Bout of Books 9.0 Signup

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, January 6th and runs through Sunday, January 12th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure, and the only reading competition is between you and your usual number of books read in a week. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 9.0 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

This is my 5th Bout of Books and I love this read-a-thon. I find new blogs to follow, usually get quite a bit of reading done, and participate in all the fun challenges. Thanks again to Amanda and Kelly for hosting! I will post a reading and goals post soon!

January Random Read: Touch of Frost

This is a meme hosted by Sarah at imlovingbooks.com. You can choose to use Goodreads or create your own list or use your bookshelves.  The idea is to use random.org and type in the number of books on your list. Whatever number you receive is your random read for the month. I have decided  to use the books on my Kindle as my list. I buy or get free far too many books on my Kindle and then never read them. I last finished a Random Read in July and then failed the two months after that, so I am finally trying again! I love this challenge, because I usually get a book I have long overlooked. The number of books on my Kindle stands at 411. Really!?! My number for this month is...392, which is Touch of Frost by Jennifer Estep. I vaguely remember purchasing this.

K-Teen

It sounds pretty good, kinda Harry Potterish and Percy Jackson like, since it is a school of myths and magic. I am excited to give it a try! My review is here.

2014 Challenge signups

2014 Review Pile Reading Challenge is hosted by Rachel @ Fiktshun and Reanna @ Phantasmic Reads! You can sign up at this link. This challenge is to help you get through books you received from Edelweiss or Netgalley or even physical copies. I am going to try to do the Apprentice Level of 1-10 books. They will have review link ups for each month.



In the Middle Reading is hosted by Rachael Turns Pages. You can sign up at this link. I usually read at least a few books that fit the 300-450 page range. I am going to try for Cruising through the Pages, which is the 10 books level.

Kristin Hannah Reading Challenge

This is also hosted by Rachael Turns Pages and you can sign up at this link. I am going to try for Walk Down the Road and read 1 or 2 Kristin Hannah books. I keep wanting to pick up Magic Hour and I may try Firefly Lane, since Rachael recommends it.


This is hosted by Karen at Books and Chocolate and the signup link is here.
The categories are as follows:
 Required:

1. A 20th Century Classic
2. A 19th Century Classic
3. A Classic by a Woman Author
4. A Classic in Translation  If English is not your primary language, then books originally published in English are acceptable.  You could also read the book in its original language if you are willing and able to do so.
5. A Classic About War  2014 will be the 100th anniversary of the beginning of World War I.  Any book relating to a war is fine -- WWI, WWII, the French Revolution, the War of the Worlds -- your choice.
6. A Classic by an Author Who Is New To You This can be any author whose works you have not read before.  It doesn't necessarily have to be an author you've never heard of.  

Optional Categories:

1. An American Classic
2. A Classic Mystery, Suspense or Thriller 
3. A Historical Fiction Classic.  This is any classic set at least 50 years before the time when it was written.  For example, Margaret Mitchell published Gone with the Wind 70 years after the end of the Civil War; therefore, it is considered a historical novel.  A Tale of Two Cities and The Scarlet Letter are also historical novels.  However, older classics set during the period in which they were written are not considered historical; for example, the novels of Jane Austen.
4. A Classic That's Been Adapted Into a Movie or TV Series.  Any period, any genre!  This is practically a free choice category.  However, it's a separate category than the required categories.
5. Extra Fun Category:  Write a Review of the Movie or TV Series adapted from Optional Category #4.  This should be some kind of posting reviewing the book read for the previous optional category above.  It can be any adaptation -- does not have to be adapted before 1964.  For example, if you chose Pride and Prejudice as your the optional classic above, you could review any adaptation -- 1940, 1980, 1995, 2005, etc. These two optional categories go together, but this must be a separate blog posting -- no fair just mentioning it in the book review!

 I am going to try to do the 6 required categories. I want to read Emma by Austen this year and I need to read Animal Farm, since everyone else has read it. Other than that, I don't know what I will pick up!
 
This is a challenge which will help me out at work! It is hosted by Julie at Smiling Shelves and the signup link is here. I am going to try for the L'Engle level of 15 to 29 points and hopefully read at least 5 Newbery books. I do read quite a bit of the Caldecott books during storytime and school visits, but I neglect the Newbery.



This is hosted by Debz at Debz Bookshelf and you can click here to sign up! I did this challenge last year and loved it, so I had to sign up again. This runs from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2014. There are different levels to choose from and this year I am choosing Lady in Waiting: 7 to 9 books.
I will keep track of my reading on this page. Thanks again to Debz for hosting!



This is hosted by Bev at My Reader's Block and you can click here to sign up! I have been in a rereading mood lately and hope to reread a few series books this next year. I am going to try for the Feeling Nostalgic level of 8 rereads! I will keep track of my rereads on this page. Thanks to Bev for hosting!



This is hosted by Emily at Falling for YA and you can sign up here.

Anyone can join and the only requirement is that the eARC came from Netgalley or Edelweiss.
I have so many egalleys that I need to read and I am going to try for the Bronze level of 10 books. I will keep track of my progress on this page.



This is hosted by Melissa at Melissa's Eclectic Bookshelf and you can sign up here. 
There are a few books on my TBR list that would fit this challenge. I am going to try for the Initiate level of 1-5 books.

2014 Book Bingo Reading Challenge

I loved this challenge last year and definitely had to sign up for this one again. This is hosted by Anne from Creativity’s Corner and Kristilyn from Reading in Winter.
You can sign up at this link.
I am going to attempt a coverall this year, but we will see!

This is a picture of the board:






Thanks again to Anne and Kristilyn for hosting!

Book Bingo 2013 wrapup

This is my final total in the Book Bingo challenge.

In the TBR category I read a total of 12 books.

Ten

Always a Witch

Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy

Achieving Apollo

Monstrous Beauty

Once a Witch

The Will of the Empress

The Night Dance

The Red Garden

Shatterglass

Crimson Thread

Beauty Sleep

 

In the Series category I  read a total of 13 books.

House of Hades

 

Earthbound

The Girl with the Iron Touch

Hero

 

Full Moon Kisses

Professor Gargoyle

Prodigy

Opal

Iron Daughter

The Gathering

Crescendo

Silence

Onyx

 

In the Books released in 2013, I filled all my squares for a total of 13 books.

Midnight in Austenland-Free Square-picked by Vinitha

Life After Theft

School Spirits

Wild Song

Rapunzel Untangled

The Art of Wishing

The Dead and the Buried

Towering

Jinx

Goddess Inheritance

Shadowhunters and Downworlders

Mind Games

Day of Doom

 

In the Books that Everyone but You Has Read category I finished 12 books.

Pride and Prejudice
 

Along for the Ride

Call Me Mrs. Miracle

 

Shelter

Unstoppable

Mrs. Miracle

Looking for Alaska   

Vampire Academy

Pretty Little Liars

My Soul to Take

Austenland

Dealing with Dragons

In the Rereads category I finished all 15 books

All 7 Harry Potter books

All 5 Percy Jackson and the Olympians books

Legend by Marie Lu

Dirty Little Secrets by CJ Omolou

The Alychemyst by Michael Scott

I had two slots left on TBR, the one book and the two book square. I had the two book square left on Series and the one book and two book square left on Everybody Has Read column. Thanks to Anne and Kristilyn for hosting and I will be doing this challenge again next year!

2013 Challenges Wrapup

I participated in a few year long challenges and here is how I did!
 
This challenge is hosted by Melissa at One Librarian's Book Reviews (1lbr). The idea is to read a classic book or original story, fairy tale, or mythology and compare that to a retelling or a book that relates to the classic story. I tried for the Medium Challenge, which is two pairs or four books.
Pair Number 1
Ten by Gretchen McNeil/And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie-reviewed here.
Pair Number 2 Towering by Alex Flinn/ Rapunzel by the Brothers Grimm-reviewed here.
I completed this challenge! I hope Melissa hosts this one again!

2013 Dusty Bookshelf Challenge

This challenge is hosted by Jessica at Books A True Story. The goal is to read books that have been sitting on your shelves for a long time or ones on your to be read list that you may or may not own. I chose the Dust Bunny level of 5-10 books and completed 5!
1. Shatterglass by Tamora Pierce- on shelf 4 years.
2. Achieving Apollo by Rachael Leslie- on shelf for a year and a half.
3. Will of the Empress by Tamora Pierce- on shelf 5 years!
4. Austenland by Shannon Hale-on shelf 3 years.
5. Looking for Alaska by John Green- on shelf 5 years!
Jessica is not hosting this as a blog challenge this year, but I had fun the two years I did this challenge.

2013 Paranormal Reading Challenge

This is a paranormal reading challenge hosted by Megan Likes Books and Jessi at Auntie Spinelli Reads. The goal is to read at least 12 paranormal books, at least one each in different categories. I did read 13 books in this challenge, but I did not complete a book for the zombie category, so this is a partial fail.

1. Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead
2. Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick

3. Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa
4. Full Moon Kisses by Ellen Schrieber
5. Silence by Becca Fitzpatrick
6. The Art of Wishing by Lindsay Ribar
7. The Dead and the Buried by Kim Harrington
8. Onyx by Jennifer Armentrout
9. Opal by Jennifer Armentrout

10. Monstrous Beauty by Elizabeth Fama

11. Once a Witch by Colleen MacCullough
12. Dealing with Dragons by Patricia Wrede
13. House of Hades by Rick Riordan 

2013 Sequel Challenge

This was hosted by Jessi at Auntie Spinelli Reads.
1. Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa
 2. Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick
 3. Goddess Inheritance by Aimee Carter
 4. Full Moon Kisses by Ellen Schrieber
 5. Silence by Becca Fitzpatrick
 6. Onyx by Jennifer Armentrout
 7. Prodigy by Marie Lu
 8. Opal by Jennifer Armentrout
 9. Die for Her by Amy Plum
10. Always a Witch by Colleen MacCullough
11. Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy by Ally Carter
12. House of Hades by Rick Riordan
I wanted to finish twelve and I did!

2013 Fairy Tales Retold Reading Challenge

I signed up for the 2013 Fairy Tales Retold Challenge hosted by Debz Bookshelf! My goal was to conquer the Lady in Waiting level and read 5 books. I was able to finish 6 books! I am participating in this challenge again in 2014!
1. The Night Dance by Suzanne Weyn
2. The Crimson Thread by Suzanne Weyn
3. Beauty Sleep by Cameron Dokey
4. Rapunzel Untangled by Cindy Bennett
5. Towering by Alex Flinn
6. Hero by Althea Kontis

2013 Telling Tales Challenge

This was hosted by Bex at An Armchair by the Sea. I tried for Troll Under the Bridge Level, which is 5 books and finished 6 books!
 My books for this challenge:
1. The Night Dance by Suzanne Weyn
2. The Crimson Thread by Suzanne Weyn
3. Beauty Sleep by Cameron Dokey
4. Rapunzel Untangled by Cindy Bennett
5. Towering by Alex Flinn
6. Hero by Althea Kontis

2013 New Authors Challenge
 The New Authors Challenge is hosted by Jackie at Literary Escapism. The idea is to find new authors that you haven't tried to read in the past. You can pick 15, 25, or 50 new authors. I tried for 15 authors and after looking back through my compiled books read list I finished with 18, however I forgot to link up any reviews, so this was only a partial success.
1. Ten by Gretchen McNeil
2. Art of Wishing by Lindsay Ribar

3. Jinx by Sage Blackwood
4. Rapunzel Untangled by Cindy Bennett
5. Wild Song by Jane Eagland
6. Professor Gargoyle by Charles Gilman
7. My Soul to Take by Rachel Vincent
8. Monstrous Beauty by Elizabeth Fama
9. Once a Witch by Colleen MacCullough
10. Shelter by Harlan Coben
11. Unstoppable by Tim Gree
12. Mrs. Miracle by Debbie Macomber
13. Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen
14. Day of Doom by David Baldacci
15. Achieving Apollo by Rachael Leslie
16. Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard
17. Astronaut Wives Club by Lily Koppel
18. Dealing with Dragons by Patricia Wrede

 

I will be posting my wrapup for the Book Bingo soon!

Seriously Series Reading Challenge 2014

The Seriously Series Reading Challenge is hosted by Kelly at Reading the Paranormal and you can sign up at this link. I am going to try for Semi-Serious in all categories.

	series started before 2014	series started in 2014	series rereads
Semi-Serious	1-6 series	1-6	1-6
Seriously Serious	7-12	7-12	7-12
Super Seriously Serious	13-18	13-18	13-18
Seriously Spectacular Series Star	18+	18+	18+

FYI, reading novellas and short stories from a series does count here -- if you want it to!
I hope to reread the The Kane Chronicles by Riordan and the Lemony Snicket Series of Unfortunate Events. I am going to reread the Alchemyst series by Michael Scott, but I already reread the first book this year, so I don't know if I can count that series for this challenge. For the series started before 2014, I would like to finish the Iron Fey series by Kagawa, the Infernal Devices series by Cassandra Clare, the Heroes of Olympus series by Riordan, and the Legend trilogy by Lu. I am not for sure what series I  will start in 2014 and I will probably add more choices to the other two categories.
I will keep track of my progress here.