Challenge: Books Won Reading Challenge 2010

I think Teddy Rose of So Many Precious Books, So Little Time makes a good point when she states:  "The reason publishing companies supply books for book bloggers to give away is to get word out about the books and create buzz." So she created the Books Won Reading Challenge to inspire us all to read and review those books we've won. I know sometimes I'm so excited to win a book, and then I don't read it right away because review books take priority. So I'm really grateful Teddy Rose came up with this great idea.

I'm going to sign up for the Bronze Level, which is 4-6 books. I can change up levels if I want, but I'm not allowed to drop back a level. 

If you'd like to join in, you can read all the rules and sign up here.

1. DELILAH by India Edghill
2. BREAKING THE BANK by Yona McDonough
3. THE LAST DICKENS by Matthew Pearl
4. MIDNIGHT GUARDIAN by Sarah Jane Stratford
5. ?
6. ?

Thanks, Teddy!

Challenge: The Memorable Memoir Reading Challenge 2010

All I can say is, thank goodness so many challenges allow overlapping! I just can't resist signing up for this one. Melissa from The Betty and Boo Chronicles is hosting The Memorable Memoir Challenge. I'm sure to be reading at least half a dozen memoirs this year, so I signed up as soon as I heard about this one.

Want to join the fun? Here are the details copied directly from the sign-up post:

1. The Memorable Memoir Challenge will be hosted here on The Betty and Boo Chronicles.

2. The challenge will run from January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010. You're welcome to join anytime.

3. Memoirs, letters, diaries, and autobiographies count as reads for this challenge. (Basically, if you think it is the stuff of memoir, it counts.)

4. Overlaps with other challenges are allowed. Audiobooks and e-books are also allowed.

5. Participants are encouraged to read at least 4 memoirs/diaries/letters/autobiography books in 2010. Of course, more are fine!

6. You're not required to make a list, but if you'd like to do so, I'd love your ideas and suggestions! I'll do a separate post with some thoughts, and will compile yours too. (Just leave them in the comments.)

7. If you'd like to join, simply sign up by using MckLinky below. If you want to do a special sign-up post on your blog, feel free ... but just the url of your blog is fine.

8. Feel free to grab the button (and join me in thanking the lovely and talented Florinda of The 3Rs Blog for making this gorgeous button for this challenge!)

I'll be listing my reading choices right below:

1. DOWN THE NILE by Rosemary Mahoney
2. MY PAPER CHASE by Harold Evans
3. UNDRESS ME IN THE TEMPLE OF HEAVEN by Susan Jane Gilman
4. SOMETHING LIKE BEAUTIFUL by Asha Bandele
5. BAD BLOOD by Lorna Sage
6. THE GIRL FROM FOREIGN by Sadia Shepard

Thanks, Melissa!

Challenge: 100 Mile Fitness Challenge 2

I'm joining in with Trish and dozens of others for Round 2 of the 100 Mile Fitness Challenge. I didn't participate in Round 1, but it's O.K. to jump on in. This challenge runs (or walks) from January 1, 2010 through March 31, 2010.  If you'd like some support and motivation toward getting in shape, check out the details here and sign up. Come on . . . 100 miles in 90 days? You can do it!

Challenge: African Diaspora Reading Challenge 2010

I'm signing up for the African Diaspora Reading Challenge hosted by BrownGirl Speaks. Here's the lowdown straight from her post. If you'd like to join in, click here to sign up.

(From BrownGirl Speaks): The African diaspora speaks mainly to the dispersion of African descendants in the Americas and Europe due to the Atlantic slave trade. Yes, Africans were enslaved or migrants to other parts of the world but the term is usually in reference to the aforementioned areas. So, for this challenge, books read will be by Black authors and set in Africa, North America, South America, Central America, Caribbean Islands, and Europe. Yes, this is broad but it means the possibilities are endless. Hopefully, those who participate will gain more incite into the myriad of Black cultural experiences.

Now, for guidelines:

*This challenge will run from January 1, 2010-December 31, 2010

*Crossovers are allowed

*Fiction and nonfiction hard copies or e-books from any genre (no audio books)

*Participants should visit different geographical regions in their reading (i.e. not all African American or Afro-Brit or Haitian or any one group representing the diaspora)

*Levels of participation

Novice: commitment to read four (4) books

Versed: commitment to read eight (8) books

Scholar: commitment to read twelve (12) books

*If you need ideas,here's a list of authors and titles in the African diaspora.

There are a few more details on the sign-up page which is here.

I'll be participating as a novice (4 books) and as of right now, my choices to read are:

1. Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Adichie
2. Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
3. The Book of Night Women by Marlon James
4. White Teeth by Zadie Smith

Challenge: TwentyTen Challenge

 I'm signing up for the TwentyTen Challenge hosted by Bart's Bookshelf. This is a fun little challenge with specific categories of books from which to read. Twenty books from 10 different categories. It might sound like a lot, but if you read the details (click here), I think you'll agree that this challenge will be a snap -- and fun, too! I'll be posting the titles of the books here on this post as I complete each book. Click here to sign up!

Challenge begins on January 1st and ends on December 31, 2010.

Young Adult
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TBR
1. BAD BLOOD by Lorna Sage
2.

Shiny & New
1. SAFFRON DREAMS
2.

Bad Bloggers
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Charity
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New in 2010
1. ONE AMAZING THING by
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Older Than You
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Win! Win!
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Who Are You Again?
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Up to You
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Challenge: 2010 South Asian Author Challenge

I read quite a few books by Asian authors this year, so when I saw that Swapna would be hosting the 2010 South Asian Author Challenge, I knew I wanted to sign up. The tough decision was choosing a button! She offers three on her blog, S. Krishna's Books, and they are all beautiful. In this challenge, you choose books to read that are written by South Asian Authors – South Asia being India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. This is a very specific geographic region, so be careful when making your selections. You don't have to list your choices at the start of the challenge, but you do have to pick a level (number of books). I looked over Swapna's SAAC reviews and realized that so many are on my TBR list, and some even on my own shelves, that I could commit to the full 10 books.  Click here to read over the rules in more detail. If you're ready to take the plunge, you can sign up here.

Challenge begins January 1st and ends December 31, 2010.

These are some books I'm considering, but I'm free to change my mind about titles (but not the number 10!)

1. FIRST DARLING OF THE MORNING by Thrity Umriger
2. SAFFRON DREAMS by Shaila Abdullah
3. THE FORBIDDEN DAUGHTER by Shobhan Bantwal
4. BURNT SHADOWS by Kamila Shamsie
5. THE GIRL FROM FOREIGN by Sadia Shepard
6. IN THE CONVENT OF LITTLE FLOWERS by Indu Sundareson
7. THE ENCHANTRESS OF FLORENCE by Salman Rushdie
8. BITTER SWEETS by Roopa Farooki
9. SEA OF POPPIES by Amitav Ghosh
10. SECRET DAUGHTER by Shilpi Somaya Gowda

ONE AMAZING THING by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

Challenge - 2010 Read Your Own Books

I'm joining this the Read Your Own Books 2010 Challenge hosted by MizBiz. This is a pretty straight-forward challenge. All you have to do is, um, well, just read your own books! No bookstores, libraries, or even swapping required. Just pick a number of books from your own shelves that you haven't read yet, and get to it! I haven't picked a number yet, but I'll be listing what I read here on this post. Head on over to the challenge post at MizBiz's place, and check out all the details. She'll set up a Mr. Linky on January 1st for those who want to sign up.

Challenge begins on January 1st and ends on December 31, 2010.

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Challenge: 2010 Colorful Reading Challenge

Rebecca at Lost in Books is hosting the 2010 Colorful Reading Challenge. This challenge requires that participants read 9 books with the names of 9 different colors in the titles. Rebecca even has a list of suggested titles organized by color. I was able to create my reading list just by glancing through her suggestions. Several titles have been on my TBR list for awhile. I even already own a few. I'll be crossing the titles off this list as I complete each book. If you'd like to join in, click here for all the details and to sign up.

Challenge begins January 1st and ends December 31, 2010.

1. THE WHITE QUEEN by Philippa Gregory

2. MENNONITE IN A LITTLE BLACK DRESS by Rhoda Janzen

3. THE BLUEST EYE by Toni Morrison

4. THE RED TENT by Anita Diament

5. HALF OF A YELLOW SUN by Chimamanda Ngozi

6. ON GOLD MOUNTAIN by Lisa Sea

7. THE TEA ROSE by Jennifer Donnelly

8. THE TURQUOISE by Anya Seton

9. PLUM LUCKY by Janet Evanovich

Challenge 2010 World Religion Challenge

J.T. at Bibliofreak has set up a separate blog for the 2010 World Religion Challenge. You can read all the details and sign up by clicking here. There are four "paths" to choose from. I'm signing up for Path 4: The Unsheperded Path (a/k/a The Don't Tell Me What to Do Path). I'll be reading however many books as I like about whatever religions I want. I'll list what I've read on this post. Actually, we're not limited to reading: movies, plays, religious services, and even music count. Really. Go check this one out. (But I'm not telling you what to do!)

Challenge begins January 1st and ends December 31, 2010.

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Challenges: 2010 New Authors

The 2010 New Authors Challenge is hosted by Jackie at Literary Escapism. This challenge calls for reading between 15 to 50 new-to-you authors during 2010. There's a preference for novels stipulated, but they can cross over with other challenges. I don't want to overcommit myself, so I'm going for the low level -- 15 new novel-writing authors for 2010. I'll be listing the books I've read on this post and linking my reviews to Jackie's blog. If you're up for the challenge of new authors, hop on over to Literary Escapism for all the challenge details and to sign up.

Challenge begins January 1st and ends December 31, 2010.

1. Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni ONE AMAZING THING

2. Robert Goolrick A RELIABLE WIFE

3. Liza Palmer FIELD GUIDE TO BURYING YOUR PARENTS

4. Shaila Abdullah SAFFRON DREAMS

5. James Scott Bell TRY DARKNESS

6. David Matthew Klein STASH

7. Jean Kwok GIRL IN TRANSLATION

8. Kate Racculia THIS MUST BE THE PLACE

9. Jennifer Ross THE ICING ON THE CUPCAKE

10. Vincent Zandri THE REMAINS

11. FREE TO A GOOD HOME

12. Suzan Colon CHERRIES IN WINTER

13. Cherie Priest BONESHAKER

14. Sheila Roberts SMALL CHANGE

15. Kate Morgenroth THROUGH THE HEART

Tricia Goyer - SONGBIRD UNDER A GERMAN MOON

Challenge: The 2010 Support Your Local Library Challenge

The 2010 Support Your Local Library Challenge is hosted by J. Kaye's Book Blog. Anyone can join - you don't even have to be a blogger! And any book will count -- even picture books! -- as long as it has been checked out of the library. There are several reading levels, from 25 books to 100. Since we check out a lot of kid's books, I'm committing to the whole enchilada -- 100 library books! I'll be listing the books I've completed for this challenge right on this post. If you'd like to join in the fun, click on over to J. Kaye's Book Blog and get all the details and sign on up!

Challenge begins January 1st and ends December 31, 2010.

Books Read:

1.  Kidnap at the Catfish Cafe by Patricia Reilly Giff
2. The Moon Lady by Amy Tan
3. All the World by Liz Garton Scanlon and Marla Frazee
4. Lily's Crossing by Patricia Reilly Giff
5. High As a Hawk by T.A. Baron; illustrated by Ted Lewin
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Arthurian Challenge 2009-2010

The other day I noticed that Gina at Book Dragon's Lair had just signed up for the Arthurian Challenge hosted by Becky at Becky's Book Reviews. Well, I thought, I simply MUST have this button/badge on my blog! (It's gorgeous, and was designed by Robin of A Fondness for Reading.) And, since my fall TBR list includes several Arthurian tales, the timing is perfect!

If you're interested, the challenge runs through March 2010, so you've still got plenty of time. You have your choice of books, short stories, poetry, tv shows, movies, even comic books. Come on! I'm notoriously bad at challenges, but even I can do this one! Sign up here.

What's first on deck for me? (It's also good for the Middle Grade Reading Challenge.)

KING ARTHUR and THE KNIGHTS OF THE ROUND TABLE
by Benedict Flynn
illustrated by Young Ran Choi
narrated by Sean Bean

Publisher: Sourcebooks, Incorporated
Pub. Date: March 2008
ISBN-13: 9781402212437
Sales Rank: 135,341
Age Range: 7 to 9
144pp
Series: Hear It Read It Series
Edition Description: With Audio CD

Middle Grade Reading Challenge

I've joined the MIDDLE GRADE BOOK CHALLENGE hosted by Linda Ellen at Bambi Reads. I haven't been very successful completing challenges, but I am ever hopeful. This one just might be "The One." My intention is to read 25 Middle Grade books and post reviews over the next year. (O.K. I have a little less than a year since the challenge ends August 31, 2010.) We hit the library this morning, and I picked up my first book, CATMAGIC by Holly Webb.
There's two things I'd like to accomplish with this challenge. First, of course, I want to scope out books for my niece who is 6 and my nephew who is 9. "E" isn't ready for middle grade books yet, but sometimes she likes them read to her at night. After a really strong start, "J" is becoming a reluctant reader, so finding books that will capture and hold his attention is an ongoing challenge itself! Secondly, I've read quite a few books this year that have been heavy, dark, and depressing, and I'd like to provide myself with a string of counterpoints.

Guidelines for the Middle Grade Book Challenge

1. Anyone can join.

2. Read 12 middle grade novels (Challenge 1) or read 25 MG books (Challenge 2). You can read comics too, or listen to audio books. These can be in any language. You don't have to make a reading list now; you may select them as you go and you're free to make changes to your list.

3. The challenge begins September 1st, 2009 through August 31st, 2010.

4. You can join anytime between now and August 31st, 2010.
For more information and to join in, hop on over to Bambi Reads.

Books Read:

1. Kidnap at the Catfish Cafe by Patricia Reilly Giff
2. The Moon Lady by Amy Tan
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