Showing posts with label Reading Challenges. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Reading Challenges. Show all posts

Tuesday, 4 January 2011

The Historical Fiction Reading Challenge 2011

Is Historical Fiction For You? Here's the best description I've read about historical fiction from Goodreads...

Historical fiction presents readers with a story that takes place during a notable period in history, and usually during a significant event in that period. Historical fiction often presents actual events from the point of view of people living in that time period.

In some historical fiction, famous events appear from points of view not recorded in history, showing historical figures dealing with actual events while depicting them in a way that is not recorded in history. Other times, the historical event complements a story's narrative, occurring in the background while characters deal with events (personal or otherwise) wholly unrelated to recorded history. Sometimes, historical fiction can be for the most part true, but the names of people and places have been in some way altered.

As this is fiction, artistic license is permitted in regard to presentation and subject matter, so long as it does not deviate in significant ways from established history. If events should deviate significantly, the story may then fall into the genre of alternate history, which is known for speculating on what could have happened if a significant historical event had gone differently. On a similar note, events occurring in historical fiction must adhere to the laws of physics. Stories that extend into the magical or fantastic are often considered historical fantasy.

I love reading historical fiction. I love being whisked away to another time and place and immersing myself into the era. That's exactly why I've decided to join the...

Historical Fiction Reading Challenge 2011 hosted by Historical Tapestry, that group of readers who love reading historical fiction too! Here's what the challenge is all about...

The challenge will run from 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2011. Each month, a new post dedicated to the HF Challenge will be created. To participate, you only have to follow the rules:

* Everyone can participate, even those who don't have a blog (you can add your book title and thoughts in the comment section of the challenge blog if you wish)

* Add the link(s) of your review(s) including your name and book title to the Mister Linky we’ll be adding to our monthly post (please, do not add your blog link, but the correct address that will guide us directly to your review)

* Any kind of historical fiction is accepted (HF fantasy, HF young adult,...)

* You can choose one of the different reading levels:

  • Severe Bookaholism: 20 books
  • Undoubtedly Obsessed: 15 books
  • Struggling the Addiction: 10 books
  • Daring & Curious: 5 books
  • Out of My Comfort Zone: 2 books
I'll be "Daring & Curious" with this challenge. I tend to pick out historical fiction for pleasure, so 5 books should be a reachable goal. (I just couldn't choose "2 books" because I'm totally in my comfort zone with historical fiction!) My reading group also loves historical fiction and I'm sure we'll be reading some great titles this year that will fit perfect into this genre. Up for the challenge? You can find out all the details and sign up at the Historical Fiction Reading Challenge 2011 Blog.

The Historical Fiction Reading Challenge 2011

Is Historical Fiction For You? Here's the best description I've read about historical fiction from Goodreads...

Historical fiction presents readers with a story that takes place during a notable period in history, and usually during a significant event in that period. Historical fiction often presents actual events from the point of view of people living in that time period.

In some historical fiction, famous events appear from points of view not recorded in history, showing historical figures dealing with actual events while depicting them in a way that is not recorded in history. Other times, the historical event complements a story's narrative, occurring in the background while characters deal with events (personal or otherwise) wholly unrelated to recorded history. Sometimes, historical fiction can be for the most part true, but the names of people and places have been in some way altered.

As this is fiction, artistic license is permitted in regard to presentation and subject matter, so long as it does not deviate in significant ways from established history. If events should deviate significantly, the story may then fall into the genre of alternate history, which is known for speculating on what could have happened if a significant historical event had gone differently. On a similar note, events occurring in historical fiction must adhere to the laws of physics. Stories that extend into the magical or fantastic are often considered historical fantasy.

I love reading historical fiction. I love being whisked away to another time and place and immersing myself into the era. That's exactly why I've decided to join the...

Historical Fiction Reading Challenge 2011 hosted by Historical Tapestry, that group of readers who love reading historical fiction too! Here's what the challenge is all about...

The challenge will run from 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2011. Each month, a new post dedicated to the HF Challenge will be created. To participate, you only have to follow the rules:

* Everyone can participate, even those who don't have a blog (you can add your book title and thoughts in the comment section of the challenge blog if you wish)

* Add the link(s) of your review(s) including your name and book title to the Mister Linky we’ll be adding to our monthly post (please, do not add your blog link, but the correct address that will guide us directly to your review)

* Any kind of historical fiction is accepted (HF fantasy, HF young adult,...)

* You can choose one of the different reading levels:

  • Severe Bookaholism: 20 books
  • Undoubtedly Obsessed: 15 books
  • Struggling the Addiction: 10 books
  • Daring & Curious: 5 books
  • Out of My Comfort Zone: 2 books
I'll be "Daring & Curious" with this challenge. I tend to pick out historical fiction for pleasure, so 5 books should be a reachable goal. (I just couldn't choose "2 books" because I'm totally in my comfort zone with historical fiction!) My reading group also loves historical fiction and I'm sure we'll be reading some great titles this year that will fit perfect into this genre. Up for the challenge? You can find out all the details and sign up at the Historical Fiction Reading Challenge 2011 Blog.

Wednesday, 9 June 2010

Japanese Literature Challenge 4

The Japanese Literature Challenge 4

Another Reading Challenge! I've been looking forward to The Japanese Literature Challenge since last year, when I was introduced to the beautiful prose and slight supernatural elements found in the writing of such Japanese authors as Takuji Ichikawa and Taichi Yamada. Dolce Bellezza is hosting the challenge again welcoming us with open arms into the world of Japanese Literature! There is a review site to post links to the books you've read, and a list of reading suggestions to help us along!

The Challenge is simple... Read one or more works of Japanese Literature between June 1, 2010 and January 30, 2011. Are you up for the Challenge?! I am! Visit Dolce Bellezza to learn more! And in the meantime, I'll be putting the beautiful Challenge Button up on my sidebar and you can click on it to see how I'm doing on the Challenge. I'll post all links to the books I've read for the Challenge here! Want to see how I did last year? You can find out at Japanese Literature Challenge 3. The Challenge didn't nudge me hard enought to read Haruki Murakami, which I wanted to accomplish, but there's always this year!

Happy reading... Suzanne

The 2010 EW Summer Books Challenge

The 2010 EW Summer Books Challenge

It's Reading Challenge time again... How many books can one girl challenge herself to read!? Well, I just couldn't resist this one! Booking Mama created this reading challenge after reading Entertainment Weekly's 18 Books We Can't Wait to Read This Summer. There were quite a few books on the list that are on my TBR list, such as The Passage by Justin Cronin, Here's the full list...

This Body Of Death by Elizabeth George
Half Life by Roopa Farooki
Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok
The Invisible Bridge by Julie Orringer
The Last Stand by Nathaniel Philbrick
Slow Love: How I Lost My Job, Put On My Pajamas And Found Happiness by Dominique Browning
WAR by Sebastian Junger
The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets Nest by Stieg Larsson
The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender
The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner by Stephenie Meyer
The Passage by Justin Cronin
So Cold The River by Michael Koryta
The Cookbook Collector by Allegra Goodman (July 6)
Lucy by Laurence Gonzales (July 13)
Red Hook Road by Ayelet Waldman (July 13)
I Curse The River of Time by Per Pettersson (August 3)
You Lost Me There by Rosecrans Baldwin (August 12)
Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins (August 24)

Here are the details on how you can sign up!

Levels:

1-3 Books: Polliwog
4-6 Books: Gupp
7-9 Books: Minnow
10-12 Books: Fish
13-15 Books: Flying Fish
16-18 Books: Shark

The 2010 EW Summer Books Challenge will run from May 1, 2010 through September 6, 2010 (Labor Day). You don't need to pick your books, just the level you're going to do. After you read a book, just write a review to share your thoughts with others! You can sign up at Booking Mama, grab the challenge button, announce your level and start reading! I'll post links to the books I've read from the challenge right here, so you can see how I did this summer!

I'm playing it safe here... I'm officially announcing my Polliwog level! (Besides, I never really learned to swim...)

Challenge Books Read... (Links to the reviews)