M. Forster (1908) – 500 pts
  3. Persuasion by Jane Austen (1817) – 1000 pts
  4. Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott (2008) – 250 pts
  5. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte (1848) – 1000 pts
  6. Wake by Lisa McMann (2008) – 250 pts
  7. Fade by Lisa McMann (2009) – 100 pts
  8. Size 12 is Not Fat by Meg Cabot (2006) – 250 pts

Books Not Finished (and abandoned):

  1. Pretty Monsters: Stories by Kelly Link (2008) – 25 pts (I only read 100 pages)

I’ll update tomorrow with my placement. I moved up to 4th!

Posted on 2 Comments on Out with the Old Challenge – Week 1 Recap

Out with the Old Challenge – Week 1 Recap

As I mentioned earlier this week, I am participating in a 4 week challenge on PaperBackSwap to read older books.  I’m still reading a little YA and will blog about that, but probably won’t blog about non YA stuff.  Here’s a recap of my Week 1!

Number of Books Read: 9
Total Points: 3100
Books Read:

  1. I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith (500 pts)
  2. Watership Down by Richard Adams (500 pts)
  3. The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart (250 pts)
  4. Mossflower by Brian Jacques (500 pts)
  5. Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery (500 pts)
  6. Wuthering High by Cara Lockwood (250 pts)
  7. The Scarlett Letterman by Cara Lockwood (250 pts)
  8. Moby Clique by Cara Lockwood (250 pts)
  9. School for Dangerous Girls by Eliot Schrefer (100 pts)

I listened to the Mossflower audiobook while working this week.  It was a lot of fun – I recommend the Redwall series audiobooks!  I was able to download it for free from my local library.

I decided not to blog about the last two I read.  I didn’t like either of them very much, so I decided not to waste my time blogging about them!

I’ll update this post tomorrow with my rank in the game! I’m in 6th of 34 this week!