Middle Grade Book Challenge

I love waking up in the morning and getting excited about books. That's what happened today. I'm supposed to be getting ready for work but I was taking some time to read through other people's book blogs and found this lovely challenge:

Linda Ellen at Bambi Reads is hosting the Middle Grade Book Challenge.

While I dutifully try to branch out and read a variety of books, I have a soft spot for children's literature - especially the books I remember reading when I was younger. I had told myself that since I just started this blog I wouldn't overwhelm myself with too many things all at once. Then I realized that being overwhelmed by books and reading couldn't possibly be a bad thing :)

Here are the guidelines for the challenge:

1. Anyone can join.

2. Read 12 middle grade novels (Challenge 1) or read 25 MG books (Challenge 2). You can read comics too, or listen to audio books. These can be in any language. You don't have to make a reading list now; you may select them as you go and you're free to make changes to your list.

3. The challenge begins September 1st, 2009 through August 31st, 2010.

4. You can join anytime between now and August 31st, 2010.

5. When you sign up with MckLinky on Linda Ellen's blog, you will be redirected to another page. Type in your name, followed by the name of your blog. [e.g.: Linda Ellen (Bambi Reads)]. Then type in your blog's URL. Please follow these instructions or your link will be removed.

That's it folks! I know there must be other people who love reading middle grade books as well. So if you do, go sign up!

1. Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix
2. Harry Potter and the Philospher's Stone by J.K. Rowling
   

The Olympic Challenge - London 2012

Katrina at Katrina's Reads is hosting The Olympic Challenge - London 2012 in an attempt to read books from the 202 participating countries in the Summer Olympic Games by July 27, 2012.

You don't have to read a novel per country, it could be a novel, essay, poetry, non-fiction, or graphic novel, just as long as the author is a citizen of that country.

Also, if you are having trouble finding authors from a certain country, it is acceptable to read a book about the country instead.

I'm fascinated by the idea of reading books by authors from different countries. While I try to branch out and do this on my own with what I read in general, it is something I don't do as often as I'd like and hopefully this challenge will motivate me to do so.

Here's the massive list of countries:

Afghanistan
Albania
Algeria
American Samoa
Andorra
Angola
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Armenia
Aruba
Australia
Austria
Azerbaijan

Bahamas
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Barbados
Belarus
Belgium
Belize
Benin
Bermuda
Bhutan
Bolivia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Brazil
British Virgin Islands
Bulgaria
Burkina Faso
Burundi

Cambodia
Cameroon
Canada
Cape Verde
Cayman Islands
Central African Republic
Chad
Chile
Chinese Taipei
Colombia
Comoros
Congo
Cook Islands
Costa Rica
Cote d'lvoire
Croatia
Cuba
Cyprus
Czech Republic

Denmark
Djibouti
Dominica
Dominican Republic

Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Estonia
Ethiopia

Fiji
Finland
France

Gabon
Gambia
Georgia
Germany
Ghana
Great Britain - Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J.K. Rowling
Greece
Grenada
Guam
Guatamala
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Guyana

Haiti
Honduras
Hong Kong
Hungary

Iceland
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Ireland
Israel
Italy

Jamaica
Japan
Jordan

Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kiribati
North Korea
South Korea
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan

Laos
Latvia
Lebanon
Lesotho
Liberia
Libya
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg

Macedonia
Madagascar
Malawi
Malaysia
Maldives
Mali
Malta
Marshall Islands
Mauritania
Mexico
Micronesia
Moldova
Monaco
Mongolia
Montenegro
Morocco
Mozambique
Myanmar

Namibia
Nauru
Nepal
Netherlands
Netherlands Antilles
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Niger
Nigeria
Norway

Oman

Pakistan
Palau
Palestine
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Puerto Rico

Qatar

Romania
Russia
Rwanda

Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Samoa
San Marino
Sao Tome and Principe
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Serbia
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
Solomon Islands
Somalia
South Africa
Spain
Sri Lanka
Sudan
Suriname
Swaziland
Sweden - The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
Switzerland
Syria

Tajikistan
Tanzania
Thailand
Timor-Leste
Togo
Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago
Tunisia
Turkey
Turkmenistan
Tuvalu

Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United States - Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
Uruguay
Uzbekistan

Vanuatu
Venezuela
Vietnam
Virgin Islands

Yemen

Zambia
Zimbabwe

My first challenge!

It seems I've stumbled upon my first reading challenge and it's of no surprise that it pertains to Harry Potter :)

My love for Harry Potter knows no bounds. I'm not joking, not even a little bit. Last month a friend and I planned our entire vacation to the UK around Harry Potter -- we camped out for 14 hours at the premiere (which included way too much rain and hail for my liking) and proceeded to visit every HP site we could find in London and Edinburgh.

Since the trip, I have actually been attempting to refrain from re-reading the series. Why would I do such an absurd thing, you ask? Because when I re-read HP (and it's usually all 7 in a row) I feel like I'm neglecting the other books on my shelf that have yet to be read.

Yes, I'm well aware that I might be a tad crazy. It's OK though, I embrace it!

Michelle from Galley Smith is hosting the Harry Potter Reading Challenge which has thankfully given me an excuse to succumb to my need to re-read the Harry Potter books! Here is the basic info for the challenge:

When: August 1, 2009 - July 31, 2010

What: Read (or listen to) all 7 books in the Harry Potter series

1. Philosopher's Stone
2. Chamber of Secrets
3. Prisoner of Azkaban
4. Goblet of Fire
5. Order of the Phoenix
6. Half-Blood Prince
7. Deathly Hallows