International Anita Brookner Day

July 16, 2011

My Porch and Simon Saviidge Reads are hosting the International Anita Brookner Day.  They Write:

Thirty years ago next month, Anita Brookner had her first novel, the aptly titled A Start in Life (or The Debut in the U.S.) published at the tender age of 53. An art historian by profession and author of works of nonfiction, she has managed to produce an additional 23 novels since that first one. So in 30 years Brookner wrote 24 novels, that's 0.8 books per year including the 1984 Booker-winning Hotel du Lac. In my humble opinion each one is brilliant in its own quiet, often depressing way.

The Plan
On July 16th (Brookner's 83rd birthday) we will be hosting International Anita Brookner Day. Expect prizes.

The Intent
Our hope is to get more people to pick up at least one of her 24 novels and give it a try. We know some of you have already read some Brookner, but it seems like there are many more of you out there who have always meant to read something by her and just haven't. Well now is the time. Brookner may not be for everyone, but you have to find that out for yourself.

The Ask
No big commitment. Just read at least one Anita Brookner novel between now and July 16th.

To participate, go to the International Anita Brookner Day.

Japanese Literature Challenge 5

June 1, 2011 until January 30, 2012

Dolce Bellezza is  hosting the Japanese Literature Challenge 5.  She writes:

In pursuing my passion for Japanese authors and their works, I have hosted the Japanese Literature Challenge for the past four years. And now it is time for the Japanese Literature Challenge 5. The requirements are the same: read one book.  If you want to read more than one, wonderful. If one is all you can manage, wonderful. Once you've read it, you may wish to post your review on the JLC5 review site.

If you have no idea where to even begin, you may want to peruse the list of suggested books. I have compiled these titles from the previous four Japanese Literature Challenges; they come highly recommended by either me or other participants in the challenge.

Let yourself become wide open to every possibility, as Murakami says. Prepare to suspend your disbelief. Join me, please, in this most wonderful of genres. 

To sign up, go to Japanese Literature Challenge 5.

The Nero Wolfe Not-so-Mini Challenge

Start- 2011 (Perpetual or Set your Own Dates)

Becky's Book Reviews is hosting The Nero Wolfe Not-so-Mini Challenge.  She writes:

Nero Wolfe Not-so-Mini Challenge. Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin star in many of Rex Stout's mysteries. I love, love, love both these characters. I find this series incredibly satisfying and completely delightful! I would love to encourage others to read some of these mysteries. And, of course, to watch some episodes of A Nero Wolfe Mystery.

How many books (or movies or TV shows or radio shows) are 'required' for the challenge? Well, that's up to you. If you want to challenge yourself to twelve, I'm not going to say that's too many. Or if you want to challenge yourself to three I'm not going to say that's too few. I'd say the minimum is two though if you want to call it a success. (Of course, if you read one and don't like it, I'm not going to ask you to keep going, unless you want to!) Remember this is more than just a reading challenge. The TV show is QUITE ADDICTIVE. Extremely addictive.

Every participant can have their own goals for the challenge.

Some audio books are available in this series. Those would count for the challenge as well.
Same goes with e-books.

Start date: any time in 2011 (Yes, all of 2011--even though I'm posting this in June).
End date: any time you want (This will be an ongoing project for me, but you can set your own deadline if you want.)

To join, go to The Nero Wolfe Not-so-Mini Challenge. 

The Art of Novella Reading Challenge

August 1-30, 2011

Moby Lives  is hosting the one month challenge, The Art of the Novella Reading Challenge.  They write:

We recently got an email telling us something astonishing.
Frances Evangelista of the Nonsuch Book blog, told us that she is going to attempt the seemingly impossible: read all 42 titles in the Art of the Novella series during the month of August and write reviews of every one on her literary blog.

More than one book & review per day for an entire month! We can’t wait to see if she can pull it off.
In the spirit of Frances’ remarkable reading marathon we’re launching The Art of the Novella Reading Challenge.
Guidelines:
1. Anyone can join, you don’t need a blog to participate. If you don’t have a book blog, just post what book(s) you’re reading in the comments section below or on your GoodReads/LibraryThing/Shelfari. Read the books in any order you like.
2. Challenge begins August 1. We’ll be giving away DAILY PRIZES (more info below) all August to randomly selected participants.
3. Here are the levels:
Curious – Read 1 novella
Fascinated — Read 3 novellas
Captivated – Read 6 novellas
Passionate — Read 9 novellas
Mesmerized – Read 15 novellas
Obsessed – Read 21 novellas
Fanatical – Read 27 novellas
Unstoppable — Read 33 novellas
Bibliomaniac — Read all 42 novellas

Prizes! We’re giving away sets of The Duels, The Neversink Library, Melville International Crime, individual novellas, novella sets, Bartleby bags, Bartleby bags stuffed full of books, gift certificates to our website and much much more. The prizes will get better everyday.'


Have Fun!

To join, go to The Art of the Novella Reading Challenge.

Toss Me a Frosty One For the Summer

June 21- September 22, 2011

Book Dragon's Lair is hosting the Toss Me a Frosty One For the Summer.  She writes:

Reading Challenges are suppose to be a challenge but with non-reading obligations we may not be able to meet the "read 12 of... " requirements. This one is a 3-3-3 challenge: read 3 books over 3 months following 3 requirements. However, you may choose a more difficult level to "challenge" yourself. :-)

There are Four Levels:

Beginner (3 books)
Intermediate (6 books)
Advanced (9 books)
Extreme (12 books)

~ Choose a level.

Beginning Level:

I. 1 book with a winter word in the title: snowflake, ice, frosty, etc...
II. 1 book with a winter setting
III. 1 book with summer setting

other levels:

I. 1+ books with a winter word in the title: snowflake, ice, frosty, etc...
II. 1+ books with a winter setting
III. only 2 books with summer setting

It is not necessary to list your books beforehand or to review them. I just want you to stretch a little while having a good time.

To join, go to Toss Me a Frosty One For the Summer.

Getting Lost in a Comfortable Book Challenge

June 13, 2011- December 31, 2012

Book Dragon's Lair is hosting the Getting Lost in a Comfortable Book Challenge.  She writes:

I knew a man who loved The Outsiders so much he always carried a copy in his back pocket. He almost went into meltdown when he lost it, a replacement wasn't acceptable, and I breathed a sigh of relief when he found it (under his car's seat).

Now, I'm not that bad with any of my books but I've been thinking....added to my finding a listing of "Modern Library's 100 Best Novels" and I thought of a challenge. ;-)

There are three parts to this challenge.

Part One: email me your top five comfort books.
Part Two: vote (after I post a list) for our very own Top 100.
Part Three: READ five from the list, other than your own.

 Part One:

My email is ... bookdragonslair(at)gmail(dot)dom ....you'll need to put comfort books in the subject so I won't miss it (I'll set up a filter for it).

I know I could have you comment with your five but I don't want the others to influence you ;-)

I'm hoping this will be a huge list so send in your five picks by September 1, 2011.

Part Two:

After I make of list of all the books, I'll post "vote for your favorite" or something like that. I'm hoping this will be done in October so the challenge list can be ready for sign-ups in late November/early December.

Part Three:

We read. We'll have all of 2012 to read five from the list, other than the five we sent in. Maybe we'll have two, three or more levels.

I'm looking forward to seeing your list!

To join, go to the Getting Lost in a Comfortable Book Challenge.

Tips on Thursday

Weekly on Thursdays

Girl Who Reads is hosting a weekly event, Tips on Thursday.  She writes:

Tips on Thursday is a weekly series that I started to help bloggers share tips and tricks about book blogging. I conceived the idea after having several chats with fellow bloggers and forming #bookbloghelp on Twitter. Please take the time to look at the other blogs linked here and share your own tips (doesn't have to have to be on Thursday).

To participate, go to Tips on Thursday on Thursdays.

Summer Read Saturday

Weekly Summer Event

Lori of Psychotic State is hosting the Summer Read Saturday Event.  She writes:

In honor of summer finally being upon us, I thought it would be fun to highlight a good beach read every on Saturdays until we hit autumn.  So with that thought in mind I have created "Summer Read Saturday". 

Please join in by commenting on this post or sharing your own Summer Read Saturday post.  So grab your suit, your towel and good sunscreen nd let's see what's in the beach bag this week!

To join, go to Summer Read Saturday.

Under the Midnight Sun Readathon

July 2, 2011 from 12:00 Noon - July 3, 2011 12:00 Noon



John of The Canadian Book Challenge fame is hosting a Canadian book readathon, Under the Midnight Sun Readathon.  He writes:

On July 2nd join me in a 24 hour Canadian readathon! It'll start at noon (your time!) and run until the 3rd at noon. So sleep in after your Canada Day festivities, then wake up and start reading at brunch. Bacon, maple syrup, and a Douglas Coupland novel perhaps? Take a break from reading every hour or two and blog your progress (if you're not a blogger, you can add comments on this site). Give support to others throughout the day. Take pee breaks. But between breaks, it's all about reading Canadian books. Read in your muskoka chair out on the day. Have fun, relax.

And if you're a Canadian Book Challenge 5 participant, what a perfect way to start! Take a few breaks to blog reviews from time to time and those 13 titles will be done in no time. If you're not a Canadian Book Challenge 5 participant, I hope you'll still consider taking part in the readathon. It's a Saturday, it's the summer, what else do you have to do? The lawn can wait.

To join, go to Under the Midnight Sun Readathon.

Read the Classics Month

July 1 - July 31, 2011

Debz at Debz Bookshelf is hosting a Read the Classics Month in July. She writes:

So this all started when my mother was seriously bugging me about reading the classics. I have never had much interest in reading them. In my whole life time I have managed to read 3 "classics": The Wizard of Oz, Alice in Wonderland, and Animal Farm. I'm not sure if Animal Farm counts as a classic, but it's on the list of 100 books to read before you die, nearly all of which are classics.

So in the month of July I'm committing to reading 9 classics (or books close enough to classics). I hope others will participate. With all the vampire infested dystopia that everyone has been reading lately, I thought it would be a good idea for people to get back to the basics.

Get all the information regarding participation on the introductory post, and sign up using the sign up form.