17 Nov 2011

THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT READING CHALLENGE AND WORLD BOOK NIGHT 2012.

I hold my hands up and admit that nowadays there aren't many things I enjoy about Christmas - overly commercial, too expensive and seemingly starting earlier and earlier every year - bah humbug, I could go on but will spare those of you who do enjoy the festive season or don't celebrate it.

 The one thing I do enjoy though is, is .............drum roll please


The Annual Reading Challenge which this year is being hosted by The True Book Addict - press HERE for details and to enrol OR see the link at the top of the page.

Running from the 21st of November 2011 until the 6th of January 2012 there are several different layers -  the first three being compulsory the last two optional extras.

--Candy Cane: read 1 book

--Mistletoe: read 2-4 books

--Christmas Tree: read 5 or 6 books.
 
--Fa La La La Films: watch a bunch or a few Christmas movies.
 
--Visions of Sugar Plums: read books with your children this season and share what you read.
 
My target?
 
Definitely Mistletoe and hopefully Christmas Tree ...... I already have my first 5 books picked out.
 










Anything else I've forgotten? Ah yes 'the rules'.

  • Challenge will run from Monday, November 21st 2011 through to Friday January 6th 2012.
  • Cross over with other challenges is totally permitted AND encouraged!
  • These must be Christmas novels, books about Christmas lore, a book of Christmas short stories or poems, books about Christmas crafts, and for the first time...a children's Christmas books level!
And one last thing .......


All participants will be entered into a giveaway draw.


So what are you waiting for? Go sign up and happy reading.

And now for ...............




World Book Night is a celebration designed to spread a love of reading and books. Celebrated on April 23, 2012 it will see tens of thousands of people gift books within their communities to spread the joy and love of reading. In 2012 World Book Night will be celebrated in the UK, Ireland and USA.

And the 25 books chosen as this years giveaways are .......

  • Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen
  • The Player of Games - Iain M. Banks
  • Sleepyhead  - Mark Billingham
  • Notes from a Small Island - Bill Bryson
  • The Alchemist - Paulo Coelho
  • The Take - Martina Cole
  • Harlequin - Bernard Cornwell
  • Someone Like You - Roald Dahl
  • A Tale of Two Cities - Charles Dickens
  • Room - Emma Donoghue
  • Rebecca - Daphne du Maurier
  • The Remains of the Day - Kazuo Ishiguro
  • Misery - Stephen King
  • The Secret Dreamworld of a Shopaholic - Sophie Kinsella
  • Small Island - Andrea Levy
  • Let the Right One In - John Ajvide Lindqvist
  • The Time Traveler's Wife - Audrey Niffenegger
  • The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox - Maggie O'Farrell
  • The Damned Utd - David Peace
  • Good Omens - Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman
  • How I Live Now - Meg Rosoff
  • Touching The Void - Joe Simpson
  • I Capture the Castle - Dodie Smith
  • The Book Thief - Markus Zusak.
A good eclectic collection, don't you think? For more information or to sign up as one of this years givers click HERE OR see the button at the top of the page.

14 comments:

Mary (Bookfan) said...

i can't commit to more challenges but if I was to try The Christmas Spirit I would hope for mistletoe level - we'll see. I look forward to your reviews because the titles look fun. Good luck :)

Gina said...

Best of luck on the reading challenge! I myself, still count those participated in as a big fat zero. One day though...one day. ^_^ Agreed on the book list, eclectic was the name of the game...but in a good way!

serendipity_viv said...

This is a freaky coincidence today! Good luck with your Christmas reading challenge.

Monalisa said...

This looks a great idea for Christmas. Though i won't be participating, I wish you all the very best for the contest. I've never seen a greater reader than you.

Dorte H said...

Don´t like Christmas???

What if I tell you I wrote a Knavesborough Christmas story yesterday? (In Danish, but I may be persuaded to translate it .... )

Kelly said...

Good luck with the Christmas challenge. I'm really looking forward to your reviews! (a couple of those books look especially interesting to me)

Please, Dorte...translate to English!!

Melissa (Books and Things) said...

Oh good luck on your challenge. It sounds so cute in the way it is broken up!

I'll have to check out the World Book Night. Thanks for the link!

Suko said...

The button is wonderful, and this Christmas reading challenge does sound lovely, but I am a real slouch with challenges (even my own). Enjoy your books for this challenge, Petty!

Golden Eagle said...

Good luck with the reading challenge! It sounds wonderful.

chitra said...

So many lovely give aways...
I am sure you would have lovely time with the challenge. Shall wait to hear from you about them.

Felicity Grace Terry said...

Yes please Dorte, do translate this into English.

Betty Manousos said...

oh my goodness, what a challenge!

good luck with your xmas reading!

big hugs
betty xx

The Bookworm said...

Happy Christmas reading! I may have to read a holiday themed book as well. I didn't know Tolkien had a Christmas story.
Thanks for the link to World Book Night.

Michelle Stockard Miller said...

Stopping by to officially welcome you to the challenge. Hope you have fun! Less than 24 hours to go!