Missing Letters Challenge

If you look at my reviews archive, you will see that I haven't reviewed any books with titles beginning with the letters O, Q, V, X, Y, or Z, probably because there aren't a whole lot of books that have those first letters. The spaces are kind of bothering me.

They are also bothering a friend of mine, who challenged me to get at least one book for each letter. For O, I have Once in a Full Moon by Ellen Schreiber, and for V I have Vesper by Jeff Sampson, but I still don't know for the other letters. If you know of any good books that have titles beginning with Q, X, Y, or Z... let me know! They're pretty uncommon letters, which, I guess, is why it's a challenge.

I don't have a specific end date set for this challenge, but I'm going to try to do it by summer. And I'm challenging you: if there are missing letters in your review archive... fill the holes! If you decide to participate, leave a comment with your name and your missing letters, and we can help each other find great books to meet our missing-letter goals.

And so the quest begins.

100+ in 2011 Challenge

With just an hour and a half left in 2010, I have chosen another 2011 challenge to participate in (or, if you want to be grammatically correct, a 2011 challenge in which to participate). That's the 100+ Books in 2011 Challenge, hosted by My Overstuffed Bookshelf.

From what I can tell, it's basically exactly what it sounds like: read at least a hundred books in 2011. I'm definitely in! My first book is going to be Raised by Wolves by Jennifer Lynn Barnes, because even though I listed it as my "currently reading" earlier today, I haven't actually started it yet and probably won't in the next hour and a half (anything started before January 1 doesn't count for the challenge).

Also, allow me to call your attention to the new "Challenges" page that I've added. On this page, I'll be keeping track of my current challenges, as you might guess from the title.

Enjoy the end of 2010, those of you who are still there, and to those of you who have already reached 2011 -- Happy New Year!

2011 Debut Author Challenge

As 2011 rapidly approaches (and I am still trying to pretend that it is not), I've decided to participate in the 2011 Debut Author Challenge, which is hosted by The Story Siren. The goal, if I understand correctly, is to read at least twelve 2011 YA debut novels during the year 2011. You can find out all the official rules and how to participate here.

I'm sure this list will change, but the novels I plan to read for the challenge are as follows:

• Unearthly by Cynthia Hand
• Vesper: A Deviants Novel by Jeff Sampson
• Timeless by Alexandria Monir
• Across the Universe by Beth Revis
• Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton
• Rival by Sarah Bennett-Wealer
• So Shelly by Ty Roth
• Exposed by Kimberly Marcus
• Entwined by Heather Dixon
• Blood Magic by Tessa Gratton
• The Revenant by Sonia Gensler
• Paper Covers Rock by Jenny Hubbard

And that's a dozen, although from reading the list that Kristi has so graciously posted on her website, I am sure I will read way more than that. There's a lengthy list of 2011 debuts that look awesome.

I'm so excited to participate in this challenge! Thank you, Kristi, for hosting it, and to all the other participating bloggers: good luck and have fun!