So I've been reading a lot of book-related blogs during break and one of the things that I have been noticing is the amount of different challenges that people create to keep things interesting. Of course, these are also the people who read like 70+ books a year. But anyway, I figured I would give it a shot. No harm in trying.

Soo.. introducing the two challenges I shall be undertaking.

#1 - Chunkster Challenge 2008
Guidelines:
-To qualify the book must be 450 pps regular type OR 750 pps large text.
-You must read FOUR chunksters (one each quarter), you obviously may read more
-The Challenge will run Jan 7th, 2008 - Dec 20th, 2008. But any chunkster started after Jan 1 qualifies.
-Sharing reviews mandatory, format still to be determined.
-There is a sign-up deadline of March 1st, so tell your friends and neighbors but only until then.

The books I am thinking of using are:
"Truman" by David McCullough
"The Count of Monte Cristo" by Alexander Dumas [all 1461 pages of it!]
"The Complete Sherlock Holmes Vol. 2" by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
"The Once and Future King" by T.H. White [I've been wanting to re-read it since I first read it in 1999 for English class]

Possible alternates are:
"The Brothers K" by David James Duncan
"A People's History of the Supreme Court" by Peter Irons
"Inside Inside" by James Lipton
"The Crimson Petal and the White" by Michael Faber

The alternates are there just in case some of the books don't turn out to be that great. Plus, this already works with my New Year Resolution of not buying any new books until I read the ones I own [which is going to be so difficult for me, I already know].

#2 - Jane Austen mini-challenge
Guidelines:
Read and/or watch at least two Jane Austen novels/movies in 2008. Masterpiece Theatre is showing all 6 movies in the 2008 season. If you want to just watch two movies and blog about them, that is fine too. It would still be participating. For those that may not get PBS, rent (or buy) two Austen movies--any version--and you'll still qualify as a participant. Want to read an Austen biography as a substitute for one of the novels, go for it. Or watch Becoming Jane as a substitute for one of the movies. I'll allow it. Just read two Austen-related books. OR watch two Austen-related movies. You can always read more or watch more. What about audio books? Sure. Listening would count as well. Whatever you want. It's supposed to be fun.

I already have "Emma" sitting on my bookshelf longing to be opened, so that will obviously be one. I think the other might be "Sense and Sensibility" mostly because I always wanted to see the movie, but have held off until I read the book because I love to compare and contrast [because I'm uber nerdy like that]. However, I will need to find a copy of that book since I do not currently own it. A "worst case scenario" is I check out from the library... and I only say "worst case" because that means I have to find my library card. Either that or bribe a friend to buy it for me.

I really hope these challenges will distract me from wanting to buy more books. So if anyone knows of any more, send them my way!

EDIT:
OK, I found one more relatively easy one to join.
#3 - What's In A Name Challenge
Guidelines
Basically just read one book whose title falls into each of these categories and there can be overlapping for other challenges, but not between categories.

-Book with a color: "The Crimson Petal and the White" by Michael Faber
-Book with a Name: "Emma" by Jane Austen or "Theodore Rex" by Edmund Morris [to try to stop too much overlap]
-Book with an Animal: "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" by Maya Angelou
-Book with a weather event: "Rise and Shine" by Anna Quindlen
-Book with a Place: "A Death in Belmont" by Sebastian Junger
-Book with a plant: "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" by John Berendt

Woot woot. I heart challenges!