Welcome to the second annual Ireland Reading Challenge! Last year’s challenge was a lot of fun, and helped me clear some of my Ireland-related titles off of my to-read shelves. Of course, I’ve since added more. 
In the next week or so, I will be posting a list of suggested titles and authors to help with your challenge.
For those of you interested in joining me in the challenge, here are the details:
~ The challenge runs from January 1, 2011 to November 30, 2011.
~ Any books read for this challenge can also apply to other challenges you are working on.
~ Re-reads are allowed.
~ Any book written by an Irish author, set in Ireland, or involving Irish history or Irish characters, counts for the challenge – fiction, non-fiction, poetry, audiobooks, children’s books – all of these apply.
~ Choose your commitment level:
Shamrock level: 2 books
Luck o’ the Irish level: 4 books
Kiss the Blarney Stone level: 6 books
~ Write up a post indicating that you are participating (feel free to copy the lovely graphic at the top of this post), and then add your challenge post’s link to the Mr. Linky on the main challenge page.
~ You don’t have to list your books ahead of time – just have fun reading throughout the year.
~ I will put up a page for the challenge in my left sidebar, and add a Mr. Linky for reviews and wrap-up posts.
~ Everyone who fulfills their challenge level and writes at least one review is eligible for the giveaway prize at the end of the challenge: a copy of Tipperary by Frank Delaney. Wrap-up post and giveaway details will go up at the beginning of December, which is why the challenge ends on November 30th.
~ Thanks to Serena, who had a wonderful idea, we will be adding a new element this year. In the month of March, in honor of St. Patrick’s Day, we will do a read-along for any challenge participants or other bloggers who are interested. I have no idea which book we should read for the read-along, though, so please leave your suggestions in the comments. I will compile a list and post a poll in which you can vote for your pick.
I look forward to hearing about your Ireland reading this year!
Join here:
If you have any questions or titles for the list of suggested reading, please leave them in the comments section below!
Special thanks to my husband, Kevin, for designing the challenge button for me.
Signed up again! Aiming for 4 books again, like this year, because I am a challenge addict and have signed up for probably three hundred other challenges!
Bree´s last post ..Looking Forward to 2011 Part 4
Twitter: booksandmovies
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Bree- fellow challenge addict here, so I know what you mean!
Twitter: robnmccormack
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Signed up again for 2011. Will aim for 4 books this time. Will be writing my 2010 wrap up post soon. Thanks for hosting. I like the idea of the readalong. Will put my thinking cap on and let you know if I come up with any ideas.
Robin´s last post ..Sunday Salon- November- Nanowrimo- and notions
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Robin – I’m glad you’re joining us again!
Just signed for the 2011 Ireland Reading Challenge. My aim is to read 2 books. Have restricted myself to crime fiction books only. Thanks for hosting it.
Jose Ignacio´s last post ..Ireland Reading Challenge 2011
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Jose – I’m glad you’re joining us!
I just signed up. My aim will be two books, but I may well go over that. I already chose The Hounds of the Morrigan as my first book and maybe “The Lair of the White Worm” by Bram Stoker as the second.
Twitter: booksandmovies
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Jennifer – that second one sounds deliciously creepy!
I hope so
I was seriously creeped out by the movie, I remember that.
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I’m going to aim for 4 books – all crime fiction and all sitting on my TBR shelves – I need as much help as I can get to be prompted to read the books I already own before I go looking for more books so thanks for hosting the challenge
Bernadette in Australia´s last post ..The Ireland Reading Challenge 2011
Twitter: booksandmovies
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Bernadette – you’re welcome – I started the challenge last year as a way to motivate myself to read some of the titles on my own shelves, so I know how you feel!
I’ll aim for 4
Kerrie´s last post ..Review – THE FORGOTTEN MAN- Robert Crais – audio
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Kerrie – good for you!
I’m in! I’m so excited. What a great challenge! I’m going to try to read 6.
Twitter: booksandmovies
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Marie – I’m glad.
I’m new to these type of challenges but I’m excited to get started!
I’m hoping to read 4 books! But who knows it may turn out to be 6!
Twitter: booksandmovies
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Christa – good plan!
Looking forward to this one for 2011! I’ve already two books in mind, I just have to come up with another two and I will be set to do the Luck o’ the Irish level.
I will post my reading list with this challenge at my blog once I have decided on the reading list.
~S.
xo.sorcha.ox´s last post ..Weathering the Storm
Twitter: booksandmovies
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Sorcha – glad you are joining us! I look forward to seeing your list.
I’m hoping to go to Ireland next year, so this is a perfect challenge for me!
Lourdes´s last post ..20 Favorite Fictional Detectives
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Lourdes – I’m glad you’re joining us!
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I was hoping you’d host this one again as I didn’t get to it last year. I so want to read Patrick Taylor’s series, plus a few I have here anyway. I didn’t realize Marion Keyes was Irish. I just finished Maeve Binchy’s latest, Minding Frankie, and it put me in a very Irish mood.
raidergirl3´s last post ..Welcome
Twitter: booksandmovies
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Raidergirl – I’m glad you’re joining! I love Binchy and Patrick Taylor’s series is wonderful – I’ve read two so far, but plan to read the rest in 2011.
Hi! I just signed up, but haven’t posted about the challenge yet. I most likely will do so tomorrow. I’m really looking forward to it. My favorite author writes mostly…or all, Irish historical fiction.
Sharyla´s last post ..Classics into Movies
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Sharyla – glad you’re joining us for the challenge!
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Hi, I’ve just signed up and I’m looking forward to the challenge – may start reading one of the books very soon.
Twitter: booksandmovies
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Margaret – I’m glad you’re joining us! Just don’t forget, the challenge doesn’t start until January 1st.
I don’t sign up for challenges anymore because I was horrible about completing them. I will look forward to reading about all of the wonderful books that you and the other participants discover through this challenge!
Kathleen´s last post ..I Did Come Home
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Kathleen – I’m hoping to keep the challenge page updated with people’s reviews, so be sure and check back!
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Woo Hoo! Great challenge! I am so excited …. I have chosen 9 books to read! My ma’s a little Irish lady and I’ve grown up with a deep appreciation of all things Irish!
Annie@ButteryBooks´s last post ..An Irish Reading Challenge 2011
Twitter: booksandmovies
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Annie – welcome to the challenge! I can’t wait to hear about the books you read.
I’m only going for two because I really want to finish
Great challenge, Carrie.
lilly´s last post ..2011 Reading Challenges
Twitter: booksandmovies
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Lilly – welcome to the challenge! I’m glad you’re joining us.
I just joined today and posted on my blog about it. Thank you for offering this challenge.
Nan´s last post ..Ireland Reading Challenge 2011
Twitter: booksandmovies
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Nan – you’re welcome! I’m glad you’re joining us.
This challenge sounds like fun. I have a lot of books about Ireland I’d like to read, so this will spur me on, hopefully!
debbie bailey´s last post ..The Best Way to Live
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Debbie – that’s the great thing about challenges!
Last time i did an Ireland Challenge i loved it
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Lindy – glad you’re joining us!
Glad to be joining this one again in 2011- glad you’re running it again this year
I’ve joined my first reading challenge (I may join a few more). I’ve read so much fine Irish lit in the past few years that I figured I’d like to read more. So “Kiss the Blarney Stone” it is (6 books)
ChazzW´s last post ..Global Reading Challenge
A great challenge! I’ll participate with six books to read. I’m looking foward to your reviews to find new books to read.
Twitter: SavvyVerseWit
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Can’t wait to see what the read-a-long book is.
Serena´s last post ..My 2011 Reading Challenges
Twitter: DorteHJ
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I have thought about this for a week or so, but as I have five Irish novels on my TBR I´d better plunge in and aim for 6 novels. Thank you for hosting the challenge.
Dorte H´s last post ..Charlotte MacLeod- The Recycled Citizen 1987
Just learning about my Irish heritage..this should be good. Signing up for the Shamrock level…looking forward!
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Hi,
I have signed up for the challenge. This is my first time and I am looking forward to a good read. I am signing up for the Shamrock level where I hope to read books by Frank McCourt.
Twitter: booksandmovies
says:
Geosi – welcome to the challenge!
Fantastic challenge! I signed up for the 2 books, but am so willing to go beyond if I am able. I did not want to push my luck.
By the Way, I will be interested to see which book will be chosen for the March read along. I may want to join up on that too.
Twitter: booksandmovies
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Ibeeg – glad you’re joining us! Be sure to vote for your choice for the read-along book: http://booksandmovies.colvilleblogger.com/2010/12/28/vote-for-the-march-ireland-challenge-read-along-title/
Thanks for the heads up. I am going over to the post now to place my vote.
ibeeeg´s last post ..2011 Book Challenges- Fun- and Practical
Looking forward to it, I love everything Irish! Thanks for hosting!
Twitter: booksandmovies
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Wallace – you’re welcome – glad you’re joining us!
Signing up at the shamrock level.
iasa´s last post ..Something To Do This Year
I’ve signed up for the Luck o’ the Irish level and really looking forward to reading and reviewing my selection of four.
Thank you so much for hosting the Irish challenge. Can’t wait to read as many submissions as I can. Lovely.
Joanne G´s last post ..Another reading challenge
I am going to do the challenge, but for some quirky reason my Internet Explorer would not allow me to sign up. I thought perhaps it wants a comment left first.
Thank you for thinking of this good idea.
Dianne
Twitter: booksandmovies
says:
Dianne – I’m sorry you’re having trouble signing up with the Mr. Linky. Do you have a blog link? I am planning to add links to the challenge page to all participants, so I will simply add you that way – or I can just list your name if you don’t have a blog.
I really look forward to joining with you all on this Ireland challenge!
Twitter: booksandmovies
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Victoria – I’m glad you’re joining us!
I’m aiming for 6 books. We’ll see what happens.
http://comesitbythehearth.blogspot.com/2011/01/ireland-reading-challenge-2011.html
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A challenge is the last thing I need (among other things), but I seem to read half a dozen Irish books a year, anyway. So Kissing the Blarney Stone it is, then…
bookwitch´s last post ..My Ireland Reading Challenge
I have to go for Kissing the Blarney Stone, I see in Publisher’s Weekly that Luanne Rice has a new book centered in Ireland and of course there is the last book in Karen Marie Moning’s series so there’s 2 down.
Sharon Redfern´s last post ..Support Your Local Library 2011 Reading Challenge
I’m signing up for your wonderful challenge! Kiss the Blarney Stone level. Thanks!
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I’m a new book blogger, and a challenge seems like a good way to plan my reading, as well as get involved in the book blogging community. I’m aiming for 4 books, hopefully none re-reads! I’ve had my eye on a series that’s set in Ireland, so I’ll hope that works out. This sounds like a great challenge!
Lissi´s last post ..The Brian Series- The River
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I have my first book to read already, chosen by my book group…Annie Dunne. I am going to aim for 4 books!
Great idea for a challenge!
Thanks!
Sue