Category: Challenge

2011 Challenges (2 of 2)

Geeeez, I sure wish they would make the font larger in the phone book, don’t you agree?  I have been sitting here trying to find the local number for Challenges Anon……………oh well….since I can’t seem to find the phone number, I might as well add a few more challenges  lol.  And since I have admitted to senior moments and CRS….I vaguely remember saying I wouldn’t be signing up for so many in 2011……I’m bad……….With the following, I am up to 10.  I am so addicted to books and challenges!!!!

I will be keeping track of my progress with these challenges, and the earlier ones I signed up for, by meters on my sidebar and books will be listed under my Challenges Tab at the top of my blog.

I participated in this one for 2010 and was one of the few that I completed, so am signing up for 2011.

Hosted by Carolyn from Book Chick City  
Sign Up
  • To sign up you MUST make a post on your blog about participating in the challenge – you then use the URL of the post to sign up to the challenge by adding it to Mr Linky below. DO NOT just add your blog URL – this will be deleted. Also please be aware that unless you show you are joining the challenge with a participation post your ARC will not be sent.
  • You must add the button to your sidebar – make sure that it links back to this post so others can join the challenge if they wish. Easiest way to do this is to copy and paste the code displayed above!

  • Courtesy of publisher SIMON & SCHUSTER UK, all participants of this challenge will receive a free ARC of The Survivor by Sean Slater to start you off on your challenge! Once you have made your participation post and signed up for the challenge, email me with your full name, address, post URL and your entry number from the participants list below (so I can verify) and I will pass on your details. This is INTERNATIONAL!

Other Details
  • Timeline: 01 Jan 2011 – 31 Dec 2011
  • Rules: To read TWELVE (12) mystery & suspense novels in 2011 (12 is the minimum but you can read more if you wish!)
  • You don’t have to select your books ahead of time, you can just add them as you go. Also if you do list them upfront you can change them, nothing is set in stone! The books you choose can crossover into other challenges you have on the go.
  • You can join anytime between now and the later part of next year.
  • At the beginning of Jan 2011, you will find a link to specific month to add your reviews. There will be a monthly prize too courtesy of the lovely Simon & Schuster – you must be signed up to the challenge and add the link to your review to be entered into the monthly prize draw.

To Claim ARC

 Hosted by Marce from Tea Time With Marce  
I Want More Book Challenge 2011:Have you read a book and at the end said you must read another by this author but haven’t?  Then this Challenge is for you, what are you waiting for.  🙂  There are so many amazing authors but sometimes we get caught up in reading all the new we forget about the authors that have already impressed, excited us, gave us what all readers want, a great read, that wow moment, so this Challenge is to show all the authors that have pleased us already how thankful we are by reading more of their literary works.

Details:*  Challenge Dates: January 1, 2011 – December 31, 2011
*  All Genres are Welcome
*  This challenge does NOT include Series, only stand alone
*  See Levels below, you can change at any time if increasing, you cannot decrease once signed up.
*  All forms of books will count – eBooks, Audiobooks, etc
*  You do not have to list the chosen books ahead of time and your choices can crossover into other challenges you have joined.
* If you participate in this challenge please signup below.  Either post and link back here with your direct link to your intro challenge post or put Challenge Button on sidebar linking back here please.  In your post give us an idea of what authors impressed you so now You Want More.
*  Monthly Giveaways – More details to follow soon

Level of Participation
Waited to long:   2 – 4 books (I have picked this level)
Give me more:    5 – 8 books
Never to much:   9 – 12 books

The Review Post for links will go up on Jan 1, 2011
I Want More Books from the following authors:
01.  Pamela Samuels-Young
02.  Nancy Thayer
03.  Chevy Stevens
04.  ?

Hosted by Sheila from Book Journey   
This Challenge starts January 1, 2011 – December 31st 2011.  The Challenge consists of reading at least one book that covers each of the 50 states of America and you can add as many other countries as you like.

So how do you decide what state a book is categorized under?

1.  In a fiction read it would be the State or Country that the book spends the most time in.  (Ie. If your main character is from Wisconsin but the book is all about his/her time in college in California – the books should categorize under California….)
2.  Non fiction reads categorize  in whatever State or Country it is about (Ie…. a book about fly fishing in Colorado is a Colorado point, and a book about women in Afghanistan is an Afghanistan point.

How to get started

Set up a map under Google Maps.  It is easy to do!  Every time you read a book in 2011, upload a cover picture to Picasa Web Albums (there may be other sites to use, feel free to use what works best for you).

Questions?

Do you have to have a blog to participate? No.  You can do everything on the map above without linking the book to a review.
Do I have to have my post up by January 1st, 2011? No, but I would think you would want to get started right away at the beginning of the year.  However, you will be able to sign up throughout January as well.
How will people see my map? There are a couple of possibilities.  On your original challenge post you should have a link to your map.  You could also put it on your side bar to draw interest to it (see mine on my left side bar)
Once you are ready and have your map set up please create a blog post (those who have blogs) using the Challenge picture of the map I provided above as well as link to this post so others may join in.  Then come back and link that post here to Mr Linky so I as well as other participants know that you are participating and we can pop in throughout the year to check out your map and how we are all doing.
This is actually a fun and easy challenge as all books you read qualify and it will be fun to see where you generally read books from as well as searching out books to fill in areas that you need.
For those who have covered the 50 states by the end of 2011, they will go into a drawing for a $50 gift card to Barnes and Noble or to Amazon.  **  All other areas beyond the 50 states are bonus points and we will have a drawing using random.org for those who read 10 or more books throughout 2011 in that category.
You can see my map I worked on in 2010 here to see what the map looks like and how the pictures link to the reviews.  (If you zoom in you will see the individual areas I read in and clicking on the blue pins will show you what book it was and clicking on the picture will take you to the post!

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2011 E-Book Reading Challenge

This challenge was previously hosted by Alaine at Queen of Happy Endings. When she started looking for new homes for the 2011 challenges, I jumped at the chance to host this one. Since getting a Kobo eReader this past year, I’ve started reading more e-books. Since e-readers are now available internationally, a lot more people are going to be reading books in digital format. So why not challenge yourself and read even more?

Challenge Guidelines:
1. Anyone can join. You don’t need a blog to participate.
–Non-bloggers: Include your information in the comment section.
2. There are four levels:
— Curious – Read 3 e-books.
— Fascinated – Read 6 e-books.  (Have chosen this level)
— Addicted – Read 12 e-books.
— Obsessed – Read 20 e-books.
3. Any genre counts.
4. You can list your books in advance or just put them in a wrap up post. If you list them, feel free to change them as the mood takes you.
5. Challenge begins January 1, 2011 and lasts until December 31, 2011.
6. When you sign up under Mr. Linky, put the direct link to your post about the E-Book Reading Challenge. Include the URL so that other participants can find join in and read your reviews and post.

November Wrap Up (4 of 4)

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I wish I did better and made more progress with my reading this month, but real life takes a front seat.  I am determined to do better in 2011 !!!!!   Books that I did finish and write reviews for were:
11/01  Fly Away Home by Jennifer Weiner (Rating 4)
11/02  Hollywood Savage by Kristin McCloy (Rating 1 DNF)
11/08  Blindman’s Bluff by Faye Kellerman (Rating 3)
11/13  And One Last Thing by Molly Harper (Rating 4)
11/22  Rules of Betrayal by Christopher Reich (Rating 3)
11/28  Private by James Patterson (Rating 5)
Will do a 2010 Challenge Wrap Up next month.

November Wrap Up (4 of 4)

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I wish I did better and made more progress with my reading this month, but real life takes a front seat.  I am determined to do better in 2011 !!!!!   Books that I did finish and write reviews for were:
11/01  Fly Away Home by Jennifer Weiner (Rating 4)
11/02  Hollywood Savage by Kristin McCloy (Rating 1 DNF)
11/08  Blindman’s Bluff by Faye Kellerman (Rating 3)
11/13  And One Last Thing by Molly Harper (Rating 4)
11/22  Rules of Betrayal by Christopher Reich (Rating 3)
11/28  Private by James Patterson (Rating 5)
Will do a 2010 Challenge Wrap Up next month.

Thankfully Reading Read-A-Thon

SUNDAY
Hi everyone!!!  Hope you are having a great weekend.  Because I am participating in this weekend’s Read-A-Thon, Slapdash Sunday meme will be on break today but will return next week.
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Update:
I was able to get some reading done and am reading the perfect book, Private by James Patterson.  Will be done with this book today and on to the next!!!!

Thankfully Reading Read-A-Thon

SUNDAY
Hi everyone!!!  Hope you are having a great weekend.  Because I am participating in this weekend’s Read-A-Thon, Slapdash Sunday meme will be on break today but will return next week.
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Update:
I was able to get some reading done and am reading the perfect book, Private by James Patterson.  Will be done with this book today and on to the next!!!!

Friday Meme, Weekend Challenge and An Amazing Award

FRIDAY
How was every one’s Thanksgiving?  Are you having the same feelings as me…..wishing that I hadn’t taken that extra piece of pie?   What are your plans for today?  Some of you may be shopping for those great bargains or maybe going to the gym to work out after having such a big meal…………

Me…..well my plans are not as stressful.  I plan on getting comfy, grabbing my coffee and start reading for the Thankfully Reading Weekend.  I plan on spending less time on the computer today, but when I need a break from reading I will be doing a little blog hopping.  Whatever your plans are today, have fun!! 


Hosted by Java from Never Growing Old

From Java’s blog:
Are you a blogger over 40? Yeah, welcome to the club!
Please join in the fun and get to know your fellow bloggers!!
Every week Java selects one blog via Random.org to be showcased and…………….
WooHoo!!!  My blog was chosen!!!!


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Hosted by Jenn at Jenn’s Bookshelves, Candace from Beth Fish Reads and Jen from Devourer of Books
From Jenn’s Bookshelves:
  Last Thanksgiving, Candace from Beth Fish Reads, Jen from Devourer of Books & I unveiled Thankfully Reading, an excuse to do an obscene amount of reading over the long Thanksgiving weekend. I’m excited to announce that we’ll be doing the event again this year!
Here are the details:

  There are no rules to the weekend, we’re simply hoping to devote a good amount of time to reading, and perhaps meeting some of our reading challenges and goals for 2010. We thought it’d be fun if we cheered each other on a bit. If you think you can join in, grab the button and sign on to Mr. Linky. If you don’t have a blog, use the comments!
  During the weekend, come back and link any Thankfully Reading Weekend posts to the Mr. Linky we’ll put up here on Friday, November 26. Feel free to link as many posts as you’d like. On Sunday will put up another Mr. Linky for your wrap-up post.
  We’ll also be checking in on Twitter using hashtag #thankfulreading. Join in for the weekend or for only a single day. No rules, no pressure!
  This year, we will be doing some fun Thankfully Reading mini-challenges over the weekend. Be sure to check back Thanksgiving weekend for more details!

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I hope to put a small dent into my pile, but it never seems to fail, every time I sign up, real life interferes. So we shall see how much I get accomplished. I will be on the computer when I need a short break, so if you don’t hear from me, you know what I am doing!! Good Luck for all those that are participating, and for those who want to join in, here is all the info:
I will post over the weekend to let you know if I make any progress.

An Amazing Award!!!

  I am sure you feel the same way, but I am still truly amazed at the how many nice people I have met this past year and the friendships that have formed.  For those new followers, a little history.  Last year around this time I stumbled onto a book blog, never knowing this world existed, and wanting to participate because it looked like so much fun with the challenges, memes, and even the sounds of friendship from the comments I would read.  I got the courage to email a blogger to ask how do I start.  Poor Vicki from Reading At The Beach, she was the lucky one lol.  But she told me  “don’t be afraid to ask questions of any book bloggers, because book bloggers were the nicest bloggers in bloggyland”.  And how right she was.  To this day, she still answers my questions.
  Well, history has repeated itself.  Not too long ago I received the sweetest note from Joann at Joann’s Best.  Her email reminded me of the one I had sent Vicki.  Yesterday morning I checked my email and this was waiting for me with these words “I  made this just for you!  Its an award for your blog! Thanks for everything.”

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I can’t believe she took the time to do this for me!!!  Isn’t it beautiful!!!  All because I answered some questions.  Not only are book bloggers the nicest, they have the biggest hearts!!!  Thank you so much Joann!!!!  You don’t know how much this means to me!!!  And if you haven’t been by Joann’s place, please stop by, say hi, introduce yourself and welcome her into the community,  the community as Vicki said, “the nicest there is”.

Friday Meme, Weekend Challenge and An Amazing Award

FRIDAY
How was every one’s Thanksgiving?  Are you having the same feelings as me…..wishing that I hadn’t taken that extra piece of pie?   What are your plans for today?  Some of you may be shopping for those great bargains or maybe going to the gym to work out after having such a big meal…………

Me…..well my plans are not as stressful.  I plan on getting comfy, grabbing my coffee and start reading for the Thankfully Reading Weekend.  I plan on spending less time on the computer today, but when I need a break from reading I will be doing a little blog hopping.  Whatever your plans are today, have fun!! 


Hosted by Java from Never Growing Old

From Java’s blog:
Are you a blogger over 40? Yeah, welcome to the club!
Please join in the fun and get to know your fellow bloggers!!
Every week Java selects one blog via Random.org to be showcased and…………….
WooHoo!!!  My blog was chosen!!!!


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Hosted by Jenn at Jenn’s Bookshelves, Candace from Beth Fish Reads and Jen from Devourer of Books
From Jenn’s Bookshelves:
  Last Thanksgiving, Candace from Beth Fish Reads, Jen from Devourer of Books & I unveiled Thankfully Reading, an excuse to do an obscene amount of reading over the long Thanksgiving weekend. I’m excited to announce that we’ll be doing the event again this year!
Here are the details:

  There are no rules to the weekend, we’re simply hoping to devote a good amount of time to reading, and perhaps meeting some of our reading challenges and goals for 2010. We thought it’d be fun if we cheered each other on a bit. If you think you can join in, grab the button and sign on to Mr. Linky. If you don’t have a blog, use the comments!
  During the weekend, come back and link any Thankfully Reading Weekend posts to the Mr. Linky we’ll put up here on Friday, November 26. Feel free to link as many posts as you’d like. On Sunday will put up another Mr. Linky for your wrap-up post.
  We’ll also be checking in on Twitter using hashtag #thankfulreading. Join in for the weekend or for only a single day. No rules, no pressure!
  This year, we will be doing some fun Thankfully Reading mini-challenges over the weekend. Be sure to check back Thanksgiving weekend for more details!

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I hope to put a small dent into my pile, but it never seems to fail, every time I sign up, real life interferes. So we shall see how much I get accomplished. I will be on the computer when I need a short break, so if you don’t hear from me, you know what I am doing!! Good Luck for all those that are participating, and for those who want to join in, here is all the info:
I will post over the weekend to let you know if I make any progress.

An Amazing Award!!!

  I am sure you feel the same way, but I am still truly amazed at the how many nice people I have met this past year and the friendships that have formed.  For those new followers, a little history.  Last year around this time I stumbled onto a book blog, never knowing this world existed, and wanting to participate because it looked like so much fun with the challenges, memes, and even the sounds of friendship from the comments I would read.  I got the courage to email a blogger to ask how do I start.  Poor Vicki from Reading At The Beach, she was the lucky one lol.  But she told me  “don’t be afraid to ask questions of any book bloggers, because book bloggers were the nicest bloggers in bloggyland”.  And how right she was.  To this day, she still answers my questions.
  Well, history has repeated itself.  Not too long ago I received the sweetest note from Joann at Joann’s Best.  Her email reminded me of the one I had sent Vicki.  Yesterday morning I checked my email and this was waiting for me with these words “I  made this just for you!  Its an award for your blog! Thanks for everything.”

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I can’t believe she took the time to do this for me!!!  Isn’t it beautiful!!!  All because I answered some questions.  Not only are book bloggers the nicest, they have the biggest hearts!!!  Thank you so much Joann!!!!  You don’t know how much this means to me!!!  And if you haven’t been by Joann’s place, please stop by, say hi, introduce yourself and welcome her into the community,  the community as Vicki said, “the nicest there is”.

More Challenges

OK ….I know…..you must be saying, “Didn’t she say she was cutting back on Challenges for 2011?”  Yes….I did say that.  BUT….I know now that not only am I addicted and can’t say no to a book, I am now admitting to also being addicted to Challenges.   Am signing up for the following 2, along with the others I have already joined for 2011.  I will post all information and books on my Challenges Tab at top of my blog and update meters for my progress of each challenge on my sidebar.  If you haven’t signed up, and want to, check out that page for all information.

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Hosted by Lori from Dollycas’s Thoughts
Stop by Lori’s blog for Challenge Rules and Linky sign up.  She is hosting an awesome Challenge so check it out!!  Need to sign up by January 31, 2011.  I will post my “fun book” every month.

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Partial Rules: (Stop by her blog to see complete rules and sign up linky)*A book with a number in the title
*A book with jewelry or a gem in the title
*A book with a size in the title
*A book with travel or movement in the title
*A book with evil in the title
*A book with a life stage in the title
I have some of the books picked out but will complete the list at a later date.