Challenge Wrap-Up: Vintage Mystery Bingo 2014

Vintage Mystery Bingo 2014

Hosted by: Bev @ My Reader's Block

OK, I sort of wiped out on this one. I was working on the Gold Edition (books published before 1960), but only read two books that would qualify: The High Window (1942) and The Lady in the Lake (1943), both by Raymond Chandler -- and didn't review either of them. But both of those have been on my TBR list for decades, and I loved them. So I guess for me the challenge was actually pretty much a success. In fact, I'm considering taking another chance with the 2015 challenge.

Challenge Wrap-Up: 2014 Newbery Reading Challenge

2014 Newbery Reading Challenge

Hosted by: Julie @ Smiling Shelves

For the 2014 Newbery Reading Challenge, participants were assigned points for each book read. I signed up at the basic level ("L'Engle" / 15-29 points), and just managed to get my 15 points (if I've calculated correctly). Here's what I read:

1. Fog Magic. Julia L. Sauer (Newbery Honor Book, 1944) = 2 points 
2. The Hundred Dresses. Eleanor Estes; illus. by Louis Slobodkin (Newbery Honor Book, 1945) = 2 points
3. The House in the Night. Susan Marie Swanson; illus. by Beth Krommes (Caldecott Winner, 2009) = 1 point 
4. The Family Under the Bridge. Natalie Savage Carlson; illus. by Garth Williams (Newbery Honor Book, 1959) = 2 points 
5. My Father's Dragon. Ruth Stiles Gannett; illus. by Ruth Chrisman Gannett (Newbery Honor Book, 1949) = 2 points
6. Missing May. Cynthia Rylant (Newbery Medal Winner, 1993) = 3 points
7. The Cat Who Went to Heaven. Elizabeth Coatsworth (Newbery Medal Winner, 1931) = 3 points

I really enjoyed the reading for this challenge (thanks, Julie!), so I'm thinking of joining in on the 2015 challenge, too -- should go well with the I Love Picture Books Challenge I've signed up for.

Challenge Wrap-Up: 2014 Mount TBR

2014 Mount TBR Reading Challenge

Hosted by: Bev @ MY READER'S BLOCK

This was one of my real failures this year. Signed up to read twelve books ("Pike's Peak" level), but actually read only five:

• The Only Problem. Muriel Spark 
• The Lady in the Lake. Raymond Chandler 
• The High Window. Raymond Chandler 
• The Quilter's Apprentice. Jennifer Chiaverini 
• The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle 

I just had too many new books calling my name. Also had a huge stack of ARCs that I felt obligated to read before I could attack any of my older "must reads." So, a lesson for next year, I guess. But I still think this is a worthwhile challenge, and want to thank Bev for continuing to host it. Now I just need to figure out if I should give it one more go in 2015.

Challenge Wrap-Up: 2014 ARC Reading Challenge

2014 ARC Reading Challenge

Hosted by: Teddy Rose @ So Many Precious Books, So Little Time

Signed up to read 25 books, and actually read 23. Pretty good, if you don't consider the 20-some more I really should have read. And the fact that I didn't get many of them reviewed. But then, I totally washed out when it comes to reviewing in 2014. Hoping to do much better in 2015.

Challenge Wrap-Up: 2014 Finishing the Series Reading Challenge

The 2014 Finishing the Series Reading Challenge was hosted by Yvonne @ Socrates' Book Reviews. It runs through this month, but I'm pretty sure I won't be finishing any series before January, so I'm wrapping it up now.

I have a bunch of series going (mostly mystery series), and at the beginning of 2014 I wasn't really sure which one(s) I wanted to concentrate on for this challenge. I ended up changing my mind a couple of times, and finally decided to go with Raymond Chandler's Philip Marlowe books. Didn't finish the entire series this year, but I did read two of the books out of the seven that I still need to read: The Lady in the Lake, and The High Window. Didn't manage to get them reviewed -- I pretty much wiped out on reviews this year; hoping to do better in that area next year.

Still, I loved both of the books I read, and want to thank Yvonne for hosting this one. Now the question is: Should I sign up for the 2015 challenge?

Challenge Wrap-Up: 2014 Chunkster Challenge

The 2014 Chunkster Challenge was hosted by Vasilly, and the goal was to read books with 450 (or more) pages.

When I signed up, I intended to read at least a couple of chunksters, but ended up only finishing one -- Ten Lords A-Leaping, by C.C. Benison (490 pages). I think it's extremely unlikely that I'll read another 400-page tome before the end of the year (OK, it's definitely NOT gonna happen), so I'm wrapping this one up now. Thanks so much to Vasilly for hosting.

Challenge Wrap-Up: 2014 Quick Fix Challenge

2014 Quick Fix Challenge

Hosted by: Jessie @ Jessie's Book Place
Dates: January 1 - December 31, 2014

The goal of the Quick Fix Challenge was to read books of fewer than 300 pages. I signed up at the "Paperclips" Level -- at least 15 books. Here's what I read:

1. Coup de Grâce. Marguerite Yourcenar (151 pages)
2. The Only Problem. Muriel Spark (188 pages)
3. Fog Magic. Julia L. Sauer (104 pages)
4. Andrew's Brain. E.L. Doctorow (200 pages)
5. The Book Boy. Joanna Trollope (94 pages)
6. The Thief of Always. Clive Barker (288 pages)
7. The Litter of the Law. Rita Mae Brown (233 pages)
8. Midnight in Europe. Alan Furst (272 pages) 
9. The Antiquarian. Gustavo Faverón Patriau (240 pages) 
10. The Lady in the Lake. Raymond Chandler (272 pages)
11. The High Window. Raymond Chandler (272 pages)
12. The Quilter's Apprentice. Jennifer Chiaverini (272 pages)
13. Doctor Who and the Loch Ness Monster. Terrance Dicks (192 pages)
14. The Colors of Space. Marion Zimmer Bradley (114 pages) 
15. The Transcriptionist. Amy Rowland (246 pages) 
16. The Mist in the Mirror. Susan Hill (288 pages) 
17. The Two Hotel Francforts. David Leavitt (272 pages) 
18. The Celtic Dagger. Jill Paterson (221 pages) 
19. The Dirty Book Murder. Thomas Shawver (220 pages) 
20. Murder at the Painted Lady. Barbara Warren (186 pages) 

This was such a good idea. Thanks so much to Jessie for hosting.

Challenge Wrap-Up: 2014 New Author Reading Challenge

2014 New Author Reading Challenge

Hosted by: Literary Escapism
Dates: January 1 - December 31, 2014

I committed to reading 15 new-to-me authors this year, and actually did a little better than that. Here's what I read:

1. Coup de Grâce. Marguerite Yourcenar 
2. Fog Magic. Julia L. Sauer 
3. The Universe Versus Alex Woods. Gavin Extence 
4. Tens Lords A-Leaping. C.C. Benison 
5. While Beauty Slept. Elizabeth Blackwell 
6. The Thief of Always. Clive Barker 
7. The Innocent Sleep. Karen Perry 
8. The Bookman's Tale. Charlie Lovett 
9. Love Story, with Murders. Harry Bingham 
10. Midnight in Europe. Alan Furst 
11. The Antiquarian. Gustavo Faverón Patriau
12. The Quilter's Apprentice. Jennifer Chiaverini
13. The Good Suicides. Antonio Hill
14. Doctor Who and the Loch Ness Monster. Terrance Dicks
15. The Colors of Space. Marion Zimmer Bradley
16. The Weight of Blood. Laura McHugh 
17. The Transcriptionist. Amy Rowland 
18. Island Girls. Nancy Thayer 
19. The Two Hotel Francforts. David Leavitt
20. The Celtic Dagger. Jill Paterson
21. The Dirty Book Murder. Thomas Shawver 
22. Murder at the Painted Lady. Barbara Warren 
23. Bliss House. Laura Benedict 
24. The Days of Anna Madrigal. Armistead Maupin
25. The Family Under the Bridge. Natalie Savage Carlson

This has always been one of my favorite challenges. Thanks so much to Literary Escapism for hosting.

Challenge Wrap-Up: 2014 Historical Fiction Reading Challenge

2014 Historical Fiction Reading Challenge

Hosted by: Historical Tapestry
Dates: January 1 - December 31, 2014

I signed up at the second level, "Victorian Reader" (5 books).

Here's what I read (still working on reviews):

1. Coup de Grâce. Marguerite Yourcenar (first published 1931; set in the last years of the first World War)
2. Midnight in Europe. Alan Furst (first published 2013; set mostly in France during 1937) 
3. The Two Hotel Francforts. David Leavitt (first published 2013; set in Portugal in 1940) 
4. The Mist in the Mirror. Susan Hill (first published 1992; set in England, early 20th Century)
5. The Dead in Their Vaulted Arches (Flavia de Luce #6). Alan Bradley (first published 2014; set in England in 1951) 

I'm a little surprised I didn't read more books that would qualify for this challenge, since historical fiction is one of my favorite genres. And, as usual, I'm lagging WAY behind in my review-writing. Still, I did hit my quota mark, and definitely enjoyed the challenge. Much thanks to everyone involved in this one.

Challenge Wrap-Up: 2014 European Reading Challenge

The 2014 European Reading Challenge was hosted by Rose City Reader (thanks, Gilion!), and runs through the end of next month. I signed up at the Four Star Level -- "Honeymooner," four books. Here's what I read, with links to the two reviews I managed to get posted:

1. FRANCE: The Only Problem. Muriel Spark
   (Even though the book is about English characters, written by a Scot, the action takes place in France.)
2. UK (Wales): Love Story, with Murders. Harry Bingham 
3. SPAIN: The Good Suicides. Antonio Hill
4. PORTUGAL: The Two Hotel Francforts. David Leavitt 

R.eaders I.mbibing P.eril / IX

Artwork for RIP/9 provided by Abigail Larson

Last day of August! How did that happen? My favorite season is drawing to a close, and I seem to dread the end of summer more and more every year. But there is this to cheer me up: At least the approach of autumn also means the start of one of my favorite annual reading events -- R.eaders I.mbibing P.eril (RIP, for short), hosted by Carl V. Anderson at Stainless Steel Droppings, and now in its ninth year. To read all about it and sign up, just visit the challenge announcement page HERE.

This year, I'm going for Peril the First -- read four books of any length that fit any of the RIP categories (Mystery, Suspense, Thriller, Dark Fantasy, Gothic, Horror, Supernatural) -- and Peril on the Screen as well.  Haven't really made any decisions about what I'll read or watch yet, but I have a few possibilities in mind for the reading peril:

• The Blackhouse, by Peter May (first book in May's "Lewis" trilogy)
• The Mist in the Mirror, by Susan Hill (classic ghost story by the author of The Woman in Black)
• Mrs. Malory and a Necessary End, by Hazel Holt (the latest book in the Sheila Malory series of cozy mysteries)
• Peter Pan Must Die, by John Verdon (the fourth book in his Dave Gurney mystery series)
• This House is Haunted, by John Boyne (gothic goings-on revolving around a governess and her charges in a spooky Victorian mansion)

I'm also thinking about giving Peril of the Short Story a try. I've got several collections of short fiction in the ghost story/horror/suspense genre to sample from. This would be a first for me -- I've never tried this Peril before, and I'm looking forward to it.

During the run of the challenge, I'll be tracking my progress and keeping my reading/viewing lists over on my challenge blog (HERE).  Now, just need to get reading!

Once Upon a Time VIII

Art by Melissa Nucera

Spring is here at last.  And with it comes one of my favorite reading events - the Once Upon a Time challenge hosted by Carl Anderson over at Stainless Steel Droppings.  This is the eighth go-round for this one, and I'm really hoping it's going to help lift me out of this reading slump I've fallen into recently.

This year, I'm keeping the pressure low and signing up for The Journey, which calls for just one book from any of the various genres (Fairy Tale, Folklore, Fantasy, and Mythology).  Of course, I'm hoping to read more than that, and I've got quite an extensive list of possibilities.  Some of those:

• Elidor. Alan Garner
• The Fairy Tale Detectives. Michael Buckley
• The Ladies of Grace Adieu and Other Stories. Susanna Clarke
• The Mists of Avalon. Marion Zimmer Bradley
• Mythago Wood. Robert Holdstock
• Silver on the Tree. Susan Cooper
• While Beauty Slept. Elizabeth Blackwell

I'm also thinking about attempting Quest on the Screen.  I've wiped out with this quest in the past, so we'll see if I can do a little better this time.

During the course of the challenge, I'll be tracking my progress over on my challenge blog (HERE).  Now it's time to get reading!

2014 Chunkster Reading Challenge

I was going to give this one a miss this time around, since I'm pretty much committed to reading shorter books this year.  But there are two or three massive tomes I'd like to get through, too.  So I'm signing up for the 2014 Chunkster Reading Challenge, hosted this year by Vasilly.

For the purposes of the challenge, a chunkster is a book with 450 or more pages; it can be fiction or nonfiction, and e-books and audiobooks are allowed.  If you need inspiration, you can find some good chunkster suggestions over on the challenge blog. 

One really nice thing about this year's challenge is there are no set levels of participation - you can set your own level without being locked into a predetermined number of books.  I'm going to aim for just two big books this year: 

1. Ten Lords A-Leaping. C.C. Benison (490 pages)
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Hoping to do a little better than that, but two might just be all I can handle. 

2014 Mount TBR Challenge

Hosted by: Bev @ My Reader's Block

Dates: January 1 - December 31, 2014

I honestly thought I had already signed up for this challenge.  Apparently not, though - so I'm doing it now.  I'm always trying to reduce the size of that "must read someday" list/pile, so this challenge is something I really need.

All the guidelines are available over at the challenge announcement/sign-up site (HERE).  I'll be signing up at the "Pike's Peak" level (read 12 books).  I don't really have a list ready (although I have SOME of my TBR list posted over at GoodReads), so I'll just add titles as I go:

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Nonfiction Reading Challenge 2014

Dates: January 1 - December 31, 2014

Hosted by: The Introverted Reader

See the announcement/sign-up page for all the details.  I'll be signing up at the Dilettante Level (1-5 nonfiction books).

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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!

2014 Quick Fix Challenge

Dates: January 1 - December 31, 2014

Hosted by: Jessie @ Jessie's Book Place

Does it seem to you that books are getting longer and longer?  Do you ever find yourself asking "Whatever happened to those beings we used to call editors?"  Of course, sometimes I love a good, long read.  But I've read so many "chunksters" lately, I think they're starting to sort of slow me down - and at the rate I read, I can't afford to let anything slow me down.  So....

I had already decided to do something like this on my own in 2014, and then I discovered there's actually a reading challenge based on the idea.  Jessie @ Jessie's Book Place is hosting the Quick Fix Challenge, for readers who want to read some shorter books (fewer than 300 pages) - definitely a challenge I need.  So I'm signing up at the second level ("Paperclips" - read 15 books).  You can sign up for the challenge, and read all the guidelines, over on the announcement page HERE.  I don't know yet what books I'll be reading for the challenge, but during the year I'll be tracking my progress on my challenge blog (HERE), and (if I can remember!) here:

1. Coup de Grâce. Marguerite Yourcenar (151 pages)
2. The Only Problem. Muriel Spark (188 pages)
3. Fog Magic. Julia L. Sauer (104 pages)
4. Andrew's Brain. E.L. Doctorow (200 pages)
5. The Book Boy. Joanna Trollope (94 pages)
6. The Thief of Always. Clive Barker (288 pages)
7. The Litter of the Law. Rita Mae Brown (233 pages)
8. Midnight in Europe. Alan Furst (272 pages) 
9. The Antiquarian. Gustavo Faverón Patriau (240 pages) 
10. The Lady in the Lake. Raymond Chandler (272 pages)
11. The High Window. Raymond Chandler (272 pages)
12. The Quilter's Apprentice. Jennifer Chiaverini (272 pages)
13. Doctor Who and the Loch Ness Monster. Terrance Dicks (192 pages)
14. The Colors of Space. Marion Zimmer Bradley (114 pages) 
15. The Transcriptionist. Amy Rowland (246 pages) 
16. The Mist in the Mirror. Susan Hill (288 pages) 
17. The Two Hotel Francforts. David Leavitt (272 pages) 
18. The Celtic Dagger. Jill Paterson (221 pages) 
19. The Dirty Book Murder. Thomas Shawver (220 pages) 
20. Murder at the Painted Lady. Barbara Warren (186 pages) 

European Reading Challenge 2014

DATES:  January 1, 2014 - January 31, 2015
HOSTED BY:  Rose City Reader

Technically, the 2013 edition of this challenge is still running (until the end of January), but I know I won't be reading any more qualifying books this month.  (You can take a look at my wrap-up post for that one.)  So, I'm signing up for the 2014 challenge.

Basically, the idea is to read books by European authors, or books set in European countries regardless of where the author comes from.  Go to the challenge announcement page (HERE) to see all the guidelines and sign up, and to see the list of eligible countries.  There are five levels of participation, and I'm signing up for the Four Star Level (Honeymooner / 4 books).  I signed up for five books last year, but found that four was a much more comfortable goal. 

I don't really have a definite list of books I intend to read, but there are several I'm thinking about:

• The Collector of Dying Breaths. M.J. Rose (set in France) 
• Death in Berlin. M.M. Kaye (set in Germany) 
• Identity. Milan Kundera (author born in Czechoslovakia) 
• Istanbul Passage. Joseph Kanon (set in Turkey)
• This Rough Magic. Mary Stewart (set in Greece) 
• The Two Hotel Francforts. David Leavitt (set in Portugal)

2014 Historical Fiction Reading Challenge

Hosted by: Historical Tapestry
Dates: January 1 - December 31, 2014
See the challenge announcement page for full guidelines and sign-ups

I do read quite a bit of historical fiction, but I really think one of the main reasons I keep signing up for this challenge is so I can display those amazing buttons!  And this one's another winner.   Isn't that gorgeous?  

So, I'm signing up again this year.  I'm going to stay conservative and sign up at the Victorian Reader level (5 books).  Haven't decided on any specific books yet, but during the year I'll be tracking my progress over on my challenge blog (HERE). 

2014 Finishing the Series Reading Challenge

Hosted by: Yvonne @ Socrates' Book Reviews
Dates:  January 1 - December 31, 2014
See the challenge announcement page for guidelines and sign-ups

OK, I really messed up with the 2013 edition of this challenge.  I signed up to complete one series, and not only did I NOT complete the series - I didn't even read any of the books in the series.  So I'm going to give it another try.

Once again, I'm signing up at the first level (finish one series).  I'll probably try to complete the Mrs. Malory mystery series, by Hazel Holt (I have three books to go). But I have quite a few other series I could work on (see my list HERE), if I get that one wrapped up.