2011 The Christmas Spirit Reading Challenge

The Christmas Spirit is hosting a The Christmas Spirit Reading Challenge! I will be doing the Mistletore level and reading 4 books and watching movies for the Fa La La Films level. (And if I remember correctly A Christmas Story is based on a book.)

Here's more information:

Challenge will run from Monday, November 21, 2011 through Friday, January 6, 2011 (Twelfth Night or Epiphany).

Cross over with other challenges is totally permitted AND encouraged!

These must be Christmas novels, books about Christmas lore, a book of Christmas short stories or poems, books about Christmas crafts, and for the first time...a children's Christmas books level!

Visit this POST for a list of new Christmas books for 2011. Two books I highly recommend for this season that I have read and reviewed...The Christmas Village by Melissa Ann Goodwin and The Reindeer Keeper by Barbara Briggs Ward (click the titles to read my reviews).

Levels:

--Candy Cane: read 1 book
--Mistletoe: read 2-4 books
--Christmas Tree: read 5 or 6 books (this is the fanatic level...LOL!)

Additional levels:

--Fa La La La Films: watch a bunch or a few Christmas movies...it's up to you!

--Visions of Sugar Plums: read books with your children this season and share what you read

*the additional levels are optional, you still must complete one of the main reading levels above

The most important rule? Have fun!!!

2012 Book2Movie Reading Challenge

Martina Bookaholic is hosting the 2012 Book2Movie Reading Challenge. The cool thing about this challenge is that it is international.

Here is more information:
The goal for this challenge is to read a book/ watch a movie in each of the 12 categories, which are further down, during the year of 2012 (01.01.2012 – 31.12.2012) + 1 bonus category, if someone can’t find a book in one of the 12 categories.

This means: 12 books + movies in 12 months, as a result 1 book/ 1 movie per month. (Book can be read/ movie can already been watched – but just one of each)

You want to join?:
Then please write me an e-mail to: martina.bookaholic@gmx.net with your book choices with the category #number and your blog address and the name, which I should use in this post.

Blogger Info:
Please; every one of you has to put on every review which is made for this challenge or on the sidebar of the blog, the ‘Book 2 Movie’ Button which should be linked back to this MAIN POST on my blog. Thanks

2012 Paranormal Romance Reading Challenge

Tales From the Crypt is hosting the 2012 Paranormal Romance Reading Challenge. Don't you just LOVE that banner? I am going to do level 2 and read at least 10 books.

Here are the rules:

Starts January 1, 2012 and ends December 31, 2012
Anyone can join
You don’t have to have a blog to participate.
Non-Bloggers feel free to share your list of books in the comment section of the monthly link up post.
Reviews though not required are always nice.
Audio, E-books, Bound and re-reads all count
There is no need to come up with your list of books in advance.
Challenge crossovers ok
Create a sign up post and link up in the linky.

Levels:

Level 1 – Read 1-5 Paranormal Romances
Level 2 – Read 6-10 Paranormal Romances
Level 3 – Read 11-20 Paranormal Romances
Level 4 – Read 21+ Paranormal Romances

2012 Go Indie Reading Challenge

Bookish Ardour is hosting a really great reading challenge for the new year called the Go Indie Reading Challenge. I think I will go middle ground and choose level Getting Into It and read 30 books.

Here's more info about the challenge:

This is our first year with the Go Indie challenge being brand spanking new and all.
What It’s All About

Do you love Indie/Self-Pub publishers and authors? Are you considering trying out Indie written novels, but need that motivation to get going? Then this challenge might just be what you’re looking for!

The Deets

The Main Rule: Read novels by self-published authors and Indie publishers.
Running Dates: 1st of January – 31st of December 2012
When Can I Sign Up: All the way up to the last two weeks of December!
Crossover Genres: Anything! As long as it’s Indie it doesn’t matter.
Mr Linky: To use the Mr Linky you’ll need to click on the graphic then enter your link. These will be updated and posted into this page every couple of weeks or so.
Further Details: Crossover challenges are fine, you can change levels at any time, this is eBook, short story, and graphic novel friendly, and you don’t need a blog to join in (read further for details).

The How To

Choose Your Level:These are listed further down and you can change levels at any time.

Sign Up Post: Create a post on your blog, in a group, or on a forum (only if allowed) to let others see what you’re aiming for (a predefined list of books is optional).
Link Up: Grab the direct URL to your sign up post, not your blog, click the Mr Linky graphic and enter your link!
Add the Banner: And the banner to your blog.
Blogless? Don’t worry, you can sign up with your social network profile (YouTube, Twitter, GoodReads, Shelfari included), just make sure you link to your review list, shelf, tweet, or category. If you don’t have any of those feel free to comment!

Afterwards

Your Reviews: Reviewing is optional, but greatly appreciated when it comes to indie novels! If you do review we’d love for you to share them, by submitting them on the Review Page (including social networks).
Finished: When you’re done it’s completion post time and you can share these on the Completion Post page!

Challenge Levels

Tentative– Choose 5 books to read
Having a Go – Choose 15 books to read
Getting Into It – Choose 30 books to read
Anti-Stigma – Choose 50 books to read
Won Over – Choose 75 books to read
Indie Lover – Choose between 76-135 books to read
Professionally What? – Choose between 136-200 books to read

Extra Challenges

If you feel like that extra kick to your reading challenges here’s a couple you can choose from.

World: Choose a country as your theme, reading only books from that country or where it’s the setting. For how high you go you can choose more than one country;
Level Tentative and Having a Go: Choose one country
Level Getting Into It and Anti-Stigma: Choose two countries
Level Won Over to end of Indie Lover: Choose three countries
Level Professionally What?: Choose four countries.
Gender Battle: Read books only by female or male authors. Another alternative is to read equal amounts of both.

2012 150+ Reading Challenge

My Overstuffed Bookshelf has seen too many 100 book challenges so she is going to even bigger. I am up for the challenge this coming year!

Here's more info about the challenge:

Last year was my first year hosting the 100+ Reading Challenge. I noticed a TON of blogs are hosting it this year, so I thought I would up the challenge. For me 100 books is not a problem to read for one year. I know there are a lot of people out there who can read more than the base line of 100.

So....this year I am not only challenging myself, I am going to challenge you to read even more this year!

The goal is to reach 150+ books for this challenge? Now don't get discouraged! I know 150 books or more sounds like a lot. When you read the rules below though, you will find that it is quite easy to reach 150 books.

Don't be shy! Come sign up and spread the word! The challenge doesn't officially start until January 1rst, 2012 but I wanted to get it set up before the holidays are upon us. This should give you plenty of time to get yourself geared up for this challenge increase!

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, 2012 thru December 31, 2012. 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.

Girl, Interrupted by Susanna Kaysen (review)

The Book
I read this memoir in one sitting. Not because it is so short, which it is, but because it was so good. The book is about Susanna's stay at McClean Hospital where she was diagnosed as having borderline personality disorder. This book is fascinating not only because you get a real glimpse of what it would be like to be in a medium security mental hospital, but because of Susanna's struggle about what it means to be sane or crazy, and which side of the border she belongs on, pun intended.

This was not the first time I read this. The first time, I had very little understanding about mental illness and disorders. I was interested more in the story and the character's antics than I was in understanding their psyche and what makes one crazy, not-so crazy, or completely sane. This time around I was completely drawn into both the backstory and future of each character. The reason being because I am now reading this after suffering a major depression. A person with no experience with mental illness will not read it the same as someone with experience.

The Movie
The movie seems to be less about Susanna herself and more about the characters that she encounters at McLean Hospital. The first time around, I liked the movie better because I was more interesting in an exciting story and found the characters' fighting and antics entertaining.

This time around, I realize how much better the book is as case studies of the characters. The book did a great job of telling us about the other patients. I think the movie did a much better job of showing the supporting characters' illnesses and personalities. It's not that Susanna is a bad writer. It's just that Susanna's memoir is, as it should be, mostly about herself. In the book, Susanna tells us that Lisa is sociopath but the movie truly shows it.

The memoir does not have much of a plot, so naturally the movie contains many added scenes and story lines that the book does not. Both are equally entertaining and compliment each other so well that I can't recommend one over the other.

My rating for both the movie and book The only reason I don't give it a fifth star is that I don't feel there is anything life altering about this book.

Anthem by Ayn Rand (review)

The way I first discovered this novella is quite interesting. My boyfriend had brought over a documentary about Rush and their album 2112. The first half of the album was inspired by the novella Anthem. As Rush told the premise of the novella I knew I had to read it!

Anthem is about a man who lives in a futuristic society where everyone is a collective "We." No one has any concept of being an individual. History is hidden from the masses and the people only exist to serve their brothers. The rigid government enforces this. If anyone breaks any laws they are punished severely but only one rule is punishable by death if broken. That is uttering the Unspeakable Word.

The protagonist has no name, but a labeled Equality 7-2521. As he searches for the Unspeakable Word, he accidentally discovers a relic from the Unmentionable Times and rediscovers the most important invention in history. At the same time he starts having these strange feelings for a beautiful woman. All of which is forbidden.

After discovering this invention our protagonist has a bit of brain fart (for lack of a better term) and thinks it's a good idea to present it to the Counsel of Scholars. Of course this does not go well. But it is the fact that they reject his idea that finally sends him on the adventure where he learns the Unspeakable Word and about something that no one has known for decades...freedom. If I tell you anymore I will truly spoil the story. However, I will say that the way the novella ends is somewhat unnerving at first until you really think about it.

What is so utterly fascinating about this book is that it was written in the summer of 1937 and wasn't published until 1946. I can't even imagine how Rand was even able to conceive of the idea of a society where there is no individual. Not only are the themes of collectivism and individuality explored but the feeling of being in love for the first time and not understanding why you feel the way that you do.

What I loved about the Centennial Edition of the book is that a version that was published in England prior is included. Ayn Rand edited Anthem for the American version because she felt she had gained more skill in communicating what she wanted. She learned how to "omit needless words." The copy here is where Rand herself used a pen to cross out and edit passages throughout the entire book. As I writer, it is fascinating to see how she edited the text to make it more concise.

My rating

On a random side note the entire novel remind me of the song Little Boxes so wonderfully done as the intro of of Weeds. I wanted to include a video of it here but I couldn't find one that had embedding disabled. So visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8StRAJCork to see it.