Reading Challenges Update - January

Here is where I stand with the challenges I have joined after the month of January (only challenges that I read books for this month are featured here):


E-Book (1/6)
1. The Nameless One by Kathryn Meyer Griffith

Mystery & Suspense (1/24)
1.  Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey

Audio Book (1/6)
1. Lunatics by Dave Barry & Alan Zweibel

Graphic Novels (2/12)
1. Alice the 101st 2 by Chigusa Kawai
2. The Influencing Machine by Brooke Gladstone 


1st in a Series (4/6)
1. Impulse by Ellen Hopkins
2. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
3. Delirium by Lauren Oliver
4. Immortal Beloved by Cate Tiernan


100 Books in a Year (13/100)
1. Impulse by Ellen Hopkins
2. The Things a Brother Knows by Dana Reinhardt
3. Alice the 101st 2 by Chigusa Kawai
4. The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
5. Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift
6. Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
7. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
8. Lunatics by Dave Barry & Alan Zweibel
9. Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey
10. The Influencing Machine by Brooke Gladstone
11.  Delirium by Lauren Oliver
12. The Nameless One by Kathryn Meyer Griffith
13. Immortal Beloved by Cate Tiernan


Book Blogger Recommendation (2/10)
1. Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
2. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins


Historical Fiction (1/5)
1. Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen


Horror & Urban Fantasy (3/48)
1. The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
2. The Nameless One by Kathryn Meyer Griffith
3. Immortal Beloved by Cate Tiernan


Aussie Authors (1/3)
1. Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey


Why Buy the Cow? (1/12)
1. Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift


Dystopia (2/5)
1. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
2. Delirium by Lauren Oliver


YA Saves (2/10)
1. Impulse by Ellen Hopkins
2. Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey


YA/MG Fantasy (1/10)
1. Immortal Beloved by Cate Tiernan


A to Z (9/26)
1. Impulse by Ellen Hopkins
2. The Things a Brother Knows by Dana Reinhardt
3. The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
4. Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift
5. Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
6. Lunatics by Dave Barry & Alan Zweibel
7. Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey
8. Delirium by Lauren Oliver
9. The Nameless One by Kathryn Meyer Griffith


Multi-Cultural (1/12)
1. Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey


Ghostly Challenge (1/6)
1. The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson


Paranormal Fantasy (1/10)
1. Immortal Beloved by Cate Tiernan

Elseswhere Online: January 2012

As you know from my In My Mailbox posts, I review for two other websites (bookloons.com and bittenbybooks.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: Jasper Jones

Author: Craig Silvey

Challenges: Mystery & Suspense, Aussie Author, YA Saves, A to Z, Multi-Cultural, 100 Books in a Year

Title: The Influencing Machine

Author: Brooke Gladstone

Challenges: Graphic Novel, 100 Books in a Year

Title: Delirium

Author: Lauren Oliver

Challenges: 1st in a Series, Dystopian, A to Z, 100 Books in a Year

Title: The Nameless One

Author: Kathryn Meyer Griffith

Challenges: eBook, Horror & Urban Fantasy, A to Z, Self-Published, 100 Books in a Year

Title: Immortal Beloved

Author: Cate Tiernan

Challenges: 1st in a Series, Horror & Urban Fantasy, YA/MG Fantasy, Paranormal Fantasy, 100 Books in a Year

Lunatics

Title: Lunatics

Author: Dave Barry & Alan Zweibel
Publisher: Penguin Audio
ISBN: 9781611760576
Why Read?: For Fun
Challenges:  Audio Book, A to Z, 100 Books in a Year

Thoughts: If you are looking for a hilarious good time (and don't mind vulgarity), then Lunatics is the book for you.  The audio book was read by the authors, which I think added an extra dimension of funny to it.  There were times that I was laughing out loud.  The end was a little of a let down, but the very end, where they did a "where are they now" recap of the characters ended on a very high note.

Rating: 4 stars

In My Mailbox 1/22-1/28

For Review (here and on Bookloons):

The Hunger Pains by The Harvard Lampoon

Until Next Time by Amy Lignor

Won:

Truly, Madly by Heather Webber

The Choice by Nicholas Sparks

Sundays at Tiffany's by James Patterson

Claire de Lune by Christine Johnson

Bought on Kobo:

Bumped by  Megan McCafferty

Hereafter by Tara Hudson

Lucky by Rachel Vail

Ten Things We Did (and Probably Shouldn't Have) by Sarah Mlynowski

Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

The Unidentified by Rae Mariz

Vesper by Jeff Sampson

This fun weekly meme comes from The Story Siren.

All images come from Goodreads.

The Hunger Games

Title: The Hunger Games

Author: Suzanne Collins
Publisher: Scholastic
ISBN: 978-0-545-40577-5
Why Read?: For Fun
Challenges:  1st in a Series, Book Blogger Recommendation, Dystopia, 100 Books in a Year

Thoughts: With the movie coming out, I figured it was type to finally read The Hunger Games, which people have been suggesting to me for years.  I am glad I finally did.  This is a wonderful dystopian with plenty of twists in a world I want to learn more about.  I didn't think it would be my type of book, but I was more than pleasantly surprised.

Rating: 5 stars

Water for Elephants

Title: Water for Elephants

Author: Sara Gruen
Publisher: Algonquin
ISBN: 978-1-56512-560-5
Why Read?: Book Club
Challenges:  Book Blogger Recommendation, Historical Fiction, A to Z, 100 Books in a Year

Thoughts: I am not a fan of animal books, so I was prepared to not like this and cry. However, I am a fan of circus novels, so I was curious about this one. Luckily my curiosity won out. Although I did cry at parts, I loved this story. I was immediately transported to that long ago circus train, but what I liked most, actually, was Jacob in present day—he was a hoot! 

Rating: 5 stars

In My Mailbox 1/15-1/21

Won:

Raven by Suzy Turner

Lunatics by Dave Berry & Alan Zwiebel

Moments of Mystery, Hints of Horror by M. T. O'Neil

Swaps on Swap-Bot:

Hunter of My Heart by Janet Kendall

Brass by Robert J. Coney

This fun weekly meme comes from The Story Siren.

All images come from Goodreads.

Dreaming of Book Giveaway WINNER!

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

Maritza R.!

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

Reading Challenge Addict

Challenge:  Reading Challenge Addict
Host:  Reading Challenge Addict
2011 Level: Out of This World (16+) - COMPLETED!
2012 Level:  ?


1. E-book (0/3)
2. Mystery & Suspsense (0/24)
3. Audio Book (0/6)
4. Graphic Novels (0/12)
5. 1st in a Series (0/6)
6. 100 Books in a Year (0/100)
7. Debut Author (0/12)
8. YA Contemporary (0/5)
9. Book Blogger Recommendation (0/10)
10. Steampunk (0/6)
11. YA Historical Fiction (0/5)
12. Historical Fiction (0/5)
13. Chick Lit (0/12)
14. Eastern Europe (0/4)
15. Horror & Urban Fantasy (0/48)
16. Aussie Authors (0/3)
17. Why Buy the Cow? (0/12)
18. Chunkster (0/4)
19. Sophomore (0/10)
20. YA Mythology (0/10)
21. Dystopian (0/5)
22. New Adult (0/3)
23. Standalone (0/15)
24. YA Saves (0/10)
25. YA/MG Fantasy (0/10)
26. Immortal (0/12)
27. European (0/1)
28. Telling Tales (0/5)
29. Mediterranean (0/3)
30. British Books (0/12)
31. Cruzin' Thru the Cozies (0/6)
32. Free Reads (0/5)
33. A to Z (0/26)
34. Romance (0/4)
35. Time Travel (0/3)
36. Dean Koontz (0/3)
37. Self-Published (0/5)
38. Multi-Cultural (0/12)
39. Witches & Witchcraft (0/5)
40. Ghostly (0/6)
41. Paranormal Fantasy (0/10)
41. Short Story (0/3)

Short Story Challenge

Challenge:  Short Story Challenge
Host:  Library of Clean Reads
2011 Level: n/a
2012 Level:  Tell Me a Story (3 books)

1. The Crimson Z by Robert Cloud, et al.
2. War Stories by Elizabeth Doyle
3. A Vacation on the Island of Ex-Boyfriends by Stacy Bierlein

Paranormal Fantasy Challenge

Challenge:  Paranormal Fantasy Challenge
Host:  Goldilox and the Three Weres
2011 Level: n/a
2012 Level:  Magic's Kind of Interesting (10 books)  

1. Immortal Beloved by Cate Tiernan
2. Broken by David H. Burton
3. Veil of the Unknown by Kelly Leigh & Terri Lucas
4. Die for Me by Amy Plum
5. Spectral by Shannon Duffy
6. Lies Beneath by Anne Greenwood Brown
7. Witch Eyes by Scott Tracey
8. Wraith's Forest by L. J. Leger
9. The Crimson Z by Robert Cloud, et al.
10. Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness

Ghostly Challenge

Challenge:  Ghostly Challenge
Host:  Babbling About Books and Stuff
2011 Level: n/a
2012 Level:  Still Living (6 books) 


1. The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
2. Fire of My Heart by Erin Grace
3. Cryer's Cross by Lisa McMann
4. Brody's Ghost 1 by Mark Crilley
5. The Reaper of St. George Street by Andre R. Frattino
6. The Ridge by Michael Koryta

Witches and Witchcraft Challenge

Challenge:  Witches and Witchcraft Challenge
Host:  Melissa's Eclectic Bookshelf
2011 Level: n/a
2012 Level:  Initiate (5 books) 


1. Sorceress by Lisa Jackson
2. Veil of the Unknown by Kelly Leigh & Terri Lucas
3. Immortal Quest by Alexandra MacKenzie
4. A Single Tear by Mae McCulloch
5. Spectral by Shannon Duffy

Multi-Cultural Challenge

Challenge:  Multi-Cultural Challenge
Host:  Truly Bookish & One Page at a Time
2011 Level: n/a
2012 Level:  12 books

1. Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey
2. Night Sky by Jolene Perry
3. Sykosa by Justin Ordonez
4. Sufis at Culver by Richard Gwyn Davies
5. Cuttlefish by David Greer
6. A Lloyd Alexander Collection by Lloyd Alexander
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.

Self-Published Challenge

Challenge:  Self-Published Challenge
Host:  Workaday Reads
2011 Level: n/a
2012 Level:  Sentence (5 books) 


1. The Nameless One by Kathryn Meyer Griffith
2. Veil of the Unknown by Kelly Leigh & Terri Lucas
3. The Liberation of Max McTrue by Kim Culbertson
4. Wraith's Forest by L. J. Leger
5.

Dean Koontz Challenge

Challenge:  Dean Koontz Challenge
Host:  The Book Garden
2011 Level: n/a
2012 Level:  Odd Thomas's Mailman (3 books) 


1. The Darkest Evening of the Year by Dean Koontz
2.
3.

Gulliver's Travels

Title: Gulliver's Travels

Author: Jonathan Swift
Publisher: Gutenberg
ISBN: ebook
Why Read?: For Fun
Challenges:  Why Buy the Cow? (Kobo). A to Z, 100 Books in a Year

Thoughts: I never read Gulliver's Travels when I was younger, although I did know about it.  I found it an interesting way to point of the inadequencies of the English government at the time (which I know I would have not gotten out of it if I had read it when I was younger), but only two travels to strange lands seems too little for a good adventure.

Rating: 3 stars

Time Travel Challenge

Challenge:  Time Travel Challenge
Host:  Library of Clean Reads
2011 Level: n/a
2012 Level:  Surprise Trip (3 books)

1. Hourglass by Myra McEntire
2. Q by Evan Manderly
3. Sufis at Culver by Richard Gwyn Davies

Romance Challenge

Challenge:  Romance Challenge
Host:  The Eclectic Bookshelf
2011 Level: n/a
2012 Level:  Level 1 (4 books)


1. Sorceress by Lisa Jackson
2. Broken by David H. Burton
3. Veil of the Unknown by Kelly Leigh & Terri Lucas
4. Fire of My Heart by Erin Grace

A to Z Challenge

Challenge:  A to Z Challenge
Host:  Babies, Books, and Signs
2011 Level: n/a
2012 Level:  26 books

A. Another Piece of My Heart by Jane Green
B. Broken by David H. Burton
C. Camera Obscura by Lavie Tidhar
D. Delirium by Lauren Oliver
E. Entwined by Heather Dixon
F. Fire of My Heart by Erin Grace
G. Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift
H. The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
I. Impulse by Ellen Hopkins
J. Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey
K. Knee Deep by Jolene Perry
L. Lunatics by Dave Barry & Alan Zweibel
M. Mongrel by K. Z. Snow
N. The Nameless One by Kathryn Meyer Griffith
O. Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens
P. The Priest and the Peaches by Larry Peterson
Q. The Queen of Kentucky by Alecia Whitaker
R. Riley Mack and the Other Known Troublemakers by Chris Grabenstein
S. Sorceress by Lisa Jackson
T. The Things a Brother Knows by Dana Reinhardt
U. Until Next Time by Amy Lignor
V. Veil of the Unknown by Kelly Leigh & Terri Lucas
W. Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
X.
Y.
Z.

The Haunting of Hill House

Title: The Haunting of Hill House

Author: Shirley Jackson
Publisher: Penguin Classics
ISBN: 978-0-14-303998-3
Why Read?: Book Club
Challenges:  Horror & Urban Fantasy, A to Z, Ghostly, 100 Books in a Year

Thoughts: The Haunting is one of my favorite classic horror movies (the original -not the remake).  However, it does take some liberties with Jackson's original story (the play version, though, is as true to the book as a play can be).  The real story is more psychological than in-your-face, but the creep factor is still ramped way up there.

Rating: 5 stars

In My Mailbox 1/8-1/14

For Review (on Bitten By Books):

Gift of Magic by Lynn Kurland

Won:

Indie Chicks by Donna Fasano, et al

Return of the Runaway Bride by Donna Fasano

Blood Hunt by Shannon K. Butcher

Lockdown by Alexander Gorden Smith

The Eternal Ones by Kirsten Miller

Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen

Keeping the Moon by Sarah Dessen

Someone Like You by Sarah Dessen

The Midget's House by Anita Bartholomew

Swaps on Swap-bot:

The Prince of Mist by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

Requested from Paperbackswap:

Fish by T. J. Parsell

One Day by David Nicholls

Jessica by Bryce Courtenay

Ordered from Barnes & Noble:

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

This fun weekly meme comes from The Story Siren.

All images come from Goodreads.