Ellie's New Year Read-a-thon: The Beginning

I know, some of you must be thinking "Really, Laura? Yet another Read-a-thon?", and yes, it's true. I love me a Read-a-thon. Hosted by the lovely Ellie at Musings of a Bookshop Girl (and on LibraryThing), it runs from 2:00 pm CST today until 2:00pm tomorrow, January 4th. I'm getting a bit of a late start here, and I do need to sleep for work tomorrow morning, so I'll only be doing a few updates in total. And now, cribbed from Dewey's Meme, here's The Beginning Meme!

1. Where are you reading from today?

Mostly my couch, if I can get the cats to move. Otherwise it'll be from my big red chofa, or my recliner.

2. Three facts about me.

Recently become obsessed with peppermint lattes, I always name my cars, and I loathe doing the dishes.

3. How many books do you have in your TBR pile for the next 24 hours?

8, but half of them are already started so I'm going to try and finish those up.

4. Do you have any goals for the readathon?

I'd like to finish up 2 books I've already started and finish the 2 books that are due at the library tomorrow. But if it doesn't happen, it's no biggie.

5. If you're a veteran read-a-thoner, do you have any advice for first-timers?

Nap if you have to nap (don't fight it) and eat food that has some nutritional value so you don't fall into a sugar or caffeine coma an hour after eating.

Alright, seeing as I'm already an hour behind (yikes!) I'd better get moving. I'll check in again here later on tonight.

2011 Foodie Challenge

While looking around for reading challenges this year, this one was on a few blogs and once I checked it out it sounded like a lot of fun! Hosted by Joyfully Retired (challenge site is here), if a book is a biography of a chef, or a cookbook, or a food-centered novel, or has anything to do with food, it counts for this challenge. Since I'm not sure how many foodie books I have in my house, I'm aiming low on this one and trying to read 3 books.

1. "The Spice Necklace" by Ann Vanderhoof, read in February

2. "Miss Dahl's Voluptuous Delights" by Sophie Dahl, read April 10

3. "Julie and Julia" by Julie Powell, read in August

Completed in August, 2011. I had a lot of fun (and a lot of stomach-growling moments) with this challenge, and hope that it will be held next year!

What's in a Name 4 Challenge

I did the "What's in a Name" challenge last year and failed miserably, but I'm giving it another crack for 2011. Hosted by Beth Fish, this always seems to be one of the most popular book blog challenges. It's not your typical, easy-to-predict-the-outcome challenge and I think that's why.

1. A book with a number in the title: "The Twelve-Spoked Wheel Flashing" by Marge Piercy

2. A book with jewelry or a gem in the title: "Black Diamond" by Martin Walker

3. A book with a size in the title: "The Big Over Easy" by Jasper Fforde

4. A book with travel or movement in the title: "Doctor Dolittle's Journey" by N.H. Kleinbaum

5. A book with evil in the title: "Killer in High Heels" by Gemma Halliday

6. A book with a life stage in the title: "Diary of a Young Lady of Fashion, 1764-5" by Cleone Knox

The books can be read in any format and can overlap other challenges.

2011 Memorable Memoir Challenge

Since I'm a bit of a memoir whore lately (don't judge) this challenge seemed a natural fit. Hosted by The Betty and Boo Chronicles, you can choose your own goal. As of now, I plan on reading 5 memoirs. Come and join me in the fun!

1. "Love is a Mix Tape" by Rob Sheffield

2. "Stitches" by David Small

3. "Dresden" by Lord Gerald Hugh Tyrwitt-Wilson Berners

4. "Miss Dahl's Voluptuous Delights" by Sophie Dahl

5. "I'm Not the New Me" by Wendy McClure

Completed in August, and I hope to read another memoir or two before the year is up!

2011 South Asian Challenge

I'm excited to be participating in S. Krishna's South Asian Reading Challenge this year! I think she has got one of the best book blogs around, and I didn't find out about last years challenge until I was already overbooked, so I made it a point to save a space for it this year.

To qualify, a book must either be by a South Asian author, or it must be about South Asia. There are six different levels for the challenge, and I've picked the South Asian Wanderer level of a modest 3 to start out with. (I'm trying to read mostly my own books this year, please don't laugh, and I'm positive I already own 3.)

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She also has a great reference list of books and authors, so if you're interested but aren't sure what titles would qualify, it's a great go-to for information.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas Everyone! Hope Santa was good to you this year!

Completed Challenges

I've completed 4 more challenges - yahoo! They are:

2010 Young Adult Reading Challenge hosted by J. Kaye's Book Blog

Read Your Name 2010 Challenge hosted by Name Reading

What's in a Name? 3 Challenge hosted by Beth Fish

Typically British 2010 Challenge hosted by Book Chick City

There are a few more books to be read in order for me to complete the last 4 challenges that I signed up for at the beginning of the year, not including reading 2 more books to complete the 1010 Challenge at LibraryThing. Next year I will either not join so many challenges or use broader categories so I'm not so tied into so many specifics. I'm hoping to read more books from my own shelves, but that's about as far ahead as I've planned for 2011.

So tell me - how are you doing on your reading challenges?