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Monday, December 31, 2012

Top Ten Tuesday #18

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created here at The Broke and the Bookish. This feature was created because we are particularly fond of lists here at The Broke and the Bookish. We'd love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!
 
Top Ten Books I Resolve To Read In 2013
 
These are all books I didn't get to in 2012 and I'm hoping that I can knock all of these off my TBR pile in 2013.
 
 
 
A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire, #1) Interview with the Vampire (The Vampire Chronicles, #1) The Book of Negroes Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln
 The Casual Vacancy Cleopatra's Moon Lily of the Nile (Cleopatra's Daughter, #1) Dead Witch Walking (The Hollows, #1)
The Fellowship of the Ring (The Lord of the Rings, #1) The Tiger's Wife
 
What are your Top Ten Books you  Resolve To Read In 2013??
 

It's Monday! What Are You Reading #36


 
It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a meme hosted by Book Journey and is a great way for others to find out what you are planning to read this week and, best of all, see what others are reading.
 
Last week I read:
 
Valkyrie Rising (Valkyrie, #1) Deep Storm Dead In The Water (Kate Shugak, #3) Sphinx's Princess (Sphinx's Princess, #1)

Currently Reading:

Fifty Shades Freed (Fifty Shades, #3)
 
Next Up:
 
Beautiful Disaster (Beautiful, #1) The Starlight Barking Splintered Sphinx's Queen (Sphinx's Princess, #2) A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire, #1)
 
What are YOUR reading plans this week?

 

Sunday, December 30, 2012

2013 Anne Rice Challenge

 
This challenge is being hosted by The Towering Pile
Here are the details copied from The Towering Pile
 
Since I vastly underestimated the amount of time it takes to read Anne Rice novels, I still have a lot left to read after the 2012 Anne Rice Challenge. So I've decided to host the challenge again!

Join me in one of several levels, according to how many Anne Rice books you plan to read in 2013.


Rules:
  • Ebooks are fine. Audiobooks are fine as long as they are the unabridged versions.
  • Rereads and crossovers with other challenges are fine.
  • You can change your level at any time.
  • The challenge goes from January 1st to December 31st, 2013.
  • If you read, for example, the edition that has the first 3 Vampire Chronicles books together in one volume, that still counts as 3. We're going by how the books were originally published.
  • All books written by Anne Rice count, not just the Vampire Chronicles, including those written under a pseudonym.
  • You can sign up any time from now until November 30, 2013.

Levels:
  • Louis de Pointe du Lac (1 to 5 books)
  • Lestat de Lioncourt (6 to 10 books)
  • Armand (11 to 15 books)
  • Marius de Romanus (16 to 20 books)
  • Maharet (21 to 25)
  • Akasha (26 to 30)
 
 
To sign up for the 2013 Anne Rice Challenge CLICK HERE
 

I'm aiming for the Louis de Pointe du Lac level (1 to 5 books) I've had several several of Anne Rice's novels taking up precious space on my bookshelves for years and I've never read a single one! This year I plan to read the first 5 books in The Vampire Chronicles series.
The titles I plan to read are:
Interview with the Vampire
The Vampire Lestat
The Queen of the Dammed
The Tale of the Body Thief
Memnoch the Devil
 

2013 Middle East Reading Challenge

This challenge is being hosted by 2013 Middle East Reading Challenge
Here are the details copied from :2013 Middle East Reading Challenge

Hello, my nom de blog is Maphead and you might know me from my book blog Maphead's Book Blog. Over the last several years Helen, one of my favorite book bloggers, has hosted the Middle East Reading Challenge. Not only has her reading challenge been a fun and intellectually-stimulating activity, but in light of 2011′s Arab Spring and recent events in Libya and Syria it's served as a fantastic opportunity for readers to gain a deeper understanding of people and forces which are reshaping one of the world’s most volatile and dynamic regions. When Helen announced she was stepping down from being the challenge's host and suggested that I take her place at first I was reluctant. While I’ve been book blogging for several years, I’ve never hosted a challenge. However, to see the Middle East Reading Challenge vanish into the ether would be a huge loss. Therefore, after thinking it over I’ve decided to accept her offer and host the 2013 Middle East Reading Challenge. Below are all the details. By the way, since Kinna did such a fine job in creating her Africa Reading Challenge, I've decided to use hers as a template. In other words, I ripped her off! Thanks Kinna!

Challenge Period

January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2013
 

REGION

Referred by many nowadays as the "Greater Middle East" or "MENA" (Middle East/North Africa), our challenge will focus on the North African nations of Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Libya and Egypt; the Levantine nations of Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Jordan and the Palestinian Territories; all the nations within, bordering or relatively close proximity to the Arabian Peninsula including Iran, Iraq, Kuwait and the Gulf Emirates.
  • After a great deal of agonizing I've decided to not include Turkey. Nothing personal, it's just a judgment call. However, if you come across a book dealing with that nation's role in the Middle East by all means feel free to include it. Of course, since much of the Middle East was ruled by the Ottoman Empire until the end of WWI, books dealing with period of history are cool too.
  • I've also decided to not include the nations of the Horn of Africa or its neighbors Sudan and South Sudan. Yet another judgment call.



READING GOAL

Read as many books as you'd like. Eligible books include those which are written by Middle Eastern writers, or take place in the Greater Middle East, or are concerned with the Greater Middle East and with historical and contemporary Middle Eastern issues. I'd encourage you to read at least three books written by Middle Eastern writers.

LEVELS

Sometimes it can be fun to strive towards a particular reading level, Therefore, I've come up with a few in hopes of inspiring folks.
  • Tourist: Read 1 to 5 books
  • Diplomat: Read 5 to 10 books
  • Foreign Policy Specialist: Read 10 to 15 books
  • Scholar: Read 15 books or more



GENRES


  • Fiction – novels, short stories, poetry, drama and YA. Note: You can choose to read a number of individual and uncollected short stories. In this case, 12 such stories would constitute 1 book. Individual poems do not count but books of poetry do. (By the way, the Middle East has produced a huge body of amazing poetry, some of it hundreds or even thousands of years old. Feel free to explore some of it.)
  • Non-fiction – memoirs, autobiographies, history, current events, religion and political theory.


READING SUGGESTIONS

  • Cover at least two regions, pick from North Africa, the Levant and/or one or more of the nations within or near the Arabian Peninsula.
  • Include translated fiction from Arabic, Modern Hebrew, Berber, Kurdish or Farsi literature
  • You can mix classic and contemporary fiction.
  • If you are intend to read mostly non-fiction (like me) then please include at least one book of fiction.
  • Since this region is the birthplace of the three major monotheistic faiths, why not include one their sacred writings like the Quran, the Gnostic scriptures, the Talmud or the Dead Sea Scrolls.
  • For years this region has been called the "cradle of civilization." If you feel inclined, explore the region's ancient history or maybe its archaeological discoveries. There's a ton of those books out there.
  • The region is also the birthplace of or the inspiration for a number of ideologies including Pan-Arabism, Zionism, Palestinian nationalism and Islamism. Why not consider something by one of their proponents-or critics.
To Sign Up for the Middle East Reading Challenge CLICK HERE

I will be aiming for the Diplomat reading level which means I will read 5-10 novels set in the middle east. I'm really looking forward to this challenge and I'm hoping to even surpass the Diplomat level but won't force myself to. I will be listing my books in this thread as I read and review them.

My List:
 

2013 150+ Reading Challenge

 
This challenge is being hosted by My Over Stuffed Bookshelf
Here are the details copied from :My Over Stuffed Bookshelf
 

DETAILS/RULES:

1. The goal is to read 150 or more books. Anyone can join. You don't need a blog to participate. Posting on GoodReads or wherever you post your reviews is good enough.

2. Allowed are: 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 and comic books.

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, 2013 thru December 31, 2013. Books started before the 1st do not count. You can join at anytime.

6. When you sign up under Linky, put the direct link to your post where your books will be listed. Include the URL to this post so that other viewers can find this fun challenge. If you’d prefer to put your list in the sidebar of your blog, please leave your viewers the link to the sign up page. Again, so viewers can join the challenge too.


READY......SET.....SIGN UP BY CLICKING HERE


 I'll be listing my books as I read them since I'm one of those readers who has a hard time planning what they're going to read next.

My List:
 

The Sunday Post 9th Edition




The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer ~ It's a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead.

 
Hi Folks! I hope everyone who celebrates Christmas had a lovely one and I can't wait to see your bookish hauls! We're coming up on another major holiday and will be bringing in the new year. I can't believe 2013 is almost here and I want to wish you all the best in the new year and to say I'm grateful for each and everyone of you for supporting Turning the Pages and for being such amazing followers and fellow bloggers. I've met a lot of wonderful new people spanning the world over and I hope all of you have a great New Year. Mr. Turning the Pages and I will probably be staying in this year to watch movies but I'd love to know your plans to ring in the new year so share them in the comments below.
Have a Safe & Happy New Year!
 
-Kimberly
 &
Mr. Turning the Pages

 
Last week on the Turning the Pages:
 
 
Holiday Observance: Merry Christmas!
 
Next On Turning The Pages
 
Meme: It's Monday! What Are You Reading #36
Meme: Top Ten Tuesday #18
Meme: Waiting On Wednesday #44
Review: I Suck at Girls by Justin Halpern
Review: Sphinx's Princess by Esther M. Friesner
Review: Dead in the Water by Dana Stabenow
Review: Deep Storm by Lincoln Child
Review: The Perfect Play by Jaci Burton
 
*Shedule subject to change :)
 
The Book Haul:
From Publishers/Authors:
 
The Mist on Bronte Moor
 
From NetGalley:
 
The Rules (Project Paper Doll, #1)
 
Kindle Freebies:
 
Short-Straw Bride King of Swords Thoroughbreds and Trailer Trash Reinventing Rachel: A Novel
Sweet Surrender Amelia's Story The Lost Journal The Sweetest Revenge
Moosed Up  (Wild Men of Alaska, #2) Knockout! A Passionate Police Romance The Secret Diary of Alice in Wonderland, Age 42 and Three-Quarters  The Assassins' Village
 
From the Library:
 
Divergent (Divergent, #1) Sweetly (Fairytale Retellings, #2) The Paladin Prophecy (The Paladin Prophecy, #1) The Legend of Broken Sphinx's Princess (Sphinx's Princess, #1) The Ice Limit Awaken the Highland Warrior (Connor Clan, #1) Daughter of Smoke & Bone (Daughter of Smoke & Bone, #1)
Enchanted (Woodcutter Series, #1) Darker Still (Magic Most Foul, #1) Ruined (Ruined, #1) Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children (Miss Peregrine, #1) A Temptation of Angels
 
From:
 
 
Plus some awesome postcards from
http://virginiebarbeau.wordpress.com/ AKA The Book Drunkard Thanks for being my Blogger Secret Santa! I love my gifts!!
 
From My Online Book Club's Secret Santa I got:
 
 
Thanks Becky!
 
From Mr. Turning the Pages: