More Reading Challenges

Maybe I'm a glutton for punishment, but I signed up for two more reading challenges. The first challenge is up at Passion for the Page and it is called "What An Animal!" The rules for this challenge are:

1. Read at least 6 books that have any of these requirements:

• a. an animal in the title of the book
• b. an animal on the cover of the book
• c. an animal that plays a major role in the book
• d. a main character that is or turns into an animal (define that however you'd like ;>)).

2. The animal can be any type of animal (real or fictitious)--dog, cat, monkey, wolf, snake, insect, hedgehog, aardvark...dragons, mermaids, centaurs, fairies, vampires...you get the idea...
3. Challenge runs from July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2009. You can still sign up after July 1st as long as you can get 6 books read by June 30th ;>).
4. Books can be fiction or nonfiction.
5. You may make a list of books at the beginning of the challenge or just list them as you find them.
6. Books may be swapped out at anytime (assuming you made a list to begin with).
7. Crossover books with other challenges is permitted and encouraged.
8. You don't have to blog or write a review, but you can if you want to.

So, I need a little help with this one. If you look over in my side margin, you see the list I've started for this. I have Water For Elephants, which was also on my Summer Reading Challenge list. I have Cat's Cradle, which I've had for a couple of years and haven't gotten around to reading. And then Marley and Me and Life of Pi have also been on my "to read" list. So, I could re-read A Prayer for Owen Meany, which has the aardvark on the cover, but I have so many on my "to read" list, I'm not sure I want to do re-reading right now. The one exception, and I'm seriously considering this because it's such a fine book, is re-reading The Monkey's Raincoat. And of course I don't think it would be fair for me to include One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest because I've read that so many times I could probably recite most of it from memory now.

So many of my series books have animals in them. Elvis has "Cat", Temperance Brennan has "Birdie" and "Boyd", Sara Linton has "Billy" and "Bob", Dave Robicheaux has "Tripod"...but none of those would be considered major roles, I don't think. Robert Parker has a few book covers that include his own dog in HIS picture on the back cover, but I don't think that counts either.

I have to check and see if Angels count. If they do, I'm including Angel's Tip on this list. I wouldn't really think of an angel as an "animal", but I wouldn't probably consider a vampire or a fairy as one either, so I'll check.

One other possibility for my list right now is Cadillac Jukebox (James Lee Burke). There's a pelican on my book cover for that one. So, that's a possibility. But, I'm looking for other good possibilities...so send some ideas my way...one caveat, I don't do romance novels along the lines of Danielle Steele and whatnot...

So the other challenge is more immediate. It's also a little easier to pick the books for. It's called the July Book Blowout. This is over at Blue Archipelago. I had to set a goal of how many books I would read in July. Here are the rules for this one:

1. Only books read between July 1 and July 31 count towards the challenge
2. You can include re-reads - as long as they are read within the month of July
3. Books you abandon will only count as half a book
4. If you read to your children you can include all books which have more than 100 pages
5. You can include up to two graphic novels
6. You can include up to two audio books - (if you have a visual impairment that prevents you from reading then you can use just audio books for the challenge)
7. Books you read for other challenges are eligible - use this as an opportunity to catch up!
8. If you start a book before July 1 and then finish it during the month of July then you can count is as half a book

I set my goal at 8. Typically, I read more than 8 books in a month, BUT a good number are audio since I listen to them on my mp3 player and in my car. According to the rules, I can only use two of those. Given that fact, I think 8 will be a good challenge for me.

Check back regularly to see how I'm doing...I'll be keeping track over in my right hand margin over there.

Until next time, Happy Reading!!!