2015 Challenge Wrap-ups: Books in Translation, Chunkster, and Outdo Yourself Challenges

Although 2015 was a pretty good reading year for me, I didn't do terribly well when it comes to reviewing or linking up the reviews I did write. I've been sort of holding off on challenge wrap-ups, hoping to get a few more reviews posted, but that's really a little doubtful at this point. The rest of the year is looking pretty busy right now -- not a lot of time for reading or reviewing. So I think it's time to go ahead and start wrapping up my challenges for 2015 and get ready for new challenges in 2016. Here go the first three....

I think this challenge gets my award for the best "button" of the year. Isn't that gorgeous?

Many thanks to Vassily for hosting the 2015 Chunkster Challenge. I set myself a goal of two chunksters for the challenge, but only managed one: The Quick, by Lauren Owen. I think my days of reading really long books might be over. Too many books, not enough years left.

The Books in Translation Reading Challenge was hosted by Jen @ The Introverted Reader. (Thank you, Jen!) I signed up at the Beginner Level (1-3 books), and read four books that would qualify. (Only one review so far -- possibly more to come in the next couple of days.)

1. Vertigo. Pierre Boileau and Thomas Narcejac (trans. from the French by Geoffrey Sainsbury)
2. The Truth and Other Lies. Sascha Arango (trans. from the German by Imogen Taylor)
3. South of the Border, West of the Sun. Haruki Murakami (trans. from the Japanese by Philip Gabriel)
4. Backstabbing in Beaujolais. Jean-Pierre Alaux, Noël Balen (trans. from the French by Anne Trager  

I'm not sure what happened to this year's Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge after The Book Vixen gave up on blogging. Every time I've tried to reach her old blog, my computer hangs up and then shuts everything down. So, anyway -- I did outdo myself: in 2015 I read at least five more books than I read in 2014, depending on how I count it (I read several children's picture books that I'm lumping together). If you're curious, you can see the list of this year's reads over on my challenge blog (HERE).

2015 Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge

Hosted by: The Book Vixen
Dates: January 1 to December 31, 2015

The goal of the Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge is pretty straightforward: just read more in 2015 than you did in 2014. Since it looks like I'm not going to get anywhere near the goal I set for this year (50 books), I really do need this challenge.

Books can be any format or genre (including nonfiction), and re-reads and crossovers with other challenges are allowed. Novellas of at least 100 pages count, too.

To see the various levels, and sign up, just head on over to the challenge announcement page. I'll be signing up at the "Getting My Heart Rate Up" level, which means I'll be trying for 1–5 more books than I read this year (or 250–1,499 more pages). Since I'm still reading for 2014, and don't yet know exactly what my total should be for next year, I'll just shoot for 50 again. During the year, I'll also be tracking my progress over on my challenge blog.

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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!