Thursday, January 7, 2010

The Tudor Book Challenge


The Tudor Challenge is my fourth challenge of the year. I just love the Tudors. This is a must challenge for me.
Here are the guidelines as posted by Benedictionary:
The Challenge:
From January 1st, 2010 to December 31st, 2010 The Tudor Book Challenge challenges you to read books about or inspired by the Tudor era of the English monarchy.

The Challenge Rules:
You may read your books in any format – e-books, audio books, electronic reader books, and printed books are acceptable.

You are welcome to use the books you read for the Tudor Book Challenge in other challenges (where applicable).

Books can be fiction or non-fiction, but they must be about or inspired by Tudor England.

You are not required to post a list of the books you intend to read. You may choose them as you go.

Bloggers and non-bloggers alike are welcome to participate in the challenge. If you do not have a blog, you will need to review the books you’ve read on some book-related website: i.e. GoodReads, Amazon, Borders, etc. and send in the links (via comments) to be eligible for the prizes. I need to be able to verify that these books were read by you.

The Registration Rules:

All registrations must be received by midnight (EST) on December 31st, 2009 to be eligible for the prizes. If you do not register by the midnight deadline, you may still participate in the challenge but you will not be eligible for the prizes.

To keep things official and time-stamped, you will need to comment on this post if you wish to participate in the challenge. Please provide me with the following information:

YOUR NAME or ONLINE ALIAS YOUR BLOG or BOOK SITE YOU’LL BE REVIEWING FROM – Remember, if you do not have a blog you will need to post reviews on GoodReads, Amazon, Borders, B&N, or some other site that allows for book reviews.YOUR CHALLENGE LEVEL – This is very important, so please include it in your comment.

The Challenge Levels:

(I have lowered the required books for each level at the urging of my better half. Feel free to change your selection before the deadline.)

King or Queen – You are the ruler of your dominion. You will read at least 11 Tudor-related books.
Nobleman or Noblewoman - You are honorable, indeed. You have earned your title by agreeing to read at least 9 Tudor-related books.
Courtier – You are a rising star in the royal court. You have decided to read at least 7 Tudor-related books.
Commoner – Your role in the kingdom is small but mighty. You are going to read at least 5 Tudor-related books.
Visit The Tudor Book Challenge if you want some more info.
My Challenge level is commoner. I will try to read 5 books. I have searched my shelves and have come up with at least 4 books.
1.The Sixth Wife by Suzannah Dunn
2. The Life of Elizabeth I by Alison Weir
3. The Lady Elizabeth by Alison Weir
4. The Autobiography of Henry VII by Margaret George (This one my be a killer)
5. ???????? (I was think something to do with Queen Mary)
That is my plan anyway. But it could change.



Tuesday, January 5, 2010

American Civil War Reading Challenge

This is my third challenge for this year.

Here are the guidelines as posted by Marny:

1. Read books about the Civil War, either fiction or non-fiction
2. There are four levels of participation-
Private: Read three books-
Sergeant: Read six books-
Lieutenant: Read nine books-
General: Read twelve books

3. Read the books between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2010
4. Overlaps with other challenges are allowed
5. Ebooks and audiobooks are okay, too
6. You don't have to have a reading list ready to participate in the challenge but please let Marny know which level you're doing.

If this challenge interests you please sign up at American Civil War Reading Challenge.

I will be doing the Private Level. Here are the books I plan on reading.

1. Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
2. Rebel by Benard Cornwell
3. Gods and Generals by Jeff Shaara

Here's hoping I can finish.

I will post another challenge tomorrow.

Monday, January 4, 2010

2010 TBR Challenge


OK I am going to try this challenge again. I did really good the first year I did this challenge, but last year I read only one book off of the TBR list. So lets see what happens this year. Maybe I can finish the list this year.
** Pick 12 books – one for each month of the year - that you’ve been wanting to read (that have been on your “To Be Read” list) for 6 months or longer, but haven’t gotten around to.
** OPTIONAL: Create a list of 12 “Alternates” (books you could substitute for your challenge books, given that a particular one doesn’t grab you at the time)
** Then, starting January 1, read one of these books from your list each month, ending December 31. )
Additional rules/guidelines for this challenge:
* the challenge is to read 12 TBR books in 12 months — you can read those all in one month if you want, or one a month, or however you wanna do it.
* you should have a list posted somewhere for others to see
* you CANNOT change your list after January 1st, of the current year!!!
* you can create an Alternates list of MAXIMUM 12 books, if you want, in order to have options to choose from (you can read these in place of books on your original list).
* audiobooks and e-books ARE allowed
* re-reads are NOT allowed, as they aren’t TRUE “TBRs”* you CAN overlap with other challenges
* OPTIONAL: you can join the Yahoo! Group created for participants of the TBR Challenge, if you want to have a place to keep your list, or just to share with others about how you’re doing!
If this challenge catches your eye go to Miz Bs Reading Challenge
Here is my list. It is the same list as last years minus one. So I had to add a new TBR book.
1.This Heart of Mine by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
2. Rebel by Benard Cornwell
3. Queen Bees & Wanna Bes byRosalind WiseMan
4. Flowers In The Rain by Rosamunde Pilcher
5. Hide and Seek by James Patterson
6. East and West by Gerald Green
7. Savage Sunrise by Cassie Edwards
8. The Seventh Stone by Nancy Freedman
9. Air Force Wives by Ruth Walker
10. To Touch The Earth by Fran Kendall
11. In Broad Daylight by Harry N. Maclean
12. Comeback by Dick Francis (moved up)

My Alternatives:
1. The Samurai's Wife by Laura Joh Rowland (new TBR book)
2. The Daughter of the Pangaran by David Divine
3. Midwives by Chris Behjalian
4. Life Of Pi by Yann Martel
5. Galileo's Daughter by Dava Sobel
6. Circle of Friends by Meve Binchy
7. A Purrfect Romance by Robin Lee Hatcher, Susan Wiggs
8. Potter Springs by Britta Coleman
9. The Gambling Man by Catherine Cookson
10. Cat-A-Lyst by Alan Dean Foster
11. The Baker's Apprentice by Judith Ryan Hendricks
12. Pigs in Heaven by Barbara Kingsolver
I will post another challenge tomorrow.

Sunday, January 3, 2010

2010 Historical Reading Challenge


This is from Royal Reviews:

To kick off our challenge week for 2010 we are starting with a favourite at Royal Reviews. If you've been participating in our Historical Fiction Challenge for the past 2 years then you'll notice we've made some changes. Firstly the challenge will go for the full year as opposed to 3 months that it ran for previously. Then we have different levels for participants. If you're like me you'll dive straight into the Obsessed but then I am a bit of a HF fan!


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 Historical Fiction novels.--

Fascinated – Read 6 Historical Fiction novels.--

Addicted – Read 12 Historical Fiction novels.--

Obsessed – Read 20 Historical Fiction novels.

3. Any book format 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 1st thru December, 2010.6.


I will be doing level 1 Curious – Read 3 Historical Fiction novels.
Here are my choices:
1. The Triumph of Deborah by Eva Etzioni-Halevy
2. The Empire of Darkness by Christian Jacq
3. Duchess: A Novel of Sarah Churchill by Susan Holloway Scott
Here's hoping I can do it.
I will put up another challenge tomorrow.

Challenges?

I hope everyone had a great Christmas and a wonderful New Year. I know that I did.


I was not going to commit to any challenges this year, but I found some interesting to me challenges. I kept putting off the decision; should I or shouldn't I. I decided sure why not. I will commit to the lowest number of books to read for the challenges and have fun with them. If I finish them awesome. If I don't oh well, we will try again next year.

My personal reading goal is to read 50 books this year. The goal for this year is no pressure and try to keep everything low keyed. Let's see what happens.