The Classics Reading Challenge 2014

As the creator of this challenge, I am going to be the first one to sign up for it! Here's the link to the sign up post here on Thoughts. The point of this challenge is to read at least ONE classic novel in 2014. It's easy, it's simple... and it's rewarding!

Okay... I have been itching to reread a few of my favorites from when I was younger. There are several that I have not read in literally TEN years or more and I am really anxious to read and fall in love all over again.

Here's the list of what I would like to read in 2014:

1. Anne Of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
2. The 101 Dalmatians by Dodie Smith
3. Emily Of New Moon by L.M. Montgomery

These were on my list for 2013 and I didn't get around to them. I'd like to at least read one or two of them this coming year if possible.

The Classics Reading Challenge 2014 Sign Ups!

Welcome to
The Classics Reading Challenge!

The original version of this challenge involved reading classics you haven’t read. It also had different number levels to reach. I wanted to change this up based on some suggestions I’ve gotten.

Instead of having designated levels, there will be no levels. The thing I think is most important about me starting this challenge is to get out of my comfort zone and read a book a lot of people have read and enjoyed for many years. Classics are classics for a reason, and I want to take the time to read some of them. So when you sign up for this challenge, I believe that even making it a goal to read ONE classic novel in a year is a worthy and reachable goal.

Also, instead of reading only books you have not read yet, I am going to include that you may also reread one that you have already read. There are a few classics that I have loved and really would love to read again.

Bottom line... this is a just for fun challenge to break up our regular reading program with something different. <3

Rules:

• Read at least ONE classic novel in 2014.
• For this challenge, any book published prior to 1980 counts.
• Books you have never read and rereads both count.
• You do not have to pick out the book(s) you want to read yet.

If you need some suggestions on what books to read, please check out the following: Wikipedia's 100 Classic Book Collection and Greatest Novels of the 20th Century.

That's about it! I hope to have you join in with me on reading at least one classic novel in 2014. After challenging myself to reading a few, I have found it very rewarding. So, join in on the fun! <3

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Wrap Up of 2012 Reading Challenges

Just a quick post to save my 2012 Reading Challenge info to make room for my 2013 Reading Challenge info on the tab.

I didn't complete everything, which is a little annoying, but I'm over it. I was able to complete the EBook challenge at least. I wish I could have finished my Classics Challenge, but of course, I bit off more than I could chew. And the TBR one would have gone better had I not bought so many books this year. Jessica Fail. Lol. At least I can be amused by it and not mad at myself. :P

So, here it is, all I've done in 2012. Another year of reading down. Bring it on 2013!

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2012 EBook Challenge

Level: CD - Read 10 EBooks ~ COMPLETE

Finished...

1. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
2. Confessions Of A Call Center Gal by Lisa Lim

3. Pinelight by Jillian Peery
4. Survival by A.M. Hargrove
5. Hana by Lauren Oliver

6. Resurrection by A.M. Hargrove

7. Under The Greenwood Tree by Thomas Hardy

8. Safe Landing by Tess Oliver

9. Brightest Kind Of Darkness by P.T. Michelle

10. On Dublin Street by Samantha Young

11. Untraceable by S.R. Johannes

12. Under The Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

13. Among The Nameless Stars by Diana Peterfreund
14. Impossible by Komal Lewis
 15. This Beautiful Thing by Amanda Heath

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2012 TBR Pile Reading Challenge

Level: Read 21-30 Books - A Sweet Kiss

Finished...

1. The Unbecoming Of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

2. Reasons To Be Happy by Katrina Kittle
3. Beautiful by Amy Reed
4. I Capture The Castle by Dodie Smith
5. Divergent by Veronica Roth
6. It's Always Something by Gilda Radner
7. Wonderful Alexander and the Catwings by Ursula K. Le Guin
8. The Probability Of Miracles by Wendy Wunder

9. Perfect by Ellen Hopkins

10. Forgotten by Cat Patrick

11. Vampire Kisses: Graveyard Games Volume One by Ellen Schreiber

12. Jane on Her Own by Ursula K. Le Guin

13. Cracked Up To Be by Courtney Summers

14. The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

15. The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery

16. City Of Bones by Cassandra Clare

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The Classics Reading Challenge 

Level 3: 8 books

Finished...

1. I Capture The Castle by Dodie Smith
2. Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
3. Under The Greenwood Tree by Thomas Hardy
4. The Princess Bride by William Goldman
5. The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
6. The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery

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The Goodreads 2012 Reading Challenge

Goal: 52 Books

1. Everblossom: A Short Story and Poetry Anthology by Larissa Hinton

2. The Unbecoming Of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

3. Get Fuzzy 2: Fuzzy Logic by Darby Conley

4. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

5. Notes To Self by Avery Sawyer

6. Reasons To Be Happy by Katrina Kittle

7. Beautiful by Amy Reed

8. I Capture The Castle by Dodie Smith

9. Divergent by Veronica Roth

10. Confessions Of A Call Center Gal by Lisa Lim

11. PineLight by Jillian Peery

12. It's Always Something by Gilda Radner

13. Survival by A.M. Hargrove

14. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

15. Wonderful Alexander and the Catwings by Ursula K. Le Guin

16. Hana by Lauren Oliver

17. Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

18. The Probability Of Miracles by Wendy Wunder

19. Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver

20. Insurgent by Veronica Roth

21. Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally

22. Forgotten by Cat Patrick

23. Resurrection by A.M. Hargrove

24. Perfect by Ellen Hopkins

25. Let's Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson

26. Life's Little Instruction Book by H. Jackson Brown Jr.

27. What I Didn't Say by Keary Taylor

28. Glitch (Glitch #1) by Heather Anastasiu

29. Vampire Kisses: Graveyard Games Volume One by Ellen Schreiber

30. Heat Wave (Nikki Heat #1) by Richard Castle

31. Under The Greenwood Tree by Thomas Hardy

32. Determinant by A.M. Hargrove

33. Don't Breathe A Word by Holly Cupula

34. The Unquiet by Jeannine Garsee

35. Meant to Be by Lauren Morrill

36. For Darkness Shows The Stars by Diana Peterfreund

37. Safe Landing by Tess Oliver

38. The Princess Bride by William Goldman

39. Jane on Her Own by Ursula K. Le Guin

40. Brightest Kind Of Darkness by P.T. Michelle

41. The Forever Contract by Avery Sawyer

42. Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire

43. Charmed Thirds by Megan McCafferty

44. Defy The Stars by Stephanie Parent

45. Cracked Up To Be by Courtney Summers

46. On Dublin Street by Samantha Young

47. Overnight Sensation by Hal Eisenberg

48. The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

49. Spells (Wings #2) by Aprilynne Pike

50. Untraceable by S.R. Johannes

51. The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery

52. Confessions of an Angry Girl by Louise Rozett

53. The Game Changer by Marie Landry

54. Uses For Boys by Erica Lorraine Scheidt

55. Under The Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

56. dancergirl by Carol M. Tanzman

57. The Evolution Of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

58. The Waiting Sky by Lara Zielin

59. Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

60. Dark Waltz by A.M. Hargrove

61. Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen

62. City Of Bones by Cassandra Clare

63. All The Broken Pieces by Cindi Madsen

64. Among The Nameless Stars by Diana Peterfreund

65. This Beautiful Thing by Amanda Heath
66. Impossible by Komal Lewis
67. Complete Poems, 1904-1962 by E.E. Cummings

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How did your year go when it comes to reading? Did you finish all your reading challenges? Did you enjoy most of the books you read? I'd love to know!

The Classics Reading Challenge 2013

As the creator of this challenge, I am going to be the first one to sign up for it! Here's the link to the sign up post here on Thoughts. The point of this challenge is to read at least ONE classic novel in 2013. It's easy, it's simple... and it's rewarding!

Okay... I have been itching to reread a few of my favorites from when I was younger. There are several that I have not read in literally TEN years or more and I am really anxious to read and fall in love all over again.

Here's the list of what I would like to read in 2013:

1. Anne Of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
2. Mrs. Frisby And The Rats Of NIHM by Robert C. O'Brien
3. The 101 Dalmatians by Dodie Smith
4. Emily Of New Moon by L.M. Montgomery

If I can get to half of them, I will feel good about the accomplishment. If I can get to all of them, that would be super awesome.

The Classics Reading Challenge 2013 Sign Ups!

Welcome to
The Classics Reading Challenge!

The original version of this challenge involved reading classics you haven’t read. It also had different number levels to reach. I wanted to change this up based on some suggestions I’ve gotten.

Instead of having designated levels, there will be no levels. The thing I think is most important about me starting this challenge is to get out of my comfort zone and read a book a lot of people have read and enjoyed for many years. Classics are classics for a reason, and I want to take the time to read some of them. So when you sign up for this challenge, I believe that even making it a goal to read ONE classic novel in a year is a worthy and reachable goal.

Also, instead of reading only books you have not read yet, I am going to include that you may also reread one that you have already read. There are a few classics that I have loved and really would love to read again.

Bottom line... this is a just for fun challenge to break up our regular reading program with something different. <3

Rules:

• Read at least ONE classic novel in 2013.
• For this challenge, any book published prior to 1980 counts.
• Books you have never read and rereads both count.
• You do not have to pick out the book(s) you want to read yet.

If you need some suggestions on what books to read, please check out the following: Wikipedia's 100 Classic Book Collection and Greatest Novels of the 20th Century.

That's about it! I hope to have you join in with me on reading at least one classic novel in 2013. After challenging myself to reading a few this year, I have found it very rewarding. So, join in on the fun! <3

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Classics Challenge Review Link Up!

After one of the participants mentioned it to me, I realized I needed to have a link up for all the reviews related to the challenge! So, please add in your links below to the linky list to the reviews of all your Classics Challenge books. That way we can all read all of our Classic book reviews!

Under "Your Name" enter your name + the title/author of the book you reviewed. That way you can separate each different book that your review. ^_^

If you haven't joined The Classics Reading Challenge 2012, hey, there's still time! Here's a link to the sign up post. 

Thank you all for participating and have a great day!!! <3

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PS: I am going to pull up all of your sign up posts and find your email addresses to link you to this review link-up. It may take me a little while to do so though, so bear with me. Thanks! :)

The Classics Reading Challenge

Ever find yourself saying, "All my life I've heard about that classic book and wanted to read it but never got around to it"? Ever watch a movie adaptation of an old novel and find yourself wishing you had read the book?

Well, it's time to end that procrastination because I am offering a simple solution:

The Classics Reading Challenge 2012

(hosted by Jessica @ Thoughts At One In The Morning) *

We all have at least a handful of classics we would like to read and haven't read. What better way to get caught up on them than to challenge ourselves to read a few of them this coming year? There are many benefits to reading the classics. Check out this article and see how.

The classics I'm talking about include ones by such authors as William Shakespeare, Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, Thomas Hardy, etc. I'm also talking about modern classics like To Kill A Mockingbird and The Great Gatsby. Here's a couple links with lists of classic novels: Wiki 100 Classic Book Collection & Greatest Novels of the 20th Century. (I had originally thought pre-1970, but there are some great classics from the 1970's as well, so they count too! So let's go with pre-1980 instead, use your own discretion.)

In this reading challenge, it's simple and easy. Pick out classic novels you have always wanted to read but haven't yet. Then read them! (An easy way to do this is to sort your Goodreads to-read shelf by date published, a few unknowns may pop up near the top, just go to the first one with a date and keep going until you reach the 1980's. This is what I did!)

You have 5 levels to choose from:

Level One: 1-3
Level Two: 4-6
Level Three: 7-9
Level Four: 10-12
Level Five: 13-15

Of course, you can read whatever number of classics you would like to. This is just a guideline if you want to have one.

Here's the details:

1. This challenge starts January 1st 2012 and ends December 31st 2012.
**Edited to add: Books can be in audiobook format and count toward this challenge as well.**
2. All books read for this challenge can be counted toward all other reading challenges.
3. All books chosen for this challenge must be books you have NEVER read or NEVER finished that were written prior to 1980.
4. Choose a level or number of books you would like to read.
5. Create a sign up post for your blog including the Classics Reading Challenge picture above and the books you would like to read (you can change your mind at any time).
6. Sign up for the challenge with the link to that post in the linky list below:




And that's about it! How about it guys? Who wants to read some of the classics we've missed out on over the years? I can't wait! I hope you join in as well.

~Jessica

EDIT TO ADD: Review Link Up has been posted September 1st 2012. Click THIS LINK to be directed to it to add your reviews. Thanks!!!

* As host, I reserve the right to remove you from the linky list if you are purposely going against the rules of the challenge, or if you are linking to anything that has nothing to do with this challenge. I highly doubt anyone would be stupid enough to do such a thing, but I feel it necessary to note just in case. Thanks for reading!

The Classics Reading Challenge Sign-Up/Progress Post

I am joining The Classics Reading Challenge... Probably because I'm hosting it! Lol.

The level I choose to take on is Level 3 with 8 classic books.

Here's the list of classic books I am going to read:

1. Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
2. The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
4. The Time Machine by H.G. Wells


Currently Reading:

8. The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle

Finished:

I Capture The Castle by Dodie Smith
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
Under The Greenwood Tree by Thomas Hardy
The Princess Bride by William Goldman
The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

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I decided to go with only one Jane Austen, even though I have all but one by her to read. Plus I split it up evenly between the pre-1900's and the 1900's. Some of these modern classics have me itching to read them. A few of them I need to buy, but that's fine, I've been needing them anyway!

Happy reading!

~Jessica

Coming soon... The Classics Reading Challenge!

After much deliberation and plotting (and thanks to the comments on this post), I've decided to host a reading challenge! It's one that I feel needs to be done, for myself and possibly for others too. Sometimes we all get so caught up in reading all these new YA novels and YA series that we forget to read the Classics. Or we never took the time to read certain ones when we were younger and in school.

Well, fret no more! This challenge should be right up your alley. ;) I am pleased to announce:

The Classics Reading Challenge 2012!

Since I'm pretty much booked the rest of this year (and I'm sure a lot of other people have challenges from this year to finish), I decided to start it next year. I'm thinking of  having 3 levels ranging from reading 1 to 10 classic novels. That way even if you only have time to read one, hey, at least it's one more classic you've read!

The classics I'm talking about are not only books by Shakespeare or Jane Austen, but also modern classics too. Ones from the early 1900's. Some that are from the 1950's or 1960's. Any book that is considered a classic that was published prior to 1970.

This gives you a pretty good range for books. There are so many that I've been wanting to read, I don't know how I'll choose which to focus on for the year! But I think I have a couple in mind that I definitely want to read.

I'll probably put up an official sign up post near the end of the year so people can prepare and plot before 2012 starts. So keep watching for it!

What do you guys think? Are you interested in a Classics Challenge in 2012? Any suggestions for the challenge? Would you like to see a giveaway attached to it? I think I have most of it plotted out, but I am always looking for ideas to improve on.

~Jessica