Around the World in 80 Books Reading Challenge

Around the World in 80 Books Reading Challenge is hosted Love Bites and Silk.  This is a crazy challenge with lots of little mini challenges and lots of rules.  I have just cut and pasted the rules from the host blog as I didn't think I could summarize them appropriately.

Timeline: 01 Jan 2014 – 31 Dec 2014

Here are the details:

• You will collect gems for each part of the challenge you complete.

The red gem

• Read 80 books in 2014. They can be any fiction genre and any length, as long as they are published and are available to purchase.
• Since this challenge is about going round the world, read books set in different locations of the world. For example, there shouldn't be two books set New York. 
• Complete this mini-challenge and collect the rare red gem.

The green gem

• Read at least one book set on each continent –Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, South America and Antarctica. If you need help finding books set in Antarctica check out this Goodreads List.
• Complete this mini-challenge and collect all 7 green gems.

The yellow gem

• Read our selected book of the month. There will be one each month. Complete this mini-challenge and collect the 12 yellow gems.

The blue gem

• The coveted blue gem will be awarded to all those who complete all the mini-challenges and collect all the green, yellow and red gems. 

Please note:

• You don’t have to select your books ahead of time. Feel free to add them as you go along. Also feel free to change them if you list them and then change your mind at a later date.
• The books listed can also be used in other challenges.
• Feel free to join in at anytime, as long as the books are read in 2014.
• Book formats include paperbacks, hardbacks, ebooks and audiobooks.
• This is a fiction only challenge.
• Anyone can join in. You don't need a blog. 
• Every month, there will be an Around-The-World-In-80-Days post where everyone can post links to their book reviews and discuss the books they've read.

Everyone who completes the challenge is entered in to a prize draw to win a $25 Gift card. The winner will be chosen and announced in January 2015. 

Anne and Kristilyn's Book Bingo Reading Challenge

Anne and Kristilyn's Book Bingo Reading Challenge is hosted at Reading in Winter. 

Basic Details:

Jan 1, 2014 - Dec 31, 2014

Once you have read a book for a square and it is crossed off - it is crossed off for good.  It cannot be changed later.

Free squares can be used to read books from any genre.

Reviews/blogging is not required.

An update post/linky will be posted at the host website every three months.

BOOKS READ:

TBR Pile:

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Mix It Up

1. Non-fiction:

2. Classic:

3. Reread:

4. Free Square

5. Contemporary: First Love by James Patterson

Series

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Genres

1. Fantasy

2. Free Square

3. Historical Fiction

4. Mystery

5. Romance - A SEAL's Salvation by Tawny Weber

New Releases

1. Her Secret Cowboy by Marin Thomas

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While you can definitely “win” by the boring ol’ vertical or horizontal (or diagonal!) lines, the best ways to win are as follows:

Witches and Witchcraft Reading Challenge

Witches and Witchcraft Reading Challenge is being hosted at Melissa's Eclectic Bookshelf. 

Basic Details:

Jan 1, 2014 - Dec 31, 2014

• Any full length book that includes a witch as a main character or includes major witchcraft elements counts. They may be fiction or non-fiction. However, they should not be reference books which are not read cover to cover-I will leave this to your discretion.
• Books can be any format with rereads and crossovers allowed. 
• Reviews are not required, but there will be a review linky and chance for a prize for those who do review.

Levels:

Initiate: Read 1 – 5 Witchy Books
Maiden: Read 6 – 10 Witchy Books
Mother: Read 11 – 15 Witchy Books
Crone: Read 16 – 20 Witchy Books

I am signing up for Initiate.

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Where Are You Reading? Challenge

Where Are You Reading? is being hosted by Book Journey. 

How do you decide what state a book is categorized under?

1.  In a fiction read it would be the State or Country that the book spends the most time in.  (Ie. If your main character is from Wisconsin but the book is all about his/her time in college in California – the books should categorize under California….)

2.  Non fiction reads categorize  in whatever State or Country it is about (Ie…. a book about fly fishing in Colorado is a Colorado point, and a book about women in Afghanistan is an Afghanistan point.

3.  If the book goes from one state to another… go with the state that most of the time is spent.

Books can be any genre, any format and crossover to other challenges.  You can make a google map (see host site for details) but it is not necessary. 

View 2014 Where are you reading challenge in a larger map

1. Connecticut - The Witch of Blackbird Pond

What's in a Name Challenge

What's in a Name Reading Challenge is being hosted by The Worm Hole.

Basic Details:

Jan 1, 2014 - Dec 31, 2014

Book titles must contain one of the following elements:

~ A reference to time.

~ A position of royalty.

~ A number written in letters.

~ A forename or names.

~ A type or element of weather.

Books can be any genre or any format.  It is preferred if they don't overlap other challenges, but not required.  There will be a review linky for each category. You can just leave a comment if you are not a blogger. 

State by State Reading Challenge

State by State Reading Challenge is hosted here.  You can either use this for a 2014 challenge or a perpetual one.  

Basic Details:

Now - ??

Read just one novel from each state - you choose whether the link is the setting or the author. 

You choose whether you confine yourself to a particular genre or not.

There are review linky's for the states in the hosts sidebar.

You can generate a map at Myworld66.com

Alabama

Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut - The Witch of Blackbird Pond
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri

Montana

Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming

What an Animal Reading Challenge

What an Animal Reading Challenge VII is being hosted by Socrates Book Reviews.

Basic Details:

Jan 1, 2014 - Dec 31, 2014

Books must have the following:

~There is an animal in the title.

~There is an animal on the cover.

~An animal plays a major role in the book.

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

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

Crossovers are allowed.  Books can be any genre and any format. Reviews are not required, but there is a linky if you write one.

Levels:

1 - Read up to 6 books

2 - Read 7 - 12 books

3 - Read 13+ books

I am going for level 1.

1. The Witch of Blackbird Pond

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Southern Literature Challenge

Southern Literature Reading Challenge is being hosted by The Introverted Reader.

Basic details:

Jan 1, 2014 - Dec 31, 2014

Any format and crossovers are allowed. There will be a review linky. 

Read a book(s)--non-fiction or fiction of any genre, for any age group--written by an author from the South and set mostly in the South.  

Definitions of the South according to the challenge host:

The states:
South Carolina
Georgia
Alabama
North Carolina
Virginia
Tennessee 
Mississippi
Louisiana
Kentucky 
West Virginia
Texas
Arkansas
Florida

Please keep in mind that this is a Southern literature challenge. It's possible to find books set in each of these states that are not Southern in nature or feeling. Use your best judgment when choosing your books. 

Levels:

Level 1--C'mon in the house! Read 1 book.

Level 2--Pull up a seat and stay a while! Read 2 books

Level 3--Have a glass of sweet iced tea, honey. Read 3 books

Level 4--Y'all come back now, y'hear! Read 4 books

I love Southern literature so I am going for Level 4.

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Romantic Suspense Reading Challenge

The Romantic Suspense Reading Challenge is hosted by The Book Vixen. 

Basic Details:

Jan 1, 2014 - Dec 31, 2014

Books can be any format.  Novellas at least 100 pages are okay. Rereads and crossovers are allowed. 

The challenge is to read 10 romantic suspense novels.

There is no review linky for this one. 

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Romance Reading Challenge

The Romance Reading Challenge is being hosted by the bookworm.   As long as the story has romantic love between the two main characters your selection will fit this challenge. 

Basic Details:

Jan 1, 2014 - Dec 31, 2014

Choose at least 5 novels to read. You can change your choices at any time. Crossovers between other challenges are fine.  All kinds of books count, ebooks and audiobooks as well. Re-reads are fine, no ARC's or review request copies. The books you read for the challenge should be books you choose as personal reads, not books that are review requests from authors or publicists. Books you request for yourself are fine...i.e. NetGalley books.

There is a review linky.

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Reading Outside the Box Challenge

The Reading Outside the Box Challenge is being hosted by The Cheap Reader. 

Basic Details:

Jan 1, 2014 - Dec 31, 2014

Any book is eligible as long as it fulfills a square.  Crossovers are allowed. Reviews are not required.

*Most of the categories are pretty self explanatory. Here are the details for the ‘questionable’ ones:

• Read a Chunkster: Read a book with 600+ pages.
• Reading by Ear: Listen to an audiobook
• Accidentally Watched the Movie First: You didn’t realize the movie was based on a book until after you watched it. Ideally you haven’t read the book yet.
• Relive the Magic: Reread a book you really enjoyed as a kid but haven’t touched it since then.
• Gathering Dust: You’ve had this book for years and you still haven’t read it.
• Loved By Others: Other people really love this book but for whatever reason you haven’t read it yet.
• Lost in Translation: This book was originally written in another language.
• Second Chance: You read this book a while back and didn’t enjoy it, didn’t finish it, or were on the fence about it. Time to give it another try!

My box:

Read a Chunkster	Graphic Novel	Mystery	The Witch of Blackbird Pond	Self published
Reading by Ear	Poetry or Novel in Verse	Accidentally watched the movie first	Fantasy	Relive the Magic
Gathering Dust	Young Adult Fiction	Try a Classic	Award Winners	Biography or Memoir
Science Fiction	Loved by Others	Historical Fiction	Lost in Translation	Romance
Picture Book	Second Chance	Contemporary Fiction	Non-Fiction Book	Adult Fiction

Nicholas Sparks Reading Challenge

The Nicholas Sparks Reading Challenge is hosted by The Book Vixen. 

Basic Details:

Jan 1, 2014 - Dec 31, 2014

Books can be any format.  Rereads and crossovers are allowed. You do not have to be a blogger to participate, but can track your progress on Goodreads, etc.  Reviews not required. 

Levels:

     First Date – Read 1–4 Nicholas Sparks novels
     Going Steady – Read 5–8 Nicholas Sparks novels
     Engaged – Read 9–12 Nicholas Sparks novels
     Married – Read 13–16 Nicholas Sparks novels

I would like to at least read the 6 that I own - so will shoot for the Going Steady Level. 

Nicholas Sparks books that I own:

Message in a Bottle

The Notebook

The Last Song

Nights in Rodanthe

The Rescue

True Believer

Other books by Nicholas Sparks:

The Wedding

At First Sight

A Walk to Remember

A Bend in the Road

The Guardian

Dear John

The Choice

The Lucky One

Safe Haven

The Best of Me

The Longest Ride

Newbery Award Reading Challenge

The Newbery Reading Challenge is being hosted by Smiling Shelves. The goal is to read Newbery Award Winners or Honor Books.  

Basic Details

Jan 1, 2014 - Dec 31, 2014

Crossover allowed.  Reviews encouraged but not necessary. There will be a monthly link-up for reviews. Any format is acceptable. 

Each book you read is worth points. You get:

• 3 points for a Newbery Medal Winner
• 2 points for a Newbery Honor Book
• 1 point for a Caldecott Medal Winner (Gotta give the picture books some love, too.)

In addition to that, you pick a level to aim for:

• L'Engle: 15 - 29 points
• Spinelli: 30 - 44 points
• Avi: 45 - 59 points
• Lowry: 60 - 74 points
• Konigsburg: 75+ points

There will be mini challenges every couple of months.

List of Newbery Medal Winners & Honor Books
List of Caldecott Medal Winners

I am just going for the L'engle Level.  We are having an "I love Caldecott" month next month at school though, so may be able to rack up some onesie points there. 

1. The Witch of Blackbird Pond - Newbery Medal Winner  -  +3 points
2. The One and Only Ivan - Newbery Medal Winner - +3 points

New Author Reading Challenge

The New Author Reading Challenge is hosted by Literary Escapism. 

Basic Details:

Jan 1, 2014 - Dec 31, 2014

Authors must be new to you. Crossovers are allowed. 

You do not have to be a blogger, but can link up through Goodreads, Amazon, etc.  There will be a review linky.  You can pick 15, 25 or 50 new authors.  I am going with 15. 

1. Elizabeth George Speare - The Witch of Blackbird Pond

2. Marin Thomas - Her Secret Cowboy

3. Tawny Weber - A SEAL's Salvation

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Monthly Motif Challenge

The Monthly Motif Challenge is hosted by Bookmark to Blog.  

For this challenge, each month is assigned a certain motif or theme. Your task is to read one book per month that fits in with the motif for that particular month.
  
This challenge is just for fun so please don't worry if you have to skip a month or if you have to read your books out of order! If you don't have anywhere to link your reviews- don't worry about it. Just come back and comment telling us what you read and if you liked it! Just have fun with it! 

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. 

Feb- Award Winner
Read a book that has won recognition or a literary award.  Here's a list of literary awards to help you get started on your search: Literary Awards.
The One and Only Ivan - Newbery Award

Mar-  Fairy tales or Fairy Creatures

Read a fairy tale retelling or a book with fey/fairies in it.

Apr- Short & Sweet

Read a collection of short stories or anthologies.

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. 

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.

July- Assassins, Warriors, & Rebels

Read a book in which the main character is one of these things or fights against one of these things.  

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. 

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. 

Have fun!!! (For an extra challenge, try pairing this with the Monthly Key Word Reading Challenge.)