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.