Weekly Geeks 2010-39: Plans for 2011

This week's weekly geek:

Do you plan on participating in any reading challenges in 2011? Are you planning on hosting any reading challenges? Perhaps you'd like to share an idea for a reading challenge--to see if there is any interest!  Share with us which challenges look tempting to you! (You don't have to "officially" join any of the challenges for this weekly geek. Just let us know which ones you'd be most interested in.) You might want to spend some time browsing A Novel Challenge. Are there any challenges you are looking forward to that haven't been announced yet? Regardless of your challenge plans, are you starting to plan ahead for next year? Do you make lists or goals? Are you a person who enjoys reading more if it is structured? Or are you all about being free to read what you want, when you want?

I did not plan on joining many challenges for 2011. I thought I'd keep it to four or five at most. (Having plans for 2 of Carl's challenges--Once Upon A Time V, R.I.P VI, and two of Katrina's--Fall Into Reading, Spring Reading Thing, and the TBR 2011 challenge (not that it's been announced yet, but still. None of these have been announced yet.) (I'd also find it hard to resist a Classics challenge if Trish were to host it again. And if Our Mutual Read was to continue for 2011, I'd so have to keep up with that one.)

But then I found a few challenges that I couldn't resist. Vintage Mystery Reading Challenge. Victorian Literature Challenge. And though the Civil War wouldn't be my first or second choice, I couldn't resist participating for the third year in the War Through the Generations. And when Chris asked if I'd want exchange book recommendations--I couldn't resist that either. His list for me. My list for him.

The challenges that I haven't joined--but look tempting.

New Author Challenge
YA Historical Fiction Challenge 
First in a Series
Live Life to the Fullest
Dystopia Challenge

I also said that I wasn't going to be hosting any challenges--besides the perpetual ones. (Like Georgette Heyer). Well, I changed my mind.

42 Challenge (2011 Sign-ups!)
A to Z Challenge (2011 Sign-ups!)
Young Readers (2011 Sign-ups!)

And I'm EXCITED to announce a new mini-challenge I'll be hosting. The Connie Willis Mini-Challenge.


© Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Weekly Geeks: Books You Waited Too Long to Read

This week's weekly geeks asks us to share books we wish we'd read sooner. 

Once in a while I read a book I have had for years and I think “How the hell did I miss this one?  Why did I not read this one before?

Is there a book that has hang around your reading pile for far too long before you got to it, A book that probably got packed away until you accidentally got to it or a book that you read a few pages in and never got back to.

If so share or ask your readers about that book that really made an impression on them (good or bad) after having it or hearing about it for far too long?

Connie Willis' Doomsday Book. As much as I loved, loved, loved To Say Nothing of the Dog, WHY didn't I pick up this one too?! As much as I am fascinated by time travel, by science fiction, WHY didn't I make this one a priority?! As much as I love historical fiction, WHY didn't I "know" that I would love this one?! I read Doomsday Book this past week. I more than loved it. I LOVED it. This is one I want to recommend to everyone!

My next choice isn't really a particular book--it's an author! Terry Pratchett. I wish I'd known how much I was going to LOVE, LOVE, LOVE him! I wish I'd read The Wee Free Men, Hat Full of Sky, and Wintersmith sooner. And then there's The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents. I'll be reading I Shall Wear Midnight next. But where should I go from there?!

© Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Weekly Geeks--The Wishlist

Is your wishlist as big as your TBR pile? What books are topping your list? Are there any new releases that you are counting down the days for? Share a handful of titles and be sure to share why you want to get your hands on these books! And if another blogger is responsible for that book being on your wishlist, consider sharing a link to their review!

Venetia. By Georgette Heyer. Read by Richard Armitage

Sylvester. By Georgette Heyer. Read by Richard Armitage

Both of these audio books are by Naxos.


The Sunne in Splendour: A Novel of Richard III by Sharon Kay Penman.


Monsters of Men. By Patrick Ness. (September 2010)


The Red Queen by Philippa Gregory. (August 2010)


The Fantastic Secret of Owen Jester by Barbara O'Connor. August 2010.


Keeper by Kathi Appelt


Jane Slayre by Charlotte Bronte and Sherri Browning Erwin


Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins (August 2010)


© Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews