I Had No Choice.........

HAPPY CHRISTMAS EVE!!!!

I am sure that everyone has a million and one things to do today, running to store for that last minute gift that you forgot to pick up, finishing the wrapping of gifts, grocery shopping or cooking, which is what I will be doing after I post this.  But I wanted to send Holiday Wishes your way.  

The past few Saturdays, I have been sharing the challenges I plan on participating in for 2012.  Today is no exception, except I am hoping that maybe I can sneak these by you lol.  

JUSTIFICATION.....I had no choice!!!!!  I did a little snooping on 2 blogs.  One was my co-host's blog, Gina from Hott Books, and the other was the Reading Challenge Addict Challenge's Queen Addict, Bev from My Reader's Block.  Gina, poor girl, she has it bad, is close to 30 challenges and Bev, well at last count, 23.  Now I ask you, what kind of team player would I be if I didn't keep up with them.  So, like I said, I had to.

One is for the year and one is a mini challenge.  Here are the details in case you want to play along:

Hosted by Robin from My Two Blessings

About 52 Books  Level:  Easy and Casual

Are you ready for another round of Reading 52 books in 52 Weeks?  Whether you are just joining in or continuing on for another round, the rules are very simple.  The goal is to read one book (at least) a week for 52 weeks.  Make the year easy and casual or kick it up by exploring new to you authors and genres. Challenge yourself to read at least one classic a month or delve into that chunkster (more than 600 pages) you always wanted to tackle.  The goal is to read 52 books. How you get there is up to you.   

   I have several mini challenges to make it fun: 

12 in 2012: Read 12 books in 12 different categories
A to Z challenge: Read books alphabetically by title and/or author.
Jane Austen: Read all things Jane Austen 
Mind Voyages:  Explore the Hugo and Nebula winners, take side trips through the different decades reading the nominees.
Well Educated Mind:   Explore the classics in five categories: Fiction, Autobiography, History/Politics, Drama and Poetry.

The mini challenges and weekly challenges are optional, Mix it up anyway you like.

The challenge will run from January 1, 2012 through December 31, 2012. 

1. Our book weeks begin on Sunday.  
2. Participants may join at any time.
3. All books are acceptable except children books.
4. All forms of books are acceptable including e-books, audio books, etc.
5. Re-reads are acceptable as long as they are read after January 1, 2012.
6. Books may overlap other challenges.
7. Create an entry post linking to this blog.
8. Sign up with Mr. Linky in the "I'm participating post" below this post.
9. You don't have a blog to participate.  Post your weekly book in the comments section of each weekly post.  
10. Mr. Linky will be added to the bottom of the weekly post for you to link to reviews of your most current reads.

MINI CHALLENGE---  READ-A-THON   JANUARY 23-29, 2012

Hosted by Michelle from The True Book Addict

A Winter's Respite Read-a-Thon 2012.

The Winter's Respite Read-a-Thon is just a bit over a month away! Times are central standard time so adjust your times accordingly. I plan to host a mini-challenge (or two or more) and there will be a giveaway for every one who signs in at the starting line and completes a wrap up post at the end. Of course, like most read-a-thons, the books read must be novels or novellas, adult or young adult are fine, but no children's books. You DO NOT have to participate the entire week. Join in when you can, start in the middle, end early...whatever works best for your schedule. As long as you sign in at the sign-in post and do some kind of wrap up post, you're in for the giveaway. As with my previous read-a-thons, it will be a week of relaxed reading during which we can personally challenge ourselves and whittle away those ever looming TBR piles/shelves/libraries. I hope you will join me! 

You do not have to have a blog to participate. You can sign-up, sign-in, and wrap-up...all from Facebook, Twitter, or Goodreads. You can also do updates from those locations, if you do not have a blog. Also, to chat or update during the read-a-thon on Twitter, use hashtag #WintersRespite. 

I'm putting the call out to anyone who would like to host a mini-challenge and/or giveaway. Authors, if you would like to sponsor a giveaway or donate a prize, please let me know. You can contact me at truebookaddictATgmailDOTcom Any and all help will be greatly appreciated! 

Counting the days......

I asked for help last week and have been patiently waiting for Dr. Drew and the Intervention team to knock at my door.  I am guessing I was out doing errands lol.  What can I say.  I tried....I really did try and then my  friend Marce tempted me.  Yup!!  You guessed it.  Another challenge!!!  Justification:  I signed up for this challenge in 2011 and only read 1 book (sadly shaking my head in embarrassment).  So since I am being optimistic that 2012 HAS to be better, I am going to try again. Anybody buying the justification? lol  Here's all the information, details and sign up so you can come and play along:

I Want More Challenge 2012 (2nd Year)

Welcome to Tea Time with Marce

http://teawithmarce.blogspot.com/2011/12/i-want-more-challenge-2012-2nd-year.html

I Want More Book Challenge 2012:

There are so many amazing authors but sometimes we get caught up in reading all the debut authors we forget about the authors that have already impressed us, excited us, gave us what all readers want, a great read, that wow moment, so this Challenge is to show all the authors that have pleased us already how thankful we are by reading more of their literary works. 

Have you read 1book by an author and at the end said you must read more? Then this Challenge is for you. 

Details:

* Challenge Dates: January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012

* All Genres are Welcome

* This challenge does NOT include Series, only stand alone

* See Levels below, you can change at any time if increasing, you cannot decrease once signed up.

* All forms of books will count - eBooks, Audiobooks, etc

* You do not have to list the chosen books ahead of time and your choices can crossover into other challenges you have joined. In your post or comments here, give us an idea of what authors impressed you so now You Want More.

* If you participate in this challenge please signup below. Either post and link back here with your direct link to your intro challenge post or put Challenge Button on sidebar linking back here please. 

* A Surprise Giveaway during the year (only for those that have reviews posted) 

Level of Participation 

Waited too long: 2 - 4 books

Give me more: 5 - 8 books

Never too much: 9 - 12 books

HELP!!!

You already know what I'm going to say, don't you?  Are you shaking your hear right now or are you sitting there laughing.  You can be honest!!!! lol   HOWEVER,   I just can't stop myself.  It's an addiction, I tell you!!!  And I have it bad.  However, not as bad as some other blogging buddies....shhhhhh don't tell them I told you but like......my co host, Gina from Hott Books, of the Reading Challenge Addict Challenge or another blogging buddy, Bev from My Reader's Block.  You know how hard it is to say NO to buying a book or saying NO when asked to reviewing a book?  That's what happens to me when I see those cute little buttons and read the details of the challenges....I just can't say NO.  Cheryl's justification....it keeps me off the streets, it keeps me out of trouble, it increases my vocabulary, the more books I read the more topics of conversation I have when I am out socializing.......ok people....any help here would be appreciated  lol.

So what other goodies have I signed up for?  Going to give you all the details so you can sign up too!!!!:

Justification for this one:  Just the other day Marce from Tea Time With Marce recommended a book, which is the 1st book in a series.  And then there's my friend  Gina who is a huge fan of J.D. Robb so I thought I take her recommendation and then I keep looking at a 3 book series that I won from Booking With Bingo this year by Chelsea Cain and haven't started reading it yet.  So I HAD to join this one, right?

     First in a Series Challenge

January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012

Are you an avid series reader? Do you want to give a few new series a try? Then this is the reading challenge for you! Participants in the 1st in a Series Challengedecide to start a certain number of series in 2012 and then share their reviews with the community!
(This challenge has previously been hosted at J. Kaye’s Book Blog, Royal Reviews, and A Few More Pages)
Interested in joining the fun? Here are the guidelines:
1. Anyone can join. You don’t need a blog to participate. If you’re not a blogger, you can post your reviews at a review site like Goodreads, LibraryThing, or Shelfari and link them up here.
2. There are four levels for this challenge: 

• Series Novice: Read 3 books that are the first in any series.
• Series Lover: Read 6 books that are the first in any series.
• Series Expert: Read 12 books that are the first in any series.
• Series Fanatic: Read 20 books that are the first in any series.

You can list your books in advance or just put them in a wrap up post. If you list them, feel free to change them as the mood takes you. Any genre counts. Any book format counts. 3.The challenge runs from January 1 through December 31, 2012. 4. You can join anytime between now and December 31, 2012.
5. A post will be created here where you can link-up your reviews and visit the reviews of other participants.
6. If you’re a blogger, write up a sign-up post that includes the URL to this post so that others can join in. Feel free to use the button! You can grab the code you need from the box in the right sidebar.
If you write up a sign-up post, enter the direct link to that post when you sign up here so we can find it easily. Otherwise, link away!
For more information and to sign-up, please see this post.

Merely Mystery Reading Challenge 2012

Justification:  Being this is my favorite genre plus the fact that I am a partner in Partners in Crime Tours.....DUH!!!  lol  Another one that I HAD to sign up for.

January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012

There are those who snub their noses at genre fiction, including crime fiction. I think they just haven't met the right mystery for them yet. While crime fiction is known for being plot driven, it isn't always. Nor does a good crime fiction novel have to sacrifice well developed characters, a strong setting and good writing. The best, in fact, often include all of those qualities.
Yes, it's true. I am crazy. Just when I start to wonder if I should give up blogging, I decide to try my hand at hosting a reading challenge. As if there aren't enough challenges out there already. Maybe only one or two people join. That's okay. We'll have a great time and maybe discover new authors and books to try!
The focus of this challenge is to explore the different types of crime fiction out there. If you are new to the crime fiction genre, want to step outside your comfort zone and try another kind of mystery or are a mystery lover needing an excuse to join another crime fiction related challenge, here's your chance!
As sources go, there are a number of them that offer a wide range of sub-genres to crime fiction. For the purposes of this challenge, I've narrowed it down to the following because they tend to encompass the full breadth of mystery sub-genres. Within each sub-genre are even more categories (for example, add in a bit of romance or fantasy for good measure). So you have a never ending list of choices to choose from!
Sub-Genres: 

• The Whodunit: The classic crime puzzle. The story generally revolves around determine who committed the crime, and potentially apprehending them. Some Whodunits, called "fair play mysteries", will include all of the clues available in the text so that a careful reader can solve the crime on his or her own.
• Locked Room Mystery: Like the Whodunit, there is a puzzle (crime) to solve. However in this instance, the crime has taken place under impossible circumstances, such as in a locked room or on an island with no way to exit or enter.
• Cozy: The nice person's mystery. Often the crime, particularly if it's violent, occurs off scene. Sex and language are on the cleaner side. Humor is a common feature of the cozy.
• Hard-Boiled/Noir: Often cynical, bleak or realistic, hard-boiled and noir stories often focus more on the characters involved instead of the crime. Violence and sex are not downplayed.
• The Inverted Detective Story: In this style of story, the person perpetrating the crime is known up front. The point of the story is to see how (or if) the detective goes about solving the crime and how the perpetrator reacts to the investigation.
• The Historical Whodunnit: Simply put, this is a mystery set in a historical setting. Often the mystery has some historical significance and features detection methods that are appropriate for that era.
• The Police Procedural: Instead of featuring a independent detective, the police are investigating the crime in these stories. They often focus on the actual methods that police officers use to solve crimes.
• The Professional Thriller: This kind of mystery involves a professional who is not involved directly in law enforcement, such a lawyer or doctor, who nonetheless finds themselves investigating a crime.
• The Spy Novel: Related to the other professional mysteries, spy novels focus on intelligence operatives as they work to prevent or avenge some criminal plot. Spy novels can feature either in fantastic or realistic settings.
• Caper Stories: While other crime and mystery stories look at the aftermath of crimes, caper stories feature criminals as the lead characters. The story usually details the planning and commission of a crime.
• The Psychological Suspense: In these stories, the detective story takes on a psychological component.
• Spoofs and Parodies: Spoofs and parodies make light of crime fiction, often with the goal of commenting on the conventions of the genre. Many feature famous characters, e.g. Sherlock Holmes, James Bond, Philip Marlowe, or pastiches of those characters.

The Merely Mystery Reading Challenge will last the entire year (January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012), giving participants a chance to read at their own pace. In addition, to make things easy, participants can complete one of two levels. One is for those of you who want a more relaxed challenge while the other is for those more serious about exploring the various sub-genres: 

Down on Her/His Luck Gumshoe - Read two or more books falling into any of the above sub-genres. Each book can be from the same sub-genre or can be varied among the different sub-genres. You pick the combination and the number of books.
Shamus Who Has Seen It All - Read at least one book from each of the sub-genres for a total of 12 books. If you are feeling ambitious, read more than one book from each sub-genre.

Making a reading list ahead of time is not mandatory, but it's fun--not only for you, but also for your fellow readers. Even if you don't stick to the list, we'd love it if you could share a few of the titles you are considering reading.
*Audio books and graphic novels are welcome.
*Crossover books from other challenges are okay.
*Cross-genre books are perfectly fine.
To sign up, please fill out the below form. The challenge is open to everyone, regardless of whether you have a blog. If you have a blog, please provide a link to your initial blog post committing to the challenge. Participants without blogs can post reviews on general review sites such as LibraryThing, Goodreads or Shelfari. I will be creating a post in which all participants will be able to link their reviews so that everyone can follow everyone's progress and perhaps get a few good mystery recommendations.
Sign ups are open ended and so you are welcome to sign up at any time throughout the year.
There will be a prize! The biggest reward will be completion of the challenge, of course, but isn't it more fun when, at the end of the day, there's a drawing for a prize? For all those who complete the challenge, your name will be entered into a drawing for an as-of-yet-unspecified prize.
If there is an interest (and volunteers), I would like to feature guest posts from authors and readers on the topic of crime fiction throughout the course of the challenge. It won't be every day. Maybe once or twice a month at most, depending on volunteer interest (so, if you are interested, please let me know! Shoot me an e-mail).
I hope you will join me for the Merely Mystery Reading Challenge!
For more information and to sign-up, please see this post.

What's one or two or more more?

Challenges, so much fun!!  It's like being a kid again.  Or maybe it isn't and I am just plain addicted!!  But it is FUN!!!  I know a lot of them I probably wont complete but I will try my darnedest.  Some of them are just fun to see my progress throughout the year.  


I participated last year, didn't complete it, but it was fun!!!  So I'm doing it again.
It was great to see all the places I visited, without having to pack, or the cost of a flight and hotel room.  Want to travel with me?  Then here's all the info:

Sign Up Time: 2012 WHERE Are You Reading Challenge

Posted on December 6, 2011 by Sheila (Book Journey)

Wow where did the year go?  Here we are in December already and its time to post this challenge again.  I started this one in 2011 and had so much fun with it.  You can see my 2011 map here.

So what is the point of this challenge?  It is to try to read in each of the 50 States between January 1 2012 – December 31, 2012. 

So how do you decide what state a book is categorized under?

1.  In a fiction read it would be the State or Country that the book spends the most time in.  (Ie. If your main character is from Wisconsin but the book is all about his/her time in college in California – the books should categorize under California….)

2.  Non fiction reads categorize  in whatever State or Country it is about (Ie…. a book about fly fishing in Colorado is a Colorado point, and a book about women in Afghanistan is an Afghanistan point.

3.  If the book goes from one state to another… go with the state that most of the time is spent.

How to get started

Set up a map under Google Maps.  It is easy to do!  Every time you read a book in 2012, upload a cover picture to Picasa Web Albums (there may be other sites to use, feel free to use what works best for you).

Grab the challenge button here for your posts and sidebar:

Questions?

Do you have to have a blog to participate? No.  You can do everything on the map above without linking the book to a review.

Do I have to have my post up by January 1st, 2012? No, but I would think you would want to get started right away at the beginning of the year.  However, you will be able to sign up throughout January as well.

How will people see my map? There are a couple of possibilities.  On your original challenge post you should have a link to your map.  You could also put it on your side bar to draw interest to it (see mine on my left side bar)  I will be linking my map to every review I will also set up a monthly link here to post updates if you wish.

I dont get it – I cant figure out how to use Google maps but I really want to participate! No worries!   You are welcome to create a challenge post that lists the 50 states (as well as bonus out of USA spots) and then fill them in as you read in the areas.

Do audio books count?  ABSOLUTELY!

Once you are ready and have your map set up please create a blog post (those who have blogs) using the Challenge picture of the map I provided above as well as link to this post so others may join in.  Then come back and link that post here to Mr Linky (below) so I as well as other participants know that you are participating and we can pop in throughout the year to check out your map and how we are all doing.

This is actually a fun and easy challenge as all books you read qualify and it will be fun to see where you generally read books from as well as searching out books to fill in areas that you need.

For those who have covered the 50 states by the end of 2012, they will go into a drawing for a $25 gift card to Barnes and Noble or to Amazon.  **  All other areas beyond the 50 states are bonus points and we will have a drawing using random.org for those who read 10 or more books throughout 2012 in that category.

You can see my map I worked on in 2011 here to see what the map looks like and how the pictures link to the reviews.  (If you zoom in you will see the individual areas I read in and clicking on the blue pins will show you what book it was and clicking on the picture will take you to the post!

That’s it!  Any questions – please leave them in the comments section below. 

I can’t wait to see WHERE You Are Reading!

And then I was visiting Yvonne's place Socrates 'Book Reviews,and saw this new challenge, which looked like fun and has a great looking button, SO,  well at least I won't be out causing trouble, right?   lol   I'll be too busy!!!   Want to join me?

A-Z Challenge 2012  Hosted by Lindsey http://www.babiesbooksandsigns.com/p/z-challenge-2012.html   

In 2011, I challenged myself to read a book starting with each letter of the alphabet. Well, I failed, but just barely. So I've decided to re-challenge myself in 2012, and invite all of you along! So here goes.

Technical Stuff

This challenge will run from January 1st, 2012 until December 31st, 2012.

You can join anytime.

If you are blogger, leave the link to your actual post about this challenge.

If you are not a blogger, leave a link to where you will be keeping track of this challenge.

So there are two different ways you can set up your own A-Z challenge.

A - Make a list now of 26 books, picking one for each letter of the alphabet. For example: A - Atonement B- Black Beauty C - The Count of Monte Cristo D - Dances with Dragons etc.

OR

B - The lazy way (how I do it) : Make a list on your blog from A-Z. Throughout the year, as you go along, add the books you are reading to the list. Hope that by the end of the year you have read one book for each letter. Towards the end of the year, you can check and see which letters you are missing and find books to fit.

Each month, I will add another challenge to this main challenge. It might to read a book with both A and Z in the title or to read a book with 3 words that all start with the same letter. I might host a few random giveaways too for good measure.

So to join along....
1. Write a blog post about this challenge and whether you are going go with A or B.
2. Add the button to your blog.
3. Attach yourself to the linky.
4. Follow my blog so that you can see when I post the monthly challenge!

hmmmm...approx 3 more weeks until January.  I'm guessing you will be seeing a few more posts just like this one!!!!

WooHoo

Yes...I see it...Its getting clearer!!  Yes!!!   I am positive!!!  A blog is starting to get busier!!!  And......that blog..is....it's getting clearer.....is .....A Novel Challenge, which means only one thing........more challenges!!!!!

I just added 2 more.....I am so excited!!!  I think the reason being too is that I am starting to fall back into my old reading habits, 2 books read this past week.  Things are getting back to normal (said typed in a whisper so as to not jinx myself).  Back to the challenges...the 2 I just signed up for are the following:

Serial Killers Reading Challenge 2012

HOSTED BY MARCE FROM TEA TIME WITH MARCE

January 1,2012 – December 31,2012

Serial Killers Reading Challenge 2012:
When you read a book about a serial killer, are you fascinated, scared, intrigued, paranoid........ then join the Serial Killers Reading Challenge and share the best of the best.  It may be the detectives, profilers or the serial killer that keep you up reading long into the night. 
This Challenge is not about how many you read but finding the best of the best and 'remembering' to link your review.
Here are 2 links to use to help you choose but any book from any genre involving a serial killer counts towards the challenge.
NPR Audience - Top 100 Killer List
Goodreads Listopia - I like Serial Killers
Details:

* Challenge Dates: January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012
* All Genres are Welcome
* All forms of books will count - eBooks, Audiobooks, etc
* You do not have to list the chosen books ahead of time and your choices can crossover into other challenges you have joined.
* If you participate in this challenge please sign up below. Either post and link back here with your direct link to your intro challenge post or put Challenge Button on sidebar linking back here please.
* Surprise Giveaways - Only those that have posted review(s) will be entered
In the comments below, tell us what serial killer book you have found to be the best.  This is one of my favourite books and movie - Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris.
Note - I will keep a list of all favourites and 5 star reviews to create a 'Personalized Bloggers List' for future years.
Thank you for joining - Review Post will go up first week of Jan

And the second one is a perpetual challenge that I found via Bev's blog, My Reader's Block (which I might add has already signed up for 16 challenges.  Not to worry, I have put in a call to Dr. Drew for an intervention for our dear blogging buddy and am awaiting a return call  lol)

Challenge–Read your OWN Library

HOSTED BY JNCL FROM THE BEAUTY OF ECLECTICISM

Monthly – perpetual

If you fit the profile of the average bibliophile, then you probably already own more books than you will read in a lifetime, without darkening the doors of another bookstore or library ever again. The goal of this monthly challenge is to apply yourself to whatever amount of your backlog is realistic for you at one go

Rules:

• Read at least one book every month that you've owned for 6 months or more and have never read previously, then write us a post about it. Please write at least a minimal review (no spoilers!), and any interesting anecdotes you have about how you came to own the book in the first place are always appreciated.
• The linky here will open at 12:00 a.m. (US Pacific) on the 5th day of every month, and will remain open until 12:00 a.m. on the 8th. Simply add your text link TO THE RELEVANT POST ONLY to the linky list, place the Challenge badge on your site, and try and visit as many of the others' links as possible. (Html code for the Challenge Badge can be found in the right sidebar.) Please leave comments wherever you visit--silent hovering depresses me.
• Choose from the three possibilities the level of backloggedness from which you suffer, and follow the guidelines accordingly. Please indicate your level in each Library Challenge post.

Levels of Backlog: 

1. Running Behind--You need to catch up on your reading a bit, and feel this challenge would be a good motivator to do so. You are committing to read one book per month that fits the requirement, and nothing else.
2. Sinking Fast--You feel swamped and hemmed in by the books, which are beginning to take over your life by conquering most of the flat surfaces in your home. You are ready to commit to not buying any more books each month--including e-books!--until AFTER you've read that month's challenge book.
3. Biblio Rehab--Every time someone in your family hears you mention a new book you've heard about, they hide your wallet and car keys, dead-bolt the front door, and put you on buy-or-borrow watch. Admit to yourself that you MUST NOT set foot in a bookstore or library until AFTER you've finished a challenge book for the month.

2012 Challenges

The other day I had my kick off for the 2012 Challenges.  I admitted that, yes, I am addicted to books and challenges.  And while stalking the above site, I also realized I am addicted to the challenge buttons.  I'm in trouble!!!!!  The next 2 months are going to be hard.  Especially since I put in such a bad year with reading and challenges.  Yesterday, since I can't physically do fall cleaning, I did fall blog cleaning, and removed the 2011 challenges that I didn't even make a dent in on my Challenge Page and started my 2012 Challenge Page.

I don't know if it's hopeful thinking, just the excitement of seeing all the new challenges and different buttons, wanting to close this book of 2011 and starting a fresh and fun book for 2012, BUT, I'm ready.  So from today on, every Saturday, I will be posting what challenges, I have added during the week.

And I am hoping that you tell me which ones you decided to participate in for 2 reasons.  One so we can encourage each other and two, in case I missed out on any lol.

So besides my kick off, I am also adding:

Challenge–2012 “Bucket List” Book Reading Challenge

The 2012 "Bucket List" Reading Challenge is the challenge to sign up for if YOU have a list of books that you are dying to read but just haven't gotten to them yet.  The rules are simple for this challenge and I've also included a couple of sample "Bucket" Lists to provide a good starting point.  NOTE:  The link titled "Bucket List" Books is a list that I created and if you would like to add books to that list I encourage you to.

Rules:
1. Challenge starts on January 1, 2012 and goes until December 31, 2012.
2. You don't need a blog to participate.
3. Create a "sign up" post and link to the linky below.
4. There are 4 levels to this challenge....
      a. The Mini Cooper level - 4 "bucket" list books
      b. The Mid-sized Sedan level - 8 "bucket" list books
      c. The Pick Up level - 12 "bucket" list books
      d. The Semi level - 13 or more "bucket" list books

NOTE:  I am adding a stipulation to this challenge.  If you originally decided to start small with the Mini Cooper level and decide to upgrade that is fine.  But once you decide to go big you can NOT downgrade.

5. Each month a review link will be posted.  Please feel free to link up your reviews where ever you happen to post them...your blog, goodreads,Amazon, Barnes and Noble, etc.
Sample "Bucket" Lists:


I am already up to 7 challenges!!!  And there are approximately 5 or 6 that I participated in last year and have my fingers crossed that those bloggers will host those challenges again.  So I sit waiting patiently, checking daily, oh....ok...a few times a day..to see if those challenges are posted yet.  I told you I am excited to start 2012 for many reasons.  And one of them is to restore my reading habits.


So now I ask you...have you started signing up?  How many?  Are there some you are waiting for?  Are you getting excited for the new challenges to start?  Would love to hear or am I the only challenge and badge addict?

Gearing Up

It's starting !!!!  Can you feel it in the air?  Are you like me?  Are you getting excited?  Have you been stalking a particular site yet?  I'm not going to lie, I have.  And since 2011 was a non productive year in reading, it also means that my 2nd addiction, reading challenges, I didn't do well in neither.  So I am gearing up, taking a positive attitude that 2012 is going to be better, that more books will be read and more challenges completed.
So this is my kick off post of the challenges that I have signed up for and will be participating in. And I am sure there will  be many more to come.

First, I want to thank the team over at A Novel Challenge for giving us addicts a site to go to and find all challenges, memes, events, read-a-thons, etc., a big THANK YOU!!!

2012 Reading Challenge Addict

I am going to start off with one challenge that I have already proclaimed, Yes!!!  I am a Challenge Addict.  And this is a challenge I am a wee bit partial to since I am cohosting with my blogging buddy Gina from Hott Books.  She is the designer and boss and has told me that my job description is to wave and be the welcome committee as we get more addicts coming to our meetings lol.

Rules/Criteria:

January 1 – December 31, 2012

Good day, Addicts!!
It's that time of year where we finally admit to our addictions and try to do something about them. Some of us need to admit we have a bit of a problem. Some of us need to admit we have a huge problem. Some of us just really want to enjoy each other's pain and humiliation while completing challenges. So we are challenging each of you who can also say that you also are a Reading Challenge Addict. We'll be giving away prizes and recognizing those who are meeting their own expectations by completing the challenges they've entered.

How addicted are you?

• Easy as Pie: 1-5 Challenges (Entered & Completed)
• On the Roof: 6-10 Challenges (Entered & Completed)
• In Flight: 11-15 Challenges (Entered & Completed)
• Out of This World: 16+ Challenges (Entered & Completed)

Mount TBR Reading Challenge

Hosted by Bev @ My Reader's Block

If you are a bookaholic like me, then you can't let a bookstore (used or new, it doesn't matter) go by without stopping in ("just to look") and walking out with at least something--if not an armload. I wait all year for the Red Cross Book Sale in October so I can cart them out by the bagful. And, well, that means that I wind up with gigantic piles of TBR books stacked up around my backroom. I don't have a TBR shelf. Oh, no. I have "Mount TBR"...possibly a whole mountain range.

With that in mind, and having read Susan Hill's Howards End Is on the Landing (where she spent a year just reading from her own shelves, I've decided to create my own TBR reading challenge and plan to concentrate on reading primarily from my own books this year. And you're invited to join me in knocking out some of those books that have been waiting in the wings for weeks....months...even years.

Challenge Levels

Pike's Peak: Read 12 books from your TBR pile/s
Mt. Vancouver: Read 25 books from your TBR pile/s
Mt. Ararat: Read 40 books from your TBR piles/s
Mt. Kilimanjaro: Read 50 books from your TBR pile/s
El Toro: Read 75 books from your TBR pile/s
Mt. Everest: Read 100+ books from your TBR pile/s

And the rules:
*Once you choose your challenge level, you are locked in for at least that many books. If you find that you're on a mountain-climbing roll and want to tackle a taller mountain, then you are certainly welcome to upgrade.

*Challenge runs from January 1 to December 31, 2012.

*You may sign up anytime from now until November 30th, 2012.

*Books must be owned by you prior to January 1, 2012. No ARCs, no library books. No rereads.

*Books may be used to count for other challenges as well.

*Feel free to submit your list in advance (as incentive to really get those books taken care of) or to tally them as you climb.

*A blog and reviews are not necessary to participate. If you have a blog, then please post a challenge sign up and link THAT post (not your home page) into the linky below. Non-bloggers, please leave a comment declaring your challenge level.

*A progress site for reviews will go up in January and I will post the link in my sidebar for easy access.

Challenge–2012 Romantic Suspense Reading Challenge

Rules:

• Anyone can join
• You don't need a blog to participate. For non-bloggers, please leave a comment with a link (if you review somewhere else) to the review or leave a list of the books you read on the monthly link up post.
• Audio, ebooks, and bound books are ok.
  
• No re-reads
  
• Create a sign up post and post the link in the linky below.
  
• Challenge goes from January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012
  
• Challenge Crossovers are ok.

Levels:
Level 1 - Read 4 Romantic Suspense novels
Level 2 - Read 10 Romantic Suspense novels
Level 3 - Read 14 Romantic Suspense novels
Level 4 - Read 15+ Romantic Suspense novels

Challenge–2012 E-Book Reading Challenge

Here are the rules:
1. Anyone can join. You don't need a blog to participate. Create a post about the challenge and link your challenge post up in the linky below.
--Non-Bloggers: Post your list of books in the comment section of the wrap-up post.
2. There are four levels:
--The Mini E-Book Challenge – Read 5 E-Books.
--The "Fun Size" E-Book Challenge – Read 10 E-Books.
--The Jumbo Size E-Book Challenge – Read 20 E-Books.
--The Mega Size E-Book Reading Challenge - Read 25+ E-Books.
3. No Audio or Print books.
4. No need to list your books in advance. You may select books as you go. Even if you list them now, you can change the list if needed.
5. The Challenge starts on January 1, 2012 and goes until December 31, 2012.

2012 Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge

January 1, 2012 – December 31, 2012

What’s your reading goal for 2012? If it’s to read more books, then this is the reading challenge for you There were 227 readers who wanted to outdo themselves in 2011. Are you up for the challenge?

Details:

• Runs January 1, 2012 – December 31, 2012 (books read prior to 1/1/12 do not count towards the challenge). You can join at anytime. Sign up on The Book Vixen’s blog.
• The goal is to outdo yourself by reading more books in 2012 than you did in 2011. See the different levels below and pick the one that works best for you. Nothing is set in stone; you can change levels at any time during the challenge.
• Books can be any format (bound, eBook, audio).
• Re-reads and crossovers from other reading challenges are allowed.
• Grab the reading challenge button and post this reading challenge on your blog to track your progress. Please include a link back to this sign-up post so others can join the reading challenge too. You do not have to be a book blogger to participate; you could track your progress on Goodreads or LibraryThing.

Levels:

Getting my heart rate up – Read 1–5 more books
Out of breath – Read 6–10 more books
Breaking a sweat – Read 11–15 more books
I’m on fire! – Read 16+ more books 

Challenge–2012 ARC Reading Challenge

I am using the term "ARC" loosely here in the name of this challenge. I will go over what reading material qualifies for this challenge below.
What qualifies for this challenge?:
1. Actual Advance Reader Copies - this includes from tour sites like ATW Tours.
2. Any book that YOU ARE ASKED by either an author, publisher, publicist, media group, etc. to review.
What does NOT qualify for this challenge?:
Any book that YOU personally asked for a review copy of.
The Rules:

• Anyone can join.
• You don't need a blog to participate.
• Non-Bloggers: Post your list of books in the comment section of the monthly wrap-up post on Jamie's blog.
• Audio, eBooks, and bound books count.
• No need to list your books in advance. You may select books as you go. Even if you list them now, you can change the list if needed.
• Create a sign up post and link to the linky below.
• Challenge runs from January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012.

There are four levels:

1. The Mini ARC Challenge – Read 4 ARC's.
2. The "Fun Size" ARC Challenge – Read 10 ARC's.
3. The Jumbo Size ARC Challenge – Read 20 ARC's.
4. The Mega size ARC Challenge – Read 21+ ARC's.

NOTE: You may UPGRADE your challenge but you can NOT DOWNGRADE your challenge.

OK....like I said, this is just the kick off.  I know there are more to come.  I will continue my stalking at A Novel Challenge, and I am sure I will bumping into you there too lol.