Favorite Reading Challenges

I don't know why, but these are some of my favorite challenges.  I think it is probably because I like following lists, and these kind of feed into that. . .  

Monthly Key Word Challenge is hosted by Bookmark to Blog.  The challenge is to read one book each month whose title includes one or more of the key words (or variation of the key word) for that month. 

• January
• February
• March
• April
• May
• June
• July
• August
• September
• October
• November
• December

The Colorful Reading Challenge is hosted by Lost in Books.  The challenge is to read 9 books with a color in their title.  To see other rules and sign up - visit Lost in Books.

1. x
2. x
3. x
4. x
5. x
6. x
7. x
8. x
9. x

The Color Coded Reading Challenge is hosted by My Reader's Block.  The challenge runs all year and you must read a book from each of the nine categories:

1. Blue (Turquoise, Aquamarine, Navy, etc.)
2. Red (Scarlet, Crimson, Burgandy, etc.)
3. Yellow (Gold, Lemon, Maize, etc.)
4. Green (Emerald, Lime, Jade, etc.)
5. Brown (Tan, Chocolate, Beige, etc.)
6. Black (Jet, Ebony, Charcoal, etc.)
7. White (Ivory, Eggshell, Cream, etc.)
8. Any other color (Purple, Orange, Silver, Pink, Magenta, etc.)
9. A word that implies color (Rainbow, Polka-dot, Plaid, Paisley, Stripe, etc)

What's in a Name 6 Challenge is hosted by Beth Fish Reads. Between Jan 1 - Dec 31, 2013, read one book with each of the following words/category in the title.

1. A book with up or down (or equivalent) in the title.
2. A book with something you'd find in your kitchen in the title.
3. A book with a party or celebration in the title
4. A book with fire (or equivalent) in the title. -
5. A book with an emotion in the title. -  Proof of Guilt - Charles Todd
6. A book with lost or found (or equivalent) in the title. 

What an Animal Reading Challenge is hosted by Socrates Book Reviews.  The challenge runs from Jan 1 - Dec 31, 2013.  The challenge is to read 6 books with one of the following:

1. An Animal in the title
2. An Animal on the cover
3. An Animal plays a major role
4. A main character is (or turns into) an animal

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

Visit Socrates Book Reviews to see the other rules and to sign up. 

1. x
2. x
3. x
4. x
5. x
6. x

A to Z Reading Challenge is being hosted by Escape with Dollycas.  It runs all year and the challenge is to read 26 books, one starting with each letter of the alphabet.  To see any other rules and to sign up, please visit Escape with Dollycas.

• A - Amanda's Story by Brian O'Grady
• B
• C
• D
• E
• F - Five Years to Live by Frank Zaccari
• G
• H
• I - Into the Dark by Stacy Green
• J
• K - Kissing Kendall by Jennifer Shirk
• L
• M - Melting the Millionaire's Heart by Linda Morris
• N
• O
• P - Proof of Guilt by Charles Todd
• Q - Questions of Life by Nicky Gumbel
• R
• S
• T
• U
• V
• W
• X
• Y
• Z

The A to Z Book Challenge is being hosted by Babies, Books and Beyond.  I am going to do both of these challenges, but am not going to duplicate the books - there will be a different set of books for each A-Z (I might cheat on letters like X and Z, but we will see.)  To see all the rules and sign up, please visit Babies, Books, and Beyond. 

• A
• B
• C
• D
• E
• F
• G
• H
• I
• J
• K
• L
• M
• N
• O
• P
• Q
• R
• S
• T
• U
• V
• W
• X
• Y
• Z

The Book to Movie Challenge is being hosted by Doing Dewey and will run until Dec 2013.  I am going to go for the Movie Devotee, which is to read 6 books and then watch the movies and review.  To see other levels and to sign up, please visit Doing Dewey. 

1. x
2. x
3. x
4. x
5. x
6. x

Specific Genres/Book Reading Challenges - 2013

My next set of challenges are all based on a books genre. Here they are in no particular order:

Cruisin' thru the Cozies Reading Challenge 2013 is being hosted by Socrates Book Review Blog. You guessed it - this challenge is all about reading cozy mysteries (which is better described at Cozy-Mystery.com ) The challenge runs from Jan 1 - Dec 31, 2013 and you can find out all the rules when you sign up at Socrates Book Review Blog.  I am going to sign up for the Snoop Level - which is to read at least 6 books.

1. x
2. x
3. x
4. x
5. x
6. x

The 2013 Romantic Suspense Reading Challenge is being hosted by The Book Vixen.  It runs from Jan 1 - Dec 31, 2013. The goal is to read 13 books in 2013.  You can find out all the details when you sign up at The Book Vixen! 

1. Into the Dark - Stacy Green
2. x
3. x
4. x
5. x
6. x
7. x
8. x
9. x
10. x
11. x
12. x
13. x

The 2013 Comtemporary Romance Reading Challenge is also being hosted by The Book Vixen.  This challenge runs from Jan 1 - Dec 31, 2013 and the goal is to read 10 contemporary romances in 2013.  It does have some exclusions as to what a Contemporary Romance is, so be sure to check out all the rules when you sign up at The Book Vixen!

1. Kissing Kendall - Jennifer Shirk
2. x
3. x
4. x
5. x
6. x
7. x
8. x
9. x
10. x

The Romance Reading Challenge is being hosted by ...the bookworm....   It runs from Jan 1 - Dec 31, 2013 and encompasses any category of romance.  You have to read at least 5 romance books during the year.  You can see all the rules and giveaways when you sign up at ...the bookworm...  .

1. x
2. x
3. x
4. x
5. x

The 2013 Paranormal Reading Challenge is being hosted by Megan Likes Books and Auntie Spinelli Reads. It runs from Jan 1 - Dec 31, 2013. The goal is to read at least one book featuring each of the following paranormal creatures:
Vampires
Werewolves/Shifters
Fey
Angels/Nephilim
Mermaids
Dragons
Zombies
Demons
Witches/Wizards
Ghosts
Aliens
Other (ie: sirens, unicorns, centaurs, timetravel, etc)

Each month, one of the creatures on the list will be featured at Megan Likes Books and Auntie Spinelli Reads.  You do not have to read that creature that month, but you get an extra entry in a giveaway if you do!  The months/creatures are as follows:

• January - Vampires
• February - Angels/Nephilim
• March - Fey
• April - Demons
• May - Aliens
• June - Zombies
• July - Witches and Wizards
• August - Mermaids
• September - Dragons
• October - Ghosts
• November - Werewolves/Shape-shifters
• December - Other

The 2013 Historical Fiction Reading Challenge is being hosted by Historical Tapestry.  It runs from Jan 1 - Dec 31, 2013.  I am signing up for the 20th Century Reader which is to read 2 books.  You can find out all the details when you sign up at Historical Tapestry. 

1. x
2. x

The 2013 Witches and Witchcraft Reading Challenge is being hosted by Melissa's Eclectic Bookshelf.  The challenge runs from Jan 1 - Dec 31, 2013.  I am signing up for the Initiate Level, which is to read 1 - 5 witchy books.  You can read the rest of the details and see lots of good choices to get you started when you sign up at Melissa's Eclectic Bookshelf. 

1. x
2. x
3. x
4. x
5. x

The 2013 Witch's Reading Challenge is being hosted by The Domestic Witch.  It runs from Jan 1 - Dec 31, 2013.  I am going to sign up for the Novice Read - which is 1-5 books.  You can see all the rules when you sign up at The Domestic Witch!

1. x
2. x
3. x
4. x
5. x

The 2013 Mystery/Crime reading Challenge is being hosted by Amy at The Crafty Book Nerd.  It runs from Jan 1 - Dec 31, 2013.  I am signing up for the Detective Level which is to read 5 books.  Read about all the details when you sign up at The Crafty Book Nerd.

1. Proof of Guilt - Charles Todd
2. Into the Dark - Stacy Green
3. x
4. x
5. x

The 2013 Classics Catch-up Challenge is being hosted by Jessica at Quirky Bookworm.  It runs from Jan 1 - Dec 31, 2013.  She is going to read a new classic every two months, with a possible re-read each two months as well.  You do not have to sign up to read all the books she is reading, but I am going to shoot for the Sophomore level - which is to read 5 - 8 books.  You can see the rest of the rules when you sign up at Quirky Bookworm. The books being read are:

January-February

  Anna Karenina

  Wuthering Heights 

March- April

  Macbeth

  Hamlet

  Othello

 

May-June

  Madame Bovary

  Catch-22 

July-August

  Of Mice and Men

  Robinson Crusoe 

 

September-October

  Don Quixote

  My Antonia

November-December 

  Animal Farm

  A Tale of Two Cities 

I've Always Meant to Read That Book Challenge is hosted by Books and Movies.  The challenge is to read and review a certain book along with her every month.  The books are listed below.  To see any other rules and sign up - visit Books and Movies.

• January - My Antonia by Willa Cather - review Jan 31
• February - Bleak House by Charles Dickens - review Feb 28
• March - As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner - review Mar 31
• April - The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck - review Apr 30
• May - Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner - review May 31
• June - A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith - review Jun 30
• July - Middlemarch by George Eliot - review Jul 31
• August - The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett - review Aug 31
• September - Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons - review Sept 30
• October - The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins - review Oct 31
• November - 1984 by George Orwell - review Nov 31
• December - The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro - review Dec 27

The 2013 Back to the Classics Challenge is being hosted by Sarah Reads Too Much.  It runs from Jan 1 - Dec 31, 2013.  The required categories and optional categories are listed below.  You can see the rest of the rules when you sign up at Sarah Reads Too Much.

THE CATEGORIES:

The Required Categories:

1. A 19th Century Classic
2. A 20th Century Classic
3. A Pre-18th or 18th Century Classic
4. A Classic that relates to the African-American Experience - This can be an African-American author, or a book relating to slavery, civil rights, or African-American culture.
5. A Classic Adventure
6. A Classic that prominently features an Animal - This can feature animal characters or animals in the title (real or imagined)

Optional Categories:

    A.  Re-read a Classic

   B.  A Russian Classic

   C.  A Classic Non-Fiction title

   D.  A Classic Children's/Young Adult title

   E.  Classic Short Stories - collection must include at least 3 short stories by the same author, or at 

                                              least 3 stories collected together by genre, time period, etc.

The 2013 Pre-1960 Classic Children's Books Reading Challenge is being hosted by Turning the Pages.  It runs from Jan 1 - Dec 31, 2013.  Main rules are that all books must have an original publication date of 1960 or before, be at least 60 pages- and of course, be a children's book.  I am hoping to be able to start sharing some of my favorites with my son!  To see all the rules and giveaways, sign up at Turning the Pages!

1. x
2. x
3. x
4. x
5. x
6. x
7. x
8. x
9. x
10. x

Location Reading Challenges - 2013

All of these challenges revolve around the location of the book.

The 50 States Challenge is being hosted at Book Obsessed. It runs from Jan 1 - Dec 31, 2013.  The goal is to read 1 book from each of the 50 states.  You can read the rest of the rules when you sign up at Book Obsessed.  

Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana - Melting the Millionaire's Heart by Linda Morris
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada - Into the Dark by Stacy Green
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York - Five Years to Live by Frank Zaccari
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming

The Where Are You Reading Challenge is being hosted by Book Journey.  The challenge here is to create a google map and cover all 50 states by the end of the year.  You can also map reads outside of the United States for bonus points.  To learn how to create a map and read all the rules - visit Book Journey to sign up!  You can find my google map here. 

You can see the states above that I have covered, so I am not going to list them here again - this will just be for places outside the U.S.

1. ENGLAND - Proof of Guilt by Charles Todd

7 Continents, 7 Billion People, 7 Books - Reading challenge is hosted by life as a journey. The challenge: to select and read seven books, each belonging to one of the following categories:

• The 7 countries with the most population - Five Years to Live - Frank Zaccari
• Top 7: China, India, USA, Indonesia, Brazil, Pakistan, Nigeria
• The 7 highest countries in the world
• Top 7: Nepal, China, Pakistan, India, Bhutan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan
• The 7 oldest countries in the world
• Some of the oldest countries: Japan, China, San Marino, Egypt 
• The 7 megacities of the world
• Top 7: Tokyo, Guangzhou, Jakarta, Seoul, Shanghai, Mexico City, Delhi
• The 7 countries with the most immigrants
• Top 7: USA, Russia, Germany, Ukraine, France, Saudi Arabia, Canada 
• The 7 richest (or poorest) countries
• Rank 1-7: Luxembourg, Qatar, Macau, Norway, Singapore, Brunei, Hong Kong
• Rank 173-180: Congo, Liberia, Eritrea, Burundi, Niger, Central African Republic, Sierra Leone
• The 7 rainiest (or driest) countries
• The rainy top 7: Guinea, Solomon Islands, Sierra Leone, Gabon, Burma, Malaysia, Guyana
• The dry top 7: Peru, Bahrain, Qatar, United Arab Erimates, Kuwait, Syria, Djibouti

For more information and links, please visit the sign up post at life as a journey. 

Ireland Reading Challenge is being hosted by Books and Movies.  The challenge is to read books set in Ireland, about Ireland, about Irish traditions or characters or written by an Irish author.   I am signing up for the Shamrock level which is to read 4 books.  For other rules and to sign up, please visit Books and Movies.

1. x
2. x
3. x
4. x