Southern Literature Challenge

January 1-Decemnber 31, 2011

Jen of The Introverted Reader is hosting the Southern Literature Challenge.  She writes:

I am proud of my Southern heritage, troubled and imperfect as it may be, and I love to read books set in my region. It sometimes feels like we are a little under-represented in the publishing world, so I would love to encourage any of you who haven't read any Southern lit to give it a try!  And, of course, if you're already a fan, I would love to see what you're reading so that I can add to my ever-growing to-read list!  So here is my Southern lit challenge!

Read a book(s)--non-fiction or fiction of any genre, adult or young adult--written by an author from the South and set mostly in the South.

Definitions of the South are flexible, so I've decided to define it the way I want. That's the fun of hosting your own challenge, right? :-)

The states:
South Carolina
Georgia
Alabama
North Carolina
Virginia
Tennessee
Mississippi
Louisiana
Kentucky
West Virginia
Texas
Florida--as long as you find a book by a Florida author and/or set in Florida that feels Southern.

Levels:

Level 1--C'mon in the house! Read 1 book.

Level 2--Pull up a seat and stay a while! Read 2 books

Level 3--Have a glass of sweet iced tea, honey. Read 3 books

Level 4--Y'all come back now, y'hear! Read 4 books

To join, go to the Southern Literature Challenge.

POC (Persons of Color) Reading Challenge

January 1-December 31, 2011

Pam is hosting the POC Reading Challenge.  She writes:

I am so overwhelmed and so happy with all the support that you readers have given us with the PoC reading challenge this year. I never thought that it would take off the way that it did and I couldn't have done it without you the readers and the other two Ari, and Katy who take care of all the prizes and linking up and all the generally cool stuff that has been going on here.

I would like to invite you all to join in the fun again. I know it is challenge sign up time and everyone is scrambling to join everything and you are probably thinking seriously about which challenges are right for you. Please remember that this challenge is about diversifying your reading and showing the publishers we do care about PoC literature and we want to see more of it on the shelves of bookshelves. That we do not want to see the white washing of covers and we will not stand for it.

We had 83 participants last year and I would love more than anything to reach 100 this year. Please do not forget about what an important issue this is and even though things have been going well for quite a while these issues are never going to be over and we have to be proactive. So please join our challenge and tell others it is open again.

Level 1: Read 1-3 POC books
Level 2. Read 4-6 POC books
Level 3. Read 7-9 POC books
Level 4. Read 10-15 POC books
Level 5. Read 16-25 POC books

To join, go to POC Reading Challenge.

The M/M Romance Reading Challenge

January 1-December 31, 2011

Anesthezea of I Heat Paperbacks is once again hosting The M/M Romance Reading Challenge in 2011.  She writes: 

I’m hosting The M/M Romance Challenge again this year at I Heart Paperbacks and hope this go ’round will be just as fun as the last! I hope everyone has a Happy New Year & Happy Reading!

There are 5 reading levels to choose from:

- Read 5 M/M Romances
- Read 10 M/M Romances
- Read 15 M/M Romances
- Read 20 M/M Romances
- Read 20+ M/M Romances

If you’d like to make your challenge a little more challenging, try any or all of these OPTIONAL add-ons:

- Read 3 or more books in the same series
- Read 3 or more books with the same theme (Firefighters, Pirates, Friends-to-Lovers, etc)
- Read 1 book that isn’t your usual type of read (Cheating Hero, BDSM, Menage, etc)
- If you’re not new to reading m/m romances, go back and re-read the first title you ever read. Do you feel differently about the book now than you did when you first read it?

There will be prizes.

To join, go to  The M/M Romance Reading Challenge.

Pick Your Poison Reading Challenge

January 1-December 31, 2011

SarcasticMuse of My Cup of Tea is hosting the Pick Your Poison Reading Challenge.  She writes:

This challenge was created with the encouragement of TheCoolMom and Guitarzan, to create my own when I couldn't find a reading challenge for some of my kookier sub-genre. So here is to you steampunk loving readers, the cat mystery readers or the supernatural warfare novel enthusiasts. In this you get to create your own challenge by deciding if you want to read books only about Dragons or if you want to read those obscure fantasy books you were looking at. Mix and match to make your perfect combo. You can have Steampunk and obscure fantasy or even Serial Killer mysteries Historical Romance, the point is you get to choose.

There are four levels of Pick Your Poison:

Hemlock- You read 1 book of each of your categories

Nightshade- 4 books of each of your categories 

Foxglove- 6 books of each of your categories

Monkshood- 12+ books in each of your categories

To join, go to the Pick Your Poison Reading Challenge.

Fairy Tale Challenge

January 1-December 31, 2011

TIF Talks Books is hosting the Fairy Tale Challenge.  She writes:

This past year, I have ventured into the land of fairy tales through the weekly feature, Fairy Tale Fridays, with a small devoted group supporting and contributing along the way.  We explored stories from the well-known Hans Christian Andersen and The Brothers Grimm as well as tales from around the world.  We have visited some well-known favorites, discovered those that were new to us, and even explored some modern takes on the classics.  Some of the tales I enjoyed.  Others I appreciated more as an adult.  A few took me by surprise.  And, a couple I simply did not care for.  When I started the feature, I had planned on it only taking place for one year.  That time is up and I still desire the reading of fairy tales!  Therefore, the birth of the 2011 Fairy Tale Challenge is the result!

During Fairy Tale Fridays, we had the opportunity to read the short tales, explore the longer ones, and even watch a film or two; therefore, in this challenge, we will be exploring any or all of the above, depending upon the level you wish to participate in.  Let's take a look at the levels . . .

• Fairy (Level 1):  Read 1 original tale.  Read 1 modern tale.  Watch 1 film. (Total of 3 selections.)
• Dwarf (Level 2):  Read/watch any combination of original tales, modern tales, or films, resulting in 6 total selections.
• Royal Prince or Princess (Level 3):  Read/watch any combination of original tales, modern tales, or films, resulting in 9 total selections.
• Happily Ever After (Level 4):  Read/watch any combination of original tales, modern tales, or films, resulting in 12 total selections.

To join, go to Fairy Tale Challenge.

Save That Book Reading Challenge

January 1-December 31, 2011

SH is hosting the Save That Book Reading Challenge.  She writes:

Starting the summer 2010, the Children's Services department of the library where I work, started a massive weeding project of our juvenile fiction books.  We were bursting out at the seams and needed to make room.  We started recording the books we weeded.  What we developed was an ample list for a reading challenge.  Books are weeded because they are out-date or no longer read, you can save these same titles from your local library by reading them!

I think there is value in reading the backlist, reading all new books gives you a narrow view of Children's Literature.  Open up the window and read from the past!

Some details.

1. You will select books from the ... judging a book ... blog.  Read as many as you can throughout 2011.  You'll probably have to get some of these books from your local public library.  If your library doesn't have a title on shelf, and you really want to read it, ask them to inter-library loan it.  When looking for a copy of the book you want to read, don't forget to use WorldCat... it's accesses all the library catalogs in the country! Also, if nothing catches your fancy, we are adding books to the site everyday!
2. Blog about a book you really like.  The more people read about these books the more books we'll save from other libraries!  If you do blog about a book, please drop the link in the comment section of the book you're reviewing.
3. I'll hold a random raffle of participants who will win withdrawn books from the last cart of books withdrawn from our Juvenile fiction section.
4. This challenge, my first, can be combined with other reading challenges.

To join, go to Save That Book Reading Challenge.

2011 Year of Reading

January 1-December 31, 2011

Book Geek is hosting the 2011 Year of Reading Challenge.  She writes:

The Year of Reading is basically what it sounds like... a year of reading. Each month there will be different "challenges" for you to complete. Challenges is a loose term- mainly it's just for fun! I guess theme would be a better word there. I really love reading but I definitely have not been doing as much of it as I'd like to lately, and to be honest there really hasn't been anything stopping me. So I created the Year of Reading to help get my lazy butt in gear. :) To participate, leave your links below, then come check out the introductory posts on the 1st of each month and then the wrap-up posts on the last of each month.

January is New Books Month

February is Romance Month

March is Fantasy Month

April is Read-a-Thon

May is Read Book and Geek Review

June is Summer Reading Month

July is Choose an Author Month

August is Young Adult Month

September is Be a Saint Month

October is Horror Month

November is Balancing Act Month

December is Kids Book Month

To join, go to Year of Reading Challenge.

Book Blogger Scavenger Hunt

Monthly Event starting on January 11, 2011

Reading With Tequila is hosting a Book Blogger Scavenger Hunt.  She writes:

The Book Blogger Scavenger Hunt is Reading with Tequila's year long contest for 2011. This contest will be based on the 2010 Book Blogger Recommendation List. The list was compiled from the data acquired through a survey of 54 book bloggers favorite books in November of 2010.

Each month I will post the name and description of a book that was recommended by only one book blogger during that survey. Throughout the month, participants will leave links in the comments section of that post of reviews they've found of that month's book. It can be your own review, it can be a friend's review, or it can be a review you found through Googling (as long as it's posted on a book blog). You'll be learning more about the book, finding new to you bloggers and gaining points towards the grand prize!

Another way to gain points is to visit and comment on the links others have left. After you visit and comment, come back to that month's contest post and leave me a comment telling me which links you've visited. Once the next month's book is posted, the previous month's post is closed to new comments.

Points:
Review links: 5 points
Comments: 1 point

A review can only be posted once, so if someone posts the same review link before you, only they get the points. Even if they linked to your review. Participants will only get a point for one comment left on each review.

Prizes:
The person with the highest total points at the end of 2011 will get a $40 credit to the Book Depository. Chose as many books as you want, totaling $40 or less and I'll order them for you. The person with the 2nd highest total points will receive 3 books of their choosing from the Prize Bin (which will be updated many times between now and then).

Some Rules:
We want to find new bloggers, not harass them with spam. Please try to leave meaningful comments about their review. "I was here" or anything else that you wouldn't want to receive as a comment should not be left.

This contest is international and anyone, book blogger or not, is welcome to join. You do not have to be participating in the 2011 Book Blogger Recommendation Challenge to play.

The first Book Blogger Scavenger Hunt post will be up January 11, 2011. Hope to see you there.

To participate, see the origional post with rules, here.  Then go to Reading With Tequila on January 11, 2011.

Reviews & Blogging 101 Series

Weekly Event on Wednesdays starting on January 5, 2011

Starting on January 5, 2011, Simply Stacie and Survey Junkie are hosting a Review and Blogging 101 Series.  They write:

You will get those burning questions about reviews answered from top review bloggers around the blogosphere. Each week will will ask our panel of bloggers a different question regarding reviews/giveaways. It should be very informative and interesting! Some of the types of questions you can expect are where do you find review products and how do you handle a negative review.

We hope you will join us and be ready to learn!

To participate in this weekly event, go to Simply Stacie or Survey Junkie on Wednesdays.

NaJuReMoNoMo Challenge

January 1-January 31, 2011

Yellojkt is once again hosting the NaJuReMoNoMo Challenge.  He writes:

It's hard to believe it has been five years since the first ever National Just Read More Novels Month (or NaJuReMoNoMo for the abbrevophillic) and it has grown bigger every year. Celebrated every January, it is devoted to the appreciation of fiction. Just in case you are new to it or need a refresher, here is this year's version of the official rules:

1. Must Be A Novel. Works of fiction only, please. Memoirs, non-fiction, how-to books, and Doonesbury collections, no matter how thick, don't count, no matter how obviously fictional.
2. Memoirs Aren't Novels. No matter how made up the story, anything ostensibly true isn't a novel. This used to be known as The James Frey Rule, but is now called the Decision Point.
3. Start and Finish in January. I guess if you got some cool books for Christmas, Hanukkah or some other gift-giving event and jumped the gun, you can't be blamed. But I only count books I start and finish within the 31 day window.
4. Re-reading Doesn't Count. Try something new. Read something by your favorite author or try an entirely new author. This is a great chance to cut down on the height of the nightstand stack.
5. Have Fun. Nobody is grading you or paying you or judging you. Read what you like and like what you read.

Last year we started the Facebook group, which anyone can join. It has several dozen members and it just keep growing.

This year NaJuReMoNoMo is expanding to Twitter. Anytime you finish a novel, just tweet about it with the hashtag #NaJuReMoNoMo.Someone will be curious enough to try to figure it out.

To join, go to NaJuReMoNoMo Challenge.

Shifter Challenge

January 1-December 31, 2011

Parajunkee's View is hosting the Shifter Challenge.  She writes:

The challenge is to read 20 books that have a SHIFTER as a main character, either protag or antagonist.

FAQs

Q:  Can I read more than 20?
A: You can read as many as you want.

Q: Do I have to have a blog?
A: No, you don't have to. If you would like to sign up using an online profile go ahead and do that, just post in the comments section the books you've read.

Q: Do I have to know what books I'm going to read ahead of time?
A: No you do not. Pick them as you go, or have them all mapped out, it is up to you.

Q: Do I have to stick to a particular genre?
A: Nope, as long as it has a SHIFTER as a main character.

Q: If the book is about vampires, but their is a werebat or werecat in it does that count?
A: The shifter needs to be a main character. If there is a slight reference to a shifter in the novel that doesn't count.

 Q: Does it matter what kind of shifter they character is, do WereSnakes count?
A: Any shifter you want, all cool. Now lets get this straight, for definitive purposes, we are defining a shifter as a human that changes into an animal, or an animal that turns into a human. Hence shifter = shifts from one form to the other. The other form being animal.

Q: Can I join up whenever I feel like it?
A: If you thought you could do it, you could join up in December 2011...no restrictions

Q: Will their be monetary compensation for those that complete the challenge.
A: Nope, just the undeniable glory of having completed a vampiric milestone.

To join, go to the Shifter Challenge.

Vampire Challenge

January 1-December 31, 2011

ParaJunkee's View is hosting the Vampire Challenge.  She writes:

The challenge is to read 20 books that have a vampire as a main character, either protag or antagonist.

FAQs

Q:  Can I read more than 20?
A: You can read as many as you want.

Q: Do I have to have a blog?
A: No, you don't have to. If you would like to sign up using an online profile go ahead and do that, just post in the comments section the books you've read.

Q: Do I have to know what books I'm going to read ahead of time?
A: No you do not. Pick them as you go, or have them all mapped out, it is up to you.

Q: Do I have to stick to a particular genre?
A: Nope, as long as it has a vampire as a main character.

Q: If the book is about werewolves, but their is a vampire in it does that count?
A: The vampire needs to be a main character. If there is a slight reference to a vampire in the novel that doesn't count.

Q: Can I join up whenever I feel like it?
A: If you thought you could do it, you could join up in December 2011...no restrictions

Q: Will their be monetary compensation for those that complete the challenge.
A: Nope, just the undeniable glory of having completed a vampiric milestone.

To join, go to Vampire Challenge

Gender Identity & Expression Challenge

January 1-December 31, 2011

Sally of Bibrary Bookslut is hosting the Gender Identity & Expression Challenge.  She writes:

To make it easy, and to encourage as many readers/bloggers as possible to participate, there will be 2 levels to the challenge:

BLUE LEVEL: Read one (1) book that deals positively with gender identity and expression.
PINK LEVEL: Read one (1) book from ANY five (5) of the categories listed below that deals positively with gender identity and expression:
Biography/Memoir
Genre Fiction (Sci-fi, Fantasy, or Horror)
Young Adult (YA) Fiction
Romance
Erotica
Non-fiction
Anime/Manga

The definition of "Gender Identity & Expression" is intentionally a broad one. It can include MtF or FtM transsexuals; transvestites or cross-dressers; intersex or hermaphrodites; futanari or newhalf (crude terms, but common in erotica/manga); alternative gender models (including third genders and neuter genders); ambiguity or androgyny; or just gender role reveral. There are really no limits here, other than that there be something positive in how the subject is dealt with.

To join, go to the Gender Identity & Expression Challenge.

Page to Screen Reading Challenge

January 1-December 31, 2011

Christina of Reading Extensively is hosting the Page to Screen Reading Challenge.  She writes:

After all the fun I had with participating in reading challenges, I have decided to host my own for 2011! I love watching movies that are based on books and I've even decided to read books after seeing movie trailers that looked promising like The Lord of the Rings and Atonement.

I decided to hold The Page to Screen Reading Challenge to encourage people to read books and watch movies that are based on books.  

Prizes:

• One participant will win their choice of book worth up to $15 from Amazon.com or The Book Depository (for international participants in countries that Book Depository ships to). 
• Participants must reach reading level one (5 books) by December 31, 2011  to be entered in the drawing.

Rules:

• Read books that were made into movies or T.V. shows
• Rereads count!
• You can also watch the movies/T.V. shows as part of the challenge but it is not a requirement
• If you watch T.V. shows, you should watch 2 hours of the show to be equal to one movie
• Books that are currently being made into movies also count as long as the movie will be released sometime in 2011

 To join, go to  the Page to Screen Reading Challenge.

2011 Chunkster Challenge

February 1, 2011 - January 31, 2012

It's time to sign up for the 2011 Chunkster Challenge hosted over on its own dedicated blog. The guidelines have changed slightly - but it is still all about reading the fat books. Pick a level of participation:

1. The Chubby Chunkster - this option is for the reader who wants to dabble in large tomes, but really doesn't want to commit to much more than that. FOUR Chunksters is all you need to finish this challenge.
2. The Plump Primer - this option is for the slightly heavier reader who wants to commit to SIX Chunksters over the next twelve months.
3. Do These Books Make my Butt Look Big? - this option is for the reader who can't resist bigger and bigger books and wants to commit to SIX Chunksters from the following categories: 2 books which are between 450 - 550 pages in length; 2 books which are 551 - 750 pages in length; 2 books which are GREATER than 750 pages in length (for ideas, please refer to the book suggestions page for some books which fit into these categories).
   
4. Mor-book-ly Obese - This is for the truly out of control chunkster. For this level of challenge you must commit to EIGHT or more Chunksters of which three tomes MUST be 750 pages or more. You know you want to.....go on and give in to your cravings.

Learn more and sign up, by visiting the sign up page on the dedicated blog.

"Whisper Stories in My Ear" 2011 Audiobook Challenge

January 1-December 31, 2011

Bewiched Bookworms are hosting the "Whisper Stories in My Ear" 2011 Audiobook Challenge.  They write:

Truly, we are really really excited about this challenge.

We're pretty sure that there a times during the day where you can't read, where you can't hold an actual book in your hands, am we right?

This might be when driving.... or when working out....  or when doing housework as boring as cleaning/laundry etc... or when having a walk alone outside....or even during work?  (It's okay, we won't tell! *wink*)

Of course we are all avid readers and would love to have time to read even more.

Why not listening to the book instead of reading it?  Simple and oh so easy!

Here is the basic information:

• Should you choose to participate in this challenge, your goal is to read at least twelve (12) audiobooks (no matter the length). Twelve is the minimum to be entered in the Grand Prize at the end of the Year.

• Of course anyone can join. You just have to live on the planet earth, (meaning, this is an international challenge and contest) and you need to have either a blog where you can post your Reviews, or you need publish your review anywhere else, goodreads, LibaryThing, amazon, Barnes & Nobles, audible, etc etc etc...

• Important: When you post your Review you have to say that you listened to the audiobook version of the book, who was the narrator, the length of time the audiobook ran and your separate rating/impression for the audiobook (how you liked the narration of the story beyond what you thought of the story itself). This can be at the end of your regular review, just like this example here. 

• You can pick the audiobooks as you go (no need to decide right now), but if you have already an idea what you're planning to listen we would absolutely love to know!

To join, go to "Whisper Stories in My Ear" 2011 Audiobook Challenge.

I Heart Indie Books Reading Challenge

January 1-December 31, 2011

Indie Paranormal Book Reviews is hosting the I Heart Indie Books Reading Challenge.  She writes:

I'm kicking off the New Year with an I Heart Indie Books Reading Challenge. This is an easy low-key challenge to help introduce new readers to indie books and encourage current indie readers to find some new favorites.

» All genres welcome
» Runs the entire year
» Jump in at any time
» Must be self-published titles or small indie press
» Authors are welcome and encouraged to participate in the challenge because you're a reader too!

The challenge goals for the year are:

Level 1

• 1-6 books - Bronze
• 7-12 books - Silver
• 13-18 books - Gold
• 19-24 books - Platinum
• 25-30 books - Diamond

Level 2

• 31-36 books - Bronze Elite
• 37-42 books - Silver Elite
• 43-48 books - Gold Elite
• 49-54 books - Platinum Elite
• 55+ books - Diamond Elite

There are two levels so you can choose the one that fits your reading style and speed.  This challenge can easily overlap other challenges you are doing.

Need more of a challenge?  Try these OPTIONAL add-ons that can be applied at any level:
 - Only count unique authors (in other words an author can only be counted once even if you read more than one of their books)
-  Do not overlap with any other challenges
-  Do a modified A-Z on author names - each last name must begin with a different letter of the alphabet


To join, go to the I Heart Indie Books Reading Challenge.

Romance Reading Challenge

January 1-December 31, 2011

Naida of Bookworm is hosting the Romance Reading Challenge.  She Writes:

I'm happy to say that my Romance Reading Challenge is going into it's 4th year! Wow! Thank you all who have joined in the past. I hope you will sign up again this year. If this is your first time joining us, welcome! So, without further ado, here are the rules:

1. "Romance" isn't limited to steamy Harlequin novels. 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.

Here are a few suggestions:
-anything written by Jane Austen: classics/regency romance
-Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell: historical romance
-Nicholas Sparks books: contemporary romance *have box of tissues handy*
-Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding: contemporary romance/humor
-Gena Showalter's books: contemporary romance/paranormal
-The Twilight series By Stephenie Meyer: YA Romance/paranormal
-Benny & Shrimp by Katarina Mazetti: contemporary romance
-The Princess Bride by William Goldman: fantasy/romance/humor
-Frederica by Georgette Heyer: regency romance
-Outlander by Diana Gabaldon: time travel romance
-The Flame and the Flower by Kathleen Woodiwiss: historical romance
-Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë: gothic romance/classics

Need more suggestions? Visit Best Romance Novels Today, Best Romance Stories and Romance Novels on Wikipedia.

2. Choose at least 5 novels to read. You can change your choices at any time. Crossovers between other challenges are fine.

3. Read them at your own pace in 2011 then post the link to your review(s).

To join, go to  Romance Reading Challenge.

Chinese Literature Challenge

February 3, 2011-January 23, 2012

Chinoiseriesis hosting the Chinese Literature Challenge.  She writes:

I have been wanting to read more Chinese literature for some time now, but you know how it goes... life gets in the way, so many books to read, etc. So I came up with the idea of a read-along, hoping you (yes, you!) would join me in this endeavor :)

Why should I join?
More and more Chinese books are translated into English (and other languages) and wouldn't it be nifty to read more about the mysterious Far East? But seriously, it's always nice to read something new. Also, did I mention there will be prizes?

What is the duration of the challenge?
The challenge will start and end on Chinese New Year, which means it will run from February 3rd 2011 to January 23rd 2012. You can however join in anytime.

What do you mean by Chinese literature?
Books either written by a Chinese author or books about China (incl. Hongkong and Macau) or Taiwan.

What are the requirements for participating in this challenge?
You have to read at least one book and write a review about it. If you don't have a blog, it's also fine to post your review on Goodreads or Librarything.

There are four levels of participation (no need to set one beforehand):
Merchant: 1-3 books
Artisan: 4-6 books
Farmer: 7-9 books
Scholar: 10+ books

What kind of books can I read?
Any genre, in any format (audiobook/e-book/paper) in any language. Also, re-reads are allowed.

Do you have a list of books I can choose from?
I have listed a few books here. Feel free to contact me if you have suggestions for this list or if you need more suggestions from me.

Can I combine with other challenges?
Sure! You could, for example, combine this challenge with the East and Southeast Asia challenge hosted by VioletCrush. But anything goes.

To join, go to the Chinese Literature Challenge. 

Wordsworth Classics Reading Challenge

January 1-December 23, 2011

Lynossa  of Deranged Book Lovers is hosting the Wordsworth Classics Reading Challenge.  She writes:

I'm challenging myself to read more classic novels throughout year 2011. There are plenty great classic novels and it's always interesting to read how people back in the oldies lived their lives and of course all the adventures!

By the end of year I will hold a giveaway special for those who participate in this challenge. The giveaway will be classic books worth $15 from Book Depository or Amazon.com, you can pick the titles yourself.

If you want to join in, here are the rules:

• You can read any classic novels which are included in list of Wordsworth Classics. You don't need to read wordsworth edition, you can pick any publisher releases as long as those releases are unabridged.

• It’s okay to re-read. You can put the book you’ve read in the past in your list as long as you’re going to read it again in 2011. Set your target and list the book you want to read along with the challenge button in your blog and fill the form. Don't forget to put the link in Mr. Linky! This way I can keep track of your progress and add you as candidate for the giveaway.

• You don't have to review those books but if you want you can link them so I can read it ^^. I will provide a follow-up blog post for that and you can link your reviews or anything related to this challenge.

To join, go to Wordsworth Classics Reading Challenge.

Contemporary Romance Reading Challenge 2011

January 1-December 31, 2011

Fatin of Romance Book Maven is once again hosting the Contemporary Romance Reading Challenge.  She writes:

Last year Pearl of Pearl’s World of Romance hosted the first Contemporary Romance Reading Challenge. With the new job she started recently, she decided not to host the challenge this year but I offered to host it in her place because this was one challenge I really enjoyed doing this year and I didn’t want to see it end already.

I’m basically copying what Pearl had for the challenge last year because I’m not changing anything of the challenge. If it’s not broke, don’t fix it, you know?

Details –
1. By contemporary romance I mean straight contemporary, so without paranormal, fantasy or time-travel elements. Sexy, steamy contemporaries are eligible and so are category romances. (i.e. Harlequin Blaze, Harlequin Presents, Harlequin Super Romances, Silhoutte Desires, etc.)

2. Read at least 10 contemporaries between January 1, 2011 and December 31, 2011

3. You don’t have to pre-select your books, you can just add them as you go. Even if you list them now, you can change the list if needed. Nothing is set in stone! Also, the books you choose can crossover into or from other challenges you are participating in.

To join, go to Contemporary Romance Reading Challenge.

Eastern European Reading Challenge

January 1-December 31, 2011

Amy of The Black Sheep Dances is hosting the Eastern European Reading Challenge in 2011.  She writes:

After last year's successful Scandinavian Reading Challenge, The Black Sheep Dances is excited to begin a new challenge.  The 2011 Eastern European Reading Challenge.

Please consider choosing unfamiliar titles, especially those that are translated works, to help support those organizations that are working to unearth the 'buried' treasure of Eastern European and Russian literature.

Regions:  Choose titles about or by an author from any of the following regions:  Croatia, Ukraine, Bosnia, Serbia, Montenegro, Hungary, Belarus, Estonia, Albania, Bulgaria, Georgia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Poland, Czech Rep., Latvia, Lithuania, Russia, Romania, Moldova, and Kosovo.

Titles:  Can be any genre:  crime, poetry, literary fiction, history, historical fiction, memoirs, etc.

Levels: 

tourist:  4 books over the 12 months

ambassador:  8 books over 12 months

scholar:  12 books over 12 months

To join, go to the Eastern European Reading Challenge.

Books Won Challenge 2011

January 1-December 31, 2011

Teddy of So Many Precious Books, So Little Time is hosting the Books Won Challenge for a second year.  She writes:

I created this challenge last year to challenge myself and others that have won books, to read and review some of them.  The reason publishing companies supply books for book bloggers to give away is to get word out about the books and create buzz.  I didn't do very well with this challenge in 2010, I only read one won book.  However, 2011 is a New Year and a fresh start.  I feel bad that I haven't read many of the book I have won and want to make an effort to read them in 2011.

If you would like to join me, here are the levels:

Honorable Mention: Read 1-3 book you won.

Bronze: Read 4-6 books you won.

Silver: Read 7-9 Books you won.

Gold: Read 10 or more books you won.

The Rules:

     1. You must write a review for each book that you read for it to count.  If you do not have a blog you can write your reviews on a place like Amazon, Powell's, Chapters, etc.

     2.Crossovers with other challenges are okay.

     3. Audiobooks and ebooks count, as long as you won them. 

     4. You can change up levels but cannot go back down a level.

     5. You don't have to make a list ahead of time for this challenge but you can if you want to.

To join, go to  Books Won Challenge.

ARC Reading Challenge 2011

January 1-December 31, 2011

 

Teddy of So Many Precious Books, So Little Time is once again hosting the ARC Reading Challenge.  She writes:

 

I hope all of you ARC Readers will join me again in 2011 for the ARC Reading Challenge.  I welcome old and new participants.  I don't know about you, but my ARC pile is way too big.  That is why I am making one big change to this challenge.  For 2011 you don't have to list all of the ARCs that you have.  That's right, no more "wall of shame."  LOL!  Although you can list them if you want to.  

Note:  I use the term "ARC" loosely,any book a publisher or author gives you with the expectation that you review it, counts for this challenge.

The Levels

Level Bronze: .a. All of us who have or will have less than 12 ARCS must read all of the ARCS we have. Note, that if you have 11 ARC's and then receive a 12th one you will be bumped up to catagory b.

b. All of us who have or will have 12 or more than 12 ARCS  must read and review at least 12.

Level Silver: Read 24 ARC's

Level Gold: Read 25 

Level Platinum: Read

Rules:

• You don't have to make a list of which ARC's you plan to read, but you can if you want.

• If you choose a lower level, you can always change it to a higher level if you like.  However, you cannot go from a higher level back down to a lower level.

• Crossovers with other challenges are allowed and Audio-books and ebooks are allowed as long as they are ARC's.

• Read the books and review them on your blog. If you don't have a blog, you can post your review on sites like Powells, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, etc. 

•  HAVE FUN!

To join, go to the ARC Reading Challenge.

 

Haruki Murakami Reading Challenge 2011

January 1-December 31, 2011

Tanabata from In the Spring it is the Dawn is hosting the Haruki Murakami Reading Challenge.  She writes:

I'd been playing with the idea for a while of possibly hosting a Haruki Murakami Reading Challenge next year. Then when I mentioned it on Twitter a couple of weeks or so ago, quite a few people expressed interest, so here we are. The goal of the challenge is simply to encourage you to discover, or re-discover, the unique story-telling of Haruki Murakami. It's a really flexible challenge and all you have to do to participate is read at least one book by Haruki Murakami in 2011. (If you're planning on reading 1Q84 when the English translation comes out next fall, that's enough to complete the challenge!). However, there are several levels of participation to choose from, for those that want to immerse themselves more in Murakami's surreal worlds.
Levels of participation:
Hajime - Read one book
Sheep Man - Read 3 books
Toru - Read 5 books
Nakata - Read 7 books
Sumire - Read 10+ books
Super-frog - Read everything Murakami has written! (that is available in English, or your preferred language) For a list of the books available in English, visit the Books Page.

Things to keep in mind:
*The goal is simply to read something/ANYthing by Haruki Murakami.
*Whether you're a complete newbie, or already a huge Murakami fan, everyone is welcome to join in.
*You can join in anytime.
*There is no need to list your books in advance, and even if you do, you can change them any time.
*You can also change your level of participation at any time because sometimes life just gets in the way.
*You don't have to have a blog to participate. You can also share your thoughts on Goodreads, LibraryThing, etc.
*Crossovers with other challenges are allowed. (Don't forget that anything you read for this challenge also counts for Bellezza's Japanese Literature Challenge).
*Books should be read between January 1st and December 31st, 2011.
(However, I welcome you to submit reviews to any of Murakami's books or stories that you have read and reviewed previously. More on the 'Submit a review' page.)
*Books can be in any format: paper, ebooks, audio.
*Rereads are allowed, and encouraged.
*There will be quarterly prizes (details to be decided).
*And most importantly, have fun!

To join, go to Haruki Murakami Reading Challenge.

Historical Fiction Challenge 2011

January 1-December 31, 2011

The women over at Historical Tapestry are hosting the Historical Fiction Challenge.  They write:

After 3 years organizing the Historical Fiction Challenge, the girls of The Royal Reviews gracefully passed over this exciting event to our team at Historical Tapestry. We will do our best to continue doing a great job and create a wonderful place to share and discuss our favourite (and less favourite) historical fiction books for the next year.

Each month, a new post dedicated to the HF Challenge will be created. To participate, you only have to follow the rules:

Any kind of historical fiction is accepted (HF fantasy, HF young adult,...) 

During these following 12 months you can choose one of the different reading levels:

1. Severe Bookaholism: 20 books
2. Undoubtedly Obsessed: 15 books
3. Struggling the Addiction: 10 books
4. Daring & Curious: 5 books
5. Out of My Comfort Zone: 2 books

Celebrate the Author Challenge!

January 1-December 31, 2011

Becky over at  Becky's Book Reviews has hosted the Celebrate the Authors Challenge  in the past. She has decided not to host this one in 2011, and has passed it on to Lu's Raves and Rants.  Lu writes:

The challenge is designed to “celebrate” author birthdays. Choose one author for each month of the year. Read at least one book a month. 12 authors. 12 birthdays. If you like, you can read MORE than that. Read the books IN ANY ORDER YOU LIKE. As long as you've got one book representing an author birthday from each month of the year by the end, then you're good.

You can choose picture books, poetry books, early readers, chapter books, fiction for middle grades, fiction for teens, adult reads, nonfiction, whatever you want.

The challenge is designed to ‘celebrate’ the special bond–the connection–that occurs between the author AND the reader as well as the connection between readers. It is very easy to “bond” with other readers over certain works, certain authors, etc. To find out author birthdays, visit these helpful sites: 

Author birthdays by date (pdf),author birthdays by name (pdf), kidsreads.com, teenreads.com, author birthday directory, etc.

Or conduct google searches of your own. (Hint: typing the authors name, a “+” and the word ‘birthday’, tends to work if you assume that wikipedia gets such things right.)

No lists are necessary. You can make a list if you like. But you *don't* have to make a list and stick to it.

To join, go to  Celebrate the Authors Challenge.

A-Z Mystery Author Challenge

January 1-December 31, 2011

Michelle at Red Headed Book Child is hosting her very first Challenge, the A-Z Mystery Author Challenge.  She writes:

This challenge came out of one of my shifts at the library. I was shelving in the mystery section and I discovered an amazing amount of authors who I have never read and have never heard of. I knew there are many mystery authors out there having come from book retail but the library seemed to have more of a variety vs. the bestsellers. I liked that!

Mysteries being one of my favorite genres I am confident I will enjoy this challenge. I thought it would help to do it in an A-Z format. Keep it simple and organized!My goal for this challenge is to simply discover new mystery authors, whether they are suspense, cozy, noir, or thriller. I am going to try to use the last name of the author in my A-Z but if I have to, I may use the first name as well.

To complete the challenge, I would read 26 books, one for each letter of the alphabet. That would be TOP but I would be happy if I read 12, one for every month. I am working on a prize for anyone who completes the challenge. It will either be a new mystery book to giveaway OR a favorite of mine!

 Sign up ends February 1, 2011.

• Read A-I, J-P or Q-Z. You choose. The letter group you choose must be the last name of the author. (i.e= S for John Sandford).
• Mystery genre can include Cozy, Suspense, Thriller, or Noir. All Adult novels please.
• Write a post about this challenge and which group/s you pick. You can list the authors you choose or do it as you go. 

To join, go to A-Z Mystery Author Challenge.

Maisie Dobbs Read-Along!

January - May, 2011

Jennifer over at Book Club Girl is hosting a Maisie Dobbs Read-a-Long. She writes:

It's true, I am mad for Maisie! I read the first book in Jacqueline Winspear's Maisie Dobbs series last month and now I have set myself the challenge of reading through the entire series in time for the paperback release of The Mapping of Love and Death in February and the release of the newest Maisie Dobbs mystery, A Lesson in Secrets, in March. But rather than calling it a challenge (because honestly, who can even think about a challenge right now?) I'm inviting everyone to join my Maisie Dobbs Read-Along and join me to read one, two, or if you want, all of her books!

I'll be posting questions for each book according to the schedule below and encourage new and old fans to join in the conversation. We'll invite Jacqueline herself to join us on Book Club Girl on Air in April to talk all things Maisie and we'll have contests and prizes along the way (check out the one just for signing up below!)

For those who haven't yet met Maisie, you're in for a treat. Winspear has created an amazing character in Maisie Dobbs, who is a female investigator living and working in London in the 1920s and 30s, and whose stories and cases find their roots in World War I. Visit Jacqueline Winspear's website for more on the world of Maisie Dobbs and for a cast of continuing characters.

 Here's the schedule of when I'll post questions to discuss for each of the books. January 14th - Maisie Dobbs January 31st - Birds of a Feather February 14th - Pardonable Lies 
February 22nd - Paperback edition of The Mapping of Love and Death goes on saleFebruary 28th - Messenger of TruthMarch 14th - An Incomplete Revenge March 22nd - Hardcover of A Lesson in Secrets goes on sale
March 28th- Among the MadApril 11th- The Mapping of Love and Death April 25th - A Lesson in Secrets 

To join, go to Maisie Dobbs Read-a-Long.

The 2011 3 R's Challenge (Read, Review, Recognize)

January 1 - December 31, 2011

The Three R's is a collaboration from Cheryl (CMash Loves to Read), Julie (Reading with Restraint), and Gina(Hott Books). The challenge is being hosted on its own dedicated blog. They write:

It all started because Cheryl wanted to remember the bloggers who write the reviews that begin our journey to a new book, new series, or new author. Every day each of us reads the reviews of others shaping our TBR lists. Then we occasionally remember to note them in our post but, more often than not, we completely forget about the reviews that brought us to the wonderful book we've just read.

So this challenge is for them!

We'd like to link our reviews that mention the blogger that suggested the book we've read and are now reviewing.

How thankful are you?

• 1-6 Books (~1 review every 2 months)
• 7-12 Books (~1 review every month)
• 13-24 Books (~ 2 reviews every month)

Rules:

1. Write a starting post stating how thankful you plan to be in the upcoming year and link it to the linky on the starting post.
2. Read a book recommended to you by another blogger. (This book can be a crossover from another challenge.)
3. Review the book & Recognize the blogger who recommended it to you.
4. Recommend the Book in our the Recommend linky (on the dedicated blog) by linking your review post naming the blogger who recommended the book to you.

There will also be quarterly giveaways for participants to enter and unannounced special drawings for commenters on the site.

Learn more and sign up by visiting the post about the challenge.

2011 Fearless Poetry Reading Challenge

January 1 - December 31, 2011

Serena at Savvy Verse and Wit is hosting the 2011 Fearless Poetry Reading Challenge. She writes:

I’ve given this a lot of thought since the BBAW awards. I’m going to host my very first poetry reading challenge.

I’ve been a participant in a few poetry reading challenges, but it always seems as though the participants are people who already read poetry and like it.

So I’m challenging every reader and all your friends to join the year-long 2011 Fearless Poetry Reading Challenge!

The challenge is to read just 1 book of poetry, whether its contemporary or classic doesn’t matter, as long as you read one. You can even wait until midway through the challenge and join the read-a-long of a poetry book that Serena will be selecting.

Rules:
1. 2011 Fearless Poetry Reading Challenge will run from Jan. 1, 2011, through Dec. 31, 2011.
2. Read 1+ books during the year and post a review.
3. Leave a link to your review in the Mr. Linky (on Serena's blog)
Learn more and sign up by visiting the post about the challenge.