Reading Distractions Challenges

2011 Books Completed

2011-03-31T16:33:00.000-07:00

Books Read in 2011 (100+ Reading Challenge 2011)

(1/11/11) 1. Agatha Raisin & the Case of the Curious Curate - M.C. Beaton 212p. (5/5) (1/13/11) 2. Moonwalk - Michael Jackson 300p. (5/5)

(1/14/11) 3. Wicked Appetite - Janet Evanovich 313p. (5/5)

(1/15/11) 4. Parrot Training: A Guide to Taming & Gentling Your Avian Companion - Bonnie Munro Doane 224p. (4/5)

(1/20/11) 5. Smitten - Janet Evanovich 250p. (4/5)

(1/22/11) 6. Harry Potter & the Prisoner of Azkaban - J.K. Rowling 448p. (5/5)

(1/25/11) 7. Birthday Party Murder - Leslie Meier 381p. (5/5)

(1/26/11) 8. Hank Zipzer: The Life of Me (Enter at Your Own Risk) - Henry Winkler & Lin Oliver 250p. (5/5)

JANUARY - 2378 pages

(2/5/11) 9. Gingerbread Cookie Murder - Joanne Fluke, Laura Levine & Leslie Meier 361p. (5/5)

(2/10/11) 10. Christmas With Tucker - Greg Kincaid 180p. (5/5)

(2/11/11) 11. Veganist - Kathy Freston 304p. (5/5)

FEBRUARY - 845 pages
(3/5/11) 12. A Dog Named Christmas - Greg Kincaid 160p. (5/5)

(3/22/11) 13. Shit My Dad Says - Justin Halpern 158p. (5/5)

MARCH - 318 pages

(4/9/11) 14. Glazed Murder - Jessica Beck 292p. (5/5)

(4/10/11) 15. Shutter Island - Dennis Lehane 379p. (5/5)

APRIL -

(5/12/11) 16. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire - J.K. Rowling (5/5)

2011 Statistics Books Read:

Pages Read:

Favorite Books of 2011:

2010 Chunkster Challenge (2/1/10 - 1/31/11)

2010-01-05T10:03:00.000-08:00

Wendy from Caribousmom is hosting the 2010 Chunkster Challenge.

Many thanks to Dana who has hosted this challenge for the past couple of years and has generously handed over the reins to me in 2010. I am keeping most of Dana's rules and definitions...Why? Because why fix something that isn't broken?!??!

Definition of a Chunkster:

A chunkster is 450 pages or more of ADULT literature (fiction or nonfiction) ... A chunkster should be a challenge.
If you read large type books your book will need to be 525 pages or more ... The average large type book is 10-15% longer or more so I think that was a fair estimate.

The Rules:

No Audio books in the chunkster.

It just doesn't seem right. Words on paper for this one folks.

No e-Books allowed - we are reading traditional, fat books for this challenge.

Short Stories and Essay collections will not be counted.

Books may crossover with other challenges

Anyone may join. If you don't have a blog, just leave me a comment on this post with your progress (and to let me know you are playing)

You don't need to list your books ahead of time.
Once you pick a level, that's it...you're committed to that level!

You must pick a level of participation (thanks again to Dana for the humor in these categories!):

The Chubby Chunkster - this option is for the reader who has a couple of large tomes on their TBR list, but really doesn't want to commit to much more than that. 3 books is all you need to finish this challenge.
Do These Books Make my Butt Look Big? - this option is for the slightly heavier reader who wants to commit to 4 Chunksters over the next twelve months.
Mor-book-ly Obese - This is for the truly out of control chunkster. For this level of challenge you must commit to 6 or more chunksters OR three tomes of 750 pages or more. You know you want to.....go on and give in to your cravings.

Some Other Questions you Might Have:

To review or not to review, that is the quesion...Reviews are not mandatory, but they are strongly encouraged. I will be putting up a Mr. Linky at the beginning of the challenge for links to your reviews. I will also be posting a Mr. Linky for wrap up posts at the end of the challenge.
Will there be prizes? Perhaps. I am still thinking on this...but I may consider some bookish giveaways as the challenge progresses! If I were you, I would subscribe to this blog just in case I announce something important.
Is there anything else we need to know? Um, not that I can think of right now. But, lately I have been into being flexible. And I may decide to add some fun stuff to this blog, or even have a guest poster or two. Check back in occasionally (or subscribe to the feed) just in case!

Oops! I screwed up in preparing for this one! I purchased several HUMONGOUS ebooks for my Kindle to have on hand for this challenge -- Under the Dome, The Pillars of the Earth and the Story of Edgar Sawtelle-- and now I see ebooks won't count. :-(

Oh, well! I'm sure I will fit them in for some other challenge. I'm going to choose level one, the Chubby Chunkster, which is to read 3 books of 450 pages or more.

Rainbow Connection Challenge (1/1 - 6/30/10)

2010-01-01T15:06:00.000-08:00

Sue is hosting the Rainbow Connection Challenge.

January 1, 2010 - June 30, 2010

I’m hosting my first Challenge, Rainbow Connection Challenge. Reading Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, and Violet books.

You can complete either a single rainbow or double rainbow challenge.

Single Rainbow (reading 7 books) by either Author (first or last name) or Title starting with R, O, Y, G, B, I and V (Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, and Violet) books.

Double Rainbow (reading 14 books) by Author (first or last name) and Title starting with R, O, Y, G, B, I and V (Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, and Violet) books.

There will be a rainbow prize for all that complete the challenge.

Rules:
1. This challenge is from January 1, 2010 to June 30, 2010.
2. Read a book starting with R, O, Y, G, B, I and V (Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, and Violet) books.
3. The books you chose for this challenge can overlap with other challenges.

I am going to sign up for Single Rainbow which is a commitment of 7 books.

RED - Ron Jeremy: The Hardest Working Man in Showbiz - Ron Jeremy 1/17/10
ORANGE -
YELLOW - The Yellow-Lighted Bookshop - Lewis Buzbee 2/16/10
GREEN -
BLUE -
INDIGO -
VIOLET -

2010 Books Completed

2010-01-01T06:29:00.000-08:00

Books Read in 2010

1. Cinderella - Henry W. Hewet 1/1/10 40p. (1/5)
2. Beauty and the Beast - Marie Le Prince de Beaumont 1/2/10 48p. (5/5)
3. Homebuyers Beware: Who's Ripping You Off Now? - Carolyn Warren 1/17/10 288p. (5/5)
4. Ron Jeremy: The Hardest (Working) Man in Showbiz - Ron Jeremy 1/17/10 352p. (5/5)
5. The Mist - Stephen King 1/23/10 240p. (5/5)
6. Hank Zipzer: Day of the Iguana - Henry Winkler 1/28/10 154p. (5/5)

JANUARY - 1122 pages

7. The Princess Diaries - Meg Cabot 2/15/10 256p. (5/5)
8. The Yellow-Lighted Bookshop - Lewis Buzbee 2/16/10 216p. (3/5)
9. Push - Sapphire 2/23/10 179p. (5/5)

FEBRUARY - 651 pages

10. More Blood, More Sweat and Another Cup of Tea - Tom Reynolds 3/5/10 352p. (4/5)
11. Under the Dome - Stephen King 3/12/10 1088p. (5/5)
12. The Princess Diaries Vol. 2: Princess in the Spotlight - Meg Cabot 3/19/10 256p. (5/5)
13. The Doll People - Ann M. Martin & Laura Godwin 3/20/10 288p. (5/5)
14. Hank Zipzer: The Night I Flunked My Field Trip - Henry Winkler & Lin Oliver 3/30/10 160p. (5/5)

MARCH - 2144 pages

15. Beyond the Spiderwick Chronicles: Book 3: The Wyrm King - Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black 4/3/10 209p. (4/5)
16. Hank Zipzer: Holy Enchilada! - Henry Winkler & Lin Oliver 4/8/10 157p. (5/5)
17. The Meanest Doll in the World - Ann M. Martin & Laura Godwin 4/10/10 267p. (5/5)
18. Garfield and the Wicked Wizard - Michael Teitelbaum 4/10/10 79p. (1/5)
19. The Runaway Dolls - Ann M. Martin & Laura Godwin 4/10/10 329p. (5/5)
20. Hank Zipzer: Help! Somebody Get Me Out of Fourth Grade - Henry Winkler & Lin Oliver 4/17/10 155p. (5/5)
21. Dear Dumb Diary, Let's Pretend This Never Happened - Jim Benton 4/20/10 95p. (5/5)
22. Dear Dumb Diary, My Pants Are Haunted! - Jim Benton 4/22/10 128p. (5/5)

APRIL - 1419 pages

23. Dear Dumb Diary, Am I the Princess or the Frog? - Jim Benton 5/3/10 148p. (5/5)
24. Dear Dumb Diary, Never Do Anything, Ever - Jim Benton 5/5/10 132p. (5/5)
25. This Time Together - Carol Burnett 5/6/10 288p. (5/5)
26. Dear Dumb Diary, Can Adults Become Human - Jim Benton 5/8/10 117p. (5/5)
27. Dear Dumb Diary, The Problem With Here Is That It's Where I'm From - Jim Benton 5/11/10 120p. (5/5)
28. Dear Dumb Diary, Never Underestimate Your Dumbness - Jim Benton 5/15/10 150p. (5/5)
29. Hank Zipzer: Summer School! What Genius Thought That Up? - Henry Winkler & Lin Oliver 5/15/10 156p. (5/5)
30. Dear Dumb Diary, It's Not My Fault I Know Everything - Jim Benton 5/17/10 131p. (5/5)
31. Blockade Billy - Stephen King 5/20/10 144p. (5/5)
32. Ma and Pa Dracula - Ann M. Martin 5/26/10 122p. (4/5)
33. The Princess Diaries Vol. 3: Princess in Love - Meg Cabot 5/28/10 256p. (5/5)
34. Hank Zipzer: My Secret Life as a Ping-Pong Wizard - Henry Winkler & Lin Oliver 5/31/10 158p. (5/5)

MAY - 1922 pages

35. Believe It, Be It - How Being the Biggest Loser Won Me Back My Life - Ali Vincent 6/10/10 176p. (5/5)
36. The Royals - Kitty Kelley 6/12/10 547p. (4/5)
37. Dear Dumb Diary, That's What Friends Aren't For - Jim Benton 6/14/10 131p. (5/5)
38. Fearless Fourteen - Janet Evanovich 6/17/10 320p. (5/5)
39. Just After Sunset - Stephen King 6/18/10 367p. (5/5)
40. Plum Lucky - Janet Evanovich 6/28/10 176p. (5/5)

JUNE - 1717 pages

41. Confessions of a Shopaholic - Sophie Kinsella 7/4/10 384p. (5/5)
42. The Princess Diaries IV: Princess in Waiting - Meg Cabot 7/7/10 256p. (5/5)
43. The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner - Stephenie Meyer 7/15/10 192p. (5/5)
44. Shopaholic Takes Manhattan - Sophie Kinsella 7/20/10 400p. (5/5)
45. The Princess Diaries V: Princess in Pink - Meg Cabot 7/21/10 288p. (5/5)
46. Finger Lickin' Fifteen - Janet Evanovich 7/22/10 352p. (5/5)

JULY - 1872 pages

47. Shopaholic Ties the Knot - Sophie Kinsella 8/23/10 416p. (5/5)
48. The Princess Diaries VI: Princess in Training - Meg Cabot 8/26/10 304p. (5/5)
49. Death of a Trophy Wife - Laura Levine 8/31/10 304p. (5/5)

AUGUST - 1024 pages

50. The Princess Diaries VII: Party Princess - Meg Cabot 9/22/10 320p. (5/5)
51. Shopaholic and Sister - Sophie Kinsella 9/25/10 400p. (5/5)
52. Club Dead - Charlaine Harris 9/30/10 304p. (5/5)

SEPTEMBER - 1024 pages

53. Hank Zipzer: My Dog's A Scaredy-Cat - A Halloween Tail - Henry Winkler & Lin Oliver 10/1/10 158p. (3/5)
54. Here's the Deal: Don't Touch Me - Howie Mandel 10/3/10 220p. (5/5)
55. Agatha Raisin and the Day the Floods Came - M. C. Beaton 10/5/10 240p. (5/5)
56. Turkey Day Murder - Leslie Meier 10/7/10 288p. (5/5)
57. The Christmas Sweater - Glenn Beck 10/29/10 294p. (5/5)
58. Hank Zipzer: The Curtain Went Up, My Pants Fell Down - Henry Winkler & Lin Oliver 10/29/10 158p. (4/5)
59. Wedding Day Murder - Leslie Meier 10/30/10 234p. (5/5)

OCTOBER - 1592 pages

60. Sizzling Sixteen - Janet Evanovich 11/28/10 309p. (5/5)

NOVEMBER - 309 pages

61. This Isn't What It Looks Like - Pseudonymous Bosch 12/3/10 423p. (5/5)
62. Huckleberry Finished - Livia J. Washburn 12/12/10 246p. (5/5)
63. Dear Dumb Diary, The Worst Things in Life Are Also Free - Jim Benton 12/15/10 148p. (5/5)
64. Full Dark, No Stars - Stephen King 12/31/10 368p. (5/5)

DECEMBER - 1185 pages

2010 Statistics:
Books Read: 64
Pages Read: 15,981

Favorite Books of 2010:
Under the Dome - Stephen King
The Doll People - Ann M. Martin & Laura Godwin
Dear Dumb Diary - Jim Benton
Confessions of a Shopaholic - Sophie Kinsella
The Christmas Sweater - Glenn Beck
Full Dark, No Stars - Stephen King

Buy One Book and Read It 2010 (1/1 - 12/31/10)

2009-12-31T18:51:00.000-08:00

My Friend Amy is hosting the Buy One Book and Read it 2010 Challenge.

Buy One Book and Read It was started when I realized over 50% of Americans had not read a single book in a year. This is the most disturbing news possible to a book lover like myself, so I wanted to encourage an easy fun way to make sure people read a book in a year!

And it's back! With options!

This year there are three levels of participation:

Level One!

Buy one book and read it before December 31st, 2010.

Level Two!

Buy six books and read them before December 31st, 2010.

Level Three!

Buy 12 books and read them before December 31st, 2010.

Options:

To add a little twist to this year's challenge you are encouraged to choose one of the following options to add to your level.

Indie Option--Make sure the book or books you buy are purchased at an independent bookstore.

Book Blogger Option--Buy only books you learn about on book blogs.

That's it! If you'd like to join, just add your link to the Mister linky with your level and options in parentheses. On January 1st, I'll put up a linky for reviews.

I am signing up for Level Two and I'm going to make it half Indie Option, so 3 (or more) of the 6 books purchased I will purchase at an independent bookstore. We have two little ones in our town "Red Fox Books" and a children's book store "The Dog Ate My Homework" so I will be glad to do some shopping with them this year. I've really gotten away from bookstores since purchasing my Kindle this past February and I miss them. But my bookshelves were groaning for relief and I really didn't have room to purchase another one. I currently have 6 bookcases that are filled to capacity and more and more boxes of books residing in my Mom's shed! So the Kindle was a welcome addition to my home. I'm looking forward to getting out shopping!

Level Two

1. Homebuyer's Beware: Who's Ripping You Off Now? - Carolyn Warren 1/17/10

2. Ron Jeremy: The Hardest (Working) Man in Showbiz - Ron Jeremy 1/17/10

Reading Into the New Year

2009-12-31T18:28:00.000-08:00

Kristen from Bookworming in the 21st Century is encouraging us to:

Reading into the New Year!! Whether you start five minutes before midnight or hours before, you can join me in Reading into the New Year. If you have kids, you can even involve them by reading them a picture book or having the family join you. The point is to read as it turns from 2009 to 2010. Whether it's just a half hour or 5 hours.

Since I'm a librarian I'm always looking for ways to promote reading and thought this was a fun idea for those of us that stay home on New Years Eve.

So, if you want to join me, go ahead and post about - please steal the button above to! There's a Mr. Linky below to put your posts!

Also, as some extra incentive - I'll be selecting someone at random to receive one or two books I plan on giving away! I'll have a list up later in December with the book titles.

This is the first New Years Eve that I don't actually have to work. I've spent probably the last 5 years sitting on the couch at work, ringing in the New Year by myself with Dick Clark or Richard Simmons on QVC!

And ya know what? I'm going to be doing the exact same thing this year! Only I get to be at home with my daughter and S.O. and I wouldn't have it any other way!

I always thought it would be great to travel to NYC to watch the ball drop. Every year I say someday I am going to do it. I live in upstate NY, so it's not like it's too far away for me to drive. But, the thought of fighting the traffic, finding somewhere to park, fighting the crowds and then standing out in the cold --- eh. I think I'd much rather be sitting at home (or at work) where it's nice and warm with a good book in my hands while I half-listen to the music and the goings on in NYC.

So, I'm right where I want to be. I plan on doing some reading while watching Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve. Or Ryan Seacrest's. If my daughter is still awake, we'll bring in the New Year with one of her favorite stories, but I'm betting she will be out cold way before then. I let her have a couple glasses of soda which is a rare treat so once the sugar high wears off she's going to crash hard! Then Mommy gets some peace and quiet with old TV friends and my good book. Can't wait to figure out which new one I'm going to crack into!

Short Story Reading Challenge (1/1 - 12/31/10)

2009-12-31T18:06:00.000-08:00

Kate from Kate's Book Blog is hosting the Short Story Reading Challenge.

Options 1 & 2: If you're short on time, you can simply commit to reading ten short stories by ten different authors over the course of 2010. If you're relatively new to reading short stories, any ten will do. If you’ve already got a lot of short stories under your belt, make it ten short stories by ten writers whose work you have not yet read. How about that—a year long challenge that you could conceivably complete in the course of a day! Of course, I would encourage you not to do that but rather to heed the words of Mavis Gallant, short story writer extraordinaire, who advises:

Stories are not chapters of novels. They should not be read one after another, as if they were meant to follow along. Read one. Shut the book. Read something else. Come back later. Stories can wait.

I am going to choose option 2. Aside from some Stephen King short stories when I was a teenager, I haven't read many short stories in the last 20 years. Although, in 2008 I read a book of short stories by Steve's son, Joe Hill. Keeping it in the family, I guess. I wonder if Tabatha King has a book of short stories?

Anyhow, I am definitely a novice, so anything I can manage to get read and keep down will be good. ;-) I'll be lucky if I can get my hands on one or two books of short stories this year.

1. The Mist - Stephen King 1/23/10

Young Adult Reading Challenge (1/1 - 12/31/10)

2009-12-31T17:35:00.000-08:00

J. Kaye's Book Blog is hosting the 2010 Young Adult Reading Challenge.

1. Anyone can join. You don't need a blog to participate.

--Non-Bloggers: Post your list of books in the comment section of the wrap-up post. To learn how to sign up without having a blog, click here.

2. There are four levels:

--The Mini YA Reading Challenge – Read 12 Young Adult novels.

--Just My Size YA Reading Challenge – Read 25 Young Adult novels.

--Stepping It Up YA Reading Challenge – Read 50 Young Adult novels.

--Super Size Me YA Reading Challenge – Read 75 Young Adult novels.

3. Audio, eBooks, re-reads all count.

4. 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.

5. Challenge begins January 1st thru December, 2010.

I'm really looking forward to this challenge. In the last few years I've been finding that I'm reading more and more YA books. They are really quite enjoyable. Right now I am in the middle of Henry Winkler's Hank Zipzer series and really enjoying it. Last year I read all of Judy Blume's Superfudge series and was really sad when there weren't anymore to read.

I am going to sign up for the "Just my Size" level of 25 books and hope that I can step it up a notch to the "Stepping it Up" level of 50 books. I always have high hopes at the beginning of the year but as reality sets in, I always realize I have over-committed, so I hope I'm not starting too high, and we'll see how it goes. It's always fun to try!

1. Hank Zipzer: Day of the Iguana - Henry Winkler 1/28/10

2. The Princess Diaries - Meg Cabot 2/15/10

E-Book Reading Challenge (1/1 - 12/31/10)

2009-12-31T17:24:00.000-08:00

Royal Reviews is hosting the 2010 E-Book Challenge.

Challenge Guidelines:

1. Anyone can join. You don't need a blog to participate.
--Non-Bloggers: Include your information in the comment section.

2. There are four levels:

-- Curious – Read 3 E-Books.
-- Fascinated – Read 6 E-Books.
-- Addicted – Read 12 E-Books.
-- Obsessed – Read 20 E-Books.

3. Any genre counts.

4. You can list your books in advance or just put them in a wrap up post. If you list them, feel free to change them as the mood takes you.

5. Challenge begins January 1st thru December, 2010.

I'm going for Addicted which is to read 12 E-Books. Even after purchasing my Kindle, I find I am still reading the majority of my books from the library, but hopefully there will be enough reading to spread it around this year.

1. Homebuyers Beware: Who's Ripping You Off Now? - Carolyn Warren 1/17/10
2. Ron Jeremy: The Hardest (Working) Man in Showbiz - Ron Jeremy 1/17/10
3. The Mist - Stephen King 1/23/10
4. The Princess Diaries - Meg Cabot 2/15/10
5. More Blood, More Sweat and Another Cup of Tea - Tom Reynolds 3/5/10
6. Under the Dome - Stephen King 3/12/10
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12.

Pages Read Challenge Season 2 (1/1 - 12/31/10)

2009-12-31T15:23:00.000-08:00

Secret Dreamworld of a Bookaholic is hosting the Pages Read Challenge Season 2.

1) Pick a number of pages you'll be attempting to read in 2010. It doesn't matter whether your goal is 10,000 or 100,000. You can always up your number as we go along, so you don't need to go all up high with your page count.

2) Write a blog post about it in which you will keep track of your page count.

3) Comment here with your goal number and a link to your blog post (if you have a blog - otherwise, just leave a comment with your name and the goal number). I'll then add you to the list of participants below.

4) The challenge starts January 1, 2010 and ends December 31, 2010. Only pages read after the new year has begun count in for the challenge, but any and every page you read counts for this challenge. I don't care about re-reads, overlaps with other challenges, or e-books! Just count the pages you read, no matter what type of book you're reading :-) See, it's a really easy challenge!

5) As usual: Have fun!

I loved this challenge last year, got real close to my goal of 20,000 pages. This year I am setting a goal of 18,000 pages with the hopes that I will make it to 20,000 anyhow. I'm amazed at the people setting goals of 50,000 pages and higher! In my wildest dreams I could never make it that high. Much luck to the people going for it!!!

2010 Pages Goal - 18,000

2010 Pages Completed - 3425

Typically British Reading Challenge 2010 (1/1 - 12/31/10)

2009-12-30T15:28:00.000-08:00

Timeline: 1st Jan 2010~ 31st Dec 2010. Only books started on January 1st count towards this challenge.

Details:

1. Anyone can join. You don't need a blog to participate.

2. There are four levels:

• "Put The Kettle On" – Read 2 Typically British novels.
• "Gordon Bennett" – Read 4 Typically British novels.
• "Bob's Your Uncle" – Read 6 Typically British novels.
• "Cream Crackered" – Read 8 Typically British novels.

3. Any book format counts. Must be fiction not non-fiction.

4. You don't have to select your books ahead of time, you can just add them as you go. Also if you do list them upfront then you can change them, nothing is set in stone!

5. The books you choose can crossover into other challenges.

6. If you decide to participate in this challenge please use the link I have set up below with the button to post on your sidebar, this way others can find their way back to this post and join in the fun.

7. If you decide to join this challenge be sure to create a post telling others, please make sure you add a link back to this post so others can join in.

8. There will be a place for you to link your reviews, but this is optional.

9. Obviously only British authors count!

I'm going to choose the "Put the Kettle On" level and hopefully upgrade to higher levels if I get enough read in time.

1. More Blood, More Sweat and Another Cup of Tea - Tom Reynolds 3/5/10

Twenty Ten Reading Challenge (1/1/10 - 12/31/10)

2009-12-30T14:46:00.000-08:00

The aim is to read a total 20 books, over ten categories, in 2010. (Was this challenge based solely around the name? I’ll let you decide!)

Rules:

Read 2 books from each category, making a requirement of 20 books total.

The categories are intended to be loose guidelines only, if you decide it fits, then it fits. (Apart from those marked **) Categories marked with ** have tighter rules, and these must be followed.

Each book can only qualify for one category.

Crossovers with other challenges are allowed.

Books read from 01/01/2010 to 31/12/2010 are eligible.

So, on with the categories

1. Young Adult

Any book classified as young adult or featuring a teenage protagonist counts for this category.

1. The Princess Diaries - Meg Cabot 2/15/10

2. T.B.R. **

Intended to help reduce the old T.B.R. pile. Books for this category must be already residents of your bookshelves as of 1/11/09.

3. Shiny & New

Bought a book NEW during 2010 from a bookstore, online, or a supermarket? Then it counts for this category. Second-hand books do not count for this one, but, for those on book-buying bans, books bought for you as gifts or won in a giveaway also count!

4. Bad Blogger’s ***

Books in this category, should be ones you’ve picked up purely on the recommendation of another blogger count for this category (any reviews you post should also link to the post that convinced you give the book ago).*** Bad Bloggers: Is hosted by Chris of Stuff as Dreams are Made on.

5. Charity

Support your local charity shops with this category, by picking up books from one of their shops. Again, for those on book-buying bans, books bought for you as gifts also count, as long as they were bought from a charity shop.

10.

6. New in 2010

This category is for those books newly published in 2010 (whether it be the first time it is has been released, or you had to wait for it to be published in your country, it counts for this one!)

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7. Older Than You

Read two books that were published before you were born, whether that be the day before or 100 years prior!

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8. Win! Win!

Have a couple of books you need to read for another challenge? Then this is the category to use, as long that is, you don’t break the rules of the other challenge by doing so!

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16.

9. Who Are You Again?

This one isn’t just for authors you’ve never read before, this is for those authors you have never even heard of before!

17. The Yellow-Lighted Bookshop - Lewis Buzbee 2/16/10

18. Push - Sapphire 2/23/10

10. Up to You!

The requirements for this category are up to you! Want to challenge yourself to read some graphic novels? A genre outside your comfort zone? Something completely wild and wacky? Then this is the category to you. The only requirement is that you state it in your sign-up post.

- My category is going to be Chunksters.

19. Under the Dome - Stephen King 3/12/10

20.

2010 100+ Reading Challenge (1/1 - 12/31/10)

2009-12-30T12:44:00.001-08:00

1. The goal is to read 100 or more books. Anyone can join. You don't need a blog to participate.

2. Audio, Re-reads, eBooks, YA, Manga, Graphic Novels, Library books, Novellas, Young Reader, Nonfiction – as long as the book has an ISBN or equivalent or can be purchased as such, the book counts. What doesn't count: Individual short stories or individual books in the Bible.

3. 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.

4. Crossovers from other reading challenges count.

5. Challenge begins January 1st thru December, 2010. Books started before the 1st do not count.

1. The Thirteen Days of Christmas - Steven Davison & Carolyn Gardner 1/1/10

2. Go, Dog. Go! - P.D. Eastman 1/1/10

3. My World - Margaret Wise Brown 1/1/10

4. Cinderella - Henry W. Hewet 1/1/10

5. Beauty and the Beast - Marie Le Prince de Beaumont 1/2/10

6. Penguin's Skating Party - Dana Regan 1/14/10

7. Garfield's Favorites From A to Z - Jim Davis 1/14/10

8. Sesame Street: Who am I? - Normand Chartier 1/14/10

9. Homebuyers Beware: Who's Ripping You Off Now? - What You Must Know About the New Rules of Mortgage and Credit - Carolyn Warren 1/17/10

10. Ron Jeremy: The Hardest (Working) Man in Showbiz - Ron Jeremy 1/17/10

11. Chewy Louie - Howie Schneider 1/23/10

12. The Mist - Stephen King 1/23/10

13. Hank Zipzer: Day of the Iguana - Henry Winkler 1/28/10

14. The Princess Diaries - Meg Cabot 2/15/10

15. I'm Not Going Out There - Paul Bright & Ben Cort 2/15/10

16. Fox Tale Soup - Tony Bonning 2/15/10

17. The Yellow-Lighted Bookshop - Lewis Buzbee 2/16/10

18. The Three Pigs - David Wiesner 2/21/10

19. Push - Sapphire 2/23/10

20. Little Raccoon's Big Question - Miriam Schlein 2/27/10

21. I Love My New Toy! - Mo Willems 3/5/10

22. More Blood, More Sweat and Another Cup of Tea - Tom Reynolds 3/5/10

23. Hungry Hen - Richard Waring 3/12/10

24. Under the Dome - Stephen King 3/12/10

25.

2010 Support Your Local Library Reading Challenge (1/1 - 12/31/10)

2009-12-30T12:32:00.000-08:00

I did better at last years challenge than I thought I would, so I'm very excited to get started on this one. Since my 5 year old daughter and I check out books every week together, I'm glad to see that YA and Young Readers will count towards the goal.

I managed 44 or 45 last year, and I'm going to try for 75 this year!

1. The Thirteen Days of Christmas - Steven Davison & Carolyn Gardner 1/1/10
2. Chewy Louie - Howie Schneider 1/23/10
3. Hank Zipzer: Day of the Iguana - Henry Winkler 1/28/10
4. I'm Not Going Out There - Paul Bright & Ben Cort 2/15/10
5. Fox Tale Soup - Tony Bonning 2/15/10
6. The Yellow-Lighted Bookshop - Lewis Buzbee 2/16/10
7. The Three Pigs - David Wiesner 2/21/10
8. Push - Sapphire 2/23/10
9. Little Raccoon's Big Question - Miriam Schlein 2/27/10
10. I Love My New Toy! - Mo Willems 3/5/10
11. Hungry Hen - Richard Waring 3/12/10
12.

Young Readers Reading Challenge (1/1 - 12/31/10)

2009-12-30T12:03:00.000-08:00

Hosted by Becky of Becky's Book Reviews

January - December 2010

Read 12 Children's Books

Think of this as referring to the "E" (Easy) and "J" (Juvenile or Junior) sections of the library.

1. The Thirteen Days of Christmas - Steven Davison & Carolyn Gardner 1/1/10

2. Go, Dog. Go! - P.D. Eastman 1/1/10

3. My World - Margaret Wise Brown 1/1/10

4. Chewy Louie - Howie Schneider 1/23/10

5. I'm Not Going Out There - Paul Bright & Ben Cort 2/15/10

6. Fox Tale Soup - Tony Bonning 2/15/10

7. The Three Pigs - David Wiesner 2/21/10

8. Little Raccoon's Big Question - Miriam Schlein 2/27/10

9. I Love My New Toy! - Mo Willems 3/5/10

10. Hungry Hen - Richard Waring 3/12/10

11.

12.

What a wonderful chance to involve my daughter in book challenges with me. Looking forward to this one.

South Asian Author Challenge (1/1 - 12/31/10)

2009-12-30T11:13:00.001-08:00

I have lots of Indian authors in my TBR pile, so I'm sure I have no problem finding books to read for this challenge. I wish I could go for the 10 book commitment level, but since I normally end up with way less reading time than I would like, I believe I will go for 5 books.

1. The Weight of Heaven - Thrity Umrigar

Original TBR Challenge (1/1 - 12/31/10)

2009-12-30T10:43:00.001-08:00

Okay, going to give this a shot again. After failing miserably the last two years in a row, I am gung-ho to start in a brand new year and determined to finish --- well, maybe hoping to finish this year is a better word. :-) I think I've figured out what my problem is. Every year my list consists of things I think I "should" be reading. This year, I'm planning to fill it with things I actually "want" to read! What a novel concept, eh?

My 12 for 2010 are:

1. Push - Sapphire 2/23/10
2. Fearless Fourteen - Janet Evanovich
3. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling
4. The Last Lecture - Randy Pausch
5. The Host - Stephenie Meyer
6. Club Dead - Charlaine Harris
7. Agatha Raisin and the Day the Floods Came - M.C. Beaton
8. Under the Dome - Stephen King 3/12/10
9. Mrs. Miracle - Debbie Macomber
10. Thinner - Stephen King
11. 311 Pelican Court - Debbie Macomber
12. Finger Lickin' Fifteen - Janet Evanovich

Alternates
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - J.K. Rowling
Harem - Diane Carey
Julie & Julia - Julie Powell
The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini
The Summerhouse - Jude Deveraux
Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte
Plum Lucky - Janet Evanovich
Turkey Day Murder - Leslie Meier
G'Day to Die - Maddy Hunter
Ron Jeremy: The Hardest Working Man In Showbiz - Ron Jeremy 1/17/10

Celebrate the Author Challenge (1/1 - 12/31/10)

2009-12-30T10:02:00.000-08:00

Becky of Becky's Book Reviews is hosting the Celebrate the Author Challenge. The idea is to "celebrate" author birthdays, one author for each month of the year. 12 authors. 12 birthdays. Books may be read in any order you like. Any type of book is acceptable.

To find out author birthdays, visit these helpful sites:
Author birthdays by date (pdf), author birthdays by name (pdf), kidsreads.com, teenreads.com, author birthday directory

January - Diana Gabaldon (11th)
February - Meg Cabot (1st) The Princess Diaries 2/15/10
March - Ron Jeremy (12th) The Hardest (Working) Man in Showbiz 1/17/10
April - Janet Evanovich (22nd)
May - George Carlin (12th)
June -
July - J.K. Rowling (31st)
August - Sapphire (4th) Push 2/23/10
September - Stephen King (21st) The Mist 1/23/10
October - Henry Winkler (30th) Hank Zipzer: Day of the Iguana 1/28/10
November - Charlaine Harris (25th)
December - Stephenie Meyer (24th)

Books to Read Before I Die Challenge 2010 (1/1/09-

2009-10-29T15:11:00.000-07:00

Diane from Bibliophile By the Sea is hosting the Books to Read Before I Die Challenge - 2010, the premise being to "Read the Best Books First."

Here are the guideline for the challenge:

1. Between now and December 31, 2009, make a list of between 10 and 20 Books to Read Before You Die. (depending on interest, this may be an annual event challenge).

2. The books on your list can come from your stacks or the library, and be in print or audio format.

3. Once you've created your post with tentative titles, THEN sign up using Mr. Linky, by pasting the link to your post, along with your name/blog name. This is how you will be registered. Finalize your list by 12/31/09 (no changes to the list after 12/31/09).

4. NOTE: If you don't have a blog, you can still sign up and join in the fun.

5. All bloggers who complete the challenge will be entered in giveaway to win an Amazon Gift Card.

6. Questions/comments, please feel free to comment or email me.

My list of 20:

1. Finger Lickin' Fifteen - Janet Evanovich

2. Death of a Trophy Wife - Laura Levine

3. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling

4. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - J.K. Rowling

5. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - J.K. Rowling

6. The Last Lecture - Randy Pausch

7. The Host - Stephenie Meyer

8. Harem - Diane Carey

9. Julie & Julia - Julie Powell

10. The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini

11. The Secret Life of Bees - Sue Monk Kidd

12. Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil - John Berendt

13. A Suitable Boy - Vikram Seth

14. The Summerhouse - Jude Deveraux

15. Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte

16. Committed - Elizabeth Gilbert

17. Cleaving - Julie Powell

18. Return to Summerhouse - Jude Deveraux

19. Last Words - George Carlin

20. Under the Dome - Stephen King 3/12/10

Wow! This was harder than I thought it would be to come up with a list. There are hundreds of books I *want* to read, but it is very difficult to narrow down to the really special ones that if I died before getting to read them would really tick me off! LOL In fact, some of these I've put on my list already I think could come back off without bothering me too much. Ahh, decisions, decisions!

Awesome Author Challenge 2010 (1/1/10-12/31/10)

2009-10-29T14:06:00.000-07:00

Alyce at At Home With Books is hosting the Awesome Author Challenge 2010 starting January 1, 2010 and running through December 31, 2010.

There are 4 different levels of the challenge to choose from.

Easy: Choose three authors and read at least one title from each author.

Moderate: Choose six authors and read at least one title from each author.

Challenging: Choose ten authors and read at least one title from each author.

Over-Achieving: Anything over ten authors.

Since I am pretty well set with lots of series I would like to finish up, I am going to choose the Easy level and I'm going to pay more attention to authors that are being recommended. Please feel free to leave a comment with any recommendations to get me started!

My reading pool for the challenge:

1. Water for Elephants - Sara Gruen

2. Push - Sapphyre 2/23/10

Christmas Reading Challenge (11/26/09-12/31/09)

2009-10-29T13:24:00.000-07:00

The True Book Addict is hosting a Christmas Reading Challenge, starting on Thanksgiving Day (11/26) and going through 12/31. The challenge is to read between 1 and 3 Christmas-themed books during this time period.

Being as I've already read 2 Christmas books and it isn't even Halloween yet, I'm definitely going for all 3. I just wish I had saved the 2 books I've already read for this challenge. They were both awesome books that I enjoyed very much, so I am hoping I will be able to find more like them. It's going to be hard waiting until Thanksgiving to read any more of this genre. In fact, I'm not sure I will be able to wait. I'm feeling in need of extra-cozy early this year!

The books I've already read were On Strike for Christmas by Sheila Roberts and The Perfect Christmas by Debbie Macomber (almost finished).

My reading pool for this challenge includes:

*A Wish for Christmas - Thomas Kinkade

*A Christmas Star - Thomas Kinkade

*A Dog Named Christmas - Greg Kincaid

*The Christmas List - Richard Paul Evans

*The Christmas Secret - Donna Van Liere

*White Christmas Pie - Wanda E. Brunstetter

*Plum Pudding Murder - Joanne Fluke

*The Christmas Sweater - Glenn Beck

*A Creed Country Christmas - Linda Lael Miller

*Wolfsbane and Mistletoe - Charlaine Harris, Patricia Briggs, Keri Arthur, & Carrie Vaughn

*Skipping Christmas - John Grisham

I guess I need to start reading Christmas books earlier in the next year. By the time Thanksgiving hits, I get so busy preparing for Christmas that it really cuts into my reading time. I did manage to read several before the season got too busy, though I didn't manage to read any from my reading pool!

FINISHED

The Autobiography of Santa Claus - Jeff Guinn 12/25/09

Junie B., First Grader: Jingle Bells, Batman Smells! (P.S. So Does May.) - Barbara Park 12/12/09

999 Challenge Completed Books

2009-10-23T18:07:00.000-07:00

***1. Holiday (9/9) *FINISHED
1. Christmas Cookie Murder - Leslie Meier 1/27/09
2. Visions of Sugar Plums - Janet Evanovich 8/17/09

3. The Crazy Christmas Angel Mystery - Beverly Lewis 1/6/09

4. On Strike for Christmas - Sheila Roberts 10/25/09
5. Plum Spooky - Janet Evanovich 8/14/09

6. The Perfect Christmas - Debbie Macomber 10/29/09

7. Christmas Around the World - Emily Kelley 11/7/09

8. Junie B., First Grader: Jingle Bells, Batman Smells! (P.S. So Does May.) - Barbara Park 12/12/09

9. The Autobiography of Santa Claus - Jeff Guinn 12/25/09

***2. Anything from a Series (9/9) *FINISHED
1. Twilight - Stephenie Meyer 1/13/09
2. New Moon - Stephenie Meyer 1/28/09
3. 204 Rosewood Lane - Debbie Macomber 2/12/09
4. Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great - Judy Blume 10/24/09
5. Plum Lovin' - Janet Evanovich 8/19/09
6. Lean Mean Thirteen - Janet Evanovich 9/7/09
7. The Good Neighbors: Book One: Kin - Holly Black & Ted Naifeh 9/11/09
8. Superfudge - Judy Blume 9/29/09

9. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone - J.K. Rowling 10/8/09

***3. Kindle books (9/9) *FINISHED
1. UR - Stephen King 2/26/09
2. Ruby Holler - Sharon Creech 8/31/09
3. Coraline - Neil Gaiman 9/14/09
4. The Lost Symbol - Dan Brown 9/24/09
5. Dead Until Dark - Charlaine Harris 9/29/09
6. Living Dead in Dallas - Charlaine Harris 10/20/09
7. L.T.'s Theory of Pets - Stephen King 10/24/09

8. Eclipse - Stephenie Meyer 10/31/09

9. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets - J.K. Rowling 10/31/09

***4. Children's Picture Books (9/9) *FINISHED
1. Dora the Explorer: A Great Day for Soccer - Quinlan B. Lee 1/9
2. Dora the Explorer: Dance with Dora - Quinlan B. Lee 1/9
3. Dora the Explorer: Super Spies - Quinlan B. Lee 1/9
4. Dora the Explorer: Zoom to the Moon - Quinlan B. Lee 1/9
5. Dora the Explorer: Through the Woods - Quinlan B. Lee 1/9
6. Dora the Explorer: Baby Bird Rescue - Quinlan B. Lee 1/9
7. David Gets in Trouble - David Shannon 1/9
8. Max and Buddy Go to the Vet - Adria F. Klein 1/9
9. A Valentine for Ms. Vanilla - Martha Gradisher 1/9/09

***5. Juvenile/Young Adult (9/9) *FINISHED
1. Pleasing the Ghost - Sharon Creech 9/19/09
2. Stonewords: A Ghost Story - Pam Conrad 1/27/09
3. The Tale of Despereaux - Kate DiCamillo 2/10/09
4. Zoe Rising - Pam Conrad 2/25/09
5. The Name of This Book is Secret - Pseudonymous Bosch 5/29/09
6. If You're Reading This, It's Too Late - Pseudonymous Bosch 7/21/09
7. The Graveyard Book - Neil Gaiman 8/4/09
8. Junie B. Jones and the Yucky Blucky Fruitcake - Barbara Park 8/16/09
9. Junie B. Jones Has A Monster Under Her Bed - Barbara Park 8/17/09

***6. Cozy Mystery (4/9)
1. Frankly My Dear, I'm Dead - Livia J. Washburn 6/7/09
2. Killer Cruise - Laura Levine 7/16/09
3. Mayhem in Miniature - Margaret Grace

4/22/09
4. Dead Guys Talk - Barbara M. Joosse 11/9/09

***7. Agatha Raisin (4/9)
1. Agatha Raisin & the Wizard of Evesham - M.C. Beaton 1/12/09
2. Agatha Raisin & the Witch of Wyckhadden - M.C. Beaton 2/11/09
3. Agatha Raisin & the Fairies of Fryfam - M.C. Beaton 8/28/09
4. Agatha Raisin & the Love From Hell - M.C. Beaton 11/7/09

***8. Foreign (3/9)
1. Q & A (Slumdog Millionaire) - Vikas Swarup 8/9/09
2. Her Fearful Symmetry - Audrey Niffenegger 10/19/09
3. Tigers at Twilight - Mary Pope Osborne 11/6/09

***9. Library (9/9) *FINISHED
1. Little Book of Horror: Dracula - Steve Niles & Richard Sala 1/11/09
2. Tell Me Where It Hurts - Dr. Nick Trout 1/28/09
3. Stuff White People Like - Christian Lander 2/25/09
4. Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World - Vicki Myron & Bret Witter 9/15/09 5. Multiple Bles8ings: Surviving to Thriving with Twins & Sextuplets - Jon & Kate Gosselin 6/9
6. The Duggars: 20 and Counting - Michelle & Jim Bob Duggar 6/26/09
7. A Giant Problem - Beyond Spiderwick Chronicles - Tony DiTerlizzi & Holly Black 8/29/09
8. Love That Dog - Sharon Creech 9/1/09
9. Heartbeat - Sharon Creech

9/4/09

Wow. I got so close to finishing this one. What a bummer! Next year I'm going to do less large challenges and more small ones. Really stinks to get so close and not make it, but at least I made an attempt. I've completed 8 challenges for 2009, which I am pretty proud of and can't wait to get started on 2010!

Countdown 2010 (9/9/09 - 10/10/10)

2009-10-23T13:12:00.001-07:00

I'm not sure how well I'll be able to do on this one, but figured I would give it a try. I love the idea of the challenge and bet I can knock out at least half of it! Since this started on Sept. 9th, I am adding the books I have read from then on.

(2001) 1. Dead Until Dark - Charlaine Harris 9/29/09

(2002) 1. Coraline - Neil Gaiman 9/14/09
2. Living Dead in Dallas - Charlaine Harris 10/20/09

(2003) 1. Niagara Falls or Does It? - Henry Winkler 12/12/09
2. Day of the Iguana - Henry Winkler 1/28/10
3.

(2004) 1.
2.
3.
4.

(2005) 1. Junie B., First Grader - Jingle Bells, Batman Smells! (P.S. So Does May.) - Barbara Park 12/12/09
2.
3.
4.
5.

(2006) 1. Dead Guys Talk - Barbara M. Joosse 11/9/09
2. The Monstrous Memoirs of a Mighty McFearless - Ahmet Zappa 12/12/09
3. The Yellow-Lighted Bookshop - Lewis Buzbee 2/16/10
4.
5.
6.

(2007) 1. On Strike for Christmas - Sheila Roberts 10/25/09
2. Eclipse - Stephenie Meyer 10/31/09
3. Who Ordered This Baby? Definitely Not Me! - Henry Winkler & Lin Oliver 11/25/09
4. Ron Jeremy: The Hardest (Working) Man in Showbiz - Ron Jeremy 1/17/10
5.
6.
7.

(2008) 1. The Good Neighbors: Book One: Kin - Holly Black & Ted Naifeh 9/11/09
2. Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World - Vicki Myron & Bret Witter 9/15/09
3. Hank Zipzer: A Tale of Two Tails - Henry Winkler & Lin Oliver 11/05/09
4. Breaking Dawn - Stephenie Meyer 12/8/09
5.
6.
7.
8.

(2009) 1. The Lost Symbol - Dan Brown 9/24/09
2. Dewey: There's a Cat in the Library! - Vicki Myron & Bret Witter 9/26/09
3. Her Fearful Symmetry - Audrey Niffenegger 10/19/09
4. The Perfect Christmas - Debbie Macomber 10/29/09
5. This Book is Not Good For You - Pseudonymous Bosch 12/7/09
6. The Thirteen Days of Christmas - Steven Davison & Carolyn Gardner 1/1/10
7. Homebuyers Beware: Who's Ripping You Off Now? - Carolyn Warren 1/17/10
8. More Blood, More Sweat and Another Cup of Tea - Tom Reynolds 3/5/10
9. Under the Dome - Stephen King 3/12/10

(2010) 1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

Fall Into Reading (9/22/09 - 12/20/09)

2009-10-23T12:59:00.001-07:00

To me, Fall is the perfect time for reading. A little nip in the air and it's time for hot cocoa, fuzzy blankets, a kitty curled up on the lap and a stack of good books. And hopefully peace and quiet to go with a good long read without the phone ringing and the kids running amok now that school is back in session.

So, hopefully we can all get some nice long days of reading in before the holiday season is upon us.

My reading pool for Fall Into Reading 2009:

1. Eclipse - Stephenie Meyer 10/31/09

2. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone - J.K. Rowling 10/8/09

3. The 19th Wife - David Ebershoff

4. Agatha Raisin & the Love From Hell - M.C. Beaton 11/7/09

5. Turkey Day Murder - Leslie Meier

6. Dead Until Dark - Charlaine Harris 9/29/09

7. Her Fearful Symmetry - Audrey Niffenegger 10/19/09

8. Fearless Fourteen - Janet Evanovich

9. G'Day to Die - Maddy Hunter

10. This Book is Not Good for You - Pseudonymous Bosch 12/7/09

-
In a perfect world, I would love to get all these read by the end of the challenge, but I will settle for half.

Chill Baby, Chill Challenge (12/21/09 - 3/19/10) FINISHED

2009-10-23T12:44:00.000-07:00

The button for this challenge was so cute, I just had to join in! I'm not sure what I will read yet, but it will probably consist of some of the series I am reading, wherever I happen to be at the moment when December hits.

I am guessing at least one Harry Potter, one Sookie Stackhouse, Agatha Raisin, some kind of cozy and anything else that looks interesting.

1. Homebuyers Beware: Who's Ripping You Off Now? - Carolyn Warren 1/17/10
2. Ron Jeremy: The Hardest (Working) Man in Showbiz - Ron Jeremy 1/17/10
3. The Princess Diaries - Meg Cabot 2/15/10
4. The Yellow-Lighted Bookshop - Lewis Buzbee 2/16/10
5. Push - Sapphire 2/23/10
6. Under the Dome - Stephen King 3/12/10

To join in the fun, visit here:

http://mybookdragon.blogspot.com/2009/09/chill-baby-chill.html

Amateur Sleuth Challenge (1/1/09-12/31/09)

2009-10-23T12:33:00.000-07:00

Hosted by Kim at A Novel Challenge Yahoo Group, this challenge is to:

1. Read 12 books featuring an amateur sleuth.
2. Each sleuth must have a different vocation or hobby ie shopping, cooking, writing, advice column, crafts store, school psychologist, gardening, remodeling, etc.
3. Can be first in series or else where.
4. Can be cross used for other challenges

1. Agatha Raisin & the Wizard of Evesham - M.C. Beaton (semi-retired Ad agent) 1/12/09
2. Christmas Cookie Murder - Leslie Meier (Pennysaver reporter) 1/27/09
3. Mayhem in Miniature - Margaret Grace (Crafts Teacher) 4/22/09
4. Frankly My Dear, I'm Dead - Livia J. Washburn (Literary Travel Agent) 6/7/09
5. Killer Cruise - Laura Levine(Wordsmith) 7/16/09
6. Plum Spooky - Janet Evanovich (Bounty Hunter) 8/14/09
7. Dead Guys Talk - Barbara M. Joosse (Schoolchildren) 11/9/09
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.

You can find this challenge HERE at A Novel Challenge Yahoo Group.

2009 eBook Reading Challenge

2009-10-23T11:49:00.001-07:00

Jeez, I meant to join this challenge back in February when I bought my Kindle, but I guess better late than never! The challenge is to read 10 ebooks.

1. UR - Stephen King 2/26/09
2. Ruby Holler - Sharon Creech 8/31/09
3. Coraline - Neil Gaiman 9/14/09
4. The Lost Symbol - Dan Brown 9/24/09
5. Dead Until Dark - Charlaine Harris 9/29/09
6. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone - J.K. Rowling 10/8/09
7. Living Dead in Dallas - Charlaine Harris 10/20/09
8. L.T.'s Theory of Pets - Stephen King 10/24/09
9. Eclipse - Stephenie Meyer 10/31/09
10. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets - J.K. Rowling 10/31/09

You can join in the fun here: http://j-kaye-book-blog.blogspot.com/2008/12/2009-ebook-reading-challenge.html

Stephanie Plum Reading Challenge (7/23/2009 - 12/31/2010)

2009-10-23T11:31:00.001-07:00

Can't wait to get going on this challenge! Their are lots of series I have been wanting to get caught up on and this is one of them.

The books I need to read for this challenge are:

1. Visions of Sugar Plums (2002) 8/17/09
2. Plum Lovin' (2007) 8/19/09
3. Lean Mean Thirteen (2007) 9/7/09
4. Plum Lucky (2008)
5. Fearless Fourteen (2008)
6. Finger Lickin' Fifteen (2009)

Visions of Sugar Plums was a nice quick read, with lots of laugh-out-loud moments. I love Stephanie Plum and always had trouble choosing between Morelli and Ranger, but after finishing this book and having read Plum Spooky right before this one, Diesel is my man! I can't wait to read the other two between the numbers.

Plum Lovin' was another quick read. More laugh-out-loud moments and more love for Diesel. I really enjoy the plots for the between the numbers books.

I enjoyed the plot of Lean Mean Thirteen very much. Dickie reminded me of MY ex-husband, Lula and Grandma are always a hoot, and Ranger remains as sexy as ever. I wish they would go ahead and make this series into a movie, already!

Next up is Plum Lucky.

Book Around the States (Ongoing)

2009-10-23T11:17:00.001-07:00

1. Twelve Sharp - Janet Evanovich (New Jersey) 6/17/08
2. Christmas Cookie Murder - Leslie Meier (Maine) 1/27/09
3. Twilight - Stephenie Meyer (Washington) 1/13/09
4. Frankly My Dear, I'm Dead - Livia J. Washburn (Georgia) 6/7/09
5. Killer Cruise - Laura Levine (California) 7/16/09
6. Multiple Blessings: Surviving to Thriving with Twins & Sextuplets - Jon & Kate Gosselin (Pennsylvania) 6/09
7. The Duggars: 20 and Counting - Michele & Jim Bob Duggar (Arkansas) 6/26/09
8. Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World - Vicki Myron & Bret Witter (Iowa) 9/15/09
9. Dead Until Dark - Charlaine Harris (Louisiana) 9/29/09
10. Living Dead in Dallas - Charlaine Harris (Texas) 10/20/09
11.

Around the World in 80 Books (Ongoing)

2009-10-23T11:03:00.000-07:00

Around the World in 80 Books challenge can be found HERE

1. A Thousand Splendid Suns - Khaled Hosseini (Afghanistan) 8/27/07
2. Steve & Me: Life with the Crocodile Hunter - Terri Irwin (Australia) 11/9/07
3. eat pray love - Elizabeth Gilbert (Italy, India & Indonesia) 1/11/08
4. The Uncommon Reader - Alan Bennett (England) 3/31/08
5. Alpine for You - Maddy Hunter (Switzerland) 6/9/08
6. Top O' the Mournin' - Maddy Hunter (Ireland) 6/25/08
7. Killer Cruise - Laura Levine (Mexico) 7/16/09
8. Q & A (Slumdog Millionaire) - Vikas Swarup (India) 8/9/09
9. Christmas Around the World - Emily Kelley (Mexico, Iran, China, Sweden, Iraq, Spain, Norway) 11/7/09
10.

Fall/Winter Mystery Reading Challenge (10/1/09 - 2/28/10)

2009-10-23T09:14:00.000-07:00

Woo Hoo - Another Challenge! This one sounds right up my alley, I just hope I can find cozy mysteries to make up the requirements. Not sure what a resolutions/new beginings related mystery would be, though!

1 Paranormal or gothic mystery for Halloween (level of spookiness up to you)
2 Autumn/Harvest/Thanksgiving related mystery
2 Winter/snow/Xmas//Hanukah etc related mystery
1 resolutions/new begininngs related mystery
1 Romantic mystery/Valentine's related (chocolate, February...) (level of romantic up to you)

My reading list:
Dead Girls Are Easy - Terri Garey (Paranormal)
Turkey Day Murder - Leslie Meier (Autumn/Harvest/Thanksgiving)
Death of a Turkey - Kate Borden
Candy Cane Murder - Joanne Fluke, Laura Levine & Leslie Meier (Winter/Snow/Xmas/Hanukkah)
The Christmas Cookie Killer - Livia J. Washburn
A Plum New Year - Janet Evanovich (Resolutions/New Beginings)
Wedding Day Murder - Leslie Meier (Romantic/Valentine's)

Pages Read Challenge (1/1/09-12/31/09)

2009-10-23T08:58:00.000-07:00

Just found out about the Pages Read Challenge hosted by Secret Dreamworld of a Bookaholic, and since I keep track anyhow and had an unofficial challenge going on to beat my last years pages, I figured what the heck and signed up for this one.

The goal is to read 20,000 Pages.

Currently I am at: 16,574 Pages Read.

You can find the challenge HERE

Vampire Challenge (1/1/09 - 12/31/09) COMPLETE

2009-10-23T07:59:00.001-07:00

Just found out about this challenge, and since I have a ton of vampire books in my TBR pile, this one should be a snap. I've already read several vamp books this year, but since I am starting way late in the challenge, I won't count them.

Here's the link for the challenge.
http://cozymurders.blogspot.com/2008/12/vampire-challenge.html

My reading pool for the moment includes:

Sookie Stackhouse series
Guilty Pleasures - Laurell K. Hamilton
Eclipse - Stephenie Meyer
Breaking Dawn - Stephenie Meyer

The challenge is to read 2+ books.

Completed:
Dead Until Dark - Charlaine Harris 9/29/09
Living Dead in Dallas - Charlaine Harris 10/20/09
Eclipse - Stephenie Meyer 10/31/09
Breaking Dawn - Stephenie Meyer 12/8/09

Cool! Finished another challenge! Although I am sure I can squeeze another one or two in before the end of the year. I'm about halfway done with Eclipse at the moment.

Buy One Book and Read It Challenge 2009

2009-10-23T07:32:00.001-07:00

I've been kind of doing this challenge on my own for the last couple years. My own little way to stimulate the economy and support the authors I love. Unfortunately, I just found this challenge at the end of September, so I can only sign up for Option #1, which is to buy one book and read it, as if I need more motivation to do that! I am hoping this challenge will be available next year so I can sign up for Option #2, which is one book a month.

I will probably purchase Stephen King's new book that is coming out next month, Under the Dome. Although, it is over 1,000 pages so the chances of me getting it read all in one month are slim. Hmm... might have to come up with a different book to purchase for the challenge!

Sookie Stackhouse Reading Challenge (7/1/2009 - 6/30/2010)

2009-10-23T07:21:00.000-07:00

1. Dead Until Dark 9/29/09

2. Livind Dead in Dallas 10/20/09

3. Club Dead

4. Dead to the World

5. Dead as a Doornail

6. Definitely Dead

7. All Together Dead

8. From Dead to Worse

9. Dead and Gone

10. Dead in the Family

***A Touch of Dead (Sookie short stories)

TBR Challenge Lite 2009

2009-10-23T07:11:00.000-07:00

1. Twilight - Stephenie Meyer 1/13/09

2. 204 Rosewood Lane - Debbie Macomber 2/12/09

3. Lean Mean Thirteen - Janet Evanovich 9/7/09

ALT

The Story of Edgar Sawtelle - David Wroblewski

G'Day to Die - Maddy Hunter

Marley & Me - John Grogan

Harry Potter & the Half-Blood Prince - J.K. Rowling

Born Standing Up - Steve Martin

Ghosts of Kerfol - Deborah Noyes

The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini

Voyager - Diana Gabaldon

The Last Lecture - Randy Pausch

Harry Potter Reading Challenge (8/1/09 - 7/31/10)

2009-10-23T07:03:00.000-07:00

1. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone 10/8/09

2. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets 10/31/09
3. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

4. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

5. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

6. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

7. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Diana Gabaldon - A Live Journal Challenge (Ongoing)

2009-10-23T06:48:00.000-07:00

1. Outlander 4/30/08

2. Dragonfly in Amber 7/26/08

3. Voyager

4. Drums of Autumn

5. The Fiery Cross

6. A Breath of Snow & Ashes

7. An Echo in the Bone

You can find out more about this challenge HERE

101 Books in 1,001 Days Challenge (1/1/2008 - 9/28/2010) COMPLETE

2009-07-24T17:48:00.000-07:00

1. House on Pooh Corner - A.A. Milne
2. Eleven on Top - Janet Evanovich
3. eat pray love - Elizabeth Gilbert
4. Pick Your Poison - Leann Sweeney
5. I Love Everybody - Laurie Notaro
6. Veil of Roses - Laura Fitzgerald
7. Bye-Bye, Black Sheep - Ayelet Waldman
8. The Spiderwick Chronicles Book 1: The Field Guide - Tony DiTerlizzi & Holly Black
9. A Breath of Fresh Air - Amulya Malladi
10. Valentine Murder - Leslie Meier
11. The Spiderwick Chronicles Book 2: The Seeing Stone - Tony DiTerlizzi & Holly Black
12. The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe - C.S. Lewis
13. The Spiderwick Chronicles Book 3: Lucinda's Secret - Tony DiTerlizzi & Holly Black
14. The Wind Done Gone - Alice Randall
15. The Spiderwick Chronicles Book 4: Ironwood Tree - Tony DiTerlizzi & Holly Black
16. The Spiderwick Chronicles Book 5: Wrath of Mulgarath - Tony DiTerlizzi & Holly Black
17. Prince Caspian - C.S. Lewis
18. The Uncommon Reader - Alan Bennett
19. The Nixie's Song - Beyond Spiderwick Chronicles - Tony DiTerlizzi & Holly Black
20. How Elizabeth Barrett Browning Saved My Life - Mameve Medwed
21. Outlander - Diana Gabaldon
22. Real Murders - Charlaine Harris
23. Crazy Sexy Cancer Tips - Kris Carr
24. Pasta Imperfect - Maddy Hunter
25. We Thought You Would Be Prettier - Laurie Notaro
26. A New Earth - Eckhart Tolle
27. Life Laughs - Jenny McCarthy
28. Alpine For You - Maddy Hunter
29. Twelve Sharp - Janet Evanovich
30. How Opal Mehta Got Kissed - Kaavya Viswanathan
31. Top O' the Mournin' - Maddy Hunter
32. The Boy Who Loved Anne Frank - Ellen Feldman
33. Swine Not? - Jimmy Buffett
34. The Fairy Godmother - Mercedes Lackey
35. Killing Bridezilla - Laura Levine
36. 100 Cupboards - N.D. Wilson
37. Agatha Raisin & the Quiche of Death - M.C. Beaton
38. 20th Century Ghosts - Joe Hill
39. Dragonfly in Amber - Diana Gabaldon
40. Trixie Belden: Secret of the Mansion - Julie Campbell
41. Hula Done It - Maddy Hunter
42. Simmer Down - Jessica & Susan Conant
43. Agatha Raisin & the Vicious Vet - M.C. Beaton
44. Agatha Raisin & the Potted Gardener - M.C. Beaton
45. Aunt Dimity's Death - Nancy Atherton
46. Agatha Raisin & the Walkers of Dembley - M.C. Beaton
47. Ella Enchanted - Gail Carson Levine
48. Agatha Raisin & the Murderous Marriage - M.C. Beaton
49. May Day - Jess Lourey
50. Agatha Raisin & the Terrible Tourist - M.C. Beaton
51. Are You There Vodka? - Chelsea Handler
52. Idiot Girl & the Flaming Tantrum of Death - Laurie Notaro
53. I Feel Bad About My Neck - Nora Ephron
54. Murder in Miniature - Margaret Grace
55. 16 Lighthouse Road - Debbie Macomber
56. Tales of Beedle the Bard - J.K. Rowling
57. Lump of Coal - Lemony Snicket
58. Agatha Raisin & the Wellspring of Death
59. A Redbird Christmas - Fannie Flagg
60. Crazy Christmas Angel Mystery - Beverly Lewis
61. Agatha Raisin & the Wizard of Evesham - M.C. Beaton
62. Twilight - Stephenie Meyer
63. Stonewords: A Ghost Story - Pam Conrad
64. Christmas Cookie Murder - Leslie Meier
65. Tell Me Where It Hurts - Dr. Nick Trout
66. New Moon - Stephenie Meyer
67. The Tale of Despereaux - Kate DiCamillo
68. Agatha Raisin & the Witch of Wyckhadden - M.C. Beaton
69. 204 Rosewood Lane - Debbie Macomber
70. Conures - Carol Frischmann
71. Zoe Rising - Pam Conrad
72. Stuff White People Like - Christian Lander
73. UR - Stephen King
74. The Shack - Wm. Paul Young
75. Mayhem in Miniature - Margaret Grace
76. The Name of This Book is Secret - Pseudonymous Bosch
77. Frankly My Dear, I'm Dead - Livia J. Washburn
78. Multiple Bles8ings: Surving to Thriving with Twins & Sextuplets - Jon & Kate Gosselin
79. The Duggars: 20 and Counting - Michelle & Jim Bob Duggar
80. Killer Cruise - Laura Levine
81. If You're Reading This, It's Too Late - Pseudonymous Bosch
82. The Graveyard Book - Neil Gaiman
83. Q & A (Slumdog Millionaire) - Vikas Swarup
84. Plum Spooky - Janet Evanovich
85. Junie B. Jones and the Yucky Blucky Fruitcake - Barbara Park
86. Visions of Sugar Plums - Janet Evanovich
87. Junie B. Jones Has A Monster Under Her Bed - Barbara Park
88. Plum Lovin' - Janet Evanovich
89. Agatha Raisin & the Fairies of Fryfam - M.C. Beaton
90. A Giant Problem - Beyond Spiderwick Chronicles - Tony DiTerlizzi & Holly Black
91. Ruby Holler - Sharon Creech
92. Love That Dog - Sharon Creech
93. Heartbeat - Sharon Creech
94. Lean Mean Thirteen - Janet Evanovich
95. The Good Neighbors: Book One: Kin - Holly Black & Ted Naifeh
96. Coraline - Neil Gaiman
97. Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World - Vicki Myron & Bret Witter
98. Pleasing the Ghost - Sharon Creech 9/19/09
99. The Lost Symbol - Dan Brown 9/24/09
100. Dewey: There's a Cat in the Library! - Vicki Myron & Bret Witter 9/26/09
101. Superfudge - Judy Blume 9/29/09

Complete! And with a year left to go!

A ~ Z Reading Challenge 2009

2009-01-01T16:51:00.001-08:00

TITLES

A - Agatha Raisin & the Witch of Wyckhadden - M.C. Beaton 2/11/09
B - Breaking Dawn - Stephenie Meyer 12/8/09

C - Christmas Cookie Murder - Leslie Meier 1/27/09
D - Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World - Vicki Myron & Bret Witter 9/15/09

E - Eclipse - Stephenie Meyer 10/31/09

F - Frankly My Dear, I'm Dead - Livia J. Washburn 6/7/09

G - Graveyard Book, The - Neil Gaiman 8/4/09

H - Heartbeat - Sharon Creech 9/4/09

I - If You're Reading This, It's Too Late - Pseudonymous Bosch 7/21/09

J - Junie B. Jones and the Yucky Blucky Fruitcake - Barbara Park 8/16/09

K - Killer Cruise - Laura Levine 7/16/09

L - Love That Dog - Sharon Creech 9/1/09

M - Multiple Bles8ings: Surving to Thriving with Twins & Sextuplets - Jon & Kate Gosselin 6/09

N - New Moon - Stephenie Meyer 1/28/09

O - On Strike for Christmas 10/25/09

P - Plum Spooky - Janet Evanovich 8/14/09

Q - Q & A (Slumdog Millionaire) - Vikas Swarup 8/9/09

R - Ruby Holler - Sharon Creech 8/31/09

S - Stuff White People Like - Christian Lander 2/25/09

T - Tell Me Where It Hurts - Dr. Nick Trout 1/28/09

U - UR - Stephen King 2/26/09

V - Valentine for Ms. Vanilla, A - Pictures by Martha Gradisher 1/9/09

W - Who Ordered This Baby? Definitely Not Me! - Henry Winkler & Lin Oliver 11/25/09

Y - Yellow-Lighted Bookshop, The - Lewis Buzbee 2/16/10

Z - Zoe Rising - Pam Conrad 2/25/09

AUTHORS

B - Beaton, M.C. - Agatha Raisin & the Wizard of Evesham 1/12/09

C - Conrad, Pam - Stonewords: A Ghost Story 1/27/09

D - DiCamillo, Kate - The Tale of Despereaux 2/10/09

E - Evanovich, Janet - Visions of Sugar Plums 8/17/09

F - Frischmann, Carol - Conures 2/24/09

G - Grace, Margaret - Mayhem in Miniature 4/22/09

H - Harris, Charlaine - Dead Until Dark 9/29/09

I - Irving, Washington - The Legend of Sleepy Hollow 11/27/09

J - Joosse, Barbara M. - Dead Guys Talk 11/9/09

K - Kelley, Emily - Christmas Around the World 11/7/09

L - Lee, Quinlan B. - Dora the Explorer: Dance with Dora 1/09

M - Meyer, Stephenie - Twilight 1/13/09

N - Niles, Steve & Sala, Richard - Little Book of Horror: Dracula 1/11/09

O - Ogburn, Jacqueline K. - The Bake Shop Ghost 10/27/09

P - Park, Barbara - Junie B. Jones Has A Monster Under Her Bed 8/17/09

R - Rowling, J.K. - Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone 10/8/09

S - Shannon, David - David Gets in Trouble 1/09

V - Vincent, Ali - Believe It, Be It: How Being the Biggest Loser Won Me Back My Life 6/10/10

W - Winkler, Henry & Oliver, Lin - Hank Zipzer: A Tale of Two Tails 11/5/09

Y - Young, Wm. Paul - The Shack 3/2/09

Z - Zappa, Ahmet - The Monstrous Memoirs of a Mighty McFearless 12/12/09

Books Read in 2009

2009-01-01T16:46:00.001-08:00

1. Dora the Explorer: A Great Day for Soccer - Quinlan B. Lee 1/1/09
2. Dora the Explorer: Dance with Dora - Quinlan B. Lee 1/1/09
3. Dora the Explorer: Super Spies - Quinlan B. Lee 1/1/09
4. Dora the Explorer: Zoom to the Moon - Quinlan B. Lee 1/1/09
5. Dora the Explorer: Through the Woods - Quinlan B. Lee 1/1/09
6. Dora the Explorer: Baby Bird Rescue - Quinlan B. Lee 1/1/09
7. David Gets in Trouble - David Shannon 1/1/09
8. Max and Buddy Go to the Vet - Adria F. Klein 1/1/09
9. Crazy Christmas Angel Mystery, The - Beverly Lewis 1/6/09 61 p. (0/5)
10. A Valentine for Ms. Vanilla - Pictures by Martha Gradisher 1/9/09
11. Little Book of Horror: Dracula - Steve Niles & Richard Sala 1/11/09
12. Agatha Raisin & the Wizard of Evesham - M.C. Beaton 1/12/09 272 p. (4/5)
*13. Twilight - Stephenie Meyer 1/13/09 498 p. (5/5)
14. Stonewords: A Ghost Story - Pam Conrad 1/27/09 130 p. (4/5)
15. Christmas Cookie Murder - Leslie Meier 1/27/09 250 p. (4/5)
16. Tell Me Where It Hurts - Dr. Nick Trout 1/28/09 459 p. (4/5)
*17. New Moon - Stephenie Meyer 1/28/09 563 p. (5/5)
***JANUARY TOTAL - 2233***
18. The Tale of Despereaux - Kate DiCamillo 2/10/09 270 p. (4.5/5)
19. Agatha Raisin & the Witch of Wyckhadden - M.C. Beaton 2/11/09 196 p. (4.5/5)
20. 204 Rosewood Lane - Debbie Macomber 2/12/09 504 p. (4.5/5)
21. Conures - Carol Frischmann 2/24/09 107 p. (4/5)
22. Zoe Rising - Pam Conrad 2/25/09 131 p. (3/5)
23. Stuff White People Like - Christian Lander 2/25/09 211 p. (2/5)
24. UR - Stephen King 2/26/09 approx. 200 p. (4/5)
***FEBRUARY TOTAL - 1619***
25. The Shack - Wm. Paul Young 3/2/09 248 p. (3/5)
***MARCH TOTAL - 248***
26. Mayhem in Miniature - Margaret Grace 4/22/09 277 p. (2/5)
***APRIL TOTAL - 277***
27. The Name of This Book is Secret - Pseudonymous Bosch 5/29/09 360 p. (5/5)
***MAY TOTAL - 360***
28. Frankly My Dear, I'm Dead - Livia J. Washburn 6/7/09 217 p. (4.5/5)
29. Multiple Bles8ings: Surving to Thriving with Twins & Sextuplets - Jon & Kate Gosselin 6/09 208 p. (5/5)
30. The Duggars: 20 and Counting - Michelle & Jim Bob Duggar 6/26/09 234 p. (5/5)
***JUNE TOTAL - 659***
31. Killer Cruise - Laura Levine 7/16/09 251 p. (5/5)
32. If You're Reading This, It's Too Late - Pseudonymous Bosch 7/21/09 385 p. (5/5)
***JULY TOTAL - 636***
33. The Graveyard Book - Neil Gaiman 8/4/09 312 p. (3/5)
34. Q & A (Slumdog Millionaire) - Vikas Swarup 8/9/09 336 p. (4.5/5)
35. Plum Spooky - Janet Evanovich 8/14/09 309 p. (5/5)
36. Junie B. Jones and the Yucky Blucky Fruitcake - Barbara Park 8/16/09 71 p. (3/5)
37. Visions of Sugar Plums - Janet Evanovich 8/17/09 149 p. (5/5)
38. Junie B. Jones Has A Monster Under Her Bed - Barbara Park 8/17/09 69 p. (3/5)
39. Plum Lovin' - Janet Evanovich 8/19/09 228 p. (5/5)
40. Agatha Raisin & the Fairies of Fryfam - M.C. Beaton 8/28/09 213 p. (5/5)
41. A Giant Problem - Beyond Spiderwick Chronicles - Tony DiTerlizzi & Holly Black 8/29/09 154 p. (4.5/5)
42. Ruby Holler - Sharon Creech 8/31/09 336 p. (5/5)
***AUGUST TOTAL - 2177***
43. Love That Dog - Sharon Creech 9/1/09 86 p. (4/5)
44. Heartbeat - Sharon Creech 9/4/09 180 p. (4/5)
45. Lean Mean Thirteen - Janet Evanovich 9/7/09 310 p. (5/5)
46. The Good Neighbors: Book One: Kin - Holly Black & Ted Naifeh 9/11/09 117 p. (4/5)
47. Coraline - Neil Gaiman 9/14/09 208 p. (4.5/5)
48. Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World - Vicki Myron & Bret Witter 9/15/09 277 p. (4/5)
49. Pleasing the Ghost - Sharon Creech 9/19/09 89 p. (4/5)
50. The Lost Symbol - Dan Brown 9/24/09 528 p. (5/5)
51. Dewey: There's a Cat in the Library! - Vicki Myron & Bret Witter 9/26/09 (5/5)
52. Superfudge - Judy Blume 9/29/09 178 p. (5/5)
53. Dead Until Dark - Charlaine Harris 9/29/09 292 p. (5/5)
***SEPTEMBER TOTAL - 2265***
54. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone - J.K. Rowling 10/8/09 309 p. (5/5)
55. Her Fearful Symmetry - Audrey Niffenegger 10/19/09 406 p. (5/5)
56. Living Dead in Dallas - Charlaine Harris 10/20/09 288 p. (4.5/5)
57. Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great - Judy Blume 10/24/09 154 p. (4.5/5)
58. L.T.'s Theory of Pets - Stephen King 10/24/09 audio (4.5/5)
59. On Strike for Christmas - Sheila Roberts 10/25/09 319p. (5/5)
60. The Bake Shop Ghost - Jacqueline K. Ogburn 10/27/09 30 p. (4/5)
61. The Perfect Christmas - Debbie Macomber 10/29/09 232 p. (5/5)
62. Eclipse - Stephenie Meyer 10/31/09 640 p. (5/5)
63. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets - J.K. Rowling 10/31/09 352 p. (5/5)
***OCTOBER TOTAL - 2090***
64. Hank Zipzer: A Tale of Two Tails - Henry Winkler & Lin Oliver 11/5/09 155 p. (4.5/5)
64. Tigers at Twilight - Mary Pope Osborne 11/6/09 76 p. (2/5)
65. Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing - Judy Blume 11/6/09 120 p. (4.5/5)
66. Christmas Around the World - Emily Kelley 11/7/09 48 p. (3/5)
67. Agatha Raisin & the Love From Hell - M.C. Beaton 11/7/09 347 p. (5/5)
68. Dead Guys Talk - Barbara M. Joosse 11/9/09 100 p. (4/5)
69. Who Ordered This Baby? Definitely Not Me! - Henry Winkler & Lin Oliver 11/25/09 152 p. (4.5/5)
70. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow - Washington Irving 11/27/09 105 p. (0/5)
71. Double Fudge - Judy Blume 11/28/09 213 p. (5/5)
***NOVEMBER TOTAL - 1316***
72. This Book is Not Good For You - Pseudonymous Bosch 12/7/09 394 p. (5/5)
73. Breaking Dawn - Stephenie Meyer 12/8/09 756 p. (5/5)
74. Fudge-a-mania - Judy Blume 12/10/09 146 p. (5/5)
75. Niagara Falls, Or Does It? - Henry Winkler 12/12/09 133 p. (5/5)
76. The Monstrous Memoirs of a Mighty McFearless - Ahmet Zappa 12/12/09 217 p. (3/5)
77. Junie B., First Grader - Jingle Bells, Batman Smells! (P.S. So Does May.) - Barbara Park 12/12/09 118 p. (4/5)
78. The Autobiography of Santa Claus - Jeff Guinn 12/25/09 290 p. (4/5)
79. Hank Zipzer: I Got a "D" in Salami - Henry Winkler 12/31/09 167 p. (5/5)
***DECEMBER TOTAL - 2221***
***2009 TOTAL - 16,101***

Unfinished Book for 2009
1. Scent of Danger - Doranna Durgin (gave up 9/26/09) 80 p.

2009 Statistics:
Books Read: 79
Pages Read: 16,101

Favorite Books of 2009:
Twilight - Stephenie Meyer
The Name of This Book is Secret - Pseudonymous Bosch
Q & A (Slumdog Millionaire) - Vikas Swarup
Plum Spooky - Janet Evanovich
The Lost Symbol - Dan Brown
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone - J.K. Rowling
Her Fearful Symmetry - Audrey Niffenegger
On Strike for Christmas - Sheila Roberts

The 2009 Support Your Local Library Reading Challenge COMPLETE

2008-12-16T19:03:00.000-08:00

I'm really excited about this challenge as I get most of my books from the library. I am going to sign up for the middle challenge of 25 books as last year I only managed to read 55 books total and I know some of them were not from the library.

I am also planning on purchasing a Kindle come tax rebate time, (Come on, February! Can't wait!) so I figure my library reading will drop a bit, but hopefully not too much.

2009 Support Your Local Library Reading Challenge

1. Max and Buddy Go to the Vet - Adria F. Klein 1/09
2. A Valentine for Ms. Vanilla - Pictures by Martha Gradisher 1/9/09
3. Little Book of Horror: Dracula - Steve Niles & Richard Sala 1/11/09
4. Agatha Raisin and the Wizard of Evesham - M.C. Beaton 1/12/09
5. Tell Me Where It Hurts - Dr. Nick Trout 1/28/09
6. The Tale of Despereaux - Kate DiCamillo 2/10/09
7. Agatha Raisin & the Witch of Wyckhadden - M.C. Beaton 2/11/09
8. 204 Rosewood Lane - Debbie Macomber 2/12/09
9. Zoe Rising - Pam Conrad 2/25/09
10. Stuff White People Like - Christian Lander 2/25/09
11. Mayhem in Miniature - Margaret Grace 4/22/09
12. The Name of This Book is Secret - Pseudonymous Bosch 5/29/09
13. Frankly My Dear, I'm Dead - Livia J. Washburn 6/7/09
14. Multiple Bles8ings: Surviving to Thriving with Twins & Sextuplets - Jon & Kate Gosselin 6/9/09
15. The Duggars: 20 and Counting - Michelle & Jim Bob Duggar 6/26/09
16. Killer Cruise - Laura Levine 7/16/09
17. If You're Reading This, It's Too Late - Pseudonymous Bosch 7/21/09
18. The Graveyard Book - Neil Gaiman 8/4/09
19. Plum Spooky - Janet Evanovich 8/14/09
20. A Giant Problem - Beyond Spiderwick Chronicles - Tony DiTerlizzi & Holly Black 8/29/09
21. Love That Dog - Sharon Creech 9/1/09
22. Heartbeat - Sharon Creech 9/4/09
23. The Good Neighbors: Book One: Kin - Holly Black & Ted Naifeh 9/11/09
24. Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World - Vicki Myron & Bret Witter 9/15/09
25. Pleasing the Ghost - Sharon Creech 9/19/09

FINISHED! I am pleased to report that purchasing a Kindle did not keep me away from the library. I'm going to keep going with this challenge and see how many I can get for the year.

26. Dewey: There's a Cat in the Library! - Vicki Myron & Bret Witter 9/26/09
27. Superfudge - Judy Blume 9/29/09
28. Her Fearful Symmetry - Audrey Niffenegger 10/19/09
29. Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great - Judy Blume 10/24/09
30. On Strike for Christmas - Sheila Roberts 10/25/09
31. The Bake Shop Ghost - Jacqueline K. Ogburn 10/27/09
32. The Perfect Christmas - Debbie Macomber 10/29/09
33. Hank Zipzer: A Tale of Two Tails - Henry Winkler & Lin Oliver 11/5/09
34. Tigers at Twilight - Mary Pope Osborne 11/6/09
35. Christmas Around the World - Emily Kelley 11/7/09
36. Agatha Raisin & the Love From Hell - M.C. Beaton 11/7/09
37. Who Ordered This Baby? Definitely Not Me! - Henry Winkler & Lin Olvier 11/25/09
38. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow - Washington Irving 11/27/09
39. Double Fudge - Judy Blume 11/28/09
40. This Book is Not Good For You - Pseudonymous Bosch 12/7/09
41. Fudge-a-mania - Judy Blume 12/10/09
42. Niagara Falls, or Does It? - Henry Winkler 12/12/09
43. The Monstrous Memoirs of a Mighty McFearless - Ahmet Zappa 12/12/09
44. The Autobiography of Santa Claus - Jeff Guinn 12/25/09

A ~ Z Reading Challenge (1/1/08 - 12/31/08)

2008-12-16T17:08:00.000-08:00

TITLES

A - A New Earth - Eckhart Tolle

B -

C -

D - Dragonfly in Amber - Diana Gabaldon

E - Ella Enchanted - Gail Carson Levine

F - Fairy Godmother, The - Mercedes Lackey

G -

H - House on Pooh Corner, The - A.A. Milne

I - I Love Everybody (and Other Atrocious Lies) - Laurie Notaro

K - Killing Bridezilla - Laura Levine

L - Life Laughs - Jenny McCarthy

M - May Day - Jess Lourey

N - Nixie's Song: Beyond the Spiderwick Chronicles - Holly Black

O - Outlander - Diana Gabaldon

P - Pick Your Poison - Leann Sweeney

S - Swine Not? - Jimmy Buffett

T - Twelve Sharp - Janet Evanovich

U - Uncommon Reader, The - Alan Bennett

V - Veil of Roses - Laura Fitzgerald

W - Wind Done Gone, The - Alice Randall

AUTHORS

A - Atherton, Nancy - Aunt Dimity's Death

B - Black, Holly - The Spiderwick Chronicles: Book 1: The Field Guide

C - Carr, Kris - Crazy Sexy Cancer Tips

E - Evanovich, Janet - Eleven on Top

F - Feldman, Ellen - The Boy Who Loved Anne Frank

G - Gilbert, Elizabeth - eat pray love

H - Harris, Charlaine - Real Murders

L - Lewis, C.S. - The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

M - Malladi, Amulya - A Breath of Fresh Air

N - Notaro, Laurie - We Thought You Would Be Prettier

R - Rowling, J.K. - The Tales of Beedle the Bard

S - Snicket, Lemony - The Lump of Coal

V - Viswanathan, Kaavya - How Opal Mehta Got Kissed, Got Wild, and Got a Life

W - Waldman, Ayelet - Bye-Bye, Black Sheep

Books Read in 2008

2008-06-18T08:57:00.000-07:00

Books Read in 2008

1. The House At Pooh Corner by A.A. Milne (1/3/08) 180 pages (4.5/5)
2. Eleven on Top by Janet Evanovich (1/8/08) 310 pages (4.5/5)
*3. eat pray love by Elizabeth Gilbert (1/11/08) 334 pages (5/5)
4. Pick Your Poison by Leann Sweeney (1/16/08) 266 pages (4/5)
5. I Love Everybody by Laurie Notaro (1/20/08) 228 pages (4/5)
*6. Veil of Roses by Laura Fitzgerald (1/24/08) 309 pages (5/5)
7. Bye-bye, Black Sheep by Ayelet Waldman (1/30/08) 259 pages (4/5)
*8. The Spiderwick Chronicles Book 1: The Field Guide by Holly Black (2/14/08) 107 pages (5/5)
9. A Breath of Fresh Air by Amulya Malladi (2/17/08) 214 pages (4.5/5)
10. Valentine Murder by Leslie Meier (2/28/08) 248 pages (4/5)
11. The Spiderwick Chronicles Book 2: The Seeing Stone (2/28/08) 108 pages (5/5)
12. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe - C.S. Lewis (3/3/08) 208 pages (5/5)
13. The Spiderwick Chronicles Book 3: Lucinda's Secret (3/10/08) 108 p. (5/5)
14. The Wind Done Gone - Alice Randall (3/21/08) 210 p. (0/5)
15. The Spiderwick Chronicles Book 4: The Ironwood Tree (3/16/08) 108 p. (5/5)
16. The Spiderwick Chronicles Book 5: The Wrath of Mulgarath (3/27/08) 136 p. (5/5)
17. Prince Caspian - C.S. Lewis (3/30/08) 208 p. (4/5)
18. The Uncommon Reader - Alan Bennett (3/31/08) 120 p. (4/5)
19. The Nixie's Song: Beyond Spiderwick Chronicles - Holly Black (4/6/08) 162 p. (4/5)
20. How Elizabeth Barrett Browning Saved My Life - Mameve Medwed (4/9/08) 326 p. (4/5)
21. Outlander - Diana Gabaldon (4/30/08) 850 p. (5/5)
22. Real Murders - Charlaine Harris (5/3/08) 175 p. (2/5)
23. Crazy Sexy Cancer Tips - Kris Carr (5/4/08) 203 p. (4/5)
*24. Pasta Imperfect - Maddy Hunter (5/20/08) 349 p. (5/5)
25. We Thought You Would Be Prettier - Laurie Notaro (5/28/08) 223 p. (5/5)
*26. A New Earth - Eckhart Tolle (6/2/08) 315 p. (5/5)
27. Life Laughs - Jenny McCarthy (6/8/08) 215 p. (4/5)
28. Alpine for You - Maddy Hunter (6/9/08) 246 p. (5/5)
29. Twelve Sharp - Janet Evanovich (6/17/08) 310 p. (5/5)
30. How Opal Mehta Got Kissed, Got Wild, and Got a Life - Kaavya Viswanathan (6/23/08) 314 p. (5/5)
31. Top O' the Mournin' - Maddy Hunter (6/25/08) 439 p. (5/5)
32. The Boy Who Loved Anne Frank (6/28/08) 264 p. (5/5)
33. Swine Not? - Jimmy Buffett (6/28/08) 233 p. (4.5/5)
34. The Fairy Godmother - Mercedes Lackey (6/28/08) 481 p. (4/5)
35. Killing Bridezilla - Laura Levine (6/29/08) 247 p. (5/5)
36. 100 Cupboards - N.D. Wilson (7/6/08) 289 p. (4.5/5)
37. Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death - M.C. Beaton (7/17/08) 266 p. (5/5)
38. 20th Century Ghosts - Joe Hill (7/23/08) 316 p. (3/5)
39. Dragonfly in Amber - Diana Gabaldon (7/26/08) 947 p. (4/5)
40. Trixie Belder: The Secret of the Mansion - Julie Campbell (8/10/08) 263 p. (2/5)
41. Hula Done It? - Maddy Hunter (8/3/08) 390 p. (3/5)
42. Simmer Down - Jessica Conant-Park & Susan Conant (8/20/08) 259 p. (4.5/5)
43. Agatha Raisin & the Vicious Vet - M.C. Beaton (8/29/08) 226 p. (5/5)
44. Agatha Rasin & the Potted Gardener - M.C. Beaton (9/1/08) 224 p. (5/5)
45. Aunt Dimity's Death - Nancy Atherton (9/8/08) 244 p. (4/5)
46. Agatha Raisin & the Walkers of Dembley - M.C. Beaton (9/15/08) 238 p. (5/5)
47. Ella Enchanted - Gail Carson Levine (9/25/08) 232 p. (4/5)
48. Agatha Raisin and the Murderous Marriage - M.C. Beaton (9/20/08) 217 p. (5/5)
49. May Day - Jess Lourey (10/7/08) 226 p. (4.5/5)
50. Agatha Raisin and the Terrible Tourist - M.C. Beaton (10/11/08) 229 p. (5/5)
51. Are You There, Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea - Chelsea Handler (10/27/08) 264 p. (4/5)
52. The Idiot Girl and the Flaming Tantrum of Death - Laurie Notaro (10/25/08) 218 p. (5/5)
53. I Feel Bad About My Neck - Nora Ephron (11/3/08) 173 p. (4/5)
54. Murder in Miniature - Margaret Grace (11/14/08) 366 p. (4/5)
55. 16 Lighthouse Road - Debbie Macomber (12/3/08) 471 p. (5/5)
56. The Tales of Beedle the Bard - J.K. Rowling (12/20/08) 111 p. (5/5)
57. The Lump of Coal - Lemony Snicket (12/22/08) 30 p. (4.5/5)
58. Agatha Raisin and the Wellspring of Death - M.C. Beaton (12/27/08) 230 p. (4/5)
59. A Redbird Christmas - Fannie Flagg (12/28/08) 229 p. (5/5)

Favorite books of 2008:
A Redbird Christmas - Fannie Flagg
The Tales of Beedle the Bard - J.K. Rowling
16 Lighthouse Road - Debbie Macomber
eat pray love - Elizabeth Gilbert
Veil of Roses - Laura Fitzgerald

Books Read in 2007

2008-02-18T18:21:00.000-08:00

Books Read in 2007

*1. The Road by Cormac McCarthy (5/1/07) 287 pages (A)
2. The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger (7/4/07) 560 pages (B)
3. Von Cosel by Tom Swicegood (7/16/07) 283 pages (B)
4. The Devil Who Tamed Her by Johanna Lindsey (7/17/07) 455 pages (B)
5. A Farewell to Yarns by Jill Churchill (7/25/07) 239 pages (B)
6. Remainder by Tom Mccarthy (8/2/07) 320 pages (F)
7. A Groom With a View by Jill Churchill (8/6/07) 291 pages (B)
8. This Pen For Hire by Laura Levine (8/15/07) 203 pages (B+)
9. The Cradle Robbers by Ayelet Waldman (8/20/07) 288 pages (B+)
*10. A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini (8/27/07) 372 pages (A++)
11. Death Gets A Time-Out by Ayelet Waldman (8/29/07) 314 pages (B+)
12. Last Writes by Laura Levine (9/3/07) 234 pages (B)
13. Nursery Crimes by Ayelet Waldman (9/9/07) 215 pages (B+)
*14. Carbs & Cadavers by J.B. Stanley (9/13/07) 380 pages (A-)
15. Killer Blonde by Laura Levine (9/18/07) 234 pages (B)
*16. Mail Order Murder by Leslie Meier (9/20/07) 198 pages (A+)
17. The Big Nap by Ayelet Waldman (9/22/07) 227 pages (B+)
18. Flamingo Fatale by Jimmie Ruth Evans (9/26/07) 308 pages (D)
19. Louder Than Words by Jenny McCarthy (9/29/07) 202 pages (B)
20. The Idiot Girls' Action-Adventure Club by Laurie Notaro (10/2/07) 225 pages (B)
21. Tippy-toe Murder by Leslie Meier (10/4/07) 227 pages (A)
22. Belly Laughs by Jenny McCarthy (10/9/07) 165 pages (B-)
23. A Playdate With Death by Ayelet Waldman (10/11/07) 229 pages (B)
24. An Idiot Girls' Christmas by Laurie Notaro (10/15/07) 142 pages (B)
25. Baby Laughs by Jenny McCarthy (10/17/07) 211 pages (B-)
26. Shoes to Die For by Laura Levine (10/21/07) 228 pages (B)
27. You Can Run, But You Can't Hide by Duane "Dog" Chapman (10/26/07) 321 pages (B-)
28. Trick or Treat Murder by Leslie Meier (11/6/07) 245 pages (B+)
*29. Fit to Die by J.B. Stanley (11/12/07) 341 pages (A)
30. Autobiography of a Fat Bride by Laurie Notaro (11/19/07) 257 pages (B)
*31. Steve & Me by Terri Irwin (11/19/07) 273 pages (A)
32. The PMS Murder by Laura Levine (12/1/07) 245 pages (B)
33. Back to School Murder by Leslie Meier (12/4/07) 268 pages (A)
34. Murder Plays House by Ayelet Waldman (12/28/07) 312 pages (B+)
35. Death by Pantyhose by Laura Levine (12/31/07) 244 pages (B+)

2007 Statistics:
Books Read: 35
Pages Read: 9543

Cozy Mystery Challenge Completed

2008-02-18T17:42:00.000-08:00

I'm so excited I finally finished my first Challenge!

The Cozy Mystery Challenge for the month of September, 2007!

The books I read are:

1. Last Writes by Laura Levine (finished 9/3)

2. Nursery Crimes by Ayelet Waldman (finished 9/9)

3. Carbs & Cadavers by J.B. Stanley (finished 9/13)

4. Killer Blonde by Laura Levine (finished 9/18)

5. Mail Order Murder by Leslie Meier (finished 9/20)

6. The Big Nap by Ayelet Waldman (finished 9/22)

7. Flamingo Fatale by Jimmie Ruth Evans (finished 9/26)

I really enjoyed most of these authors and plan to continue with their series. The only one I didn't care for was Flamingo Fatale by Jimmie Ruth Evans. There was just something about the characters that I could not get attached to.

Overall, I really enjoyed this challenge and will be reading plenty more cozies in the future.

Books Read in 2006

2008-02-18T17:39:00.000-08:00

*1. The Girl Next Door by Jack Ketchum (4/5/06) 384 pages (A-)
2. Right to Life by Jack Ketchum (4/18/06) 158 pages (B)
3. Revenge Gifts by Cindy Cruciger (4/27/06) 304 pages (D)
4. The Sheik's Kidnapped Bride by Susan Mallery (5/4/06) 248 pages (C)
5. The Idler Book of Crap Jobs by Dan Kieran (5/11/06) 160 pages (C)
6. To The Nines by Janet Evanovich (5/13/06) 312 pages (B)
7. Ten Big Ones by Janet Evanovich (7/12/06) 340 pages (B)
*8. Night by Elie Wiesel (7/12/06) 144 pages (A)
9. The Sheik's Arranged Marriage by Susan Mallery (10/3/06) 248 pages (C)
*10. The Quiet Game by Greg Iles (10/22/06) 576 pages (A-)

2006 Statistics:
Books Read: 10
Pages Read: 2874