Hosted by The Ladybug Reads, the 2011 E-Book Reading Challenge challenges you to read more e-books. This was the challenge I was most excited about since I’m always trying to convince people of the wonders of e-reading.

I didn’t fail miserably at this one, but I still didn’t meet my goal. I did manage to read more books than the level below the one I choose required, so I don’t think I did too badly. Although, I would like to be reading at least half of my books electronically, so I will try this challenge again next year.

There are seven levels to the challenge:

1. Curious – Read 3 e-books
2. Fascinated – Read 6 e-books
3. Addicted – Read 12 e-books
4. Obsessed – Read 20 e-books
5. Possessed – Read 50 e-books
6. Fanatical – Read 75 e-books
7. Monomaniacal – Read 100 e-books

I’m going for level four – Obsessed – Read 20 e-books.

I’ll be listing my 20 e-books here as I go:

1. Sweet Spot by Susan Mallery
2. The Death of Joan of Arc by Michael Scott
3. Up In Smoke by Katie MacAlister
4. Gone by Michael Grant
5. Divine By Mistake by P.C. Cast
6. Calling for Angels by Alex Smith
7. Marked by P.C. Cast
8. Betrayed by P.C. Cast
9. Death’s Excellent Vacation by Charlaine Harris & Various
10. If I Stay by Gayle Forman
11. The Carrie Diaries by Candace Bushnell
12. Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver
13. The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness
14. The Warlock by Michael Scott
15. Book Title by Author
16. Book Title by Author
17. Book Title by Author
18. Book Title by Author
19. Book Title by Author
20. Book Title by Author

The 2011 Page to Screen Reading Challenge (hosted by Christina at Reading Extensively) was my first reading challenge of 2011. As an avid movie and TV lover, I thought this one sounded perfect for me!

The rules for the reading challenge were:

• Read books that were made into movies or T.V. shows
• Books must be read between January 1-December 31, 2011
• Rereads count!
• Books that are currently being made into movies also count as long as the movie will be released sometime in 2011
• You can also watch the movies/T.V. shows as part of the challenge but it is not a requirement

I’m decided to try Level One – Read 5 books that were made into movies/T.V. shows.

While I did read a few books that that belong to series which have movies out, I only read one book that is the basis of an already released movie/show.

1. He’s Just Not That Into You by Greg Behrendt & Liz Tuccillo (Review posted)

I did  also read The Carrie Diaries by Candace Bushnell which is currently being adapted for a 2012 TV show, but that doesn’t really count since the show didn’t come out this year. Either way, I still failed miserably at this challenge!

I’m now 2 for 2.

As we approach the end of 2011, I thought I’d take some time to look at my reading goals and challenges for the year. At the beginning of the year I was unaware of the changes my life was going to take, and as a result I was a little too optimistic when setting my goals.  I’m ashamed to admit that I think I have failed on all my goals and challenges this year.

Stay tuned over the next few weeks to see just how badly I did on my challenges this year!

The 2011 1st in a Series Challenge hosted by Katy at A Few More Pages seemed like an easy one to me.  I am a series lover. I really enjoy getting to know characters and following their stories for a long time.

There are four levels for this challenge:

• Series Novice: Read 3 books that are the first in any series.
• Series Lover: Read 6 books that are the first in any series.
• Series Expert: Read 12 books that are the first in any series.
• Series Fanatic: Read 20 books that are the first in any series.

I didn’t fail too miserably at this one, since I did start 9 new series out of the 12 I was aiming for. I will definitely try this one again next year!

Here are the 9 new series I started this year:

1. Gone by Michael Grant (Gone #1)
2. The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan (Kane Chronicles #1)
3. Divine By Mistake by P.C. Cast (Partholon, #1)
4. Subject Seven by James A. Moore (Subject Seven #1)
5. The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan (Heroes of Olympus #1)
6. Marked by PC Cast (House of Night #1)
7. Matched by Ally Condie (Matched #1)
8. The Dark City by Catherine Fisher (Relic Master #1)
9. The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness (Chaos Walking #1)
10. Book Title by Author (Series)
11. Book Title by Author (Series)
12. Book Title by Author (Series)

Unfortunately out of those 9 series I did start, only 3 of them were enjoyable enough to keep me reading the next books in the series. So here’s where I ask my fellow book lovers for helpful suggestions… what new series did you start – and really enjoy – this year? I’ll be needing some new series to follow in 2012.

Crossed  (Matched #2)
by Ally Condie

*This review contains spoilers for Matched, book 1 in the series.

Summary
After they came and took Ky away, Cassia wasn’t sure what the future held, but she knew she had to find him. Now she’s been working in the outer Provinces for months in hopes of somehow finding a way to connect with him. Fearful that she’s running out of time before she must return to her work assignment in the Society, Cassia sneaks onto an airship transporting workers to a village in the border provinces. Once there, she hears word that someone who fits Ky’s description has recently been in the area. Along with Indie, her one friend from the work camps, Cassia plans an escape and embarks on a journey to find Ky and with any luck, others who want to rebel against the Society as well. While she searches for Ky and the Rising, Cassia must stay alive, avoid capture or discovery and decide where an with whom her future lies.

Review
Now that Cassia has ventured away from her comfortable life in the Society, the sterile and pristine world we were introduced to in Matched has been replaced by rugged wilderness and harsh terrain giving Crossed a very different feel than the first book in the series. Along with the Society, Cassia’s family, and to an extent Xander have also disappeared from this second installment. I found myself missing the characters from the first novel, but did enjoy the new characters that were introduced in book 2.

Each chapter in Crossed switches back in forth between Cassia and Ky’s points of view. While I enjoyed getting to better know Ky in this manner, I found the flip-flopping confusing at times and often had to check back to see who was speaking.  While the story isn’t quite as gripping as Matched, Crossed does set up the next book in the series wonderfully. I’m eager to see how things work out in book 3!

Verdict
An enjoyable read, Crossed felt a little more like a bridge between the fist and third books in the series rather than a complete novel on its own. Fans of Matched will want to read this one, but don’t expect the same book you read in the first installment in the trilogy.

*I received this book for review from the Publisher.