2013 Books Completed

Books Read in 2013

JANUARY - 508 pages

1. Warm Bodies - Isaac Marion 241p. (4/5) 1/19/13
2. My Custom Van - Michael Ian Black 224p. (2/5) 1/22/13
3. Red Run - Kami Garcia 18p. (5/5) 1/24/13
4. Guns - Stephen King 25p. (5/5) 1/26/13
 
FEBRUARY - 242 pages

5. Dear Dumb Diary Year Two #3: Nobody's Perfect - Jim Benton 160p. (5/5) 2/10/13
6. A Wild Ghost Chase - E.J. Copperman 82p. (4/5) 2/10/13

MARCH - 588 pages

7. Threaded For Trouble - Janet Bolin 320p. (5/5) 3/5/13
8. The Unofficial How I Met Your Mother Quiz Book - Tom Smitz 37p. (3/5) 3/5/13
9. God, No! - Penn Jillette 231p. (5/5) 3/19/13

APRIL - 606 pages

10. Scared Sh*tless - 1,003 Facts That Will... - Cary McNeal 304p. (5/5) 4/7/13
11. Notorious Nineteen - Janet Evanovich 302p. (5/5) 4/13/13

MAY - 208 pages

12. Debt Proof Your Kids - Mary Hunt 208p. (2/5) 5/11/13

JUNE - 705 pages

13. Every Day is an Atheist Holiday - Penn Jillette 287p. (4/5) 6/22/13
14. Teratologist - Edward Lee & Wrath James White 114p. (3/5) 6/22/13
15. The Perfect Paragon - M.C. Beaton 304p. (5/5) 6/29/13

JULY - 531 pages

16. Joyland - Stephen King 283p. (5/5) 7/6/13
17. Love, Lies & Liquor - M.C. Beaton 248p. (5/5) 7/21/13

AUGUST - 0 pages

SEPTEMBER - 1199 pages

18. Laughter: The Best Medicine @ Work - Reader's Digest 216p. (5/5) 9/22/13
19. Michael Jackson: The Magic, The Madness, The Whole Story 1958-2009 - J. Randy Taraborrelli 768p. (4/5) 9/25/13
20. Laughter Really Is The Best Medicine - Reader's Digest 215p. (5/5) 9/27/13

OCTOBER -

21.


Pages Read:
Favorite Books of 2013:
Threaded for Trouble - Janet Bolin
Guns - Stephen King
Joyland - Stephen King
God, No! - Penn Jillette

2012 Books Completed

Books Read in 2012

JANUARY - 1732 pages

1. When Parents Text - Lauren Kaelin & Sophia Fraioli 256p. (5/5) 1/7/12
2. Explosive Eighteen - Janet Evanovich 305p. (5/5) 1/14/12
3. Finding Lost Season 1 & 2 - Nikki Stafford 383p. (4/5) 1/21/12
4. Mini Shopaholic - Sophie Kinsella 450p. (5/5) 1/24/12
5. Love in a Nutshell - Janet Evanovich & Dorien Kelly 320p. (5/5) 1/27/12
6. On What Grounds - Cleo Coyle 288p. (2/5) 1/31/12

FEBRUARY - 968 pages

7. The Help - Kathryn Stockett 464p. (5/5) 2/2/12
8. Elvis & the Dearly Departed - Peggy Webb 304p. (1/5) 2/24/12
9. Finding Lost - Season 3 - Nikki Stafford 200p. (5/5) 2/29/12

MARCH - 1740 pages

10. The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins 384p. (5/5) 3/9/12
11. I've Got Your Number - Sophie Kinsella 433p. (5/5) 3/17/12
12. Catching Fire - Suzanne Collins 391p. (5/5) 3/18/12
13. Hunger Game Tribute Guide - Emily Seife 128p. (3/5) 3/19/12
14. Mockingjay - Suzanne Collins 404p. (5/5) 3/26/12

APRIL - 715 pages

15. Finding Lost Season 4 - Nikki Stafford 224p. (5/5) 4/18/12
16. The Last Lecture - Randy Pausch 206p. (4/5) 4/20/12
17. Buried in a Book - Lucy Arlington 285p. (5/5) 4/20/12

MAY - 288 pages

18. Pushing Up Daisies - Rosemary Harris 288p. (4/5) 5/21/12

JUNE - 769 pages

19. An Uninvited Ghost - E.J. Copperman 293p. (4/5) 6/3/12
20. Old Haunts - E.J. Copperman 304p. (5/5) 6/14/12
21. It Looked Different on the Model - Laurie Notaro 218p. (5/5) 6/18/12
22. The Clutter Busting Handbook - Rita Emmett 224p. (5/5) 6/20/12

JULY - 2602 pages

23. 11/22/63 - Stephen King 849p. (5/5) 7/3/12
24. Wicked Business - Janet Evanovich 301p. (5/5) 7/13/12
25. 1,001 Facts That Will Scare the Sh*t Out Of You - Cary McNeal 360p. (4/5) 7/16/12
26. In Fifty Years We'll All Be Chicks - Adam Carolla 247p. (5/5) 7/22/12
27. Born Standing Up - Steve Martin 207p. (3/5) 7/23/12
28. Finding Lost Season 5 - Nikki Stafford 224p. (5/5) 7/25/12
29. A Love That Multiplies - Michelle & Jim Bob Duggar 288p. (1/5) 7/27/12
30. Y: The Last Man Vol 1: Unmanned - Brian K. Vaughan 126p. (4/5) 7/27/12

AUGUST - 0 pages

SEPTEMBER - 617 pages

31. Dear Dumb Diary, School. Hasn't This Gone On... - Jim Benton 137p. (5/5) 9/5/12
32. Dear Dumb Diary, The Super-Nice Are Super-Annoying - Jim Benton 128p. (5/5) 9/7/12
33. Christmas Crumble - M.C. Beaton 32p. (5/5) 9/9/12
34. An Appetite for Murder - Lucy Burdette 320p. (5/5) 9/18/12

OCTOBER - 1586 pages

35. Not Taco Bell Material - Adam Carolla 330p. (5/5) 10/5/12
36. Finding Lost Season 6 - Nikki Stafford 304p. (5/5) 10/16/12
37. In the Tall Grass - Stephen King & Joe Hill 64p. (5/5) 10/17/12
38. The Missing - Beverly Lewis 408p. (4/5) 10/20/12
39. How to Survive a Horror Movie - Seth Grahame-Smith 176p. (3/5) 10/24/12
40. Death of a Neighborhood Witch - Laura Levine 304p. (5/5) 10/27/12

NOVEMBER - 0 pages

DECEMBER - 431 pages

41. The Telling - Beverly Lewis 431p. (3/5) 12/30/12


Pages Read: 11448

Favorite Books of 2011:

The Hunger Games series - Suzanne Collins

11/22/63 - Stephen King

Death of a Neighborhood Witch - Laura Levine

 

2011 Books Completed

Books Read in 2011 (100+ Reading Challenge 2011)

JANUARY - 2378 pages

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

FEBRUARY - 845 pages

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

10. Christmas With Tucker - Greg Kincaid 180p. (5/5) 2/10/11
11. Veganist - Kathy Freston 304p. (5/5) 2/11/11

MARCH - 318 pages

12. A Dog Named Christmas - Greg Kincaid 160p. (5/5) 3/5/11
13. Shit My Dad Says - Justin Halpern 158p. (5/5) 3/22/11

APRIL - 671 pages

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

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

MAY - 752 pages

16. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire - J.K. Rowling 752p. (5/5) 5/12/11

JUNE - 1522 pages

17. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling 870p. (5/5) 6/15/11
18. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - J.K. Rowling 652p. (5/5) 6/29/11

JULY - 1964 pages

19. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - J.K. Rowling 784p. (5/5) 7/11/11
20. Hank Zipzer: Dump Trucks and Dogsleds: I'm on my Way, Mom! - Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver 155p. (4/5) 7/13/11
21. Princess Diaries: Princess on the Brink Vol. 8 - Meg Cabot 272p. (5/5) 7/18/11
22. Agatha Raisin and the Haunted House - M.C. Beaton 272p. (5/5) 7/18/11
23. Dear Dumb Diary, Okay So Maybe I Do Have Superpowers - Jim Benton 143p. (5/5) 7/19/11
24. Princess Diaries: Project Princess Vol. 4 1/2 - Meg Cabot 50p. (5/5) 7/21/11
25. Bossypants - Tina Fey 288p. (4.5/5) 7/25/11

AUGUST - 1692 pages

26. June Bug - Jess Lourey 240p. (2.5/5) 8/8/11
27. Dear Dumb Diary, Me! (Just Like You, Only Better) - Jim Benton 144p. (5/5) 8/13/11
28. Thinner - Stephen King 320p. (5/5) 8/15/11
29. Smokin' Seventeen - Janet Evanovich 320p. (5/5) 8/26/11
30. The Secret - Beverly Lewis 364p. (4.5/5) 8/31/11
31. Princess Mia - Meg Cabot 304p. (5/5) 8/31/11

SEPTEMBER - 2875 pages

32. Mile 81 - Stephen King 80p. (4/5) 9/5/11
33. Night of the Living Deed - E.J. Copperman 336p. (4/5) 9/10/11
34. Hank Zipzer: A Brand New Me - Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver 155p. (4/5) 9/14/11
35. Books Can Be Deceiving - Jenn McKinlay 304p. (5/5) 9/15/11
36. Shopaholic & Baby - Sophie Kinsella 448p. (5/5) 9/21/11
37. Princess Diaries 7.5: Sweet Sixteen Princess - Meg Cabot 96p. (4/5) 9/21/11
38. Valentine Princess 7.75 - Meg Cabot 96p. (4/5) 9/23/11
39. I'm Just Sayin' - Kim Zimmer 320p. (4.5/5) 9/24/11
40. Dead to the World - Charlaine Harris 320p. (4/5) 9/25/11
41. Pampered to Death - Laura Levine 304p. (5/5) 9/26/11
42. Forever Princess - Meg Cabot 416p. (5+/5) 9/30/11

OCTOBER - 828 pages

43. Mr. Popper's Penguins 160p. (1/5) 10/7/11
44. Sold - Patricia McCormick 263p. (5/5) 10/19/11
45. I Am Legend - Richard Matheson 320p. (5/5) 10/22/11
46. Princess Present - Meg Cabot 85p. (5/5) 10/27/11

NOVEMBER - 1548 pages

47. Stolen Innocence - Elissa Wall & Lisa Pulitzer 464p. (5/5) 11/7/11
48. You Have to Stop This - Pseudonymous Bosch 347p. (5/5) 11/11/11
49. Dire Threads - Janet Bolin 336p. (1/5) 11/20/11 (Revised 5/5)
50. Seriously...I'm Kidding - Ellen DeGeneres 241p. (4/5) 11/27/11
51. 5 Very Good Reasons to Punch A Dolphin in the Mouth - Matthew Inman 160p. (3/5) 11/27/11

DECEMBER - 0 pages 

2011 Statistics Books Read:

Pages Read: 15393

Favorite Books of 2011:
Harry Potter - J.K. Rowling
Glazed Murder - Jessica Beck
Forever Princess - Meg Cabot
Sold - Patricia McCormick
Dire Threads - Janet Bolin

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

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!):

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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)

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

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)

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

3.

Reading Into the New Year

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)

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

2.

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

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

3.

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

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
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.

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

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)

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

2.

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

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.

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.

4.

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!

5.

6.

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.

7.

8.

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.

9.

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!)

11.

12.

7. Older Than You

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

13.

14.

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!

15.

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)

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)

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)

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)

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

2.

3.

4.

5.

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

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)

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)