Reading Challenges 2011

Here are a few reading challenges for 2011 which might appeal to fans of British and other European crime fiction.

1. Dorte has set up the Global Reading Challenge for 2011 which has an easy, medium and expert level. In a slight change to last year there is a "seventh continent" category (here you can either choose Antarctica or your own ´seventh´ setting, eg the sea, the space, a supernatural/paranormal world, history, the future – you name it).

Sign up on the blog.

2. Amy of The Black Sheep Dances is following 2010's Scandinavian Reading Challenge with the Eastern European Reading Challenge:

Regions: Choose titles about or by an author from any of the following regions: Croatia, Ukraine, Bosnia, Serbia, Montenegro, Hungary, Belarus, Estonia, Albania, Bulgaria, Georgia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Poland, Czech Rep., Latvia, Lithuania, Russia, Romania, Moldova, and Kosovo.

Titles: Can be any genre: crime, poetry, literary fiction, history, historical fiction, memoirs, etc.

Levels:

tourist: 4 books over the 12 months

ambassador: 8 books over 12 months

scholar: 12 books over 12 months

Sign up on the blog where there are already some suggestions as to titles to try. Crime wise, I have short pages for authors born in Czech Republic, Poland, Russia and the catch-all of Eastern Europe. Non European authors setting their books in Eastern Europe include Michael Genelin (Slovakia), Olen Steinhauer (fictional Eastern Europe country) and Dan Fesperman's Vlado Petric series (Sarajevo).

3. There is also an Ireland Reading Challenge, run by Books and Movies:

Any book written by an Irish author, set in Ireland, or involving Irish history or Irish characters, counts for the challenge – fiction, non-fiction, poetry, audiobooks, children’s books – all of these apply.

~ Choose your commitment level:

Shamrock level: 2 books
Luck o’ the Irish level: 4 books
Kiss the Blarney Stone level: 6 books

I have lists of Irish and Northern Irish crime writers.

Sign up on the blog.

4. Or you could sign up for the Vintage Mystery Reading Challenge at My Reader's Block:

All books must have been written before 1960 and be from the mystery category.

*No matter what level you choose, please try at least two different vintage authors.

Challenge Levels:

In a Murderous Mood: 4-6 Books
Get a Clue: 7-9 Books
Hot on the Trail: 10-12 Books
Capture the Criminal: 13-15 Books
Take 'Em to Trial: 16+ Books

OR

The Golden Age Girls*: Read 5-7 books from female authors from the vintage years

Cherchez Le Homme: Read 5-7 books from male authors from the vintage years

Sign up on the blog.

5. Being a Jane Austen Mystery Reading Challenge over at Austenprose which involves reading various numbers of Stephanie Barron's Jane Austen series. (hat tip Maxine)

6. Becky at The Bookette is hosting the British Books Challenge 2011:

So what is the British Books Challenge?
The BBC (hee hee) is a reading challenge where bloggers sign up to read books by British writers throughout 2011.

The books can be in print or out. Old or new titles. They can be from any genre and for any age. My blog is obviously focused on YA and children's literature but you are welcome to read adult novels if you wish.

There are two entry categories for the challenge:

Home Grown

This is for British bloggers who have access to many British books via their public libraries, fit-to-bursting bookshelves at home etc. The target is to read 12 novels. Thanks to The Story Siren for creating a formula with the Debut Author Challenge that really works - one British book a month should be easy peasy!

International Friend
For any wonderful bloggers living overseas who wish to support British writers.
You can choose to between:

Winston Churchill - Read 6 books by British authors in 2011

The Royal Family - Read 12 books by British authors in 2011

There will also be the chance to earn yourselves a Crown if you manage to read 50 books by British writers in the year. This is open to everyone because I want to give special treats to people who love to support British talent. You don't need to decide now if you are aiming to meet this target. I'll post about this much later in 2011.

I have separate lists for crime authors born in : England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

The instructions on how to enter are on the blog.

7. There is also the Nordic Challenge at Notes from the North:

Levels
There will be 5 levels. The levels are
Huginn and Muninn: Read 2 books
Freya: Read 3-5 books
Tor: Read 6-10 books
Odin: Read 11-20 books
Valhalla: Read 20+ books


The Rules
There is no need to make a list before hand. Any book by any author born in a Nordic country (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and/or Sweden) or a book set in a Nordic country.
They can be from any genre (I will be reading a mixture of classics, children’s books, YA and mystery).

Sign up at the blog.

8. Kerrie at Mysteries in Paradise has set up the Agatha Christie Reading Challenge. Her intention "is to read her books in order, so that I can get some idea of what she is doing, problems she is attempting to solve, and her development as a writer".