Canadian Book Challenge 2011-2012

Last year I joined the Fourth Canadian Book Challenge. Although I was terrible at updating my list of Canadian books read (an understatement) I recently checked and I read at least twenty five last year. Click here to see my mostly full list.

I can't promise to be any better at keeping track of books this year, but I decided to join again anyway.

The goal of this challenge is to read at least 13 Canadian books between July 1st 2011 and July 1st 2012. I'm confident I'll complete this challenge, but I figure it is a nice way to keep some of my Canadian reviews together for those looking to pick up some of our fine country's literature.

To learn more about the challenge visit its homepage. 

Books Read:

1. Addicted: Notes From the Belly of the Beast- edited by Lorna Crozier and Patrick Lane 
2. Vital Signs- Tessa McWatt
3. Irma Voth- Miriam Toews 
4. Swing Low- Miriam Toews 
5. Half Blood Blues- Esi Edugyan
6. --
7. --

Tentative Reading List:

1. Alone in the Classroom- Elizabeth Hay
2. Annabel- Kathleen Winter
3. Every Time We Say Goodbye- Jamie Zeppa
4. The Mistress of Nothing- Kate Pullinger
5. This Cake Is For The Party- Sarah Selecky 
6. Touch- Alexi Zentner
7. The Return- Dany Laferrière (translation, David Homel)
8. Dogs at the Perimeter- Madeleine Thien
9. The Better Mother- Jen Sookfong Lee
10. The Thirteen- Susie Moloney

Canadian Book Challenge 2010-2011

Canadian Book Challenge 4

Read 13 Canadian Books between July 1 2010 and July 1 2011
Reading...
1) Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
2) Vanishing and Other Stories by Deborah Willis
3) Ape House by Sara Gruen
4) Bloodletting and Miraculous Cures: Stories by Vincent Lam
5) Room by Emma Donoghue
6) Bride of New France by Suzanne Desrochers
7) Beatrice and Virgil by Yann Martel
8) The Penelopiad: The Myth of Penelope and Odysseus by Margaret Atwood
9) As Long As The Rivers Flow by James Bartleman
10) Is by Anne Simpson
11) The Beauty of Humanity Movement by Camilla Gibb 
12) Better Living Through Plastic Explosives by Zsuzsi Gartner
13) Small Mechanics by Lorna Crozier 
14) Bees by Candace Savage
15) Folk by Jacob McArthur Mooney
16) Origami Dove by Susan Musgrave
17) Far To Go by Alison Pick
18) The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong
19) The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong
20) The Awakening by Kelley Armstrong
21) The Reckoning by Kelley Armstrong
22) Ashes, Ashes by Jo Treggiari
23) Once Every Never by Lesley Livingston
24) Creep by Jennifer Hillier
25) Underground by Antanas Sileika

Completed: April 11th 2011

1st in a Series Challenge 2011

As I plan to be beginning quite a few series this year anyway I figured I might as well join the 1st in a Series Challenge hosted over at A Few More Pages. 

What: Reading the first book in a series

When: January 1st 2011-December 31st 2011

Level: Series Fanatic: Read 20 books that are the first in any series.

Completed:

1. XVI by Julia Karr (XVI, #1) (Review)
2. Once Dead Twice Shy by Kim Harrison (Madison Avery, #1) (Review)
3. Darkness Becomes Her by Kelly Keaton (Gods & Monsters, #1) (Review) 
4. Delirium by Lauren Oliver (Delirium, #1) (Review) 
5. Bumped by Megan McCafferty (Bumped, #1) (Review)
6. Die for Me by Amy Plum (Revenants, #1) (Review)
7. Wither by Lauren DeStefano (Chemical Garden, #1) (Review)
8. The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong (Darkness Rising, #1)  (Review)
9. Blood Magic by Tessa Gratton (The Blood Journals, #1) (Review) 
10. The Summoning by Kelly Armstrong (Darkest Powers, #1) (Review)  
11. Wake by Lisa McMann (Dream Catcher, #1) (Review)  
12. Abandon by Meg Cabot (Abandon Trilogy, #1) (Review)
13. Divergent by Veronica Roth (Divergent, #1) (Review)
14. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares (The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, #1) (Review) 
15. Once Every Never by Lesley Livingston (Once Every Never, #1) (Review)
16. The Lying Game by Sara Shepard (The Lying Game, #1) (Review)
17. Across the Universe by Beth Revis (Across the Universe, #1) (Review)
18. Subject Seven by James A. Moore (Subject Seven #1) (Review)
19. Unearthly by Cynthia Hand (Unearthly, #1) (Review)
20. Blood Red Road by Moira Young (Dustlands, #1) (Review)
21. Possession by Elana Johnson (Possession, #1) (Review)
22. Lost Voices by Sarah Porter (Lost Voices, #1) (Review)
23. Forgive My Fins by Tera Lynn Childs (Fins, #1) (Review)
24. Stork by Wendy Delsol (Stork, #1) (Review)
25. Once a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough (Witch #1) (Review) 
26. Hereafter by Tara Hudson (Hereafter #1) (Review) 
27. Life as We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer (Last Survivors #1) (Review) 
28. Insatiable by Meg Cabot (Insatiable #1) (Review) 
29. The Secret Hour by Scott Westerfeld (Midnighters #1) (Review) 
30. Uglies by Scott Westerfeld (Uglies, #1) (Review)

 Tentative List:  

1. Sweet Venom by Terra Lynn Childs (Medusa Girls, #1)
2. The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo by Sieg Larsson * (Millennium, #1) 
3. Stray by Rachel Vincent (Shifters, #1)
4. The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter * (Goddess Test, #1)
5. Peeps by Scott Westerfeld * (Peeps, #1)
6. Wings by Aprilynne Pike (Wings, #1)
7. Need by Carrie Jones (Need, #1)
8. Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins (Hex Hall, #1)
9. A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray (Gemma Doyle, #1)
10. The Iron King by Julie Kagawa * (Iron Fey, #1)
11. Deadly Little Secret by Laurie Faria Stolarz (Touch, #1)
12. Tithe by Holly Black (The Modern Faerie Tales, #1)
13. Matched by Ally Condie (Matched, #1) 
14. Wonderous Strange by Lesley Livingston (Wonderous Strange, #1) 
15. Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr (Wicked Lovely, #1)
16. Glimmerglass by Jenna Black (Faeriewalker, #1) 

*Already own either an egalley or a hard copy

Completed: August 9th 2011

2011 Debut Author Challenge

Hosted by the Story Siren after contemplating it for awhile I have decided to join the Debut Author Challenge.

What: Reading young adult books by authors debuting in 2011

When: January 1st 2011-December 31st 2011

Level: Read at least twelve books by debut YA authors

Completed:

1. XVI by Julia Karr (Review) 
2. Darkness Becomes Her by Kelly Keaton (Review) 
3. Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys (Review)
4. Bumped by Megan McCafferty (Review) 
5. Die for Me by Amy Plum (Review)
6. Wither by Lauren DeStefano (Review)
7. Blood Magic by Tessa Gratton (Review) 
8. The Lipstick Laws by Amy Holder (Review)
9. Divergent by Veronica Roth (Review)
10. With or Without You by Brian Farrey (Review) 
11. Ashes, Ashes by Jo Treggiari (Review)
12. Across the Universe by Beth Revis (Review)
13. Forgotten by Cat Patrick (Review)
14. Vaclav and Lena by Haley Tanner (Review) 
15. Subject Seven by James A. Moore (Review)
16. Unearthly by Cynthia Hand (Review) 
17. Blood Red Road by Moira Young (Review) 
18. Possession by Elana Johnson (Review)
19. Lost Voices by Sarah Porter (Review) 
20. Hereafter by Tara Hudson (Review)
21. Exposed by Kimberly Marcus (Review)
22. Cold Kiss by Amy Garvey (Review) 
23. A Long, Long Sleep by Anna Sheehan (Review) 
24. Audition by Stasia Ward Kehoe (Review)

Already reviewed: Choker by Elizabeth Woods 

Completed: July 19 2011

I Want More Book Challenge

Hosted by Tea Time With Marce, I Want More Book Challenge 2011 is a great way to get you to pick up another book by that author you loved and then never read again. I'm also hoping to do this one mostly from my shelves.

What: Read a second book by an author whom you have previously only read one book by, cannot be a part of a series
When: January 1st 2011-December 31st 2011
Level:  Never too much: 9-12 books

Completed:

1.  The Girl in the Green Raincoat by Laura Lippman (Review)
   -Previously read: I'd know you anywhere 
2.  Beatrice and Virgil by Yann Martel (Review)
   -Previously read: Life of Pi 
3. Beastly by Alex Flinn (Review)
   -Previously read: Cloaked
4. I Am The Messenger by Markus Zusak (Review)
   -Previously read: The Book Thief
5. Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens (Review)
   -Previously read: A Christmas Carol
6. Wake by Lisa McMann (Review)
   -Previously read: Cryer's Cross
7. The Island of Lost Girls by Jennifer McMahon (Review)
   -Previously read: Promise Not To Tell
8. Blood & Flowers by Penny Blubaugh (Review)
   -Previously read: Serendipity Market
9. Everything We Ever Wanted by Sara Shepard (Review)
   -Previously read: The Lying Game
10. The Secret Lives of People in Love by Simon Van Booy (Review)
    -Previously read: Love Begins in Winter
11. Along For The Ride by Sarah Dessen (Review)
    -Previously read: Keeping The Moon
12. Insatiable by Meg Cabot (Review)
    -Previously read: Abandon
13. Swing Low by Miriam Toews (Review)
    -Previously read: Irma Voth

Tentative List

1. Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver *
   -Delirium
2. Vacation by Deb Olin Unferth *
   -Revolution: The Year I Fell in Love and Went to Join the War
   
3. A Spot of Bother by Mark Haddon
   -The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time
4. Hard to Admit and Harder to Escape by Sarah Manguso *
   -The Two Kinds of Decay
5. Dubliners by James Joyce *
   -Portrait of The Artist As a Young Man
6. The Berlin Stories by Christopher Isherwood *
   -A Single Man
7. The Believers by Zoë Heller *
   -Notes On A Scandal
8. If Nobody Speaks of Remarkable Things by Jon McGregor *
   -So Many Ways To Begin
9. Half In Love by Maile Meloy *
   -Both Ways is the Only Way I Want It 
10. Suite Francaise by Irène Némirovsky *
    -Fire In The Blood
11. The Almost Moon by Alice Sebold *
    -The Lovely Bones
12. East of Eden by John Steinbeck *
    -Of Mice and Men
13. Luna by Julie Ann Peters
    -Define "Normal"
14. The Road by Cormac McCarthy *
    -All The Pretty Horses
15. This Side of Paradise by F. Scott Fitzgerald *
    -The Great Gatsby
16. She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb
    -I Know This Much Is True

- Indicates book I have previously read by the author
 *Already own

2011 Reading Goals

One last post on 2011 reading for the day. So, I'm basically avoiding reading challenges for 2011, with two current exceptions (Jewish Literature and Short Story, although both seem to be technically defunct anyway). However my main reading goal for 2011 is to try to read more than I did in 2010, mostly because I tend to twist challenges to fit the books I want to read anyway rather than actually challenging myself. So as inspiration for my 2011 reading I've created a list of some reading goals, or books and authors I'd like to read, in the upcoming year. A lot of these books do overlap with the challenges I listed anyway. 

• Uglies Series by Scott Westerfeld
• A book by Colum McCann
  
• A book by Laurie Halse Anderson
  
• A book by Ellen Hopkins
  
• The History of Love by Nicole Krauss
• A book by Lorrie Moore
• A book by Lydia Davis
• A book by Dave Eggers 
• A book by Maile Meloy
• A book by Milan Kundera  (Completed The Unbearable Lightness of Being)
• A book by David Levithan (Completed The Lover's Dictionary)
• Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky
• The Berlin Stories by Christopher Isherwood 
• Center of Winter by Marya Hornbacher 
• Finish Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman 
• Finish Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
• At least 2 plays  (Completed The Tempest and Lysistrata)
• At least 5 books of poetry  (Completed Imaginary Logic, The Needle, Is, New Selected Poems: 1984-2004, Double Shadow)
• Get my pile of review copies down to less than 20 unread books! 

Do you have any reading goals for 2011? Is there anything you're hoping to see reviewed on In The Next Room next year? Are you hosting a reading challenge you'd like me to join? It's definitely something I'd consider, but I am trying to focus on ones that allow me "read from my shelves". I'm 100% open to suggestions so feel free to leave them in the comments. Thanks!

Short Story Reading Challenge

 An apparently defunct challenge- seems like the only kind I enjoy- I have decided to challenge myself anyway.

What: Reading short story collections

When: January 1st 2011-December 31st 2011

Level: Read at least fifteen collections of short stories. 

Completed so far:

1. The Mother Who Stayed by Laura Furman (Review) 
2. What We Talk About When We Talk About Love by Raymond Carver (Review)
3. A Day in the Life of a Smiling Woman by Margaret Drabble (Review)
4. Better Living Through Plastic Explosives by Zsuzsi Gartner (Review)
5. Separate Kingdoms by Valerie Laken (Review)
6. Love Begins in Winter by Simon Van Booy (Review)
7. The Secret Lives of People in Love by Simon Van Booy (Review)
8. --
9. --

Tentative list of short story collections I have not yet read:

1. Self-Help by Lorrie Moore *
2. Like Life by Lorrie Moore *
3. Birds of America by Lorrie Moore *
4. Break It Down by Lydia Davis *
5. Almost No Memory by Lydia Davis *
6. Samuel Johnson Is Indignant by Lydia Davis *
7. Varieties of Disturbance by Lydia Davis *
8. Half In Love by Maile Meloy *
9. Girl Trouble by Holly Goddard Jones *
10. Dubliners by James Joyce *
11. My Mistress's Sparrow Is Dead edited by Jeffrey Eugenides *
12. Progress of Love by Alice Munro *
13. The Elephant Vanishes by Haruki Murakami 
14. Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman by Haruki Murakami 
15. Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk: A Modest Bestiary by David Sedaris
16. Magic For Beginners by Kelly Link 
17. Fragile Things by Neil Gaiman 
18. Chemistry and Other Stories by Ron Rash *
19. Fishing the Sloe-Black River by Colum McCann 
20. How to Breathe Underwater by Julie Orringer 
21. My Mother She Killed Me, My Father He Ate Me edited by Kate Bernheimer *
22. Haunted by Chuck Palahniuk *
23. Because They Wanted To by Mary Gaitskill
24. I Cannot Tell a Lie, Exactly: And Other Stories by Mary Ladd Gavell *
25. The Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury
26. Full Dark, No Stars by Stephen King *
27. The Dead Fish Museum by Charles D'Ambrosio 

* Indicates books I already own

Jewish Literature Challenge

 

I am joining this (now defunct it seems) challenge.

What: Reading books by Jewish Authors or about Judaism 

When: December 1st 2010-April 26th 2011

Level: Read at least five books from the following list: 

Completed:

1. Bending Towards the Sun by Leslie Gilbert-Lurie (Review)
2. The Memory Palace by Mira Bartok (Review)
   
3. Super Sad True Love Story by Gary Shteyngart (Review)
4. An Exclusive Love by Johanna Adorján (Review)
5. History of a Suicide by Jill Bialosky (Review) 
6. Beatrice and Virgil by Yann Martel (Review) 
7. The Fifth Servant by Kenneth Wishnia (Review) 

Tentative:

1. The Finkler Question by Howard Jacobson
2. Moonwalking with Einstein by Joshua Foer
3. Annexed by Sharon Dogar *
4. The History of Love by Nicole Krauss * 
5. Have a Little Faith: A True Story by Mitch Albom 
6. Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay *
7. Suite Française by Irène Némirovsky *
8. The Reader by Bernhard Schlink 
9. The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay by Michael Chabon *
10. The Trial by Franz Kafka
11. Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand *
12. Presumed Innocent by Scott Turow *
13. Franny and Zooey by J.D. Salinger
14. Everything Is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer
15. The Believers by Zoe Heller * 

*Indicates I already own the book

Completed: January 26 2011

2011 Reading Goals: Book Club With Laala

This year my best but long distance friend Laala and I did a joint reading project which included three books, beginning with Life Is Elsewhere by Milan Kundera, then Both Ways Is The Only Way I Want It by Maile Meloy, and lastly How To Talk To A Widower by Jonathan Tropper. Inspired by the fun we had we decided to set an actual book club schedule for 2011, beginning this month. I've decided to post it here so I have a record of the commitment, and also don't have to worry about misplacing the list. In chronological order the titles are:

• December 2010: Room by Emma Donoghue (Review)
  2011
• January: Super Sad True Love Story by Gary Shteyngart (Review) 
  *Note: Laala did not actually read this book
• February: What We Talk About When We Talk About Love by Raymond Carver (Review)
• March: New Selected Poems by Carol Ann Duffy (Review)
  *Note: Laala did not finish this book

And this was when we abandoned the book club!  Apparently we don't do well with schedules...

• April: The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larrson 
• May: Dubliners by James Joyce (Review)
• June: The Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desai (Review)
• July: Birds of America by Lorrie Moore (Review)
• August: Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami (Review)
• Sept: Jacob's Room by Virgina Woolf (Review)
• October: Zeitoun by Dave Eggers (Review)
• November: A Spot of Bother by Mark Haddon (Review)
• December: Eve Green by Susan Fletcher (Review)

I am really excited to read all these books with Laala, I think it's a great combination of non-fiction, poetry, short story collections and fiction. I also own all the titles already except two (Murakami and Haddon) which makes it a lot easier to organize, and those I can easily get from the library. I'd also love to participate in a few read-a-longs in the upcoming year, assuming I enjoy my first experience. I haven't exactly decided which ones I'll be doing but they will likely center on classics as I find those are the ones I am most likely to benefit from a group discussion for. The Lost Entwife and A Literary Odyssey both have a great schedule of read-alongs lined up so I'll definitely be checking those out. I'd love to find a local book club, but I don't know where to start, and online works better for my crazy schedule anyway.

How do you feel about online book clubs? Do you participate in any book clubs, online or otherwise? If you are hosting any read-a-longs for 2011 definitely leave me a link, I seem discover about half of them after they've already started.