The TwentyEleven Challenge
December 14, 2010 in Blog, TwentyEleven Reading Challenge
The TwentyTen Challenge this year has been a lot of fun and with over 125 participants, I think it’s been enough of a success, and as I’ve been asked a few times that I’m going to run it again next year!
So, the challenge becomes TwentyEleven and therefore the requirement will be a total of 20 books from 11 categories, this means there will be a slight changes to the rules though.
Rather than read 2 books in every category, you will need to read a minimum of 1 and a max of 2 in each. (Essentially meaning you can choose two categories where you only need to read one book.)
I’ve also decided to mix the categories up a little bit this time around, keeping some of the popular ones and throwing a few new ones in there to keep it fresh.
As always though, the categories are intended to be loose guidelines only, if you decide it fits, then it fits!
The only other things I think you need to know are:
- Each book can only qualify for one category.
- Crossovers with other challenges are allowed.
- Books read from 01/01/2011 to 31/12/2011 are eligible.
And the categories for TwentyEleven are:
- To YA or not YA…
Okay, this one works like this… Tend to read more Young Adult than Adult Fiction books then read one or two adult fiction titles, vice-versa if you don’t tend to read much Young Adult. - …With a Twist.
This one focuses on sub-genres, read a lot of chick-lit, then try a paranormal romance! Fantasy? Why not give some Steampunk a go, like a bit of Space-Opera in your Sci-Fi then pick up a military Sci-fi book. Like your Contemporary Literature, give a Young Adult Contemporary a chance. Well hopefully you get the idea! - Hot off the Presses.
Read a book published (in your country) in 2011? Then it counts for this category. - It Wasn’t Me! (aka Bad Bloggers*)
Books in this category, should be ones you’ve picked up purely on the recommendation of another blogger count for this category (any reviews you post should also link to the post that convinced you give the book ago).
* Bad Bloggers: Is hosted by Chris of Stuff as Dreams are Made on. - Show it Who is Boss!
Tackle that overflowing T.B.R. pile! Books for this category must be already residents of your bookshelves as of 1/12/10. - Bablefish.
Read books that are translated from a language that is not your own. - Will-Power? What Will-Power? (aka: The Henry Ward Beecher Memorial.)
You know that quote I have in my blog-header… “Where is human nature so weak as in a bookstore?” Recognise yourself in it? Then this is the one for you! Bought a book NEW during 2011? Then it counts for this category. Second-hand books do not count for this one, but, for those on book-buying bans, books bought for you as gifts or won in a giveaway also count. - Mind the Gap.
Need just one more book to compete that duology/trilogy/series then read it for this one! (Obviously as this is for that final book you need to complete it, then you can’t read two books from the same series! And it clearly can’t be your first or penultimate read!)
Because not everyone reads a series in order, this is for the last book you need to read, not necessarily the last book in the series… - Back in the Day.
Re-read an old favourite or two for this category. - Way Back When.
Read books that were published before you were born for this one, whether that be the day before or 100 years prior! - Slim-Pickings
Got a novella you want to read? Then this one is the one for you! Any books between 90-150 pages count.
From, January 1st, I’ll also have pages up for each of the categories so you can post your review links and check out what others are reading!
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Please, if you’ve written a sign-up post, make sure your URL links directly to it, not just your homepage. It’ll make it a lot easier for people to find it and cheer you along!































Can’t wait to get started!
I am definitely doing this one again. I didn’t quite succeed this year so I am determined to do better in 2011. Thanks for hosting this one again.
Stephanie N´s last blog post: 12 Pearls of Christmas- Wear Joy!
[...] 5. The 2011 Challenge (Hosted at Bart’s Bookshelf) [...]
Am just 40 pages away from finishing 2010 challenge, which I enjoyed enormously. Delighted that there is to be a 2011 edition!
LizzySiddal´s last blog post: Thanks to you and you and you …
This sounds like fun.
April´s last blog post: Another Reading Challenge
So the requirement is actually 21 books?
11 categories x 2 books = 22 books – 1 for the category in which you only read one book.
Or
10 categories x 2 books = 20 – 1 for the category in which you only read one book + Mind The Gap Book.. That makes 20.
Have I got this right?
Sorry, my mistake in the post.
The requirement is 20 books over 11 categories. So, 9 cats with 2 books 2 cats with 1 book = 20 books. Hope that helps clear things up.
This should be fun.
I’m in again! Thanks for hosting.
Melanie´s last blog post: Sunday before Christmas
Hi!
This is such a great Challenge. I’m definitely going to try this one out. Can I join even if I have a german blog and write german reviews?
Crini´s last blog post: Lesehalbmarathon
You certainly can!
I’m so excited you are doing this again! I loved the 2010 Challenge (just have 2 left to read before the end of the year)! Can’t wait to start on this one!
Renee´s last blog post: Summer Reading
I’m in — will be posting and linking before the end of the year.
Beth F´s last blog post: Todays Read- The Hanging Tree by Bryan Gruley
I love it! The TwentyTen Challenge was a blast!
[...] that are leering at me from my dusty bookshelves, and parse them down enough to include them in the Twentyeleven challenge where you read 20 books in 11 categories. I actually think I could have quite a bit of fun with [...]
Count me in! I just need to write a post about the challenge!
Vasilly´s last blog post: Sunday Salon- A Year of Deliberately Reading and 2011 Plans
Uh-oh. I just said I’d keep the lid on the challenge bucket… Let me think about this!
Gnoe (@Graasland)´s last blog post: Foodie’s Reading Challenge Admission Post
I can’t wait to do this one again! The TwentyTen Challenge was tons of fun and this one looks to be just as great!
#5 says that the book has to have been in your TBR stack as of 1/12/2010. Living in the USA, I’d interpret this as 12 January 2010 — which means it’s been waiting a very long time for me to read it. But, I’m guessing you might have meant 1 December 2010. Would you please clarify?
Elsi´s last blog post: Twenty-10 Challenge Results
Yeah, I mean the 1st December!
[...] TwentyEleven Challenge – This one is hosted by Bart’s Bookshelf. It runs from January 1 through December 31, 2011. To fulfill the requirements of the challenge, I need to read a minimum of one book and maximum of two books in each of the following categories. [...]
Oh I think I may have to do this one!
Sheila (Book Journey)´s last blog post: Morning Meanderings… Basking In The Glow… Of What
OK — I’ve posted my intention to participate at Challenge Accepted: TwentyEleven Challenge. I’m also going to copy Bart by putting all my challenges — and progress in them — on a separate page. Feel free to check up on me at 2011 Challenges.
[...] second is Bart’s Bookshelf’s Twenty Eleven Reading Challenge: read 20 books from 11 categories. I am new to the approach to reading as a grab bag of [...]
wow… just stumbled across this site and loved the idea of a reading challenge! Coincidently, I have recently posted my 2010 reading list on my blog.
(http://anmolsagar.com/2010/12/27/my-reading-list-2010/)
If only I’d known about the twenty ten reading challenge! Anways, I’m definitely in for the Twenty Eleven challenge
))
This challenge sounds really fun, I can’t wait to get started!
I am joining in the fun too!
Veens´s last blog post: Sarah’s Key by Tatiana de Rosnay
[...] challenge was just too much fun to pass up. Bart over at Bart’s Bookshelf is someone who I’ve been meaning to connect more with ever since we worked on the Nerds Heart [...]
I’m very excited to take part in this challenge, and to track the progress of the other bloggers.
Her Royal Orangeness´s last blog post: Review- The Golden Compass
I did the 2010 challenge and it was awesome. I am so excited for this one. Thanks so much foe hosting it and happy reading for 2011.
Jessica @ Laugh Love Write´s last blog post: Thursday Tip Jar
Very excited to start on this challenge… already going through and trying to mark some possible books for this challenge. The only category that I have a difficult time with is the ‘Babel Fish.’ Anyone have an idea on how to find something (besides The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) that’s been translated into English?
Thanks much! Cheers!
how about The Shadow of the Wind…I read it a couple of years ago and it’s very good, translated from Spanish…
Terri M´s last blog post: Cannon Beach front porch
Check out this list: http://nighthawknews.wordpress.com/2008/08/06/outside-the-modern-library-the-25-best-foreign-language-novels/
Her Royal Orangeness´s last blog post: Review- The Golden Compass
You could have a look at some of the books I’ve read in my World Literature category, a lot of (but not all) those are works in translation.
Or one of these lists:
http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/7542.Favorite_Translated_Literature
http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/885.Best_Translated_Novels
http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/3015.Found_in_Translation
Her Royal Orangeness´s last blog post: Review- The Golden Compass
Thank you all for the suggestions… cannot wait to find a new book! :~)
Kate´s last blog post: Reading Challenges
oh, what the heck. nothing bad happens if I don’t succeed, right?!
Terri M´s last blog post: Cannon Beach front porch
How do you sign up if you don’t have a URL? Seems silly that you can only sign up if you have one…
Thanks!
Feel free to use a Shelfari/LibraryThing/GoodRead/Facebook/Twitter etc. profile if you wish, or just stick your name in and use this blog’s url! (http://www.bartsbookshelf.co.uk)
I don’t maintain a blog, but I’m still going to take this challenge. It sounds like a nice mix of categories to read from.
Finished challenge on 12/30/2011!
Very excited to get this challenge started. The variety of books is intriguing!
[...] Asian authors, classics from the Guardian Challenge on my reading list. I plan to join the TwentyEleven challenge (sign up post soon) and expect to read some good books for that as [...]
[...] Jan I’m signing up for the TwentyEleven Challenge this year. This is the second year that Bart’s Bookshelf is hosting it, and it sounds like a lot of [...]
I am a new blogger, and I’m looking to read more broadly this year, so this challenge is perfect! I’m looking forward to branching out from my usual genres.
Katie @ Secrets & Sharing Soda´s last blog post: The TwentyEleven Challenge
[...] you more chances to discover things you like or don’t like in literature. Darren‘s TwentyEleven challenge seemed like one of those challenges that would help me do just that, and so it is the first [...]
Hi Darren
I’m planning to sign up but I can’t work out how to get a button from here to my blog (I’m such a novice). Any tips appreciated.
If you ‘right click’ on the image and then save it to your hard you can then use WordPress to import it to your server, either via the ‘media’ link in the wordpress admin sidebar or add the image when editing a post.
Hope that helps!
Thank you – it did! I think I’ve even managed to link the image in my sidebar back here. I’m really looking forward to this challenge as it’ll force me to read stuff I wouldn’t normally choose.
Joanna´s last blog post: book challenge
[...] the web for a reading challenge that encourages people into new territory and Darren’s at Bart’s Bookshelf seemed just right. You have to read 20 books from 11 categories, so it’s impossible to hide [...]
I’m in! I honestly don’t need another challenge but couldn’t resist this one though. I swear this is the last…well maybe one more. Ugh what an addiction!
Melissa´s last blog post: Twenty Eleven Challenge
[...] 1 book or a maximum of 2 books for each category from January 1, 2011 until December 31, 2011. [See Darren's 2011 Challenge site for more details.] Anyway, here are the [...]
I just found this challenge from Steph Su Read’s blog. I’m excited.
Susanne´s last blog post: Five Random Questions 1-7-11
[...] If at first you don’t succeed… Take the challenge again! The TwentyTen Challenge was the one challenge that I didn’t complete last year, but the point of a challenge is to challenge yourself right? Once again this challenge is being hosted by Bart’s Bookshelf, but this year the challenge becomes The TwentyEleven Challenge. [...]
Had fun with this one last year. Looking forward to trying again! Thanks for hosting.
Jody´s last blog post: TwentyEleven Reading Challenge
[...] a wrap up post so allow me to point to the updated challenge to keep us having fun in 2011: The TwentyEleven Challenge… 1. YA – Paper Towns / John Green √ 2.YA- Will Grayson, will grayson / JG&DL √ 3. [...]
This looks like fun! I’ve already got two qualifying books.
Always a fun one. Thank you
Care´s last blog post: Vocabulary in The Sea
[...] the categories for Bart’s Challenge TwentyEleven [...]
Here’s a link to my first review for To YA or Not To YA:
Zora and Me by Victoria Bond and T.R. Simon
Dusky Literati´s last blog post: Bloggiesta- Final Wrap Up
Is this challenge only for women by any chance?
Nope, anyone and everyone can enter!
This is a good challenge and think will encourage one to read out of their comfort zone
[...] The 2011 Challenge hosted by Bart’s Bookshelf challenges you to read 20 books from 11 categories with not more than 2 books from each category. And here are my decisions! [...]
Totally fun!
Is reading non-fiction okay for a few of the categories? (like hot off the press)
Definitely!
I’m excited! I know I’m a little late getting started, but I just started my own book review blog, Elle Lit, and this is a great motivator to get it going in earnest! Sounds like fun
JP´s last blog post: Bonjour!
I am working my way through the various types of books to read! What a great way to try out other types of books.
This is a nice one.I’ll enjoy this.
Blue Lotus´s last blog post: Restroom Ramblings
Hello! This is me leaving a comment after signing up for the TwentyEleven challenge! As I am a lil’ late in signing up…this is a good motivator for me
THANKS!
Jen´s last blog post: Lean Review – Week 11
Ooh, this is just the thing to get me started on a few new genres! I really love the idea of a challenge with more than one type of book to be read! Should be great fun =] Thanks for this one, glad I found it!
~West x
[...] ready to start afresh, I’ve decided to pick up the gauntlet thrown down by Bart again. He’s hosting the The TwentyEleven Challenge, which requires participants to read a total [...]
I’m joining pretty late but hoping to catch up!
[...] host: Bart’s Bookshelf Challenge time frame: January 1, 2011 through December 31, 2011 Challenge commitment: To read a [...]
[...] TwentyEleven [...]
[...] 5. The 2011 Challenge (Hosted at Bart’s Bookshelf) [...]
Any news about doing it again this year? I really enjoyed it last year.
Sorry. I’ve cut right back on the challenges, and I’m not planning to run this one this year.
There doesn’t seem to be a spot specifically for wrap-ups, so I just figured I would drop it here: http://alyshadeshae.com/2012/01/08/wrap-up-the-twentyeleven-challenge/