Mount TBR Reading Challenge - Progress post

I joined this challenge via goodreads hosted by Bev of MY READERS BLOCK. 

Here are the rules in Bev's words:

* Once you choose your challenge level, you are locked in for at least that many books. If you find that you're on a mountain-climbing roll and want to tackle a taller mountain, then you are certainly welcome to upgrade.

* Challenge runs from January 1 to December 31, 2012.

* You may sign up anytime from now until November 30th, 2012.

* Books must be owned by you prior to January 1, 2012. No ARCs (none), no library books. No rereads (none). [To clarify--based on a question raised--the intention is to reduce the stack of books that you have bought for yourself or received as presents {birthday, Christmas, "just because," etc.}. Audiobooks and e-books may count if they are yours and they are of your sources of backlogged books.]

* Books may be used to count for other challenges as well.

* Feel free to submit your list in advance (as incentive to really get those books taken care of) or to tally them as you climb.

 * A blog is not necessary to participate. [...]

*** Addendum (2/20/12): From a question...You may count any "currently reading" book that you began pre-January 1, provided that you had 50% or more of the book left to finish in 2012. I will trust you all on that.

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Ok - here we go:

I chose Pike's Peak (12 books from my TBR) because I do want to climb a hill - and then see if my legs will carry me on for a higher top..

My progress on this challenge - reviews are linked:

1. WIDE SARGASSO SEA (1966) by Jean Rhys

2. DIE PAAR LEUCHTENDEN JAHRE by Mascha Kaléko

 (actually a collection of her poems and other writings - she is one of my favourites when it comes to lyric..

3. MISS PEREGRINE'S HOME FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN (2011) by Ransom Riggs

4. THE HELP (2009) by Kathryn Stockett

5. THE LIFE AND OPINIONS OF MAF THE DOG AND OF HIS FRIEND MARILYN MONROE (2010) by Andrew O'Hagan

6. MR. SKEFFINGTON (1939/40) by Elizabeth von Arnim

7. WATER FOR ELEPHANTS (2007) by Sara Gruen 

8. ROSEMARIE NITRIBITT : AUTOPSIE EINES DEUTSCHEN SKANDALS (2007) by Christian Steiger (=Rosemarie Nitribitt : Autopsy of a German Scandal)

9. MEINE BERÜHMTEN FREUNDINNEN (1967) by Hubert von Meyerinck (= My famous Female Friends)

10. DIE LOCKENDE INSEL (1953) by Gerty-Charlotte Burmeister (= The alluring island)

11. DUO and LE TOUTOUNIER (1934/1939) by Colette

12.

Reached Pike's Peak!!!

Actually I am afraid that I won't reach a much higher level.. Well.. We'll see!

Thank you so very much for reading!

Yours

Irene

Yes, I will do Challenges again..

Last year was .. uhm.. just scandalous. I had a real no-books-crisis in summer. By that I didn't finish all the challenges I joined.. So for this year there will be not so many challenges..

By now I joined The Mount TBR reading challenge (<-here's the link) at goodreads hosted by fabulous Bev of MY READER'S BLOCK (<- have a look, and: please, follow this great blog!) - where I enlisted to read 12 books from my TBR. Yes - small risk indeed.. I don't have the slightest idea how many books there actually are in my shelves waiting to be read.. and.. well, you see.. I don't grew younger..

And I challenged myself to finish 48 books this year - by now I finished 8 books - not too bad.

Do you have joined some challenges? Love to hear about them! Even if you don't comment: good luck with all your solutions!

Thank you very much for reading!

Yours

 Irene

And another challenge for me.. ;")

Maybe you remember the Top Ten Tuesday Question about your Top Ten resolutions for 2011 - and now I found one challenge that completely fits me:

Danya @ A Tapestry of Words is hosting the Read Outside Your Comfort Zone Challenge.

For my comfort zone is more in the old literature corner I am going to read some Fantasy/YA/new books. (Yeah - I know.. but for me this is an untouched bookpile since several years..)

I am heading for Level 1:

1-3 books: Peering Out the Window

So, I won't loose interest - I can act very sullen when I am feeling pushed. Besides that: It is my first year doing challenges - and I WANT SUCCESS! :") - And: Who knows maybe I am going for more.. (New/YA/Fantasy books & challenges) ;")

1. HEX HALL by Rachel Hawkins (2010)

2. DEMONGLASS by Rachel Hawkins (2011)

3. MERIDIAN by Amber Kizer (2009)

Yay! I finished this challenge!

Vintage Mystery Reading Challenge 2011

The Vintage Mystery Reading Challenge 2011 is hosted by Bev @ MY READER'S BLOCK

The rules:

*All books must have been written before 1960 and be from the mystery category.

*Some suggested authors include: Agatha Christie, Margery Allingham, Dorothy L Sayers, Earl Derr Biggers, Georgette Heyer, Edmund Crispin, Cyril Hare, Ellery Queen, Elizabeth Daly, Cyril Hare, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Ngaio Marsh, S. S. Van Dine, Philip MacDonald, Rex Stout, Phoebe Atwood Taylor, Josephine Bell, Josephine Tey, Frances & Richard Lockridge, Michael Innes and Stuart Palmer. (Please remember that some of these authors published after 1960 as well--so keep an eye on the original copyright date.)

*You are welcome to count these books towards any other challenges as well.

*Challenge runs from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2011. Sign up any time between now and November 30, 2011

*I would love to see reviews of your challenge books, but it is not necessary to participate. If you do not have a blog, post to the comments what your challenge level will be and then post again at the progess site (see below) when you have completed your challenge (include a list of books read).

*No matter what level you choose, please try at least two different vintage authors.

*The best part? A prize for everyone who completes their challenge. Once you declare your challenge level...you are locked in for that number of books. But you may change your list of books at any time. Let me know when you have met your challenge goal and I will send you a list of prizes (books) to choose from. Of course, the earlier you finish, the longer the list of books will be.

*Please post about the challenge on your blog (feel free to grab the image) with your declared challenge level.

Challenge Levels:

In a Murderous Mood: 4-6 Books

Get a Clue: 7-9 Books

Hot on the Trail: 10-12 Books

Capture the Criminal: 13-15 Books

Take 'Em to Trial: 16+ Books

OR

The Golden Age Girls*: Read 5-7 books from female authors from the vintage years

Cherchez Le Homme: Read 5-7 books from male authors from the vintage years

So, I am heading for:

The Golden Age Girls!!!

I have some Georgette Heyer - my Mom gave me hers, which where a present from her twin sister who actually met Georgette Heyer once. Which of course means that Ms. Heyer is quasi a family member.. ;") - and Agatha Christie books waiting for me. And who know's what lingers in the dark corners of my to read book shelfes...

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Yay! I am going Brontë!!!

Whitney @ She is Too fond of Books (Louisa May Alcott quotet in a blog title? Has to be good? It is!!) comes up with an awesome challenge (and guess who is joining it..):

The Brontë Sisters Reading Challenge 2011

"Guidelines

The challenge runs from March 1 - August 31
In that time read/watch three Bronte related items (I was thinking one for each sister but it is completely up to you)
Cross-overs for other challenges are fine
You do not need a blog to participate
Please sign up in the comments"

Read all about it here!

Let me give a résumé:

YAY!!

Read Me Baby, 1 More Time 2011

Yes, this year I am going to participate in challenges - and here's another one I am signing in:

Read Me Baby, 1 More Time 2011 hosted by Kate at Midnight Book Girl.

"Read Me Baby, 1 More Time is for those of you who love to re-read your favorite books or those of you who want to re-visit a book from your past.

The rules are simple, for a book to qualify you simply have to have read it at least once before, and the re-read has to be complete. For instance, there are some books I re-read from cover to cover, and there are other books that I just read certain scenes from when I need a little comfort-before-bed reading. Just reading a few scenes doesn't count for this challenge.

Here's the tiers for you to choose from:


Trip Down Memory Lane: 1-3 re-reads
Reliving the Past: 4-8 re-reads
Back To The Future: 9-12 re-reads
Groundhog Day Reader: 13-20 re-reads"

I am heading for 5 books which would made me a "Reliving the Past"-Reader - but who knows.. Maybe it's going to be more re-reads.. (To be honest, my purse is somewhat weak in the knees lately..) ;")

Here's my progress:



1. ALL-NIGHT PARTY by Andrea Barnet

2.
3.
4.
5.

LGBT Book Challenge 2011

So - yes, another challenge.. Makes three. :")

This one is hosted by Brighton Blogger whose blog is Book after Book. The name of the challenge is LGBT Book Challenge 2011 - and I got to confess that I stumbled over LGBT because I did not know what this means. :") Well, now I know - and I am signing in. Here're the rules (I copied them from Brighton Blogger's Blog.):

• 
  
  The challenge will run from January, 1st 2011 to December, 31st 2011


• 
  
  Because I’m also completing another challenge, I’m not setting a goal. You can decide how many books you want to read during the year. Obviously: the more you read, the more prize draws you’ll be able to enter! See the section “Resources” below for some suggestions.


• 
  
  What qualifies as LGBT reading? I will accept reviews of books whose author is LBGT, whose topic is LGBT and/or whose characters (even minor ones) are LGBT. Fiction and non-fiction titles are equally accepted.


• 
  
  The challenge is open to bloggers and non bloggers alike.


• 
  
  There will be monthly prizes for participants.

Brighton Blogger did not set a goal but I think I will be heading for at least 5 books - and hope that I'll be able to connect them with the other two challenges I am participating in.. :")

1. ASH by Malinda Lo (2009)

2. WITH BILLIE by Julia Blackburn (2005)

3. THE WAR AGAINST MISS WINTER by Kathryn Miller Haines (2007)

4. VALLEY OF THE DOLLS by Jacqueline Susann (1966)

5. HEX HALL by Rachel Hawkins (2010)

Uhm, now it's February and I have already five books? Well, I think I will go on - let's see what this year will bring ;"):

6. DEMONGLASS (HEX HALL ; 2) by Rachel Hawkins (2011)

7. ALL-NIGHT PARTY by Andrea Barnet (2001)

Yay, this is going to be a great year!!! :")

Historical Fiction Reading Challenge 2011

So -another challenge I am going to participate in: The Historical Fiction Reading Challenge 2011which is hosted by Historical Tapestry.

"To participate, you only have to follow the rules:

• everyone can participate, even those who don't have a blog (you can add your book title and thoughts in the comment section if you wish)
• add the link(s) of your review(s) including your name and book title to the Mister Linky we’ll be adding to our monthly post (please, do not add your blog link, but the correct address that will guide us directly to your review)
  
  
• any kind of historical fiction is accepted (HF fantasy, HF young adult,...)
• you can overlap this challenge with others kind of challenges
• During these following 12 months you can choose one of the different reading levels:
  
  
  Severe Bookaholism: 20 books
  Undoubtedly Obsessed: 15 books
  Struggling the Addiction: 10 books
  Daring & Curious: 5 books
  Out of My Comfort Zone: 2 books

The challenge will run from 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2011."

So - I am heading for Struggling the Addiction which means I am going to read 10 historical fiction novels. And I will count every book which is setted prior 1976 as historical.



This is my progress list - every review will be linked:

Struggling the Addiction

0. (warm-up) : ANGELICA by Arthur Phillips

1. THE WAR AGAINST MISS WINTER by Kathryn Miller Haines

2. THE LONG SONG by Andrea Levy

3. VOYAGE OF INNOCENCE by Elizabeth Edmondson

4. WHAT ALICE KNEW by Paula Marantz Cohen

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

Every book I review for this challenge will have this button:

So - another try on challenges.. ;") Good luck to all of you who do challenges too!! This is going to be great!

Forgotten treasures Challenge

Retroredux's Reviews is doing a challenge, which I could not resist:

"The goal of this challenge is to read and review (or just share a few thoughts on the book) books that are 25 years old or older. "

"The Rules:

Open to all-bloggers and non bloggers alike.

Open to all books-bought, loaned or ones you already own.

The only rule is on AGE. The books printing date must be at least 25 years old- 1986 or older please.

Level one- read 3 books 25+ years old or older

Level two-read 7 books 25+ years old or older

Bonus* Level three-read 25 books 25+ years old or older (all those who complete Level three will receive a nifty "Vintage Book Fan" award to post on their blog)"

- sounds like this one is made for me! Actually this is the first challenge I am going to participate in. Normally I don't like to read under pressure, so I am going to head for Level two. (And maybe I'll hit the Bonus Level..)

Read about more about it (& maybe sign in) here: Forgotten Treasures Challenge