Day: December 16, 2010

Well, here it is. The final challenge that I will be joining for 2011. Period, end of story for me. I had considered signing up for the 2010 version of this challenge, but for some reason, I decided not to do it. This year, however, I’m going to give it a go. Here are the rules:

…The requirement will be a total of  20 books from 11 categories, this means there will be a slight changes to the rules though.

Rather than read 2 books in every category, you will need to read a minimum of 1 and a max of 2 in each. (Essentially meaning you can choose one category where you only need to read one book.)

I’ve also decided to mix the categories up a little bit this time around, keeping some of the popular ones and throwing a few new ones in there to keep it fresh.

As always though, the categories are intended to be loose guidelines only, if you decide it fits, then it fits!

The only other things I think you need to know are:

• Each book can only qualify for one category.
• Crossovers with other challenges are allowed.
• Books read from 01/01/2011 to 31/12/2011 are eligible.

And the categories for TwentyEleven are:

1. To YA or not YA…
   Okay, this one works like this… Tend to read more Young Adult than Adult Fiction books then read one or two adult fiction titles, vice-versa if you don’t tend to read much Young Adult.
   ~Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
   ~Shelter by Harlan Coben
2. …With a Twist.
   This one focuses on sub-genres, read a lot of chick-lit, then try a paranormal romance! Fantasy? Why not give some Steampunk a go, like a bit of Space-Opera in your Sci-Fi then pick up a military Sci-fi book. Like your Contemporary Literature, give a Young Adult Contemporary a chance. Well hopefully you get the idea!
   ~Catering to Nobody by Diane Mott Davidson (Cozy Mystery)
   ~ Blood Oath by Christopher Farnsworth (Vampire Thriller)
3. Hot off the Presses.
   Read a book published (in your country) in 2011? Then it counts for this category.
   ~10th Anniversary by James Patterson
   ~Lonely Deceptions by D.R. Willis
4. It Wasn’t Me! (aka Bad Bloggers*)
   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.
   ~Still Missing by Chevy Stevens
5. Show it Who is Boss!
   Tackle that overflowing T.B.R. pile! Books for this category must be already residents of your bookshelves as of 1/12/10.
   ~The Alexandria Link by Steve Berry (has been on my shelf since 2009)
   ~Whiskey Sour by J.A. Konrath (has been on my shelf since 2010)
6. Bablefish.
   Read books that are translated from a language that is not your own.
   ~The Keeper of Lost Causes by Jussi Adler-Olsen (Translated by Lisa Hartford)
7. Will-Power? What Will-Power? (aka: The Henry Ward Beecher Memorial.)
   You know that quote I have in my blog-header… “Where is human nature so weak as in a bookstore?” Recognise yourself in it? Then this is the one for you! Bought a book NEW during 2011? 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.
   ~Closer than Blood by Gregg Olsen
8. Mind the Gap.
   Need just one more book to compete that duology/trilogy/series then read it for this one! (Obviously as this is for that final book you need to complete it, then you can’t read two books from the same series! And it clearly can’t be your first or penultimate read!)
   Because not everyone reads a series in order, this is for the last book you need to read, not necessarily the last book in the series…
   ~Hell’s Corner by David Baldacci (most recent installment in the Camel Club series)
   ~Hotwire by Alex Kava (most recent installment in the Maggie O’Dell series)
9. Back in the Day.
   Re-read an old favourite or two for this category.
   ~Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling
   ~Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling
10. Way Back When.
    Read books that were published before you were born for this one, whether that be the day before or 100 years prior!
    ~Where Are the Children? by Mary Higgins Clark (published 1975, 10 years before my birth)
    ~Cop Hater by Ed McBain (published 1956, 29 years before my birth)
11. Slim-Pickings
    Got a novella you want to read? Then this one is the one for you! Any books between 90-150 pages count.

I will have to sit down and really think my books out sometime in the future, but I shouldn’t have too much trouble trying to get my own books into the categories. But there are some categories that will take some thinking in order to fulfill 🙂 Looking forward to starting the new year with new challenges!!

Okay, so I participated in the first two What’s in a Name challenges. I passed on this year’s challenge because I had wanted to step away from challenges a little bit. But I enjoyed this challenge when I participated, so I am going to pick it up again for 2011. I need more challenges like I need a hole in my head, but I simply can’t resist 🙂 Besides, I told myself a total of 5 for this year – and I’m not there yet 🙂 Anyways, here are the rules:

Between January 1 and December 31, 2011, read one book in each of the following categories:

1. A book with a number in the title: First to Die, Seven Up, Thirteen Reasons Why
2. A book with jewelry or a gem in the title: Diamond Ruby, Girl with a Pearl Earring, The Opal Deception
3. A book with a size in the title: Wide Sargasso Sea, Small Wars, Little Bee
4. A book with travel or movement in the title: Dead Witch Walking, Crawling with Zombies, Time Traveler’s Wife
5. A book with evil in the title: Bad Marie, Fallen, Wicked Lovely
6. A book with a life stage in the title: No Country for Old Men, Brideshead Revisited, Bog Child

The book titles are just suggestions, you can read whatever book you want to fit the category.

Other Things to Know

• Books may be any form (audio, print, e-book).
• Books may overlap other challenges.
• Books may not overlap categories; you need a different book for each category.
• Creativity for matching the categories is not only allowed but encouraged.
• You do not have to make a list of books before hand.
• You do not have to read through the categories in any particular order

So there you have it. For the most part, I have books that will fit into each of the categories. Here is my tentative list:

• Number: The Tenth Justice by Brad Meltzer
• Jewelry/Gem: Cross Fire by James Patterson
• Size: TBD
• Travel/Movement: We’re Not Leaving by Benjamin J. Luft, M.D.
• Evil: Killing Her Softly by Beverly Barton
• Life Stage: Where Are the Children? by Mary Higgins Clark