Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Winter's Respite Wrap-Up

Winter's Respite Read-a-thon
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I'm a little behind on this, but here's my wrap-up post for the Winter's Respite Read-a-Thon hosted by The True Book Addict. My goals were to finish the three books I was currently reading (A Personal Matter, A Charmed Death, and A Mid-Summer Night's Dream and to start 1Q84. I accomplished none of those goals. I did, however, read The Second Duchess.

All in all, I'm a little disappointed that I wasn't more on the ball with the challenge, but last week was a little hectic and so my entire schedule was thrown off. That said, I'm glad I did the read-a-thon and look forward to doing more in the future. Next time, I definitely want to set aside time to read every day, as opposed to "I'll read when I read." I'd also like to pay more attention to mini-challenges and Twitter, since I was really looking forward to the social interaction aspect of the challenge.

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Winter's Respite Read-a-Thon 2012

Today kicks off the 2012 Winter's Respite Read-a-Thon hosted by The True Book Addict. It's also my first Read-a-Thon ever, so I'm pretty excited.

Here's my list for the challenge:

A Personal Matter by Kenzaburō Ōe

A Charmed Death by Madelyn Alt

A Mid-Summer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare

1Q84 by Haruki Murakami

I've already started the first three and I'm reading Shakespeare for Reading Shakespeare . I'm already one act behind and I participated in the discussion yet. I haven't started 1Q84 yet and I doubt I'll finish it by the time the Read-a-Thon's over, but I'd like to at least get a head start on it. I also need to start Gone with the Wind for the Gone with the Wind Read-a-Long.

I'm not sure how far I'll get, but I'm definitely looking forward to trying!

Friday, January 13, 2012

2012 Read Alongs/Read-a-thons

I thought I would try keeping track of the read alongs I've signed up for this year.

A Midsummer Night's Dream,
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Runs: January 15, 2012 - January 30, 2012

Specific Works: A Midsummer Night's Dream

Specific Rules: None

Status: In Progress



Winter's Respite Read-a-thon
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Runs: January 23, 2012 - January 29, 2012

Specific Works: None

Specific Rules: No

Status: Completed

The Second Duchess
The Second Duchess by Elizabeth Loupas


Gone with the Wind Read-A-Long
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Runs: January 16, 2012 - Unknown

Specific Works: Gone with the Wind

Specific Rules: No

Status: In Progress

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

2012 Reading Challenges

I was a little disappointed with the results of my 2011 reading challenges, both in the number of challenges and the amount of books I read for each challenge. (Although I just noticed that a couple of them don't end until early 2012, so I can at least get one non-Tanizaki book in for the Japanese literature challenge.) This year, I'm being a little more aggressive by signing up for more. I met the goals for all the challenges I signed up for in 2011 (all three of them), so why not aim higher this year?

So, here's my list of 2012 Reading Challenges:

Banned Books Challenge
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Runs: January 1, 2012 - December 1, 2012

Rules: Read banned or challenged books. No re-reads.

Level: Starting at Level 1, Read 12 Banned/Challenged books


A Tale of Redwall
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Runs: January 1, 2012 - Perpetuity

Rules: Read all the books in the Redwall series


Reading Challenge Addict Challenge
Reading Challenge Addict


Runs: January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012

Rules Enter and complete reading challenges.

Level: Starting goal is Easy as Pie, 1-5 challenges


2012 Young Adult Reading Challenge
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Runs: January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012

Rules: Read Young Adult Novels

Level: Starting goal is The Mini YA Reading Challenge – Read 12 Young Adult novels.


2012 Support Your Local Library Challenge
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Runs: January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012

Rules: Read library books

Level: Starting goal is Level 1 - Read 12 library books, but I'm pretty sure I'll go much higher
1. My Year Without Made in China by Sara Bongiorno
2. The Book of Madness and Cures by Regina O'Melveny
3. Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey by Fiona, Countess of Carnarvon



2012 Adult Fiction Debut Challenge
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Runs: January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012

Rules: Read debut books by adult authors

Level Starting goal is Bronze: 1-5 Reviews, Interviews and/or Guest Posts
1. The Book of Madness and Cures by Regina O'Melveny

2012 Sci-Fi Challenge
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Runs: January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012

Rules: Read one sci fi book per month.


War Through the Generations - World War I
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Runs: January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012

Rules: Read fiction, nonfiction, graphic novels, etc. with the WWI as the primary or secondary theme. Books can take place before, during, or after the war, so long as the conflicts that led to the war or the war itself are important to the story. Books from other challenges count so long as they meet the above criteria.

Goal: Wade: Read 4-10 books in any genre with WWI as a primary or secondary theme.
1. Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey by Fiona, Countess of Carnarvon


Non-Fiction Non-Memoir Reading Challenge
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Runs: January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012

Rules: Read non-fiction, non-memoir books.

Goal: Bachelor's Degree - 15 nonfiction books
1. Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey by Fiona, Countess of Carnarvon


2012 Science Fiction Reader Challenge
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Runs: January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012

Rules: Read sci-fi books from twelve selected categories


2014 Winter Olympics Reading Challenge
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Runs: March 1, 2010 - Feb 6, 2014

Rules: Read a book featuring a country that got a Medal in the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Goal Level 1 (Gold): Read a book from every country that won a medal.

Northern Africa
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Runs: January 1, 2012 - December 1, 2012

Rules Read eleven books either set in this region or written by authors from this region in 2012.


2012 TBR PILE Reading Challenge
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Runs: January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012

Rules: Read from your To Be Read pile.

Goal: Starting with 1-10 - A Firm Handshake

Tea and Books Reading Challenge
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Runs: January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012

Rules: Read books with more than 700 pages.

Goal: Chamomile Lover - 2 books


The Dystopia 2012 Challenge
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Runs: January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012

Rules: Read dystopian books.

Goal:Starting with Asocial– 5 books



Off the Shelf 2012
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Runs: January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012

Rules: Read books acquired before 2012

Goal: Starting with Trying - 15 books read


Immigrant Stories Challenge
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Runs: January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012

Rules: Books read must include an immigrant story. Any country counts.

Goal: Starting with Just off the boat: 1-3 books


Stephanie Plum Reading Challenge
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Runs: January 1, 2012 - Perpetuity

Rules: Read the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich


Fairy Tales Retold Challenge
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Runs: January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012

Rules: Read original fairy tales or retellings.

Goal: Princess - 12 books


2012 Mammoth Book Challenge
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Runs: January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012

Rules: Read books with 450 or more pages.

Goal: Starting with Level 2 - Read 4 mammoth-sized books



2012 Witches and Witchcraft Challenge
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Runs: January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012

Rules: Any full length book that includes a witch as a main character or major witchcraft elements counts. They may be fiction or non-fiction.

Goal: Initiate - 1-5 Witchy Books



Rizzoli and Isles Reading Challenge
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Runs: January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012

Rules: Read the Rizzoli and Isles series by Tess Gerritsen

Goal: Reread the three books of the series I've already read and read the other six, so nine books total.


2012 Nordic Challenge
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Runs: January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012

Rules Read books by an author born in a Nordic country (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and/or Sweden) or set in Nordic countries


Agatha Christie Reading Challenge
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Runs: January 1,2012 – December 31,2012

Rules: Read works by Agatha Christie in order of publication

Venice in February Reading Challenge
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Runs: February 1, 2012 - February 28, 2012

Rules: Read books set in/about Venice.