2010 Romance Reading Challenge

Challenge Guidelines:

1. Anyone can join. You don't need a blog to participate.--Non-Bloggers: Include your information in the comment section.

2. There are four levels:

-- Curious – Read 3 Romance Fiction novels.

-- Fascinated – Read 6 Romance Fiction novels.

-- Addicted – Read 12 Romance Fiction novels.

-- Obsessed – Read 20 Romance Fiction novels.

3. Any book format counts.

4. You can list your books in advance or just put them in a wrap up post. If you list them, feel free to change them as the mood takes you.

5. Challenge begins January 1st thru December, 2010.

If you would like to join the 2010 Romance Reading Challenge, go HERE!

1.) A Black Tie Affair by Sherrill Bodine
2.) Seduced By A Rogue

3.) Gentlemen Prefer Succubi

4.) A Highlander's Destiny

5.) Ecstasy Unveiled
6.) Countess of Scandal

7.) Jordan

8.) Born In Night

9.) Born In Fire

10.) Born In Ice

11.) The Last Song
12.) To Sin With A Scoundrel
13.) Montana Legacy

2010 YA Reading Challenge

Want to join the 2010 YA Reading Challenge?

Go HERE!

J. Kaye is hosting the 2010 Young Adult Reading Challenge.

Here's what she has to say~

1. Anyone can join. You don't need a blog to participate. --Non-Bloggers: Post your list of books in the comment section of the wrap-up post. To learn how to sign up without having a blog, click here.

2. There are four levels:-
-The Mini YA Reading Challenge – Read 12 Young Adult novels.

--Just My Size YA Reading Challenge – Read 25 Young Adult novels.

--Stepping It Up YA Reading Challenge – Read 50 Young Adult novels.

--Super Size Me YA Reading Challenge – Read 75 Young Adult novels.

3. Audio, eBooks, paper all count.

4. 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.

1.) Wake by Lisa McMann

2.) Fade by Lisa McMann

3.) Gone by Lisa McMann

100+ Reading Challenge

100+ Reading Challenge (2010)

(Ends December 31, 2010)

1. A Black Tie Affair by Sherrill Bodine

2. Veracity

3. 101 Glam Girl Ways to an Ultra Chic Lifestyle

4. Seduced by a Rogue

5.Gentlemen Prefer Succubi

6. A Highlander's Destiny

7. Ecstasy Unveiled

8. Knit, Purl, Die

9. Sleep No More

10. Countess of Scandal

11. Wake

12. Storm of Visions

13. Dare to Surrender

14. Spider's Bite

15. Shift

16. Jordan

17. Shadow Blade

18. Born in Night

19. Born in Fire

20.Born in Ice

21. The Last Song

22. Fire Gazer

23. To Sin With A Scoundrel

24.The Bride Collector
25.Quick & Easy Tips to Lose Weight
26.Silent Scream
27.Montana Legacy
28.Pride & Prjudice & Zombies: Dawn of the Dreadfuls
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Book vs Movie~ P.S. I Love You by Cecelia Ahern

Holly and Gerry had the perfect life. Happily married, living in Dublin close to their friends and family, and with a brilliant social life, they had the world at their feet. Or so they thought. When Gerry dies, Holly is devastated. On the eve of her 30th birthday, the man who was her lover, her best friend, her rock, has left her. But Gerry promised he'd always be there for Holly. And he is: his last bequest to her is The List, a bundle of notes which form a monthly mission for Holly to get her life back on track. As the notes are gradually opened, and as the year unfolds, Holly is both cheered up and challenged. The man who knows Holly better than anyone sets out to teach her that life goes on. With some help from her friends, and her noisy and loving family, Holly finds herself laughing, crying, singing, dancing - and being braver than ever before. Life is for living, she realises - but it always helps if there's an angel watching over you.

I watched the movie BEFORE reading the book and participating in the Book to Movie Challenge. I loved the movie and so I chose this book to be included in my "picks".
my thoughts:
I so loved the book more than the movie. Don't get me wrong, the movie is one of my top favorite "chick flicks". BUT. THE. BOOK. IS. SO. MUCH. BETTER.
Although I will say as I was reading the book, I did picture Hillary Swank (as Holly), Gerard Butler (as Gerry) and Kathy Bates (as Holly's mum). The book delved much deeper into the emotions of not just Holly, but everyone who knew Gerry. There were some MAJOR differences in the book, but the main point remained the same. The letters that Gerry had written to Holly prior to his death. I have the habit of reading until my eyes pop out of my head, but with P.S. I Love You, I couldn't do that. I had to take regular breaks, go outside, do a load of laundry or just watch tv. It was an emotional roller coaster, and I had to jump off, alot. By the time I finished last night, I was exhausted. Cecelia Ahern is a fantastic writer who squeezes every drop of emotion out of her characters.
my suggestion:
Buy the book. Buy the movie. If you only have 2 hours and feel like you need a good cleansing cry, watch the movie. If you have a weekend and feel like you need a good cleansing cry, read the book. It's what I'm going to do!

2 / 6 books. 33% done!

Book vs Movie~ The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks

The Notebook

by Nicholas Sparks

Synopsis:
The Notebook is an epic love story centered around an older man who reads aloud to an older, invalid woman whom he regularly visits. From a faded notebook, the old man's words bring to life the story about a couple who is separated by World War II, and is then passionately reunited, seven years later, after they have taken different paths. Though her memory has faded, his words give her the chance to relive her turbulent youth and the unforgettable love they shared.

As teenagers, Allie (Rachel McAdams) and Noah (Ryan Gosling) begin a whirlwind courtship that soon blossoms into tender intimacy. The young couple is quickly separated by Allie's upper-class parents who insist that Noah isn't right for her. Several years pass, and, when they meet again, their passion is rekindled, forcing Allie to choose between her soul mate and class order. This beautiful tale has a particularly special meaning to an older gentleman (James Garner) who regularly reads the timeless love story to his aging companion (Gena Rowlands).


My thoughts:

I usually enjoy a book much more than the movie. With “The Notebook” I enjoyed the book but the movie remains my favorite way to enjoy such a great Love story. And it never fails, I get to that one certain part and the water works just automatically turn on.
Maybe it’s James Garner, Gena Rowlands, Ryan Gosling & Rachel McAdams. They bring these characters to life for me. I can’t imagine anyone else playing Noah & Allie. The one thing about the book that I really did enjoy were the letters that were written during their marriage. One of my favorite parts was in a letter that Allie wrote to Noah, it goes something like this:

"You are my best friend and lover. I'm not sure which I enjoy more." To me that is how it should be with any couple, but it's the rare few who actually find it.

For me the book was a roller coaster of emotions. Very few books leaves me laughing & crying within the span of just a few sentances. The Notebook did exactly that.

I would name Noah & Allie as my favorite on screen couple. They have that deep love for each other, they take the good with the bad. They know the other person isn’t perfect, but except them anyway. They can be brutally honest (he calls her a pain in the ass at one point and she calls him a son of a bitch) with each other, and it's ok.

Ok, one thing that kinda completely honked me off about the book was the ending. If you haven't read the book or watched the movie, first answer this...WHY NOT? Then, stop reading, because there are ***SPOILERS***down below....

In the book, it ends with Allie unbuttoning his shirt (and they are 78& 80) like they are getting ready to, well you know... Now I'm all for older people doing the, well, you know, mainly because I hope to be one of them some day, BUT. And here's the big BUT. I DO NOT WANT TO READ ABOUT IT, THINK ABOUT IT OR HAVE IT HINTED AT! Maybe when I'm pushing 80, reading about 80 years old doing, well, you know, will appeal to me, but not right now. That is one of the main things I would change about the book. I much, much, much prefer they die peacefully in their sleep together, because their love lets them do anything.

The Sookie Stackhouse Reading Challenge!

Beth Fish Reads has come up with a marvelous reading challenge for Sookie Stackhouse fans. It's the Sookie Stackhouse Reading Challenge.

I've wanted to start this series, but was hesitant, since I didn't really care for the HBO series. But I've read some great review so I'm going to do it! Participants have from July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2010 to catch up on Charlaine Harris's Southern Vampire series.


Here's the list:

Dead Until Dark
Living Dead in Dallas
Club Dead
Dead to the World
Dead as a Doornail
Definitely Dead
All Together Dead
From Dead to Worse
Dead and Gone

To sign up for this challenge, click here.

Read It, Watch It, Rate It~ Book vs Movie Challenge~

Thanks to Royal Reviews for this challenge!

The rules are simple:
In 2009 read a minimum of 6 books that have been made into movies and then watch the movie. Write a review on the Book vs the Movie and be honest about whether or not you think the film-maker was successful in translating the book to film. Please keep in mind that it is impossible to convey everything. You must both read the book and watch the movie within 2009. All genres are acceptable and it doesn't matter when the movie was made.

I found a great list of books 2 movies here!

1.)Julie & Julia by Julie Powell

2.) Cider House Rules by John Irving

3.) Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood by Rebecca Wells

4.) The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks ~06/19/09

5.) P.S. I Love You by Cecelia Ahern ~ 07/01/09

6.) Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks

edit note: I changed one so far. I took off "Of Mice and Men" changing it to "The Notebook" by Nicholas Sparks. Its my all time favorite movie and I've wanted to read the book.

2 / 6 words. 33% done!

0 / 6 books- 0% done!

Southern Reading 2009 Challenge

As a new blogger, I was lurking, I mean looking around at other blogs to follow.

I found this reading challenge at Maggie Reads. I think it will be great to get out of my "comfort" reading zone.

Maggie says:
"The time when you pour a glass of lemonade or sweet tea and take your official summer spot on the porch. Lean back in that chase lounge surrounded by geraniums and ferns, and begin the summer long journey into Southern culture."

Here are the rules:"You may choose to read any style of Southern book such as Appalachian tales, Civil War sagas, Gothic myths, Grit lit, and heart-wrenching biographies. Just as long as you read three (fiction or nonfiction) between May 15th and August 15th."

My chosen reads for 2009 are:

The Awakening by Katie Chopin
The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman by Earnest Gaines
Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison

0 / 3 books- 0% done!