It’s the last day of the year, and even though there may be a few hours of final reading left, I think it’s a good time to wrap-up how my reading challenges went.  This was a very satisfying year in challenges, as I knocked out a lot of big, scary intimidating books, and finished some really wonderful series!

All links go to reviews, faded text indicates it was read a previous quarter (except for series–too complicated to separate) and if you’re curious about any unreviewed books, just ask!

The Long and/or Intimidating Books Challenge

I was calling this the Chunkster Challenge, but as I went through books I realized some of them were not as long as I thought…so it seems more accurate to alter the title to better reflect the actual goal–reading books I’ve wanted to read but had trouble working up to!

1) Walden by Henry David Thoreau (audio)

2) Les Miserables by Victor Hugo (reviews Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3)

3) The House on Durrow Street by Galen Beckett

4) The Fellowship of the Ring by J. R. R. Tolkien

5) The Master of Heathcrest Hall by Galen Beckett

6) The Two Towers by J. R. R. Tolkien

7) Return of the King by J. R. R. Tolkien

8) Winston and Clementine: Personal Letters of the Churchills, edited by Mary Soames

9) The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo

10) Mansfield Park by Jane Austen

11) Blade of Fortriu by Juliet Marillier

12) Well of Shades by Juliet Marillier

Finishing the Series

I am now in a very strange place on series–after two years of concentrated effort, I’m finished with all the series I’m reading!  Well, except for current ones I’m waiting for next books on, and Discworld, which just doesn’t count.  Now I have to think about what new series to start… 🙂  Here’s the breakdown on completed ones:

1) The Pink Carnation series by Lauren Willig
Total books: 10 (to date)
When I began the series: February, 2011
Read prior to 2013: 7
Read in 2013: The Orchid Affair, The Garden Intrigue, The Passion of the Purple Plumeria
Status: Up to date!

2) Ender’s Game series by Orson Scott Card
Total books: 4
When I began the series: February, 2012
Read prior to 2013: 1
Read in 2013: Speaker for the Dead, Xenocide, Children of the Mind
Status: Complete…until I come back for the related books

3) The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer
Total books: 2 (to date)
When I began the series: June, 2012
Read prior to 2013: 1
Read in 2013: Scarlet
Status: Up to date!

4) Sevenwaters by Juliet Marillier
Total books: 6
When I began the series: June, 2010
Read prior to 2013: 3
Read in 2013: Heir to Sevenwaters, Seer of Sevenwaters, Flame of Sevenwaters
Status: Complete

5) The Mrs. Quent Trilogy by Galen Beckett
Total books: 3
When I began the series: September, 2012
Read prior to 2013: 1
Read in 2013: The House on Durrow Street, The Master of Heathcrest Hall
Status: Complete!

6) The Bloody Jack series by L. A. Meyer
Total books: 11 (to date)
When I began the series: Um…2004ish?
Read prior to 2013: 10
Read in 2013: Boston Jacky: Taking Care of Business (review coming!)
Status: Up to date!

7) The Bridei Chronicles by Juliet Marillier
Total books: 3
When I began the series: 2011
Read prior to 2013: 1
Read in 2013: Blade of Fortrui, Well of Shades
Status: Complete!

8) The Frontier Magic Trilogy by Patricia C. Wrede
Total books: 3
When I began the series: Sep, 2013
Read prior to 2013: 0
Read in 2013: Thirteenth Child, Across the Great Barrier, Into the West
Status: Complete!

Revisiting Old Friends

I’ve also been resolving to reread more beloved books this year.  Near the end of the year, I had several on my list that I didn’t expect to get to until January.  Then Carl began the Sci Fi Experience in December, and I knocked off some sci fi favorites unexpectedly.  Revisited favorites in the year include:

1) Pat of Silver Bush and Mistress Pat by L. M. Montgomery

2) A Voice from the Border by Pamela Smith Hill

3) Dragonflight by Anne McCaffrey

4) Star Trek: Federation by Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens

5) Catherine, Called Birdy by Karen Cushman

6) Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George

7) Chalice by Robin McKinley

8) The Two Princesses of Bamarre by Gail Carson Levine

9) The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley

10) The Hero and the Crown by Robin McKinley

11) Heart’s Blood by Juliet Marillier

12) The Princess Bride by William Goldman

13) The Crystal Gryphon by Andre Norton

14) Gryphon in Glory by Andre Norton

15) Emily of New Moon by L. M. Montgomery

16) Emily Climbs by L. M. Montgomery

17) Emily’s Quest by L. M. Montgomery

18) The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner

19) The MasterHarper of Pern by Anne McCaffrey

20) Star Trek: Eugenics Wars, Vol One by Greg Cox

21) Star Trek: Eugenics Wars, Vol Two by Greg Cox

22) Star Trek: To Reign in Hell by Greg Cox (review soon!)

23) The Lives of Christopher Chant by Diana Wynne Jones (review soon!)

All in all, an excellent year of reading!  As discussed in Friday’s post, I’m looking forward to 2014 Challenges–and tomorrow I’m finishing out the year with a round-up of the best and the worst of 2013’s reading!