Life Books Challenge

June 29 - September 30, 2008

SmallWorld at SmallWorld Reads is hosting the Life Books Challenge which is a challenge in three parts:

1. Choose your life books ("What are the books that, in some aspect, define you? Think about who you are in terms of spirituality, love, economics, values, worldview--the list could go on and on. These might be nonfiction, self-help, fiction, picture books, children's books, etc.")
2. Discover something new ("...find at least two titles to add to your TBR list.")
3. Read the books and write a review

To learn more and to sign up, visit the post about the challenge.

What an Animal Challenge

July 1, 2008 - June 30, 2009

Kristi of Passion For the Page is hosting her first challenge! What An Animal Challenge encourages participates to read six books which:

• have an animal in the title of the book, OR
• an animal on the cover of the book, OR
• an animal that plays a major role in the book, OR
• a main character that is or turns into an animal (define that however you'd like)

The rules indicate:

1. The animal can be any type of animal (real or fictitious)--dog, cat, monkey, wolf, snake, insect, hedgehog, aardvark...dragons, mermaids, centaurs, fairies, vampires...you get the idea..
2. Books can be fiction or nonfiction.
3. You may make a list of books at the beginning of the challenge or just list them as you find them.
4. Books may be swapped out at anytime (assuming you made a list to begin with).
5. Crossover books with other challenges is permitted and encouraged.
6. You don't have to blog or write a review, but you can if you want to.

To sign up and learn more, visit the post about the challenge.

Friday Finds - EVENT

Hosted by Jenn at Should Be Reading

Friday Finds is a new weekly event which is all about sharing new book finds with other readers. Jenn writes:

The idea is to share, every Friday, about books that you’ve recently discovered (never heard of before ) that sound really good!Every Friday, those who have blogs will write a post at their own blog, and then come back and leave others a link to follow on that week’s “Friday Finds” post here at The Book Zone. For those who don’t blog, you can just tell us about your “Friday Finds” in a comment on that week’s post.

This event begins TODAY! To learn more and to participate, visit Should Be Reading every Friday.

Write on Wednesday - EVENT

Hosted by Becca at Write on Wednesday

Write on Wednesday is a weekly event designed to support writers. Although it is not specifically a book-related event, I'm including it here because many readers are also writers and I thought this would appeal to many of you. Becca writes:

Each Wednesday we’ll explore some aspect of the writing process…how we get those words out of our brains and onto paper (or screen). And what we do with them once they’re out there for all the world to see.

We might look at some of our favorite books about writing…

We might talk about our instruments of choice - pencil or cursor? paper or screen?

We could share secrets about the best places for finding ideas…

Perhaps we’ll explore the process of revision (shudder!) or what happens when the words just won’t come (double shudder!)

Whatever the topic, sharing is the name of the game. Add your thoughts on the subject by writing a post on your blog and leaving a comment with the link to that post. If you wish, you may also simply write your thoughts in the comment section.

If you're interested in participating and learning more, visit the Write on Wednesday blog.

How To Read and Why Challenge

No dates

Rebecca at Rebecca Reads is hosting her own personal challenge and inviting others to join her. The How To Read and Why Challenge is based on Harold Bloom's book by that title. Rebecca writes:

I’m going to read Bloom’s list of works (stories, poems, novels, and plays) along with his book discussing them. I’m going to treat HTR&W like a textbook and Bloom’s narration as a teacher’s voice: I won’t always agree with him and he’s opinionated, but I will hopefully learn something by the end. I’m sure, as in all reading lists, I won’t agree with his judgment of excellence of all of these works, and there is something conceited about his attitude that I can and should learn to read in the ways he suggests. But no matter: I look forward to learning how to make my reading a more personal experience.

To join Rebecca in reading all the works from Bloom's list, go to her post about the challenge and leave a comment. She is giving away a copy of Bloom's book to one lucky participant who signs up before the end of June!

Semicolon's Author Celebration - EVENT

Hosted by Sherry at Semicolon

Sherry is hosting the Author Celebration event. She writes:

So, I thought why not have blogosphere-wide celebration for certain of my favorite authors on their birthdays? I pick an author with an upcoming birthday, let folks know about the celebration, and if you enjoy that author too, you can post about his/her books: reviews, the time you met Author X, or whatever is related to that particular author, maybe a list of read-alikes for other adoring fans.

The first celebration will be held on June 26th for author Charlotte Zolotow. Other upcoming celebrations (always held on a Thursday) are:

July 10: John Calvin, b. 1509.
July 17: Isaac Watts, b.1674.
July 24: Alexandre Dumas, pere, b.1802.
August 7: Betsy Byars, b.1928.
August 28: Tasha Tudor, b.1915, d.2008.

Sherry has posted these in the sidebar of her Semicolon blog. To join in, subscribe to Sherry's feed and watch her blog for future announcements.

July Book Blowout

July 1 - July 31, 2008

Mrs. S at The Blue Archipeligo is hosting the July Book Blowout. Mrs. S writes:

Have you acquired a nice pile of books to read this summer? Do you need some encouragement to get through the pile a bit quicker? Or just an excuse to sit out in the sunshine and escape with a good book?

The rules are simple:

• Only books read between July 1 and July 31 count towards the challenge
• You can include re-reads - as long as they are read within the month of July
• Books you abandon will only count as half a book
• If you read to your children you can include all books which have more than 100 pages
• You can include up to two graphic novels
• You can include up to two audio books - (if you have a visual impairment that prevents you from reading then you can use just audio books for the challenge)
• Books you read for other challenges are eligible - use this as an opportunity to catch up!

Mrs. S is also planning to post mini-challenges throughout the challenge period...oh, and there will be an Amazon gift certificate awarded to one lucky participant!

To sign up (through July 14th) and get all the details, visit the post about the challenge and use Mr. Linky to link to your list of books you plan to read.

Summer Book Trek 2008

June 1 - August 31, 2008

LDS Fiction is hosting the Summer Book Trek which encourages participants to read at least one book by an LDS Author. LDS Fiction writes:

All you have to do is make a list of fiction books by LDS authors that you want to read during the challenge (as few as one, or as many as you want). You can make changes to your list as needed—drop books that weren't as fun as you thought they'd be; add books if you finish early. Set the goals that fit your schedule. No pressure, no minimums. (We'd like to encourage you to pick one new fiction book by an LDS author published in 2008, but that's optional. And YES, you may use titles that you're already using for other challenges, as long as they're by LDS authors.)

To sign up visit the post about the challenge and use Mr. Linky. All the rules are listed there...and there will be prizes.

Summer Reading Thing Challenge

June 20 - September 21, 2008

Karlene at Inksplasher is hosting the annual Summer Reading Thing. This challenge is all about promoting literacy. Participants create their own lists and there is no minimum number of books to read. Karlene writes:

Make changes to your list as needed as desired. Finish early? Add more books (or not). Change your mind on a title? Drop it. No pressure, no minimums.

Here's the rules:

1. Sign up through the post about the challenge by leaving a comment.
2. Make your list and post it on your blog. Then let Karlene know by giving her a link to your post.
3. Post a short review on your blog of at least one of the books you read during the challenge. If you like to do reviews, you can post one for each of the books you read. Please keep the reviews family friendly.
   
4. There are prizes.

To learn more, visit the post about the challenge.

Tuesday Thingers - EVENT

Hosted by Marie at The Boston Bibliophile

The Tuesday Thingers is a weekly blogging event that happens every Tuesday. A weekly round robin for Library Thing users, this event encourages bloggers to respond to a theme or question by writing a blog entry, then linking back from the original post. Visiting participant blogs and leaving comments is an integral part of the event.

To learn more and get involved, bloggers should visit The Boston Bibliophile each Tuesday for the latest installment.

Christopher Moore Challenge

July 1 , 2008 - April 1, 2009

David is a new blogger who is hosting the Christopher Moore Challenge - a challenge which encourages participants to read all ten of Christopher Moore's books. To read more, sign up or ask questions...visit David and leave him a comment on the post about the challenge.

Apologetics Challenge

July 1 - December 31, 2008

Historia from Bibliohistoria is hosting and has created a dedicated group blog for the Apologetics Challenge. Historia writes:

Apologists are authors, writers, and leaders known for taking on the points in arguments, conflicts or positions that are either placed under popular scrutinies or viewed under persecutory examinations. The term comes from the Greek word apologia, meaning a speaking in defense.

So you need to read 3 books either in defense of or against the things that people say are not true about your religion.

This does not have to be only Christianity. Against or in defense of any religion is fine.

There are some books which are NOT allowed, and Historia has listed those on the challenge post.

To join the challenge, leave Historia a comment on the dedicated blog for this challenge.

Poetry Friday - EVENT

Hosted by Kelly at Big A Little A

Poetry Friday is a weekly event. Susan from Chicken Spaghetti posted a wonderful explanation of this event on her blog here. She writes:

At the end of the week many children's book aficionados and bloggers contribute favorite poems or chat about something poetical in an event called Poetry Friday. At their own sites, people talk about both works for children and/or works for adults. In the past I've written about rhyming picture books, posted links to poems at copyright protected sites, and rambled on about this or that tangentially related to poetry. Someone usually volunteers to round up all the posts on the subject, so that poetry aficionados can read more posts on a favorite subject.

She also wrote an article at the Poetry Foundation Organization about this weekly event.

Readers and bloggers interested in participating can find a list of the volunteers who are sponsoring the link each week by visiting Kelly's blog and scrolling down the sidebar to the Poetry Friday Schedule. Kelly puts out a call for volunteer hosts every few months. If someone knows they'll be interested in hosting ahead of time, they should go ahead and write her at kidslitinfo@gmail.com. Readers just interested in posting poetry for the event should go that week's host and leave a comment with a link to their post.

Booking Through Thursday - EVENT

Hosted by Deb at Booking Through Thursday

Booking Through Thursday is a weekly event born in 2005. It is essentially a weekly meme consisting of questions about 'about books, authors, reading preferences, that sort of thing.' Participation consists of copying the weekly question, pasting it into a blog post and answering it...then going back to Deb's blog and leaving a comment and trackback.

Sound like a fun idea? Apparently a lot of people think so! Check out the BTT blog to join in.

Where Are You? - EVENT

Hosted by Raidergirl at An Adventure in Reading

Every Tuesday readers converge at Raidergirl's blog for the Where Are You event. Reading is traveling of sorts - and so the idea is to share with others where reading has taken you that week...perhaps it is Alaska, or maybe a marketplace in Mexico, or perhaps you're sipping wine in Italy. I enjoy browsing the comments and adding my own. And then of course, there are the book recommendations....

To play - visit An Adventure in Reading every Tuesday.

Saturday Review of Books - EVENT

Hosted by Sherry at Semicolon

The Saturday Review of Books is a weekly event where bloggers link their weekly book reviews through Mr. Linky. Bloggers who wish to participate need not worry about signing up...simply check in at Semicolon each Saturday and post your links.

Sunday Salon - EVENT

Hosted by Debra at Deblog

The Sunday Salon is a weekly event which happens each Sunday. Debra writes:

Imagine some university library's vast reading room. It's filled with people--students and faculty and strangers who've wandered in. They're seated at great oaken desks, books piled all around them, and they're all feverishly reading and jotting notes in their leather-bound journals as they go. Later they'll mill around the open dictionaries and compare their thoughts on the afternoon's literary intake....

That's what happens at the Sunday Salon, except it's all virtual. Every Sunday the bloggers participating in that week's Salon get together--at their separate desks, in their own particular time zones--and read. And blog about their reading. And comment on one another's blogs. Think of it as an informal, weekly, mini read-a-thon, an excuse to put aside one's earthly responsibilities and fall into a good book.

To sign up and learn more about this fun weekly event, visit The Sunday Salon.

New Feature On A Novel Challenge - EVENTS

The tradition of this blog has been to post links to reading challenges across the blogosphere...and I intend to keep on doing that here! But, every now and then I come across reading or blogging events which do not fall into the category of challenges, but which I believe appeal to those readers who love a good challenge. I have decided to expand A Novel Challenge blog to include these events and will begin today posting links to them. Please feel free to contact me with blog events which may be characterized as 'reading events.'

I hope you'll enjoy this new feature!

Read One Book Challenge

May 1 - December 31, 2008

According to a survey by the National Endowment for the Arts, 53% of Americans surveyed did not read one book last year...

That got me to thinking...there are so many challenges in the blogosphere related to books and I'd like to do one for those who are maybe not so bookish.

That's right - only one book. Amy at My Friend Amy is hosting the Read One Book Challenge and here are the rules:

1. Read one book you have never read before by December 31st, 2008.
2. This book must not be a children's book that you are reading to your kids. It must be a book for you.
3. This book may not be part of work related research. This book is for you.
4. It can be fiction or nonfiction.
5. Leave a comment on the post about the challenge telling Amy you're joining in and write a post linking back to the post to invite others to join in as well
6. For bonus points, spend an evening at a Barnes and Noble, Borders, or local independent bookshop browsing through books. (apparently there's a huge percentage of people who don't go to bookstores, either)
7. When you've completed your book write a post about it and give Amy the link.
   

One ten dollar Amazon gift card will be awarded through random drawing to a person who signs up and completes the challenge on time.

Interested? Visit Amy's post about the challenge.

LOST Books Challenge

June 12 - December 31, 2008

My Friend Amy is hosting the LOST Books Challenge based on the television show LOST. Amy writes:

One of the things you will notice if you watch LOST is that books are displayed everywhere and that characters are named after authors, philosophers, and characters in books. Sawyer is a voracious reader and the Others have a bookclub. If you're a nerd like me...it's a dream come true.

She has links to sites which feature these books. The rules of the challenge are:

1. Read at least 5 books for the challenge.
2. Write a post on your blog announcing your intention to participate in the challenge, list the books you want to read, and invite your readers to do the same. Then go back to the post about the challenge and add a direct link to your post to Mr. Linky.
3. Readers are welcome to cross books from this challenge with books in other challenges.
4. There will be prizes raffled for those who complete the challenge.
5. If you are not a blogger, you can email Amy your plan to participate and she'll make a post for you right on her blog.

Summer Extravaganza

June 23 - 27, 2008

The Friendly Book Nook is hosting The Summer Extravaganza - a three day discussion about Summer Reading:

Each day we will have a topic about summer reading that we encourage you to post about on your blog! It should be a great chance to get a lot of ideas for books to read over the summer as well as ways to encourage your children to spend some of their time reading.There are also prizes! Through regular participation you will have the chance to win one of the following:1) Inspirational Fiction Lot: Includes Skizzer by A.J. Kiesling, A Mending at the Edge by Jane Kirkpatrick, In the Dead of Winter by Nancy Mehl, To Trust a Friend by Lynn Bullock, and a special cross bookmark made by Rabuna Fi. 2) A brand new signed copy of Stealing Athena by Karen Essex. 3) A ten dollar Amazon gift card!

Both bloggers and non bloggers are encouraged to join. To learn more and to participate in this fun event, visit the post about the challenge.

Celebrating 100 Years of Anne

June 7 - July 31, 2008

Mrs. S of Blue Archipelago is hosting her first mini-challenge. Celebrating 100 Years of Anne is a challenge designed to honor Lucy Maud Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables. The rules are:

• Sign up using the Mr Linky box on the challenge post
  
• You need to read at least one of the books from the series
  
• Write a post on your blog sharing your thoughts on the book; favourite scene, relationships etc
• When your post is written go back to the challenge post and link to your post in the comments box
• If you don’t have a blog then write your thoughts in the comments box

To read more about the challenge and for sign ups, go to the post about the challenge.

The Harlequin-Silhouette Reading Challenge

June 10 - December 31, 2008

Yvonne from Socrates Book Reviews is hosting The Harlequin-Silhouette Reading Challenge. The rules are simple:

1. Choose any 5 Harlequin or Silhouette books from any of their series.
2. Read them between now and December 31, 2008.
3. Post a brief review of the books.
4. You can use books that you are using for other challenges.

To join this challenge, leave Yvonne a comment on the challenge post.

An Orange July

July 1 - July 31, 2008

Why not join Jill from The Magic Lasso and her Library Thing friends in reading from the Orange Prize winner, short and long lists this July?

An Orange July is all about reading books which have either won or been nominated for the Orange Prize. There are no set rules regarding number of books to read. This personal challenge would mesh well with The Orange Prize Project - a perpetual challenge which hosts its own blog.

YA Romance Challenge 2008

July 1, 2008 - February 28, 2009

One of my favorite bloggers, Becky from Becky's Book Reviews (and also one of the most prolific challenge hosts!), is hosting the YA Romance Challenge. She has developed a terrific group blog for this challenge...even if you don't intend to participate, you should still check it out just for the eye candy!

Here's the rules:

• Read six YA romance novels between July 1, 2008 and February 28, 2009.
• Romance should be a strong element within the story. But it doesn't have to be the only element. Realistic fiction (contemporary). Historical. Fantasy. Science Fiction. Retold Fairy Tales. All genres are allowed.
• They can be part of a series, or stand-alones.
• They can be long or short.
• Happy books are NOT a requirement
• Audio books are allowed.
• Up to three movies can be substituted for books. So you could watch 3 movies, read 3 books if you prefer.

To sign up and learn more, visit the post about the challenge.

ARC Challenge

June 21 - September 21, 2008

Teddy from So Many Precious Books So Little Time is hosting her FIRST reading challenge - and it's a good one! The ARC Challenge is all about reading Advance Reader's Copies (or Advance Reader's Editions) of books.

Here are the rules:

1. Make a list of all of the ARC's that you currently have and/or are on their way to you.
2. If you have:

• 1-3 ARC's then pick at least one to read and review for this challenge.
• 4-6 ARC's then pick at least two to read and review for this challenge.
• 7-9 ARC's then pick at least three to read and review for this challenge.
• 10 or more Arc's then pick at least 4 to read and review for this challenge.

3. Crossovers with other challenges are allowed.
4. List the books that you plan to read for this challenge (you can change it at any time, as long as the books you change are also ARCs). You can read the books on your list in any order.
5. Read the books and review them on your blog. If you don't have a blog, you can post your review on sites like Amazon. Leave a comment on the post about the challenge with a link to each of your reviews.

To sign up, go to the post about the challenge and leave a comment for Teddy with a link to your blog post about the challenge.

A Fairy Tale Challenge

Perpetual Challenge - No time limit

Judy is hosting A Fairy Tale Challenge which has no time limits and encourages readers to read ANY Fairy Tales.

Judy is a new blogger - but has set up a great blog for this challenge. Visit her here to sign up for the challenge and here to read all about it!

Summer Reading Challenge

June 1 - August 31, 2008

Kathleen from Rock Creek Rumblings is hosting the Summer Reading Challenge. Kathleen writes:

The purpose is to encourage "intentional" reading--that is, to have a plan and stick to it, more or less (admittedly, my effort is usually in the less category, by which I mean the sticking-to, not the amount of reading). I have found since I began doing these seasonal challenges that I read a lot more than I used to, which is good, because I have a lot of catching up to do.

The rules are simple:

1. Copy the picture above.
2. Find some books you want to read over the next three months.
3. Post the picture and the list at your blog.
4. Link to Kathleen's post about the challenge so others can join the fun

The Christy Challenge

June 2 - July 31, 2008

Shauna at Shauna Rumbling is hosting The Christy Challenge. She writes:

The Christy Awards are given annually, "recognizing excellence in Christian fiction written by contemporary authors and highlighting the breadth and diversity of Christian fiction." I have previously used the list of nominations and winners to find thought-provoking novels with well-developed characters for my reading list and to find new or new-to-me Christian authors to challenge and inspire my faith. I hope that you will consider doing so as well.

The rules for this challenge are:

1. Pick one book from The Cristy Awards nomination list for 2008, 2007, or 2006 and read it before July 31, 2008.
2. Blog about it and let Shauna know what you thought.

There will be a book give-away at the conclusion of the challenge.

To read more and to sign up, visit the post about the challenge.