Flowers in the Attic - Virginia Andrews

By finishing Flowers in the Attic by Virginia Andrews I've finished my first challenge!! "Anyone For 2nds" is now completed :)

Taken on Trust - Terry Waite

I've just finished Taken on Trust by Terry Waite, which covers a whole lot of challenges and is absolutely fascinating. Go read it!

Speculative Fiction Challenge - DONE

In Speculative Fiction the action of the story can take place in a culture that never existed, a world we know nothing of, or an earth that might have been or might be, to name a few. ... This distinctiveness is best illustrated in the primary question asked by the writers of Speculative Fiction,
"What if?" ... this genre has a special capacity to deal with the human equation.

Read six books within the speculative fiction umbrella. That is: fantasy, sci-fi, alternative history and magic realism.

My path is A Theoretical Handbook For the Unseasoned Speculator: otherwise known as the speculative fiction buffet, meaning a mixture of all genres.

My picks:
4 fantasy: Tamora Pierce's "Wild Magic" quartet:
Wild Magic
Wolf Speaker
Emperor Mage
The Realms of the Gods
2 alternative history: "The Dark is Rising" by Susan Cooper
"Noughts and Crosses" by Malorie Blackman.

Alternatives are "Rebel Angels", "The House of the Spirits", "Ironweed", "Xenocide" or the next Thursday Next novel (I've read the two first), but if time gets short, I'll add another fantasy book instead - like "Lords and Ladies".

Inkspell - Cornelia Funke

I finally finished Inkspell, the sequel to Inkheart. Unfortunately not nearly as good as the first one, but may still be redeemed by the last book in the trilogy.

That's one more book to strike off the Bibliography Challenge, and also an alternative for the 2nds Challenge.

Numbers Challenge - DONE

This second challenge I had to sign up for because the concept is so neat:
The challenge is to read 5 books whose titles have a number in them from Jan 1, 2008 to June 1, 2008 This includes written numbers like "one" or "forty."

My picks:

• Seven For A Secret - Victoria Holt
  
• Wild Swans - Three Daughters of China - Jung Chang
  
• 20,000 leagues under the Sea - Jules Verne
  
• The Three Musketeers - Alexandre Dumas
  
• Around the World in 80 Days - Jules Verne
  

Young Adult Challenge - DONE

Yes, I know I'm getting obsessed, but I've just found two new challenges that I have to join. This one for obvious reasons as I love YA literature.

The rules are very simple, in 2008 read 12 YA books. The list may change at any time.
My list as it looks right now:

1. Wild Magic - Tamora Pierce
   
2. Wolf Speaker - Tamora Pierce
   
3. Emperor Mage - Tamora Pierce
   
4. The Realms of the Gods - Tamora Pierce
   
5. Bitten - Kelly Armstrong
   
6. A Diary of a Young Girl - Anne Frank
   
7. The Dark is Rising - Susan Cooper
   
8. Avalon High - Meg Cabot
   
9. Sue Barton, Student Nurse - Helen Boylston
   
10. Sue Barton, Senior Nurse - Helen Boylston
    
11. Sue Barton, Visiting Nurse - Helen Boylston
    
12. Sue Barton, Rural Nurse - Helen Boylston
    

Extra credit: Sue Barton 5-7

The Baby Steps Challenge - Completed

In memory of Natalie Rose, an avid reader who died earlier this year, The Nattie Challenge blog has been set up. This blog will constantly run one or more challenges in memory of Natalie Rose.

The first of these challenges is The Baby Step Challenge:


We cannot possibly read everything we want to. We don't have time.

So, take a baby step. Or 2. Or 3.

Oct, Nov, Dec and then we leap into a new year. Before that new year greets us, we shall knock 3 books off the pile.

This can work two ways.

Option A. Pick 3 books you own but have not read and read them before 2008.
Option B. Pick 3 books you have on a To Be Read list and read them before 2008.

My three books are owned but not yet read:
"Lords and Ladies" by Terry Pratchett
"Taken on Trust" by Terry Waite
"The Big Over Easy" by Jasper Fforde

These double for both the "Fall Into Reading" challenge and the TBR challenge. I love efficiency! :-D

The Marvelous Land of Oz - L. Frank Baum

As this is a possible alternative for the 2nds challenge, I thought it fitting to post a link to the review of The Marvelous Land of Oz by L. Frank Baum here. It was quite good, and I'm working my way through the rest of the series.

Jewish Literature Challenge - DONE

Between Hanukkah 2007 (December 4th) and Passover 2008 (April 26th) read at least 5 books by Jewish authors or about Judaism

My picks:

• The Diary Of A Young Girl - Anne Frank
  
• Reunion - Fred Uhlman
  
• The Last Jew - Noah Gordon
  
• The Hiding Place - Corrie ten Boom
  
• The Red Tent - Anita Diamant
  

Alternatives: A Voice In The Wind - Francine Rivers, The Book of Hosea, Such a Time as This - Rebecca Velez

Reading Through The Decades - DONE

Read 8 books in 8 consecutive decadres in '08.

Any book from the decade is eligible, the list may be changed at any time. Titles may be cross-posted with any other challenge. Books from this decade do not count.

I thought this could be interesting as I seldom read REALLY old books. This list is subject to change as I have a lot of alternatives, but here is the list as it looks right now. My goal is to read at least 8.

1810s The Swiss Family Robinson - Johann David Wyss (1812)
1820s The Pirate - Sir Walter Scott (1822)
1830s The Pickwick Papers - Charles Dickens (1836)
1840s The Three Musketeers - Alexandre Dumas (1844)
1850s Villette - Charlotte Bronte (1853)
1860s Little Women - L.M. Alcott (1868)
1870s Around the World in 80 Days - Jules Verne (1878)
1880s Heidi - Johanna Spyri (1880)
1890s Quo Vadis - Henryk Sienkiewicz (1895)
1900s The Enchanted Castle - E Nesbit (1907)
1910s The Emerald City of Oz - L. Frank Baum (1910)
1920s Winnie-the-Pooh - A. A. Milne (1926)
1930s Ballet Shoes - Noel Streatfeild (1936)
1940s Diary of a Young Girl - Anne Frank (1947)
1950s Charlotte's Web - E.B. White (1952)
1960s A Wrinkle in Time - Madeleine L'Engle (1962)
1970s Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIHM - Robert C. O'Brien (1971)
1980s Mathilda - Roald Dahl (1988)
1990s The Poisonwood Bible - Barbara Kingsolver (1996)

An easy way to find books from different decades is on Wikipedia. Follow this link and then change the year to suit your purposes.

Inkheart - Cornelia Funke

I've just finished Inkheart which means I can strike one off both Fall into Reading AND the Bibliography challenge :-)

The book is absolutely amazing, and I'm really looking forward to reading the sequel.

PS, I Love You - Cecelia Ahern

I bought this book when I was in London last and finally finished it last night. It's beautiful and heartbreaking. Do read it, but have tissues handy. PS, I Love You has been an amazing read for the Fall Into Reading challenge.

The Whitcoulls Challenge - DONE

Since I'm hosting this challenge, I thought I'd better actually sign up for it too ;) The list is subject to change if I'm unable to find some of the books at the library, and I make no plans of which book to read which month :-P

My list:

• The Red Tent - Anita Diamant (TBR)
  
• Wild Swans - Jung Chang (TBR)
  
• The Poisonwood Bible - Barbara Kingsolver (Library)
  
• Anybody Out There - Marian Keyes (Library)
  
• Long Walk to Freedom - Nelson Mandela (Library)
  
• Under the Tuscan Sun - Frances Mayes (TBR)
  
• Winnie-the-Pooh - A.A. Milne (TBR)
  
• The Clan of the Cave Bears - Jean M. Auel
  
• Mathilda - Roald Dahl
  
• April Fool's Day - Bryce Courtenay
  
• The No 1 Ladies Detective Agency - Alexander McCall Smith (TBR)
  
• The Stand - Stephen King
  
  

Alternatives:
My Sisters Keeper - Jodi Picoult, The Other Boylen Girl - Philippa Gregory, A Suitable Boy - Vikram Seth, The Pilot's Wife - Anita Shreve, Sophie's World - Jostein Gaarder

The 888 challenge - DONE

This challenge is rather daunting, so I wavered for a long time whether or not I wanted to sign up for it. It was really tempting though, and what finally pushed me over the edge was the fact that I can change categories and/or titles at any time, so if I need to tweak it to fit another challenge or if I can't find all these books at the library, it's no big deal.

Read eight books in eight categories in the year 2008 (8 "overlaps" are allowed, so 56 unique titles).

My problem with this challenge is although I read a LOT I seldom plan ahead what I read, as I don't like it to get too rigid. 56 books in a year won't be a problem, but will I still feel like reading them when next year rolls around. We'll see, and if not, rule 5 here says that I can change books at any time, so hopefully it'll all work out :-D

After "great and deep brain things inside my head" this is the list I came up with:

1. Children / YA - DONE
1. Mary Poppins (Library)
   
2. Winnie-the-Pooh (Own)
   
3. Charlotte's Web (Library)
   
4. Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh (Library)
   
5. The Ordinary Princess by M.M. Kaye
   
6. Ballet Shoes (Own)
   
7. Mathilda (Own)
   
8. Meet the Malones (Own)
   
2. Historical Fiction (will double for "Back to History") - DONE
1. Such a Time as This (Own)
   
2. The Last Jew (Own)
   
3. Pope Joan (Own)
   
4. Cross-Stitch (Own)
   
5. Water for Elephants (Library)
   
6. The Red Tent (Own)
   
7. The Scarlet Spy (Own)
   
8. The Clan of the Cave Bears (Own)
   
3. TBR (owned unread books) - DONE
• Behaving Badly - Isabel Wolff
  
• 20.000 Leagues Under the Sea - Jules Verne
  
• Looking Forward - Marcia Willett
  
• The Colour Purple - Alice Walker
  
• Robin Hood and his Merry Men - Unknown
  
• Dragonflight - Anne McCaffrey
  
• Last Chance Saloon - Marian Keyes
  
• Seven for a Secret - Victoria Holt
  
4. Rereads - DONE
1. f2f (Own)
   
2. Eclipse
   
3. Dragonsinger (Own)
   
4. Nothing Lasts forever
   
5. Cross-Stitch
   
6. Mathilda
   
7. A Breath of Snow and Ashes
   
8. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
   
5. Armchair Interviews - Done
1. The Stormcaller (Own)
2. Such a Time as This (Own)
   
3. Between the Sheets (Own)
   
4. Anatomy of a Boyfriend (Own)
   
5. Seduced by a Spy (Own)
   
6. Evacuation Plan
   
7. Mrs. Darcy's Dilemma (Own)
   
8. Hollywood Crows (Own)
   
6. Non-fiction - Done
1. A Diary of a Young Girl (Own)
   
2. Wild Swans (Own)
   
3. Long Walk To Freedom (Library)
   
4. The Alpine Path (Own)
   
5. The Hiding Place (Own)
   
6. Celebration of Discipline (Own)
   
7. Stolen Lives (Own)
   
8. Those Who Trespass Against us
   
7. Top 100 - DONE (will double for the Whitcoulls challenge)
1. Wild Swans (Own)
   
2. The Poisonwood Bible (Library)
   
3. The Red Tent (Own)
   
4. Anybody Out There? (Library)
   
5. Life of Pi (Library)
   
6. The Stand (library)
   
7. Long Walk To Freedom (Library)
   
8. Medical Madness - Done
1. Sue Barton, Student Nurse (Own)
   
2. Sue Barton, Senior Nurse (Own)
   
3. Sue Barton, Visiting Nurse (Own)
   
4. Sue Barton, Rural Nurse (Own)
   
5. Sue Barton, Superintendent of Nurses (Own)
   
6. Sue Barton, Neighbourhood Nurse (Own)
   
7. Sue Barton, Staff Nurse (Own)
   
8. Nothing Lasts forever (Own)
   

The Whitcoulls Challenge

Whitcoulls was my favourite bookstore in New Zealand. Every year they published the "Top 100 List" as chosen by New Zealanders. Everybody can nominate their three favourite books, and the 100 books with most votes made the list. Unlike many other of these lists, this one represents what people actually read. I've managed to find the list for three years - 1998, 2002 and 2006.

I've been wanting to host a challenge myself, and this seems like the perfect opportunity. Read Your Way Through The Whitcoulls Top 100 List.

When: From November 1st, 2007 to November 1st, 2008.
What: Pick 12 books from either or all of the lists linked above, and read one a month (or - if you're feeling daring - pick 12 from each and read 3 a month!! But that's only for the obsessed ;) )
Why: To broaden our horizons and because it's fun of course!

I can't figure out how to use Mr. Linky, so just leave a comment with either your list or a link to your blog post and you're in! :-D

Have fun!

Just4thehelluvit

This is not a real challenge as much as a reminder to myself that despite all the wonderful challenges out there, I need to remember to make time and place for spontaneous reading as well.

No pre-made list here. It will grow as I go, adding the reviews to it as I read them. And these books can ONLY be some I read 'just4thehelluvit' - not for any (other) challenge, not for book clubs and not for reviewing.

Let's see how large that list grows in a year.

Casual Reading Challenge

I know I said I wouldn't add more challenges for the time being, but once you see the twist of this one, you'll understand why I couldn't help myself.

WHEN: October 1, 2007 -to- October 1, 2008


TO TAKE PART:

• Make a list of books you've been wanting to read (from your collection, the library, etc)
  
• read books from this list between the dates specified
  
• THE TWIST! You do NOT have to have read every book on your list by the end of this challenge!

The idea is to have crossed of at least some of the titles on your list by the end of the challenge, and to feel good that you have been able to do so! There is absolutely NO PRESSURE to complete the entire list, so it can be as long as you want!

On List of Bests I have a list of 100 books I want to read before I die. Some of these are already crossed off, but there are 70-something left still. This will be my list for the Casual Reading Challenge - with lots of cross-overs to other challenges. For this one I won't post my list here as it'd be far too long for the sidebar, but you can follow my progress via the link above.

Bibliography Challenge - Completed

I know, I know. I said I'd be good and not sign up for any challenge I came across, but I love books and I love books about books so... I couldn't help myself! Besides, cross-overs are allowed and it might spur me to finally reread "The Never-Ending Story" - something I've been meaning to do for 5 years now!

This is the Bibliography Challenge. The Challenge is to read 3 Books about Books. This challenge starts October 1st. And finishes December 31st. Fiction or Non Fiction, Crossovers are acceptable.

My picks:

• Inkheart - Cornelia Funke
• Inkspell - Cornelia Funke
• The Neverending Story - Michael Ende
  

The Book of Lost Things - John Connelly

"Rikki-Tikki-Tavi" was so short that I had time to finish yet another book - The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly. I've been reading it for awhile, but since it was so very different from what I expected (even though I have no clue what I actually did expect) it's taken me awhile to get through it, but today I sat down to read the last 100 pages so I could strike it off my list :-)

Rikki-Tikki-Tavi

The Fall Into Reading 2007 Challenge started today, and I've finished my first book! Rikki-Tikki-Tavi by Rudyard Kipling. A quick read (only 43 pages) and a very cute story for kids :)