Friday, January 2, 2015

2015 Reading Challenges (I'm back!)

Feel free to completely disregard this post if you aren't interested in hearing about the numerous reading challenges that I feel compelled to participate in for 2015.  I took a few years off from reading challenges (with the exception of Carl's R.I.P challenge which is simply a must) but I am looking forward to getting back to them in the new year.  It is fun to push myself when it comes to reading even if I usually fail spectacularly when it is all said and done.  The point of participating for me is the community factor, trying new books that maybe I wouldn't have picked up, and just having fun.  Of course in typical Sam fashion, I've decided to sign up for ALL of the challenges that sound good (this is also because I have no self control in regards to books).  Here is my official sign-up announcement for the following challenges:


Requirement is to read a minimum of 12 library books.  As I use my library on a constant basis, this should be quite easy (and possibly my only challenge that I am successful at).  Sign up here if you want to participate as well.


Requirement is to read historical romance which is a genre that I didn't read enough of in 2014.  I'm signing up for the level 1 which is six books.  Considering how many I have on my shelves, this should be easy to complete.  Sign up here if you are interested.


Here is where the pushing myself as a reader comes in.  In 2014, I read NO nonfiction books which is horrible as I have a bunch gracing my shelves AND even more on my TBR list.  I'm hoping this challenge will give me the push to finally read some of those books.  I'm signing up for Dilettante level which is one to five nonfiction reads.  Sign up here if interested.


This is a themed TBR challenge where each month you pull a book off of your TBR shelves that fits in with the month's theme and then we discuss on the 3rd Wednesday of that month.  This sounds like a very interesting way to get some books off of my own shelves.  Sign up is here.


Another challenge that is going to push me but in a good way.  I've already put a few graphic novels on hold at the library in preparation for this challenge.  I'm signing up for the Modern Age level which is 12 graphic novels.  Sign up is here


I love, love, love to reread so I just couldn't resist signing up for this challenge.  No amount of books required which is perfect!  I'm sure that I will reread plenty.  Sign up here.


I NEED this challenge.  And I do mean NEED it!  I have no self control when it comes to these sites and I would love to catch up and get these books read.  I'm signing up for the bronze level which is only 10 books (I really should try and do more).  Sign up here.


This is a challenge for all of those series books that I am addicted to.  You get points for the amount of books in a series that you finish.  I'm signing up for the Newbie level which is 10-25 points.  Sign up here.


I've participated in this challenge before and it is always fun.  Plus, I love finding new authors to read and adore.  I'm signing up for 15 new to me authors.  Sign up here.


A genre that I always enjoy but don't read enough of.  I'm hoping to use this challenge to find new authors and books :)  I'm signing up for Civilian level which is 1-5 books.  Sign up here.


I love a good mystery so I couldn't resist this challenge.  And as I adore Amelia Peabody I am signing up for that level which is 10 books.  Sign up here.


I have so many cozy series that I want to try that I just have to sign up for this challenge too!  I'm signing up for the Snoop level which is 6 books.  Sign up here.


In the new year I WILL be working out more on a regular basis.  I love the idea of weekly check-ins and participating in this challenge with other readers while getting healthy.  Sign up here.



The goal is to read 12 books off of your TBR shelves that have been on there at least one year.  Sign up here.  Here is my list of books for the challenge along with two alternates:

  • The Cater Street Hangman by Anne Perry
  • Promise Not to Tell by Jennifer McMahon
  • Web of Lies by Jennifer Estep
  • Firelight by Kristen Callihan
  • Black Wings by Christina Henry
  • The Cutting Season by Attica Locke
  • The Becoming by Jeanne Stein
  • Aftertime by Sophie Littlefield
  • Don of the Dead by Casey Daniels
  • Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness by Susannah Cahalan
  • Crooked House by Agatha Christie
  • The Iron Duke by Meljean Brook
and two alternates are Homicide in Hardcover by Kate Carlisle and Beg for Mercy by Jami Alden.

Whew!  I'm tired just from thinking about all of this.  But it sure is going to be fun!  Do you participate in reading challenges?  If so, are there any that I missed that you think I should know about?  Let's hope 2015 is an amazing year of reading!!

11 comments:

  1. Wow Sam! Good luck with all of these. I'm completely hopeless at completing challenges so I have up joining them. Lol.

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  2. Sam, each of these reading challenges sounds amazing! I greatly admire your ambition. Best of luck with these challenges. I do so poorly at most reading challenges that I sign-up for very few of them.

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  3. Good luck with your challenges, Sam! I'm trying to stay away from them this year, but I know it will be tough. I may change my mind yet. :-)

    Happy New Year!

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  4. Welcome to the GN/Manga Reading Challenge! Hope you have fun with us this year!

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  5. I love reading challenges but at a stage I felt overwhelmed so I decided not to participate in any and feel free reading whenever I can.

    Have fun with these challenges! Of course I'll be looking forward to reading more of your reviews. :)

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  6. Wow - that's awesome! I'm still deciding on which ones to join and will post about them soon. I'm really tempted by the Nonfiction, GN and Mystery ones...So many great challenges! Enjoy and good luck!

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  7. Wow, that's a huge list of reading challenges! I'm planning to participate in the non fiction challenge, so I'll see you over there.

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  8. So many great challenges! As you know, I'm already participating in the Comics challenge and now I'm going to also join TBR and New Authors. And maybe the Cloak and Dagger one as well.

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  9. Sam I just wanted to welcome you to the 2015 Cloak & Dagger Reading Challenge we look forward to reading some mysteries with you in 2015!!

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  10. Darlene- I'm pretty hopeless when it comes to completing challenges but I just can't resist this year!

    Thank Suko! I do pretty bad with them myself usually but maybe this year will be different.

    Wendy- If you do end up joining in a few challenges let me know which ones! There were so many great sounding challenges that I just decided to join them all. HA!

    Nicola- Thanks! I really am hoping to read a lot more graphic novels this year. I already checked out The Walking Dead Volume 4 from the library and will be reading it soon!

    Melody- I haven't participated in challenges for a few years now for the same reasons. It seems to have worn off now though because I am super excited about all of these :)

    Iliana- I just put myself on the hold list for Into Thin Air which will be my first nonfiction read of the year- I am so excited about this challenge because I didn't read a single nonfiction book last year. Shame on me!

    Tracey- Yay! That is one of the challenges that has me most excited. I can't wait to add to my TBR list thanks to it :)

    Mervih- I'm really hoping the comics challenge will motivate me to read more graphic novels. I don't read enough of them!!!

    Amy- Thanks for hosting it! I'm a huge mystery fan so I am really excited for this one!

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  11. Good luck with all your challenges. Thanks for participating in the Romantic Suspense challenge!

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