Month: December 2010

Oh my. I can’t stop myself. Can’t. Say. No. I came across this challenge and simply CANNOT resist! Oh well ……..

• The challenge will run from January 1, 2011 until December 31, 2011.

• Crossover books from other challenges is fine. You can read books in any format.

• On January 1, 2011, I will post pages for each of the 10 challenges so you can link up your completed posts.

The 2011 Challenges

1: Staff  Member’s Choice: Go to a bookstore or library that has a “Staff Picks” section. Read one of the picks from that section.

2: Loved One’s Choice: Ask a loved one to pick a book for you to read. (If you can convince them to buy it for you, that is even better!)
~The Help by Kathryn Stockett (On my grandmother’s recommendation, and she bought the book for me!)

3: Blogger’s Choice: Find a “Best Books Read” post from a favorite blogger. Read a book from their list.

4: Critic’s Choice: Find a “Best of the Year” list from a magazine, newspaper or professional critic. Read a book from their Top 10 list.

5: Blurb Book: Find a book that has a blurb on it from another author. Read a book by the author that wrote the blurb.

6: Book Seer Pick: Go to The Book Seer and follow the instructions there. Read a book from the list it generates for you.
~State of the Union by Brad Thor

7: What Should I Read Next Pick : Go to What Should I Read Next and follow the instructions there. Read a book from the list it generates for you.
~Dying for Chocolate by Diane Mott Davidson

8: Which Book Pick: Go to Which Book and use the software to generate a list of books. Read a book from that list.
~The Blue Edge of Midnight by Jonathon King

9: LibraryThing Pick: Go to LibraryThing’s Zeitgeist page. Look at the lists for 25 Most Reviewed Books or Top Books and pick a book you’ve never read. Read the book. (Yes … you can click on MORE if you have to.)
~Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

10: Pick A Method: Pick a method for finding a book from the choices listed below (used in previous versions of the challenge).
~The Chancellor Manuscript by Robert Ludlum

• Random Book Selection. Go to the library. Position yourself in a section such as Fiction, Non-Fiction, Mystery, Children (whatever section you want). Then write down random directions for yourself (for example, third row, second shelf, fifth book from right). Follow your directions and see what book you find. Check that book out of the library, read it and then write about it. (If you prefer, you can do the same at a bookstore and buy the book!)
• Public Spying. Find someone who is reading a book in public. Find out what book they are reading and then read the same book. Write about it.
• Random Bestseller. Go to Random.org and, using the True Random Number Generator, enter the number 1950 for the min. and 2010 for the max. and then hit generate. Then go to this site and find the year that Random.org generated for you and click on it. Then find the bestseller list for the week that would contain your birthday for that year. Choose one of the bestsellers from the list that comes up, read it and write about it.
  

I simply can’t resist this challenge for some reason. I know that I said I was done after five … but, really, is 6 such a bad number? I think not!

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

One more, and then I think I’m done (unless something else really comes along and catches my eye and I can’t resist). I’m going to join the Criminal Plots Reading Challenge. It involves reading in the crime genre (again, my favorite!) Here are the rules:

So, what’s involved in this challenge you ask? It isn’t too difficult. It involves reading six books throughout 2011 (January 1 through December 31, 2011). One book should be read that fits into each of the following categories:

1. A book by a new to you author who’s blurbed a book you enjoyed. So check out the cover of a crime fiction book you’ve enjoyed and see who blurbed that book and is also an author you’ve never read before.
2. A book that has been made into a movie. It doesn’t have to be a movie you’ve seen but it can be. The book, however, should be one you haven’t read before. (Examples: MYSTIC RIVER, L.A. CONFIDENTIAL, LONDON BOULEVARD, HOSTAGE, etc.)
3. A book with a protagonist opposite your own gender. So if you’re female, the protagonist should be male; if you’re male the protagonist should be female.
4. A book set outside the country in which you live.
5. A book that’s the first in a new-to-you series.
6. A book by a 2011 debut author.

Other Important Details:

• You can read the books in any format you choose: print, audio, e-book, etc.
• You can read books from any sub-genre of crime fiction: hardboiled, P.I., police procedural, cozy, thriller, etc.
• You do not need to have a blog to participate.
• You can use the books for other challenges but one book cannot count for more than one category in THIS challenge.
• Books do not need to be pre-determined. You can choose them at any time throughout the year. And you can read them in whatever order you choose.
• At the conclusion, each participant that completes the challenge will be entered for a chance at one of three prize packs.

So there it is. I’m joining. I hope this one will be fun because it sure sounds like it!

1. New author who’s blurbed a book you enjoyed:
2. Book made into a movie: The Lincoln Lawyer by Michael Connelly
3. Book with a protagonist opposite your own gender: Double Cross by James Patterson
4. Book set outside the country in which you live: A World I Never Made by James LePore
5. Book that’s the first in a new-to-you series: Catering to Nobody by Diane Mott Davidson
6. Book by a 2011 debut author: Lonely Deceptions by D.R. Willis

I’m going to be doing this challenge in 2011 again! This is my absolute favorite genre of books, so it’s a given that I LOVE this challenge! Here’s what Book Chick City writes:

• Timeline: 01 Jan 2011 – 31 Dec 2011

• Rules: To read TWELVE (12) mystery & suspense novels in 2011 (12 is the minimum but you can read more if you wish!)

• 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 join anytime between now and the later part of next year.

• At the beginning of Jan 2011, you will find a link to specific month to add your reviews. There will be a monthly prize too courtesy of the lovely Simon & Schuster – you must be signed up to the challenge and add the link to your review to be entered into the monthly prize draw.

1. Double Cross by James Patterson (Police Procedural)
2. Judas Kiss by J.T. Ellison (Police Procedural)
3. Where Are the Children? by Mary Higgins Clark (Psychological Mystery)
4. Cross Country by James Patterson (Police Procedural)
5. Divine Justice by David Baldacci
6. Catering to Nobody by Diane Mott Davidson (Cozy Mystery)
7. Dying for Chocolate by Diane Mott Davidson (Cozy Mystery)
8. The Cereal Murders by Diane Mott Davidson (Cozy Mystery)
9. The Tenth Justice by Brad Meltzer (Legal Thriller)
10. Blood of My Brother by James LePore
11. I, Alex Cross by James Patterson (Police Procedural)
12. Supreme Justice by Phillip Margolin