What to Expect in 2014

What to Expect from Loving the Language of Literacy in 2014

This is a very exciting post for me to write because it's like an outline for all of my plans during this year. 

In my first month of blogging, I wanted to sign up for every single readathon, every single weekly meme, and every blog tour I had the knowledge of, my thinking being "the more the merrier", but what I realized is that some of particular projects I had taken on although not much work was needed, it was still tedious, not very much fun to do, and stressful to get the posts up in time. I'm not saying that weekly memes aren't fun, or that readathons are bad, or that blog tours don't serve their purpose. What I'm saying is that personally, I bit off more than I could chew on some of them, which created the stress of the need to post things. I started this blog for book reviewing, so I could share my opinion, period. So I'm going to go back to my so called "roots" of why I started blogging and have a lot more review-oriented posts. At the beginning of formulating my ideas for this, I thought it was going to look very similar my "Readiculous Reads End of the Year Celebration: Bookish Resolutions" because I changed courses in my mind for my plans for this year.

Quick intro, all of the pending names are in quotation marks alongside with the name I will use if the names I come up with are bad. I honestly am very bad at naming things, so if the review format names aren't to your liking, feel 100% free to leave a suggestion in the comments, I want reader feedback so I can better improve Loving the Language of Literacy.

I want my review schedule to look a little something like this, five out of seven days a week from yours truly. 

Sunday: 

Monday: Regular Book Review "Literacy Lover"- My regular 13 category review listed as #1 on my review format list. 

Tuesday: Top 10 Tuesday- The weekly meme hosted by the Broke and Bookish where they list a topic/category and I list my top 10 of that.

Wednesday:

Thursday: Discussion Thursday- The weekly meme hosted by Jayne @ Fiction_TheNew Reality where I talk about whatever topic she tells me to write about. 

Friday: "Riday's Random Review" - More information down below. Feature and Follow Friday- The weekly meme hosted by Parajunkees Reviews, and Alison Can Read

Saturday: Spontaneous Saturday- More information down below

I will be featuring six different kinds of reviews on this blog The names of the reviews are pending, any suggestions welcome because I have the inability to come up with creative names, because honestly I came up with Loving the Language of Literacy, which is way to long, but that's what I get for coming up with it myself. 

#1 Literacy Lover: The regular review will feature the 13 possible categories, Plot, Characters, Romance Cover, Title, Writing Style, Feels, Pacing, Ending, Quotes Continuation, Conclusion are covered in the review, and they tend to be the longest, most detailed ones, covering every aspect of the book. 

#2 Loving the Language: The express review is similar to my older format when I was just blogging on Goodreads. It actually isn't very express, but simply states all of my opinions about the book, without the 13 categories, for example I might choose to focus solely on the plot, or the characters, instead of covering everything else.

#3 Sia's Synonymous: The comparison review is where I will be comparing two books and/or series that have something in common whether it's the plot, setting, characters, or particular aspect between them. 

#4 Language of Love: The un-edited, or feels review is when I sit down right after I finish the book for a solid period of time, non-stop writing down my opinions, until I can't write anymore. This will be somewhat like an author's challenge where they force themselves to write for an hour without interruption. It could be a rant, it could be expressing all the feels, or anything like that, and the reason it's called un-edited is because that's what it will be, un-edited without any grammar check, all raw emotions. This is my personal favorite review because I hate spellchecking, and editing, so a lot less work for me.

#5 Literacy Locomotive: The review blast is when I will be reviewing more than one book in a single post, and those are what actually should be called express posts, because only the basics of the books are covered. The basic information in these will state whether or not I liked the book. 

#6 Lover of Lofty Literacy: The series overviews are basically express reviews for each book in the series, my overall opinions of the series, and which book I think was best in the series. 

Riday's Random Review: 
Friday was the only day of the week with the letter 'R' except for Saturday, and "Rday's Random Review" didn't have the same ring to it. This review will be exactly what it says, a review with a randomly chosen format from #1-6. Most commonly, if I'm doing a blog tour, my requested stop will be on Friday, so that's what you should expect.

I came up with the idea of the "Saturday Surprise" totally out of the blue, because I wanted a day to have an "unconventional" post, and the best part about it is that nobody is going to know what it is, even myself. Everything is up for grabs, even weekly memes that I've already done, and repeated posts. 

Spontaneous Saturday is going to be a post every Saturday that is spontaneous (mind=blown). Basically what I mean is that a Spontaneous Saturday post could be about just about anything, and you as my readers, will have no idea what it will be about. The funny thing is neither will I know anything about what the post is going to be until I write it.

Possible Spontaneous Saturday Posts:

-Another random review, because really this is written by Sofia Li, a girl that cannot have enough of telling other people her opinion. 

-A good old-fashioned game of "Guess the Cover"

-Another Discussion post

-An Author or Blogger Spotlight, either my interviewing of one, or plain gushing about how amazeballs they are. 

-A post about my experience at the latest Book Signing I've gone to. 

-An "All About Me" post where I tell you a more about myself similar to "Life of a Blogger" posts.

-A playlist for a certain book

-A monthly recap

-A song for every book read in one month/week 

-One of my personal favorites are Character Spotlights where I basically give all the information I can about them, and what I like, their both good and bad qualities, and all that fun jazz. 

-Maybe even a giveaway

Readathons/Challenges:

All challenges I will participate in 2014 are listed here.

I have resolved to only do readathons when I have time to, or have the time to schedule each post because I realized that I am under too much pressure at school to worry about a separate individual post every day for that time. The reason for this decision is because I had done the "End of Ye"

Stacking the Shelves: 
I will be doing Stacking the Shelves as a bi-weekly event or whenever I go to the library to tell you what new books I have gotten.

Blog Tours: 

I personally love blog tours because I seriously get to read books I'm interested in, and sometimes aren't even released yet, for free in exchange for reviewing it. All of the blog tours I will participate in will be listed in the sidebar and "Blog Features" 

*Remember to tell me name suggestions

*In my first month of blogging, I've only posted three out of the planned six review types, so when I later in this month have links to these, tell me which is your favorite.
*If anybody wants to leave me ideas for a blog button/badge thing, please do because I am in the brain-storming process

*Leave in the comments below your thoughts, opinions, or any suggestions to make aspects of the blog better :)

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 

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

End of Year Read-a-Thon 12/21/13

End of Year Read-a-Thon 12/21/13 Most Anticipate 2014 Releases

Dec 21 Most Anticipated 2014 Releases--post links
Hosted by Alex @ BookChick

January 7- Enders (Starters #2): Lissa Price. I loved "Starters" in 2012, and hope the sequel is just as good.

January 7-The Impossible Knife of Memory: Laurie Halse Anderson. It's Laurie Halse Anderson, anything will be a masterpiece.

February 4- Cress (Lunar Chronicles #3): Marissa Meyer. I think a majority of the YA blogging community wants the third book in the Lunar Chronicles.

March 11- Ruins (Partials Sequence #3): Dan Wells. I admit I haven't read the sequel to "Partials" yet, but I hope it will be as good.

April 29- The Taking (The Taking #1): Kimberly Derting. It's Kimberly Derting and the prospect of more spicy romance and paranormal occurences. Duh I want to read this.

May 6- The One (The Selection #3): Kiera Cass. I haven't read "The Elites" yet, but I'm crossing my fingers it will be as good as "The Selection"

May 13- Rebel (Reboot #2): Amy Tintera. My feelings were a bit iffy about Reboot, but the concept was so cool. I really want to see what Tentera can do.

May 31- The Guardian (Proxy #2): Alex London. I was freaking in love with "Proxy" and want to hear more about Syd.

Summer- Untitled (Unwind #4): Neal Shusterman. No cover yet. I really want to hear the conclusion to his fascinating quartet.
Fall- The Young Elites (The Young Elites #1): Marie Lu. No cover yet. I need to read more Marie Lu.