2014 Sci-Fi Experience

Sci-Fi Experience
Hosted: Stainless Steel Droppings (sign-up post) (review site)
December 2013 - January 2014
# of Books: I'm hoping for seven

What I'm reading, OR, hope to read:

Dangerous by Shannon Hale
Unsouled by Neal Shusterman
Shift by Hugh Howey (I *may* decide to reread Wool before finishing the series with Dust)
Dust by Hugh Howey
Across A Star-Swept Sea by Diana Peterfreund (a sci-fi retelling of Scarlet Pimpernel!!!!!)
The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey
Vader's Little Princess by Jeffrey Brown
Darth Vader and Son by Jeffrey Brown
Star Wars Jedi Academy by Jeffrey Brown
Original Star Wars Trilogy (George Lucas, Alan Dean Foster, Donald F. Glut, James Kahn, Lawrence Kasdan)
Aquifer by Jonathan Friesen
The 100 by Kass Morgan
Risked by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Pastwatch the Redemption of Christopher Columbus by Orson Scott Card
Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card (maybe?)


© 2013 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Armchair Cybils 2013

I will definitely be joining Amy's Armchair Cybils reading challenge. It is an especially tempting challenge that I won't even try to resist since I have special interest in at least four or five of the categories! (I still think they should have a BOARD BOOK category.) I am hoping to read fifteen to twenty-five books among these categories:

Picture Books (List of Nominees)

1. That Is Not A Good Idea. Mo Willems. 2013. HarperCollins. 48 pages. [Source: Library]
2. Sophie's Squash. Pat Zietlow Miller. Illustrated by Anne Wilsdorf. 2013. Random House. 40 pages. [Source: Review copy]
3. How To Train a Train. Jason Carter Eaton. Illustrated by John Rocco. 2013. Candlewick Press. 48 pages. [Source: Review Copy]
4. Ball. Mary Sullivan. 2013. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 40 pages.

5.  Ribbit. Rodrigo. Folgueira. Illustrated by Poly Bernatene. 2013. Random House. 32 pages.
6. Toys in Space. Mini Grey. 2013. Random House. 32 pages.
7.  Exclamation Mark. Amy Krouse Rosenthal. Illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld. 2013. Scholastic. 56 pages.

Easy Readers and Short Chapter Books (List of Nominees)

1. I'm A Frog by Mo Willems
2. Squirrels on Skis. J. Hamilton Ray. Illustrated by Pascal Lamaitre. 2013. Random House. 64 pages. [Source: Review copy]
3. A Pet Named Sneaker. Joan Heilbroner. Illustrated by Pascal Lemaitre. 2013. Random House. 48 pages. [Source: Review Copy]
4. Dig, Scoop, Ka-Boom! Joan Holub. Illustrated by David Gordon. 2013. Random House. 24 pages. [Source: Review copy]
5. Mr. Putter & Tabby Drop the Ball. Cynthia Rylant. Illustrated by Arthur Howard. 2013. Harcourt. 44 pages. [Source: Review Copy]
6. A Big Guy Took My Ball. Mo Willems. 2013. Hyperion. 58 pages. [Source: Library]
7. Penny and Her Marble. Kevin Henkes. 2013. HarperCollins. 48 pages. [Source: Library]

8. Clementine and the Spring Trip. Sara Pennypacker. 2013. Hyperion. 160 pages.

Middle Grade Fiction (List of Nominees)

1. Al Capone Does My Homework. Gennifer Choldenko. 2013. Penguin. 224 pages.
2. Counting by 7s. Holly Goldberg Sloan. 2013. Penguin USA. 384 pages. [Review Copy]
3. Destiny, Rewritten. Kathryn Fitzmaurice. 2013. HarperCollins. 176 pages.
4. Duke. Kirby Larson. 2013. Scholastic. 240 pages. [Source: Review Copy]
5. Escape From Mr. Lemoncello's Library. Chris Grabenstein. 2013. Random House. 304 pages. [Source: Review Copy]
6. Every Day After. Laura Golden. 2013. Random House. 224 pages. [Source: Review Copy]
7. Prisoner B-3087. Alan Gratz. 2013. [March 2013] Scholastic. 260 pages.
8. The Center of Everything. Linda Urban. 2013. Harcourt. 208 pages.
9. The Fantastic Family Whipple. Matthew Ward. 2013. Penguin. 400 pages. [Source: Review Copy]
10. The Year of Billy Miller. Kevin Henkes. 2013. HarperCollins. 240 pages. [Source: Library]
11. Gingersnap. Patricia Reilly Giff. 2013. (January 2013) Random House. 160 pages.
12.
13. 

Elementary/Middle Grade Speculative Fiction (List of Nominees)

1. A Tangle of Knots. Lisa Graff. 2013. Penguin. 240 pages.
2. Fortunately, The Milk. Neil Gaiman. 2013. HarperCollins. 114 pages. [Source: Review Copy]
3. How to Make Friends and Monsters. Ron Bates. 2013. Zondervan. 224 pages. [Source: Review copy]
4. North of Nowhere. Liz Kessler. 2013. Candlewick. 272 pages. [Source: Library] 
5. Platypus Police Squad: The Frog Who Croaked. Jarrett J. Krosoczka. 2013. HarperCollins. 226 pages. [Source: Library]
6. The Mouse with the Question Mark Tail. Richard Peck. 2013. Penguin. 224 pages.
7. The Runaway King. Jennifer A. Nielsen. 2013. Scholastic. 352 pages.
8. The Water Castle. Megan Frazer Blakemore. 2013. Walker. 352 pages. [Source: Review Copy]
9. The Whizz Pop Chocolate Shop. Kate Saunders. 2013. Random House. 304 pages.
10.




Young Adult Speculative Fiction (List of Nominees)

1. Captives (The Safe Lands #1) Jill Williamson. 2013. Zondervan. 400 pages. [Source: Library]
2. Dark Triumph (His Fair Assassin #2) Robin LaFevers. 2013. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 387 pages.
3. Frozen: Heart of Dread. Melissa de la Cruz and Michael Johnston. 2013. Penguin. 336 pages. [Source: Review copy] 
4. Orleans. Sherri L. Smith. 2013. Penguin. 336 pages.
5. Shades of Earth. (Across the Universe #3) Beth Revis. 2013. Penguin. 369 pages.
6. The Elite. Kiera Cass. 2013. HarperCollins. 323 pages. [Source: Library]
7. The Testing. Joelle Charbonneau. 2013. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 344 pages.
8. William Shakespeare's Star Wars. Ian Doescher. 2013. Quirk. 176 pages. [Source: Review Copy]  

Young Adult Fiction (List of Nominees)

1. All The Truth That's In Me. Julie Berry. 2013. Penguin. 288 pages. [Source: Review Copy]
2. Catherine. April Lindner. 2013. Little, Brown. 320 pages.
3. Going Vintage. Lindsey Leavitt. 2013. [March 2013] Bloomsbury USA. 320 pages.
4. Hattie Ever After. Kirby Larson. 2013. Random House. 240 pages. 
5. Imperfect Spiral. Debbie Levy. 2013. Bloomsbury. 352 pages. [Source: Review copy]
6. Revenge of The Girl With The Great Personality. Elizabeth Eulberg. 2013. [March] Scholastic. 272 pages.
7. The Boy on the Bridge. Natalie Standiford. 2013. Scholastic. 256 pages. [Source: Review copy]
8. The Lightning Dreamer. Margarita Engle. 2013. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 182 pages.
9. The Moon and More. Sarah Dessen. Penguin. 384 pages.
10. This is What Happy Looks Like. Jennifer E. Smith. 2013. Little, Brown. 404 pages.
11. Victoria Rebels. Carolyn Meyer. 2013. Simon & Schuster. 192 pages.


I may decide to seek out elementary and middle grade nonfiction or young adult nonfiction. But I probably won't have time to seek out poetry or graphic novels.

About the challenge:
This is how the Armchair Cybils challenge will work:

• Read as many or as few of the Cybils nominated titles as you care to and write up your thoughts on your blog.  You can do this on a title-by-title basis or in one big ol’ post–it’s up to you!
• Come back here on the following dates to link up your Armchair Cybils posts: October 15 (your “I’m participating!” post); November 15 (reviews); December 15 (reviews); January 1 (shortlist thoughts); January 15 (reviews and thoughts);February 14 (reviews and thoughts about the winners).

© 2013 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

R.I.P. VIII

Host: Carl at Stainless Steel Droppings
Name: R.I.P VIII (sign-up; sharing reviews)
Dates: September and October
# of Books: I'm signing up for Peril the Second, 2 books. I am really hoping to read 4 books (Peril the First), but, I'm not sure what I'll get read.

What I'm Planning on Reading:

I'm SUPER-EXCITED to be reading Rookwood by William Harrison Ainsworth (1834). Ever since discovering this addictive and giddy-making little video, I've wanted to read Rookwood. The book is described as gothic romance which definitely qualifies!

Other books I'm considering reading for the challenge:

• William Shakespeare's Macbeth (because it's been a few years since I read it last)
• Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (because I love it and it has been at least two years, I think!)
• Drood by Dan Simmons (because I do love Dickens and Collins and I've been meaning to read this one for ages)
• Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre (not sure I'll get to this one, but it is a favorite)
• A Sicilian Romance by Ann Radcliffe (I've been wanting to read another Radcliffe, I really did enjoy Mysteries of Udolpho.)

What I Read:
1) Rookwood. William Harrison Ainsworth.
2) Fahrenheit 451. Ray Bradbury.
3) A Houseboat on the Styx. John Kendrick Bangs. 1895. 194 pages. [Source: Bought]

4) The Pursuit of the Houseboat Being Some Further Account of the Divers Doings of the Associated Shades. John Kendrick Bangs. 1897. 108 pages. [Source: Bought]
5) The Enchanted Typewriter. John Kendrick Bangs. 1899. 90 pages. [Source: Bought]
6) The Black Robe. Wilkie Collins. 1881. 320 pages. [Source: Bought]
7)  The Nine Lives of Alexander Baddenfield. John Bemelmans Marciano. Illustrated by Sophie Blackall. 2013. Penguin. 144 pages. [Source: Review Copy]
8) Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde. Robert Louis Stevenson. 1886. 144 pages. [Source: Bought]
9) Drood. Dan Simmons. 2009. Little, Brown. 784 pages. [Source: Bought]


© 2013 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

High Summer Readathon

High Summer Read-a-thon
Host: Seasons of Reading (sign-up post)
Dates: July 22-July 28
# of Books: I hope to read a lot!!!

Monday's Books:

1) The Water Castle by Megan Frazer Blakemore
2) Written in Stone by Rosanne Parry
3) Royal Mistress by Anne Easter Smith
4) The Boy On the Bridge by Natalie Standiford

Tuesday's Books:

5) The Toll-Gate by Georgette Heyer
6) Solstice by P.J. Hoover

Wednesday's Books:

7) The Year of the Baby by Andrea Cheng
8) Every Day After by Laura Golden
9) Ladies in Waiting by Laura L. Sullivan

Thursday's Books:

10) The Measure of Katie Calloway by Serena Miller
11) Middle Ground by Katie Kacvinsky

Friday's Books:

12) Outcasts United by Warren St. John
13) Below Stairs by Margaret Powell
14) Anomaly by Krista McGee

Saturday's Books:

15) Bath Tangle by Georgette Heyer

Sunday's Books:

16) No Shame, No Fear by Ann Turnbull
17) A Wreath of Snow by Liz Curtis Higgs 
18) Shift by Hugh Howey
19) April Lady by Georgette Heyer

© 2013 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

2013 Challenge: Paris in July

Paris in July 2013
Host: Bookbath; Sign-up post
# of Books: at least one
All of July

What I read OR watched:

1. Paris. Edward Rutherfurd. 2013. 832 pages. [Source: Library]
2. Second Fiddle. Roseanne Parry. 2011. Random House. 240 pages. [Source: Review Copy]
3. Death in the Clouds (Death in the Air). Agatha Christie. 1935. 253 pages [Source: Library]
4. Watching Les Miserables 

© 2013 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Library Books Read-a-thon

Rachael Turns Pages is hosting a week long read-a-thon: June 22-28. Sign-ups are here. So I didn't get a chance to update on Wednesday. I was able to finish three books though. I'm not sure what I'll try to get read today!

 What I actually read:

Title: The Christian Atheist
Author: Craig Groeschel
# of pages: 241
Initial Thoughts: I enjoyed this one. A full review will be posted at Operation Actually Read Bible.

Title: Divergent
Author: Veronica Roth
# of pages:  487
Initial Thoughts: Oh how I love and adore this one. This was my third time to read it and I still love it!!!

Title: Half Magic
Author: Edward Eager
# of pages: 192
Initial Thoughts: What a fun novel!

 

Title: Mary Poppins
Author: P.L. Travers
# of Pages: 224 pages
Initial Thoughts: Another reread. I think I appreciate Mary Poppins more each time I read it. This was the third time I've read it. Some chapters I loved, loved, loved. Some chapters I didn't. But it is so worth the read!

Title: The Magic Pudding
Author: Norman Lindsay
# of Pages: 144
Initial Thoughts: I loved, loved, loved this one! Everyone should know this Australian classic!

Title: The Road to Oz
Author: L. Frank Baum
# of Pages: 272
Initial Thoughts: The worst Oz book I've read so far. 

Title: Insurgent
Author: Veronica Roth
# of Pages: 544
Initial Thoughts: While I experienced it the first time I read it; I appreciated it more the second time.

Title: Stealing the Preacher
Author: Karen Witemeyer
# of Pages: 347
Initial Thoughts: Loved the cover, liked the contents. I thought it was a bit too busy with characters that didn't quite matter. But it was a pleasant enough read. 

Title: Erasing Hell: What God Said about Eternity, and the Things We've Made Up
Author: Francis Chan
# of Pages: 208
Initial thoughts: It was good.

Title: Death in the Clouds
Author: Agatha Christie
# of Pages: 253
Initial thoughts: I loved this Poirot mystery!


Library books I hope to read:

• Divergent by Veronica Roth
• Insurgent by Veronica Roth
• The Thing About Luck by Cynthia Kadohata
• Half Magic by Edward Eager
• The Christian Atheist: Believing in God but Living as If He Doesn't Exist by Craig Groeschel
• Silesian Station by David Downing
• Sky on Fire (Monument 14) by Emmy Laybourne
• All I Need by Susane Colsanti
• Mary Poppins by P.L. Travers
• Mary Poppins Comes Back by P.L. Travers
• The Measure of Katie Calloway by Serena Miller
• A Promise to Love by Serena B. Miller
• All My Noble Dreams and Then What Happens by Gloria Whelan
• Prototype by Jonathan Martin

 Other books I hope to read:

• Grand Sophy by Georgette Heyer
• Stealing the Preacher by Karen Witemeyer
• I Shall Wear Midnight by Terry Pratchett

© 2013 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

2013 Reading Challenge: Once Upon A Time

Once Upon A Time
Host: Stainless Steel Droppings
Dates: March 21-June 21
# of Books: Quest the First, five books

What I read

1. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. L. Frank Baum.
2. The Marvelous Land of Oz. L. Frank Baum
3. Ozma of Oz. L. Frank Baum.
4. Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz. L. Frank Baum. 1908. 148 pages.
5. The Grimm Legacy. Polly Shulman.
6. The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe. C.S. Lewis.
7. The Annotated Hobbit. Revised and Expanded Edition. J.R.R. Tolkien.
8. The Whizz Pop Chocolate Shop. Kate Saunders.
9. Bliss. Kathryn Littlewood.
10.  A Dash of Magic. Kathryn Littlewood
11. Whatever After: Fairest of All. Sara Mlynowski.
12. Pinocchio. Carlo Collodi. 
13. Stardust. Neil Gaiman.
14. In A Glass Grimmly. Adam Gidwitz.


What I hope to read:


Stardust by Neil Gaiman
The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis
Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis
Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis
Magician's Nephew by C.S. Lewis
Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
The Adventures of Pinochhio by Carlo Collodi
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
Through the Looking Glass, and What Alice Found There by Lewis Carroll
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum
Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta
Froi of the Exiles by Melina Marchetta
Quintana of Charyn by Melina Marchetta
Blue Fairy Book by Andrew Lang



© 2013 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Classic Children's Literature Month (Jan)

Host: Simpler Pastimes
Event/Challenge: Classic Children's Literature Challenge
Dates: All of January 2013
# of Books: I'm going for 6

1. Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery (1908)
2. Pollyanna by Eleanor Porter (1913)
3. The Racketty-Packetty House by Frances Hodgson Burnett (1906)
4. Heidi by Johanna Spyri (1880)
5. The Real Mother Goose (1916)
6. Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett (1911)
7. Party Shoes by Noel Streatfeild (1946)
8. Skating Shoes by Noel Streatfeild (1951)



© 2013 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

2013 Challenge: L.M. Montgomery (January Challenge)

Host: Reading to Know
Name: L.M. Montgomery Reading Challenge
Date: Just January 2013
# of Books: 2+

One of my BIG goals for the year 2013 is to read L.M. Montgomery's works chronologically. (Perhaps with the exception of her short stories which I will fit in wherever I can. I do want to read her short stories, but I'm not as anxious to make sure I fit them in chronologically between her novels.) Reading to Know is hosting her L.M. Montgomery challenge this January. 

Reading
1) L.M. Montgomery Short Stories, 1896-1901
2) L.M. Montgomery Short Stories, 1902-1903
3) Anne of Green Gables, 1908
4) L.M. Montgomery Short Stories: 1904

and if time allows...

5) L.M. Montgomery Short Stories: 1905-1906
6) L.M. Montgomery Short Stories: 1907-1908

I also plan on watching film adaptations of Anne of Green Gables.

© 2013 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

2013 Challenges: TBR Pile

Host: Roof Beam Reader
Name: TBR Pile
Dates: Jan - Dec
# of Books: 12
Limitations: Must be from list of 12 +2 alternates; pre-2012 publication date

For the record, I'm not choosing any of these books by their covers!

1. Pollyanna by Eleanor Porter, 1913

2. Pollyanna Grows Up, Eleanor Porter, 1915

3. Brentwood, Grace Livingstone Hill, 1937

4. The Masqueraders by Georgette Heyer, 1928

5. Powder and Patch by Georgette Heyer, 1930

6. Party Shoes by Noel Streatfeild, 1946

7. Skating Shoes by Noel Streatfeild, 1951

8. Lord Peter, Complete Short Stories by Dorothy Sayers (???, but well before 2012!)

9. Faro's Daughter by Georgette Heyer, 1941

10. The League of Frightened Men by Rex Stout, 1935

11. The Rubber Band by Rex Stout, 1936
12. The Red Box by Rex Stout, 1937

Alternates:

13. I Will Repay by Baroness Emma Orczy, 1906

14. Lighthouse by Eugenia Price, 1971

© 2012 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

2013 Challenges: 2013 Pre-1960 Classic Children's Books

Host: Turning the Pages
Name: 2013 pre-1960 Classic Children's Books
Dates: Jan- Dec
# of Books: my goal is 52
LINK BACK EVERY MONTH; REVIEW LINKIES First of the month(ish)
(Jan)

What I Read:

1. Thomas the Tank Engine Collection--512 pages; 14 picture books published as one story collection, 1945-1960.
2. Anne of Green Gables, L.M. Montgomery, 1908
3. Pollyanna, Eleanor Porter, 1913
4. Racketty-Packetty House, Frances Hodgson Burnett, 1906
5. Heidi, Johanna Spyri, 1880
6. The Real Mother Goose, 1916
7. The Secret Garden, Frances Hodgson Burnett, 1911
8. Anne of Avonlea, L.M. Montgomery, 1909
9. Pollyanna Grows Up, Eleanor Porter, 1915
10. Elsie Dinsmore, Martha Finley, 1867
11. The Story Girl, L.M. Montgomery, 1911
12. Daddy-Long-Legs, Jean Webster, 1912
13. The Golden Road, L.M. Montgomery, 1913
14. Anne of the Island, L.M. Montgomery, 1915
15. Understood Betsy. Dorothy Canfield Fisher. 1916.
16. Anne's House of Dreams. L.M. Montgomery. 1917.
17. Rainbow Valley. L.M. Montgomery. 1919.
18. Rilla of Ingleside. L.M. Montgomery. 1921
19. Party Shoes. Noel Streatfeild. 1946. Oxford Children's Classics. 320 pages.
20. Skating Shoes. Noel Streatfeild. 1951. 224 pages.
21. Treasure Island. Robert Louis Stevenson. 1883. 311 pages.
22. The Little Prince. Antoine de Saint-Exupery. 1943/2013. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 112 pages.
23. A Little Princess. Frances Hodgson Burnett. 1905.
24. The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe. C.S. Lewis. 1950.
25. The Hobbit. J.R.R. Tolkien. 1937.
26. Little House in the Big Woods. Laura Ingalls Wilder. 1932.
27. Little House on the Prairie. Laura Ingalls Wilder. 1935.
28. Pinocchio. Carlo Collodi.  1883.
29.  The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. L. Frank Baum. 1900.
30. The Marvelous Land of Oz. L. Frank Baum. 1904.
31. Ozma of Oz. L. Frank Baum. 1907.
32. Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz. L. Frank Baum. 1908.
33. Emily of New Moon. L.M. Montgomery. 1923.
34. Emily Climbs. L.M. Montgomery. 1925.
35. Emily's Quest. L.M. Montgomery. 1927.
36. Mary Marie. Eleanor H. Porter. 1920.
37. The Belgian Twins. Lucy Fitch Perkins. 1917. 124 pages.
38. The Jungle Book. Rudyard Kipling. 1894/1895/2012. Random House. 320 pages.
39. Magic for Marigold. L.M. Montgomery. 1929. 274 pages.
40. Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz. L. Frank Baum. 1908. 148 pages.
41. Emily's Quest. L.M. Montgomery. 1927. 228 pages.
42. The Magic Pudding. Norman Lindsay. 1918. 144 pages. [Source: Bought]
43. Half Magic. Edward Eager. 1954. 192 pages. [Source: Library]
44. Mary Poppins. P.L. Travers. Illustrated by Mary Shepard. 1934/2006. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 224 pages. [Source: Library]
45. I Saw Esau: The Schoolchild's Pocket Book. Iona and Peter Opie. Illustrations by Maurice Sendak. 1947/2012. Candlewick Press. 160 pages. [Source: Review Copy]
46. The Road to Oz. L. Frank Baum. 1909. 272 pages. [Source: Bought]
47. When We Were Very Young. A.A. Milne. 1924. 100 pages. [Source: Library]
48. . Mary Poppins Comes Back. P.L. Travers. 1935. Harcourt. 315 pages. [Source: Library]
49. Pat of Silver Bush. L.M. Montgomery. 1933. 288 pages. [Source: Bought]
50. All-of-a-Kind-Family. Sydney Taylor. 1951. 190 pages. [Source: Bought]
51. A Little Maid Of Provincetown. Alice Turner Curtis. 1913. 192 pages. [Source: Bought]
52. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Lewis Carroll. 1865. 192 pages. [Source: Bought]
53. Mistress Pat. L.M. Montgomery. 1935. 288 pages. [Source: Bought].
54. Through the Looking Glass. Lewis Carroll. 1871. 228 pages. [Source: Bought]
55. Our Island Story. H.E. Marshall. 1905/? 512 pages. [Source: Bought]
56. The Wind in the Willows. Kenneth Grahame. Illustrated by David Roberts. Candlewick. 256 pages. [Source: Review Copy]
57. Anne of Windy Poplars. L.M. Montgomery. 1936. 288 pages. [Source: Bought]
58.   Jane of Lantern Hill. L.M. Montgomery. 1937. 274 pages. [Source: Bought]
59. Anne of Ingleside. L.M. Montgomery. 1939. 274 pages. [Source: Bought]

Possibilities:

• Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Lewis Carroll, 1865
• Through the Looking Glass, Lewis Carroll, 1871
• At the Back of the North Wind, George MacDonald, 1871
• Five Little Peppers and How They Grew, Margaret Sidney, 1881
• The Adventures of Pinnochio, Carlo Collodi, 1883
• The Story of the Treasure Seekers, E. Nesbit, 1899
• The Wouldbegoods, E. Nesbit, 1901
• The New Treasure Seekers, E. Nesbit, 1904
• Five Children and It, E. Nesbit, 1902
• The Phoenix and the Carpet, E. Nesbit, 1904
• The Story of the Amulet, E. Nesbit, 1906
• The Railway Children, E. Nesbit, 1906
• The Enchanted Castle, E. Nesbit, 1907
• The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, L. Frank Baum, 1900
• Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm, Kate Douglas Wiggin, 1903
• A Little Princess, Frances Hodgson Burnett, 1905
• Wind in the Willows, Kenneth Grahame, 1908
• Old Mother West Wind, Thornton Burgess, 1910
• Just David, Eleanor Porter, 1916
• Emily of New Moon, L.M. Montgomery, 1923
• Emily Climbs, L.M. Montgomery, 1925
• Emily's Quest, L.M. Montgomery, 1927
• Winnie the Pooh, A.A. Milne, 1926
• The House at Pooh Corner, A.A. Milne, 1928
• Gay Neck, The Story of a Pigeon by Dhan Gopal Mukerji, 1928
• Hitty Her First Hundred Years, Rachel Field, 1929 
• Little House in the Big Woods, Laura Ingalls Wilder, 1932
• Farmer Boy, Laura Ingalls Wilder, 1933
• Little House on the Prairie, Laura Ingalls Wilder, 1935
• On the Banks of Plum Creek, Laura Ingalls Wilder, 1937
• By the Shores of Silver Lake, Laura Ingalls Wilder, 1939
• The Long Winter, Laura Ingalls Wilder, 1940
• Little Town on the Prairie, Laura Ingalls Wilder, 1941
• These Happy Golden Years, Laura Ingalls Wilder, 1943
• Mary Poppins, P.L. Travers, 1934
• Mary Poppins Comes Back, P.L. Travers, 1935
• Mary Poppins Opens The Door, P.L Travers, 1943
• Mary Poppins in the Park, P.L. Travers, 1952
• The Hobbit, J.R.R. Tolkien, 1937
• Ballet Shoes, Noel Streatfeild, 1936
• Theatre Shoes, Noel Streatfeild, 1944
• Party Shoes, Noel Streatfeild, 1946
• Skating Shoes, Noel Streatfeild, 1951 
• Stuart Little, E.B. White, 1945
• Charlotte's Web, E.B. White,  1952
• Mrs. Piggle Wiggle, Betty MacDonald, 1947
• Mrs. Piggle Wiggle's Magic, Betty MacDonald, 1949
• Mrs. Piggle Wiggle's Farm, Betty MacDonald, 1954
• Hello, Mrs. Piggle Wiggle, Betty MacDonald, 1957
• The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe, C.S. Lewis, 1950
• Prince Caspian: The Return to Narnia, C.S. Lewis, 1951
• The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, C.S. Lewis, 1952
• The Silver Chair, C.S. Lewis, 1953
• The Horse and His Boy, C.S. Lewis, 1954
• The Magician's Nephew, C.S. Lewis, 1955
• The Last Battle, C.S. Lewis, 1956
• Henry Huggins, Beverly Cleary, 1950
• Ellen Tebbits, Beverly Cleary, 1951
• Henry and Beezus, Beverly Cleary, 1952
• Otis Spofford, Beverly Cleary, 1953
• Henry and Ribsy, Beverly Cleary, 1954
• Beezus and Ramona, Beverly Cleary, 1955
• Henry and the Paper Route, Beverly Cleary, 1957

© 2012 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

2013 Challenges: Book to Movie

Host: Doing Dewey
Name: Book to Movies
Dates: Jan - Dec
# Books & Movies: Movie Lover, 9

What I Read & Watched:

1. Book review: Anne of Green Gables  movie review: Anne of Green Gables
2. Book review: Heidi movie review: Heidi
3. Book review: Pollyanna movie review: Pollyanna
4. Book review: Pygmalion movie review: Pygmalion
5. Book review: English Governess at the Siamese Court; movie review: King and I
6. Book review: Les Miserables; movie review: Les Miserables
7. Book review: Stardust; movie review: Stardust
8. Book review: Invention of Hugo Cabret; movie review: Hugo
9. Book review and movie review: Death on the Nile.

© 2012 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

2013 Reading Challenges: Women Challenge

Host: Peekabook
Name: Women Challenge
Dates: January - December
# of Books: Wonder Woman +16
Limitations: Women Authors 

What I Read (last updated for May):

1. Mary Barton. Elizabeth Gaskell.
2. Cranford. Elizabeth Gaskell.  
3. Ruth. Elizabeth Gaskell.
4. The Racketty-Packetty House. Frances Hodgson Burnett. 
5. The Secret Garden. Frances Hodgson Burnett.
6. A Little Princess. Frances Hodgson Burnett. 
7. Understood Betsy. Dorothy Canfield Fisher. 
8. Little House in the Big Woods. Laura Ingalls Wilder.  
9. Little House on the Prairie. Laura Ingalls Wilder.
10. Anne of Green Gables. L.M. Montgomery.  
11. Anne of Avonlea. L.M. Montgomery
12. Anne of the Island. L.M. Montgomery.
13. Anne's House of Dreams. L.M. Montgomery
14. Rainbow Valley. L.M. Montgomery. 
15. Rilla of Ingleside. L.M. Montgomery
16. Emily of New Moon. L.M. Montgomery
17. Emily Climbs. L.M. Montgomery
18. The Story Girl. L.M. Montgomery. 
19. The Golden Road. L.M. Montgomery.
20. L.M. Montgomery Short Stories, 1896-1901. L.M. Montgomery.
21. Lucy Maud Montgomery Short Stories, 1902-1903. L.M. Montgomery. 216 pages
22. .L.M. Montgomery Short Stories, 1904. L.M. Montgomery
23. Kilmeny of the Orchard. L.M. Montgomery. 
24. Elsie Dinsmore. Martha Finley.
25. Daddy Long Legs. Jean Webster.
26. Dear Enemy. Jean Webster. 
27. Heidi. Johanna Spyri.
28. The Little Prince. Antoine de Saint-Exupery.
29. Brentwood. Grace Livingstone Hill.
30. Marcia Schuyler. Grace Livingston Hill.
31. Phoebe Deane. Grace Livingston Hill. 
32. Miranda. Grace Livingston Hill.
33. According to the Pattern. Grace Livingston Hill. 
34. Pollyanna. Eleanor H. Porter.
35. Pollyanna Grows Up. Eleanor H. Porter.
36. Miss Billy. Eleanor H. Porter.
37. Miss Billy's Decision. Eleanor H. Porter.  
38. Miss Billy Married. Eleanor H. Porter. 
39. Mary Marie. Eleanor H. Porter. 
40. Skating Shoes. Noel Streatfeild. 
41. Party Shoes. Noel Streatfeild. 
42. Why Shoot a Butler? Georgette Heyer. 
43. Envious Casca. Georgette Heyer.
44. Duplicate Death. Georgette Heyer.
45. The Black Moth. Georgette Heyer.
46. Powder and Patch. Georgette Heyer.
47. These Old Shades. Georgette Heyer.
48. The Masqueraders. Georgette Heyer.
49. Beauvallet. Georgette Heyer.  
50. Regency Buck. Georgette Heyer.
51. Devil's Cub. Georgette Heyer. 
52. The Convenient Marriage. Georgette Heyer. 
53. Faro's Daughter. Georgette Heyer. 
54. The Corinthian. Georgette Heyer
55. The Talisman Ring. Georgette Heyer.
56. Friday's Child. Georgette Heyer. 
57. Whose Body? Dorothy L. Sayers
58. Unnatural Death. Dorothy L. Sayers.
59. The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club. Dorothy L. Sayers. 
60. Clouds of Witness. Dorothy L. Sayers. 
61. The Leavenworth Case. Anna Katharine Green.
62. The Case of the Late Pig. Margery Allingham. 
63. The Cape Cod Mystery. Phoebe Atwood Taylor. 
64.  Final Curtain. Ngaio Marsh. 
65. The Mysterious Affair at Styles. Agatha Christie. 
66. Lord Edgware Dies (OR Thirteen at Dinner). Agatha Christie.
67. Peril at End House. Agatha Christie.
68. The English Governess at the Siamese Court: The True Story Behind 'The King and I' by Anna Harriette Leonowens.  
69. The Daughter of Time. (Inspector Grant #5). Josephine Tey. 

stopped keeping track in the summer...

© 2013 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

2013 Reading Challenges: 50 States

Host: Book Obsessed
Name: 50 States Challenge
Dates: Jan - Dec
# Books: 50

1. Alabama
2. Alaska
3. Arizona
4. Arkansas
5. California: Going Vintage by Lindsey Leavitt (1/16/13)
6. Colorado
7. Connecticut
8. Delaware
9. Florida
10. Georgia
11. Hawaii
12. Idaho
13. Illinois: The Dilemma of Charlotte Farrow by Olivia Newport (1/21/13)
14. Indiana
15. Iowa
16. Kansas:  Little House on the Prairie. Laura Ingalls Wilder.
17. Kentucky
18. Louisiana: Orleans by Sherri L. Smith (3/29/13)
19. Maine: This is What Happy Looks Like. Jennifer E. Smith.
20. Maryland
21. Massachusetts: The Cape Cod Mystery by Phoebe Atwood Taylor (2/4/13)
22. Michigan
23. Minnesota
24. Mississippi
25. Missouri
26. Montana
27. Nebraska
28. Nevada
29. New Hampshire: The Center of Everything by Linda Urban (2/26/13)
30. New Jersey
31. New Mexico
32. New York
33. North Carolina: The Moon and More by Sarah Dessen
34. North Dakota
35. Ohio
36. Oklahoma: Becoming Lucy Martha Rogers. (1/28/13)
37. Oregon
38. Pennsylvania: A New Home for Lily by Mary Ann Kinsinger and Suzanne Woods Fisher. (2/6/13)
39. Rhode Island
40. South Carolina
41. South Dakota
42. Tennessee
43. Texas: To Win Her Heart by Karen Witemeyer (1/23/13)
44. Utah
45. Vermont: Pollyanna by Eleanor Porter (1/13/13)
46. Virginia: Kizzy Ann Stamps by Jeri Watts (1/18/13)
47. Washington: Bride in the Bargain. Deeanne Gist. (2/8/13)
48. West Virginia
49. Wisconsin: Little House in the Big Woods. Laura Ingalls Wilder.
50. Wyoming

© 2013 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

2013 Challenges: Back to Classics

Host: Sarah Reads Too Much

Name: Back to Classics 2013
Dates: Jan - Dec
# Books: 6+

What I read:

1. A Classic Adventure: Treasure Island. Robert Louis Stevenson.
2. A 20th Century Classic: The Little Prince. Antoine de Saint-Exupery.
3. Classic Short Stories: The Man With Two Left Feet. P.G. Wodehouse.
4. A Classic Non-fiction: In The Steps of St. Paul. H.V. Morton.
5. A 19th Century Classic: Les Miserables. Victor Hugo. Translated and Introduced by Norman Denny. 1862/1976
6. A Classic Children's/ Young Adult: Pollyanna. Eleanor H. Porter.
7. Re-read a Classic: Cranford. Elizabeth Gaskell.
8. A Pre-18th or 18th Century Classic: Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan
9. Classic About the African-American Experience: Iola Leroy by Frances Ellen Watkins Harper
10. Animal Classic: Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling

The Required Categories:

1. A 19th Century Classic
2. A 20th Century Classic
3. A Pre-18th or 18th Century Classic
4. A Classic that relates to the African-American Experience - This can be an African-American author, or a book relating to slavery, civil rights, or African-American culture.
5. A Classic Adventure
6. A Classic that prominently features an Animal - This can feature animal characters or animals in the title (real or imagined)

Optional Categories:

    A.  Re-read a Classic

   B.  A Russian Classic

   C.  A Classic Non-Fiction title

   D.  A Classic Children's/Young Adult title

   E.  Classic Short Stories - collection must include at least 3 short stories by the same author, or at 
                                              least 3 stories collected together by genre, time period, etc.

© 2013 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

2013 Challenges: Mystery/Crime Reading Challenge

Host: The Crafty Book Nerd

Name: Mystery/Crime Reading Challenge
Dates: January - December
# Books: 15+
BE SURE TO VISIT THE SITE AND UPDATE WITH REVIEWS--MONTHLY PRIZES...
January Progress Review-Link 
February Progress Review-Link
March Progress Review Link

What I Read (last updated for June):

1. Sidney Chambers and the Shadow of Death. James Runcie. 2012. Bloomsbury. 400 pages. (Grantchester Mysteries Series #1)
2. Whose Body? Dorothy L. Sayers. 1923/1995. HarperCollins. 224 pages. 
3. The Case of the Worried Waitress: A Perry Mason mystery. Erle Stanley Gardner. 1966. 151 pages.
4. Final Curtain. Ngaio Marsh. 1947. Jove. 278 pages.
5. Clouds of Witness. Dorothy L. Sayers.
6. The Cape Cod Mystery. Phoebe Atwood Taylor.
7. The Leavenworth Case. Anna Katharine Green. 1878. 439 pages.
8. Unnatural Death. Dorothy L. Sayers. 1927. HarperCollins. 288 pages.
9. The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club. Dorothy L. Sayers. 1928/1995. HarperCollins. 256 pages. 
10. The Mysterious Affair at Styles. Agatha Christie. 1920/2006. Black Dog & Leventhal. 224 pages. 
11. The Case of the Late Pig. Margery Allingham. 1948. 144 pages.
12. Hamlet, Revenge! Michael Innes. 1937. 312 pages.
13. Why Shoot a Butler? Georgette Heyer. 1933. 352 pages.
14. Peril at End House. Agatha Christie. 1932. HarperCollins. 287 pages.
15. Mary Barton. Elizabeth Gaskell. 1848. 437 pages.
16. Lord Edgware Dies by Agatha Christie.
17. Speaking from Among the Bones. Alan Bradley. 2013. Random House. 400 pages. 
18. The League of Frightened Men.  (Nero Wolfe #2) Rex Stout. 1935. Bantam. 320 pages.
19. The Rubber Band. (Nero Wolfe #3) Rex Stout. 190 pages.
20. Envious Casca. Georgette Heyer. 1941/2010. Sourcebooks. 396 pages.
21. Duplicate Death. Georgette Heyer. 1951/2010. Sourcebooks. 352 pages.
22. The Daughter of Time. (Inspector Grant #5). Josephine Tey. 1955/1995. Touchstone. 206 pages.
23. Detection Unlimited. Georgette Heyer. 1944/2010. Sourcebooks. 378 pages.
24. The Red Box. Nero Wolfe. (Nero Wolfe #4) 1936. 266 pages.
25. Strong Poison. Dorothy L. Sayers. 1930/1995. HarperCollins. 272 pages.
26. The Five Red Herrings. Dorothy L. Sayers. 1931. HarperCollins. 325 pages.
27. Death in the Stocks. Georgette Heyer. 1935/2009. Sourcebooks. 314 pages.
28. Behold, Here's Poison. Georgette Heyer. 1936/2009. Sourcebooks. 330 pages.
29.  They Found Him Dead. Georgette Heyer. 1937. Sourcebooks. 325 pages
30. A Blunt Instrument. Georgette Heyer. 1938. Sourcebooks. 309 pages.
31. Death on the Nile. Agatha Christie. 1937/2007. Black Dog & Leventhal. 352 pages.
32. The Case of the Cautious Coquette (Perry Mason #34). Erle Stanley Gardner. 1949. 230 pages



© 2012 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

2013 Challenges: Vintage Mysteries

Host: My Reader's Block

Name: Vintage Mysteries
Dates: Jan - Dec
# Target Books: 8 - 16
Limitations: Mysteries published BEFORE 1960
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What I read:

1. Final Curtain by Ngaio Marsh (1947) qualifies as #4 leave it to the professionals
2. The Cape Cod Mystery by Phoebe Atwood Taylor (1931) qualifies as #3 amateur night
3. Why Shoot a Butler by Georgette Heyer (1933) qualifies as #23 the butler did it...or not
4. The Case of the Late Pig by Margery Allingham (1948) qualifies as #8, dangerous beasts
5. Hamlet, Revenge by Michael Innes (1937) qualifies as #13 staging the crime
6. Peril at End House by Agatha Christie (1932) qualifies as #33 international detectives
7. Lord Edgware Dies (aka Thirteen at Dinner) (1933) qualifies as #11, a book with a man in the title
8. Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club by Dorothy Sayers (1928) qualifies as #14 scene of the crime
9. The Daughter of Time. (Inspector Grant #5). Josephine Tey. 1955 qualifies as #35 authors who wrote under a pseudonym
10. The Red Box. Nero Wolfe. (Nero Wolfe #4) 1936. qualifies as #1 a book with a color in the title
11. Envious Casca. Georgette Heyer. 1941. qualifies as #16 a locked-room mystery
12. Strong Poison. Dorothy L. Sayers. 1930 qualifies as #27 as psychic phenomenon*
13. The Five Red Herrings. Dorothy L. Sayers. 1931. qualifies as # 2 murder by the numbers
14. A Blunt Instrument by Georgette Heyer (1938) qualifies as #12 murderous methods
15. The Case of the Cautious Coquette by Erle Stanley Gardner (1949) qualifies as #10 a book with a woman in the title
16. Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie (1937) qualifies as #18 murder on the high seas
17. Death in the Clouds by Agatha Christie (1935) qualifies as #19 planes, trains, and automobiles
18.The Crime at Black Dudley by Margery Allingham (1929) qualifies as #17 country house murder
19. The Rubber Band. (Nero Wolfe #3) Rex Stout. 190 pages. qualifies as #6 mystery set in USA
20. They Found Him Dead. Georgette Heyer. 1937. Sourcebooks. 325 pages qualifies as #5 mystery set in Britain
21. Behold, Here's Poison. Georgette Heyer. 1936/2009. Sourcebooks. 330 pages. qualifies as #34 mystery someone else has already read
22. The League of Frightened Men. Rex Stout. 1935. Bantam. 320 pages. qualifies as #25 dynamic duos
23. Clouds of Witness. Dorothy L. Sayers. 1926/1966. Avon. 224 pages. qualifies as #22 repeat offender, starring favorite detective
24. The Case of the Worried Waitress: A Perry Mason mystery. Erle Stanley Gardner. 1966. 151 pages. qualifies as #29 Old Bailey

Mission read & match mystery categories:

1. Colorful Crime: a book with a color or reference to color in the title
2. Murder by the Numbers: a book with a number, quantity in the title
3. Amateur Night: a book with a "detective" who is not a P.I.; Police Officer; Official Investigator (Nurse Keate, Father Brown, Miss Marple, etc.)
4. Leave It to the Professionals: a book featuring cops, private eyes, secret service, professional spies, etc.
5. Jolly Old England: one mystery set in Britain
6. Yankee Doodle Dandy: one mystery set in the United States
7. World Traveler: one mystery set in any country except the US or Britain
8. Dangerous Beasts: a book with an animal in the title (The Case of the Grinning Gorilla; The Canary Murder Case; etc.)
9. A Calendar of Crime: a mystery with a date/holiday/year/month/etc. in the title (Hercule Poirot's Christmas, Holiday Homicide, etc.)
10. Wicked Women: a book with a woman in the title--either by name (Mrs. McGinty's Dead) or by reference (The Case of the Vagabound Virgin)
11. Malicious Men: a book with a man in the title--either by name (Maigret & the Yellow Dog) or by reference (The Case of the Haunted Husband)
12. Murderous Methods : a book with a means of death in the title (The Noose, 5 Bullets, Deadly Nightshade, etc).
13. Staging the Crime: a mystery set in the entertainment world (the theater, musical event, a pageant, Hollywood, featuring a magician, etc)
14. Scene of the Crime: a book with the location of the crime in the title (The Body in the Library, Murder at the Vicarage, etc.)
15. Cops & Robbers: a book that features a theft rather than murder 
16. Locked Rooms: a locked-room mystery
17. Country House Criminals: a standard (or not-so-standard) Golden Age country house murder
18. Murder on the High Seas: a mystery involving water 
19. Planes, Trains & Automobiles: a mystery that involves a mode of transportation in a vital way--explicitly in the title (Murder on the Orient Express) or by implication (Death in the Air; Death Under Sail) or perhaps the victim was shoved under a bus....
20. Murder Is Academic: a mystery involving a scholar, teacher, librarian, etc.  OR set at a school, university, library, etc.
21. Things That Go Bump in the Night: a mystery with something spooky, creepy, gothic in the title (The Skeleton in the Clock, Haunted Lady, The Bat, etc.)
22. Repeat Offenders: a mystery featuring your favorite series detective or by your favorite author (the books/authors you'd read over and over again) OR reread an old favorite
23. The Butler Did It...Or Not: a mystery where the butler is the victim, the sleuth....(gasp) the criminal....or is just downright memorable for whatever reason. 
24. A Mystery By Any Other Name: any book that has been published under more than one title (Murder Is Easy--aka Easy to Kill [Christie]; Fog of Doubt--aka London Particular [Christianna Brand], etc.)
25. Dynamic Duos: a mystery featuring a detective team--Holmes & Watson, Pam & Jerry North, Wolfe & Goodwin, or....a little-known team that you introduce to us.
26. Size Matters: a book with a size or measurement in the title (Death Has a Small Voice, The Big Four, The Weight of the Evidence, etc.)
27. Psychic Phenomena: a mystery featuring a seance, medium, hypnotism, or other psychic or "supernatural" characters/events
28. Book to Movie: one vintage mystery that has appeared on screen (feature film or TV movie).
29. The Old Bailey: a courtroom drama mystery (Perry Mason, anyone? Witness for the Prosecution...etc.) OR a mystery featuring a judge, lawyer, barrister, D.A., etc.
30. Serial Killers: Books that were originally published in serial format, probably from the pulp era.  Frank Packard's works come to mind.
31. Killed in Translation: Works that originally appeared in another language and have been made available in English (works published in English post-1960 would be acceptable, provided the original was published pre-1960).  Georges Simeon's works come to mind. OR If your native language is not English, then works that originally appeared in English and have been made available in your native language (same dating rules apply).
32.  Blondes in Danger:  A variation on "Colorful Crime".  Books that feature a blonde in the title role, like The Blonde Died First, or Blonde for Danger.
33. International Detectives.  A variation on "World Traveler" but instead of the crime being set in another country, the detective is not from the US or UK.   This may include Hercule Poirot as well as such notables as Judge Dee,
34. Somebody Else's Crime:  Read one book that someone else has already reviewed for the Vintage Mystery Challenge. 
35. Genuine Fakes: Authors who wrote under a pseudonym (Josephine Tey [Elizabeth Mackintosh]; Nicholas Blake [Cecil Day Lews]; etc)

36. Hobbies Can Be Murder: A mystery that involves a hobby in some way: stamp or coin collecting; knitting (a la Patricia Wentworth's Miss Silver); bird watching; hunting (particularly the British hunt); scrapbooks; etc.  [thanks to S from Snaps and Snippets for the idea]

37. Get Out of Jail Free: This is a freebie category.  One per customer.  You tell me what special category the book fits ("It's got an awesome cover!"..."First book I grabbed off my shelf") and it counts.  Only thing I won't take is "It's a Vintage Mystery!"--that's a given. :-)


*Strong Poison does feature a seance. It's all pretend, the work of Miss Climpson. But it's so memorable and it works really well. And I'm unlikely to ever ever read any mystery where it's presented as "real."

© 2013 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews