Challenges! Challenges!

I started blogging because of reading challenges. I heard of them through online book groups and everyone was keeping track of things on their blog. I felt left out. I pondered for... oh.... about a year... then finally jumped in.

Now five years later, I'm pretty much over challenges. They are so enticing, yet, I never end up actually doing them. Well, most of them anyway. So, over the years, I've committed to less and less. This past year, I did do Carl's two famous ones (Once Upon a Time and RIP) which are pretty much a given, and in which I actually succeeded for the most part. I also wanted to do the 2011 Challenge and Take a Chance 3, which both seemed like so much fun. But in the end, they were too much work and I only read a few books for each of them.

But it was fun to try.

Besides, all that, I've discovered that I really enjoy buddy reads, which are more interactive, so my reading challenge is to continue doing those, and even maybe do more of them.

All that being said, there's been a few challenges I've come across that I can't seem to pass up. And my guess is there'll probably be a few more. And like I said, it's always fun to try!

So here's a list of the few that I'm hoping to try this coming year... so far anyway:

A Classics Challenge (details found here) brought to us by Katherine of November's Autumn. I like this one because it's set up a little different. We read seven classics throughout the year (something I'm always trying to do anyway) and then come to Katherine's blog on the 4th of each month and answer the general questions she will post about whatever classic you happen to be reading, or just finishing, at that moment. I like that idea.

Seven classics I'd like to read are:
1. Vanity Fair by William Thackeray
2. Ramona by Helen Hunt Jackson
3. Precious Bane by Mary Webb
4. various unread Wilkie Collins that I have here on hand
5. Mary Barton by Elizabeth Gaskell
6. A Long Fatal Love Chase by Louisa May Alcott
7. My Friend Flicka by Mary O'Hara

Classic Double Challenge 2012 (details found here) brought to us by Melissa from One Librarian's Book Reviews. This one also has to do with classics, but here we read an original classic and then a re-telling of the same story. We can pick a level, and I'll try for the medium level, which is four books (two sets). My ideas so far on this one are:

1. something Robin Hood, maybe two new-to-me versions (Melissa says it counts though I'm not sure how to read the "original" story!)
2. I'm dying to re-read Persuasion and then it would be fun to read a re-telling of that one. Suggestions welcome.


Dean Koontz Reading Challenge (details found here) brought to us by Brigit from The Book Garden. Mostly I'm joining this one so I can aim to finish the Odd Thomas series! I have the next two books, here and ready to go!

So, wouldn't you love to join with me? Come on... you know you want to! What challenges have you found that you can't seem to pass up?