Sunday, November 27, 2011

Sunday Salon: 2012 Challenges

In 2011 I made a very definite decision to step back from doing too many reading challenges. There were a number of challenges that I was doing previously that weren't, well, challenging no matter how good it felt to achieve them. For example, a 100+ Challenge is fun, but I knew that I would complete it, and it meant maintaining lists and everything during the length of the challenge. That's just one example, but there were several others that were going through the motions type challenges.

Now it is time to start thinking about 2012 Challenges and I will be taking the same decision again for next year because really I didn't miss any of the challenges that I didn't participate in this year.

These are the challenges that I will be signing up for in 2012



Historical Fiction Challenge -I can only show you a sneak peak of the button for next year's challenge which is being hosted over at Historical Tapestry. The launch is coming up soon, and you will be able to see the whole button then. Let's just say that Alex has done another marvelous job with the graphic! This one is one challenge that I do complete very easily but I kind of feel like if you are a member of the group that is running a challenge then you probably need to participate in it!


What's in a Name 5 hosted by Beth Fish Reads - 2011 was the first time I participated in this challenge. The categories this year look like a lot of fun and I look forward to trying to find book from my existing reading piles to fit the challenge criteria which are"

Between January 1 and December 31, 2012, read one book in each of the following categories:
  1. A book with a topographical feature (land formation) in the title: Black Hills, Purgatory Ridge, Emily of Deep Valley
  2. A book with something you'd see in the sky in the title: Moon Called, Seeing Stars, Cloud Atlas
  3. A book with a creepy crawly in the title: Little Bee, Spider Bones, The Witches of Worm
  4. A book with a type of house in the title: The Glass Castle, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest, Ape House
  5. A book with something you'd carry in your pocket, purse, or backpack in the title: Sarah's Key, The Scarlet Letter, Devlin Diary
  6. A book with a something you'd find on a calendar in the title: Day of the Jackal, Elegy for April, Freaky Friday, Year of Magical Thinking

War Through the Generations hosted by Serena and Anna - Abject failure in this years challenge is not a stumbling block for signing up for next year's challenge! The theme for 2012 is World War I and I can't wait to read some fantastic books about this era.


Aussie Author Challenge hosted by Booklover Book Reviews- Every year one of my aims is to read more Australian authors, and I think I have done pretty well in relation to this in 2011. I have signed up for the Dinky-Di level of participation which means I am aiming to:

Read and review 12 books by at least 6 different Australian authors
‘Dinky-Di’ is Australian slang meaning ‘true or genuine’.
I will also be signing up for Carl's challenges when he announces them, which almost goes without saying, and I might still sign up for a couple more, but I am not 100 percent sure yet!

Have you started thinking about your 2012 challenges yet?

Currently reading

I am currently reading Where She Went by Gayle Forman, The Time in Between by Maria Duenos (somewhat curiously the book is going to have the title The Dressmaker here).

Reading Next

Camp Nine by Vivienne Schiffer



PS - Don't forget that that the Virtual Advent tour signups are still open for a few more days! It isn't long at all until the tour starts! So exciting.

14 comments:

  1. You are so right about choosing challenges that are challenging! Personally, I want challenges that take me out of my comfort zone a little.

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  2. I like challenges bc they give me a little extra push to prioritize reading...almost an assignment of sorts but not too much push that it feels overwhelming. I failed miserably at the first challenges I signed up for but last year purposely signed up for challenges that I felt pretty confident about. I'm doing well with most of them except the YA challenge...I just can't get into the mood to read YA right now :(
    I participated in the Virtual Advent Tour my first year blogging and then missed sign-ups last year...I wasn't going to miss it this year...so looking forward to it !!!

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  3. I haven't decided if I am going to do challenges next year. I failed in many of them this year!

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  4. I think you're right about challenges being a challenge! Many of the challenges I finished this year weren't a challenge to me while the others that I haven't finished are ones I signed up for on a whimsy or forgot about altogether. :-( I'm going to have a hectic first six months next year so I'm not sure if I will sign up for any challenges. Great post.

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  5. I am not sure if I am going to join any challenges this year, because I just know that if I fail at them I will be devastated, and I think it will be hard to make the time to complete all the books for them. I think my goal this year will be just to read some of the books I am excited about and not try to only read review books. I have had to take a more relaxed approach to blogging lately, as I sort of got overwhelmed. It was either take it easy, or give up the blog. You can pretty much guess what I chose!

    I wish you good luck with all your challenges, Marg!

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  6. Hi Marg

    I'm sorry I'm getting in so late with the Australian Women Writers challenge, but I'm hoping you might sign up for it, too.

    You wouldn't have to pledge to read any more than you are for the Aussie Author Challenge (which I'm also doing). What is required is that at least three of the Australian authors you review should be women (your choice of genre).

    Of course, if you choose to read and review more women, great! But a minimum of three is all that's required.

    Any possibility?

    You can find more information here: http://www.australianwomenwriters.com/p/australian-women-writers-book-challenge_25.html

    Still working on the list of classic reads. Thanks for your website.

    Elizabeth

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  7. I'll definitely be signing up for the War Through The Generations Challenge next near, that's something different for me. I go a bit mental signing up for challenges and then forget just how many books I need to read for them all. But I will be more organised next year. I have spreadsheets now!

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  8. I'm not sure if I will do any challenges at all next year. I always sign up with the best intentions but I always fall short!! Good Luck!

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  9. Your continued support of the Aussie Author Challenge is very much appreciated Marg - you know one of the 2012 challenge guest blogger positions has your name on it! ;)

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  10. Oi, what are you doing? Giving me ideas for new challenges... you naughty grrl! Like you I limited myself to just a few reading challenges in 2011. But my reason is different: I just got overwhelmed in 2010 (I only read around 35 books a year).

    I posted a challenge update in my Sunday Salon -- and yes, I'm participating in the What's in a name challenge again too.

    I haven't read a single historical fiction book this year so I may just join your 2012 challenge! Also, I read a WW1 book around November 11th (No News from the Western Front) and may do that again next year... will keep the War through generations challenge in mind.

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  11. I'm so glad What's in a Name made your list. My problem with challenges this year was remembering to do all the linking and keeping my lists. I even gave up counting the number of books I read this year.

    I still plan on signing up for a few Challenges in 2012 -- so many great ones out there.

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  12. I have The Time in Between but haven't started it yet, it's huge! It intimidates me, so maybe I'll try it over winter vacation.

    I don't participate in reading challenges, really. I never feel motivated to read a book based on the challenge, since I'm so moody, and I prefer to just read what I want :-P I think I'd probably just want to participate in the Classics Challenge, but that's more to motivate me to read more "big idea" books than I usually do.

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  13. Glad you'll be joining us for the WWI challenge. I'll definitely be joining the Historical Fiction Challenge again!

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  14. I haven't thought of challenges yet, but I like the look of the Historical Fiction and Aussie authors - need to stretch myself a bit more in 2012 with targets though.

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