2014 Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge

Original post: 2014 Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge

Right now, I've read 55 books. I think I can finish 60 by the end of the year. That number might change since I'll be off for two weeks in Dec and I probably won't be doing much of anything.

Update: I read 59 books in 2013 so aiming for at least 60 this year.

I'll stick with Level 1: Getting my heart rate up – Read 1–5 more books.

1. The October List - Jeffery Deaver
2. Veiled Revenge - Ellen Byerrum
3. Deadly - Sara Shepard
4. The Surrogate - Tania Carver
5. Fear Nothing - Lisa Gardner
6. Abducted - TR Ragan
7. Divergent - Veronica Roth
8. World War Z - Max Brooks
9. The Giver - Lois Lowry
10. The Great Gatsby - F. Scott Fitzgerald
11. City of Ashes - Cassandra Clare
12. Killer - Jonathan Kellerman
13. Private LA - James Patterson
14. Dark Places - Gillian Flynn
15. Insurgent - Veronica Roth
16. Allegiant - Veronica Roth
17. Cinder - Marissa Meyer
18. NYPD Red 2 - James Patterson
19. The Black Box - Michael Connelly
20. Redeployment - Phil Klay
21. The Immortals - JT Ellison
22. So Close the Hand of Death - JT Ellison
23. The Creeper - Tania Carver
24. Cage of Bones - Tania Carver
25. The Skin Collector - Jeffery Deaver
26. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas - Hunter S. Thompson
27. Toxic - Sara Shepard
28. Cop Town - Karin Slaughter
29. Unlucky 13 - James Patterson
30. All Day and a Night - Alafair Burke
31. Top Secret Twenty one - Janet Evanovich
32. Invisible - James Patterson
33. Bloodlines - Richelle Mead
34. Variant - Robison Wells
35. Lemon Meringue Pie Murder - Joanne Fluke
36. Displaced Persons - Derek McCulloch
37. The Golden Lily - Richelle Mead
38. Think of a Number - John Verdon
39. Gone Girl - Gillian Flynn

2014 Book Bingo Reading Challenge

Original post: Book Bingo Reading Challenge

TBR pile
One book: World War Z - Max Brooks
Two books: Dark Places - Gillian Flynn, Insurgent - Veronica Roth
Three books
Four books
Five books

Mix it up
Non-fiction
Classic
Re-read: The Great Gatsby - F. Scott Fitzgerald
Free square: The October List - Jeffery Deaver
Contemporary: Toxic - Sara Shepard

Series
One book: Veiled Revenge - Ellen Byerrum
Two books: Deadly - Sara Shepard, The Surrogate - Tania Carver
Three books: Abducted - TR Ragan, Divergent - Veronica Roth, Allegiant - Veronica Roth
Four books: The Black Box - Michael Connelly, The Immortals - JT Ellison, So Close the Hand of Death - JT Ellison, The Creeper - Tania Carver
Five books: Cinder - Marissa Meyer, Cage of Bones - Tania Carver

Genres
Fantasy: City of Ashes - Cassandra Clare
Free square: Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas - Hunter S. Thompson
Historical fiction
Mystery
Romance

New releases
One book: Fear Nothing - Lisa Gardner
Two books: Killer - Jonathan Kellerman, Private LA - James Patterson
Three books: NYPD Red 2, Redeployment - Phil Klay, The Skin Collector - Jeffery Deaver
Four books
Five books

2014 Women Challenge

Original Post: 2014 Women Challenge

Level 1: BABY GIRL - read 5 books written by a woman author

Update: Turns out I read a lot of women authors so I'm going up a level to Level 2: GIRL POWER - read 6 to 15 books written by a woman author

1. Veiled Revenge - Ellen Byerrum
2. Deadly - Sara Shepard
3. The Surrogate - Tania Carver
4. Fear Nothing - Lisa Gardner
5. Abducted - TR Ragan
6. Divergent - Veronica Roth
7. The Giver - Lois Lowry
8. City of Ashes - Cassandra Clare
9. Dark Places - Gillian Flynn
10. Insurgent - Veronica Roth
11. Alligiant - Veronica Roth
12. Cinder - Marissa Meyer
13. The Immortals - JT Ellison
14. So Close the Hand of Death - JT Ellison
15. Toxic - Sara Shepard
16. Cop Town - Karin Slaughter
17. All Day and a Night - Alafair Burke
18. Top Secret Twenty One - Janet Evanovich
19. Bloodlines - Richelle Mead
20. Lemon Meringue Pie Murder - Joanne Fluke
21. The Golden Lily - Richelle Mead
22. Gone Girl - Gillian Flynn

Vampire Challenge 2014

Original post: Vampire Challenge 2014

Goal: Read 10 books with vampires as a main or supporting character

1. City of Ashes - Cassandra Clare
2. Bloodlines - Richelle Mead
3. The Golden Lily - Richelle Mead

2014 Finishing the Series Reading Challenge

Original post: 2014 Finishing the Series Reading Challenge

Level 2 - Complete two series

The two series I'm aiming to complete are:

Taylor Jackson series by JT Ellison
The Immortals - read May 9, 2014
So Close the Hand of Death - read May 16, 2014
Where All the Dead Lie

Karen Vail series by Alan Jacobson
Crush
Velocity
Inmate 1557
No Way Out

2014 What An Animal Reading Challenge VII

Original post: 2014 What An Animal Reading Challenge VII

The Rules:

1. Read at least 6 books that have any of the following requirements:


a. there is an animal in the title of the book

 b. there is an animal on the cover of the book


 c. an animal plays a major role in the book


 d. a main character is (or turns into) an animal (define that however you'd like).

2. The animal can be any type of animal (real or fictitious)--dog, cat, monkey, wolf, snake, insect, hedgehog, aardvark...dragon, mermaid, centaur, vampire, werewolf...etc.

I chose Level 1 - Read up to six books

1. Bloodlines - Richelle Mead
2. The Golden Lily - Richelle Mead

2014 Ebook Reading Challenge

Original post: 2014 Ebook Reading Challenge

Since I recently purchased a Kindle Paperwhite 2, I've decided to do Level 3: DVD – 25 ebooks. That would probably make up about half the books I'll be reading.

1. Abducted - TR Ragan
2. Divergent - Veronica Roth
3. World War Z - Max Brooks
4. Dark Places - Gillian Flynn
5. Insurgent - Veronica Roth
6. Allegiant - Veronica Roth
7. Cinder - Marissa Meyer
8. The Immortals - JT Ellison
9. So Close the Hand of Death - JT Ellison
10. The Creeper - Tania Carver
11. Cage of Bones - Tania Carver
12. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas - Hunter S. Thompson
13. Bloodlines - Richelle Mead
14. Variant - Robison Wells
15. Lemon Meringue Pie Murder - Joanne Fluke
16. The Golden Lily - Richelle Mead
17. Think of a Number - John Verdon
18. Gone Girl - Gillian Flynn

2014 Full House Reading Challenge

Original post: 2014 Full House Reading Challenge

I have to read a book that fits each of the categories to get a full house. I also get one free exchange if there's a category I don't like

From the local library
Theme/issue you think is important
Reread: The Great Gatsby - F. Scott Fitzgerald
Won or borrowed
Book from a series: The Black Box - Michael Connelly (Harry Bosch series)
Best read so far in 2014: World War Z - Max Brooks
Setting you'd like to visit: Fear Nothing - Lisa Gardner (Boston)
Review persuaded you to read it
Historical fiction
Free or bought very cheaply: Abducted - TR Ragan (Amazon Prime Kindle lending library)
From your wish list: Dark Places - Gillian Flynn (added Dec 2012)
Suspense or crime: The Immortals - JT Ellison
Free choice
Less than 200 pages: The Giver - Lois Lowry
Published in 2013: The October List - Jeffery Deaver (October 1, 2013)
Set in different country than you: The Surrogate - Tania Carver (England)
Contemporary: Deadly - Sara Shepard
Published before 2013: Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas - Hunter S. Thompson (1971)
Non-fiction
Paranormal, Sci fi, or dystopian: Divergent - Veronica Roth
Published in 2014: The Skin Collector - Jeffery Deaver (May 13, 2014)
More than 400 pages: City of Ashes - Cassandra Clare (453 pages)
Book with animal in it: Lemon Meringue Pie Murder - Joanne Fluke
Author new to you: Cinder - Marissa Meyer
You love the cover: Veiled Revenge - Ellen Byerrum (I love that dress!)

2014 Monthly Motif Reading Challenge

Original post: 2014 Monthly Motif Reading Challenge

I thought this challenge would be a good way to get some variety into the books I read, but maybe not. I might end up finding mysteries or teen fiction books that fit.

MONTHLY MOTIFS:

Jan- Around the World
Choose a book to read that takes place in a country different than the one you live in or choose a book written by an author that is from a country different than your own.
The Surrogate - Tania Carver (England)

Feb- Award Winner
Read a book that has won recognition or a literary award.
The Giver - Lois Lowry (Newberry Medal)

Mar- Fairy tales or Fairy Creatures
Read a fairy tale retelling or a book with fey/fairies in it
Cinder - Marissa Meyer (Cinderella)

Apr- Short & Sweet
Read a collection of short stories or anthologies.
Redeployment - Phil Klay (short stories)

May- Mystery, Murder, & Mayhem
Read a murder/mystery book, a book in which someone dies of mysterious causes, or a book in which a mystery must be solved.
The Immortals - JT Ellison

June- A Long Journey
Read a book in which the character(s) take a trip, go on a quest, or find themselves on a journey toward something, etc.
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas - Hunter S. Thompson

July- Assassins, Warriors, & Rebels
Read a book in which the main character is one of these things or fights against one of these things.
Variant - Robison Wells

Aug- Alternate Reality
Read a book that's set in the future, on another planet, in another dimension, or in an unknown world. A Dystopian book will count this month as well.

Sep- Book to Movie
Read a book that has a movie based off of it. For an extra challenge, see the movie as well.
Gone Girl - Gillian Flynn

Oct- The Witching Hour
There's been a lot of zombies lately, but this year include a 'witchy' book in your scary reads- a book about a witch or a book that has witches in it.

Nov- An Oldie but a Goodie
Pick a book published before 2000 that you've always wanted to read, but just never got to. Or pick a book set in the past (before 2000).

Dec- That's a Wrap
Finish a series you've been meaning to finish or read the next book in a series you started but never finished.

2014 I Love Library Books Reading Challenge

Original post: I Love Library Books Reading Challenge
I get all the books I read from the library so this is kind of a cheat for me. I'm going for the highest level, which is just insert IV - 50 books.
1. The October List - Jeffery Deaver
2. Veiled Revenge - Ellen Byerrum
3. Deadly - Sara Shepard
4. The Surrogate - Tania Carver
5. Fear Nothing - Lisa Gardner
6. Divergent - Veronica Roth
7. World War Z - Max Brooks
8. The Giver - Lois Lowry
9. The Great Gatsby - F. Scott Fitzgerald
10. City of Ashes - Cassandra Clare
11. Killer - Jonathan Kellerman
12. Private LA - James Patterson
13. Dark Places - Gillian Flynn
14. Insurgent - Veronica Roth
15. Allegiant - Veronica Roth
16. Cinder - Marissa Meyer
17. NYPD Red - James Patterson
18. The Black Box - Michael Connelly
19. Redeployment - Phil Klay
20. The Immortals - JT Ellison
21. So Close the Hand of Death - JT Ellison
22. The Creeper - Tania Carver
23. Cage of Bones - Tania Carver
24. The Skin Collector - Jeffery Deaver
25. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas - Hunter S. Thompson
26. Toxic - Sara Shepard
26. Cop Town - Karin Slaughter
27. Unlucky 13 - James Patterson
28. All Day and a Night - Alafair Burke
29. Top Secret Twenty one - Janet Evanovich
30. Invisible - James Patterson
31. Bloodlines - Richelle Mead
32. Variant - Robison Wells
33. Lemon Meringue Pie Murder - Joanne Fluke
34. The Golden Lily - Richelle Mead
35. Think of a Number - John Verdon
36. Gone Girl - Gillian Flynn

2014 Cruisin' Thru the Cozies Reading Challenge

Original post: Cruisin' Thru the Cozies Reading Challenge 2014

Level 1 - Snoop - Read at least 6 books

1. Veiled Revenge - Ellen Byerrum

Monthly Mix Up Mania

I must be crazy, but I'm joining another reading challenge.  This one runs until March 31, 2013 so I should have plenty of time to read all the books necessary.


For the Monthly Mix Up Mania, I have to read a book for each letter of the year, which means 74 books.  


The rules are:
-only one letter per book
-books can be moved around if it fits better somewhere else after you've read it
-the letter doesn't have to be the first word, just the first letter of a word in the title (a, an, and the do not count)


The challenge officially starts on April 1, 2011, but any books read since Jan 1 count.


J
A - Afterlife - Gray (6/23/11)
N - Now You See Her - Patterson (7/14/11)
U - Unbelieveable - Shepard (5/5/11)
A - 10th Anniversary - Patterson (7/9/11)
R - Keys to the Repository - de la Cruz (3/25/11)
Y - Now You See Her - Patterson (7/14/11)


F - Fallen - Slaughter (7/1/11)
E - Evernight - Gray (2/5/11)
B - For Better or Hearse - Durham (2/13/11)
R
U
A - 10th Anniversary - Patterson (7/9/11)
R - Thirteen Reasons Why - Asher (7/22/11)
Y - Kill Me if You Can - Patterson (9/23/11)


M - Mockingjay - Collins (3/22/11)
A - Kill Alex Cross - Patterson (11/29/11)
R
C - Hard Corps - Martinez (1/23/11)
H - Hourglass - Gray (5/12/11)


A
P - Perfect - Shepard (2/24/11)
R
I
L - Love You More - Gardner (4/9/11)


M - Misguided Angel - De La Cruz (4/15/11)
A
Y


J
U
N
E - Explosive Eighteen - Evanovich (12/4/11)


J
U
L - The Lincoln Lawyer - Connelly (11/3/11)
Y


A
U
G - Hunger Games - Collins (2/19/11)
U
S - Smokin Seventeen - Evanovich (7/6/11)
T - Tick Tock - Patterson (1/29/11)


S - Secrets to the Grave - Hoag (1/15/11)
E - Never Have I Ever - Shepard (12/30/11)
P - To Love and to Perish - Durham (4/2/11)
T - Shot Through Velvet - Byerrum (6/9/11)
E
M - Mystery - Kellerman (4/29/11)
B - Dead and Buried - Mitchell (12/13/11)
E
R - Down the Darkest Road - Hoag (1/20/12)


O
C - Catching Fire - Collins (3/5/11)
T - Lost in Time - de la Cruz (11/20/11)
O
B - Bloody Valentine - de la Cruz (6/24/11)
E
R


N
O
V - Vampire Academy - Mead (8/2/11)
E
M - Save Me - Scottoline (4/22/11)
B - A Great and Terrible Beauty - Bray (8/9/11)
E
R


D - Dial Me For Murder - Matetsky (1/7/11)
E
C - The Closers - Connelly (6/18/11)
E
M - Strawberry Shortcake Murder - Fluke (8/15/11)
B - Blueberry Muffin Murder - Fluke (9/16/11)
E
R

2011 E Book Challenge

I finally got an e-reader so I decided to do the E Book Challenge.  I'm going to aim high and pick the third level, Addicted and read 12 e-books.  Hope I can get it done since I'm starting late.  I've got so many other challenges going, but I think I found enough e-books that will count as crossovers.

1. Misguided Angel - Melissa de la Cruz finished April 15

2. Unbelievable - Sara Shepard finished May 5
3. Hourglass - Claudia Gray finished May 12
4. Wicked - Sara Shepard finished May 20
5. Grievous Sin - Faye Kellerman finished May 31
6. The Closers - Michael Connelly finished June 18
7. Killer - Sara Shepard finished July 17
8. Thirteen Reasons Why - Jay Asher finished July 22

What an Animal Reading Challenge 2011 - Completed

I did the What an Animal Reading Challenge last year and decided to do it again.

Read at least 6 books that have any of the following requirements:
a. there is an animal in the title of the book
b. there is an animal on the cover of the book
c. an animal plays a major role in the book

d. a main character is (or turns into) an animal (define that however you'd like).

It's easy for me to do this challenge since vampires are considered animals for this one.

1. Stargazer - Claudia Gray (vampires) - finished Mar 4
2. Keys to the Repository - Melissa de la Cruz (vampires) - finished Mar 25
3. Misguided Angel - Melissa de la Cruz (vampires) - finished Apr 15
4. Hourglass - Claudia Gray (vampires) - finished May 12
5. Afterlife - Claudia Gray (vampires)- finished June 23

6. Bloody Valentine - Melissa de la Cruz (vampires/witches) - finished June 24

2011 Pub Challenge - Completed

I participated in this challenge last year.  For the 2011 Pub Challenge, I have to read 11 books published in 2011.

1. Tick Tock - James Patterson (published Jan 24) - finished Jan 29

2. Love You More - Lisa Gardner (published Mar 8) - finished Apr 9
3. Save Me - Lisa Scottoline (published Apr 12) - finished Apr 22
4. Mystery - Jonathan Kellerman (published Mar 29) - finished Apr 29
5. Shot Through Velvet - Ellen Byerrum (published Feb 1) - finished June 9
6. Fallen - Karin Slaughter (published June 21) - finished July 1
7. Smokin' Seventeen - Janet Evanovich (published June 21) - finished July 7
8. 10th Anniversary - James Patterson (published May 2) - finished July 9
9. Now You See Her - James Patterson (published June 27) - finished July 14
10. The Silent Girl - Tess Gerritsen (published July 5) - finished July 25
11. Hotwire - Alex Kava (published July 12) - finished July 28

Alphabet Challenge - Completed

For each letter of the alphabet, you have to read a book that has a main or key supporting character whose name starts with that letter.  I'm going to start with the first level and match 10 letters with characters' names.  It shouldn't be too hard since I hope to read 51 books this year, but if I aim low, anything more will be gravy. The Alphabet Challenge doesn't say I have to go in any order so my names might be all over the place.

A - Annabelle Archer (For Better or Hearse)
C - Charity More (Stargazer)
D - DD Warren (Love You More)
E - Emily Parker (Tick Tock)
F - Finnick Odair (Catching Fire)
G - Gale Hawthorne (Mockingjay)
H - Hanna Marin (Perfect)
K - Katniss Everdeen (The Hunger Games)
L - Lucas Ross (Evernight)
M - Marco Martinez (Hard Corps)
O - Oliver Hazard-Perry (Misguided Angel)
P - Paige Turner (Dial Me for Murder)
R - Richard (To Love and to Perish)
V - Vince Navarre (Secrets From the Grave)

It's Not What You Read But Where You Read it Challenge

 

So instead of focusing on a certain theme/kind of book, this challenge has to do with where you're reading the book.  There are seven categories and the goal is to read at least an hour in each one of them.  I already have an idea for where I can read in six of the categories.  The only one I'm going to have a problem with is "Probably Shouldn't".  Since the hour doesn't have to be consecutive, I can probably fit in 10 minutes in an inappropriate place to read, but I just need to come up with one.

The categories are:

Twist Your House
I moved to a different apartment last month so everywhere I read is new. I try to read every night before bed so I know I've read more than an hour in the bedroom and the living room

Place of Commerce
On the Move 
1/31 - Read 20 minutes on the bus to and from the mall
2/7 - Read 20 minutes on light rail while running errands
2/12 - Read 10 minutes on bus
2/14 - Read 10 minutes on light rail

In Nature
2/16 - Read 20 minutes on grass
2/17 - Read 40 minutes on grass

A Place You Don't Call Home
3/17/11 - Read one hour on plane ride to San Francisco

Probably Shouldn't
In Pairs
6/18 - Read for 20 minutes at work while the student worker was also

Reading Challenge Addict

2010 was the first year I've ever done reading challenges.  I can't remember how exactly I stumbled upon the first one, but when I found a whole blog dedicated to all the different ones out there, I was hooked.  I am proud to say I completed ten of them last year, with one more to go that ends in February (the blog it was hosted on has been deleted, but for my own edification and the fact that I signed up for a similar challenge this year, I'm going to finish it!). Doing these challenges really helped me break out of my comfort zone.  I read books I normally wouldn't have and I actually crossed some off of my TBR list that I kept pushing aside for others.

This year, I'm not doing as many.  That many change as the year goes on and more get posted, but right now I'm at six.  That's not stopping me for joining the Reading Challenge Addict challenge.  The level I fit in to is: On the Roof: 6-10 challenges (entered and completed).

Here are the challenges I've entered so far:

Paranormal YA Reading Challenge - Read at least 12 books (my challenge post)

Outdo Yourself Challenge - Try to read more books this year than I did last year.  I read 50 books in 2010 so I'm going with the first level, Getting My Heart Rate Up: Read 1-5 more books (my challenge post)

Support Your Local Library Challenge - All of the books I read, I get from the library so this is the perfect challenge for me.  Since my goal is to read at least 51 books, I chose highest level, Mega Size: Read 51+ books (my challenge post)

Crusin' Thru the Cozies Challenge - I'm a big mystery lover and I like a cozy mystery every so often.  I picked the first level for this one, Snoop: Read 1-6 cozy mysteries.  I'm aiming to read six (my challenge post)
Jan 7 - Finished my first cozy mystery! 

YA Reading Challenge - I was going to start with the first level, Mini, and read 12 YA books.  All 12 would be Paranormal books since it will crossover with the other YA challenge I'm doing.  I guess to give myself more of a challenge, I'll go up a level and do the Fun Size level: Read 20 YA books (my challenge post)

Dewey Decimal Challenge:  Try and read more nonfiction books.  I chose the highest level, Master: Read four nonfiction books (my challenge post)

Mar 22 - Added more challenges! 


It's Not What You Read But Where You Read it Challenge: Read in seven different places for an hour (my challenge post)

Alphabet Challenge: For each letter of the alphabet, you have to pick a character from each book you read. I started out with 10 (my challenge post) Finished on Mar 11

2011 Pub Challenge: Read 11 books published in 2011 (my challenge post)

What an Animal Reading Challenge: Read 6 books with an animal in it, on the cover, in the title, etc (my challenge post)

E-Book Challenge: I picked the third level, Addicted - Read 12 e-books (my challenge post)

Dewey Decimal Challenge

The goal of the Dewey Decimal Challenge is to read more nonfiction books.  The level I'm choosing is Master - to read four nonfiction books.  I read five last year so it shouldn't be a problem.

1. Hard Corps: From Gangster to Marine Hero - Marco Martinez - finished Jan 23

2011 Young Adult Reading Challenge

The Young Adult Reading Challenge is another one I did last year that I'm doing again.  I'm going to do the second level, Fun Size, and read 20 YA books.

1. Evernight - Claudia Gray -  finished Feb 6
2. The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins - finished Feb 19
3. Pretty Little Liars #3: Perfect - Sara Shepard - finished Feb 24
4. Stargazer - Claudia Gray - finished Mar 4
5. Catching Fire - Suzanne Collins -  finished Mar 14
6. Mockingjay - Suzanne Collins - finished Mar 22
7. Keys to the Repository - Melissa de la Cruz - finished Mar 25
8. Misguided Angel - Melissa de la Cruz - finished Apr 15
9. Pretty Little Liars #4: Unbelievable - Sara Shepard - finished May 5
10. Hourglass - Claudia Gray - finished May 12
11. Pretty Little Liars #5: Wicked - Sara Shepard - finished May 20
12. Afterlife - Claudia Gray - finished June 23

13. Bloody Valentine - Melissa de la Cruz - finished June 24

14. Pretty Little Liars #6: Killer - Sara Shepard - finished July 17
15. Thirteen Reasons Why - Jay Asher - finished July 22