2015 Word of the YEAR

Since 2009 I have been participating in One Little Word by Ali Edwards.  I've gone through a wide variety of words starting out with Strong, Remember, Organize, Brave, Faith, and Happy last year.  This year I am taking my word to an entirely different place.  For the last year I have toyed with the word "me" and I've realized I need more Me in my life.  So when I sat down and started thinking of my word the first thing to hit me was

 I feel it fits so well into the Me path I so desperately need to take.

Merriam-Webster defines

¹spar·kle

 verb \ˈspär-kəl\

: to produce small flashes of light

: to perform very well

: to be or become bright and lively

  I know in the years we have lived in Maine I have let everyone and everything Dull my Sparkle.  I can see it in everything and I don't want that for myself anymore.  I don't want my girls growing up and thinking it's okay to let people dull your sparkle.  So I am going to spend 2015 embracing my SPARKLE and letting it shine bright.  

Banned Books Challenge

So as I was searching for Challenges I came across the Banned Books Challenge and who am I to turn down Banned books.  So I knew this Banned Books Challenge over at Buckling Bookshelves was perfect for me.  

RULES: Any book that has been banned or challenged counts. Books can be any format, any length, and can overlap with other challenges. Graphic novels, children's books, picture books are all fine -- any book that has been banned or challenged works for this challenge.

WHERE CAN I FIND BOOK SUGGESTIONS? There isn't one specific list to work from, but there are many different resources you can check out for ideas:

• The ALA's lists of frequently challenged books. There are multiple lists split up by author, year, decade, and a separate list for classics, so there are a lot of options from all different genres.

• GoodReads has several listopia lists on the subject -- this is particularly helpful for identifying books you already have on your shelves if you are a user of the site.

• The Banned Books Week Facebook Page is great about reporting current information on bans and challenges.

• I wrote posts last year about three Banned Book Victories as well as Additional Banned Books Resources including some information on challenged graphic novels.

• If you learn about a book getting challenged in the news, on a book blog, around the web, or wherever else you get your bookish news, it's fair game. One book that made headlines last year was The Miseducation of Cameron Post -- it doesn't need to make any of the big lists to count. And if you learn about a new incident, I'd love to hear about it!

LEVELS: Below are the levels you can choose from. Changing your mind is OK -- you can go up or down in level at any time. I said low-pressure, remember? I'm not the book police, I promise.

     Making Waves: 1-2 Challenged Books
     Trouble-Maker: 3-5 Challenged Books
     Rabble-Rouser: 6-9 Challenged Books
     Rebel: 10-14 Challenged Books
     Leader of a Revolution: 15+ Challenged Books

So I am going to go with Trouble-Maker and let Miss Zee help since she loves her banned books too.

1. the handmaid"s tale
2. Fahrenheit 451
3. coraline
4. the absolutely true diary of apart time indian 

Finishing the Series Reading Challenge 2015

I signed up this year for a Series challenge but like how this one sounds more.  It gives me some flexibility with books that are not completely finished that I am reading so I signed up for this one over at Socrates' Book Reviews.

Choose a level....

Level 1 (Novice series reader) - Complete 1 series.
Level 2 (Testing the waters) - Complete 2 series.
Level 3 (Experienced) - Complete 3 series.
Level 4 (Expert series reader) - Complete 4 or more series.

I am going to start with Level 2 completing 2 Series.  

Georgina Kincaid
Lonely Lace
Courtney Crumrin
Tantalize

2015 Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge

I participated in the Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge this year and have already outdone myself so of course when I saw it was going on again I signed on up.  So if you want to sign up to go here. 

Levels:

• Getting My Heart Rate Up: read 1–5 more books (or 250–1,499 more pages)
• Out of Breath: read 6–10 more books (or 1,500–2,749 more pages)
• Breaking a Sweat: read 11–15 more books (or 2,750–3,999 more pages)
• I’m on Fire!: read 16+ more books (or 4,000+ more pages)

I am going to start with Getting My Heart Rate Up since I read almost 100 books this year.

Im at 92 so far 

You Read How Many Books? Reading Challenge 2015

Even though I am setting my Goodreads and Shelfari goal for 80.  I am going to push past that with this challenge, hopefully I can make 100 and blow the 80 out of the water.   It's going on at Book Dragon's Lair.

1. There are several levels to choose from
   Level 1: 100 minimum
   Level 2: 150
   Level 3: 200
   Level 4: 250 or more

I am going with Level 1 with 100 books

I am at 92 so far 

Full House Reading Challenge 2015

I loved doing the Bingo board this year and I don't know if I will black it out but I am two books away.  So when I saw this board over at the Book Date I figured I would try it out for 2015.

1. Library Book
2. Novella
3. Author Outside your own Country
4. Won or Borrowed
5. 2nd book or more in a series ~ Secrets and Lace

1. A top book of 2015 for you
2. Setting that you now want to visit
3. Book by author you really like
4. Book set in Northern Hemisphere
5. Been on your TBR "forever"

1. You heard about the book online
2. Award winning
3. Free choice
4. Debut novel by author
5. Published in 2014

1. Set in the Southern Hemisphere
2.  First in a  series
3. Published 2000-2013
4. Published pre 2000
5. Type of book you rarely or never read

1. Published in 2015
2.  A Keeper
3.  Outstanding Hero or Heroine
4. Author new to you
5. You love the cover

2015 Bookish Resolutions Challenge

It's sure going to be a year for "new" things.  I came across this challenge and figured why not.  So I found the Bookish Resolutions Challenge over here and signed up.

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 than 1 can be unrelated to books/book blogging

3.    Create a sign up post and add it to the Linky on this post (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.

Book Resolutions 

1.  Read 80 books ~ 1 of 80 read 
2.  Finish to publish date 3 series
3.  Read 12 chapter books with Zee
4.  Read 5 books out of the To Read Book Binder
5.  Blog at least 2 time a month

Tweet your progress to #BookishResolutions

- See more at: http://www.becausereading.com/2015bookreschallenge/#sthash.vrmtTTUU.dpuf

2015 TBR Pile Reading Challenge

I did this challenge from Bookish last year and loved it so much.  It kept me more to my list (of course I did stray away from it because who wouldn't when so many great books keep coming out).  But I did knock out around 40 books off my list.  It might have been more but I don't remember off the top of my head.  So I knew I had to do this challenge again.  So if your TBR pile is as long as mine swing on over here and sign yourself up too.

How many books are you planning to read for this challenge?

1-10 A Firm Handshake

11-20 A Friendly Hug

21-30 First Kiss 

31-40 Sweet Summer Fling  

41-50 Could This Be Love?

50+ Married with Children

I am going to shoot for Sweet Summer Fling this time!!!!

Schedule

January

• Read-A-Long (poll will go live 12/18/14)
• Vote for March read

February (Evie)

• January - February Wrap Up
• Announce March's read and schedule

March

• Read-A-Long
• Vote for May read

April (Debbie)

• March - April Wrap Up
• Announce May's read and schedule

May

• Read-A-Long
• Vote for ​July read

June (Debbie)

• May - June Wrap Up
• Announce July's read and schedule

July

• Read-A-Long
• Vote for September read
• Giveaway

August (Jessica)

• July - August Wrap Up
• Announce October's read and schedule

September

• Read-A-Long
• Vote for November read 

October (Tiffany)

• September - October Wrap Up
• Announce November's read and schedule

November

• Read-A-Long

December (Andrea)

• November - December Wrap Up​
• Giveaway

2015 Library Challenge

Love me some library time and even though I signed up for a different Library challenge for Zee and myself, I am signing up for this one too.  I think I will combine all of our books since we read most of them together for this one.  Plus with our library looking at growing and it is one of the girls and my favorite places (yes, even though all of us own e-readers).  I figured we would love this.  We are constantly going in and finding a new audio book for while we are in the van, or even music cds for a break from the radio for awhile.  The girls also love checking out movies, and Kyrie's new thing is graphic novels.  She has blown through those lately and has even moved upstairs to the adult section with a few ya's or no not yet's from me.  So if you want to join me hope on over here and sign up too.

 1-5 check outs in 2015 – NOVICE

6-11 check outs in 2015 – ROOKIE

12- 16 check outs in 2015 – INTERMEDIATE

17 – 22 check outs in 2015 – SEASONED 

23 – 27 check outs in 2015 – EXPERIENCED

28 + check outs in 2015 – GOING PRO!

I think we will shoot for intermediate with this one.  

1. 1. The Book of Life
2. 2. Hobart 
3. 3. Smile 
4. 4. The Problem Child
5. 5. Odd Apocalypse 
6. 6. Chasing the Prophecy 
7. 7. Seeds of Rebellion
8. 8. The Wishing Spell
9. 9. Lies that Chelsea Handler Told Me
10. 10. Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang 
11. 11. Princess Posey and the Tiny Treasure 
12. 12. The Lonesome Gods 
13. 13. Coraline
14. 14. Anya's Ghost 
15. 15. In Odd We Trust 
16. 16. Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter Guilty Pleasure Vol 1
17. 17. Odd is on Our Side
18. 18. N. P. H. Choose Your Own Autobiography 
19. 19. Anita Blake Vampire Hunter Guilty Pleasure Volume 2
20. 20. Anita Blake Vampire Hunter The First Death 
21. 21. Foiled
22. 22. Courtney Crumrin & the Night Things
23. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian
24. American Vampire Vol 1
25. Out of the Easy
26. I Was a Teenage Fairy
27. American Vampire Vol 2
28. True Blood All Together Now
29. Unwritten Vol 2
30. Fever Moon The Fear Dorcha
31. Unwritten Vol 3
32. Unwritten Vol 4
33. The Hobbit Graphic Novel
34. House of Odd
35. True Blood Tainted Love 
36. Beautiful Creatures The Manga
37. The Imposters Daughter 
38. Pink Smog
39. Awkward Family Photos
40. Courtney Crumrin & the Coven of Mystics
41. Blood Roses
42. Kalona's Fall
43. Courtney Crumrin & the Twilight Kingdom
44. Cursed Foiled Again
45. The Bad Beginning 
46. Courtney Crumrin's Monstrous Holiday 
47. Through the Woods
48. Courtney Crumrin The Witch Next Door
49. The Game of Thrones Graphic Novel Vol 1
50. Courtney Crumrin The Final Spell
51. Guilty Pleasure
52. Pippi Goes on Board
53. A Game of Thrones Graphic Novel Vol 2
54. The Laughing Corpse
55. A Game of Thrones Graphic Novel Vol 3
56. A Wrinkle in Time Graphic Novel 
57. The Amulet of Samarkand The Graphic Novel
58. I Am Malala
59. Aesop's Fables
60. A Midsummer Night's Dream
61. Tantalize: Kieren's Story
62. The Witches
63. Psyche in a Dress
64. Milk Eggs Vodka
65. Olive Kitteridge 
66. Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil: A Savannah Story
67. How to (un)cage a Girl
68. Macbeth
69. The Christmas Box Miracle
70. The Christmas Box 

I Love Library Books Reading Challenge 2014

So I am going to keep two lists for this one for me and one for Miss Zee.  We sure do love our library!!!  The Challenge is hosted here

Requirements:

• choose a level - you may move up as needed, just not down.
• read books you checked out of the library
• books may overlap with other challenges
• any format allowed (print, ebook, audio)
• reviews are not necessary but a list of books read is. (post with review linky is coming in January)
• a blog is not necessary, just comment that you want to join in or link up another way

Levels:

• board book - 3
• picture book - 6
• early reader - 9  Zee and I will both shoot for 9 books to start with.  I'm sure Zee will knock this out well before me
• chapter book - 12 
• middle grades - 18 
• Young adult - 24
• adult - 36
• just insert IV - 50 

Zee's List

So of course I forgot to keep up but we checked out a ton this year so I will try and update as best as I can 

1. Old Mo
2. Happy Pig Day
3. City Dog, Country Frog
4. Pig Has A Plan
5. Let's Say HI to Friends Who Fly
6. In A People House
7. I Have A Garden
8. Glasses for D. W. 
9. Princess Posey and the Tiny Treasure
10. Warriors Manga 
11. Warriors Manga
12. Warriors Manga 
13. Never girls
14. Geronimo Stilton 
15. Thea Stilton
16. The Day the Crayons Came Back
17. Baby has a mustache
18. Ivy + Bean
19. Elephant and Piggie
20. The Bad Beginning 
21. Pippi On Board

My List
1. The Book of Life
2. Smile
3. The Problem Child
4. The Wishing Spell
5. Seeds of Rebellion
6. Chasing Prophecy
7. Odd Apocalypse
8. Lies that Chelsea Handler Told Me
9. Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang
10. The Lonesome Gods
11. Coraline
12. Anya's Ghost
15. In Odd We Trust
16. Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter Guilty Pleasure Vol 1
17. Odd is on Our Side
18. N.P. H. Choose Your Own Autobiography
19. Anita Blake Vampire Hunter Guilty Pleasure Vol 2
20. Anita Blake Vampire Hunter The First Death
21. Foiled
22. Courtney Crumrin & the Night Things
23. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian
24. American Vampire Vol 1
25. Out of the Easy
26. I WAs a Teenage Fairy
27. American Vampire Vol 2
28. True Blood All Together Now
29. Unwritten Vol 2
30. Fever Moon the Fear Dorcha
31. Unwritten Vol 3
32. Unwritten Vol 4
33. The Hobbit Graphic Novel
34. House of Odd
35. True Blood Tainted Love
36. Beautiful Creatures the Manga
37. The Imposters Daughter 
38. Pink Smog
39. Awkward Family Photos
40. Courtney Crumrin & the Coven of Mystics
41. Blood Roses
42 Kalona's Fall
43. Courtney Crumrin & the Twilight Kingdom
44. Cursed Foiled Again
45.Courtney Crumrin's Monstrous Holiday
46. Through the Woods
47. Courtney Crumrin the Witch Next Door
48. The Game of Thrones Graphic Novel Vol 1
49. Courtney Crumrin The Final Spell
50. Guilty Pleasure 
51. A Game of Thrones Graphic Novel Vol 2
52. The Laughing Corpse
53. A Game of Thrones Graphic Novel Vol 3
54. A Wrinkle in Time Graphic Novel
55. The Amulet of Samarkand The Graphic Novel
56. I Am Malala
57. Aesop's Fables
58. A Midsummer Night's Dream
59. Tantalize: Kieren's Story
60. The Witches
61. Psyche in a Dress
62. Milk Eggs Vodka
63. Olive Kitteridge
64. Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil: A Savannah Story
65. How to (un)cage a Girl
66. Macbeth
67. The Christmas Box Miracle
68. The Christmas Box

Popsugar 2015 Reading Challenge

1. A Book with more than 500 pages
2. A Classic Romance
3. A book that became a movie
4. A book published this year
5. A book with a number in the title
6. A book written by someone under 30
7. A book with nonhuman characters
8. A Funny book
9. A book by a female Author ~ Secrets and Lace by Bonnie Paulson
10. A Mystery of Thriller
11. A book with a one-word-title
12. A book of short stories
13. A book set in a different country
14. A nonfiction book
15. A popular author's first book
16. A book from an author you love that you haven't read yet
17. A book a friend recommended
18. A Pulitzer Prize-winning book
19. A book based on a  true story
20. A book at the bottom of  your to-read list
21. A book your mom loves
22. A book that scares you
23. A book more than 100 years old
24. A book based entirely on its cover
25. A book you were supposed to read in school but didn't
26. A Memoir
27. A book you can finish in a day
28. A book with antonyms in the title
29. A book set somewhere you've always wanted to visit
30. A book that came out the year you were born
31. A book with bad reviews 
32. A trilogy
33. A book from your childhood
34. A book with a love triangle
35. A book set in the future
36. A book set in high school
37. A book with a color in the title
38. A book that made you cry
39. A book with magic
40. A graphic novel
41. A book by an author you've never read before 
42. A book you own but have never read
43. A book that takes place in your hometown
44. A book that was originally written in a different language 
45. A book set during Christmas
46. A book written by an author with your same initials
47. A play
48. A banned book
49. A book based on or turned into a TV show
50. A book you started but never finished

The Book Riot 2015 Read Harder Challenge

I'm trying this challenge from Book Riot this year.  Hopefully it shakes up some things with reading for me.

1. A book written by someone when they were under the age of 25
2. A book written by someone when they were over the age of 65
3. A collection of short stories (either by one person or an anthology by many people)
4. A book published by an indie press
5. A book by or about someone that identifies as LGBTQ
6. A book by a person whose gender is different from your own
7. A book that takes place in Asia
8. A book by an author from Africa
9. A book that is by or about someone from an indigenous culture (Native Americans, Aboriginals, etc.)
10. A microhistory
11. A YA novel
12. A sci-fi novel
13. A romance novel ~ Secrets and Lace by Bonnie R. Paulson
14. A National Book Award, Man Booker Prize or Pulitzer Prize winner from the last decade
15. A book that is a retelling of a classic story (fairytale, Shakespearian play, classic novel, etc.)
16. An audiobook
17. A collection of poetry
18. A book that someone else has recommended to you
19. A book that was originally published in another language
20. A graphic novel, a graphic memoir or a collection of comics of any kind (Hi, have you met Panels?)
21. A book that you would consider a guilty pleasure (Read, and then realize that good entertainment is nothing to feel guilty over)
22. A book published before 1850
23. A book published this year
24. A self-improvement book (can be traditionally or non-traditionally considered “self-improvement”)

2015 Reading Challenge Addict

It's getting close to the end of the year and it means it's time to pick my reading challenges, and my word of the year.   I couldn't find the list I picked challenges from last year but I was able to find quite a few reading challenges on my own.  So first I am going with Reading Challenge Addict hosted here.

I am a Reading Challenge Addict.

So we are challenging each of you who can also say that you also are a Reading Challenge Addict.

How addicted are you? 

• Easy as Pie: 1-5 Challenges (Entered & Completed)
• On the Roof: 6-10 Challenges (Entered & Completed)
• In Flight: 11-15 Challenges (Entered & Completed)
• Out of This World: 16+ Challenges (Entered & Completed)

Ok so counting my Goodreads and Shelfari I am entering 14 Challenges not counting this one.  Wish me luck I might loose my mind.

1. Goodreads & Shelfari (I am counting these as 1 since they are just a certain number of books)
2. I Love Library Books
3. 2015 Bookish Resolutions Challenge 
4. Outdo Yourself Challenge
5. Banned Book Challenge 
6. Finishing the Series 
7. You Read How Many Books
8. Library Challenge 
9. Th2015 TBR Pile Reading Challenge 
10. Full House Reading Challenge 
11. 2015 Birthday Month Reading Challenge 
12. Book Blogger Organization Challenge 
13. 2015 Reading Challenge by Popsugar
14. The Book Riot 2015 Read Harder Challenge