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!
Participants:
~ Carrie at Journey Through Words
~ Marleen at More Than a Reading Journal
~ ChrisCross at The Book Trunk
~ Cayla at Atlantic House Books
~ O at Delaisse
~ Sarah at Sarah Reads Too Much
~ Arti at Ripple Effects
~ Beth at Bookwork Meets Bookworm
~ Deseree at Dusky Literi
~ Jenn at Simply Challenging
~ Kim in Ohio
~ Victoria at Erik is (so not) Dead!
~ Sherrie at Just Books
~ Sissy at Cryptographic Romance
~ Susan at Avid Series Reader
~ Cassandra at Literary Stars
~ Joy at Joy’s Book Blog
~ Irene at Irene’s Desk
~ Carrie at Books and Movies
~ Miriam at Mipa’s Monologue
~ Megan at Hardcover Feedback
~ Marina at Books and Polishes
~ Marie at Ramblings of a Daydreamer
~ K at Very Simple Secret
~ Yvann at Reading With Tea
~ Lindy
~ Patti at Peppermint Ph. D.
~ Jules at Jules’ Book Reviews
~ Serena at Savvy Verse & Wit
~ Alpa at 1 More Page Please
~ Patty at Tale of Three Cities
~ Lorraine S.
~ Jane at Reading, Writing, Working, Playing
~ Colleen at Books in the City
~ Raidergirl at An Adventure in Reading
~ Lynne at Lynne’s Little Corner of the World
Reviews:
~ All the Dead Voices
~ Angel Kiss
~ Bear in Mind These Dead
~ The Best of Myles
~ The Bloody Meadow
~ Brooklyn
~ Castle Rackrent
~ The Cottage at Glass Beach
~ The Druid
~ Dublin 4
~ Dubliners
~ Everything in This Country Must: A Novella and Two Stories
~ Faithful Place
~ The Girl Who Came Home
~ The Girl Who Lived on the Moon
~ The Holy Thief
~ Hush Now, Don’t You Cry
~ The Importance of Being Earnest
~ Ireland: A Novel
~ An Irish Country Doctor
~ A Long Long Way
~ Molly Fox’s Birthday
~ On Canaan’s Side
~ Pygmalion
~ Shannon
~ Solace
~ Stories for Children
~ Thanks for the Memories by Cecilia Ahern, reviewed at Books and Movies
~ Tipperary by Frank Delaney, reviewed at Books and Movies
~ The Yellow House
Sign up here:
Link your reviews here:
Link your wrap-up posts here:
Pingback: Year End Tally and 2012 Outlook | Ripple Effects
I’m sorry, I didn’t read your post properly and due to that I linked to my blog, not to my sign up post! That’s what happens when your little brothers are playing hide-and-seek in your room
So, anyway, my post is here:
http://literarystars.blogspot.com/2011/12/this-will-be-craic-ireland-reading.html
My sincere apologies!
Cassandra´s last post ..This will be craic – Ireland Reading Challange
Twitter: booksandmovies
says:
Cassandra – no problem – either one works.
Twitter: SweetMarie83
says:
I’m so excited about this challenge! I found the 2011 one a few months ago and made a note to participate in 2012. It seemed so far away at the time, I can’t believe it’s almost here! Really looking forward to participating, thanks for hosting this great challenge!
SweetMarie83´s last post ..The 2012 Ireland Challenge
Pingback: Recommended reading for the 2012 Ireland Challenge – plus, vote for the March read-along book | BOOKS AND MOVIES
Couldnt complete last years challenge. I hope to keep upto it this year
Alpa´s last post ..Happy new year
Excellent challenge! I’m in!
Twitter: Marleen (Meentje63)
says:
My first book for the 2012 challenge is Solace by Belinda McKeon, which is also my contemporary fiction entry I suppose. I’ve got a feeling though that there will be a lot more entries in this category while I may struggle to find books for some of the other genres. We’ll see how I get on.
Marleen Kennedy´s last post ..THE END OF THE WASP SEASON
Pingback: Molly Fox’s Birthday by Deirdre Madden | Ripple Effects
Twitter: Arti_Ripples
says:
Carrie, I’ve just posted a review of my first book for the Ireland Challenge: Molly Fox’s Birthday by Deirdre Madden, but have problem finding the right ‘Mister Linky’ to put my review in. Please correct it if you can and let me know where I should link it? Thanks!
Arti´s last post ..Molly Fox’s Birthday by Deirdre Madden
Twitter: booksandmovies
says:
Arti – no problem – I fixed it.
If you look at where it says “Link your reviews here,” there will be a list of reviews already linked and a Mr. Linky directly below it – that’s the one to use. 
Twitter: Arti_Ripples
says:
oh thanks! Also, pls. remove #32 on the sign up list for me too.
Arti´s last post ..Molly Fox’s Birthday by Deirdre Madden
Bother. Got in a muddle with the linking again. Anyway, I’ve reviewed Castle Rackrent, by Maria Edgeworth, which I also read for the Novembers Autumn 2012 Classics Challenge.
ChrisCross53´s last post ..Castle Rackrent
Twitter: booksandmovies
says:
ChrisCross – you linked in the right place.
Twitter: Marleen (Meentje63)
says:
I’ve just added my second book for this challenge, and this is my Young Adult read. Two genres down, nine to go.
I just hope I managed to put the link up in the right place this time.
Marleen Kennedy´s last post ..ANGEL KISS
‘I do not like thee Dr Fell,
The reason why I cannot tell’
As far as I’m concerned this traditional children’s rhyme sums up the way I feel about ‘Brooklyn’, by Colm Toibin. If we’re talking modern Irish writers I’ll stick with Sebastian Barry… Anyway, here’s my review on Book Number Two… http://chriscross-thebooktrunk.blogspot.com/2012/02/why-didnt-i-like-this-book.html
ChrisCross53´s last post ..Why Didn’t I Like This Book?
Book Number Three … Sebastian Barry, On Canaan’s Side. So beautifully written, and he really gets inside the minds of characters, but it was so sad I cried… You need a handkerchief (I still use proper hankies, but you can use a tissue) when you read this…
ChrisCross53´s last post ..Handkerchiefs at the Ready for a Sad Tale
Twitter: joyweesemoll
says:
My first book for the challenge is children’s fiction — Stories for Children by Oscar Wilde. I also talk in my post about a lecture I attended celebrating the 130th anniversary of Oscar Wilde’s visit to St. Louis.
Book Review: Stories for Children by Oscar Wilde and a Wilde visit to St. Louis
Twitter: Marleen (Meentje63)
says:
I’ve just posted a link to my review of The Holy Thief, the first of two mysteries by William Ryan I recently read and thoroughly enjoyed. Since it’s a mystery it doesn’t count towards the genre challange, but it does count as a great read by an Irish author to be cherished.
Marleen Kennedy´s last post ..THE BLOODY MEADOW
Twitter: Marleen (Meentje63)
says:
And next is a link to my thoughts on Bear in Mind These Dead by Susan McKay a brutally honest book about those who suffered loss through the troubles in Northern Ireland. Although it describes events that took place fairly recently I’m glad to say that it can be counted as my history book in the genre challenge.
Marleen Kennedy´s last post ..THE BLOODY MEADOW
Twitter: Marleen (Meentje63)
says:
And finally for today a link to my review of the second book by William Ryan, The Bloody Meadow. Another great mystery set in Stalin’s Russia.
Marleen Kennedy´s last post ..THE BLOODY MEADOW
Pingback: The Yellow House Read-a-Long, Part 1
‘Tis St Patrick’s Day, so here is a review of an Irish book recommended by all sorts of people who thught I would enjoy it… and I did… Molly Fox’s birthday, by Deirdre Madden… http://chriscross-thebooktrunk.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/molly-foxs-birthday.html
ChrisCross53´s last post ..Molly Fox’s Birthday
Have I messed the main link up again?
ChrisCross53´s last post ..Molly Fox’s Birthday
Pingback: The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde | Ripple Effects
Twitter: Arti_Ripples
says:
Just posted my second review, right on St. Patrick’s Day today: Oscar Wilde’s LOL funny play The Importance of Being Earnest. Thanks!
Arti´s last post ..The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde
Twitter: Marleen (Meentje63)
says:
Oops, I think I may have added The Bloody Meadow twice. If I did I apologize, I got a bit confused because of the difference between the two lists above.
Marleen Kennedy´s last post ..RISE, A Novel of Contemporary Israel
Twitter: Marleen (Meentje63)
says:
This is a new link though. I finished listening to All the Dead Voices, an Ed Loy Mystery by Declan Hughes.
Marleen Kennedy´s last post ..RISE, A Novel of Contemporary Israel
Pingback: The Yellow House Read-a-Long, Part 2
Good March so far – two read, one reviewed. Loved Faithful Place, and did you know that Tana French has a new one in the series coming out in June? Broken Harbour, starring Schorcher Kennedy. Can’t wait!
raidergirl3´s last post ..BOOK: Faithful Place by Tana French
Twitter: joyweesemoll
says:
I finished Dubliners by James Joyce. I feel like I deserve a medal!
Joy Weese Moll´s last post ..Book Review: Dubliners by James Joyce
Oops, my review (of An Irish Country Doctor) got posted as a wrap-up….it’s only the first review of 4. I re-posted, and it went into the review section (correctly) on the second try. Please delete the mistake (review in wrap-up), thanks.
Pingback: The Yellow House Read-a-Long, Part 3
Twitter: Arti_Ripples
says:
Carrie,
Just linked here my third instalment for Ireland Challenge. It’s Colum McCann’s Everything in this Country Must, a novella and two short stories. Powerful writing. Hope your readers can have the chance to read this book. Again, thanks for hosting this wonderful Reading Challenge.
Arti´s last post ..Everything In This Country Must by Colum McCann
Pingback: Everything In This Country Must by Colum McCann « Ripple Effects
Book-handling, or how to make books look aged… a wonderfully zany piece from the late great Flann O’Brien (aka Brian O’Nolan, aka Myles na Gopaleen). I have been reading a collection of his work, originally published in The Irish Times, now available as The Best of Myles, by Flann O’Brien. He is very funny, very witty, very clever with word play. (I put this on the Essay Challenge as well, hope that is OK).
ChristineHarding@TheBookTrunk´s last post ..I Want To Be A Book-Handler…