The Well Read Man Project

July 1, 2011 - July 1, 2012

Tim is planning to read 50 books to make him a Well Read Man - and he would love it if you'd join him. He writes:

Beginning on July 1, 2011, I will immerse myself in some of those great writings that have changed so many lives in history. Fifty books. Twelve months. What comes out of it will be replayed on this very web site for your personal amusement. During each week, you will have a chance to experience the ups and downs of this textual experiment with me. Perhaps you will read some of the books. And if we’re lucky, we’ll learn something that goes beyond the sound bites and instant downloads of our twenty-first-century experience.

Tim has started a dedicated blog for his project - check it out here for more information and to join.

Classic Bribe Challenge

June 1 - September 5, 2011

Molly at Quirky Girls Read is hosting a summer Classic Bribe Challenge. She writes:

I have a passion for the Classics. Classic movies. Classic Cars. Classic Rock. Pretty much anything old school totally rocks my boat. So of course I am a fan of Classic books. I think more readers should be too. But time and again I run into The Three Classic Excuses. Too much work. Too boring. Too long. Baloney. Not all Classics fit these stereotypes. I try to dispel these myths through my posts here on Quirky Girls Read on a regular basis. Many kind visitors leave comments stating that they will add a Classic to their To Be Read pile. But you and I both know all that means is that it will be used to prop up the pile rather than being picked up and actually read any time soon. So out of desperation I am resorting to bribery to show readers that Classics can be fun, entertaining and even accomplished in a short period of time! Take a gander at the challenge and giveaway below. Then fit a Classic into your summer reading and have a chance to go shopping for whatever book you like to get you ready for the Fall.

Guidelines for the Challenge:

• Read at least 1 Classic over the summer – between June 1st and the end of Labor Day Weekend, September 5th
• You can have begun the Classic prior to June 1st, but it needs to have been completed between the challenge dates above
• Post a review on your blog of each Classic that you read during the challenge period and reference a link to the The Classic Bribe challenge page
• Link to each of your reviews separately on Mr. Linky on the challenge page
• Each linked review counts as 1 entry – no entry limit per blogger – read and review as many as you like
• Each entry builds up $1 toward an Amazon gift card – the more entries the higher the balance can grow – capped at $35
• A random winner selected Labor Day weekend from all entries- no restrictions on region - Winner receives the full Amazon gift card balance accumulated based on entries received

Learn more and sign up by visiting the challenge post.

Summer Reading Challenge

May 31 - August 31, 2011

Reading Writers is hosting a Summer Reading Challenge. She writes:

Reading is great summer entertainment! No batteries required. No annoying cinemagoer talking on his/her cellphone. It's just you, your books, and your imagination. This summer reading challenge should be lots of fun. I thank you for joining me as we read just for the love of good writing. So here's to summer reading!

The goal is to read 8 titles that you have never read before (10 for a bonus!)

Choose any title in the following categories:

• A book that was turned into a major motion picture.
• A book set in a place that you would like to visit.
• A book written by an author from your home country, region, or with your ancestral background who lives in a foreign country.
• A classic novel.
• A book from the BBC list (List in previous post)
• A novel by a first time author.
• A biography/autobiography/memoir about someone you admire.
• A book about the environment
• Free choice!
• Free choice!

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

The Books I Should Have Read By Now Challenge

June 1 - December 31, 2011

Gabriel at Gabriel Reads is hosting The Books I Should Have Read By Now Challenge. Gabe writes:

My goal is to read two classic books each month from June 1st to December 31st, 2011. That adds up to twelve classics between now and the end of the year. I'm not sure which ones I'll be reading yet but they will all be from my "On My Shelf" list.

Now for the fun part: I'm inviting any interested book bloggers to join in on this challenge. The books you choose don't have to be classics, but they do have to be books that you own that you should have read by now. Any of those tomes that are collecting dust on your shelf are free game. Each month I'll be reporting my progress in a post and participants can feel free to link to any and all reviews they've written for this challenge.

There are three levels of participation to choose from:

1. Casual Reader: At least 1 book a month
2. Avid Reader: At least 2 books a month
3. Voracious Reader: At least 3 books a month

You can sign up to participate at any time during the challenge.

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

52-52-52 Challenge

June 1, 2011 - June 1, 2012

Amanda at The Zen Leaf is combingin books and weight loss in her 52-52-52 Challenge. She writes:

Most of you already know that my primary focus this year has been on health, fitness, and weight loss. So far I’ve lost almost 25 lbs since January 1st, and almost 40 lbs total since I started this journey. I still have a long way to go, but I feel great about what I’m doing and I know there are other book bloggers out there who want to do the same thing. That’s why I’ve decided to make a combination books-and-weight-loss challenge.

The goal of the challenge is simple. It will go from June 1st, 2011 to June 1st, 2012 – 52 weeks. In those 52 weeks, challenge participants will try to 1) read one book each week and 2) lose one pound a week. If all goes well, a year’s challenge will lead to 52 books read and 52 pounds lost in 52 weeks. It’s that simple!

Five important notes on the challenge:

1. You don’t have to be a book blogger to join, or even a blogger at all. This challenge is open to anyone.
   
2. Many book bloggers naturally read well over 52 books every year. You can always choose to challenge yourself to read two books a week, or three, or whatever works for your level. Make the challenge work for you!
   
3. If you don’t have 52 pounds to lose, then you are free to adjust the challenge to work with your health needs. If you need to lose 10 or 20 pounds, great! Go for that! If you don’t need to lose weight at all and instead want to work for a specific health and fitness goal, that’s fine too! The main point of the goal is to help us all get healthier.
4. If you don’t lose a pound one week, that doesn’t mean you’ve failed the challenge or should give up! Even if you don’t lose as quickly, you can still lose. If, at the end of the challenge, you’ve lost 10 pounds instead of 52, you’ve still done something wonderful for your body. The pound-per-week is just something to try for, not a do-it-or-fail clause in this challenge.
5. You may join the challenge at any time. Of course, if you join next March, you can’t expect to lose 52 pounds by June 1st. The focus is instead on one book and one pound per week for the duration of the challenge.

Amanda will be trying to post something every 1-2 weeks with health and fitness information, motivation, tips, etc. Participants are encouraged to suggest topics as well. Once a month or so, Amanda hopes to put up a discussion question or topic that participants can write about on their own blogs and link back to (like the blog hops or Weekly Geeks).

Learn more and join the challenge by visiting the introductory post.

2011 Books to Movies Challenge

June 1 - December 31, 2011

Two Bibliomaniacs are hosting the Books To Movies Challenge. They write:

A mere five months into 2011 and we here at Two Bibliomaniacs are already feeling restless. Not a life altering type of restlessness, but more like a stubborn rash on the back of your knee kind of irritation. While applying our metaphorical ointment, it hit us. We need another reading challenge. Nay. We need to host another reading challenge. Nay. Actually that’s it....

Introducing the 2011 BOOKS TO MOVIES CHALLENGE!!!

Choose from four levels of participation:

1. Straight to Video – Read 2 books and view the film adaptations.
2. Limited Release – Read 4 books and view the film adaptations.
3. Blockbuster – Read 6 books and view the film adaptations.
4. Oscar Buzz – Read 8 books and view the film adaptations.

Guidelines:

• Anyone can participate and blog-less readers can sign up in the comments section of the sign up post.
• All books are fair game although all movies must be produced by a semi-reputable film company (no backyard interpretations of Harry Potter).

Learn more and sign up by visiting the introductory/sign up post.