Memorable Memoirs Reading Challenge 2011

Melissa @ The Betty and Boo Chronicles is hosting this challenge for the second year in a row. Melissa states:

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.)

For this challenge I would like to read ten memoirs.  I'm not sure if I'll get through all of them, but I have so many ones that sound amazing on my shelves that I couldn't pass them up.  Here's the list:

1. The Glass Castle - Jeannette Walls
2. Eat, Pray, Love - Elizabeth Gilbert
3. The Last Lecture - Randy Pausch
4. A Girl Names Zippy - Havien Kimmel
5. The Color of Water - James McBride
6. Dewey - Vicki Myron
7. The Tender Bar - JR Moehringer
8. Falling Leaves - Adeline Yen Mah
9. Stolen Lives - Malika Oufkir
10. Breath, Eyes, Memory - Edwidge Danticat

Romance Reading Challenge 2011

Romance has never been a genre that I've really been tempted with but this is the year I'm expanding my horizons.  Therefore, I'm giving the romance challenge a try.  This challenge is hosted at The Bookworm.

1. "Romance" isn't limited to steamy Harlequin novels. There is a huge selection of books in this category such as contemporary romance, historical romance, romantic suspense and paranormal romance to name a few. As long as the story has romantic love between the two main characters your selection will fit this challenge. The novels do not need to have a happy ending either, there can also be unrequited love.

2. Choose at least 5 novels to read. You can change your choices at any time. Crossovers between other challenges are fine.
3. Read them at your own pace in 2011 then post the link to your review(s).

My book choices for 2011 include:

• Forgive My Fins: Tera Lynn Childs
• Chain Reaction: Simone Elkeles
• Welcome to the Great Mysterious - Lorna Landvik
• The Juliet Spell - Douglas Rees
• But I Love Him - Amanda Grace

ALL READ AND CHALLENGE COMPLETED

Cruisin' Thru the Cozies Challenge 2011

I love cozie mysteries but never take the time to read them.  This challenge gives me a good excuse to pick them up!  The rules are simple:

1. Choose the level you wish to participate:

• Level 1 - Snoop - Read 1-6 books
• Level 2 - Investigator - Reading 7-12 books
• Level 3 - Super Sleuth - Read 13 or more books

2. The challenge runs from January 1, 2011 and ends December 31, 2011.

3. You don't have to choose your books in advance. If you do, you can change your list at any time during the year. Books can overlap with other challenges.

4. Books can be in any format - paper, audio, ebooks...it all counts!

5. You don't have to post a review, but I'm sure others would love to know about the books you are reading and may even want to add it to their reading lists.

This challenge is hosted by Socrates' Book Reviews and can be found here.

I'm excited to tell about the books I have picked out for this challenge.  I'm going to do level number 3 for Super Sleuth and read 13 or more books!  I'll start by picking 13:

1. The Poyson Garden - Karen Harper (crossover)
2. Jane and the Unpleasantness of Scargrave Manor - Stephanie Barron (crossover)
3. Last Writes - Laura Levine (crossover)
4. Murder on the Menu - Miranda Bliss (crossover)
5. Candy Apple Dead - Sammi Carter
6. Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death - M.C. Beaton
7. Killer Hair - Ellen Byerrum
8. Mistletoe Murder - Leslie Meier
9. Shop till You Drop - Elaine Viets
10. Death by Darjeeling - Laura Childs
11. Abby Cooper, Psychic Eye - Victoria Laurie
12. How to Murder a Millionaire - Nancy Martin
13. Sit, Stay, Slay - Linda O Johnston
    

What's in a Name Challenge 2011

This challenge is pretty exciting and I'm looking forward to using it to help clear the TBR in a creative way.  Hosted by Beth @ Beth Fish Reads, the What's in a Name Challenge challenges readers to read six books each in a different category:

1. A book with a number in the title
2. A book with jewelry or a gem in the title
3. A book with a size in the title
4. A book with travel or movement in the title
5. A book with evil in the title
6.  A book with a life stage in the title

This challenge was super hard to find books for (at least for me it was!) but I managed to find them all on my TBR shelves:

• Number - 1st to Die: James Patterson
• Gem - Ruby Red: Krysten Gier
• Size - Sarah, Plain and Tall: Patricia Maclachlan
• Travel/Movement - If I Stay: Gail Forman
• Evil - Fearscape: Simon Holt
• Life Stage - Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children: Ransom Riggs

ALL BOOKS READ AND CHALLENGE FINISHED

Mystery and Suspense Reading Challenge 2011

I'm really looking forward to this challenge in 2011.  Mystery and suspense is a genre that I used to read exclusively.  I think I burned myself out on it, but I'm looking forward to digging into it again.  This challenge is hosted by Book Chick City (you can sign up there!).  The goal is to read 12 mystery or suspense books over the course of 2011.  You can read more if you want to, and you don't have to list your books ahead of time.  Of course, I'm going to make a tentative list, but it is definitely subject to change.  I have a few crossovers from other challenges too which makes this even better!!

1. Darkly Dream Dexter: Jeff Lindsay
2. Pretty Little Liars: Sara Shepard
3. 1st to Die: James Patterson

I just can't wait until Saturday to start all these great sounding books!!

2nds Challenge 2011

This is another challenge that I'm excited about. I have a horrible habit of reading one book in a series and then stopping, failing to pick up the second book. I have so many series where I've read the first book and never went any farther. This should push me to do so (however, I'm pretty sure I'll have to re-read the first one as a refresher!!).  This challenge is hosted by Katy @ A Few More Pages.
1. Anyone can join. You don't need a blog to participate. If you're not a blogger, leave your information in the comments.

2. There are four levels to choose from in this challenge:

• Just a spoonful - Read 3 books that are 2nd in a series or the second time you've read the author.
• A few more bites - Read 6 books that are 2nd in a series or the second time you've read the author.
• A full plate - Read 12 books that are 2nd in a series or the second time you've read the author.
• All you can eat - Read 20 books (or more) that are 2nd in a series or the second time you've read the author.

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. Any genre counts.

3. You can join anytime between now and December 31, 2011. Don't start reading until January.

I'll be reading 6 books for this challenge also, all the 2nd in a series:

1. The Darkest Kiss - Gena Showalter (Lords of the Underworld)
2. Murder on the Menu - Miranda Bliss (A Cooking Class Mystery)
3. Night Pleasures - Sherrilyn Kenyon (Dark Hunter Series)
4. Last Writes - Laura Levine (Jaine Austen Mystery)
5. California Demon - Julie Kenner (Demon Hunting Soccer Mom)
6. Frost Bite - Richelle Mead (Vampire Academy)

1st in a Series Challenge 2011

I'm super excited about this challenge and have so many series I'd love to start in the coming year (I also have a few hundred I'd like to finish but that's an entire different story in itself!).  This blog is hosted by Katy @ A Few More Pages.

The rules for this challenge are simple:

1. Anyone can join. You don't need a blog to participate. If you're not a blogger, leave your information in the comments.

2. There are four levels for this challenge:

• Series Novice: Read 3 books that are the first in any series.
• Series Lover: Read 6 books that are the first in any series.  
• Series Expert: Read 12 books that are the first in any series.
• Series Fanatic: Read 20 books that are the first in any series.

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. Any genre counts.

3. The challenge runs from January 1 through December 31, 2011.

4. You can join anytime between now and December 31, 2011.

 I'm going to join at Level 2 and attempt to read the first book in SIX different series.  I like to plan ahead so I already have my list but it is definitely subject to changes:

1. Darkly Dreaming Dexter - Jeff Lindsay
2. Hearts at Stake - Alyxandra Harvey
3. Ruby Red - Krysten Gier
4. Forgive My Fins - Tera Lynn Childs
5. The Iron King - Julie Kagawa
6. Firespell - Chloe Neill

ALL BOOKS READ AND COMPLETED!!!

What are you reading (23)?

It's Monday! What are you reading this week? is a weekly event now hosted by One Persons Journey Through a World Of Books. It's helpful way to take a look at what you have read and what you want to read!

It's been a few weeks since a last posted.  Life has been busy busy busy!!  The holidays were wonderful but draining.  I'm now 34 weeks pregnant with less than 6 weeks to go...I'm miserable.  I know longer remember what it feels like to sleep for eight hours straight without getting up to go to the bathroom four times a night.  Plus, I've watched so much late night TV because I can't sleep I'm pretty sure I'm going to turn into an infomerical. 

As for baby, I'm giving birth to a large ham :).  We went for another ultrasound on Wednesday and baby was measuring at 36 weeks and 6 days...3 weeks ahead of schedule.  He's 6 lbs 9 oz according to the ultrasound and growing rapidly.  The doctors are thinking C-Section if he continues to grow because they worry about crushing his shoulders as he travels through the birth canal.  I've been having Braxton Hicks on and off all weekend, and some cramping.  I'm not sure if I'll make it long enough for a C Section...lol :)  I also passed my 3 hour glucose test so no gestational diabetes for me...yay!!!

I'm ready to have this baby and looking forward to the new year.  I'm looking at different challenges, none of which I'll probably complete with a newborn but its still exciting.  There's so many motivational ones out there, and I have so many books I can't wait to read!

As for these past few weeks, I read one book in between the Christmas shopping and family visiting.  I finished Size 12 is Not Fat by Meg Cabot which I loved, and I've been working on Size 14 is Not Fat Either.  I haven't read a lot of Meg Cabot and I'm really enjoying her!

I'm not making any reading goals for the next week, because I don't know what the week holds!  Happy reading everyone and enjoy your new year!!

What are you reading (22)?

It's Monday! What are you reading this week? is a weekly event now hosted by One Persons Journey Through a World Of Books. It's helpful way to take a look at what you have read and what you want to read!

I'm sorry to say, I have yet to read or finish anything since my last "what are you reading post."  We've been super busy at work and by the time I get home, I barely have the energy to make dinner and clean up.  I spent most of this weekend hanging out on the couch watching Christmas movies and drinking hot chocolate. 

I feel HUGE right now, and I know it's only going to get worse.  The baby is big, weighing in around 4.5 lbs already, and I still have a little less than nine weeks to go.  I have a three hour glucose test tomorrow to confirm if I do or do not have gestational diabetes and then I go back to the OB/GYN on Monday the 13th.  I'm curious to see if they change my due date seeing as how big he is. 

I'm a bit behind on reviews, and I have several books started, I just don't seem to have the energy to finish them.  Good news is though, the nursery is completely finished, the baby's clothes are all washed, and my shower is done.  I've been working on thank you cards, and should hopefully finish up my Christmas shopping this week.  Maybe once all that is done, I can find the time and energy to read again!

This week, if the mood strikes, I'd like to finish up Lamb by Christopher Moore and Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen.  I'm not going to make a lot of plans for anything else!

How is your reading week going?