Tuesday, January 8, 2008

Royalty Rules Reading Challenge


From February 1st – April 30th, 2008 I’ll be hosting my first reading challenge, Royalty Rules. (Yes, I know, terrible pun.)

Rules: Read two, three, or four books of whatever genre you choose (fiction or non-fiction) between the dates of February 1st and April 30th. Whether you want to read about historical kings, modern queens, or fairytale princesses, the only parameter is that the books are about a royal personage, although not necessarily as the main character. It’s perfectly all right if you want to read a book about, say, the queen’s lady-in-waiting, as long as the story incorporates the rise and/or fall of a crowned head, or a sovereign’s entire life.

Crossover with other challenges if you like.
Young adult or children’s titles are encouraged, but not required.

I went a little overboard with blog-banner making, but here they are. I hope there’s one that suits you:

40 comments:

  1. Thanks for letting me know about your challenge! I've posted it here and will let my Yahoo group also know about it :)

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  2. I wanted to let you know that I'm thinking of joining this one. (I'm very challenge-obsessed.) But I'm going to need some time to see if any books in my tbr pile qualify. I'd really like to not add more to the pile, if I've got something that will work :) But I'm definitely considering.

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  3. Wendy--
    Thanks very much! Your blog is a great tool for finding out about challenges. I check it all the time.

    Becky--
    Awesome! :-)

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  4. Count me in. I will have my list posted later on this week.

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  5. Thanks for doing this! I have mentioned it in my blog here and am looking forward to starting this.

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  6. OOh. Thanks for posting on my blog just as you started this. I'm in (and got lucky slot #7!) and think this sounds great!

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  7. Does Non-Fiction qualify?? The reason I ask is that I'm already planning on reading Peter the Great for the Russian Reading Challenge and I'm also browsing for a biography of Queen Victoria. Just wondering if this will be Fiction only. Thanks

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  8. Suzi--

    Yes, non-fiction books are fine. I didn't even think about that, but I guess I should clarify that.

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  9. gsvI've gone challenge-crazy but this looks like fun, so I'm in.

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  10. OK - thanks for the clarification - I was probably going to join anyway, but since I can count Peter the Great, I'll definitely join. I'll get a list together and join officially via Mr. Linky soon :-)

    Yay!

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  11. I'm definitely in ; ) I got one from my WRC list (The Goose Girl) and I've been planning on rereading B1000 - both books by Shannon Hale. Perfect challenge :D (oh yes, and the banners are lovely :)

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  12. Like I need another reading challenge :-) but this one is too good to pass up. I've been reading a lot of historical fiction this past year and my TBR pile is overflowing with books that fit this category. Now it's just a matter of picking what to read.

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  13. I'm in. I love books about royalty and have some waiting to be read.

    And okay, I love the one banner and want to post it on my blog. ;)

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  14. -joins- I don't have as many as Becky... I don't think I'll ever join as many as Becky... but I'll definetly do this one, seeing as I'm one step ahead of you and just finished one about a Russian countess. xD

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  15. Thank you for hosting this challenge. With this challenge, I hope to challenge myself in reading historical novels as there is a great lack in my reading lists in previous times. I have already posted my list and I can't wait until February. :]

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  16. Finished my 1st book for this challenge. "Victoria Victorious" by Jean Plaidy. Unfortunately it's not one I'd recommend. The full review can be found here: http://printedpage.blogspot.com

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  17. Oooo! Yay! Another challenge! I love reading about this topic. :] Thanks for hosting!

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  18. thanks for hosting such a great challenge! yay! i can't wait to start!

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  19. Thanks so much for hosting such an great challenge. Princess books are right up my alley, and I have a whole pile of them sitting in my stack of books to be read!

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  20. I'm fairly obsessed with these challenges now. Cheers to all fellow challengers. Will be updating on personal advancement at the Maelstrom.

    *Aella*

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  21. I never could resist a book involving princesses and kingdoms, either fictional or non. I am definitely up for this challenge!

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  22. I just finished my first: Below the Salt by Thomas Costain. It's a fiction about the Plantagenets.
    Here's my link:
    http://framedandbooked.blogspot.com/2008/01/below-salt-by-thomas-costain.html
    I'm not sure if you want us to post reviews somewhere else. Hope this is okay.

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  23. I just a couple of questions:
    1) Does Princess Diaries count?
    2) What about royalty in skools?

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  24. Oh, help. I've already read enough books about royalty. Let's see if the library has some I haven't read...

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  25. myjackforever - Yes, Royal Diaries do count. I'm not sure what you mean about royalty in schools, though....

    Tuppence - I have some suggestions if you'd like:

    Princess Nevermore, by Dian Curtis Regan
    Cam's Quest: The Continuing Story of Princess Nevermore and the Wizard's Apprentice, also by Dian Curtis Regan

    Anything in the Young Royals Series by Carolyn Meyer (it doesn't really matter the order you read them in)

    The Goose Girl, by Shannon Hale

    The Cry of the Icemark and Blade of Fire, by Stuart Hill

    The Great Good Thing, Into the Labyrinth, and The Constellation of Sylvie, by Roderick Townley

    Just Ella, by Margaret Peterson Haddix

    Angel on the Square, by Gloria Whelan

    Hopefully that's enough for you to choose from so that you can find something interesting that you haven't already read. And I know our library system has all of them because that's where I got them. :-)

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  26. Being mostly English (my dad had some French in him)mthe country's history has always been a favorite of mine. Especially William form France and William Marshall, this will be fun.

    Lindy

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  27. This is a challenge for me. I have some Jean Plaidy books waiting to be read. I am very excited about this challenge, so excited that I messed up my blog address the first time I did Mr. Linky. The correct on is the second Lissa. So Sorry. Or I could blame my cat. I was not going to do anymore challenges this year. I thought two was enough. I saw this challenge and I knew I had to participate in it.

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  28. the banners are so cool! i'm really glad i signed up for the challenge, i need to read some more books!

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  29. Great challenge - it rolls right down my court! :) This will also be my first reading challenge. I have a few books in mind. I'll be posting my list soon. Great idea!

    Cheers!
    Jenifleur

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  30. Count me in!
    I'll be coming up with a list soon!

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  31. Thanks so much for posting this challenge! I'm so excited to get started.

    http://theshadyglade.blogspot.com

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  32. So when posting the links to our reviews we're going to have to post a link more than once yes? One for each book we read?

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  33. Enna Isilee - Yes, that's correct. Thank you for taking the time to make sure you understood! :-)

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  34. I'd like to join, too! I think I'm becoming challenge-obsessed!

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  35. Oh, Ink Mage, just to let you know you have linked me twice as Giselle and Orchidus. I forgot that Wordpress links me by my username, Orchidus, instead of my nickname. Sorry for the confusion.

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  36. A little late, but I've been wanting to do this one!

    My list -
    http://yafantasy.com/royalty-rules-and-2k8-challenge/

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  37. Argh, it's Stephanie from www.readalready.com -- can I, like, postdatedly join the challenge? I'm pretty sure I've read some qualifying books during the time period . . . :)

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  38. I just completed this challenge last night! I wish I had time to read more for it!

    Read Ombria in Shadow by Patricia A. McKillip (fantasy) and Eleanor: Crown Jewel of Aquitaine by Kristiana Gregory (JF)

    http://readermandy.livejournal.com/12944.html

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  39. Great Post! I've never knew about these blogs that inform us about challenges! Count me in!
    Well I like how you worded the title firsssst of all. your posting was quite interesting, but is that really how it is??
    Well Im sure that its really good so I hope nothing changes its really kool :)

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