2013 TBR (To Be Read) Pile Challenge

This 2013 To Be Read Pile Challenge comes from Adam at Roof Beam Reader. 

I tried this challenge last year, and just let myself get way too far behind. So it's time to take it on and complete it!

Here are the basic rules: 

1. Each of these 12 books must have been on your bookshelf or “To Be Read” list for AT LEAST one full year. This means the book cannot have a publication date of 1/1/2012 or later (any book published in the year 2011 or earlier qualifies, as long as it has been on your TBR pile – I WILL be checking publication dates). Caveat: Two (2) alternates are allowed, just in case one or two of the books end up in the “can’t get through” pile. 

2.  To be eligible, you must sign-up with Mr. Linky at Adam's website (done!) – link to your list and add updated links to each book’s review.  Every listed book must be completed and must be reviewed (doesn’t have to be too fancy) in order to count as completed.

3.  The link you post in the Mr. Linky below must be to your “master list” (see mine below).  This is where you will keep track of your books completed, crossing them out and/or dating them as you go along, and updating the list with the links to each review (so there’s one easy, convenient way to find your list and all your reviews for the challenge).  See THIS LINK for an idea of what I mean.  Your list must be completed by December 31st, 2012.

4. Leave comments on this post as you go along, to update us on your status. Come back here if/when you complete this challenge and leave a comment indicating that you CONQUERED YOUR 2013 TBR LIST!  Every person who successfully reads his/her 12 books and/or alternates (and who provides a working link to their list, which has links to the review locations) will be entered to win a $50 gift card from Amazon.com or The Book Depository!

5. Crossovers from other challenges are totally acceptable, as long as you have never read the book before and it was published pre-2012!

Here’s my list:
(I've included a few I never got around to last year)

1. This Year it Will be Different by Maeve Binchy
2. Little Bee by Chris Cleave
3. Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith
4. The Red Tent by Anita Diamant
5. The Passage by Justin Cronin
6. Ender's Game by Orson Scott Caro
7. Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
8. The Host by Stephanie Meyer
9. The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara
10. State of Wonder by Anne Patchett
11. The Magicians by Lev Grossman
12. Made in the USA by Billie Letts

Alternates:

1. Dead Man’s Walk by Larry McMurtry
2. Their Eyes Were Watching God, Zora Neale Hurston

When I review each of the above books, I'll link them to my post.

A couple of notes about my picks...

1. I've always wanted to read Binchy (she was a favorite of my book club gal, Dot Kellner, in Colorado).
2. A book I didn't get around to in last year's TBR challenge, and one that I missed reading with my Colorado book club. 
3. Can't believe I haven't read this one yet. I'll wait to rent the movie until after I read it.
4. Leftover from last year's TBR, and one I've been wanting to read (and really digest) for years.
5. Recommended by my brother-in-law, and then I went home and realized I have had it for at least a year. I understand book 2 is out, so good timing.
6. A great author friend, Shauna Kelley, recommended this to me. It's one of her favorites and one she re-reads every year.
7. Picked this up purely on the reviews. Hope it's good. It's been gathering dust, so I'm hoping this challenge will finally put it into my read pile.
8. Leftover from last year. I'm hesitant, but I want to read it before the movie.
9. Supposedly one of the best historical fiction books on the Civil War, and a leftover from last year's challenge.
10. I had a different Anne Patchett book on last year's list, but I wanted to read this one more.
11. From last year's list.
12. From last year's list, and I love Billie Letts. Shocked I didn't get around to it.

My alternates are the same as last year.

Wishing everyone a 2013 filled with great reads!

2012 Book Blogger Recommendation Challenge

Thanks to MizB's recommendation at Should be Reading, I'm joining another challenge. This one will edge me toward hip, at least in my daughter's eyes.

I'm committing to Level II (10 books) for now, hoping to up to Level III mid-year. I've highlighted a few below I plan to read. Will choose more later.

The details:

 

The Top 25

1. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
2. Divergent by Veroncia Roth
3. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
4. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
5. City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
6. Graceling by Kristin Cashore
7. Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare
8. The Stand by Stephen King
9. Delirium by Lauren Oliver
10. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
11. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
12. Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini
13. The Name Of The Rose by Umberto Eco
14. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
15. The False Princess by Eilis O'Neal
16. The Last Unicorn by Peter Beagle
17. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
18. Enclave by Ann Aguirre
19. Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment by James Patterson
20. Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead
21. Poison Study by Maria V.Snyder
22. The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa
23. The Scorpio Races by Maggie Steifvater
24. Dark Lover by J.R. Ward
25. The Maze Runner by James Dashner

Click here to see the entire 2011 Book Blogger Recommendation List.

The Levels:
Level I - Read 5 books from the 2011 Book Blogger Recommendation List
Level II - Read 10 books
Level III - Read 15 books
Level IV - Read 20 books
Level V - Read 20+ books

The Rules:

• Challenge will run January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012. Participants can join anytime throughout the challenge.
• Create an intro post, linking back to this post.
• Sign up with the MckLinky below. Please link to your challenge intro post, not your blog home page.
• Chose your own books from the list. You can decide to read books only on the Top 25 list or from the entire recommendation list. You do not have to make a list of books before the challenge begins. 
• All forms of books acceptable (audiobooks, eBooks, etc.)
• Rereads do not count towards the completion of the challenge. The challenge is about discovering books that are new to you.
• You don't need a blog to participate.
• Reviews, while always appreciated, are not mandatory.

Let me know if you are joining so I can keep up with your reviews and favorites!

The Stephen King Project: Walking the Walk

I must start by saying, "Thank you, Carrie Green." In mid-November, horror author Carrie Green wrote a guest post here thanking Stephen King for influencing her. The post, Thank you, Stephen King, grabbed me. I never read horror prior, deeming it too scary, and Carrie changed my mind. I decided to dip my toe in the horror genre.

My first step, reading Carrie's short stories and novella. I've read her two short story collections so far and have just started her novella. Loving them! I will post reviews soon. My next step, reading Stephen King. I started with his On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft. I finished that book even more inspired. My plan... read more King!

A few days ago, thanks to the wonderful Bookstack blog, I learned about The Stephen King Project reading challenge.

The Stephen King Project Overview

1. This will run from January through December 2012
2. Anyone can join. But you should have a blog OR an account with Goodreads, Shelfari, etc., so you can write your reviews and we can visit via the link at The Stephen King Project.
3. The Project will be hosted at The Stephen King Project. Participants should link their reviews to the Linky there.
4. Audiobooks count.
5. E-books count.

What Are the Commitment Levels?

• A King Novice: 1 book
• A Lil Bit of King: 3 books
• A King to Balance It All: 6 books
• A King Legend: 9 books
• A King for All Seasons: 12+ books

What About the Movies?

• Hell. YEAH. Same rules from the above apply, except...
• You can mix and match but you should have more books than films in your end-of-year total tally.

What Should You Do Now?

1. Write an announcement post on your blog.
2. You don't have to put a list of books together in your announcement post. Or you can.
3. Use one of the blog buttons from the sidebar.
4. Enter the link to your announcement post here at The Stephen King Project at the appropriate post.
5. Every time you write a review, enter the link to it for the appropriate month at the review site. (On the 1st of each month, a new entry will be posted at the review site, and you can link up your reviews there).
6. At the end of each month, one participant from that month will be selected via random.org and will win a book from either Kathleen or I (or we may both have a book to give you). The book may or may not be King-related.
7. At the end of the year, one participant from the year will win a $50 gift card!

I'm going for A Lil Bit of King. Since I just reviewed On Writing, I have a good start. But my next King is 11/22/63, quite a big book. 3 books seems doable and a good start to what I suspect will be a lifelong love of Stephen King.

I'll keep everyone updated.

I've asked before, but please leave your favorite Stephen King books in the comments below. I still need to pick one more.

Happy New Year: Welcome 2012

Happy New Year! I am looking forward to 2012, a year that will include my 40th birthday. I am recommitting to reading thanks to Stephen King. I just finished his novel, On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft. In it, Stephen King reiterates a concept I've always believed: good writers read, and they read a lot.


My biggest 2012 goal... I plan to publish my second novel, our follow up to Depression Cookies. To focus on writing, I believe I have to also focus on reading. I have already joined the 2012 To Be Read (TBR) Pile Challenge, and I plan to join a few more reading challenges this year. Stay tuned for announcements.

I will also continue to review for Rebecca's Reads. This allows me exposure to books I might never hear about otherwise. In January, I will review Stephen King's On Writing, Elizabeth Ann West's Cancelled (scheduled for tomorrow!), Cindy Sample's Dying for a Dance, and many more. Plus, I'll keep answering Should be Reading prompts and questions from my 30 Day Book Meme.

I look forward to sharing good books with all of you. Please do the same. If you've read a book you love, share it with me either in the comments below or on GoodReads, Facebook, or Twitter.