Challenge Complete - 2014 Eclectic Reader Challenge

Objective:
To continue the journey I started in 2013 of trying to expand my reading experiences into genres and styles I may normally have avoided. Check out my pre challenge post here!

Aim:
Read 12 Novels that fulfil the requirements defined in a list of sub-genre detailed on the host blog.

Result:
I did it, and I have once again loved every minute of the journey!

I've read-

Award Winning

The Demolished Man by Alfred Bester

True Crime (Non Fiction)

Happy Like Murderers: The Story Of Fred And Rosemary West by Gordon Burn

Romantic Comedy

The Guy Next Door by Meg Cabot

Alternative History

Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick

Graphic Novel

Batman: Year One by Frank Miller

Cosy Mystery Fiction

Death of a Gossip by M.C. Beaton

Gothic Fiction

The Turn of the Screw by Henry James

War/Military Fiction

Where Eagles Dare by Alistair Maclean

Anthology

Wastelands: Stories of the Apocalypse by John Joseph Adams (Editor)

Medical Thriller Fiction

Harmful Intent by Robin Cook

Travel (Non Fiction)

Down Under by Bill Bryson

Published in 2014

Shipstar by Gregory Benford & Larry Niven

As with last year I really enjoyed the extensive variety of books involved in this challenge. I was much less apprehensive this year which helped me relax enough to fully appreciate what I was reading. I was particulary pleased to see how much I smiled whilst reading the Cosy Mystery novel and am sure I will try out a few more books in this genre.

 
Summary:

Once again this was the only challenge I took part in this year and I enjoyed the different styles and genre that it introduced to me. 

2014 Eclectic Reader Challenge

Runs from January 1, 2014 - December 31, 2014
Hosted by Book'd Out

Last year I took part in Book'd Out's 2013 Eclectic Reader challenge and thoroughly enjoyed the experience as can be seen here. I read several books I probably would have never picked up if it wasn't for the challenge and I do think that it helped to widen by appetite for different genres of stories. Therefore, I am jumping at the chance of taking part in the 2014 Ecelectic Reader Challenge and look forward to seeing what enjoyable books I get to read this time.

The 12 categories that have been chosen by the hosting blog for the challenge are:

• Award Winning
• True Crime (Non Fiction)
• Romantic Comedy
• Alternative History
• Graphic Novel
• Cosy Mystery Fiction
• Gothic Fiction
• War/Military Fiction
• Anthology
• Medical Thriller Fiction
• Travel (Non Fiction)
• Published in 2014

There appears to be a nice range of stories included here and can't wait to get stuck in.

Challenge Complete - 2013 Eclectic Reader Challenge

Objective:
To try and push my reading experiences even further afield into genres and book styles I may normally have avoided. Check out my pre challenge post here!

Aim:
Read 12 Novels that fulfil the requirements defined in a list of sub-genre detailed on the host blog.

Result:
I did it, and I have loved every minute of the journey!

I've read-

Translated fiction

The Last Wish by Andrzej Sapkowski

Historical Mystery

Dissolution by C.J. Sansom

Romantic Suspense

Open Season by Linda Howard

Made into a Movie

Matilda by Roald Dahl

New Adult

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

Urban Fantasy

Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman

Dystopian

Farenheith 451 by Ray Bradbury

Memoir

I am Spock by Leonard Nimoy

LGBT

Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit by Jeanette Winterson

Action Adventure

Pirate Latitudes by Michael Crichton

Humour

Redshirts by John Scalzi

Published in 2013

Red Planet Blues by Robert J. Sawyer

I really enjoyed the quite extensive variety involved in this challenge. There were a few books I was a bit apprehensive about but still found everything enjoyable enough to read.

 
Summary:

This was the only challenege I took part in this year and I enjoyed the different styles and genre that it introduced to me. There is no doubt that I will be signing up again for 2014!

2013 Eclectic Reader Challenge

Runs from January 1, 2013 - December 31, 2013
Hosted by Book'd Out

The title of this blog kind of gives it away but I see myself as someone who has a rather wide taste in books. Therefore when I saw there was a challenge out there for 2013 that would really push my reading experiences further I was more than happy to sign up for it.

The 12 categories that have been chosen by the hosting blog for the challenge are:

• Translated fiction 
• Historical mystery 
• Romantic suspense 
• Made into a movie 
• New Adult
• Urban Fantasy 
• Dystopian 
• Memoir 
• LGBT 
• Action Adventure 
• Humour 
• Published in 2013

I have to admit that I have no idea what books to use for some of these categories but discovering the books  I will read is going to be half the fun.

2012 Challenge Results Synopsis

Host: The Eclectic Bookshelf

Mega Level: Read 25+ eBooks

Kick-off Post: Here
Completion Post: Here
Status: 25 out of 25

My Challenge Books:

Hide & Seek Thomas Kaplan-maxfield	Port of Errors Steve V Cypert
Gamers Thomas K. Carpenter	Enterprise: The Expanse J.M. Dillard
Containment Christian Cantrell	This Dark Magic Chryse Wymer
Enterprise: Last Full Measure Michael A. Martin	Fezariu's Epiphany David M. Brown
On Dark Shores: The Lady J.A. Clement	Enterprise: Daedalus Dave Stern
The Eyes of the Dead G.R. Yeates	The Last Man of Earth Club Paul R. Hardy
Enterprise: Daedalus's Children Dave Stern	Brave New World Aldous Huxley
Known Afterlife Trey Copeland	Enterprise: Rosetta Dave Stern
Shadowing: A Henchman's Tale Kat Zantow	An Epitaph for Coyote: A Novel Bryan R. Dennis
Runing Wide Open Lisa Nowak	Fires of  Alexandria Thomas K. Carpenter
Terminal Departure: A Cleo Matts Novel Joe Crubaugh	Enterprise: The Good That Men Do Andy Mangels & Michael Martin
Foundation for the Lost Scott Rhine	Waiting For Daybreak Amanda McNeil
Enterprise: Kobayashi Maru Michael A. Martin & Andy Mangels

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Host: Working for the Mandroid

Read 12 Sci-Fi novels from various categories

Kick-off Post: Here
Completion Post: Here
Status: 12 out of 12

My Challenge Books:

Young Adult/Middle Grade Science Fiction title:

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

Adult Science Fiction title:

The Two Faces of Tomorrow by James P Hogan

Hugo Winner:

To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis

Pre-1950s Science Fiction Classic:

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

Modern Science Fiction Classic (1951-1992):

The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert Heinlein

Steampunk:

Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne

Robots/Cyborgs/Androids:

Robopocalypse by Daniel H. Wilson

Spaceships/Aliens:

Enterprise: The Expanse by J.M. Dillard

Time Travel/Alternate History/Parallel Universe:

The End of Eternity by Isaac Asimov

Apocalyptic/Dystopian/Utopian:

The Postman by David Brin

Cyberpunk:

Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson

Mad Scientists/Genetic Testing/Environmental Disaster:

Soon I Will Be Invincible by Austin Grossman

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Host: Workaday Reads

Memory Stick: Read 50+ eBooks

Kick-off Post: Here
Completion Post: Here
Status: 50 out of 50

My Challenge Books:

Hide & Seek Thomas Kaplan-maxfield	Port of Errors Steve V Cypert
Gamers Thomas K. Carpenter	Enterprise: The Expanse J.M. Dillard
Containment Christian Cantrell	This Dark Magic Chryse Wymer
Enterprise: Last Full Measure Michael A. Martin	Fezariu's Epiphany David M. Brown
On Dark Shores: The Lady J.A. Clement	Enterprise: Daedalus Dave Stern
The Eyes of the Dead G.R. Yeates	The Last Man of Earth Club Paul R. Hardy
Enterprise: Daedalus's Children Dave Stern	Brave New World Aldous Huxley
Known Afterlife Trey Copeland	Enterprise: Rosetta Dave Stern
Shadowing: A Henchman's Tale Kat Zantow	An Epitaph for Coyote: A Novel Bryan R. Dennis
Runing Wide Open Lisa Nowak	Fires of  Alexandria Thomas K. Carpenter
Terminal Departure: A Cleo Matts Novel Joe Crubaugh	Enterprise: The Good That Men Do Andy Mangels & Michael Martin
Foundation for the Lost Scott Rhine	Waiting For Daybreak Amanda McNeil
Enterprise: Kobayashi Maru Michael A. Martin & Andy Mangels	Beloved of the Fallen Savannah Kline
Mirror Shards: Volume One Edited by Thomas K. Carpenter	Robopocalypse Daniel H. Wilson
Enterprise: Beneath The Raptor's Wing Michael A. Martin	Enterprise: To Brave the Storm Michael A. Martin
Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea Jules Verne	Saving JFK W. Green
Discontents James Birch Wallace	War of the Witch Angel Haze
The God Virus J.E. Murphy	Peter Pan J.M. Barrie
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland Lewis Carroll	The Wonderful Wizard of Oz L. Frank Baum
Scavengers Cynthia Echterling	The Harvest Scott Nicholson
Gabriel's Redemption Steve Umstead	Gabriel's Return Steve Umstead
The Great Yellow Doom Bird Jon A. Hunt	Tribes Carmen Webster Buxton
Wired Douglas E. Richards	Future Destinies Chris Turner
Revamp Beck Sherman	Doodling Jonathan Gould
What Came After Sam Winston	Tending The Fire Erin L. Snyder

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Host: Bookish Ardour

Bargain: Read 30 off books recieved for free

Kick-off Post: Here
Completion Post: Here
Status: 30 out of 30

My Challenge Books:

Hide & Seek Thomas Kaplan-maxfield	Port of Errors Steve V Cypert
Gamers Thomas K. Carpenter	Containment Christian Cantrell
This Dark Magic Chryse Wymer	Fezariu's Epiphany David M. Brown
On Dark Shores: The Lady J.A. Clement	The Eyes of the Dead G.R. Yeates
The Last Man of Earth Club Paul R. Hardy	Runing Wide Open Lisa Nowak
Shadowing: A Henchman's Tale Kat Zantow	Known Afterlife Trey Copeland
Fires of  Alexandria Thomas K. Carpenter	Terminal Departure: A Cleo Matts Novel Joe Crubaugh
Foundation for the Lost Scott Rhine	Beloved of the Fallen Savannah Kline
Mirror Shards: Volume One Edited by Thomas K. Carpenter	Discontents James Birch Wallace
Saving JFK W. Green	War of the Witch Angel Haze
The God Virus J.E. Murphy	Peter Pan J.M. Barrie
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz L. Frank Baum	Alice's Adventures in Wonderland Lewis Carroll
Scavengers Cynthia Echterling	Future Destinies Chris Turner
Gabriel's Redemption Steve Umstead	Gabriel's Return Steve Umstead
The Great Yellow Doom Bird Jon A. Hunt	Tribes Carmen Webster Buxton

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Host: Adventures of 2.0

Obsessed: Read 48 Speculative Fiction Novels

Kick-off Post : Here
Completion Post: Here
Status: 48 out of 48 

My Challenge Books:

Mockingjay Suzanne Collins	The Two Faces of Tomorrow James P Hogan
To Say Nothing of the Dog Connie Willis	Brave New World Aldous Huxley
The Moon is a Harsh Mistress Robert Heinlein	The Postman David Brin
Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea Jules Verne	Snow Crash Neal Stephenson
Robopocalypse Daniel H. Wilson	Soon I Will Be Invincible Austin Grossman
The End of Eternity Isaac Asimov	The Last Man of Earth Club Paul R. Hardy
Gamers Thomas K. Carpenter	Containment Christian Cantrell
On Dark Shores: The Lady J.A. Clement	Fezariu's Epiphany David M. Brown
This Dark Magic Chryse Wymer	The Eyes of the Dead G.R. Yeates
Known Afterlife Trey Copeland	Shadowing: A Henchman's Tale Kat Zantow
Sorcerer's Legacy Janny Wurts	Foundation for the Lost Scott Rhine
Beloved of the Fallen Savannah Kline	Mirror Shards: Volume One Edited by Thomas K. Carpenter
Saving JFK W. Green	War of the Witch Angel Haze
The God Virus J.E. Murphy	Peter Pan J.M. Barrie
The Last Unicorn Peter S. Beagle	The Wind in the Willows Kenneth Grahame
Watership Down Richard Adams	The Princess Bride William Goldman
The Dragon and The George Gordon R. Dickson	The Broken Sword Poul Anderson
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz L. Frank Baum	A Wizard of Earthsea Ursula K Le Guin
The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe C.S. Lewis	Over Sea, Under Stone Susan Cooper
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland Lewis Carroll	Scavengers Cynthia Echterling
The Harvest Scott Nicholson	Gabriel's Redemption Steve Umstead
Gabriel's Return Steve Umstead	Future Destinies Chris Turner
What Came After Sam Winston	Tending The Fire Erin L. Snyder
Liberator's Ruin P.J. Johns	Enterprise: Kobayashi Maru Michael A. Martin / Andy Mangels

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Host: Lurv A La Mode

Read 12 Classic Fantasy Novels

Kick-off Post : Here
Completion Post: Here
Status: 12 out of 12 

My Challenge Books:

Peter Pan J.M. Barrie	The Last Unicorn Peter S. Beagle
The Wind in the Willows Kenneth Grahame	Watership Down Richard Adams
The Princess Bride William Goldman	The Dragon and The George Gordon R. Dickson
The Broken Sword Poul Anderson	The Wonderful Wizard of Oz L. Frank Baum
A Wizard of Earthsea Ursula K Le Guin	Over Sea, Under Stone Susan Cooper
The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe C.S. Lewis	Alice's Adventures in Wonderland Lewis Carroll

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Challenge Complete - 2012 Speculative Fiction Challenge

Objective:
To try and enjoy a large range of speculative fiction including horror, fantasy and Science Fiction. Check out my pre challenge post here!

Aim:
Obsessed Level: Read 48 Speculative Fiction Novels.

Result:
Well this is the final 2012 challenge and I completed it in time! I was cutting it close of course but I did pick the hardest target.

I've read-

Mockingjay Suzanne Collins	The Two Faces of Tomorrow James P Hogan
To Say Nothing of the Dog Connie Willis	Brave New World Aldous Huxley
The Moon is a Harsh Mistress Robert Heinlein	The Postman David Brin
Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea Jules Verne	Snow Crash Neal Stephenson
Robopocalypse Daniel H. Wilson	Soon I Will Be Invincible Austin Grossman
The End of Eternity Isaac Asimov	The Last Man of Earth Club Paul R. Hardy
Gamers Thomas K. Carpenter	Containment Christian Cantrell
On Dark Shores: The Lady J.A. Clement	Fezariu's Epiphany David M. Brown
This Dark Magic Chryse Wymer	The Eyes of the Dead G.R. Yeates
Known Afterlife Trey Copeland	Shadowing: A Henchman's Tale Kat Zantow
Sorcerer's Legacy Janny Wurts	Foundation for the Lost Scott Rhine
Beloved of the Fallen Savannah Kline	Mirror Shards: Volume One Edited by Thomas K. Carpenter
Saving JFK W. Green	War of the Witch Angel Haze
The God Virus J.E. Murphy	Peter Pan J.M. Barrie
The Last Unicorn Peter S. Beagle	The Wind in the Willows Kenneth Grahame
Watership Down Richard Adams	The Princess Bride William Goldman
The Dragon and The George Gordon R. Dickson	The Broken Sword Poul Anderson
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz L. Frank Baum	A Wizard of Earthsea Ursula K Le Guin
The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe C.S. Lewis	Over Sea, Under Stone Susan Cooper
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland Lewis Carroll	Scavengers Cynthia Echterling
The Harvest Scott Nicholson	Gabriel's Redemption Steve Umstead
Gabriel's Return Steve Umstead	Future Destinies Chris Turner
What Came After Sam Winston	Tending The Fire Erin L. Snyder
Liberator's Ruin P.J. Johns	Enterprise: Kobayashi Maru Michael A. Martin / Andy Mangels

I involved a wide range of novels for this challenge, from modern indie authors to classic novels from the last century. It was a real eye opener trying to read so many books within the speculative fiction umbrella which has really highlighted the diversity there.

Summary:
I enjoyed this challenge, but in reality I probably would have read 48 Speculative Fiction books anyway without the challenge being present.