Buy One Book and Read It 2011

Amy from My Friend Amy is hosting this challenge. http://www.myfriendamysblog.com/

I am going to sign up for the first option just because I don't know if I can keep up with my books enough for the second. I love books and buy some every month. One of my 2011 goals is to cut back on how much money I spend on books but I can definitely meet this challenge. :)

It's that time of year again! The time of year when I (Amy) encourage you to pull out those wallets and buy a book...and then actually read it! The Buy One Book and Read It Challenge is back.

This challenge started when I read the depressing statistics that something like half of the adults in the United States wouldn't read a single book over the course of the year. Nothing plunges me into the depths of despair like that, so I decided to encourage people to read a book. When I also realized that bookstores and the publishing industry was suffering, I decided to add on the buying part.

Start Date: January 1st, 2011
End Date: December 31st, 2011

There are two levels to this challenge:
1) Buy One Book and Read It.
This level is good for people who don't read often but think that would like to read more. It's also good for people who don't buy books. If you don't read much or don't buy many books, this is your level.
2) Level Two--Buy one book and read it every month
You don't have to buy a book in January and read it in January, but you must buy 12 books that you also go on to read during the year. This level is ideal for book bloggers notorious for the buying part, but not so much the reading part.

Rules
1) The book you read must be for pleasure. It cannot be a book you are reading to your children, for work, for research. This is all about fun.
2) The book(s) can be print or electronic. Unless you are unable to read print, audiobooks don't count towards this challenge.
3) Make sure to add your links to the Mister Linky that will go up by January 1st.

Please spread the word! The whole idea of this challenge is to spread the love of reading in manageable bite-sized pieces.

Prizes: Everyone who completes the challenge at the level they signed up for will be entered into a drawing to win a ten dollar gift certificate from Gift Certificates.

2011 Reading from My Shelves Project

Diane at Bibliophile by the sea is hosting the 2011 Reading from my shelves project.
http://bibliophilebythesea.blogspot.com/

I have a ton of TBR shelves in my room. One of my goals is to read one book per month from them. This challenge adds on to get the book out of the house after you read it so that might be a little harder but I will do my best. I am trying to weed out my books too. :)

Several bloggers have asked me to host this challenge once again, and although I was planning to back off on challenges,  this was one I was very successful with, and it helped me to clean off (90) books from my TBR shelves as well.

Here are the details if you are interested:

• Challenge runs from January 1 - December 31, 2011.
• Read books from your own shelves, and then pass the books on to someone else: a friend, relative, the library, used book store, swap them, just as long as the book leaves your house once it has been read.  
• Decide on your goal (12 is the minimum - no maximum). Cross over books are allowed.
• Grab the button and do a post about the challenge.
• Keep a running list of the books you've read and passed on.
•  Leave a comment with a link to your post and you are entered  (no Mr. Linky).
• Have Fun and GOOD LUCK!

Memorable Memoirs Reading Challenge 2011

Melissa at Betty and Boo Chronicles is hosting this challenge at http://bettyboochronicles.blogspot.com/

I want to read at least one memoir this year. One of my goals is to read more of a variety of books. :)


We're back again for the second year! I'm delighted to be your host of the Memorable Memoirs Reading Challenge for 2011, complete with a spiffed-up perpetual button made by the wonderful Florinda of The 3Rs (Reading, 'Riting, and Randomness). A round of applause for Florinda ....

About the Challenge:
If you enjoy reading memoirs or really haven't explored them as much as you'd like to, then this is the challenge for you. Anything that in your mind qualifies as a memoir will meet the challenge requirements. Letters, diaries, autobiographies, books on writing memoirs ... in my book, they all count as Memorable Memoirs. Books, e-books, audiobooks are all fine.

Dates: January 1 - December 31, 2011. You can sign up anytime from now and throughout 2011, but don't start reading until January 1, 2011.

Requirements: It's up to you! I want this to be a fun and low-key challenge, yet one that will be worthwhile of your valuable reading time. If that means reading one memoir, that's great. If that means reading three dozen, even better. You decide what works for you. Overlaps with other challenges are more than fine ... even encouraged. :)

Write a post (or include your intention to participate in this along with other challenges) on your blog (if you don't have a blog, you can just leave a comment). Tell us how many Memorable Memoirs you're planning on reading. You don't need to list your books in advance, but if you want to, we'd love to see which ones you're thinking about. You can always change them later. (I'll create a list of possibilities based on some of my own memoir reading and that which participants did last year.)

Georgette Heyer Perpetual Reading Challenge



I am joining the Georgette Heyer Perpetual Reading Challenge.
http://georgetteheyer.blogspot.com/

It does not have a start/end date. One of my goals for this year is to read all of her mystery novels. I have already read some of her Regency novels. I want to read all of her books except the war historical books. They do not appeal to me. I might read them just because she wrote them, we'll see. :)

New Author Reading Challenge 2011

Literary Escapism is hosting the New Author Reading Challenge 2011.
http://www.literaryescapism.com/new-author-challenge/nac2011

I am signing up to read at least 15 new authors. I read many more than that in 2010 so it should not be a problem. :)

The idea behind this is to find new authors that you’ve never tried before. They can be in your genre of choice or be brave and try something new. You never know what you’re going to like until you try it. If you’re looking for some suggestions, you can check out the Author page here at Literary Escapism or the 2009 and 2010 Challenge pages. With over 1000 reviews posted, I’m sure there will be something there for everyone.

Here are the guidelines:

1.The challenge will run from January 1, 2011 through December 31, 2011.
2.Since this is an author challenge, there is no restriction on choosing your novels. They can definitely be from other challenges. However, the authors must be new to you and, preferably from novels. Anthologies are a great way to try someone new, but only a third of your new authors can be from anthologies.
3.I want this to be an easy challenge, so you can pick to do either 15, 25 or 50 new authors. It all depends on how fast you read and how adventurous you want to be. For me, I’m trying another 50 new authors. If you reach your goal halfway through the year, don’t stop. Any new author you try can be added to Mr. Linky. We all want to know about your new experience.
4.After reading your new author, write your review and then come back here and add your link to Mr. Linky. Make sure you include your name and the author, but adding the title is completely up to you.
5.Bloggers or Non-Bloggers alike are welcome
Once you reach your goal, you don’t have to stop. Any new author you try, go ahead and head back here and add it to the list. Introduce us all to whoever you find. Afterall, there’s no reason to stop trying new authors, right?

Vintage Mystery Reading Challenge 2011

Bev at http://myreadersblock.blogspot.com/ is hosting the Vintage Mystery Reading Challenge 2011.

I am signing up for the Get a Clue: 7-9 Books. I am planning on reading all of Georgette Heyer's mystery books this year.

Introducing: The 2011 Vintage Mystery Reading Challenge. A challenge for all you mystery lovers out there who already love mysteries from the years prior to 1960 and also anyone who's ever thought, "I should give Agatha Christie (Dorothy L Sayers...Sir Arthur Conan Doyle...etc) a try."

Here are the rules:

*All books must have been written before 1960 and be from the mystery category.

*Some suggested authors include: Agatha Christie, Margery Allingham, Dorothy L Sayers, Earl Derr Biggers, Georgette Heyer, Edmund Crispin, Cyril Hare, Ellery Queen, Elizabeth Daly, Cyril Hare, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Ngaio Marsh, S. S. Van Dine, Philip MacDonald, Rex Stout, Phoebe Atwood Taylor, Josephine Bell, Josephine Tey, Frances & Richard Lockridge, Michael Innes and Stuart Palmer. (Please remember that some of these authors published after 1960 as well--so keep an eye on the original copyright date.)

*You are welcome to count these books towards any other challenges as well.

*Challenge runs from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2011. Sign up any time between now and November 30, 2011.

*I would love to see reviews of your challenge books, but it is not necessary to participate. If you do not have a blog, post to the comments what your challenge level will be and then post again when you have completed your challenge (include a list of books read).

*No matter what level you choose, please try at least two different vintage authors.

*The best part? A prize for everyone who completes their challenge. Once you declare your challenge level...you are locked in for that number of books. But you may change your list of books at any time. Let me know when you have met your challenge goal and I will send you a list of prizes (books) to choose from. Of course, the earlier you finish, the longer the list of books will be.

*Please post about the challenge on your blog (feel free to grab the image) with your declared challenge level.

*Please enter your name/blog name and the link to your challenge post in the linky below.

Challenge Levels:

In a Murderous Mood: 4-6 Books
Get a Clue: 7-9 Books
Hot on the Trail: 10-12 Books
Capture the Criminal: 13-15 Books
Take 'Em to Trial: 16+ Books

OR

The Golden Age Girls*: Read 5-7 books from female authors from the vintage years
Cherchez Le Homme: Read 5-7 books from male authors from the vintage years

Victorian Reading Challenge 2011

Bethany at http://subtlemelodrama.blogspot.com/ is hosting the Victorian Literature Challenge 2011.

I am joining on the Sense and Sensibility level which is one to four books. I should be able to manage that. I plan on reading at least one Wilkie Collins book this year.



Welcome to the Victorian Literature Challenge 2011


What you need to know:

This challenge will run from 01 Jan 2011 - 31 Dec 2011.
Participants can sign up at any time throughout the year.

Read your Victorian literature.
Queen Victoria reigned from 1837-1901. If your book wasn't published during those particular years, but is by an author considered 'Victorian' then go for it. We're here for reading, not historical facts! Also, this can include works by authors from other countries, so long as they are from this period.

Literature comes in many forms.
There are so many Victorian reads out there, including novels, short stories, and poetry. One poem doesn't count as a 'book': pick up an anthology instead!


Choose your books.
List your books before you begin, or pick up titles along the way. It's up to you! You can review them if you choose to, but it's not necessary. If you don't have a blog, that's fine! Link to a Facebook, or a page somewhere where you can list what you've been reading. If you can't link up, no problem - feel free to just comment and enjoy.

Spread the love.

Post the reading challenge on your blog - make your own post(s), or stick the button on the side of your page. The more the merrier, after all. Let's build a big community of Victorian literature lovers!




Choose from one of the four levels:

Sense and Sensibility: 1-4 books.
Great Expectations: 5-9 books.
Hard Times: 10-14 books.
Desperate Remedies: 15+ books.