Reading Challenges 2011

2011

All the challenges I've joined
Looking for some Challenge Ideas?

You will notice some overlap in the record below, with many books counting in more than one challenge.

Last updated 11 September 2011




Canadian Book Challenge 2011-2012
13 books to be read -
  1. 4.6, BAD BOY, Peter Robinson
  2. 4.5, THE WEED THAT STRINGS THE HANGMAN'S BAG, Alan Bradley
  3. 4.4, A BREWSKI FOR THE OLD MAN, Phyllis Smallman
  4. 4.8, THE SUSPECT, L.R. Wright
  5. 4.2, IN DESPERATION, Rick Mofina
  6. 4.4, ACTS OF MURDER, Laurali R. Wright
  7. 4.4, SKELETONS IN THE CLOSET & Other Creepy Stories, Cheryl Kaye Tardif
Canadian Book Challenge 2010-2011
Host is John Mutford at The Book Mine Set 
Completed- see summing up post
 
I have to read 13 books by Canadian authors by 1 July 2011.
I had read 6 by the end of 2010, so I need to read another 7
  1. 4.7, WHITE SKY, BLACK ICE, Stan Jones
  2. 4.5, VENGEANCE ROAD, Rick Mofina
  3. 4.0, MURDER AT LOST DOG LAKE, Vicki Delany
  4. 4.5, MIDNIGHT CAB, James W. Nichol
  5. 4.9, THE BRUTAL TELLING, Louise Penny 
  6. 5.0, BURY YOUR DEAD, Louise Penny
  7. 4.8, THE SWEETNESS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PIE, Alan Bradley
2011 Global Reading Challenge: 21/21 - - Completed

I have committed myself to reading 21 titles, all crime fiction, 3 titles each from 7 "continents". My 7th continent - historical crime fiction.
Blog site: 2011 Global Reading Challenge

 Africa
  1. OF WILD DOGS, Jane Taylor (South Africa)
  2. 4.7, TRACKERS, Deon Meyer (South Africa)
  3. 4.5, THE SATURDAY BIG TENT WEDDING PARTY, Alexander McCall Smith (Botswana)
Asia
  1. 4.5, THE HALF-CHILD, Angela Savage (Thailand)
  2. 4.0, MRS POLLIFAX, INNOCENT TOURIST, Dorothy Gilman (Jordan)
  3. 4.5, THE DEVOTION OF SUSPECT X, Keigo Higashino (Japan)
Australasia/Oceana (my modification)

  1. PRIME CUT, Alan Carter (Australia)
  2. BOUND, Vanda Symon (New Zealand)
  3. 4.3, DEVIL-DEVIL, Graeme Kent (Solomon Islands)
An extra hurdle for Australasia - at least one from New Zealand.
I can count separate Australian states.

Europe
  1. 4.5, DUMB WITNESS, Agatha Christie (England)
  2. 4.4, MAIGRET & the MAN on the BOULEVARD, Georges Simeon (France)
  3. 4.7, THE MAN WHO WENT UP IN SMOKE, Maj Sjowall & Per Wahloo (Sweden)
North America
  1. 4.5, MIDNIGHT CAB, James W. Nichol (Canada)
  2. 4.8, CROOKED LETTER, CROOKED LETTER, Tom Franklin (North America)
  3. 4.7, WHITE SKY, BLACK ICE, Stan Jones (Alaska) 
South America
  1. 4.7, DYING GASP, Leighton Gage (Brazil)
  2. 4.1, CARIBBEAN MOON, Rick Murcer (Caribbean)
  3. 1.0, THE EMPANADA AFFAIR, Jerold & Elaine Last (Argentina)
7th Continent: Historical crime fiction
  1. RAILWAY TO THE GRAVE, Edward Marston
    (Britain 1850s) 
  2. THE PERICLES COMMISSION, Gary Corby (Ancient Athens)
  3. DIED IN THE WOOL, Ngaio Marsh ( New Zealand 1942)
2011 Vintage Mystery Reading Challenge - Completed

Get a Clue Level: 7-9 books,
must have been written prior to 1960

My extra rule: all need to be by different authors 


Progress page on the challenge site
  1. 4.4, GIDEON'S WEEK, J.J. Marric (aka John Creasey) (1956)
  2. 3.8, BEFORE MIDNIGHT, Rex Stout (1955)
  3. 4.4, GIDEON"S DAY, J.J. Marric (aka John Creasey) (1955)
  4. 4.2, AN ASSISTANT MURDERER, Dashiell Hammett  (1926)
  5. 3.6, X.Y.Z. A Detective Story, Anna Katherine Green (1883)
  6. 4.1, DEATH AT THE PRESIDENT'S LODGING, Michael Innes (1936)
  7. 4.3, DIED IN THE WOOL, Ngaio Marsh ( 1942)
  8. 4.5, DUMB WITNESS, Agatha Christie (1937)
  9. 4.4, MAIGRET & the MAN on the BOULEVARD, Georges Simenon (1953)
  10. 4.4, IN THE TEETH OF THE EVIDENCE, Dorothy L. Sayers (1939)
Cruisin' thru Cosies Reading Challenge

I'll try for Investigator: 7-12 books - Completed
I'm now aiming for Super Sleuth at 13+ - Completed

Definition: most cozies take place in a small town or village, generally considered "gentle" books, and the sleuth is usually an amateur. 
  1. 4.2, MURDER IN THE SECOND ROW, Bev Robitai
  2. 4.6, ECHOES OF THE DEAD, Sally Spencer
  3. 4.5, THE WEED THAT STRINGS THE HANGMAN'S BAG, Alan Bradley
  4. 4.8, THE SUSPECT, L.R. Wright
  5. 4.6, FIVE LITTLE PIGS, Agatha Christie
  6. 4.4, N or M? Agatha Christie
  7. 4.5, THE SATURDAY BIG TENT WEDDING PARTY, Alexander McCall Smith
  8. 4.6, BRUNO, CHIEF OF POLICE, Martin Walker
  9. 4.3, THE GOLDEN MILE TO MURDER, Sally Spencer
  10. 4.2, THE COSY KNAVE, Dorte Hummelshøj Jakobsen
  11. 4.6, THE DARK VINEYARD, Martin Walker
  12. 3.5, STIFF UPPER LIP, JEEVES, P.G. Wodehouse
  13. 4.3, A GRAVE IN THE COTSWOLDS, Rebecca Tope
  14. 4.4, THE SALTON KILLINGS, Sally Spencer
  15. 4.2, THE VANISHING OF KATHARINA LINDEN, Helen Grant
  16. 4.6, THE JANUS STONE, Elly Griffiths
  17. 4.0, LATE, LATE IN THE EVENING, Gladys Mitchell
  18. 4.3, MURDER IN PARADISE, Ann Cleeves
  19. 4.2, DARK WATER, Georgia Blain
  20. 4.0, MRS POLLIFAX, INNOCENT TOURIST, Dorothy Gilman
  21. 3.8, MONSIEUR PAMPLEMOUSSE TAKES THE CURE, Michael Bond
  22. 4.8, THE SWEETNESS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PIE, Alan Bradley
  23. 4.4, CANDIED CRIME, Dorte Jakobsen
  24. 4.4, A COTSWOLD KILLING, Rebecca Tope
  25. 4.4, THE PERICLES COMMISSION, Gary Corby  
  26. 4.4, IN THE TEETH OF THE EVIDENCE, Dorothy L. Sayers
Ireland Reading Challenge Completed 
  1. 5.0, THE RULE BOOK, Rob Kitchin
  2. 4.3, THE BURNING, Jane Casey
  3. 4.3, THE LIKENESS, Tana French 
  4. 4.7, WINTERLAND, Alan Glynn
aiming for Luck o' the Irish level (4 books)

Agatha Christie Reading Challenge

How to join the Agatha Christie Reading Challenge 


I'm aiming for my next 12 titles - target completed for 2011.
  1. 4.4, THE UNDER DOG
  2. 4.4, THE MOVING FINGER
  3. 4.6, FIVE LITTLE PIGS
  4. 4.4, THE BODY IN THE LIBRARY
  5. 4.4, N or M?
  6. 4.3, EVIL UNDER THE SUN
  7. 4.3, ONE, TWO, BUCKLE MY SHOE
  8. 4.6, SAD CYPRESS
  9. 4.5, TEN LITTLE NIGGERS
  10. 4.3, MURDER IS EASY
  11. 4.4, APPOINTMENT WITH DEATH
  12. 4.5, DUMB WITNESS
  13. 4.3, DEATH ON THE NILE
Aussie Author Challenge

I'm aiming for True Blue: 12 books - completed
  1. 4.6, WATCH THE WORLD BURN, Leah Giarratano
  2. 4.8, WHISPERING DEATH, Garry Disher
  3. 4.3, RING OF FIRE, Peter Klein
  4. 4.8, VIOLENT EXPOSURE, Katherine Howell
  5. 4.4, BEREFT, Chris Womersley
  6. 4.8, THE DIGGERS REST HOTEL, Geoffrey McGeachin
  7. 5.0, THE WRECKAGE, Michael Robotham
  8. 3.9, DIAMOND EYES, A. A. Bell
  9. 4.8, COLD JUSTICE, Katherine Howell
  10. 4.3, THE SERPENT AND THE SCORPION, Clare Langley-Hawthorne
  11. 4.2, DARK WATER, Georgia Blain
  12. 4.7, WYATT, Garry Disher
  13. 4.4, D-E-D DEAD! Geoffrey McGeachin
  14. 4.4, THE PERICLES COMMISSION, Gary Corby 
  15. 4.7, PRIME CUT, Alan Carter 
  16. 4.5, THE HALF-CHILD, Angela Savage
Nordic Challenge 2011

I'm aiming for Odin 11-20 books - - completed
  1. 4.5, CELL 8, Roslund & Hellstrom (Sweden) 
  2. 4.7, ROSEANNA, Maj Sjowall & Per Wahloo (Sweden)
  3. 4.6, OUTRAGE, Arnaldur Indridason (Iceland)
  4. 4.5, THE FIRE ENGINE THAT DISAPPEARED, Maj Sjowall & Per Wahloo (Sweden)
  5. 4.5, THE HYPNOTIST, Lars Kepler  (Sweden)
  6. 4.7, UNTIL THY WRATH BE PAST, Asa Larsson (Sweden)
  7. 4,4, THE KILLER'S ART, Mari Jungstedt (Sweden)
  8. 4.8, KEEPER OF LOST CAUSES, Jussi Adler-Olsen (Denmark)
  9. 4.8, THE LEOPARD, Jo Nesbo
  10. 4.5, FROZEN MOMENT, Camilla Ceder
  11. 4.5, OPERATION NAPOLEON, Arnaldur Indridason (Iceland)
  12. 4,4, FROZEN TRACKS, Ake Edwardson (Sweden)
  13. 4.6, THREE SECONDS, Roslund & Hellstrom (Sweden)
  14. 4.7, THE MAN WHO WENT UP IN SMOKE, Maj Sjowall & Per Wahloo (Sweden)
  15. 4.9, BAD INTENTIONS, Karin Fossum (Norway)
e-book challenge

I was aiming for obsessed: 20 books - completed
Summary post here
- new level set: monomanaical: 100 books (that's a further 80 books)
  1. 4.2, MURDER IN THE SECOND ROW, Bev Robitai
  2. 4.7, WINTERLAND, Alan Glynn
  3. 4.5, THE WEED THAT STRINGS THE HANGMAN'S BAG, Alan Bradley
  4. 4.7, THE BLACKHOUSE, Peter May
  5. 4.7, ROSEANNA, Maj Sjowall & Per Wahloo
  6. 4.3, THE LIKENESS, Tana French
  7. 4.3, THE BURNING, Jane Casey
  8. 3.8, BEFORE MIDNIGHT, Rex Stout
  9. 4.4, THE MOVING FINGER, Agatha Christie
  10. 4.3, 13 RUE THERESE, Elena Mauli Shapiro
  11. 4.2, AN ASSISTANT MURDERER, Dashiell Hammett
  12. 4.2, IN DESPERATION, Rick Mofina
  13. 4.4, DEAD MAN'S WHARF, Pauline Rowson
  14. 4.6, FIVE LITTLE PIGS, Agatha Christie
  15. 4.6, OUTRAGE, Arnaldur Indridason
  16. 4.5, THE FIRE ENGINE THAT DISAPPEARED, Maj Sjowall & Per Wahloo
  17. 1.0, THE EMPANADA AFFAIR, Jerold & Elaine Last 
  18. 4.1, CARIBBEAN MOON, Rick Murcer
  19. 4.4, N or M? Agatha Christie 
  20. 4.8, VIOLENT EXPOSURE, Katherine Howell
  21. 5.0, THE END OF THE WASP SEASON, Denise Mina
  22. 4.0, BUNKER, Andrea Maria Schenkel
  23. 4.5, THE HYPNOTIST, Lars Kepler
  24. 4.4, DEATH OF A RED HEROINE, Qiu Xiaolong
  25. 5.0, BLUE LIGHTNING, Ann Cleeves
  26. 4.7, UNTIL THY WRATH BE PAST, Asa Larsson
  27. 4.3, BLUE MONDAY, Nicci French
  28. 4.2, THE COSY KNAVE, Dorte Hummelshøj Jakobsen
  29. 4.3, EVIL UNDER THE SUN, Agatha Christie
  30. 3.8, SAGEBRUSH KILL, Ivan Brady
  31. 3.6, X.Y.Z. A Detective Story, Anna Katherine Green
  32. 4.4, SKELETONS IN THE CLOSET & Other Creepy Stories, Cheryl Kaye Tardif 
  33. 4.3, ASHES TO WATER, Irene Ziegler
  34. 4.5, THE LOCK ARTIST, Steve Hamilton
  35. 4.3, ONE, TWO, BUCKLE MY SHOE, Agatha Christie 
  36. 5.0, DEAD TOMORROW, Peter James
  37. 4.2, MAD MONEY, Linda Richards
  38. 5.0, THE WRECKAGE, Michael Robotham 
  39. 4.2, THE VANISHING OF KATHARINA LINDEN, Helen Grant 
  40. 4.8, SILENT VOICES, Ann Cleeves
  41. 4.5, A VINE IN THE BLOOD, Leighton Gage
  42. 4.7, TRACKERS, Deon Meyer
  43. 4.8, THE HANGING WOOD, Martin Edwards
  44. 4.6, SAD CYPRESS, Agatha Christie
  45. 3.9, DIAMOND EYES, A. A. Bell
  46. 4.1, LIQUORICE TWISTS, Dorte Jakobsen
  47. 4.7, WHITE SKY, BLACK ICE, Stan Jones

  1. 4.8, KEEPER OF LOST CAUSES, Jussi Adler-Olsen 
  2. 4.5, VENGEANCE ROAD, Rick Mofina
  3. 4.0, MURDER AT LOST DOG LAKE, Vicki Delany
  4. 4.8, THE LEOPARD, Jo Nesbo 
  5. 4.6, RELICS OF THE DEAD, Ariana Franklin
  6. 4.6, THE JANUS STONE, Elly Griffiths 
  7. 4.3, THE SERPENT AND THE SCORPION, Clare Langley-Hawthorne 
  8. 4.2, DARK WATER, Georgia Blain
  9. 4.2, THE POCKET ESSENTIAL AGATHA CHRISTIE, Mark Campbell
  10. 4.3, MURDER IS EASY, Agatha Christie
  11. 4.8, THE SWEETNESS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PIE, Alan Bradley
  12. 4.7, DYING GASP, Leighton Gage
  13. 4.1, THE ROAD TO HELL, Paul Levine
  14. 4.3, FLASH FICTION FOR THE COCKTAIL HOUR, Cathryn Grant
  15. 4.2, DARK BLOOMS, Melissa F. Miller
  16. 4.5, OPERATION NAPOLEON, Arnaldur Indridason
  17. 4.4, CANDIED CRIME, Dorte Jakobsen
  18. 4.7, THE MAN WHO WENT UP IN SMOKE, Maj Sjowall & Per Wahloo
  19. 4.9, BAD INTENTIONS, Karin Fossum 
  20. 4.7, PRIME CUT, Alan Carter 
British Books Challenge - completed

Royal Family level: 12 books by British authors.
Extra rules: all different authors, all crime fiction.
see summary post
  1. 4.6, RELICS OF THE DEAD, Ariana Franklin
  2. 4.5, A NEW LEASE OF DEATH, Ruth Rendell
  3. 4.6, THE JANUS STONE, Elly Griffiths 
  4. 4.0, LATE, LATE IN THE EVENING, Gladys Mitchell
  5. 4.3, MURDER IN PARADISE, Ann Cleeves 
  6. 4.7, WHERE MEMORIES LIE, Deborah Crombie - see review for note about inclusion on this list
  7. 3.8, MONSIEUR PAMPLEMOUSSE TAKES THE CURE, Michael Bond
  8. 4.4, FATAL QUEST: WOODEND'S FIRST CASE, Sally Spencer
  9. 4.5, OUR LADY OF PAIN, Elena Forbes
  10. 4.5, DUMB WITNESS, Agatha Christie
  11. 4.4, A COTSWOLD KILLING, Rebecca Tope 
  12. 4.5, RAILWAY TO THE GRAVE, Edward Marston  
Now attempting to earn a Crown (38 more books)
-
completed
  1. 4.6, ECHOES OF THE DEAD, Sally Spencer
  2. 4.7, THE BLACKHOUSE, Peter May
  3. 4.5, DEADLY INTENT, Lynda La Plante
  4. 4.4, GIDEON'S WEEK, J.J. Marric (aka John Creasey)
  5. 4.4, GIDEON"S DAY, J.J. Marric (aka John Creasey)
  6. 4.4, THE MOVING FINGER, Agatha Christie
  7. 4.5, THE FOUR LAST THINGS, Andrew Taylor
  8. 4.7, A LONELY DEATH, Charles Todd
  9. 4.3, THE DARK LADY, Sally Spencer
  10. 4.7, THE DEAD HAND OF HISTORY, Sally Spencer
  11. 4.4, DEAD MAN'S WHARF, Pauline Rowson
  12. 5.0, STAGESTRUCK, Peter Lovesey
  13. 4.6, FIVE LITTLE PIGS, Agatha Christie
  14. 4.4, BEGGARS BANQUET, Ian Rankin
  15. 4.4, THE BODY IN THE LIBRARY, Agatha Christie
  16. 4.3, NEMESIS, Lindsey Davis
  17. 5.0, THE END OF THE WASP SEASON, Denise Mina 
  18. 4.5, TO THE HILT, Dick Francis
  19. 4.5, THE SATURDAY BIG TENT WEDDING PARTY, Alexander McCall Smith
  20. 4.8, DEAD LIKE YOU, Peter James
  21. 5.0, BLUE LIGHTNING, Ann Cleeves
  22. 4.5, STILL MIDNIGHT, Denise Mina
  23. 4.6, BRUNO, CHIEF OF POLICE, Martin Walker 
  24. 4.3, THE GOLDEN MILE TO MURDER, Sally Spencer
  25. 4.3, BLUE MONDAY, Nicci French
  26. 4.3, EVIL UNDER THE SUN, Agatha Christie
  27. 4.4, DELIVER US FROM EVIL, Peter Turnbull
  28. 4.5, THE MESSENGER OF ATHENS, Anne Zouroudi
  29. 4.5, THE FAMILY, Martina Cole
  30. 4.6, THE DARK VINEYARD, Martin Walker
  31. 3.5, STIFF UPPER LIP, JEEVES, P.G. Wodehouse
  32. 4.3, ONE, TWO, BUCKLE MY SHOE, Agatha Christie 
  33. 4.3, A GRAVE IN THE COTSWOLDS, Rebecca Tope
  34. 4.7, HEARTSTONE, C.J. Sansom
  35. 5.0, DEAD TOMORROW, Peter James
  36. 4.4, THE SALTON KILLINGS, Sally Spencer
  37. 4.6, TEN-SECOND STAIRCASE, Christopher Fowler
  38. 4.8, SILENT VOICES, Ann Cleeves
  39. 4.8, THE HANGING WOOD, Martin Edwards 
  40. 4.6, SAD CYPRESS, Agatha Christie
  41. 4.4, THE JUDGEMENT OF STRANGERS, Andrew Taylor
  42. 4.3, DEVIL-DEVIL, Graeme Kent
  43. 5.0, A THOUSAND CUTS, Simon Lelic
  44. 4.1, DEATH AT THE PRESIDENT'S LODGING, Michael Innes
  45. 4.5, TEN LITTLE NIGGERS, Agatha Christie
  46. 4.3, THE BURNING, Jane Casey 
Historical Fiction Challenge
Completed

Struggling the Addiction: 10 books
my extra rule: all need to be crime fiction
  1. 4.7, A LONELY DEATH, Charles Todd (England 1920)
  2. 4.3, NEMESIS, Lindsey Davis (Ancient Rome)
  3. 4.4, DEATH OF A RED HEROINE, Qiu Xiaolong (China 1949-1990)
  4. 4.8, THE DIGGERS REST HOTEL, Geoffrey McGeachin (Australia)
  5. 4.7, HEARTSTONE, C.J. Sansom (Tudor England, 1545)
  6. 4.4, EYE OF THE RED TSAR, Sam Eastland (Russia 1917, 1929)
  7. 4.6, RELICS OF THE DEAD, Ariana Franklin (Glastonbury 1196)
  8. 4.3, THE SERPENT AND THE SCORPION, Clare Langley-Hawthorne  (London 1912)
  9. 4.6, SARAH'S KEY, Tatiana de Rosnay (Paris 1942)
  10. 4.5, RAILWAY TO THE GRAVE, Edward Marston
    (Britain 1850s) 
  11. 4.4, THE PERICLES COMMISSION, Gary Corby (Ancient Athens) 
  12. 4.3, DIED IN THE WOOL, Ngaio Marsh ( New Zealand 1942) 
something New Zealand maybe 4-6 books: still looking for an "official" challenge.
  1. 4.2, MURDER IN THE SECOND ROW, Bev Robitai
  2. 4.3, BOLD BLOOD, Lindy Kelly
  3. 4.3, DIED IN THE WOOL, Ngaio Marsh
  4. BOUND, Vanda Symon
This is a personal challenge more than anything else.

It will be an overlapping challenge, and I aim to exceed 20 titles which was my total this year.
  1. 4.5, CELL 8, Roslund & Hellstrom (Swedish) 
  2. 4.7, ROSEANNA, Maj Sjowall & Per Wahloo (Swedish)
  3. 4.6, OUTRAGE, Arnaldur Indridason (Icelandic)
  4. 4.5, THE FIRE ENGINE THAT DISAPPEARED, Maj Sjowall & Per Wahloo (Swedish)
  5. 4.3, DEATH IN THE LATIN QUARTER, Raphael Cardetti (France)
  6. 4.0, BUNKER, Andrea Maria Schenkel (German)
  7. 4.5, THE HYPNOTIST, Lars Kepler  (Swedish)
  8. 4.7, UNTIL THY WRATH BE PAST, Asa Larsson (Swedish)
  9. 4.5, VILLAIN, Shuichi Yoshida (Japanese)
  10. 4.4, THE KILLER'S ART, Mari Jungstedt (Swedish)
  11. 4.8, AN UNCERTAIN PLACE, Fred Vargas (French)
  12. 4.7, TRACKERS, Deon Meyer (Afrikaans- South Africa)
  13. 4.8, KEEPER OF LOST CAUSES, Jussi Adler-Olsen  (Denmark)
  14. 4.8, THE LEOPARD, Jo Nesbo  (Norwegian)
  15. 4.5, THE DEVOTION OF SUSPECT X, Keigo Higashino (Japanese)
  16. 4.5, FROZEN MOMENT, Camilla Ceder (Swedish) 
  17. 4.5, OPERATION NAPOLEON, Arnaldur Indridason (icelandic)
  18. 4,4, FROZEN TRACKS, Ake Edwardson (Swedish)
  19. 4.6, THREE SECONDS, Roslund & Hellstrom (Swedish)
  20. 4.4, MAIGRET & the MAN on the BOULEVARD, Georges Simenon (French)
  21. 4.7, THE MAN WHO WENT UP IN SMOKE, Maj Sjowall & Per Wahloo (Swedish)
  22. 4.9, BAD INTENTIONS, Karin Fossum (Norwegian)
  23. 4.5, MAIGRET & THE HEADLESS CORPSE, Georges Simenon (French)
Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge


I'm aiming for Out of Breath: 6-10 more books than in 2010 when I read 136

My aim is 142+ and will include all books read in all formats include audio books.

You can see how I am going here. Current count: 160
Again, another personal challenge.
In 2010 I read 46 new-to-me authors and I'll be keeping count in 2011 to see if I can exceed that total, even by 1.
Current count: 60

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