Historical Fiction Challenge 2012--Trying It Again This Year

I signed up for this challenge last year, and I think I could have done it, but I got lazy.  So I am signing up again.  And here is the information about the challenge.

"After 3 years organizing the Historical Fiction Challenge, the girls of The Royal Reviews gracefully passed over this exciting event to our team at Historical Tapestry last year and we are very excited that the challenge is going to be returning in 2012!  During 2011 there were hundreds of books read by the participants and we hope that we continue to create a wonderful place to share and discuss our favourite (and maybe not quite so favourite) historical fiction books for the next year.

Each month, a new post dedicated to the HF Challenge will be created. To participate, you only have to follow the rules:

• everyone can participate, even those who don't have a blog (you can add your book title and thoughts in the comment section if you wish)

• add the link(s) of your review(s) including your name and book title to the Mister Linky we’ll be adding to our monthly post (please, do not add your blog link, but the correct address that will guide us directly to your review)

• any kind of historical fiction is accepted (HF fantasy, HF young adult,...)

• During these following 12 months you can choose one of the different reading levels:

1. Severe Bookaholism: 20 books
2. Undoubtedly Obsessed: 15 books
3. Struggling the Addiction: 10 books
4. Daring & Curious: 5 books
5. Out of My Comfort Zone: 2 books

To join the challenge you only need to make a post about it, grab the button below if you like and leave your link in Mr Linky below.  If you don't have a blog you can just leave a comment for this post saying that you are joining.

The challenge will run from 1 January 2012 to 31 December 2012.  "

So, my goal is to make it to level 3--10 books.  I should be able to do it.  This will be the last reading challenge I will join until the Spring Challenge comes about.  Watch for that.!

My New Year's Resolutions for 2012

I am very grateful to Diana over at Hormonal Imbalances for creating a linky over at her blog and posting about her New Year's Resolutions.  I kind of did this when I posted for the 3 in 30  challenge I am beginning this year. I will incorporate those into this post, but in a grander sense.  I know many people are against resolutions, and I really overdid my challenges last year.  There are only two I completed, and they were spring and fall reading challenges.  And I guess I did a couple month-long ones for the month of January.

I am going to keep my resolutions simple and specific.  That is often the problem with resolutions,  Everyone puts it into just a few words rather than treating it like a goal.  And I will not make more than 10 for the year.

1.  I will lose the rest of my weight that has just not wanted to come off for the past few years.  For those who know me, they know that I lost a lot of weight, and I have kept it off for years now.  But it bothers me that I cannot get my last 10-15 pounds off.  I stay right around 150, but my goal weight is 135--and all the charts and my doctor agree that is a good goal for me.  I know that a lot of the trouble is my exercise level.  I often only have the energy or desire to work out 3 times a week.  I absolutely must work out 4 times a week or more for 25-30 minutes.  I also need to cut out the extra sugar from my diet.  I get tired, and I give in.  This will be the year when I can finally say as we end 2012 that I weigh 135 pounds.

2.  I will organize my room and basically keep it as a sanctuary.  This is a hard one for me.  About two and a half years ago, I moved from a whole house down to about two rooms.  I live with parents, and I now have to hide stuff from my dad--food that I am eating that he will eat if I don't hide it.  (My dad is diabetic but doesn't take care of himself and inhales carbs and candy.  I have expensive diet foods that he feels he is entitled to eat if I don't keep it hidden.)  I have supplies for my blog, my crafts, my office, and so much more.  I am always behind.  I will at least keep my room picked up so that I don't feel like it is right now.

3.  I will have a blog that I can be proud of that has at least 3000 followers, and it will be visually appealing and organized. This is kind of the hard one.  I love my blog, and I really do put a lot into it.  But there are things that need to be organized.  I know that.  I  am looking forward to being able to make it more organized.  I am bad about putting my reviews together, my recipes together, etc  I have the pages ready, but I just forget to organize it.  This will be the year.  I may not be able to get to this until summer, but it will get done.  And 3000 followers is probably a low goal to strive for because I already have at least 1800.

4.  I will continue to grow in my spiritual walk, and that will be reflected in all my relationships.  I struggle with my dad--I won't go into details.  I sometimes lose it with my daughter, my mom, and Martin.  I struggle with my daily quiet time, but it is better than it used to be.  My main concern is when I get angry at my Dad, and my daughter is nearby.  I have a really hard time because Martin is not a Christian, and he tells me to do one thing, but God would have me do another.  I get so tired of it!  But I will improve but only with the help of God.

5.  I will complete one craft each month that I can give as a gift.  Crafting is something I loved long ago.  Since the birth of my daughter and my divorce, I have barely had time.  This is something I really would like to do again.  I have saved a lot of stuff on pinterest, but I have not done one blame thing!  I will do it this year.

6.  I will read at least 50 books this year.  I will do reviews, and post them in all the places I should.

7.  I will clean my e-mail inbox out.  Enough said.

8.  I will try something new each month.  I can't be too specific on this one.  I just don't know what I will do, but I want to step out of my comfort zone.

I think this is truly good enough.  There are a lot of goals/resolutions, but they are attainable.  And while I may not do everything, I am not going to give up!

And I am also linking up at 5 Minutes for Moms.

Top 10 Books of 2012 That I Am Looking Forward to Reading

I have absolutely loved participating this week even though it has been difficult at times.  I have been the "oddball," but in a good way.  I know I tend to look at things differently, but there have been some awesome posts from others as well.  I even picked up a book today from someone's list--Jinx by Meg Cabot. I would never have known about that book!

Thank you to the hosts:
http://twochicksonbooks1.blogspot.com
http://alifeboundbybooks.blogspot.com/
http://www.fiktshun.com/fiktshun/
http://www.totalbookaholic.com/

I am going to break the rules from the outset.  I am participating in a Just For Fun Challenge:


So I thought I would go ahead and choose 12 books (I might have chosen 13) so I can read once each month.  These are all hard copy books that have been sitting on my bookcase, and I definitely want to read them.  So these are the top books I am looking forward to reading in the New Year.  Not in any particular order (except the first one).  

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

I have gone back and forth with this book for quite some time.  Do I read it or don't I?  I won this book a few months ago, so I decided it was time to read it.  And when I realized that the movie is coming out in February, I decided I had to read it.  So it is first on my list!

The Heretic Queen by Michelle Moran

I don't know much about this book, but it's historical fiction and Egypt.  And I love the cover.  So there you go.  I don't think I've ever read a book that takes place in Egypt.  Ought to be good!

Bride Flight by Marieke van der Pol, Colleen Higgins 

I picked this book totally at random, and now I see that it is based on a true story and it has been translated. I am truly intrigued now!

The Life Ready Woman by Shaunti Feldhahn, Robert Lewis

I remember winning this book last year.  I am always up for a good Christian women's self-help book.  It had really good reviews, so hopefully it will live up to it!

Isolde Queen of the Western Isle by Rosalind Miles

I bought this at our library last year for two reasons.  It is written by the same person who wrote the Guinivere trilogy (which I have yet to read, but it looks good), and I know the story of Tristan and Isolde since I am a student of opera.  I studied Wagner, so I kind of know the story.  So this ought to be good!

Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares

I can heard the collective sigh now.  "You mean you've never read this book before?"  Nope.  I only heard of it when the movie came out, and since it didn't look very good, I decided to not read the book.  To avoid it like the plague.  I won the book last year.  Time to read it and just see if it is my kind of book.

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

I commented on a number of people's posts this week saying that I just had to read this book.  I won it last year, and the time has come to see if it lives up to all the hype!

The Arrivals by Meg Mitchell Moore
Don't know anything about it.  I won it last year.  It came highly recommended.  And I like the cover.  And I picked it by random.  Let's see how it goes!

Midwives by Chris Boyjalian

I read about this book on a couple blogs last year.  I bought it in the thrift store.  I hadn't realized it was an Oprah book club pick, but I won't hold that against the book!  (Not a big-time Oprah fan, but I have to say her book club picks are generally good.)  I know very little about it, and I will keep it like that.  Until I read it.

Dawn of the Morning by Grace Livingston Hill

When I was younger, I read a lot of Grace Livingston Hill's books, so I happened to buy a stack of them at a  church yard sale this summer, and this is one of them.  It ought to be exactly what is expected from one of her books.

The Amazing Mom Book b John MacIntyre

I won this book, and the blogger has a nice note on it saying I will really enjoy it.  So let's hope so!

Wicked Intentions by Elizabeth Hoyt

I nearly shrank away from this book when I saw the picture and read the title, but then I figured I would give it a try.  Another of my winnings.  It is a dark book, but I hope it will be good.  And perhaps something different.

And finally:

Confessions of a Catholic Cop by Thomas Fitzsimmons

I remember winning this book.  I was quite intrigued with the premise behind the book and the picture.  I will see if it lives up to my expectations!

There you have it--13 books.  I know it's too many, but this time, I believe rules are made for breaking.

I am sure many people will be putting books on their lists that cover various books coming out this year.  I have to admit that I know of some sequels that I may get to read, but I am not certain.  I often don't know what I am reading from one month to the next.  I am generally reading books for review, and I am often reading 3-4 books at once. I am pleased with my progress this year.  2012 should prove to be a very promising year.  I now have a kindle, so we'll see if I get more e-books this year.  

Till next year (because I'm sure this will be a yearly tradition now), au revoir!