This morning I spoke about 2– 2011 Challanges I had my eyes on…..well……I decided to take the plunge and sign up today.  I have a lot going on in the coming weeks so thought I might as well post about it today, especially since they both are 2010/2011 Challenges.   I will provide links for those who may be interested in joining!!

The first is being hosted by Yvonne from Socrates Book Reviews. Thank you Yvonne.

 

2011 James Patterson Challenge.   I am signing up for Level 2–Read 5 books….a loyal fan.
The following is the criteria from her blog:
I decided that I love reading James Patterson’s books so much that I’m going to begin a new James Patterson reading challenge. In the next couple of days, I’ll be starting an Alex Cross challenge, too!

This one is a bit different than last year. You get to choose how many books you want to read.
Level 1 – Read 2 books…just trying them out
Level 2 – Read 5 books…a loyal fan
Level 3 – Read 10+ books…obsessed with James Patterson
Here are the guidelines…
  1. Choose one of the levels above. You do not need to make a list of what you will read now or, if you want, you can. However, nothing is written in stone and the books you list can be changed at any time. Overlapping books with other challenges is allowed.
  2. Although you can change books throughout the year, you cannot change your level of participation. So, choose one level and that’s what you must stick with for the year.
  3. As long as it’s written by James Patterson, you can use the book in this challenge. Even if you are part of my upcoming Alex Cross challenge, you can overlap books and count them as part of this challenge.
  4. All books need to be read between September 1, 2010 and August 31, 2011. Books read prior to September 1st don’t count for this challenge.
  5. If you want to participate, just post about it on your blog with a link back to here.
  6. Audio and Ebooks are acceptable.
  7. Please use Mr. Linky below to sign up. Use the link to your post about this challenge, not your main blog address. Links that don’t go directly to your challenge post will be deleted.
  8. Once you complete the challenge, please post the link to your wrap-up blog post with Mr. Linky (I will put up a Mr. Linky for completed lists.)
  9. There will also be a Mr. Linky for reviews, although posting your reviews are not a requirement.
10. You can take the button above and post it on your blog.
     I will be starting off with reading Private

The 2nd Challenge is being hosted by Sarah at BA Reading Challenges.  Thank you  Sarah.  You can also find her at Bookish Ardour and is hosting multiple challenges for 2011.

Challenge Levels
Tempted– Choose 5 books to read
Trying – Choose 15 books to read
Making A Dint – Choose 30 books to read
On A Roll – Choose 50 books to read
Flying Off – Choose 75 books to read
Off The Shelf Challenge
 Are your books multiplying like rabbits before you even get a chance to read them? Trying to keep up with them, but can’t stop buying new ones?
 Maybe this challenge is for you. I know what it’s like. There’s so many titles and so many beautiful books out there sometimes it’s hard to keep that TBR shelf under control, but if you really want to try why not challenge yourself?
 Note: This challenge is to read those books you own copies of, but have never got around to reading. If you don’t have many that you own, but have a massive TBR shelf you’re welcome to read those ones as long as you don’t add new ones. You don’t need to actually get rid of your books after you’ve read them, this is just to read them.
How To Participate
 Decide which challenge level you’ll be doing (further below) – do not include books that you buy from the start of this challenge.
 Grab the code for the badge down below and post it on a side bar or in a signature (if you want to participate, but aren’t blogging, on a social network or forum – Submission For Non Bloggers).
 Create your own post to let all your readers know you’re taking part in the challenge and at what level (if you’re really proficient you can list your books!). Make sure to link back to this page with either one of the buttons or a text link..
 Use the link form below to enter into the challenge by sharing your challenge post url and your name (either your name, blog name, or both).Please don’t use the comment form to participate, only to comment on the challenge or something else..
 Submit your reviews (if you choose to review them, but that is optional) on the review page.
 When you’ve completed you’re challenge let us know on the completion post. If you’re using a tag or category I recommend sharing the link back to that so everyone can find them
Anyone want to join me?  Thanks Gina for posting about these challenges!!
I will be back later tonight to announce the winners of How Music Works, so last chance to enter.
And don’t forget to Fall Back and change your clocks!!

We all leave our “footprint” on the world, in one way or another. We each, individually, do something or are someone that makes the world a little better just by being here. I created this weekly meme to get to know the blogging community I love just a bit better. To know what makes them tick, outside of books, that is. Each week I will post a question to be answered in the following week’s “A Bit of Me(Me)”. Check back each Saturday to get the info for next week’s post and link up with your current post right here.
This week’s question:  Have you ever seen a broadway musical? Do you like theater?

We all leave our “footprint” on the world, in one way or another. We each, individually, do something or are someone that makes the world a little better just by being here. I created this weekly meme to get to know the blogging community I love just a bit better. To know what makes them tick, outside of books, that is. Each week I will post a question to be answered in the following week’s “A Bit of Me(Me)”. Check back each Saturday to get the info for next week’s post and link up with your current post right here.
This week’s question:  Have you ever seen a broadway musical? Do you like theater?

From An Island Life:
  In Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day that we take it easy and look forward to the weekend. So I thought that on Fridays I would take it easy on posting, too. Therefore, I’ll ask a simple question for you to answer. Nothing that requires a lengthy response.
  If you’d like to participate, visit An Island Life answer the question and then post your own question on your blog and leave your link below. Don’t forget to visit the other participants! It’s a great way to make new bloggy friends!

My Question:

What is your desktop picture?

My Answer:

My 4 kids..my 2 sons and their girlfriends.

Are you a blogger over 40? Yeah, welcome to the club!  Please join in the fun and get to know your fellow bloggers!!

  In the spirit of the Twitter Friday Follow, the Book Blogger Hop is a place just for book bloggers and readers to connect and find new book-related blogs that we may be missing out on! This weekly BOOK PARTY is an awesome opportunity for book bloggers to connect with other book lovers, make new friends, support each other, and generally just share our love of books! It will also give blog readers a chance to find other book blogs that they may not know existed! So, grab the logo, post about the Hop on your blog, and start HOPPING through the list of blogs that are posted in the Linky list below!!
The Hop lasts Friday-Monday every week, so if you don’t have time to Hop today, come back later and join the fun! This is a weekly event! And stop back throughout the weekend to see all the new blogs that are added! We get over 200 links every week!!
Your blog should have content related to books, including, but not limited to book reviews.
If you start following someone through the Hop, leave a comment on their blog to let them know! Stop back during the week to see other blogs that are added! And, most importantly, the idea is to HAVE FUN!!

“What are your feelings on losing followers? Have you ever stopped following a blog?”My Answer:
When that happens, I wish I knew why. It feels like I am losing a friend but don’t know what I did. However, I have stopped following some blogs if they haven’t posted in a month or so. I also may stop following if we no longer have the same genres in common

From An Island Life:
  In Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day that we take it easy and look forward to the weekend. So I thought that on Fridays I would take it easy on posting, too. Therefore, I’ll ask a simple question for you to answer. Nothing that requires a lengthy response.
  If you’d like to participate, visit An Island Life answer the question and then post your own question on your blog and leave your link below. Don’t forget to visit the other participants! It’s a great way to make new bloggy friends!

My Question:

What is your desktop picture?

My Answer:

My 4 kids..my 2 sons and their girlfriends.

Are you a blogger over 40? Yeah, welcome to the club!  Please join in the fun and get to know your fellow bloggers!!

  In the spirit of the Twitter Friday Follow, the Book Blogger Hop is a place just for book bloggers and readers to connect and find new book-related blogs that we may be missing out on! This weekly BOOK PARTY is an awesome opportunity for book bloggers to connect with other book lovers, make new friends, support each other, and generally just share our love of books! It will also give blog readers a chance to find other book blogs that they may not know existed! So, grab the logo, post about the Hop on your blog, and start HOPPING through the list of blogs that are posted in the Linky list below!!
The Hop lasts Friday-Monday every week, so if you don’t have time to Hop today, come back later and join the fun! This is a weekly event! And stop back throughout the weekend to see all the new blogs that are added! We get over 200 links every week!!
Your blog should have content related to books, including, but not limited to book reviews.
If you start following someone through the Hop, leave a comment on their blog to let them know! Stop back during the week to see other blogs that are added! And, most importantly, the idea is to HAVE FUN!!

“What are your feelings on losing followers? Have you ever stopped following a blog?”My Answer:
When that happens, I wish I knew why. It feels like I am losing a friend but don’t know what I did. However, I have stopped following some blogs if they haven’t posted in a month or so. I also may stop following if we no longer have the same genres in common

Today’s Question:
I’ve seen many bloggers say that what draws them to certain books or authors is good writing, and what causes them to stop reading a certain book or author is bad writing. What constitutes good writing and bad writing to you?
My Answer:
  Good question!!  I just had this happen.  I picked up the next book in line from my request pile, liked the synopsis, liked the title and then started to read.  Fifty + pages and had to put it in the DNF pile.  It was very wordy, and in my opinion rambling at times.  I still hadn’t been pulled into the story line by the 50+ pages.  Picked up the next book, same thing, good synopsis, good title, started reading and was hooked by the first page and a half.
  If I can’t connect with the characters, storyline and/or visualize the scenes through the author’s written words by the first 50 pages, then I can almost guarantee it will end up a not so good and/or a DNF.  I used to have 100 pages as my cut off point, but an author told me that a reader should be “hooked” within the first few pages. 
 

  As I hang my head in shame and shake it no, I didn’t.  First time that ever happened, I swear!!  Since I am still not allowed to drive and hubby didn’t leave work until very late, he went straight to the polls and just made it himself.
Where do you get news about what’s happening in the world? (Newspapers, Internet, Local Television Stations, Cable News, etc.)
Morning routine includes booting up computer, grabbing coffee mug and turning on TV first for local news then to a cable news station, which stays on all day, just in case there is breaking news (have done this ever since 9/11).  I also subscribe to CNN Breaking News for my computer.
Do you read in bed before you go to sleep?
Most of the time, but lately no, by the time hubby gets home, we eat, clean up, talk, we are asleep by the time our heads hit the pillows.

Today’s Question:
I’ve seen many bloggers say that what draws them to certain books or authors is good writing, and what causes them to stop reading a certain book or author is bad writing. What constitutes good writing and bad writing to you?
My Answer:
  Good question!!  I just had this happen.  I picked up the next book in line from my request pile, liked the synopsis, liked the title and then started to read.  Fifty + pages and had to put it in the DNF pile.  It was very wordy, and in my opinion rambling at times.  I still hadn’t been pulled into the story line by the 50+ pages.  Picked up the next book, same thing, good synopsis, good title, started reading and was hooked by the first page and a half.
  If I can’t connect with the characters, storyline and/or visualize the scenes through the author’s written words by the first 50 pages, then I can almost guarantee it will end up a not so good and/or a DNF.  I used to have 100 pages as my cut off point, but an author told me that a reader should be “hooked” within the first few pages. 
 

  As I hang my head in shame and shake it no, I didn’t.  First time that ever happened, I swear!!  Since I am still not allowed to drive and hubby didn’t leave work until very late, he went straight to the polls and just made it himself.
Where do you get news about what’s happening in the world? (Newspapers, Internet, Local Television Stations, Cable News, etc.)
Morning routine includes booting up computer, grabbing coffee mug and turning on TV first for local news then to a cable news station, which stays on all day, just in case there is breaking news (have done this ever since 9/11).  I also subscribe to CNN Breaking News for my computer.
Do you read in bed before you go to sleep?
Most of the time, but lately no, by the time hubby gets home, we eat, clean up, talk, we are asleep by the time our heads hit the pillows.

Hollywood Savage by Kristin McCloy
Published by Washington Square Press
A division of Simon & Schuster
ISBN 978-0-7432-8647-3
At the request of Simon & Schuster, a TPB was sent, at no cost to me, for my honest opinion.
  Synopsis (from back of book): “Meet me at five,” the voice said on the answering machine, Four ordinary words yet, when heard by the wrong person, enough to change the course of a marriage.
  Marooned in Hollywood while writing a screenplay based on his latest bestselling novel, Miles King, records in his journals his escalating conviction that his glamorous wife, a New York-based journalist named Maggie, his having an affair.
  Amidst the un-buffed egos and the longing for connection and fame he encounters at every cocktail party and no-name bar in Hollywood, Miles finds unexpected comfort in an affair if his own with Lucy, a young mother whose open, eager mind sparks an irresistible passion in him. Miles’s constantly shifting emotional state-a potent brew of lust, guilt, anger and betrayal- is only one of the perils he must navigate as his fantasies become increasingly hard to distinguish from reality.
  My Thoughts and Opinion: When I first accepted this book for review, I thought it was going to be the typical Hollywood life style that is the basis of many books, the gossip in magazines and on entertainment TV shows. The following opinion is mine and only mine. I read 50+ pages, and at that point, I still had not been pulled into the story. I found the narrative of first-person very wordy, that at times, I would have to reread sentences to process what was really being said. I felt that the storyline was slow paced in the pages read. Unfortunately, this book had to be put aside in the DNF pile.