Planet Earth 2008 Challenge

January 1 - December 31, 2008

In honor of the UN International Year of Planet Earth, Sylvia from Classical Bookworm is hosting the Planet Earth 2008 Reading Challenge. Sylvia says:

I thought I'd take the opportunity to brush up on my earth science. I've always been fascinated by geology and associated disciplines, but haven't delved into them much. I did take a geology course in university but it wasn't much of a success because of all the uninspiring memorization that was required. However I find that when geoscience it is presented in the right way, it can be completely fascinating and even mindblowing.

She lists the ten themes for the Year of the Planet and gives some interesting links to jump start your reading. There are no set number of books to read. Go here to learn more.

Beg, Borrow or Steal - A Challenge on Nattie's Blog

January 1 - 31, 2008

Hosted at The Nattie Challenge Blog, the Beg Borrow or Steal Challenge encourages readers to:

Read a book that is not yours or a book that someone has given to you. Not a book they gave you because you wanted it, but a book they gave you because THEY loved it and wanted to share it with you. A book someone suggested to you (even if you have to buy the actual copy you read) is what I am getting at.

This challenge is in honor of Nattie - a fellow reader, blogger and challenge lover who left this world far too early.

To join, go here and leave a comment.

2008 A to Z Reading Challenge

January 1 - December 31, 2008

Joy at Thoughts of Joy is once again hosting the A~Z Reading Challenge. The idea is simple:

~ align the author's last name or the title of a book (excluding "the", "a", etc.) with its corresponding letter in the alphabet

~ enter a different book for each author and title (total of 52 books)

~ complete the alphabet lists anyway that suits your fancy

(i.e.: complete each list separately in alphabetical order, read both "A" entries, then "B" entries, fit whatever you're reading into any list, etc.)

~ complete the challenge in the year 2008

~ enjoy the experience!

Go here to sign up via Mr. Linky and then to post links to your reviews!

Kate's Short Story Reading Challenge

January 1 - December 31, 2008

Kate at Kate's Book Blog (and the owner of A Curious Singularity) has developed a challenge near and dear to my heart: The Short Story Challenge. She's created a challenge that is flexible and can be individualized to meet your own reading preferences and goals. And she has a group blog where readers in the challenge can come together to post lists, recommendations and reviews.

Go here to leave a comment and sign up for the challenge. I'll see you there!

Mythopoeic Award Challenge

January 1 - December 31, 2008

Foxy Writer is hosting the Mythopoeic Award Challenge (for those of you, like me, unfamiliar with this award...it chooses the best in fantasy and mythic literature to honor). Here are the rules:

1. Choose seven books from the list of Mythopoeic Award Winners (linked from Foxy Writer's blog)
2. Anything on the list is fair game, fiction or non-fiction.
3. Post a link to your list in the comments of the challenge post (if you don’t have a website, post your list in the comments.)
4. Somewhere in your post, link back to the challenge post.
5. Read the books between January 1st, 2008 and December 31st, 2008.
6. You may start anytime in 2008, but you must finish by the end of December 31st, 2008.
7. You may combine this challenge with other challenges.

Sound like fun? Sign ups are here.

The Science Fiction Experience (Not to be Confused with A Challenge)

January 1 - February 29, 2008

Carl at Stainless Steel Droppings wants to share an experience with you - a Sci-Fi Experience. He is careful to point out this is NOT a challenge. There will be no challenge goals (although there may be giveaways, largely unannounced). You can read as much or as little as you like as long as you share your experience in the form of reviews posted here.

For more information, visit Carl and read his post about this challenge, er experience.

The Pub 2008 Challenge

January 1 - December 31, 2008

**UPDATE: December 27, 2007 - Under some pressure, Michelle has agreed to allow books completed after Christmas to count towards this challenge. Thank you, Michelle!!

Michelle at 1MoreChapter has come up with a tempting challenge for 2008: The Pub 2008 Challenge is all about reading books published in 2008. The rules are simple:

1. Read a minimum of 8 books published in 2008.
2. We’re at the ‘pub,’ so no children’s/YA titles allowed.
3. At least 4 titles must be fiction.
4. Crossovers with other challenges are allowed.
5. Titles may be changed at any time.

Interested? Sign ups start at The Pub.

2007-2008 Winter Reading Challenge

December 22, 2007 - March 19, 2008

Karlene at InkSplasher is hosting a winter reading challenge for the 12 weeks of winter. To participate in The 2007-8 Winter Reading Challenge, you must choose ANY NUMBER of books to read and read them.

If you want to be eligible for prizes, you must:

1. Create a reading list and sign up by midnight MST December 29th;
2. Post at least one book review on your blog and link it to Karlene through Mr. Linky;
3. AND post a recap of the challenge by midnight MST March 26, 2008.

Sign ups are through Mr. Linky here.

Africa Reading Challenge

January 1 - December 31, 2008

Dave from Siphoning Off A Few Thoughts is hosting the Africa Reading Challenge. He is encouraging participants to read a minimum of six books which:

...either were written by African writers, take place in Africa, or deal significantly with Africans and African issues.

To join, create a post with your reading choices on your blog, then leave Dave a comment on his site. After reading each book, Dave would like participants to write a book review and link back to his site. He has listed some ideas for reading choices.

Sounds great to me!

Zora Neale Hurston Mini Challenge

January 1 - March 31, 2008

Becky at Becky's Book Reviews is hosting a three month challenge to read 1-3 books by or about Zora Neale Hurston. Becky has some suggestions for your list. If you'd like to participate, drop over to her blog and leave her a comment.

Nineteenth Century Women Writers Challenge

January 1 - December 31, 2008

Hosted by Becky at Becky's Book Reviews, the Nineteenth Century Women Writers Challenge encourages readers to choose books written by women between 1800 and 1899. Becky is being lenient with genre and type of book (fiction, non fiction, poetry, essays, etc...) and number of books read. She has links to some fantastic sites to help you develop your reading list.

Interested? Pop over to her blog and leave her a comment and a link to your list!

2008 TBR Challenge

January 1 through December 31, 2008

December 14, 2007: SIGN-UPS Starting a day early HERE! Also, the Yahoo group for this challenge is NOW OPEN for new members in 2008.

***********************************

Mizbooks is doing it again! The 2007 TBR Challenge is wildly popular, and I have no doubt that the 2008 TBR Challenge will be just as wonderful. Sign ups begin on December 15th.

What's In A Name Challenge

January 1 - December 31, 2008

December 13, 2007 UPDATE:
Annie has started a blog devoted to this challenge. Please go there for more information!

**************************************

Annie at Words for Annie is hosting a unique and fun challenge called What's In A Name. Choose one book from each of the following categories.

1. A book with a color in its title.
2. A book with an animal in its title.
3. A book with a first name in its title.
4. A book with a place in its title.
5. A book with a weather event in its title.
6. A book with a plant in its title.

Annie gives examples on the challenge post. She also is allowing overlap books with other challenges, but cautions participants not to use the same book for more than one category in this challenge. She's planning on giving away small prizes throughout the challenge.

Want to play? Simply leave a comment on the challenge post to join!

Reading My Name Challenge

February 1 - May 1, 2008

Callista is hosting another reading challenge. Reading My Name Challenge encourages readers to read a minimum of two books written by an author who shares your name. Callista says:

They can share your first name, middle name or last name. They can share your nickname or online name or email name. They can share a form of your name. If you have a very rare name, just do your best to get as close as you can.

She has links to sites where you can search for authors.

Sound like fun? Sign up HERE through Mr. Linky.

You Set It Paperback Challenge

No Time Limit

Jenn is hosting a new challenge that is all about challenging oneself to read the paperbacks lingering on your bookshelf. Here's the "rules:"

1. YOU CHOOSE how many paperback books you want to read for the challenge.
2. YOU CHOOSE how long you’ll give yourself to get those books read **NOTE: It MUST be at least 1 month!**
3. REPORT to the blog when you’ve completed a book, give a little synopsis of it, and tell whether / not you enjoyed it
4. LET Jenn KNOW when you’ve completed your challenge by posting a comment to the blog, on the "I'm Done" page!

Day To Read: January 10, 2008

January 10, 2008

Soccer Mom in Denial is hosting a Day To Read. Stunned by statistics like these:

• only 30% of 13-year-olds read almost every day
• the number of 17-year-olds who never read for pleasure increased from 9 percent in 1984 to 19 percent in 2004 - that is 1 in 5 kids don't read for fun
• Almost half of Americans between ages 18 and 24 never read books for pleasure
• The average person between ages 15 and 24 spends 2 to 2 1/2 hours a day watching TV and 7 minutes reading

...she wants us all to get off our computers, turn off the television, and READ on one dedicated day of the year. Sounds right to me!

If you want to participate, leave Soccer Mom a comment, then promote reading by posting this challenge on your blog. On January 11th, share what you read.

The Art of Series Challenge

Begins December 2007 with No End Date at this Time

Aaron at The Soulless Machine Review has come up with a unique challenge. The Art of Series Challenge requires participants to read all of the books in The Art of Series that is being published by Graywolf Press. There is no end date because some books have not yet been published. Here is Aaron's timeline for reading and discussion:

Out Now:
The Art of Attention: A Poet's Eye by Donald Revell (Read by Feb. 28, 2008)
The Art of Subtext: Beyond Plot by Charles Baxter (Read by April. 30, 2008)

Out Dec 26, 2007:
The Art of the Poetic Line by James Longenbach (Read by June. 30, 2008)
The Art of Time in Memoir: Then, Again by Sven Birkerts (Read by Aug. 30, 2008)

Planed but not Published Yet:
The Art of Narrative by Howard Norman
The Art of Time in Fiction by Joan Silber
The Art of Description by Mark Doty
The Art of Endings by Amy Bloom

To join the challenge and for information (an future posts), visit Aaron here.

The Winter Reading Challenge

December 1. 2007 - February 29, 2008

Kathleen at Rock Creek Rumblings is hosting the Winter Challenge and it is not too late to join in the fun. Simply pick any number of books to read over the three months and let Kathleen know by leaving her a comment.

Notable Books Challenge and Blog (formerly the NYT Most Notable Challenge)

**Button compliments of TypoGenerator
January 1 - December 31, 2008

For those readers who enjoyed the NYT Most Notable Challenge in 2007, why not consider joining the Notable Books Challenge and Blog? I have decided to move the NYT Most Notable Challenge to this new site and expand the reading lists.

Participants have a lot of flexibility and are encouraged to create their own reading goals from lists of Notable books posted on the blog (including the 2007 NYT Most Notable list which has just been published!)

• There are no set number of books participants must read.
• Readers can join at any time in 2008 - no deadlines!

Go to the Notable Books blog for more information and to get an invitation to participate.