End of Year Goals

My GoodReads reading goal was set at 520 books. I have read 483 books. I've got 37 books to go before reaching my goal. Of course, if you know me at all, you know I hope to read a lot more than thirty-seven books before the end of the year.

Picture books and board books: I've read 204 books. I'd love to read forty-six more. 250 sounds like a lovely total. That way my BEST post can include 25 titles.

Early readers and chapter books: I've read 72 books. I'd love to read eight more. That way my BEST post can include 8 titles.

Contemporary/general/realistic books: I've read 39 books. I'd love to read eleven more. That way my BEST post can include 5 titles.

Speculative fiction: I've read 32 books. I'd love to read eighteen more. That way my BEST post can include 5 titles.

Classics: I've read 45 books. I'd love to read at least five more. That way my BEST post can include 5 titles. (It would also be awesome to read 52 titles.)

Historical fiction: I've read 53 books. I'm happy enough with that total. (I've got my 5 minimum.) But it's also one of my favorite and best genres, so I'd be fine with aiming for more. If I read 27 more--which is A LOT--then I could include 8 in my top ten list.

Mysteries: I've read 33 books. I'm not happy with that total. I'm not. I want to read at least 50--in a perfectly perfect world. But can I read 17 more mysteries in two months?!

Nonfiction: I've read 57 books. I am happy with that total. But it would be great if I could read a few more. 23 more would get me to 80. Remember nonfiction includes nonfiction picture books. So maybe this is possible?

November goals:

23 picture books
4 early readers or early chapter books
6 contemporary/general/realistic
9 speculative fiction
3 classics
14 historical fiction
9 mysteries
12 nonfiction

December goals:

23 picture books
4 early readers or early chapter books
5 contemporary/general/realistic
9 speculative fiction
2 classics
13 historical fiction
8 mysteries
11 nonfiction



© 2018 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Third Quarter Check-ins (Or Check-ups)

A Century of Books
Host: Stuck in a Book and The Captive Reader  About the challenge
Dates: They're aiming for a year; I'm aiming for a year plus a little wiggle room; let's say 18 mos.
My century: 1918-2017

I've read from 1918, 1923, 1924, 1926, 1928, 1929, 1931, 1933, 1936, 1937, 1944, 1945, 1947, 1949, 1951, 1952, 1956, 1958, 1962, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1975, 1978, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985,  1986, 1987, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996,  1997, 1998, 1999, 2000,  2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014,  2015, 2016, 2017,

Alphabet Soup Reading Challenge (2018)
Host: Escape with Dollycas (sign up here)
January 2018 - December 2018
# of books: 26+ I am going to try for 4 bowls of soup

I still need:

Bowl #1: E, Q, X, Y,
Bowl #2: I, N, T, Y,
Bowl #3: G, K, N, Y, Z
Bowl #4 (authors): C, H, I, K, N, Q, U, V, Y,

Author Love Challenge
Because Reading (sign up)
January - December 2018
My goal to read Anthony Trollope chronologically. I started this project in 2017.

I've read four books. I'm currently reading The Small House at Allington which will make five.

1. Framley Parsonage. Anthony Trollope. 1861. 573 pages. [Source: Bought]
2. Orley Farm. Anthony Trollope. 1862. 825 pages. [Source: Bought]
3.  The Struggles of Brown, Jones, and Robinson, by One of the Firm. Anthony Trollope. 1862. 254 pages. [Source: Bought]
4. 4. Rachel Ray. Anthony Trollope. 1863. 326 pages. [Source: Bought]

Back to the Classics 2018
Host: Books and Chocolate (sign up)
January - December 2018
# of books: 6 - 12

_ classic with a color in the title

Charity Reading Challenge
Host: Becky's Book Reviews (sign up here)
Duration: January-December 2018
# of books: You decide

I've read twenty-eight books.

2018 Dread and Read Challenge
Host: Hotchpot Cafe (sign up) Be sure to link to all book reviews.
Dates: January - December 2018
# of books: I'm aiming for 4
 I've just read one book.

Family Tree Reading Challenge
Host: Becky's Book Reviews (sign up)
January - December 2018
# of books: I'm aiming for twelve
I've read nine books so far: 1951, 2009, 2011, 1918, 1931, 1918, 1924, 1978, 1949,  (none read since last update)

Host: Becky's Book Reviews (sign up)
Duration: January 2018 - December 2018
Inspiration: It is a good rule, after reading a new book, never to allow yourself another new one till you have read an old one in between. If that is too much for you, you should at least read one old one to every three new ones. C.S. Lewis
# of books: readers decide

I've read 275 new books and 156 old books.

Host: Becky's Book Reviews (sign up here)
Duration: January - December 2018
Goal: To read books with CATS
# of books: minimum of 3

I've read 44 books.

Host: Becky's Book Reviews (sign up)
Duration: January - December 2018
# of books: minimum of 6
I've read thirty-five.

Newbery Reading Challenge 2018
Host: Smiling Shelves (sign-up)
January - December 2018
# of Books: I'm aiming for Spinelli. 30-44 points. 3 pts for each Newbery Medal; 2 pts for each Newbery Honor; 1 pt for Caldecott Medal or Honor.
I've read nine books and earned twenty-three points. (15 for Winners; 8 for Honors)

Old School Kidlit Reading Challenge
Host: Read-at-Home-Mom (sign up)
Check in at the end of each month with a list of what you've read and links to any reviews you have posted. When you post on social media, tag your posts with #OldSchoolKidlit2018. 
January - December 2018
# of books: 42

I've read twenty-three books.

Host: Becky's Book Reviews (sign up)
Duration: January - December 2018
Goal: To have adults read more picture books. To celebrate the fact that picture books are for everyone! Families are, of course, welcome to join in!
# of books: minimum of 6
I'm signing up for Option 3.

_9. Title beginning with E
_18. Author beginning with I
_27. Title beginning with N
_30. Author beginning with O
_42. Title or Author beginning with X or “Ex”
_43. Title beginning with Y
_44. Author beginning with Y
_56. holiday of your choice — board book or early reader
_57. holiday of your choice — picture book
_63. free choice
_66. a title with the word “first” in it 
__ 68. a book set in a place you’d like to visit
_79. oversized book

Read It Again, Sam
Host: My Reader's Block (sign up here)
Dates: January - December 2018
# of books: A Trip Down Memory Lane: Reread 12 books

I've read thirty-one books!

Host: Becky's Book Reviews (sign up here)
Duration: January - December 2018
# of books: minimum of 2

I've read twenty books.

The Official 2018 TBR Pile Challenge
Host: Adam (Roof Beam Reader) sign up here
Dates: January 2018 - December 2018
# of Books: 12 (+2 alternates)

I've read six books.

Victorian Reading Challenge
Host: Becky's Book Reviews
Duration: January - December 2018
Goal: Read a minimum of 4 Victorian books

I've read eleven books so far. 

Vintage Mystery Challenge: Just the Facts, Ma'am
Host: My Reader's Block (sign up here)
January - December 2018
# of books: my goal is CONSTABLE. 6 books -- one from each category.
 I've read ten books. I need another WHO and another WHERE.




© 2018 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Second Quarter Check-ins (Or Check-ups)

A Century of Books
Host: Stuck in a Book and The Captive Reader  About the challenge
Dates: They're aiming for a year; I'm aiming for a year plus a little wiggle room; let's say 18 mos.
My century: 1918-2017

I've read from 1918, 1923, 1924, 1926, 1929, 1931, 1933, 1937, 1945, 1947, 1949, 1951, 1956, 1962, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1975, 1978, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985,  1987, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1997, 1998, 2000,  2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2015, 2017,

Alphabet Soup Reading Challenge (2018)
Host: Escape with Dollycas (sign up here)
January 2018 - December 2018
# of books: 26+ I am going to try for 4 bowls of soup

Bowl #1: I need E, Q, X, Y
Bowl #2: I need G, I, N, Q, R, T, Y,
Bowl #3: I need G, I, K, N, P, Y, Z,
Bowl #4: I need A, D, E, G, H, I, K, N, O, Q, U, V, Y, Z

Author Love Challenge
Because Reading (sign up)
January - December 2018
My goal to read Anthony Trollope chronologically. I started this project in 2017.

I've read three books.

1. Framley Parsonage. Anthony Trollope. 1861. 573 pages. [Source: Bought]2. Orley Farm. Anthony Trollope. 1862. 825 pages. [Source: Bought]
3.  The Struggles of Brown, Jones, and Robinson, by One of the Firm. Anthony Trollope. 1862. 254 pages. [Source: Bought]

Back to the Classics 2018
Host: Books and Chocolate (sign up)
January - December 2018
# of books: 6 - 12

_ classic travel or journey narrative
_ classic with a single-word title
_ classic with a color in the title
 _ 20th century classic

Charity Reading Challenge
Host: Becky's Book Reviews (sign up here)
Duration: January-December 2018
# of books: You decide

I've read nineteen books!

2018 Dread and Read Challenge
Host: Hotchpot Cafe (sign up) Be sure to link to all book reviews.
Dates: January - December 2018
# of books: I'm aiming for 4
 Crime and Punishment. Fyodor Dostoyevsky. 1866. FINISHED!!!!!
Crime and Punishment. Fyodor Dostoyevsky. Translated by David McDuff. 1866/2002. 671 pages. [Source: Library]  

Family Tree Reading Challenge
Host: Becky's Book Reviews (sign up)
January - December 2018
# of books: I'm aiming for twelve
I've read nine books so far: 1951, 2009, 2011, 1918, 1931, 1918, 1924, 1978, 1949, 

Host: Becky's Book Reviews (sign up)
Duration: January 2018 - December 2018
Inspiration: It is a good rule, after reading a new book, never to allow yourself another new one till you have read an old one in between. If that is too much for you, you should at least read one old one to every three new ones. C.S. Lewis
# of books: readers decide
I've read 175 new books and 119 old books.

Host: Becky's Book Reviews (sign up here)
Duration: January - December 2018
Goal: To read books with CATS
# of books: minimum of 3

I've read 39 books.

Host: Becky's Book Reviews (sign up)
Duration: January - December 2018
# of books: minimum of 6

I've read 24 books.

Newbery Reading Challenge 2018
Host: Smiling Shelves (sign-up)
January - December 2018
# of Books: I'm aiming for Spinelli. 30-44 points. 3 pts for each Newbery Medal; 2 pts for each Newbery Honor; 1 pt for Caldecott Medal or Honor.

 I've read five books and earned 13 points.

Old School Kidlit Reading Challenge
Host: Read-at-Home-Mom (sign up)
Check in at the end of each month with a list of what you've read and links to any reviews you have posted. When you post on social media, tag your posts with #OldSchoolKidlit2018. 
January - December 2018
# of books: 42
I've read 17 books so far.

Host: Becky's Book Reviews (sign up)
Duration: January - December 2018
Goal: To have adults read more picture books. To celebrate the fact that picture books are for everyone! Families are, of course, welcome to join in!
# of books: minimum of 6
I'm signing up for Option 3.

_2. Author beginning with A
_9. Title beginning with E
_11. Title beginning with F
_ 12. Author beginning with F 
_18. Author beginning with I
_20. Author beginning with J
_27. Title beginning with N
_28. Author beginning with N
_30. Author beginning with O
_32. Author beginning with P
_42. Title or Author beginning with X or “Ex”
_43. Title beginning with Y
_44. Author beginning with Y
_45. Title or Author beginning with Z
_49. A number word in the title
_50. Concept book of your choice— picture book
_56. holiday of your choice — board book or early reader
_57. holiday of your choice — picture book
_60. new to you illustrator
_61. favorite author
_62. favorite illustrator
_63. free choice
_66. a title with the word “first” in it 
_68. a book set in a place you’d like to visit
_69. a book set in an imaginary place
_75. early reader — nonfiction
_79. oversized book
_92. first book in a series
_99. a book you think should be considered a classic
_100. Out of print
_102. Impulse Pick
_ 104. Picture book published in 2018 

Read It Again, Sam
Host: My Reader's Block (sign up here)
Dates: January - December 2018
# of books: A Trip Down Memory Lane: Reread 12 books

I've read twenty books!

Host: Becky's Book Reviews (sign up here)
Duration: January - December 2018
# of books: minimum of 2





I've read sixteen books.

The Official 2018 TBR Pile Challenge
Host: Adam (Roof Beam Reader) sign up here
Dates: January 2018 - December 2018
# of Books: 12 (+2 alternates)

I've read five books. I'm currently reading two books from the list: East of Eden by John Steinbeck and Blue Fairy Book by Andrew Lang.

Victorian Reading Challenge
Host: Becky's Book Reviews
Duration: January - December 2018
Goal: Read a minimum of 4 Victorian books

I've read ten books so far.

Vintage Mystery Challenge: Just the Facts, Ma'am
Host: My Reader's Block (sign up here)
January - December 2018
# of books: my goal is CONSTABLE. 6 books -- one from each category.

I've read eight books so far. I need another WHO, another WHEN, another WHERE, another WHY.









© 2018 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Top Ten Bookish Goals for 2018

This week's topic is bookish resolutions for 2018. The host is That Artsy Reader Girl.

1. It is a good rule, after reading a new book, never to allow yourself another new one till you have read an old one in between. If that is too much for you, you should at least read one old one to every three new ones. C.S. Lewis This quote was the inspiration for my new reading challenge. It is my approach for reading in 2018. So far, so good. I am LOVING keeping track on GoodReads. At a glance, I can tell that as of today--I've read 20 new books and 11 old ones.

2. To always be reading something old, something new, something borrowed, something true. That will keep me balanced not just new and old--see above--but balanced between reading my own books and library books, and nonfiction and fiction.

3. To go outside my comfort zone and read more short stories and listen to more books on audio.

4. To read the 2018 books as I receive them, not letting them pile up and get to be super over-whelming.

5. To keep up with my reading challenges and not play favorites. Not only keep up by reading the books, but also *reviewing* the books, and adding links to the challenge post.

6. To reread at least 24 of my favorite, favorite, favorite books.

7. To read new-to-me authors.

8. To be intentional about scheduling posts ahead. In a perfect, perfect scenario, I would LOVE to save two or three reviews each month and schedule them to post in December. So that December could be less stressful in terms of blogging.

9. To share more quotes in my reviews when I really love a book.

10. To read more classics.

© 2018 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

A Century of Books

A Century of Books
Host: Stuck in a Book and The Captive Reader  About the challenge
Dates: They're aiming for a year; I'm aiming for a year plus a little wiggle room; let's say 18 mos.
My century: 1918-2017

1918
Dream Life for Children. Mattie K. Foster. 1918. 178 pages. [Source: Read online]
My Antonia. Willa Cather. 1918. 336 pages. [Source: LIBRARY]
1919
1920
1921
1922
The Velveteen Rabbit. Margery Williams. Illustrated by William Nicholson. 1922/2014. Random House. 48 pages. [Source: Review copy]
1923
Emily of New Moon. L.M. Montgomery. 1923. Bantam. 352 pages. [Source: Bought]
1924
So Big. Edna Ferber. 1924/2005. Kessinger Publishing. 376 pages. [Source: Library] 
1925
1926
Surprise Stories. Marjorie Hardy.  Illustrated by Lucille Enders and Matilda Breuer.  1926/1929. Wheeler Publishing Company. 124 pages. [Source: Bought]
1927
1928
Millions of Cats. Wanda Gag. 1928. Penguin. 40 pages. [Source: Book I Bought]
1929
The Man in the Queue (Inspector Alan Grant #1) Josephine Tey. 1929. 255 pages. [Source: Bought]
1930
1931
Angus and the Cat. Marjorie Flack. 1931. 32 pages. [Source: Bought]
The Conqueror by Georgette Heyer. 1931/2008. Sourcebooks. 469 pages. [Source: Review copy]
1932
1933
Thirteen at Dinner. Agatha Christie. 1933. 228 pages. [Source: Bought]
1934
The Boomerang Clue. Agatha Christie. 1934. 224 pages. [Source: Bought]
1935
1936
Roller Skates. Ruth Sawyer. 1936. 186 pages. [Source: Bought]
1937
Vintage Murder. Ngaio Marsh. 1937. 256 pages. [Source: Bought]
1938
1939
1940
1941
1942
1943
1944

Rabbit Hill. Robert Lawson. 1944. 127 pages. [Source: Library]
The Hundred Dresses. Eleanor Estes. Illustrated by Louis Slobodkin. 1944/2004. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 96 pages. [Source: Library]
1945
Strawberry Girl. Lois Lenski. 1945. 208 pages. [Source: Bought]1946
1947
Uneasy Terms. (Slim Callaghan #7) Peter Cheyney. 1947. 240 pages. [Source: Bought]
1948
1949
The Conquering Family. Thomas B. Costain. 1949. 291 pages. [Source: Library]
A Wreath for Rivera (Roderick Alleyn #15) Ngaio Marsh. 1949. 336 pages. [Source: Bought]
1950
The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe. (The Chronicles of Narnia #1) C.S. Lewis. Illustrated by Pauline Baynes. 1950. 186 pages. [Source: Bought]
1951
The Daughter of Time. Josephine Tey. 1951/1995. Simon & Schuster. 208 pages. [Source: Bought]
The Magnificent Century (The Plantagenets #2). Thomas B. Costain. 1951. 324 pages. [Source: Library]
1952

East of Eden. John Steinbeck. 1952. 601 pages. [Source: Bought]1953
1954
1955
1956
A Tender Victory. Taylor Caldwell. 1956. 374 pages. [Source: Bought]
Thin Ice. Jerrold Beim. Illustrated by Louis Darling. 1956. 46 pages. [Source: Bought]
1957
1958
Singing in the Shrouds. Ngaio Marsh. 1958. 240 pages. [Source: Bought]
A Friend Is Someone Who Likes You. Joan Walsh Anglund. 1958/2017. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 40 pages. [Source: Review copy]
1959
1960
1961
1962
Mary Poppins ABC Board Book. P.L. Travers. Illustrated by Mary Shepard. 1962/2018. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 26 pages. [Source: Review copy]
Who's a Pest? Crosby Newell Bonsall. 1962. Harper & Row. 64 pages. [Source: Bought]
1963
1964
1965
1966
1967
1968
1969
1970
1971
McBroom's Ghost. Sid Fleischman. Illustrated by Robert Frankenberg. 1971. 48 pages. [Source: Bought]
1972
McBroom's Zoo. Sid Fleischman. Illustrated by Kurt Werth. 1972. 40 pages. [Source: Bought]
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. Barbara Robinson. 1972. HarperCollins. 128 pages. [Source: Bought]
1973
1974
The Widow of Windsor. Jean Plaidy. 1974. 318 pages. [Source: Bought]
The Gorilla Did It. Barbara Shook Hazen. Illustrated by Ray Cruz. 1974. 32 pages. [Source: Childhood copy]
1975
Too Many Lollipops. Robert M. Quackenbush. 1975. 32 pages. [Source: Book from my childhood]
1976
1977
1978
Find A Stranger, Say Goodbye. Lois Lowry. 1978/2018. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 192 pages. [Source: Review copy]
1979
1980
1981
The Man Who Cooked For Himself. Phyllis Krasilovsky. Illustrated by Mamoru Funai. 1981. Parents Magazine Press. 42 pages. [Source: Bought]
1982

Zucchini. Barbara Dana. 1982. 160 pages. [Source: Childhood Copy]
The Day They Came To Arrest The Book. Nat Hentoff. 1982. 176 pages. [Source: Book I bought]
1983
Just Go To Bed. Mercer Mayer. 1983. 24 pages. [Source: Bought]
1984
Amanda. (Sunfire #1) Candice Ransom. 1984. Scholastic. 368 pages. [Source: Library book sale]

1985
Here Be Dragons. Sharon Kay Penman. 1985. 704 pages. [Source: Borrowed]
1986
This Present Darkness. Frank E. Peretti. 1986. Crossway. 376 pages. [Source: Bought]
1987
Just A Mess. Mercer Mayer. 1987. 24 pages. [Source: Bought]
1988
1989
Piercing the Darkness. Frank E. Peretti. 1989. Crossway. 448 pages. [Source: Bought]
1990
1991
Bonjour, Mr. Satie. Tomie dePaola. 1991. 32 pages. [Source: Bought]
1992
Prophet. Frank E. Peretti. 1992. Crossway. 416 pages. [Source: Bought]
Missing May. Cynthia Rylant. 1992. Scholastic. 89 pages. [Source: Library]
1993
1994
The Diary of a Killer Cat. Anne Fine. Illustrated by Steve Cox. 1994. FSG. 64 pages.
1995
With an Everlasting Love. Kay Arthur. 1995. Harvest House. 144 pages. [Source: Borrowed]
1996
Family Tree. Katherine Ayres. 1996. 176 pages. [Source: Bought]
1997
Poppleton. Cynthia Rylant. Illustrated by Mark Teague. 1997. 56 pages. [Source: Library]
1998
Ethel and Ernest. Raymond Briggs. 1998. 104 pages. [Source: Library]
1999
Isaac's Storm. Erik Larson. 1999. 336 pages. [Source: Library] 
2000
The Case of the Climbing Cat. (The High-Rise Private Eyes #2). Cynthia Rylant. Illustrated by G. Brian Karas. 2000. 48 pages. [Source: Library]
2001
2002
Bubba and Beau, Best Friends. Kathi Appelt. Illustrated by Arthur Howard. 2002. Harcourt. 32 pages. [Source: Bought]
2003
The City of Ember. Jeanne DuPrau. 2003. 270 pages. [Source: Bought]
2004
So B. It. Sarah Weeks. 2004. 288 pages. [Source: Library]  
Queen of Scots: The True Life of Mary Stuart. John Guy. 2004. 608 pages. [Source: Library]
2005
The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy. Jeanne Birdsall. 2005. Random House. 262 pages. [Source: Library]
2006
2007
2008
The Penderwicks on Gardam Street. Jeanne Birdsall. 2008. 308 pages. [Source: Library]
2009

Al Capone Shines My Shoes. Gennifer Choldenko. 2009. 274 pages. [Source: Review copy] Walt Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Cynthia Rylant. Illustrated by Gustaf Tenggren. 2009. Disney. 40 pages. [Source: Library]
2010
Murder Past Due. Miranda James. 2010. 294 pages. [Source: Borrowed]
2011
You Are My Cupcake. Joyce Wan. 2011. Scholastic. 14 pages. [Source: Library]
2012
Wonder. R. J. Palacio. 2012. Random House. 320 pages. [Source: Review copy]
2013
Al Capone Does My Homework (Al Capone at Alcatraz #3) Gennifer Choldenko. 2013. 212 pages. [Source: Library] 
2014
The Monogram Murders. (New Hercule Poirot Mystery #1) Sophie Hannah. 2014. 325 pages. [Source: Library]
The Pigeon Needs a Bath. Mo Willems. 2014. 40 pages. [Source: Library]
2015
Mama Seeton's Whistle. Jerry Spinelli. Illustrated by LeUyen Pham. 2015. 40 pages. [Source: Library]

The Storm of the Century. Al Roker. 2015. 320 pages. [Source: Library]
2016
Oops, Pounce, Quick, Run! An Alphabet Caper. Mike Twohy. 2016. 32 pages. [Source: Library] 
2017
The Watcher. Nikki Grimes. Illustrated by Bryan Collier. 2017. 42 pages. [Source: Library]

© 2018 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

2018: Classics Reviewed

January
1. The Story of Live Dolls. Josephine Scribner Gates. Illustrated by Mabel Rogers. 1901. 1920. 116 pages. [Source: Read online]
2. Dream Life for Children. Mattie K. Foster. 1918. 178 pages. [Source: Read online]
3. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Lewis Carroll. Illustrated by John Tenniel. 1865/1871. 247 pages. [Source: Bought]
4. My Antonia. Willa Cather. 1918. 336 pages. [Source: LIBRARY]
5.  Framley Parsonage. Anthony Trollope. 1861. 573 pages. [Source: Bought]
6. The Man in the Queue (Inspector Alan Grant #1) Josephine Tey. 1929. 255 pages. [Source: Bought]
7. Emily of New Moon. L.M. Montgomery. 1923. Bantam. 352 pages. [Source: Bought]
8.  Short Stories 1907-1908. L.M. Montgomery. 248 pages. [Source: Bought]

February
9. A Tender Victory. Taylor Caldwell. 1956. 374 pages. [Source: Bought]
10. So Big. Edna Ferber. 1924/2005. Kessinger Publishing. 376 pages. [Source: Library]
11. The Ladies' Paradise by Emile Zola. 1883/2012. Oxford University Press. 438 pages. [Source: Library]

March
12. Mary Barton. Elizabeth Gaskell. 1848. 437 pages. [Source: Bought]
13.The Daughter of Time. Josephine Tey. 1951/1995. Simon & Schuster. 208 pages. [Source: Bought]
14. Angus and the Cat. Marjorie Flack. 1931. 32 pages. [Source: Bought]


April
15. The Conquering Family. Thomas B. Costain. 1949. 291 pages. [Source: Library]
16. Strawberry Girl. Lois Lenski. 1945. 208 pages. [Source: Bought]
17.  Crime and Punishment. Fyodor Dostoyevsky. Translated by David McDuff. 1866/2002. 671 pages. [Source: Library]
18.  Short Stories of Lucy Maud Montgomery from 1909-1922. L.M. Montgomery. 2008/2010. 312 pages. [Source: Bought]

May
19. The Magnificent Century (The Plantagenets #2). Thomas B. Costain. 1951. 324 pages. [Source: Library]
20. Orley Farm. Anthony Trollope. 1862. 825 pages. [Source: Bought]
21. The Struggles of Brown, Jones, and Robinson, by One of the Firm. Anthony Trollope. 1862. 254 pages. [Source: Bought]
22. Hans in Luck: Seven Stories by the Brothers Grimm. Two are retold by Felix Hoffman. Illustrated by Felix Hoffman. 2017. NorthSouth books. 256 pages.
23. Thin Ice. Jerrold Beim. Illustrated by Louis Darling. 1956. 46 pages. [Source: Bought]
24. Who's a Pest? Crosby Newell Bonsall. 1962. Harper & Row. 64 pages. [Source: Bought]
25. The Three Edwards (The Plantagenets #3) Thomas B. Costain. 1958. 480 pages. [Source: Library]

June
26.  Little Women. Louisa May Alcott. 1868. 566 pages. [Source: Bought]
27. Surprise Stories. Marjorie Hardy.  Illustrated by Lucille Enders and Matilda Breuer.  1926/1929. Wheeler Publishing Company. 124 pages. [Source: Bought]
28. Vintage Murder. Ngaio Marsh. 1937. 256 pages. [Source: Bought]

July
29. Barracoon: The story of the Last Black Cargo. Zora Neale Hurston. 1931/2018. HarperCollins. 2018. 256 pages. [Source: Library]
30. East of Eden. John Steinbeck. 1952. 601 pages. [Source: Bought]
31. Roller Skates. Ruth Sawyer. 1936. 186 pages. [Source: Bought]
32. Rachel Ray. Anthony Trollope. 1863. 326 pages. [Source: Bought]
33. Herland. Charlotte Perkins Gilman. 1915/1979. 147 pages. [Source: Bought]

August
34. The Conqueror by Georgette Heyer. 1931/2008. Sourcebooks. 469 pages. [Source: Review copy]
35. The Boomerang Clue. Agatha Christie. 1934. 224 pages. [Source: Bought]
36. Millions of Cats. Wanda Gag. 1928. Penguin. 40 pages. [Source: Book I Bought] 

September
37. Rabbit Hill. Robert Lawson. 1944. 127 pages. [Source: Library]
38. Frankenstein (Oxford World's Classics). Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley. 1818/1998. 261 pages. [Source: Bought in College.]

October
39. Cyrano de Bergerac. Edmond Rostand. Translated by Gladys Thomas and Mary F Guillemard. 1897. 240 pages. [Source: Bought]
40. Little Men. Louisa May Alcott. 1871. 329 pages. [Source: Bought]
41. The Hundred Dresses. Eleanor Estes. Illustrated by Louis Slobodkin. 1944/2004. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 96 pages. [Source: Library]
42. Dracula. Bram Stoker. 1897/2005. 448 pages. [Source: Bought]
43. Sylvia's Lovers. Elizabeth Gaskell. 1863/1997. Everyman Paperbacks. 560 pages. [Source: Bought]
44.  Agnes Grey. Anne Bronte. 1847. 224 pages. [Source: Bought]
45. Dear and Glorious Physician. Taylor Caldwell. 1958. 560 pages. [Source: Bought]

November
46.  Wives and Daughters. Elizabeth Gaskell. 1866. 649 pages. [Source: Bought]
47. Small House at Allington. Anthony Trollope. 1864. 695 pages. [Source: Bought]

December
48. The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe. (The Chronicles of Narnia #1) C.S. Lewis. Illustrated by Pauline Baynes. 1950. 186 pages. [Source: Bought]
49. The Velveteen Rabbit. Margery Williams. Illustrated by William Nicholson. 1922/2014. Random House. 48 pages. [Source: Review copy]
50. A Christmas Carol. Charles Dickens. 1843. 96 pages. [Source: Bought]
51.  Whose Body? Dorothy L. Sayers. 1923/1995. HarperTorch. 224 pages. [Source: Bought]
52. Ruth. Elizabeth Gaskell. 1853. 432 pages. [Source: Bought]


© 2018 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

2018 Reading Challenge: Newbery Reading Challenge

Newbery Reading Challenge 2018
Host: Smiling Shelves (sign-up)
January - December 2018
# of Books: I'm aiming for Spinelli. 30-44 points. 3 pts for each Newbery Medal; 2 pts for each Newbery Honor; 1 pt for Caldecott Medal or Honor.

Newbery Winners

January:
February:
Hello, Universe. Erin Entrada Kelly. 2017. 313 pages. [Source: Library]
March:
April:
Strawberry Girl. Lois Lenski. 1945. 208 pages. [Source: Bought]
Missing May. Cynthia Rylant. 1992. Scholastic. 89 pages. [Source: Library] 
May:
June:
July:
Roller Skates. Ruth Sawyer. 1936. 186 pages. [Source: Bought]
August:
September:
Rabbit Hill. Robert Lawson. 1944. 127 pages. [Source: Library]
October:
November:
December:

Newbery Honors:

January:
February:
Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut. Derrick Barnes. Illustrated by Gordon C. James. 2017. 32 pages. [Source: Library]
Long Way Down. Jason Reynolds. 2017. [October 24] 320 pages. [Source: Library]  
March:
April:
May:
June:
July:
August:
Al Capone Does My Shirts. Gennifer Choldenko. 2004. 225 pages. [Source: Bought]
Millions of Cats. Wanda Gag. 1928. Penguin. 40 pages. [Source: Book I Bought] 
September:
October:
The Hundred Dresses. Eleanor Estes. Illustrated by Louis Slobodkin. 1944/2004. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 96 pages. [Source: Library]
November:
December:

Caldecott

1.
2.
3.
4.

© 2017 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

2018 Reading Challenge: Author Love Challenge

Author Love Challenge
Because Reading (sign up)
January - December 2018
My goal to read Anthony Trollope chronologically. I started this project in 2017.

I have 38 books STILL to read. I know that's way more than I can read in one year. But I'm hoping to read at least ten to fifteen in 2018.

Anthony Trollope In Chronological Order

1. Framley Parsonage. Anthony Trollope. 1861.
2. The Struggles of Brown, Jones & Robinson. Anthony Trollope 1862  
3. Orley Farm. Anthony Trollope. 1862 
4. Rachel Ray. Anthony Trollope. 1863
5. The Small House at Allington. Anthony Trollope. 1864.
6. Can You Forgive Her? Anthony Trollope. 1865.
7. Miss MacKenzie. Anthony Trollope. 1865
8. The Belton Estate. Anthony Trollope. 1866.
9. The Last Chronicle of Barset. 1867.  
10. The Claverings. Anthony Trollope. 1867
11. Nina Balatka. Anthony Trollope. 1867. 
12. Linda Tressel. Anthony Trollope. 1868. 
13. Phineas Finn. Anthony Trollope. 1869.  
14. He Knew He Was Right. Anthony Trollope. 1869. 
15. The Vicar of Bullhampton. Anthony Trollope. 1870. 
16. Sir Harry Hotspur of Humblethwaite. Anthony Trollope. 1871.
17. Ralph the Heir. Anthony Trollope. 1871. 
18. The Golden Lion of Granpere. Anthony Trollope. 1872.
19. The Eustace Diamonds. Anthony Trollope 1873.
20.  Harry Heathcote of Gangoil. Anthony Trollope. 1874.
21.  Lady Anna. Anthony Trollope. 1874.
22. Phineas Redux. Anthony Trollope. 1874.
23. The Way We Live Now. Anthony Trollope 1875.  
24. The Prime Minister. Anthony Trollope. 1876. 
25. The American Senator. Anthony Trollope. 1877.
26. Is He Popenjoy? Anthony Trollope. 1878
27. John Caldigate. Anthony Trollope. 1879.
28. An Eye for An Eye. Anthony Trollope. 1879.
29. Cousin Henry. Anthony Trollope. 1879. 
30. The Duke's Children. Anthony Trollope. 1880.
31. Ayala's Angel. Anthony Trollope. 1881.
32. Doctor Wortle's School. Anthony Trollope. 1881. 
33. The Fixed Period. Anthony Trollope. 1882.
34. Kept in the Dark. Anthony Trollope. 1882.
35. Marion Fay. Anthony Trollope. 1882.
36. Mr. Scarborough's Family. Anthony Trollope. 1883.
37. The Landleaguers. Anthony Trollope. 1883.
38.  An Old Man's Love. Anthony Trollope. 1884.

 What I read:

1. Framley Parsonage. Anthony Trollope. 1861. 573 pages. [Source: Bought]
2. Orley Farm. Anthony Trollope. 1862. 825 pages. [Source: Bought]
3. The Struggles of Brown, Jones, and Robinson, by One of the Firm. Anthony Trollope. 1862. 254 pages. [Source: Bought]
4. Rachel Ray. Anthony Trollope. 1863. 326 pages. [Source: Bought]




© 2017 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

2018 Reading Challenge: Dread & Read Challenge

2018 Dread and Read Challenge
Host: Hotchpot Cafe (sign up) Be sure to link to all book reviews.
Dates: January - December 2018
# of books: I'm aiming for 4


1. Arabian Nights, Anonymous (800)
I'm not "dreading" this one so much as the length of it intimidates me.
2. The Tempest by William Shakespeare (1610)
It's not the length this time, but the language. I've read and reread the same eight or so Shakespeare plays but tackling new ones isn't something I do often.
3. Clarissa. Samuel Richardson. 1748.
The length. Definitely the length.
4. Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo (1831)
I love and adore Les Miserables, so why am I so hesitant to read this one? I don't know. I just am.
5. Old Curiosity Shop. Charles Dickens. 1840-41.
This isn't a Dickens I'm looking forward to because I've heard things about Little Nell.
6.  Shirley by Charlotte Bronte (1849)
I love Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre. I've never read her other works. Am I afraid they'll disappoint? Maybe.
7. Villette by Charlotte Bronte (1853)
Same as above.
8. Sylvia's Lovers. Elizabeth Gaskell. 1863.
I think I'm "dreading" reading this one because it's the last of Gaskell's novels that I haven't read. And I'm putting off reading "the last one."
9. Romola. George Eliot. 1863.
I want to like George Eliot. But I don't always. I own all of her books, and it feels wrong to have them just sitting around taunting me.
10. Crime and Punishment. Fyodor Dostoyevsky. 1866. FINISHED!!!!!
Crime and Punishment. Fyodor Dostoyevsky. Translated by David McDuff. 1866/2002. 671 pages. [Source: Library] 
I read Dostoyevsky for the first time last year. I want to read more. Part of me doesn't know where to start or what to read next.
11. The Forsyte Saga by John Galsworthy (1921)
I have owned this one since college days.
12. Raintree County by Ross Lockridge Jr. (1948)
I know nothing about this one except it's long--very long. So I'm not sure it's fair to say I'm dreading it. I'm not. I just want incentive to get it read this year. 


Treats I Like:

• Tea. Since my diet is restricted so much because of food sensitivities and allergies, I really cherish my tea time. Tea is almost always gluten-free, dairy free, and egg-free. (I'm also allergic to cashews. But so far, that's the only nut that seems to cause a reaction.)
• Book-marks. Doesn't really need an explanation, does it? I think I still have every bookmark I've ever received as a gift or bought for myself. 
• Post-it Notes. Pens. Pads. Almost goes without saying. I love post-it-notes because I use them to tag pages in books I want to quote in a review. Pens and Paper because I still make lists the old-fashioned way. 

  

© 2017 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

2018 Reading Challenges: Old School Kidlit

Old School Kidlit Reading Challenge
Host: Read-at-Home-Mom (sign up)
Check in at the end of each month with a list of what you've read and links to any reviews you have posted. When you post on social media, tag your posts with #OldSchoolKidlit2018. 
January - December 2018
# of books: 42

1. The Story of Live Dolls. Josephine Scribner Gates. Illustrated by Mabel Rogers. 1901. 1920. 116 pages. [Source: Read online]
2. Dream Life for Children. Mattie K. Foster. 1918. 178 pages. [Source: Read online]
3. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Lewis Carroll. Illustrated by John Tenniel. 1865/1871. 247 pages. [Source: Bought]
4. McBroom's Ghost. Sid Fleischman. Illustrated by Robert Frankenberg. 1971. 48 pages. [Source: Bought]
5. Emily of New Moon. L.M. Montgomery. 1923. Bantam. 352 pages. [Source: Bought]
6. McBroom's Zoo. Sid Fleischman. Illustrated by Kurt Werth. 1972. 40 pages. [Source: Bought]
7. The Gorilla Did It. Barbara Shook Hazen. Illustrated by Ray Cruz. 1974. 32 pages. [Source: Childhood copy]
8. Too Many Lollipops. Robert M. Quackenbush. 1975. 32 pages. [Source: Book from my childhood]
9. Angus and the Cat. Marjorie Flack. 1931. 32 pages. [Source: Bought]
10. Strawberry Girl. Lois Lenski. 1945. 208 pages. [Source: Bought]
11. A Friend Is Someone Who Likes You. Joan Walsh Anglund. 1958/2017. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 40 pages. [Source: Review copy]
12. Mary Poppins ABC Board Book. P.L. Travers. Illustrated by Mary Shepard. 1962/2018. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 26 pages. [Source: Review copy]
13. Hans in Luck: Seven Stories by the Brothers Grimm. Two are retold by Felix Hoffman. Illustrated by Felix Hoffman. 2017. NorthSouth books. 256 pages.
14. Thin Ice. Jerrold Beim. Illustrated by Louis Darling. 1956. 46 pages. [Source: Bought]
15. Who's a Pest? Crosby Newell Bonsall. 1962. Harper & Row. 64 pages. [Source: Bought]
16. Just Go To Bed. Mercer Mayer. 1983. 24 pages. [Source: Bought]
17. Surprise Stories. Marjorie Hardy.  Illustrated by Lucille Enders and Matilda Breuer.  1926/1929. Wheeler Publishing Company. 124 pages. [Source: Bought]
18. Rudi and the Distelfink. F.N. Monjo. Illustrated by George Kraus. 1972. 32 pages. [Source: Bought]
19. Roller Skates. Ruth Sawyer. 1936. 186 pages. [Source: Bought]
20. A Question of Time. Dina Anastasio. 1978. 90 pages. [Source: Bought]
21. The Day They Came To Arrest The Book. Nat Hentoff. 1982. 176 pages. [Source: Book I bought]
22. Millions of Cats. Wanda Gag. 1928. Penguin. 40 pages. [Source: Book I Bought]
23. Rabbit Hill. Robert Lawson. 1944. 127 pages. [Source: Library]
24. The Hundred Dresses. Eleanor Estes. Illustrated by Louis Slobodkin. 1944/2004. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 96 pages. [Source: Library]
25. The Velveteen Rabbit. Margery Williams. Illustrated by William Nicholson. 1922/2014. Random House. 48 pages. [Source: Review copy]
26. The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe. (The Chronicles of Narnia #1) C.S. Lewis. Illustrated by Pauline Baynes. 1950. 186 pages. [Source: Bought]
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
36.
37.
38.
39.
40.
41.
42

© 2017 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

2018 Reading Challenges: Family Tree

Family Tree Reading Challenge
Host: Becky's Book Reviews (sign up)
January - December 2018
# of books: I'm aiming for twelve

The years I'll be reading:

Immediate family

1951
The Daughter of Time. Josephine Tey. 1951/1995. Simon & Schuster. 208 pages. [Source: Bought] 
1955
1976
1977
1978
Find A Stranger, Say Goodbye. Lois Lowry. 1978/2018. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 192 pages. [Source: Review copy]
2009
Al Capone Shines My Shoes. Gennifer Choldenko. 2009. 274 pages. [Source: Review copy] 
Mr. Putter and Tabby Spill the Beans (Mr. Putter and Tabby #18) Cynthia Rylant. Illustrated by Arthur Howard. 2009. 44 pages. [Source: Library]
2011
You Are My Cupcake. Joyce Wan. 2011. Scholastic. 14 pages. [Source: Library]
Mr. Putter and Tabby Ring the Bell. (Mr. Putter and Tabby #20) Cynthia Rylant. 2011. 48 pages. [Source: Library]

Four grandparents

1918
Dream Life for Children. Mattie K. Foster. 1918. 178 pages. [Source: Read online]
1931
Angus and the Cat. Marjorie Flack. 1931. 32 pages. [Source: Bought]
1918
My Antonia. Willa Cather. 1918. 336 pages. [Source: LIBRARY]
1924
So Big. Edna Ferber. 1924/2005. Kessinger Publishing. 376 pages. [Source: Library]  

Aunts and Uncles (select)

1960
1950
The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe. (The Chronicles of Narnia #1) C.S. Lewis. Illustrated by Pauline Baynes. 1950. 186 pages. [Source: Bought]
1949
The Conquering Family. Thomas B. Costain. 1949. 291 pages. [Source: Library]
1953

If I finish those:

Eight great-grandparents

1894
1896
1906
1907
1897
Dracula. Bram Stoker. 1897/2005. 448 pages. [Source: Bought]
1899
1892
1904

More great-great-greats:

1836 (Rebecca Jane Matthews; we share a birthday)
1828 (Noah Laney)

their son and daughter-in-law

1863
Sylvia's Lovers. Elizabeth Gaskell. 1863/1997. Everyman Paperbacks. 560 pages. [Source: Bought]
1867

Popular Books 1918, 1931, 1918*, 1924 
1951, 1955, 1976, 1977, 1978, 2009, 2011
1960, 1950, 1949, 1953 

Wikipedia Table of Year in Literature

1894, 1896, 1906, 1907, 1897, 1899, 1892, 1904
1836, 1828
1863, 1867

© 2017 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Back to the Classics 2018

Back to the Classics 2018
Host: Books and Chocolate (sign up)
January - December 2018
# of books: 6 - 12

✔ 19th century classic
Mary Barton. Elizabeth Gaskell. 1848. 437 pages. [Source: Bought]
✔  20th century classic
East of Eden. John Steinbeck. 1952. 601 pages. [Source: Bought]
✔ classic by a woman author
So Big. Edna Ferber. 1924/2005. Kessinger Publishing. 376 pages. [Source: Library]  
✔ classic in translation
The Ladies' Paradise by Emile Zola. 1883/2012. Oxford University Press. 438 pages. [Source: Library] 
✔  children's classic
Dream Life for Children. Mattie K. Foster. 1918. 178 pages. [Source: Read online]
✔ classic crime story
The Daughter of Time. Josephine Tey. 1951/1995. Simon & Schuster. 208 pages. [Source: Bought]
✔classic travel or journey narrative
Barracoon: The story of the Last Black Cargo. Zora Neale Hurston. Written in 1931. 2018. HarperCollins. 2018. 256 pages. [Source: Library]
✔ classic with a single-word title
Herland. Charlotte Perkins Gilman. 1915/1979. 147 pages. [Source: Bought]
✔ classic with a color in the title
Agnes Grey. Anne Bronte. 1847. 224 pages. [Source: Bought] 
✔ classic by a new-to-you author
My Antonia. Willa Cather. 1918. 336 pages. [Source: LIBRARY]
✔ a classic that scares you
Crime and Punishment. Fyodor Dostoyevsky. Translated by David McDuff. 1866/2002. 671 pages. [Source: Library]
✔ re-read a favorite classic
Framley Parsonage. Anthony Trollope. 1861. 573 pages. [Source: Bought]

And here are the categories for the 2018 Back to the Classics Challenge:

1.  A 19th century classic - any book published between 1800 and 1899.

2.  A 20th century classic - any book published between 1900 and 1968. Just like last year, all books MUST have been published at least 50 years ago to qualify. The only exception is books written at least 50 years ago, but published later, such as posthumous publications.

3.  A classic by a woman author. 

4.  A classic in translation.  Any book originally written published in a language other than your native language. Feel free to read the book in your language or the original language. (You can also read books in translation for any of the other categories). Modern translations are acceptable as long as the original work fits the guidelines for publications as explained in the challenge rules.

5. A children's classic. Indulge your inner child and read that classic that you somehow missed years ago. Short stories are fine, but it must be a complete volume. Picture books don't count!

6.  A classic crime story, fiction or non-fiction. This can be a true crime story, mystery, detective novel, spy novel, etc., as long as a crime is an integral part of the story and it was published at least 50 years ago. Examples include The 39 Steps, Strangers on a Train, In Cold Blood, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, etc.  The Haycraft-Queen Cornerstones list is an excellent source for suggestions. 

7. A classic travel or journey narrative, fiction or non-fiction. A journey should be a major plot point, i.e., The Hobbit, Unbeaten Tracks in Japan, Kon-Tiki, Travels with Charley, etc.

8. A classic with a single-word title. No articles please! Proper names are fine -- Emma, Germinal, Middlemarch, Kidnapped, etc.).

9. A classic with a color in the title. The Woman in White; Anne of Green Gables; The Red and the Black, and so on.

10. A classic by an author that's new to you. Choose an author you've never read before.

11. A classic that scares you. Is there a classic you've been putting off forever? A really long book which intimidates you because of its sheer length? Now's the time to read it, and hopefully you'll be pleasantly surprised!

12. Re-read a favorite classic. Like me, you probably have a lot of favorites -- choose one and read it again, then tell us why you love it so much. 

© 2017 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews