New Notions Five Challenge - 2007

May 1 - September 30, 2007

**UPDATE - June 26, 2007 - June's monthly prize being awarded. Go here for details!
**UPDATE - May 30, 2007 - Monthly prize being awarded. Go here for details on whether or not you are eligible!

There's a new challenge in the wind over at John's Grasping For the Wind blog!

He is challenging participants to pick 5 books they believe will challenge their thinking about any topic. Tackle a political or religious viewpoint, a stance on a social issue, and notions about a color of skin, a creed, or an “ism”. Or challenge your notions about science, the world, or economics. John says: "You might want to read a book about something you already agree with that presents a whole new take on it. Anything that YOU believe is outside your normal viewpoint or that will make you rethink your preconceptions or assumptions is fair game."

John has set up a Mr. Linky for sign ups. And he's not opposed to overlapping reads with other challenges. Why don't you check it out??!?

SIGN UPS are HERE.

Once Upon A Time Challenge

This Challenge is ENDING today, June 21st, at midnight. Be sure to check out the website for information about how to be eligible for prizes!

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Stainless Steel Droppings is hosting The Once Upon a Time Challenge which runs from Thursday, March 22nd until Midsummer Night’s Eve, June 21st.

She says:

"It is a reading challenge to celebrate spring, the time of rebirth and renewal, by experiencing the type of storytelling that connects us with our past.
As a whim reader, it is this season of the year that my thoughts lean to books, (and music, art, etc) that are magical and fantastical. And as we did with the R.I.P. Challenge, I want us to share this experience. I want us to join each other across the world in losing ourselves in the kind of reading that takes us on journeys in our imaginations to times that may not have actually existed, but that feel like they should have."

The four genres you can read from for this challenge: Mythology, Folklore, Fairytale, and Fantasy.
Choose an option:
Quest One: Read at least 5 books from any of the 4 genres.
Quest Two: Read at least one book from each of the four genres of story.
Quest Three: Read at least one book from each of the four genres of story, and finish up the challenge with a June reading of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
or
Quest Four: Read at least one book from the four genres.
You can do one of the four quests or all of them.
Go to Stainless Steel Droppings wonderful blog to grab a banner. She will also be celebrating this challenge with contests, giveaways, and posts about art, and music, and literature that promotes the fantastic.

Spring Reading Thing 2007 Challenge

March 21st through June 21st, 2007

This challenge is now CLOSED. Participants should hurry over to Katrina's site and use Mr. Linky to post their wrap-ups by JUNE 24th in order to become eligible to win a $10 gift card at Amazon.com.

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Katrina over at Callapidder Days has come up with The Spring Reading Thing 2007 Challenge. Here's what she says:

Have you fallen behind on your To-Be-Read list? Do you have five books that you've started but haven't finished? Have you been meaning to get around to that great book your friend recommended but just haven't done it yet? Do you love to read and to find out what everyone else is reading? Then this challenge is for you!

It's all about setting goals and sharing them; little to no pressure; gives me a chance to knock some of my books off the TBR pile. Katrina's sweetened the pot by offering a $10 gift certificate to Amazon.com for one lucky winner, and some random book giveaways too (now what legitimate bookaholic can walk away from that??!?!). Besides all of those incentives, the button is adorable and I wanted to display it on my blog!

I've chosen five (2 of which overlap another challenge):

1. Travels With Charley In Search of America, by John Steinbeck (FINISHED 3/29/2007. Read my review here.)
2. The Art of Mending, by Elizabeth Berg (FINISHED 5/14/2007. Read my review here.)
3. The Year of Pleasures, by Elizabeth Berg (FINISHED 4/9/2007. Read my review here.)
4. The Road, by Cormac McCarthy -overlaps with NYT Most Notable Challenge (FINISHED 5/17/2007. Read my review here.)
5. Old Faith, by Jane Gardam - overlaps with NYT Most Notable Challenge and Reading Across Borders Challenge. (FINISHED 5/29/2007. Read my review here.)

***I completed this challenge on May 29, 2007. Go here to read my wrap up!

2007 Armchair Traveler Challenge

July 1 - December 31, 2007

Lesley over at A Life in Books is hosting a new challenge (link on the button above to link to the challenge!)

Here's the rules:

• You must read six books that fall under the ‘armchair traveling’ theme.
• Fiction or non-fiction works are fine, and do not need to be specifically travel related, as long as the location is integral to the book - your discretion. Locations must be actual places that you could visit, so no Middle Earths or galaxies far, far away.
• Books may be cross-posted to other challenges, but you cannot count any books read prior to July 1st.
• To join, go over here and sign up with Mr Linky!
  
• And yes, there will be prizes!

Newbury Challenge - 2007

May 15 - December 31, 2007

Nattie over at Nattie Writes began the Newbury Challenge - perfect for those who love to read award winning children's books! Here's the rules:

1. Pick 6 books from the Newberry list.
2. Comment on Natties blog that you are in the challenge and link to your blog.
3. Post your picks on your blog.
4. You have from May 15, 2007 to Dec 31, 2007 to read and review the 6 books you choose.

Nattie's friend, Dana, will continue to host this challenge in Nattie's memory and has started a blog for this challenge here. If you want to post to the blog, leave her a comment and she will invite you.

May 25, 2007 UPDATE: Some of you may know that Nattie, who is hosting this challenge, has been recently diagnosed with stomach cancer. A group of her on-line friends are asking for prayers for Nattie. Thank you for your support, prayers, good thoughts, meditations - whatever it is you do to send strength Nattie's way.

June 7, 2007 UPDATE: Sadly, Nattie has lost her brief battle with stomach cancer. She will be terribly missed... You may visit this site to leave remembrances.

A precious gift from God,
delivered on
December 15, 1973;
returned to Heaven
June 7, 2007.

Seconds Challenge

October 1 - December 31, 2007

Joy (the sponsor of the NonFiction Five Challenge) is preparing to sponsor the Seconds Challenge.

Joy says:

"Well, here's the perfect excuse opportunity to explore 3 new-found authors that you would love to go back for a second helping."

The rules are simple - Read 3 books by authors that you have only read one other.

Go to the link above to sign up and learn more!

I've decided to do this one (I just cannot resist!) - go here to see my picks and progress.

48 Hour Book Challenge

MotherReader at The Heart of A Mother, The Soul of a Reader has posted the second annual 48 Hours Book Challenge starting on JUNE 8 and running through JUNE 10. The concept is simple:

"Read and blog for any 48-hour period within the Friday-to-Monday-morning window. Start no sooner than 7:00 a.m. on Friday the eighth and end no later than 7:00 a.m. Monday. So, go from 7:00 p.m. Friday to 7:00 p.m. on Sunday... or maybe 7:00 a.m. Saturday to 7:00 a.m. Monday works better for you. But the 48 hours do need to be in a row."

There's prizes, and loads of fun to be had...and the best part - it's all guilt free! Go here to sign up and read the rules.

Summer Poetry Challenge - 2007

Begins August 1, 2007

Ted at BookeyWookey is proposing a summer poetry challenge - simply choose 4 poems you have not really read:

• 1 poem written before 1900
• 1 poem written 1900-2000
• 1 poem written in 2000-2007
• 1 poem you're intimidated by, find mysterious, or simply don't understand, from any period.

Stop off at Ted's blog to sign up and get more information.

Cozy Mystery Challenge - 2007

SEPTEMBER 2007 is Cozy Mystery Month!

Kris over at Not Enough Books has posted a new challenge: Cozy Mystery Challenge.

It's only for the month of September and the goal is to read Cozy Mysteries during that month. If you think it sounds like fun, check out her site and sign up using Mr. Linky!