Pages Read Challenge 2015

Whew, it has been a while since I hosted the Pages Read Challenge, but Book Dragon asked if I was hosting it again for 2015 and here we go! It is a fun challenge and I had a lot of fun with this in the past. This challenge was one of the easier ones, in my opinion, as all you had to do was count pages and the rules are not all that difficult.

Now, speaking of rules, here we go:

1) Pick a number of pages you'll be attempting to read in 2015. It doesn't matter whether your goal is 10,000 or 100,000. You can always up your number as we go along, so you don't need to go all up high with your page count.

2) Write a blog post about it in which you will keep track of your page count or come back here and comment with updates when you feel like it.

3) Comment here with your goal number and a link to your blog post (if you have a blog - otherwise, just leave a comment with your name and the goal number). I'll then add you to the list of participants below.

4) The challenge starts January 1, 2015 and ends December 31, 2015. Only pages read after the new year has begun count in for the challenge, but any and every page you read counts for this challenge. I don't care about re-reads, overlaps with other challenges, or e-books! Just count the pages you read, no matter what type of book you're reading :-) See, it's a really easy challenge!

5) As usual: Have fun!

Michelle @ True Book Addict had originally created a wonderful button for the challenge:



Thanks a lot once again, Michelle!

My personal goal will be 15,000 pages for the upcoming year. With a toddler and university, I think this will be challenging enough.

The Book Riot 2015 Read Harder Challenge

The team of Book Riot has created a challenge I cannot resist: the Book Riot 2015 Read Harder Challenge There are 24 themes that we can spread out over the year whichever way we please and I think most of the themes will be manageable for me. The one theme I may have a real problem with is the collection of poetry. I do not like poetry and I don't have any collections of poetry on my shelves. A particularly hard part for me will the number of books. Twentyfour books for this challenge alone - if I don't find books that fulfill two themes - might end up being the majority of my reads for 2015 if my reading is as slacking as this year's (I only read 32 books so far).

Apart from the occasional check in on the Book Riot website, the hashtag #ReadHarder will connect readers on Social Media websites.

The topics are:

A book written by someone when they were under the age of 25

A book written by someone when they were over the age of 65

A collection of short stories (either by one person or an anthology by many people)

A book published by an indie press

A book by or about someone that identifies as LGBTQ

A book by a person whose gender is different from your own

A book that takes place in Asia

A book by an author from Africa

A book that is by or about someone from an indigenous culture (Native Americans, Aboriginals, etc.)

A microhistory

A YA novel

A sci-fi novel

A romance novel

A National Book Award, Man Booker Prize or Pulitzer Prize winner from the last decade

A book that is a retelling of a classic story (fairytale, Shakespearian play, classic novel, etc.)

An audiobook

A collection of poetry

A book that someone else has recommended to you

A book that was originally published in another language

A graphic novel, a graphic memoir or a collection of comics of any kind (Hi, have you met Panels?)

A book that you would consider a guilty pleasure (Read, and then realize that good entertainment is nothing to feel guilty over)

A book published before 1850

A book published this year

A self-improvement book (can be traditionally or non-traditionally considered “self-improvement”)

[Challenge] Fall Into Reading 2012

Usually, I miss out on this one because I just keep forgetting to sign up *ahem*, but this year, I want to participate in Fall Into Reading hosted by Katrina at Callapidder Days. This fall challenge started on September 22 and ends December 21.

My book list looks like this:
1) Ilsa J. Bick: Ashes
2) Ilsa J. Bick: Shadows
3) Cassandra Rose Clark: The Assassin's Curse
4) Heather M. White: When Destiny Knocks
5) Nick Sagan: Edenborn
6) Ann Aguirre: Wanderlust
7) Alex Flinn: Beastly
8) Pittacus Lore: I Am Number Four
9) Richelle Mead: Spirit Bound
10) Jim Butcher: Storm Front

Pages Read Challenge Season 3

In 2009, I hosted the Pages Read Challenge for the first time. Now it is going into its third season. As I thought the interest might not be there for this challenge, I haven't put up a post for it until now. I figured I'd just do it for myself. But I was asked and here you go!

As always, the rules are easy:

1) Pick a number of pages you'll be attempting to read in 2010. It doesn't matter whether your goal is 10,000 or 100,000. You can always up your number as we go along, so you don't need to go all up high with your page count.

2) Write a blog post about it in which you will keep track of your page count.

3) Comment here with your goal number and a link to your blog post (if you have a blog - otherwise, just leave a comment with your name and the goal number). I'll then add you to the list of participants below.

4) The challenge starts January 1, 2010 and ends December 31, 2010. Only pages read after the new year has begun count in for the challenge, but any and every page you read counts for this challenge. I don't care about re-reads, overlaps with other challenges, audio books (use the publisher's page count) or e-books! Just count the pages you read, no matter what type of book you're reading :-) See, it's a really easy challenge!

5) As usual: Have fun!

The participants:
1) Kathrin (me) - 25,000
2)

Criminal Plots Reading Challenge 2011

So, the amazing Jen Forbus from Jen's Book Thoughts is hosting her first challenge in 2011: the Criminal Plots Reading Challenge and I just have to join in on that one, even though I had promised myself I wouldn't join too many reading challenges. So far, I'm up for 4 challenges, so I should be good to go.

Rules of the Road:

So, what's involved in this challenge you ask? It isn't too difficult. It involves reading six books throughout 2011 (January 1 through December 31, 2011).

One book should be read that fits into each of the following categories:

• A book by a new to you author who's blurbed a book you enjoyed. So check out the cover of a crime fiction book you've enjoyed and see who blurbed that book and is also an author you've never read before.
  

• A book that has been made into a movie. It doesn't have to be a movie you've seen but it can be. The book, however, should be one you haven't read before. (Examples: MYSTIC RIVER, L.A. CONFIDENTIAL, LONDON BOULEVARD, HOSTAGE, etc.)
  

• A book with a protagonist opposite your own gender. So if you're female, the protagonist should be male; if you're male the protagonist should be female.
  

• A book set outside the country in which you live.
  

• A book that's the first in a new-to-you series.
  

• A book by a 2011 debut author.

Other Important Details:

• You can read the books in any format you choose: print, audio, e-book, etc.
  

• You can read books from any sub-genre of crime fiction: hardboiled, P.I., police procedural, cozy, thriller, etc.
  

• You do not need to have a blog to participate.
  

• You can use the books for other challenges but one book cannot count for more than one category in THIS challenge.
  

• Books do not need to be pre-determined. You can choose them at any time throughout the year. And you can read them in whatever order you choose.
  

• At the conclusion, each participant that completes the challenge will be entered for a chance at one of three prize packs.

Now, I have not yet had a chance to create a list of possible books, but I hope to get around to it tomorrow.

2011 Debut Author Challenge

The wonderful Kristi from The Story Siren once again will host the Debut Author Challenge. Since I had a wonderful time discovering new YA authors in 2010, I will definitely join in.

If you want to join in yourself or just want more info, go to the sign-up page at Kristi's blog.

I have not yet made up my mind about what books I want to read, so I will leave my list open for now. But I will think about it more in the next couple days.

Japanese Literature Challenge III - my results

Well, it's about time for a post about my results for the Japanese Literature Challenge III!




Here is what I read:
1) Tachibana Higuchi: Alice Academy Vol. 4-7
2) Tomoko Hayakawa: Perfect Girl Vol. 6-9
3) Yuna Kagesaki: Cheeky Vampire Vol. 7 & 8
4) Mayu Sakai: Rockin' Heaven Vol. 2
5) Mayu Shinjo: Kaikan Phrase Vol. 5
6) Yasushi Inoue: Der Tod des Teemeisters (Memoirs of the Priest Honkaku)
7) Yoko Ogawa: The Housekeeper and the Professor -> review coming soon!

Series Challenge 4 - reviews and summaries

So, it's about time I wrote up a post to gather all the reviews and summaries.

The reviews so far:
1) Samantha: Once Bitten, Twice Shy by Jennifer Rardin

The summaries:

Erotica Challenge - wrap up

I have finished J. Kaye's Erotica Challenge.



Here are the books I read with the links to my reviews:
1) Jill Shalvis, Jacquie D'Alessandro & Jamie Sobrato: Heating Up The Holidays
2) Lori Wilde: Lethal Exposure
3) Jill Shalvis: Flashpoint
4) Jennifer LaBrecque: Yule Be Mine
5) Cara Summers: Come Toy With Me
6) Leslie Kelly: Slow Hands
7) Jill Shalvis: Flashback
8) Sarah Mayberry: She's Got It Bad
9) Jill Shalvis: Storm Front
10) Vicki Lewis Thompson, Jill Shalvis & Rhonda Nelson: Better Naughty Than Nice

the one with the 2010 challenges

I've decided to have only one post where I gather all the challenges I join in this time around. Last time around, I had so many challenge posts, I barely posted anything else in December and January... Maybe I can even figure out how to make in post links, so that I have a list of all the challenges by name only that links to the actual part of the post about said challenge. If you know how this works, let me know!

100+ Reading Challenge 2010
42 Challenge
Alphabet Reading Challenge
Banned or Challenged Books Challenge Perpetual
Book-A-Week Reading Challenge
Book Around The States Challenge Perpetual
Books About TV Challenge
Buy One Book And Read It 2010
Debut Author Challenge
Elizabeth Gaskell Mini-Challenge
George Eliot Mini-Challenge
Graphic Novels Challenge 2010
Hogwarts Reading Challenge
Jewish Literature Challenge
Leo Tolstoy Mini-Challenge
Lisa Jackson Challenge 2009/2010
Manga Challenge 2010
Pages Read Challenge Season 2
2010 Reading Resolutions Challenge
Read Your Name
RYOB Challenge 2010
Reading Through The Seasons 2010
Series Challenge Season 4
TBR Lite Reading Challenge 2010
Twenty Minute Book Club Challenge 2010
To Be Continued Challenge Perpetual
Vampire Series Challenge
18th and 19th Century Women Writers Challenge 2010
World Religion Challenge 2010



Elizabeth Gaskell Mini-Challenge
read and/or watch 2 works by Elizabeth Gaskell
January 1, 2009 - June 1, 2010

George Eliot Mini-Challenge
read 2 works by George Eliot, one movie may be substituted
January 1, 2009 - June 1, 2010

Leo Tolstoy Mini-Challenge
read 2 works by Leo Tolstoy
January 1, 2009 - August 31, 2010

Jewish Literature Challenge
read 3 books by Jewish authors or about Judaism
February 27, 2010 - September 10, 2010

Series Challenge Season 4
read 4+ books to finish up series
December 1, 2009 - November 30, 2010
1) Kathryn Lilley: A Killer Workout (#2 Fat City)
2) Nick Sagan: Edenborn (#2 Idlewild)
3) Nick Sagan: Everfree (#3 Idlewild)
4) Jill Shalvis: Instant Gratification (#2 Wilder Brothers)
5) Jill Shalvis: Instant Temptation (#3 Wilder Brothers)

Pages Read Challenge Season 2
pick a goal number of pages you want to read
January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010
25,000

RYOB Challenge 2010
read a certain number of your own books
January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010
my goal: 80 books

World Religion Challenge 2010
The Universalist Path - read something about the 5 world religions plus more books about any or all of the following religions: Shintoism, Animism, Taoism, Confucianism, Wicca, Mythology, Atheism, Occult, Tribal Religions, Voodoo, Unitarianism, Baha'i, Cults, Scientology, Mysticism, Rastafarianism, Jainism, Sikhism, Zorastrianism, Agnosticism, Gnosticism, Satanism, Manichaeism, Deism, Comparative Religion, Religious Philosophy, Jungiansim, Symbolism, Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, etc., etc. etc. (you may also read about another aspect of one of the 5 Biggies)
possible things to do: read (any form of the written word), movies, music, plays, attend services, perform a ritual etc.)
January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010

2010 Reading Resolution Challenge
create personal reading resolutions for 2010 and post about your progress every other month starting February 15
January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010
* I will read a broader variety of books, genre-wise in summer.
* I will limit my book-buying a bit in that I will only buy books that I intend to read within the two months after I bought them.
* I will be more precise with my university reading and not just skim it.

Reading Through the Seasons 2010
read four books, one for each season with the season in the title
January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010
1) Spring
2) Summer
3) Lisa Kleypas: It Happened One Autumn
4) Winter

42 Challenge
read/watch/listen to 42 sci-fi related items
January 1, 2010 - December 3, 2010

Alphabet Challenge 2010 (Yahoo Group)
read the alphabet either by author or by title
January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010


Book-A-Week Reading Challenge 2010 (Yahoo Group)
read a book a week in 2010, meaning 52 books total
January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010


100+ Reading Challenge 2010 (Yahoo Group)
read 100+ books in 2010
January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010


Twenty Minute Book Club Challenge 2010
read 13 books from the book club (with one substitute from 2009) - reading list here
December 29, 2009 - December 29, 2010


Read Your Name Challenge
read books to match your name
January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010


TBR Lite Challenge 2010
Option B: read 6 books off of Mt. TBR - list can be changed throughout the year
January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010
1) Lisa Kleypas: It Happened One Autumn
2) Kelley Armstrong: Bitten
3) Jim Butcher: Storm Front
4) Tzipi Caton: Miracle Ride
5) Suzanne Collins: The Hunger Games
6) MaryJanice Davidson: Undead and Unpopular

18th and 19th Century Women Writers Challenge 2010
read 2 books by women writers who lived in the 18th and 19th century
January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010
1)
2)

Vampire Series Challenge
Level 3: Vampire Enthusiast - read 6 books from any series featuring vampires
January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010

Graphic Novels Challenge 2010
Intermediate Level: read 3-10 graphic novels
January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010

Buy One Book And Read It 2010
Level 3, Book Blogger Option: buy 12 books I learned about on book blogs and read them before Dec 31
January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010

Manga Challenge 2010
read 6+ mangas and 3+ anime or anime series episodes
January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010

Debut Author Challenge
read 10 YA or MG novels from debut authors of 2010
January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010

Lisa Jackson Challenge 2009/2010
read as many Lisa Jackson books as you want
July 18, 2009 - December 31, 2010
1) Twice Kissed
2) Fatal Burn

Books About TV Challenge
read 2+ books about or based on a TV show
January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010

Hogwarts Reading Challenge
read books that fit the Hogwarts subjects
March 8, 2010 - December 13, 2010
For the record: I play for Gryffindor!




Get Sorted By The Hogwarts Sorting Hat!

Banned or Challenged Books Challenge"
read 50 banned or challenged books, keeping track here
PERPETUAL

Book Around The States Challenge
read 51 books set in the 50 states plus DC, keeping track here
PERPETUAL

To Be Continued Challenge
read series books
PERPETUAL

the one with the Pages Read Challenge Season 2

The end of the year is coming closer and closer and I really wonder where all the months went. Wasn't it May just yesterday??? What happened to summer and autumn?

But then, the end of the year also means that all those wonderful reading challenges pop up again and we have to figure out which ones we want to join in.

In 2009, I hosted the Pages Read Challenge for the first time and I will host it again in 2010, so post a comment to sign up!

The rules are easy:

1) Pick a number of pages you'll be attempting to read in 2010. It doesn't matter whether your goal is 10,000 or 100,000. You can always up your number as we go along, so you don't need to go all up high with your page count.

2) Write a blog post about it in which you will keep track of your page count.

3) Comment here with your goal number and a link to your blog post (if you have a blog - otherwise, just leave a comment with your name and the goal number). I'll then add you to the list of participants below.

4) The challenge starts January 1, 2010 and ends December 31, 2010. Only pages read after the new year has begun count in for the challenge, but any and every page you read counts for this challenge. I don't care about re-reads, overlaps with other challenges, or e-books! Just count the pages you read, no matter what type of book you're reading :-) See, it's a really easy challenge!

5) As usual: Have fun!

Michelle @ True Book Addict even created a great button for the challenge:



Thanks a lot, Michelle!

The participants:
1) Jennifer - 50,000
2) Kathrin - 25,000
3) AlleluiaLu - 20,000
4) Amanda - 40,000
5) Veronika - 15,000
6) Kris - 31,000
7) Kara - 30,000
8) Kirthi - 70,000
9) Kathrin - 25,000
10) Janet - 35,000
11) Aleksandra - 50,000
12) Veggiemomof2 - 30,000
13) Jaime - 40,000
14) Wendy - 20,000
15) Kelly - 10,000
16) Lindy - 100,000
17) Erin - 20,000
18) Becky - 100,000
19) lioness37 - 50,000
20) Jules - 50,000
21) Kris @ Bookheart - 23,000
22) Susan - 35,000
23) CCDPiper - 18,000
24) Gina - 80,000
25) Kelly - 30,000
26) Sandra - 40,000
27) SueFitz - 20,000
28) Michelle - 1,000,000
29) Michelle @ The True Book Addict - 30,000
30) Velma - 25,000
31) Kristin - 40,000
32) The Clumsy Reader - 1,000,000

the one with the Series Challenge Season 4

EDIT: As of now, you can leave links to reviews in the blog post for reviews and summaries! Thanks.

It's that time again! The end of the year is near and with this the 3rd Series Challenge is about to end. So let's see whether we can keep this going! (Oops, I almost missed the end of the challenge I host!)



The challenge starts December 1st, 2009 and goes until November 30th, 2010.

The rules are easy:

1) Pick a couple series you already started and now want to finish (meaning, you'll be all up to date with the series when it ends).

2) Read at least 4 books, more are also okay, of course!

3) Crossovers with other challenges are always okay.

4) Post your review of the books on your blog or in the comment section, no matter how long. If you post the review on your blog, please post a link to the review in the comment section so that everyone else can check out your review.

5) Have fun!

As I can only put up one Mr. Linky on my blog it would be nice if you left a link to your blog post in the comment section. I'll add you to the list of participants.

The Participants:
1) Jennifer
2) Kara
3) Grilsgood
4) Kirthi
5) kim in ohio
6) jlshall
7) Kathrin
8) Violette Severin
9) sausconys-books
10) Kris
11) Aleksandra
12) Beth F
13) Mark
14) Veggiemomof2
15) blondierocket
16) Rhinoa
17) Joanne
18) Dreadful Penny
19) emmegailsbookshelf
20) samantha1020

Pages Read Challenge - finished?

Here's a list of all the participants who finished the Pages Read Challenge.

1) Sherrie
2) Sandra
3) Kathrin

new books, bookmarks, and some other things

For some bizarre reason the vlog was set on private so no one could view it and it all was a bit messed up, so here it is again, this time around hopefully without any mistakes. I take this as proof that I shouldn't be posting after 10pm.

Finally it's online! My second vlog :-) While waiting for the file to upload at youtube, I did a couple things (other than reading).

I gave up on trying to read each and every read-a-thon post closely and instead skimmed them, mostly. Sorry, guys! I loved your posts, though, and got some reading recommendations off of your posts. I'm now down to 25 unread blog posts that I'm going to read tomorrow (plus all the other things posted until I'm back on).

I also played Farmville on FB. It's a highly addictive game, I think, but ever since I got to the next level earlier today, I have to say I'm a bit - shocked... I now have to gather ten freaking thousand XP to get to the next level!!!



I can't believe I look so tired, but maybe I should have taken a break from reading earlier today.

I'd be glad if someone could explain to me whether there are certain rules for the use of "pretty", "gorgeous", "cute", "sweet" and the likes. So far I use the first one that comes to mind, but there must be some rule, no?

Here are the books mentioned in the vlog:

P.C. & Kristin Cast: MARKED (ISBN: 978-0-312-36026-9)
P.C. & Kristin Cast: BETRAYED (ISBN: 978-0-312-36028-3)
P.C. & Kristin Cast: CHOSEN (ISBN: 978-0-312-36030-6)
P.C. & Kristin Cast: UNTAMED (ISBN: 978-0-312-37983-4)
Josh Bazell: BEAT THE REEPER (ISBN: 978-0-316-03222-3)
Martin Millar: LONELY WEREWOLF GIRL (ISN: 978-0-955-49840-4 -> I really, really don't like the cover, so if you can, wait for the March 2010 release with ISBN: 978-0-749-94283-0, which fits the description of Kalix a lot better!)

Countdown 2010 Challenge

Unfortunately, I didn't finish the Countdown 2009 Challenge. I was 7 books short *sigh* But nevertheless, I'm going to try to complete the Countdown 2010 Challenge 3m is hosting again this time around.



The challenge started September 9, 2009 and will end October 10, 2010. The goal is to read:
1 book from 2001
2 books from 2002
3 books from 2003
4 books from 2004
5 books from 2005
6 books from 2006
7 books from 2007
8 books from 2008
9 books from 2009
10 books from 2010

I already set aside a pretty big bunch of books for this challenge. I think I have maybe 15 slots open ;-)

I will update this post with the books I read:

2009
Jill Shalvis - Storm Front

Lisa Jackson Reading Challenge 2009/2010

Since I didn't do well with the Lisa Jackson Read-A-Fest J. Kaye hosted earlier this year, I will try to read the books I had set aside for this challenge.

I will definitely read Twice Kissed and Fatal Burn. Everything else depends on what I can find in my favorite independent book shop.

Fall Into Reading 2009

It's that time of the year again...
Katrina from Callapidder Days is hosting the Fall Into Reading Challenge again - and of course I'm in!

The challenge will start September 22, 2009 and end December 20, 2009.

I have not yet made up my mind about a list of books, but I'll try to read 20 books during that time.

Japanese Literature Challenge III

I'm finally getting around to posting about this challenge. Of course I'm taking part in Dolce Bellezza's Japanese Literature Challenge III! I haven't been able to join this one for the first two challenges, but I have some books on Mt. TBR that would fit right in with this challenge.



The challenge starts July 30, 2009 and ends January 30, 2010.

My possible reads are:

1) Haruki Murakami: A Wild Sheep Chase
2) Yasushi Inoue: Der Tod des Teemeisters (couldn't find the English title)
3) Natsuo Kirino: Real World
4) Hitori Nakano: Train Man

Since I have already read tons of mangas this year I won't add any of those to my official list, but if I do read one I'll add it in an additional list.

Sookie Stackhouse Reading Challenge

Well, we all know that I love reading challenges, right? So I heard a lot about Charlaine Harris' Sookie Stackhouse series, but I never managed to read any of them. Isn't Beth from Beth Fish Reads's challenge a wonderful chance to change that?

The Rules:

1. Between July 1, 2009, and June 30, 2010, catch up on Charlaine Harris's Southern Vampire series. No matter if you're starting with book 1 or book 8, you have a year to read all about Sookie. Read Sookie in print, listen to the audio, read an eBook -- format is not an issue.

2. Sign up using Mr. Linky. Put your name in the top box. For the bottom box, please use the URL that links specifically to your blog post about this challenge, not to your blog's home page.

3. After July 4, I'll create a post with another Mr. Linky where you can link your reviews so everyone can read them track your progress.

4. If you don't have a blog and want to join in, sign up in the comments here. Later, let us know about your progress by leaving comments on the review link page.

The Books:

Dead Until Dark
Living Dead in Dallas
Club Dead
Dead to the World
Dead as a Doornail
Definitely Dead
All Together Dead
From Dead to Worse
Dead and Gone

I'll link the book titles to the reviews as I go along!

Summer Lovin' Challenge

Jules created this wonderful challenge, which is just perfect for this summer. So of course I'm joining in :-)
Another reason is the name, Summer Lovin'. I'm an absolute Grease fan (ever since we sang the songs with our school choir in about 1996), and Summer Lovin' is one of the songs I can always sing, even without the music.

The timeline is June 21, 2009 through September 21, 2009!

So, here's my list:
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)