This is my year-end wrap up of the challenges that I participated in this year. 2008 was my first year being involved in reading challenges and I am overall quite pleased as to what I was able to accomplish.
1% Well-Read Challenge
May 1, 2008-Feb. 28, 2009
Read 10 books from 1001 Books to Read Before You Die
Progress: 1/10 [I’m really struggling with this challenge, I’m not sure I am going to be able to finish it.]
- The Shining by Stephen King
Finished: Sept. 8 / Rated: 3.5/5
2008 2nds Challenge
Sept. 1-Dec. 31, 2008
Read 4 books by authors you’ve only read once before.
Progress: FINISHED
- New Moon by Stephanie Meyer
Finished: Sept. 7/ Rated: 4.5/5 - One Last Scream by Kevin O’Brien
Finished: Sept. 15 / Rated: 5/5 - The Witness by Sandra Brown
Finished: Sept. 25 / Rated: 4/5 - A Wicked Snow by Gregg Olsen
Finished: Dec. 30 / Rated: 5/5
A Well-Rounded Challenge
July 1-Dec. 31, 2008
Read 1 book from 6 different challenges you’re signed up for.
Progress: FINISHED
- Initials Challenge: The Disappearance by J.F. Freedman
Finished: July 8 / Rated: 3/5 - Celebrate the Author: The Black Echo by Michael Connelly
Finished: July 16 / Rated: 4/5 - Series Season 2 Challenge: The Soul Catcher by Alex Kava
Finished: July 23 / Rated: 3/5 - 1% Well-Read Challenge: The Shining by Stephen King
Finished: Sept. 8 / Rated: 3.5/5 - 2008 2nds Challenge: One Last Scream by Kevin O’Brien
Finished: Sept. 15 / Rated: 5/5 - Book Awards II Challenge: Mystic River by Dennis Lehane
Finished: Nov. 14 / Rated: 3.5/5
Back to History Challenge
Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 2008
Read 12 books, either fictional or nonfictional.
Progress: DROPPED OUT
[I read 3 books for this challenge, but I just never could get into it so I decided to give up on it.]
Book-a-Week Challenge
Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 2008
Read 52 books
Progress: FINISHED
Book to Movie Challenge:
Sept. 1-Nov. 30, 2008
Read 3 books that have been made into movies
Progress: FINISHED
- The Shining by Stephen King
Finished: Sept. 8 / Rated: 3.5/5 - Mystic River by Dennis Lehane
Finished: Nov. 14 / Rated: 3.5/5 - Kiss the Girls by James Patterson
Finished: Nov. 30 / Rated: 4/5
Book Awards II Challenge
Aug. 1, 2008-June 1, 2009
Read 10 award winning books (at least 5 different awards)
Progress: 2/10 [Since this challenge continues on into 2009, I’m not concerned about where I’m at just yet.]
- Anthony Award: B is for Burglar by Sue Grafton
Finished: Aug. 6 / Rated: 3.5/5 - Anthony Award: Mystic River by Dennis Lehane
Finished: Nov. 14 / Rated: 3.5/5
Celebrating the Author Challenge
Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 2008
Read 12 books, choose an author who is celebrating a birthday that month
Progress: FINISHED
- January: No Second Chance by Harlan Coben
Finished: Jan. 3 / Rated: 4/5 - February: See Jane Die by Erica Spindler
Finished: Feb. 15 / Rated: 5/5 - March: 1st to Die by James Patterson
Finished: March 4 / Rated: 5/5 - April: ‘A’ is for Alibi by Sue Grafton
Finished: April 3 / Rated: 3/5 - May: Marker by Robin Cook
Finished: May 19 / Rated: 4/5 - June: The Deadly Dance by M.C. Beaton
Finished: June 8 / Rated: 3/5 - July: The Black Echo by Michael Connelly
Finished: July 16 / Rated: 4/5 - August: Night Fall by Nelson DeMille
Finished: Aug. 14 / Rated: 4/5 - September: The Shining by Stephen King
Finished: Aug. 8 / Rated: 3.5/5 - October: Dead by Sunset by Ann Rule
Finished: Nov. 23 / Rated: 2/5 - November: By Order of the President by W.E.B. Griffin
Finished: Dec. 26 / Rated: 3/5 - December: I Heard That Song Before by Mary Higgins Clark
Finished: Dec. 14 / Rated: 5/5
Eponymous Reading Challenge
March 1-May 31, 2008
Read 4 books whose title has a character name or description
Progress: FINISHED
- Diana’s Boys: William and Harry and the Mother they Loved by Christopher Anderson
Finished: March 10 / Rated: 4/5 - Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz
Finished: March 21 / Rated: 3/5 - The Widow by Carla Neggers
Finished: March 24 / Rated: 4/5 - The Virgin of Small Plains by Nancy Pickard
Finished: March 31 / Rated: 5/5
Initials Reading Challenge
April 1-Nov. 30. 2008
Read 5 books whose authors have published under initials.
Progress: FINISHED
- The Deadly Dance by M.C. Beaton
Finished: June 8 / Rated: 3/5 - The Disappearance by J.F. Freedman
Finished: July 8 / Rated: 3/5 - Name Withheld by J.A. Jance
Finished: July 27 / Rated: 3/5 - Glory in Death by J.D. Robb
Finished: Aug. 26 / Rated: 4/5 - All the Pretty Girls by J.T. Ellison
Finished: Aug. 29 / Rated: 4.5/5
Medical Mystery Challenge
June 1-Nov. 1, 2008
Read 3 books in the medical mystery/thriller genre
Progress: UNCOMPLETED – Unfortunately I was unable to finish this challenge; in fact I did not read one single book for this challenge. Medical mysteries and/or thrillers just do not interest me. My original hope when I signed up for this challenge was to be able to expand my tastes, however, I did indeed fail at that. I knew going in that this challenge would indeed be quite a challenge for me, unfortunately I was unable to push myself for this challenge, better luck next time!
Numbers Challenge
Jan. 1-June 1, 2008
Read 5 books with numbers in the title
Progress: FINISHED
- No Second Chance by Harlan Coben
Finished: Jan. 3 / Rated: 4/5 - Two Little Girls in Blue by Mary Higgins Clark
Finished: Jan. 11 / Rated: 5/5 - The Rule of Four by Ian Caldwell & Dustin Thomason
Finished: March 2 / Rated: 4/5 - 1st to Die by James Patterson
Finished: March 4 / Rated: 5/5 - 2nd Chance by James Patterson
Finished: March 22 / Rated: 4/5
Presidential Reading Challenge
July 4, 2008-July 4, 2009
Read 5 books that has some connection to presidents
Progress: 0/5 – Since this challenge continues on into 2009, I am not worried about not finishing any books toward this challenge, but I have every intention on getting this challenge finished in 2009.
Series Challenge Season 2
June 1-Nov. 30, 2008
Finish as many series as you can
[I was only able to complete the Maggie O’Dell series]
- The Soul Catcher by Alex Kava
Finished: July 23 / Rated: 3/5 - A Necessary Evil by Alex Kava
Finished: Aug. 9 / Rated: 4.5/5
Suspense & Thriller Challenge
Jan. 1, 2008-Dec. 31, 2009
Read 12 books in 12 different subcategories of thrillers
[I have finished the required 6 books for 2008, I will be reading 6 more for this challenge in 2009]
- Political Thriller: The Assassin by Andrew Britton
Finished: Feb. 28 / Rated: 4/5 - Romance Thriller: Naked in Death by J.D. Robb
Finished: March 27 / Rated: 4/5 - Terrorist Thriller: 3rd Degree by James Patterson
Finished: April 7 / Rated: 4/5 - Medical Thriller: Marker by Robin Cook
Finished: May 19 / Rated: 4/5 - Crime Thriller: Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay
Finished: Aug. 28/ Rated: 3/5 - Serial Killer: All the Pretty Girls by J.T. Ellison
Finished: Aug. 29 / Rated : 4.5/5
Title Master Reading Challenge
March 1-July 1, 2008
Read 4 books whose title begins with the same letter (example: Mary Mary)
Progress: FINISHED
- Mary Mary by James Patterson
Finished: June 3 / Rated: 4/5 - Blood Brothers by Nora Roberts
Finished: June 5 / Rated: 4.5/5 - The Deadly Dance by M.C. Beaton
Finished: June 8 / Rated: 3/5 - Deadly Decisions by Kathy Reichs
Finished: June 29 / Rated: 3.5/5
What’s in a Name Challenge
Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 2008
Read 6 books based on the categories that Annie sets out.
Progress: FINISHED
- Color: Two Little Girls in Blue by Mary Higgins Clark.
Finished: Jan. 11 / Rated: 5/5 - Place: Murder in Greenwich: Who Killed Martha Moxley by Mark Fuhrman.
Finished: Jan. 21 / Rated: 4/5 - Animal: The Serpent Club by Tom Coffey.
Finished: Feb. 6 / Rated: 3/5 - First Name: See Jane Die by Erica Spindler.
Finished: Feb. 16 / Rated: 5/5 - Weather Event: Firestorm by Iris Johansen.
Finished: March 9 / Rated: 4/5 - Plant: A Rose for Her Grave by Ann Rule.
Finished: April 17 / Rated: 3/5