It’s almost the end of 2010, which means most of the challenges I’ve been participating in this year are coming to an end (and some are already finished). I don’t want to bore you with twelve separate challenge wrap-up posts, so I’ve decided to incorporate them all into this week’s Sunday Papers post.
You can see the complete list of books I read for each challenge on my challenge page.
Women Unbound Reading Challenge: 8/8 books Completed
This challenge was a success. I had originally signed up for the Bluestocking level (5 books including 2 nonfiction) but easily reached Suffragette level (8 books including 3 nonfiction). I particularly loved all three of my nonfiction choices, Testament of Youth by Vera Brittain, Wild Swans by Jung Chang and Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi.
Year of the Historical: 12/12 books Completed
I had expected this to be an easy challenge to complete – and it was. For a total of 12 books, all I needed to do was read one historical fiction novel per month, but I actually met the requirements of this challenge halfway through the year.
New Authors: 50/50 books Completed
For the New Authors challenge I could choose to try either 15, 25 or 50 new-to-me authors in 2010. I chose 15, because in the past I’ve been slow to try new authors, preferring to stay with authors I know and love. Of course, book blogging has helped me to discover lots of new authors who I would never have even thought about trying, and I ended up reading 50!
All About the Brontes: 2/3 books Failed
Unfortunately I forgot that this challenge would be ending in the summer. I had been thinking I had until the end of the year to read my three Bronte books, so this one has been a failure. Not a complete failure though, because I enjoyed the two Anne Bronte books I read and am still intending to read Villette by Charlotte Bronte in 2011.
A-Z Challenge: 20/26 books Failed
For this challenge, I needed to read one book beginning with each letter of the alphabet. As I expected, some letters proved more difficult to find than others. I still haven’t read anything beginning with J, K, Q, X, Y or Z so I’ve obviously failed this one!
Flashback Reading Challenge: 2/6 books Failed
I’m disappointed to have failed this challenge because I used to love revisiting my favourite books. I fully expected this to be one of the easiest challenges to complete and it makes me feel sad that only two of the books I’ve read this year have been rereads. This is something I want to change in 2011, while still continuing to discover new books.
What’s in a Name? 3 Challenge: 4/6 books Failed
This challenge sounded fun, but was always going to be a difficult one for me. I managed to read a book with a plant in the title (The Black Tulip), a music term (The Cellist of Sarajevo), a title (The White Queen) and a food (The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie) but have failed on the place name and the body of water.
Historical Fiction Reading Challenge: 20/20 books Completed
Like Year of the Historical, this one was easy to complete as historical fiction is one of my favourite genres.
Our Mutual Read: 12/12 books Completed
As you’ve probably noticed, I love anything Victorian so this challenge was perfect for me! I read three neo-Victorian books and the rest were Victorian classics.
Gothic Novel Challenge: 5/5 books Completed
I signed up for the Easy level, for which I needed to read five gothic novels. I chose four gothic classics (The Castle of Otranto, The Monk, Vathek and Dracula) plus The Unburied by Charles Palliser.
Daphne du Maurier Challenge: 3/3 books Completed
I loved all three of the Daphne du Maurier books I read for this challenge (I’ll Never Be Young Again, My Cousin Rachel and The Scapegoat). The challenge doesn’t finish until next April, so I still have plenty of time to read one or two more.
RIP V Challenge: 4/4 books Completed
This was one of the challenges I enjoyed the most – and it helped me get in the mood for Halloween! I actually read more than required – eight books and one short story.
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Newly acquired books
I haven’t shared my new book arrivals with you for a while, mainly because I haven’t acquired very many recently. My TBR pile is starting to get out of control, so instead of adding to it I’ve been trying to read some of my unread books. I have received a few this month, though.
The Return of the Soldier by Rebecca West: I found a second-hand copy of this and thought it would be perfect for the Virago Reading Week Rachel and Carolyn are planning.
Drive-by Saviours by Chris Benjamin: Won this through LibraryThing Early Reviewers.
Ghost Light by Joseph O’Connor: I received this a couple of weeks ago courtesy of Jessica at Park Benches & Bookends. It was the prize I won during the Readathon in October.
Darkside by Belinda Bauer: I received this one from Transworld Publishers. This is Belinda Bauer’s second book – I recently reviewed her first novel, Blacklands.
Have you read any of these?
Have a great week and enjoy whatever you’re reading!
I don’t really have many plans for my reading in August, but I’m intending to take part in the Austen in August event hosted by Adam of Roof Beam Reader. I’ve already read all of Jane Austen’s novels, but I want to read Emma again as it was the only one I didn’t enjoy the first time and I would like to give it another chance.
She Reads Novels 