Irresistible Review Challenge

May 18 - September 1, 2008

Darla at Books and Other Thoughts is hosting the Irresistible Review Challenge. The rules are:

1. Read 8 books that you were inspired to read after reading a fellow book-blogger's review. Ideally the books will be ones you'd never heard of or would probably not have considered reading had it not been for the review.
2. Write a review of the book on your blog.
3. (The most important step) Make sure you link to the review that inspired you to read the book in the first place!
4. Books read for other challenges count.
5. There is no need to make a list ahead of time - for this type of challenge, it's probably best to remain open to serendipity in the bookblogosphere!

This challenge would go hand in hand with another challenge recently posted: Raved About Reads (which is a perpetual challenge starting June 30th).

Sound like fun? Sign ups are on the post about the challenge.

Southern Reading Challenge - 2008

May 15 - August 15, 2008

Give Away UPDATE (May 30, 2008): Maggie is holding some book giveaway opportunities (signed editions of Mudbound, by Hillary Jordan). You do NOT need to be entered in the Southern Reading Challenge to participate.

• Name Your Homeplace contest (drawing is May 30, 2008)
• Southern Haiku contest (drawing is June 7, 2008)

THREE more contests still to be posted...so watch Maggie's blog for more information

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Maggie is once again hosting the very popular Southern Reading Challenge. Maggie writes:

The rules are easy: 3 Southern Setting Books by Southern Authors in 3 Months beginning May 15 through August 15!

...and there is a prize too!

To sign up, visit the challenge post and use Mr. Linky.

A Midsummer Night Challenge

June 1 - June 25, 2008

A Chain of Letters is hosting a challenge to celebrate the half-way point of the year:

June is a special month that marks the half-way point of the year. In much of the world, a prominent part of this comes with the Midsummer celebration centered on the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year. Conversely, Midsummer’s eve, when much of the celebrating takes place, is the shortest night of the year.

A Midsummer Night Challenge participants will read Shakespeare's classic Midsummer Night's Dream and at least one other book/graphic novel connected to or based on A Midsummer Night’s Dream. There are some great suggestions on the challenge post. Blog posts and reviews will be posted via Mr. Linky.

Visit A Chain of Letters to sign up!

A Daring Book Challenge

A Perpetual Challenge OR choose a time limited tract...

Callista is hosting a fun challenge which uses books found in The Daring Book for Girls. A Daring Challenge is set up to be either a perpetual challenge (where participants attempt to read all the books from the list), or a time limited challenge (where participants can choose one of three tracts to read from within a certain time frame). Either way, readers will get to read some great books. For me, it was a walk down memory lane to see some of the titles from my childhood!

Callista is also doing a give-away for Canadian participants...3 copies of The Pocket Daring Book for Girls: Things to Do by Andrea J Buchanan and Miriam Peskowitz.

Sound like something you'd like to do? Go to the dedicated blog for this challenge to sign up. Sign ups begin June 1st; reading for time limited tracts begins June 15th.

24 Hour Read-A-Thon 2008

Morning of June 28, 2008 - Morning of June 29, 2008

Dewey of The Hidden Side of a Leaf is once again hosting the 24 hour Read-A-Thon. Dewey has created a page with all the FAQs for this challenge. There are opportunities to be a Reader, Cheerleader, and/or Prize Donor...there are mini-challenges and prizes. Last year's Read-a-Thon was a great success...and this one should be excellent too!

This event is also a charity event whereby participants will be encouraged to ask for sponsors to donate to Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) - an organization which puts books into the hands of children.

Interested? Go to Dewey's post about the challenge to sign up through Mr. Linky.

Canadian Book Challenge - Part 2

July 1, 2008 - July 1, 2009

John from The Book Mine Set is hosting a continuation of the popular Canadian Challenge. Part two of the challenge begins July 1st and runs for a full year. John writes:

I challenge you to read (and write about) 13 Canadian books (by Canadians and/or about Canadians)....
All I request is a few lines about each book. Call it a review, call it a blurb, call it whatever you want--just post your thoughts somewhere online. I'll again be doing monthly updates charting each participants progress to the 13 goal, and linking to your thoughts.

You do not need a blog to participate. Interested? Stop by the post about the challenge and leave John a comment.

Stephenie Meyer Mini Challenge

June 1, 2008 - January 30, 2009

Becky is offering a new mini-challenge through her mini-challenges blog. The Stephenie Meyer mini-challenge requires that participants read two books by this author. Becky writes:

No blog is required. Audio books are fine. No reviews are required BUT I'd appreciate it if you did a follow-up comment saying what two books you read. And also if you liked them. IF you read the Twilight series, you can tell me if you're on Team Edward or Team Jacob.

Sign up through the mini-challenges blog on the post about the challenge.

Becky's Mini Challenges Blog

Becky from Becky's Book Reviews has started a new blog devoted to mini-challenges. What's a mini-challenge?

A mini-challenge is a small, focused reading challenge. A miniature reading challenge where the minimum number of books is much smaller than that of most full-sized reading challenges.

Becky has several current challenges running right now...and a new one starting in June. Why not visit her blog and get involved in the fun!??!

Fantasy Challenge - Hobbits, Warrows, and Other Mythological Creatures

Perpetual Challenge - No Time Limits

Judy of Intergalactic Bookworm is hosting a perpetual Fantasy Challenge - Hobbits, Warrows and Other Mythological Creatures. There are no rules, no lists. Readers can choose any fantasy related book or series. Sign ups are at the challenge blog.

A Well-Rounded Challenge

July 1, 2008 - December 31, 2008

Jan is hosting A Well-Rounded Challenge which will help all challenge addicts get their challenge books read...How? By reading 1 book from 6 different challenges for which you've signed up.

Here are the rules as posted on the challenge blog:

• Any combination of challenges works.
• You must be signed up with the other challenges.
• You may listen to eAudio, cassette tapes or compact discs.
• You may read all six books from the same challenge.
• To be well-rounded however means stretching yourself to include as many challenges (and books) as you can fit into this six month time frame.
• You don't have to blog or write a review (but you can if you want to).
• Even if a challenge begins after July you may use it for this challenge.
• Even if a challenge ends after 12/31/08 you may use it for this challenge.

Sign-ups begin 6/1/08 and run through 7/15/08...to sign up visit the challenge blog and use Mr. Linky.

Book Awards II Challenge

August 1, 2008 - June 1, 2009

Michelle at 1MoreChapter is hosting part 2 of the Bookawards Challenge! This time around, readers only have to commit to 10 books, but they must represent at least 5 different awards. Lists can be created as you go and change at any time.

To sign up, you must use Mr. Linky at the challenge post.

**Those readers who participated in the first (current) Bookawards Challenge and wish to continue with part II, MUST sign up by July 14th to avoid being removed from the challenge blog. There is no sign up deadline for all other participants.

For more information, visit the challenge post.

The Numbers Challenge

January 1, 2008 - August 1, 2008

UPDATE - May 21, 2008: This challenge has been EXTENDED until August 1, 2008.

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UPDATE - SEPTEMBER 26, 2008:

Callista has started a challenge blog for the Numbers Challenge. Please go to that site for sign ups and to request an invitation to the blog!

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Callista over at SMS Book Reviews is proposing an interesting Numbers Challenge - simply read 5 books in 5 months whose titles have a number in them (this includes written numbers like "one" or "forty.")

There are also a few rules:

You can choose up to three that are on lists for other challenges. So two of the choices must not be on any list. You can re-read books but all books must NOT be read until January 1, 2008.

If you'd like to give this one a go, hop on over to see Callista and use Mr. Linky to sign up!

42 Challenge

January 1, 2009 - December 3, 2009

Becky at Becky's Book Reviews is hosting a 2009 challenge aptly named the 42 Challenge. It runs 42 weeks and 42 days...and requires participants to read, watch, listen, and review 42 sci-fi related items. Here's a recap of the rules:

• No lists are needed.
• Make a post and list each item that you do read/watch/listen/whatever.
• You don't have to read anything...if you want to just watch TV shows and movies, that's fine. As long as you list/review them.
• Reviews can be completely casual or you can "opt out" of a review. (See the 42 Challenge blog for more detail)
• You make the rules when it comes to picking what you want this challenge to do for you.

To sign up and participate on the blog...visit the post about the challenge and follow the instructions!

Raved About Reads Challenge

PERPETUAL CHALLENGE (no time limit)
Begins June 30, 2008

Jenn (MizB) is hosting the Raved-About Reads Challenge which will be a perpetual challenge. Here is what she writes:

The challenge is to create (and read) a list of books you’ve always heard people rave about and thought you should read yourself…but always put off reading “until later”.

Now is the time to get those books read!

The rules are simple:

1. Choose books that you’ve recently heard of IF a bunch of people are raving about how good they are and how everyone should read them.
2. Read at least 3 books
3. Overlaps with other challenges are allowed.
4. There are no limitations on genre.
5. Audio and e-books are allowed.

It's The End of the World Challenge

May 2008 - September 15, 2008

Hosted by Becky from Becky's Book Reviews, the It's The End of the World (As We Know It) Challenge includes reading books which are apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic (aliens, evil governments, war, plague, natural disasters like earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes, hurricanes, depletion of resources, genetic manipulation, etc.). The goal is to read three books from this genre. Becky writes:

• Books can be adult, young adult, or children's. (Though obviously, most will be YA on up.)
• Graphic novels can count.
• Audio books can count.
• Crossovers with other challenges are allowed.
• Rereads can count. But try to read at least one new-to-you book.
• Books read earlier in the year (January to April) can count in part for the challenge. (But not all three, please.)
• No lists are required, but you may post one if you like. I'd be curious to see what people want to read...

Becky provides some reading suggestions, as well as links to information about this genre on the challenge post...go there to sign up and get more information!

GIVEAWAY ANNOUNCEMENT - THINKING OF NAT

I am doing a BOOK GIVEAWAY in honor of Nattie and for the Thinking of Nat Challenge.

Katherine Center - author of The Bright Side of Disaster - has graciously sent me an autographed copy of her book, and I am also giving away an unsigned review copy.

For details and to be eligible to win Katherine's wonderful book, please visit my post about the giveaway.

Spirituality Book Challenge

March 1 - August 1, 2008

CHALLENGE UPDATE: The end date for this challenge has been extended to August 1st!

Hosted by Callista, The Spirituality Book Challenge is all about reading...yes, books that pertain to spirituality!

The rules are simple:

1. Read 3 books which are spiritual in nature (see Callista's post for more information about genre)
2. Sign up with Mr. Linky over at The Spirituality Book Challenge blog
3. Keep Callista posted on your progress through Mr. Linky links, or comments about what you are reading.
4. You do not need to own a blog to participate!

For the full challenge posts, and to sign up, visit the dedicated blog for this challenge.

The Wind-Up Book Chronicle Challenge

May 15 - November 15, 2008

Michelle at 1 More Chapter is hosting a challenge which will encourage readers to finish books they started at one time, but never got through. The Wind-Up Book Chronicle Challenge has a few rules:

1. To participate, you must use books that you've read more than 50 pages of BEFORE MAY 1 but never finished.
2. Books can overlap with other challenges.
3. Your list can be changed at any time, BUT you must use the 50 page rule to books read BEFORE May 1, 2008.
4. I'd like to set a minimum of three books, but I'm going to allow even 1 or 2 because most of you probably don't have as many started as I do. (I'm going to go for 6 because I have that many and because the challenge lasts 6 months.)

Sign ups for this challenge close on June 1st - so hurry over to the challenge blog soon to sign up through Mr. Linky!

Thinking of Nat Challenge

For those readers following the Nattie Challenge blog (in memory of a fellow reader, Nattie), Heather has posted a new challenge this month. The Thinking of Nat Challenge encourages readers to read a book which reminds them of Nattie; and to give away a book in her name.

When I Was Your Age Challenge

June 1 - August 31, 2008

Cdngirl at Eat.Sleep.Read is hosting a great challenge for parents. The When I Was Your Age Challenge encourages reading three of your childhood favorites with, or to, their children.

Sign ups are through Mr. Linky on the challenge blog.

The Classics Challenge - 2008

July 1 - December 31, 2008

Trish from Trish's Reading Nook is hosting The 2008 Classics Challenge. She has created a challenge with various options, offering readers an opportunity to individualize the challenge to their own needs.

• OPTION 1: Read FIVE classics.
  
• OPTION 2: Read FIVE classics from at least THREE different countries
  
• OPTION 3: Read FIVE classics with any combination of at least THREE different countries and THREE different genres (refer to the challenge post to read more about genres).

Cross posting with other challenges is allowed and encouraged; audiobooks are okay; re-reads are accepted. Participants may change their lists at any time and do not need to have a blog. AND there will be prizes!

Trish has added a little twist...participants must read five books (as defined in the options above), and a sixth title which will be a "modern classic" chosen from a participant's list of suggestions.

Sign ups begin June 1st through Mr. Linky on the challenge blog. BUT, anyone wishing to participate is encouraged to post their suggestion(s) of modern classics via a comment prior to June 1st.

To read all the details, visit the challenge blog.

Book Binge

May 5 - May 31, 2008

Mary at It's Not All Mary Poppins is hosting a unique challenge: Book Binge. She writes:

For the month of May, participants keep track of each and every book you read. At the end of the month, everyone will blog their list of books. Simple, no?

For simplicity’s sake, and to allow people time to hear about it and sign up if they want, we’ll start on Monday, May 5th. We will all publish our lists on June 1.

Re-reads, unfinished book, read alouds to children, and textbooks are all allowed. To sign up leave a comment on the challenge post.

10 Out Of 100 Out of 1001 Challenge

May 1 - October 31, 2008

Mee from Books of Mee is hosting a challenge which revolves around reading books from 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die. The 10 Out of 100 Out of 1001 Challenge runs for six months and challenges readers to read up to ten books: one book for every group of 10 books on the list (for the first 100 books listed). Mee is being flexible in her challenge and writes:

If you have read one book from the group in the past, you can skip that group, or you can pick another book that you haven’t read in that group.

This challenge would be a nice co-challenge to be done with Michelle's 1% Well-Read Challenge.

To sign up for Mee's challenge, go to the post about the challenge and use Mr. Linky.

1% Well-Read Challenge 2008/9

May 1, 2008 - February 28, 2009

Michelle from 1 More Chapter is hosting the 1% Well-Read Challenge. Michelle writes:

The goal of this challenge is to read 10 books in 10 months from the 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die list. For you non-math people, 10 out of 1001 is approximately 1%, hence the title.

Participants can change their lists at any time.

Sound like fun? Michelle has set up a blog for this challenge where participants may sign up with Mr. Linky and link their reviews of books read.

Five (5) Mini Challenges

May 1 - November 15, 2008

Becky is hosting FIVE mini-challenges.

• The Bronte Sisters
• Charles Dickens
• Alexandre Dumas
• Elizabeth Gaskell
• Mark Twain

The rules for all the challenges are the same.

1. Read and/or watch TWO works by the author in question (Bronte, Dickens, Dumas, Gaskell, Twain). For example:

• Watching two movies
• Reading two books
• Reading one book; watching one movie

2. You CAN count abridged versions of the novels.
3. You CAN also count audio books.
4. Re-reads are allowed.
5. Overlaps with other challenges is allowed.
6. No blogs or lists are required.

Want to learn more? For all the information on these challenges AND to sign up, please visit the post about the challenge.

Medical Mystery Challenge - 2008

June 1 - November 1, 2008

It's back! Debi of Journey to the End of the TBR is hosting the Medical Mystery Madness Challenge for 2008.

• Pick anywhere from 3 or more medical mysteries/thrillers to read and discuss with fellow medical thriller fans.
• Those that want to read the same books can do buddy reads if they'd like.
• Post the list of medical thrillers that you plan to read on your blog.

Sign up through the post about the challenge.

Chick Lit Challenge

June 1 - September 1, 2008

Debi of Journey to the End of the TBR is hosting the Chick Lit Challenge. The rules are simple:

• Read at least 3 chick lit books (as defined by Wikipedia)
• Tell us what you thought of what you read.
• Books can overlap with other challenges.
• Your list can change as needed.

To sign up visit the challenge post and leave a comment!

Series Challenge - PART II

June 1, 2008 - November 30, 2008

Kathrin is hosting the second season of the Series Challenge. The rules are:

1. There is no set number of books you have to read, you just have to read the books so that you are all up-to-date with the series.
2. Post your review of the books on your blog, no matter how long.
3. Post a link to your reviews with the Mr Linky that I will set up as soon as this challenge starts.
4. Always remember this is for fun!

To sign up visit the challenge post and use Mr. Linky!

P B and J Challenge

No Time Limit

Becky at Becky's Book Reviews is hosting the P.B. and J.Challenge - it's all about reading picture books and juvenile literature. There are no set number of books and no time limit - participants create their own, individualized challenge...the only "rule" is the books must either be picture books or juvenile literature. Becky says:

This "challenge" is to just incorporate the good stuff into your reading lifestyle. It's for all ages. It would be a great challenge for parents or grandparents, a place to discuss the books you read with your kids or grandkids. (Or if you're an aunt or uncle, those books shared with your "favorite" niece or nephew.) But kids are not a requirement by any means. All are welcome. All book lovers are welcome that is!

Go to the post about this challenge to read more. Becky has also started a social network for all participants.