Newbery Reading Challenge 2015

Newbery Reading Challenge 2015 

Hosted by: Julie @ Smiling Shelves 

Dates: January 1- December 31, 2015

This was one of my favorite challenges in 2014, and I really thought I'd already signed up for the 2015 edition. But apparently not, so I'm doing it now! Once again, I'm going for the "L'Engle" level, and I'll be tracking my progress over on my challenge blog.

2015 Nonfiction Reading Challenge

2015 Nonfiction Reading Challenge

Hosted by: The Introverted Reader

Dates: January 1 - December 31, 2015

See the announcement post to read all the guidelines and sign up.  There are several levels of participation to choose from:

• Dilettante -- Read 1-5 nonfiction books 
• Explorer -- Read 6-10 
• Seeker -- Read 11-15 
• Master -- Read 16-20

I'll be going for the Dilettante level again this year. I didn't do very well with the 2014 challenge, but I'm hoping for better behavior in 2015. During the year, I'll be tracking my progress over on my challenge blog.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey. If you want to let the world know what you're going to be reading this week, head on over to her blog and leave your link. It's also a great way to discover new books and new blogs.

OK, last Monday reading report of the year.  And, to be honest, I'm really not reading much of anything right now.  Still too much holiday-ing going on around here.  Just before Christmas I started one of Arthur C. Clarke's early classics, The City and the Stars. Haven't gotten very far along, but I've enjoyed the little I've read.

Lately, what I've mostly been doing (besides visiting, decorating, shopping, cooking, and generally just celebrating the season) is obsessing about all the 2015 reading challenges popping up now.  I've signed up for fourteen so far, and there are a couple more I'm thinking about.

Yes. I. Am. Addicted.

So, has the holiday season done a number on your reading routine? Or do you manage to make time for reading, no matter what else is going on?

Books in Translation Reading Challenge 2015

Books in Translation Reading Challenge 2015

Dates: January 1 - December 31, 2015

Hosted by: Jen @ The Introverted Reader

Somehow I managed to miss out on the 2014 edition of this challenge (if there was one?), but I've participated in the past and always enjoy it.

See the announcement page for all the info and levels.  I'm signing up at the "Beginner" level, and hope to read at least three books:
1.
2.
3.

I'll also be tracking my progress over on my challenge blog (HERE). 

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.