Bookriot Read Harder Challenge 2015

This year I am going to tackle the Book Riot Read Harder challenge to expand my reading horizons.

There are only 24 tasks to complete and they are to read:

A book written by someone when they were under the age of 25

A book written by someone when they were over the age of 65

A collection of short stories (either by one person or an anthology by many people)

A book published by an indie press

A book by or about someone that identifies as LGBTQ

A book by a person whose gender is different from your own

A book that takes place in Asia

A book by an author from Africa

A book that is by or about someone from an indigenous culture (Native Americans, Aboriginals, etc.)

A microhistory

A YA novel

A sci-fi novel

A romance novel

A National Book Award, Man Booker Prize or Pulitzer Prize winner from the last decade

A book that is a retelling of a classic story (fairytale, Shakespearian play, classic novel, etc.)

An audiobook

A collection of poetry

A book that someone else has recommended to you

A book that was originally published in another language

A graphic novel, a graphic memoir or a collection of comics of any kind (Hi, have you met Panels?)

A book that you would consider a guilty pleasure (Read, and then realize that good entertainment is nothing to feel guilty over)

A book published before 1850

A book published this year

A self-improvement book (can be traditionally or non-traditionally considered “self-improvement”)

*Take a look at the Original Bookriot post and then checkout the Goodreads group*

Sound like a challenge you would enjoy?
Which of these categories would you find the most challenging? For me I think it's the microhistory one.
Please comment if you have any suggestions of books to read for these categories.

Netgalley and Edelweiss Reading Challenge

Hosted by Falling for YA

Have you ever logged on to Edelweiss or Netgalley with the intention of "Just Looking" and then logged off having requested 5 new titles even though your TBR is a mile long? This challenge will (hopefully) give you the incentive to tackle your review books, stumble upon new ones, and get your Netgalley percentage to the desired 80%!

CHALLENGE GUIDLINES

• The challenge will run from Jan 1, 2015 – Dec 31, 2015.
• Anyone is welcome to join. You do not need to be a blogger, just post your reviews and come back every month to link them up. 
• Any genre, release date, request date, length, etc. counts so long as it came from Edelweiss or Netgalley.
• At the beginning of each month there will be a roundup post for you to add your reviews.
• If you forget to link up one month it's not a problem just add your reviews next month.
• If you would like to move up or down levels that is completely fine and at your discretion.
• If you have any questions tweet @FallingForYA or e-mail Emisbookblog@aol.com!

LEVELS

Bronze - 10 Books

Silver - 25 Books

Gold - 50 Books

Platinum - 75 Books

Diamond -  100 Books

*Head on over to Falling for YA for more information and to sign-up*

The level I am aiming for is silver, I am not aiming to high as I have many non eARCs that I want to get read in 2015.

Do you have far too many eARCS that you need to get read and reviewed? Are you thinking of doing this challenge? If so, what level are you hoping to achieve?

TBR Pile Challenge

Hosted by My Reader's Block

Challenge Levels:

Pike's Peak: Read 12 books from your TBR pile/s

Mount Blanc: Read 24 books from your TBR pile/s
Mt. Vancouver: Read 36 books from your TBR pile/s
Mt. Ararat: Read 48 books from your TBR piles/s
Mt. Kilimanjaro: Read 60 books from your TBR pile/s
El Toro: Read 75 books from your TBR pile/s
Mt. Everest: Read 100 books from your TBR pile/s
Mount Olympus (Mars): Read 150+ books from your TBR pile/s

And the rules:
*Once you choose your challenge level, you are locked in for at least that many books. If you find that you're on a mountain-climbing roll and want to tackle a taller mountain, then you are certainly welcome to upgrade.  All books counted for lower mountains may carry over towards the new peak.

*Challenge runs from January 1 to December 31, 2015.

*You may sign up anytime from now until November 4th, 2015.

*Books must be owned by you prior to January 1, 2015. No ARCs (none), no library books. +++Amended Rule: Rereads may count only in the following circumstances: If you did not own the book when you read it long ago and far away [based on your age, you can decide what that might mean--definitely not within the last five years...my arbitrary pick for a limit] and you bought the book pre-January 1, 2015 intending to reread it now that it's your very own.  [To clarify--the intention is to reduce the stack of books that you have bought for yourself or received as presents {birthday, Christmas, "just because," etc.}. Audiobooks and E-books may count if they are yours and they are one of your primary sources of backlogged books.]


*You may count any "currently reading" book that you begin prior to January 1--provided that you had 50% or more of the book left to finish in 2014.  I will trust you all on that.

*Books may be used to count for other challenges as well.

*Feel free to submit your list in advance (as incentive to really get those books taken care of) or to tally them as you climb.

*There will be quarterly check-ins and prize drawings! 

*A blog and reviews are not necessary to participate. If you have a blog, then please post a challenge sign up and link THAT post (not your home page) into the linky below. Non-bloggers, please leave a comment declaring your challenge level--OR, if you are a member of Goodreads, I will once again put together a group for the challenge there. Feel free to sign up HERE.  At the beginning of the year, I will once again have a sidebar link for called Mount TBR Review Headquarters for 2015 reviews and progress updates.

*Head on over to My Reader's Block for more information and to sign-up*

 I am hoping to make it to the peak of Mt. Vancouver by reading at least 36 books from by TBR pile. I have no set books, I will just read whatever books takes my fancy.

How many books are you hoping to get read from your TBR pile in 2015?

Show Your Shelves Some Love: No Book Buying Challenge

Hosted by ChapterBreak and Second Run Reviews

No books for a year?! The goal of this challenge is simple — for one year abstain from buying books (or set a monthly book budget) — and focus on clearing physical and virtual to-be-read book shelves. This challenge begins Jan 1, 2015 and ends Dec 31, 2015.

What’s the point? To read as many books as you can that you already own, either on your physical bookshelf or on your e-reader.

So what are the rules? Well, let’s not think of them as rules and more as guidelines.

• Abstain from spending money on books for one calendar year (or follow a monthly book budget). If someone gives you a gift card you can spend those–it’s not your money. Audible credits are okay too, but buying extra Audible credits is not!
• Library books do not count for this challenge. This challenge is mainly for books you already own.
• Encourage other challenge participants via comments, social media and emails.
• Participate in the monthly posts. The link up post will go live on the first of each month and be open for 30 days.

How to Join in the Fun

Step 1: Select Your Goal
1-10 books: shake hands with your shelves
11-20 books: pat your shelves on the back
21-30 books: give your shelves a warm friendly hug
31-40 books: regular date night with your shelves
41-50 books: my shelves are now my bff
51+ books: my shelves and I are going steady

Step 2: Join the Mailing List
We’ll send some updates and reminders about the Challenge. We’ll connect you with other challengers if you need encouragement to NOT buy the next biggest release. We’ll only contact you if you tell us we can.

Step 3: Share the Love
If you have a blog, create a “I’m Joining the Challenge” post and link up! Share the news about the challenge on Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites using #ShelfLove.

*Head on over to ChapterBreak or Second Run Reviews for more information, to join the mailing list and to add your sign-up post*

I am aiming to have regular date nights with my shelves by reading 31-40 books from my TBR pile.

As for the no book buying; exceptions are:

• the next in a series and I've read the previous books, 
• new releases by a very favourite author i.e Neil Gaiman,
• books I've simply wanted for a really long time,
• books required for university.

Aside from university books, all books must be within my monthly book budget of £10. That budget is allowed to rollover to the following month if I don't spend it. Any books bought must be read soon after purchase and will not count towards any TBR challenges.

Anybody else planning on doing this challenge?

2015 Bookish Resolutions Challenge

Hosted by Because Reading and Trips Down Imagination Road

Rules:

1.    Create between 1 and 5 resolutions related to books/book blogging (there are examples below but you can make up your own)

2.    If you have 2 or more resolutions, then 1 can be unrelated to books/book blogging

3.    Create a sign up post and add it to the Linky over at Because Reading or Trips Down Imagination Road (sign up before Feb 1st)

4.    On the 30th of each month (and the 28th for February) create an update post about your goals and add the post to the Linky that will be on Laura’s or My blogs

5.    This is a year long challenge, so you can’t add resolutions that could be done in a day these must be year long goals.

6.    For each goal you complete you get one entry into the giveaway that will be in Because Reading and Trips Down Imagination Road wrap-up posts on December 31, 2015

Giveaway:

Because Reading and Trips Down Imagination Road will be giving away two $10 Amazon gift cards at the end of December 2015. You get one entry per resolution (via a Rafflecopter form) but they'll need to be able to track your progress via the monthly updates! Plus it’s a great way to keep up to date with other people’s progress!

Examples:

As this is a personal challenge everyone is likely to set different goals! But to make things easier, Because Reading and Trips Down Imagination Road have come up with some examples!

Blogging/Reading Goals
•    Get my Netgalley percentage up to XX % (percent is up to you!)
•    Read XX number of Netgalley books this year/per month (remember that this needs to be a year long goal!)
•    Read XX number of books by debut authors/authors that are new to me this year/each month
•    Complete X number of challenges this year
(This challenge does not count towards the total. Mini-challenges within a bigger challenge do not count separately)
•    Read XX number of crime (or any other genre) books this year/each month
•    Only spend £XX/$XX on books this year/per month
•    Listen to X number of audio books this year/per month
•    Read X number of paperbacks this year/per month
•    Read X number of classics this year
•    Read all blog tour books a week/month/two days before post date
•    Participate in X number of read-a-thons (read-a-thons as a part of larger challenges count separately)
•    Only one-click on amazon X times per month/week
•    Read X number of books per week/month that were books you’ve bought, which can be free.
•    Read X number of sequels this year/per month
•    Read X number of books with ‘salmon’ in the title (word is changeable. If you’re interested there are actually 862 results for salmon in the Kindle Store)
•    Read X number of books that I already own
•    Read X number of non-fiction books

Examples of personal goals (you only can do 1 and only if you have two book/blog related goals):
•    Lose X amount of weight
•    Start writing that book you always wanted to write
•    Exercise more (book blog walkers goals count here)
•    Do random acts of kindness through the year
•    Learn another language
•    Take up a new hobby

Tweet your progress to #BookishResolutions

*Head on over to Because Reading or Trips Down Imagination Road for more information and to sign-up*

MY RESOLUTIONS

1. Read at least one book from my exising TBR pile each month

2. No impulse book purchases and no more than £10 a month on planned purchases

3. Post at least two discussion posts a month

4. Get my Netgalley approval ratio to at least 65% and not allow to it drop much lower

5. Lose one stone(14lbs)

These all seem to be doable resolutions, so I think I will acheive them all and then some. Fingers crossed.

How about you, are you planning on taking part in this challenge? Share any of these resoluitons?

Some of my Favourite Books this Year

Weekly event hosted @ The Broke and the Bookish

 I read a lot of great books this year, so picking just ten was not that easy. Without further ado and without any reasons why - here are some of my faves of 2014.

TEN

  NINE 

EIGHT

SEVEN

SIX

FIVE

FOUR

THREE

TWO

ONE

 Did any of these make your favourite list this year?

I am looking forward to seeing what everyone else loved this year.

What I want to read this Winter

Weekly event hosted @ The Broke and the Bookish

I am just going to choose books that I already have in my posession.

In no particular order...

OK, I don't have this one, but I have my fingers crossed that I will be approved for a review copy. Pray for me.

Weekly Wrap-Up (23/11/14)

The Sunday Post hosted @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer. 

It's Monday! hosted @ Book Journey

THIS WEEK ON MY BLOG:

Review: Fool's Assassin

TTT: Most awaited Sequels

Review: The 100

WHAT I READ THIS WEEK:

WHAT I AM READING NOW:

ADDITIONS TO MY TBR:
Stacking the Shevles hosted @ Tynga's Reviews
Showcase Sunday hosted @ Books, Biscuits and Tea




WHAT I BOUGHT:
Kindle:

During the Dance by Mark Lawrence

FOR REVIEW:
Thanks to Edelweiss for

WHAT I PLAN TO READ NEXT:

Just hoping to get through the books I am currently reading.

IN REAL LIFE:

Such a busy week, so much reading and writing to do for school, plus the rest of my life demanding my time. I wish I had better time management skills, I could really use them, but I just muddle along getting as much done as I can when I can.

Because I have been so busy, I haven't had time to reply to comments from last week or to write posts for next week. I am putting together this post quickly between eating breakfast and getting back to work and hopefully, I can find more such slots of time to get posts for next week written. I am just going to play it by ear, schoolwork is the priority and if I have no posts for my blog next week, then so be it.

I hope you all had a wonderful week :-)

Review: The 100

Title: The 100

Series: The Hundred #1

Author: Kass Morgan

Published by: Little, Brown Books on 3rd September 2013

Genre: Post-Apocalyptic Survival Romance

Format: eARC
Source: Publisher

Check it out on Goodreads

*I received a copy of this book free from the publisher via Netgalley for review consideration, this in no way affects my opinion of the book.*

Goodreads Synopsis: No one has set foot on Earth in centuries -- until now.

Ever since a devastating nuclear war, humanity has lived on spaceships far above Earth's radioactive surface. Now, one hundred juvenile delinquents -- considered expendable by society -- are being sent on a dangerous mission: to recolonize the planet. It could be their second chance at life...or it could be a suicide mission.

CLARKE was arrested for treason, though she's haunted by the memory of what she really did. WELLS, the chancellor's son, came to Earth for the girl he loves -- but will she ever forgive him? Reckless BELLAMY fought his way onto the transport pod to protect his sister, the other half of the only pair of siblings in the universe. And GLASS managed to escape back onto the ship, only to find that life there is just as dangerous as she feared it would be on Earth.

Confronted with a savage land and haunted by secrets from their pasts, the hundred must fight to survive. They were never meant to be heroes, but they may be mankind's last hope.

My Thoughts: Humanity has been in living on a space station since a nuclear holocaust thingy that isnt really explained happened, many, many moons ago. On the station every little infraction immediately results in the death penalty, unless you are under 18, well, then it's of to death row to await execution as soon as you turn 18. Resources have been running low for some time now thats why the harsh capital punishment. And so to kill two birds with one stone they send 100 kids on deathrow down to earth - less mouths to feed and lungs to breathe and they get to see if earth is habitable enough to move the entire population down.

The story is told in four alternating points of view, two of the points of view are from kids who were on death row and two that found their way on to the ship to protect someone they love. One of these 'criminals' escape the ship going to Earth thinking she will be better off, but boy is she wrong. The alternate points of view allow us to get a really good look at the new world and the space station from many angles. Morgan handles the different voices well as it is easy to tell the characters apart. There are also flashbacks interspersed throughout, these not only flesh out the characters but also tell us how humanity and the characters got to where they are now.

There is too much emphasis on romance and not enough on word building. I would like to know more about what happened to the Earth and how The Colony came to be and not so much about everybodies crush on each other. I like romance but in this book I would have liked more emphasis on survival.

Despite its flaws I very much liked this book, in fact I read this in one sitting and straight after I finished I read book two, also in one sitting. So if you are looking for a fun, easy read definitely give this go.

Sequels I Need Right this Minute

Weekly event hosted @ The Broke and the Bookish

Golden Son by Pierce Brown (06/01/15)

Red Rising Trilogy #2

End of Days by Susan Ee (12/05/15)

Penryn and the End of Days #3

Half Wild by Sally Green (24/03/15)

Half Bad Trilogy #2

The Retribution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin (04/11/14)

Mara Dyer #3

Salt & Stone by Victoria Scott (24/02/15)

Fire & Flood #2

Winter by Marissa Myer (24/11/15)

The Lunar Chronicles #4

The Winner's Crime by Marie Rutkoski (03/03/15)

The Winner's Trilogy #2

Firefight By Brandon Sanderson (06/01/15)

Reckoners #2

There is no cover yet, but I can't wait to read The Invasion of the Tearling by Erika Johansen, Queen of The Tearling Book 2, due for release June 9th 2015.

Last, but no means least, and also with no cover, or a release date, is Fool's Quest By Robin Hobb, book two in her Fitz and the Fool Trilogy.

I look forward to seeing everyone else's Top Tens this week and to the increase of my TBR.