Perpetual Challenge: Victorian Bingo

Host: Becky's Book Reviews
Name: Perpetual Victorian Bingo (sign up)
Dates: for me--any book read from January 1, 2014 on
# of books: minimum 8, I'd love to get multiple bingos or even fill up the whole card!!!

My card for 2014.

1837
1838
1839
1840
1841
1842
1843
A Christmas Carol. Charles Dickens. 1843. 96 pages. [Source: Bought] (review coming late November)
1844
1845
1846
1847
Jane Eyre. Charlotte Bronte. 1847.  300 pages. [Source: Own] (review coming late December)
1849
1850
1851
1852
1853
1854
A Tale of Two Cities. Charles Dickens. 1854/2003. Bantam Classics. 382 pages. [Source: Bought]
North and South. Elizabeth Gaskell. 1854-1855. 452 pages. [Source: Bought]
Hard Times. Charles Dickens. 1854/1992. Everyman's Library. 336 pages.  [Source: Library
1855
The Warden. Anthony Trollope. 1855. Oxford World's Classics. 294 pages. [Source: Bought]
1856
A Rogue's Life. Wilkie Collins. 1856. 159 pages. [Source: Book I bought]
1857
1858
1859
The Semi-Detached House. Emily Eden. 1859. 172 pages. [Source: Bought] 
1860
1861
1862
No Name. Wilkie Collins. 1862/1998. Oxford University Press. 748 pages.
1863
Rachel Ray by Anthony Trollope. 1863. 403 pages. [Source: Bought]
1864
1865
1866
The Belton Estate. Anthony Trollope. 1866/1993. Penguin. 432 pages. [Source: Bought]
Miss Marjoribanks. Margaret Oliphant. 1866. 512 pages. [Source: Bought]
1867
1868
1869
Stepping Heavenward. Mrs. Elizabeth Prentiss. 1869/1998. Barbour Books. 352 pages. [Source: Bought]   
1870
1871
1872
1873
The Eustace Diamonds. Anthony Trollope. 1873. 794 pages. [Source: Book I Bought]
1874
Phineas Redux. Anthony Trollope. 1874. 768 pages. [Source: Book I bought]
1875
The Law and the Lady. Wilkie Collins. 1875. 430 pages. [Source: Book I Bought]
1876
The Prime Minister. Anthony Trollope. 1876. 864 pages. [Source: Book I Bought]   
1877
Black Beauty. Anna Sewell. 1877. 245 pages. [Source: Bought] 
1878
Is He Popenjoy? Anthony Trollope. 1878/1993. Penguin. 632 pages. [Source: Bought]
1879
1880
The Duke's Children. Anthony Trollope. 1880. 560 pages. [Source: Book I Bought]
Jezebel's Daughter. Wilkie Collins. 1880. 304 pages. [Source: Bought]
1881
Ayala's Angel. Anthony Trollope. 1881. 631 pages. [Source: Bought]
1882
1883
1884
1885
1886
1887
1888
1889
1890
1891
1892
1893
1894
1895
1896
1897
1898
1899
The Story of the Treasure Seekers. E. Nesbit. 1899. Puffin. 250 pages. [Source: Bought]
1900
1901
Melisande. E. Nesbit. Illustrated by P.J. Lynch. 1901/1988/1999. Candlewick. 48 pages. [Source: Book I Bought]


© 2014 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Victorian Bingo Challenge (Sign up)

The Two Sisters, 1889, Pierre-Auguste Renoir

I'm excited to host the Victorian Reading Challenge for 2015! I hope you'll join me if you love Victorian literature! This year will be a little different from previous years. I think it will be a fun change! I'm offering two options: a 2015 challenge and a perpetual challenge. Let me know which one you are signing up for in the comments. (You can sign up for both, just indicate that.)

The 2015 Challenge. The first Bingo card is for 2015.
The goal is to get a Bingo (horizontal, vertical, diagonal, four corners and center square). This will require a minimum of five books.

 One book per square. For example: Oliver Twist can count for "Book with a name as the title" or "Charles Dickens" or "Book published 1837-1940" or "Book published in serial format" or "Book over 400 pages" or "Book that has been adapted into a movie" or "Book set in England."  But obviously, it can only count once.

The categories:

•  book published in the 1840s,
• male author,
• female author, 
• book with a name as the title,
• book published in serial (monthly) format
• book published 1837-1840,
• book published in the 1850s, 
• children's book, 
• book of your choice, 
• Charles Dickens
• book set in England, 
• book that you wish had been adapted into a movie, 
• book published in the 1860s, 
• reread of your choice, 
• Anthony Trollope
• for better or worse (marriage), 
• mystery-suspense-sensation, 
• book over 400 pages, 
• book published in the 1870s
• Wilkie Collins 
• book published in the 1890s, 
• book that has been adapted into a movie, 
• book published 1900-1901,
• collection (poetry, stories, fairy tales), 
• book published in the 1880s

If there is enough interest, I can compose a list of examples/suggestions for each category. Or if there is a particular category that puzzles you, and you want suggestions, I could answer your specific question.

• Fiction or nonfiction.
• Books, e-books, audio books all are fine.
• Books and movies can be reviewed together or separately.
• You can create a reading list if you want, but it's not a requirement
• If you do make a list, consider adding a list of five books you'd recommend to others
• If possible try to try a new-to-you author! I know it can be really tempting to stick with familiar favorites.
• Children's books published during these years should not be forgotten!
• Rereads are definitely allowed if you have favorites!
• A blog is not required, a review is not required, but, if you don't review please consider sharing what you read in a comment with one or two sentences of 'reaction' or 'response.'
• for the 2015 challenge, any qualifying book FINISHED January through December 2015 counts. OR any qualifying book REVIEWED January through December 2015 counts. 
• for the perpetual challenge, it is up to you if you want to count books read/reviewed in 2014 too. You can if you like. Or you could start fresh in 2015. 

A perpetual challenge. For those that LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Victorian literature and want an ambitious challenge that could take over a year or two to complete, I offer the Victorian Bingo card.
(If you're super-ambitious, you might want to try to fill the whole card.) The goal: to get a Bingo by reading eight books. (horizontal, vertical, diagonal, four corners and four center squares). Same guidelines apply as above.

© 2014 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Perpetual Challenge: Kings and Queens

This is not an "official" challenge I'm participating in. It's a project of my own. The goal: to read at least one book per "king" or "queen" of England. Fiction or nonfiction. Books covering multiple kings and/or queens count as well. As do general "history of England" or "history of Britain" books. But listed separately.

For a listing of earlier kings see here and here. I am listing the years of their reigns--not their birth/death dates. Perhaps of interest: a list of English consorts. I'll be updating this list with links as time permits!

William I (William the Conqueror), 1066-1087

• The Bastard King. Jean Plaidy. 1974. Fawcett Crest. 320 pages. [Source: Bought]  
• The Norman Conquest. Janice Hamilton. 2007. Twenty-First Century Books. 160 pages. [Source: Library]  
• The Conquering Family. Thomas B. Costain. 1949. 291 pages. [Source: Library]

William II (William Rufus) 1087-1100

• The King's Arrow. Michael Cadnum.
• The Conquering Family. Thomas B. Costain. 1949. 291 pages. [Source: Library]

Henry I (Henry Beauclerc) 1100-1135

• The Lion of Justice. Jean Plaidy. 1975. Fawcett. 320 pages. [Source: Bought] 
• The Conquering Family. Thomas B. Costain. 1949. 291 pages. [Source: Library]

Stephen (Stephen of Blois) 1135-1154

• The Passionate Enemies. Jean Plaidy. 1976. Fawcett. 320 pages. [Source: Bought]  
• Lady of the English. Elizabeth Chadwick. 2011. Sourcebooks. 544 pages. [Source: Library] 
• When Christ and His Saints Slept by Sharon Kay Penman. 1994. Random House. 746 pages. [Source: Bought] 
• The Conquering Family. Thomas B. Costain. 1949. 291 pages. [Source: Library]

Henry II (Henry Curtmantle) 1154-1189

• The Courts of Love. Jean Plaidy. 1987. Broadway Books. 576 pages. [Source: Bought]  
• The Revolt of the Eaglets. Jean Plaidy. 1977. 320 pages. [Source: Bought]  
• The Conquering Family. Thomas B. Costain. 1949. 291 pages. [Source: Library]

Richard I (Richard the Lionheart) 1189-1199

• Passionate Brood: A Novel of Richard the Lionheart and the Man Who Became Robin Hood. Margaret Campbell Barnes. 1944/2010. Sourcebooks. 368 pages. 
• Scarlet. A.C. Gaughen. 2012. Walker. 292 pages. [Source: Library]
• Lady Thief. A.C. Gaughen. 2014. Walker Books. 304 pages. [Source: Review copy] 
• The Conquering Family. Thomas B. Costain. 1949. 291 pages. [Source: Library]

John (John Lackland or Jean sans Terre) 1199-1216

• The Conquering Family. Thomas B. Costain. 1949. 291 pages. [Source: Library] 
• Here Be Dragons. Sharon Kay Penman. 1985. 704 pages. [Source: Borrowed]

Henry III (Henry of Winchester) 1216-1272

• The Magnificent Century (The Plantagenets #2). Thomas B. Costain. 1951. 324 pages. [Source: Library]

Edward I (Longshanks) 1272-1307

• The Three Edwards (The Plantagenets #3) Thomas B. Costain. 1958. 480 pages. [Source: Library]

Edward II (Edward of Caernarfon) 1307-1327

• The Traitor's Wife by Susan Higginbotham. 2009. Sourcebooks. 500 pages. *might cover more than one Edward, I believe it does. 
• The Three Edwards (The Plantagenets #3) Thomas B. Costain. 1958. 480 pages. [Source: Library]

Edward III (1327-1377)

• The Three Edwards (The Plantagenets #3) Thomas B. Costain. 1958. 480 pages. [Source: Library]

Richard II (1377-1399)

• Within the Hollow Crown. Margaret Campbell Barnes. 1948/2010. SourceBooks. 368 pages.

Henry IV (Bolinbroke) 1399-1413
Henry V 1413-1422
Henry VI 1422-1461; 1470-1471
Edward IV 1461-1470; 1471-1483
Edward V 1483
Richard III 1483-1485
Henry VII 1485-1509

• The White Princess. Philippa Gregory. 2013. Simon & Schuster. 544 pages. [Source: Review Copy]   
• Tudor: The Family Story. Leanda de Lisle. 2013. Public Affairs. 576 pages. [Source: Library]

Henry VIII 1509-1547

• My Lady of Cleves by Margaret Campbell Barnes 
• King's Fool by Margaret Campbell Barnes
• Tudor: The Family Story. Leanda de Lisle. 2013. Public Affairs. 576 pages. [Source: Library]

Edward VI 1547-1553

• Tudor: The Family Story. Leanda de Lisle. 2013. Public Affairs. 576 pages. [Source: Library]

Mary I 1553-1558

• Tudor: The Family Story. Leanda de Lisle. 2013. Public Affairs. 576 pages. [Source: Library]

Elizabeth 1558-1603

• The Time Traveler's Guide to Elizabeth England. Ian Mortimer. 2013. Viking. 416 pages. [Source: Library]
• Young Bess by Margaret Irwin
•  Elizabeth Captive Princess by Margaret Irwin
• Elizabeth and the Prince of Spain. Margaret Irwin.  
• Tudor: The Family Story. Leanda de Lisle. 2013. Public Affairs. 576 pages. [Source: Library] 
• Queen of Scots: The True Life of Mary Stuart. John Guy. 2004. 608 pages. [Source: Library]

James I 1603-1625
Charles I 1625-1649
Charles II 1660-1685

• The Merry Monarch's Wife. (A Queens of England Novel). Jean Plaidy. 1991/2008. Crown. 352 pages. [Source: Bought]

James II 1685-1688
Mary II 1689-1694
William III 1689-1702
Anne 1702-1714
George I 1714-1727

• The Princess of Celle. Jean Plaidy. 1967/1985. Ballantine. 400 pages. [Source: Bought]

George II 1727-1760

• Caroline the Queen. Jean Plaidy. 1968. 415 pages. [Source: Library] 
• The Courtiers: Splendor and Intrigue in the Georgian Court At Kensington Palace. Lucy Worsley. 2010. Walker. 432 pages [Source: Bought]

George III 1760-1820

• Royal Affair: George III And His Scandalous Siblings. 2006. Random House. 384 pages. [Source: Library] 
• The Courtiers: Splendor and Intrigue in the Georgian Court At Kensington Palace. Lucy Worsley. 2010. Walker. 432 pages [Source: Bought]

George IV 1820-1830 (Regent from 1811 on)

• The Unruly Queen: The Life of Queen Caroline. Flora Fraser. 1996/2009. Anchor Books. 560 pages. [Source: Library]
• Charlotte & Leopold: The True Story of the Original People's Princess. James Chambers. 2007. 256 pages.

William IV 1830-1837

• Duchess of Drury Lane. Freda Lightfoot. 2013. Severn House. 256 pages. [Source: Library]

Victoria 1837-1901
Edward VII 1901-1910

• The Heir Apparent: A Life of Edward VII, The Playboy Prince. Jane Ridley. 2013. Random House. 752 pages. [Source: Library]

George V 1910-1936
Edward VIII 1936
George VI 1936-1952
Elizabeth II 1952-present

Others:
Matilda (Empress Matilda) 1141

• The Passionate Enemies. Jean Plaidy. 1976. Fawcett. 320 pages. [Source: Bought]  
• Lady of the English. Elizabeth Chadwick. 2011. Sourcebooks. 544 pages. [Source: Library]  
• The Conquering Family. Thomas B. Costain. 1949. 291 pages. [Source: Library]

Henry the Young King (co-ruled with father) 1170-1183
Louis The Lion (Louis VIII of France) 1216-1217
Jane Grey July 10-19th 1553
Philip (Mary's husband) 1554-1558
Oliver Cromwell 1653-1658
Richard Cromwell 1658-1659

Mary Queen of Scots

• Queen of Scots: The True Life of Mary Stuart. John Guy. 2004. 608 pages. [Source: Library]

General Resources Covering Multiple Kings and Queens:

• Our Island Story. H.E. Marshall. 1905/? 512 pages. [Source: Bought]  
• Great Tales from English History, vol. 1. Robert Lacey. 2003. Little, Brown. 272 pages. [Source: Library]
• Great Tales From English History, vol. 2. Robert Lacey. 2004. Little, Brown. 288 pages. [Source: Library]  
• Great Tales from English History, volume 3. Robert Lacey. 2008. Little, Brown. 320 pages. [Source: Library]
• The Story of Britain. Rebecca Fraser. 2003. Norton. 828 pages. [Source: Library]
• The Story of Britain From the Norman Conquest to the European Union by Patrick Dillon. 
• 1066 And All That. W.C. Sellar & R.J. Yeatman. 1931/1993. Barnes & Noble. 116 pages. [Source: Bought]
• The Birth of Britain (History of the English Speaking People #1). Winston Churchill. 1956. 496 pages. [Source: Bought]
• History of England. Jane Austen. 1977. 64 pages. [Source: Book I Bought]  
• A Child's History of England. Charles Dickens. 1851-1853.  390 pages. [Source: Book I Bought]
• Tudor: The Family Story. Leanda de Lisle. 2013. Public Affairs. 576 pages. [Source: Library]
• The Conquering Family. Thomas B. Costain. 1949. 291 pages. [Source: Library] 
• The Three Edwards (The Plantagenets #3) Thomas B. Costain. 1958. 480 pages. [Source: Library]

Wars of the Roses (Henry VI through Battle of Bosworth Field)

• The Daughter of Time by Josephine They
• The Sunne in Splendour by Sharon Kay Penman
• The Tudor Rose: A Novel of Elizabeth of York by Margaret Campbell Barnes
• Richard III by William Shakespeare (boo, hiss)
• The Stolen Crown by Susan Higginbotham
• Sent by Margaret Peterson Haddix
• The White Queen by Philippa Gregory
• The Red Queen by Philippa Gregory
• The Kingmaker's Daughter by Phillipa Gregory
• The Lady of The Rivers by Philippa Gregory
• Rose of York: Love & War by Sandra Worth
• A Dangerous Inheritance by Alison Weir (boo, hiss)
• Royal Mistress. Anne Easter Smith. 2013. Simon & Schuster. 489 pages. [Source: Review Copy]

Earlier history -- before William the Conqueror

• Alfred the Great. Justin Pollard. 2005. John Murray. 368 pages. [Source: Library] 
• Queen Emma and the Vikings. Harriet O'Brien. 2005. Bloomsbury. 288 pages. [Source: Library] 
• The Norman Conquest. Janice Hamilton. 2007. Twenty-First Century Books. 160 pages. [Source: Library] 
• Cymbeline. William Shakespeare. circa 1611. [Source: Bought]

© 2013 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews