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You Read How Many Books? 2014

This challenge is being hosted by The Book Dragon's Lair


There are several levels to choose from:

Level 1: 100 minimum

Level 2: 150 at least

Level 3: 200 or more I have chosen to attempt Level 1 and read at least 100 books. i like that the rules will be easy to work with. any non-fiction, short story anthologies and poetry anthologies can be counted which is great since those are things I'm challenging myself to read more of this year!

January
1. Lunatics by Dave Barry & Alan Zweibel
2. Dog Songs by Mary Oliver
3. Misery Bay by Steve Hamilton
4. 20th Century Ghosts by Joe Hill
5. Strange Brew ed. By Charlaine Harris
6.  Hotel Insomnia by Charles Simis
7. The Calling of Dan Matthews by Harold Bell Wright
8. The Inner Circle by Brad Metzge
9. Whiteout by Ken Follett
10. On Wings of Eagles by Ken Follett
11. Aimless Love by Billy Collins
12. Crossers by Philip Caputo
13. Silver Borne by Patricia Briggs
14. Tick Tock by James Patterson
15. Happy Hour in Heaven by Tad Williams
16. Ford County by John Grisham
17. The Moon is Down by John Steinbeck
18. Guns, Germs and Steel by Jared Diamond
19. David: A Man of Passion and Destiny by Charles R. Swindoll
20. Back of Beyond by C.J. Box
21. Made to Crave by Lysa TerKeurst
22. Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah

Non-Fiction Reading Challenge 2014

The Challenge from The Introverted Reader: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.

I always like levels in my challenges, so here are mine:

Dilettante--Read 1-5 non-fiction books

Explorer--Read 6-10

Seeker--Read 11-15

Master--Read 16-20

This challenge will last from January 1 to December 31, 2014. You can sign up anytime throughout the year.

I plan to join at the Explorer level and read at least 6 non fiction books this year.

1. On Wings Of Eagles by Ken Follett

2. Guns, Germs and Steel by Jared Diamond

3. David by Charles R. Swindoll

5x4 Personal Reading Challenge 2014

I didn't do so well on this one last year but hope to do much better this year. I have chosen genres that I tend to skip over so it will actually be a challenge to me. My 5 categories are:


Prize Winners
1. Guns, Germs and Steel by Jared Diamond (Pulitzer)


Non-Fiction
1. On Wings Of Eagles by Ken Follett
2. David by Charles R. Swindoll


Harold Bell Wright
1. The Calling of Dan Matthews

Short Story Collections
1. 20th Century Ghosts by Joe Hill
2. Strange Brew ed. by Charline Harris
3 Ford County By John Grisham


Poetry Anthologies
1. Dog Songs by Mary Oliver
2. Hotel Insomnia by Charles Simic
3. Aimless Love by Billy Collins

What's In A Name 2014

Below is info from The worm Hole about the challenge. Click on the titles I have chosen to find my thoughts about it.

About the Challenge from the hosts at The Worm Hole:

The basics


The challenge runs from January to December. During this time you choose a book to read from each of the following categories (examples of books you could choose are in brackets):


•A reference to time (Eleven Minutes, Before Ever After)
Happy Hour in Hell by Tad Williams

•A position of royalty (The People’s Queen, The Last Empress, The Curse Of The Pharaoh)

•A number written in letters (The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, A Tale Of Two Cities)

•A forename or names (Rebecca, Eleanor & Park, The Unfinished Work Of Elizabeth D.)
The Calling of Dan Matthews by Harold Bell Wright

•A type or element of weather (Gone With The Wind, Red Earth Pouring Rain)
Whiteout by Ken Follett

Remember the titles I’ve given here are only examples, you can by all means use them if you want to – some are classics after all – but it’s not necessary. There are plenty of other books that will fit the categories and you may have some in mind already or even some on your shelves you can read.


This will be my 7th time to do this challenge and I am looking forward to it!http://wormhole.carnelianvalley.com/whats-in-a-name-2014-sign-up-post/

2014 Chunkster Reading Challenge

This reading challenge is hosted by Chunkster Challenge blog. For more information and to sign-up, please see this post.


The rules are: Welcome to the 2014 Chunkster Challenge! I’m your host, Vasilly.

Wondering what’s a chunkster? A chunkster is an adult or YA book, non-fiction or fiction, that’s 450 pages or more.

Rules for this challenge:

•Audio books and e-books are now allowed. You want to listen to a chunkster on audio? Be my guest.

•Essay, short story, and poetry collections are allowed but they have to be read in their entirety to count.

•Books may crossover with other challenges.

•Anyone can join.

•You don’t have to list your book ahead of time.

•Graphic novels don’t count. Sorry guys but reading a chunkster graphic novel isn’t the same as reading a non-graphic chunkster.

There are no levels posted this year: each of us are encouraged to choose a number for our challenge.

This year I will challenge myself to read at least 6 Chunksters.

1. Crossers by Philip Caputo (464 pages)

2. Guns, Germs and Steel by Jared Diamond (494 pages)

2014 TBR Pile Challenge

I have a towering TBR pile. This challenge will, hopefully encourage me to finally read those treasures that have been waiting for me!

This reading challenge is hosted by Roof Beam Reader. For more information and to sign-up, please see this post.


My 12 books are:

1. The Moon is Down by John Steinbeck (1942)

2. The calling of Dan Matthews by Harold Bell Wright (1909)

3. That Printer of Udell's by Harold Bell Wright (1902)

4. The Eyes of the World by Harold Bell Wright (1914)

5. When a Man's a Man by Harold Bell Wright (1916)

6. Rin Tin Tin: The Life and the Legend by Susan Orlean (2011)

7. Hot Springs by Stephen Hunter (2000)

8. Havana by Stephen Hunter (2005)

9. In shade Shadow by Barb & J.C. Hendee (2009)

10.Predator by Patricia Cornwe11 (2005)

11. Saving Fish from Drowning by Amy Tan (2005)

12. Whiteout by Ken Follett (2004)

2014 Southern Literature Reading Challenge

The rules:
Read a book(s)--non-fiction or fiction of any genre, for any age group--written by an author from the South and set mostly in the South. Please keep in mind that this is a Southern literature challenge. It's possible to find books set in each of these states that are not Southern in nature or feeling. Use your best judgment when choosing your books.

I am looking forward to this challenge and plan to join at:  :
Level 4--Y'all come back now, y'hear! Read 4 books:
This reading challenge is hosted by The Introverted Reader. For more information and to sign-up, please see this post.

1. Ford County by John Grisham
2.
3.
4.

End of 2013

I feel like I had a great reading year. I didn't complete all my challenges but I did read over 100 books. I'm in the process of deciding which challenges I will do this year. Hope you had a great reading year too!

100+ Books in 2013

Goodreads 2013

I am joining the 100+ Book Challenge at Goodreads. Go HERE to learn more about this challenge or click on the button above.

January
1. Gone Tomorrow by Lee Child
2. Cold Days by Jim Butcher
3. Last Man Standing by David Balducci
4. The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein
5. White Death by Clive Cussler
6. Two Graves by Preston and Child
7. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
8. Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis
9. The voyage of the Dawn Treader
10. Zoo by James Patterson
11. Pegasus by Robin McKinley

I read 118 books this year...all are listed at Goodreads.Goodreads 2013

2013 TBR Pile Reading Challenge

I bought way too many books last year even though I joined the TBR Challenge. This year I hope to make a better show of it and read more of my own books. To read the guidelines go visit Evie's Bookish Blog here. I plan to join at the Friendly Hug level and read 11-20 of my own books printed in 2012 or earlier.

1. Cold Days by Jim Butcher
2. Two Graves by Preston & Child
3. Ex Heros by Peter Cline
4. A Fistful of Collars
5. Notorious Nineteen
6. Explosive Eighteen
7. Two Graves
8. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
9. The Art of Racing in the Rain
10.  Lone Star Nation
11.  The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

5x4 Personal Challenge 2013

I didn't do so well on this one last year but hope to do much better this year. I have cosen genres that I tend to skip over so it will actually be a challenge to me. My 5 categories are:

Prize Winners

1.

2.

3.

4.

Non-Fiction

1. Lone Star Nation

2. American Sniper

3. Crazy Love

4. An Innocent Man

Harold Bell Wright

1.

2.

3.

4.

Short Story Collections

1. Wolfsbane and Mistletoe 

2. Love is the Best Medicine

3. Men in the Making

4. Let's Explore Diabetes With Owels

YA

1. Pegasus by Robin McKinley

2.Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia

3. lost Gate by Orson Scott Cars

4. The Gate Thief by Orson Scott card

What's In a Name 6

I am going to join this challenge for the sixth time! I'm looking forward to it! To find the rules and/or sign up go here.

Between January 1 and December 31, 2013, read one book in each of the following categories:

1.A book with up or down (or equivalent) in the title:
  Two Graves by Preston & Child
2.A book with something you'd find in your kitchen in the title:
  Last Man Standing by David Baldacci
3.A book with a party or celebration in the title:
Enders Game by Orson Scott Card
4.A book with fire (or equivalent) in the title:
White Fire by Preston & Child
5.A book with an emotion in the title:
The House I Loved by Tataina de  Rosnay
6.A book with lost or found (or equivalent) in the title:
 Abduction by Robin Cook



Chunkster Challenge 2013

To read the rules for this challenge click on the button above or here.
I plan to go for the Plump Primer and read at least 6 chunksters this year.

1. Cold Days by Jim Butcher (515pgs.)
2. Two Graves by Preston & Child (448 pgs.)
3. Lone Star Nation by H.W. Brands (582 pgs)
4. Die Trying by Lee Child (552 pgs)
5. Dr. Sleep by Stephen King (531 pgs)
6. Sing Them Home by Stephanie Kallos (542 pgs)

Challenges in 2012

This year I have chosen to pare back my number of reading challenges. Last year I participated in 16 and managed to complete most of them. This year i am starting out with only 8. They are:

*Books Read in 2012 (78/100)

*2012 TBR Pile Reading Challenge (5/30)

*Chunkster Reading Challenge 2012 (8/8)

*Why buy the Cow Reading Challenge

*2012 E-Book Reading Challenge (30/30)

*What's In a Name 5 (5/5)

*Men in Uniform Reading Challenge

* 5x4 Personal Reading Challenge 2012 (6/20)

*Cruisin' Through the Cozies 2012 (2/7)

*Vintage Mystery Reading Challenge 2012 (2/8)

My wrap-up for 2011 is here:
2011 Wrap-up

Books Read in 2012 (100+ Personal Challenge)

Books Read in 2012

100+ Personal Challenge

I will keep track of all the books I read this year here be they fiction or non-fiction. My personal goal is 100+. I wanted to join a group but found the ones I looked at didn't allow audio books, or only allowed fiction. I will be reading a mixture of books and wish to count them all.

January

1. The Big Four by Agatha Christie

2. The Brave by Nicholas Evans

3. 77 Shadow Street by Dean Koontz

4. Quinn by Iris Johansen

5. Noah's Compass by Anne Tyler

6. Casino Royale by Ian Fleming

7. Killing Lincoln by O'Rilley and Dugard

8. Legacies by F. Paul Wilson

9. Snuff by Terry Pratchett

10. The Girl Who Played With Fire by Stieg Larsson

11. John Adams by David McCullough

12. A Hard Day's Fright by Casey Daniels

February

13. The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest

14. Room by Emma Donoghue

15. Winter Ghosts by Kate Mosse

16. The Bride Wore Black Leather by Simon R. Green

17. Bonnie by Iris Johansen

18. Worth Dying For by Lee Child

19. 61 Hours by Lee Child

March - December

Well, this has been a very interesting year for us. The kids lived with us for 8 months, which was quite a life changing event but one I wouldn't change for anything. My husband and I have both had medical issues this year as well which slowed me down. And now my 87 year old father is in need of care for a broken arm. But God is good and he is seeing us through. God willing dad will gain his strength back and achieve his goal of returning home.

Even with all this I managed to read 81 books this year, quite a few short of my goal of 100 but many more than I thought I'd get to.

I did not post them here and I won't go back and try to put them in. However I kept track of them at Goodreads on my 2012 shelf. If you would like to view the list this is the link:

http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/668747-sharon?format=html&shelf=2012

Vintage Mystery Reading Challenge

.

Once again My Reader's Block is sponsoring the Vintage Mystery Reading Challenge. This year it's all about the themes--for full details go to the info post (link above). You can sign up for as  many themes as you would like so check it out. I'm signing up for Cherchez le Homme in which you read 8 books by male authors OR 8 books with male detectives.

Progress site

1. The Big Four by Agatha Christie (1927)
2. Casino Royale by Ian Fleming (1953)
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Cruisin' Through the Cozies 2012

I love cozy mysteries and didn't read nearly as many as I would have liked to last year. I have SEVERAL in my TBR pile already. When I saw this challenge at Socrates' Book Reviews I decided to join. Click on the link or the button above to go to Socrates' for all the info on this challenge.

I'm joining at Level 2 - Investigator - and plan to read 7 to 12 Cozies in 2012.

1. I Am Half-Sick of Shadows by Alan Bradley
2. A hard Day's Fright by Casey Daniels
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.

Chunkster Reading Challenge

I have decided to join the Chunkster Challenge again this year. There are a lot of great books that are 450 or more pages long so this challenge is quite an encouragement to me. I have decided to join at the Plump Primer level and read 6 chunksters this year.If you are interested in joining or finding out more about the Chunkster Challenge plese click on the link or on the picture above.

Below is some info from the Chunkster Challenge page:

Below are the details and sign-ups for 2012. Wendy and I have made a few changes to the rules including the date. Next year’s challenge starts the first day of the year instead of in February as it usually did. That way participants who didn’t sign up for the 2011 challenge or those who’ve already finished, can start reading their chunksters in January and count them for this challenge.

Definition of a chunkster:

A chunkster is 450 pages or more of ADULT literature, whether non-fiction or fiction. A chunkster should be a challenge.

If you read books in large print, your books will need to be 525 pages or more. The average large type book is 10-15% larger or more so it’s a fair estimate.

The rules:

• No audio books. (There are exceptions to this rule.)
• No e-books allowed. This was discussed in much detail in the 2011 challenge. The short version: a chunkster isn’t a challenge if you’re reading it on an e-reader. (There are exceptions to this rule.)
• This year for the first time, essay, poetry, and short story collections will be allowed. Collections have to be read in their entirety to count. If you’ve needed a reason to finally pick up your copy of The Collected Works Of ____ now is the time.
• Books may crossover with other challenges.
• Anyone may join. (If you don’t have a blog, just leave a comment on this post with your challenge level and your progress throughout the challenge.)
• You don’t need to list your books ahead of time.
• Once you’ve picked a level, that’s it. You’re committed to it!

Post reviews here.
My Chunksters for 2012
1. 77 Shadow Street by Dean Koontz (451 pages)
2. The Girl Who Played with Fire by Steig Larsson
3. John Adams byMcCullough, David
4. Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Stieg Larsson
5. The Redbreast by Jo Nesbo
6. A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
7. The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle by Murakami, Haruki
8. Kraken by Miéville, China

5x4 Reading Challenge 2012

I'm hoping that this personal challenge will help me be a more well rounded reader. I've changed some of my categories from last year, but will keep the Classics, Short Story Collection and Pulitzer Prize categories. The two others will be Harold Bell Wright and Presidents. Past categories included Oprah Book Club Picks & Non-Fiction.

Classics
1. A Tale of Two cities
2.
Prize Winners
1. Middlesex

Presidents
1. River of Doubt
2. John Adams by David McCullough
3. Killing Linclon by Bill O'Reilly & Martin Dugard

Harold Bell Wright


Short Story Collections
1.Discount Noir
2.
3.
4.