Steph W.'s 2012 book challenge with some added personal goals

[Stephanie]

With the start of the New Year, I have once again taken on the 50 book challenge and added my own personal goals as well. the rules for my challenge will be as follows:
1. At least 15 books by new authors to me
2. At least 10 classics that I have not read
3. At least 10 books from my bookshelves at home that I have not read yet
4. At least 15 books by authors born/living in countries other than the USA.
5. At least 5 nonfiction books (may seem like a small number but I am not a nonfiction reader and this would be a challenge for me)
6. 50 books or 17,500 pages (whichever comes first)

Best of luck and happy reading to everyone!




1. Finished January 1, 2012
Earth and Ashes by Atiq Rahimi
3.5 stars
87 pages
1st book of the year by a new author to me
1st book of the year from my bookshelves at home
1st book of the year written by author born/living in country other than USA.

[Tiffany, Administrator]

Stephanie wrote: "With the start of the New Year, I have once again taken on the 50 book challenge and added my own personal goals as well. the rules for my challenge will be as follows:"

Wow, great goals! Good luck!

[Stephanie]

Tiffany wrote: "Stephanie wrote: "With the start of the New Year, I have once again taken on the 50 book challenge and added my own personal goals as well. the rules for my challenge will be as follows:"

Wow, g..."

Thanks Tiffany! Best of luck to you as well!

[Stephanie]

2. Finished January 10,2012-
The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom 4.0 stars
243 pages
total pages read for 2012 = 330 pages
2nd book of the year by a new author to me
2nd book of the year from my bookshelves at home
2nd book of the year written by author born/living in country other than USA.
1st nonfiction book of the year for me

[Stephanie]

3. Finished January 18,2012 The Devil in the White CIty: Murder, Magic and Madness at the Fair that Changed America by Erik Larson 4.0 stars
When I picked up this book, I really did not know anything about the 1893 World's fair that was held in Chicago Erik Larson sure changed that. He wrote a very interesting book that kept me interested, although I would have preferred it to have been written a little more like a story rather than mainly facts backed with quote after quote from the individuals that populated the book.

396 pages
total pages read for 2012 = 726 pages
3rd book of the year by a new author to me
2nd nonfiction book of the year for me

[Stephanie]

4. Finished January 28, 2012 Someone to Run With by David Grossman 4.5 stars
Great story about a girl. a boy, a dog, and destiny!

343 pages
total pages read for 2012= 1069 pages
4th book of the year by a new author to me
3rd book of the year written by author born/living in country other than USA.

[Stephanie]

5. Finished February 3, 2012 Hunger by Knut Hamsun
4.0 Stars-
For a book in which the reader never learns the main characters name or age and the whole plot revolves around this mans ability or inability to obtain his next meal, I am amazed at how well it kept my attention for the entire 150 pages. The author did a wonderful job describing not only the feeling of physical hunger but also the psychological effects from lack of food.

153 pages
total pages read for 2012 = 1222
5th book of the year by a new author to me
4th book of the year written by author born/living/ in country other than USA.

[Stephanie]

6. Finished March 19, 2012 Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
4.5 stars.
Great read! I loved learning about the Nigerian people and Biafra’s struggle to establish an independent republic in Nigeria in the 1960s.

433 pages
total pages read for 2012= 1655
6th book of the year by a new author to me
5th book of the year written by author born/living in country other than USA.