Reading Distractions Challenges: October 2009

Thursday, October 29, 2009

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

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)

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)

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

Friday, October 23, 2009

999 Challenge Completed Books

***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)

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)

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

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)

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

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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

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

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!