I finished no books in July. I didn't finish the last 4 Month Challenge. I have read no Shakespeare. I will probably have to give up the Off the Shelf Challenge as I can no longer remember when I bought most books I own.
I've read 15 books so far this month.
The Help counts as my 19th book towards my Off the Shelf Challenge.
Showing posts with label challenges. Show all posts
Showing posts with label challenges. Show all posts
Monday, August 29, 2011
Thursday, June 9, 2011
June Reading Challenges Updates
The 4 Month Challenge
1. Read a book that's author's name begins with J for June in June (first name only), 5 points; Hope Was Here by Joan Bauer
2. Read a book with a house on the cover, 10 points; The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall
Total for June: 15
Total: 195
1. Read a book that's author's name begins with J for June in June (first name only), 5 points; Hope Was Here by Joan Bauer
2. Read a book with a house on the cover, 10 points; The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall
Total for June: 15
Total: 195
Friday, May 6, 2011
May Reading Challenges Updates
The 4 Month Challenge
1. Read a book having to do with ghosts, reincarnation, etc., 20 points; The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
2. Read a book that's author's name begins with the letter M for May in May, 5 points; A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
3. Read a book where the author wrote under a pseudonym, 10 points; Animal Farm by George Orwell
4. Read a book that's author was born during the Spring season, 15 points; The Tempest by William Shakespeare
5. Read a book with a reference to a fairy tale, 15 points; The Bloody Chamber by Angela Carter
6. Read a book where the main character is an author, 20 points; The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
Total for May: 85 points
Total: 180 points
Off the Shelf (Making a Dent, 30 books)
1. The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
2. The Bloody Chamber by Angela Carter
Total for May: 2
Total: 18
Shakespeare Reading Challenge (Desdemona, 6 plays)
1. The Tempest
Total for May: 1
Total: 2
1. Read a book having to do with ghosts, reincarnation, etc., 20 points; The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
2. Read a book that's author's name begins with the letter M for May in May, 5 points; A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
3. Read a book where the author wrote under a pseudonym, 10 points; Animal Farm by George Orwell
4. Read a book that's author was born during the Spring season, 15 points; The Tempest by William Shakespeare
5. Read a book with a reference to a fairy tale, 15 points; The Bloody Chamber by Angela Carter
6. Read a book where the main character is an author, 20 points; The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
Total for May: 85 points
Total: 180 points
Off the Shelf (Making a Dent, 30 books)
1. The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
2. The Bloody Chamber by Angela Carter
Total for May: 2
Total: 18
Shakespeare Reading Challenge (Desdemona, 6 plays)
1. The Tempest
Total for May: 1
Total: 2
Sunday, May 1, 2011
April Reading Challenges Summary
I can't believe April is over already. Bye birthday month! It was a pretty good one for reading though. And for travel. And just overall.
T4MC
Points for April: 95
Points total: 95
Off the Shelf Challenge:
April Total: 1
Overall Total: 16
Shakespeare Reading Challenge:
I am failing at this so hard. I will read one play by Shakespeare this month though. I will!
2011 progress:
Books: 25
Pages: 7,104
T4MC
Points for April: 95
Points total: 95
Off the Shelf Challenge:
April Total: 1
Overall Total: 16
Shakespeare Reading Challenge:
I am failing at this so hard. I will read one play by Shakespeare this month though. I will!
2011 progress:
Books: 25
Pages: 7,104
Thursday, April 14, 2011
April Reading Challenges Updates
The 4 Month Challenge
1. Read a book that begins with the letter S for spring, 5 points; The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan
2. Read something that is next in a series, 20 points; The Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan
3. Read a book with a male on the cover, 10 points; The Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan
4. Read a book that the title begins with either your first or last initial, 20 points; The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan
5. Read a book with a female on the cover, 10 points; Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech
6. Read a debut novel, 10 points; The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan
7. Read a book that's author's name begins with A for April in April, 5 points; 3 Willows: The Sisterhood Grows by Ann Brashares
8. Read a book that has won awards, 15 points; When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead
Total for April: 95
Off the Shelf (Making a Dent, 30 books)
1. 3 Willows: The Sisterhood Grows by Ann Brashares
Total for March: 1
Total: 16
1. Read a book that begins with the letter S for spring, 5 points; The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan
2. Read something that is next in a series, 20 points; The Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan
3. Read a book with a male on the cover, 10 points; The Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan
4. Read a book that the title begins with either your first or last initial, 20 points; The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan
5. Read a book with a female on the cover, 10 points; Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech
6. Read a debut novel, 10 points; The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan
7. Read a book that's author's name begins with A for April in April, 5 points; 3 Willows: The Sisterhood Grows by Ann Brashares
8. Read a book that has won awards, 15 points; When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead
Total for April: 95
Off the Shelf (Making a Dent, 30 books)
1. 3 Willows: The Sisterhood Grows by Ann Brashares
Total for March: 1
Total: 16
Thursday, March 31, 2011
March Reading Challenges Summary
Off the Shelf (Making a Dent, 30 books): 15/30, 5 read in March
The 4 Month Challenge: Points for March: 20; Points total: 250; Challenge completed
TBR Dare: Challenge completed
Shakespeare Reading Challenge: Will work on it next month... maybe.
2011 progress:
Books: 15
Pages: 4,035
Friday, March 4, 2011
March Reading Challenges Updates
Off the Shelf (Making a Dent, 30 books)
1. How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe by Charles Yu
2. The Masque of the Black Tulip by Lauren Willig
3. A Conspiracy of Kings by Megan Whalen Turner
4. The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway
5. Mr.Popper's Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwater
Total for March: 5
Total: 15
The 4 Month Challenge
1. Read a book written in 2010, How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe by Charles Yu; 5 points
2. Read a book set in a country/place you'd like to visit, The Masque of the Black Tulip by Lauren Willig (set in the UK); 15 points
Total for March: 20
Total: 250
Challenge completed!
The Shakespeare Reading Challenge (Desdemona, 6 plays)
I need to get on this....
1. How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe by Charles Yu
2. The Masque of the Black Tulip by Lauren Willig
3. A Conspiracy of Kings by Megan Whalen Turner
4. The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway
5. Mr.Popper's Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwater
Total for March: 5
Total: 15
The 4 Month Challenge
1. Read a book written in 2010, How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe by Charles Yu; 5 points
2. Read a book set in a country/place you'd like to visit, The Masque of the Black Tulip by Lauren Willig (set in the UK); 15 points
Total for March: 20
Total: 250
Challenge completed!
The Shakespeare Reading Challenge (Desdemona, 6 plays)
I need to get on this....
Monday, February 28, 2011
February Reading Challenges Summary
Well, I did it. I finished two books in two days. I just finished Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann. It counts as my book recommended by a blog for the 4 Month Challenge. The cover kept popping up on coverspy and I liked the descriptions of all the people reading it, so I decided to check it out. I didn't like it as much as I thought I would, but it wasn't bad.
Off the Shelf (Making a Dent, 30 books): 10/30, 3 read in February
The 4 Month Challenge: Points for February: 40; Points total: 230
I didn't read any Shakespeare this month and I'm doing OK on the TBR Dare. I did so little reading this month though, it wasn't hard (I even tried to cheat, but failed at that).
2011 progress:
Books: 10
Pages: 2,662
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
February Reading Challenges Updates
Off the Shelf (Making a Dent, 30 books)
1. The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
2. The Shakespeare Stealer by Gary Blackwood
3. Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann
Total for February: 3
Total: 10
The 4 Month Challenge
1. Read a book that is the first in a series, The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians Book One) by Rick Riordan; 15 points
2. Read a book you've been meaning to read for ages, The Shakespeare Stealer by Gary Blackwood; 10 points
3. Read a book recommended by a blog, Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann; 15 points
Total for February: 40
Total: 230
The Shakespeare Reading Challenge (Desdemona, 6 plays)
1. The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
2. The Shakespeare Stealer by Gary Blackwood
3. Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann
Total for February: 3
Total: 10
The 4 Month Challenge
1. Read a book that is the first in a series, The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians Book One) by Rick Riordan; 15 points
2. Read a book you've been meaning to read for ages, The Shakespeare Stealer by Gary Blackwood; 10 points
3. Read a book recommended by a blog, Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann; 15 points
Total for February: 40
Total: 230
The Shakespeare Reading Challenge (Desdemona, 6 plays)
Saturday, January 29, 2011
January Reading Challenges Summary
I know the month isn't over for two more days, but I don't want to wait.
Shakespeare Reading Challenge: 1/6
The 4 Month Challenge: Points for January: 115; Points total: 190
Off the Shelf Challenge: 7/30
TBR Dare: Going strong.
2011 progress:
Books read: 7
Pages read: 1,711
Every book I read this month came from my TBR pile. I have a very loose definition of TBR... it's basically any book I own that I haven't read yet. For the Off the Shelf challenge, all of the books counted must have been purchased before 2011... I think it might be the same for the TBR Dare? But this month my reading didn't include any books I've bought this year so it was easy keeping track.
Shakespeare Reading Challenge: 1/6
The 4 Month Challenge: Points for January: 115; Points total: 190
Off the Shelf Challenge: 7/30
TBR Dare: Going strong.
2011 progress:
Books read: 7
Pages read: 1,711
Every book I read this month came from my TBR pile. I have a very loose definition of TBR... it's basically any book I own that I haven't read yet. For the Off the Shelf challenge, all of the books counted must have been purchased before 2011... I think it might be the same for the TBR Dare? But this month my reading didn't include any books I've bought this year so it was easy keeping track.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
I read Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli today. It's a book that I often looked at, thought about reading but never did. I don't know why. It was very good, as every Jerry Spinelli is (that I've read anyway). I like that he deals with heavy topics, like race and death, without being heavy handed about it.And his characters are always interesting. Maniac Magee reminded me in bits and pieces of Stargirl. They're both larger than life characters who seem to exist outside the world they're placed in.
I'm counting this as my "read a book by your favorite author" for the 4 Month Challenge. I don't think I technically have a favorite author, but I have enjoyed all of Jerry Spinelli's books, so I figure that's good enough.
PS As I was writing the bit about heavy topics, I was struck by a sense of déjà vu. I wrote something similar in my review of When Zachary Beaver Came to Town by Kimberly Willis Holt. I'm sure I'll write it again at some point, as I think this is one indication of great YA literature.
I'm counting this as my "read a book by your favorite author" for the 4 Month Challenge. I don't think I technically have a favorite author, but I have enjoyed all of Jerry Spinelli's books, so I figure that's good enough.
PS As I was writing the bit about heavy topics, I was struck by a sense of déjà vu. I wrote something similar in my review of When Zachary Beaver Came to Town by Kimberly Willis Holt. I'm sure I'll write it again at some point, as I think this is one indication of great YA literature.
Monday, January 3, 2011
January Reading Challenge Updates
Off the Shelf (Making a Dent, 30 books)
1. A Year Down Yonder by Richard Peck
2. Geisha, A Life by Mineko Iwasaki
3. Othello by William Shakespeare
4. Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli
5. 84 Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff
6. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
7. St. Lucy's Home for Girls Raised by Wolves by Karen Russell
The 4 Month Challenge
1. A Year Down Yonder by Richard Peck
2. Geisha, A Life by Mineko Iwasaki
3. Othello by William Shakespeare
4. Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli
5. 84 Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff
6. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
7. St. Lucy's Home for Girls Raised by Wolves by Karen Russell
The 4 Month Challenge
1. Read a book you need to read for another challenge, A Year Down Yonder by Richard Peck; 20 points
2. Read a book about a person who is still alive (Memoir, bio, auto-bio, etc), Geisha, A Life by Mineko Iwasaki; 15 points
2. Read a book about a person who is still alive (Memoir, bio, auto-bio, etc), Geisha, A Life by Mineko Iwasaki; 15 points
3. Read a book written before you were born, Othello by William Shakespeare; 15 points
4. Read a book by your favorite author, Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli; 5 points
5. Read a book about a person who is passed (Memoir, bio, auto-bio, etc), 84 Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff; 20 points
6. Read a classic you've never read before, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith; 20 points
7. Read a book of short stories, St. Lucy's Home for Girls Raised by Wolves by Karen Smith; 20 points
4. Read a book by your favorite author, Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli; 5 points
5. Read a book about a person who is passed (Memoir, bio, auto-bio, etc), 84 Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff; 20 points
6. Read a classic you've never read before, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith; 20 points
7. Read a book of short stories, St. Lucy's Home for Girls Raised by Wolves by Karen Smith; 20 points
Total for January: 115
Total: 190 points
Shakespeare Reading Challenge (Desdemona, 6 plays)
1. Othello
Friday, December 31, 2010
Good-bye, 2010
I just finished rereading The Last Summer (of You and Me) by Ann Brashares.
Here's a little recap of my reading year:
Number of books read: 71 (22 were rereads)
Number of pages read: 19,256
Favorite book read: When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead
The 4 Month Challenge, December review:
I read eight books for a total of 75 points.
And that's it for 2010. Hope 2011's even better.
Here's a little recap of my reading year:
Number of books read: 71 (22 were rereads)
Number of pages read: 19,256
Favorite book read: When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead
The 4 Month Challenge, December review:
I read eight books for a total of 75 points.
And that's it for 2010. Hope 2011's even better.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Taking the TBR Dare
I just signed up for the TBR Dare. I'm in for the whole thing, going until April 1 (my birthday coincidentally). Hopefully I"ll make but I'm expecting to fail spectacularly.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Out with a Bang Readathon Update 2
I finished The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares. I love the whole series. I read each one when I was (almost) the same age as the characters. I think Ann Brashares does a great job of capturing what it is to be a teenage girl. I'm always amazed when adults get it right. I've already forgotten what it was to be a teenager (so much that I don't think I could convincingly write about being a teenager), but rereading The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants brought me right back to when I was 15. This is partly because of nostalgia but mostly because of Brashares's ability to convey both the joys and pains of being a teenager.
I'm now torn between what I should read next. As I was reading Sisterhood, I had the overwhelming desire to read the second novel and to read Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli (which also has a sequel). I think I'm going to try and squeeze in Stargirl tonight and possibly start another novel. We'll see how that goes.
MINI UPDATE
I think I have to give up the idea that I will finish reading The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants books. I got no reading done this morning. We took down our Christmas tree instead. And now I'm off to a basketball game (Stanford vs UConn... it's going to be big). Since that has basically eaten up my entire day, I'm going to try and finish Love, Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli and The Last Summer (of You and Me) by Ann Brashares before the new year. Two books seems manageable. Three might have been possible, but I also want to hang out with my family/do things other than read in the last two days of 2010.
I'm now torn between what I should read next. As I was reading Sisterhood, I had the overwhelming desire to read the second novel and to read Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli (which also has a sequel). I think I'm going to try and squeeze in Stargirl tonight and possibly start another novel. We'll see how that goes.
MINI UPDATE
I think I have to give up the idea that I will finish reading The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants books. I got no reading done this morning. We took down our Christmas tree instead. And now I'm off to a basketball game (Stanford vs UConn... it's going to be big). Since that has basically eaten up my entire day, I'm going to try and finish Love, Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli and The Last Summer (of You and Me) by Ann Brashares before the new year. Two books seems manageable. Three might have been possible, but I also want to hang out with my family/do things other than read in the last two days of 2010.
Out with a Bang Readathon update
I started The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares. I'm hoping to finish all four by the new year, but at the rate I'm going I might make it through two. I also wanted to reread The Last Summer (of You and Me) but I highly doubt that will happen. I know I could at least get through all the Traveling Pants books if I just sit and read, but there are so many other things that need doing too. Maybe I'm just bad at readathons.
I'm still working my way through The King of Attolia. If The Queen of Attolia is all about war and battles (I know I said it was about politics, but I'm taking that back). The King of Attolia is all about politics. It sounds boring, fake politics in a fake world, but I can't stop reading. Probably because it doesn't feel fake. The characters and their problems feel very real. I might just have to stay up until I finish it.
In other news, today is the start of the Out with a Bang Readathon (it runs from Dec 29-31). I just decided to join. Hopefully I'll be able to squeeze in a few more rereads so I'll be ready to start on my TBR pile (and the TBR Dare) come January 1.
In other news, today is the start of the Out with a Bang Readathon (it runs from Dec 29-31). I just decided to join. Hopefully I'll be able to squeeze in a few more rereads so I'll be ready to start on my TBR pile (and the TBR Dare) come January 1.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Shakespeare Reading Challenge
THE PLAYS (taken from wikipedia)
Comedies
Comedies
* The Tempest
* The Two Gentlemen of Verona
* The Merry Wives of Windsor
* Measure for Measure
* The Comedy of Errors
* Much Ado About Nothing
* Love's Labour's Lost
* A Midsummer Night's Dream
* The Merchant of Venice
* As You Like It
* The Taming of the Shrew
* All's Well That Ends Well
* Twelfth Night
* The Winter's Tale
* Pericles, Prince of Tyre (not included in the First Folio)
* The Two Noble Kinsmen (not included in the First Folio) (of doubtful authorship; may have been written in collaboration with John Fletcher)
Histories
* King John
* Richard II
* Henry IV, Part 1
* Henry IV, Part 2
* Henry V
* Henry VI, Part 1
* Henry VI, Part 2
* Henry VI, Part 3
* Richard III
* Henry VIII
Tragedies
* Troilus and Cressida
* Coriolanus
* Titus Andronicus
* Romeo and Juliet
* Timon of Athens
* Julius Caesar
* Macbeth
* Hamlet
* King Lear
* Othello
* Antony and Cleopatra
* Cymbeline
The bolded titles are the plays I've read. Some in high school, most in college. I was supposed to read Two Gentlemen of Verona as summer reading before my senior year (it was one of five works we had to read, the others being Frankenstein, Ivanhoe, 1984 and something I can't remember now).
I definitely want to read Othello, The Tempest, The Taming of the Shrew and The Merchant of Venice. I think I'll aim to read another tragedy and one history to round out my 6 for the year. If I decide to up it to 12, I'll probably try to read two more plays from each category.
I definitely want to read Othello, The Tempest, The Taming of the Shrew and The Merchant of Venice. I think I'll aim to read another tragedy and one history to round out my 6 for the year. If I decide to up it to 12, I'll probably try to read two more plays from each category.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
The 4 Month Challenge, Month 1 Progress
FIVE POINT CHALLENGES:
Read a book by your favourite author
Read a YA book, When Zachary Beaver Came to Town by Kimberly Willis Holt
Read a book written in 2010
Read a book with a colour/color in the title, Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry
Read a book set in any country other than your own, The Queen of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner
TEN POINT CHALLENGES:
Read a book with any ‘family’ name in it. Eg: Father, daughter, uncle, etc., The Bonesetter's Daughter by Amy Tan
Read a book you’ve read before, Absolutely Normal Chaos by Sharon Creech
Read a fantasy book, The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner
Read a book a book you’ve been meaning to read for ages
Read a book set in the same country you live in, The Last Summer (of You and Me) by Ann Brashares
FIFTEEN POINT CHALLENGES:
Read a book written before you were born
Read a book suggested by a blog
Read a book set in a country/place you’d like to visit
Read a book about a person who is still alive (Memoir, bio, auto-bio, etc)
Read a book that is the first in a series
TWENTY POINT CHALLENGES
Read a book about a person who is passed (Memoir, bio, auto-bio, etc)
Read a classic you’ve never read before
Read a book you need to read for another challenge
Read a book of short stories
Read a book with a food in the title, Horseradish: Bitter Truths You Can't Avoid by Lemony Snicket
Total points: 75
Total points: 75
Challenges
These are the challenges I'm going to attempt in the next year (slash the end of this one).
The Four Month Challenge December 2010 - March 2011
Off the Shelf Challenge January 1, 2011 - December 31, 2011
I'm going to commit to Making a Dent (30 books) but I'm hoping I'll be able to get through 50 (On a Roll)
Shakespeare Reading Challenge January 1, 2011 - December 31, 2011
I'm going to commit to Desdemona (6 plays), but I'd like to make it to Henry V (12 plays)
The Four Month Challenge December 2010 - March 2011
Off the Shelf Challenge January 1, 2011 - December 31, 2011
I'm going to commit to Making a Dent (30 books) but I'm hoping I'll be able to get through 50 (On a Roll)
Shakespeare Reading Challenge January 1, 2011 - December 31, 2011
I'm going to commit to Desdemona (6 plays), but I'd like to make it to Henry V (12 plays)
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