The Outlander Challenge, 2009

Okay, okay, so I know I said that I wasn't going to join any more challenges this year...well, maybe I didn't post it on my blog, but I was definitely decided on the point in my head. That is, until I read The Chic Geek's blog, where she posted about signing up for none other than the Outlander Reading Challenge!!

If you've read my review of Diana Gabaldon's Outlander, then you'll know that it is one of my favorite books. I haven't gotten around to reading the rest of the 6 (soon-to-be 7) books in the series, so this challenge is perfect for me!

Here are the rules:

1. Sign up!
2. You must read each of the six current Outlander Series novels prior to the publication of An Echo in the Bone (scheduled publication September 2009).
3. The format can be of your choosing (audio, book, Kindle, etc).
4. You must post your thoughts/comments/inspirations/criticisms at least once on each book.
5. Books can crossover to other reading challenges if you wish.
6. Have fun!

Want to join this challenge with me? Visit the Challenge's blog HERE.

I plan on writing reviews for each book, but I'll also update this post after reading each one.

Outlander - My Review
Dragonfly in Amber
Voyager
Drums of Autumn
The Fiery Cross
A Breath of Snow and Ashes
An Echo in the Bone (Released 9.22.09)

This challenge is hosted by:
A Reader's Respite
Passages to the Past

Centuries Reading Challenge

This one is interesting: The Centuries Challenge, hosted by Becky's Book Reviews.

From the Challenge Page:

Your challenge--if you choose to accept it--is to read four (to six) books from four different centuries [written in different centuries]. (If you choose to read six books altogether, then you can double up on centuries if you like. You can always read more than six. But you're not obligated to in any way.)

 My list (when I decide):

1.
2.
3.
4.

My Year of Reading Dangerously - A Challenge

My Year of Reading Dangerously Challenge

From the contest site: "Read 12 books you deem "dangerous." between January 1st and December 31st 2009. They may be banned or challenged books, new-to-you genres, books that seem to inhabit a permanent space on your stacks, or authors you're afraid of. The possibilities are endless! If it's dangerous to you, it's challenge-worthy to us!"

Here are the books I plan to read, and why:

1. The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
          
2. Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell (Re-read, and Crossover)
          It's dangerously addictive!
3. The Arabian Nights by Anonymous
          
4. Lady Chatterley's Lover by D. H. Lawrence
          
5. The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer
          I hear it's a hard read, therefore it's dangerous!
6. The Poisonwod Bible (Crossover)
          People keep telling me to read this book, but it's never appealed to me. Time to read it.
7. Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
          So many people say this is Jane Austen's worst book, so I figure I'll see for myself.
8. The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova (Crossover)
          I started reading this once, but couldn't finish. It's time to finish it.
9. Blonde by Joyce carol Oates
          Marilyn Monroe's life was tragic, making the perfect dangerous read!
10. Beasts by Joyce Carol Oates
          Dangerous; Tantalizing; Dark. I have to read it.
11. Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott
          I don't usually read book that have to do with subjects such as abuse, drugs, abduction, ect...
12.

Romance Reading Challenge 2009

Yet another amazing challenge! When I came across this one, I just had to enter because I LOVE love stories! This challenge is hosted by The Bookworm, and you can find the challenge page here.

So here's the gist:
Choose at least 5 romance novels to read during 2009. Read them at the pace of my choosing, and then add the link to my reviews as I write them at the designated challenge page.

And, in case your wondering, here's a lovely description from the challenge host's blog, of just exactly what a romance novel is:

Now, "Romance" isn't limited to steamy Harlequin novels. There is a huge selection of books in this category such as contemporary romance, historical romance, romantic suspense and paranormal romance to name a few. As long as the story has romantic love between the two main characters your selection will fit this challenge. The novels do not need to have a happy ending either, there can also be unrequited love.

I'm not sure what exactly I'll read, yet. I was thinking of reading Gone With the Wind a third time, because it's soooo good. Or, I might decide to choose books I haven't read before. Either way, I'll be posting my picks when I pick 'em, and I'll post my reviews after I've read 'em! :)

1. City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments series, book 1) by Cassandra Clare My Review

2. Princess of the Sword (The Nine Kingdoms series, book 3) by Lynn Kurland

3. Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen My Review

4. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon (Crossover) - My Review

5. Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte (Re-Read)

P-E-N-E-L-O-P-E

Another interesting challenge for 2009:

See the Read Your Name Challenge website Here.

This one should be fun! Participants are to read books that start with each of the letters of their name. Here are some of my tentative picks:


1: Poisonwood Bible, The by Barbara Kingsolver (Crossover)
2: Enter Three Witches by Caroline Cooney
3: Nobody's Princess by Esther Friesner
4: Enna Burning by Shannon Hale
5: Living Dead in Dallas (Southern Vampire Mysteries, book 2) by Charlaine Harris
6: Outlander by Diana Gabaldon My Review
7: Pendragon, book 1: The Merchant of Death, by D.J. MacHale
8: Emma by Jane Austen

*Reviews to come as I finish the books!

A Rose By Any Other Name...

My first challenge for 2009! I love this one because it is so smart and unique! I give you the What's in a Name? Reading Challenge...

The objective is to read one book from each of the six given categories. The categories are the things that you need to have in the titles of each book (it's explained better in the challenge website). These are the categories:

1. A book with a "profession" in it's title.
2. A book with a "time of day" in it's title.
3. A book with a "relative" in it's title.
4. A book with a "body part" in it's title.
5. A book with a "building" in it's title.
6. A book with a "medical condition" in it's title.

I haven't decided on all of the books I will read yet, but here are some possibilites:

1. Profession: The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova (Crossover)
2. Time of day: Dead Until Dark: Southern Vampire Mysteries volume 1, by Charlaine Harris
3. Relative: Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister by Gregory Maguire
4. Body part: City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments series) by Cassandra Clare - My Review
5. Building: Summers at Castle Auburn by Sharon Shinn
6. Medical condition: Faefever (Fever series, book 3) by Karen Marie Moning

*Updates to come as I finish the books!