Not So Fast! The 2013 and 2014 ARC Reading Challenge

One more wrap-up to do.

Here I was thinking I'd finally got all my 2013 reading challenges wrapped up.  Well, all the ones that needed wrapping, anyway.  But it seems I've still got one more to do — the 2013 ARC Reading Challenge.  And since I'm going to join up for the 2014 edition as well, I'm just going to let this post serve double duty as a wrap-up/sign-up post.  OK?  OK.

Well, for the 2013 ARC Challenge, I signed up at the Bronze Level — I had about a dozen books to read and fully intended to get through them all by the end of the year.  Silly me.  I ended the year with more than two dozen ARCs/galley proofs/books from publishers/etc. — and read fewer than half of those.  I'm not going to list all the books here, but I've got them all listed on my challenge blog (HERE), so you can take a look at the titles if you'd like.

OK, I think that's a wrap.  Many thanks to Teddy Rose @ So Many Precious Books, So Little Time for doing such a magnificent job of hosting.

And...thanks to Teddy Rose for hosting again in 2014.  

For the 2014 ARC Reading Challenge, I'm throwing caution to the wind and signing up at the Silver Level (Read 24 ARCs).  I've already got at least 24 books that qualify and that I really, really need to get read and reviewed.  And I can pretty much assure myself that I WILL be acquiring more as the year goes on.

And that's my sign-up post.  During the year I'll be tracking my progress over on my challenge blog (HERE).  Now I just need to get back to my reading.

Happy New Year, everyone! And happy reading in Twenty-Fourteen!

The Rest of the Wrap-Ups: 2013 Reading Challenges

2013 Mystery/Crime Reading Challenge

Hosted by Amy @ The Crafty Book Nerd (now A Bookish Girl)

I read 13 books for the 2013 Mystery/Crime Challenge, but didn't manage to review them all.  Here's my list (with links to reviews):

1. Cat on the Scent. Rita Mae Brown
2. The Lost Symbol. Dan Brown
3. Cold Remains. Sally Spedding
4. Guilt. Jonathan Kellerman
5. Fer-de-Lance. Rex Stout 
6. A Fearful Madness. Julius Falconer
7. Inferno. Dan Brown
8. Death By a HoneyBee. Abigail Keam
9. A Fatal Likeness. Lyn Shepherd 
10. The Book of Secrets. Elizabeth Joy Arnold
11. Night Film. Marisha Pessl 
12. Double Indemnity. James M. Cain
13. Evil Under the Sun. Agatha Christie

2013 Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge

Hosted by The Book Vixen

For the 2013 Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge, I signed up at the "Out of Breath" level, and aimed to read 6-10 more books than I read in 2012.  As it turned out, I didn't quite make that goal.  But I read a total of 39 books, which was four more than I read last year; so I'm considering this a pretty successful challenge.  I won't list all the books here, but I've got a list over on my challenge blog if you want to take a look at the titles.

Vintage Mystery Reading Challenge 2013: Scattergories

Hosted by Bev @ My Readers Block

OK, I completely wiped out with this challenge.  I just never really got going with this one; never even got my "scattergories" figured out - so I'm admitting total defeat.  Sometimes these things happen.  I do apologize to Bev who did a great job of hosting.  I've already signed up for her 2014 Vintage Mystery Bingo Challenge, and I promise to try and do a better job with that one.  (Seriously!)

What's in a Name 6

Hosted by Beth Fish Reads

Here's what I read for the What's in a Name 6 Reading Challenge (with links to reviews):

• Category #1 (a book with up or down or equivalent in title):
  Evil Under the Sun. Agatha Christie
• Category #2 (a book with something you'd find in your kitchen in the title):
  Death By a HoneyBee. Abigail Keam
• Category #3 (a book with a party or celebration in the title):
  The Shooting Party. Isabel Colegate
• Category #4 (a book with fire or equivalent in the title):
  The Heat of the Sun. David Rain (See Review)
• Category #5 (a book with an emotion in the title):
  The Happy Hollisters. Jerry West (See Review)
• Category #6 (a book with lost or found in the title):
  The Lost Symbol. Dan Brown (See Review)

This has always been one of my favorite challenges, and I'm really sorry I didn't get more reviews written.  But I did read a book for each category, so for me it was a total success.  Especially since it helped me discover one of my new favorite writers, Isabel Colegate.

Well .... I think that's about it for my 2013 challenges.  All the hosts deserve a huge thank-you for doing such great work.  These challenges (even the ones I fail at completely) do keep me reading - my books-per-year count has definitely gone up since I've been joining them.  So I'll keep on signing up.  Which reminds me - I still have a few more sign-up posts to write!

Challenge Wrap-Up: 2013 Middle East Reading Challenge

2013 Middle East Reading Challenge

For the 2013 Middle East Reading Challenge, I signed up at the Tourist Level (1-5 books).  I ended up reading just one book for the challenge, but it was a good one: Clea, by Lawrence Durrell (see review).  I had hoped to get in some nonfiction too, but it was not to be.  This was a good idea for a challenge - I'd like to see it continue.

2013 Reading Challenge Wrap-Ups

Now that Christmas has come and gone, I think it's time to wrap up a few more challenges.  I'll start with two that sort of go together.

Books in Translation Reading Challenge 2013

Hosted by: Introverted Reader

I signed up for this one at the "Beginner" Level (1-3 books), and actually read three books.  Never managed to get reviews posted, but I suppose that could still happen before the year ends.  What I read:

1. Chéri. Colette (translated by Roger Senhouse)
2. Ignorance. Milan Kundera (translated by Linda Asher)
3. Invisible Cities. Italo Calvino (translated by William Weaver)

I enjoyed Ignorance quite a lot, but struggled with Invisible Cities and Chéri.  But I had fun with the challenge and want to thank Introverted Reader for hosting.  If a 2014 edition were offered, I'd definitely consider signing up again.

European Reading Challenge 2013

Hosted by: Rose City Reader

Signed up at the Five Star (Deluxe Entourage) Level, and should have read at least five books, but only read four.  Still, I consider that pretty successful, given my overall reading record for 2013.  Here's what I read:

1. Cold Remains. Sally Spedding (Wales, UK)
2. Ignorance. Milan Kundera (mostly set in Czechoslovakia)
3. Inferno. Dan Brown (Italy)
4. Chéri. Colette (France)

Again, not many reviews (just that one for Cold Remains).  Of the four, I suppose Ignorance was my favorite, although Inferno was fun (not the best Dan Brown book I've read, but still very entertaining).

This was a great challenge, and I'm thinking seriously of signing up for the 2014 edition.  Rose City Reader deserves a huge thank-you for hosting.

So, that's two more wrap-ups.  More to come....

2013 Historical Fiction Reading Challenge: Wrap-Up

Isn't that a wonderful button?

The 2013 Historical Fiction Reading Challenge was hosted by Historical Tapestry.  I signed up at the "Victorian Reader" level (read five books), and actually read seven books that would qualify.  As usual, I haven't managed to review ALL of them (I might work on that in the next couple of days), but here's my list, with links to the reviews that I did get written:

1. The Heat of the Sun. David Rain
2. The Flamethrowers. Rachel Kushner 
3. Clea. Lawrence Durrell 
4. Is This Tomorrow. Caroline Leavitt (review to come)
5. A Fatal Likeness. Lyn Shepherd (review to come)
6. The Shooting Party. Isabel Colegate  
7. The 13 Clocks. James Thurber 

I was hoping to do a little better than that - this is one of my favorite challenges, and I want to say thank you to the challenge hosts.  If there's a 2014 edition of the challenge, maybe I can give it another try. 

2013 Nonfiction Reading Challenge: The Wrap-Up

The 2013 Nonfiction Reading Challenge was hosted by The Introverted Reader.  I signed up at the "Dilettante" level (1-5 books), and read one book:

Darwin's Ghosts: The Secret History of Evolution, by Rebecca Stott

Not a great achievement - I really need to work more nonfiction into my reading routine.  Still, I enjoyed the one book I read, and want to thank my host for giving me some motivation.

Challenge Wrap-Up: 2013 Pre-1960 Classic Children's Books

Dates: January 1 - December 31, 2013

I believe this challenge might have slowly died over the course of the year.  It was hosted by Kimberly @ Turning the Pages, but I don't think she's been doing updates lately.  Which is OK, since I haven't been doing reviews for the books I read, either.  But I thought I should go ahead and do a little wrap-up post - especially since the books I read provided some of my favorite reading moments of the year.

Here's my list:

1. The Happy Hollisters, by Jerry West (1953) 

 2. Half Magic, by Edward Eager (1954)

 3. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum (1900)

 4. Pretty Polly Flinders, by Mary Frances Blaisdell (1914)

 

5. The 13 Clocks, by James Thurber (1950)

I also started, and then abandoned, Mistress Masham's Repose by T.H. White.

Just couldn't get into it.  The "little people" in the book turned out not to have anything very magical or special about them, aside from being tiny.  Yes, that's intriguing, but I just needed something more.  Frankly, it was actually sort of boring.  Well, one clinker out of half a dozen isn't bad, I suppose.

So, thanks to Kimberly for hosting the challenge, and spurring me into reading a few of the books I've been meaning to read for years now.

Wrapping Up the Chunkster

The 2013 Chunkster Challenge actually runs through December 31st, but I'm wrapping it up now - even though I've only read two of the four books I intended to read when I signed up at the "Chubby Chunkster" level.  Realistically, I don't think it's likely I'll have time to read any other BIG books before the end of the year, so I'm admitting partial defeat and bowing out now.

The two chunkies I finished were:

The Lost Symbol, by Dan Brown
(509 pages in hardcover)

and

Night Film, by Marisha Pessl
(602 pages in hardcover)

I cheated just a smidge with that second one, as I started reading it on my Kindle.  But almost immediately I realized I needed to read a print version to see all the illustrations, which are a major part of the narrative.  So, I actually ended up reading nearly 600 pages of it in print.  (No, really - I did!)  Will get my review up in a day or so and add the link.

So, that's about it.  My thanks to Wendy and Vasilly for hosting - it was a fun challenge, even though I only made it halfway.  Maybe next time....

R.eaders I.mbibing P.eril / VIII: The (Very Late) Wrap-up

I know, I know - the RIP/VIII reading event actually ended with the month of October.  Well, the month of October sort of got away from me this year, folks - so, I'm just now getting around to writing my wrap-up.  Yeah, it's been that kind of year.

I do love this challenge and I seriously regret making such a hash of it this year.  Will try to do better with Number IX, if Carl decides to treat us all to another go-round next year.   (Fingers crossed!)

Anyway, I read three books for the challenge/event.  Haven't posted any reviews yet, but I am working on that (still playing catch-up on all my reviews for 2013).  Since I signed up for Peril the First, I was aiming for four books, but didn't quite make it.  I did much better with Peril on the Screen: managed to watch lots and lots of scary stuff (Turner Classic Movies always comes through this time of year).  Didn't do separate reviews of those either, but I've gone ahead and listed them here for your list-reading pleasure (I LOVE a good list). 

MY BOOK LIST:

1. Night Film. Marisha Pessl
2. The Small Hand and Dolly. Susan Hill  
3. The Case of Charles Dexter Ward. H.P. Lovecraft

MY SCREEN PERIL LIST, Part I (Movies):

1. The Baby's Room (2006) Spanish horror film, apparently made for TV.  Altogether a fairly mediocre movie, but the shtick of ghostly happenings recorded on baby monitors was good and creepy.
2. Badlands (1973) Very disturbing film about a couple of very disturbed individuals.  And who does disturbed-and-disturbing better than Martin Sheen and Sissy Spacek?
3. Cat People (1942) Simone Simon is fascinatingly feline in this original version directed by Jacques Tourneur.
4. The Devil Doll (1936) Lionel Barrymore in drag! Who wouldn't love that?
5. Diary of a Madman (1963) Vincent Price screamer set in France; from a story by Guy de Maupassant.
6. The Fall of the House of Usher (1960) Vincent Price OWNS Edgar Allan Poe, doesn't he?  I've always loved the way the house sinks into the bog at the end - wonderfully cheesy.  (Oops! spoiler alert!)
7. The Haunted Palace (1963) More Vincent Price; this time in a film version of H.P. Lovecraft's "The Case of Charles Dexter Ward" - with a title borrowed from Edgar Poe.
8. Horror Castle (1963) Italian horror flick with Christopher Lee. Women being tortured and killed by a deformed, hooded, holocaust survivor.  Felt like taking a shower after this one.
9. Horror of Dracula (1958) One of the best versions of Bram Stoker's tale; probably my favorite, although I do love Frank Langella as the Count.
10. The Legend of Lucy Keyes (2005) Evil real estate developers? Now that's scary.
11. Mary Reilly (1996) I'm not a Julia Roberts fan, but she's actually pretty good in this. Love Malkovich, though, and he makes a great Hyde.
12. The Mask of Fu Manchu (1932) Boris Karloff as the evil Dr. FM. Can't believe I'd never seen this one before.
13. Mirrors (2008) Another one of those stories with mirrors as a gateway for ghosts and spirits. Actually a pretty watchable film, but the ending was a little confusing.
14. The Mummy (1932) The "original" version with Boris Karloff and Zita Johann - still the best and the scariest.
15. The Ninth Gate (1999) One of my all-time favorite films, by one of my all-time favorite directors, based on one of my all-time favorite books. What could be better?
16. Nosferatu (1922) A creepy classic. 
17. The Reeds (2010)  What the....?  Have no idea what was going on in this one.  In the running for worst horror film ever made.
18. Sea of Love (1989) Love Pacino. Love cop movies. Pacino + cop movie = perfection.
19. The Seventh Victim (1943) Satanic cults in Greenwich Village. Yeah, I can buy that. Kim Hunter in her very first film.
20. 007 - I also watched a handful of James Bond movies.  Not spooky, but I suppose they do qualify in the suspense/mystery/thriller category.  The list:
    Dr. No (1962)
    From Russia With Love (1963)
    The Man With the Golden Gun (1974)
    The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)
    For Your Eyes Only (1981)
    Licence To Kill (1989)

MY SCREEN PERIL LIST, Part II (TV shows):

1. The Blacklist (2013; pilot episode)
2. Broadchurch (2013; mini-series)
3. Doctor Who: The Power of Three (2012; Season 7/Episode 4)
4. Doctor Who: The Angels Take Manhattan (2012; 7/5)
5. Doctor Who: The Snowmen (2012; 7/6)
6. Doctor Who: The Bells of St. John (2013; 7/7)
7. Doctor Who: The Rings of Akhaten (2013; 7/8)
8. Doctor Who: Cold War (2013; 7/9)
9. Doctor Who: Hide (2013; 7/10)
10. Inspector George Gently: Gently Northern Soul (2012; Season 5/Episode 1)
11. Midsomer Murders: The Electric Vendetta (2001; Season 4 / Episode 3)
12. Midsomer Murders: Who Killed Cock Robin? (2001; 4/4)
13. Midsomer Murders: Dark Autumn (2001; 4/5)
14. Midsomer Murders: Tainted Fruit (2001; 4/6)
15. Midsomer Murders: Market for Murder (2002; 5/1)
16. Midsomer Murders: A Worm in the Bud (2002; 5/2)
17. Midsomer Murders: Ring Out Your Dead (2002; 5/3)
18. Midsomer Murders: Murder on St. Malley's Day (2002; 5/4)
19. Midsomer Murders: A Talent for Life (2003; 6/1)
20. Midsomer Murders: Death and Dreams (2003; 6/2)
21. Midsomer Murders: Painted in Blood (2003; 6/3)
22. Midsomer Murders: A Tale of Two Hamlets (2003; 6/4)
23. Midsomer Murders: Birds of Prey (2003; 6/5)
24. Midsomer Murders: The Green Man (2003; 7/1)
25. Midsomer Murders: Bad Tidings (2004; 7/2)
26. Midsomer Murders: The Fisher King (2004; 7/3)
27. Midsomer Murders: Sins of Commission (2004; 7/4)
28. Midsomer Murders: The Maid in Splendour (2004; 7/5)
29. Midsomer Murders: The Straw Woman (2004; 7/6)
30. Midsomer Murders: Ghosts of Christmas Past (2004; 7/7)
31. Midsomer Murders: Things That Go Bump in the Night (2004; 8/1)

So, that's it. My thanks to Carl over at Stainless Steel Droppings for hosting this wonderful annual event. I can't resist it, and I'm already making my list for 2014. (Did I mention that I LOVE a good list?)

R.eaders I.mbibing P.eril / VIII

It's that time of year again! September is just around the corner, cool winds are starting to blow, and autumn mists are on their way.  Well, theoretically anyway.  Around here, we're still having triple digit heat and any mists come from a sprinkler at the end of a garden hose.  But summer is drawing to a close, and that means the arrival of another edition (number 8!) of the RIP (R.eaders I.mbibing P.eril) Reading Event, hosted annually by Carl V. Anderson of Stainless Steel Droppings.

I LOVE this challenge/event.  So, even though I'm ridiculously far from reaching any reading goals I may have had for this year, I'll definitely be signing up for RIP/VIII.  It runs from September 1st to October 31st, and it includes some of my favorite genres: Mystery, Suspense, Thriller, Dark Fantasy, Gothic, Horror, Supernatural. You can read about it in detail and sign up on the announcement page (HERE). There are several different levels of participation -- I'll be signing up for Peril The First, so I'll be reading at least four books.

I'm still thinking about what I'll be reading, but my list of possibilities includes:

• The Asylum, by John Harwood
• Bellman & Black, by Diane Setterfield
• The Case of Charles Dexter Ward, by H.P. Lovecraft
• The Ghost Writer, by John Harwood
• Murder Among Us, by Ann Granger
• The Small Hand & Dolly, by Susan Hill
• Stranded, by Alex Kava

Again this year, there's also Peril on the Screen, for those of us who (as Carl says) "like to watch suitably scary, eerie, mysterious gothic fare during this time of year."  That definitely describes moi, so I'll be taking on this peril, too.  Probably won't be doing too many reviews, but I'll be keeping a list of all the movies and TV shows I watch.

So, here we go again.  I'll be tracking my progress on my challenge blog (HERE).  Now I'm off to sign up and start reading.

2013 Nonfiction Reading Challenge

Hosted by: The Introverted Reader
Dates: 1 January - 31 December 2013
See the challenge announcement/sign-up page here

As the challenge host says:

Read any non-fiction book(s), adult or young adult. That's it. You can choose anything. Memoirs? Yes. History? Yes. Travel? Yes. You get the idea? Absolutely anything that is classified as non-fiction counts for this challenge.

I generally read at least a few nonfiction books each year, and there are several on my "must read" list for this year.  So this challenge sounds perfect for me.  But I'm playing it safe and signing up at the "Dilettante" level (1-5 books) -- I think that should be very doable.  Tracking my progress on my challenge blog (HERE).

2013 Books in Translation Reading Challenge

Hosted by: The Introverted Reader
Dates: 1 January - 31 December 2013
See the challenge announcement/sign-up page here

This one should fit right in with a few of the other challenges I've signed up for -- like the European Challenge and the Middle East Challenge.  Fortunately, crossovers are allowed in all of them. 

For the Books in Translation Reading Challenge, any genre or format is acceptable and the books can be translated from any language into the language you're comfortable reading.  I'll be going for the "Beginner" level (1-3 books), but would really love to move up to "Conversationalist" (4-6 books).  Just have to see how things go.  During the year, I'll be tracking my progress over on my challenge blog (HERE). 

2013 Book Blogger Recommendation Challenge

What, another one???!!!

I know I said "not so many this year" -- well, I say that every year, but this year I really meant it.  (Do you sense a big HOWEVER coming?)

However, after I signed up for the Chunkster Challenge earlier today, that made thirteen challenges for this year, and I've always been very superstitious about the number 13.  Sooooo, it was absolutely necessary to sign up for one more, just to feel safe. I mean, you can see that, can't you?

So, necessity is the mother of insanity here. 

And this is one I had my eye on, anyway.  The 2013 Book Blogger Recommendation Challenge is hosted by Jennifer at Reading with Tequila, and runs from January to December 2013.  The idea is to read books from a master list of books recommended by a dozen book bloggers (see the list here), and there are five different levels of participation to choose from.  I'll be signing up at Level I, so I'll be reading five books from the list.  An advance list isn't required, but right now I'm thinking about:

1. The Bell Jar. Sylvia Plath
2. In Cold Blood. Truman Capote
3. The Night Circus. Erin Morgenstern
4. The Nine Billion Names of God. Arthur C. Clarke
5. The Prestige. Christopher Priest

But that could change.  I'll be keeping track of all my challenge reading over on my challenge blog, HERE. 

Chunkster Reading Challenge 2013

One more challenge I just couldn't pass up.  (You knew there'd be more.)

Haven't taken part in the Chunkster Challenge for the last couple of years, but I have several big books on my TBR list this year and I'm hoping this challenge will help me remember to read them.  The Chunkster Challenge is hosted by Caribousmom and Vasilly, and runs through December 2013.  There's a dedicated blog HERE, and a sign-up page HERE with all the details.

I'll be joining in at the "Chubby Chunkster" level, so I'll be reading four books of at least 450 pages each.  I'll probably change my mind several times, but I have a long line of chunky tomes on my Possibilities List for this year.  These are just some of them:

• Angle of Repose. Wallace Stegner
• Anna Karenina. Leo Tolstoy
• The Book Thief. Marcus Zusak
• Buddenbrooks. Thomas Mann
• The Children's Book. A.S. Byatt 
• The City of Dreaming Books. Walter Moers 
• A Gentle Madness: Bibliophiles, Bibliomanes, and the Eternal Passion for Books. Nicholas A. Basbanes
• Jane Eyre. Charlotte Bronte
• Labyrinth. Kate Mosse
• The Lost Symbol. Dan Brown
• The Mists of Avalon. Marion Zimmer Bradley
• The Moonstone. Wilkie Collins
• North and South. Elizabeth Gaskell
• The Peabody Sisters: Three Women Who Ignited American Romanticism. Megan Marshall
• The Perpetual Curate. Margaret Oliphant
• The Secret History. Donna Tartt
• The Secret Keeper. Kate Morton
• The Technologists. Matthew Pearl
• Texas. James A. Michener
• 11/22/63. Stephen King

And the list goes on and on.... Whatever I end up reading, I'll be tracking my progress over on my challenge blog HERE. 

Reading Challenge Addicts 2013

The 2013 edition of Reading Challenge Addicts started today!  And, of course, I just had to sign up.  Even though I'm trying very hard to cut back on challenges for this year -- so far, I've already gotten myself involved in twelve of them, with a couple more waiting in the wings.  Obviously, I need this group (if not an intervention).  So, I'm in for 2013. 

Here's my list of challenges:

1. 50 Book Challenge (a Library Thing group)
2. 2013 Category Challenge (another Library Thing group)
3. European Reading Challenge
4. Finishing the Series Reading Challenge
5. Goodreads 2013 Reading Challenge
6. Historical Fiction Reading Challenge
7. Middle East Reading Challenge
8. Mystery/Crime Reading Challenge
9. Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge
10. Pre-1960 Classic Children's Books Reading Challenge
11. Vintage Mystery Reading Challenge
12. What's in a Name Reading Challenge

Have I forgotten any?  Don't think so.  So I guess I'm in at the "In Flight" level of addiction (11-15 challenges entered). 

This year I'm going to make a real effort to do a better job of keeping track of my challenges -- maybe do a regular blog post about how I'm doing with each one.  I'll also be tracking my progress over on my challenge blog (HERE).  So now I really just need to GET READING!

Finishing the Series Reading Challenge 2013

Hosted by: Socrates' Book Reviews
Dates: 1 January - 31 December, 2013
See the challenge announcement / sign-up page here

I had almost decided not to sign up for this one in 2013, since I wiped out in the 2012 edition. But I think I'll give it one more go.  I'm signing up at Level One (Complete one series): I still need to finish up the Mrs. Malory mystery series by Hazel Holt (2 books to read), so that's the one I'll concentrate on.  But if I finish that series, I have quite a few others I can work on (see my series blog for the various lists).  And during the year I'll be tracking my progress on my challenge blog, HERE.

2013 Mystery/Crime Reading Challenge

Hosted by: Amy @ The Crafty Book Nerd
Dates: 1 January - 31 December, 2013
See the challenge announcement / sign-up page

This one seems like a natural for me -- most of my reading generally consists of mysteries and suspense novels.  Challenge participants can read any book, group of stories, or any author, just so long as they're from the mystery genre. You don't need a blog to participate, and there's no set number of books to read. At the end of the year, you'll receive a rank depending on the amount you read:

• 5 books= Detective 
• 10 books = Sergeant 
• 15 books = Lieutenant 
• 20 books = Captain 
• 25 books = Chief 
• 30+ books = Sherlock Holmes

Of course, there's no way I'll ever be Sherlock Holmes, but I'm pretty sure I should be able to make it to Sergeant, or maybe even Lieutenant.  Just have to see how things go.  During the year, I'll be tracking my progress on my challenge blog HERE.

Vintage Mystery Reading Challenge 2013: Scattergories

Hosted by: Bev @ My Reader's Block
Dates: 1 January - 31 December, 2013
See the challenge announcement / sign-up page

The goal here is to read mystery/suspense novels published before 1960.  Bev has come up with a list of 30 categories, and participants will read a minimum of 8 books (or 4 books in the mini-challenge) which fall into 8 different categories.  Read all the guidelines and see the list of categories on the challenge announcement page, HERE.

I debated about this one for a while, since it's a little more structured than the challenges I usually attempt -- I really do better when I don't have too many rules to follow.  But after thinking it over a bit, I realized there was no way I could pass up this challenge.  I love vintage mysteries, and there are hundreds of them on my TBR list.  However, I'm going to hold off on choosing categories until I can do a survey of the vintage whodunits I've already got on my shelves -- might as well read the books I've already got. Right?  Except for that freebie "Get Out of Jail" category -- I'm pretty sure I'll be using that one.

During the year I'll be tracking my progress on my challenge blog HERE.

2013 Pre-1960 Classic Children's Books Reading Challenge

Hosted by: Kimberly @ Turning the Pages
Dates: 1 January - 31 December, 2013
See the challenge announcement / sign-up page HERE

The goal here is to read classic children's books: any number, but only participants who read/review at least one book per month will be eligible for the challenge giveaway.

Some of the guidelines:

• All books must have an original publication date of 1960 or earlier.
• All formats are allowed
• Books must be at least 60 pages in length
• Re-reads are OK

I love kiddie lit!  There's a massive amount of children's literature I've always intended to read, and this sounds like a great way to nudge myself into doing something about it.  There's no rule about making advance lists, but here are some titles I'm thinking of (subject to change, of course):

The 13 Clocks. James Thurber (1950)
Anne of Green Gables. L.M. Montgomery (1908)
Beezus and Ramona. Beverly Cleary (1955)
Black Fox of Lorne. Marguerite de Angeli (1957)
Five Children and It. E. Nesbit (1902)
Half Magic. Edward Eager (1954)
Hitty Her First Hundred Years. Rachel Field (1929)
The Hundred and One Dalmatians. Dodie Smith (1956)
Magic by the Lake. Edward Eager (1957)
Magic or Not? Edward Eager (1959)
Miss Hickory. Carolyn Sherwin Bailey (1946)
Mistress Masham's Repose. T.H. White (1946)
Stuart Little. E.B. White (1945)
Tom Sawyer, Detective. Mark Twain (1896)
The Well-Wishers. Edward Eager (1960)
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. L. Frank Baum (1900)

...and the list could go on and on.  Now I just need to get reading.  During the year, I'll be tracking my progress on my challenge blog HERE.

2013 European Reading Challenge

Hosted by: Rose City Reader
Dates: 1 January 2013 - 31 January 2014
See the challenge announcement / sign-up page HERE

Read books by European authors, or books set in European countries.  There are five levels of participation:

• Five Star (Deluxe Entourage): Read at least five books by different European authors or five books set in different European countries. 
• Four Star (Honeymooner): Read four qualifying books. 
• Three Star (Business Traveler): Read three qualifying books. 
• Two Star (Adventurer): Read two qualifying books. 
• One Star (Pensione Weekender): Read just one qualifying book.

I'm gonna go all out here, and sign up at the Five Star "Deluxe Entourage" level.  I don't have a firm idea of what I'll read, but these are a few books I'm considering:

A Death in Vienna. Frank Tallis (Austria)
Ignorance. Milan Kundera (Czech Republic)
Istanbul Passage. Joseph Kanon (Turkey)
The Old Devils. Kingsley Amis (Wales)
Stone Virgin. Barry Unsworth (Italy)

Whatever I read, I'll be tracking my progress on my challenge blog (HERE).