Colleen's Reading Challenges

[Colleen]

Just getting started here, and I've already got ...a few challenges that have piqued my interest.

The Reading Challenges Index: Clicky.
Gem Coins: Much coin!
My Gem Coin Mine: Hi-ho.
Hyperlink to a Specific Post or Bookshelf: This could be handy.


My Not-too-Serious 2020 Reading List

My ("I'm-Actually-Trying-To-Complete-These") Active Challenges:

Slow-to-Finish Challenges:
(view spoiler)[· Baby Got Book
· The Never Ending Series Challenge (or so I tell myself)
· The 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die Year-Long Challenge
· And, finally, the Rebel Reader/Banned Book Challenge
· The Serious Reader Challenge of 2019, Level 1
· NPR's Best Books of 2018 Challenge
(hide spoiler)]

In the Wings:
(view spoiler)[ ...And The Oscar Goes To...2017
A Book a Day Keeps the Boredom At Bay Reading Challenge
All About You, Part Deux
Author Alphabet Challenge 2019
Catch the Reading Bug, A to Z
Cleaning out the TBR Closet 2019
The Color Challenge
Decades Challenge
The Déjà Vu Reading Challenge
Discovering History
Exploring Goodreads: Science Fiction, Round 1
Fill in the Gaps Project
Finish This Sentence: A Reading Challenge
Hunger Games Challenge: Escape the Capitol
Jane Austen Yearly Challenge
Judge & Jury
Just Desserts Reading Challenge
Love Quote Mad Libs
Materia Medica Challenge
May: Tea Time Reading Challenge
Mynoun, Yournoun, We all scream for Pronouns! Challenge
Mythical Creatures: A to Z (Spell-it-Out)
Never Have I Ever
Pyramid Series Challenge
Reading Through Europe
Reading University Challenge
Series Slayer Challenge
Six Degrees of Separation Challenge
Stuck in a Rut Challenge
Word Ladders Challenge
(hide spoiler)]

My Completed Challenges:
· All About You Challenge, Part One!
· All About You Reading Challenge, Part Deux
· The Serious Readers Challenge, 2017 Edition, Level 1
· The Serious Reader Challenge of 2018, Level 1

[Colleen]

All About You Challenge, Part One!
("Freshened up" Challenge discussion board here.)
(My post, in original Challenge discussion board.)
Duration: One year from start date.

[x] Challenge Complete

Start Date: 10/14/2016
Completion date: 9/30/2017

(view spoiler)[I figure I'll start with month 10 since we're in the 10th month.

· Month Ten: (Current) Favorite Food
Start Date: 10/14/2016
End Date: 10/31/2016 (Ha! We'll see...)

T: Twain, Mark, The Prince and the Pauper
R: George R.R. Martin (author), A Dance with Dragons (Kind of a stretch with the "R" there, but I'm okay with that.)
I: The Innocent Mage, by Karen Miller

T: The Darkest Part of the Forest, by Holly Black
I: It's Your Life, Live BIG, by Josh Hinds
P: Murder with Peacocks, by Donna Andrews



· Month Eleven: Switch-Up to 3-5 on My Travel Bucket List - Title or Setting is Somewhere on My Bucket List
Start Date: 11/1/2016
End Date: 11/30/2016
November was a bust of a reading month for me. I read one chapter of anything all month.

England: Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen
Australia: Picnic at Hanging Rock, by Joan Lindsay (01/12/17)
New York City: City of Bones, by Cassandra Clare (12/15/16)
France: Perfume: The Story of a Murderer, by Patrick Süskind, translated by John E. Woods
Japan: Either: 1Q84, by Haruki Murakami, or The Guest Cat, by Takashi Hiraide



· Month Twelve: Switch-Out to Birthday Month (It seems only fitting, and I may even try to keep this one birthday and/or holiday themed.)
Start Date: 12/1/2016
End Date: 12/31/2016

D: Daniel Woodrell (author), Winter's Bone (12/17/16)
E: Emond, Stephen (author), Winter Town
C: Colleen Coble (author), All Is Calm / All Is Bright
E: Elle James (author), Christmas at Thunder Horse Ranch (Thunder Horse #4)
M: Macbride, Stuart (author), Birthdays for the Dead
B: Balogh, Mary (author), A Christmas Bride / Christmas Beau
E: An Enchanted Season, by Maggie Shayne
R: Raasch, Sara (author), Snow Like Ashes (6/7/17)



· Month One: Switch-Up to 5 Books of a Favorite Color (Color makes up the book cover, the font, or is in the Title)
Start Date: 1/1/2017
End Date: 1/31/2017

**A++ for good intentions! I started a few of these, but I haven't yet finished any of them.

Green - Preferably a deep green.
Strange Sweet Song, by Adi Rule
Silent Spring, by Rachel Carson
Mother Night, by Kurt Vonnegut (6/22/17)
Never Let Me Go, by Kazuo Ishiguro
Hexed, by Michelle Krys (7/26/17)



· Month Two: Birthstone
Start Date: 2/1/2017
End Date: 2/28/2017

**This will be a catch-up month for me, because my reading consistency is obviously superb! I'll shoot for finishing 3-5 of these.

T: The Power of Making the Right Choices, by Michael Kerrigan (2/12/17)
A: A Dance with Dragons, by George R.R. Martin (8/13/17)
N: Mother Night, by Kurt Vonnegut (6/21/17)
Z: Over the Top: Moving from Survival to Stability, from Stability to Success, from Success to Significance, by Zig Ziglar (22%)
A: Strange Sweet Song, by Adi Rule
N: Away From Home:Spying The Impossible, by Dotto Nshimba
I: Never Let Me Go, by Kazuo Ishiguro
T: The Tanzanite Protocol, by Don Critelli (How could I pass this up?)
E: Emma, by Jane Austen



· Month Three: Switch-Up to 3-4 Animals I Totally Dig (Somewhere on the Cover/in the Title)
Start Date: 3/1/2017
End Date: 3/31/2017

Cheetah: Golden Eyes, by Maya Banks
Elephant: Water for Elephants, by Sara Gruen
Whale: Moby-Dick; or, The Whale, by Herman Melville
Puppies: Cujo, by Stephen King

· Month Four: Favorite Flower
Start Date: 4/1/2017
End Date: 4/30/2017

T:
U:
L:
I:
P:

· Month Five: Switch-Up to My Favorite Musical Instrument (with a character who plays the instrument, or the instrument is on the cover/in the title)
Start Date: 5/1/2017
End Date: 5/31/2017

P:
I:
A:
N:
O:

· Month Six: 3-4 from My Favorite Genre (Fantasy/Sci-fi)
Start Date: 6/1/2017
End Date: 6/30/2017

Ender's Game, by Orson Scott Card
Dune, by Frank Herbert
1984, by George Orwell
Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury (7/3/17)
A Wrinkle in Time, by Madeleine L'Engle (7/16/17)


· Month Seven: Switch-Up to Hobbies I Share with Book Characters (4-8 books)
Start Date: 7/1/2017
End Date: 7/31/2017

Cooking:
Cinnamon and Gunpowder, by Eli Brown
John Saturnall's Feast, by Lawrence Norfolk
Chocolat, by Joanne Harris
The Love Goddess' Cooking School, by Melissa Senate
Garden Spells, by Sarah Addison Allen

Art-ing:
The Luthier's Apprentice, by Mayra Calvani
Picture Maker, by Penina Keen Spinka
Ink, by Amanda Sun
The Swan Thieves, by Elizabeth Kostova
The Musician's Daughter, by Susanne Dunlap

Reading:
Matilda, by Roald Dahl
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, by Betty Smith
The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak
Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen (I'll totes re-read this if I can't read the others)
To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee

Sleeping:
Nod, by Adrian Barnes
The Sleeping Beauty, Mercedes Lackey
Enchantment, Orson Scott Card

· Month Eight: 3-4 Written by Some of My Favorite Authors
Start Date: 8/1/2017
End Date: 8/31/2017

Mirror Sight, by Kristen Britain (12/7/17)
The Casual Vacancy, by J.K. Rowling
The Silmarillion, by J.R.R. Tolkien
One Good Knight, by Mercedes Lackey
Persuasion, by Jane Austen



· Month Nine: Pushing the Reading Limits! - Goal of 10 books this month.
Start Date: 9/1/2017
End Date: 9/30/2017

1 / 10
1. I Shall Not Hate: A Gaza Doctor's Journey on the Road to Peace and Human Dignity, by Izzeldin Abuelaish (9/4)
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.


I pushed no limits! And I went on a vacation and spent time with my best friend.
(hide spoiler)]

**Finished with reading a total of: 16 books for this challenge. Not bad for a first, unfocused try. :) I think I'll start the next one in January.

[Colleen]

Baby Got Book Challenge
Duration: You set the pace: Two months as an average for each book (other than the Bible), because I get distracted really easily. Eternity.

(My post.)

Ice Like Fire (Snow Like Ashes #2), by Sara Raasch 478 pgs (7/22/17)
City of Bones, by Cassandra Clare 485 pgs (12/15/16)
Written in Red, by Anne Bishop 487 pgs (5/6/18)
Marked in Flesh, by Anne Bishop 489 pgs (6/23/18)
Vision in Silver, by Anne Bishop 493 pgs (6/16/18)
Etched in Bone, by Anne Bishop 496 pgs (7/12/18)
Frost Like Night (Snow Like Ashes #3), by Sara Raasch 496 pgs (8/25/17)
Mirror Sight (Green Rider #5), by Kristen Britain 770 pgs (12/7/17)
Firebrand (Green Rider #6), by Kristen Britain 800 pgs (12/20/17)
A Dance with Dragons (A Song of Ice and Fire #5), by George R.R. Martin 959 pgs (8/13/17)
The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak 552 pgs
The Great Hunt (The Wheel of Time #2), by Robert Jordan 577 pgs (default: 702)
Democracy in America, by Alexis de Tocqueville 676 pgs
The Eye of the World (The Wheel of Time #1), by Robert Jordan 782 pgs (default: 814)
Under the Dome, by Stephen King 1,072 pgs (default: 1,074)



Total Pages Read: 5,953


Potentials:
The Swan Thieves, by Elizabeth Kostova, 564 pgs
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, by Betty Smith, 493 pgs

[Colleen]

The Color Challenge
Duration: Open-ended.
[ ] Challenge Complete

Black
White
Red
Blue
Green
Yellow
Purple
Brown

[Colleen]

The Déjà Vu Reading Challenge
Duration: You set the pace.
[ ] Challenge Complete

This one looks like a lot of fun.

[Colleen]

The Discovering History Challenge
Duration: One year from start date.
[ ] Challenge Complete

Knight
1. Princess:
2. Finding:
3. Stranger:
4. First:
5. Return:
6. Shadowland:
7. Cleopatra
8. Architect
9. Dirty
10. Secret

Also, 'cause I love word searches...
(view spoiler)[11. Girl
12. War
13. Daughter
14. Weak
15. Heart
16. Love
17. Lady
18. Marching
19. Kiss
20. Warrior
21. Jewish
22. Freedom
23. Sapphires
24. Comrade
25. Best
26. Aztec
27. Circle
28. Beneath
29. Countenance
30. Blood
31. Rebellion
32. Crown
33. Bones
34. Bitter
35. Cry
36. Bride
37. Cesar
38. Ghost
39. Deception
40. Trail
41. Divided
42. Family
43. Drowning
44. Lies
45. Redemption
46. Defiant
47. Dice
48. Queen
49. Kingdom
50. Cost
51. Maid
52. Pharaoh
53. Prince
54. Frail
55. Knight
56. Fruit
57. Noble
58. Golden
59. King
60. Song
61. Hope
(hide spoiler)]

[Colleen]

Finish This Sentence: A Reading Challenge
Duration: You set the pace.
[ ] Challenge Complete

[Colleen]

The Fill in the Gaps Project
Duration: Five years from start date.
[ ] Challenge Complete

[Colleen]

Hunger Games Challenge: Escape the Capitol
(I'm definitely a Hunger Games fan.)
Duration: Open-ended.
[ ] Challenge Complete

[Colleen]

The Mynoun, Yournoun, We all scream for Pronouns! Challenge
Duration: Open-ended.
[ ] Challenge Complete

[Colleen]

The Never Ending Series Challenge
(My post.)
Duration: Open-ended.
[ ] Challenge Complete

I've got a lot of series that I've already started over the years, without ever finishing them:
(view spoiler)[· The Dragonriders of Pern, by Anne McCaffrey (22 books)
· Tarzan, by Edgar Rice Burroughs (24 books)
· John Carter of Mars, by Edgar Rice Burroughs (11 books)
· The Dragonlance Series, by Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman
· Pellucidar, by Edgar Rice Burroughs (7 books)
· Song of Ice and Fire (Game of Thrones), by George R.R. Martin (5 books so far)
· Shadow World Series, by Dianne Sylvan (6 books)
· The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, by J.R.R. Tolkien (3 books)
· The Chronicles of Narnia, by C.S. Lewis (7 books)
· The Wheel of Time Series, by Robert Jordan (14 books)
· Meg Langslow Series, by Donna Andrews (20 books)
· The Children of Man Series, by Elizabeth C. Mock (3 books)
· The Dark Tower Series, by Stephen King (8 books)
· Stainless Steel Rat Series, by Harry Harrison (12 books)
· Valdemar: Arrows of the Queen Series, by Mercedes Lackey (3 books)
(hide spoiler)]

And series that I haven't yet started but have been wanting to:
(view spoiler)[· The Circle Series, by Ted Dekker (4 books)
· The Sword of Truth Series, by Terry Goodkind (15 books, I think?)
· The Avalon Series, by Marion Zimmer Bradley (7 books)
· The Kingkiller Chronicles, by Patrick Rothfuss (3 books)
· Millenium Series (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo), by Stieg Larsson (3-4 books)
· Jason Bourne Series, by Robert Ludlum (1-3 by Ludlum; 4-14 by Lustbader)
(hide spoiler)]

Completed Series: 7


· The Harry Potter Series, by J.K. Rowling
· The Hunger Games Series, by Suzanne Collins
· The Twilight Series, by Stephanie Meyer
· The Gemma Doyle Series, by Libba Bray
· Snow Like Ashes Series, by Sara Raasch (view spoiler)[
0.1. Icicles Like Kindling (6/10/17) - ebook
1. Snow Like Ashes (6/7/17)
2. Ice Like Fire (7/22/17)
2.1. Flames Like Vines (7/22/17) - ebook
3. Frost Like Night (8/25/17)

(hide spoiler)]
· Green Rider Series, by Kristen Britain (There'd better be a Book 7.) (view spoiler)[
1. Green Rider
2. Rider's First Call
3. The High King's Tomb
4. Blackveil
5. Mirror Sight (12/7/17)
6. Firebrand (12/20/17)

(hide spoiler)]
· The Others Series, by Anne Bishop (view spoiler)[
1. Written in Red (5/6/18)
2. Murder of Crows (5/23/18)
3. Vision in Silver (6/16/18)
4. Marked in Flesh (6/22/18)
5. Etched in Bone (7/12/18)
6. Lake Silence (5/20/19) **(This is technically Book 1 of "The World of the Others" series, but it's set in the same world & time as the above 5 books, so I'm counting it, and plan on reading this and #2 in this series.)
7. Wild Country (5/23/19)

(hide spoiler)]

******
Current Series:

A Song of Ice and Fire, by George R.R. Martin (5 of 7) - **Currently on hold until Book 6 is released.
(view spoiler)[1. A Game of Thrones (1/7/16)
2. A Clash of Kings (??/2016)
3. A Storm of Swords (??/2016)
4. A Feast for Crows (7/3/2016)
5. A Dance with Dragons (8/13/17)
6. The Winds of Winter (expected release: 2017/2018)
7. A Dream of Spring (unknown release date)

(hide spoiler)]

Pellucidar, by Edgar Rice Burroughs (0 of 7)
(view spoiler)[1. At the Earth's Core
2. Pellucidar
3. Tanar of Pellucidar
4. Tarzan at the Earth's Core
5. Back to the Stone Age
6. Land of Terror
7. Savage Pellucidar
(hide spoiler)]

Meg Langslow, by Donna Andrew (1 of 20)
(view spoiler)[1. Murder with Peacocks 10/28/16
2. Murder with Puffins
3. Revenge of the Wrought Iron Flamingos
4. Crouching Buzzard, Leaping Loon
5. We'll Always Have Parrots
6. Owls Well That Ends Well
7. No Nest for the Wicket
8. The Penguin Who Knew Too Much
9. Cockatiels at Seven
10. Six Geese A-Slaying
11. Swan For The Money
12. Stork Raving Mad
13. The Real Macaw
14. Some Like It Hawk
15. The Hen of the Baskervilles
16. Duck the Halls
17. The Good, the Bad, and the Emus
18. The Nightingale Before Christmas
19. Lord of the Wings
20. Die Like an Eagle

(hide spoiler)]

The Dark Tower, by Stephen King (1 of 9)
**Re-Started this series through the BoM, but I don't plan on continuing it any time soon will need to figure out my priorities, because I just saw a movie poster for The Dark Tower.
(view spoiler)[0.5. The Little Sisters of Eluria
1. The Gunslinger (Re-read for BoM) 6/28/17
2. The Drawing of the three
3. The Wastelands
4. Wizard and Glass
4.5 The Wind through the Keyhole
5. Wolves of the Calla
6. Song of Susannah
7. The Dark Tower

(hide spoiler)]

[Colleen]

The Rebel Reader/Banned Book Challenge
(My post.)
Duration: You set the pace - I'll be setting it at five years. That should be more than enough: 7/1/2017 - 6/30/2022
[ ] Challenge Complete

I'd like to re-read the ones that I've already completed, just to keep them fresh. You know. Also, because I probably like the ones I've read and I sure wouldn't mind reading them again.

Top 100 Banned/Challenged Books: 2000-2009
(view spoiler)[1. Harry Potter (series), by J.K. Rowling (Re-read)
2. Alice series, by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
3. The Chocolate War, by Robert Cormier
4. And Tango Makes Three, by Justin Richardson/Peter Parnell
**5. Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck (2/15/18) // (Re-read)
**6. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, by Maya Angelou
7. Scary Stories (series), by Alvin Schwartz
8. His Dark Materials (series), by Philip Pullman
9. ttyl; ttfn; l8r g8r (series), by Myracle, Lauren
10. The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky
11. Fallen Angels, by Walter Dean Myers
12. It’s Perfectly Normal, by Robie Harris
13. Captain Underpants (series), by Dav Pilkey
**14. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain
**15. The Bluest Eye, by Toni Morrison
16. Forever, by Judy Blume
**17. The Color Purple, by Alice Walker
18. Go Ask Alice, by Anonymous
**19. Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger
20. King and King, by Linda de Haan
**21. To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee
22. Gossip Girl (series), by Cecily von Ziegesar
23. The Giver, by Lois Lowry (Re-read)
24. In the Night Kitchen, by Maurice Sendak
25. Killing Mr. Griffen, by Lois Duncan
**26. Beloved, by Toni Morrison
27. My Brother Sam Is Dead, by James Lincoln Collier
28. Bridge To Terabithia, by Katherine Paterson
29. The Face on the Milk Carton, by Caroline B. Cooney
30. We All Fall Down, by Robert Cormier
31. What My Mother Doesn’t Know, by Sonya Sones
32. Bless Me, Ultima, by Rudolfo Anaya
33. Snow Falling on Cedars, by David Guterson
34. The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big, Round Things, by Carolyn Mackler
35. Angus, Thongs, and Full Frontal Snogging, by Louise Rennison
**36. Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley (6/24/18)
37. It’s So Amazing, by Robie Harris
38. Arming America, by Michael Bellasiles
39. Kaffir Boy, by Mark Mathabane
40. Life is Funny, by E.R. Frank
41. Whale Talk, by Chris Crutcher
42. The Fighting Ground, by Avi
43. Blubber, by Judy Blume
44. Athletic Shorts, by Chris Crutcher
45. Crazy Lady, by Jane Leslie Conly
**46. Slaughterhouse-Five, by Kurt Vonnegut
47. The Adventures of Super Diaper Baby, by George Beard
48. Rainbow Boys, by Alex Sanchez
**49. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, by Ken Kesey
50. The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini
51. Daughters of Eve, by Lois Duncan
52. The Great Gilly Hopkins, by Katherine Paterson
53. You Hear Me?, by Betsy Franco
54. The Facts Speak for Themselves, by Brock Cole
55. Summer of My German Soldier, by Bette Green
56. When Dad Killed Mom, by Julius Lester
57. Blood and Chocolate, by Annette Curtis Klause
58. Fat Kid Rules the World, by K.L. Going
59. Olive’s Ocean, by Kevin Henkes
60. Speak, by Laurie Halse Anderson
61. Draw Me A Star, by Eric Carle
62. The Stupids (series), by Harry Allard
63. The Terrorist, by Caroline B. Cooney
64. Mick Harte Was Here, by Barbara Park
**65. The Things They Carried, by Tim O’Brien
66. Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, by Mildred Taylor
67. A Time to Kill, by John Grisham
68. Always Running, by Luis Rodriguez
69. Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury (7/3/17)
70. Harris and Me, by Gary Paulsen
71. Junie B. Jones (series), by Barbara Park
**72. Song of Solomon, by Toni Morrison
73. What’s Happening to My Body Book, by Lynda Madaras
74. The Lovely Bones, by Alice Sebold (Re-read)
75. Anastasia (series), by Lois Lowry
**76. A Prayer for Owen Meany, by John Irving
77. Crazy: A Novel, by Benjamin Lebert
78. The Joy of Gay Sex, by Dr. Charles Silverstein
79. The Upstairs Room, by Johanna Reiss (6/29/18)
80. A Day No Pigs Would Die, by Robert Newton Peck
81. Black Boy, by Richard Wright
82. Deal With It!, by Esther Drill
83. Detour for Emmy, by Marilyn Reynolds
84. So Far From the Bamboo Grove, by Yoko Watkins
85. Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes, by Chris Crutcher
86. Cut, by Patricia McCormick
87. Tiger Eyes, by Judy Blume
**88. The Handmaid’s Tale, by Margaret Atwood
89. Friday Night Lights, by H.G. Bissenger
90. A Wrinkle in Time, by Madeline L’Engle (7/16/17)
91. Julie of the Wolves, by Jean Craighead George (5/29/18)
92. The Boy Who Lost His Face, by Louis Sachar
93. Bumps in the Night, by Harry Allard
94. Goosebumps (series), by R.L. Stine
95. Shade’s Children, by Garth Nix
96. Grendel, by John Gardner
**97. The House of the Spirits, by Isabel Allende
98. I Saw Esau, by Iona Opte
99. Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret, by Judy Blume
100. America: A Novel, by E.R. Frank

** Also on the 1001 Books to Read Before You Die list
(hide spoiler)]

Completed: 6 / 100

[Colleen]

The Six Degrees of Separation Challenge
Duration: You set the pace.
[ ] Challenge Complete

[Colleen]

The Word Ladders Challenge
Duration: You set the pace.
[ ] Challenge Complete

[Colleen]

The Materia Medica Challenge
Duration: Open-ended.
[ ] Challenge Complete

[Colleen]

The Stuck in a Rut Challenge
Duration: One year from start date.
[ ] Challenge Complete

[Colleen]

The Decades Challenge
Duration: January 6, 2016 to January 7, 2017
[ ] Challenge Complete

This is a really cool idea, and I will most likely join next 2018's challenge.

[Colleen]

The Serious Readers Challenge, 2016 Edition
Duration: The year of 2016.
[ ] Challenge Complete

I don't expect to get into Level 2 through Level 1 this year, but I'd like to give it a try and see how far I can get.

Final 2016 Count: 10/100

1. A Game of Thrones, by George R.R. Martin (1/7/16)
2. A Clash of Kings, by George R.R. Martin
3. A Storm of Swords, by George R.R. Martin
4. A Feast for Crows, by George R.R. Martin (7/3/16)
5. It's Simple not Obvious, by Jim Dornan
6. The Compound Effect, by Darren Hardy
7. The Darkest Part of the Forest, by Holly Black (10/27/16)
8. Murder With Peacocks, by Donna Andrews (10/28/16)
9. City of Bones, by Cassandra Clare (12/15/16)
10. Winter's Bone, by Daniel Woodrell (12/17/16)

[Colleen]

The Judge & Jury Challenge
Duration: You set the pace.
[ ] Challenge Complete

Start Date:
Completion Date:

[Colleen]

The Just Desserts Reading Challenge
(My post.)
Duration: You set the pace.
[ ] Challenge Complete

Start Date:
Completion Date:

[Colleen]

The Series Slayer Challenge
Duration: You set the pace.
[ ] Challenge Complete

Start Date:
Completion Date:

[Colleen]

The 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die Year-Long Challenge (Or, as my mom said, "If you don't read them, you won't die." Thanks, Mom.) (My Post)

Duration: One year from start date to complete a chunk from the list. (I'm doing it per year until I finish the list.)

Using: This provided list. (Numbered alphabetically by author's last name, sorted on a spreadsheet on my computron.)

Previous Years: 17 / 1,001
(view spoiler)[· Pre-2017:
4. Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe (Fall, 2002)
9. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, by Douglas Adams
52. Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen
131. Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë (Fall, 2014)
142. Tarzan of the Apes, by Edgar Rice Burroughs
240. A Tale of Two Cities, by Charles Dickens (Spring, 2003)
291. Like Water for Chocolate, by Laura Esquivel
311. The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald
364. Lord of the Flies, by William Golding
412. The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne (Spring, 2003)
698. Animal Farm, by George Orwell
751. Wide Sargasso Sea, by Jean Rhys (Fall, 2014)
847. Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck **(re-read in 2018)**
890. The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien
947. The Time Machine, by H.G. Wells (2016)

· 2017:
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (7/17)

· 2018:
Of Mice and Men (2/15) **(re-read)**
Brave New World (6/24)


(hide spoiler)]

Completed This Year (2019): 0 / 25
1. Wuthering Heights, by Emily Brontë
2. I, Robot, by Isaac Asimov
3. The Handmaid's Tale, by Margaret Atwood **
4. Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen - (own it)
5. Emma, by Jane Austen - (own it)
6. Persuasion, by Jane Austen - (own it)
7. Song of Solomon, by Toni Morrison **
8. Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen - (own it)
9.
10. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, by J.K. Rowling ** (the series; own it; re-read)
11. The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, by Agatha Christie
12. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, by Maya Angelou **
13. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain **
14. The Bluest Eye, by Toni Morrison **
15. The Color Purple, by Alice Walker **
16. The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger **
17. To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee **
18. Beloved, by Toni Morrison **
19. Catch-22, by Joseph Heller - (own it)
20. Slaughterhouse-Five, by Kurt Vonnegut **
21. The Things They Carried, by Tim O'Brien **
22.
23. A Prayer for Owen Meany, by John Irving **
24. The House of the Spirits, by Isabel Allende **
25. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, by Ken Kesey **

**Also a Banned/Rebel Readers book.

[Colleen]

The Serious Readers Challenge, Level 1, 2017 Edition
(My Post.)

Duration: The year of 2017.

✬Completed: 27 / 100


January (3)
1. The Magic of Thinking Big, by David J. Schwartz (1/4)
2. The $100 Million Dollar Playbook, by David Alan (1/6)
3. Picnic at Hanging Rock, by Joan Lindsay (1/12)

February (1)
4. The Power of Making the Right Choices, by Michael Kerrigan (2/12)

March (1)
5. You Are What You Believe, by Hyrum W. Smith (3/27)

April (0)

May (0)

June (4)
6. Snow Like Ashes, by Sara Raasch (6/7)
7. Icicles Like Kindling, by Sara Raasch (6/10) - ebook
8. Mother Night, by Kurt Vonnegut (6/21)
9. The Gunslinger, by Stephen King (6/28)

July (8)
10. Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury (7/3) (I have surpassed last year's attempt.)
11. Reach: A New Strategy to Help You Step Outside Your Comfort Zone, Rise to the Challenge and Build Confidence, by Andy Molinsky (7/12)
12. A Wrinkle in Time, by Madeleine L'Engle (7/16)
13. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, by Lewis Carroll (7/17)
14. Ice Like Fire, by Sara Raasch (7/22)
15. Flames Like Vines, by Sara Raasch (7/22) - ebook
16. The Outward Mindset: Seeing Beyond Ourselves, by the Arbinger Institute (7/23)
17. Hexed, by Michelle Krys (7/26)

August (3)
18. A Dance with Dragons, by George R. R. Martin (8/13)
19. Frost Like Night, by Sara Raasch (8/25)
20. The Cowboy's Christmas Baby, by Carolyne Aarsen, (8/26)

September (3)
21. I Shall Not Hate: A Gaza Doctor's Journey on the Road to Peace and Human Dignity, by Izzeldin Abuelaish (9/4)
22. Chasing Sam, by Krystal Shannan (9/22)
23. Bound by a Dragon, by Linda K. Hopkins (9/27)

October (0)

November (2)
24. Winning Attitude: The Power of Choosing Your Destiny, published by Embassy Books (11/20)
25. Strange Sweet Song, by Adi Rule (11/22)

December (2)
26. Mirror Sight, by Kristen Britain (12/7)
27. Firebrand, by Kristen Britain (12/20)

[Colleen]

The Cleaning out the TBR Closet 2019 Challenge

Duration: 2019

[ ] Challenge Complete

[Colleen]

The ...And The Oscar Goes To...2017 Challenge

Duration: One year from start date.

[ ] Challenge Complete

[Colleen]

The Love Quote Mad Libs Challenge

Duration: One year from start date.

[ ] Challenge Complete

[Colleen]

The Around the World in 80 Days Challenge

Duration: One year from start date.

[ ] Challenge Complete

[Colleen]

The Never Have I Ever Challenge

Duration: One year from start date.

[ ] Challenge Complete

[Colleen]

The All About You, Part Deux Challenge
My Part One post.
My Part Deux post.

Duration: One year from start date.

Starting Date: 1/1/2018
Completion Date: 12/31/18

[ ] Challenge Complete

(view spoiler)[· Month 1: A Nickname You Go By
Start Date: 1/1/2018
End Date: 1/31/2018

C: Leading with Character and Competence: Moving Beyond Title, Position, and Authority, by Timothy R. Clark
O: Over the Top: Moving from Survival to Stability, from Stability to Success, from Success to Significance, by Zig Ziglar
C: Catch-22, by Joseph Heller
O: Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck (2/15)




· Month 2: Read four books where the protagonist has your current job, your dream job, or even your avocation.
Start Date: 2/1/2018
End Date: 2/28/2018

Main Characters Who are Artists/Musicians:
Girl with a Pearl Earring, by Tracy Chevalier (2/28)
The Time Traveler's Wife, by Audrey Niffenegger
Cat's Eye, by Margaret Atwood
The Soloist, by Mark Salzman
(And for fun, because German:) Doktor Faustus, by Thomas Mann




· Month 3: Again, your favorite color. Only this time choose four books where your favorite color appears somewhere on the cover, with at least one the predominate cover color.
Start Date: 3/1/2018
End Date: 3/31/2018

Green


1. The Princess Bride, by William Goldman (4/6)
2. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, by J.K. Rowling
3. Gone, by Michael Grant
4. The Maze Runner, by James Dashner



· Month 4: Read four books from your favorite series. They can either all be from different series or the same one.
Start Date: 4/1/2018
End Date: 4/30/2018

Possibly the Following:
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, by J.K. Rowling (Harry Potter #4)
The Lord of the Rings, by J.R.R. Tolkien
Dragonflight, by Anne McCaffrey (Dragonriders of Pern #1)
A Stainless Steel Rat is Born, by Harry Harrison (Stainless Steel Rat #1) (4/27)



· Month 5: Make of your dream car. If you don't drive, then use your favorite form of transportation. If you want to find your mode of transportation on the covers of four books, go for it. Otherwise, Spell-It-Out.
Start Date: 5/1/2018
End Date: 5/31/2018

M: Murder of Crows, by Anne Bishop (5/23)
U: The Upstairs Room, by Johanna Reiss (6/29)
S: Vision in Silver, by Anne Bishop (6/16)
T: The Handmaid's Tale, by Margaret Atwood
A: Written in Red, by Anne Bishop (5/6)
N: Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley (6/24)
G: Julie of the Wolves, by Jean Craighead George (5/29)



· Month 6: Birth Order. Were you born first, or sixth? Spell-It-Out.
Start Date: 6/1/2018
End Date: 6/30/2018

S: Stolen, by Allison Brennan
E: Etched in Bone, by Anne Bishop (7/12)
C: As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride, by Cary Elwes
O: Bringing Out the Best in People: How to Enjoy Helping Others Excel, by Alan Loy McGinnis
N: Think and Grow Rich: The Landmark Bestseller Now Revised and Updated for the 21st Century, by Napoleon Hill
D: Adam, by Ted Dekker


· Month 7: Whether you love to play it or watch it, what is your favorite sport? Baseball, football, hockey, the Olympics? Find four books on the topic, or Spell-It-Out.
Start Date: 7/1/2018
End Date: 7/31/2018

Archery
A: Arrows of the Queen, by Mercedes Lackey (This is a re-read, but I don't remember it hardly at all.)
R: The Ruins of Gorlan, by John Flanagan (7/18)
C: The Archer's Tale, by Bernard Cornwell
H: Hunted, by Meagan Spooner (7/21)
E: Ready Player One, by Ernest Cline (9/26 - A bow was mentioned ONCE. This was not a book about archery. Fun, but not archery.)
R: The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood, by Howard Pyle (9/13)
Y: Susana and the Scot, by Sabrina York (7/11 - To be fair, there was some archery.)


· Month 8: Your best subject in school. Math, science, French, Home Ec? Find four books on the topic, or the protagonist teaches or takes it. Or use the Spell-It-Out option.
Start Date: 8/1/2018
End Date: 8/31/2018

Foreign Language
1. Story of Your Life, by Ted Chiang
2. Native Tongue, by Suzette Haden Elgin
3. Lexicon, by Max Barry (9/13)
4. Damocles, by S.G. Redling


· Month 9: You against the elements. Read four books total, one each with “earth, wind, fire, water” in the title, or has a depiction of them on the cover, or is the subject of the book.
Start Date: 9/1/2018
End Date: 9/30/2018




✔ (10/8)


· Month 10: Your Kingdom: animal, vegetable or mineral? Decide on a kingdom, then choose something from within that kingdom. Example: elephant, zucchini, quartz. Read only three books this month. Or, you guessed it, Spell-It-Out.
Start Date: 10/1/2018
End Date: 10/31/2018

·Confession: This is a catch-up month for me. I have 4 library books checked out & maybe 2 that I own that were on my lists from previous months and I want to read all of them. Gonna. (I finished zero books.)

· Month 11: Read your favorite media delivery system: Kindle, NOOK, Kobe, iPad, e-book, audiobook, audio, iPod, paperback, paper, dead-tree version, etc. Spell-It-Out.
Start Date: 11/1/2018
End Date: 11/30/2018

P: Persuasion, by Jane Austen
A: The Red Tent, by Anita Diamant
P: Pellucidar, by Edgar Rice Burroughs
E: Wuthering Heights, by Emily Brontë
R: Remains of Innocence, by J.A. Jance
B: Before I Say Good-Bye, by Mary Higgins Clark
A: Across Five Aprils, by Irene Hunt
C: Missing You, by Harlan Coben
K: Kill Alex Cross, by James Patterson
(hide spoiler)]

· Month 12: Repeat your favorite challenge month from “All About You, Part 1” .
I switched one month out to "Hobbies I Share with Characters." It's not actually from the list of ideas provided, but there were a lot of books I had an interest in when I was looking for potential reads, and I'd really like to tackle some of them. I'm thinking I'll use that category.
Start Date: 12/1/2018
End Date: 12/31/2018

Cooking:
Cinnamon and Gunpowder, by Eli Brown (Avail thru sdcl.)
John Saturnall's Feast, by Lawrence Norfolk (Avail thru sdcl.)
Chocolat, by Joanne Harris (Avail thru sdcl.)
The Love Goddess' Cooking School, by Melissa Senate
Garden Spells, by Sarah Addison Allen (Avail thru sdcl.)

Art-ing:
The Luthier's Apprentice, by Mayra Calvani
Picture Maker, by Penina Keen Spinka (Avail thru sdcl.)
Ink, by Amanda Sun (Avail thru sdcl.)
The Swan Thieves, by Elizabeth Kostova (Avail thru sdcl.)
The Musician's Daughter, by Susanne Dunlap (Avail thru sdcl.)

Reading:
Matilda, by Roald Dahl (Avail thru sdcl.)
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, by Betty Smith
The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak
Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen (I'll totes re-read this if I can't read the others)
To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee

Sleeping:
Nod, by Adrian Barnes
The Sleeping Beauty, Mercedes Lackey (Avail thru sdcl.)
Enchantment, Orson Scott Card

[Colleen]

A Book a Day Keeps the Boredom At Bay Reading Challenge

Duration: One year from start date.

Starting Date:
Completion Date:

[ ] Challenge Complete

(view spoiler)[1 - Is the first day of the month. Read a book where the main character (MC) has a first experience of sorts. Or is a one word title. Or is the first of a series.

2 – One is good, two is better. Read a romance book or a book that has a partnership.
Subgenres of romance under the spoiler
(view spoiler)
Two can also mean repetition. Read a book about second chances.

3 – Being the third wheel is never funny. Read a book that has a wheel on the cover. Or has a love triangle. You can also read a book about three best friends.

4 – 4th of July is Independence Day. Read a book with a red, white and blue cover, or that is set on the US, or has the US flag on the cover. Or read a book where the main character is fighting for his independence or for some greater good.

5 - High Five. Read a book where a character is a sports fan or has a best buddy. Or read one about a character with a strong need for approval. There are five points on a star. Read a book with a star on the cover or title.

6 - In numerology the number 6 is considered a feminine, nurturing, "mother" number. Read a book where the main female character is a mother or becomes a mother.
In a biblical sense, both man and the serpent were created on the sixth day, therefore, the number six represents both man and rebellion. Read a book were the main character is a man or about a rebellion or resistance to some regimen.

7–Lucky Seven. Read a book where a character is extremely lucky or a book about anything game related (gambling, bets, poker night, drinking game, you get my point). In the Old Testament, 7 is the number of days it took for God to create the world. Read a book with a tight deadline.

8– Magic Eight Ball. Read a Magical Book or a book where a character predicts the future (visions, premonitions, tarot readings, any method counts).

9–Is the name of a film set in a post-apocalyptic future. Read a book set in, or where a character comes from, a post-apocalyptic future

10 – 10th of June is the day of Camoes, Portugal and the Portuguese communities. Read a poetry book or a book that has a writer as the main character. Or read a book where the protagonist is Portuguese or Brazilian or speaks Portuguese. Or read a book where the main character struggles to save a precious item.

11–Its etymological originates from a Germanic compound ainlif meaning "one left". Read a book with only "one left" - it can be the only option left, or the only survivor, or the last of a set of events, the last book left in a series, etc.

12– 12 days of Christmas. Read a book about Christmas, Christmas songs or that has a cumulative title, like Once Bitten, Twice Shy. 12 is also the governmental perfection. Read a book with a character or author named as one of the 12 Apostles, or set in Israel. There are 12 zodiacal signs. Read a book with zodiac or one of the signs on the cover or in the title

13– Black cats, voodoo dolls and Friday the 13th. Read a book about superstitions, bad luck or the occult. Friday the 13th is also known among programmers for causing a computer bug. Read a book about computer viruses, computer hacking or some technological challenge like in Digital Fortress.

14–The 14th amendment defines US citizenship rights, and importantly, gave African Americans the right to citizenship in America. Read a book where a character moves to the US, or is based in 19th century America.

15–The atomic number of phosphorus, which emits a faint glow upon exposure to oxygen – hence its name given from Greek mythology, meaning "light-bearer." Read a book showing the faint glow of light on the cover.



16– Sweet 16. Read a book where a character (doesn’t have to be the MC) reaches 16 or has a sweet 16 party. Or read a Young Adult book.

17–The shortest form of Japanese poetry (known as Haiku) contains exactly 17 syllables. Read something set in Japan. It takes 17 muscles to produce a smile. Read something that puts a smile on your face.

18–Number of holes on a golf course. Read a book about a professional sportsperson, or where a character plays golf, or golf is part of the title or cover of a book

19–The worst worldwide influenza pandemic ended in 1919. Read a book from the medical genre, or a book with a character who is a Doctor or Nurse, or a book where someone dies from the flu.

20–20/20. Read a “number one book”: about a top student, a perfect score, a best seller. You can also read a book where a character has one of the senses highlighted.

21 – Is the legal age for drinking. Read a book where someone has a drinking problem, is an ex-alcoholic or overcome some addiction. 21 can also be Black Jack. Read a book set or where the character goes to Las Vegas, or has a casino or a game of Black Jack or vingt et un is involved.

22–In French, "22" is used as a phrase to warn of the coming of the police (typically "22, v'là les flics!", "22, here come the cops!"). Read a book that is a police procedural, or has a strong police presence.

23–"W" is the 23rd letter of the alphabet. It has two points down and three points up. Half of W is V, which is the Roman numeral for 5. The "W" on your keyboard is right between the 2 and 3. Read a book with a title or series name that begins with "W." Or was written by an author with a first or last name that begins with "W."

24–There are 24 hours in a day. Read a book in one day. Or one that takes place all in one day.

25–British slang for £25 is "Pony." Read a book about a horse or has a picture of one on the cover.

26 – 26th January is the Australia day or the arrival of the First Fleet. Read a book set in Australia or aboard of a ship. You can also read an historical book with action taking place on the 18th century.

27– Is the perfect cube (3 X 3 X 3). Read a book from 3 different trilogies - yes, that means 3 books - Or read a book about a mathematic riddle or code, books like The Da Vinci Code or The Eight are a good example for this one.

28–The number of dominoes in standard domino sets. Read something with a black and white cover.

29–and holding. Read a book where the main character is about to turn 30.
Or you can use listopia: I searched for "turning 30" and got results like
Flavorwire.com's 30 Books Everyone Should Read Before Turning 30
or
The books of my 20s">The books of my 20s
Any book from those lists (or similar) will be eligible for this option.

30–Over the hill or don't trust anyone over 30. Read a book where a character has an abnormal life span and is older than he/she appears (vampire, fae, warlock, elf, etc).

31 – Is the last day of the month. Read a book about last chances. Or read the final book of a series. You can also read a book about the end of a cycle or a new beginning.
(hide spoiler)]

[Colleen]

The Catch the Reading Bug, A to Z Challenge

Duration: You Set the Pace.

Starting Date:
Completion Date:

[ ] Challenge Complete

**I am SOOOOooooo intrigued by the Goliath Beetle challenge level. I may not be able to help myself when it comes time for another challenge.

[Colleen]

The Jane Austen Yearly Challenge

Duration: One year from start date.

Starting Date:
Completion Date:

[ ] Challenge Complete

[Colleen]

The Mythical Creatures: A to Z (Spell-it-Out) Challenge

Duration: Open-ended; you set the pace.

Starting Date:
Completion Date:

[ ] Challenge Complete

[Colleen]

The Reading Through Europe Challenge

Duration: Yearly.

Starting Date:
Completion Date:

[ ] Challenge Complete

[Colleen]

The Reading University Challenge

Duration: You set the pace.

Starting Date:
Completion Date:

[ ] Challenge Complete

[Colleen]

The Level 1 of the Serious Reader Challenge for 2018
(My Post.)

Duration: The year of 2018.

✬ Completed: 24 / 100



January (0)

February (3)
1. Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck (2/15)
2. Adrenaline, by Jeff Abbott (2/22)
3. Girl with a Pearl Earring, by Tracy Chevalier (2/28)

March (0)

April (3)
4. The Princess Bride, by William Goldman (4/6)
5. Holes, by Louis Sachar (4/7)
6. A Stainless Steel Rat is Born, by Harry Harrison (4/27)

May (3)
7. Written in Red, by Anne Bishop (5/6)
8. Murder of Crows, by Anne Bishop (5/23)
9. Julie of the Wolves, by Jean Craighead George (5/29)

June (4)
10. Vision in Silver, by Anne Bishop (6/17)
11. Marked in Flesh, by Anne Bishop (6/23)
12. Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley (6/24)
13. The Upstairs Room, by Johanna Reiss (6/29)

July (4)
14. Susana and the Scot, by Sabrina York (7/11)
15. Etched in Bone, by Anne Bishop (7/12)
16. The Ruins of Gorlan, by John Flanagan (7/18)
17. Hunted, by Meagan Spooner (7/21)

August (0)

September (6)
18. The Four Laws of Debt Free Prosperity: The Chequemate Story, by Lee Nelson (9/5) **This was a re-read**
19. The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood, by Howard Pyle (9/13)
20. Lexicon, by Max Barry (9/13)
21. Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls 2, by Elena Favilli (9/16)
22. The Art of Productivity: Your Competitive Edge, by Jim Stovall (9/16)
23. Ready Player One, by Ernest Cline (9/26)

October (1)
24. Burning Water, by Mercedes Lackey (10/8)

November (0)

December (0)

[Colleen]

The Exploring Goodreads: Science Fiction, Round 1 Challenge

Duration: One year from start date.

Starting Date:
Completion Date:

[ ] Challenge Complete

[Colleen]

The Pyramid Series Challenge

Duration: You decide, depending on the height of your pyramid.

Starting Date:
Completion Date:

[ ] Challenge Complete

[Colleen]

The Level 1 of the Serious Reader Challenge for 2019
(My Post)

Duration: The year of 2019

✬ Completed: 5 / 100


January (1)
1. The Life-Changing Magic of Not Giving a F*ck: How to Stop Spending Time You Don't Have with People You Don't Like Doing Things You Don't Want to Do, by Sarah Knight (1/29)

February (1)
2. Back Talk, by Danielle Lazarin (2/3)

March (0)

April (0)

May (3)
3. The Bullet Journal Method: Track the Past, Order the Present, Design the Future, by Ryder Carroll (5/1)
4. Lake Silence, by Anne Bishop (5/20)
5. Wild Country, by Anne Bishop (5/23)
6.

In Progress:


Coming Up:

[Colleen]

NPR's Best Books of 2018 Challenge.
(My Post.)

Duration: January 1, 2019 - December 31, 2019

Wanna Read:



So many (95 here) good-lookin' books from 2018. I'll shoot for reading 5 this year.

Finished: 1

[Colleen]

The May: Tea Time Reading Challenge

Duration: The Month of May

Starting Date:
Completion Date:

[ ] Challenge Complete

[Colleen]

The Tulip Reading Challenge


Duration: One month from start date

Starting Date:
Completion Date:

[ ] Challenge Complete

[Colleen]

Not-too-Serious 2020 Reading List
Duration: 2020
Let's be real - I get distracted so easily but have such high reading ambitions, so this year I'm just going to try to read whatever I can without actually setting a specific goal. (I mean, I've already borrowed 15 books from the library, and have finished zero, and three more are on request. *facepalm* [I've returned all but two of them.])

Actually, the only goal I've got is to finish the entire Lord of the Rings series, since I've been trying to read it since 2012, when my brother gave me the entire volume as an awesome birthday gift.

The Books
(view spoiler)[
(hide spoiler)]

Completed: 3 / ??