Thursday, December 11, 2008

2009 From the Stacks

Completed from my TBR Mountain:
1. The Water Dancers - Terry Gamble -COMPLETE

Options from my TBR mountain:
1. The Friday Night Knitting Club – Kate Jacobs (O)
2. Case Histories – Kate Atkinson (O)
3. The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen – Syrie James (O)
4. Letters From Pemberley – Jane Dakins (the first year – series?) (O)
5. Me and Mr. Darcy – Alexandra Potter (O)
6. The Man Who Loved Jane Austen – Sally Smith O’Rourke (O)
7. 204 Rosewood Lane – Debbie Macomber – Also Romance? (O)
8. 44 Cranberry Point – Debbie Macomber– Also Romance? (O)
9. White Mountain – Dinah McCall (O)
10. Beneath the Texas Sky – Jodi Thomas (O)
11. Ready for Love – Debbie Macomber (O)
12. The Manning Sisters – Debbie Macomber (O)
13. Julia’s Chocolates – Cathy Lamb (O)
14. Always – Jude Deveraux (O)
15. Stealing Home – Sherryl Woods (O)
16. Voyager - Diana Gabaldon (O)
17. Drums of Autumn- Diana Gabaldon (O)
18. These is my Words – Nancy E Turner (O)
19. The Scarlet Tread – Francine Rivers – (O)
20. From a Distance – Tamera Alexander (O)
21. A Promise for Ellie – Lauraine Snelling (O)
22. Oceans Apart – Kingsbury (O)
23. The Witness – Dee Henderson (O)

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Dewey's Book Reading Challenge


January 1 - December 31, 2009

Chris at Stuff Dreams Are Made Of and Robin at A Fondness for Reading are hosting a very special challenge in honor of Dewey from The Hidden Side of A Leaf. Chris writes:
Dewey was such a prolific reader and her reviews were honest, intriguing, and beautifully written. What better way to celebrate her wonderful life than by having a year long challenge in her name!

Dewey's Books Reading Challenge asks participants to visit Dewey's blog and peruse her archives. Then do one of the following:

1. Pick one book from each of the 6 years of which Dewey has archives. You can access her archives by clicking on the archive link in the sidebar of her website. It’s a dropdown menu. For instance, you would read one book that she reviewed in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008 for a total of six books.

2. The other option is to read 5 books that Dewey reviewed. These can be from any year.There will be Mr. Linky's to link to reviews, and a prize draw or two.

To read more and sign up, visit the dedicated blog and leave a comment on the post about the challenge.

I am going back on my personal goal to read MY books for this challenge. I just adore Dewey and miss her greatly. It was fun to go back and read some of her old blogs on books that she read.
5 books read:
3.
4.
5.
I am only going to read 5 books but here are the potentials I have picked:
1. How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff
2. What I Was by Meg Rosoff
3. Just Listen by Sarah Dessen
4. The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson
5. Matrimony – Josua Henkin
6. The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
7. Chocolat by Joanne Harris
8. What Mothers Do by Naomi Stadlen
9. The View from Satruday by EL Konigsburg (newbury)
11. The Luncheon of the Boatin Party – Susan Vreeland
12. On Chesil Beach – Ian McEwan
13. The Penelopiad – Margaret Atwood
14. The Road – Cormac McCarthy
15. The Pesthouse – Jim Crace

2009 YA Book Challenge

Guidelines for 2009 Young Adult Book Challenge
1. Anyone can join. You don't need a blog to participate.

2. Read 12 Young Adult novels. No need to list your books in advance. You may select books as you go. Even if you list them now, you can change the list if needed.

3. Challenge begins January thru December, 2009.

4. You can join anytime between now and December 31, 2009.
If you want to join you can sign up here.
Ok this Challenge is not meeting my criteria for being all books that I own, but I have several YA books to read for the YA romance challenge and for the Awards challenge, so I thought why not? Hopefully some of the ones I pick are fast reads too. : )
COMPLETE
1.Luxe -Anna Godbersen (Luxe Series #1) (COMPLETE)
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
Here are some possiblities of YA books I have been wanting to read.
1.Luxe -Anna Godbersen (Luxe Series #1) (COMPLETE)
2. Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer
3. Love is a Many Trousered Thing - Louise Rennison
5. Ever - Gail Carson Levine
6. Peaches - Jodi Lynn Anderson (Series #1 Clasicos Minotauro) (COMPLETE)
7. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants - Ann Brashares (Series #1)
8. Savvy - Ingrid Law
9. The View from Satruday by EL Konigsburg
11. Lock and Key - Sarah Dessen (COMPLETE)
12. Rumors - Anna Godbersen - (COMPLETE)

eBook Challenge

J. Kaye's Book's is hosting a eBook Challenge. Since my Mom got a Kindle for Christmas I thought I would join this challenge! Here are the rules:
1. You can join anytime as long as you don’t start reading to your books prior to 2009.
2. Read 10 eBooks in 2009.
3. Overlaps with other challenges are fine.
4. When you sign up under Mr. Linky, list the direct link to your post where your eBooks will be listed. If you list just your blog’s URL, it will be removed. If you’ll be posting your challenges on your sidebar, then please put the button up and link before signing up. If you don’t have a blog, leave the URL blank.
5. You do not have to list your books ahead of time. If you decide to, you can change them as you go. Feel free to remove or add titles as needed.

I am not going to list my books yet because I am hoping to overlap with the Pub Challenge (i.e. Published in 2009 or my book club book's which haven't been selected yet). :)
1. Snow Mountain Passage - James D Houston (Complete - book Club)
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

New Author’s Challenge



January 1 - December 31, 2009


Literary Escapism is hosting the New Author Challenge for 2009.



There is no restriction on choosing your novels. They can definitely be from other challenges.
YOU decide how many new authors you want to try in 2009 and then that’s your challenge.



To join, go to the post about the challenge and add your name to the Mr. Linky.
If you do not have your own blog, you can join the group blog here.
Bloggers or Non-Bloggers alike are welcome



When you read a new author, write your review (either at your site or the group blog) and then go back to the post about the challenge and post a link to your review.





New Author’s Challenge (12)






1. Susan Patron (The Higher Power of Lucky) COMPLETE

2. Jodi Lynn Anderson (Peaches) COMPLETE

3. Terry Gamble (The Water Dancers) COMPLETE

4. Sarah Dessen (Lock and Key) COMPLETE

5. Jane Fallen (Getting Rid of Matthew) COMPLETE

6. Ron Hall and Denver Moore (A Same Kind of Different as Me)- COMPELETE

7. Tammar Stien (Light Years) - COMPLETE

8. Dave Ramsey (Priceless) - COMPLETE

9. Diane Setterfield (Thirteenth Tale) - COMPLETE

10. CJ Box (Three Weeks Tod Say Goodbye) - COMPLETE

11. James D Houston (Snow Mountain Passage) - COMPLETE

Possibilities
The Friday Night Knitting Club – Kate Jacombs (O)
Case Histories – Kate Atkinson (O)
The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen – Syrie James (O)
Letters From Pemberley – Jane Dakins (O)
Me and Mr. Darcy – Alexandra Potter (O)
The Man Who Loved Jane Austen – Sally Smith O’Rourke (O)
Julia’s Chocolates – Cathy Lamb (O)
These is my Words – Nancy E Turner (O)
The Scarlet Tread – Francine Rivers – (O)
From a Distance – Tamera Alexander (O)
A Promise for Ellie – Lauraine Snelling (O)
Oceans Apart – Kingsbury (O)

2009 TBR Light

For those who love the original TBR Challenge, but need a little less “pressure” on their reading, the TBR Challenge *LITE* offers you that option!

You have your choice of ONE of the 3 options:
OPTION A: read 6 books in 12 months ~ your list of books CANNOT be changed, but you are allowed to have an “Alternates” list to choose from (like in the Original TBR Challenge).

OPTION B: read 6 books in 12 months ~ you CAN change you reading list throughout the year

OPTION C: make up a list of however many books you think you could get read in 12 months, as long as they are from your TBR stack/list, and then read them between January 1st and December 31st. You must have at least 3 books on your list.

Some Other General Guidelines:
-You are allowed to overlap with other challenges
- Audiobooks are allowed
- e-Books are allowed, but must still be books that you’ve wanted to read for at least 3, or more, months
- You should still have a list of books posted somewhere for others to see- You don’t have to read your books in the order you put them on your list

A Yahoo! Group has been set up for this challenge ~ feel free to join!

I am going to pick Option C 12 books (where I can select alternatives). Here are some of the books on my TBR pile. I am really trying to read a majority of my books in 2009 from my TBR mountain! (I need the space back and I still have boxes of books in storage!!)

1. The Friday Night Knitting Club – Kate Jacombs (O)
2. Case Histories – Kate Atkinson (O)
3. The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen – Syrie James (O)
4. Letters From Pemberley – Jane Dakins (the first year – series?) (O)
5. Me and Mr. Darcy – Alexandra Potter (O)
6. The Man Who Loved Jane Austen – Sally Smith O’Rourke (O)
7. 204 Rosewood Lane – Debbie Macomber – Also Romance? (O)
8. 44 Cranberry Point – Debbie Macomber– Also Romance? (O)
9. White Mountain – Dinah McCall (O)
10. Beneath the Texas Sky – Jodi Thomas (O)
11. Ready for Love – Debbie Macomber (O)
12. The Manning Sisters – Debbie Macomber (O)
13. Julia’s Chocolates – Cathy Lamb (O)
14. Always – Jude Deveraux (O)
15. Stealing Home – Sherryl Woods (O)
16. Voyager - Diana Gabaldon (O)
17. Drums of Autumn- Diana Gabaldon (O)
18. These is my Words – Nancy E Turner (O)
19. The Scarlet Tread – Francine Rivers – (O)
20. From a Distance – Tamera Alexander (O)
21. A Promise for Ellie – Lauraine Snelling (O)
22. Oceans Apart – Kingsbury (O)
23. The Witness – Dee Henderson (O)

Monday, December 8, 2008

20 in 2009

Lynn is hosting the 20 Books in 2009 Challenge where participants are asked to read a total of 20 books in 2009. The rules are:

*You must create a progress page, which will be updated each time you complete one of your 20 books.
*You can read as many books as you want by an author or in the same series.
*If the book is a re-read, it must be from a year ago.
*If you begin the book in 2008 and finish it in 2009, it does count for this challenge.
*The following do not count: comics, catalogs, manga, journals.
*You must link back to this challenge with one of the buttons provided or one that you make for your own personal use.

If you intend to participate, leave a comment on the main entry stating so. You will then be added to the participants list.

Everyone who successfully completes the 20 in 2009 challenge will win a small award graphic to display on their website

1. Title:: Higher Power of Lucky - Susan Patron

Book Title Series:: N/A

Author(s) Name: Susan Patron

Genre:: Young Adult

Book Summary & My Review: See Here

Finished: 01/09/2009

Rating: *** Stars out of 5

2. Title:: The Water Dancers
Book Title Series:: N/A
Author(s) Name: Terry Gamble
Genre:: Fiction
Book Summary & My Review: See Here
Finished: 01/17/2009
Rating: **** (4) Stars out of 5

3. Title:: Lock and Key

Book Title Series:: N/A

Author(s) Name: Sarah Dessen

Genre:: Young Adult

Book Summary & My Review: See Here
Finished: 01/19/2009

Rating: **** *(5) Stars out of 5

4. Title: Getting Rid of Matthew

Book Title Series:: N/A
Author(s) Name: Jane Fallon
Genre:: Fiction

Book Summary & My Review:: See Here

Finished: 01/21/2009
Rating: **(2) Stars out of 5

5. Title: Rumors
Book Title Series:: Luxe #2

Author(s) Name: Anna Godbersen

Genre:: Young Adult
Book Summary & My Review:: See Here
Finished: 1/26/2008

Rating: *****(5) Stars out of 5


6. Title: Same as Different As Me

Book Title Series:: N/A
Author(s) Name: Ron Hall & Denver Moore
Genre:: Non Fiction

Book Summary & My Review:: See Here

Finished: 2/8/2008
Rating: ****(4) Stars out of 5


7. Title: Light Years

Book Title Series:: N/A
Author(s) Name: Tammar Stien
Genre:: Young Adult

Book Summary & My Review:: See Here

Finished: 2/16/2008
Rating: ****(4) Stars out of 5


8. Title: The Chili Queen

Book Title Series:: N/A
Author(s) Name: Sandra Dallas
Genre:: Fiction

Summary & My Review:: See Here

Finished: March 7, 2009
Rating: ****(4) Stars out of 5

9. Title: Thirteenth Tale
Book Title Series::

Author(s) Name: Diane Setterfield

Genre:: Fiction
Summary & My Review:: See Here
Finished: March 2009

Rating: ***(3) Stars out of 5

10. Title: Envy

Book Title Series:: Luxe #4
Author:: Anna Godbersen
Genre:: Young Adult
Summary & My Review:: See Here

Finished: March 2009
Rating: ****(4) Stars out of 5

11. Title: Priceless

Book Title Series:: N/A
Author(s) Name: Dave Ramsey
Genre:: Non-Fiction

Summary & My Review:: See Here

Finished: April 2009
Rating: **(2) Stars out of 5


12. Title: Three Weeks To Say Goodbye

Book Title Series:: n/a
Author(s) Name: CJ Box
Genre:: Fiction

Summary & My Review:: See Here

Finished: April 9, 2009
Rating: ****(4) Stars out of 5


13. Title: Book Title Series:: Snow Mountain Passage
Author(s) Name: James D Houston
Genre:: Fiction

Summary & My Review:: See Here

Finished: April 25, 2009
Rating: **(2) Stars out of 5

14. Title: Book Title Series:: What I Did for Love
Author(s) Name: Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Genre:: Fiction

Summary & My Review:: See Here

Finished: April 20, 2009
Rating: ****(4) Stars out of 5


15. Title: Book Title Series::
Author(s) Name:
Genre:: FictionSummary & My Review:: See HereFinished: , 2009
Rating: ****(4) Stars out of 5


16.
17.
18.
19.
20.

Saturday, December 6, 2008

2009 Audiobook Challenge

January 1 - December 31, 2009
J. Kaye is hosting the 2009 Audiobook Challenge which encourages participants to listen to books. The guidelines are:
Do not start the challenge prior to January 1st - although sign ups begin now.
Listen to 12 books.
You do not need to make a list ahead of time; lists can change at any time.

1. The Higher Power of Lucky - Susan Patron (COMPLETE)
2. Getting Rid of Matthew - Jane Fallon (COMPLETE)
3. Thirteenth Tale - Diane Setterfield (COMPLETE)
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.

The Numbers Challenge

Callista is once again hosting The Numbers Challenge. Sign ups have started for the 2009 Challenge. Here are the guidelines for 2009:

Read 5 books with numbers in the title.
You can choose up to three that are on lists for other challenges. So two of the choices must not be on any list.
You can re-read books but all books must NOT be read until January 1, 2009.

To learn more and to sign up (or join the blog), visit the post about the 2009 Numbers Challenge which is located on the dedicated blog for this challenge.

Complete
1. Thirteenth Tale – Diane Setterfield (repeats) - COMPLETE

My Possibilies:
1. The 3 Miss Margarets – Louise Shaffer
2. 204 Rosewood Lane – Debbie Macomber
3. 311 Pelican Court – Debbie Macomber
3. 44 Cranberry Point – Debbie Macomber
4. 3 Junes – Julia glass

Christian Readers Challenge


January 1 - April 30, 2009
MizB is hosting the Christian Readers Challenge 2009. The rules are:
create a list of Christian books that you’d like to read…
titles can be fiction, nonfiction, or a mixture of both
read these between January 1st - April 30th, 2009
overlaps with other challenges ARE allowed
eBooks and Audiobooks ARE allowed

My selections are:

1. The Scarlet Tread – Francine Rivers
2. From a Distance – Tamera Alexander
3. A Promise for Ellie – Lauraine Snelling
4. Oceans Apart – Kingsbury
5. The Witness – Dee Henderson

2009 PUB Challenge


January 1 - December 31, 2009
Michelle is hosting the 2009 PUB Challenge - a challenge to read books published in 2009. For those who participated in 2008, here is your opportunity to keep reading the most current literature! Here are the guidelines:

Read a minimum of 9 books first published in 2009. You don’t have to buy these. Library books, unabridged audios, or ARCs are all acceptable. To qualify as being first published in 2009, it must be the first time that the book is published in your own country. For example, if a book was published in Australia, England, or Canada in 2008, and then published in the USA in 2009, it counts (if you live in the USA). Newly published trade paperbacks and mass market paperbacks do not count if there has been a hardcover/trade published before 2009. Any questions on what qualifies? Just leave a comment on the post about the challenge, and Michelle will set you straight!
No children’s/YA titles allowed, since we’re at the ‘pub.’
At least 5 titles must be fiction.
Crossovers with other challenges are allowed.
You can add your titles as you go, and they may be changed at any time.
Completed
2. What I Did for Love - Susan Elizabeth Phillips

Support Your Local Library Challenge


January 1 - December 31, 2009
J. Kaye from J. Kaye's Book Blog is hosting the 2009 Support Your Local Library Challenge where participants are encouraged to read from their libraries. There are three levels of participation you may choose from:
The first is to read 12 books from your local library in 2009.
The second is to read 25 books from your local library in 2009.
The third is to read 50 books from your local library in 2009.
The guidelines are:
You can join any time between now and December 31, 2009, as long as you don’t start reading your books prior to 2009.
Once you've chosen a level of participation you cannot change it.
Books can be audios, downloads, children’s, YA. As long as it’s a book, format and target age group does not matter. You do not have to decide on books ahead of time; lists can change.
I am choosing to read 12 books from my local library.

Read Your Own Books Challenge

January 1 - December 31, 2009
Jenn is hosting the 2009 Read Your Own Books Challenge. The concept is simple - read books that YOU OWN. Here are the rules:
Set a goal of how many books you want to read throughout the year.
Make a list of books you own which you want to read - the list can change at any time.
Books you add to your collection during the year are eligible.
eBooks and Audio Books are acceptable.
Overlaps with other challenges are fine.

My goal is to read 25 of books that I own. I am trying to make sure 1/2 of the books that I read are currenly owned by me!

1. The Water Dancers - Terry Gamble - COMPLETE

Romance Reading Challenge



January 1 - December 31, 2009
Naida from The Bookworm is hosting the Romance Reading Challenge for 2009. She points out that Romance Reading is not just about the bodice-rippers...




There is a huge selection of books in this category such as contemporary romance, historical romance, romantic suspense and paranormal romance to name a few. As long as the story has romantic love between the two main characters your selection will fit this challenge. The novels do not need to have a happy ending either, there can also be unrequited love.



The goal is to read a minimum of five (5) Romance novels during the challenge period. You can change your list at any times and crossovers with other challenges is allowed.

COMPLETED

1. The Chili Queen – Sandra Dallas (Complete)

2. Dream A Little Dream - Susan Elizabeth Phillips

3. What I Did For Love - Susan Elizabeth Phillips

4.

5.




My Selections:

Here is a list of possiblities, but I am not sure yet which ones will end up making the cut!
1. White Mountain – Dinah McCall
2. Beneath the Texas Sky – Jodi Thomas
3. Ready for Love – Debbie Macomber
4. The Manning Sisters – Debbie Macomber
5. Julia’s Chocolates – Cathy Lamb
6. Always – Jude Deveraux
7. Stealing Home – Sherryl Woods
8. Voager - Diana Gabaldon
9. Drums of Autumn- Diana Gabaldon

Themed Reading Challenge


February 1, 2009 - July 31, 2009
Caribousmom is hosting the Themed Reading Challenge again in 2009. Here are the guidelines:

Books should be chosen from the reader’s TBR pile (this may be an actual physical pile or a virtual pile).
The goal is to read 4 to 6 books linked by theme.
Overlaps with other challenges are allowed.
Readers may change their list of books at any time.
Readers may choose three different levels of participation:
Read at least 4 books with the same theme.
Read at least 5 books that share at least TWO themes.
Read at least 6 books that share MORE than two themes.
Themes can be geographic, genre, author, subject matter, or anything in between! Last year’s themes were wonderfully creative and varied and included such things as: books about books, books set in New England, books with a color in the title, books about vampires, books with the word ‘lady’ in the title, Gothic classics, fairy tales retold for adults, high school classics, Asian culture, feathered friends, WWII, Canada, books in translation, and Beverly Cleary. There were many others I have not listed here!
My Selections:
I am selecting 4 books with one theme: Jane Austin By Another Name. This means books that are by other authors using Jane Austin's characters, themes, or her name in the title of the book.
1. The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen – Syrie James
2. Letters From Pemberley – Jane Dakins
3. Me and Mr. Darcy – Alexandra Potter
4. The Man Who Loved Jane Austen – Sally Smith O’Rourke

Monday, June 16, 2008

Book Awards II Challenge



I am joining the Awards Challenge.

Rules:
*Read 10 award winners from August 1, 2008 through June 1, 2009.
*You must have at least FIVE different awards in your ten titles.
*Overlaps with other challenges are permitted.
*You don't have to post your choices right away, and your list can change at any time.
*'Award winners' is loosely defined; make the challenge fit your needs, keeping in mind Rule #2.
*SIGN UP using Mr. Linky.
*Have fun reading!

Books Completed:

1. The Higher Power of Lucky - Susan Patron (Newburry)

2. The Host - Stephanie Meyers (Book Sense Pick May 2008)

3. Getting Rid of Mathew - Jane Fallon (Book Sense Pick August 2007)

4. The Chili Queen - Sandra Dallas (Spur Award)

5. Thirteenth Tale – Diane Setterfield (Alex)

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

Different Awards

1. Book Sense Picks

2. Newburry

3. Alex

4.

5.

In researching the award winners I found a lot that I wanted to read. Here are some of my options. I am not sure which ones I am going to read, but here are my options:

Meg Rosoff – How I live Now (Printz)
The White Darkness – Geraldine McCaughrean (2008 Printz)
A Step From Heaven- An Na (2001 Natioanl Book
The God of Animals, by Aryn Kyle (2008 Alex Awards)
Name of the Wind: The Kingkiller Chronical: Day One – Patrick Rothfuss (2008 Alex Awards)
Thirtheenth Tale – Diane Setterfield (2007 Alex Award)
The Floor of the Sky – Pamela Carter joern (2007 Alex Award)
As Simple as Snow – Gregory Galloway (2007 Alex Award) 5 Stars
Never let me go - Kazuo Ishiguro (2007 Alex Award)
2007 Meg Rosoff, Just in Case, Penguin (Carnegie Medal)
2003 Shirley Hazzard The Great Fire (National Book Award)
1987 The Falling Woman by Pat Murphy (Nebula Award)
2002 Bel Canto – Patchett (Orange Prize) (PEN/Faulkner Award)
2006 - Cormac McCarthy, The Road (James Tait Black Memorial)
2004 Marilynne Robinson Gilead (National Book Critics Circle)
2003 Edward P. Jones The Known World (National Book Critics Circle)
1996 Gina Berriault Women in Their Beds (Short Stories - National Book Critics Circle)
1981 Marilynne Robinson for Housekeeping (PEN/Hemingway Award)
1977 Darcy O'Brien for A Way of Life, Like Any Other (PEN/Hemmingway Award)
2007 Joshua Ferris for Then We Came to the End (PEN/Hemmingway Award)
2003 Jennifer Haigh for Mrs. Kimble (PEN/Hemmingway Award)
2008 Kate Christensen, The Great Man (PEN/Faulkner Award)
1999 Antelope Wife by Louise Erdrich (World Fantasy Award)
2006 - The Virgin of Small Plains by Nancy Pickard (Agatha Awards)
2003 - Letter From Home by Carolyn Hart (Agatha Awards)
1998 - Butchers Hill by Laura Lippman (Agatha Awards)
1995 - If I'd Killed Him When I Met Him by Sharyn McCrumb (Agatha Awards)1994 - She Walks These Hills by Sharyn McCrumb (Agatha Awards)
1991 - I.O.U. by Nancy Pickard (Agatha Awards)
1990 - Bum Steer by Nancy Pickard (Agatha Awards)
Interpreter of Maladies – Jhumpa Lahiri (Pulizer)
Kira Kira – Cynthia Kadohota (Newbery)
Hattie Big Sky-Kirby Larson (Newbery)
Time Lottery – Nancy Moser (Christy Award 2003)
Where Mercy Flows – Karen Harter (Christy)
Heavy Silence – Nicole Mazzarella (Christy)
The Mending String – Cliff Coon (Christy)
Welcome to Fred – Brad Whittington (Christy)
A Place Called Wiregrass – Michael Morris (Christy)
Ezekiel’s Shadow – David Long (Christy)
Passing by Samaria – Sharon Ewell Foster (Christy)
The Bretheren – Beverly Lewis (Christy Series Winners)
The Road Home – Vanessa Del Fabbro (Christy Series Winners)
Secrets – Kristen Heitzmann (Christy)
True Honor – Dee Henderson (Christy)
The Guardian – Dee Henderson (Christy)
A Touch of Betrayal – Catherine Palmer (Christy)
Whispers from Yesterday – Robin Lee Hatcher (Christy)
Unashamed – Fancine Rivers (Christy)
The Meeting Place – Janette Oke & T Davis Bunn (Christy)

I have enough books for a couple of years of Award Challenges!! :)

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Young Adult Romance Challenge



Becky is hosting a Young Adult Romance Challenge
July 1 - Feb 2009
The rules

*Read six YA romance novels between July 1, 2008 and February 28, 2009.


*Romance should be a strong element within the story. But it doesn't have to be the only element. Realistic fiction (contemporary). Historical. Fantasy. Science Fiction. Retold Fairy Tales. All genres are allowed.

*They can be part of a series, or stand-alones.

*They can be long or short. *Happy books are NOT a requirement

*Audio books are allowed.

*Up to three movies can be substituted for books. So you could watch 3 movies, read 3 books if you prefer.

I haven't read many books from this genre since I was a teen - you can see from my list I have been seriously missing out!! I looked at Barnes & Noble under Teen Fiction - Romance and Friendship and found all of these great ones!! Thanks Becky for opening me to another group of books that I think I will love!!


Book Selections:
1. Twilight -Stephenie Meyer - COMPLETE
2. Luxe -Anna Godbersen (Luxe Series #1) - COMPLETE
3. Peaches - Jodi Lynn Anderson - COMPLETE
4. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants - Ann Brashares (Series #1)
5. Lock and Key - Sarah Dessen - COMPLETE
6. Rumors - Anna Godbersen -COMPLETE

Alternates
*Secrets of Peaches - Jodi Lynn Anderson (Series #2)
*Love is a Many Trousered Thing - Louise Rennison
*Light Years - Tammar Stein
* Ever - Gail Carson Levine -
*Leslie's Journal by Allan Stratton (Sept 2008) -
*Savvy - Ingrid Law (not sure if this is romance or not) -
*Loving Will Shakespeare - Carolyn Meyer
*The Princess and the Hound - Mette Ivie Harrison
*Red Necklace - Sally Gardner
*Confessions of a Triple Shot Betty - Jody Gehrman
*The Patron Saint of Butterflies - Cecilia Galante
*All-American Girl - Meg Cabot (Series #1)
*Honey, Baby, Sweetheart - Deb Caletti (Award Winner)
*This Lullaby - Sarah Dessen
*Someone Like You - Sarah Dessen

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Pub Challenge 2




Completed: 5 of 8
Due Date: December 31, 2008




I decided to join the Pub Challenge hosted by 1MoreChapter. When I originally saw this I thought it had to do with books that had Pubs in it...I was not correct!! Here are the details:
1. Read a minimum of 8 books published in 2008.
2. No children's/YA titles allowed, since we're at the 'pub'
3. At least 4 titles must be fiction
4. Crossovers with other challenges are allowed.
5. Titles may be changed at any time.



This is my type of challenge!! I already have 2 2008 books read:


1. Monsters of Templeton - Lauren Groff - COMPLETE


2. Change of Heart - Jodi Picoult - COMPLETE


3. The Sister - Poppy Adams - COMPLETE

4. The Opposite of Love – Julie Buxbaum - COMPLETE

5. The Senetor's Wife - Sue Miller - COMPLETE

6. There’s No Place Like Here -Cecelia Ahern - COMPLETE

7. Firefly Lane - Kristin Hannah - COMPLETE

Here are some others that I am interested in reading:


8. So Brave, Young, and Handsome -Lief Enger
9. Last Lecture -Randy Pausch
10. Skeletons at the Feast – Chris Bohjalian
11. What I want my Daughters to Know - Elizabeth Nobel

Tuesday, April 8, 2008

A-Z Reading Challenge

Completed: 29/ 52 (23) books to go
Due Date: December 31, 2008

Thoughts of Joy is hosting an A-Z Reading Challenge.
Requirements:
~ align the author's last name or the title of a book (excluding "the", "a", etc.) with its corresponding letter in the alphabet
~ enter a different book for each author and title (total of 52 books)
~ complete the alphabet lists anyway that suits your fancy (i.e.: complete each list separately in alphabetical order, read both "A" entries, then "B" entries, fit whatever you're reading into either list, etc.)
~ complete the challenge in the year 2008

2008 A to Z Challenge List (completed letters) –

Title List
A
B – Blue Bistro by Elin Hilderbrand
Blue Water by A. Manette Ansay
C – Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult
D - Drums of Change – Janette Oke
E
F – Five Fortunes by Beth Gutcheon
G – Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray
H - Hidden – Shelly Shepard Gray
I
J
K
L – Love Comes Softly by Janette Oke
M – Monsters of Templeton by Lauren Groff
N – The Negotiator by Dee Henderson
O – Opposite of Love – Julie Buxbaum
P
Q – Quilters Apprentice by Jennifer Chiaverini
R – Raising Hope by Katie Willard
S – Summer I Dared (The) - Delinsky, Barbara

T – Tallgrass by Sandra Dallas
U - Uncommon Reader - Allen Bennett
V
W – The Wilde Women by Paula Wall
X
Y
Z


Author List
A – Adams, Poppy; The Sister
B
C – Chopin, Kate; The Awakening
D – Delinsky, Barbara; Family Tree
E
F – Ferris, Jean; Once Upon a Marigold
G - Gregory, Philippa – The Other Boleyn Girl
H – Harter, Karin (Autumn Blue)
I
J -Jackson, Joshilyn - The Girl Who Stopped Swimming
K
L
M – McCullough, Colleen – The Touch
N - Noonan, Robert - Wildflowers
O
P – Pfeffer, Susan Beth – Life As We Knew It
Q
R
S - See, Lisa – Snow Flower & Secret Fan
T
U
V
W - Wilder, Laura Ingalls – Little House in the Big Woods
X
Y
Z

Chunkster Challenge




So Many Books, So Little Time is hosting a Chukster Challenge. Since I already have several books that qualify for Chunksters I thought I would join this. It will help inspire me to read the big books and not blow them off for the quicker reads. Here are the details:
*To qualify the book must be 450 pps regular type OR 750 pps large text.
*You must read FOUR chunksters (one each quarter), you OBVIOUSLY may read more
*The Challenge will run Jan 7th, 2008 - Dec 20th, 2008

So what are my books?
1. Voyager – Diana Gabaldon (Also TBR challenge)
2. Drums of Autumn – Diana Gabaldon (Also Themed Reading Challenge)
3. For the Roses - Julie Garwood (Also 1st Series Challenge)
4. Change of Heart – Jodi Picoult (Reading Full Circle Challenge) -COMPLETE

Others
5. The Touch - Colleen McCullough – COMPLETE
6. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak – COMPLETE

1st In a Series


COMPLETED: 5 of 12
Due Date: December 31, 2008

I decided to join Thoughts of Joy's First in a Series Challenge. Here are the rules:
Read 12 books that are the first in any series (new authors not required)
You may read your chosen books any time during the year; however, most plan to read one a month. A lot of people selected mysteries...these aren't my favorite books so I have searched Amazon for 1sts and here is what I came up with.

1. Love Comes Softly by Janette Oke (Love Comes Softly Series) - COMPLETE
2. The Quilter's Apprentice by Jennifer Chiaverini (Elm Creek Series) -COMPLETE
3. The Negotiator by Dee Henderson (O’Malley Series) - COMPLETE
4. Dakota Born by Debbie Macomber (Dakota Series)
5. High Country Bride - Linda Lael Miller (The McKettrick Series)
6. Land of my Heart by Tracie Peterson (Heirs of Montana)
7. Cape Refuge by Terri Blackstock (Cape Refuge Series)
8. The Texan's Touch by Jodi Thomas (Texas Brothers Trilogy)

9. To Love and to Cherish by Patricia Gaffney (Wyckerley Trilogy)
10. For the Roses by Julie Garwood (Clayborne Series)
11. Shameless by Karen Robards (Banning Sisters Trilogy)
12. A Great and Terrible Beauty – Libba Bray (book 1) (YA) - COMPLETE

I am having a hard time finding The Texan's Touch by Jodi Thomas (Texas Brothers Trilogy)
and Shameless by Karen Robards (Banning Sisters Trilogy) and refuse to pay $25 for an out of print copy, so I have added some alternates

Alternates -

13. Little House in the Big Woods - Laura Ingles Wilder
14. Anne of Green Gables by LM Montgomery
15. Reclaiming Nick: Noble Legacy (Book 1) by Susan Warren

16. The Golden Compass - Philip Pullman (His DarkMaterials #1) - (YA) COMPLETE

Reading Full Circle Challenge




Here's how to do it... Use the common words from your book titles to connect the last title and the following title. The last title in your list needs to share a word with the first title making it a full circle.

Here is my list:
Drums of Autumn – Diana Gabaldon
Drums of Change: A story of Running Fawn – Janette Oke
Change of Heart – Jodi Picoult - COMPLETE
Harvesting the Heart– Jodi Picoult -COMPLETE
Fatal Harvest – Catherine Palmer
Fatal Grace: A Three Pines Mystery – Louise Penny
A Tread of Grace – Mary Doria Russell
The Scarlet Tread – Francine Rivers
Scarlet Moon – Kimberly C Hughes
Blue Moon – Luanne Rice -COMPLETE
Autumn Blue – Karen Harter - COMPLETE

I actually got a few books I own in this List (Tread of Grace & Drums of Autumn). I have been wanting to read more Jodi Picoult (and the change of heart is her new one) and Janette Oke because I love the Love Comes Softly Series...all of the others are new books and new authors!! This was hard but fun!! It took me a few hours...and I wanted to include the Drums of Amber so I can work on the series this year.

2008 TBR Challenge










To Be Read Challenge
1. Voyager – Diana Gabaldon – Book 3 of the Outlander Series
2. The Surrogate – Judith Henry Wall
3. Case Histories – Kate Atkinson
4. Busters Midnight Café --Sandra Dallas
5. Dancing on the Edge of the Roof – Shelia Williams
6. Beginner’s Luck– Laura Pedersen
7. PS I Love You – Cecelia Ahern
8. The Touch - Colleen McCullough - COMPLETE
9. Always – Jude Deveraux
10. The Shop on Blossom Street – Debbie Macomber
11. The Perfect Arangement – Suzanne Berne
12. Five Fortunes – Beth Gutcheon - COMPLETE

Alternates
13. The Secret Wife of King George IV (Diane Haeger )
14. Snow Flowers and the Secret Fan (Lisa See) - COMPLETE
15. All We know of Love (Katie Schneider)
16. Redemption (Kingsbury with Smally)
17. The Other Boleyn Girl (Philippa Gregory) -COMPLETE
18. Custody (Nancy Thayer)
19. Bread Alone (Judity Ryan Hendricks)
20. The Persia Café (Melany Neilson)
21. The Negotiator (Dee Henderson) - COMPLETE

Monday, April 7, 2008

Read-a-thon Information!


Dewey at The Hidden Side of a Leaf is hosting her second 24 hour read-a-thon! This will be my first time participating but I observed in October and it looked like a blast!! So this year I am joining and I am going to be a cheerleader! It is June 28 & June 29 starting at 9:00 Pacific DST - which is noon for me in Louisville. Let me know if you are going to join!!

Wednesday, April 2, 2008

Novella Challenge - OVER




Trish of Hey Lady! Watcha Readin'? is hosting a challenge for Novellas. Books that are too long to be a short story but too short to be a novel. Here are the rules:
Read 6 novellas in 6 months
A Novella is defined as between 100-250 pages (with some leeway allowed!) You don't have to have your own blog
Provide reviews of the books you read either on your blog, on the challenge blog, or in the comments section of the challenge post.

I am sure that I have a few books that will qualify that are in current challenges. I will post a proposed list soon. The challenge goes from April 1 - September 30, 2008.

1. The Awakening by Kate Chopin (190 pgs) -COMPLETE
2. Love Comes Softly by Jannette Oke (240 pgs) – COMPLETE

Summer Reading Thing 2008 - OVER


Karlene is hosing a Summer Thing challenge. My goal for this challenge is to read 26 books. Here is my list but if the Spring Thing is any indication it will change greatly!


Friday, June 2oth through Sunday, September 21st, 2008.

1. PS I Love You Cecelia Ahern
2. There’s No Place Like Here Cecelia Ahern -COMPLETE
3. The Next Big Thing -Johnanna Edwards
4. Love Walked In by Marisa De Los Santos - COMPLETE
5. Harvesting the Heart– Jodi Picoult - COMPLETE
6. Fatal Harvest – Catherine Palmer
7. Scarlet Moon – Kimberly C Hughes
8. Snow Flowers and the Secret Fan- Lisa See - COMPLETE
9. God’s In Alabama – Joshilyn Jackson - COMPLETE
10. Girl Who Stopped Swimming – Joshilyn Jackson -COMPLETE
11. Cape Refuge by Terri Blackstock
12. There’s No Place Like Here by Cecelia Ahern - COMPLETE
13. Hidden – Shelley Shepard Gray - COMPLETE
14. Light Years - Tammar Stein
15. The Flirt – Kathleen Tessaro
16. Twilight -Stephenie Meyer
17. Luxe -Anna Godbersen
18. Love is a Many Trousered Thing - Louise Rennison
19. Light Years - Tammar Stein
20. Ever - Gail Carson Levine
21. Peaches - Jodi Lynn Anderson
22. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants - Ann Brashares
23.Thirtheenth Tale – Diane Setterfield
24. 13 Reasons Why – Jay Asher
25. The Host - Stephenie Meyer
26. ??
SWAPS
2. Garden Spells - Sarah Addison Allen

Chick Lit Challenge - OVER


Journey to the End of the TBR Pile is hosting a Chick Lit Challenge. This challenge is from June 1 - September 1 with 3 books to read. Here is my list:
1. PS I Love You Cecelia Ahern
2. There’s No Place Like Here Cecelia Ahern
The Next Big Thing -Johnanna Edwards
3. Sunday’s At Tiffany’s - James Patterson
Alternates
Austentland –Shannon Hale
Remember Me? – Sophie Kinsella
Queen of Babble – Meg Cabot
The Bright Side of Disaster – Katherine Center
Life’s a Beach – Claire Cook (author of Must Love Dogs)
Hearbreak Town – Marsha Moyer

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

48 Hour Read-A-Thon


Final Updates
Pages Read: 238
Books finished: 0
Time: 5 hours and 30 minutes
I know - lame, lame, lame. The weekend got away with me - With a birthday party, church, a going away party and cleaning for guests later in the week before I knew it the weekend was gone!! I did listen to an audio book for about 2 hours while I cleaned but I don't think that counts! I will try to do better next year!!
I learned pick smaller books - I picked a book with over 400 pages because it is due at the library, but if I didn't I would have had a book read. :) Also - don't plan anything - because stuff comes up!

Once Upon A Time II


I am still on my challenge crazy quest.... I am joining the Once Upon A Time II hosted by Carl. I am not normally a big fantasy reader, but I LOVED Harry Potter. I saw Stephanie's list at The Written Word and looked that the synopsis at B&N and decided that this sounds like a fun challenge. I think I loved her list because the books were pictured...I have an obsession with buying books.


I picked several that were on Stephanie's list. They are mostly Young Adult so hopefully I will get through them fast and they won't affect my other challenges. :) I also want to finish the Thursday Next Series, which I started last year, so this is a great opportunity for that! This challenge lasts until June 20.


I am going to do Quest One: Read five books from any category or combination of category.



2. Goose Girl by Shannon Hale

3. Stolen Child by Keith Donohue

4. The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly

5. Something Rotten: A Thursday Next Novel

6. Thursday Next: First Among Sequels

7. The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman (I have this on request at the library, but I am #9 so I am not sure it will come in before the challenge is over)

This one might interfere with the Spring Thing Challenge, but I am trying to increase the number of books I am reading so we'll see in June how I did!! :) Several of these are YA so I think I might be OK. Also my real goal with Spring Thing was to read one book a week...I will be happy if I complete this regardless of what the books are!

Spring Thing Reading Challenge 2008






I went back to Callapidder Days and the Spring Thing Reading Challenge needs a few more specifics than I originally detailed. So here are some more details...

Goal
1. Finish Themed Reading Challenge. - COMPLETE

AND Goal 2 Read the following:
1. Blue Moon – Luanne Rice
2. Blue Water – A Manette Ansay -COMPLETE
3. The Quilter's Apprentice by Jennifer Chiaverini (Elm Creek Series) -COMPLETE
4. Dakota Born – Debbie Macomber (Dakota Series)
5. A Great and Terrible Beauty – Libba Bray - COMPLETE
6. Drums of Autumn – Diana Gabaldon
7. The Sister – Poppy Adams - COMPLETE
8. Family Tree – Barbara Delinsky -COMPLETE
9. Looking for Peyton Place - Barbara Delinsky
10. Lake News - Barbara Delinsky
11. The Book Thief – Markus Zusak - COMPELETE

Others Completed...


Themed Reading Challenge - COMPLETE



Caribousmom is hosing a Themed Reading Challenge. I am picking books with Blue in the title. I have.

Blue Moon – Luanne Rice -COMPLETE
Autumn Blue – Karen Harter - COMPLETE
The Blue Bistro by Elin Hilderbrand - COMPLETE
Blue Water by A. Manette Ansay -COMPLETE

48 Hour Book Challenge



48 Hour Book Challenge
When: June 6-8
Premise: Read for 48 hours straight! Well there are a few more details...Mother Reader has posted the rules/guidelines.
I will post here when I start and the finishing totals. My goal is to read for 20 hours. Anything above that is fabulous! I am hoping to finish some challenges during this time because I have several that are due. I will link the posts during the challenge at my main posting area... Reading Derby.

tl;dr Challenge


Renay is hosting a 342,745 Ways to Herd Cats, or tl;dr challenge. What you do is submit 10 books that you loved, then May 1 you pick 3 books on the list and read the 3 books by November 30.
Here are my favorite 10 books:
1. 1001 White Women by Jim Fergus
2. Big Stone Gap by Adriana Trigiani
3. Suzanne’s Diary for Nicholas by James Patterson
4. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
5. The Honk and Holler Opening Soon – Billie Letts
6. Night Ride Home by Barbara Esstman
7. Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons – Lorna Landvick
8. Here are Earth – Alice Hoffman
9. Crow Lake – Mary Lawson
10. The Blessing Stone – Barbara Wood
Here are the books that I am going to read:
Red Leaves by Thomas H. Cook (Melody’s Reading Corner)
Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn (Word Lily)
The Hummingbird's Daughter by Luis Alberto Urrea (Framed and Booked)
The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox by Maggie O’Farrel (Alix)
What I Was by Meg Rosoff (Dewey)
The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield (Dewey)
The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy (Invocations)
The Thief (Megan Whalen Turner)
Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier
Anne of Green Gables by LM Montgomery
Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult
The Prize Winner of Defiance Ohio by Terry Ryan
Snow Flower & Secret Fan by Lisa See
The Giver by Lois Lowry
Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire