Despite saying that I wasn’t going to sign up for any more reading challenges, here are three that I couldn’t resist.

The first is the Historical Fiction Challenge hosted by the team at Historical Tapestry. The rules are as follows:

* everyone can participate, even those who don’t have a blog.

* any kind of historical fiction is accepted (HF fantasy, HF young adult,…)

* During these following 12 months you can choose one of the different reading levels:

1. Severe Bookaholism: 20 books
2. Undoubtedly Obsessed: 15 books
3. Struggling the Addiction: 10 books
4. Daring & Curious: 5 books
5. Out of My Comfort Zone: 2 books

The challenge will run from 1 January 2012 to 31 December 2012.

I haven’t made a list of books, but I’m signing up for the Severe Bookaholism level. Historical fiction is one of my favourite genres and I don’t expect to have any problems completing this challenge!

The Classics Challenge is hosted by Katherine at November’s Autumn and the goal is to read seven classics in 2012. Here is what Katherine says about the challenge:

Instead of writing a review as you finish each book (of course, you can do that too), visit November’s Autumn on the 4th of each month from January 2012 – December 2012.

You will find a prompt, it will be general enough that no matter which Classic you’re reading or how far into it, you will be able to answer. There will be a form for everyone to link to their post. I encourage everyone to read what other participants have posted.

This challenge was announced a while ago but I didn’t sign up immediately because I wasn’t sure which classics I would want to read in 2012. Now that I’ve had time to think about it I’ve listed the following seven books which overlap with some of the Victorian reading I’m planning to do next year.

1. The Professor by Charlotte Brontë
2. Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
3. The Small House at Allington by Anthony Trollope
4. Aurora Floyd by Mary Elizabeth Braddon
5. The Mill on the Floss by George Eliot
6. The Return of the Native by Thomas Hardy
7. Wives and Daughters by Elizabeth Gaskell

I might read these in a different order, and I’m sure I’ll be reading other classics too, but all seven of these books are definitely on my list for 2012.

Finally, Risa of Breadcrumb Reads is hosting a read-along of twelve of Shakespeare’s plays throughout 2012. For every play there will be discussion posts for each Act. You can find out more and sign up at the Reading Shakespeare blog.

This is another one I’ve been thinking about for a few weeks. I do have a copy of Shakespeare’s Complete Works, most of which I still haven’t read. At the start of 2010 I had set myself a personal challenge to read some of his plays throughout the year, but I only actually managed to read one. I’m hoping that signing up for Risa’s challenge will be the motivation I need.

The schedule is as follows. I’m not sure I’ll have time for all of these, but would like to join in with at least some of them.

* January — A Midsummer Night’s Dream
* February — Macbeth
* March — Henry V
* April — Much Ado About Nothing
* May — Antony and Cleopatra
* June — Richard III
* July — As You Like It
* August — King Lear
* September — Cymbeline
* October — Twelfth Night
* November — Othello
* December — Pericles

I’m not planning to sign up for any other challenges, as in addition to these three I’ve already signed up for The Victorian Challenge and War Through the Generations. I’m looking forward to January so I can get started with all of these!