Unfinished Challenges for 2009

As 2009 draws to a close I know that there are a few of my challenges that I'm not going to finish...and so I'm officially giving up on them.

The Read Your Own Books Challenge was probably the hardest one for me, and also the one I did the worst on. I think that is pretty funny considering these are all books that I picked out from my TBR, and yet I never got around to reading them.

I finished 4/10 books on this list. I also should, but probably won't, be trying this particular challenge next year.

1. The Last Days of Dogtown by Anita Diamant
2. Dry by Augusten Burroughs, (review)
3. The Other Boleyn Girl by Phillipa Gregory (review)
4. Labyrinth by Kate Mosse
5. The Thin Place by Kathryn Davis (review)
6. Pope Joan by Donna Woolfork Cross (review)
7. American Gods by Neil Gaiman
8. The Constant Princess by Phillipa Gregory
9. Amagansett by Mark Mills
10. A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson

Another challenge I struggled on was the Classics Challenge. There are so many classics I want to read, but I never seem to make time for them with new books always showing up on my shelves. I read 3/4 books for this challenge and am pretty happy with this result. I also did a classics challenge last year and didn't read a single book for it. This may be one I try again in 2010.

1. My Antonia by Willa Cather (review), audio
2. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens (review coming soon)
3. The Pearl by John Steinbeck (review coming soon)

The last challenge I was unable to complete was the Book Awards III Challenge. I only completed 3/5 for this challenge. I know I had more award winning books on my shelves, but I never felt compelled to read any of them. I'll probably be skipping this one if it's held again.

1. Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout (review) - Pulitzer Prize Winner
2. Let Me Go by Helga Schneider (review) - D.J.S. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award, Listen Up Award
3. The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory (review) - Romantic Novel of the Year Award

As of right now I am still one book away from completing the War Through the Generations Challenge, and am 100 pages into my last book for it. Since I'm so close, I'm going to work hard on completing it in the next couple of weeks. So far, I've read 4/5 for this challenge.

1. Briar Rose by Jane Yolen (review)
2. Resistance by Anita Shreve (review)
3. Let Me Go by Helga Schneider (review), audio
4. Tallgrass by Sandra Dallas (review)

What's In a Name 3 Challenge

I really love challenges with categories so I couldn't pass this one up. It is hosted this year by Beth and there is a separate challenge blog with all the guidelines.

1. A book with a food in the title:

2. A book with a body of water in the title: The Dead-Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan

3. A book with a title (queen, president) in the title: The Red Quenn by Philippa Gregory

4. A book with a plant in the title: Waiting for Daisy by Peggy Orenstein

5. A book with a place name (city, country) in the title: A Gift from Brittany by Marjorie Price

6. A book with a music term in the title:

2010 Historical Fiction Challenge

I have a lot of Historical Fiction on my shelves, and while I love the genre it seems to get constantly put aside. Hopefully this challenge, hosted by Royal Reviews, will help with that. The challenge guidelines are listed at Royal Reviews and I am signing up at the Addicted level which is reading 12 HF books.

I am also participating in a HF Challenge at Paperback Swap and will use the categories of that challenge to pick my 12 HF books.

R U Kidding Me? (historical fantasy or alternate history) -

Where Dat At (north of the equator) -
Pagan Past (before the Common Era) -
Whodunit (historical mystery) - Tears of Pearl by Tasha Alexander (review)
Birthday Book (published during the year of your birth) -
Habla Espanol? (takes place in Mexico or South America) -
Roots (country of your ancestors) -
Read a Winner (from ALA’s annual Reading List) -

15 Minutes of Fame (biographical novel) -
Continuing Saga (second or any subsequent book in a series) -
Bonus - Color Me (color in the title or in the author’s name) - The Red Queen by Philippa Gregory
Alternate Category (your choice) -

2010 100+ Reading Challenge

Once again J Kaye is hosting the 100+ Reading Challenge. I really enjoy this challenge, can usually complete it, and it gives me a great place for listing all the books I've read during the year. Like last year, this post will also include the date I completed a book and a link to my review.

1. Prayers for Sale by Sandra Dallas (review coming soon), finished 1/09/10
2. Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah (review), finished 02/05/10

3. Tears of Pearl by Tasha Alexander (review), finished 02/16/10

4. Life Sentences by Laura Lippman (review), finished
5. Some Girls: My Life in a Harem by Jillian Lauren (review coming soon), finished
6. Kisser by Stuart Woods (review), finished 04/07/10
7. Never Tell a Lie by Hallie Ephron (review coming soon), finished 04/09/10
8. Avenging Angels by Mary Stanton (review coming soon), finished 04/19/10
9. A Gift from Brittany by Marjorie Price (review), finished 04/29/10
10. The Dead-Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan (review), audio, finished 05/18/10
11. Still Missing by Chevy Stevens (review), finished 05/24/10
12. Bright Light, Big Ass by Jen Lancaster (review), finished 06/06/10
13. Lucid Intervals by Stuart Woods (review coming soon), finished 06/08/10
14. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins (review), finished 07/03/10
15. Secrets of Eden by Chris Bohjalian (review), finished 07/10/10
16. I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You by Ally Carter (review coming soon), audio, finished 07/14/10
17. The Postmistress by Sarah Blake (review coming soon), finished 07/28/10
18. The Red Queen by Philippa Gregory (review), finished 08/12/10
19. I'd Know You Anywhere by Laura Lippman (review), finished 08/23/10
20. Girl Missing by Tess Gerritsen (review), finished 08/27/10
21.  Leaving Before It's Over by Jean Reynolds Page (review), finished 09/05/10
22.  Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins (review coming soon), finished 09/08/10
23.  Room by Emma Donoghue (review), finished 09/16/10
24.  One Deadly Sin by Annie Solomon (review coming soon), finished 10/15/10
25.  Horse Boy by Rupert Isaacson (review coming soon), audio, finished 10/29/10
26.  Waiting for Daisy by Peggy Orenstein (review coming soon), finished 11/01/10
27.  Tricks by Ellen Hopkins (review coming soon), finished 11/15/10
28.  Broken by Karin Slaughter (review coming soon), finished 11/24/10
29. Columbine by Dave Cullen (review coming soon), audio, finished 12/06/10
30.  The Things That Keep Us Here by Carla Buckley (review coming soon), finished 12/10/10

TwentyTen Reading Challenge

While I loved the 999 Challenge last year, I'm skipping the 101010 Challenge on LT this year as I just don't think there is any way I'll be able to complete it. What I liked most about the 999 Challenge was the categories and finding books to fit into them. So, I was thrilled to find the TwentyTen Reading Challenge hosted by Bart's Bookshelf. It has the categories I love, but on a much smaller scale.

Rules:
-Read 2 books from each category, making a requirement of 20 books total.
-The categories are intended to be loose guidelines only, if you decide it fits, then it fits. (Apart from those marked **)
-Categories marked with ** have tighter rules, and these must be followed.
-Each book can only qualify for one category.
-Crossovers with other challenges are allowed.
-Books read from 01/01/2010 to 31/12/2010 are eligible.

Young Adult

1. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

2. The Dead-Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan

TBR**

1. Bright Light, Big Ass by Jen Lancaster

2. Waiting for Daisy by Peggy Orenstein

Shiny and New

1. Tricks by Ellen Hopkins

2. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

Bad Blogger's**

1. Still Missing by Chevy Stevens (Trish @ Hey Lady)

2. One Deadly Sin by Annie Solomon (Becky @ My Thoughts, Your Thoughts)

Charity

1. Broken by Karin Slaughter

2. Lucid Intervals by Stuart Woods

New in 2010

1. Secrets of Eden by Chris Bohjalian

2. The Things That Keep Us Here by Carla Buckley

Older Than You

1.

2.

Win! Win!

1.

2.

Who Are You Again?

1. Tears of Pearl by Tasha Alexander

2. Never Tell a Lie by Hallie Ephron

Up To You...Memoir

1. Some Girls: My Life in a Harem by Jillian Lauren

2. A Gift from Brittany by Marjorie Price

2010 Reading From My Shelves Project

Like a lot of other bloggers this time of year means signing up for next years challenges. So, I will just apologize ahead of time for all the challenge posts as I like for each challenge to have its own space...

Diane at Bibliophile by the Sea is hosting this challenge. The goal of this challenge is to read books from your shelves and then pass them on. This could mean donating them, swapping them or anything else you can think of to get them out of your house. Since I usually don't re-read getting rid of books isn't an issue for me, but reading books from my shelves sometimes can be. Hopefully this challenge will help.

My goal is that 60 of the books I read in 2010 come from my shelves.

The Rules:

-grab the button
-decide how many books you want to read from your shelves (minimum of 20 - no maximum)
-find a new home for the books once you read them
-post the titles and the authors of books you've read and passed on
-project runs from January 1, 2010 through December 31, 2010
-crossover challenge books are allowed

1. Kisser by Stuart Woods
2. Never Tell a Lie by Hallie Ephron
3. Avenging Angels by Mary Stanton
4. Bright Light, Big Ass by Jen Lancaster
5. Lucid Intervals by Stuart Woods
6. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

999 Challenge Wrap-Up

I originally found the 999 Challenge on LibraryThing and fell in love with it. I loved figuring out my categories and finding books to fit in them. I missed the 09/09/09 early completion date by 1 book, but I am thrilled I finished this one.

The books I read:

ARCs

1. Delicate Edible Birds: And Other Stories by Lauren Groff (review)
2. Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford (review)
3. The Mighty Queens of Freeville: A Mother, a Daughter, and the Town That Raised Them by Amy Dickinson (review)

4. Down to a Sunless Sea by Mathias B. Freese (review)

5. The Help by Kathryn Stockett (review)

6. A Child's Journey out of Autism: One Family's Story of Living in Hope and Finding a Cure by Leeann Whiffen (review)

7. Siam Nights: A Love Story by JF Gump (review)

8. The Girl She Used to Be by David Cristofano (review)

9. The Simplest of Acts: And Other Stories by Melanie Haney (review)

New to Me Authors

1. Waiting to Surface by Emily Listfield (review)

2. Forgive Me by Amanda Eyre Ward (review)

3. Catching Genius by Kristy Kiernan (review)

4. The World in Half by Cristina Henriquez (review)

5. Defending Angels by Mary Stanton (review)

6. Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler (review)

7. Precious by Sandra Novack (review)

8. Notes From The Underbelly by Risa Green (review)

9. The Blue Notebook by James Levine (review)

Historical Fiction

1. The Jewel of Medina by Sherry Jones (review)
2. Honolulu by Alan Brennert (review)

3. Mistress of the Sun by Sandra Gulland (review)

4. The Virgin Blue by Tracy Chevalier (review)

5. The Rossetti Letter by Christi Phillips (review)

6. The Devlin Diary by Christi Phillips (review)

7. The White Queen by Philippa Gregory (review)

8. The Secret History of the Pink Carnation by Lauren Willig (review)

9. Remarkable Creatures by Tracy Chevalier (review coming soon)

Mysteries or Suspense

1. Case Histories by Kate Atkinson (review)

2. Mixed Blood by Roger Smith (review)

3. Bahama Burnout by Don Bruns (review)

4. Illegal by Paul Levine (review)

5. Breakneck by Erica Spindler (review)

6. BoneMan's Daughters by Ted Dekker (review)

7. Just Take My Heart by Mary Higgins Clark (review coming soon)

8. The Associate by John Grisham (review)

9. Lifeguard by James Patterson (review)

Favorite Authors (series)

1. Damage Control by JA Jance (review)

2. Invisible Prey by John Sandford (reveiw)

3. The Broken Window by Jeffery Deaver (review)

4. Run for Your Life by James Patterson (review)

5. The 8th Confession by James Patterson (review)

6. Loitering with Intent by Stuart Woods (review coming soon)

7. Lost Girls by George D. Shuman (review coming soon)

8. Undone by Karin Slaughter (review)

9. Dead Time by Stephen White (review)

Non-Fiction

1. Girlbomb: A Halfway Homeless Memoir by Janice Erlbaum (review)

2. Bitter is the New Black : Confessions of a Condescending, Egomaniacal, Self-Centered Smartass,Or, Why You Should Never Carry A Prada Bag to the Unemployment Office by Jen Lancaster (review)

3. Tell Me Where It Hurts: A Day of Humor, Healing and Hope in My Life as an Animal Surgeon by Nick Trout (review)

4. Dry by Augusten Burroughs (review)

5. Secret Daughter: A Mixed-Race Daughter and the Mother Who Gave Her Away by June Cross (review)

6. A Pearl in the Storm: How I Found My Heart in the Middle of the Ocean by Tori Murden Mcclure (review)

7. Invisible Sisters by Jessica Handler (review)

8. A Lucky Child: A Memoir of Surviving Auschwitz as a Young Boy by Thomas Buergenthal (review)

9. Outcasts United: A Refugee Team, an American Town by Warren St. John (review)

Audio Books

1. Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell (review)

2. The Survivors Club: The Secrets and Science that Could Save Your Life by Ben Sherwood (review)
3. Life on the Refrigerator Door: Notes Between a Mother and Daughter by Alice Kuipers (review)

4. Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher (review)

5. Looking for Alaska by John Green (review)

6. Killing the Shadows by Val McDermid (review)
7. My Antonia by Willa Cather (review)

8. Coraline by Neil Gaiman (review)

9. Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking by Malcolm Gladwell (review)

Young Adult

1. 13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson (review)
2. A Countess Below Stairs by Eva Ibbotson (review)
3. Impulse by Ellen Hopkins (review)
4. The Plague by Joanne Dahme (review)
5. Briar Rose by Jane Yolen (review)

6. A Certain Slant of Light by Laura Whitcomb (review)
7. Bloom by Elizabeth Scott (review)

8. Umbrella Summer by Lisa Graff (review coming soon)

9. The Chosen One by Carol Lynch Williams (review)

Catch All (because I want to read it)

1. Bel Canto by Ann Patchett (review)

2. Resistance by Anita Shreve (review)

3. Sleep Toward Heaven by Amanda Eyre Ward (review)

4. Angel's Advocate by Mary Stanton (review)

5. Best Intentions by Emily Listfield (review)

6. True Colors by Kristin Hannah (review)

7. Beach Road by James Patterson (review)
8. The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen (review)

9. Handle with Care by Jodi Picoult (review)

There is another group on LT for a 1010 Challenge, but I will be skipping that one as I usually only read about 100 books a year.

The Four Month Challenge, Part 2

Just one more for now...

This one is hosted by Virginie Says...The challenge will begin on November 1, 2009 and will end on February 28, 2010. Each book you read can only be used for one category. You can ‘read’ up to ‘2′ audiobooks if you choose, but you don’t have to. You can read books you are also reading for other challenges. Here are the categories:

5 Point Challenges
Read a book with a proper name in the title - Pope Joan by Donna Woolfolk Cross (review)
Read a book about a queen or king
Read a book by or about/related to a Bronte
Read a book about Vampires
Read a book by V.C. Andrews

10 Point Challenges
Read a book by Canadian author
Read a book by or about/related to Charles Dickens
Read a book set in France
Read a book by Georgette Heyer
Read an ‘art’ themed book.

15 Point Challenges
Read a book with a Civil War theme (any country)
Read a book with characters inspired by King Arthur or about King Arthur/Camelot
Read a biography/autobiography
Read a book related to or something by Shakespeare
Read a book by an author born in November, December, January or February - The Pearl by John Steinbeck (review coming soon)

20 Point Challenges
Read a book with a wintery theme (Christmas, snow, ice, freezing, star, camel, mistletoe, etc.) - A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens (review coming soon)
Read a book that was a winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction
Read a book that begins with A and one that begins with Z
Read a book from The Modern Library Top 100
Read a book and then write a review - The Thin Place by Kathryn Davis (review)

Challenge: Books To Read Before I Die - 2010

I am always looking for ways to reduce my TBR pile. I have well over 1,000 books in my house that I still haven't picked up, and unless I prioritize them, who knows if I ever will. Don't get me wrong, these are all books I picked out, and books I want to read, but it always seems like there is a new, must-read book on its way to me, and some of the books on my shelf get neglected.

So, this challenge, being hosted by Bibliophile by the Sea, is perfect for me.

Here are the guideline for the challenge:
-Between now and December 31, 2009, make a list of between 10 and 20 Books to Read Before You Die. (depending on interest, this may be an annual event challenge).
-The books on your list can come from your stacks or the library, and be in print or audio format.
-Next, make a tentative list and and post it on your blog. Finalize your titles by December 31, 2009. (No changes to the list after that date).
NOTE: If you don't have a blog, you can still sign up and join in the fun.
-Once you've created your post with tentative titles, THEN sign up using Mr. Linky, by pasting the link to your post, along with your name/blog name. This is how you will be registered.
-All bloggers who complete the challenge will be entered in giveaway to win an Amazon Gift Card.

My Titles:

1. The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield

2. The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett

3. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

4. Fingersmith by Sarah Waters

5. A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

6. Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides

7. Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

8. The Birth House by Ami Mckay

9. Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

10. Jesus Land by Julia Scheeres

11. The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri

12. The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón

100+ Challenge Wrap-Up

For me, the 100+ Reading Challenge is officially over. I finished my 100th book over the weekend. I'll still continue to list my books read and link to my reviews, but it's nice to be able to mark one more challenge off the list.

Here are my 100 books:

1. Case Histories by Kate Atkinson (review), finished 01/03/092. Girlbomb: A Halfway Homeless Memoir by Janice Erlbaum (review), finished 01/04/09
3. Damage Control by JA Jance (review), finished 1/05/09
4. The Jewel of Medina by Sherry Jones (review), finished 1/08/09
5. Bitter is the New Black : Confessions of a Condescending, Egomaniacal, Self-Centered Smartass,Or, Why You Should Never Carry A Prada Bag to the Unemployment Office by Jen Lancaster (review), finished 1/13/08
6. Invisible Prey by John Sandford (review), finished 1/20/09
7. Tell Me Where It Hurts: A Day of Humor, Healing and Hope in My Life as an Animal Surgeon by Nick Trout (review), finished 1/24/09
8. Delicate Edible Birds: And Other Stories by Lauren Groff (review), finished 1/27/09
9. Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford (review), finished 1/29/09
10. Mighty Queens of Freeville, The: A Mother, a Daughter, and the Town That Raised Them by Amy Dickinson (review), finished 1/31/09
11. Down to a Sunless Sea by Mathias B. Freese (review), finished 1/31/09
12. Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell (review), audio, finished 2/02/09
13. The Survivors Club: The Secrets and Science that Could Save Your Life by Ben Sherwood (review), audio, finished 2/03/09
14. The Help by Kathryn Stockett (review), finished 02/06/09
15. Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher (review), audio, finished 2/09/09
16. Waiting to Surface by Emily Listfield (review), finished 2/11/09
17. A Child's Journey out of Autism: One Family's Story of Living in Hope and Finding a Cure by Leeann Whiffen (review), finished 2/13/09
18. Mixed Blood by Roger Smith (review), finished 2/16/09
19. The Broken Window by Jeffery Deaver (review), finished 2/18/09
20. 13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson (review), finished 2/20/09
21. Dry by Augusten Burroughs (review), finished 2/21/09
22. Forgive Me by Amanda Eyre Ward (review), finished 2/23/09
23. A Countess Below Stairs by Eva Ibbotson (review), finished 2/24/09
24. Bahama Burnout by Don Bruns (review), finished 3/01/09
25. Siam Nights: A Love Story by JF Gump (review), finished 3/05/09
26. Looking for Alaska by John Green (review), audio, finished 3/05/09
27. The Girl She Used to Be by David Cristofano (review), finished 3/07/09
28. Catching Genius by Kristy Kiernan (review), finished 3/07/09
29. Impulse by Ellen Hopkins (review), finished 3/10/09
30. The Plague by Joanne Dahme (review), finished 3/12/09
31. Life on the Refrigerator Door: Notes Between a Mother and Daughter by Alice Kuipers (review), audio, finished 3/14/09
32. Honolulu by Alan Brennert (review), finished 3/18/09
33. Secret Daughter: A Mixed-Race Daughter and the Mother Who Gave Her Away by June Cross (review), finished 3/24/09
34. Illegal by Paul Levine (review), finished 3/27/09
35. Breakneck by Erica Spindler (review), finished 3/28/09
36. Briar Rose by Jane Yolen (review), finished 3/30/09
37. BoneMan's Daughters by Ted Dekker (review), finished 4/03/0938. A Pearl in the Storm: How I Found My Heart in the Middle of the Ocean by Tori Murden McClure (review), finished 4/06/09
39. Bel Canto by Ann Patchett (review), finished 4/08/09
40. Invisible Sisters by Jessica Handler (review), finished 4/09/09
41. Resistance by Anita Shreve (review), finished 4/13/09
42. The Simplest of Acts: And Other Stories by Melanie Haney (review), finished 4/14/09
43. A Certain Slant of Light by Laura Whitcomb (review), finished 4/16/09
44. A Lucky Child: A Memoir of Surviving Auschwitz as a Young Boy by Thomas Buergenthal (review), finished 4/19/09
45. Killing the Shadows by Val McDermid (review), audio, finished 4/24/09
46. Mistress of the Sun by Sandra Gulland (review), finished 4/26/09
47. Bloom by Elizabeth Scott (review), finished 5/01/09
48. The World in Half by Cristina Henriquez (review), finished 5/04/09
49. Umbrella Summer by Lisa Graff (review coming soon), finished 5/05/09
50. My Antonia by Willa Cather (review), audio, finished 5/10/09
51. The Virgin Blue by Tracy Chevalier (review), finished 5/12/09
52. Sleep Toward Heaven by Amanda Eyre Ward (review), finished 5/16/09
53. Coraline by Neil Gaiman (review coming soon), audio, finished 5/17/09
54. Outcasts United: A Refugee Team, an American Town by Warren St. John (review), finished 5/20/09
55. Precious by Sandra Novack (review), finished 5/22/09
56. Defending Angels by Mary Stanton (review), finished 5/24/09
57. Angel's Advocate by Mary Stanton (review), finished 5/25/09
58. Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler (review), finished 5/27/09
59. Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking by Malcolm Gladwell (review), audio, finished 5/30/09
60. Best Intentions by Emily Listfield (review), finished 5/31/09
61. A Final Arc of Sky: A Memoir of Critical Care by Jennifer Culkin (review), finished 6/04/09
62. True Colors by Kristin Hannah (review), finished 6/06/09
63. Run for Your Life by James Patterson (review), finished 6/09/09
64. Just Take My Heart by Mary Higgins Clark (review coming soon), finished 6/11/09
65. Notes From The Underbelly by Risa Green (review), finished 6/15/09
66. Perfection: A Memoir of Betrayal and Renewal by Julie Metz (review coming soon), finished 6/18/09
67. The Blue Notebook by James Levine (review), finished 6/21/09
68. The Rossetti Letter by Christi Phillips (review), finished 6/22/09
69. The Devlin Diary by Christi Phillips (review), finished 6/28/09
70. Lost Boy by Brent Jeffs (review), finished 6/29/09
71. Good Harbor by Anita Diamant (review coming soon), finished 6/30/09
72. The Associate by John Grisham (review), finished 7/01/09
73. Lifeguard by James Patterson (review), finished 7/02/09
74. Beach Road by James Patterson (review), finished 7/04/09
75. The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen (review), finished 7/07/09
76. The 8th Confession by James Patterson (review), finished 7/08/09
77. Loitering with Intent by Stuart Woods (review coming soon), finished 7/09/09
78. Handle with Care by Jodi Picoult (review), finished 7/12/09
79. Honey, It's All in the Shoes: Celebrating the Footsteps of the Contemporary Woman by Phyllis Norton Hoffman (review), finished 7/16/09
80. What I Thought I Knew by Alice Eve Cohen (review), finished 7/19/09
81. The Natural Laws of Good Luck: A Memoir of an Unlikely Marriage by Ellen Graf (review), finished 7/20/09
82. Lost Girls by George D. Shuman (review coming soon), finished 7/25/09
83. Phantom Prey by John Sandford (review coming soon), finished 7/28/09
84. Blue Heaven by CJ Box (review coming soon), finished 7/31/09
85. Picking Cotton: Our Memoir of Injustice and Redemption by Jennifer Thompson-Cannino and Ronald Cotton (review), finished 8/02/09
86. The Chosen One by Carol Lynch Williams (review), finished 8/05/09
87. The End of the Alphabet CS Richardson (review), finished 8/08/09
88. The White Queen by Philippa Gregory (review), finished 8/12/09
89. Undone by Karin Slaughter (review), finished 8/14/09
90. Dead Time by Stephen White (review), finished 8/16/09
91. Crime Seen by Victoria Laurie (review coming soon), finished 8/19/09
92. Wicked Prey by John Sandford (review coming soon), finished 8/20/09
93. Death Perception by Victoria Laurie (review coming soon), finished 8/25/09
94. Mounting Fears by Stuart Woods (review coming soon), finished 8/26/09
95. The Secret History of the Pink Carnation by Lauren Willig (review), finished 8/29/09
96. The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry (review), finished 9/01/09
97. The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan (review), audio, finished 9/07/09
98. Deeper by Megan Hart (review coming soon), finished 9/08/09
99. Dead Time by Stephen White (review coming soon), finished 9/09/09
100. Story of a Girl by Sara Zarr (review coming soon), audio, finished 9/12/09

Countdown Challenge Wrap-Up (2009)

Yesterday I signed up for the 2010 version of the Countdown Challenge. As I mentioned, I wasn't quite able to finish the 2009 challenge, but I did come close!

2009 - Completed

1. Beat the Reaper by Josh Bazell (review)

2. Lethal Legacy by Linda Fairstein (review)

3. Delicate Edible Birds: And Other Stories by Lauren Groff (review)

4. Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford (review)

5. The Mighty Queens of Freeville: A Mother, a Daughter, and the Town That Raised Them by Amy Dickinson (review)

6. The Survivors Club: The Secrets and Science that Could Save Your Life by Ben Sherwood (review), audio

7. The Help by Kathryn Stockett (review)

8. A Child's Journey out of Autism: One Family's Story of Living in Hope and Finding a Cure by Leeann Whiffen (review)

9. Mixed Blood by Roger Smith (review)

2008 - Completed

1. The Shiniest Jewel: A Family Love Story by Marian Henley (review)

2. The Third Angel by Alice Hoffman (review)

3. The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson (review)

4. The Girl Who Stopped Swimming by Joshilyn Jackson (review)

5. Tears of the Desert: A Memoir of Survival in Darfur by Halima Bashir (review)

6. Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah (review)

7. Her Last Death by Susanna Sonnenberg (review)

8. Fractured by Karin Slaughter (review)

2007 - Completed

1. Book of the Dead by Patricia Cornwell (review)

2. Absolute Fear by Lisa Jackson (review)

3. Shoot Him If He Runs by Stuart Woods (review)

4. Invisible Prey by John Sandford (review)

5. Down to a Sunless Sea by Mathias B. Freese (review)

6. Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher (review)
7. Waiting to Surface by Emily Listfield (review)

2006

1. Monique and the Mango Rains: Two Years with a Midwife in Mali by Kris Holloway (review)

2. Girlbomb: A Halfway Homeless Memoir by Janice Erlbaum (review)

3. Bitter is the New Black : Confessions of a Condescending, Egomaniacal, Self-Centered Smartass,Or, Why You Should Never Carry A Prada Bag to the Unemployment Office by Jen Lancaster (review)

4. Beach Road by James Patterson (review)

5.

6.

2005 - Completed

1. Honeymoon with My Brother: A Memoir by Franz Wisner (review)

2. Julie and Julia : 365 Days, 524 Recipes, 1 Tiny Apartment Kitchen by Julie Powell (review)

3. 13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson (review)
4. Looking for Alaska by John Green (review)

5. A Certain Slant of Light by Laura Whitcomb (review)

2004

1. Case Histories by Kate Atkinson (review)

2.

3.

4.

2003 - Completed

1. Dry by Augusten Burroughs (review)

2. The Virgin Blue by Tracy Chevalier (review)

3. Sleep Toward Heaven by Amanda Eyre Ward (review)

2002.

1.

2.

2001 - Completed

1. Bel Canto by Ann Patchett (review)