#NewToMeMay Reading Challenge

Although May has already crept into its fourth day (how is it May already?!), this is the challenge I am joining in with. A good blogging friend of mine, Clover at Fluttering Butterflies, decided to create this challenge.

#NewToMeMay is about reading books by authors you've not read previously. As May for me consists of mostly assignments, revision and exams, I thought this might be fun to motivate me to read a little bit this month even though the number of books being read WILL be small. I'm thinking probably like 2 or 3, if I'm lucky.


So here is a list of books I have on my to-read list - let me know what you recommend me to read!

Mr Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore - Robin Sloan (currently reading!)
Tease - Amanda Maciel
Don't Even Think About It - Sarah Mlynowski
The Moment Before - Suzy Vitello
Longbourn - Jo Baker
And We Stay - Jenny Hubbard
These Broken Stars - Annie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner
How A Song Can Save Your Life - Leila Sales
It's Kind of a Funny Story - Ned Vizzini
A Face Like Glass - Frances Hardinge
I Capture the Castle - Dodie Smith
Howl's Moving Castle - Dianne Wynne Jones

2011 Challenges in Review

Challenges are great - and irritating. I don't take them too seriously but it is annoying when you're 1/2 books away from your goal. Here is how I did in the challenges I was in, in 2011:

COMPLETED

I aimed to read around 10 books in the YA Historical Fiction this year. I, however, managed 17 and knocked off 3 to-reads for this genre. Click here to have a look at the books I read. 

I am also competing in this in 2012 so have a look here for the sign-up post on how to get involved if you're interested.

COMPLETED

I aimed on this challenge to read 9-12 books all by British Authors. And? Well, I managed 20 overall, which I am very pleased about! I also managed to 5 more books off my to-read list by doing this challenge. Click here to have a look at the books I read.

Again, I am also competing in the 2012 version of this challenge. Click here to see my sign-up post.

INCOMPLETE

I tried so hard to read 50 books in the year of 2011, but failed by TWO BOOKS. Nonetheless, I am proud that I read more books than last year (43). I blame my exams in May/June for it...and Wicked - that was such a long book...

British Books Challenge 2011!

Yep. I'm doing another one next year as well. But this one is definitely right up my street.
This is challenge to read at least 6-12 books written by British authors. Should be quite easy for me as I live there :)
It's hosted by Becky at The Bookette (I personally LOVE her blog). If you, yourself, would like to sign up, just click here.

Right. So what books are you expecting me to read for it?
Well, I'm not very big in the 'planning what I'm going to read'. I just kind of...pick it up and read it when I have the time.
But here are a few books that might make an appearance next year...

1. I Was Jane Austen's Best Friend - Cora Harrison
2. The Queen's Lady - Eve Edwards
3. The Legacy - Gemma Malley
4. A Company of Swans - Eva Ibbotson
5. Love Struck - Rachael Wing
6. An Education - Nick Hornby



Here we go...the links take you to the review of that book:
1. A Song For Summer - Eva Ibbotson
2. The Queen's Lady - Eve Edwards
3. Love Struck - Rachael Wing
4. The Legacy - Gemma Malley
5. Chocolate Cake With Hitler - Emma Craigie
6. The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas - John Boyne
7. I was Jane Austen's Best Friend - Cora Harrison
8. The Morning Gift - Eva Ibbotson
9. Annexed - Sharon Dogar
10. You Against Me - Jenny Downham
11. Cassandra's Sister - Veronica Bennett
12. The Returners - Gemma Malley
13. Once - Morris Gleitzman
14. An Education - Lynn Barber
15. Lia's Guide to Winning the Lottery - Keren David
16. Then - Morris Gleitzman
17. The Rogue's Princess - Eve Edwards
18. Now - Morris Gleitzman
19. The New World - Patrick Ness
20. Othello - William Shakespeare

And so it comes to the end of this challenge for 2011. I have read so many amazing literature by British authors this year and I think 19 is great with the fact I was aiming for 9-12 books. 


It's hard to choose my absolute favourite, more harder than you imagine because these authors are great and I would recommend the majority of the ones on this list.
I have to say I really enjoyed I was Jane Austen's Best Friend and Lia's Guide to Winning the Lottery. It was great finally reaching the end of The Declaration series by Gemma Malley with The Legacy, as well as finding a stand alone one of hers. In addition, I have gone further into Eva Ibbotson's books which I found later last year and A Song for Summer that I started 2011 with is one of my favourites of hers.


I am so glad I did this challenge and I would recommend anyone to do the 2012 one at The overflowing library.