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:
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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)
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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)
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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


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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)
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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

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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