Dark Faerie Tales Urban Fantasy Challenge 2011

Dark Faerie Tales has a fab challenge...Urban Fantasy Challenge 2011...read 24 urban fantasy books released in 2011. There's a list that will keep getting updates. I find this an easy-peasy challenge.

Parajunkee's Shifter Challenge

Parajunkee's Shifter Challenge...easy-peasy again: Read 20 books in 2011 with a shifter as the main character, good or bad1.

Parajunkee's Vampire Challenge 2011

Parajunkee has an easy-peasy challenge, read 20 books where a vampire is a main character, good or bad....see? Easy-peasy:1. THE GREYFRIAR: Vampire Empire Book One - Clay Griffith and Susan Griffith

All About N's Holiday Challenge

Looking forward to this one! 1-5 holiday related books and there will be prezzies! Go here to sign up! Fun to be had!!1. MERRY, MERRY GHOST: Bailey Ruth Raeburn #2 - Carolyn G Hart, paranormal holiday cozy2. THE DIVA COOKS A GOOSE:A Domestic Diva Mystery #4 - Krista Davis, foodie cozy3. MURDER FOR CHRIST'S MASS: Templar Knight Mystery #4 - Maureen Ash, medieval mystery

Debut Urban Fantasy Challenge

Hop on over to Dark Faerie Tales to sign up for this new challenge...ROE is to read 15 or more debut Urban Fantasy authors this year and DFT keeps an updated debut UF title list. I'll get my list of books from there and list them here as I read them.

What's In a Name 3 Challenge!

Beth is hosting What's In a Name 3 this year. I love this challenge, it's probably my most favorite. Here's the ROE:

Between 1 Jan and 31 Dec I will read six books following this criteria

1. A book with FOOD in the title - BITSY'S BAIT & BBQ - Pamela Morsi

2. A book with a BODY OF WATER in the title

3. A book with a TITLE (sir, queen,etc) in the title

4. A book with a PLANT in the title - WORMWOOD - Susan Wittig Albert

5. A book with a PLACE NAME in the title

6. A book with a MUSIC TERM in the title

I'll get back to this when I have my titles figured out.

Southern Reading Challenge 2009

Maggie is hosting a new Southern Reading Challenge. You may choose to read any style of Southern book such as Appalachian tales, Civil War sagas, Gothic myths, Grit lit, and heart-wrenching biographies. Just as long as you read three (fiction or nonfiction) between May 15th and August 15th.There will be weekly drawings and contests like last year, but there might not be $50 pecans. Money's tight! To get started, head on over to Maggie's blog and sign up....Still working on my list, but I will try for humor again this year.....

1. BOOTLEGGER'S DAUGHTER - Margaret Maron, June 2009
2. GARDEN SPELLS - Sarah Addison Allen, June 2009
3. THEM BONES - Carolyn Haines, Aug 2009

Buy One Book and Read It Challenge 2009

I found a completely doable challenge. MyFriendAmy has one going here. The premise is pretty great.

There are two levels or choices for this challenge. Because a lot of people who read her blog are voracious readers, she added a new level this year.

1) The first option is to simply buy one book and read it. The book you buy and read should be a book you have chosen for yourself for pleasure. It should not be work related and books read to your children do not count.

2) The second option is to buy one book a month and read it. I am asking that those of you who will probably already have one book read by January 2 choose this option. Books can be on your other challenge lists, it is only necessary that you buy them and read them!

The challenge will end December 31, 2009.

I will be joining challenge #2...Dude! I know I will be buying books anyway, so might as well help out the authors and the book industry. My spin will be to try one new author a month.

1. MEAN STREETS - Jim Butcher, Simon R Green, Kat Richardson, Thomas E Sniegoski, TPB (Jan 09)

2. HARM NONE: A Rowan Gant Investigation - M R Sellars, MPB (Jan 09)

3. THE GHOST AND THE HAUNTED MANSION - Alice Kimberly, MPB (Jan 09)

4. LIVING DEAD IN DALLAS - Charlaine Harris, BOCD (Jan 09)

5. PLAYING WITH FIRE - Katie MacAlister, MPB (Feb 09)

Read Your Own Books 2009 Challenge

MizB Read Your Own Books 2009 Challenge....

1. MEAN STREETS - Jim Butcher, Simon R Green, Kat Richardson, Thomas E Sniegoski (Jan 09)

2. UNDEAD AND UNWED - MaryJanice Davidson (Jan 09)

3. HARM NONE: A Rowan Gant Investigation - M R Sellars (Jan 09)

4. THE GHOST AND THE HAUNTED MANSION - Alice Kimberly (Jan 09)

What's In A Name 2 Challenge 1 Jan - 31 Dec 2009

ARHHH!! There be a new challenge for 2009!! I really enjoyed this one this year and look forward to doing it again in the new year.

Hop on over to What's in a Name 2 and sign up!

ROE:

*This is a challenge that anyone can join, no matter what types of books they like to read. You should be able to find books from any genre that will work.

*Dates: January 1, 2009 through December 31, 2009

*The Challenge: Choose one book from each of the following categories:

1. A book with a "profession" in its title. Examples might include: The Book Thief, The Island of Dr. Moreau, The Historian

2. A book with a "time of day" in its title. Examples might include: Twilight, Four Past Midnight, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

3. A book with a "relative" in its title. Examples might include: Eight Cousins, My Father's Dragon, The Daughter of Time

4. A book with a "body part" in its title. Examples might include: The Bluest Eye, Bag of Bones, The Heart of Darkness

5. A book with a "building" in its title. Examples might include: Uncle Tom's Cabin, Little House on the Prairie, The Looming Tower

6. A book with a "medical condition" in its title. Examples might include: Insomnia, Coma, The Plague

My choices:

1. Profession : GRAVEROBBERS WANTED: NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY - Jeff Strand (Jun 09)

2. Time of Day: SOMETHING FROM THE NIGHTSIDE - Simon R Green (Apr 09)

3. Relative: AUNT DIMITY GOES WEST - Nancy Atherton (Sep 09)

4. Body Part - THROUGH VIOLET EYES - Stephen Woodworth (Sep 09)

5. Building - THE GHOST AND THE HAUNTED MANSION - Alice Kimberly (Jan 09)

6. Medical condition - STAYING DEAD - Laura Anne Gilman (Sep 09)

R.I.P CHALLENGE 1 Sep - 31 Oct

I'll be adding one more challenge...when I thought I couldn't do no mo'.....I was wrong. More keep popping up and this one is definitely do-able. I read the genre and this challenge is nice and loosey-goosey. No list to make and keep to, just find whatever in the genres and read them before 31 Oct.

http://www.stainlesssteeldroppings.com/?p=993

Here's what I posted on RIP so I can remind myself what the heck I said I'd read!

Count me in. I read the genres anyway, be good to count it for something fun. I believe I will loosely pool authors and go from there….Dan Simmons, John Saul, Jeff Long, Patricia Briggs, Kat Richardson, Charlaine Harris, Robert R McCammon, F Paul Wilson, Jeaniene Frost, Mario Acevedo…a few others out there…leave myself open for possibilities.

THE GLASS HARMONICA - Louise Farley (Oct)

ANY GIVEN DOOMSDAY - Lori Handeland (Sept)

SEVEN SPIDERS SPINNING - Gregory Maguire (Sept)

FOOL MOON - Jim Butcher (Sept)

BECAUSE YOUR VAMPIRE SAID SO - Michele Bardsley (Oct)

WIDDERSHINS - Charles De Lint (Oct)

LIGHT MY FIRE - Katie MacAlister (Oct)

EVEN VAMPIRES GETT THE BLUES - Katie MacAlister (Oct)

SHADOWLAND: THE MEDIATOR - Meg Cabot (Oct)

BLOOD DRIVE - Jeanne C. Stein (Oct)

CORALINE - Neil Gaiman (Oct)

DEMONS ARE A GHOUL'S BEST FRIEND - Victoria Laurie (Oct)

DEAD GIRLS ARE EASY - Terri Garey (Oct)

MEDICAL MYSTERY CHALLENGE 2008

June 1 - November 1

Books can overlap with other challenges. You can substitute if a book ends up not appealing to you.

WHAT: Pick anywhere from 3 or more medical mysteries/thrillers to read and discuss with fellow medical thriller fans. (Last year was 2 - this year I'm upping it to 3 :-)

WHEN: June 1 to November 1

WHO: Anyone

WHERE: Hosted by Twiga

WHY: Seeing others' lists would give us more ideas of other medical thrillers out there that we might not be aware of yet. Those that want to read the same books can do buddy reads if they'd like.

HOW: Post the list of medical thrillers that you plan to read on your blog and then sign up in the comments to http://bookaddict4life.blogspot.com/2008/05/medical-mystery-madness-2008.html post.

Possible Book Choices:

1. FLESH AND BONE - Jefferson Bass

2. A MORBID TASTE FOR BONES - Ellis Peters

3. THE SURGEON - Tess Gerritsen

4. PLUM ISLAND - Nelson DeMille

5. MISTRESS IN THE ART OF DEATH - Ariana Franklin

6. A DOSE OF MURDER - Lori Avocato

7. ANATOMY OF DECEPTION - Lawrence Goldstone

8. PRIVILEGED INFORMATION - Stephen White

9. SANIBEL FLATS - Randy Wayne White

10. THE DIRTY SECRETS CLUB - Meg Gardiner

Actually read:

1. BONES TO ASHES - Kathy Reichs

Southern Reading Challenge 15 May - 15 August 08

http://maggiereads.blogspot.com/2008/05/southern-reading-challenge-yall.html#links
Above is the link to my next challenge. I just have to find the three books. I believe it will be all Southern humor so it will be
Celia Rivenbark - STOP DRESSING YOUR SIX-YEAR-OLD LIKE A SKANK: A SLIGHTLY TARNISHED SOUTHERN BELLE'S WORDS OF WISDOM
Jill Connor Browne - THE SWEET POTATO QUEEN'S FIRST BIG-ASS NOVEL: STUFF WE DIDN'T ACTUALLY DO, BUT COULD HAVE, AND MAY YET
Fanny Flagg - CAN'T WAIT TO GET TO HEAVEN
Randy Poe - SKYDOG: THE DUANE ALLMAN STORY (31 May)
Mary Kay Andrews - LITTLE BITTY LIES (25 May)
Margaret Maron - LAST LESSONS OF SUMMER (30 May)
Beverly Connor - QUESTIONABLE REMAINS (7 Aug)

ARTHURIAN CHALLENGE - April 2008 - March 2009

Thanks Becky! This is one of my keeper shelves at home, so this will be fun and easy....though I will likely have to go shopping for new additions as I read others TBR suggestions....darn the luck...
The link is on the sidebar here and here is what Becky has loosely named as the rules:
When: April 2008 through March 2009
Goal: To read 6-12 books starring characters found in or inspired by Arthurian legends. (King Arthur, Guinevere, Lancelot, Merlin, Lady of the Lake, etc.)
How: Sign up. It’s quick and simple. Just announce your intention to participate.
Rules: I don’t really believe in having many rules.
No lists are necessary. You can change your mind on WHAT you reading or should that be WHO you’re reading at any time.
If at any time you dislike a book, then feel free to discard it and pick up another. Don’t feel obligated to push through a book you don’t like on my account!!!

What about movies? What about graphic novels? What about comics? What about audio books? Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. All of those things count. So though it says 6-12 books. It can be a variety of things–book, movie, tv show, comic book, graphic novel, etc.
Kids books. YA books. Adult books. All count.
What about series books? Or series books in all-in-one editions? I’m leaving it up to you. For example, some might consider The Once and Future King to count as one book. Some might consider it to be four separate books. I’m probably going to count it as four books for my challenge. You can do the same. If your goal is six books, and you want four of them to be The Once and Future King, then that is fine with me. I won’t call you a cheater-pants.
What about short stories or poetry? Yes and yes. Anything really can go.
What about rereads? Sure why not!
What about books read prior to April 1, 2008? It depends. Use your judgment. I reviewed one the last week of March. (March 2008). I’m planning on using it towards the challenge. I wouldn’t search your posts too far back though. So if you read it in 2008, then that’s okay. But any further back, and we might call you a cheater-pants.
What about reviews? I’ll be doing Mr. Linky most likely. If not, I’ll do it the old fashioned way. You can leave a link if you’ve got a blog. Or you could write a review in the comments. This could be a sample review for those hesitant to write and share. “I read The Sword in the Stone. I liked it. Would recommend to others.” It can be really short and sweet and simple. Title of the book. Name of the author. A few adjectives describing how you felt about it. If you enjoyed it. It’s so not a big deal.

I HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE CHALLENGE

Thanks Lynne!! Lynne' Little Corner of the World is having a pretty nifty little challenge. Here's her blurb:
I'm always looking for new books and new authors. I've gotten quite a few titles from Amazon.com. They always seem to have recommendations for me. I've also found some from other bloggers.

Where do you find new books to read? Do you get recommendations from friends? From the library? From the person next to you on the plane or train or bus? From other book blogs?

The goal of this challenge is to read 3 new-to-you books between June 1 and November 30 that have been recommended to you. Any type of book is OK. It can even be a book by an author you've read before. Cross-overs with other challenges are fine, and you can change books at any time. And there will be a prize at the end of the challenge. You will need to sign up before June 1.

I will look through Mt Git'r'Read and see what three books I can find that were recommended to me. It will likely be books I've commented on with J Kaye's blog and consequently won.

CHUNKSTER CHALLENGE Jan - Dec 2008

CITY OF MASKS - Daniel Hecht, 464 pages, could make First in Series Challenge)
TWILIGHT - Stephanie Meyer, 498 pages, already on TBR Challenge and First in Series Challenge
BOOK OF AIR AND SHADOWS - Michael Gruber, 466 pages, already on TBR Challenge
HOOD - Stephen Lawhead, 496 pages, could make it to First in Series Challenge

Joy's First in Series Challenge Jan - Dec 2008

THE MONKEY'S RAINCOAT - Robert Crais
WHISKEY SOUR - J A Konrath
THYME OF DEATH - Susan Wittig Albert
GUILTY PLEASURES - Laurell K Hamilton
STORM FRONT - Jim Butcher
THE SILVER WOLF - Alice Borchardt
ILL WIND - Rachel Caine
TWILIGHT - Stephanie Meyer
HOUNDING THE MOON - P R Frost
UNDEAD AND UNWED - MaryJanice Davidson
PACIFIC VORTEX - Clive Cussler
THE BLACK ECHO - Michael Connelly
THE KILLING FLOOR - Lee Child
AGATHA RAISIN AND THE QUICHE OF DEATH - M C Beaton

Unread Authors Challenge List Sep 07 - Feb 08

The Tunnels - Michele Gagnon (Oct) (humdingah)
Better Than Chocolate - Bruce Golden (Sept) (whoo-hoo!)
An Acquaintance With Death - Ann Rinaldi (Nov) (ehhhhhh)
Hissy Fit - Mary Kay Andrews (Nov) (what a joy!)
Coldheart Canyon - Clive Barker (Nov) (rollercoaster ride, semi unpleasant)
On Strike For Christmas - Sheila Roberts (Dec) (warm and funny)
Stonehenge - Bernard Cornwell (Nov) (so-so)
Slay Bells - Kate Kingsbury (Dec) (holiday cozy)
A Redbird Christmas - Fannie Flagg (Dec) (My favorite of the holiday reads)
Shadow Divers - Robert Kurston (Jan 08)

2nd Annual TBR Challenge (CLEAN THAT SHELF)

Idea is to read 12 books from your TBR shelf that are at least 6 months old.

Red is read.....
~GLASS HARMONICA - Louise Marley
~JUDGEMENT OF THE GRAVE - Sarah Stewart Taylor
~THE DOLLMAKER - Amanda Stevens
~TALES OF A FEMALE NOMAD -Rita Golden Gelman
~BOOK OF AIR AND SHADOWS - Michael Gruber
~WHEN THE DEVIL HOLDS A CANDLE - Karin Fossum
~DEATH'S ACRE - Dr Bill Bass & Jon Jefferson
~THE RED TENT - Anita Diamant
~THE GOLDEN COMPASS - Philip Pullman
~SNOWBLIND - PJ Tracy
~TRIPTYCH - Karin Slaughter
~MILK GLASS MOON - Adriana Trigiani

What's in a Name Challenge JAN - DEC 2008

WHAT'S IN A NAME CHALLENGE / JAN - DEC 2008
1 Jan - 31 Dec 2008, a list of books with these 6 provisos in the title:
Red is read...
1. A book with a color in its title. (THE BLACK ECHO - Michael Connelly)
2. A book with an animal in its title. (THE MONKEY'S RAINCOAT - Robert Crais)
3. A book with a first name in its title. (AGATHA RAISIN AND THE QUICHE OF DEATH - M C Beaton)
4. A book with a place in its title. (PACIFIC VORTEX - Clive Cussler)
5. A book with a weather event in its title. (STORM FRONT - Jim Butcher)
6. A book with a plant in its title. (THYME OF DEATH - Susan Wittig Albert)