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This challenge has no time limit, no list of books you must read, and basically no rules. You can make it up as you go. Just name your challenge. Make it as big or small as you want. Think of some crazy way to link the books together or don't even bother because anything goes. The main point is to challenge yourself and have fun. So if some of our other challenges intimidate you or don't fit your style, don't worry. This is the challenge for you. It's freestyle. Who knows we may even ask if we can use what you come up with for a larger challenge and name it after you. We look forward to seeing what you come up with.

Sashana’s Classical FreeStyle

So if you’re a Nothing but Reading Challenges fanatic then you’ve probably ‘seen’ me around complaining about my dislike for the classics. I don’t know why I have such a problem reading them, maybe they’re just intimidating to me or maybe the language scares me a bit (I think it’s a bit of both). Nevertheless, I’m an avid reader and I really feel like it’s my duty to read the classics, plus I’m going to college soon and I don’t want to be the only one there who have never read Wuthering Height lol. So my Freestyle Challenge will be called: Sashana’s Classical FreeStyle. I really hope I don’t keel over and die of boredom while reading :(
I’m not going to overexert myself so I don’t have a specific deadline to finish this challenge. My goal is to read 20 to 30 classic books. I’ll post as I go and I’ll try to do a little review on what I thought about each book. Feel free to recommend classic books to me.

Lisarenee, is this the correct place to post this or do I need to make a new topic?

Just post it in here and go with it. Everyone makes up their own as they go in this area.

Okay

I just feel like I don’t read ‘serious’ enough books. So I’m trying to read something different. Trust me, if I get 5 books in and I hate it then I would stop. But I’ll give the classics a try.

I'm going to try to do atleast 1 challenge and 1 group read each month from 2 different groups each month. i'm going to start with Nothing but Reading Challenges' September challenge and read 3 books that have been made or are being made into movies and Bright Young Things' September group read. Knock on wood and cross my fingers.

Good luck Debbie.

thanks :)

Ok my challenge is going to be only reading books that I already own for the whole month of September. I own over 300 books, but people keep recommending books that I don't have, so I have to get them from the library. Next month I'm not going to the library at all. So PLEASE next month, no recommendations. LOL

I'll post them as I go next month.

Nice challenge Lisa S

My challenge is the Non-fiction read it like fiction challenge. I struggle with reading non-fiction books but lately I feel I need to broaden my reading horizons. So the challenge: for every 2 fiction books I read I have to read at least one non-fiction book. So if anyone has any recommendations for me I'm all ears. Starting with

I want to start that one too...

Ingrid wrote: "My challenge is the Non-fiction read it like fiction challenge. I struggle with reading non-fiction books but lately I feel I need to broaden my reading horizons. So the challenge: for every 2 fict..."

Ingrid I understand your pain when it comes to approaching non-fiction. I've read very few books from that genre so I'm excited to see what books you read and if you enjoy them. Good Luck!

Debbie wrote: "I'm going to try to do atleast 1 challenge and 1 group read each month from 2 different groups each month. i'm going to start with Nothing but Reading Challenges' September challenge and read 3 bo..."

A Challenge where you do challenges. Haha I love it :) Good luck Debbie! Don't forget to post as you go.

# - denotes books that I do not own (yet)
^ - denotes books from the library

Dukes & Duchesses
The Mad Bad Duke by Jennifer Ashley
The Duke's Perfect Wife by Jennifer Ashley #
Mad About the Duke by Elizabeth Boyle
Love Letters from a Duke by Elizabeth Boyle
The Iron Duke by Meljean Brook
The Duke in Disguise by Gayle Callen
Never Dare a Duke by Gayle Callen
Never Deceive a Duke by Liz Carlyle
How to Seduce a Duke by Kathryn Caskie
The Duke's Night of Sin by Kathryn Caskie
The Confessios of a Duchess by Nicola Cornick
One Dance with a Duke by Tessa Dare
How to Marry a Duke by Vicky Dreiling
The Duke of Shadows by Meredith Duran
Sins of a Duke by Suzanne Enoch
The Duke by Gaelen Foley
My Dangerous Duke by Gaelen Foley
The Making of a Duchess by Shana Galen
To Tame a Duke by Patricia Grasso
A Duke to Die For by Amelia Grey
Second Son of a Duke by Gwen Hayes
A Duke of her Own by Lorraine Heath #
A Duke's Temptation by Jillian Hunter
Desperate Duchesses by Eloisa James
Duchess in Love by Eloisa James
The Taming of the Duke by Eloisa James
When the Duke Returns by Eloisa James
Duchess by Night by Eloisa James
Only a Duke Will Do by Sabrina Jeffries
To Desire a Wicked Duke by Nicole Jordan #
Sins of a Wicked Duke by Sophie Jordan
Dukes to the Left of Me, Princes to the Right by Kieran Kramer
The Runaway Duke by Julie Anne Long
The Naked Duke by Sally MacKenzie
Eleven Scandals to Start to Win a Duke's Heart by Sarah MacLean #
Seducing the Duchess by Ashley March #
Distracting the Duchess by Mia Marlowe #
In the Bed of a Duke by Cathy Maxwell
How to Tempt a Duke by Kasey Michaels
The Duke's Downfall by Lynn Michaels #
The Dark Duke by Margaret Moore #
Darcy and the Duchess by Mary Anne Mushatt
The Duke in His Castle by Vera Nazaian #
What the Duke Desires by Jenna Peterson #
The Unclaimed Duchess by Jenna Peterson
The Duke & I by Julia Quinn
The Lost Duke of Wyndham by Julia Quinn

Marquesses/Marquises & Marchionesses
My Wicked Marquis by Gaelen Foley #
Marrying the Marquis by Patricia Grasso #
Mastering the Marquess by Vanessa Kelly
Tempting the Marquess by Sara Linsey #
The Naked Marquis by Sally MacKenzie
The Wild Marquis by Miranda Neville #
How to Marry a Marquis by Julia Quinn

Earls & Countesses
How I Met My Countess by Elizabeth Boyle
The Earl's Untouched Bride by Annie Burrows
How to Engage an Early by Kathryn Caskie
My Irresistible Earl by Gaelen Foley
An Earl to Enchant by Amelia Grey
As an Earl Desires by Lorraine Heath #
Passions of a Wicked Earl by Lorraine Heath
Sex and the Single Earl by Vanessa Kelly
The Dragon Earl by Jade Lee #
The Naked Early by Sally MacKenzie
For the Earl's Pleasure by Anne Mallory #
The Earl of Her Dreams by Anne Mallory #
Wedlock: The True Story of the Disastrous Marriage and Remarkable Divorce of Mary Eleanor Bowes, Countess of Strathmore by Wendy Moore
To Wed a Wicked Earl by Olivia Parker
Earl of Darkness by Alix Rickloff
The Countess by Lynsay Sands
The Accidental Countess by Melissa Schroeder #
The Earl's Forbidden Ward by Bronwyn Scott
The Accidental Countess by Michelle Willingham ^

Viscounts & Viscountesses
The Viscount's Addiction by Scottie Barrett #
The Viscount and the Virgin by Annie Burrows
The Viscount in Her Bedroom by Gayle Callen
The Naked Viscount by Sally MacKenzie
Vexing the Viscount by Mia Marlowe #
The Dangerous Viscount by Miranda Neville #
The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn

Barons & Baronesses
The Naked Baron by Sally MacKenzie
The Diabolical Baron by Mary Jo Putney

Knights & Dames
A Knight's Vow by Gayle Callen
The Red Cross of Gold I: The Knight of Death by Brendan Carroll #
The Greatest Knight by Elizabeth Chadwick #
A Knight in Shining Armor by Jude Deveraux #
Dark and Stormy Knights by P.N. Elrod #
Brooklyn Knight by C.J. Henderson #
Highland Knight by Hannah Howell
Once Upon a Knight by Jackie Ivie
Knight of a Trillion Stars by Dara Joy
A Restless Knight by Deborah MacGillivray #
One Snowy Knight by Deborah MacGillivray
Knight of Desire by Margaret Mallory
Knights of the Round Table: Lancelot by Gwen Rowley
Knights of the Round Table: Geraint by Gwen Rowley
To Tempt a Knight by Gerri Russell#
A Knight's Captive by Lindsay Townsend

I need to start doing the same. Even borrowing from the county library when I have my own library at home should be a banned activity for me.

I'm going to attempt to complete all of the various challenges I've entered lately by reading only the books that I've already borrowed from the library or friends/family and books that I already own. I'm going to stay away from the library for awhile, other than taking my girls to get books. Although, in theory, borrowing books from the public library is free, I usually get mixed up (borrowing from 3 or 4)and end up owing enough money that I should have just bought the darn book used. LOL Shall I say, until after Christmas?? Because there are several books (Full Dark, No Stars for one) that I will want to buy. The librarians are going to feel the pinch of my late fees ceasing to exist. Muahahaha! LOL

Here's my list of completed reads, starting on August 27, 2010...
1. DEAD IN THE FAMILY by Charlaine Harris
2. BLACKLANDS by Belinda Bauer
3. HORNS by Joe Hill
4. THE COLORADO KID by Stephen King
5. MOCKINGJAY by Suzanne Collins
6. NEVER LET ME GO by Kazuo Ishiguro
7. ILL WIND by Rachel Caine

So I'm actually doing a challenge similar to this one in another group and thought it would be fun to post my challenge here as well. I call it my Bits and Pieces Challenge because it bits and pieces of all my favorite parts of other challenges I have done this year. I'm also going to give myself a time limit just for kicks.

~♥ Kat's Bits and Pieces Challenge ♥~
Duration: June 1st to December 31st
Goal: 0 of 35 Books Done

1.Read 2 Authors You Never Read Before
2.Read 2 of the Most Recent Books you Bought
3.Read 2 Ebooks
4.Read 2 Urban Fantasies
5.Read 2 Young Adult Books
6.Read 2 Paranormal Romance Books
7.Read 2 First Books in 2 New Series
8.Read 2 books that start with S for September
9.Read 2 books that start with O for October
10.Read 2 books that start with N for November
11.Read 2 books that start with D for December
12.Read 2 books with Blue Covers
13.Read 2 books with Purple Covers
14.Read 2 books with Sexy Men on the Covers
15.Read 2 books with a Hot Chick on the Cover

Bonus:Read 5 Books of Your Choice.

Wow Kat, this is very creative. I never even occured to be to mix and match books like this. Good luck and don't forget to post as you go :)

Oddrun wrote:Wow, i wished i thought of that! Maybe i can work some of into my own plan. If you don't mind me steeling a bit of your challenge?

Feel free to steal whatever you like about the challenge. It's fun to have other people enjoying it too :)

ok I finally finished
The next book for my challenge is because I just adore her (may she RIP).

~♥ Kat ♥~ wrote: "So I'm actually doing a challenge similar to this one in another group and thought it would be fun to post my challenge here as well. I call it my Bits and Pieces Challenge because it bits and piec..."

what a great challenge I may have to borrow it.:)

Ingrid wrote:what a great challenge I may have to borrow it.:)

go right ahead i'm just glad there are some people out there that want to enjoy my challenge too :)

Ok My books for this challenge are:
1.One Foot in the Grave
2.Jilted by Death
3.Chrysalis - Tribulations ( which by the way, this author is giving me the first book for free)
4.Trust Me
5.City of Bones
6.Storm of Visions
7.Stop Me
8.Hunted
9.Abandoned
10.Thicker Than Water
11.The Darker Side,
12.Watch Me

Debbie wrote: "I'm going to try to do atleast 1 challenge and 1 group read each month from 2 different groups each month. i'm going to start with Nothing but Reading Challenges' September challenge and read 3 bo..."

finished one of the two books for my in-person, local book clubs and am starting my freestyle challenge which encompasses a challenge and a read along. starting "The Pursuat of Love & Love in a Cold Climate" today for Bright Young Things read along but it also doubles as book made into movie for same challenge. i am going to also read "Eclipes" for the books to movie challege and maybe Pride & Prj & Zombies for 3rd book in that challenge. too bad the 2nd book i have to read for my local book clubs doesn't fit into this challenge.

i am having tons of fun reading all the threads and updates but it keeps me away from reading, so here's hoping i can finish my freestyle challenge!

Debbie, I was looking at this thread and wondering where everyone was. Remember to post your books as you go.

I need to just return my library books and start reading my challenge books that I own.

Finally have an update on my Freestyle Challenge. Only what, a month after the fact? Oy.

totally failed this month's challenge i set for myself. spent too much time on good reads and not enought time actually reading

will try new freestyle challenge next month. maybe halloween themed. wish me luck.

Debbie, that's been one of my major failings as well. I'm spending too much time looking for new books to read and not enough time reading the ones I already have. Time management fail.

add the world's cutest kitten into the mix and it's amazing i get anything done

Debbie, Your cat is very cute. Hey, and I like how you sorted your bookshelves by the years you've read the books. When I was looking at your cat's picture it brought up your bookshelf too.

thanks. i brought work home last night and archie [a/k/a world's cutest kitten] thought he needed to help me by lying on documents. so cute but not helpful.

i had lots of fun putting my books on the "shelves". i pull mine up by the book cover and it makes me smile all the time.

i have a theory that i haven't finished or really gotten into a book since i finished "the wedding" because i HATED it. i need a good book to get me out of my non-reading slump

Debbie, I hate reading slumps. I've been in one for a few weeks, but I'm starting to 'wake up'. You should try All I Ever Wanted or anything by Sophie Kinsella if your into chick-lit. What do you usually read?

What is your favorite type of book? Mystery, historical fiction?????? Do you like to cry or laugh? What are you in the mood for?

i love just about anything. i started "bleeding heart square" because i ordered it through inter-library loan and paid $2.50 for it so need to get my money out of it. i think i read about it on a tread on good reads.

any suggestions to get the bad taste of "the wedding" out of my mind? i'm gonna read "the other queen" sometime in october for the tudor group read. what do you think would go with that?

Sashana wrote: "Debbie, I hate reading slumps. I've been in one for a few weeks, but I'm starting to 'wake up'. You should try All I Ever Wanted or anything by Sophie Kinsella if your ..."

i luvvvvvvvv Sophie Kinsella and really enjoy chick lit. i should put something light & fluffy in the mix next month

~♥ Kat ♥~ wrote: "So I'm actually doing a challenge similar to this one in another group and thought it would be fun to post my challenge here as well. I call it my Bits and Pieces Challenge because it bits and piec..."

i stole this challenge!

Whenever I'm in a slump light and fluffy is always what gets me out. Reading PR back to back can be really draining sometimes.

my version of the the bits and pieces challenge. i'm on my way out the door so i will be back to edit it to my liking!

1.Read 2 Authors You Never Read Before
Erica Spindler
Rebecca Forster
2.Read 2 of the Most Recent Books you Bought
3.Read 2 Ebooks
4.Read 2 Urban Fantasies
5.Read 2 Young Adult Books
6.Read 2 Paranormal Romance Books
7.Read 2 Books in a Series
All That Remains
8.Read 2 each books that start with J for January, June, and July
9.Read 2 books that start with F for February
10.Read 2 each books that start with M for March and May
11.Read 2 each books that start with A for April, August
All That Remains
12.8.Read 2 books that start with S for September
13.Read 2 books that start with O for October
14.Read 2 books that start with N for November
15.Read 2 books that start with D for December
16.Read 2 books with Blue Covers
Bad Girl
17.Read 2 books with Purple Covers
18.Read 2 books with Sexy Men on the Covers
19.Read 2 books with a Hot Chick on the Cover

Bonus:Read 5 Books of Your Choice.
Killer Takes All
Hostile Witness

Debbie wrote: "i love just about anything. i started "bleeding heart square" because i ordered it through inter-library loan and paid $2.50 for it so need to get my money out of it. i think i read about it on a..."

I don't know anything about Tudor, but check out this list. http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/38...

stephanie wrote: "my version of the the bits and pieces challenge. i'm on my way out the door so i will be back to edit it to my liking!

1.Read 2 Authors You Never Read Before
2.Read 2 of the Most Recent Books..."

Cool challenge, Stephanie. I would join you, but I'm already swamped in challenges.

Sashana wrote: "Debbie wrote: "i love just about anything. i started "bleeding heart square" because i ordered it through inter-library loan and paid $2.50 for it so need to get my money out of it. i think i rea..."

cool list. thanks. i want to rush home now and start reading because i know i have some of those on my shelves at home; but alas, i still have 45 minutes of work left. drats

Sashana wrote: "stephanie wrote: "my version of the the bits and pieces challenge. i'm on my way out the door so i will be back to edit it to my liking!

1.Read 2 Authors You Never Read Before
2.Read 2 of the..."

i'm using this as a way to finish other challanges. i'm going to use books that i already need to read.

Challenge Complete

I decided to opt out of the bonus round for my challenge just because I have so many other challenges to finish :)


Challenges and More: Make Your Own Challenge
Nothing But Reading Challenges: FreeStyle Challenge

~♥ Kat's Bits and Pieces Challenge ♥~
Duration: June 1st to December 31st
Goal: 30 of 30 Books Done

1.Read 2 Authors You Never Read Before:
Paranormalcy by Kiersten White 19/09
Blood, Smoke and Mirrors by Robyn Bachar 20/07


2.Read 2 of the Most Recent Books you Bought:
Tracking the Tempest by Nicole Peeler 31/08
Pentacles of Magick: The Healing by Eliza Gayle 17/06


3.Read 2 Ebooks:
Pentacles of Magick: The Bonding by Eliza Gayle 15/06
Pentacles of Magick: The Burning by Eliza gayle 17/06

4.Read 2 Urban Fantasies:
Bone Crossed by Patricia Briggs 24/07
Black Dust Mambo by Adrian Phoenix 27/09

5.Read 2 Young Adult Books:
Glass Houses by Rachel Caine17/08
The Dead Girls' Dance by Rachel Caine31/08

6.Read 2 Paranormal Romance Books:
Barely Bewitched by Kimberly Frost 17/07
Love in the Time of Dragons by Katie MacAlister09/06

7.Start 2 New Series:
Halo by Alexandra Adornetto 20/09
High Stakes by Erin McCarthy16/07

8.Read 2 books that start with S for September:
Strange Neighbors by Ashlyn Chase 28/09
Slave by Cheryl Brooks 07/07

9.Read 2 books that start with O for October:
Once Bitten Twice Dead by Bianca D'Arc 18/06
Once Bitten by Clare Willis 07/24

10.Read 2 books that start with N for November:
Night Myst by Yasmine Galenorn 30/06
Nevermore by Kelly Creagh 19/09

11.Read 2 books that start with D for December:
Daughter of the Blood by Anne Bishop 15/08
Dark and Disorderly by Bernita Harris 27/08

12.Read 2 books with Blue Covers:
Shadow Marked by Anna J. Evans 16/06
To Tempt a Wolf by Colette Denee 22/07

13.Read 2 books with Purple Covers:
Winter's Passage by Julie Kagawa 12/06
Ghouls Gone Wild by Victoria Laurie 15/06

14.Read 2 books with Sexy Men on the Covers:
Half Past Dead by Bianca D'Arc and Zoe Archer 03/10
Seduced by Crimson by Jade Lee 08/11

15.Read 2 books with a Hot Chick on the Cover:
No Werewolves Allowed by Cheyenne McCray 19/07
Shadowfae by Erica Hayes 30/06

Great job, Kat! I love the bits and pieces idea.

Okay so do you remember those surveys everyone used to do when myspace was popular? Where they ask a bunch of questions and you put your itunes of shuffle, and then answer the questions with whatever song comes up. Well I thought it might be fun to do the same with books... So I went to my to-read shelf and which produces random numbers. Then whatever number came up I would go the that # book on my shelf. And answer the questions that way. This is what I came up with


1) How does the world see me?
Great Expectations

2) Will I have a happy life?
Les Misérables

3) What do my friends think of me?
Dracula

4) How can I make myself happy?
Running with Scissors

5) What should I do with my life?
Frankenstein

6) What is some good advice for me?
Blankets

7) How will I be remembered?
Memoirs of a Geisha


The challenge is then to read all those books. I thought it might be a fun new way to select your next book to read.

Not sure if I will start this one right away, because I am in college and a lot of my books are at home. But I thought I would share it so others might enjoy :)

Other surveys can be used too

Samantha wrote: "Okay so do you remember those surveys everyone used to do when myspace was popular? Where they ask a bunch of questions and you put your itunes of shuffle, and then answer the questions with whatev..."

Great idea Samantha, I will have to try this sometime.

I really like this idea Samantha