This is it, I swear (or I sign up for yet more reading challenges)

I said I wasn’t going to do this. I’ve already signed up for over ten challenges during 2010 as it is. And yet, I keep finding ones that sound so interesting and seem to mesh with my reading habits oh-so-nicely. So, here I am, with yet another list of reading challenges for which I am committing myself.

Buy 1 Book, Read 1 Book Challenge Button

Amy at My Friend Amy is hosting this one. The premise is so easy, I couldn’t pass it up!

Buy One Book and Read It was started when I realized over 50% of Americans had not read a single book in a year. This is the most disturbing news possible to a book lover like myself, so I wanted to encourage an easy fun way to make sure people read a book in a year!

Seriously? Over 50 percent of Americans have not read a book all year? That is so sad, but I digress. Like all challenges, this one comes with commitment levels. I’m going for the big one – Level Three – for which I must buy twelve books and read them in 2010. That’s it. Considering I purchased…ahem…more than twelve last year, I think this one is a lock. See? That’s why I had to participate in this one!

Isn’t that a beautiful picture? Sue is hosting this challenge, designed to put a little fun in our reading choices. The challenge is to read books in which each title starts with a letter of the rainbow (ROYGBIV) or each author’s name starts with each of those letters. Sounds easy, right? So, really the books have nothing to do with colors, just the first letter in the title. I can handle that!

That’s right. I succumbed to the pressure. I didn’t even watch The Gilmore Girls that often, but I am a sucker for a book list. Lisa from Lit and Life is hosting this challenge, which is in honor of the show for which books played a huge part. The idea is to read from a (very long) list of books mentioned during the show’s run on television. I’m going for Lorelei on this one: reading ten books from at least three different categories. I could probably compete with Rory, but have you seen all my other challenges? It’s definitely wise that I keep this attainable.

This one is another no-brainer for me. Wendy is hosting the Chunkster Challenge this year, which is devoted to long books, defined as anything over 450 pages of adult literature. I LOVE big books and I cannot lie. So, I’m going for the big one – The Mor-book-ly Obese – for which I am committing to six or more books over 450 pages or three books over 750 pages. Piece of cake.

Hosted by Elizabeth from As Usual, I Need More Bookshelves, the 451 Challenge got its start from Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 and 451 Fridays.

451 Fridays is based on an idea from Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. In his novel, a group of people (Bradbury calls them Book People) are trying to keep the ideas found in books alive. Instead of actually saving the books, the Book People each “become” a book – memorizing it, word for word, and passing it down to the next generation.

451 Fridays asks what books you feel passionate about. What book do you think is so important that you would be willing to take on the challenge of “becoming”?

Great book and even better idea – to promote those books which would truly be a crime to lose. I’m going for it on this one and am signing up for the top level – Blaze – committing to seven or more books from the master list.

As with my previous lists, I’m choosing the books as the year progresses. Part of the fun is going to be choosing books that can fit into multiple challenges.

And with this, I am officially done. I can’t believe I signed up for more than twelve challenges. It’s going to be fun and interesting to see if I complete even half of them!

14 Comments

Michelle on December 23, 2009 at 6:09 PM

Thanks, Stacy!

stacybuckeye on December 22, 2009 at 4:01 PM

What a great Santa!

Michelle on December 21, 2009 at 8:43 AM

Thanks, Elizabeth! I'm really looking forwad to it!

Elizabeth on December 21, 2009 at 8:01 AM

I'm so glad you will be joining us this year! It's a good idea to pick your books as the year progesses – I have a list, but I have a feeling it might get adjusted as the master list grows. =)

Michelle on December 20, 2009 at 12:29 PM

Molly – I have to give some thought to perpetual challenges. I'm too OCD for me to be able to handle something like that hanging out there ad infinitum. Amy's challenge is so enticing, isn't it? Give me permission to by a book (or twelve) and I will gladly rise to the challenge!

Michelle on December 20, 2009 at 12:27 PM

Ladystorm – That's why I signed up for that challenge. I figure with my book buying habits, I'll have that one finished by February, maybe March. Granted, I might not have them all read by then, but the purchasing part would be done. LOL!

Michelle on December 20, 2009 at 12:26 PM

Diane – I think I'm in a state of denial right now that a) I signed up for all those and b) that I will have no problems finishing them all. Time will tell. Good luck to you too!

Michelle on December 20, 2009 at 12:25 PM

Stephanie – I think I might need to add that button for 2010. I'll add it to my list of things I want to do for Bloggiesta!

I watched a few episodes now and then but never got into the series on the whole. Now that we have Netflix, I just may have to give it a shot!

Michelle on December 20, 2009 at 12:25 PM

Thanks, Michelle! I have a feeling I'm going to need all the luck I can muster!

Molly on December 20, 2009 at 11:23 AM

You have joined some great challenges! I decided to go with the perpetual Rory Book Project rather than the Gilmore Girls challenge, but it will still be the same list of wonderful books! And…I just don't see how I can possibly pass up Amy's Buy a Book challenge.

Good luck with all your 2010 reading goals.

ladystorm on December 20, 2009 at 9:57 AM

The buy one book then read it challenge would be to hard for me I don't think I have ever, ever just bought ONE book, it is usually three or four at a time..LOL

Diane on December 20, 2009 at 9:54 AM

Don't feel bad, I too am weak and signed up for 10 challenges…LOL

Good luck and have fun

Stephanie on December 20, 2009 at 7:29 AM

I know a great Challenge Addict Button that can be added to your blog!!

But you MUST watch The Gilmore Girls. SOOOOO good! I have my fingers crossed that I'm getting the series box-set for Christmas. I had mentioned buying it to my father-in-law. It's so much cheaper than buying all 7 seasons. I was going to get it for the girls (who love the show too), but he was spending a lot of time trying to discouage me. Hoping that means it's going to end up in my household!

Michelle on December 20, 2009 at 6:20 AM

HA! I added a few more to my roster yesterday as well. Including the challenge of Amy's you have above. Good luck 🙂

I read and respond to each and every comment, so please let me know what you are thinking! Cancel reply

Michelle on December 23, 2009 at 6:09 PM

Thanks, Stacy!
stacybuckeye on December 22, 2009 at 4:01 PM

What a great Santa!
Michelle on December 21, 2009 at 8:43 AM

Thanks, Elizabeth! I'm really looking forwad to it!
Elizabeth on December 21, 2009 at 8:01 AM

I'm so glad you will be joining us this year! It's a good idea to pick your books as the year progesses – I have a list, but I have a feeling it might get adjusted as the master list grows. =)
Michelle on December 20, 2009 at 12:29 PM

Molly – I have to give some thought to perpetual challenges. I'm too OCD for me to be able to handle something like that hanging out there ad infinitum. Amy's challenge is so enticing, isn't it? Give me permission to by a book (or twelve) and I will gladly rise to the challenge!
Michelle on December 20, 2009 at 12:27 PM

Ladystorm – That's why I signed up for that challenge. I figure with my book buying habits, I'll have that one finished by February, maybe March. Granted, I might not have them all read by then, but the purchasing part would be done. LOL!
Michelle on December 20, 2009 at 12:26 PM

Diane – I think I'm in a state of denial right now that a) I signed up for all those and b) that I will have no problems finishing them all. Time will tell. Good luck to you too!
Michelle on December 20, 2009 at 12:25 PM

Stephanie – I think I might need to add that button for 2010. I'll add it to my list of things I want to do for Bloggiesta!

I watched a few episodes now and then but never got into the series on the whole. Now that we have Netflix, I just may have to give it a shot!
Michelle on December 20, 2009 at 12:25 PM

Thanks, Michelle! I have a feeling I'm going to need all the luck I can muster!
Molly on December 20, 2009 at 11:23 AM

You have joined some great challenges! I decided to go with the perpetual Rory Book Project rather than the Gilmore Girls challenge, but it will still be the same list of wonderful books! And…I just don't see how I can possibly pass up Amy's Buy a Book challenge.

Good luck with all your 2010 reading goals.
ladystorm on December 20, 2009 at 9:57 AM

The buy one book then read it challenge would be to hard for me I don't think I have ever, ever just bought ONE book, it is usually three or four at a time..LOL
Diane on December 20, 2009 at 9:54 AM

Don't feel bad, I too am weak and signed up for 10 challenges…LOL

Good luck and have fun
Stephanie on December 20, 2009 at 7:29 AM

I know a great Challenge Addict Button that can be added to your blog!!

But you MUST watch The Gilmore Girls. SOOOOO good! I have my fingers crossed that I'm getting the series box-set for Christmas. I had mentioned buying it to my father-in-law. It's so much cheaper than buying all 7 seasons. I was going to get it for the girls (who love the show too), but he was spending a lot of time trying to discouage me. Hoping that means it's going to end up in my household!
Michelle on December 20, 2009 at 6:20 AM

HA! I added a few more to my roster yesterday as well. Including the challenge of Amy's you have above. Good luck 🙂