Warning: Not for the faint-of-heart! Really hardcore challenge!

Inspired by my PNR challenge, I'm launching A Lifetime of Books Challenge. The goal is to read a book published for every year in your life. Still here reading?

Very basic rules: If you are in your 20's, you are given a year to complete it, in your 30's a year and a half, in your 40's 2 years. Add six months for every extra decade.

Your clock starts ticking the moment you posted your list.

Anybody up for the challenge?

Me, me, me!! Not ready yet to post the list though...
=D

I'm in, too..since I came up with this monster..LOL...

Just have to work on my list...

Oh wow!! lol. I think I'm glad that I'm only 23 lol. I'll do this one as soon as I finish the other challenges I'm working on in this group.

I'm in, this is a very scary challenge!

LOL..but wouldn't it be so cool to see all those titles for every year...like walking through your life's library or something...LOL

I'm in. I have a question, though. If I get it right, every participant have to set the opening date of the challange, right?

So if it goes into next year, we'll have to read a 2010 read as well right?

That is correct.

Say, you post your list this May..and you are, say, 26 years old...your challenge duration is May 2009-May 2010.

Kristen wrote: "So if it goes into next year, we'll have to read a 2010 read as well right?"

Yes...you are correct...

Can we read any books for this? It's just the number of books that count? Or are we to read books published in specific years? I'm confused. I've already read 44 books this year, so reading another 42 won't be hard. lol Do we just have to list the specific books ahead of time, but any book counts? Please help narrow it down so I know what I'm suppose to be listing.

Briansgirl:

The challenge is to read a book published for every year in your lifetime...so yes, specific years, from the year you were born to the current year. You can fill your list up as you go, or you can complete the list at the start or do something in between. Changing the list as you progress with the challenge is also okay.

Just remember, as soon as you post a list (complete or incomplete) you are expected to post your challenge duration, too.

Yz wrote: "Briansgirl:

The challenge is to read a book published for every year in your lifetime...so yes, specific years, from the year you were born to the current year. You can fill your list up as you..."

So I'm suppose to pick books published in each year, starting with the year I was born?

That's going to be difficult simply because there is no way of knowing what year a book is published til you open up the cover and look at the copyright date. Or check a specific book in Goodreads. But it's not like there is a way to sort or search for books by a specific year.

that is exactly it, Briansgirl. So its like a bibliophile's version of memory lane..LOL

Since I was born in 1967.... I have to find a book published in 1967. Then for '68, '69, etc. Correct? For awhile it won't be difficult but after awhile it'll be hard to fill the gaps not knowing what years books are published ahead of time, since we can't search by years.

Eek! This one is daunting... Does anyone know of a good site/resource for finding books published by year? I wouldn't have the first clue where to look for something published in 1975. And I'm assuming these can be from any category, not just PNR - which probably wasn't a big genre back in the day. ;) LOL

*** Just realized this is the romance thread (Yz does get around, and I some times forget where I am - LOL), so I suppose there were probably romance books around then, but I'm glad to hear the challenge is open to all genres. =)

I'm glad I was only born in 1984! A way you can do this is look at long standing award lists maybe.

That's why I call this challenge NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART..LOL...I was born in 1970, Briansgirl, so I'm more or less in the same boat as you...LOL

I'm still working on finding resources to get print dates for books, but I'm sure we will be able to come up with something.

And yes, this can be any genre and rereads are more than welcome.

OK first of all what you do is go to your to-read shelf => chose view: list => and then sort by year pub (year published)

You should be to fill in some of the list this way.

...At least it worked for me. I couldn't find one book only - for 1986. But I think I've got it now: I applied the same method to my friends' shelves and voila: a book by Stephen King.

Darkheart said: *** Just realized this is the romance thread (Yz does get around, and I some times forget where I am - LOL), so I suppose there were probably romance books around then, but I'm glad to hear the challenge is open to all genres. =)

LOL...it would actually be interesting to read how romance novels changed throughout the years. I remember when I was in my teens, the heroes are this remote, arrogant, super rich tycoon or something, and the heroines are this mousy, virginal, all-alone-in-my-life females. Then there are the fads...pirates, highlanders, millionaires...of course now, we have vampires, werewolves...etc...Isn't that fascinating?

I've got 6 or 7 apple boxes in the basement of ancient antique 30-50 year old romance novels. lol I havn't NOT put all those in goodreads yet though. lol I may have to break into them to find older years. OKay, I'm in and I'll start next week in May. I'll start working on a list. The list will evolve as I go as I'll start by filling it out with books I'm already going to read for upcoming challenges and then eventually work to fill in the gaps. lol Thankfully I have 2 years since I have to read 42 books (as of next month). lol

A Lifetime of Books Challenge (23 IV 2009 - 23 IV 2010)


1984: Neuromancer
1985: Ender's Game
1986: It
1987: In the Skin of a Lion (or Beloved)
1988: The Satanic Verses
1989: The Pillars of the Earth
1990: The Things They Carried or Circle of Friends
1991: A Thousand Acres
1992: Zodiac
1993: Away
1994: The Alienist (or Catherine Called Birdy)
1995: Blindness
1996: The Sparrow (or The Reader)
1997: To Say Nothing of the Dog
1998: The Poisonwood Bible
1999: White Oleander (or Once a Runner)
2000: Stargirl
2001: American Gods (or Bel Canto)
2002: The Secret Life of Bees
2003: The Time Traveler's Wife
2004: Jonathan Strange Mr. Norrell
2005: Uglies (Never Let Me Go)
2006: The Thirteenth Tale (or Water for Elephants)
2007: The Shack
2008: Rogue
2009: Dead and Gone
2010: ??

1978, here I come. I'm really excited about this challenge. I'll start in May, I might wait until my bday to begin the challenge.

what if a book has more than one published date, for different editions? example....

copyrighted 1976
original hardcover edition by Mills & Boon(UK) 1976
harlequin presents edition 1977
second printing 1979
third printing 1982
americana edition 1986

do we use the original copyrighted date? or the date for the edition we have?

I was looking at this particular set for the copyright date, as the entire set was reprinted all at once in 1986. But they were written earlier than that and it's a set of 50 books. I've got 35 books out of the 50 left to finish reading the series and I need old books. lol So was going back to the original published, ie copyright date.

I'm starting May, too...probably used my PNR challenge for the 2000s years...then I'll worked down up to 1970...

Briansgirl wrote: "what if a book has more than one published date, for different editions? example...."

I went with the "first published"... I think you're cool with the copyright date then ;-)

I would go for "first published" or copyright date myself.

1978- Beauty, A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast by Robin McKinley
1979- Kindred by Octavia V. Butler
1980-
1981-
1982- The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley
1983-
1984-
1985-
1986-
1987-
1988-
1989-
1990-
1991- Witches Abroad, Discworld Book 12 by Terry Pratchett
1992- Dragonfly in Amber, Outlander 2 by Diana Gabaldon
1993-
1994-
1995- The Golden Compass, His Dark Materials Book 1 by Phillip Pullman
1996- Shakespeare's landlord by Charlaine Harris*
1997-
1998- Dream a Little Dream, Chicago Stars 4 by Susan Elizabeth Phillips*
1999- Chocolat by Joanne Harris*
2000- It's OK I'm Wearing Really Big Knickers by Louise Rennison*
2001-
2002- Tithe by Holly Black*
2003- A great and terrible beauty by Libba Bray*
2004- Heat Stroke, Weather Warden Book 2 by Rachel Caine
2005- Warprize, Chronicles of the Warlands 1 by Elizabeth Vaughan*
2006- Magic Study, Study Book 2 by Maria V. Snyder*
2007- Wicked lovely by Melissa Marr*
2008- Lover Enshrined by J.R. Ward*
2009- Kiss of a demon king by Kresley cole*
2010- Silver Borne by Patricia Briggs

Yz wrote: "I would go for "first published" or copyright date myself."

Thanks. Trying to fill older years gets harder.

April 23, 2009 - April 23, 2010

1984 - Dragons of Autumn Twilight
1985 - The Accidental Tourist
1986 - Brokedown Palace
1987 - The Blue Sword
1988 - Sorcery and Cecelia or The Enchanted Chocolate Pot Being the Correspondence of Two Young Ladies of Quality Regarding Various Magical Scandals in London and the Country
1989 - Sister Light, Sister Dark
1990 - Haroun and the Sea of Stories
1991 - Castle in the Air
1992 - The White Mercedes
1993 - Hexwood
1994 - Come in from the Cold
1995 - The Ivory and the Horn (Newford Book 6)
1996 - The Thief
1997 - Grimm's Grimmest
1998 - Daughter of the Blood
1999 - In the Forests of the Night
2000 - The Highlander's Touch
2001 - Fool Moon
2002 - Night Pleasures
2003 - Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
2004 - The Fairy Godmother
2005 - The Secret Hour
2006 - Touching Darkness
2007 - Blue Noon
2008 - The Battle of the Labyrinth
2009 - The Last Olympian
2010 - May finish before then...

You guys! Putting in Robin McKinley... I love Robin McKinley!!!

I loved Sunshine and my library just got a copy of Beauty.

I've read both, and The Blue Sword too... All great, all make me warm and fuzzy and all have very likable heroines - what more could a girl want?

Is that a trick question?

Ha! You've figured me out.

I like this one, was born in '79, since I'm technically 29 1/2 I only get a year to do it if I post the now? Is that right?

Michelle,

I'm in the same dilemma as you are..I'm going to turn 39 this year..so that means by the time I'm about to finish the challenge I should be 40...so do I get the extra six months?....hmmm....

Kasia, i'm not sure that's true. I'm off to read Death of a darklord! I have 3 books to finish before the end of this month.

Yz wrote: "Michelle,

I'm in the same dilemma as you are..I'm going to turn 39 this year..so that means by the time I'm about to finish the challenge I should be 40...so do I get the extra six months?....hm..."

I will be 30 in October.... It is a tough one! Are we counting a book for 2010 as well? as the challenge won't end til next year?

You know what, Michelle, let's keep the option that if we don't finish the challenge at our original duration, we have the option of adding an extra six months if needed to complete it. Will that work?

So in your case, you can set it for a year, but if you feel a year will not be enough, add the extra six months.

This is only for those whose ages are in the cusp, as in 29, 39, etc, like Michelle and me.

(See, the advantage of being the challenge originator..I get to make the rules..LOL)

Yz wrote: "You know what, Michelle, let's keep the option that if we don't finish the challenge at our original duration, we have the option of adding an extra six months if needed to complete it. Will that ..."

That suits me fine, a year should be plenty, unless you come up with too many other exciting challenges in the meantime! I love to read anyway and this gives me extra incentive.

A Lifetime of Books Challenge (April 23, 2009 til April 23, 2011)
(Read books published every year starting with the year you were born)

1967 - The President's Plane is Missing by Robert J. Serling or Coffee, Tea or Me? The Uninhibited Memoirs of Two Airline Stewardesses by Trudy Baker and Rachel Jones
1968 - Force 10 From Navarone by Alistair MacLean
1969 - Secret of the Pale Lover by Clarissa Ross Gothic vampire novel
1970 - Coffee, Tea or Me Girl's Round the World Diary by Trudy Baker and Rachel Jones
1971 - It Began in Te Rangi by Gloria Bevan
1972 - New Dreams for Old by Anne Marron Rensel
1973 - Play Poker to Win by Amarillo Slim Preston
1974 - Savage Land America Series: Texas) by Janet Dailey
1975 - Land Of Enchantment (America Series: New Mexico) by Janet Dailey
1976 - A Lyon's Share (America Series: Illinois) by Janet Dailey
1977 - The Indy Man (America Series: Indiana) by Janet Dailey
1978 - Summer Mahogany (America Series: Maine) by Janet Dailey
1979 - A Land Called Deseret (America Series: Utah) by Janet Dailey
1980 - Sonora Sundown (America Series: Arizona) by Janet Dailey
1981 - That Carolina Summer (America Series: North Carolina) by Janet Dailey
1982 - Myth Directions (Myth Adventures, Book 3) by Robert Lynn Asprin
1983 - Hit or Myth (Myth Adventures, Book 4) by Robert Lynn Asprin
1984 - The Hunt for Red October by Tom Clancy
1985 - Summer Desserts by Nora Roberts
1986 - Lessons Learned by Nora Roberts
1987 - The Virginia Bentley Cookbook More Great Recipes from the Author of the Bentley Farm Cookbook by Virginia Bentley
1988 - Searching for Bobby Fischer The Father of a Prodigy Observes the World of Chess by Fred Waitzken orNavy Wife (Navy #1) by Debbie Macomber
1989 - Navy Blues (Navy #2) by Debbie Macomber
1990 - Something's Alive on the Titanic by Robert Serling
1991 - Navy Brat(Navy #3) by Debbie Macomber
1992 - Alpha Man (Postcards from Europe) by Kay Thorpe
1993 - Tower Of Shadows (Postcards from Europe) by Sara Craven
1994 - No Promise Of Love (Postcards from Europe) by Lillian Peake
1995 - Why Does Popcorn Pop by Don Voorhees
1996 - Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes
1997 - One Pink Rose by Julie Garwood
1998 - Titanic The Long Night by Diane Hoh
1999 - Born to Be Riled by Jeremy Clarkson

A Lifetime of Books Challenge Part II

2000 - Grandma's Wartime Kitchen World War II and the Way We Cooked by Joanna Lamb Hayes
2001 - 16 Lighthouse Road (Cedar Cove #1) by Debbie Macomber
2002 - The Food Taster by Peter Elbling
2003 - Back Home Again (Tales from Grace Chapel Inn) by Melody Carlson
2004 - You're Cookin' It Country My Favorite Recipes and Memories by Loretta Lynn
2005 - MythBusters The Explosive Truth Behind 30 of the Most Perplexing Urban Legends of All Time by Keith Zimmerman
2006 - A Simple Life Gift Edition by Wanda Brunstetter
2007 - New Europe by Michael Palin
2008 - Airhead by Meg Cabot
2009 - Summer On Blossom Street by Debbie Macomber
2010 - ???

If anyone needs help with this...this website http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/, let's you look at the books that were award winners for every year since the beginning of time :)

I'm old so I'm not sure I'm going to do this one :)

Lori you beat me to it I was just about to suggest that site. I'll be posting my list later.

Lifetime of Books Challenge 1/5/09-1/5/10

1979 The Key to Midnight - Dean koontz
1980 The Voice of the night - Dean Koontz
1981 Cujo - Stephen King
1982 The House of Thunder - Dean Koontz
1983 A is for Alibi - Sue Grafton
1984 Cycle of the Werewolf - Stephen King
1985 B is for Burglar - Sue Grafton
1986 C is for Corpse - Sue Grafton
1987 D is for Deadbeat - Sue Grafton
1988 E is for Evidence - Sue Grafton
1989 F is for Fugitive - Sue Grafton
1990 G is for Gumshoe - Sue Grafton
1991 H is for Homicide - Sue Grafton
1992 I is for Innocent - Sue Grafton
1993 J is for Judgement - Sue Grafton
1994 K is for Killer - Sue Grafton
1995 L is for Lawless - Sue Grafton
1996 M is for Malice - Sue Grafton
1997 Soul Survivor - Dean Koontz
1998 N is for Noose - Sue Grafton
1999 O is for Outlaw - Sue Grafton
2000 P is for Peril - Sue Grafton
2001 One door away from heaven - Dean Koontz
2002 Q is for Quarry - Sue Grafton
2003 Odd Thomas - Stephen King
2004 R is for Ricochet - Sue Grafton
2005 S is for Silence - Sue Grafton
2006 Dead Man Rising - Lilith - Saintcrow
2007 T is for Trespass - Sue Grafton
2008 Blood Noir - Laurell K Hamilton
2009 Finger Lickin’ Fifteen - Janet Evanovich
2010 ???

I'm counting on the fact I think I'll like the alphabet books... If I don't I will switch them out for something else. Will start this on May 1st, will work on the alphabet's until then...
I was also going to recommend that site, It's where I got the dates for the Stephen King books.

A Lifetime of Books Challenge (Apr 23, 2009 - Apr 23, 2011)

1967 -
1968 - Dragonflight - Anne McCaffrey
1969 - A Case of Need - Michael Crichton
1970 - The Crystal Cave - Mary Stewart
1971 -
1972 - The Terminal Man - Michael Crichton8/10/09
1973 - The Hollow Hills - Mary Stewart
1974 - The Wolf and the Dove - Kathleen Woodiwiss 8/4/09
1975 - The Great Train Robbery - Michael Crichton
1976 - The Golden Unicorn - Phyllis Whitney OR Cry Wolf - Wilbur Smith
1977 - The Chronicles of Chrestomanci, Volume 1 Charmed Life / The Lives of Christopher Chant - Diana Jones
1978 - The White Dragon - Anne McCaffrey
1979 - The Last Enchantment - Mary Stewart OR The Matarese Circle - Robert Ludlum
1980 - Amulet - Michael McDowell
1981 - Men of Men - Wilbur Smith 7/21/09
1982 - Fire Dancer - Ann Maxwell
1983 - Alanna The First Adventure - Tamora Pierce 5/9/09
1984 - In the Hand of the Goddess - Tamora Pierce 5/9/09
1985 - The Ruby in the Smoke - Philip Pullman 7/19/09
1986 - The Woman Who Rides Like a Man - Tamora Pierce 6/8/09
1987 - The Monkey's Raincoat - Robert Crais 10/5/09
1988 - Lioness Rampant - Tamora Pierce 8/3/09
1989 - Angelfire - Linda Lael Miller 9/10/09
1990 - G is for Gumshoe - Sue Grafton 6/16/09
1991 - Blood Price - Tanya Huff 6/4/09
1992 - Dragonfly in Amber - Diana Gabaldon 6/5/09
1993 - Cry Wolf - Tami Hoag 6/27/09
1994 - Covenant with the Vampire - Jeanne Kalogridid 5/4/09
1995 - Children of the Vampire - Jeanne Kalogridis 5/5/09
1996 - Lord of the Vampires - Jeanne Kalogrdis 5/31/09
1997 - Meg - Steve Alten 5/5/09
1998 - Daja's Book - Tamora Pierce 4/28/09
1999 - Skeleton Crew A Lindsay Chamberlain Novel - Beverly Connor 5/28/09

A Lifetime of Books Challenge - Part II

2000 - Darkest Fear - Harlan Coben 6/26/09
2001 - The Treatment - Mo Hayder 5/20/09
2002 - I Am the Messenger - Markus Zusak 4/23/09
2003 - Lord John and the Private Matter - Diana Gabaldon 5/14/09
2004 - Blue Dahlia - Nora Roberts 6/11/09
2005 - Taming the Barbarian - Lois Greiman 7/3/09
2006 - The Trouble With Magic - Madelyn Alt 6/3/09
2007 - Snow Angel A Novel - Jamie Carie 5/22/09
2008 - Kiss of Fire A Dragonfire Novel - Deborah Cooke 7/10/09
2009 - The Perfect Poison - Amanda Quick 4/24/09
2010 - Ecstasy Unveiled - Larissa Ione

Lifetime Of Books Challenge
Duration: May 1 2009 to May 1 2010


2010-
2009-Passion Unleashedby Larissa Ione
2008-Sea WitchbyVirginia Kantra
2007-Howl at the MoonbyChristine Warren
2006-I'm the Vampire, That's WhybyMichele Bardsley
2005-The Smoke ThiefbyShana Abé
2004-You Slay MebyKatie MacAlister
2003-Ill WindbyRachel Caine
2002-Fantasy LoverbySherrilyn Kenyon
2001-The Blue VikingbySandra Hill
2000-Storm Front by Jim Butcher
1999-Beyond the Highland MistbyKaren Marie Moning
1998-Four to ScorebyJanet Evanovich
1997=Three To Get DeadlybyJanet Evanovich
1996-Shakespere's Landlord(Lily Bard) By Charlaine Harris
1995-The Outlaw VikingbySandra Hill
1994-The Reluctant VikingbySandra Hill
1993-Fatal Identity by Joanne Fluke
1992-A Bone to Pick(Aurora Teagarden2)by Charlaine Harris
1991-Jinx HighbyMercedes Lackey
1990-Children of the NightbyMercedes Lackey
1989-Real Murders(Aurora Teagarden 1) by Charlaine Harris
1988-
1987-Old Bones
1986-
1985-
1984-
1983-
1982-

Tentative list. Probably I'll change something later, but for now I'm quite content with it.
Start 1 V 2009 Finish 30 IV 2010

1983 Heaven's Price Sandra Brown 22-07-09
1984 Neuromancer William Gibson 10-06-09
1985 Love Only Once Johanna Lindsey 26-07-09
1986 Timeless Passion Constance O'Day-Flannery 19-07-09
1987 Midsummer Magic Catherine Coulter 30-05-09
1988 Sourcery Terry Pratchett
1989 The Bride Julie Garwood 01-07-09
1990 Xenocide by Orson Scott Card 24-06-09
1991 Paradise Judith McNaught 18-05-09
1992 The Good Fairies of New York Martin Millar 14-07-09
1993 Twilight Phantasies Maggie Shayne 21-07-09
1994 The Reluctant Viking Sandra Hill 01-08-09
1995 Naked in Death by J.D. Robb 22-07-09
1996 Born of the Night Sherrilyn Kenyon 06-07-09
1997 Well Pleasured Lady Christina Dodd 23-06-09
1998 With This Ring Amanda Quick 18-06-09
1999 Beyond the Highland Mist Karen Marie Moning 18-06-09
2000 The Unsung Hero Suzanne Brockmann 11-06-09
2001 The Fiery Cross Diana Gabaldon 05-05-09
2002 Stolen Kelley Armstrong 12-05-09
2003 Killing Moon Rebecca York 24-05-09
2004 Sex and the Single Vampire by Katie MacAlister 19-05-09
2005 Wicked Nights by Nina Bangs 24-05-09
2006 Lover Eternal by J.R. Ward 07-05-09
2007 Lover Revealed J.R. Ward 09-05-09
2008 The Darkest Kiss Gena Showalter 01-05-09
2009 Bone Crossed by Patricia Briggs 06-05-09
2010