2014 Reading Challenges

A new year means a whole new set of reading challenges. Unlike resolutions, these are goals that seem a lot easier to maintain and keep. Through out 2014, I will be updating you on how my challenges are going and the progress I am making. If you want a more in depth view of my progress, you can click the Reading Challenges bar on the pages part of my blog and for each challenge I will have all of the books that I have read that falls under that challenge. Here are the challenges that I will be participating in 2014...

Dystopia Reading Challenge

Rules

> The challenge will run from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2014. Each month will have its own link form so you will be able to share your book reviews. You do not have to review the books you read to participate, but only those who read/reviewed at least one dystopian book will be able to participate in the giveaway (you can track your reading without the reviews with Goodreads, Shelfari etc.).

> Books that count in this challenge must include any form of post-apocalyptic theme (book sites like Goodreads are good sources of genre information). The books must be full-length.

> All formats allowed.

> Rereads allowed (but not the same book five times in a year!).

> It does not matter whether it's a series or a stand-alone book.

> If you are participating, grab the challenge button from below and post it on you blog. You can also make a post with the header (the code is also below). Please include the link back to this post so others will be able to participate as well.

> If you will participate, put the sign-up link to your blog post (about the challenge) or blog (for the button) directly into the linky below. Sign-ups will be open until December 15, 2014.

> You do not have to list your books in advance, go and do as you please. Read as many as you want and whenever you want, as long as you have fun!

> Info about the giveaway will be available in December 2014.
> Do not cheat with books of other themes/genres/topics because I do check!

Levels

Level 1: Recruit (1 to 6 books)

Level 2: Rebel (7 to 12 books)

Level 3: Revolutionist (13 to 18 books)

Level 4: Leader (19+ books)

For this challenge, I am going to aim for the Recruit (1 to 6 books). I am going to begin low because I don't often read dystopia, hence why I am going the challenge!

Rewind Challenge

The Rules

There aren’t many rules for this challenge…but to clarify things, here they are:

• Books read for the challenge need to have been published before January 1, 2014, but read and reviewed between January 1, 2014 and December 31, 2014.
• ARC’s and galleys received in 2013 for books that will be published in 2014 DO NOT count.
• Books can be any format, any genre, and written for any age group – no restrictions!
• Reviews can be posted wherever you feel comfortable – your blog, Goodreads, Amazon, etc. To enter your review into the monthly prize draw, you must link to your review.
• Reviews do not have to be a certain length to be eligible.
• You choose your own goals for this challenge! Please be sure to have your number somewhere on your goals post/page.

My goal for this challenge is to read 5 books published in 2013 and before. I think I can do it!

Series Challenge

How It Works
To allow for the greatest level of flexibility, we've separated series into three categories: series started before 2014, series started in 2014, and series rereads.

• Series started before 2014 are defined as series that you have started reading before Jan. 2014 and that you still have unread books to get current in (or finish) the series.
• Series started in 2014 are defined as any series that you start reading between Jan. and Dec. 2014, and the second book in the series must be published before December 2014.
• A series reread is defined as books that are part of a series that were read before Jan. 2014 and that are reread between Jan. 2014 and Dec. 2014. A series reread does NOT have to include the full series.

For each category, there are different levels of seriousness about series that you can choose. Semi-serious is reading 1 to 6 series, seriously serious is reading 7 to 12 series, super seriously serious is reading 13 to 18 series, and seriously spectacular series star is reading more than 18 series.

I am going to aim low for this one because I tend to abandon my series, so I am going to aim to finish 1 to 6 series this year.

EBOOK Challenge

Reading Challenge Details:

1. This challenge will run from Jan 1, 2014 – Dec 31, 2014.
2. Anyone can join, you don’t need to be a blogger. If you don’t have a blog, feel free to sign-up in the comments. You can post reviews to any book site (i.e. Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords, Goodreads, etc).
3. Any genre or length of book counts, as long as it is in ebook format.
4. You can plan your books in advance or as you read them.
5. When you sign up in the linky, put the direct link to your post about joining the E-Book Reading Challenge.
6. Sign-ups will be open until Dec 15, 2014, so feel free to join at any time throughout the year.

Levels:

1. Floppy disk – 5 ebooks
2. CD – 10 ebooks
3. DVD – 25 ebooks
4. Memory stick – 50 ebooks
5. Hard drive – 75 ebooks
6. Server – 100 ebooks
7. Human brain – 150 ebooks

I am aiming for the CD level for this challenge, because I have been reading off my Kindle more often than I used to.

50 Book Challenge

This one is simple - read 50 books in a year. I have only been able to complete this once, I came close this year, though.

Back to Classics Challenge

In my opinion, a classic is a book that has endured for some reason ; therefore, I am defining a classic as a book that was published at least 50 years ago. Therefore, any book published after 1964 is ineligible. 
Here are the rest of the guidelines: 

• All books must be read in 2014.  Books started prior to January 1, 2014 are not eligible.  Reviews must be linked by December 31, 2014.
• E-books and audiobooks are eligible!  Books can count for other challenges you may be working on.  However, books may NOT crossover categories within this challenge.  You may NOT count the same book twice for different categories in this challenge. 
• If you do not have a blog, you may link your review from Goodreads or other publicly accessible online format.  
• Please sign up for the challenge using the linky below BEFORE MARCH 1, 2014.  Please link to your sign-up announcement post (if possible/applicable).
• You do not have to list your books prior to starting the challenge, but it is more fun that way :).  You can always change your list at any time.  You can read the books in any order (including mixing in the optional categories at any time).
• You can decide to attempt the optional categories at any point (you can also bow out of the optional categories at any point as well).
• Please identify the categories you've read in your wrap-up post so that I can easily add up your entries for the prize drawing!

And finally. . . . The 2014 categories: 
Required:

1. A 20th Century Classic
2. A 19th Century Classic
3. A Classic by a Woman Author
4. A Classic in Translation  If English is not your primary language, then books originally published in English are acceptable.  You could also read the book in its original language if you are willing and able to do so.
5. A Wartime Classic  2014 will be the 100th anniversary of the beginning of World War I.  Any book relating to a war is fine -- WWI, WWII, the French Revolution, the War of the Worlds -- your choice.
6. A Classic by an Author Who Is New To You This can be any author whose works you have not read before.  It doesn't necessarily have to be an author you've never heard of. 

Optional Categories: 

1. An American Classic
2. A Classic Mystery, Suspense or Thriller
3. A Historical Fiction Classic.  This is any classic set at least 50 years before the time when it was written.  For example, Margaret Mitchell publishedGone with the Wind 70 years after the end of the Civil War; therefore, it is considered a historical novel.  A Tale of Two Cities and The Scarlet Letter are also historical novels.  However, older classicsset during the period in which they were written are not considered historical; for example, the novels of Jane Austen.
4. A Classic That's Been Adapted Into a Movie or TV Series.  Any period, any genre!  This is practically a free choice category.  However, it's a separate category than the required categories.
5. Extra Fun Category:  Write a Review of the Movie or TV Series adapted from Optional Category #4.  This should be some kind of posting reviewing the book read for the previous optional category above.  It can be any adaptation -- does not have to be adapted before 1964.  For example, if you chose Pride and Prejudice as your the optional classic above, you could review any adaptation -- 1940, 1980, 1995, 2005, etc. These two optional categories go together, but this must be a separate blog posting -- no fair just mentioning it in the book review!

I have been meaning to read more classics and I believe this is the perfect way to do it! My main goal is to complete the required categories and then if I can, get onto the optional ones. For this challenge, unlike my other ones, I will be making a set list that will soon be posted in my Reading Challenge tab, so check that out if you want to see what books I will be reading for this challenge.

Woo! There we have it! These are the year-long challenges I will be participating in the year of 2014. What challenges will you be participating in? Tell me in the comments below!