Books To The Ceiling (Challenges)

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

The Southern Reading 2009 Challenge

Finished!

Yea! The Southern Reading 2009 Challenge is here. this was so much fun last year and I have been waiting anxiously for it again. Maggie makes it so much fun with friendship, projects, and prizes. Go visit her and sign up. To participate you simply sign up then read three southern books between May 15th and August 15.

Here are the three books I plan to read:

1.Bless Your Heart, Tramp and Other Southern Endearments by Celia Rivenbark review here

2.From Dead to Worse Charlaine Harris review here

3. The Help by Kathryn Sockett review here

and I just might read The Color Purple by Alice Walker extra.

Thursday, December 18, 2008

100+ Book Challenge 2009 + the Read & Review Challenge

Finished

Click on the picture above to go to J. Kaye's rules for this challenge.

January

1. Dragonheart by Todd McCaffrey review here

2. Swan Peak by James Lee Burke review here

3. Dead Over Heels by Charlaine Harris review here

4. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep by Philip K. Dick review here

5. Junie B., First Grader: Boss of Lunch review here

6. The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger review here

7. Gil's All Fright Diner by A. Lee Martinez review here

8. Miracle at Speedy Motors by Alexander McCall Smith review here

9. No Nest for the Wicket by Donna Andrews review here

10. Angels & Demons by Dan Brown review here

11. Just Another Judgement Day by Simon R. Green review here

February

12. The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson review here

13. A Long Way Gone Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah review here

14. The Memorist by M. J. Rose review here

15. Love You Forever by Robert Munsch review here

16. Adam by Ted Dekker review here

17. Plum Spooky by Janet Evanovich review here

18. The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski review here

19. Night of the Loving Dead by Casey Daniels review here

20. Just the Two of Us by Will Smith review here

March

21. Chill Factor by Sandra Brown review here

22. Heart of Stone by C.E. Murphy review here

23. Breath of Scandal by Sandra Brown review here

24. Watchmen by Alan Moore & Dave Gibbons review here

25. Arctic Drift by Clive Cussler & Dirk Cussler review here

26. Angel's Tip by Alafair Burke review here

27. Pandora's Daughter by Iris Johansen review here

28. Fool by Christopher Moore review here

29. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows review here

30. Horton Hears a who by Dr. Suess review here

31. Armadillo Rodeo by Jan Brett review here

April

32. The Three Little Javelinas by Susan Lowell review here

33. Mean Streets by Jim Butcher, Simon R. Green & More review here

34. Tarzan and the Golden Lion by Edgar Rice Burroughs review here

35. Robinson Crusoe by Daniel DeFoe review here

36. Deader Still by Anton Strout review here

37. I Am Legend by Richard Matheson review here

38. 1776 by David McCullough review here

39. White Witch, Black Curse by Kim Harrison review here

40. The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid by Bill Bryson review here

41. In the Company of Ogres by A. Lee Martinez review here

42. Borderline by Nevada Barr review here

43. Dogzilla by Dav Pilkey review here

44. Getting Rid of Bradley by Jennifer Crusie review here

45. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith review here

May

46. Turn Coat by Jim Butcher review here

47. Power Play by Joseph Finder review here

48. Belle Weather: Mostly Sunny with a Chance of Scattered Hissy Fits by Celia Rivenbark review here

49. Bone Crossed by Patricia Briggs review here

50. Tea Time for the Traditionally Built by Alexander McCall Smith review here

51. The Little Painter of Sabana Grande by Patricia Maloney Markun review here

52. Moll Flanders by Daniel Defoe review here

53. Darkness Falls by Kyle Mills review here

54. Kiss by Ted Dekker and Erin Healy review here

55. The Christmas Day Murders by Sheriff J.B. Smith review here

56. The Mystery of Grace by Charles De Lint review here

57. Divine Justice by David Baldacci review here

58. The Help by Kathryn Stockett review here

59. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald review here

June

60. A Breed Apart by Pierre Davis review here

61. Eternity in Death by J.D. Robb review here

62. Appaloosa by Robert B. Parker review here

63. Resolution by Robert B. Parker review here

64. Tortilla Flat by John Steinbeck review here

65. Glory In Death by JD Robb review here

66. The Mephisto Club by Tess Gerritsen review here

67. Thanks For the Memories by Cecelia Ahern review here

68. The Lost City of Z by David Grann review here

69. Bless Your Heart, Tramp by Celia Rivenbark review here

70. The Golden Buddha by Clive Cussler and review here

71. Naked in Death by J.D. Robb review here

72. The Camel Club by David Baldacci review here

July

73. Cemetery Dance by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child review here

74. Savage Run by C.J. Box review here

75. Sundays at Tiffany's by James Patterson review here

76. Death Match by Lincoln Child review here

77. The Collectors by David Baldacci review here

78. Sail by Patterson and Roughan review here

79. Terra Incognita by Ruth Downie review here

80. The Scarecrow by Michael Connelly

81. Relentless by Dean Koontz
82. P.S. I Love You by Cecelia Ahern

83.Dog On It by Spencer Quinn
84.Tomb of the Golden Bird by Elizabeth Peters

August

85.Fingerlickin' Fifteen by Janet Evanovich
86. Made in the U.S.A by Billie Letts
87. The Girls He Adored by Jonathan Nasaw
88. When She Was Bad by Jonathan Nasaw
89.Marked Man by William Lashner

September

90. Staying Dead by Laura Anne Gilman
91. Hunting Ground by Patricia Briggs
92. Nuclear Jellyfish by Tim Dorsey
93. The Judas Strain by James Rollins
94. From Dead to Worse by Charlaine Harris

95. Paronia by Joseph Finder

96. Festivus: The Holiday for the Rest of Us

97. Underground by Kat Richardson

October

98. Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris

99. Obsessed by Ted Dekker

100. Brimstone by Robert B. Parker

101.Curse the Dark by Laura Anne Gilman

102. Degrees of Separation by Sue Henry

103. Bring It On by Laura Anne Gilman

104. The Night Gardner by George Pelecanos

105. The Venetian Betrayal by Steve Berry

106. Cannery Row by John Steinbeck

107. Kazan by James Oliver Curwood

108. Killing Floor by Lee Child

109. The Zookeepers Wife by Diane Ackerman review here
110. Battle on the Bay by Edward T. Cotham, Jr. review here

111. Brewster's Millions by George Barr McCutcheon

November

112. The Keepsake by Tess Gerritsen review here

113. Whistling in the Dark by Lesley Kagen review here

114. Hold Tight by harlan Coben review here

115. Fire Me by Libby Malin review here

116. Three Weeks to Say Goodbye by C.J. Box review here

117. Wild Rain by Christine Feehan
118. Cross Country by James Patterson

119.The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery

120. The Asylum Prophecies by Daniel Keyes

121. Why Beulah Shot Her Pistol Inside the Baptist Church by Clayton Sullivan

122. Your Heart Belongs to Me by Dean Koontz

123. Call After Midnight by Tess Gerritsen

124. Murder Packs a Suitcase by Cynthia Baxter

December

125. The Last Gunfighter: Sudden Fury by William W. Johnstone

126. Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
127. Dakota by Martha Grines

128. Dog Days by John Levitt

129. The Wailing Wind by Tony Hillerman
130. Boneshaker by Cherie Priest

131. Ten Big Ones by Janet Evanovich
132. New Tricks by John Levitt

133. The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

134. Unleashed by John Levitt

135. Texas Bound II

136. A Touch of Dead by Charlaine Harris

5 X 4 Self Challenge 2009

FINISHED!!

In all the years I've been reading I've never planned it out. I read books that catch my fancy, that appeal to me from the shelf at the library, bookstore or garage sale, or that friends talk about. I found last year when I joined the 888 challenge I felt.......cornered. It DID help me to broaden my reading to new genres and helped me to see I could enjoy reading them. However, I didn't finish the challenge by 3 books. This year in an effort to widen my reading range but still have lots of room for the books I come across that I want to read, I've created this pared down version, The 5X4 Self Challenge. Four books in each of five categories. These are books I wouldn't normally read or that I want to read and never get around to. That's a quarter of my 100 book reading goal for this year. I'm going to plan the books, but will change if something else comes along that catches my interest. Who knows, I may read more than four in each category. Of course, I already own all these books. The categories I've chosen are:

Classics
1 The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald review here
2 Moll Flanders by Daniel Defoe review here
3 Tortilla Flat by John Steinbeck review here
4 Robinson Crusoe by Daniel DeFoe review here

Non-Fiction
1 Me Talk Pretty Some Day by David Sedaris review here
2 The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid by Bill Bryson review here
3 The Lost City of Z by David Grann review here
4 The Christmas Day Murders by Sheriff J.B. Smith review here

Books Older Than Me That Are Sitting on My Shelf
1 Kazan The Wolf Dog by James Oliver Curwood review here
2 Brewster's Millions by G. B. McCutcheon review here
3 Tarzan and the Golden Lion by Edgar Rice Burroughs review here
4 A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith review here

Award Winners
1 The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larson (Mcavity Best First Novel)
2 The Time-Traveler's Wife - Audrey Niffenegger (Booker Prize)
3 Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep by Philip K. Dick review here
4 The Killing Floor by Lee Child ( Anthony Award for Best First Novel) review here

Histories
1 1776 by David McCullough review here
2 The Zookeepers Wife by Diane Ackerman review here
3 Battle on the Bay by Edward T. Cotham, Jr. review here
4 The Lost City of Z by David Grann review here

Audiobook Challenge 2009

Finished!

Click on the picture above to go to J. Kays rules for this Audiobook Challenge! Our goal is to listen to 12 audiobooks in 2009.

1. Swan Peak by James Lee Burke review here
2. The Time Traveler's Wife by Audre Niffeneggar review here
3. Miracle at Speedy Motors by Alexander McCall Smith review here
4. Angels & Demons by Dan Brown review here
5. Adam by Ted Dekker review here
6. Chill Factor by Sandra Brown review here
7. Breath of Scandal by Sandra Brown review here
8. Arctic Drift by Clive Cussler & Dirk C. review here
9. Pandora's Daughter by Iris Johansen review here
10. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows review here
11. Robinson Crusoe by Daniel DeFoe review here
12. The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid by bill Bryson review here

The challenge ended at 12, but I'll keep list all audiobooks I "read" this year.

13. Getting Rid of Bradley by Jennifer Crusie review here
14. Power Play by Joseph Finder review here
15. Belle Weather by Celia Rivenbark review here
16. Moll Flanders by Daniel Defoe review here
17. Kiss by Ted Dekker and Erin Healy review here
18. Divine Justice by David Baldacci review here
19. Eternity in Death by J.D. Robb review here
20. Tortilla Flat by John Steinbeck review here
21 Thanks For the memories by Cecelia Ahern review here
22. The Camel Club by David Baldacci review here

The What's In a Name Challenge

Finished!

In this fun challenge you must read a book from each of 6 categories. The challenge runs form Jan. 1, 2009 to Dec 31, 2009. Click on the picture to go the host's site.

My Books

Title with a profession: (Fool)
Fool by Christopher Moore review here

Title with a time of day:
Night of the Loving Dead by Casey Daniels review here

A Title with a relative:
Pandora's Daughter by Iris Johansen review here

Title with a body part:
Heart of Stone by C.E. Murphy review here

Title with a building:
Gil's All Fright Diner by A. Lee Martinez review here

Title with a medical condition:
Deader Still by Anton Strout review here

Chunkster Challenge

Finished April, 2009

Ok. Only one more challenge. I decided to join the chunkster challenge. Several reading plans are offered. I have opted for the "Do These Books Make My Butt Look Big" plan, mostly because I thought it was funny. Rules from the Chunkster site:
*A chunkster is 450 pages or more of ADULT literature (fiction or nonfiction)
*No Audio books in the chunkster
*If you read large type books your book will need to be 525 pages or more
*Books may crossover with other challenges

Do These Books Make my Butt Look Big? - this option is for the slightly heavier reader who wants to commit to 3-5 Chunksters over the next ten months.

Here are my chunksters:

1. Dragonheart by Todd McCaffrey (544 pages) review here
2. The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (480 pages) review here
3. The Memorist by M. J. Rose (464 pages) review here
4. The Story of Edgar Sawtelle (576 pages) review here
5. White Witch, Black Curse by Kim Harrison (504 pages) review here

Read Your Own Books Challenge 2009

Click on the picture to read the rules

at MizB's Challenges You. I've chosen to set my

goal at 50 of my own books. Should be easy,

I have TONS of books here at home

that I haven't read.

1. Swan Peak by James Lee Burke review here

2. Dead Over Heels by Charlaine Harris review here

3. Junie B., First Grader: Boss of Lunch review here

4. Gil's All Fright Diner by A. Lee Martinez review here

5. Miracle at Speedy Motors by Alexander McCall Smith review here

6. No Nest for the Wicket by Donna andrews review here

7. Just Another Judgement Day by Simon R. Green review here

8. Love You Forever by Robert Munsch review here

9. Plum Spooky by Janet Evanovich review here

10. Night of the Loving Dead by Casey Daniels review here

11. Just the Two of Us by Will Smith review here

12. Heart of Stone by C.E. Murphy review here

13. Fool by Christopher Moore review here

14. Armadillo Rodeo by Jan Brett review here

15. The Three Little Javelinas by Susan Lowell review here

16. Tarzan and the Golden Lion by ERB review here

17. Deader Still by Anton Strout review here

18. I am Legend by Richard Matheson review here3

19. 1776 by David McCullough review here

20. The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid by Bill Bryson review here

21. In the Company of Ogres by A. Lee Martinez review

22. Dogzilla by Dav Pilkey review

23. Getting Rid of Bradley by Jennifer Crusie review

24. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith review

25. Belle Weather by Celia Rivenbark review

26. The Little Painter of Sabana Grande by Patricia Maloney Markun review here

27. Moll Flanders by Daniel Defoe review here

28. Darkness Falls by Kyle Mills

29. Divine Justice by David Baldacci review here

30. The Help by Kathryn Stockett review here

31. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald review here

32. Thanks For the Memories by Cecelia Ahern review here

33. Bless Your Heart, Tramp by Celia Rivenbark review here

34. The Camel Club by David Baldacci review here

35. Cemetery Dance by Douglas and Child review here

36. Savage Run by C.J. Box review here

37. Sundays at Tiffany's review here

38. Death Match by Lincoln Child review here

39. The Collectors by David Baldacci review here

40. Terra Incognita by Ruth Downie review here

41 Relentless by Dean

42 P.S. I Love You by Cecelia Ahern

43 .Dog On It by Spencer Quinn

44. Fingerlickin' Fifteen by Janet Evanovich

45. Made in the U.S.A by Billie Letts

46. The Girls He Adored by Jonathan Nasaw

47. When She Was Bad by Jonathan Nasaw

48. Staying Dead by Laura Anne Gilman

49. Hunting Ground by Patricia Briggs

50. Nueclear Jellyfish by Tim Dorsey

Support Your Local Library Challenge

Finished :)

I am adding J Kaye's Support your Local Library Challenge to my list of challences. Click on the picture to read the rules. I love the library and read lots of books from there every year. Boy does that save a ton of money! I think I'll set my goal at 25 library books.
1. Dragonheart by Todd McCaffrey review here
2. Swan Peak by James Lee Burke review here
3. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick review here
4. Angels & Demons by Dan Brown review here
5. The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson review here
6. A Long Way Gone Memoirs of a Boy Soldier review here
7. The Memorist by M. J. Rose review here
8. Adam by Ted Dekker review here
9. The Story of Edgar Sawtelle review here
10. Chill Factor by Sandra Brown review here
11. Heart of Stone by C.E. Murphy review here
12. Breath of Scandal by Sandra Brown review here
13. Watchmen by Alan Moore & Dave Gibbons review here
14. Arctic Drift by Clive Cussler & Dirk C. review here
15. Angel's Tip by Alafair Burke review here
16. Pandora's Daughter review here
17. Fool by Christopher Moore review here
18. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows review here
19. Mean Streets by Jim Butcher etc review here
20. White Witch, Black Curse by Kim Harrison review here
21. Borderline by Nevada Barr review here
22. Turn Coat by Jim Butcher review here
23. Power Play by Joseph Finder review here
24. The Christmas Day Murders by Sheriff J.B. Smith review here
25. The Mystery of Grace by Charles De Lint review here

May 22, 2009 - YEA! I've finished another challenge. I love going to the library so I know I will be getting more books from the library. I will keep track of the rest of them for the year below.

26. Eternity In Death by JD Robb review here
27.Tortilla Flat
28. Glory in Death by JD Robb review here
29. The Mephisto Club by Tess Gerritsen review here
30. The Lost City of Z by David Grann review here
31. Sail by Patterson and Roughan review here
32. The Scarecrow by Michael Connelly
33. Relentless by Dean Koontz

John Steinbeck Mini-Challenge

Finished!!

The second challenge from Mini-challenges Hosted by Becky I've decided to join is the John Steinbeck Mini-Challenge.

This mini-challenge, the John Steinbeck Mini-Challenge, is for the 2009 year. It will be from January 1, 2009 through December 31, 2009.The goal of the challenge is to read TWO books by John Steinbeck. (Audio books are welcome.) One movie can be substituted for one of the books if you prefer.

My two choices for this challenge are:
1. Tortilla Flat. – New York 1935 review here
2. Cannery Row. – New York : Viking, 1945 review here

Daniel Defoe Mini-Challenge

Finished!

At this late date, I have decided to join a couple of Mini-challenges at Mini-Challenges Hosted by Becky. I feel safe as it only consists of two books and I've chosen books that I've wanted to read for awhile!

This mini-challenge--the Daniel Defoe Mini-Challenge--will be for the 2009 year. January 1, 2009 through December 31, 2009.The challenge is to read TWO books by Defoe. (One movie may be substituted in the place of one of the books.) Audio books are acceptable as well.

The two books I've chosen are:

1. Robinson Crusoe (1719) review here

2. Moll Flanders (1722) review here

Books Around the States

Click on the picture of the states to visit Books Around the States.

Alabama -To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee review here (2008)
Alaska - The Yiddish Policemen's Union by Michael Chabon review here (2008)
Arizona - The Walking by Bentley Little review here (2008)

Arkansas - Shakesphear's Trollop by Charlaine Harris (2007)
California - Cat Pay the Devil by Shirley Rousseau Murphy review (2008)
Colorado - Hard Truth by Nevada Bar (2007)
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida - Atomic Lobster by Tim Dorsey review here (2008)
Georgia - Cold Sassy Tree by Olive Ann Burns review here (2008)
Hawaii -

Idaho - Blue Heaven by C. J. Box review here (2008)

Illinois -Devil in the White City by Eric Larson review here (2008)
Indiana
Iowa - The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid by Bill Bryson review here (2009)
Kansas-In Cold Blood by Truman Capote review here (2008)
Kentucky - Icy sparks by Gwyn Hyman Rubio review here (2008)
Louisiana-From Dead to Worse by Charlaine Harris
Maine - Dolores Claiborne by Steven King (2007)
Maryland
Massachusetts - Who's That Stepping on Plymouth Rock by Jean Fritz review here (2008)
Michigan - A Superior Death by Nevada Barr review here (2008)
Minnesota
Mississippi - A Time to Kill by John Grisham (2007)
Missouri - Bitsy's Bait and BBQ by Pamela Morsi review here (2008)
Montana - Swan Peak by James Lee burke review here (2009)

Nebraska
Nevada - Prey by Michael Crichton (2007)
New Hampshire
New Jersey-Fearless Fourteen by Janet Evanovich review here (2008)

New Mexico - Blasphemy by Douglas Preston review here (2008)
New York - Reckless Abandon by Stuart Woods review here (2008)

North Carolina - Spider Mountain by P.T. Deutermann review here(2008)

North Dakota
Ohio - The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison review here (2008)
Oklahoma - Where the Heart Is by Billie Letts review here (2008)

Oregon - Monster by Frank Peretti (2007)
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina - Rhett Butler's People by Donald McCaig review here (2008)
South Dakota
Tennessee - Full speed by Janet Evanovich (2007)
Texas - Gun Shy: A Blanco County Texas Mystery review here (2008)
Utah -Thunderhead by Preston and Child (2007)

Vermont - Wife For Hire by Janet Evanovich (2007)
Virginia - Cockatiels at Seven by Donna Andrews review here (2008)

Washington - Moon Called by Patricia Briggs review here (2008)

Washington, D.C. Naughty Neighbor by Janet Evanovich review here (2008)

West Virginia
Wisconsin - The Story of Edgar Sawtelle review here (2009)

Wyoming - Open Season by C. J. Box review here (2008)