Elsewhere Online: January 2011

As you may have guessed from my In My Mailbox posts, I review for another website (bookloons.com). As I cannot post my reviews there and here, but I would still like to count the books I read for the challenges, I am going to have a post like this at the end of the every month listing the books I reviewed and what challenges the went towards.

Title: Once Was Lost

Author: Sara Zarr

Challenges: Young Adult Contemporary, 100 Books in a Year

Title: Shadow Blade

Author: Seressia Glass

Challenges: 1st in a Series, People of Color, Horror & Urban Fantasy, 100 Books in a Year

Fantasy Challenge

I have been looking for a (non-urban) fantasy challenge and I have found it with Darlyn & Books's 2011 Fantasy Reading Challenge. I am going to do the Curious level (3 books).

1. Blue by Lou Aronica

2. Over Sea, Under Stone by Susan Cooper

3. Huntress by Malinda Lo

In My Mailbox 1/23-1/29

For Review (at Bookloons.com):

Red Riding Hood by Sarah Blakley-Cartwright

Summer by Eden Maguire

Won:

Eleventh Grade Burns by Heather Brewer

Lipstick Jungle by Candace Bushnell

From Swaps on Swap-Bot:

Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress by Dai Sijie

No Country for Old Men by Cormac McCarthy

A Civil Action by Jonathan Harr

From Paperbackswap.com:

The Screwtape Letters by C. S. Lewis

This fun weekly meme comes from The Story Siren.

Maid Sama! Volume 4

Title: Maid Sama! Volume 4

Author: Hiro Fujiwara

Publisher: Tokyopop

ISBN: 978-1-4278-1406-7

Why Read?: For fun

Challenges: Manga, Mini-Challenge, 100 Books in a Year

Thoughts: I had really enjoyed the first two volumes, but then the story seemed to halt a little, causing my interest to decline. Volume 4's chapters focus on two main storylines. The first involves a mysogenist student who tries to use his hypnotism powers to cause Misaki's downfall. After that crisis is over, the gang from Maid Latte head to the beach, where (SPOILER ALERT) Misaki and Usui's relationship starts to finally heat up. This is a fun read, but even after 4 volumes, I have trouble keeping some of the characters straight.

Rating: 3 stars

Wilde Challenge

I love Oscar Wilde, so of course I am signing up for Armchair Archives' Oscar Wilde Reading Challenge. I have read a number of his plays already, but I do have one I have not read along with his novel, so I am going to do the Wilde Card level (2 books).

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Vampire Challenge

I have a few vamp books on my shelves, so I thought I would try Parajunkee's View's Vampire Challenge 2011. I don't know if I'll get 20, but that's why it's a challenge, right?

1. A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

2. A Touch of Dead by Charlaine Harris

3. Nightschool: The Weirn Books 1 by Svetlana Chmakova

4. Primal Desires by Susan Sizemore

5. Nightschool: The Weirn Books 2 by Svetlana Chmakova

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In My Mailbox 1/16-1/22

For review (Bookloons.com):

Exit the Actress by Priya Parmar

You Killed Wesley Payne by Sean Beaudoin

Paperbackswap.com:

An Unquiet Mind by Kay Redfield Jamison

My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell

(the cover on my copy is a much older on, but Goodreads didn't have an image of it (and my scanner is on the fritz))

Won:

Another Pan by Daniel & Dina Nayeria

The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness

Girl Parts by John M. Cusick

Lone Star Legend by Gwendolyn Zepeda

Into the Dark by Gena Showalter

Bad Girls Don't Die by Katie Alender

Amazon.com:

The Hunchback Assignments by Arthur Slade

The Bookman by Lavie Tidhar

This fun weekly meme comes from The Story Siren.

Mini-Challenge

I just discovered Lazy Girl Reads' Mini-Challenge today and jumped at the chance to join. This challenge runs January 1st-April 1st and consists of reading just 4 books, one of each of the following categories:

1. Something Old - The Red Tent by Anita Diamant

2. Something New - Cleopatra by Stacy Schiff

3. Something Borrowed - Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane

4. Something Blue - Maid Sama! 4 by Hiro Fujiwara

Show Me the Free Challenge

I had been looking for this challenge and finally found it: 2011 Show Me the Free Challenge from The Unread Reader. Why was I looking for it? The goal is to read 12 ebooks that you got for free! Even before I got my Cruz Tablet, I was downloading the free reads from Border's ebook store.

1. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

2. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

3. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving

4. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

5. An Unholy Alliance by Judy Nedry

6. Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen

7. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

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Happy Cafe Volume 2

Title: Happy Cafe Volume 2

Author: Kou Matsuzuki

Publisher: Tokyopop

ISBN: 978-1-4278-1731-0

Why Read?: For fun

Challenges: Manga, 100 Books in a Year

Thoughts: It is impossible to read Happy Cafe and not be happy. This second volume in the series focuses on a competition between Bonheur, who specializes in more Western desserts, and Abekawa-ya, a traditional Japanese confectionery. Matsuzuki starts to show different sides to her characters, adding to their charm. If you are looking for a break from everyday stress, this is an excellent manga to curl up with.

Rating: 4 stars

Dreaming of Books Winner

Random.org has spoken and a big congrats go out to...

JANELLE!

An email has been sent. Winner has 48 hrs to respond before a new winner is chosen.

iChallenge

I must admit, I don't totally understand the title of Book Soulmates' iChallenges 2011, but it involves vamps, witches, faes, and weres, so I am all for it. I know I can read 10 of these.

1. Red Riding Hood by Sarah Blakley-Cartwright

2. A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

3. Huntress by Malinda Lo

4. A Touch of Dead by Charlaine Harris

5. Nightschool: The Weirn Books 1 by Svetlana Chmakova

6. Spellweaver by Lynn Kurland

7. Guardian of the Dead by Karen Healey

8. Primal Desires by Susan Sizemore

9. The Poison Diaries by Maryrose Wood

10. Nightshade by Maryrose Wood

Reading Challenge Addict

Since I have pretty much dedicated this whole blog to me entering reading challenges, I have to participate in the Reading Challenge Addict challenge. I am at the Out of this World level (16+ challenges):

1. E-book Challenge (1/3)

2. Mystery & Suspense Challenge (4/12)

3. Audio Book Challenge (1/3)

4. Graphic Novels Challenge (0/3)

5. TBR Pile Challenge (2/12)

6. 1st in a Series Challenge (3/3) - COMPLETED!

7. 100 Books in a Year Challenge (23/100)

8. YA Series Challenge (2/5)

9. Debut Author Challenge (2/12)

10. Young Adult Contemporary Challenge (2/13)

11. Book Blogger Recommendation Challenge (0/5)

12. Off the Shelf Challenge (0/5)

13. People of Color Challenge (1/3)

14. Full Steampunk Ahead Challenge (1/10)

15. Manga Reading Challenge (8/12)

16. Gothic Reading Challenge (0/1)

17. YA Historical Fiction Challenge (1/3)

18. Historical Fiction Challenge (1/2)

19. Chick Lit Challenge (0/8)

20. Eastern Europe Challenge (0/4)

21. Horror & Urban Fantasy Challenge (2/24)

22. Classics Challenge (1/5)

23. Borrowed Book Challenge (1/12)

24. Aussie Author Challenge (0/3)

25. International Challenge (4/12)

26. Historical Romance Challenge (0/12)

27. Non-Fiction Challenge (1/3)

28. iChallenge (1/10)

29. Show Me the Free (1/12)

30. Vampire (0/20)

31. Wilde (0/2)

32. Fantasy (2/3)

33. Chunkster (0/4)

34. Chinese Literature (0/3)

Non-Fiction Challenge

I have been looking for a non-fiction challenge because I have a few on my bookshelf and at least one for review, so I was excited to find The Broke and the Bookish's 2011 Non-Fiction Challenge. I am going to try for the Master of Trivial Pursuit level (1-3 books).

1. History - Cleopatra by Stacy Schiff

2. Science/Nature - A Thousand Times More Fair by Kenji Yoshino

3. Biography/Memoir - Where's My Wand? by Eric Poole

In My Mailbox 1/9-1/15

For review (Bookloons.com):

A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

One of Our Thursdays Is Missing by Jasper Fforde

Once Was Lost by Sara Zarr

From Paperbackswap.com:

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess

Won:

Camera Obscura by Lavie Tidhar

Shadow of the Sun by Laura Kreitzer

Used Book Store:

The Eagles' Brood by Jack Whyte

This fun weekly meme comes from The Story Siren.

Historical Romance Challenge

I have a historical romance or two on my bookshelves, so I thought why not try Romance Book Junkies' 2011 Historical Romance Challenge. Reading 12 will be tough, but I can try.

1. A Bride's Story 1 by Kaoru Mori

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International Reading Challenge

When I saw Welcome to Larissa's Bookish Life's The International Reading Challenge 2011, I was intrigued. I am not quite sure if I will know which all books I read have been translated for other countries, but I thought I would try the Local level (5-10 books).

1. Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane

2. The Red Tent by Anita Diamant

3. The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold

4. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

5. Instructions for a Broken Heart by Kim Culbertson

6. The Prince of Mist by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

7. The Midnight Palace by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

8. The Paradise Prophecy by Robert Browne

9. The Chalice of Immortality by Erica Kirov

10. Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

Dreaming of Books GIVEAWAY (US Only) - Now Closed

Aside from participating in challenges, I also want to try participating in a giveaway hop once a month. I love entering to win books, and I am sure you do, too. As I am just getting started, I am only able to give away books from my own shelves.

For the Dreaming of Books Giveaway Hop, I will be giving away Refuge on Crescent Hill by Melanie Dobson. My bookclub read this in late summer, and everyone agreed it was a fun Romantic Suspense with Christian undertones. We actually ended up with an extra copy, so the book I will be giving away has never been read.

To enter, leave a comment below telling me what book you are dreaming of reading (don't forget to include your email address!).

+1 for becoming a GFC follower

+1 for following my on GetGlue

Don't forget to check out the other great giveaways:

Tsubasa: Those with Wings Volume 3

Title: Tsubasa: Those with Wings Volume 3

Author: Natsuki Takaya

Publisher: Tokyopop

ISBN: 978-1-4278-1430-2

Why Read?: For fun

Challenges: Manga, 100 Books in a Year

Thoughts: As this is the third and final volume in the series, I don't want to go in too deep in order to avoid spoilers. I will say that Takaya throws some good twists in and wraps things up very well. There were quite a few emotional spots as well.

Rating: 4 stars

Aussie Author Challenge

I know I read 1 book by an Australian author last year, and I think I have a few on my shelves, so I am going to try Booklover Book Reviews' 2011 Aussie Author Challenge. As I know this is going to be a hard one, I am going with the Tourist level (3 books).

1. Guardian of the Dead by Karen Healey

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Borrowed Book Challenge

My husband would definitely prefer if I borrowed more books than I owned, so Book'd Out's Borrowed Book Challenge 2011 looks like a great one. I'm going to do the Borrower Be level (1 book per month/12 books total).

1. Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane

2. Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo

3. The Allegra Biscotti Collection by Olivia Bennett

4. The Help by Kathryn Stockett

5. This Day in the Life by Joni B. Cole , Rebecca Joffrey & B.K. Rakhra, eds.

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Classics Challenge

I don't read many classics, but I do have some in my TBR pile, so maybe Stilletto Storytime's Classics Challenge 2011 will get me to read some. I am going with the Student level (5 books).

1. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

2. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

3. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving

4. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

5. Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen

Horror & Urban Fantasy Challenge

I love horror and urban fantasy, but I don't get a lot of chances to read them, therefore Book Chick City's Horror & Urban Fantasy Reading Challenge 2011 is going to be tough - 24 book!

1. Shadow Blade by Seressia Glass

2. Summer by Eden Maguire

3. Grand Guignol Orchestra 1 by Kaori Yuki

4. A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

5. The Dark-Hunters 4 by Sherrilyn Kenyon & Claudia Campos

6. The Cypress House by Michael Koryta

7. The Prince of Mist by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

8. Odd Is on Our Side by Dean Koontz, Fred Van Lente, & Queenie Chan

9. The Midnight Palace by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

10. Into the Dark by Gena Showalter

11. A Touch of Dead by Charlaine Harris

12. Secrets in the Attic by Damian Serbu

13. The Paradise Prophecy by Robert Browne

14. The Haunted by Jessica Verday

15. Nightschool: The Weirn Books 1 by Svetlana Chmakova

16. All You Desire by Kirsten Miller

17. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving

18. Edgar Allan Poe's Tales of Mystery by Graphic Classics

19. Ghost Hunt by Jason Hawes & Grant Wilson

20. Ghost Hunt 2 by Jason Hawes & Grant Wilson

21. The Poison Diaries by Maryrose Wood

22. Nightshade by Maryrose Wood

23. Dearly, Departed by Lia Habel

24. Trance by Kelly Meding

Eastern Europe Reading Challenge

I can only think of one book I have ever read that was by an Eastern European author, so the 2011 Eastern European Reading Challenge from The Black Sheep Dances is going to be quite a challenge, even at the Tourist (4 books) level.

1. City of Thieves by David Benioff

2. The Chalice of Immortality by Erica Kirov

3. Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

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