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 Questions:

Have you signed up for any 2011 Blog Challenges?

Approximately how many?

My Answer:

Yes and approximately 10…? more to come

  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!!
This week’s question:
This week’s question comes from Marce who blogs at Tea Time With Marce:

“What very popular and hyped book in the blogosphere did you NOT enjoy and how did you feel about posting your review?”
My answer:
I won’t read a book just because of the “hype”, I read books that I think may interest me.  However, there was one time, that a book was on a virtual tour by a known author, and I had also  received a copy to review.  It was The Hypnotist by M.J.Rose.  There were mixed reviews from around bloggy land both good and bad.  It really bothered me at the time, because I was second guessing myself, as to how come I couldn’t even get beyond 100 pages and some bloggy peers loved it.  For me it was a DNF.  But then you can’t please everyone all of the time!!

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 Questions:

Have you signed up for any 2011 Blog Challenges?

Approximately how many?

My Answer:

Yes and approximately 10…? more to come

  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!!
This week’s question:
This week’s question comes from Marce who blogs at Tea Time With Marce:

“What very popular and hyped book in the blogosphere did you NOT enjoy and how did you feel about posting your review?”
My answer:
I won’t read a book just because of the “hype”, I read books that I think may interest me.  However, there was one time, that a book was on a virtual tour by a known author, and I had also  received a copy to review.  It was The Hypnotist by M.J.Rose.  There were mixed reviews from around bloggy land both good and bad.  It really bothered me at the time, because I was second guessing myself, as to how come I couldn’t even get beyond 100 pages and some bloggy peers loved it.  For me it was a DNF.  But then you can’t please everyone all of the time!!

How about First Editions? Are they something special? Or “just another book” to you?

My Answer:
For me, just another book.  I would think to readers that collect historical novels, that would be improtant.  But since, that genre isn’t even one I would consider reading, First Editions, don’t tempt me.

From Lori’s site:
  It struck me recently how much time I spend on this computer every day, blogging, chatting or playing games on Facebook, emailing friends and relatives, making cards and calendars, etc. etc. etc.
  We depend on each other for book reviews, giveaways, encouragement, friendship, but how well do we really know each other?

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.

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!

Hosted by The Ladybug Reads 

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.

How about First Editions? Are they something special? Or “just another book” to you?

My Answer:
For me, just another book.  I would think to readers that collect historical novels, that would be improtant.  But since, that genre isn’t even one I would consider reading, First Editions, don’t tempt me.

From Lori’s site:
  It struck me recently how much time I spend on this computer every day, blogging, chatting or playing games on Facebook, emailing friends and relatives, making cards and calendars, etc. etc. etc.
  We depend on each other for book reviews, giveaways, encouragement, friendship, but how well do we really know each other?

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.

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!

Hosted by The Ladybug Reads 

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.