In spite of the fact that I am not ready, 2011 is almost over – and all of you in book blogger-land know what that means: time to sign up for 2012 reading challenges! The last few years, I have had the pleasure of hosting the Ireland Reading Challenge. I have thoroughly enjoyed meeting other bloggers and being introduced to new Ireland-related books and authors. Since the challenge is a few years old, I thought it would be fun to add some twists this year – especially since some people find it very easy to complete the highest challenge level.
Here are the new guidelines:
~ The challenge runs from January 1, 2012 to November 30, 2012.
~ 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. (I will be posting a list of books previously reviewed for the challenge in the next day or two, if you’re looking for suggestions.)
~ Choose your commitment level:
Shamrock level: 4 books
Luck o’ the Irish level: 6 books
Kiss the Blarney Stone level: 8 books
Ceilidh level: 10+ 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 here or 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 header, and add a Mr. Linky for reviews and wrap-up posts.
~ Everyone who fulfills their challenge level and writes at least one review will get one entry in the giveaway at the end of the challenge. The prize? A copy of For the Love of Ireland: A Literary Companion for Readers and Travelers
~ Now for the twist: you can earn extra entries in the giveaway by diversifying your reading. You will earn one extra entry for reading from these genres – one entry per genre represented in your challenge list:
Contemporary fiction
Historical fiction
Science fiction or fantasy
Young Adult fiction
Romance
Horror
Children’s fiction
Non-fiction – history
Non-fiction – memoir or biography
Non-fiction – essays
Poetry
I look forward to hearing about your Ireland reading this year!
Sign up here:
Looking forward to this challenge!!
Carrie´s last post ..Challenge: 2012 Ireland Reading Challenge
Twitter: booksandmovies
says:
Carrie – glad you’re joining us!
Twitter: Marleen (Meentje63)
says:
Yes, I know I said I wasn’t going to participate again, but you managed to make this challenge so interesting that I couldn’t resist. I’m really looking forward to discovering how I’ll get on with all those genres.
Marleen Kennedy´s last post ..IRELAND READING CHALLENGE 2012
Twitter: booksandmovies
says:
Marleen – I’m glad I tempted you into joining!
Twitter: Marleen (Meentje63)
says:
I guess I’m easily tempted. But then again, this time the challenge seemed tailor-made for me.
Marleen Kennedy´s last post ..ALL THESE LITTLE WORLDS
Oh goody! Really enjoyed the 1911 Challenge, even though I joined so late, so here I am, bright and early for the next one… I’ve got a lots of recommendations from other participants, the titles which never made it on to my short list, an anthology of early Celtic writings, a history of Ireland, and a Colm Toibin from the library – and there’s still Flann O’Brien to be read!
ChrisCross53´s last post ..Mayhem,Murder and Dionysian Frenzies
Twitter: booksandmovies
says:
ChrisCross – I’m glad you enjoyed last year’s challenge – although I do think it was 2011, rather than 1911!
Happy you’re joining us again.
I’m in! I’m going to aim for 8 books, but I hope to do more. So excited!
Cayla – Atlantic House Books
Cayla´s last post ..Wrapped by Jennifer Bradbury
Twitter: booksandmovies
says:
Cayla – welcome to the challenge!
I’m signing up for 4 books
I shall do my post this afternoon.
Twitter: booksandmovies
says:
O- welcome to the challenge!
Twitter: sarahreads2much
says:
I’m in! This looks great!
Sarah Reads Too Much´s last post ..Ireland Reading Challenge!!
Twitter: booksandmovies
says:
Sarah – glad to have you join us.
Oops! Been researching family history on 1911 census – the date has obviously got stuck in brain!
ChrisCross53´s last post ..The Country Child’s Christmas
Twitter: booksandmovies
says:
ChrisCross –
Twitter: Arti_Ripples
says:
This too is interesting! I’ll take the Shamrock level-4 books, and try to diversify the genres. Thanks again for hosting, Carrie.
Arti´s last post ..Upcoming Books Into Movies — List 3
Twitter: booksandmovies
says:
Arti – you’re welcome – glad you’re joining!
This is my first time participating in this challenge. Very excited! Thanks for hosting.
Beth´s last post ..Ireland Reading Challenge 2012
Twitter: booksandmovies
says:
Glad you’re joining us, Beth!
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I am so glad to see this challenge. I am a pile of Irish books that I want to read and it looks like next year will be the perfect time to do this. thanks for doing this challenge.
kim in ohio
Twitter: booksandmovies
says:
Welcome to the challenge, Kim!
Hi, I just joined this challenge & I am so glad I found it! I have lots of Ireland-related books on my reading list and I think this will be a fun way to check some off. Thanks for hosting!
Victoria´s last post ..Ireland Reading Challenge: 2012.
Twitter: booksandmovies
says:
Victoria – glad you’re joining us!
Hi!
Wonderful reading challenge. Love reading books about Ireland. I’ve posted at my place. Have a great day!
Sherrie
Just Books
Sherrie´s last post ..2012 READING CHALLENGE
Twitter: booksandmovies
says:
Sherrie – glad you’re joining us.
I enjoyed the challenge in 2011 (signed up as Susan @ Having Fun) and I’m eager to read more Irish theme books in 2012.
I enjoyed the challenge in 2011 (signed up as Susan @ Having Fun) and I look forward to reading more Irish theme books in 2012.
I enjoyed the challenge in 2011 (signed up as Susan @ Having Fun) and I look forward to reading more books related to Ireland in 2012.
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Twitter: joyweesemoll
says:
We’re going to Ireland in June, so I signed up for the 4 books I hope I’ll get read before we leave. Looks like fun!
Joy Weese Moll´s last post ..Challenges Old and New
I’ve recently moved to Ireland and one of my challenges this year was to read more Irish books in order to understand culture. This is great for me! I’m signing up for 4 books, but hope to actually do more. With a newborn, that may be asking too much!
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Hi Carrie, forgive the self-promotion, but I read a lot of Irish literary fiction, so if anyone is looking for some ideas please do consider checking out my blog. I have an “Ireland” category here: http://kimbofo.typepad.com/readingmatters/theme_ireland/
kimbofo´s last post ..Australian Literature Month begins!
I am so looking forward to this! Thanks for what is sure to be a fun challenge.
Twitter: SavvyVerseWit
says:
I signed up again this year, and I hope I can fit in 4 books for the lowest level. I have a couple I want to read already. So hopefully by March, I’ll be starting those. I can’t wait to see what reviews I have this year now that I’ve accepted fewer review copies. Thanks for hosting again. Are you doing another read-a-long?
Serena´s last post ..Dreaming of Mr. Darcy by Victoria Connelly
I signed up for the Ireland Essay contest by accident! I’ll be reading 10+-I’m retired and have lots of books with no concept of setting up blogs, tweets, nooks and the rest! Looking forward to this challenge and reading your great blogs. Thanks Carrie K. and members.
Twitter: JanetGS
says:
I am willing to commit to the Shamrock level–especially since I just finished Frank Delaney’s Ireland, and am listening to Edna O’Brien’s Saints and Sinners. I’ve had Leon Uris’s Trinity on the shelf for a long time now, and plan to read it this year. And for the fourth, who knows? There are so many marvelous choices out there. Looking forward to learning about more Irish authors on other blogs!
JaneGS´s last post ..Frank Delaney’s Ireland
Most of the books I want to read are from authors I started last year.
Now that it’s March, I feel like signing up!
raidergirl3´s last post ..CHALLENGE: Ireland Reading Challenge 2012
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Just finished the latest Molly Murphy book by Rhys Bowen – HUSH NOW, DON’Y YOU CRY.
Review is on my blog.
Lynne´s last post ..HUSH NOW, DON’T YOU CRY
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I read a book about Titanic and a group of Irish men and women who were on the ship on that fateful journey – THE GIRL WHO CAME HOME.
I posted a review on my blog. http://lynneslittlecorner.blogspot.com/2012/04/girl-who-came-home.html
Lynne´s last post ..THE GIRL WHO CAME HOME
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I only just found this and don’t think I’ll join for this year, but I will definitely consider joining next year! One of my all time favorite novels, At Swim, Two Boys is by an Irish author set in Ireland.
Twitter: booksandmovies
says:
Geoff – I haven’t heard of that one – I’ll have to look it up. And I do hope you join us next year!
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