READING CHALLENGES

I am super excited to participate in some reading challenges this year!  Reading is something I really enjoy and I read a lot of books.  Or I should say that I used to read a lot of books.  2010 was a very slow reading year for me.  I didn't keep track of how many books I read but I'm sure it was less than 20.  Normally I read at least a book or two a week.  But 2010 just wasn't my year.  I could list the reasons why I was too busy but I'll spare you from reading my excuses.  Everyone is busy not just me.  In order to keep myself accountable for the books I read, I've decided to participate in 5 reading challenges.  They are hosted by various book lovers in the blogging world.

1. YOUNG READERS CHALLENGE   The basic explanation of this one is to read 12 children's books.  Not picture books but chapter books.   
2. FAIRY TALE CHALLENGE The challenge is to read 6 Fairy Tales.
3. DEWEY DECIMAL CHALLENGE  The challenge is to read 3 non-fiction books.
4. TAKE A CHANCE CHALLENGE  This is my personal favorite of the challenges!  The challenge is to read 10 (but I'm going for 12) books that you find in different and random ways.  Click on the link to read them, its very interesting!
5. 100 + READING CHALLENGE  Pretty self-explanatory, just read 100 or more books.  The 33 books that I'm reading for the other 4 challenges will count towards this so I only need 67 more.  I'm open to suggestions!    

Let the reading begin!!

YOUNG READERS CHALLENGE

Young Readers Challenge

Young Readers ChallengeHosted by Becky of Becky's Book Reviews
January - December 2011
Read 12 Children's Books

Think of this as referring to the "E" (Easy) and "J" (Juvenile or Junior) sections of the library.

Sign up by leaving a comment.
You do not have to have a blog.
You may keep in touch and leave links to your reviews.
*But* no reviews are required.

A list is not required. Choose what you like. Choose as you go. Or plan it all out now. Whatever you want.

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This is a good challenge for me because Emma is at an age where she loves listening to "chapter books".  We  just finished The Magic Tree House #1:  Dinosaurs Before Dark.  And tomorrow we are going to start the 2nd book in the series so that will be my first selection for this challenge. 

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DEWEY DECIMAL CHALLENGE

Hosted by Jen at The Introverted Reader   Read any non-fiction book(s), adult or young adult. That's it. You can choose anything. Poetry? Yes. Memoirs? Yes. History? Yes. Travel? Yes. You get the idea? Absolutely anything that is classified as non-fiction counts for this challenge.

I always like levels in my challenges, so here are mine:

Dilettante--Read 1 non-fiction book.

Explorer--Read 2

Seeker--Read 3

Master--Read 4

This challenge will last from January 1 to December 31, 2011.

I am not limiting the challenge to bloggers. You can also link to a review you wrote on another site, such as GoodReads or LibraryThing.



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I'm very excited about this challenge!  I am very much a fiction reader.  I will read just about any fiction that I can get my hands on.  But I have a hard time getting myself to read non-fiction.  I'm not sure why.  I usually enjoy the non-fiction books that I do read.   So this challenge will hopefully encourage me to explore some books outside my comfort zone.  I am challenging myself to be a Seeker and read 3 non-fiction books in 2011.


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100+ READING CHALLENGE

It is my pleasure to present to you the 
100+ Reading Challenge for 2011! 

Hosted by Amy of My Overstuffed Bookshelf

*This challenge is usually hosted over at J. Kaye's Book Blog, but I haven't heard anything from her about hosting it.

As of today, I have read and reviewed 278 books for 2010.  I have many more to post before the finish date of December 31, 2010.  I know that I will be able to finish this challenge next year, but I am challenging you to beat your 2010 record this year! Can you read over 100 books this year?

DETAILS:

1. The goal is to read 100 or more books. Anyone can join. You don't need a blog to participate. Posting on GoodReads or wherever you post your reviews is good enough.

2. Audio, Re-reads, eBooks, YA, Manga, Graphic Novels, Library books, Novellas, Young Reader, Nonfiction – as long as the book has an ISBN or equivalent or can be purchased as such, the book counts.

What doesn't count: Individual short stories or individual books in the Bible.

3. No need to list your books in advance. You may select books as you go. Even if you list them now, you can change the list if needed.

4. Crossovers from other reading challenges count.

5. Challenge begins January 1st thru December, 2011. Books started before the 1st do not count. You can join at anytime.

6. When you sign up under Mr. Linky, put the direct link to your post where your books will be listed. Include the URL to this post so that other viewers can find this fun challenge. If you’d prefer to put your list in the sidebar of your blog, please leave your viewers the link to the sign up page. Again, so viewers can join the challenge too.


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TAKE A CHANCE CHALLENGE 3

 Hosted by Life with Books

Several of you asked if I’d be hosting the Take A Chance Challenge again. At first, I wasn’t sure, but once I started thinking about it, I got all excited.  So here are the details for the 2011 version of the challenge.

Basic Information

• The concept of the challenge is to take chances with your reading by finding books to read in unusual or random ways. I’ve listed 10 different ways to find books below. Feel free to complete at many as you want. However, anyone completing all 10 challenges by December 31, 2011 will be entered in a prize drawing to win a book of their choice from Amazon.

• 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!)
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.
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.
8: Which Book Pick: Go to Which Book and use the software to generate a list of books. Read a book from that list.
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.)
10: Pick A Method: Pick a method for finding a book from the choices listed below (used in previous versions of the challenge).

• 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.

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This is the Challenge that I'm looking most forward to!  I wasn't going to participate in any more challenges but when I read the descriptions for finding the books, I just couldn't help myself!  Maybe it was the Public Spying...that sounds mysterious and fun.  My goal for this challenge is to complete all 12 challenges listed.  I'm super-excited to start this one!

TAKE A CHANCE CHALLENGE 3 BOOKS

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FAIRY TALE CHALLENGE

Special Thanks to my Personal Faery Friend for the Button Art: Ye Olde Faery Shoppe 

Hosted by Tif Talks Books

During Fairy Tale Fridays, we had the opportunity to read the short tales, explore the longer ones, and even watch a film or two; therefore, in this challenge, we will be exploring any or all of the above, depending upon the level you wish to participate in.  Let's take a look at the levels . . .

• Fairy (Level 1):  Read 1 original tale.  Read 1 modern tale.  Watch 1 film. (Total of 3 selections.)
• Dwarf (Level 2):  Read/watch any combination of original tales, modern tales, or films, resulting in 6 total selections.
• Royal Prince or Princess (Level 3):  Read/watch any combination of original tales, modern tales, or films, resulting in 9 total selections.
• Happily Ever After (Level 4):  Read/watch any combination of original tales, modern tales, or films, resulting in 12 total selections.

Here are a few other thoughts to share that may or may not be important to you . . . 

• The challenge will run from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2011.
• Selections can include any age level or genre, from picture books and classics to young adult and even graphic novels.  Creativity is completely acceptable here!
• You do not need to determine your list of fairy tales.  Go with what moves you at the time!
• You need not have participated in Fairy Tale Fridays to participate in the 2011 Fairy Tale Challenge.  It is open to everyone interested!
• A blog is not required, but it is encouraged.  You are also welcome to keep track of your selections via Goodreads, LibraryThing, Shelfari, or simply the comments section.
• Reviews are not required, but are encouraged . . . I just really want to hear your thoughts and recommendations on what you read!  That is just me being selfish!
• A Mr. Linky will be posted at the beginning of every month for you to share your selections if you do choose to review them.  Comments are also fine for sharing as well.  You will be able to refer to the direct links to these posts on the sidebar for easy reference.
• You can overlap your choices with other challenges.
• Prizes and guest posts will randomly appear in the monthly review posts to share some fairy tale love with participants.

I think I have covered all of the details, but if you have additional questions, just comment below.

Where to go from here?

• Post about it on your blog, announcing which level you hope to achieve and linking back to this post.  Feel free to grab the beautiful button art (courtesy of my own special fairy friend)!
• Post your direct link to your announcement post in the Mr. Linky below.  If you have no blog, then post your profile to your social book network or announce in the comment section.
• Experience happily ever after in your choice of tales (or not, depending on the tale)!
• Come back during the month you read a selection and share it with us.

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For this challenge, I'm going with Level 2--Dwarf.  That means 6 Fairy Tales.  Truth be told, I'm not sure I've ever read a Fairy Tale that wasn't a picture book.  But then again, I'm not sure what makes a book fall into the category of Fairy Tale.  Which is exactly why I felt like this was a great challenge for me!

FAIRY TALE CHALLENGE BOOKS

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