So Many Books, So Little Time

Thursday, November 1, 2012

Completely Contemp Challenge 2012- November Challenge

Completely Contemp Challenge 2012

What books qualify?
Any YA contemporary published in 2010, 2011, or 2012. I have lists on Goodreads that show a selection of possible books for each year but this list is NOT exclusive! As long as it was published in one of those years you may count it towards your challenge list! (And note: anyone can “vote” for a book on Goodreads, so it’s best to check the publication date yourself before officially counting it towards your challenge just in case someone added it in error.)

Contemps published in 2010
Contemps published in 2011
Contemps to be published in 2012

When does the challenge run?
Books read in 2012 count towards this challenge.

Can I count books read here for other challenges?
Sure! The goal here is to get everyone to read a few extra contemporary books, so whatever works for you works for me (Make sure your other challenges allow this before counting for both, though!)

Are there places to participate besides on my blog?
Yes! There is a Goodreads group where you can post reviews and talk about the contemporary books you’re reading

*I am choosing the number 5

2010:

2011:

2012:

2012 Young Adult Reading Challenge- November Update

2012 Young Adult Reading Challenge

Run's January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012.

The Rules:

Anyone can join.

You don't need a blog to participate.

Non-Bloggers: Post your list of books in the comment section of the wrap-up post on Jamie's blog.

Audio, eBooks, paper, re-reads all count.

No need to list your books in advance. You may select books as you go. Even if you list them now, you can change the list if needed.

There are four levels:

The Mini YA Reading Challenge – Read 12 Young Adult novels.

The "Fun Size" YA Reading Challenge – Read 20 Young Adult novels.

The Jumbo Size YA Reading Challenge – Read 40 Young Adult novels.

The Mega size YA Reading Challenge – Read 50+ Young Adult novels.

*I am participating in the Mega size challenge
**I finished this challenge on 8/13 but I am going to keep adding to it to see how many YA books I read this year.

What's in a Name? 5 Challenge- November Update

What's in a Name? 5 Challenge

Here's How It Works:

Between January 1 and December 31, 2012, read one book in each of the following categories:

1.A book with a topographical feature (land formation) in the title: Black Hills, Purgatory Ridge, Emily of Deep Valley

2.A book with something you'd see in the sky in the title: Moon Called, Seeing Stars, Cloud Atlas

3.A book with a creepy crawly in the title: Little Bee, Spider Bones, The Witches of Worm

4.A book with a type of house in the title: The Glass Castle, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest, Ape House

5.A book with something you'd carry in your pocket, purse, or backpack in the title: Sarah's Key, The Scarlet Letter, Devlin Diary

6.A book with a something you'd find on a calendar in the title: Day of the Jackal, Elegy for April, Freaky Friday, Year of Magical Thinking

The book titles are just suggestions, you can read whatever book you want to fit the category.

Other Things to Know:

•Books may be any form (audio, print, e-book).
•Books may overlap other challenges.
•Books may not overlap categories; you need a different book for each category.
•Creativity for matching the categories is not only allowed but encouraged.
•You do not have to make a list of books before hand.
•You do not have to read through the categories in any particular order.

Topographical Feature:
See in the Sky: The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater
Creepy Crawly:
Type of House:
Something You'd Carry in Your Pocket, Purse, or Backpack:
Something You'd Find on a Calendar:

2012 Debut Author Challenge- November Update

2012 Debut Author Challenge

CHALLENGE OBJECTIVE:
•To read & review a minimum of twelve young adult or middle grade debut novels between the dates of January 1, 2012 – January 31, 2013.*
*The 2013 extension is so that December Debuts can be read and count toward the challenge.
•Any advance reader copies you read from 2012 BEFORE the January 1st start date DO NOT count toward the challenge!
•You can read twelve books in one month, or one book a month. It doesn’t matter as long as you have 12 read by the end of the year!

RULES & GUIDELINES:
•You must have a Blog to post your reviews or be a member of Goodreads. Youtube Book Reviewers count too!
•Your blog/video must be written in English.
•Deadline to join is May 31, 2012.

BOOK GUIDELINES:
•Must be a young adult or middle grade title.
•Must be the author’s YA or MG debut, released in 2012.
•If an author has a previous novel published for adults or children, they can still qualify for the challenge.
•If an author has a previous YA or MG title, they do not qualify for the challenge.

MORE INFORMATION ON THE 2012 DAC, CAN BE FOUND HERE!

*I finished the challenge on 5/16 but I am going to keep adding to the list so I can see how many I read this year.

2012 ARC Reading Challenge- November Update

2012 ARC Reading Challenge

Note: I use the term "ARC" loosely,any book a publisher or author gives you with the expectation that you review it, counts for this challenge.

The Levels

Level Bronze:
a. All of us who have or will have less than 12 ARCS must read all of the ARCS we have. Note, that if you have 11 ARC's and then receive a 12th one you will be bumped up to category b.

b. All of us who have or will have 12 or more than 12 ARCS must read and review at least 12.

Level Silver: Read 24 ARCS

Level Gold: Read 30 ARCS

Level Platinum: Read 35 or more ARCS

Rules:

To sign up, leave a direct link to your blog post about this challenge. Please leave a comment as well.

You Can join this challenge at anytime throughout the year.

You don't have to make a list of which ARC's you plan to read, but you can if you want.

If you choose a lower level, you can always change it to a higher level if you like. However, you cannot go from a higher level back down to a lower level.

Crossovers with other challenges are allowed and Audio-books and ebooks are allowed as long as they are ARC's.

Read the books and review them on your blog. If you don't have a blog, you can post your review on sites like Powells, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, etc.

Please subscribe to my blog, as I will be doing a monthly post with MR Linky. Please add your reviews for each month in MR Linky in the monthly post. For your Name, please use this format Name: (Your Name, Book Title and Author's Name) for example: (Teddy, Obsessive Reading by Helen Reader). Please be sure to use the direct link to your review, not just to your blog. Then please leave a comment.

HAVE FUN!

*I will be signing up for the Platinum Level
*I finished this challenge on 5/12 but I am going to keep adding on to it to see how many ARCs I read this year.

2012 Reading Challenge 150+- November Update

2012 Reading Challenge 150+

DETAILS/RULES:

1. The goal is to read 150 or more books. Anyone can join. You don't need a blog to participate. Posting on GoodReads or wherever you post your reviews is good enough.

2. Allowed are: Audio, Re-reads, eBooks, YA, Manga, Graphic Novels, Library books, Novellas, Young Reader, Nonfiction – as long as the book has an ISBN or equivalent or can be purchased as such, the book counts.

What doesn't count: Individual short stories or individual books in the Bible and comic books.

3. No need to list your books in advance. You may select books as you go. Even if you list them now, you can change the list if needed.

4. Crossovers from other reading challenges count.

5. Challenge begins January 1st, 2012 thru December 31, 2012. Books started before the 1st do not count. You can join at anytime.

Sookie Stackhouse Reading Challenge- November Update

Welcome to the Sookie Stackhouse Reading Challenge!

Here's your chance to catch up on Sookie and all her friends -- living and undead, fully human and not.

It's easy, it's fun, it's for you! And you have an entire year to complete the challenge.

The Rules:
1. Between July 1, 2009, and June 30, 2010, catch up on Charlaine Harris's Southern Vampire series. No matter if you're starting with book 1 or book 8, you have a year to read all about Sookie. Read Sookie in print, listen to the audio, read an eBook -- format is not an issue.

*ETA--I didn't complete this one on time, but I am going to still keep track of what I have read.

The Books:
~~Dead Until Dark~~
~~Living Dead in Dallas~~
~~Club Dead~~
~~Dead to the World~~
~~Dead as a Doornail~~
~~Definitely Dead~~
~~All Together Dead~~
~~From Dead to Worse~~
~~Dead and Gone~~
~~Dead in the Family~~
~~Dead Reckoning~~

Short stories:
~~Bite~~
Powers of Detection
Night's Edge
My Big Fat Supernatural Wedding
Many Bloody Returns
Wolfbane and Mistletoe
Unusual Suspects
Strange Brew
Must Love Hellhounds
A Touch of Dead
Between the Dark and Daylight
Crimes by Moonlight
Death's Excellent Vacation
Down These Strange Streets
The Sookie Stackhouse Companion

There are also Sookie and gang short stories and an up-coming anthology! For more, see Charlaine Harris's website.

I probably won't start this one for while, but I wanted to post it now.

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Waiting on Wednesday- October 31, 2012

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:
Nameless: A Tale of Beauty and Madness
by Lili St. Crow
Publication Release Date: April 4, 2013

From Goodreads:

When Camille was six years old, she was discovered alone in the snow by Enrico Vultusino, godfather of the Seven—the powerful Families that rule magic-ridden New Haven. Papa Vultusino adopted the mute, scarred child, naming her after his dead wife and raising her in luxury on Haven Hill alongside his own son, Nico.

Now Cami is turning sixteen. She’s no longer mute, though she keeps her faded scars hidden under her school uniform, and though she opens up only to her two best friends, Ruby and Ellie, and to Nico, who has become more than a brother to her. But even though Cami is a pampered Vultusino heiress, she knows that she is not really Family. Unlike them, she is a mortal with a past that lies buried in trauma. And it’s not until she meets the mysterious Tor, who reveals scars of his own, that Cami begins to uncover the secrets of her birth…to find out where she comes from and why her past is threatening her now.

New York Times bestselling author Lili St. Crow thrilled legions of fans with her dark paranormal series Strange Angels. Now she has crafted an evocative update of Snow White, set in a vividly imagined world and populated by unforgettable new characters.

Book Review- Fifty Shades Freed

I just finished reading Fifty Shades Freed by E.L. James.

From Goodreads:

When unworldly student Ana Steele first encountered the driven, damaged young entrepreneur Christian Grey, it sparked a sensual affair that changed both their lives irrevocably. Shocked, intrigued, and ultimately repelled by Christian's singular sexual tastes, Ana demanded a deeper commitment; determined to keep her, Christian agreed. Now, together, they have more-love, passion, intimacy, wealth, and a world of infinite possibilities. But Ana always knew that loving her Fifty Shades would not be easy and being together poses challenges neither of them ever anticipated. Ana must somehow learn to share Christian's opulent lifestyle without sacrificing her own integrity, identity, or independence; Christian must somehow overcome his compulsion to control and lay to rest the horrors that blighted his past and haunt his present. Just when it seems that together their love can conquer any obstacle, tragedy, malice and fate combine to make Ana's worst nightmares come true.

I really enjoyed the first two book in this series and couldn't wait to read this one. I had heard several people say this was the worst of the three but I went in with an open mind. Unfortunately, I have to agree with them.

In the first two books, I was immediately engrossed in the story. But in this book, there are a couple of flashbacks which I think just threw the book off. And I never completely got into it. Another thing I had heard people complain about was that Ana was so repetitive with all of her thoughts. I never really was bothered by them until this book. If I had to read one more "oh my poor Fifty", I might have screamed.

A lot happened in this book. I felt like the author was trying to cram a bunch of things in and wrap up the trilogy all in one. Now don't get my wrong. I still enjoyed reading the story. But just nowhere as much as the other ones.

I gave this book a rating of 3.5/5.

This book fulfills items in the following challenges:
2012 Reading Challenge 150+: 78
Completely Contemp Challenge 2012: 2011-4
2012 Mammoth Book Challenge: 8

*FTC Disclosure: I bought this book.