December Wrap-Up

Books Read and Reviewed (9 books)

1. Peter and Max: A Fables Novel by Bill Willingham 
2. Fables: Sons of Empire
3. Fables: The Good Prince
4. Fables: War and Pieces
5. Inkheart by Cornelia Funke
6. Fables: The Dark Ages
7. Fables: The Great Fables Crossover
8. Jack of Fables: The New Adventures of Jack and Jack
9. Jack of Fables: The Fulminate Blade

1,000,000 Page Goal

Monthly Total:  2247  pages
Pages Remaining: 944,364 pages

Current Read

None — taking a bit of a break before diving into 2012 reads.

Books Won (1)

A Game of Thrones by George Martin from Angela
Books I Gave Up On (0)

Challenges Completed (2)

2011 — Finally done!  It took me forever to get through all the categories.  I finished Inkheart, which counted for the Bablefish category.

Fables Series — I absolutely adore this series.  Can’t wait to read more next year.

Comments

I think I finished the year off on a strong note.  I didn’t read as many books I would have liked this month, but I think 9 is respectable given all the events going on.  I’m taking a bit of a reading break to grear up for next year’s reading.

Next Month’s TBR

See the new 2012 Reading Challenges Page… There’s just too many to list right here.

 

2012 Book2Movie Reading Challenge

From Martina Bookaholic:

The goal for this challenge is to read a book/ watch a movie in each of the 12 categories, which are further down, during the year of 2012 + 1 bonus category, if someone can’t find a book in one of the 12 categories.

You want to join?:
Then please write me an e-mail to: martina.bookaholic@gmx.net with your book choices with the category #number and your blog address and the name, which I should use in this post.

Blogger Info:
‘Book 2 Movie’ Button which should be linked back to this MAIN POST on my blog. Thanks

Categories — Read a book/watch the movie:

1.  … where the movie is more famous than the book
2.  … to a TV- Series
3.  … which is based on a cartoon/ fairy tale or where the main characters are animals
4.  … where your favorite actor/ actress is playing in the movie.
5. … to a book classic which was made into a movie after 1990
6. … where the book was written for the movie
7. … from an author of your home country (for English joiners: from an author who is not  from an English speaking country)
8. . … where the story is about love and where you’ll probably cry OR where the story is about blood, murder and horrific killers.
9. … which is focused on a social critic topic (misogyny, racisms, cruelty,…)
10. … where the story is set at least 100 years ago.
11.  … where the story is playing in the future OR where the story is playing in Asia or Africa
12. … where the movie to the book is coming to the cinemas 2012
13. bonus category: … for all who have a problem to find a book/movie in one of this categories.

I’m happy and I’m really looking forward to this challenge and I’m also excited and so curious how everything will work out! So please, join and send me your details and tell all of your friends. That would be fabolous!! Thanks
Greetings, Tina

I loved doing this challenge last year, so I thought I would repeat it this year.  Plus I am increasing my goal to 20 books to movies for this year.  For purposes of variety, I will not be including the Harry Potter movies even though I will be reading the novels and watching the movies.  I am going to try and seek out movie versions that I haven’t seen…  Tentative TBR:

1. Water for Elephants — Sara Gruen (2007)
2. Something Borrowed — Emily Giffin (Adventures of Darcy #1) (2005)
3. P.S. I Love You — Cecelia Ahern (2008)
4. The Hunger Games — Suzanne Collins (The Hunger Games #1) (2009)
5. TBD
6. TBD
7. TBD
8. TBD
9. TBD
10. TBD
11. TBD
12. TBD
13. TBD
14. TBD
15. TBD
16. TBD
17. TBD
18. TBD
19. TBD
20. TBD

 

2012 Fantasy Reading Challenge

From Logically:

It has come to my attention recently that there are roughly eleventy billion fantasy books out there that I have not read. To combat this, I’ve decided to create a reading challenge, because I always do better when I hold myself accountable. So, who wants to join me?

The fantasy reading challenge will run from January 1st, 2012 – December 31st, 2012. Sign up begins today and lasts until February 1st, 2012.

Your mission, should you choose to accept it:

1. Sign up with the link below. If you don’t have a blog, you can link your Goodreads  account.

2. Grab the image on the left for your site.

3. Choose your level.

4. Leave a comment letting me know what level you’ve chosen.

Challenge Levels:

• Hobbit: 5 books
• Elf: 10 books
• Vampire Slayer: 15 books
• Wizard: 30 books
• Brothers Grimm: 50 books
• Dragonrider: 75 books
• Curse Breaker: 100 books
• Titan: 130+ books

More info: the books you choose can be in any sub-genre of fantasy, and can be adult, YA, or MG. Comics and graphic novels also count.

I really enjoy fantasty.  Of course I was going to sign up for a fantasy reading challenge.  I’ve chosen to go for the Elf Level of 10 books.   Tentative TBR:

1. Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters (2009)
2. Hand of Isis — Jo Graham (2010)
3. Ill Wind — Rachel Caine (2003)
4. Heat Stroke — Rachel Caine (2004)
5. The Kingdom of Ohio — Matthew Flaming (2010)
6. Chill Factor — Rachel Caine (2005)
7. Windfall — Rachel Caine (2005)
8. Queene of Light — Jennifer Armintrout (2009)
9. Child of Darkness — Jennifer Armintrout (2009)
10. Veil of Shadows — Jennifer Armintrout (2009)

 

2012 Mount TBR Reading Challenge

From My Reader’s Block:

If you are a bookaholic like me, then you can’t let a bookstore (used or new, it doesn’t matter) go by without stopping in (“just to look”) and walking out with at least something–if not an armload. I wait all year for the Red Cross Book Sale in October so I can cart them out by the bagful. And, well, that means that I wind up with gigantic piles of TBR books stacked up around my backroom. I don’t have a TBR shelf. Oh, no. I have “Mount TBR”…possibly a whole mountain range.

Challenge Levels

Pike’s Peak: Read 12 books from your TBR pile/s
Mt. Vancouver: Read 25 books from your TBR pile/s
Mt. Ararat: Read 40 books from your TBR piles/s
Mt. Kilimanjaro: Read 50 books from your TBR pile/s
El Toro: Read 75 books from your TBR pile/s
Mt. Everest: Read 100+ books from your TBR pile/s

And the rules:

• Once you choose your challenge level, you are locked in for at least that many books. If you find that you’re on a mountain-climbing roll and want to tackle a taller mountain, then you are certainly welcome to upgrade.
• Challenge runs from January 1 to December 31, 2012.
• You may sign up anytime from now until November 30th, 2012.
• Books must be owned by you prior to January 1, 2012. No ARCs, no library books. No rereads.
• Books may be used to count for other challenges as well.
• Feel free to submit your list in advance (as incentive to really get those books taken care of) or to tally them as you climb.
• A blog and reviews are not necessary to participate.
• A progress site for reviews will go up in January and I will post the link in my sidebar for easy access.

I am going to try and climb Mt. Everest.  I easier have more than 100 books sitting on my shelves unread.  I am going to try and clean those out this year.  (To make room for new to me books….)  Oops, did I type that?  Of course, I’m not going to buy any new books this year.  *wink wink* My reading list will be determined as I read.

 

The Great Gatsby Readalong — Sign Up Post

From Unputdownables:

The following is the reading and posting schedule for this read-a-long. Please note, we will be reading roughly 45 pages per week (about 6 pages a day). Unfortunately, there are not very clean breaks (i.e. ending at chapter breaks) this time, so we’ll always be ending in the middle of chapters… feel free to read ahead if you are on a roll, or at least read to the next natural breaking point. That said, please note that not everyone will be doing so, and I ask that you do not comment on things that happen outside of the scheduled reading (i.e. no spoilers, please). Thanks!

Schedule:

Beginning Thursday, December 29th and ending Friday, January 27th.

READING SCHEDULE:

Week #/ dates :: Place in which to STOP

Week One/ December 29- January 5 :: page 45
Week Two/ January 6- 12 :: page 90
Week Three/ January 13- 19 :: page 135
Week Four/ January 20- 27 :: page 180 (The End)

POSTING SCHEDULE:

Post #/ date post should be up on blog:

Start up Post/ Today!
Week One/ January 6th
Week Two/ January 13th
Week Three/ January 20th
Week Four/ January 27th (Final Review)

How it Works:

1. Each week, on Friday, share your thoughts about the previous week’s reading. If you are stuck on what to comment about, you can respond to my post or others’ comments. Regardless, you MUST check in each week, even if to say you are behind in the reading
2. Feel free to post reviews of the each week’s reading on your own blog (if you are a blogger), and to visit each other’s links. If I, or other readers, have extra time we will gladly try to visit your blog if you also leave a link to your post about this book. However, please make sure to share your thoughts here on this blog, as this is where the main conversation will be happening.

 I joined today.  The Great Gatbsy is one of my all-time favorite books.  I haven’t reread it in about 3 years, so I think now is the time.  Now I have to go home and find my copy.  I wonder if it’s in the grey tub, or the blue tub, or the bookshelf???  Hmmm… this could be interesting!

For purposes of the readalong, I will be commenting solely on the website each Friday.  Once the book is completed, I will post a complete review of the books and my thoughts to the discussion posts.

 

2012 A to Z Reading Challenge

 I’m trying this yet again.  I failed last year, but just barely.  I’m going to try and seek out some new authors to fill these spots.  I’m going for a combined list of Authors and Titles. 

• A — P.S. I Love You by Cecelia Ahern
• B — Rebel Angels by Libba Bray
• C — Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
• D — Dance of the Gods by Nora Roberts
• E –
• F — Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert
• G — Hand of Isis by Jo Graham
• H — The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
• I –
• J — Zombie Blondes by Brian James
• K — King Lear by Shakespeare
• L — The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan
• M — The Maiden’s Hand by Susan Wiggs
• N –
• O — One Goot in the Grave by Jeaniene Frost
• P — The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe
• Q — Queen of Light by Jennifer Armintrout
• R — Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
• S — A Sweet Far Thing by Libba Bray
• T — This Side of Paradise by F. Scott Fitzgerald
• U –
• V — Voyager by Diana Gabaldon
• W — Lost in Austen by Emma Campbell Webster
• X –
• Y — Year Zero by Jeff Long
• Z –

 

2012 Graphic Novel Reading Challenge

From Graphic Novels Challenge:

Hello Folks! This is Nicola @ Back to Books here. I will be your new host for the Graphic Novels Challenge. I’ve been a member of this challenge since the beginning when Dewey started it. I read a huge amount of graphic novels & manga each year and was a Panelist for the Cybil Award Graphic Novels Category for two years, 2009/10. I love it when new people discover that GNs are not just for kids and are not just collections of comic books. Of course, some of them are those things, not that there’s anything wrong with that!, but there is a world of viable literature that can be found in the graphic form also.

One change I’m making this year is simplifying the goal. This year we will make the target to read 12 books between Jan.1 and Dec. 31, 2012. This will give us a goal to reach.

I’ve definitely fallen in love with graphic novels and comics.  My upping the challenge level to 20 for this year.

1. Hatter M Vol. 1
2. Hatter M Vol. 2
3. Hatter M Vol. 3
4. The Boys Vol. 9
5. The Walking Dead Book 4
6. The Walking Dead Book 5
7. The Walking Dead Book 6
8. 300
9. TBD
10. TBD
11. TBD
12. TBD
13. TBD
14. TBD
15. TBD
16. TBD
17. TBD
18. TBD
19. TBD
20. TBD

 

2012 Read Your Name Challenge

 

From the Read Your Name Challenge site:

Hi, I am Victoria and this is the first challenge & only challenge I have ever hosted/probably will host. (It’s a lot of work!) I have hosted this challenge in the past (2010), but in 2011, I chose not to host it. But here it is again for 2012!

Anyhoo, the challenge is to read your name in book title first letters, ultimately spelling out your name. That means:

Using your first name, or blogger name, or your pets name, or even your favorite literary character’s name; whichever you like, choose books with first title letters that spell out your name. Such as my name: Victoria. the first book’s title would start with the letter V, then the next book title begins with I, etc. Make sense? (I hope so!)

Rules/Guidelines:

1. Whenever you have finished a book for this challenge: If you have a blog, come back here and leave your review link in the Mr. Linky that will be up; for the book you’ve read & reviewed. If you do not have a blog, please just leave your progress in a comment.
2. The challenge runs from Jan. 1st 2012, to Dec. 31st 2012. You may join at any time between Jan 1st and Nov 30th.
3. Last but not least, be sure to sign up using Mister Linky Below! & If you want to, leave a comment with what name you’re going to use and where it came from. Oh, and don’t forget to link back (with the above button, top of this post) to the challenge from your blog to show you’re participating! (If Mr. Linky does not appear to be working, then please just leave a comment with your info!)

Other (minor) Details:

• NAMES ONLY PLEASE! You DO NOT have to use your whole name; just your first name if you want, & initials are okay. No words like: water, book, blue, etc. please, just regular old official NAMES.
• Books read before 1/1/12 do not count. Audio books and eBooks are okay. & Crossovers with other challenges are also okay.
• You could read the books in any order you wish, I certainly can’t show up at your door threatening to banish you from the challenge if you don’t! But then what is the point of READING YOUR NAME out in book title first-letters if you’re not going to do it in order? You’re basically just re-arranging a bunch of letters to spell out your name, and that’s not really the point of this challenge, lol.

I heard about this challenge last year and thought I should add it, but didn’t.  So I’m going to do it this year.  I decided to include all three of my names which makes for 23 books.  I’m counting books based on the author last name or the title.   

T –

O — Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

B — The Birth of Venus by Sarah Dunant

E –

F — The Kingdom of Ohio by Matthew Flaming

R — HP and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling

A — At the Queen’s Summons by Susan Wiggs

N — Night of the Necromancer by Kyle West

C — Remarkable Creatures by Tracy Chevalier

E –

S — Sunshine by Robin McKinley

B — Burning Bright by Tracy Chevalier

U –

F — The Firemaster’s Mistress by Christie Dickason

F — Feed by Mira Grant

E –

N –

B — A Great nd Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray

A — Allison Hewitt is Trapped by Madeleine Roux

R — Morrigan’s Cross by Nora Roberts

G — The Magicians by Lev Grossman

E –

R — Regency Romance Anthology

 

2012 Back to the Classics Challenge

From Sarah Reads Too Much:

Are you excited?  I am!!  I have had a lot of fun running the Back To The Classics Challenge 2011 – but I will admit that a learning curve was involved.  This is the second year of the Challenge, and I hope that this year’s categories interest and excite you.  There are some repeats, which I think you’d expect, but I’ve had a lot of fun choosing new categories.

Here are the nitty gritty details:

1. Challenge runs from January 1, 2012 through December 31, 2012.  Books started before January 1st do not count, and all links/reviews/comments for each category must be posted in the correct place by December 31st.  Feel free to join in at any time, but the end date is December 31.
2. Please feel free to use books in this Challenge toward any other Challenge you may be participating in. However, you must read a different book for each category of this challenge.  Audio and e-books are allowed.
3. Please sign up for the Challenge using the linky list (or comment section if you do not have a blog/website).  If you would be so kind, please spread the word about this challenge by creating a post on your blog/website and link back to this sign up page.
4. Once the Challenge has begun, you will see a new bar on the left hand side of this blog.  This will list the places for you to link/comment your reviews of the book you have read for each category as well as a “wrap up” page.  I will not be doing monthly check-in posts this year.  I will probably do a “Half Way” post in June.  These will be important because….
5. THERE IS A PRIZE THIS YEAR!  People who complete the challenge (and I will check that all categories are completed!) will be entered into a random drawing for $30 worth of books (Book Depository will be used for an International Winner).  I may have other prizes as well.  Make sure you are following me via GFC, Email,  Twitter, or Facebook/Networked Blogs so you are in the know!

Let me know if you have any questions, or if I need to make any clarifications.

Now that is all out of the way, want to see the categories?  Sure you do!  Here they are:

• Any 19th Century Classic
• Any 20th Century Classic
• Reread a classic of your choice
• A Classic Play
• Classic Mystery/Horror/Crime Fiction
• Classic Romance
• Read a Classic that has been translated from its original language to your languange   - To clarify, if your native language is NOT English, you may read any classic originally written in English that has been translated into your native language.  
• Classic Award Winner  - To clarify, the book should be a classic which has won any established literary award.  
• Read a Classic set in a Country that you (realistically speaking) will not visit during your lifetime  - To Clarify, this does not have to be a country that you hope to visit either.  Countries that no longer exist or have never existed count.

Well, what do you think?  I’m hoping that something really appeals to everyone, and that maybe one of the categories will make you a little uncomfortable.  There are nine categories for twelve months.  Hopefully you will have enough time to finish without stress, or shying away from a longer/more difficult book because of time constraints.  You do not need to specify which books you plan on reading ahead of time, unless you’d like to.So, go ahead and sign up with the Linky below or in the comments!  Please spread the word and share the fun….. Good Luck to Everyone!!

My TBR List

• 19th Century — TBD
• 20th Century — This Side of Paradise by F. Scott Fitzgerald (1920)
• Reread Classic — Jane Austen
• Classic Play — TBD
• Classic Mystery/Horror/Crime — The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde (1891)
• Classic Romance — Arthurian Romances by Chretien de Troyes (late 12th century)
• Translated Classic — Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert (1857)
• Classic Award Winner — TBD
• International Classic — TBD

 

2012 Outlander Reading Challenge

From Literary Escapism:

I am a huge fan of Diana Gabaldon’s OUTLANDER series and I keep hearing how people want to read this series, but never do.  Sadly, I haven’t read any of the Outlander novels since A Breath of Snow and Ashes came out in 2005.  The seventh novel, An Echo in the Bone, has already been out for a year and the eighth novel, Written in My Heart’s Own Blood, will be coming out soon (although not soon enough).  So I’m thinking I really need to get reacquainted with Jamie, Claire and all the other wonderful characters in the Outlander novels by starting from the beginning. I’m also thinking this is the perfect time for all everyone who keeps saying they want to read it, to finally picking them up.  Plus, for those who have read Outlander, but haven’t picked up the Lord John novels – yea, I’m including those too.  *grin*

So for 2012, I’m hosting the Outlander Reading Challenge.  Here are the details:

1. The challenge will run from January 1st through December 31st.
2. The goal is to read all 7 Outlander novels as well as all 4 Lord John novels, listed below, or as many as you can or want to do.
3. Once a month, we’ll get together and chat about where and what we’ve read (more details about this to come).
4. After reading one of the novels, write your review and then come back to the main challenge page and add your link to Mr. Linky.  Make sure you include your name and which title you’ve read.

I tried to complete the Outlander series last year failed miserably.  I didn’t even read one.  So, I thought I would challenge myself yet again.  Hope this year goes better!  I’m only setting a goal of the first 5 novels.

1. Outlander (1991)
2. Dragonfly in Amber (1992)
3. Voyager (1994)
4. Drums of Autumn (1997)
5. The Fiery Cross (2001)