May 2009 Reading Challenge

[Yz the Whyz]

This challenge should have been up on the 21st, but fate has a way of intervening with even the best-laid plans.

I've dubbed this month's challenge as Go-by-the-Year May. The challenge is to read 9 books, one book that was published for every year after 2000.

If you have your TBR books on GR, you can click on the list format and you can see the years the books were published. Or you can do it the old-fashioned way and look on the copyright and/or publication date on the book itself.

Challenge Duration: May 1 -May 31, 2009

As usual, you can put your tentative list up...but no reading yet until April 1st for these books.

Consider this like some bookish treasure hunt. Happy choosing everyone.

[Yz the Whyz]

I don't have my list yet, but I think I'll put in a sample, just to make sure, that my instructions was clear enough.

2009 - Lover Avenged - JR Ward
2008 - Running Hot by Jayne Ann Krentz
2007 - Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr
2006 - Light My Fire by Katie MacAlister
2005 - Eldest by Christopher Paolini
2004 - The Demon's Daughter by Emma Holly
2003 - Midnight Pleasures by Amanda Ashley et.al
2002 - Stolen by Kelley Armstrong
2001 - Fool Moon by Jim Butcher

[Stav]

thank YOU!!!!

now I get to continue many of the series I started this month....you are just AWESOME Yz!

[colleen]

Are we supposed to stick to PNR or is it anything goes?

[Yz the Whyz]

colleen wrote: "Are we supposed to stick to PNR or is it anything goes? "

Normally, anything that has some kind of paranormal element is okay, just to honor the group we are in, I would say.

But I'm not pretty strict about such stuff, and I don't really police anybody's choices.

We usually use the challenge as a springboard to chitchat about books we are reading. So I guess, I will leave it up to you on what you feel like reading for May.

[colleen]

Yz wrote: "colleen wrote: "Are we supposed to stick to PNR or is it anything goes? "

Normally, anything that has some kind of paranormal element is okay, just to honor the group we are in, I would say.
..."


Okay, Thanks. I'm new and I just didn't want to make a wrong step.

[Yz the Whyz]

No worries...just ask whenever you have a question.

[colleen]

BTW, well done on coming up with so many interesting challenges, Yz.

[Nichole (DirrtyH)]

Yay! I love these challenges. Picking the books is almost more fun than reading them! I'm going to start my tentative list and work on it throughout the day, but it kind of depends on what the monthly group reads for the other groups are going to be. So I may change things.

2009 - Red-Headed Stepchild by Jaye Wells
2008 - Magic Burns by Ilona Andrews
2007 - Claimed by Shadow by Karen Chance
2006 - Lover Awakened by JR Ward (*re-read)
2005 - Gabriel's Ghost by Linnea Sinclair
2004 - Dime Store Magic by Kelley Armstrong
2003 - A Girl's Guide to Vampires by Katie McAllister
2002 - Stolen by Kelley Armstrong
2001 - Kiss of the Highlander by Karen Marie Moning (*re-read)

[Yz the Whyz]

LOL..I'm like you, Nichole. I try to squeeze in all the BOM reads that I'm participating in, when I make the list. It feel such a great accomplishment if I can crosschallenge certain books..LOL..so yes, choosing the books are more than half the fun.

[DarkHeart "Vehngeance"]

You're such a clever bunny with these challenges, Yz. Right, so as I'm killing time before I have to conduct an interview, I've perused my TBR shelf and come up with the following. Still going to have to hunt for 2003, and if I can find substitutes for the non-PNR titles, I will.

*** Thanks to Mel's list, I now have a 2003 title that was sitting on my TBR shelf already.

2001 - American Gods by Neil Gaiman
2002 - Tithe A Modern Faerie Tale by Holly Black
2003 - Killing Moon by Rebecca York
2004 - Master of Ecstasy by Nina Bangs
2005 - The Good, the Bad, and the Undead by Kim Harrison
2006 - Light My Fire by Katie MacAlister
2007 - City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
2008 - Wondrous Strange by Lesley Livingston
2009 - Doomsday Can Wait by Lori Handeland

[Stav]

2009 - Dream Warrior by Sherilyn Kenyon
2008 - In the Blood by Adrian Phoenix
2007 - Beg For Mercy by Toni Andrews
2006 - Lover Eternal by J.R. Ward
2005 -
2004 - Undead and Unemployed by MaryJanice Davidson
2003 - Green Angel by Alice Hoffman
2002 - A Caress of Twilight (Meredith Gentry 2) by Laurell K. Hamilton
2001 -

[Michelle]

2009 Magic Strikes - Ilona Andrews
2008 Magic Bites - Ilona Andrews
2007 In Darkness Reborn - Alexis Morgan
2006Wolf at the Door - Christine Warren
2005 Mortal Danger - Eileen Wilks
2004 Tempting Danger - Eileen Wilks
2003 Death Masks - Jim Butcher
2002 Summer Knight - Jim Butcher
2001 Grave Peril - Jim Butcher

I'm using this as an excuse to continue some of my existing series and starting some new. I'm looking forward to this!


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[Kristen]

I'll edit this later. I want to go through the other library books at home and see when they were published.

2009 - Wondrous Strange by Lesley Livingston
2008 - A Rush of Wings by Adrian Phoenix
2007 - Beg For Mercy by Toni Andrews
2006 - Dreamhunter by Elizabeth Knox
2005 - Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
2004 - Close Kin by Clare B. Dunkle
2003 - Ill Wind by Rachel Caine
2002 - Night Pleasures by Sherrilyn Kenyon
2001 - Fool Moon by Jim Butcher

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[Jacalyn]

So my first reaction was "YZ hates me." I'm going to be gone 11 days in May. Not with my TBR. She would have to make it hard!

Then I realized. I wanted to free up some shelf space by reading some of these fat harry dresden hardbacks. As luck would have it the next one I have to read is from '01. So if I can find a way to make it through something like 9 Dresden books in a row... there you go. ROFL

I'm in! I've already got this pulled:

'01- harry 3 - Grave Peril
'02 - harry 4 - Summer Knight
'03 - Harry 5 - Death Masks
'04 - Harry 6 - Blood Rites
'05 - Harry 7 - Dead Beat
'06 - Harry 8 - Proven Guilty
'07 - Harry 9 - White Knight
'08 - Harry 10 - Small Favour
'09 - Harry 11 - Turn Coat

Those are pulled and ready to roll. LOL

I do claim now that if YZ comes up with some hellish "read nine books in one series" and I manage to do this without killing me, Butcher, or Harry (or some combination there of) then I claim the right to take a "bye". LOL

Man, that's a tall stack. Just for fun I'll post a photo :)

[Yz the Whyz]

Lady Oz,

See..it's not hard at all..LOL. Trust me, this is not as difficult as you think. In fact, I'm surprise how quickly some of you guys were able to put-together your list.

[Kristen]

I have too many library books at home. Hehe. So it's not difficult at all!

[Nichole (DirrtyH)]

I came up with 6 of the 9 pretty easily, but those last three... I don't have a single book in my TBR for those years that A. fit the paranormal genre or B. really sound like something I want to read. I could cheat and choose a non-genre book, but none of them are really calling out to me.
I may need suggestions, guys!
2001, 2003 and 2004! Come on!

[Yz the Whyz]

LOL..this is when you start looking at other people's list, Nichole, and start stealing ideas..LOL

[Jacalyn]

Yz my worry was that because of being out of town, I wouldn't have my bookshelf to go through. :) Then it dawned on me I had a freakign mountain of Dresden! My concern was especially the earlier years. But Dresden saved the day. Which is great because those five hard backs take up a freaking lot of space. LOL

[Yz the Whyz]

Wow, Lady Oz...one series for the entire challenge...all I can say, WOW...LOL

and yes...we would like to see the photo.

[Jacalyn]

Yeah... well I know i can hit all the years and it makes it easy to track. ROFL We'll see if I can make it through. Because that's a tall order. I don't know if I like Dresden that much. But they take up so much real estate that it would be nice to get them back to my mother! HAHA

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I may have to take a break partway through the reading of those books. It's a little scary to look at it. LOL

Like I said... if I can do all these Dresden books and you decide to do a crazy "nine books in one series" I want credit for having done it this time!!! LOL

[Ann aka Iftcan]

yeah--she wants to crowd MY bookshelves back up. I'm still dithering about what I'm going to read. I need to go through my tbr shelves and see what publishing dates I have for things. I've been too lazy to post my TBRs on Goodread (well, for one thing, I tend to plow through books FAST) so I have to do it the old fashioned way--checking the publishing dates inside the books.

Come on ladies (and any gentlemen we might have in the group) lets see some IDEAS please. :o)

2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009

Now that I've officially put myself into the challenge, time to go do some more sewing. Everyone pray for me that I can find some black frogs. Sigh, JoAnnes AND Hancock are both out, and I need 8 or so for one of the costumes I'm making.

[Lori]

Cool Challenge Yz!

]

2009 - Lover Avenged by J.R. Ward
2008 - Lyon by Elizabeth Amber
2007 - Child'sPrey 1 Orange Moon by Barbara Sheridan
2006 - 911 by Chris Owen
2005 - Need by Sean Michael
2004 - Circusex A One-hand Read by William Maltese
2003 - Bareback by Chris Owen
2002 - Willow Bend by Alley Blue
2001 - Suddenly You by Lisa Kleypas

[Jael ~ *~ Syhren ~* ~]

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
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[Brandy *Ahviel*]

**2009-Dominic (The Lords of Satyr #4) by Elizabeth Amber
2008-- The Darkest Kiss (Lords of the Underworld, #2) by Gena Showalter
2007- A Warrior’s Taking by Margo Maguire
2006--I Hunger for You (Prime Series, Book 3) by Susan Sizemore
2005--Sins of the Night (Dark-Hunter, #11) by Sherrilyn Kenyon
***2004- Beyond the Highland Mist (Highlander, #1)by Karen Marie Moning
**2003--Tempting the Beast (Breed Series, #1) by Lora Leigh
**2002--Circle of Death (Circle Series #2) by Keri Arthur
** 2001--Circle of Fire (Circle Series #1) Keri Arthur
Dominic

[Sarah]

Tenative list:

2009- Dead and Gone by Charlaine Harris - FINISHED 5/6 ****
2008- Countdown by Michelle Maddox - FINISHED 5/5 *****
2007- Star Shadows by Colby Hodge
2006- Hunting The Hunter by Shiloh Walker - FINISHED 5/2 ***
2005- Stray Magic by Elizabeth Stewart/Cait Miller - FINISHED 5/5 ***
2004- Heat Stroke by Rachel Caine - FINISHED 5/4 ****
2003- Oath of Challenge Conquering Kate by Marly Chance
2002- The Love Potion by Sandra Hill
2001- Night Visitor by Melanie Jackson

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[Stav]

Jael,

I might borrow your choice for 2001...i Just read the summary outloud to my sister and we both have been laughing for like 5 minutes...I hope you don't mind :)

[Jacalyn]

Karen... do it with me!! We can support each other! ROFL. :)

BTW guys, I counted. 241 books on the TBR bookcase. OMG I swear that's more than I started with when 2009 began. The whole point was to reclaim some of my bookcase!! At this rate that will never happen! AUGHHH!!!!

LOL

[Nichole (DirrtyH)]

I'm really glad my TBR is all theoretical and online, and not an actual pile of books threatening world dominance... my physical TBR is a very unassuming group that has been shoved into a cabinet and out of sight.
Except, of course, for the ones that are multiplying on the windowsill, and the nightstand, and the other shelves... uh-oh. I think most of them will go back to the library. I hope.

[Jacalyn]

Nichole... get scared. Sounds like your modest little pile is doing the whole bunny thing. Be afraid... be very afraid! That's what happened to me. First I had five. Then I had a couple on my bed... then there were the couple by the bed on the floor. And then there one in my car. And now I have 241 books. LOL

[Stav]

Karen wrote: "I'm in! I think I'm going to steal the all in one series and see if I can do something with Sookie. :)"



oouu do it....I wish I hadn't read them all now so i could've done the same....

[Jacalyn]

Doing a Sookie-a-thon would be fun :) I'm missing Sookie. it's been so long since the last book!

[Nichole (DirrtyH)]

Yz wrote: "LOL..I'm like you, Nichole. I try to squeeze in all the BOM reads that I'm participating in, when I make the list. It feel such a great accomplishment if I can crosschallenge certain books..LOL....."

Unfortunately it looks like most of the group reads will be books published in 2009, so I can only count one of them!
Oh well, I think I found some that will work. Incorporating re-reads, and trying some things I might not have picked up otherwise, which is one of the fun things about the challenge. Though it doesn't help with that rabbit-book problem I have.

[DarkHeart "Vehngeance"]

Lady Ozma, I'm totally with you on that. My GR TBR shelf is only books that I own, and although my goal is always to reduce the numbers, I never succeed. However, as long as my Read shelf has a higher number, I accept my failure. ;) I thought participating in all of these monthly challenge would help me get the numbers down, but instead I end up just buying a bunch more (15 new books this month, and I've only read 8 LOL - my husband has decided it's a sickness). ;)

[Angie]

Struggled with the earlier books but found some.

2009 – The Immortal Hunter by Lynsay Sands
2008 - Mind Games by Merline Lovelace
2007 – Wild Thing
2006 – Dangerous Temptation by Kathleen Korbel
2005 – Really Unusual Bad Boys by MaryJanice Davidson
2004 - The Becoming by Jeanne C Stein
2003 – Beneath A Rising Moon by Keri Arthur
2002 - Fantasy
2001 – Naked Brunch by Sparkle Hayter

[Annvelwis]

Progress: 1/9


2001 The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon
2002 Stolen by Kelley Armstrong
2003 Killing Moon by Rebecca York
2004 Sex and the Single Vampire by Katie MacAlister
2005 Wicked Nights by Nina Bangs
2006 Lover Eternal by J.R. Ward
2007 Confessions of a Werewolf Supermodel by Ronda Thompson
2008 The Darkest Kiss by Gena Showalter 01-05
2009 Bone Crossed by Patricia Briggs

[Jacalyn]

DarkHeart It is a sickness. LOL And yeah I really wanted to free up some space. But these Jim Butcher books actually will free up some space. Those hardbacks take up a lot of room. I HAD actually made some great progress. I started off the year with four double stacked shelves. I'd freed up one double stack and half of another. So I thought I was well on my way to having only three double stacked or two double and two single stacked shelves. *SIGH* Now it's right back up, but I am not sure by how much. I've gotten an influx of books that I've just crammed onto shelves sideways for lack of time. After I get back from next weekend's convention I plan to go through and put the books where they need to go and assess the damage. Then I'll put the update in my blog along with my April reading entry. So maybe I'll get lucky and it won't be a full double stacking. Of course I know for sure it would be with all these Butcher hardbacks... LOL But they are out. :) I do wish I'd recorded how many books I had in January. *SIGH*

Annvelwis - I see you have Confessions of a Werewolf Supermodel. That was a great book and I was raring for the next one because it's obviously the start of something. Be warned... there's no more. :( I was really depressed!

[DarkHeart "Vehngeance"]

Shazzy wrote: "DarkHeart, you have an extra year. You've gone back to 2000. "

Rats! I had a book for that year too, and I do want to see what all the fuss is about with regards to Jim Butcher. Ah well, another time. ;)

[Jael ~ *~ Syhren ~* ~]

Stav wrote: "Jael,

I might borrow your choice for 2001...i Just read the summary outloud to my sister and we both have been laughing for like 5 minutes...I hope you don't mind :)

"

No I don't mind. I hear Sandra's book are lol funny. This will be my first time reading her.

[Annvelwis]

Lady Ozma wrote: "Annvelwis - I see you have Confessions of a Werewolf Supermodel. That was a great book and I was raring for the next one because it's obviously the start of something. Be warned... there's no more. :( I was really depressed!"
It's good to hear I chose a good book, heh. I hope I'll like it, too. I heard it's the last Ronda Thompson's book. I haven't read anything written by her before, so for me it'll be her first.

[LilMisGrayBrisk]

I'll participate in this one. I'll have to get my list together.

[LilMisGrayBrisk]

I was wondering how to post pictures? I was trying to figure it out, but I can't.

[Jacalyn]

Annvelwis It was my fist by her as well. It was really great! I enjoyed the voice of the character and I liked the story. The only thing I disliked was that the book obviously set up for a second book and I'm dying to know what was going on in Nevada (i think it was Nevada). It was very disappointing to learn the story would not conclude. It looks like it was published shortly after her death so I'm figuring there's no hopes that some family member will randomly come across the manuscript or anything. *SIGH* Other than that let down... it's great!! :) I look forward to hearing what you think.

[Jacalyn]

Mitabird if you are hosting the picture you use the html tags. Put img src into <> along with ="linktopicture"

If you just want to put the book covers like some people did, you use the add book/author link right above the comment box. :)

HTH

[LilMisGrayBrisk]

Lady Ozma wrote: "Mitabird if you are hosting the picture you use the html tags. Put img src into along with ="linktopicture"

If you just want to put the book covers like some people did, you use the add book/aut..."

Thanks!

[LilMisGrayBrisk]

2001 - Bitten by Kelly Armstrong
2002 - Way Of The Wolf: The Northlanders 1 by Shelby Morgen - DNF
2003 - Dhampir (Noble Dead, Series 1, Book 1) by Barb & JC Hendee
2004 - Fetish - Sherri L King
2005 - Crimson City by Liz Maverick
2006 - Syndelle's Possession by Jory Strong
2007 - Stray (Werecats, Book1) by Rachel Vincent
2008 - The Darkest Night (Lords of the Underworld, #1) by Gena Showalter
2009 -

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[Mel W]

I new to this group and this will be my first challenge, should be fun!

2001 - Kiss of the Highlander by Karen Marie Moning 02/05
2002 - Night Pleasures by Sherrilyn Kenyon 03/05
2003 - Killing Moon by Rebecca York 05/05
2004 - You Slay Me by Katie MacAlister
2005 - After Midnight by Teresa Medeiros
2006 - Past Redemption by Savannah Russe
2007 - White Lies by Jayne Ann Krentz
2008 - Destiny Kills by Keri Arthur
2009 - Sizzle and Burn by Jayne Ann Krentz


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[Yz the Whyz]

Welcome to the challenge, Mel. Happy reading!

[Ann aka Iftcan]

hi Mel--welcome to the challenge. I'm one of those still trying to figure out my list for this one.


Hey YZ--I just thought of a question. I noticed that there are several authors who are having old book re-released (Evanoviches "pre-Plum" books for an example, a bunch of Andre Norton's works, some Heinleins etc) what do we count THOSE as? The year they were originally published or the year that they were re-released? Since many of them are for new publishers and have a "date" for that publisher that is much later than the original one, which do we count?