My Book Challenges for 2010

First, let me say that I have never participated in a book challenge. I still can't believe I didn't find the book blogging community until September of 2009. I have missed SO many cool things, and I'm just amazed at all the cool book bloggers out there. You all are awesome. So, it's time to pick a few book challenges for 2010. I have no idea how you all choose them. I'm guessing the idea is to challenge myself:) First, I choose The HMS Challenger over at Word for Teens. Nicole explains the challenge:

Way back when, the ocean had yet to be explored. We knew nothing about it. Then, the HMS Challenger was sent out - its challenge? To scope the ocean and learn it's secrets.

With that in mind, readers, I challenge you to read (or reread) ten books between now and September 19th of 2010. But not just any ten books. These books must involve water - be it about pirates, mermaids, or the coast of California, fiction or nonfiction.

Isn't this a cool idea? Wow, and some good books come to my mind!

Lost Journals of Ven Polypheme by Sara Douglass
Ship of Magic by Robin Hobb
Ilse Witch by Terry Brooks

Those are off the top of my head. I'm also excited because I can also reread Tempest Rising by Nicole Peeler AND include the second book Tracking the Tempest due out in the spring or summer of 2010. Awesome.


My next challenge is the 100+ Reading Challenge from J. Kaye's Book Blog. The rules are as follows:

1. The goal is to read 100 or more books. Anyone can join. You don't need a blog to participate.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. Crossovers from other reading challenges count.

5. Challenge begins January 1st thru December, 2010. Books started before the 1st do not count.

This will be my "big" challenge. I constantly have a book that I'm reading, and now and then I read two at a time, so 100 books shouldn't be a problem at all. Reviewing each of them will take motivation on my part, but I really want to do this. So, I'm in!

Lastly, unless another challenge grabs me and hauls me into it's clutches is the 451 Challenge, which is based on 451 Fridays, a weekly feature hosted at As Usual, We Need More Bookshelves.
The Rules:

Between January 1, 2010 and November 30, 2010, participants are challenged to read books on the 451 master list. There will be several levels of participation:

Spark - read 1-2 books from the master list
Ember - read 3-4 books from the master list
Flame - read 5-6 books from the master list
Blaze - read 7 or more books from the master list

Re-reading is acceptable, as are crossovers with other challenges. Audio, print, and e-books are all acceptable. Each month, participants will be encouraged to post their reviews on the challenge blog, and each review posted will be an entry into a grand prize drawing for a $25 gift card to the online bookseller of the winner's choice.

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury was one of the first science fiction books that I read when I was a teen, and last year my teen read it for the first time, loving it as much as I did. He, like me, loves books and reading with a passion. So, I am going for the Blaze level and reading 7 or more from the list, which has some awesome selections!

I will post an individual post for each challenge in January. Have you chosen a book challenge for 2010?

~Moonsanity