Series Challenge Season 3

December 1, 2008 - November 30, 2009

Kathrin at Crazy Cozy Murders is hosting The Series Challenge Season 3.

1. Pick a couple series you already started and now want to finish (meaning, you'll be all up to date with the series when it ends).
   
2. Read at least 4 books, more are also okay, of course!
3. Post your review of the books on your blog or in the comment section of the post about the challenge, no matter how long. If you post the review on your blog, Kathrin requests that you post a link to the review in the comment section of the post about the challenge so that everyone else can check out your review.

To sign up, use Mr. Linky on the sticky post about the challenge.

The Numbers Challenge 2009

January 1 - August 1, 2009

Callista is once again hosting The Numbers Challenge. Sign ups have started for the 2009 Challenge. Here are the guidelines for 2009:

• Read 5 books with numbers in the title.
• 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, 2009.

To learn more and to sign up (or join the blog), visit the post about the 2009 Numbers Challenge which is located on the dedicated blog for this challenge.

The Science Book Challenge 2009

January 1 - December 31, 2009

Jeff at Bearcastle Blog is hosting the Science Book Challenge again. The 2009 challenge encourages readers to read three science books related somehow to the theme "Nature's Wonders" and then share your thoughts about the books with others. Jeff writes:

Reading about science--by which we mean to include engineering, mathematics, and technology, too--is fun and rewarding. We encourage others to read about science, and help potential readers find books that they will enjoy and profit from reading, by publishing our Book Notes, which are written by Ars Hermeneutica employees, volunteers, and friends.

We're looking for science-book readers to help us help other science-book readers by sharing their own opinions about the science books they've read.

Books chosen for the challenge should "have something to do with science, scientists, how science operates, or science's relationship with its surrounding culture. Your books might be popularizations of science, they might be histories, they might be biographies, they might be anthologies; they can be recent titles or older books."

Go to the official challenge site to sign up and read more about the challenge.

2009 Audiobook Challenge

January 1 - December 31, 2009

J. Kaye is hosting the 2009 Audiobook Challenge which encourages participants to listen to books. The guidelines are:

• Do not start the challenge prior to January 1st - although sign ups begin now.
• Listen to 12 books.
• You do not need to make a list ahead of time; lists can change at any time.

For sign ups, visit the post about the challenge and use Mr. Linky to link directly to your post about the challenge.

The Art History Reading Challenge 2009

January 1 - December 31, 2009

Sarah is hosting the 2009 Art History Reading Challenge. She writes:

Do you love art? Do you love reading about art? Join The Art History Reading Challenge and challenge yourself to read at least 6 books about art in 2009.

Books may be either fiction OR non fiction and need not adhere to any specific genre. To sign up visit the dedicated blog about the challenge and use Mr. Linky.

Faith n' Fiction Saturdays - EVENT

Hosted by Amy at My Friend Amy

Amy at My Friend Amy hosts a weekly Faith n' Fiction Saturdays event. This Christian-based event poses a question for participants which they answer on their blog. Participants are encouraged to use Mr. Linky each week to provide links to their posts.

For more information, visit My Friend Amy each Saturday.

The Harlequin/Silhouette Romance Reading Challenge

January 1, 2009 - December 31, 2009

Yvonne from Socrates Book Reviews is once again hosting the Harlequin/Silhouette Romance Reading Challenge with just a few changes. Read five books as follows:

1. Read 1 book with a holiday theme.
2. Read 1 book by an author you never read before.
3. Read 1 book with one of these words in the title - wedding, marriage, husband or wife
4. Read 1 book set in a place you've never been before.
5. Read 1 book with a body of water in the title (i.e. water, lake, river, island, etc.)

Guidelines for the challenge are:

• You can change books in the middle of the year, nothing is written in stone!
• Books used in this challenge may be used in other challenges.
• Books can be in any format - paper, audio, ebook.
• As you read the books for the challenge, return to the challenge blog to post your reviews.
• Link the challenge to your blog using the challenge button.

There will also be a prize for one participant who completes the challenge!

To sign up, leave a comment on the post about the challenge. There is also a dedicated Yahoo group set up for participants.

Betty's Book Chats - EVENT

Monthly Real-Time Book Club
Hosted by Betty at Betty's Book Chats

This is a monthly event which functions as a virtual, real-time book club: readers will read a chosen book each month and discuss it together on a real-time chat room at a specific time and day.

Guidelines are:

• Books will be nominated and voted on in advance.
• Once a book is chosen, it is posted to the blog and readers interested in taking part in the book chat can sign up with Mister Linky, and leave their email address in the comments (Betty uses Haloscan's commenting program, so nobody can see your email address except her).
• Sign-ups will be open until the day before the book chat, so latecomers are welcome to join, as long as they have read the book and feel they can take part in the discussion.
• On the day before the chat, participants are emailed the chat room link and password. If you forget to leave your email, you will not get this vital information!
• The link and the password allow participants to sign into the chat room on the designated time, and chat away!

Sound like fun? To get involved and begin nominating book and signing up, visit Betty's Book Chats Blog.

Centuries Reading Challenge

January 1 - December 31, 2009

Becky from Becky's Book Reviews is hosting the Centuries Reading Challenge where participants are asked to read four (to six) books written in four different centuries. Guidelines for the challenge are:

• The centuries do not need to be consecutive.
• Books can be fiction, nonfiction, poetry, short stories, essays, plays, etc.
• Books do not have to be a required length. (Although poetry and short stories should be part of a larger collection. For example, a book of short stories as opposed to one solitary short story.)
• Overlaps with other challenges are fine.
• Audio books are welcome. E-books are welcome as well.

Becky has provided sources for reading suggestions.

To sign up and read more, visit Becky's post about the challenge.

2009 Themed Reading Challenge

February 1, 2009 - July 31, 2009

I'm hosting the Themed Reading Challenge again in 2009 at Caribousmom. For those who participated last year, there are a couple of changes. Here are the guidelines:

1. Books should be chosen from the reader’s TBR pile (this may be an actual physical pile or a virtual pile).
2. The goal is to read 4 to 6 books linked by theme.
3. Overlaps with other challenges are allowed.
4. Readers may change their list of books at any time.
5. Readers may choose three different levels of participation:

• Read at least 4 books with the same theme.
• Read at least 5 books that share at least TWO themes.
• Read at least 6 books that share MORE than two themes.

For more information and to sign up through Mr. Linky, visit the post about the challenge.

2009 Romance Reading Challenge

January 1 - December 31, 2009

Naida from The Bookworm is hosting the Romance Reading Challenge for 2009. She points out that Romance Reading is not just about the bodice-rippers...

There is a huge selection of books in this category such as contemporary romance, historical romance, romantic suspense and paranormal romance to name a few. As long as the story has romantic love between the two main characters your selection will fit this challenge. The novels do not need to have a happy ending either, there can also be unrequited love.

The goal is to read a minimum of five (5) Romance novels during the challenge period. You can change your list at any times and crossovers with other challenges is allowed. Naida is encouraging you to provide links to your reviews of the books you read.

To sign up, visit the post about the challenge and use Mr. Linky (also leave a comment!).

Read Your Own Books Challenge 2009

January 1 - December 31, 2009

Jenn is hosting the 2009 Read Your Own Books Challenge. The concept is simple - read books that YOU OWN. Here are the rules:

• Set a goal of how many books you want to read throughout the year.
• Make a list of books you own which you want to read - the list can change at any time.
• Books you add to your collection during the year are eligible.
• eBooks and Audio Books are acceptable.
• Overlaps with other challenges are fine.

To sign up, visit the post about the challenge and leave Jenn a comment.

2008 Blog Advent Tour - EVENT

Hosted by Kailana at The Written World AND Marg at Reading Adventures

The Blog Advent Tour is an annual event that is a virtual advent calendar of sorts.

Each day anyone who wants to participate could take turns sharing a little treat with our friends here in blog-land. For example it could be something about a holiday tradition, or a recipe, or a picture of a hot guy dressed as Santa, or a favourite Christmas memory, movie, book, song...anything you like. Even if you don't celebrate Christmas we would like to hear about what your family does during the holiday season, whether it be celebrating Hanukkah or Kwanzaa or anything!

There is also a prize drawing for participants.

To read more and to sign up, visit either Kailana's post OR Marg's post about the event and leave a comment with the date you'd like to play...but hurry, the event begins December 1st!

2008 Book Bloggers Christmas Swap - EVENT

Hosted by Nymeth at Things Mean A Lot AND Dewey at The Hidden Side of A Leaf

The Book Bloggers Christmas Swap is an annual event where book bloggers play Secret Santa.

How does it work?

You sign up by sending an e-mail to xmasswap08 at gmail. You have until the 18th of November to do so. You will then be randomly assigned as another blogger’s Secret Santa.

What you have to do next is send that person a little something - it can be a book, a journal or bookmark, a box of Christmas cookies, a mixed CD, whatever you can think of. It doesn't have to be anything pricey, of course. Second hand books are perfectly acceptable, as are homemade gifts.

A different person will be assigned as your Secret Santa, and you'll only find out who they are when you get their package in the mail.

It is an INTERNATIONAL swap...but if your finances are strapped and you do not want to ship overseas, make sure you let Nymeth and Dewey know and they will pick a blogger close to you!

To learn more details, visit the post about the event...and make sure to do it BEFORE NOVEMBER 18th if you want to be included!!

2009 Support Your Local Library Challenge

January 1 - December 31, 2009

J. Kaye from J. Kaye's Book Blog is hosting the 2009 Support Your Local Library Challenge where participants are encouraged to read from their libraries. There are three levels of participation you may choose from:

1. The first is to read 12 books from your local library in 2009.
2. The second is to read 25 books from your local library in 2009.
3. The third is to read 50 books from your local library in 2009.

The guidelines are:

• You can join any time between now and December 31, 2009, as long as you don’t start reading your books prior to 2009.
• Once you've chosen a level of participation you cannot change it.
• Books can be audios, downloads, children’s, YA. As long as it’s a book, format and target age group does not matter.
• You do not have to decide on books ahead of time; lists can change.

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

Lost in Translation Reading Challenge

January 1 - December 31, 2009

Frances of NonSuch Book is hosting the Lost in Translation challenge - a year long challenge to read at least 6 books in translation. Frances has started a dedicated page for the challenge which you can join as a guest blogger by emailing her (go to the blog to get information). Leave a comment on the post about the challenge to join.

100+ Reading Challenge - 2009

January 1 - December 31, 2009

The 100+ Reading Challenge is back for 2009 - but has a new home. J.Kaye from J.Kaye's Book Blog will be sponsoring the challenge at her own blog this year. The challenge is simple:

• Read 100 or more books in 2009.
• All books count: children’s, YA, adults, fiction, non-fiction, how-tos, etc.

To join, sign up at the post about the challenge using Mr. Linky...if you do not have a blog OR if you want to chit chat with other readers doing the challenge, join the Yahoo group set up for the challenge. You can join the challenge ANY TIME between now and December 31, 2009.

Unshelved Reading Challenge

February 1 - June 1, 2009

Becky from Becky's Book Reviews is hosting the Unshelved Reading Challenge based on the Unshelved Book Club and the books they review. They write:

Every Sunday our characters talk about a book they've read in full-page full-color comic strips. Our book clubs are posted in libraries, book stores, and in homes...

Becky's challenge encourages readers to read a minimum of three books over four months which appear in the Unshelved Book Club Archives. The rules are flexible and easy:

Audio books welcome. Blog not required. Overlaps with other challenges allowed. Lists not required. But books must come from their archives.

Sound like fun? Sign ups are are by leaving a comment on the post about the challenge.

Notable Books Challenge

The Notable Books Challenge will continue into 2009 and beyond. There is ONE BIG change to this challenge:

Beginning January 1, 2009, it will become a PERPETUAL Challenge. What does this mean? It means that participants may work through the Notable Lists found on the challenge blog at their own pace...reading as many or as little as they wish. The only request is that at the beginning of each new year, participants set goals for the books they would like to read for the year. These goals are not "set in stone" and can be changed at any time, but will serve as a guideline for each individual.

Some things are still the same:

The Notable Books Blog includes notable book lists from a variety of sources. Notable book lists beginning with 2007 lists.

Participants are encouraged to challenge themselves to read books from the lists and post reviews to the challenge blog. Cross posting to personal blogs is permitted (and encouraged!).

To sign up by post a comment with your email address to the announcement about the 2009 changes. You will then be invited to join the blog. To read more, visit the post about the challenge.

What's In A Name - 2009

January 1 - December 31, 2009

Annie is hosting Part II of the What's In A Name Challenge with all new categories! Here are the rules:

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

You may overlap books with other challenges, but please don't use the same book for more than one category.

There will be some small prizes scattered throughout. There will also be a prize awarded at the conclusion to one participant who completes the challenge.

You don't need to decide exactly which books you will be reading ahead of time

To join visit the welcome post on the dedicated blog and use Mr. Linky.

From The Stacks 2008

November 1, 2008 - January 30, 2009

The From the Stacks Challenge is back. Overdue Books writes:

If you are anything like me your stack of purchased to-be-read books is teetering over. So for this challenge we would be reading 5 books that we have already purchased, have been meaning to get to, have been sitting on the nightstand and haven't read before. No going out and buying new books. No getting sidetracked by the lure of the holiday bookstore displays.

There will be some small awarded to random participants and/or those with clever review posts.

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

U.S. Presidents Reading Project

Perpetual Challenge - No Time Limit

Lezlie from Books 'N Border Collies is hosting the U.S. President Reading Project - a perpetual challenge which encourages readers to read at least one nonfiction book about each President of the United States. Lezlie writes:

If one book about each president sounds a bit like "too much information" to you, feel free to choose books that talk about more than one president at a time and count it for each one. Tailor this project to suit your personal level of interest. Maybe you just want a passing knowledge of each one. Maybe you found a couple presidents interesting enough to read two or three or more books about them.

To join, leave a comment on the welcome post of the dedicated blog for the challenge.

Medieval Challenge

August 8, 2008 - February 8, 2009

It is not too late to join the Medieval Challenge. The guidelines are:

Choose a level of participation:

1. Serf: Read 3 books
2. Gentry: Read 5 books
3. Royalty: Read 6 books

Crossovers with other challenges are allowed and encouraged.

Choose from modern Medieval novels, classic texts, plays or non-fiction books ... you can even watch a Medieval based film as one of your choices!

To read more about the challenge and visit links to help you choose book, check out the post about the challenge located on the dedicated challenge blog. Email Holistic Knitter (email address is located on post about the challenge) to join.

Countdown Challenge 2009

Michelle from 1MoreChapter is hosting the Countdown Challenge - a challenge designed to:

...read the number of books first published in a given year that corresponds to the last digit of each year in the 2000s — 9 books from 2009, 8 books from 2008, etc. The total number of books required, therefore, is 45.

The challenge is RETROACTIVE to August 8, 2008...and runs to September 9, 2009.

Crossovers with other challenges are allowed and your lists may change at any time.

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

The 999 Challenge

January 1 - December 31, 2009

An avid group of readers from Library Thing are challenging readers to read 9 books from 9 different categories in 2009. They've started a blog dedicated to the challenge. To play, visit the 999 Challenge blog and leave a comment.

iPoe Story Reading Challenge

Perpetual Challenge

Rob from Rob Around Books is hosting the iPoe Story Reading Challenge. He writes:

This challenge has been launched both to celebrate the upcoming 200th anniversary of the birth of Edgar Allan Poe (January 19th 2009), and to fully accustom myself with a writer whose works I have quickly fallen in love with. The challenge is quite simple - to read the entire collection of Edgar Allan Poe stories (which in my reckoning amounts to a total of 73 unique works), with an open deadline for completion. Optimistically I would have set the deadline for completion for January 19th 2009, but realistically this is probably not achievable.

Why not drop him a comment on his initial post about the challenge and let him know you'll be joining him!

The Well Seasoned Reader Challenge

January 1 - March 31, 2009

Booknut is hosting the Well Seasoned Reader Challenge.

The rules are:

1. Read three books. After that, it's up to you how much you want to read.
2. The books must be middle-grade on up, but can be either fiction or non-fiction.
3. The books must:

• have a food name in the title, OR
• be about cooking/eating, OR
• have a place name in the title, OR
• be about one (or more) person's travel experience, OR
• be about a specific culture, OR
• be by an author whose ethnicity is other than your own

You to choose how the three books you read fit the criteria.

BookNut writes:

The purpose, this winter, is to take yourself someplace out of the ordinary, to go on a literary trip, whether that be challenging your expectations, discovering a new place, or enjoying the experience of reading about good food, places, and people.

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

New Author Challenge 2009

January 1 - December 31, 2009

Literary Escapism is hosting the New Author Challenge for 2009.

1. There is no restriction on choosing your novels. They can definitely be from other challenges.
2. YOU decide how many new authors you want to try in 2009 and then that’s your challenge.
3. To join, go to the post about the challenge and add your name to the Mr. Linky.
4. If you do not have your own blog, you can join the group blog here.
5. Bloggers or Non-Bloggers alike are welcome
6. When you read a new author, write your review (either at your site or the group blog) and then go back to the post about the challenge and post a link to your review.

Shakespeare Challenge 2009

January 1 - December 31, 2009

Historia is hosting the Shakespeare Challenge for 2009. The rules are pretty straight forward:

1. Read anything about or related to Shakespeare - fiction or non fiction - and you can read the plays and sonnets as well.
2. Read 6 books .

To join, visit the blog for the challenge and contact Historia with your email so she can send you an invitation to the blog.