Mini Challenges hosted by Becky

Connie Willis Mini Challenge

2010-12-04T12:28:00.000-06:00

This challenge is for 2010-2011
It begins October 1, 2010. It ends November 30, 2011.
Read two books by Connie Willis. (Includes novellas and short stories, etc.)
Sign up by leaving a comment.

Her books:

Water Witch (1982) with Cynthia Felice
Berserker Base (1984) with Poul Anderson, Edward Bryant, Stephen Donaldson, Larry Niven, Fred Saberhagen, and Roger Zelazny.
Fire Watch (1984)
Lincoln's Dreams (1987)
Light Raid (1989) with Cynthia Felice
Doomsday Book (1992)
Impossible Things (1993)
Remake (1994)
Uncharted Territory (1994)
Futures Imperfect (1996) (Omnibus of Uncharted Territory, Remake, Bellwether)
Bellwether (1996)
Promised Land (1997) with Cynthia Felice
To Say Nothing of the Dog (1997)
Even the Queen And Other Short Stories (1998) (Sound recording)
Miracle and Other Christmas Stories (1999)
Inside Job (2005)
D.A. (2007)
All Seated On the Ground (2007)
The Winds of Marble Arch and Other Stories: A Connie Willis Compendium (2007)
Passage (2001)
Blackout (2010)
All Clear (2010)

Hugo Wins -- Fire Watch 1983 (novelette), The Last of the Winnebagos 1989 (novella), Doomsday Book 1993 (novel), Even the Queen 1993 (short story), Death on the Nile 1994 (short story), The Soul Selects Her Own Society 1997 (short story), To Say Nothing of the Dog 1999 (novel), The Winds of Marble Arch 2000 (novella), Inside Job 2006 (novella), All Seated On the Ground 2008 (novella).

Nebula Wins -- Fire Watch 1983 (novelette), A Letter From the Clearys 1983 (short story), The Last of the Winnebagos 1988 (novella), At the Rialto 1990 (novelette), Doomsday Book 1993 (novel), Even the Queen 1993 (short story).

Locus Awards Wins -- Doomsday Book 1993 (novel), To Say Nothing of the Dog 1999 (novel), Passage 2001 (novel)

John W. Campbell Memorial Award Win -- Lincoln's Dreams 1988 (novel)

To see which of her books have been nominated for awards, visit her Wikipedia page.
To learn more about her and her work, visit her website.

More Steinbeck! Mini-Challenge

2010-02-13T23:00:00.004-06:00

Last year I hosted the John Steinbeck Mini-Challenge. At the time I hadn't read any of his books, and I was curious but skeptic. This year, I want to host the challenge again. Because I'm just so excited to have discovered him! So I want to encourage you to join with me this year in reading more Steinbeck! How many books you read (or how many movies you watch) is completely up to you. To "qualify" as a participant, you need to read at least one book. You can also read books about Steinbeck.

To join, leave a comment. The challenge will run from January 1, 2010 through December 14, 2011.

Here (shamelessly cut and pasted) is his bibliography:

Cup of Gold : a Life of Sir Henry Morgan, Buccaneer, with Occasional Reference to History. – New York : McBride, 1929

The Pastures of Heaven. – New York : Brewer, Warren & Putnam, 1932

To a God Unknown. – New York : Ballou, 1933

Tortilla Flat. – New York : Covici-Friede, 1935

In Dubious Battle. – New York : Covici-Friede, 1936

Of Mice and Men. – New York : Covici-Friede, 1937

Of Mice and Men : a Play in Three Acts. – New York : Covici- Friede, 1937

The Red Pony. – New York : Covici-Friede, 1937. – Enlarged edition, New York : Viking, 1945

Their Blood Is Strong. – San Francisco: Simon J. Lubin Society, 1938

The Long Valley. – New York : Viking, 1938

The Grapes of Wrath. – New York : Viking, 1939

Sea of Cortez : a Leisurely Journal of Travel and Research / by John Steinbeck and Edward F. Ricketts. – New York : Viking, 1941. – Republ. as The Log from the Sea of Cortez. – New York : Viking, 1951

The Forgotten Village. – New York : Viking, 1941

Bombs Away : the Story of a Bomber Team. – New York : Viking, 1942

The Moon Is Down. – New York : Viking, 1942

The Moon Is Down : a Play in Two Parts. – New York : Dramatists Play Service, 1942

Cannery Row. – New York : Viking, 1945

The Pearl. – New York : Viking, 1947

The Wayward Bus. – New York : Viking, 1947

A Russian Journal. – New York : Viking, 1948

Burning Bright : a Play in Story Form. – New York : Village Press, 1950

Burning Bright : a Play in Three Acts. – New York : Dramatists Play Service, 1951

East of Eden. – New York : Viking, 1952

Viva Zapata! - Rome: Edizioni Filmcritica, 1952

Sweet Thursday. – New York : Viking, 1954

The Short Reign of Pippin IV : a Fabrication. – New York : Viking, 1957

Once There Was a War. – New York : Viking, 1958

The Winter of Our Discontent. – New York : Viking, 1961

Speech Accepting the Nobel Peace Prize for Literature. – New York : Viking, 1962

Travels with Charley : In Search of America. – New York : Viking, 1962

America and Americans. – New York : Viking, 1966

Journal of a Novel : The East of Eden Letters. – New York : Viking, 1969

Steinbeck : a Life in Letters / Ed. by Elaine Steinbeck and Robert Wallsten. – New York : Viking, 1975

The Acts of King Arthur and His Noble Knights : From the Winchester Manuscript and Other Sources / Ed. by Chase Horton. – New York : Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 1976

Steinbeck and Covici : The Story of a Friendship / Thomas French, ed. – Middlebury, Vt. : P. S. Eriksson, 1979

The Uncollected Stories of John Steinbeck / edited by Kiyoshi Nakayama. – Tokyo: Nan'un-do, 1986

John Steinbeck on Writing / edited by Tetsumaro Hayashi. – Muncie, Ind.: Steinbeck Research Institute, 1988

Working Days : The Journals of The Grapes of Wrath, 1938-1941 / edited by Robert DeMott. – New York : Viking, 1989

America and Americans and Selected Nonfiction / Ed. by Susan Shillinglaw & Jackson J. Benson. – New York : Viking, 2002. – Publ. in England as Of Men and Their Making : the Selected Non-Fiction of John Steinbeck. – London : Allen Lane, 2002

French Revolution Mini-Challenge

2009-09-18T17:04:00.007-05:00

This challenge is for 2009-2010.

It begins October 1, 2009. It ends December 31, 2010.

Read two books (or watch two movies) set during the French Revolution. These can be nonfiction or fiction.

This list on historicalnovels.info might be helpful.

A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

A Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczky

Scaramouche by Rafael Sabatini

A Place of Greater Safety by Hilary Mantel

You can find links to all the Scarlet Pimpernel books here.

An Amazon Listmania list here.

The image is from Wikipedia Commons.

Wilkie Collins Mini-Challenge

2009-09-18T16:44:00.005-05:00

This challenge is for 2009-2010.

The challenge will begin October 1, 2009. The challenge will end December 1, 2010.

Read and/or watch two works by Wilkie Collins.

To sign up, please leave a comment.

(You can leave any links to reviews here as well.)

Here is a bibliography I took from Wikipedia's Wilkie Collins page:

Iolani, or Tahiti as it was. A Romance (written 1844; published 1999)
Memoirs of the Life of William Collins, Esq., R.A. (1848)
Antonina (1850)
Rambles Beyond Railways (1851)
Basil (novel) (1852)
Mr Wray's Cash Box (1852)
Hide and Seek (1854)
The Ostler (1855)
After the Dark (1856)
The Dead Secret (1857)
A Rogue's Life (1857/1879)
The Frozen Deep (1857), a play co-written with Charles Dickens
A Terribly Strange Bed (1858)
A House to Let (1858), a short story co-written with Charles Dickens, Elizabeth Gaskell and Adelaide Anne Procter
The Queen of Hearts (1859)
The Woman in White (1860)
No Name (1862)
My Miscellanies (1863)
Armadale (1866)
No Thoroughfare (1867), a story and play co-written with Charles Dickens
The Moonstone (1868)
Man and Wife (1870)
Poor Miss Finch (1872), dedicated to Frances Minto Elliot
Miss or Mrs? (1873)
The New Magdalen (1873)
The Frozen Deep and Other Stories (1874)
- "The Frozen Deep"
- "Dream Woman"
- "John Jago's Ghost; or The Dead Alive"
The Law and the Lady (1875)
The Two Destinies (1876)
The Haunted Hotel (1878)
The Fallen Leaves (1879)
My Lady's Money (1879)
Jezebel's Daughter (1880)
Who Killed Zebedee (1881)
The Black Robe (1881)
Heart and Science (1883)
I Say No (1884)
The Ghost's Touch and Other Stories (1885)
The Evil Genius (1886)
The Guilty River (1886)
Little Novels (1887)
The Legacy of Cain (1889)
Blind Love (1889 - unfinished, completed by Walter Besant)

The image is one I found on an online syllabus. I don't know where they found it.

Elizabeth Gaskell Mini-Challenge

2009-03-12T15:19:00.002-05:00

This challenge is for 2009-2010. The challenge will begin January 1, 2009. The challenge will end June 1, 2010.

Read and/or watch TWO works by Elizabeth Gaskell

For example:
Watching two movies
Reading two books
Reading one book; watching one movie

Novels

* Mary Barton (1848)
* Cranford (1851–3)
* Ruth (1853)
* North and South (1854–5)
* Sylvia's Lovers (1863)
* Wives and Daughters: An Everyday Story (1865)

Novellas and collections

* The Moorland Cottage (1850)
* Mr. Harrison’s Confessions (1851)
* The Old Nurse's Story (1852)
* Lizzie Leigh (1855)
* My Lady Ludlow (1859)
* Round the Sofa (1859)
* Lois the Witch (1861)
* A Dark Night's Work (1863)
* Cousin Phillis (1864)

Short stories (partial)

* Libbie Marsh's Three Eras (1847)
* Christmas Storms and Sunshine (1848)
* The Squire's Story (1853)
* Half a Life-time Ago (1855)
* An Accursed Race (1855)
* The Poor Clare (1856)
* "The Manchester Marriage" (1858), a chapter of A House to Let, co-written with Charles Dickens, Wilkie Collins, and Adelaide Anne Procter
* The Half-brothers (1859)
* The Grey Woman (1861)

Non-fiction

* The Life of Charlotte Brontë (1857)

You can always read (or watch) more. But two is the minimum. I don't know that this has ever come up, but you CAN count abridged versions of the novels. You CAN also count audio books.

To sign up, please leave a comment.

Participants:
Becky's Book Reviews

Leo Tolstoy Mini-Challenge

2009-03-12T15:11:00.002-05:00

The Leo Tolstoy Mini-Challenge will be for 2009-2010. The challenge will start January 1, 2009 and go through August 31, 2010.

The goal of this one is to read TWO of his books.

Novels and novellas

* (1852) Detstvo (Детство); English translation: Childhood
* (1854) Otrochestvo (Отрочество); English translation: Boyhood
* (1856) Yunost (Юность); English translation: Youth
* (1859) Semejnoye schast'ye (Семейное счастье); English translation: Family Happiness
* (1863) Kazaki (Казаки); English translation: The Cossacks
* (1869) Voyna i mir (Война и мир); English translation: War and Peace
* (1877) Anna Karenina (Анна Каренина); English translation: Anna Karenina
* (1886) Smert' Ivana Il'icha (Смерть Ивана Ильича); English translation: The Death of Ivan Ilyich
* (1891) Kreitzerova Sonata (Крейцерова соната); English translation: The Kreutzer Sonata
* (1899) Voskresenie (Воскресение); English translation: Resurrection
* (1911, written 1896-1904) Fal'shivyi kupon (Фальшивый купон); English translation: The Forged Coupon
* (1912, written 1902-1904) Khadzhi-Murat (Хаджи-Мурат); English translation: Hadji Murat

One movie may be substituted in the place of one of the books, if you want.

If you want to join me for this reading challenge, leave a comment below.

Participants so far:

Becky's Book Reviews

George Eliot Mini-Challenge

2009-03-12T15:02:00.000-05:00

This challenge is for 2009-2010. The challenge begins January 1, 2009 and goes through June 1, 2010.

The goal of this one is to read TWO of her books.

Novels

* Adam Bede, 1859
* The Mill on the Floss, 1860
* Silas Marner, 1861
* Romola, 1863
* Felix Holt, the Radical, 1866
* Middlemarch, 1871-72
* Daniel Deronda, 1876

One movie may be substituted in the place of one of the books, if you want.

If you want to join me for this reading challenge, leave a comment below.

Participants so far:

Becky's Book Reviews

Elizabeth Scott Mini-Challenge

2009-03-12T14:55:00.002-05:00

The Elizabeth Scott Mini-Challenge will be for 2009. January 1, 2009 through December 31, 2009.

The goal of this one is to read TWO of her books.

Her YA books include

Bloom (2007)
Perfect You (2008)
Stealing Heaven (2008)
Living Dead Girl (2008)
Something Maybe (2009)
Love You Hate You Miss You (2009)

To join this challenge, please leave a comment!

Participants so far:
Becky's Book Reviews

Anthony Trollope Mini-Challenge

2009-03-11T15:27:00.000-05:00

This challenge is for 2009-2010. The challenge will begin January 1, 2009. The challenge will end August 31, 2010.

Read and/or watch TWO works by Anthony Trollope

For example:
Watching two movies
Reading two books
Reading one book; watching one movie

Novels unless otherwise noted:

* The Macdermots of Ballycloran (1847)
* The Kellys and the O'Kellys (1848)
* La Vendée:An Historical Romance (1850)
* The Warden (1855) Chronicles of Barsetshire #1
* Barchester Towers (1857) Chronicles of Barsetshire #2
* The Three Clerks (1858)
* Doctor Thorne (1858) Chronicles of Barsetshire #3
* The West Indies and the Spanish Main (travel) (1859)
* The Bertrams (1859)
* Castle Richmond (1860)
* Framley Parsonage (1861) Chronicles of Barsetshire #4
* Tales of All Countries--1st Series (stories) (1861)
* Tales of All Countries--2nd Series (stories) (1863)
* Tales of All Countries--3rd Series (stories) (1870)
* Orley Farm (1862)
* North America (travel) (1862)
* The Struggles of Brown, Jones & Robinson (1862)
* Rachel Ray (1863)
* The Small House at Allington (1864) Chronicles of Barsetshire #5
* Can You Forgive Her? (1865) Palliser Novel #1
* Miss Mackenzie (1865)
* Hunting Sketches (sketches) (1865)
* Travelling Sketches (sketches) (1866)
* Clergymen of the Church of England (sketches) (1866)
* The Belton Estate (1866)
* The Claverings (1867)
* Nina Balatka (1867)
* Last Chronicle of Barset (1867) Chronicles of Barsetshire #6
* Lotta Schmidt & Other Stories (1867)
* Linda Tressel (1868)
* Phineas Finn (1869) Palliser Novel #2
* He Knew He Was Right (1869)
* Did He Steal It? (play) (1869)
* The Vicar of Bullhampton (1870)
* An Editor's Tales (stories) (1870)
* The Commentaries of Caesar (school textbook) (1870)
* Sir Harry Hotspur of Humblethwaite (1871)
* Ralph the Heir (1871)
* The Golden Lion of Granpère (1872)
* Australia and New Zealand (travel) (1873)
* The Eustace Diamonds (1873) Palliser Novel #3
* Harry Heathcote of Gangoil (1874)
* Lady Anna (1874)
* Phineas Redux (1874) Palliser Novel #4
* The Way We Live Now (1875)
* The Prime Minister (1876) Palliser Novel #5
* The American Senator (1877)
* Is He Popenjoy? (1878)
* South Africa (travel) (1878)
* How the 'Mastiffs' Went to Iceland (travel) (1878)
* John Caldigate (1879)
* An Eye for an Eye (1879)
* Cousin Henry (1879)
* Thackeray (criticism) (1879) English Men of Letters Series #11
* The Duke's Children (1880) Palliser Novel #6
* Life of Cicero (biography) (1880)
* Ayala's Angel (1881)
* Doctor Wortle's School (1881)
* Why Frau Frohmann Raised Her Prices and other Stories (stories) (1882)
* Lord Palmerston (biography) (1882)
* The Fixed Period (1882)
* Kept in the Dark (1882)
* Marion Fay (1882)
* Mr. Scarborough's Family (1883)
* An Autobiography (autobiography) (1883)
* The Landleaguers (unfinished novel) (1883)
* An Old Man's Love (1884)
* The Noble Jilt (play) (1923)
* London Tradesmen (sketches) (1927)
* The New Zealander (essay) (1972)

Trollope on Film

* The Barchester Chronicles (7 episodes)
* The Pallisers (26 episodes)
* He Knew He Was Right (4 episodes)
* The Way We Live Now (4 episodes)

To join the challenge, please leave a comment.

Participants so far:

Becky's Book Reviews

Read a Review

2009-03-10T15:54:00.000-05:00

Share a Review!

2009-03-10T15:49:00.001-05:00

Scott Westerfeld Mini-Challenge

2008-09-17T16:56:00.044-05:00

The Scott Westerfeld Mini-Challenge will be for 2009. January 1, 2009 through December 31, 2009.

The goal of this one is to read TWO of his books.

His YA books include:

So Yesterday (2004)
Midnighters: The Secret Hour (2004)
Midnighters: Touching Darkness (2005)
Midnighters: Blue Noon (2006)
Uglies (2005)
Pretties (2005)
Specials (2006)
Extras (2007)
Peeps (2005)
The Last Days (2006)

He also has a handful of adult titles. I'm not sure if he's got any 2009 releases or not.

He is one of my favorite, favorite authors, and I'd LOVE it if you took this opportunity to discover his works.

To join this challenge, please leave a comment!

Participants so far:
Bobbi's Book Nook
Book Zombie
Beth Fish Reads
Katrina's Reads
Alessandra
Rhinoa
Jenny
Jackets and Covers
Lissa
Reverie
Angelica Joy
Jehara
Bookgeek
Rosalina
Blondierocket
Sally906
Judy
Sherrie
Laza
J. Kaye
Kristi
Maria
The Curious Reader
Kylee
Veens
Renee
Katrina

Daniel Defoe Mini-Challenge

2008-09-17T16:56:00.043-05:00

This mini-challenge--the Daniel Defoe Mini-Challenge--will be for the 2009 year. January 1, 2009 through December 31, 2009.

The challenge is to read TWO books by Defoe. (One movie may be substituted in the place of one of the books.) Audio books are acceptable as well.

Here are just a few of the books I've found by Defoe:

Robinson Crusoe (1719)
Captain Singleton (1720)
Colonel Jack (1722)
Moll Flanders (1722)
Roxana (1724)
Journal of the Plague Year (1722)
The Storm (1704?)
Memoirs of a Cavalier (1720)
Tour Through The Whole Island of Great Britain (1724-27)
The Complete English Tradesman (1726)
London the Most Flourishing City in the Universe (1728)

I'm aiming to read MOLL FLANDERS and ROXANA. If I've got the time and energy, I may go for Robinson Crusoe as well.

If you want to join me for this reading challenge, leave a comment below.

Participants so far:

tuesdayinsilhouette
Becky's Book Reviews
Katrina's Reads
Bobbi's Book Nook
Lynda
Kristi
Judy
Blondierocket
Cauchy81sk

John Steinbeck Mini-Challenge for 2009

2008-09-17T16:56:00.042-05:00

This mini-challenge, the John Steinbeck Mini-Challenge, is for the 2009 year. It will be from January 1, 2009 through December 31, 2009.

The goal of the challenge is to read TWO books by John Steinbeck. (Audio books are welcome.) One movie can be substituted for one of the books if you prefer.

Here (shamelessly cut and pasted) is his bibliography:

Cup of Gold : a Life of Sir Henry Morgan, Buccaneer, with Occasional Reference to History. – New York : McBride, 1929

The Pastures of Heaven. – New York : Brewer, Warren & Putnam, 1932

To a God Unknown. – New York : Ballou, 1933

Tortilla Flat. – New York : Covici-Friede, 1935

In Dubious Battle. – New York : Covici-Friede, 1936

Of Mice and Men. – New York : Covici-Friede, 1937

Of Mice and Men : a Play in Three Acts. – New York : Covici- Friede, 1937

The Red Pony. – New York : Covici-Friede, 1937. – Enlarged edition, New York : Viking, 1945

Their Blood Is Strong. – San Francisco: Simon J. Lubin Society, 1938

The Long Valley. – New York : Viking, 1938

The Grapes of Wrath. – New York : Viking, 1939

The Forgotten Village. – New York : Viking, 1941

Bombs Away : the Story of a Bomber Team. – New York : Viking, 1942

The Moon Is Down. – New York : Viking, 1942

The Moon Is Down : a Play in Two Parts. – New York : Dramatists Play Service, 1942

Cannery Row. – New York : Viking, 1945

The Pearl. – New York : Viking, 1947

The Wayward Bus. – New York : Viking, 1947

A Russian Journal. – New York : Viking, 1948

Burning Bright : a Play in Story Form. – New York : Village Press, 1950

Burning Bright : a Play in Three Acts. – New York : Dramatists Play Service, 1951

East of Eden. – New York : Viking, 1952

Viva Zapata! - Rome: Edizioni Filmcritica, 1952

Sweet Thursday. – New York : Viking, 1954

The Short Reign of Pippin IV : a Fabrication. – New York : Viking, 1957

Once There Was a War. – New York : Viking, 1958

The Winter of Our Discontent. – New York : Viking, 1961

Speech Accepting the Nobel Peace Prize for Literature. – New York : Viking, 1962

Travels with Charley : In Search of America. – New York : Viking, 1962

America and Americans. – New York : Viking, 1966

Journal of a Novel : The East of Eden Letters. – New York : Viking, 1969

Steinbeck : a Life in Letters / Ed. by Elaine Steinbeck and Robert Wallsten. – New York : Viking, 1975

The Acts of King Arthur and His Noble Knights : From the Winchester Manuscript and Other Sources / Ed. by Chase Horton. – New York : Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 1976

Steinbeck and Covici : The Story of a Friendship / Thomas French, ed. – Middlebury, Vt. : P. S. Eriksson, 1979

The Uncollected Stories of John Steinbeck / edited by Kiyoshi Nakayama. – Tokyo: Nan'un-do, 1986

John Steinbeck on Writing / edited by Tetsumaro Hayashi. – Muncie, Ind.: Steinbeck Research Institute, 1988

Working Days : The Journals of The Grapes of Wrath, 1938-1941 / edited by Robert DeMott. – New York : Viking, 1989

I don't know which two I'll be reading yet. I chose Steinbeck because I've never (yes, never ever) read any of his books. And I feel that's a bit embarrassing since I hold not one but two degrees in literature.

If you want to join this challenge, please leave a comment and let me know!

Participants so far:
Bobbi's Book Nook
Katrina's Reads
Becky's Book Reviews
N. Vasillis (1130V)
Kylee
SueFitz
Diane
Janet
Marny
Kristi
Judy
Blondierocket
Cauchy81sk
Lulu
Gaabriel
Stina
Lindy
Kathrin

Sarah Dessen Mini-Challenge

2008-09-17T16:56:00.041-05:00

The Sarah Dessen Mini-Challenge will be for 2009. It begins January 1, 2009, and goes through December 31, 2009.

The goal of this challenge is to read TWO of her books. (Audio books are welcome.)

That Summer
Someone Like You
Keeping the Moon (Also released as Last Chance)
Dreamland
This Lullaby
The Truth About Forever
Just Listen
Lock and Key
Along for the Ride (tentatively summer of 09)

I *know* I'll want to read the new book, Along for the Ride, when it's released. And I'll want to read some of the titles I haven't reviewed yet: That Summer, Someone Like You, Keeping the Moon, Dreamland, and This Lullaby. (I've reviewed The Truth About Forever, Just Listen, and Lock and Key).

If you want to sign up for this one, leave a comment!

Participants so far:
Michelle
Alessandra
Bobbi's Book Nook
Becky's Book Reviews
Veens
Jenny's Page
Maria
Books and Needle Point (Kristi)
Me, My Book, and the Couch (Shon)
Worducopia (Ali)
Just Books (Sherrie)
Intergalactic Bookworm (Judy)
TV and Book Addict (Robin_Titan)

Stephenie Meyer Mini-Challenge Sign Up Here!

2008-05-23T12:48:00.001-05:00

I'm branching out in my mini-challenge hosting. I'm going for an author that's alive for a change. While many are already aware of the phenomenon that is Stephenie Meyer, a few of you may be feeling that you are the only one left out who still hasn't joined the Meyer bandwagon. Well, whether you're reading her books for the first time or the fiftieth, I'd like to invite you to join the Stephenie Meyer mini-challenge. Like previous mini-challenges, I'm asking participants to read two books. Feel free to read more than that.

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
New Moon by Stephenie Meyer
Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer
Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer (available in August of 08)
The Host by Stephenie Meyer

I'll also encourage you to read these books though they're not technically by Meyer. They could count towards your count if you like.

A New Dawn: Your Favorite Authors On Stephenie Meyer's Twilight Series by various authors but edited by Ellen Hopkins.
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
Romeo & Juliet by William Shakespeare

This mini-challenge will begin June 1, 2008 and end January 30, 2009. Sign up by leaving a comment. No blog is required. Audio books are fine. No reviews are required BUT I'd appreciate it if you did a follow-up comment saying what two books you read. And also if you liked them. IF you read the Twilight series, you can tell me if you're on Team Edward or Team Jacob.

I will be reading THE HOST for Becky's Online Reading Group this July. I invite you all to join me in that! I think it will be very fun. :) The schedule will be posted relatively soon. It will be up by mid-June at the latest.

Stephenie Meyer--The Twilight Series Playlists

2008-05-23T12:16:00.001-05:00

This is the playlist for the first three Twilight novels: Twilight, New Moon, and Eclipse. All songs were suggested by Stephenie Meyer on her website.

Updates for Twain Challenge

2008-05-03T12:01:00.002-05:00

Please leave your links and comments concerning Mark Twain at this post. Thank you! I look forward to hearing your thoughts!

Becky's review of The Diaries of Adam and Eve.
Judy has read Joan of Arc and she is almost done with A Conneticut Yankee.

Updates for Gaskell Challenge

2008-05-03T12:00:00.006-05:00

Please leave your links and comments concerning Elizabeth Gaskell at this post. Thank you! I look forward to hearing your thoughts!

Becky's review of Wives and Daughters

Updates for Dumas Challenge

2008-05-03T12:00:00.005-05:00

Please leave your links and comments concerning Alexandre Dumas at this post. Thank you! I look forward to hearing your thoughts!

Becky's review of The Three Musketeers.

Updates for the Dickens Challenge

2008-05-03T12:00:00.001-05:00

Please leave your links and comments concerning Charles Dickens at this post. Thank you! I look forward to hearing your thoughts!

Updates for the Bronte Sisters Mini Challenge

2008-05-03T11:58:00.001-05:00

Please leave your links and comments concerning Anne, Emily, and Charlotte Bronte at this post. Thank you! I look forward to hearing your thoughts!

Samantha's review of Jane Eyre

Updates for the Inklings Challenge

2008-05-03T11:57:00.003-05:00

Please leave your links and comments concerning C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien at this post. Thank you! I look forward to hearing your thoughts!

Judy has read Out of the Silent Planet.

Updates for Austen Mini-Challenge

2008-05-03T11:52:00.001-05:00

Please leave links and comments concerning the Jane Austen mini-challenge here. Thank you!!!

Raidergirl3's completed the challenge: In 2008 I read The Jane Austen Book Club and watched Pride & Prejudice, Northanger Abbey, and Mansfield Park.

Mark Twain Mini-Challenge

2008-05-03T11:45:00.002-05:00

The rules for all the challenges are the same.

1) Read and/or watch TWO works by Mark Twain

For example:
Watching two movies
Reading two books
Reading one book; watching one movie

You can always read (or watch) more. But two is the minimum. I don't know that this has ever come up, but you CAN count abridged versions of the novels. You CAN also count audio books.

2) The challenge will run through November 15th, 2008. That gives us a full six months and a few extra weeks to read. I had considered going through December. However, I decided with the fall being what it is--Thanksgiving, birthday, Christmas, Librarians' Choices, and possibly (???) Cybils, that I would not be getting much read for challenges anyway. I figured that you'd be busy celebrating, planning, shopping, dealing with your own chaos and drama as well. So November 15th it is.

I'm going to be super-nice especially since it serves in my best interests. Any book you've read by any of these authors in the year 2008 can count towards your challenge.

*Also re-reads are allowed if you like.
*So is overlapping with other challenges.

3) No blogs are required. No lists are required. You don't have to tell me which books for which authors you're going to read. But I would *appreciate* hearing from you which two books/movies you went with as your choices. I'd also *appreciate* some feedback. For example of how BRIEF that feedback can be you can write "3 musketeers; thumbs up" or "Jane Eyre, recommended" or "Great Expectations, boring" It can be really really really short and sweet. But I would like to know what you ended up with and if you liked it or loved it or hated it. If you do have a blog and want to write a review, go for it. If you give me the link, I will read what you have to say!

Participants

Becky (Becky's Book Reviews)
Lindy (Grilsgood)
Sarah Miller (Sarah Miller: Reading, Writing, Musing)
A Writer's Mind.
Lena at Reading Obsession
Judy of Intergalactic bookworm

Elizabeth Gaskell Mini-Challenge

2008-05-03T11:42:00.003-05:00

1) Read and/or watch TWO works by Elizabeth Gaskell

For example:
Watching two movies
Reading two books
Reading one book; watching one movie

You can always read (or watch) more. But two is the minimum. I don't know that this has ever come up, but you CAN count abridged versions of the novels. You CAN also count audio books.

2) The challenge will run through November 15th, 2008. That gives us a full six months and a few extra weeks to read. I had considered going through December. However, I decided with the fall being what it is--Thanksgiving, birthday, Christmas, Librarians' Choices, and possibly (???) Cybils, that I would not be getting much read for challenges anyway. I figured that you'd be busy celebrating, planning, shopping, dealing with your own chaos and drama as well. So November 15th it is.

I'm going to be super-nice especially since it serves in my best interests. Any book you've read by any of these authors in the year 2008 can count towards your challenge.

*Also re-reads are allowed if you like.
*So is overlapping with other challenges.

3) No blogs are required. No lists are required. You don't have to tell me which books for which authors you're going to read. But I would *appreciate* hearing from you which two books/movies you went with as your choices. I'd also *appreciate* some feedback. For example of how BRIEF that feedback can be you can write "3 musketeers; thumbs up" or "Jane Eyre, recommended" or "Great Expectations, boring" It can be really really really short and sweet. But I would like to know what you ended up with and if you liked it or loved it or hated it. If you do have a blog and want to write a review, go for it. If you give me the link, I will read what you have to say!

Participants

Becky (Becky's Book Reviews)
Laxmi (On the Spur of the Moment)
Lena at Reading Obsession
Teddy Rose at So Many Precious Books, So Little Time
Marg from Reading Adventures
Susan of Just Books

Alexandre Dumas Mini-Challenge

2008-05-03T11:38:00.000-05:00

1) Read and/or watch TWO works by Alexandre Dumas

For example:
Watching two movies
Reading two books
Reading one book; watching one movie

You can always read (or watch) more. But two is the minimum. I don't know that this has ever come up, but you CAN count abridged versions of the novels. You CAN also count audio books.

2) The challenge will run through November 15th, 2008. That gives us a full six months and a few extra weeks to read. I had considered going through December. However, I decided with the fall being what it is--Thanksgiving, birthday, Christmas, Librarians' Choices, and possibly (???) Cybils, that I would not be getting much read for challenges anyway. I figured that you'd be busy celebrating, planning, shopping, dealing with your own chaos and drama as well. So November 15th it is.

I'm going to be super-nice especially since it serves in my best interests. Any book you've read by any of these authors in the year 2008 can count towards your challenge. I've just read The Three Musketeers (this past weekend!) I'm so going to count that.

*Also re-reads are allowed if you like.
*So is overlapping with other challenges.

3) No blogs are required. No lists are required. You don't have to tell me which books for which authors you're going to read. But I would *appreciate* hearing from you which two books/movies you went with as your choices. I'd also *appreciate* some feedback. For example of how BRIEF that feedback can be you can write "3 musketeers; thumbs up" or "Jane Eyre, recommended" or "Great Expectations, boring" It can be really really really short and sweet. But I would like to know what you ended up with and if you liked it or loved it or hated it. If you do have a blog and want to write a review, go for it. If you give me the link, I will read what you have to say!

Participants

Becky (Becky's Book Reviews)
Samantha (Bookworms and Tea Lovers)

Charles Dickens Mini-Challenge

2008-05-03T11:32:00.003-05:00

1) Read and/or watch TWO works by Charles Dickens

For example:
Watching two movies
Reading two books
Reading one book; watching one movie

You can always read (or watch) more. But two is the minimum. I don't know that this has ever come up, but you CAN count abridged versions of the novels. You CAN also count audio books.

2) The challenge will run through November 15th, 2008. That gives us a full six months and a few extra weeks to read. I had considered going through December. However, I decided with the fall being what it is--Thanksgiving, birthday, Christmas, Librarians' Choices, and possibly (???) Cybils, that I would not be getting much read for challenges anyway. I figured that you'd be busy celebrating, planning, shopping, dealing with your own chaos and drama as well. So November 15th it is.

I'm going to be super-nice especially since it serves in my best interests. Any book you've read by any of these authors in the year 2008 can count towards your challenge.

*Also re-reads are allowed if you like.
*So is overlapping with other challenges.

3) No blogs are required. No lists are required. You don't have to tell me which books for which authors you're going to read. But I would *appreciate* hearing from you which two books/movies you went with as your choices. I'd also *appreciate* some feedback. For example of how BRIEF that feedback can be you can write "3 musketeers; thumbs up" or "Jane Eyre, recommended" or "Great Expectations, boring" It can be really really really short and sweet. But I would like to know what you ended up with and if you liked it or loved it or hated it. If you do have a blog and want to write a review, go for it. If you give me the link, I will read what you have to say!

Participants:
Tyto Alba from The Magic of Ink
Samantha (Bookworms and Tea Lovers)
Laxmi (On the Spur of the Moment)
Becky (Becky's Book Reviews)
Naida (The Bookworm)
Lena at Reading Obsession
Judy of Intergalactic bookworm

Bronte Sisters mini-Challenge

2008-05-03T11:26:00.003-05:00

1) Read and/or watch TWO works by any of the three Bronte sisters

For example:
Watching two movies
Reading two books
Reading one book; watching one movie

You can always read (or watch) more. But two is the minimum. I don't know that this has ever come up, but you CAN count abridged versions of the novels. You CAN also count audio books.

2) The challenge will run through November 15th, 2008. That gives us a full six months and a few extra weeks to read. I had considered going through December. However, I decided with the fall being what it is--Thanksgiving, birthday, Christmas, Librarians' Choices, and possibly (???) Cybils, that I would not be getting much read for challenges anyway. I figured that you'd be busy celebrating, planning, shopping, dealing with your own chaos and drama as well. So November 15th it is.

I'm going to be super-nice especially since it serves in my best interests. Any book you've read by any of these authors in the year 2008 can count towards your challenge. I've just read The Three Musketeers (this past weekend!) I'm so going to count that.

*Also re-reads are allowed if you like.
*So is overlapping with other challenges.

3) No blogs are required. No lists are required. You don't have to tell me which books for which authors you're going to read. But I would *appreciate* hearing from you which two books/movies you went with as your choices. I'd also *appreciate* some feedback. For example of how BRIEF that feedback can be you can write "3 musketeers; thumbs up" or "Jane Eyre, recommended" or "Great Expectations, boring" It can be really really really short and sweet. But I would like to know what you ended up with and if you liked it or loved it or hated it. If you do have a blog and want to write a review, go for it. If you give me the link, I will read what you have to say!

Participants:

Zetor (Mog's Book Blog And...)
Sarah Miller (Sarah Miller: Reading, Writing, Musing)
Samantha (Bookworms and Tea Lovers)
Whitney (Paperback Writer)
Laxmi (On the Spur of the Moment)
Becky (Becky's Book Reviews)
Lena at Reading Obsession
Tyto Alba from The Magic of Ink
Susan of Just Books

Inklings Mini-Challenge

2008-05-03T11:18:00.001-05:00

The Inklings Challenge

January 2008-December 2008

Options: Read two C.S. Lewis books (fiction or nonfiction) and/or watch films based on his life or his works. In addition, read two books by J.R.R. Tolkien and/or watch films based on his works. Biographies of the two men would also work. Also reading the two books by James A. Owen that feature these two as fictional characters would work. The books are Here There Be Dragons and Search for Red Dragon.

Exceptions: If you're interested in reading one but not both of the authors (say Lewis but no Tolkien OR Tolkien but no Lewis), I'm willing to allow a few substitutions. One exception, as noted above, is to read the two books by James A. Owen. I've read the first one and loved it. The second one is coming out in January. They're YA books, and they read really quickly. But there is a second option. The challenge is to read 4 books. So if you like you may read 4 books by Tolkien OR 4 Books by C.S. Lewis.

These exceptions weren't noted in the first post I had written about the challenge. But I've heard feedback saying, "if only"... and... "but"... more than a few times...so there you have it the new and revised rules of the Inklings Challenge.

To sign up for this challenge post a comment to this posting OR post a comment to the original posting. You may join this challenge late. I don't see any reason why it couldn't remain open for newcomers to join until September or October 2008.

Participants:

Amy from The Sleepy Reader
Chris from Stuff As Dreams Are Made On
Ex Libris
3M from 1MoreChapter
Debi from Nothing Of Importance
Debbi from My Reading Spot
Ladytink from The Movieholic & Bibliophile's Blog
Maybe Kate? (She didn't specify Austen or Inkling or both)
Angliophile Football Fanatic
Juliette
NSR (?)
Lindy (?)
April of Cafe of Dreams (?)
Lenneth of Foxy Writer.
Judy of Intergalactic bookworm

Jane Austen Mini-Challenge

2008-05-03T11:16:00.001-05:00

Are you participating in Becky's 2008 Jane Austen mini-challenge? Want to share your thoughts on what you've read or watched? Please let me know how you're doing! Leave a comment with your thoughts or a link to a post with your thoughts.

How am I doing? Well, I've seen all the PBS Austen movies. And I've read Persuasion, Northanger Abbey, and Sense & Sensibility. I've posted thoughts on those three. And I've also posted my thoughts on Mansfield Park the movie. I did a post in January on my thoughts of the first three movies: Persuasion, Mansfield Park, and Northanger Abbey. I haven't posted on the movies Emma, Pride and Prejudice, or Sense and Sensibility yet. Blogging books is familiar and natural. I'm not used to blogging movies yet, even if they are based on books.

Your progress:

Chris' review of Mansfield Park.
Melissa's review of Mansfield Park.

It's NOT too late to join the challenge. The challenge ends December 31, 2008. There is still plenty of time to participate.

This is the last listing I've got on the Austen-challenge. If you're on the list, but not supposed to be let me know. And if you're supposed to be on the list but aren't, let me know. I'd like to have a current list. :)

Laxmi (On The Spur of the Moment)
Tricia from Library Queue
Chris from Stuff As Dreams Are Made On ...
Ex Libris
Michelle (3M) from 1MoreChapter
Stephanie from Stephanie's Confession of a Bookaholic
Pattie from FreshBrewedWriter
Melissa from Book Nut
Debbi from My Reading Spot (? She didn't specify if she was joining the Austen and the Tolkien or just the Tolkien ?)
Ladytink_534 from The Movieholic & Bibliophile's Blog (She was one that was on the fence, but considering it...)
Kate (didn't specify if it was Austen and Tolkien both or just one of the two...unless I hear otherwise...I'm assuming she's in for the Austen)
Jehara
Shannan
Naida
Gautami Tripathy from My Own Reading Room
Angliophile Football Fanatic
Booklogged
Susan from Susan Loves To Read
Alisonwonderland from So Many Books, So Little Time
Curiouser and Curiouser
Webster Twelb
Alix
Chris from Book-a-rama
Historia from BiblioHistoria
Journey From An Inquiring Mind
Kirsten from Nose in A Book
Lisa
Lindy
nsr (?)
Sarah R.
KatLuvr
Marina from Book a Tea
Full time in NM
Bridget
Joy of Thoughts for Joy
April of Cafe of Dreams
Jenny up the hill
Maria
Sonya
Mandy
tvtime
Jen
sprite
Susan from You Can Never Have Too Many Books
Dewey from Hidden Side of A Leaf
Nessie from The Biblio Files

What exactly is a mini-challenge???

2008-05-02T12:10:00.001-05:00

In September 2007, I started two mini-challenges. The Austen mini-challenge and the Inklings mini-challenge. At the time, I don't believe anyone else was using the term "mini-challenge," when it came to reading challenges.

A mini-challenge is a small, focused reading challenge. A miniature reading challenge where the minimum number of books is much smaller than that of most full-sized reading challenges.

For those not familiar with reading challenges in general, I'll try to explain that as well. A reading challenge is typically hosted by one person, one blog. That one person sets the rules and guidelines for the challenge. They may help facilitate participants by setting up special sites, pages, posts related to the challenge. They might even have their own yahoo group to help build the participants into a community. Most reading challenges give participants rules as to how many books required and the deadline for reading those books. 6 books for 6 months, for example. 12 books for 12 months, etc. An average book challenge might ask readers to read anywhere from 6 books to 12 books. (Some are larger like the 888 Challenge asks for 56 books minimum. And the A-to-Z challenge asks for 52 books. The 100+ book challenge obviously wants at least 100 books.) Some are seasonal (spring, winter, fall, summer). Some are topical (science fiction, fantasy, thrillers, mysteries, romance, etc). Some are annual events. Each challenge is unique because they are hosted by different people. So the rules do vary.

All of my mini-challenges (at least so far) have focused on one author, a classic author. And most have asked for two books per author. (The Inklings challenge asks for 4 books because I'm asking you to read both C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien.) All of my mini-challenges allow for books, audio books, movies, and abridged versions.

Mini-challenges, I hope, serve as small introductions.

I'd be open to feedback and suggestions. Which authors should I focus on next? Got an idea? Share it!