Challenges for 2012 were:

Okay, more recently I’ve signed up for RIP VII hosted by Carl at Stainless Steel Droppings.  This isn’t actually a challenge.  It’s all about the enjoyment and reading other people’s review and just frankly having a good time being involved.  The idea is for the autumn, and to get you into the spirit, to read books that fall into the categories of mystery, chiller, suspense, dark fantasy, etc, or to watch films of the same nature.  You can find the details here.  I’ve got a few books lined up and can’t wait to join in.  Go check out Carl’s site and join in.

September books:

1. VIII by H M Castor
2. Grave Peril by Jim Butcher
3. Envy by Elizabeth Miles
4. Shadows by Ilsa J Bick
5. Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice
6. The Duplicate by Helen Fitzgerald
7. This Dark Endeavour by Kenneth Opel

October

1. Strangers by Taichi Yamada and Wayne P Lammers
2. Unrest by Michelle Harrison
3. Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness
4. Stardust by Neil Gaiman
5. The Night Strangers by Chris Bohjalian
6. The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland by Catherynne Valente

1.100 books in a year challenge hosted again by Book Chick City (click on the icon to go to Book Chick City).

January

1. Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins
2. Journey to the Centre of the Earth by Jules Verne
3. Foundation (Readalong Part 1) by Issac Asimov
4. Darkness Falls by Cate Tiernan
5. The Positronic Man by Issac Asimov
6. Fracture by Megan Miranda
7. The House of Silk by Anthony Horowitz
8. Thirteen years later by Jasper Kent
9. Hounded by Kevin Hearne
10. Candor by Pam Bachorz

February

1. Foundation and Empire by Issac Asimov
2. Hexed by Kevin Hearne
3. Pure by Julianna Baggott
4. Into the Darkest Corner by Elizabeth Haynes
5. Second Foundation by Issac Asimov

March

1. Touch of Power by Maria Snyder
2. The Third Section by Jasper Kent
3. Among Thieves by Douglas Hulick
4. The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey

April

1. The Taker by Alma Katsu
2. Hammered by Kevin Hearne
3. The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
4. The Wolf Gift by Ann Rice
5. Caleb’s Crossing by Geraldine Brooks
6. The Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare

May

1. Black Dawn by Rachel Caine
2. Mr Shivers by Robert J Bennett
3. Fear By Michael Grant
4. Deadlocked by Charlaine Harris
5. Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson
6. The Troupe by Robert J Bennett
7. Red Seas Under Red Skies by Scott Lynch

June

1. Fifty Shades of Grey by E L James
2. Hollow Pike By James Dawson
3. The Circle by Sara B Elfgren and Mats Strandberg
4. Before I Go to Sleep by S J Watson

July

1. Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett
2. The Reckoning by Alma Katsu
3. Ring by Koji Suzuki
4. The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
5. Fated by Benedict Jacka
6. The Pleasures of Men by Kate Williams
7. The Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson
8. The Book of Crows by Sam Meekings

August

1. A Sorcerer’s Treason By Sarah Zettel
2. The Company Man by Robert J Bennett
3. Coraline by Neil Gaiman
4. King of Thorns by Mark Lawrence
5. The Sandman, Vol 3, Dream Country by Neil Gaiman
6. The Blue Girl by Charles de Lint
7. The Sisters Brothers by Patrick deWitt
8. The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien

September

1. Cursed by Benedict Jacka
2. VIII by H M Castor
3. Grave Peril by Jim Butcher
4. Envy by Elizabeth Miles
5. Shadows by Ilsa Bick
6. Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice
7. The Duplicate by Helen Fitzgerald
8. This Dark Endeavour by Kenneth Oppel

October

1. Unrest by Michelle Harrison
2. Strangers by Taichi Yamada and Wayne P Lammers
3. Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness
4. Stardust by Neil Gaiman
5. The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland by Catherynne Valente
6. The Night Strangers by Chris Bohjalian

November

1. A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
2. We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson
3. Blacklands by Belinda Bauer
4. The Yard by Alex Grecian
5. Wolfsbane by Gillian Philip
6. Summer Knight by Jim Butcher
7. The Sandman, Prelude and Nocturnes (Vol1) by Neil Gaiman

December

1. Bitter Blood by Rachel Caine
2. The Hammer and the Blade by Paul Kemp
3. Mockingbird by Chuck Wendig
4. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
5. Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
6. Among Others by Jo Walton

2.The British Book Challenge:

Hosted by Kirsti at TheOverflowing Library

January

1. The House of Silk by Anthony Horowitz

February

1. Into the Darkest Corner by Elizabeth Haynes

March

1. The Third Section by Jasper Kent

June

1. Fifty Shades of Grey by E L James
2. Hollow Pike by James Dawson
3. Before I Go To Sleep by S J Watson

July

1. Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett
2. The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
3. The Pleasures of Men by Kate Williams
4. Fated by Benedict Jacka
5. The Book of Crows by Sam Meekings

August

1. The Hobbit by J R R Tolkien
2. Coraline by Neil Gaiman
3. King of Thorns by Mark Lawrence
4. The Sandman, Vol 3, Dream Country by Neil Gaiman

September

1. VIII by H M Castor

October

1. Stardust by Neil Gaiman
2. Unrest by Michelle Harrison

November

1. Blacklands by Belinda Bauer
2. Wolfsbane by Gillian Philip
3. The Sandman by Neil Gaiman Vol1

December

1. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
2. Great Expectations by Charles Dickens

The Debut Author challenge hosted by the Story Siren.

January

1. Fracture by Megan Miranda

Last Years Challenges are now completed, yay.  This is my wind up post for2011.

This year I’m probably going to do some similar challenges.  I hope Book Chick City is hosting the 100 books in a year again.  I love that site!  Possibly might also go in to the Debut reading challenges over at the Story Siren and may also still check out the British Book challenge – thanks to Bookette for hosting that last year.  I really enjoyed these three challenges.  What I particularly liked about taking part is it actually makes you focus a little more on your book choices which was good.

What I also really liked last year was taking part in a readalong.  This is so good.  It gives you the opportunity to discuss your thoughts and feelings really openly and it’s so nice because you’re all reading the book at the same time so you’re not in a waiting game (unlike when you pass on a favouritie book to one of your friends and can’t wait for them to read it so you can discuss).  Plus, I got to check out some more really great book blogs and pick up some really cool books as a result through their recommendations.  Don’t think I would have read Neil Gaiman or Jim Butcher without Carl from Stainless Steel Droppings – and they’re now definite favourites and I owe the Little Red Reviewer for Mark Lawrence and Jasper Kent.  Also must mention Wondrous Reads – for half a ton of YA, Legend and being totally obsessed, like me with Game of Thrones (Sean Bean and Jason Momoa *sighs*).

Plus, for the month of January I’m trying to read some more sci-fi.  I’ve already read Jules Verne Journey to the Centre of the Earth, not yet posted yet, which is for the Vintage Sci Fi event over at the Little Red Reviewer and just about to start Foundation as part of Stainless Steel Droppings sci fi read along (already behind of course).

Personally, I’m revising my eating habits (in other words going on a diet – except I don’t like to say that ‘I’m dieting’ prefer – ‘healthy eating’ – it all of course boils down to the same thing – less calories!!!) and also need to get back into walking and doing a bit of keep fit.  For the month of January I’m not drinking any alcohol just to be nice to my body after the Christmas excess.  I must admit I do miss a glass of wine when I’m reading!  Oh well, only another 24 days to go.

And, that’s it for now.