Majanka Verstraete's Blog, page 216

Book Blog Organization Challenge 2015

This isn’t strictly a book challenge, but it’s about organizing a blog. When you’ve been blogging for a while, there seems to be an almost endless to do list of tasks: reviews to schedule, calendars to work on, challenges to update, making a review index, cross-posting reviews, and so on. I already did an overhaul of my blog in 2014 (which means although not a lot changed on the outside, I did completely change my scheduling, posts, and so on), but I want to take it to the next level, so I wa...

Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2015

For this challenge, you need to read prequels and sequels in a series. Novellas and short stories count, and you get 10 bonus points if you finish a complete series of at least three books. You don’t get points for the first book in the series though – it’s all about the sequels and prequels. The third book in a series, fourth book, and so on, do count though.

Because this challenge has a point system, the rules are quite complicated. If you want to read the complete rules, or you want to sign...

Flights of Fantasy Reading Challenge 2015

I wanted to try a few new challenges this year, so I signed up for the Flights of Fantasy Reading Challenge. I fell in love with reading by reading fantasy books, so I’ve always had a soft spot for the genre, which means this challenge is perfect.

According to the challenge guidelines, participants can set their own goals. I don’t want to overdo it though, so I’m aiming for 20 fantasy books in 2015. I can still upgrade that goal if I reach it early on.

If you want to know more about the challen...

TBR Pile Reading Challenge 2015

I’m going to participate in the TBR Pile (to-be-read pile) Reading Challenge for 2015. The goal of the challenge is to read books that have been on our bookshelf for a while – either as gifts, or books we bought and never got around to reading, or anything else. The main rule is the book can’t be a book that’ll release in 2015 so no new books or ARCs.

I’ll pick the second level for this challenge, “A Friendly Hug”, which means I have to read 11-20 books from my TBR pile. I didn’t want to pick...

Reading Challenge Addict 2015

Last year, I participated in 5 reading challenges and completed each of them successfully. Since I can’t take more on my plate this year, I’m aiming for five challenges again. I will keep track of the challenges in the sidebar, and here.

If you want to sign up for the challenge, please go here.

Here are the five challenges I’m participating in this year:

Netgalley Reading Challenge
Horror Reading Challenge

Netgalley Reading Challenge 2015

Last year, I participated in the Netgalley challenge and successfully reached my goals. This year, I’m signing up for it again. My netgalley ratio is currently 92% and I’m very proud of that, so this year it won’t be about upping the ratio, but about keeping it above 90% (and as close to 100% as it gets).

I’m going for the “hardcore” level, which means reading 41+ books from Netgalley. I’ll track my progress each month, and add the books that count for this challenge to this page. I will also...

Horror Reading Challenge 2015

I participated in the horror reading challenge last year, and ended up reading way more horror books than I had to for the challenge. But I love horror, so I want to participate in the challenge again. Like last year, I’m aiming for the highest level, “Horror Hounds”, which means, reading 16+ horror books.

The challenge is now hosted by Cornerfolds. If you want to sign up for it, please go here. And don’t forget to tell me you signed up so I can follow your progress.

I will keep this page updat...

2014 in a nutshell

It’s December 31st, and I can’t believe 2014 is…gone. Just like that. The year went by so fast it’s almost impossible to grasp. Before I start working on my reading resolutions for the new year, I wanted to focus on what I accomplished in 2014, in terms of reading.

According to Goodreads, I read a total of 401 books. That’s not including some books I couldn’t review on Goodreads because they weren’t on there (a small number, but still). Over 400 books. That’s a huge improvement from last year,...

Book Review: Ghost Writers by David Shaw

Title: Ghost Writers

Author: David Shaw

Genre: Self Help

Age Group: Adult

Rating: 4 stars

Purchase: Amazon

Review copy provided by Enchanted Book Promotions in exchange for an honest review.

In this life-affirming book, author David Shaw explores ten major themes that affect us all – and offers a unique way to engage with them. Whether it’s fear or forgiveness, credence or clarity, materialism or acceptance, Shaw gives us the benefit of ten spiritual authors who pen their intriguing and stimulating...

Book Review: The Monster on Top of the Bed by Alan H. Jordan

Title: The Monster on Top of the Bed & My Monster on Top of the Bed

Author: Alan H. Jordan

Genre: Children’s Picture Book

Age Group: Children

Rating: 5 stars

Buy: Amazon

Review copy provided by Enchanted Book Promotions in exchange for an honest review.

Once upon a time there was a little girl named Suzy, who used to jump up and down on her bed having just a great time. This scared a young critter named Karrit who lived under Suzy’s bed and he wanted her to be his friend. Still, Suzy ate strange thi...