2017 Alphabet Soup Reading Challenge

This is similar to another alphabet soup challenge I am involved with and it is pretty simple: read a book where the starting letter of the title corresponds with each letter of the alphabet, taking out A and The when you need to.

If you wish to join, there is more information here.

Alphabet Soup:
A -
B -
C -
D - Dietland by Sarai Walker
E -
F -
G - Ghosts by Rania Telgemeir
H -
I -
J -
K -
L -
M - March: Book Two by John Lewis
N - The Nest by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney
O -
P -
Q -
R -
S -
T -
U -
V -
W -
X -
Y - You Will Not Have My Hate - Antoine Leiris
Z -

Back to the Classics Challenge 2017

I have tried to do this challenge but for some reason I have been unable to complete it.  It basically is reading classics that fit the various challenge areas.  If you want more information, you can find out more information here.

Here are the categories:
1.  A 19th Century Classic
2.  A 20th Century Classic
3.  A classic by a woman author. 

4.  A classic in translation
5.  A classic published before 1800
6.  A romance classic
7.  A Gothic or horror classic
8. A Classic with a number in the Title
9. A Classic about a animal or which includes the name of an animal in the title
10. A Classic set in a place you would like to visit
11.  An award-winning classic
12. A Russian Classic    

2017 Mount TBR Challenge

I have been meaning to do this challenge for a number of years, but for some reason I haven't gotten around to it.  I am going to do Pike's Peak, which I aim to read 12 of my own books that I have own prior to January 2017.

If you want more information, you can find it here.

Pike's Peak:
1. Dietland by Sarai Walker
2. The Nest by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney

2017 Library Love Challenge

I like this challenge because it is very simple: read at least 12 books from the library in any format (print, e-book, audiobook) from any genre that is available at the library. As long as you checked it out from the library, it counts.

If you want more information, you can view the information here.    I am going for Thrifty Reader.

Books Read:
1.

2014 Book Blogger Summer Reading Program!

I am very fortunate to live in a community in which the public library does have an adult summer reading program, but it doesn't begin until next month and honestly I am really anxious to get some of my summer reading started.

Its pretty sign up for the reading program:

•  Sign up at Katie's Book Blog
•  Decide on a realistic book goal
•  Create a shelf at Goodreads to track your progress (here's mine)

My goal is 25 books, which includes those on my 2014 TBR pile challenges and a few more.  But because I tend to be a heavy reader during the summer months, this shouldn't be too much of a problem.

 Because this is a challenge that is essentially run through Goodreads, you don't have to be a blogger to participate....you just need a Goodreads account.

So who is with me?

Challenge Addicts 2013

Hi, my name is Melissa and I'm a Reading Challenge Addict.

Here are the challenges that I am participating in this coming year:

• Back to the Classics
• Book Blogger Recommendation
• Chunkster Challenge
• Ebook Challenge
• Embarrassment of Riches Challenge 
• Foodies Read Challenge
• Historical Fiction Challenge
• The Off the Wall Challenge
• Outdo Yourself Challenge
• TBR Pile Challenge
• Tea & Books Reading Challenge
• War Through the Generations Challenge

Clearly I am doing the In-Flight Challenge.

Off The Shelf Challenge 2013

BA’s 2013 Off the Shelf Reading Challenge

About: The Off the Shelf Reading Challenge is probably the most popular challenge there is on BA. The goal? To read books on your shelves that have gone unread for far too long. Selecting books from the year before (in this case, 2012 and before), read as many of the unread ones as you can. It’s up to you if you want to keep them or give them away afterwards, the main goal is to turn those unread books into read ones.

The Finer Deets

• The Main Rule: Do not include books acquired during 2013, it defeats the purpose, read those books from before 2013 started.
• Running dates for all 2013 challenges: 1st of January – 31st of December 2013
• Sign-Ups are accepted until the 16th of December 2013.
• Formats: All BA Challenges are eBook, audio, short story, and graphic novel friendly.
• Crossovers: You’re welcome to crossover with BA’s challenges. Include as many books across all the challenges as you can, I always say.

How To Sign-Up and Join In

1. Choose Your Level: Choose a challenge level listed below.
2. Sign Up Post: Create a post on your blog, in a group, or on a forum (where possible) to let others see what you’re aiming for (a predefined list of books is optional).
3. Grab The Badge: Download or grab the badge and place it in your sign up post. Then link back toBookish Ardour.
4. Link Up: Grab the direct URL to your sign up post, not your blog, click the Mr Linky graphic and enter your link.
5. Blogless? Don’t worry, you can sign up with your social network profile (YouTube, Twitter, GoodReads, Shelfari included), just make sure you link to your review list, shelf, tweet, or category. If you don’t have any of those feel free to comment.
6. Your Reviews: Reviewing is optional! But if you do review it would be great for you to share them by submitting them on thereview page.
   
7. Finished: When you’re done it’s completion post time and you can share these on the completion/wrap-up page.
   

Challenge Levels

1. Tempted– Choose 5 books to read
2. Trying – Choose 15 books to read
3. Making A Dint – Choose 30 books to read
4. On A Roll – Choose 50 books to read
5. Flying Off – Choose 75 books to read
6. Hoarder – Choose between 76-135 books to read
7. Buried – Choose between 136-200 books to read
8.  
9.  

Since I am doing this in conjunction with a couple of other similar challenges, I am going to aim for the Trying level.

Progress:
1. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
2. The Weed that Strings the Hangman's Bag by Alan Bradley
3. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
4. A Red Herring Without Mustard by Alan Bradley
5. Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky
6. The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli
7. A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
8. Moby Dick by Herman Melville
9. The Book Thief by Martin Zusak
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.

Chunkster Challenge 2013

All things being said, I did complete this one last year and can hardly believe it (guess I really do like chunksters).  And yes,  I am going to be doing this one again this year as well.
Here are the details for the challenge:

Definition of a chunkster:

A chunkster is 450 pages or more of ADULT literature, whether non-fiction or fiction. A chunkster should be a challenge.

If you read books in large print, your books will need to be 525 pages or more. The average large type book is 10-15% larger or more so it’s a fair estimate.

The rules:

• No audio books. (There are exceptions to this rule.)
• No e-books allowed. This was discussed in much detail in the 2011 challenge. The short version: a chunkster isn’t a challenge if you’re reading it on an e-reader. (There are exceptions to this rule.)
• Essay, poetry, and short story collections will be allowed. Collections have to be read in their entirety to count. If you’ve needed a reason to finally pick up your copy of The Collected Works Of ____ now is the time.
• Books may crossover with other challenges.
• Anyone may join. (If you don’t have a blog, just leave a comment on this post with your challenge level and your progress throughout the challenge.) 
• You don’t need to list your books ahead of time.
• Once you’ve picked a level, that’s it. You’re committed to it!

You must pick a level of participation:

1. The Chubby Chunkster – this option is for the readers who want to dabble in large tomes, but really doesn't want to commit to much more than that. FOUR Chunksters is all you need to finish this challenge.
2. The Plump Primer - this option is for the slightly heavier reader who wants to commit to SIX Chunksters over the next twelve months. 
3. Do These Books Make my Butt Look Big? - this option is for the reader who can't resist bigger and bigger books and wants to commit to SIX Chunksters from the following categories: 2 books which are between 450 - 550 pages in length; 2 books which are 551 - 750 pages in length; 2 books which are GREATER than 750 pages in length (for ideas, please refer to the book suggestions page for some books which fit into these categories).
4. Mor-book-ly Obese - This is for the truly out of control chunkster. For this level of challenge you must commit to EIGHT or more Chunksters of which three tomes MUST be 750 pages or more. You know you want to.....go on and give in to your cravings.

I am going to aim for The Chubby Chunkster this year. 

1. Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky (720 pages)
2. The Chalice by Nancy Bilyeau (496 pages)
3. The Help by Kathryn Stockett (522 pages)
4. A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin (837 pages)
5. Emma by Jane Austen (512 pages) 
6. Moby Dick by Herman Melville (640 pages)

Back to the Classics 2013

I was humming and hawing about doing this one, since last year was basically a failure.  Anyways, I am hoping for better results for the coming year (2013).

Here are the details that Sarah has put up on her blog:

• All books must be read in 2013.  Books started prior to January 1, 2013 are not eligible.  Reviews must be linked by December 31, 2013.
• E-books and audio books are eligible!  Books can count for other challenges you may be working on.
• If you do not have a blog, you may link your review from Goodreads or other publicly accessible online format.  
• Please sign up for the challenge using the linky below BEFORE SEPTEMBER 1, 2013. Please link to your sign-up announcement post (if possible/applicable)
• You do not have to list your books prior to starting the challenge, but it is more fun that way :)  You can always change your list at any time.  You can read the books in any order (including mixing in the optional categories at any time)
• You can decide to attempt the optional categories at any point (you can also bow out of the optional categories at any point as well).
• Please identify the categories you've read in your wrap up post so that I may easily add up your entries for the prize drawing!  

THE CATEGORIES:

The Required Categories:

1. A 19th Century Classic
2. A 20th Century Classic
3. A Pre-18th or 18th Century Classic
4. A Classic that relates to the African-American Experience - This can be an African-American author, or a book relating to slavery, civil rights, or African-American culture.
5. A Classic Adventure
6. A Classic that prominently features an Animal - This can feature animal characters or animals in the title (real or imagined)

Optional Categories:

    A.  Re-read a Classic

   B.  A Russian Classic

   C.  A Classic Non-Fiction title

   D.  A Classic Children's/Young Adult title

   E.  Classic Short Stories - collection must include at least 3 short stories by the same author, or at 
                                              least 3 stories collected together by genre, time period, etc.

Here are my plans for each of the categories:

1. A 19th Century Classic  North and South (1855)

2. A 20th Century Classic  All Quiet on the Western Front (1929)

3. A Pre-18th or 18th Century Classic Mysteries of the Udolpho (1794)

4. A Classic that relates to the African-American Experience  Uncle Tom's Cabin

5. A Classic Adventure The Count of Monte Cristo

6. A Classic that prominently features an Animal Moby Dick

Optional Categories:

A.  Re-read a Classic  Pride & Prejudice

B.  A Russian Classic War & Peace

C.  Classic Non-fiction  The Prince

D.  Classic Children's/Young Adult title  Gulliver's Travels

E.  Classic Short Stories The Canterbury Tales