2012 Reading Challenges

It was close, but I managed to finish them all. Off the shelf was the hardest one. I picked 50 book goal and succeed only because I counted omnibus books as two.

Challenges:
Terry Pratchett (1) 4 Done!
Just for Fun (12) 12 Done!
New Author (25) 30 Done!
The Graphic Novel Challenge (12) 21 Done!
Immortal (3+3+3+1) 3+3+3+1 Done!
Sci-Fi Challenge (12) 12 Done!
Speculative Fiction challenge (48) 48 Done!
Off the Shelf (50) 51 Done!
1st in a series (12) 22 Done!
2nds (12) 14 Done!
Once upon a time (5) 14+2+1 Done!

Once again I’m amazed at how many new series I started (22) but then read only 14 in the Seconds challenge, and most of them in different series or the second time I read an author.

I read 30 new authors and most of them fell in the OK category (could read more but not in a hurry). However, I will try out Caitlin Kittredge’s other series.

I’ve certainly learned my lesson for this year. I’ve only joined six challenges with a lot of overlapping books. And my goal for TBR books is just 24 although hopefully I’ll have the time and inspiration to read a bit more of them.

 

The Graveyard Book read-a-long

Carl at the Stainless Steel Droppings is hosting a read-a-long of Neil Gaiman’s Graveyard Book.

Begin reading anytime between immediately and October 1st.

Read Chapters 1-3:

How Nobody Came to the Graveyard
The New Friend
The Hounds of God

from October 1st through October 6th. Post your thoughts on these chapters on Sunday, October 7th.

Read Chapters 4-6:

The Witch’s Headstone
Danse Macabre
Interlude: The Convocation
Nobody Owens’ School Days

from October 8th through October 13th. Post your thoughts on these chapters on Sunday, October 14th.

Read Chapters 7-8:

Every Man Jack
Leavings and Partings

from October 14th through October 20th. Post your thoughts on these final chapters/the book on Sunday, October 20th.

I haven’t read the book before and, frankly, I’ve been discouraged because it’s a YA and overall I’ve always liked Gaiman’s comics and short stories more than his books. Hopefully, the book will be good.

 

R.I.P. VII

Carl at the Stainless Steel Droppings is hosting the seventh R.eaders I.mbibing P.eril, or R.I.P.

The purpose of R.eaders I.mbibing P.eril VII is to enjoy books and movies/television that could be classified (by you) as:

Mystery.
Suspense.
Thriller.
Dark Fantasy.
Gothic.
Horror.
Supernatural.
Or anything sufficiently moody that shares a kinship with the above.

R.I.P. VII officially runs from September 1st through October 31st.

I don’t really care for horror, so I’ll be reading mystery and thriller books and perhaps dark fantasy.

Carl has several different perils. I’ll join

Peril the First:

Read four books, any length, that you feel fit (the very broad definitions) of R.I.P. literature. It could be King or Conan Doyle, Penny or Poe, Chandler or Collins, Lovecraft or Leroux…or anyone in between.

I’ve got loads of mysteries on my to-be-read pile and some Dark fantasy and thrillers, too.

Peril on the Screen:

This is for those of us that like to watch suitably scary, eerie, mysterious gothic fare during this time of year. It may be something on the small screen or large. It might be a television show, like Dark Shadows or Midsomer Murders, or your favorite film. If you are so inclined, please post links to any R.I.P.-related viewing you do on to the Review Site as well.

I’ve watched almost all of the X-Files for the past eight months and I’ve still got the last season to go. Also, I’ve just bought the first season of Sanctuary.

I’ll also join the group read of Neil Gaiman’s Graveyard book. I’ve fallen sadly behind on my Gaiman reads so this is a change to catch up a little.

Read:
1, Stacia Kane: Sacrificial Magic (dark fantasy)
2, Kerry Greenwood: Raisins and Almonds (mystery)
3, Locke & Key: Welcome to Lovecraft (horror)
4, Rowena Cory Daniells: Besieged (dark fantasy)
5, Jocelynn Drake: Pray for Dawn (dark fantasy)
6, Josh Lanyon: Fatal Shadows (mystery)
7, R. C. Daniells: The Price of Fame (paranormal mystery)
8, Elizabeth Peters: Borrower of the Night (mystery)
9, Susan Wittig Albert: Thyme of Death
10, Neil Gaiman: The Graveyard Book

Watched:
Sanctuary Season 1

Reading pool:
Alexander Cipher by Will Adams
Tanya Huff: Blood Lines
Tanya Huff: Blood Pact
Carol Goodman: The Lake of Dead Languages
Tom McGregor: Death in the Wilderness
Robert Goddard: Past Caring
William Dietrich: Napoleon’s Pyramids
Steven Saylor: A Murder of the Appian Way
Kari Sperring: Living With Ghosts

 

Summer in Discworld: Terry Pratchett Reading Challenge

Cheryl Mahoney of Tales of the Marvelous is hosting Summer in Discworld: Terry Pratchett Reading Challenge and I’m signing up.

Pratchett is consistently responsible for the funniest books I read each year, and I wanted to share the laughs. This is a challenge only in the loose sense–all you have to do to participate is read any book from Pratchett’s sprawling 40-book Discworld series between June 1st and August 31st, and tell us about it. There’s a separate review page.

She also hosts a group read of Going Postal and if I can get the book, I’ll join in.

Week 1, from “The Nine Thousand Year Prologue” through “Chapter 4: A Sign” – reviews on July 9

Week 2, from “Chapter 5: Lost in the Post” through “Chapter 7: Tomb of Words” – reviews on July 16

Week 3, from “Chapter 7A: Post Haste” through “Chapter 11: Mission Statement” – reviews on July 23

Week 4, from “Chapter 12: The Woodpecker” to the end! – reviews on July 30

Read:
1, Terry Pratchett: Going Postal
2, Terry Pratchett: Lords and Ladies
3, Terry Pratchett: Wyrd Sisters
Terry Pratchett: Eric

My current Pratchett reading pool:
Eric (not a reread, after all)
Wyrd Sisters (relisten)
Jingo
Men at Arms
Wee Free Men
Lords and Ladies

 

Neverwhere read along

Carl from the Stainless Steel Droppings is hosting Neverwhere read along and I decided to participate. I’ve read Neverwhere before but that was years ago. I haven’t seen the TV show or graphic novel, though.

The schedule will be as follows:

Read the Prologue through Chapter 5, May 13th-20th. Discussions for this section posted Monday, May 21st.

Read Chapter 6 through Chapter 6 through Chapter 12, May 20th-May 27th. Discussions for this section posted Monday, May 28th.

Read Chapter 13 through the end (Chapter 20), May 27th-June 3rd. Discussions for this section posted Monday, June 4th.

 

Once Upon a Time VI

Carl from the Stainless Steel Droppings is hosting the annual Once Upon a Time challenge for reading all things fantasy, mythology, folklore, and fairy tales:

Wednesday, March 21st begins the sixth annual Once Upon a Time Challenge. This is a reading and viewing event that encompasses four broad categories: Fairy Tale, Folklore, Fantasy and Mythology, including the seemingly countless sub-genres and blending of genres that fall within this spectrum. The challenge continues through Tuesday, June 19th and allows for very minor (1 book only) participation as well as more immersion depending on your reading/viewing whims.

I’ll be taking part in Quest the First: Read at least 5 books that fit somewhere within the Once Upon a Time categories. They might all be fantasy, or folklore, or fairy tales, or mythology… or your five books might be a combination from the four genres.

And Quest on the Screen: Stories are not just limited to the printed page. Many entertaining, moving, profound or simply fun stories are told in the realm of television and film. To participate in this quest simply let us know about the films and/or television shows that you feel fit into the definitions of fantasy, fairy tales, folklore or mythology that you are enjoying during the challenge.

And Short Story Quest: This quest involves the reading of one or more short stories that fit within at least one of the four genres during the course of any weekend, or weekends, during the challenge. Ideally you would post about your short story readings on Sundays or Mondays, but this is not strictly necessary.

I was tempted to take on Quest the Second (Read at least one book from each of the four categories) but I’m unsure about differences between the categories. Would, for example, a Robin Hood book be folklore? I don’t think it’s mythology because the stories don’t (usually) have supernatural elements. I have a tendency to put all fiction books into fantasy when they have mythological or fairy tale aspects. Is steampunk fantasy? It’s usually lumped in with science fiction.

Read:
1, Robin McKinley: Spindle’s End
2, Jennifer Estep: Spider’s Bite
3, Carolyn Crane: Mind Games
4, Barbara Hambly: Dragonsbane
5, Kevin Hearne: Hounded
6, Liz Williams: The Iron Khan
7, Robin McKinley: Sunshine
8, Jack Vance: The Dying Earth
9, Elizabeth A. Lynn: Watchtower
10, Tanya Huff: Blood Price
11, Tanya Huff: Blood Trail
12, Neil Gaiman: Neverwhere
13, Carolyn Crane: Double Cross
14, Karin Lowachee: The Gaslight Dogs

Short story collections:
Fritz Leiber: Swords in the Mist
DB Jackson: A Spell of Vengeance

Watched:
Mirror, Mirror

 

The 2012 Science Fiction Experience

Carl V. at the Stainless Steel Droppings has organized the 2012 Science Fiction Experience so I decided to join in:

A few years back I decided I would like to invite other readers to spend time together to:

a) Continue their love affair with science fiction
b) Return to science fiction after an absence, or
c) Experience for the first time just how exhilarating science fiction can be.

This event was not to be a challenge. It was not a dare nor was it a contest. It was meant to be an experience, a word I did not choose at random.
…
And so I officially welcome you to The 2012 Science Fiction Experience, which runs from January 1st, 2012 through February 29th, 2012. That’s right, we get an extra day this year! Woo-hoo!

The “rules” of the experience are simple: there are none. Remember, this isn’t a challenge. If you would like to join us in reading and discussing any science fiction reading or television viewing or movie watching you do over that time period, please do.

I have quite a few unread SF books on my shelves but I recently bought a bundle of Kristine Kathryne Rusch’s novellas from Smashwords so I’ll probably read those first.

Read:
1, Kristine Kathryn Rusch: The Spires of Denon
2, Tom Strong: Book Three
3, Kim Stanley Robinson: Red Mars
4, C. J. Cherryh: The Faded Sun: Kutath
5, Tom Strong: Book Four
6, Kristine Kathryn Rusch: Boneyards
7, John Vornholt: A Time to be Born
8, John Vornholt: A Time to Die
9, John Scalzi: Fuzzy Nation
10, H. Beam Piper: Little Fuzzy

 

2nds challenge 2012

I’m also joining the 2nds challenge in 2012. I read 17 books for this challenge last year, so I’m going to choose the A Full Plate level with 12 books.

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 to choose from in this challenge:

* Just a spoonful – Read 3 books that are 2nd in a series or the second time you’ve read the author.
* A few more bites – Read 6 books that are 2nd in a series or the second time you’ve read the author.
* A full plate – Read 12 books that are 2nd in a series or the second time you’ve read the author.
* All you can eat – Read 20 books (or more) that are 2nd in a series or the second time you’ve read the author.

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.

Read
1, John Vornholt: A Time to Die
2, Christoper Golden and Nancy Holder: The Ghost Roads
3, Cherie Priest: Clementine
4, Italo Calvino: Marcovaldo or the Seasons in the City
5, Tanya Huff: Blood Trail
6, Carolyn Crane: Double Cross
7, Sarah Jane Stratford: The Moonlight Brigade
8, Liz Williams: Bloodmind
9, Robert Greenberger: A Time To Hate
10, Bram Stoker: Dracula’s Guest and other weird stories
11, David Mack: A Time To Heal
12 Karen A. Wyle: Wander Home
13, Rowena Cory Daniells: Exile
14, Lilith Saintcrow: Hunter’s Prayer

 

1st in a series challenge 2012

I’m going to join a couple of more reading challenges for 2012. I had a lot of fun last year with this one, so I’m going take part in the 1st in a series challenge.

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.

I’m aiming for the Expert level with 12 books.
I have a lot of these in my TBR and I plan to start a few series in audio, too. I tend to read fantasy, science fiction, and mystery.

Books read:
1, Kim Stanley Robinson: Red Mars
2, John Vornholt: A Time to be Born
3, Christoper Golden and Nancy Holder: Out of the Madhouse
4, H. Beam Piper: Little Fuzzy
5, Suzanne Collins: The Hunger Games
6, Sue Grafton: A is for Alibi
7, Jennifer Estep: Spider’s Bite
8, Carolyn Crane: Mind Games
9, Barbara Hambly: Dragonsbane
10, Kevin Hearne: Hounded
11, Elizabeth A. Lynn: Watchtower
12, Tanya Huff: Blood Price
13, Liz Williams: Darkland
14, Pip Ballantine and Tee Morris: Phoenix Rising: A Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences Novel
15, Lois McMaster Bujold: Shards of Honor
16, Jackie Kessler and Caitlin Kittredge: Black and White
17, Rowena Cory Daniells: Besieged
18, Josh Lanyon: Fatal Shadows
19, Elizabeth Peters: Borrower of the Night
20, Susan Wittig Albert: Thyme of Death
21, K. A. Stewart: Devil in the Details
22, Jasper Fforde: The Eyre Affair

 

Books read 2012

This is the post to track my reading challenges and link to all the books I’ve read in 2012

Challenges:
R.I.P. VII (4+1+1) 9+1 Done!
Terry Pratchett: (1) 5 Done!
Just for Fun (12) 12 Done!
New Author (25) 30 Done Yay!
The Graphic Novel Challenge (12) 21 Done!
Immortal (3+3+3+1) 3+3+3+1 Done!
Sci-Fi Challenge (12) 12 Done!
Speculative Fiction challenge (48) 48 Done!
Off the Shelf (50) 50 Done!
1st in a series (12) 22 Done!
2nds (12) 14 Done!
The 2012 Science Fiction Experience 10 Done!
Once upon a time VI: 10 Done!

January
1, Kirsten Imani Kasai: Tattoo
2, Marie Brennan: With Fate Conspire
3, A. M. Dellamonica: Indigo Springs
4, Sharon Lee: Carousel Tides (Spec Fic)
5, Christopher Golden and Nancy Holder: The Lost Slayer Omnibus (Fun)
6, Kerry Greenwood: Ruddy Gore
7, Tara Maya: Sacrifice (Spec fic, Immortal)
8, Tara Maya: Root (Spec fic, Immortal)

Novellas:
1, Kristine Kathryn Rusch: The Spires of Denon (Sci fi ex)

Comics:
1, Tom Strong: Book Three (Spec fic, Graphic)
2, Star Trek: The Next Generation: Enemy Unseen (Graphic, Spec Fic, Sci fi Exp)

February
9, Kim Stanley Robinson: Red Mars (1st, Sci fi Exp, Spec Fic, Off, Sci Fi Chall-modern classic)
10, C. J. Cherryh: Faded Sun: Kutath (Sci fi Exp, Spec Fic, Off, Sci Fi Chall-starships/aliens)
11, John Vornholt: A Time to be Born (Sci fi Exp, Off, 1st, Spec fic, New)
12, Kristine Kathryn Rusch: Boneyards (Sci-fi Exp, Spec fic, Fun)
13, John Vornholt: A Time to Die ST:TNG (Sci fi Exp, Off, 2nd, Spec fic)
14, John Scalzi: Fuzzy Nation (New, Sci-fi Exp, Spec fic, Off, Sci-fi Challenge)
15, Christoper Golden and Nancy Holder: Out of the Madhouse (1st, Spec fic)
16, H. Beam Piper: Little Fuzzy (Spec fic, New, Off, 1st)
17,Christoper Golden and Nancy Holder: The Ghost Roads (Spec fic, 2nds)

Comics:
3, Tom Strong: Book Four
4, Tom Strong: Book Five

Novellas:
2, Kristine Kathryn Rusch: Recovery Man’s Bargain

March
18, Christoper Golden and Nancy Holder: Sons of Entropy
19, Cherie Priest: Clementine (2nds, spec)
20, Suzanne Collins: The Hunger Games (new, 1st, spec, sci-fi challenge)
21, Dayton Ward and Kevin Dilmore: A Time to Sow (new, spec, off)
22, Cherie Priest: Dreadnought (spec)
23, Sue Grafton: A is for Alibi (1st, new, off)
24, Dayton Ward and Kevin Dilmore: A Time to Harvest (spec, off)
25, Cherie Priest: Ganymede (Spec, fun)
26, Italo Calvino: Marcovaldo or the Seasons in the City (2nds, off)

Comics:
5, Kurt Busiek and George Perez: Avengers: The Morgan Conquest
6, Avengers Assemble vol. 1

Novellas:
3, Kristine Kathryn Rusch: Dragon’s Tooth
4, Kristine Kathryn Rusch: Assassin’s Dagger

April
27, Kerry Greenwood: Blood and Circuses fun
28, Robin McKinley: Spindle’s End (spec, once)
29, Jennifer Estep: Spider’s Bite (1st, new, spec, once)
30, Carolyn Crane: Mind Games (1st, once, spec, new)
31, Barbara Hambly: Dragonsbane (off, 1st, spec)
32, Kevin Hearne: Hounded (1st, new, spec)
33, Jules Verne: From Earth to the Moon (off, 1st, sci-fi, new)

Comics
8, Avengers Assemble vol. 2

Novellas
6, Kristine Kathryn Rusch: Coolhunting
7, Kristine Kathryn Rusch: Becalmed

May
34, Robert Greenberger: A Time To Love (new)
35, Liz Williams: The Iron Khan (off, spec, once)
36, Robin McKinley: Sunshine (off, spec, once)
37, Jack Vance: The Dying Earth (new, spec, once)
38, Kerry Greenwood: Urn Burial (fun)
39, Elizabeth A. Lynn: Watchtower (new, spec, once, 1st)
40, Liz Williams: Empire of Bones
41, Ray Bradbury: Something Wicked This Way Comes (new, spec)
42, Tanya Huff: Blood Price (Off, 1st, spec, new)

Comics
9, The Avengers: Nights of Wundagore by David Michelinie and John Byrne
10, Avengers: Living Legends
11, Avengers/Thunderbolts Volume 1: The Nefaria Protocols
12, Avengers: Above and Beyond

Movies:
1, Mirror, Mirror

June
43, Tanya Huff: Blood Trail (2nds, spec, once, off)
44, Neil Gaiman: Neverwhere (spec, once)
45, Carolyn Crane: Double Cross (once, 2nds, spec)
46, Fritz Leiber: Swords in the Mist (once, spec, off)
47, Karin Lowachee: The Gaslight Dogs (new, off, spec, once)
48, Elizabeth Bear: The Sea Thy Mistress (spec)
49, Sarah Jane Stratford: The Moonlight Brigade (2nds, spec, immortals, off))
50, C. J. Cherryh: Downbelow Station (spem sci-fi challenge)
51, Liz Williams: the Poison Master (fun)

Short stories:
DB Jackson: A Spell of Vengeance

Comics:
13, Avengers: The Kang Dynasty
14, Avengers: The Kree-Skrull War

July:
52, Liz Williams: Nine Layers of Sky (fun)
53, Teresa Frohock: Miserere (new, spec)
54, Liz Williams: Darkland (1st, spec)
55, Liz Williams: Bloodmind (2nds, challenge)
56, Pip Ballantine and Tee Morris: Phoenix Rising: A Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences Novel (1st, new, off)
57, Rachel Caine and Kerrie L. Hughes, ed.: Chicks Kick Butt
58, John Joseph Adams ed.: The Improbable Adventures of Sherlock Holmes

Comics:
15, X-Men: Second Coming
16, Avengers: Under Siege

August
59, Terry Pratchett: Going Postal
60, Terry Pratchett: Lords and Ladies (off)
62, Robert Greenberger: A Time To Hate (off, 2nds)
63, Terry Pratchett: Wyrd Sisters (fun)
64, Lois McMaster Bujold: Shards of Honor (1st)
65, Amanda McNeil: Waiting for Daybreak (new)
66, David Mack: A Time To Kill (new, off)
67, Bram Stoker: Dracula’s Guest and other weird stories (2nds)
68, Terry Pratchett: Eric (off)

Comics:
17, Avengers Forever
18, Essential X-Men vol. 3

September

69, David Mack: A Time To Heal (off, new)
70, Carolyn Crane: Head Rush (fun)
71, Jackie Kessler and Caitlin Kittredge: Black and White (off, 1st, new)
72, Stacia Kane: Sacrificial Magic (rip)
73, Kerry Greenwood: Raisins and Almonds (rip)
74, Rowena Cory Daniells: Besieged (1st, rip)
75, Jocelynn Drake: Pray for Dawn (rip, immortals)
76, William Gibson and Bruce Sterling: Difference Engine (off, new, challenge)
77, Nancy Farmer: The Ear, the Eye, and the Arm (new, off, challenge)

October
78, Josh Lanyon: Fatal Shadows (1st, new, off)
79, R. C. Daniells: The Price of Fame (rip)
80, Elizabeth Peters: Borrower of the Night (rip, off, 1st)
81, Karen A. Wyle: Wander Home (2nds)
81, K. A. Stewart: Devil in the Details (off, 1st, new)
82, Susan Wittig Albert: Thyme of Death (off, 1st, new)
84, Terry Pratchett: Guards! Guards! (fun)
85, Rowena Cory Daniells: Exile
86, Neil Gaiman: The Graveyard Book (rip)

Comics
19, Essential X-Men vol. 4
20, Locke & Key: Welcome to Lovecraft (rip)
21, Essential X-Men vol. 5

November
87, Terry Pratchett: Men at arms (off)
88, C. J. Cherryh: Merchanter’s Luck (off)
89, Seanan McGuire: Ashes of Honor (fun)
90, Tara Maya: Wing
91, Jocelynn Drake: Wait for Dusk
92, C. J. Cherryh: Forty Thousand in Gehenna (off)
93, Rowena Cory Daniells: Sanctuary
94, Philip K. Dick: Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? (scifi)

December
95, Laura Anne Gilman: Burning Bridges (off)
96, Kage Baker: Mendoza in Hollywood (sci-fi, off)
97, Keith R. A. DeCandido: A Time for War, A Time for Peace (off, new)
98, Lilith Saintcrow: Hunter’s Prayer (off, 2nds, immortals)
99, Jasper Fforde: The Eyre Affair (off, scifi, 1st, new)
100, Carrie Vaughn: Kitty Take a Holiday (off, immortal)
101, Kristine Kathryn Rusch: Blowback (fun)
102, Roger Zelazny and Robert Sheckley: Bring Me the Head of Prince Charming (immortal, off)
103, Randall Garrett: Lord Darcy Investigates (off)
104, Tanya Huff: Blood Lines (off)
105, The Shadow Conspiracy, edited by Phyllis Irene Radford and Laura Anne Gilman
106, Tanya Huff: Blood Pact