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25 January 2011

...Challenges and Readalongs...


Other than the Victorian Literature Challenge, hosted by words, words, words, I have been remiss in posting about all of the challenges that I'd like to partake in.  I don't want to overwhelm myself, but I just don't want to miss out, sooooo, here goes.....


Hosted by Books in the City, the Immigrant Stories 2011 Challenge drew me right in. The requirement is that the stories be about immigrants, the immigrant experience, and first generation children of immigrants. It is also not limited to the American immigrant experience.


Thanks to Beth Fish Reads for posting about all of the challenges that look interesting.  That's where she introduced me to Book After Book who is hosting the Italy in Books Challenge. Some of you may know that I have a teensy bit of an obsession with all things Italy and have visited twice, including my honeymoon a little over a year ago. I would have felt guilty had I not signed up for this one! January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2011 - read at least 12 books set in Italy (yikes!). There are monthly prizes, though!


The Ladybug Reads is hosting the 2011 E-Book Challenge. Since I got the Nook Color for Christmas from my fabulous family, I didn't want to pass this one up.  January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2011 - read a minimum of three, no maximum.

Here are some other challenges or read-a-longs that have really pulled me in. I am not sure if I am officially joining, but don't these look hard to resist?


After reading Edith Wharton's The House of Mirth and Ethan Frome, I decided I was in love with her haunting and depressing stories. And bookworm meets bookworm is hosting The Age of Innocence Read-A-Long.


I've been meaning to read Villette by Charlotte Bronte for ages. Then, when it seemed to be mentioned frequently in Diane Setterfield's The Thirteenth Tale, I knew it was some sort of sign that I should read it. Hosted by the amazing Unputdownables...

Sigh...how will I ever get this all done...  But, what a good problem to have, no?

Happy Reading,
Coffee and a Book Chick

25 comments:

  1. Good luck with all of those! I like the Italy one - I can't wait to go back one day.

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  2. Looking forward to having you for the read-a-long! The schedule will be posted later this week. :)

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  3. Sounds like a lot of interesting challenges! I'm off to check out that one about Immigrant stories. And I'll be participating in the Villete one, so I'll catch you there. Have fun!

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  4. So glad I was able to hook you up with the Italy challenge!

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  5. Some of these are new to me and sound fabulous! I stopped doing group challenges this year and am trying to stick to my personal goals, but I love seeing what others read for the challenges to add to my own TBR!

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  6. So glad you posted about the Villette read-along. I joined immediately!

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  7. Some of these look great and like things that I could easily complete, and since I have already read 3 ebooks this year, I am definitely signing up for that one. Good Luck, Natalie, and thanks for sharing the info on these challenges.

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  8. Great challenges, I think I'll have to join the e-book challenge. Can't wait to hear what you think of Villette, I kept meaning to read it after reading The Thirteenth Tale but never got to it.

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  9. I was really tempted to join the Villette read-along but I had already signed up for The Age of Innocence read-along, which I am really excited about! I almost wish the two weren't going on at the same time so I could do both.

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  10. Very, very cool. I still need to read something by the one of the Bronte's!

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  11. thanks for linking to that read along.. i have wanted to read that as well but not without discussing it with others.. and i dont think my blog's group readers would want to read it! i didnt sign up for any challenges this year because i have no idea what to expect with reading after the baby comes in may!

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  12. I've signed up for three challenges(Vintage Mysteries, Victorian Reading Challenge and Dewey Decimal Non-fiction Challenge)this year and I'm thinking about a fourth, the Baker Street Challenge - reading the Holmes canon and/or the pastiches. (Which I do anyway.) But I'm finding that what I suspected all along is not good: the pressure. Even with just three easy challenges, I'm still feeling pressure. Well, the Victorian one isn't all that easy because the authors I'm reading I've never read before. Yikes! Don't know yet how I really feel about all this.

    You're very wise to take it slow. :)

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  13. Thanks for joining the E-Book Reading Challenge! Have fun!

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  14. Dang girl! GOOD LUCK! I can usually handle just one or two reading challenges a year! I've only committed to the Ireland Reading challenge so far this year, but the Immigrant Stories and Italy in Books challenges I might have to consider.

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  15. Good luck with all these! I don't participate in challenges - too structured for me - but as I was planning on reading Age of Innocence shortly anyway, I did join that read-a-long. Should be fun!

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  16. You will looooove The Age of Innocence. I wasn't so hot on The House of Mirth, though. Need to read Ethan From. It's on my Nook!

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  17. WOW, good luck on all of these challenges... I am cheering you on!

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  18. Oooh... I just recently got a copy of The Age of Innocence! I might have to join you all.

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  19. I really dig those challenges, very diverse! Good luck. AND I love what you are reading Affinity by Sarah waters! LOVE her.

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  20. So glad to have you on board for the Immigrant Stories Challenge! I am doing the Age of Innocence Read a Long too and looking forward to it - Ethan Frome is one of my favorite books but I have never read another Edith Wharton

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  21. I love seeing what other people are joining, as I'm always learning about new challenges! If my February and March weren't already so full, I'd definitely join the Villette readalong. It's on my classics list, and I hope to read it soon!

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  22. Good luck with all of your challenges!

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