My brain is so fried from grading that I am currently incapable of posting any reviews. I wish I were joking, but alas. Every time I think of writing a review, my brain just kind of shuts down, like, “Seriously? You want me to think right now? Do you know what I’ve been doing for the past three weeks?” And then I go take a nap.
So! I will post instead about the reading challenges I’m going to do next year.
At first, like Vasilly, I was all, “I’m not doing any challenges. Imma read what I wanna read.” But then I read this post she linked and had an a-ha moment. The issue for me wasn’t signing up for challenges; the issue was the type of challenges I signed up for. I mean, signing up for gimmes isn’t really challenging. Yes, I read almost exclusively YA so why sign up for a YA challenge? Same with the library book challenge, etc. Also, I was lowballing my numbers, which is not really a challenge either.
On the flip side, when I signed up for the Women Unbound challenge, that really pushed me to seek out and read books I might not have otherwise. So, with that in mind, I’m participating in the following challenges:
Off the Shelf: My bookshelves are ridiculously full of books I haven’t read yet. I mean, it’s kind of a problem. I really want to cull my shelves, especially since I’m moving this summer. So that means I’m going to do the Making a Dint level, 30 books.
- Fatherhood by Bill Cosby
- The Romantic Obsessions & Humiliations of Annie Sehlmeier by Louise Plummer
- The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi
- Jane by April Lindner
- The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success by Deepak Chopra
- And This Is Laura by Ellen Conford
- Now and Zen by Linda Gerber
- Alanna: The First Adventure by Tamora Pierce
- Kristy’s Great Idea by Raina Telgemeier
TV Reading Challenge: I love reading books that have been turned into other media, and I’m already planning to read The Count of Monte Cristo (see: Revenge on ABC), and this challenge will finally give me an excuse to read Peyton Place. Normally, I don’t list the books I’m reading in advance, but well, there go two right there. I’m doing the Series level, 3-4 books.
- The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
- Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie
Tea & Books Reading Challenge: Since I was already planning on reading CoMC, which is a bazillion pages long, I thought this challenge, which focuses on books with more than 700 pages might be fun. Because I don’t really read long books, I’m going for the Chamomile Lover level, 2 books. Second book TBD, obvs.
- The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
Classic Double Challenge: It’s possible that CoMC might also qualify for this challenge–as long as I can find a corresponding contemporary retelling. Can I just say I had a slight nerdgasm when I saw this challenge? SUCH A NERD. I’ll probably be taking most of my cues from the book From Hinton to Hamlet, but I could be lying. WE’LL SEE. I mean, Melissa has her own pretty comprehensive list up, so I may let that guide me. I’m doing Medium, 4 pairs of related books.
- The Count of Monte Cristo/Murder on the Orient Express/”Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption”
2012 Audiobook Challenge: I am all about some audiobooks, and this is kind of a gimme, except I’m going to push myself by signing up at the Going Steady level, which is 12 books. This year, I read ~8 books on audiobook, so that’s a good push. One book a month. I think I can handle that.
- Seriously…I’m Kidding by Ellen Degeneres
- Let It Go by T.D. Jakes
- Invisible by Pete Hautman
- Matilda by Roald Dahl
- Jeremy Brown: Secret Agent by Simon Cheshire
- Go the Fuck to Sleep by Adam Mansbach
And that’s it unless some super sexy challenge comes along in the next week or so. Oh, and the people who run the blog haven’t said whether or not it’s coming back, but I’m all aboard the People Of Color Reading Challenge train if it does. So I’ll just leave this here as a placeholder until it’s official.
And it’s back! I’m doing Level 5, 16-25 books.
- Fatherhood by Bill Cosby
- No Crystal Stair by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson
- Angry Management by Chris Crutcher
- The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
- The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success by Deepak Chopra
- Let It Go by T. D. Jakes
- Now and Zen by Linda Gerber
- Grace for President by Kelly DiPucchio
- Claudia and Mean Janine by Raina Telgemeier
- A La Carte by Tanita S. Davis
The Englishist 
Thanks so much for joining the Audio Book Challenge and welcome aboard!
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Thank you! Looking forward to it.
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You’ve added more challenges to my list! I’m going to sign up for the Classics Double Challenge. I totally forgot about the Woman Unbound challenge. It was one of my favorites. Good luck on your challenges!
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I looooved the Women Unbound challenge. I knocked so many autobiographies/memoirs off my TBR list.
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So glad you decided to join the Classic Double! I’m going to have to try and find that book somewhere – it sounds right up my alley. Looking forward to seeing if you do find a pair for Count of Monte Cristo since I love that book. I haven’t heard of a retelling, though there are some that might be “related” in another way.
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I discovered that book when I was doing research for one of my many YA lit projects. Bunches of good stuff in there and connections to make for teens.
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Thanks for signing up to the TV challenge! It should be fun. The other challenges you’ve signed up for look really great too!
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Welcome to the Tea & Books Reading Challenge and HAPPY READING!
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