2015 Witches & Witchcraft Reading Challenge

Got into this one last year a little late but still enjoyed it, and will try again, at the first level.  Sign up  at Melissa's Eclectic Bookshelf.

Welcome to the 4th Annual Witches & Witchcraft Reading Challenge!

Thank you so much to everyone who participated in the 2012, 2013, & 2014  Witches & Witchcraft Reading Challenges!

I hope you all had as much fun as I did! Welcome to the 2015 Challenge!!

My Goals

I’m shooting for Mother Level: Read 11 – 15 Witchy Books this year!!

Rules

• Low commitment…you can sign up to read just ONE book as an INITIATE!!!
• Participants who choose to link up reviews will be entered for the end of year prize!!

Challenge Rules:

• This challenge will run from Jan 1, 2015 – Dec 31, 2015. I will be posting a place to link up a sign-up post (below), reviews and a wrap-up post. (Note: You do not have to review the books to participate, but only those who link up reviews will be entered for the prize)
• Grab the reading challenge button (code & button below) and post this reading challenge on your blog to track your progress. Please include a link back to this sign-up post so others can join the reading challenge too. You do not have to be a book blogger to participate- you could track your progress and post reviews on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords, etc.
• Any full length book that includes a witch as a main character or includes major witchcraft elements counts. They may be fiction or non-fiction. However, they should not be reference books which are not read cover to cover-I will leave this to your discretion.
• Books can be any format (bound, eBook, audio).
• Re-reads and crossovers from other reading challenges are allowed.
• You can list your books in advance or just put them in a wrap-up post. If you list them, feel free to change them as the mood takes you.
• When you sign up in the linky put the direct link to your post about joining the 2015 Witches & Witchcraft Reading Challenge, not just a link to your blog.
• You can move up levels, but no moving down.
• Sign-ups will be open until Dec 15, 2015, so feel free to join at any time throughout the year.
• Have some Witchy Good Fun !!!

The Levels:

Initiate: Read 1 – 5 Witchy Books
Maiden: Read 6 – 10 Witchy Books
Mother: Read 11 – 15 Witchy Books
Crone: Read 16 – 20 Witchy Books

Here is what I am reading:

1. Shadow Falls; The Beginning--C.C. Hunter
2. Taken At Dusk--C.C Hunter
3. Whispers at Moonrise--C.C Hunter
4. Chosen at Nightfall--C.C. Hunter
5. The Book of Life--Deborah Harkness
6. The Witch of Blackbird Pond--Elizabeth George Speare
7. The Secret Circle: The Initiation and The Captive Part 1--L.J. Smith
8. The Secret Circle: The Captive Part II and The Power--L.J. Smith
9. The Kitchen Witch--Annette Blair
10. Bewitched, Bothered and Biscotti--Bailey Cates
11. Charms and Chocolate Chips--Bailey Cates

Challenge completed on October 24

The Pre-Printing Press Challenge - 2015 Edition

A new one to me.  Sounds like fun.  Will try to read between 1 to 4 books, maybe more.  Sign up here. Details below:

The Pre-Printing Press Challenge
January 1st 2015-December 31 2015

I've seen a lot of challenges for reading romances, fiction, award winning books and many more. Challenges on various themes (King Arthur etc.) and challenges to fit certain criteria, such as the What's In A Name Challenge.

What I haven't seen is a challenge for reading books that pre-date the Printing Press. There's so many good pieces of writing that fit in this category (and I'm not asking you to read them in the original language unless you want to). So, for my first reading challenge, the pre-printing press challenge, I'm asking people to give these ancient and medieval books a try.

I started running this challenge back in 2009 and ran it again in 2010. Since then, I haven't run it, but I'm going to give it another try this year.

Just some rough examples of the sorts of books that count, both histories and fiction:
Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War
Herodotus The Histories
Homer The Iliad and The Odyssey
Greek Tragedies and Comedies
Virgil
Ovid
PlutarchBeowulf
Norse Sagas
Geoffrey of Monmouth The History of the Kings of Britain

The lists could continue on and on.

The rules of the Pre-Printing Press Challenge:

1. All books must have come out before 1440, when the printing press was first invented.
2. Books chosen for this challenge can overlap with other challenges.
3. Books can be translated into the language of your choice.
4. All the books you've chosen must be read by December 31, 2015.
5. You can read 1-3 books, 4-6 books, 7-9 books or 10 or more books if you're feeling particularly ambitious.
6. The choice of books is up to you. There are no set reading lists, and you don't have to set one when you join.
7. Post your blog address where you'll be posting your comments on your choice of books in the comments of this post when you join, and tell me how many books you've chosen. I'll set up a link to participating blogs from here.
8. Above all, Have fun.

The challenge starts January 1st.

Here is what I am reading:

1. Beowulf
2. Antigone--Sophocles
3. The Homeric Hymns

Challenge completed on January 10

Christmas Netflix Envelopes

Diversity on the Shelf 2015

Will be doing this challenge again.  Going for the first level. See My Little Pocketbooks to sign up.  Details below:

Welcome to the 2nd year of the Diversity on the Shelf reading challenge. The aim of Diversity on the Shelf 2015 Challenge is add diversity to you bookshelf by reading books by authors of color and/or about a main character of color.

Challenge Details

1. Any book (by any author) with a main character that is a person of color qualifies for this reading challenge, as well as any book written by an author of color. The goal is to encourage readers have a more diverse reading experience and to support diversity in the publishing industry by reading and reviewing books by or about person of color.

2. The challenge will run from January 1, 2015 – December 31, 2015 (books read prior to 1/1/2015 do not count towards the challenge). You can join anytime before 12/1/2015. Sign up at My Little Pocketbooks

3. Books can be any format (print, ebook, audio).

4. Novellas, Short story collections, Poetry, Graphic novels/manga, Children Books, and all genres are allowed. 

5. Books can be of any publication date. 

6. You can choose your books as you go or create a list in advance. Re-reads and crossovers from other reading challenges are allowed.

Join the Challenge

To join the challenge, grab the Diversity on the Shelf 2015 Challenge button and post this reading challenge on your blog to track your progress. Please include a link back to this sign-up post so others can join the reading challenge too. 

You do not have to be a book blogger to participate; you can track your progress on Goodreads, LibraryThing, BookLikes, Libib, etc., just as long as you have a dedicated shelf for the Diversity on the Shelf 2015 Challenge and your profile is not private. The point of linking up is to have a place where people can see what you’re reading.

Pick a Level

Choose how many diversity centered books you would like to add to your “read” shelf in 2015:

1st Shelf: Read 1-6 books

2nd Shelf: Read 7 -12 books

3rd Shelf: Read 13 - 18 books

4th Shelf: Read 19 -24 books

5th Shelf: Read 25+ books

Once you pick a level you can go higher and read more books but you cannot go down a level.

If you'd like to participate in the Diversity on the Shelf 2015 Reading Challenge, please sign up, and if you have a blog please spread the word by grabbing the button and post about your participation.

If you need some ideas for what to read go to the original POC Reading Challenge blog.

There will be giveaways along the way, theme reads and a giveaway at the end for the participants who participate each month and completes the challenge.

Here is what I am reading:

1. The Watsons Go to Birmingham--Christopher Paul Curtis
2. The Color Purple--Alice Walker
3. Like Water for Chocolate--Laura Esquivel
4. Zoot Suit and Other Plays--Luis Valdez
5. The House on Mango Street--Sandra Cisneros
6. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian--Sherman Alexie
7. Kira-Kira--Cynthia Kadohata
8. Memoirs of a Geisha--Arthur Golden
9. The Crossover--Kwame Alexander
10. The Little Coffee Shop of Kabul--Deborah Rodriguez
11. A Thousand Splendid Suns--Khaled Hosseini
12. Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe--Benjamin Alire Saenz
13. The Kitchen House--Kathleen Grissom
14. Life of Pi--Yann Martel
15. Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice--Phillip Hoose
16. Ain't I a Woman: Black Women and Feminism--bell hooks
17. Three Cups of Tea--Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin
18. Peony in Love--Lisa See

Calling this one complete as of December 13

(Fairytale) Retelling reading challenge 2015

I got into this reading challenge a little late last year, and finished in about two moths.  So I decided to try it again.  Note that the hosting blog has changed this year. Sign up at the new host, Daily Prophecy at this link.  I will start at the Prince Charming Level, and see if I can go over.

Yes, this is happening! I contacted Debz Bookshelf (who hosted this challenge for three years) if it was okay to take it over. I’ve never hosted a reading challenge before, so it’s all new for me and I will try to make it as fun as possible! Here are the details:

• The challenge runs from January 1st – December 31st 2015.
  


• The goal is to read fairytale retellings, but if you want you can also pick other retellings. It’s up to you what you count as a fairytale. Here are a couple of books you can pick from:my bookshelf with fairytale retellings and Fairytale lists on Listopia. You can read Middle Grade, Young Adult and Adult books for this challenge. Obviously, the book doesn't have to be published in 2015 and re-reads count.
• There are 6 different levels you can aim for:
  -Prince Charming: 1 – 4 books.
  -Magic mirror: 5 - 9 books.
  -Big bad wolf: 10 – 15 books.
  -The wise princess: 16 – 20 books.
  -Wicked fairy Godmother: 21 – 25 books.
  -Bluebeard: you are killing it! 26+ books.
• Every beginning of the month I will make a link-up post where you put all your reviews in and they will have fun/informative introductions.
• It’s not a promise, but there might be challenges.
• Most important thing: HAVE FUN and spread the word :) Let's tweet with: #fairytaleRC

You can join until December 31st 2014. Please add links to your introduction post/challenge page instead of a general link to your blog.

Here is what I am reading:

1. Ruby's Slippers--Leanna Ellis
2. Cruel Beauty--Rosamund Hodge
3.  The Selection--Kiera Cass
4. The Elite--Kiera Cass
5. The One--Kiera Cass
6. Just Ella--Margaret Peterson Haddix
7. Frostfire--Amanda Hocking
8. Ice Kissed--Amanda Hocking
9. Austenland--Shannon Hale
10. Dork Diaries: Tales From a Not-So-Happily Ever After--Rachel Renee Russell
11. The Heir--Kiera Cass
12. Crystal Kingdom--Amanda Hocking
13. The Poison Apples--Lily Archer
14. The Diamond Slipper--Jane Feather
15. Fairy Tales: Traditional stories Retold for Gay Men--Peter Cashoralli

Challenge Completed on October 29

2015 Feminism Reading Challenge

Here is another new one to me.  Since there are no levels on this one, I will try to read at least five books, maybe more if time permits and if they fit into other challenges as well.  Sign up here.

A while back I created a Femisism Suggested Reading List. I want to spend 2015 reading as many books on feminism as I can. I decided to create a reading challenge for this goal and invite others to participate.

My purpose for this challenge is to educate myself about the history of feminism, significant people in the movement, and to learn the different schools of feminist thought.

However, this is a design it yourself challenge. I want you to choose your own reading goals. They may be be different from mine. Perhaps you will want to focus on reproductive rights, on just third wave feminism, or just on female fictional authors. The choice is yours.

The Rules:
This challenge begins January 1, 2015 and ends Dec 31, 2015.

You may sign up anytime during the year.

I won't be creating different levels. Read as little or as many books as you want.

You may include books of any format including traditional books, ebooks, or audiobooks.

Books may be YA, adult, fiction, or nonfiction. You will find a suggested reading list here. Books do not have to come from this list but they must focus on feminist issues and themes.

You may reread books.

Books may count towards other reading challenges.

Use the hashtag #FemReadingChallenge

If you could be so kind, please place the Feminism Reading Challenge banner on your blog to help spread the word.

Please link back to this blog, post about it on Facebook, Tweet about it, and so on to help spread the word.


Here is what I am reading:

1. Bridget Jones's Diary--Helen Fielding
2. The Color Purple--Alice Walker
3. The House on Mango Street--Sandra Cisneros
4. Memoirs of a Geisha--Arthur Golden
5. Pride and Prejudice--Jane Austen
6. Wuthering Heights--Emily Bronte
7. A Thousand Splendid Suns--Khaled Hosseini
8. A Woman's Worth--Marianne Williamson
9. Austenland--Shannon Hale
10. The Witch of Blackbird Pond--Elizabeth George Speare
11. The Tenant of Wildfell Hall--Anne Bronte
12. Emma--Jane Austen
13. Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice--Phillip Hoose
14. The Bad Behavior of Belle Cantrell--Loraine Depsres
15. The End of Men and the Rise of Women--Hanna Rosin
16. Ain't I a Woman: Black Women and Feminism--bell hooks

Challenge completed on October 18

Banned Books Challenge 2015

Here is one I passed on last year, but decided to try for next year.  This one is hosted by Buckling Bookshelves.   Will try for the second level, but may go over if time allows.  I'm sure I can find more than two such books.

I wasn't sure if I would host again this year, but then I remembered that once I set everything up, it pretty much runs itself. So the Banned Books Challenge is back for its third year! Besides, I really want to join myself, so I hope there are at least a few other people out there who'd like to participate with me.

This is a very low pressure challenge -- the whole idea is to have fun and read some books that censors have tried to keep off the shelves. I feel there is tremendous value in reading even one banned book, so I'm starting the levels low to encourage more people to give it a try -- but if you're feeling daring, try for one of the higher levels!

DATES: January 1, 2015 through December 31, 2015

RULES: Any book that has been banned or challenged counts. Books can be any format, any length, and can overlap with other challenges. Graphic novels, children's books, picture books are all fine -- any book that has been banned or challenged works for this challenge.

WHERE CAN I FIND BOOK SUGGESTIONS? There isn't one specific list to work from, but there are many different resources you can check out for ideas:

• The ALA's lists of frequently challenged books. There are multiple lists split up by author, year, decade, and a separate list for classics, so there are a lot of options from all different genres.

• GoodReads has several listopia lists on the subject -- this is particularly helpful for identifying books you already have on your shelves if you are a user of the site.

• The Banned Books Week Facebook Page is great about reporting current information on bans and challenges.

• I wrote posts last year about three Banned Book Victories as well as Additional Banned Books Resources including some information on challenged graphic novels.

• If you learn about a book getting challenged in the news, on a book blog, around the web, or wherever else you get your bookish news, it's fair game. One book that made headlines last year wasThe Miseducation of Cameron Post -- it doesn't need to make any of the big lists to count. And if you learn about a new incident, I'd love to hear about it!

HOW TO PARTICIPATE: Write a post identifying which level you are aiming to complete, linking to this sign-up post. If you don't have a blog, just leave a comment below stating what level you are trying for. Listing the books you'd like to read for the year is optional. If you do make a list, you are welcome to change it at any time.

For each book you read for the challenge, you can link-up your reviews here, so we can read them! Reviews can be as short or long as you like, even a one-liner is fine. If you don't have a blog, but post reviews on GoodReads or other similar site, you can link directly to your reviews there. If you don't post reviews, you can leave a comment on the Review Link-Up page telling us which books you completed.

A year-end wrap-up post is optional and you may link yours up in the review linky if you choose to write one.

LEVELS: Below are the levels you can choose from. Changing your mind is OK -- you can go up or down in level at any time. I said low-pressure, remember? I'm not the book police, I promise.

     Making Waves: 1-2 Challenged Books
     Trouble-Maker: 3-5 Challenged Books
     Rabble-Rouser: 6-9 Challenged Books
     Rebel: 10-14 Challenged Books
     Leader of a Revolution: 15+ Challenged Books

So link up below, grab a badge if you'd like, and get reading!

Here is what I'll be reading for this one:

1. A Light in the Attic--Shel Silverstein
2. Where the Sidewalk Ends--Shel Silverstein
3. My Sister's Keeper--Jodi Picoult
4. The Color Purple--Alice Walker
5. Of Mice and Men--John Steinbeck
6. The House on Mango Street--Sandra Cisneros
7. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian--Sherman Alexie
8. Summer of My German Soldier--Bette Greene
9. The Witch of Blackbird Pond--Elizabeth George Speare
10. Bridge to Terabithia--Katherine Paterson
11. The Grapes of Wrath--John Steinbeck
12. Blubber--Judy Blume
13. Killing Mr. Griffin--Lois Duncan
14. Thirteen Reasons Why--Jay Asher

Challenge completed on October 1