I've already read a couple books suited for this challenge this year; Suite Scarlett by Maureen Johnson and Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink. Reviews of these titles will be coming soon!

Some of the books I'm hoping to read for the challenge are:

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr

A Voice in the Wind by Francine Rivers

Posted by Melanie at 10:00 AM View Comments    

Labels: challenge, first in a series

Challenges are so much fun, and I've found a couple that I'm really looking forward to participating in. First up: The Fall Into Reading 2009 Challenge hosted by Callapidder Days.

This challenge actually started way back in September, but it runs until December 20th. I figure between now and then I'll be getting plenty of reading done. The cool thing about it is that it's up to you which books you read for the challenge! Here's my tentative list:

• The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
• Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen
• Keeping the Moon by Sarah Dessen
• It's All Too Much, So Get It Together by Peter Walsh
• Wives and Daughters by Elizabeth Gaskell
• A Map Of The Known World by Lisa Ann Sandell
• The House of the Seven Gables by Nathaniel Hawthorn

I'm hoping to be reading a larger number of books than what is on this list, but I wanted to give myself plenty of breathing room.

The second challenge I'll be joining is Women Unbound: A Reading Challenge. The challenge will run from November 1, 2009 to November 30, 2010, but you're welcome to join anytime you like. The purpose of this challenge is to encourage participants to read nonfiction and fiction books related to the rather broad idea of ‘women’s studies.’ That sentence is a paraphrase from the challenge website.


For this challenge I've decided to be a Philogynist and commit to read at least two books, including at least one nonfiction one. After looking at the list that Eva from A Striped Armchair compiled, I'm currently thinking about reading The Body Project: An Intimate History of American Girls by Joan Jacobs Brumberg and Beauty by Robin McKinley. They both sound really interesting!

How about you? How are your current challenges going? Have you found any new ones recently?

Book titles are Amazon affiliate links

Posted by Melanie at 8:00 AM View Comments    

Labels: challenge, fall into reading challenge, women unbound challenge

The Random Reading Challenge is hosted by CARIBOUS MOM and will run from August 1, 2009 to July 31, 2010. I'm hoping to read twelve books for the challenge. The Random Reading Challenge is just as the name suggests, completely random! To find out all the official info, check out the original post.

Hope everyone is having an amazing weekend!

Posted by Melanie at 1:18 PM View Comments    

Labels: challenge, random reading challenge

In the Everything Austen challenge, hosted by Stephenie's Written Word, those participating are challenged to pick six Austen-themed items to read or watch. This can include Austen's own novels, of course, the numerous sequels to her novels, or one of the movie adaptations. This challenge will run from July 1, 2009 (my birthday!!!) to January 1, 2010. If you sign up for this challenge b July 15th, you'll be entered into a drawing to win Lost in Austen on dvd. I've seen a few clips of the mini-series, and it looks hilarious! You'll also have the chance for more prizes as the challenge moves along. For all the information and to sign up, visit the original Everything Austen Challenge post.

Here's what I plan on watching and reading for this challenge.

Movies:
Persuasion (2008)

Bride and Prejudice
The Jane Austen Book Club

Books:
Persuasion by Jane Austen
An Assembly Such as This by Pamela Aiden
Mr. Darcy's Diary by Amanda Grange

Well, that's all that I plan to do for this challenge. Why don't you join in?

Posted by Melanie at 8:49 AM View Comments    

Labels: challenge, everything austen

The Bloggiesta was a lot of fun, don't you think? I finished many things on my to-do list.

Things I did during the Bloggiesta:

-Wrote five reviews

-Wrote a couple posts to save for a rainy day

-Wrote review policy

-Participated in seven mini-challenges at: My Friend Amy, The Book Lady's Blog, Beth Fish Reads, Fizzy Thoughts, Books, Movies, and Chinese Food, Chronicle of an Infant Bibliophile, and Book Blather

-Tweaked review format: in the future I’ll link to other reviews as well as Amazon

-Updated all my blog related networking sites' profiles

-Worked on blog’s sidebar

I spent fifteen hours and twenty-two minutes working on this challenge. It was a lot of fun, and I can't wait to do it again!

Posted by Melanie at 8:29 AM View Comments    

Labels: bloggiesta, challenge

Remember a couple days ago when I posted about the Bloggiesta? Well, it's here. It's finally here! It runs from Friday to Sunday with the focus being on improving your blog and getting caught up. For me that includes:

1. Writing reviews for-

The Grand Hotel by Mary Davis

Critical Care by Candace Calvert

Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Mantchev

Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier

God's Gift by Dee Henderson

2. Working on my sidebar

3. Writing things for future posts, using the ideas that have been rolling around in my head for quite some time.

4. Updating all my blog related social networking sites' profiles.

It looks like I'll be having a busy weekend! Wish me luck. :)

Posted by Melanie at 8:34 AM View Comments    

Labels: bloggiesta, challenge

Shakespeare is one of the most famous playwrights of all time, right? Today, though, most of the reading of his plays that goes on is required school reading. Liv, over at Liv's Book Reviews has come up with a challenge for everyone to read three Shakespeare Plays by August 31 this summer. This challenge is being sponsored by Lisa Mantchev, and those who complete it will be entered into a drawing to win:

Posted by Melanie at 11:34 AM View Comments    

Labels: challenge, Shakespearean Summer

After being gone for two weeks, I've got plenty of stuff I need to get caught up on. It just happens to be perfect timing that Natasha from Maw Books is hosting the first edition of the Bloggiesta!

It'll give me a chance to get caught up on my reviews, write some other posts that have been on my mind for a while, do some blog improvements, plus update some of my blog related profiles on social networking sites.

There is something I've been contemplating that you could help me out with. Should I change my blog layout? I was looking at it yesterday, and it seemed to me that it was a bit hard to read because it was dark on dark. I'm thinking about finding a layout with a white center. What do you think? If I do change it, I'll go on a hunt for a new layout during the Bloggiesta.

This event runs for 48 hours, 8 a.m. on Friday to 8 a.m. on Sunday. Full information and details can be found over at the event post. You should join us! It's gonna be fun.

Posted by Melanie at 8:42 AM View Comments    

Labels: bloggiesta, challenge