2014 TBR Pile Challenge Sign-up Post

2014 TBR Pile Challenge Sign-up Post
When I first heard about this challenge, I thought, "Ok....So 10 books from my TBR pile. That doesn't sound too hard." Then I read the catch. The books have to have been on my TBR for more than a year.

http://roofbeamreader.com/2013/11/27/announcing-the-2014-tbr-pile-challenge/

I have no problems with reading regular fiction, whether contemporary, or dystopian, or even historical ficiton. So my personal goal with this challenge is to tackle the classics, otherwise known as those required reading books in Highschool that nobody wanted to read (not all of the books are like that and some of them I'm actually dying to read). There's also a few books thrown in there that there's been lots of hype about. What I also did was make a Goodreads shelf, so I can keep track.

1. Little Women: Louisa May Alcott- 1868
2. Anne of Green Gables: L. M. Montgomery- 1908
3. The Secret Garden: Frances Hodgson Burnett- 1911
4. The Book Theif: Markus Zusak- 2006
5. Life of Pi: Yann Martel- 2001
6. The Diary of a Young Girl: Anne Frank- 1947
7. Catherine, Called Birdy: Karen Cushman- 1994
8. The Midwife's Apprentice: Karen Cushman- 1995
9. To Kill a Mockingbird: Harper Lee- 1960
10. Timeline: Michael Crichton- 1999
11. Brave New World: Aldous Huxley- 1932
12. 1984: George Orwell- 1948

Alternates:
1. Les Miserables: Victor Hugo- 1862
2. The Hiding Place: Corrie ten Boom- 1970

The Goal: To finally read 12 books from your “to be read” pile (within 12 months).

Specifics:

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 1/1/2013 or later (any book published in the year 2012 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 below – link to your list (so create it ahead of time!) and add updated links to each book’s review. Books must be read 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 complete and final list must be posted by January 15th, 2014.

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 2014 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 before 2013!

*Note – You can read the books on your list in any order; they do not need to be read in the order you have them listed. As you complete a book – review it, and go back to your original list and turn that title into a link to the review - that will keep the comments section here from getting ridiculously cluttered. For an example of what I mean, Click Here.

Monthly Check-Ins: On the 15th of each month, I’m going to post a “TBR Pile Check-In.” This will allow participants to link-up their reviews from the past month and get some recognition for their progress. There will also be small mini-challenges and giveaways to go along with these posts (Such As: Read 6 books by the June Check-in and be entered to win a book of your choice!). I’m hoping this will help to keep us all on track and make the challenge a bit more engaging/interactive. I started these mini-challenges last year, and I think they were a great success, so I am continuing them this year!

Chat: On Twitter, Instagram & Facebook, use #TBRChallengeRBR

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My 2014 TBR Pile Challenge List:

1. The Complete Poems by Walt Whitman (1892)

2014 Chunkster Challenge Sign-Up

2014 Chunkster Challenge Sign-Up

We all have/had them, either as a dreaded highschool mandatory reading list, or even if you just want to read the classics that are interminably long. They are Chunksters, an adult of YA, non-fiction, or fiction book that is 450 pages of more. There aren't any levels for this challenge, but my goal is to read 10 Chunksters.

Rules for this challenge:

• Audio books and e-books are now allowed. You want to listen to a chunkster on audio? Be my guest. 
• Essay, short story, and poetry collections are allowed but they have to be read in their entirety to count.
• Books may crossover with other challenges.
• Anyone can join.
• You don’t have to list your book ahead of time.
• Graphic novels don’t count. Sorry guys but reading a chunkster graphic novel isn’t the same as reading a non-graphic chunkster

I’ve been thinking long and hard about the levels of participation that have always been a part of this challenge. This year we’re going to try something new: there won’t be any levels. 

Don’t get me wrong. This is still a reading challenge. Challenge yourself without being locked in to a certain number. If you didn’t read any chunksters in 2013 and want to change that in 2014, come up with a number and try to read that amount. 

I understand that chunksters can be a bit intimidating. My goal is to encourage as many people as possible to give chunksters a try. We all love short books because we can get through them in a sitting or a few days. It’s different with chunksters. With chunksters, you have to slow down and take your time. The Chunkster Challenge is all about having fun and reading good books. 

All I ask is that participants either write a post or leave a comment in the comments section letting the world know your goal. Mr. Linky is acting up so if you write a post, leave a link in the comment section.

2014 Standalone Reading Challenge Sign Ups

2014 Standalone Reading Challenge Sign Ups
I recently had a Discussion Thursday post called "Standalones Vs. Series" where I share my opinion on the matter. 

The Challenge

To read 15 Young Adult and Middle Grade standalone novels in 2014 released in the United States between January 1, 2014 and December 31, 2014.

Eligible Books

-YA/MG standalone novels. This means that the book can not have an announced (sometimes sequels happen unexpectedly) sequel, prequel, follow up, etc.
-Companion novels count towards the challenge as well. Companion novels take place in the same world as a novel but usually follows the life of a different character. It can be read independently from the book that came before it.
-Released between January 1 – Decemeber 31, 2014 in the United States. If a book was previously released in another country but is being releasing in the US for the first time, it is eligible. At the same time, if you live in a country where it was previously released, but it is being released in the states for the first time – lucky you – it counts.
-Must be read in 2014
-Can be read in any (legally) readable format: ARC, Paperback, Hardcover or e-book. Audio books do not count toward the challenge.

The List

For a list of eligible challenge titles to get you started towards your goal, please visit this Goodreads List (please note, the list is not comprehensive or final). You are more than welcome to vote for standalones you feel will fit the list.

Participation Perks

There will be a prize pack given away each month to a random participant. You gain entries into that month’s prize pack by linking up your challenge-eligible reviews. There will also be giveaways on the hosts’ blogs to go along with special posts with authors. And of course, there are random giveaways that we may throw in here and there!

Get Your VIP Pass

Sign up with a link to where you will be posting your English reviews.
This can be a blog, Goodreads profile (an SARC 2014 list would be better), Shelfari profile, Librarything profile, or Youtube channel.

2014 Love Library Books Reading Challenge Sign-Up

Love Library Books Reading Challenge Sign-Up

I have said it before in my "Stacking the Shelves" posts, and I'll say it again, I'm poor. I don't have the money to go out buying books the same way I pick daisies (which is a really weird comparison since I never pick daisies or buy books). Anyway, the point is that over the years my library has been my savior. They have the most amazing YA section, which I check books out of on a weekly basis. This challenge isn't even like a challenge for me because I would be doing the requirements anyway. My goal for this challenge is to reach to "Just Insert IV" level which means 50 or more books, which will definitely be a piece of cake because 145 of the books I hope to read in 2014 will be library ones.

The Requirements:

• choose a level - you may move up as needed, just not down.
• check books out of the library
• books may overlap with other challenges
• any format allowed (print, ebook, audio)
• reviews are not necessary but a list of books read is. (post with review linky is coming)
• a blog is not necessary, just comment that you want to join in.

The Levels:

• board book - 3
• picture book - 6
• early reader - 9
• chapter book - 12
• middle grades - 18
• Young adult - 24
• adult - 36
• just insert IV - 50 

Dystopia Reading Challenge 2014

Dystopia Reading Challenge 2014 

http://blogoferised.blogspot.nl/2013/12/dystopia-reading-challenge-2014.html

In the past few years since books like the Hunger Games, or even back in 1948 when 1984 came out, people have loved dystopia books. I hopped on the trend in 2011 when I discovered the Hunger Games and have been going ever since. 

My goal is to reach Level 4 The Leader which means 19+ dystopian books, something I'm sure will be easy as pie for myself.

 

Rules

> The challenge will run from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2014. Each month will have its own link form so you will be able to share your book reviews. You do not have to review the books you read to participate, but only those who read/reviewed at least one dystopian book will be able to participate in the giveaway (you can track your reading without the reviews with Goodreads, Shelfari etc.).

> Books that count in this challenge must include any form of post-apocalyptic theme (book sites like Goodreads are good sources of genre information). The books must be full-length.

> All formats allowed.

> Rereads allowed (but not the same book five times in a year!).

> It does not matter whether it's a series or a stand-alone book.

> If you are participating, grab the challenge button from below and post it on you blog. You can also make a post with the header (the code is also below). Please include the link back to this post so others will be able to participate as well.

> If you will participate, put the sign-up link to your blog post (about the challenge) or blog (for the button) directly into the linky below. Sign-ups will be open until December 15, 2014.

> You do not have to list your books in advance, go and do as you please. Read as many as you want and whenever you want, as long as you have fun!

> Info about the giveaway will be available in December 2014.
> Do not cheat with books of other themes/genres/topics because I do check!

Levels

Level 1: Recruit (1 to 6 books)

Level 2: Rebel (7 to 12 books)

Level 3: Revolutionist (13 to 18 books)

Level 4: Leader (19+ books)

Each time you reach a new level, you will receive a badge.

Seriously Series Sign-Up Post

Seriously Series Sign-Up Post

http://paranormalbookreviews-kelly.blogspot.com/2013/11/2014-reading-challenge-seriously-series.html

How many of us readers have not finished a series they started? I certainly am, so this challenge is perfect for me and you can get there will be a hec of a lot series overviews for this challenge

My Goals for this Challenge are:
Series started before 2014: Seriously Serious 7-12 series
Series started in 2014: Seriously Serious 7-12 series
A series reread: Semi-Serious 1-6 series

Definitions

For this challenge, a series is defined as a collection of two or more books that belong together and where the second book is published before the end of 2014. This is a pretty broad definition of series, and it includes traditional series like the Black Dagger Brotherhood series, less traditional series like Stephanie Perkins's YA contemps (Anna and the French Kiss, Lola and the Boy Next Door), and shorter series, like Kendare Blake's Anna series (Anna Dressed in Blood, Girl of Nightmares).

A series is considered complete in one of two ways: either as finishing all the books that you own in the series or as obtaining and reading all the books that have been published in the series to date. Because we don't want this challenge to become a financial burden, how you choose to define completion is left to your discretion.

How It Works

To allow for the greatest level of flexibility, we've separated series into three categories: series started before 2014, series started in 2014, and series rereads.

• Series started before 2014 are defined as series that you have started reading before Jan. 2014 and that you still have unread books to get current in (or finish) the series.
• Series started in 2014 are defined as any series that you start reading between Jan. and Dec. 2014, and the second book in the series must be published before December 2014.
• A series reread is defined as books that are part of a series that were read before Jan. 2014 and that are reread between Jan. 2014 and Dec. 2014. A series reread does NOT have to include the full series.

For each category, there are different levels of seriousness about series that you can choose. Semi-serious is reading 1 to 6 series, seriously serious is reading 7 to 12 series, super seriously serious is reading 13 to 18 series, and seriously spectacular series star is reading more than 18 series. What this ends up looking like is this:

	series started before 2014	series started in 2014	series rereads
Semi-Serious	1-6 series	1-6	1-6
Seriously Serious	7-12	7-12	7-12
Super Seriously Serious	13-18	13-18	13-18
Seriously Spectacular Series Star	18+	18+	18+

FYI, reading novellas and short stories from a series does count here -- if you want it to!

You choose which categories you want to attempt and which level to shoot for.

Goals and Progress

Want to sign up? Create a post or page about this challenge, what goals you would like to accomplish (mine is here, as an example--currently, it's my 2013 page, but it'll switch over to the 2014 challenge in January), and then link up your post here at Reading the Paranormal. In addition to the sign up, every three months, there will be a check-in, where you can report your progress and reassess your original goals. That schedule will look like the following:

• April 1st: January--March
• July 1st: April--June
• October 1st: July--September
• January 1st, 2015: October--December