363/365 2011 Reading Challenges

2011 Reading Challenges

I am going to participate in 2.

#1
Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge
hosted by The Book Vixen
http://www.blogher.com/frame.php?url=http://www.thebookvixen.com/2010/11/2011-reading-challenge-sign-up-outdo.html
The goal is to outdo yourself by reading more books in 2011 than you did in 2010.

I read 53 books in 2010 (my goal was 50). I am going to do the second level, Out of Breath, leaving me with a goal of 59-63 books read in 2011. It's a hefty challenge for me and I was tempted to do the level one, but I do want it to be a challenge
Levels:
Getting my heart rate up – Read 1–5 more books
Out of breath – Read 6–10 more books
Breaking a sweat – Read 11–15 more books
I’m on fire! – Read 16+ more books

#2
Since the above challenge is pretty much what I did last year, just a higher number, I thought I'd choose one more and decided on the Take a Chance Challenge.
http://www.tiftalksbooks.com/2010/12/take-chance-challenge-3.html
Basic Information
The concept of the challenge is to take chances with your reading by finding books to read in unusual or random ways.

The 2011 Challenges

1: Staff Member’s Choice: Go to a bookstore or library that has a “Staff Picks” section. Read one of the picks from that section.

2: Loved One’s Choice: Ask a loved one to pick a book for you to read. (If you can convince them to buy it for you, that is even better!)

3: Blogger’s Choice: Find a “Best Books Read” post from a favorite blogger. Read a book from their list.

4: Critic’s Choice: Find a “Best of the Year” list from a magazine, newspaper or professional critic. Read a book from their Top 10 list.
Room by Emma Donoghue, from 10 Best Fiction 2010 list.

5: Blurb Book: Find a book that has a blurb on it from another author. Read a book by the author that wrote the blurb.
The Castaways by Elin Hilderbrand, on jacket cover of Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah

6: Book Seer Pick: Go to The Book Seer and follow the instructions there. Read a book from the list it generates for you.

7: What Should I Read Next Pick : Go to What Should I Read Next and follow the instructions there. Read a book from the list it generates for you.

8: Which Book Pick: Go to Which Book and use the software to generate a list of books. Read a book from that list.

9: LibraryThing Pick: Go to LibraryThing’s Zeitgeist page. Look at the lists for 25 Most Reviewed Books or Top Books and pick a book you’ve never read. Read the book. (Yes … you can click on MORE if you have to.)

10: Pick A Method: Pick a method for finding a book from the choices listed below (used in previous versions of the challenge).
Random Book Selection. Go to the library. Position yourself in a section such as Fiction, Non-Fiction, Mystery, Children (whatever section you want). Then write down random directions for yourself (for example, third row, second shelf, fifth book from right). Follow your directions and see what book you find. Check that book out of the library, read it and then write about it. (If you prefer, you can do the same at a bookstore and buy the book!)
Public Spying. Find someone who is reading a book in public. Find out what book they are reading and then read the same book. Write about it.
Random Bestseller. Go to Random.org and, using the True Random Number Generator, enter the number 1950 for the min. and 2010 for the max. and then hit generate. Then go to this site and find the year that Random.org generated for you and click on it. Then find the bestseller list for the week that would contain your birthday for that year. Choose one of the bestsellers from the list that comes up, read it and write about it.