Challenge List for 2012!

Aneeqah's Not So Real Life

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Hey guys! I'm really excited to be joining some challenges in 2012. There's SO many that I want to do, but here are the ones I've chosen:





2012 YA Contemporary Challenge
My goal for this challenge is to read 10 young-adult contemporary books. I usually read a lot of fantasy and dystopia, so I think this challenge will help me to branch out a little with my reading. Here is [so far] the list of books I plan on reading:

1. The Catastrophic History of You and Me by Jess Rothenburg
2. Love and Leftovers by Sarah Tregay
3. The Statistical Probability of Love At First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith
4. The Fine Art of Truth and Dare by Melissa Jensen
5. My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick
6. Keep Holding On by Susane Colasanti
7. Pizza, Love, And Other Stuff That Made Me Famous by Kathryn Williams
8. Flirting In Italian by Lauren Henderson
9. Pretty Crooked by Elisa Ludwig
10. Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson





2012 Stand-Alone Challenge
The goal for this challenge is to read 15 young-adult stand-alone books. I've only read a few stand-alone books in the past, because I like series better. But with all these cliffhanger endings in books lately, I think reading stand-alone books could really save me some anticipation! =) Here's my tenative list as of right now:

1. Struck by Jennifer Bosworth
2. The Raft by S.A. Bodeen
3. 52 Reasons to Hate My Father by Jessica Brody
4. Fracture by Megan Miranda
5. Slide by Jill Hathaway
6. The Catasrophic History of You and Me by Jess Rothenberg
7. Above by Leah Bobet
8. Gilt by Katherine Longshore
9. This Is Not A Test by Courtney Summers
10. When the Sea Is Rising Red by
11. Something Strange and Deadly
12. The Treachery of Beautiful Things by Ruth Frances Long
13. ??
14. ??
15. ??



Debut Author Challenge
The goal for this challenge is to read 12 books by a first-time author. I've never kept track of authors before, really, so I'm interested to see how many debuts I can read this year! My list:
1. Fracture by Megan Miranda
2. Article 5 by Kristen Simmons
3. Harbigner by Sara Wilson Etienne
4. Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood
5. Slide by Jill Hathaway
6. Struck by Jennifer Bosworth
7. The Selection by Kiera Cass
8. Of Poseidon by Anna Banks
9. Gilt by Katherine Longshore
10. Everneath by Brodi Ashton
11. The Gathering Storm by Robin Bridges
12. Above by Leah Bobet

Of course, I'm sure these lists will change dramatically over the course of 2012! These are just the ones I think I might read during the year. 2012 should be a great year for reading! [And, hopefully, the world won't end. Because there are just too many books I'm waiting for that come out in 2013!!]




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I Challenge Thee, er, Me 2012

from art.com

It's that time of year. Challenge time.  How will I grow as reader and a reviewer? Each year, I attempt something new and usually abandon it about 1/4 of the way through.  Not.This.Year. I am going to do this. I have two official sign-up challenges and then some personal challenges I will be tackling this year.

The Classic Double Challenge
This challenge intrigues me because you pair contemporary fiction with classic fiction. Something that I think could lead more students into choosing and reading classics outside of the classroom. I'm going for the LARGE level - 3 pairs of books

The 2012 YA/MG Fantasy Challenge
I enjoy reading Fantasy and Science Fiction. I'm not sure what attracts me to these titles and I want to find out. This particular challenge will pair nicely with my own personal Cybils challenge listed below.  For the YA/MG Fantasy challenge, you need to read 10 YA/MG Fantasy books released in 2012.

Cybils 2011 YA/MG Nominated Fantasy/Science Fiction Challenge
This challenge definitely needs a shorter name! There were too many books on the Cybils F/SF nominations list that I had NOT read.  So, I am going to remedy that by trying to read 15 books off the YA list and 15 books off the MG list.  Some of these will be decided when they release the finalist list on January 1!

My Printz of the Past Challenge
I became interested in the ALA Printz award back in 2006 when I became a middle school librarian.  I've been into it pretty much nonstop. In 2010 I formed the Goodreads Mock Printz group. This started as a part of a book group I was hosting at work and has grown from there.  I've been trying to at least read the winners of the award but decided this year to challenge myself to read all the Printz Award/Honor books for the past 11 years.

2012 MG/YA/A Genre Challenge
Donalyn Miller, The Book Whisperer, has a book requirement in her classes.  She challenges the students to read 40 books in a variety of genres, to stretch themselves, to become better readers.  I take up her challenge with #bookaday and want to participate in this one too. Although her exact numbers to read in each genre may change with her students, I'm going with the original one published in The Book Whisperer.

I also want to read a variety of adult books so, I'm adding a component for genre books written for adults. Hence, the "A" in the challenge title.

2012 Battle of the Kid's Book Reading Challenge
Every year School Library Journal hosts a Battle of the Kids' Books to find the best book of the previous year. They get celebrity judges, authors all, to read two  of 16 books and determine which will move on until only 1 is left. I discovered the challenge in 2010 and read 11 of the 16 books.  Last year I read 15.  My goal for 2012 is to read all 16 and try to pick the winner!

I'm creating a challenge page that will list a combination of books I want to read or have read for challenge.

Are you up to the challenge?  What are your reading goals for 2012?

UPDATE: Adding a Newbery Awards challenge that will cover three to four years! Check out Watch.Connect.Read for details! Totally "stress-free" #nerdbery challenge! Yay, Mr. Schu and Mr. Sharp!
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The Sunday Salon - Monthly Update - April 2011

Wow, April flew by. Plus I missed the March update. So, here they are together. I'm looking forward to things slowing down for summer!

Challenge Update

POC Reading Challenge (15)
Warp Speed by Lisa Yee
Trash by Andy Mulligan
The Silver Phoenix by Cindy Pon
Sidekicks by Dan Santat
Tall Story by Candy Gourlay
Red Glove by Holly Black

Debut Author Challenge (9)
The Emerald Atlas by John Stephens
Sidekicks by Dan Santat

Graphic Novels Challenge (9)
The Odyssey by Gareth Hinds
The Loser List by HN Kowitt
Sidekicks by Dan Santat

Overall

6 Adult
13 Young Adult
9 Middle Grades

Best Book: The Silver Phoenix by Cindy Pon

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The Sunday Salon - Monthly Updates - March 2011

This was a pretty slow month for me. I could not focus and when I did, it wasn't on reading. Still busy at work. Still trying to find my way back to reading and blogging.  Hanging in there!

Challenge Update
POC Challenge (10)
Warp Speed by Lisa Yee

Graphic Novel Challenge (7)
The Odyssey by Gareth Hinds

Overall (10)
5 Young Adult
4 Adult
1 Middle Grades

Best Book - Paranormalcy by Kiersten White and Red Glove by Holly Black

Only 10 books read this month.  Sad face.
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The Sunday Salon - Monthly Update - January 2011

It's Superbowl Sunday!  Admittedly, this means nothing to me.  This year, I am going to a friend's house but normally I just put the tv on in the background and read.  I try to watch the commercials though, so I know what's going on at the water cooler!

Just like the Superbowl is wrapping up football, I'm going to wrap up my month of reading!

Challenge Update
POC Reading Challenge (4)
The Firefly Letters by Margarita Engle
The Great Wall of Lucy Wu by Wendy Shang
The Blind Side by Michael Lewis
Split by Swati Avasthi

Debut Author Challenge (3)
The Great Wall of Lucy Wu
Water Wars by Cameron Stracher
Here Lies Bridget by Paige Harbison

Overall (19)
13 Young Adult
2 Adult
4 Middle Grade

Best Book - Scrawl by Marc Shulman

How was your reading this month?

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The Sunday Salon - Are You Up to the Challenge?

I usually avoid entering challenges because I never complete them; I'm a better sprinter than marathoner. (sorry Dana Reinhardt)

But this year I'm focused on Generosity; including cutting myself some slack.  Doing #bookaday has reminded me that the journey counts just as much as the outcome.  So, here are some challenges that I'm joining in 2011:

POC Challenge - it's important that I continue to diversify my reading but in addition i need to write about the books I read.  I'll be joining at Level 5  and here are some of the books I plan on reading:

1. Latte Rebellion
2. The Trouble With Half a Moon
3. Great Wall of Lucy Lu
4. What Can't Wait
5. Vanished
6. Red Scarf Girl
7. The Kayla Chronicles
8. Revolution is not a Dinner Party
9. Hole in My Life
10. Flygirl
11. A Girl Named Mister
12. Windup Girl
13. Does My Head Look Big in This
14. Shine
15. We Could Be Brothers
16. Where the Streets Had a Name
17. Bitter Melon
18. Standing Against the Wind

update 12/12/11 Terrible. Only 3 titles.

Books I Should Have Read In School - Each year the 8th graders have to read and debate whether a known classic should continue being read.  It's been a long time since I've had to read these and I need a refresher and I need to expand my knowledge so that I can book talk more choices.  I'm entering this one at the Graduate School level.

1. Little Women
2. A Tale of Two Cities
3. Adventures of Tom Sawyer
4. Anne of Green Gables
5. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
6. To Kill A Mockingbird

update 12/12/11 NONE!

Graphic Novels Challenge - This a tough format for me because I don't come across them as much as I do ebooks since not all books make good graphic novels.  I know many students become hooked once they discover this area so I need to bone up for book talks. I'm going for the Expert level.

1. Copper
2. Spacehaedz
3. Hereville
4. Secret Science Alliance
5. Resistance
6. Ghostopolis
7. Cloud Searchers (I've read and loved the first two)
8. Athena
9. The Unsinkable Walker Bean
10. The Sons of Liberty

update 12/12/11 only 40% - fail.

Debut Author Challenge - I like new: new clothes, new books, new authors.  This is purely for fun! Finding new writers and then watching their careers is mighty awesome let me tell you.  This list will change the most! 

1. The False Princess
2. Water Wars
3. Great Wall of Lucy Liu
4. Here Lies Bridget
5. Ten Miles Past Normal
6. The Latte Rebellion
7. Trouble with Half a Moon
8. What Can't Wait
9. Vanished
10. Sequins, Secrets and Silver Linings
11. ?
12. ?

UPDATE: 12/12/11 actually read more - they are just not listed! Will plan better next year.

One,Two Theme - seems like an interesting way to learn more about things.  This will also help me increase my nonfiction readings.

1. Education 1 book
2. Race Relations 2 books 
3. Poverty 3 books

update: another fail.

NOTE: All reading lists are subject to change as I learn about other offerings and start reading for Mock Newbery and Mock Printz clubs.  I will also try to increase my nonfiction reading.

12.12.11 Update - All in all - I need to plan out this better.  I know what my reading normally looks like - I just need to expand in some areas and pull back in others. I'll join these same challenges if they are open next year. 

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Sunday Salon - Monthly Update - June 2010

I'm trying to keep up with my fake reading challenges and it's going well so far.  Maybe one day I will actually join!  I've also included a 1/2 year reading update.  What are your reading challenges? (yes, i mean that the way you think!)

Fake Challenge Updates

Debut Author Challenge (11)

Birthmarked by Caragh O'Brien

In The Middle Challenge (35)

One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia
Countdown by Deborah Wiles
Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper
The Ghost of Crutchfield Hall by Mary Downing Hahn
Alvin Ho by Lenore Look
Benjamin Pratt and The Keepers of the School by Andrew Clements
The Dreamer by Pam Munoz Ryan
Dork Diaries by Rachel Russell
Birthday Ball by Lois Lowry
The13th Reality by James Dashner
The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place by Maryrose Wood

Young Adult Reading Challenge (57)

The Prince of Mist by Carlos Ruiz
Very Far Away From Anywhere Else by Ursula LeGuin
The Green Witch by Alice Hoffman
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by JK Rowling
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by JK Rowling
Paper Daughter by Jeannette Ingold
The Horse and His Boy by CS Lewis
Emma by Jane Austen
Dreamland by Sarah Dessen
Genesis by Bernard Beckett
Birthmarked
Last Summer of the Death Warriors by Francisco Stork
Eternal Smile by Gene Yang
Mercury by Hope Larson

POC Reading Challenge (26)

One Crazy Summer
Out of My Mind
Prince of Mist
Paper Daughter
The Dreamer
Last Summer of the Death Warriors
Eternal Smile

Loving Your Library (34)

Out of My Mind
One Crazy Summer

Dreamland
The Prince of Mist
Alvin Ho
Genesis

Eternal Smile
Mercury
Ubiquitous
Dork Diaries

Note: These lists do not encompass all reading just YA/MG.

Total Books Read: 27
Best Book of June: Last Summer of the Death Warriors by Francisco X. Stork

Midyear Totals
Read: 114
Reviewed: 41
Abandoned: 2

Goals for July - December

I know my reading will pick up as the Mock Printz book club and Mock Newbery book clubs pick up.  I will continue to review my Printz reads here but my Newbery reviews will go to St. Joseph County Public Library Mock Newbery blog, which I'm co-hosting.  I also have some blog tours scheduled.

My goal will be to post 3 reviews a week as well as the Sunday Salon and some huge book on Saturdays.

Did you make any blog goals?  How did you do?  

Will you be changing them for the rest of the year?  

Link to your goals in the comments and I promise to check them out!

Sunday Salon - The Past Two Months - May 31, 2010

I'm back! These last two months have been crazy busy for me!  I think I've finally recovered enough to start actively blogging again!

I will be "joining" The Book Whisperer, Donalyn Miller, as she tries to read one book a day for summer vacation. I'll post as soon as my list is complete! For now, here are my fake challenge updates for April and May.

1. Reading Challenges - short updates on my unjoined challenges

Debut Author Challenge (10)
The Red Umbrella by Christina Diaz Gonzalez
Happyface by Stephen Emond

In the Middle Reading Challenge (24)
The Red Umbrella
Rapunzel's Revenge by Shannon Hale
The London-Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd
Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins
Tighty-Whitey Spider by Kenn Nesbitt
100 Cupboards by ND Wilson
The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by JK Rowling
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by JK Rowling

Young Adult Reading Challenge (43)
Something Like Fate by Susane Colasanti
Asking for Trouble by Sandra Byrd
After the Kiss by Terra Elan McVoy
Heaven by Angela Johnson
The First Part Last by Angela Johnson
Sweet, Hereafter by Angela Johnson
The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han
The Unwritten Rule by Elizabeth Scott
Happyface
Gimme a Call by Sarah Mlynowski
Fever Crumb by Philip Reeve
She's So Dead to Us by Kieran Scott
The Reckoning by Kelley Armstrong
The Cardturner by Louis Sachar

POC Reading Challenge (18)
The Red Umbrella
The Heaven Trilogy
The Summer I Turned Pretty
Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

Loving Your Library (24)
The First Part Last
Sweet, Hereafter
Rapunzel's Revenge
Here Comes the Garbage Barge by Jonah Winter
Happyface
Gregor the Overlander
100 Cupboards

2. Book Buying -I will still keep track of this but, clearly, I have a problem that I'm not willing to give up yet.

I'm on an HP kick so I bought all 7 Harry Potter books in the Adult Edition from the UK. Thought it would be fun to see if there are significant differences. Yes, I do own all 7 Hardcovers. Your point?

14 US books - ~$108
7 UK books - £64.82 (I'll let you figure this out!)

Total books read in April and May - 32 (16 each month)
Best Book of April - Happyface by Stephen Emond
Best Books of May - Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon and The Cardturner by Louis Sachar

Sunday Salon - Monthly Reading Update - March 28, 2010

It was a busy reading month for me and I may have forgotten to write down some books. I've been following the SLJ Battle of the Kid's Books which will be ending April 5th. I've also been doing some picture book reading for the upcoming Mock Newbery club. This coming month will see me doing more Mock Newbery and Mock Printz reading as well as participating in the Dewey ReadAthon.

Read on for my fake challenge participation and how my book buying squeeze has gone this past month.

Debut Author Challenge (8)

Incarceron by Catherine Fisher

In the Middle Reading Challenge (15)

Woods Runner by Gary Paulsen
The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner
Storm in the Barn by Matt Phelan
Meanwhile by Jason Shiga
Mirror, Mirror by Marilyn Singer
Cosmic by Frank Cottrell Boyce

Young Adult Reading Challenge (29)

Radiant Shadows by Melissa Marr
Mia the Magnificent by Eileen Bogess
Runaway by Meg Cabot
Being Nikki by Meg Cabot
Before I Fall by Lauren Olier
Queen of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner
King of Attolia by Megan whalen turner
Conspiracy of Kings by Megan Whalen Turner
Tales from Outer Suburbia by Shaun Tan
Versus by Steve Stone
Boys, Girls and Other Hazardous Material by Rosalind Wiseman

POC Reading Challenge (12)

Fiddler on the Roof

Loving Your Library (16)

Book Buying

I am appalled at the amount of money I spent on books this month!  It was so bad, only $4 less than this time last year!  And more than last month!  I am really trying to reel it in but it's been faster than waiting for the library.  But I did buy some awesome books:
Green by Laura Peyton Roberts
The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner
The Queen of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner
The King of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner
The Conspiracy of Kings by Megan Whalen Turner
Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver
Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
Will Grayson, Will Grayson by Green and Levithan
Changeless by Gail Carriger
Fiddler on The Roof
Tales from a Madman Underground

Total: ~$87.00

Total books read in March - 22
Best Book of March - Queen of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner

One quarter of the year has passed!  I've read a grand total of 56 books! So much for slowing down...

Sunday Salon - Monthly Reading Update - February 28, 2010

I've been doing well with my staying off the computer but my book buying was off the charts! I've also been doing some aimless reading and here's how it all panned out:

1. Reading Challenges
Short update on my unjoined challenge participation.

Debut Author Challenge (The Story Siren)(7)
Restoring Harmony by Joelle Anthony
Brightly Woven by Alexandra Bracken
The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N. K. Jemison
The Beautiful Dead by Eden Maguire

In The Middle Reading Challenge (O.W.L.) (9)
The Hunchback Assignments by Arthur Slade
14 Cows for America by Carmen Agra Deedy
The Breadwinner by Deborah Ellis
The Greatest Moments in Sports by Len Berman
Mortal Engines by Philip Reeve

Young Adult Reading Challenge (J. Kaye)(18)
Going Bovine by Libba Bray
For Keeps by Natasha Friend
Restoring Harmony by Joelle Anthony
Flash Burnout by L.K. Madigan
Soulless by Gail Carriger
Copper Sun by Sharon Draper
The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N.K. Jemison
Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta
The Beautiful Dead by Eden Maguire

Support Your Local Library (J. Kaye)(8)
Going Bovine by Libba Bray
Hunchback Assignments by Arthur Slade
Flash Burnout by L.K. Madigan
Mortal Engines by Philip Reeve

POC Reading Challenge (POC Reading Challenge) (11)
Copper Sun by Sharon Draper
The Breadwinner by Deborah Ellis
The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N.K. Jemison

2. Book Buying
I got my taxes and went a little crazy. Hopefully this will hold me over the next few months!

Incarceron by Catherine Fisher
Last Summer of the Death Warriors by Francisco X. Stork
A Gate at the Stairs by Lorrie Moore
Beautiful Creatures by Garcia and Stohl
A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers
Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins (preorder)
The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by NK Jemison
The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man in The Moon Marigolds by Paul Zindel (school)
Paper Daughter by Jeanette Ingold (ARC from Netgalley to Kindle)

Total: ~$85.00

That's about 3 months worth of budget book buying! Not good. That means I have to try to refrain from buying until MAY!! ARGH!

Total books read in February (16)
Best Book for February - Going Bovine by Libba Bray and Soulless by Gail Carriger

Looking forward to making some changes going forward as I try to rein in my reading while fostering more reviews.

Sunday Salon - Monthly Reading Update - January 31, 2010

I'm on a quest to cut back on my reading and spend more time making my house into a home. Along with that comes spending less time on the computer and less money buying books. Here's an update on my progress.

1. Reading Challenges
I vowed to NOT officially join any challenges this year but to keep track of my pretend progress every month anyway.

The Debut Author Challenge (The Story Siren)(3) includes release date:
Magic Under Glass by Jaclyn Dolamore (YA, Jan 2010)
Numbers by Rachel Ward (YA, Feb 2010)
Eighth-Grade Superzero by Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich (MG, Jan 2010)

The In The Middle Reading Challenge (The O.W.L.)(4)
Camp Club Girls by Renae Brumbaugh
Sydney's DC Adventure by Jean Ferris
The Year The Swallows Came Early by Katherine Fiztmaurice
Eighth-Grade Superzero

Young Adult Reading Challenge (J. Kaye's Book Blog)(9)
Take Me There by Susane Colasanti
Marcelo in the Real World by Fransisco X Stork
Betrayal of Natalie Hargrove by Lauren Kate
Carbon Diaries by Saci Lloyd
Magic under Glass
Numbers
Angus, Thongs, and Full Frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison
Body Scoop for Girls by Dr. Jennifer Ashton
On The Bright Side, I'm Now the Girlfriend of a Sex God by Louise Rennison

The Support Your Local Library Challenge (J. Kaye's Book Blog)(4)
The Year the Swallows Came Early
Juliet, Naked by Nick Hornby
Angus, Thongs and Full Frontal Snogging
On The Bright Side...

The POC Reading Challenge (POC Reading Challenge) (8)
Marcelo in the Real World
Camp Club Girls
Sydney's DC Adventure
Magic Under Glass
Numbers
Shanghai Girls by Lisa See
Eighth-Grade Superzero
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford

2. Budgeting Book Buying
I'm trying to keep my book buying to $30 or less each month. Here's what I purchased for January:

Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta (preorder)
Very Far From Anywhere Else by Ursula K. Le Guin
The Five Love Languages of Teenagers by Gary Chapman
Total: $29.95

I could argue that Finnikin doesn't count but to keep the accounting simple, I'm including preorders the month I order them.

Pretty good month. I'm working on reviewing more of the books read since I'll be reading a little less, but we'll see!

Total Books Read in January (17) - Books Read in 2010
Best Book for January - Numbers by Rachel Ward

Sunday Salon - Challenges (I'm NOT joining) for 2010 - January 10, 2010

I always try to join challenges in the hopes that it will give more purpose to my reading and help keep me on track.

Unfortunately, that's not what ends up happening. Sure, it's just for me and there's no requirement to finish but I feel like I'm breaking promises. Albeit to myself. So for 2010 I've decided to do things a little differently.

I'm not going to officially join any challenges but when I come across ones I think fit in with my reading - I'll pretend like I'm a part of it and tell you how I'm doing.

1. Are You My Newbery 2011 and Some Day My Printz 2011
The 2011 Newbery has to be published in the year 2010. Some of those books will qualify for The Story Siren's Debut Author challenge and The O.W.L. The Middle Reading challenge. The 2011 Printz Award also has to be published in 2010 and they have to be young adult books. These books will qualify for J. Kaye's Young Adult challenge and some will also qualify for the debut author challenge. I will post more info on these at a later date which will include my list location and my selection process.

2. $30 A Month challenge
I'm going to severely cut back on buying books this year. My goal is to only spend $30 a month - about the cost of an adult hardcover. As a librarian, I should support libraries - both public and our school. This will help me qualify for J. Kaye's Support Your Local Library challenge and decrease some of the book clutter around here. Originally I was going to buy one book a month but I realized that sometimes I can get a few YA hardcovers for $30. Last year I spent over 3 times that much for books. I'm not going to even tell you how much over three times - I'm appalled and amazed at my foolishness...

3. Grown-up books
That's what I call adult fiction but not the racy kind of books. I want to read at least one grown-up book a month. There are some books I've had my eye on and I'm going to make sure I read them this year. Some titles are: Olive Kitteridge, Hotel at the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, The Believers, Little Bee, and Chronic City from 2009. The only 2010 book on my list so far is The Unnamed.

I would also like to tackle a couple of classics, read books teachers use in their classrooms, read more steampunk, and more nonfiction. I'll post links of my reading lists as I create them.

What challenges are you facing this year?

Challenges! Update on my Reading Challenges

I don't join many challenges - I have this thing about wanting to do something vs. having to do something - a challenge usually makes me feel as I have to do it - so, of course, I don't want to do it!

But there are some challenges that are not too bad - so I joined some!

2009 Support Your Local Library Challenge hosted by J. Kaye's Book Blog - my goal is to read 50 library books by the end of the year. This helps support libraries while keeping cash in my pocket. My only hesitation being will I remember to return the books on time? Since I work in a library and knew I had to do an internship in yet another library I figured I would give it a try. So far I've read 31 of 50 library books and owe 12.00 in fines. Hmm...not really keeping cash in pocket?!? j/k

Diversity Rocks Challenge hosted by Diversity Rocks - my goal is to be more aware of my reading and try to read at least ONE book by an African-American writer per month. I've since decided to make sure I'm reading multiculturally with an emphasis on African American. I've only read 5 books that fit my criteria. This is out of the 60 something books I've read so far this year. Not too good. Need to step up on this!

A Shakespearean Summer Challenge hosted by Liv's Book Reviews - my goal is to read 3 of Shakespeare's plays that I don't remember ever having read even though I know the story. This short contest is part of The Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Mantchev release celebration that the Word Ninjas are putting together. It's over in August. So far I've read nothing. Noted and correcting!

The Everything Austen Challenge hosted by Stephenie's Written Word - my goal is to read 5 books and watch 1 movie by challenge's end which isn't till January! Yeah! I've watched Pride and Prejudice four times this month and it's only the fourth! Pretty good!

Newsweek 50 Books for Our Time Reading Challenge hosted by My Friend Amy - I only have one book to read for this new challenge: Brooklyn by Colm Toibin. I'm so excited because this book is on my Wanna Read It list! 50 bloggers are each taking one book to read by year's end and then decide if Newsweek was correct, are these really the books of our time. There were four books left when I wrote this!

Along the way I've participated in the Dewey 24hr ReadAThon and MotherReader's 48hr Book Challenge. Now that I've put this in the open, I'm hoping this will help me reach my challenge goals! Somehow, I also need to start on my 20 books I want to read plus all of the possible Newbery books, EEK! What have I gotten into? There has to be a way to link them all together....

Are you participating in any challenges? How are you doing? If no, why not?