A ~ Z Challenge

I think I am addicted to challenges!! Found another one that has intrigued me. It is hosted by Joy at Thoughts of Joy.



As you read during the year, you place the author's last name or the title of the book (exluding A, The, etc.) under the corresponding letter of the alphabet. One requirement is that all the books are different. There should be 56 books on your list (26 authors and 26 titles).

As I read from all my challenges, I will be placing the books in the correct category.

AUTHOR LIST

"A" ~

Amanda Ashley - Dead Perfect - Review

"B" ~

Helen Bianchin - The Spaniard's Baby Bargain - Review

"C" ~

Agatha Christie - Mysterious Affair at Styles - Review

"D" ~

Jude Deveraux - Someone to Love - Review

"E" ~

Anne Enright - The Gathering - Review

"F" ~

Christine Feehan - Dark Fire - Review

"G" ~

John Grisham - A Painted House - Review

"H" ~

Charlaine Harris - Grave Sight - Review

"I" ~

"J" ~

Iris Johansen - The Face of Deception - Review

"K" ~

Jayne Ann Krentz - White Lies - Review

"L" ~

Lora Leigh - Nauti Boy

"M" ~

Susan Mallery - Delicious - Review

"N" ~

"O" ~

"P" ~

James Patterson - Sam's Letters to Jennifer - Review

"Q" ~

"R" ~

J.K. Rowling - HP and the Sorcerer's Stone - Review

"S" ~

Diane Setterfield - The Thirteenth Tale - Review

"T" ~

"U" ~

"V" ~

"W" ~

Susan Wiggs - Lakeside Cottage - Review

"X" ~

"Y" ~

Michele Ann Young - The Lady Flees Her Lord - Review

"Z" ~

TITLE LIST

"A" ~

Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death - M.C. Beaton - Review

"B" ~

Blue Dahlia - Nora Roberts - Review

"C" ~

"C" is for Corpse - Sue Grafton - Review

"D" ~

Dracula - Bram Stoker - Review

"E" ~

"F" ~

Fool's Puzzle - Earlene Fowler - Review

"G" ~

The Greek Bridegroom - Helen Bianchin - Review

"H" ~

High Noon - Nora Roberts - Review

"I" ~

Irish Thoroughbred - Nora Roberts - Review

"J" ~

Jacob: The Nightwalkers - Jacquelyn Frank - Review

"K" ~

The Killing Dance - Laurell K. Hamilton - Review

"L" ~

Light of the Moon - Luanne Rice - Review

"M" ~

Midnight Bayou - Nora Roberts - Review

"N" ~

Never Change - Elizabeth Berg - Review

"O" ~

Only By Your Touch - Catherine Anderson - Review

"P" ~

"Q" ~

"R" ~

Rules of Prey - John Sandford - Review

"S" ~

The Smoke Thief - Shana Abe - Review

"T" ~

Twilight - Stephenie Meyer - Review

"U" ~

Under the Lake - Stuart Woods - Review

"V" ~

"W" ~

"X" ~

"Y" ~

"Z" ~

January 2008 Reading List

I have looked over all the challenges that I belong to and I think I have come up with a tentative reading list for January. I have my challenges on a spreadsheet and have tried to work out a schedule at least with the overlaps - although it will also depend on my mood. But, some books have to be read in a certain month, mainly the Celebrate the Authors books since we are celebrating their birthdays.

Here is what I hope to accomplish:

1. Under the Lake - Stuart Woods (Celebrate, TBR, A~Z) 01/15/08; Review
2. Jacob: The Nightwalkers - Jacquelyn Frank (1st in a Series) 01/12/08; Review
3. The Gathering - Anne Enright (Notable Books & Man Booker) 02/17/08; Review
4. Dracula - Bram Stoker (Decades; 888; Chunkster; A~Z) 02/12/08; Review
5. Midnight Bayou - Nora Roberts (TBR; 888; A~Z) 01/03/08; Review
6. Animal Dialogues - Craig Childs (888)
7. Dark Fire - Christine Feehan (888 & Alt. TBR) 01/25/08; Review
8. The Painted House - John Grisham (888 & Whitcoulls) 01/21/08; Review

I own all of these books except The Gathering which I have on order from the library. There is a waiting list so I am hoping it will come in on time for January.

I do reserve the right to change this list at anytime - LOL.

The Whitcoulls Challenge

Thanks to Maria, who helped me add a third column to my blog, I have discovered another challenge hosted by her. The challenge started in November so I am two months behind, but I am joining it anyway because of the book selection. A lot of the books on the Whitcoulls List are ones that I have being wanting to read for some time. There are also a couple of new authors (new to me) that I have wanted to read.

So here is my list - I know I probably won't make it through all twelve with the other challenges I am involved in - but some overlap and at least it will tempt me to read the books that have been waiting patiently on my TBR list.

1998 List:
1. To Kill a Mockingbird by Lee Harper
2. Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
3. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
4. Killing Floor by Lee Child

2002 List:
5. The Bone People by Keri Hulme
6. Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons
7. The Bridges of Madison County by Robert Waller
8. The Shell Seekers by Rosamunde Pilcher

2006 List:
9. Life of Pi by Yann Martel
10. A Painted House by John Grisham 01/21/08; Review
11. Tara Road by Maeve Binchy
12. The Golden Compass (Northern Lights) by Philip Pullman

Northern Lights is on the list, but in the U.S. it is called The Golden Compass.

TBR Challenge

Since I want to reduce the size of my TBR pile (yeah, right!!) I am joining the To Be Read Challenge.

The rules are that you pick 12 books that have been on your list 6 months or longer. Then read one each month in 2008. There is a stipulation that you not change books on your list after January 1, 2008 but you can create an alternate list (12) so that you have more of a selection to choose from.

I have chosen to do both lists (the original and the alternate) just in case a book doesn't appeal to me. But, they all have been on my TBR list more than 6 months.

Original List:

1. Dark Lover (J.R. Ward)
2. Mind Game (Christine Feehan)
3. Claiming the Highlander (Kinley MacGregor)
4. Prince Joe (Suzanne Brockmann)
5. The Defiant Hero (Suzanne Brockmann)
6. At First Sight (Nicholas Sparks)
7. River's End (Nora Roberts)
8. Love Bites (Delilah Devlin)
9. Message in a Bottle (Nicholas Sparks)
10. Midnight Bayou (Nora Roberts) 01/03/08; Review
11. Dark Watcher (Lilith Saintcrow)
12. Sorcerer's Stone (J.K. Rowling) 02/08/08; Review

Alternate List:

1. Dark Fire (Christine Feehan) 01/25/08; Review
2. Seize the Night (Sherrilyn Kenyon)
3. Dance Upon the Air (Nora Roberts) 4/28/08; Review
4. The Winter Lodge (Susan Wiggs)
5. Naked in Death (J.D. Robb)
6. Under the Lake (Stuart Woods) 01/15/08; Review
7. Carolina Moon (Nora Roberts)
8. One for the Money (Janet Evanovich)
9. Ghost Walk (Heather Graham)
10. Elizabeth's Wolf (Lora Leigh)
11. Outlander (Diana Gabaldon)
12. A Quick Bite (Lynsay Sands)

Wouldn't it be nice if I could complete both lists?! We'll see - LOL.

888 Challenge 2008

I am joining this challenge. The rules are that you have to read 8 different books in 8 different categories - your choice of categories. You are allowed 8 overlaps (mine are in blue) leaving you with 56 books for the year. It is being hosted by 3M's blog here.

Here are my categories and my tentative list of books. I am trying to coordinate all my challenges together. Although, I am trying not to duplicate too many.

Novella

1. A Whole New Light - Sandra Brown 6/16/08
2. Irish Thoroughbred - Nora Roberts 7/12/08; Review
3. Untamed - Nora Roberts 7/30/08; Review
4. Sam's Letters to Jennifer - James Patterson 7/21/08; Review
5. The Australian's Housekeeper Bride - Lindsay Armstrong 7/30/08; Review
6.
7.
8.

Romance

1. A Man to Call My Own - Johanna Lindsey 9/21/08; Review
2. Stardust of Yesterday - Lynn Kurland 9/26/08; Review
3. Line of Scrimmage - Marie Force 10/5/08; Review
4. The Healer - Sharon Sala 10/20/08; Review
5. Summer Light - Luanne Rice 10/27/08; Review
6. Only By Your Touch - Catherine Anderson 11/18/08; Review
7. Deep in the Heart - Sharon Sala 11/27/08; Review
8. My Lord's Desire - Margaret Moore 11/30/08; Review

Favorite Authors

1. The Rescue - Nicholas Sparks 07/28/08; Review
2. The Choice - Nicholas Sparks 05/08/08; Review
3. Talk Before Sleep - Elizabeth Berg 6/25/08; Review
4. A Painted House - John Grisham 01/21/08; Review
5. Never Change - Elizabeth Berg 04/13/08; Review
6. Lakeside Cottage - Susan Wiggs 02/10/08; Review
7. Grave Sight - Charlaine Harris 03/26/08; Review
8. Grand Passion - Jayne Ann Krentz 6/21/08; Review

Nora Roberts

1. Dance Upon the Air o4/28/08; Review
2. Carolina Moon
3. Midnight Bayou 01/03/08; Review
4. Blue Dahlia 06/16/08; Review
5. High Noon 02/19/08; Review
6. Jewels of the Sun 04/24/08; Review
7.
8.

1st in a Series

1. Agatha Raisin and Quiche of Death - M.C. Beaton 3/14/08; Review
2. Grave Sight - Charlaine Harris 3/26/08; Review
3. The Face of Deception - Iris Johansen 06/18/08; Review
4. Rules of Prey - John Sandford 7/8/08; Review
5. Taming the Highlander - Terri Brisbin 8/15/08; Review
6. Delicious - Susan Mallery 9/9/08; Review
7. H.P. and the Sorcerer's Stone - J.K. Rowling 2/8/08; Review
8. Call of the Highland Moon - Kendra Leigh Castle 11/25/08; Review

Series

1. Burnt Offering - Laurell K. Hamilton
2. Dead to the World - Charlaine Harris 6/6/08; Review
3. Aunt Dimity's Good Deed - Nancy Atherton 6/1/08; Review
4. Dark Fire - Christine Feehan 1/25/08; Review
5. Seize the Night - Sherrilyn Kenyon
6. "C" is for Corpse - Sue Grafton 4/7/08; Review
7. Night's Kiss - Amanda Ashley 11/06/08; Review
8. Nauti Boy - Lora Leigh 6/24/08

Paranormal

1. The Killing Dance - Laurell K. Hamilton 3/04/08; Review
2. Dracula - Bram Stoker 2/12/08; Review
3. The Dream Thief - Shana Abe 6/29/08; Review
4. Dark Fire - Christine Feehan 1/25/08; Review
5. The Smoke Thief - Shana Abe 4/15/08; Review
6. Twilight - Stephenie Meyer 4/9/08; Review
7. Jacob: The Nightwalkers - Jacquelyn Frank 1/12/08; Review
8. Dead Perfect - Amanda Ashley 3/12/08; Review

New to Me Authors

1. Dracula - Bram Stoker 2/12/08; Review
2. Blue-Eyed Devil - Lisa Kleypas 8/22/08; Review
3. Annie's Song - Catherine Anderson 9/1/08; Review
4. Highland Destiny - Hannah Howell 9/11/08; Review
5. Cutting Loose - Susan Andersen 9/19/08; Review
6. A Babe in Ghostland - Lisa Cach 10/7/08; Review
7. The Lady Flees Her Lord - Michele Ann Young 11/20/08; Review
8. Thirty Nights with a Highland Husband - Melissa Mayhue 12/7/08; Review

I will be reviewing these books on this blog. Updates soon.

DECADES 2008

Here is another challenge I am joining - Decades '08. The rules are pretty simple:

1. Read a minimum of 8 books in 8 consecutive decades in ‘08.
2. Books published in the 2000’s do not count.
3. Titles may be cross-posted with any other challenge.
4. You may change your list at any time.


Here is my tentative list:

1990's - The Face of Deception by Iris Johansen (1998) 06/18/08; Review
1980's - Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy (1986)
1970's - The Trumpet of the Swan by E.B. White (1970)
1960's - The Master of Blacktower by Barbara Michaels (1967) 04/18/08; Review
1950's - The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger (1951)
1940's - The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (1943)
1930's - Mary Poppins by P.L. Travers (1934)
1920's - The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie (1920) 02/26/08; Review

If I have time:

1910's - The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux (1910)
1900's - Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm by Kate Wiggin (1903)
1890's - Dracula by Bram Stoker (1897) 02/12/08; Review
1880's - Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson (1883)

Happy Reading,

Celebrate the Authors Challenge 2008

I've joined another challenge (amazing,huh?) and this one I am really going to enjoy. Becky is hosting this and it is a challenge to celebrate authors' birthdays. It is a twelve month challenge. For each month of the year, you choose an author that has a birthday in that month. So head on over to Becky's site, Becky's Book Reviews, and she has a link to a websites that lists authors' birthdays.

My Tentative list is:

January - Stuart Woods (Under the Lake) 01/15/08; Review
February - The Spaniard's Baby Bargain - Helen Bianchin 02/28/08; Review
March - White Lies - Jayne Ann Krentz 03/06/08; Review
April - Sue Grafton ("C" is for Corpse) 4/7/08; Review
May - Summer at Willow Lake - Susan Wiggs 5/20/08; Review
June - Ian McEwan
July - J.K. Rowling (Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets)
August - Lake News - Barbara Delinsky 8/7/08; Review
September - Jude Deveraux
October - Nora Roberts
November - Charlaine Harris
December - Sherrily Kenyon

Although, I do reserve the right (and it is in the rules) to change my mind. LOL

1st in a Series 2008

COMPLETED 12/7/08

Read 12 books that are the first in any series (new authors not required). You may read your chosen books any time during the year; however, I plan to read one a month.

This challenge runs from January thru December 2008. This challenge is being offerd by Joy at Thoughts of Joy.

Here is my list:

Jacquelyn Frank
The Nightwalkers
#1 Jacob: The Nightwalkers 01/12/08; Review

J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter
#1 HP and the Sorcerer's Stone 02/08/08; Review

Susan Mallery
Buchanans
#1 Delicious 9/9/08; Review

Amanda Ashley
Vampire Series
#1 Night's Kiss 11/06/08; Review

Iris Johansen
Eve Duncan
#1 The Face of Deception 6/18/08; Review

Charlaine Harris
Harper Connelly
#1 Grave Sight 3/26/08; Review

M.C. Beaton
Agatha Raisin
#1 Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death 3/14/08; Review

Stephenie Meyer
Twilight Saga Series
#1 Twilight 04/09/08; Review

Terri Brisbin
MacLerie Series
#1 Taming the Highlander 8/15/08; Review

Kendra Leigh Castle
Werewolf Series
#1 Call of the Highland Moon 11/25/08; Review

Melissa Mayhue
The Daughters of the Glen
#1 Thirty Nights with a Highland Husband 12/7/08; Review

John Sanford
Prey Series
#1 Rules of Prey 7/8/08; Review

There are so many more that I would like to start - but most of these are from my TBR pile and since I would like to reduce that pile - I will choose from these.

My tentative list of 12 is posted on the sidebar.

Notable Books Challenge 2008

Okay, I couldn't help myself on this one - Good ole' Wendy from the last post is hosting a Notable Books Challenge. This is where you choose notable books from a variety of lists (National Book Critics Circle, New York Times 2007 Most Notable, Publisher's Weekly Best Books 2007, and a few more). They can all be seen here.

So, I have accepted the challenge and here are my list of books (a couple overlap with Man Booker but that is okay).

2007 New York Times Most Notable

1. The Gathering by Anne Enright 02/17/08; Review
2. On Chesil Beach by Ian McEwan
3. Circling My Mother by Mary Gordon (Non-Fiction)
4. The Beautiful Things That Heaven Knows by Dinaw Mengestu
5. How Doctors Think by Jerome Groopman (Non-Fiction)
6. Call Me By Your Name by Andre Aciman
7. The Brief Wonderous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz
8. The Father of All Things by Tom Bissell
9. Out Stealing Horses by Per Petterson
10. Bridge of Sighs by Richard Russo

Publisher's Weekly Best Books 2007

11. What the Dead Know by Laura Lippman
12. One With the Shadows by Susan Squires

Man Booker Challenge 2008

It is called the Man Booker Prize Challenge where you read 6 books in the year 2008 of any Man Booker Award winner - it also includes the shortlist and longlist books. This is being hosted by Dewey at The Hidden Side of a Leaf.

Here is my list:

1. The Gathering by Anne Enright (2007) 02/17/08; Review
2. Holiday by Stanley Middleton (1974)
3. The Life of Pi by Yann Martel (2002)
4. The Bone People by Keri Hulme (1985)
5. The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro (1989)
6. Hotel du Lac by Anita Brookner (1984)