2. Read your Victorian literature:  Queen Victoria reigned from 1837-1901. If your book wasn't published during those particular years, but is by an author considered 'Victorian' then go for it. We're here for reading, not historical facts! Also, this can include works by authors from other countries, so long as they are from this period.

3.  Literature comes in many forms: There are so many Victorian reads out there, including novels, short stories, and poetry. One poem doesn't count as a 'book': pick up an anthology instead!

4.  Choose your books:  List your books before you begin, or pick up titles along the way. It's up to you! You can review them if you choose to, but it's not necessary. If you don't have a blog, that's fine! Link to a Facebook, or a page somewhere where you can list what you've been reading. If you can't link up, no problem - feel free to just comment and enjoy.

5. Spread the love:  Post the reading challenge on your blog - make your own post(s), or stick the button on the side of your page. The more the merrier, after all. Let's build a big community of Victorian literature lovers!

6. Choose from one of the four levels:

Sense and Sensibility: 1-4 books.

Great Expectations: 5-9 books.

Hard Times: 10-14 books.

Desperate Remedies: 15+ books.

7. Sign up, and enjoy!

You can sign up for this challenge here.

 Since this challenge is the one that frightens me the most, I'm going to shoot for the Great Expectations level: 5-9 books. Victorian novels tend to run really long, mostly because the authors were payed by the number of words they've written, but regardless I hope to revisit some of my favorite Victorian writers such as Thomas Hardy, the Bronte sisters, and Elizabeth Gaskell as well as discover new writers too. I haven't created my list yet, but I will post them here.

  This is my second year in joining the 100+ Reading Challenge. When I first joined I didn't have a blog, but I kept a running list of all the titles I had read. The reason? I'm a book addict. I read for work, helping teachers navigate the large waves of YA literature, and to unwind especially when my brothers hog the tv by watching football. My goal for this year is to read up to 200 books. Currently, I'm at 226 and I have a few more to go before the year ends. I will be joining again for 2011, which I'm sure doesn't surprise my friends and colleagues. My goal for next year is to read 250 books. The 100+ Reading Challenge is hosted by Amy at My Overstuffed Bookshelf. She is challenging us to beat our record for 2010.

Here is some important information regarding the challenge:

• The goal is to read 100 or more books.
• Anyone can join.
• You don't need a blog to participate. Posting on GoodReads or wherever you post your reviews is good enough.
• Audio, Re-reads, eBooks, YA, Manga, Graphic Novels, Library books, Novellas, Young Reader, Nonfiction – as long as the book has an ISBN or equivalent or can be purchased as such, the book counts.
• What doesn't count: Individual short stories or individual books in the Bible.
• No need to list your books in advance. You may select books as you go. Even if you list them now, you can change the list if needed.
• Crossovers from other reading challenges count.
• Books started before the January 1st do not count.
• You can join at anytime.

 To learn more and sign up, go here. I will list my books that I finished in 2011 here, but you can always find the reviews on my review index pages located on the right hand side bar.

  My TBR pile has gotten out of control. I have two and half bookcases full of books that are filled to the brim. I've now started putting them in bags because I can't find room on the shelves! I bought almost all of them from my public library's used book sale where all the proceeds benefit the library's collection. So, really it's a good thing I bought them. ;) To tell you the truth, I don't think I've read anywhere close to 20% of what I have on the shelves already. I already know that I will go back and buy more this fall. It's not that I lost interest in them, in just that I get distracted by new releases. *Sigh* So when I saw the Off The Shelf Challenge, which is hosted by Bookish Armour, I knew this is the kick in the butt that I need to start clearing my shelves.

Important information regarding this challenge: This challenge is to read those books you own copies of, but have never got around to reading. If you don't have many that you own, but have a massive TBR shelf you're welcome to read those ones as long as you don't add new ones. You don't need to actually get rid of your books after you've read them, this is just to read them. This challenge runs from Jan 1 to Dec 31, 2011.

How to Participate

1. Decide which challenge level you'll be doing (see below) - do not include books that you buy from the start of this challenge.

2. Grab the badge and post it on a side bar or in a signature (if you want to participate but aren't blogging, there is a Submission For Non Bloggers).

3. Create your own post to let all your readers know you’re taking part in the challenge and at what level (if you're really proficient you can list your books!). Make sure to link back to this page with either one of the buttons or a text link.

4. Use the link form to enter into the challenge by sharing your challenge post url and your name (either your name, blog name, or both). Please don't use the comment form to participate, only to comment on the challenge or something else..

5. Submit your reviews (if you choose to review them, but that is optional) on the review page.

6. When you’ve completed your challenge let us know on the completion post. If you're using a tag or category, the Bookish Armour recommends sharing the link back so that everyone participating in the challenge can find them.


Challenge Levels


Tempted– Choose 5 books to read

Trying – Choose 15 books to read

Making A Dint – Choose 30 books to read

On A Roll – Choose 50 books to read

Flying Off – Choose 75 books to read

For extra hard challenges:

Hoarder – Choose 76-125 books to read

Buried – Choose 126-200 books to read


My level for this challenge will be Making a Dent: reading 30 books from my TBR pile. I don't have a tentative list right now, but I will post a compilation here as well as on the completion post of this challenge. Although this challenge doesn't require you to pass your books along when you're done, I'll be weeding my shelves and may even do a few giveaways, so stay tuned.

What books are eligible for the 2011 South Asian Challenge?

There are two ways for a book to qualify for the South Asian Challenge:
(1) A book must be by a South Asian author.  For these purposes, South Asia includes the following countries: India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, and the Maldives.  There are no limitations on what the book can be about.
South Asian Encounter - 1 book
South Asian Wanderer - 3 books
South Asian Explorer - 5 books
South Asian Adventurer - 7 books
South Asian Hero/Heroine - 10 books
South Asian Guru - Over 10 books (you can set your own goal)

You can sign up for the challenge here and read the other FAQ about the challenge. 

  I first discovered the Middle East Reading Challenge during this past Ramadan. For those who are unfamiliar with Ramadan, Ramadan is the holy month of fasting for Muslims. I'm only familiar with a few of the Middle Eastern countries and their cultures, but I would love to learn more. One of my reading resolutions for 2011 is to diversify my reading list. This is one of the perfect ways to do so. I originally had the intention to sign up for this challenge during Ramadan, however, things got busy and I completely forgot. Since we are a few weeks left in December, I thought I would sign up now and start the challenge in January.

The Middle East Challenge is hosted by Helen over at Helen's Book Blog. The purpose of the challenge is to read books that take place in this region and to gain a better understanding of the people and cultures of this region.

What Helen considers Middle Eastern: "The Middle East is a nebulous term with each person defining it in a different way (it's also a very Euro-centric term so please forgive me for that). However I am going to use it for lack of a better way to define the area covered by this reading challenge. So, what is the Middle East? Traditionally it included only the countries in Asia plus Egypt. Some define it as countries with Arabic as the dominant language, while others say it is all Islamic countries. For the purposes of this challenge I am going to stick with the more traditional/geographic approach including the countries around the Arabian peninsula. I struggled about what to do with Turkey and have chosen to leave it out as they currently choose to be associated more with Europe. Likewise, I am not including the "stan" countries as they are culturally, linguistically, and ethnically different (and, officially, they are in Central Asia)".

   I am trying to be a bit more organized for next year. I have been looking for reading challenges that are fun and expand my reading boundaries. My first reading challenge for next year will be to participate in the 2011 Debut Author Challenge that is hosted by Krisit at The Story Siren. I read about this challenge this month and was a bit too late to participate for this year, but I'm so excited to join for next year. I plan on reading at least fifteen books for this challenge, but may end up reading more. I already see lots of my blogger friends joining the challenge. I can't wait to see what people read and read their reviews!

Here's some information about the challenge:

1.  The objective of this challenge is to read at least twelve novels from Young Adult or Middle Grade Authors. 12 books is the minimum to participate but there is no max limit.
2. Anyone can join. You don't have to live in the U.S. or be a blogger.
3. If you do have a blog, it doesn't have to be written in English to participate.
4. You can join anytime. The challenge runs from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2011. 

You can read about how a book qualifies for this challenge here.

You can sign up for this challenge here.

 Here is my tentative list of books that I'm hoping to read for this challenge. I'm sure I'll add more as the year goes on: