Studying or Reading for Fun!!!

This semester has taken alot more time than usual away from me.  There is more studying, more writing, and more work in general! I have so many books to read, but I am being a good girl and doing the homework first (have to set a good example for my 12 year old daughter).
(-: 

My goal of a 125 books this year is off to a not so good start - but there is always Spring Break and Summer Break!  Looking forward to them already :-)

Review ~ Delirium

Title:  Delirium
Author:  Lauren Oliver
Publisher:  HarperTeen
Publication Date:  February 1, 2011
Pages:  441





Goodreads Summary:
Before scientists found the cure, people thought love was a good thing. They didn’t understand that once love -- the deliria -- blooms in your blood, there is no escaping its hold. Things are different now. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the government demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Holoway has always looked forward to the day when she’ll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy.


But with ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable: She falls in love.
 
My thoughts:
Whoever thought that love would be considered a disease.  Lauren Oliver makes it seem as it really is a disease that needs to be cured and that it has been the cause of the world's problems.  I really enjoyed this book and couldn't put it down - I was reading while I was cooking dinner!  The government gives the cure and regulates interactions.  They watch for sympathizers.  Lena thinks that once she is cured she won't have to worry about anything and she is counting down the days.  Then comes Alex and she can't stop thinking about things that are symptoms of the deliria.  She does things that she would never have done before like sneaking out to meet him and listening to music and going into the wilds where the invalids live.  Lena has fallen in love with Alex and that is illegal.  Alex and Lena must find a way to make it to the wilds before the regulators and her family can get to them.  This was a great book and I have already pre-ordered Pandemonium from Barnes and Noble!
 

Off the Shelf 2012 Challenge

hosted by Bookish Ardour

This is one challenge that I am really looking forward to in 2012.  I have soooo many books that I have to read and just haven't gotten around to them!  I am working toward the Flying Off level by reading 75 books.  The following information about the challenge was taken from Bookish Ardour's site. 


Guidelines:
1.Choose Your Level:These are listed further down and you can change levels at any time.
2.Grab The Badge: Place it somewhere on your blog, profile, or in a signature where possible and link back (main page r this page, it’s up to you).
3.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).
4.Link Up: Grab the direct URL to your sign up post, not your blog, click the Mr Linky graphic and enter your link!
5.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!
6.Your Reviews: Reviewing is optional! But if you do review we’d love for you to share them by submitting them on the Review Page (including social networks).
7.Finished: When you’re done it’s completion post time and you can share these on the Completion Post page!

Challenge Levels:
1.Tempted– Choose 5 books to read
2.Trying – Choose 15 books to read
3.Making A Dint – Choose 30 books to read
4.On A Roll – Choose 50 books to read
5.Flying Off – Choose 75 books to read
6.Hoarder – Choose between 76-135 books to read
7.Buried – Choose between 136-200 books to read

Dystopia 2012

hosted by Book Ardour

Last year I found out about the world of dystopian books and I fell in love with them.  I read Wither, Matched, Across the Universe, and many others...I can't seem to get enough.  I thought I would try out this challenge for 2012 and work my way through more.  Hopefully hit Contagion Level with 15 books to read

Guidelines:
•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 2012!
•Crossover Genres: Our Dystopia challenge also includes Post-Apocalypse and Ecotopia (environmentally dystopian).
•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).

1. Choose Your Level: These are listed further down and you can change levels at any time.2.Grab The Badge: Place it somewhere on your blog, profile, or in a signature where possible and link back (main page or this page, it’s up to you).
2. 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).
3. Link Up: Grab the direct URL to your sign up post, not your blog, click the Mr Linky graphic and enter your link!
4. 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!
5. Your Reviews: Reviewing is optional! But if you do review we’d love for you to share them by submitting them on the Review Page 
6. Finished: When you’re done it’s completion post time and you can share these on the Completion Post page.

 Challenge Levels:

1.Asocial– Choose 5 books to read

2.Contagion – Choose 15 books to read
3.Soldier – Choose 30 books to read
4.Drone – Choose 50 books to read
5.Conditioned – Choose 75 books to read
6.Brainwashed – Choose anywhere between 76-135 books to read
7.Totalitarian – Choose anywhere between 136-200 books to read

2012 YA Mythology Challenge

hosted by For Those About to Read

I am excited about this challenge because I love mythology.  Some books from the Goodreads list have been on my tbr pile for a while and this challenge gives me a chance to get to them!

Challenge Guidelines:

• The challenge will run from January 1, 2012 – December 31, 2012.

• The challenge is to read 10 YA or Middle grade novels that incorporate any type of Mythology in the story line (Greek, Egyptian, Norse, etc.).

• You can join anytime by filling out the form below

• Books must be read in 2012

• If you are a blogger, you must write a sign-up post that links back to this challenge page (Please use the image above in the post).

• If you are not a blogger, just leave a link to your account on Goodreads, Twitter, Facebook, LibrayThing, etc.

Not sure what to read? Check out the YA Mythology Challenge Goodreads List

2012 E-Book Challenge

2012 E-Book Challenge

hosted by WorkadayReads

This challenge is hosted by WorkadayReads here. I have a nook color and a kindle and there are many, many ebooks that have been on them for a long time. Maybe this challenge will help me get to them and get them off my tbr list! I am working toward Level 4-The Memory Stick Level with 50 ebooks.

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

Challenge Guidelines:

1.This challenge will run from Jan 1, 2012 - Dec 31, 2012.
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 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.When you sign up in the linky, put the direct link to your post about joining the E-Book Reading Challenge.
6.You can move up levels, but no moving down.
7.Sign-ups will be open until Dec 15, 2012, so feel free to join at any time throughout the year.

Zombie Challenge 2012

Zombie Challenge 2012

hosted by Book Chick City

I love ZOMBIES!  They are fun, hard to kill, and great to read about.  I have decided to try this challenge for 2012.  I am only going for Two Chomps but might bump it up to Three Chomps!  This is my first year for reading challenges except for the Goodreads challenge and last year -2011- I went for 100 books and accomplished reading approximately 114.  These will be fun to work on and find new books to read.  Below are the challenge guidelines taken from Book Chick City's website.

Challenge Details

• Timeline: 01 Jan 2012 - 31 Dec 2012

• Rules: There are FOUR (4) LEVELS to choose from:
- One Chomp: Read 6 Zombie books in 2012
- Two Chomps: Read 12 Zombie books in 2012
- Three Chomps: Read 18 Zombie books in 2012
- Four Chomps: Read 24 Zombie books in 2012

• You don't have to select your books ahead of time, you can just add them as you go. Also if you do list them upfront you can change them, nothing is set in stone! The books you choose can crossover into other challenges you have on the go.
• You can join at anytime. All books read in 2012 count towards the challenge regardless of when you sign up.
• At the beginning of Jan 2012, you will find a link to specific month to add your reviews.
• Audiobooks do not count, but all other formats are accepted.
• Only fiction, no non-fiction ;)
• This challenge can crossover to other challenges.
• You don't have to have a blog to join in - for those without a blog but who use Goodreads, Amazon, LibraryThing etc, you can add the URL to where you track your books. If you don't have a URL at all then choose a name you would like to use and then copy and paste the following link:
http://www.bookchickcity.com/2011/12/sign-up-zombie-challenge-2012.html
• If you need help choosing your zombie reads, check out BCC's BOOKSHOP or Goodreads ZOMBIE SHELF for ideas!

Review ~ Matched by Ally Condie

Title:  Matched
Author:  Ally Condie
Publisher:  Dutton Juvenile
Publication Date: November 30, 2010
Pages:  366



Goodreads Summary:
Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to believe. So when Xander's face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is her ideal mate... until she sees Ky Markham's face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black.

The Society tells her it's a glitch, a rare malfunction, and that she should focus on the happy life she's destined to lead with Xander. But Cassia can't stop thinking about Ky, and as they slowly fall in love, Cassia begins to doubt the Society's infallibility and is faced with an impossible choice: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she's known and a path that no one else has dared to follow.

My thoughts:
I LOVED this book.  It is one of my favorites of 2011.  I have recently read quite a number of dystopian books and before I get them confused or the stories all mixed together, I thought I should have a reminder of each of them.  Cassia and Xander seem so perfect together when they get matched at the Matching ceremony.  They have been friends forever and it just seems right when they see each others faces on the screen.  Cassia decides to take a look at the microchip with the information about Xander even though she knows all there is to know.  For just a second she sees another face and its someone she knows also.  She finds out the Ky is an Aberration and because something his father has done.  He is not to be matched with anyone.  Cassia can't get Ky out of her head or her heart once she starts to fall in love with him. 

I really enjoyed the characters and the storyline.  I can't wait to pick up and read Crossed which is already out!

2012 Book Blogger Recommendation Challenge

2012 Book Blogger Recommendation Challenge

 hosted by Reading with Tequila

I love reading other bloggers and their reviews. It is where I get 50% of the books that I have added to my to be read pile. The others come from goodreads, librarything, Barnes and Noble, and anywhere or anyone else that will speak books to me. I haven't participated in any reading challenges except the one on goodreads. Soooo....I am going to attempt a few and this is one of them. I am working towards

LEVEL V.

The Levels:

Level I - Read 5 books from the 2011 Book Blogger Recommendation List

Level II - Read 10 books

Level III - Read 15 books

Level IV - Read 20 books

Level V - Read 20+ books

The Rules:

• Challenge will run January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012. Participants can join anytime throughout the challenge.
• Create an intro post, linking back to this post.
• Sign up with the MckLinky below. Please link to your challenge intro post, not your blog home page.
• Chose your own books from the list. You can decide to read books only on the Top 25 list or from the entire recommendation list. You do not have to make a list of books before the challenge begins.
• All forms of books acceptable (audiobooks, eBooks, etc.)
• Rereads do not count towards the completion of the challenge. The challenge is about discovering books that are new to you.
• You don't need a blog to participate.
• Reviews, while always appreciated, are not mandatory.

The full list is HERE for the 2011 Book Blogger Recommendations.

My list for the challenge:

1. Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini
2. The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco
3. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
4. Enclave by Ann Aguirre
5. The Scorpio Races by Maggie Steifvater
6. Every Last One by Anna Quindlen
7. Tiger's Curse by Colleen Houck
8. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
9. Paranormalcy by Kiersten White
10. Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
11. Legend by Marie Lu
12. Tempest Rising by Tracy Deebs
13. Blood Red Road by Moira Young
14. Fateful by Claudia Gray
15. Looking for Alaska by John Green
16. Rot and Ruin by Jonathan Maberry
17. The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness
18. You Against Me by Jenny Downham
19. Forgive My Fins by Tera Lynn Childs
20. Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi
21. The Name fo the Star by Maureen Johnson
22. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkins
23. Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake
24. Fire by Kristin Cashore
25. Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins
26. The Warrior Heir by Cinda Williams Chima
27. Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
28. Witchfire by Lauren Maddison
29. Wolfsbane by Andrea Cremer
30. XVI by Julia Karr
31. Tyger, Tyger by Kersten Hamilton
32. The Future of Us by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler
33. Trickster's Choice by Tamora Pierce

There are sooo many on the list (over 200) that maybe I can add more later!

 I have other challenges that I am also going to try to participate in and they can be found here at the 2012 Challenge Page.