Mystery and Suspense Reading Challenge 2012

 The Mystery and Suspense Reading Challenge 2012 is being hosted by Book Chick City.

From the blog:

Levels:

- Read TWELVE (12) mystery & suspense novels in 2012 
- Read TWENTY FOUR (24) mystery & suspense novels in 2012 

• 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 you can change them, nothing is set in stone! The books you choose can crossover into other challenges you have on the go.

You can sign up anytime and you don't have to write reviews of each book, but you are more than welcome to; there will be a link each month to link up your reviews to.  You don't have to be a blogger, and all types of sub-genres count as well (see the sign-up post for more info on this).

I am not going to list my titles ahead of time, but will list them as I go along.  I will be participating at the first level, although I'm pretty certain that I might make it to the second level.

COMPLETED:

READ 1/26 REVIEW LINK

2012 Books Won Reading Challenge

The 2012 Books Won Reading Challenge is being hosted by Teddy Rose at So Many Precious Books, So Little Time.

From the blog:

I created this challenge in 2010 to challenge myself and others that have won books, to read and review some of them.  The reason publishing companies supply books for book bloggers to give away is to get word out about the books and create buzz.  

The Levels are:

Honorable Mention: Read 1-3 book you won.

Bronze: Read 4-6 books you won.

Silver: Read 7-9 Books you won.

Gold: Read 10 or more books you won.

 I participated in this challenge last year, but fell short of getting reviews up :(.  This will be a better year! 

I'm participating at the Gold level.  In order for a book to count, you must write a review.  You can join anytime throughout the year.  Audiobooks and eBooks count, as long as you won them.

For my purposes, (trying to get my TBR bookshelf down), I will only count physical copies of books won.  So .. let me go to my shelf .... and here are the first books I pulled out:

		READ 2/3
	READ 2/5

 As I review these, I will link up to the blogger that I won them from!  Some of these have been waiting simply too long for me to read them!

The Dystopia 2012 Challenge

The Dystopia 2012 Challenge is being hosted by Bookish Ardour.  You can sign up anytime through the last two weeks of December, and you don't have to be a blogger to join.  Reviews are optional, but there is a review page set up for your reviews.  There is a Must Reads page full of wonderful book suggestions to help you in your reading choices as well.

From the blog:

Challenge Levels

1. Asocial– Choose 5 books to read
2. Contagion – Choose 15 books to read
3. Soldier – Choose 30 books to read
4. Drone – Choose 50 books to read
5. Conditioned – Choose 75 books to read
6. Brainwashed – Choose anywhere between 76-135 books to read
7. Totalitarian – Choose anywhere between 136-200 books to read

Extra Challenges

If you feel like that extra kick to your reading challenges here’s several you can choose from.

• World:Choose a country as your theme, reading only books from that country or where it’s the setting. For how high you go you can choose more than one country;
  • Level Asocial to Soldier: Choose one country
  • Level Soldier to Conditioned: Choose two countries
  • Level Conditioned to end of Brainwashed: Choose three countries
  • Level Totalitarian: Choose four countries.
• Gender Battle: Read books only by female or male authors. Another alternative is to read equal amounts of both.

Crossover Genres: Our Dystopia challenge also includes Post-Apocalypse and Ecotopia (environmentally dystopian).

I will participate at the Contagion level.  I have a couple of books right now that are on my reading list for this year, and I will add as I go:

Bookie Friends Favorites Reading Challenge

The Bookie Friends Favorites Challenge is being hosted by Vicki on its own blog.  I love this one; what a different take on a challenge!

From the blog:

Challenge starts January 1, 2012 and ends December 31, 2012

1. Write a post on your blog about joining this challenge

Add links to your 5 favorite books

Don't forget to add the challenge button

2. Click on the "Sign Up" tab above and leave the link to your challenge post, not to your blog's home page.

3. Visit the other participants and choose 3-12 of their favorite books to read.

You can choose them all at once or as you go.

Add the title to your original post, making sure to link back to the person whose favorite it is.

4. As you read each book:
Post a review on your blog and leave the link in the "Reviews" tab at the top of this blog

If you're like me, many of your reads come from other bloggers' recommendations.  How cool will it be to  participate in a challenge specifically geared to how we choose what to read?

For me to limit it to five books .. well, that's going to be fun.  And eclectic.  Clicking on a cover will take you to my original review page:

These are some of the books that have stuck with me; the ones whose titles instantly bring the story back to life in my mind.

Here are the books I will be choosing from for the challenge as well as the link to who recommended the book (clicking the cover will take you to the Goodreads page):

Alaskan Book Cafe	Alaskan Book Cafe	Diary of a  Domestic Goddess
Hellen's Reading Corner	Musings of a  Book Lover	An Introverted Reader
Jessie's Book Place	Quixotic Magpie	Bookaholic Mom
Under the Boardwalk	Under the Boardwalk	Martha's Bookshelf

Of Mice and Men would be a re-read, but almost like reading anew since it's been over twenty years since I first read it.  Most of these titles aren't already on my shelves, which is why I'm not committing to read all of them, although my goal is to read at least seven. 

Around the Stack in How Many Ways Reading Challenge

The Around the Stack in How Many Ways? reading challenge is being hosted by Dog Ear Discs.

From the blog:

The idea is simple – to read as many different genres as possible through the year. The challenge will start on January 1st 2012 and run right through to 31st December 2012.

1. Crime/Mystery – Sherlock Holmes, Rebus, Lincoln Rhyme.
2. Thriller – Lee Child, Dan Brown.
3. Romance – Anything that has a love story at its centre.
4. Fantasy – Can be anything from Lord Of The Rings to The Dark Tower.
5. Sci-Fi – Space Opera, China Mieville, Gollancz Classics.
6. Literary – Just look at the past Booker lists. Read a winner for bonus points.
7. Young Adult – There’s plenty out there, scour your local bookstore.
8. Historical Fiction – Wolf Hall, Conn Iggulden.
9. Dystopian – Never Let Me Go, Margaret Atwood.
10. Steampunk – Boneshaker, Affinity Bridge.
11. Comedy/Black Comedy – Michael Chabon, Nick Hornby.
12. Horror/Ghost Story – Stephen King, Clive Barker, Susan Hill.
13. Adventure – Treasure Island, Jamrach’s Menagerie.
14. War – Birdsong, My Dear I Wanted To Tell You.
15. Gothic – Poe is a perfect example.
16. Poetry – Research something that grabs you.
17. Drama – Graham Swift, Ishiguro, The Help.
18. Kids – Harry Potter, Narnia.
19. Graphic Novel – Anything from Marvel and DC to Jonathan Cape stuff.
20. Classic – As it says on the tin, pick a classic book from Dickens to Haddon.

It’s up to you how you define the book you want to read into what genre, but I’ve given some suggestions of the books I’m considering, above.

The Rules:

• If you’re a book blogger, you can use review copies as part of the challenge.
• You have to review the book if you are a blogger, even if it’s just a paragraph.

Rewards:

• Hiker – Up to 5 genres
• Backpacker – 5-10 genres
• Traveler – 10-15
• Palin-esque – 20+

(You don't have to be a book blogger to participate)

If you're an eclectic reader like I am, this one is right up your alley!  I'm going to participate at the traveler level and list books as I go.

Crime/Mystery: All I Did Was Shoot my Man by Walter Mosley
Thriller:
Fantasy:
Sci-Fi:
Literary: Three Weeks in December by Audrey Schulman
Young Adult:
Historical Fiction:  The Countess by Rebecca Johns
Dystopian:
Steampunk:
Horror/Ghost Story:
Adventure:
Gothic:
Drama:
Classic:

2012 Debut Adult Fiction Authors Challenge

The 2012 Debut Adult Fiction Authors Challenge is being hosted by Jennifer at Mrs. Q, Book Addict. 

From the blog:

This challenge was inspired by The Young Adult Debut author challenge hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

1. Challenge will run from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012.

2. Once the challenge has begun, each month there will be a post with a Mr. Linky, please come and add your link.

3. You may link your review, guest post or interview. The goal is to spotlight these 2012 debut authors, and get the word out about their debut books. 

Levels:

Gold: 10+ Reviews, Interviews and/or Guest Posts

Silver: 6-9 Reviews, Interviews and/or Guest Posts

Bronze: 1-5 Reviews, Interviews and/or Guest Posts

If you do not have a blog, you can sign up using the comments section.

I DO read some YA, but have never signed up for Kristi's challenge, because YA makes up such a small percentage of my reading.  THIS challenge, however, is right up my alley!  I will be participating at the Silver level, and will list my books as I go.

You can sign up, too!

A Classics Challenge 2012

A Classics Challenge is being hosted by Katherine at November's Autumn.

I have carried over my personal goal of reading one classic a month from 2011 to 2012, and I am already participating in the Back to the Classics challenge, so this one fits right in!

From the blog:

Instead of writing a review as you finish each book (of course, you can do that too), visit November's Autumn on the 4th of each month from January 2012 - December 2012.

You will find a prompt, it will be general enough that no matter which Classic you're reading or how far into it, you will be able to answer. There will be a form for everyone to link to their post. I encourage everyone to read what other participants have posted.

• What if I'm not sure I can participate every month? Don't worry, the main goal is to read seven Classics. Try to participate in at least three prompts throughout the year
• What if I'm still reading the same book as last month? That's ok!
• What if I'm not reading something for this challenge during one of the months? You can choose to either skip that prompt or answer about the Classic you've most recently read.
• What is considered a Classic? A work that transcends time. Usually it's well recognized but there are many lesser-known gems too. 

Anyone who loves to read and has a blog is invited.  You can join at anytime

1. Write a post on your blog with a list of the seven works you hope to read in 2012 and why you chose them-- but don't feel bound by the list. 
2. Please include a link back to this page in your post, so others can learn about the challenge and join us.

 My initial list of books to choose from for this will be the same as my Back to the Classics challenge list, but I may change some for THIS challenge, as you are allowed to switch up and crossovers are allowed!


You can join ANYTIME, so why not join in?  You don't even have to make your list ahead of time!