Sunday Salon: 2012 Challenges

In 2011 I made a very definite decision to step back from doing too many reading challenges. There were a number of challenges that I was doing previously that weren't, well, challenging no matter how good it felt to achieve them. For example, a 100+ Challenge is fun, but I knew that I would complete it, and it meant maintaining lists and everything during the length of the challenge. That's just one example, but there were several others that were going through the motions type challenges.

Now it is time to start thinking about 2012 Challenges and I will be taking the same decision again for next year because really I didn't miss any of the challenges that I didn't participate in this year.

These are the challenges that I will be signing up for in 2012

Historical Fiction Challenge -I can only show you a sneak peak of the button for next year's challenge which is being hosted over at Historical Tapestry. The launch is coming up soon, and you will be able to see the whole button then. Let's just say that Alex has done another marvelous job with the graphic! This one is one challenge that I do complete very easily but I kind of feel like if you are a member of the group that is running a challenge then you probably need to participate in it!

What's in a Name 5 hosted by Beth Fish Reads - 2011 was the first time I participated in this challenge. The categories this year look like a lot of fun and I look forward to trying to find book from my existing reading piles to fit the challenge criteria which are"

Between January 1 and December 31, 2012, read one book in each of the following categories:

1. A book with a topographical feature (land formation) in the title: Black Hills, Purgatory Ridge, Emily of Deep Valley
2. A book with something you'd see in the sky in the title: Moon Called, Seeing Stars, Cloud Atlas
3. A book with a creepy crawly in the title: Little Bee, Spider Bones, The Witches of Worm
4. A book with a type of house in the title: The Glass Castle, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest, Ape House
5. A book with something you'd carry in your pocket, purse, or backpack in the title: Sarah's Key, The Scarlet Letter, Devlin Diary
6. A book with a something you'd find on a calendar in the title: Day of the Jackal, Elegy for April, Freaky Friday, Year of Magical Thinking

War Through the Generations hosted by Serena and Anna - Abject failure in this years challenge is not a stumbling block for signing up for next year's challenge! The theme for 2012 is World War I and I can't wait to read some fantastic books about this era.

Aussie Author Challenge hosted by Booklover Book Reviews- Every year one of my aims is to read more Australian authors, and I think I have done pretty well in relation to this in 2011. I have signed up for the Dinky-Di level of participation which means I am aiming to:

Read and review 12 books by at least 6 different Australian authors
‘Dinky-Di’ is Australian slang meaning ‘true or genuine’.

I will also be signing up for Carl's challenges when he announces them, which almost goes without saying, and I might still sign up for a couple more, but I am not 100 percent sure yet!

Have you started thinking about your 2012 challenges yet?

Currently reading

I am currently reading Where She Went by Gayle Forman, The Time in Between by Maria Duenos (somewhat curiously the book is going to have the title The Dressmaker here).

Reading Next

Camp Nine by Vivienne Schiffer

PS - Don't forget that that the Virtual Advent tour signups are still open for a few more days! It isn't long at all until the tour starts! So exciting.