Monday, January 12, 2009

Reading Challenge: 50 books in 2009


PJ Hoover challenged people on her blog to read 50 books in 2009. It's still not too late to join the challenge.

Consequently, PJ's book The Emerald Tablet, is a book on the top of my TBR pile. Once I read it, I'll also review it along with a book giveaway!

I'm currently reading Haroun and the Sea of Stories by Salmon Rushdie and also the Haunting of Granit Falls by Eva Ibbotson.

Another on my TBR list is The ABC's of Kissing Boys by Tina Ferraro. I'm mentioning this because the release of this book is TOMORROW! Yay! AND . . . That's not all . . . I also have an exclusive interview with Tina where she not only talks about her new book, but she also gives us interesting tid-bit about her first kiss. So come back tomorrow and read all about it! But until then, you can head on over to YA Fresh and Books Boys Buzz, where Tina is hosting contests to give away free copies!

I'm excited, because I got a bunch of new books in the mail over the weekend. I plan on reviewing all of them and also doing book give aways! It's my way of spreading the reading luv! Don't 'cha just feel all warm and fuzzy? :0D

So, anyway. . . Who's up to the challenge?

Here's PJ's rules copied and pasted from her blog. But she encourages everyone to adapt the rules if they need to. The point is just to get reading:

My rules
(and seriously, if you're doing the challenge, change these in any way you need and feel good about):

  • Cannot count anything you've read before (which is why I didn't add any books on writing craft I've already read. I plan to reread many of those throughout the year.)
  • No picture books.
  • Reading my own books doesn't count. Even if I read them 50 times during revisions.
  • Reading critique partners manuscripts doesn't count.
  • Mix it up so it's not all YA. I've listed some classics, some adult, and I plan to add some non-fiction.
  • When making my list, leave room for spontaneous reads, new releases that are "must reads", and anything I happen to pick up at the library during a given week.
  • Record what I read on Goodreads.

19 comments:

Adrienne said...

PJ's book is at the top of my list, too!
Don't think I'll join this challenge, though...right now I'm finding enough things to get discouraged about. Sigh.

C.R. Evers said...

Hey Adrienne! Don't sweat the reading challenge. We all have times where it's harder to include stuff. And it's much better to go at whatever pace you can instead of discouraging yourself. (((hugs)))

Christy

Tabitha said...

I'm in! I did this challenge last year through Shelfari, and enjoyed it so much that I'm doing it again this year. I don't have many rules, except that I'm not counting picture books, re-reads, or the manuscripts I critique for fellow writers. Everything else is game. :) I'm going to keep track of this year's books on my blog, thought I haven't quite figured out how yet... :)

Jacqui said...

Okay. I'm in.

Unknown said...

I'm doing it, too! :)(

Here's where my list is:
http://bethrevis.blogspot.com/2009/01/fifty-books-in-2009.html

C.R. Evers said...

YaY TAbitha, Jacqui and Beth! Fun!

I need to figure out how I want to keep track of my books too. I have my shelfari on my sidebar, but that includes last years books too. . . hmmmmmm. . . Maybe just an additional sidebar item specifically for the challenge?

Bish Denham said...

Alas I'm such a slow reader I could never manage a book a week, particularly the longer YA books. It can sometimes take me 2 weeks to a month to finish a book, even though I read every day. However I am going to be keeping a list of what I read and maybe at the end of the year I'll post it, the long errr, short of it. :O

PJ Hoover said...

Thanks for including my book, Christy and Adrienne!
And I'm totally stealing that awesome picture for my blog! Love it!

Kelly Polark said...

Good luck on your challenge! It sounds like a fun challenge, but I couldn't do it at this point. I'll scratch the no picture book restriction, and then I can do it! :0)

C.R. Evers said...

You go Bish! I like it when people don't feel like they need to go with the crowd and know how to set their own goals. Happy reading1

PJ, There are about 3 or 4 books I have in line b4 I read yours, but I must admit, I got excited and snuck ahead and read the 1st page. Your first sentence is Killer! I love when people find "perfec" words and the word "pinprick" was exactly that! There was so much punch with that one word. The sentence wouldn't have been as powerful had you used anything else. Can't wait to read the rest!

Kelly, go for it! Add PB's into your mix! Happy reading!

sruble said...

One of my New Year's resolutions was to read a book a week, so I'm in :)

I don't know if I'll follow all the rules though. They might all be YA, or some graphic novels, or whatever I feel like reading that week. I'm not on GoodReads (yet), but maybe later this year.

:)

Kit said...

Oh Christy,
I need a few picture books in the mix.

C.R. Evers said...

Go for it Kit! The rules are flexible! :0) Happy reading!

Christy

Brenda said...

With the changes I decided to make recently, I don't think I could read 50 pages at the moment, much less 50 books...yikes! grin...

Good luck to all who try it!

C.R. Evers said...

Brenda, I've read about all the stuff that you've got going on girl! I'd be surprised if you could fit in another challenge. You've got enough to challenge you as it is! You go girl!

Christy

Marcia said...

I'll probably try it unofficially. That is, I think I can do it (I used to read 100+ a year no problem) but I don't want the responsibility of actually committing.

PJ Hoover said...

Aw, thanks for saying so, Christy! You know the original conception of that line didn't have "pinprick" in it?

C.R. Evers said...

Hey Marcia! I kind of did the same thing last year. I had a goal of reading at least 4 books a month, but I didn't stick hard and fast to that. Some months I didn't hit the goal, some months I exceeded it. I never really did keep count of how many books I read, but I'm pretty sure it ended up averaging out to my over all goal.

Happy reading! :0D

C.R. Evers said...

Hey PJ!

That's interesting. I'm glad you added it. Such vivid imagery!