So after taking enough time to stew over the idea, I’ve decided to make it official: In 2011, I’ll be participating in my first ever reading challenge(!) It should be fairly easy because these were already on my TBR but I don’t mind. 
Getting over fear of commitment is the first step, right? The challenge I’ll be taking part in is Irresistible Reads’ Aussie YA Book Challenge. International bloggers need to read at least 6 YA Aussie books. Here are the six I’m planning on reading at the moment (definitely subject to change):
Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley
The Piper’s Son by Melina Marchetta
The Bridge of Clay by Markus Zusak
Six Impossible Things by Fiona Wood
Touching Earth Lightly by Margo Lanagan
TBD
The Story Siren’s 2011 Debut Author Challenge also tempted me but I wussed out. There’s roughly half a dozen 2011 debut authors on my TBR right now but doubling that might be a little too challenging for me. I want to keep reading and blogging fun.
Are you a reading challenge person? If so what 2011 challenges are you participating in?
I suck at reading challenges. Seriously, I don’t think I’ve been successful at any of them, YET I join anyway! I swear, the one I really want to complete is the Everything Austen one. ONE YEAR I WILL COMPLETE IT. *shakes fist*. So far I’ve only been able to get 4 out of Austen related books/movies watched and posted about in the six whole months allowed in the challenge. Good lord, do I suck.
(4 out of 6 I meant to say).
But uh, yes good luck to you on your new endeavor and may you be better at completing the challenge than I am at completing any.
Lol thanks Janice. At least you’re not afraid of not completing them. I put so much pressure on myself. I’m sure I’ll be busy making myself finish the challenge come late December next year.
I’m sure you’ll finish the Austen challenge one day.
Yay, you signed up for the Aussie challenge just like I did!
I’m so excited to read the books on my list. I don’t think this challenge is going to be hard since we only have to read six books. By the way, I had no idea that Across the Universe is by an Aussie author.
Are you planning to wait for the US release of Graffiti Moon and Six Impossible Things or are you going to order them from Australia?
Well, Beth Revis is American.
Somehow I got confused because Nomes loved Across the Universe so much. Sorry about that. I wonder how much shipping would be to get them from Australia? If I can afford it I may.
LOL I know what you mean about Nomes. I heard from Beth Shulman over at Goodreads that she ordered The Piper’s Son from Australia and the total cost with shipping came up to $30, I think. Adele of Persnickety Snark has a list of Aussie bookstores that ship internationally somewhere in her site – I asked her on Twitter about this but I lost the link. I have to look it up again and bookmark it.
I am just not cut out for reading challenges, I don’t think. The idea makes me nervous and puts me off my feed.
I get all excited about other people participating in them, though. And I can’t wait to hear what you think of those books. Great choice!
Lol I don’t think I’m cut out for them either but we’ll see. I think they’ll be some good ones in the bunch for sure.