A ~ Z Reading Challenge

Have you finished the challenge?

2009-07-08T21:48:00.000-07:00

If you'd like to post links to your challenge wrap-up/round-up, then leave links in the comments. If you don't have a blog, but would like to share your thoughts with the group on the challenge, then leave a comment.

Do you glue?

2009-02-03T20:14:00.001-08:00

If you're a book lover, you might be interested in using Glue, a new (or newish) add-on for your browser.

Glue is all about connections--connecting you with others. When you visit the sites you would normally visit anyway--Amazon, Barnes & Noble, GoodReads, LibraryThing, Powell's Books, etc., you'll find that glue is there and waiting for you. You can mark books as your favorites. You can even share your thoughts on the book--keeping it short and sweet! But perhaps more importantly, you can see what others think about a particular book. You'll see if any of your friends like the book. You'll also see what other people thought about it. (You might discover someone who shares your tastes in books and make a new friend...or two...or three). Glue knows that a book is a book is a book.

It's easy to use. I don't even have to think about it. I find myself going to bookish sites all day long, and glue is just along for the ride.

Glue Overview from AdaptiveBlue on Vimeo.

The Letter A: Authors, Titles, Countries, etc.

2009-01-26T12:54:00.000-08:00

The Letter B: Authors, Titles, Countries, etc.

2009-01-25T12:58:00.000-08:00

The Letter C: Authors, Titles, Countries, etc.

2009-01-24T12:59:00.000-08:00

The Letter D: Authors, Titles, Countries, etc.

2009-01-23T13:04:00.000-08:00

The Letter E: Authors, Titles, Countries, etc.

2009-01-22T13:05:00.000-08:00

The Letter F: Authors, Titles, Countries, Etc.

2009-01-21T13:08:00.000-08:00

The Letter G: Authors, Titles, Countries, etc.

2009-01-20T13:11:00.000-08:00

The Letter H: Authors, Titles, Countries, etc.

2009-01-19T13:14:00.000-08:00

The Letter I: Authors, Titles, Countries, etc.

2009-01-18T13:16:00.000-08:00

The Letter J: Authors, Titles, Countries, etc.

2009-01-17T13:17:00.000-08:00

The Letter K: Authors, Titles, Countries, etc.

2009-01-16T13:21:00.000-08:00

The Letter L: Authors, Titles, Countries, etc.

2009-01-15T13:26:00.000-08:00

The Letter M: Authors, Titles, Countries, etc.

2009-01-14T13:27:00.000-08:00

The Letter N: Authors, Titles, Countries, etc.

2009-01-13T13:30:00.000-08:00

The Letter O: Authors, Titles, Countries, etc.

2009-01-12T13:32:00.000-08:00

The Letter P: Authors, Titles, Countries, etc.

2009-01-11T13:34:00.000-08:00

The Letter Q: Authors, Titles, Countries, etc.

2009-01-10T13:37:00.000-08:00

The Letter R: Authors, Titles, Countries, etc.

2009-01-09T13:38:00.000-08:00

The Letter S: Authors, Titles, Countries, etc.

2009-01-08T13:39:00.000-08:00

The Letter T: Authors, Titles, Countries, etc.

2009-01-07T13:42:00.000-08:00

The Letter U: Authors, Titles, Countries, etc.

2009-01-06T13:44:00.000-08:00

The Letter V: Authors, Titles, Countries, etc.

2009-01-05T13:46:00.000-08:00

The Letter W: Authors, Titles, Countries, etc.

2009-01-04T13:51:00.000-08:00

Letters X, Y, and Z

2009-01-03T13:53:00.000-08:00

X Titles

X Authors

Y Titles

Y Authors

Z Authors
Zindel, Paul. The Pigman. Reviewed at Stacy's Booklog.

Z Titles

The Plan

2009-01-02T12:03:00.000-08:00

Each letter (except for X, Y, and Z) will have its own post. These will be published beginning on January 3, 2009, through January 26, 2009. They'll be published in reverse order, Z to A. Why? So that visitors will see them in A to Z order when they come to the site. If in the weeks while the project is being revealed one letter at a time, you want to leave a review for a letter that isn't out yet. Then you may post that link here.

What to leave in the comments on this or any of the posts.
Author
Book Title
Your Name/Blog's Name
Link

If you're going for option D--to read internationally/nationally/regionally--then leave that information as well.

Alphabet Books

2009-01-01T08:18:00.000-08:00

Here's where you'll need to leave your comment if you choose "Option E" for the A to Z Challenge.

Title. Author. Illustrator. Participant's Name. Link.

For example:

Alpha Oops! The Day Z went First by Alethea Kontis. Illustrated by Bob Kolar. Becky's Book Reviews.
http://cardathon.blogspot.com/2007/09/alpha-oops-day-z-went-first.html

How This Challenge Works

2008-12-31T19:57:00.000-08:00

How much involvement you the participant has with the group is your decision. I'll have a post for each letter of the alphabet. "A" Titles, "A" Authors, "A" Countries. You may post links to your reviews in the comment section of each (relevant) post.

For authors:

Author name, book title, participant name, link.

Example: Austen, Jane. Persuasion. Becky's Book Reviews.
http://blbooks.blogspot.com/2008/01/beckys-thoughts-on-novel-persuasion.html

For titles:

Title. Author's name. Participants name. Link.

Austenland by Shannon Hale. Becky's Book Reviews.
http://blbooks.blogspot.com/2007/08/austenland.html

For countries:

Country. Title. Author. Participants Name. Link.

Australia. Dreamrider. Barry Jonsberg. Becky's Book Reviews.
http://blbooks.blogspot.com/2008/04/travel-world-australia-dreamrider.html

Join the ABC Readers Yahoo Group!

2008-12-02T19:40:00.000-08:00

Want to stay in touch with other participants and fellow book lovers? Join the ABC Readers Yahoo Group moderated by Patti and Sally and myself.

Sign Up Here!

2008-12-01T19:42:00.000-08:00

General reminder of what you're signing up for:

Option A: Read authors A to Z. Commit to reading 26 books theoretically speaking.

Option B: Read titles A to Z. Commit to reading 26 books theoretically speaking.

Option C: Read both authors A to Z and titles A to Z (52 books; this is the challenge Joy created)

Option D: Read internationally A to Z (books representing 26 different countries) (The books could be from international authors (writers from that country); however, it's fine if a book is only set in that country. If need be, instead of countries one could use cities, states, regions, etc. The idea is to use proper place names. If you'd like you could even use a few fictional countries.)

Option E: Read 26 Alphabet books. Embrace your inner child and go visit the children's section!

Mention in your comment which option(s) you'll be committing to. Sign ups begin December 1, 2008. (The challenge does NOT start until January 1, 2009, but early sign ups are definitely encouraged!) The challenge closes to new participants on June 30, 2009.

The full rules can be read here.

The New Rules

2008-11-29T19:10:00.000-08:00

Joy from Thoughts of Joy originated the idea for an A to Z Reading Challenge. I participated in this challenge in 2008. Since Joy is stepping down as host this year, I volunteered to host this challenge in 2009. She did give permission to change the rules. And you'll notice a few changes. One, I could never hope to live up to the awesomeness that is the A to Z Reading Challenge blog. (While I know that many people love Mr. Linky, I just don't have the funds to get all the privileges that I'd need to compete with last years. Free accounts only allow for one working Mr. Linky at a time per blog.) Two, I thought I'd create some new options. Perhaps breathe some new life into the challenge.

Option A: Read authors A to Z. Commit to reading 26 books theoretically speaking.
Option B: Read titles A to Z. Commit to reading 26 books theoretically speaking.
Option C: Read both authors A to Z and titles A to Z (52 books; this is the challenge Joy created)
Option D: Read internationally A to Z (books representing 26 different countries) (The books could be from international authors (writers from that country); however, it's fine if a book is only set in that country. If need be, instead of countries one could use cities, states, regions, etc. The idea is to use proper place names. If you'd like you could even use a few fictional countries.)
Option E: Read 26 Alphabet books. Embrace your inner child and go visit the children's section!

General rules:

How strict is the 26 or 52? I know it isn't always easy to find those difficult letters. The thought of finding the X's (for example) might scare folks away. It shouldn't! I'm a merciful host! (Ask anyone!)

If you want to give the X's a go... For authors, try to find an X in the first name, middle name, or last name. For titles, it doesn't have to be the starting word. Try to find an X somewhere in a title, and it'd count in my book.

Still can't find a book for the letter you need? I'll take your word for it. I've been there. I know. If your library doesn't see the need to order books just because it starts with an X, then I don't blame you for not wanting to special order a book that you may or may not enjoy. You gave it your best, don't feel bad. You can still make this challenge work for you.

Don't be afraid to ask for recommendations. Look at the previous site. Ask other participants. Or ask me, your host. I may not have the "right" recommendation for every letter, but working together, I bet you'll find something that interests you.

Audio books count in my opinion. If you take the time to listen to books, then that should count towards something.

What about rereads? I don't have a problem with rereads. I would hope that you'd want to mix it up a bit and read some new authors, new titles, etc. But I'm not going to require that by any means.

What about children's books? Children's books and YA books count along with adult fiction and nonfiction of all sorts. (Poetry and plays too. Short stories count if they're in a collection.) I don't see a need to discriminate between "adult" and "kiddie" books. Even picture books can count if you like. Though try to use them in moderation. I used a few picture books to get tricky letters this year.

Overlaps are allowed with other challenges. In fact, you'd be a bit silly not to take advantage of this!