Love Bites Reading Challenge

April 1 -June 30, 2009

Royal Reviews is hosting the Love Bites Reading Challenge

Whether your preference is vamps, weres or something more exotic - here's a challenge for all you paranormal/urban fantasy lovers!

All you need to do is read three paranormals with a romantic theme.

To find out more and sign up, visit the Love Bites Reading Challenge.

An Award....

Thanks very much to Kristina at Kristina's Favorites for bestowing the Sisterhood Award on Teddy and I for our work here at A Novel Challenge Blog.

The award recognizes blogs which "show great attitude and/or gratitude!" and Kristina writes:

Teddy Rose and Wendy at A Novel Challenge - For all of their hard work and amazing efforts at keeping us posted and up-to-date on all the challenges ongoing and upcoming! Thank you =0

I know that both Teddy and I are happy to keep enabling all of you to join endless challenges and add books to your TBR piles!

Herding Cats II: Attack of the Hairballs Challenge

April 1 - December 31, 2009

Renay from Let's Get Literate is hosting the Herding Cats II: Attack of the Hairballs Challenge. She writes:

1. Make a list of five books you love. Directions:

• Five. I'm as serious as a beached whale.
• All titles must be books you've read in 2007, 2008 or 2009.
• Please don't list a series; just the first book. If you really want to list a book in the middle of a series, you can, but it has to be that specific book.
• Feel free to share why you're putting the book on your list, because I am nosy.

2. Post your list:

• in your own journal, in the comments here, whatever is fine. Share the list here.
• Lists should be public (no locked entries, no logging in to view).

3. Browse the new book list. Stay a while. Read a few (eta: if you want; not even reading is required this time around if you don't have time to commit to a new challenge but still want to share your favorites).

4. If you review your books, you can share the reviews. You know, if you want. No pressure. Definitely not.

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

Polyglot Agatha Reading Challenge

April 1 - December 31, 2009

Scribacchina of Parole is hosting the Poloyglot Agatha Reading Challenge. She writes:

I intend it as a very low-pressure challenge, basically there is only one rule: you commit to reading at least one book by Agatha in a language other than your own. It may be your high-school French, your grandparents’ Polish, your fiancé’s Chinese, a new language that you want to pick up, whatever.

Rules:

1. You can sign up anytime.
2. When you read a book for the challenge, tell Scribacchina about it (either in a blog post or in a comment on the post about the challenge) what you learned from it. She is not so much interested in reviews, but would like to know which new words or turns of phrase you discovered. This is entirely optional.
3. At the beginning of April, Scribacchina will set up a special post to collect comments and links after you read your books.

There is a special giveaway for people who sign up by March 31st.

There is a giveaway for people who link to this challenge in their blogs by March 31.
More giveaways will come during the challenge months.
To learn more and to sign up or leave comments to be eligible for prizes, visit the post about the challenge.

24 Hour Read-A-Thon - APRIL

April 18th, 2009 5am PST (noon GMT)

Dewey's 24 Hour Read-A-Thon has a new site and is ON for April! Three dedicated bloggers are taking on this immense project...they write:

After Dewey passed away, the three of us who had helped Dewey with the past two read-a-thons, Hannah (WordLily), Ana (Nymeth), and Trish (Hey Lady!) knew we wanted to continue the tradition. We certainly don’t expect to live up to the high standard that Dewey set for us, but we can certainly try.

For information about the 24-Hour Read-a-thon CLICK HERE. There are some changes, so even if you’ve participated before, please look for new information.

If you would like to host a mini-challenge, please email DeweyReadathon at gmail.

If you would like to donate a prize, please email DeweyReadathon at gmail. For prize ideas, check out the prize list from last time.

If you would like to help with an organizational task, please check out the FAQ page to see a list of tasks and email us at DeweyReadathon at gmail if you would like to take on any of them.

If you would like to donate BookMooch points that will be given to BookMooch charities during the event, please email DeweyReadathon at gmail.

Want to sign up? Go here and use Mr. Linky.

M/M Romance Challenge

March 20 - August 31, 2009

Anesthezea of I Love Paperbacks is hosting the M/M Romance Challenge - please note, only those persons 18 years or older may participate. Anesthezea writes:

This challenge is for those who enjoy reading Male/Male romances or those who are interested in starting. If you aren’t familiar with M/M romances, they are novels and other books where the main focus of the story is the romantic relationship between the male protagonists.

There is prize drawing for those who sign up by April 30th and for those who complete the challenge by August 31st. Here are the rules:
1. Choose to read 4, 5, 6, or 10 romances.
2. All genres are allowed.
- They can be a part of a series or stand-alones.
- They can be long or short.
- Some re-reads are allowed, but try to have at least 2 new-to-you books.
- Overlapping with other challenges is fine, even encouraged.
3. You can join at any time.
4. You don’t have to list your books ahead of time. If you decide to list them, you can change them as you go. Feel free to remove or add titles as needed.
5. You do NOT have to have a blog to participate.
6. You do NOT have to review your books to participate.
7. You MUST be 18 years old or older to participate.
To learn more or to sign up, visit the post about the challenge.

Non-Fiction Five Challenge

May 1 - September 30, 2009

Trish of Trish's Reading Nook is hosting the Non-Fiction Five Challenge this year. She writes

After hosting the Non-Fiction Five for two years, Joy has graciously passed the torch onto me. I'm thrilled to be carrying on one of my favorite reading challenges.

The Rules (unchanged from previous years):
1. Read 5 non-fiction books during the months of May - September, 2009 (please link your reviews on Mister Linky each month; Mister Linky can be found each month on this blog)
2. Read at least one non-fiction book that is different from your other choices (i.e.: 4 memoirs and 1 self-help)
3. If interested, please sign up with the link to your NFF Challenge post (all choices do not need to be posted and may change at any time)
To join this challenge, click on Non-Fiction Five Challenge Sign Ups

Once Upon a Time III Challenge

March 21st to June 20th 2009

Carl at Stainless Steel Droppings is again hosting the Once Upon a Time III Challenge.

The Once Upon A Time Challenge is all about books that fall into one of four genres: Fantasy, Mythology, Fairy Tales or Folk Lore. Readers will choose from different levels to determine how much they want to read:

• The Journy: means you are participating, but not committing yourself to any specific number of books.
• Quest the First: Read at least 5 books that fit somewhere within the Once Upon a Time III criteria. They might all be fantasy, or folklore, or fairy tales, or mythology…or your five books might be a combination from the four genres.
• Quest the Second: Read at least one book from each of the four categories. In this quest you will be reading 4 books total: one fantasy, one folklore, one fairy tale, and one mythology. This proves to be one of the more difficult quests each year merely because of the need to classify each read and determine which books fit into which category. I am not a stickler, fear not, but I am endlessly fascinated watching how folks work to find books for each category.
• Quest the Third: Fulfill the requirements for Quest the First or Quest the Second AND top it off with a June reading of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream OR a viewing of one of the many theatrical versions of the play. Love the story, love the films, love the idea of that magical night of the year and so this is my chance to promote the reading of this farcical love story.
• Quest the Fourth: Read two non-fiction books, essay collections, etc. that treat any one or more of the four genres covered in this challenge.
• Short Story Weekends: This quest involves the reading of one or more short stories that fit within at least one of the four genres during the course of the weekend. Ideally you would post about your short story readings on Sundays or Mondays, but this is not strictly necessary.

You may participate in one quest or multiple quests, it is completely up to you and your reading whims!

To learn more of to join click Once Upon a Time III Challenge

2009 Spring Reading Thing

March 20 - June 20, 2009

The Spring Reading Thing is back for 2009! Once again hosted by Katrina at Callapidder Days, this challenge is one you can individualize to suit your own reading goals.

Make a list of books you want to read (or finish reading) this spring. Your list can be as long or as short as you’d like. (Also, feel free to modify your list during the challenge if it’s not working for you.)

Write a blog post containing your list and submit it to the post about the challenge using Mr. Linky.

Read this post for more information.)

To find out more and to join, click The Spring Reading Thing

April Mini Catch-Up Challenge

April 1st through April 30th 2009

Maree of just add books is hosting her very first mini challenge, April Mini Catch-Up Challenge.

For the month of April I'm having/hosting (it'll be having if no one else will play with me; hosting if they do) a catch-up.

The rules, such as they are is to read up to four books in up to four challenges with specific subjects you're involved in.
There are no prizes, except you know, bragging rights, or something.
To find out more and to join, click on April Mini Catch-Up Challenge.

Book Thief Challenge

March 19 - December 31, 2009

The Younger Reader is hosting her very first challenge, The Book Thief Challenge. She writes:

I thought of a neat new idea for a challenge and here it is! This is my first one. If there are any other challenges like this one going on please let me know and I will change it!

This challenge is all about getting to know the thief. You may pick how many books to read (since I know a lot of you have many other books to read!):

1-3 books ~ Pickpocket
3-6 books ~ Candy Shoplifter
6-9 books ~Bank Robber
9-12+ books ~ Grand Thief

Guidelines/Rules/Notes:

• The book can be of any genre (fiction or nonfiction) but must have some relation to thieves/theft. The book can have the word “Thief” in the title, can be about thieves, can involve a scene where something is stolen, etc. Use your imagination if necessary.
• Since this started later in the year, any thief-related books may be added to your current list.
• Please feel free to use books you read here for other challenges too!
• It’s not required for you to pre-list your books

To join go to The Book Thief Challenge and use Mr. Linky.

Jean Plaidy Challenge

January 1 - December 31, 2009

Royal Intrigue is hosting a Jean Plaidy Reading Challenge for 2009.

The object is to read as much Jean Plaidy as you can and report to Royal Intrigue with your numbers. There will be awards at the end of the year!

Some books under her other pen names, such as Victoria Holt and Philippa Carr, count as well. Good luck and happy reading!

To find out more and to join click on Jean Plaidy Challenge.

The Confuzzled Faerie Book Challenge

March 18 - December 31, 2009

Hosted by "Confuzzled" Shannon

Here's what Shannon has to say about the challenge:

The Confuzzled Faerie Book Challenge is a Book Challenge devoted entirely to books about Faeries.

How many books do I have to read?

2 Books - 1st Stage
5 Books - 2nd Stage
10 Books - 3rd Stage
10+ Books - Final Stage

There will be one winner for each stage and Sharon will be giving away prizes.

To find out more and join, visit Confuzzled Faerie Book Challenge

What Are You Reading On Mondays - EVENT

Hosted by J. Kaye's Book Blog

J. Kaye writes:

For It's Monday! What are you reading this week? I post the books completed last week, the books I am currently reading, and the books I hope to finish this week. I usually pile on a little extra. Being such moody reader, I need some wiggle room to change my mind during the week.

If you already do a weekly reading post, feel free to add your link in the It's Monday! What are you reading this week? comment section each Monday. It doesn't matter which day of the week you posted it and you don’t need to use the button above. If you don't currently do something like this on your blog but would like to, then feel free to join in each Monday. It's fun to find out what others are reading!

To participate go to J. Kaye's Book Blog to add your link.

Lisa Jackson Read-A-Fest

April 1 - June 30th, 2009

Not a challenge. Not really an event. But a Read-A-Fest to read as many of Lisa Jackson's novels as you can beginning in April. J. Kaye at J. Kaye's Book Blog is the host. She writes:

I became a Lisa Jackson fan when a friend turned me on to her 2006 book, SHIVER. I fell in love with Abby and Montoya. I had no idea this was a series until a book blogger clued me in. I’d love to get caught up on this series and that’s how the read-a-fest idea came to be.

Guidelines:

1. You need to be 18 years or older to sign up. (Sorry, but the above books are packaged as adult. Hate to have parents angry at me over this.)
2. List the books you’d like to read. This is not a book challenge. The goal is to read as many as you can, so completing the list isn’t required.
3. You do not need a blog to sign up.

Each month, a Lisa Jackson book will be given away. (This will work like other raffles on this blog. Guidelines found here.)

To sign up go to the right sidebar of J.Kaye's blog, there will be a Sign Up link, a Post Your Review link, and a Completed List link. NOTE: You do not need to write reviews. That is optional.

A Visit to Oz Challenge

March 31 - December 31, 2009

Anastasia from The Birdbrain(ed) Book Blog is hosting A Visit to Oz Challenge. She writes:

You’ve seen the movie, you’ve seen the musical– but have you read the book? And did you know there’s 13 other books, plus an additional 26 written by non-Baum authors? Not to mention all the apocrypha that’s been published.

If you’ve ever wanted to read the Oz books– any Oz books– but have been to intimidated or just never had a good reason, here’s your chance! Join the Visit to Oz Challenge and have some fun!

AND:

What sort of books count toward the challenge?
All of ‘em. Every book written about Oz, or about characters from Oz, count towards the challenge. This includes the books written by Gregory Maguire, or any of the Ruth Plumly Thompson books, and so on. I suppose non-fiction books could count too, like a biography about L. Frank Baum or somesuch.

Audiobooks and ebooks count as well.

How many books do I have to read?
A minimum of five books. Why five? Because there’s five countries in the land of Oz! Er, if you count the Emerald City area as a separate country, that is. Here’s a map. Of course there’s more countries outside the main Oz bit– but, er, moving on.

Of course you can read as many as you like after the first five. For those that read all the “canon” Oz books (40 of ‘em!), I’ll have a special prize for you at the end.

Sound like fun? To learn more and sign up, visit the post about the challenge.

Seafaring Challenge - 2009

January 1 - December 31, 2009

I Love Paperbacks is hosting Part II of the Seafaring Challenge. She writes:

This challenge is for those who love seafaring tales! And since there are so many types of books out there that feature this theme, your reading possibilities are endless - nonfiction, history, true-life accounts, genre fiction, literature, historical and contemporary works, young adult, mystery, fantasy, science fiction, romance - the list could go on and on!

Although there are a few guidelines for this challenge, the basic criteria for any book is simply that it must feature something nautical.

Definitions that may help you in deciding if your book fits the challenge:

• Relating to or involving the sea, shipping, vessels & their operation including living & working at sea.
• Relating to or involving ships or shipping or navigation or seamen.
• Having to do with boats, ships, or sailing.

Guidelines

1. Read 10 nautical themed books in 2009.

2. You can join at anytime.

3. Overlapping with other challenges is fine.

4. If you will be posting your challenges in your sidebar, please put a button and link up before you sign up for the challenge.

5. You do not have to list your books ahead of time. If you decide to, you can change them as you go. Feel free to remove or add titles as needed.

Other Notes:

Since the challenge was posted after the start of 2009, any nautical themed books you have already read in 2009 can be used for this challenge.

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

To read reviews of books for this challenge, visit the blog set up for that purpose.

Refer a Book Weekend - EVENT

Hosted by Confuzzled Books

UPDATE MARCH 17, 2009:

This event has been modified to REFER A BOOK WEEKEND - giving participants ALL weekend to make their referrals!

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

Shannon at Confuzzled Books is hosting a weekly event. Refer a Book Friday is centered around readers giving Shannon referrals to books they love...and in doing so will be eligible to win a book in return.

Shannon writes:

I will give everyone a chance to Recommend a book for me to Read & Review. They can Recommend a book by posting their pick on their blog first and then post a link to it in the comments to the contest. You will also have to tell me why you picked the book and why you think I would like it, or if you have a review just link the review. Recommending will last the whole day Friday and then Saturday I will announce the book and who picked it. The winner will get a chance to win a book I have available or they have a choice to pick something from there own wish list.

To play, go to Confuzzled Books each Friday and post a recommendation.

Mini Challenges Blog - New for 2009

Becky from Becky's Book Reviews has added NEW mini challenges for 2009 at the Mini Challenges Blog.

January 1 - December 31, 2009

The goal of this one is to read TWO of her books.

Her YA books include

• Bloom (2007)
• Perfect You (2008)
• Stealing Heaven (2008)
• Living Dead Girl (2008)
• Something Maybe (2009)
• Love You Hate You Miss You (2009)

To join this challenge, visit the post about the challenge.

January 1, 2009 - June 1, 2010

Read and/or watch TWO works by Elizabeth Gaskell

For example:

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

Becky has listed all of Elizabeth Gaskell's works on the post about the challenge. To sign up, go there and leave a comment.

January 1, 2009 - June 1, 2010

The goal of this one is to read TWO of her books.

Novels:

* Adam Bede, 1859
* The Mill on the Floss, 1860
* Silas Marner, 1861
* Romola, 1863
* Felix Holt, the Radical, 1866
* Middlemarch, 1871-72
* Daniel Deronda, 1876

One movie may be substituted in the place of one of the books, if you want.

To sign up, leave a comment on the post about the challenge.

January 1, 2009 - August 31, 2010

Read and/or watch TWO works by Anthony Trollope

For example:

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

Becky has listed all of Trollope's work on the post about the challenge. To sign up, go there and leave a comment.

January 1, 2009 - August 31, 2010

The goal of this one is to read TWO of his books.

Becky has listed all his works on the post about the challenge; to sign up visit that post and leave a comment.

End of the World Challenge - PART II

March 10 - October 9, 2009

I'm late posting this, but it is not too late to sign up! Becky from Becky's Book Reviews is hosting Part II of The End of the World Challenge.

The goal is to read at least four books about "the end of the world." Becky writes:

This includes both apocalyptic fiction and post-apocalyptic fiction. There is quite a bit of overlap with dystopic fiction as well. The point being something--be it coming from within or without, natural or unnatural--has changed civilization, society, humanity to such a degree that it radically differs from "life as we now know it." (Aliens, evil governments, war, plague, natural disasters like earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes, hurricanes, depletion of resources, genetic manipulation, etc.) Here is a wikipedia article on the subject. Also see here. These changes can be small-but-still-significant or huge-and-life-threatening.

Rules for the challenge are:

• Books can be classified as children's, young adult, and adult.
• Graphic novels can count for this challenge.
• Audio books allowed.
• Crossovers with other challenges are allowed.
• You may have one reread that counts toward the challenge. But most should be new-to-you. (Exception: If you read it several years ago, and you can honestly swear that you don't remember anything about it...then I won't stop you from counting it towards the challenge. I know I've forgotten books I read a decade ago.)
• Visiting other participants is encouraged.
• Suggesting books for other participants (including the challenge host) is encouraged.
• No lists are required. If you do post a list, then feel free to change it at any time.
• No blog is required to participate.
• Reviews are not required.

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

Cover Attraction

A New Event hosted by Marcia of The Printed Page each Wednesday.

I love beautiful, and interesting, cover art so every Wednesday I post my 'Cover Attraction' for the week along with a synopsis of the book. Everyone is welcome to stop by and, if they'd like, post a link to their favorite weekly book cover.

To find out more or participate go to The Printed Page every Wednesday.

Cozy Mystery Challenge 2009

April 1 - September 30, 2009

Kris from Not Enough Books is hosting the 2009 Cozy Mystery Challenge. Here are the rules:

1. Read at least 1 cozy mystery for each month, so a total of 6. You can read these all in the same month, one per month, or however you want.
   
2. It is ok to use books that you are already reading for other challenges, however at least 2 need to be specific for this challenge.
3. You do not need to have a blog to participate
   
4. You are not required to make a list of books you plan to read ahead of time, but it would be fun if you did. You must at least create a post for this challenge and link back to the post about the challenge. Please also note how many books you plan to read.
   
5. You must sign-up before April 1^st, so the last date to sign up is March 31^st.
   
6. At the end of the challenge, If you have a blog, please create a wrap-up post telling others how you did and listing each of the books you read for the challenge and link them to your reviews.
   
7. Prizes you ask? Of course! Each person who completes the challenge will receive a homemade bookmark.

Interested in joining or learning more? Visit the post about the challenge and use Mr. Linky.

451 Fridays - EVENT

Hosted by Elizabeth at As Usual, I Need More Bookshelves

451 Fridays is a weekly event based on the question: "What 5 books do you believe are important enough to be saved, and why?"

Each week, Elizabeth will share five more books submitted by participants and open up a discussion about them. Want to play? Visit the post about the event and leave Elizabeth a comment.