2014 Classic YA/MG Challenge

I just found out about this via The Bookwyrm's Horde and it sounded like lots of fun, so I have signed up for the Midnight Garden's Classic YA Readalong: February 2014

The commitment:

• read at least 8 classic YA or MG books in 2014
• discuss them at The Midnight Garden monthly
• post reviews on my blog

They have already read The Golden Compass and The Luckiest Girl. I have the former and have been thinking about re-reading it anyhow.

The Anne of Green Gables Readalong Discussion was April 25th, 2014. My review is linked below.

The A Wrinkle in Time Readalong Discussion was on May 30th, 2014. I didn't play - both because I was seriously underwhelmed by my re-read and becuase I was sick.

The Westing Game Readalong Discussion is on June 27th, 2014. 

I don't have a list yet but will post links here as I read the books and post reviews. This list will be both Classic books for Midnight Garden plus the other books that I am inspired to read due to this challenge. 

1. The Wolves of Willoughby Chase by Joan Aiken
2. Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
3. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
4. Daddy-Long-Legs by Jean Webster
5. The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin
6. The Secret of Platform 13 by Eva Ibbotson

Take Control of Your TBR Pile March 2014 Challenge

So, in a complete attack of cluelessness, I will take on the Take Control of Your TBR Pile March 2014 Challenge, albeit a day late (oops, sorry). I will try to take at least 5 books off of my TBR pile this month at least two of which need to be nonfiction. Lame goal but I seem to be having a terrible time with challenges that feel like a homework assignment. I did already complete one book that qualifies. I blasted though Curtsies & Conspiracies by Gail Carriger yesterday. It was my reward for a lousy week and was on the top of my TBR pile. Perhaps a start like that will inspire me to do great things for my TBR pile. Well actually perhaps my goal should simply be to keep my pile from growing this month - I acquire new books like they were oxygen. So, if I pledge not to add anything until I have read something, that would in fact be an accomplishment for me.

According to the rules ... Beginning March 1st, 2014 and ending March 31, 2014 at midnight read books from your TBR pile ALL books must have been published before March 2014. Post a review. 

1. Curtsies & Conspiracies by Gail Carriger 
2. Soulless by Gail Carriger
3. Fortunately, the Milk by Neil Gaiman (it may be a children's book but I am totally counting it. I won't enter it though.)
4. Lake Effect by Nancy A. Nichols  
5. Some Like it Hawk by Donna Andrews
6. Ready Player One by Ernest Cline  
7. Field Notes from A Catastrophe: Man, Nature and Climate Change by Elizabeth Kolbert
8. Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple  

Color Coded Reading Challenge 2014

So this looks like fun ... 
The Color Coded Reading Challenge 2014 is hosted by Bev @ My Reader's Block
Get ready for a rainbow of reading in 2014.
Here are the rules:
*Read nine books in the following categories.

1. A book with "Blue" or any shade of Blue (Turquoise, Aquamarine, Navy, etc) in the title. 
2. A book with "Red" or any shade of Red (Scarlet, Crimson, Burgandy, etc) in the title. 
3. A book with "Yellow" or any shade of Yellow (Gold, Lemon, Maize, etc.) in the title. 
4. A book with "Green" or any shade of Green (Emerald, Lime, Jade, etc) in the title. 
5. A book with "Brown" or any shade of Brown (Tan, Chocolate, Beige, etc) in the title.
6. A book with "Black" or any shade of Black (Jet, Ebony, Charcoal, etc) in the title. 
7. A book with "White" or any shade of White (Ivory, Eggshell, Cream, etc) in the title. 
8. A book with any other color in the title (Purple, Orange, Silver, Pink, Magneta, etc.). 
9. A book with a word that implies color (Rainbow, Polka-dot, Plaid, Paisley, Stripe, etc.).

* Any book read from January 1 through December 31, 2014 will count.
*Crossovers with other challenges are fine.
*Everyone who completes all nine categories will be entered in a year-end drawing for a book-related prize package.
*Please post about the challenge on your blog. Sign ups accepted until Nov 30, 2014.

Here is my rainbow of reading ... 

• Ottoline and the Yellow Cat by Chris Riddell 
• Scarlet by Marissa Meyer
• The Man in the Brown Suit by Agatha Christie 
• Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
   

Fifth Annual TBR Pile challenge

I too have that terrible disease that leads me to keep buying new books when I have so many books already waiting forlornly on my shelves to be read. So, the Fifth Annual TBR Pile challenge seems to be a really good idea to try.

The 2014 TBR Pile Challenge hosted by Roof Beam Reader


The Goal: To finally read 12 books from your “to be read” pile (within 12 months).

 Specifics:
1. Each of these 12 books must have been on your bookshelf or “To Be Read” list for AT LEAST one full year. This means the book cannot have a publication date of 1/1/2013 or later (any book published in the year 2012 or earlier qualifies, as long as it has been on your TBR pile – I WILL be checking publication dates). Caveat: Two (2) alternates are allowed, just in case one or two of the books end up in the “can’t get through” pile.

Monthly Check-Ins: On the 15th of each month, I’m going to post a “TBR Pile Check-In.” This will allow participants to link-up their reviews from the past month and get some recognition for their progress. There will also be small mini-challenges and giveaways to go along with these posts (Such As: Read 6 books by the June Check-in and be entered to win a book of your choice!).

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My 2014 TBR Pile Challenge List:

1. Jewels: A Secret History by Victoria Finlay (2006) (Currently Reading)
2. Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in Space by Mary Roach (2010)
3. Silent Spring by Rachel Carson (1962)
4. The Demon-Haunted World by Carl Sagan (1995)
5. Uranium: War, Energy, and the Rock That Shaped the World by Tom Zoellner (2009) 
6. Cadillac Desert by Marc Reisner (1993)
✓ 7. The Disappearing Spoon by Sam Kean (2010)
8. Uncle Tungsten: Memories of a Chemical Boyhood by Oliver Sacks (2001) 
✓ 9. Field Notes from a Catastrophe by Elizabeth Kolbert (2006)  
10. Salt: A World History by Mark Kurlansky(2002) 
11. Four Fish: The Future of the Last Wild Food by Paul Greenberg (2010) 
12. Moby-Duck: The True Story of 28,800 Bath Toys Lost at Sea by Donovan Hohn (2011)

Alternates: 
1. Beneath the Sands of Egypt: Adventures of an Unconventional Archaeologist by Donald Ryan (2010)

2. Enchanted Glass by Diana Wynne Jones (2010)

My Progress: 2 of 12 Completed

Goals for 2014

Right - So I typically have no problems reading lots and lots of different things (other than never having enough time). However, I stink at keeping track of everything I have read or jotting down a coherent opinion about a book.

To help ameliorate this problem I have ...

1. started this blog so that we (my kids and I) can write down our thoughts about the books we have read (as well as other things if they come up) and 
2. I will sign up with a couple of book challenges for 2014 to try and motivate me to actually write out some reviews. 

~ 2014 Nonfiction Reader Challenge ~

So for the first challenge ...

The Introverted Reader is hosting a 2014 Nonfiction Reader Challenge

"The Challenge:  Read any non-fiction book(s), adult or young adult. That's it. You can choose anything. Memoirs? Yes. History? Yes. Travel? Yes. You get the idea? Absolutely anything that is classified as non-fiction counts for this challenge. "

So - I read a ton of nonfiction for work, so the number of books won't be a problem, it is the whole remembering to write out a review that is going to be the issue.  Keeping that in mind I will shoot for the Seeker level (Read 11-15) in the theory that I can do one non-fiction review a month (fingers crossed).

1. The Disappearing Spoon by Sam Kean 
2. Lake Effect by Nancy A. Nichols
3. Field Notes from A Catastrophe: Man, Nature and Climate Change by Elizabeth Kolbert
4. The Conundrum: How Scientific Innovation, Increased Efficiency, and Good Intentions Can Make Our Energy and Climate Problems Worse
by David Owen
5. 84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff

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~ 2014 Full House Reading Challenge ~

Next - I really love the idea of the bingo card style 2014 Full House Reading Challenge hosted at Book Date.  It is such a cool idea.

"The Challenge: Complete the card below.  You can do it in any order you wish.  You are allowed "one free exchange", if there is something on the square you really dislike you may change it to something of your choice. Once you have played this free card that is it. Mention the exchange in the final summary post." 

The Books

1) From the local library
2) Best (new) read so far in 2014 The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
3) From your wishlist  Curtsies & Conspiracies by Gail Carriger
4) Set in a different country  84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff (or better yet The Duchess of Bloomberry Street, the follow up which is entirely in the UK)
5) Published in 2014
6) Theme/issue you think is important Field Notes from A Catastrophe by Elizabeth Kolbert
7) Setting you'd like to visit Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple Antarctica!
8) Suspense or crime Some Like it Hawk by Donna Andrews
9) Contemporary Lexicon by Max Barry
10) More than 400 pages The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker
11) Reread Bridge of Birds by Barry Hughart
12) Review persuaded you to read it  Hyperbole and a Half
13) Free choice
14) Published before 2013 Soulless by Gail Carriger
15) Book with an animal in it Digger by Ursula Vernon
16) Won or borrowed
17) Historical fiction  The Grand Tour: or the Purloined Coronation Regalia 
18) Less than 200 pages Lake Effect by Nancy A. Nichols
19) Non fiction The Disappearing Spoon by Sam Kean
20) Author new to you Discount Armageddon by Seanan McGuire
21) Book from a series Scarlet (The Lunar Chronicles Book 2) by Marissa Meyer
22) Free or bought very cheaply Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
23) Published in 2013 Etiquette & Espionage by Gail Carriger
24) Paranormal or sci-fi or dystopian  Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles Book 1)
25) You love the cover  Goth Girl and the Ghost of A Mouse by Chris Riddell

I know that I am new to this and totally going to fail on this challenge but I am going to try to complete at least a couple of bingo's on the board.

~ 2014 TBR Pile Challenge ~

Finally - I really, really need to do this one - the Mount TBR challenge at My Readers Block http://myreadersblock.blogspot.com/2013/11/2014-mount-tbr-challenge.html, since I too have the terrible disease that leads me to keep buying new books when I have books I still haven't read languishing on my shelves.

"Books must be owned by you prior to January 1, 2014. No ARCs (none), no library books. No rereads. ...  Audiobooks and E-books may count if they are yours and they are one of your primary sources of backlogged books.]
*You may count any "currently reading" book that you begin prior to January 1--provided that you had 50% or more of the book left to finish in 2014.  I will trust you all on that."

The Goal: Pike's Peak Level to finally read 12 books from my “to be read” pile (within 12 months).

1. Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore   
2. Dash & Lily's Book of Dares
3. The Last Dragonslayer by Jasper Fforde
4. The Grand Tour: or the Purloined Coronation Regalia  
5. The Disappearing Spoon by Sam Kean 
6. Soulless by Gail Carriger
7. Lake Effect by Nancy A. Nichols
8. Some Like it Hawk by Donna Andrews
9. Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
10. Field Notes from A Catastrophe: Man, Nature and Climate Change by Elizabeth Kolbert
11. Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple
12. 84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff