Weekly Geeks: 2010-28: Choose Your Own Topic: Challenges

This week Weekly Geeks invites us to revisit a favorite past Weekly Geek topic or one that you've haven't done before.
I've decided to write a progress report for challenges I have been participating in, both  "official" and personal.

Last year's Challenges task defined it as
"Reading Challenges: a help or a hurt? Do you find that the reading challenges keep you organized and goal-oriented? Or, do you find that as you near the end of a challenge that you've failed because you fell short of your original goals? As a result of some reading challenges, I've picked up books that I would have otherwise never heard of or picked up; that, frankly, I have loved. Have you experienced the same with challenges? If so, which ones? Do you have favorite reading challenges?"

Some of the challenges I have been taking part in have been well within my comfort zone, while others have led me into reading books I may never have even looked for before.
For me though the over-riding principle is that all the books I choose, read and list are crime fiction titles, although every now and again a thriller or two creeps in
Of course the books can often be counted in more than one challenge.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I began the year with the last half of the Crime Fiction Alphabet

I guess this was a meme rather than a challenge but for 26 weeks 2009-2010 it kept a bunch of us busy finding books and authors whose titles or names began with the letter of the week.

My final choices are listed here.

I have ideas for running something similar in 2011.

On a weekly basis I participate in Weekly Geeks, Sunday Salon, and Pattinase's Friday's Forgotten Books

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True Challenges: (click on the icons to be taken to the home page of the challenge.)


Audio Book Challenge hosted at Royal Reviews.



I'm trying for Obsessed: 20 books

Currently I've read 15
My Audio Book Challenge posts

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2010 Global Reading Challenge hosted by Dorte

This challenge is based on reading two books from each continent.

I'm trying for the Extremist (21 books) level.

Currently I've read 16
My Global Reading Challenge posts

I'm using a world map to track my progress.

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Aussie Author Challenge: Completed

This one is being run by Book Lover Book Reviews.

I'm signed up for the FAIR DINKUM challenge which required me to read 8 titles by at least 5 different Aussie authors.

My Aussie Author challenge posts

 

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Agatha Christie Reading Challenge

This is my own challenge- I read roughly an Agatha Christie title a month, in order of publication, but I have been joined on my journey by a number of people.

I feed them into the Agatha Christie Reading Challenge Blog Carnival.

I've read 7 titles this year
All my Agatha Christie Reading Challenge posts

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100+ ReadingChallenge hosted by J. Kaye


I'm well underway with this one: last count 84 books read in 2010

 Smik's Reviews.provides a running count of my progess

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Typically British Reading Challenge - completed

Perhaps if you need some encouragement to read British crime fiction, this challenge hosted at Book Chick City, will be the challenge for you.

Timeline: 1st Jan 2010~ 31st Dec 2010.
Only books started on January 1st count towards this challenge.
You may already have read some eligible books

Completed at Cream Crackered level with 8 books

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Scandinavian Reading Challenge: completed

6 books read

All my Scandinavian Reading Challenge posts

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Canadian Book Challenge

You have one year to read 13 Canadian books and review them somewhere online, from Canada Day, July 1st, 2010- Canada Day, July 1st, 2011.

So far I've read 1, so I have quite a way to go at this stage.
See

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Unofficial challenges

These are not really challenges - more like trying to read books shortlisted for an award, before the results are announced.
I've done a couple of these this year.

 I read 6 books for the CWA International Dagger.


My verdict
The final result.

I'm currently reading the novels by New Zealand authors shortlisted for the Inaugural Ngaio Marsh Crime Fiction Award.
There were 5. A Final list of 3 has been announced and I have 1 of them to go.

Updates, Record Keeping, and Challenges

I spent most of the morning of New Year's Day sorting out the directions of my reading for 2015.

I try to give my book selection some purpose by participating in a number of reading challenges which ensure that I include some diversity. Because of what I naturally choose to read, you could argue that some are not challenges, but I would argue that they do give me a wider appreciation of what is currently being published, but also what has been published in the past, and in languages other than English.

If you've come across a reading challenge that you think I should consider by all means recommend it in a comment. I allow overlapping in my challenges so a book could be recorded in a number of places.

Some of the challenges are external to this blog while others are hosted here or on a blog that I manage.
In practical terms I do allow some challenges to overlap, that is, most books will appear in more than one challenge.
In addition many of the challenges are simply continuations of challenges I took on last year, and are a reflection of my reading interests..

2015 The reading challenges I've joined

Last updated 3 January 2015

• Outdo yourself reading challenge 2015: aiming for 145, currently: 1 (137 in 2014)
• Agatha Christie Reading Challenge  Completed in 2014
• 2015 Global Reading Challenge currently 1/21
• USA Fiction Challenge So far 19/51
• 2015 Aussie Author reading challenge aiming for 20. Currently 0
• 2015 Australian Women Writers Challenge aiming for 20. Currently 0
• British Books Challenge 2015 hosted by Fluttering Butterflies currently 1
• Vintage Mystery BINGO 2015: Silver & Gold Edition currently 0
• 2015 Ebook Reading Challenge  currently 0
• New to me authors - a personal challenge currently 1
• Not crime fiction - a personal challenge currently 0
• Nordic reading challenge - a personal challenge unless I find an "official" one, currently 0
• New Zealand reading challenge - again a personal challenge unless I can find someone hosting an "official" one. currently 0
• Translated crime fiction - a personal challenge that will overlap with many of the other reading challenges that I have undertaken. currently 0
• Snagged at the Library currently: 1
• 2015 Authors A to Z Reading Challenge  currently: 1

Looking for some reading challenge ideas yourself? Check A Novel Challenge.

 A visual summary
 

	2015 Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge hosted by The Book Vixen In 2014 I read 137 books. Aiming for 145. So far this year: 1 This challenge has its own record page at 2015 Reviews.
	Agatha Christie Reading Challenge How to join the Agatha Christie Reading Challenge This is one that I host. I completed the challenge in 2014 and so here this year I'll record blog posts related to Agatha Christie, probably mainly related to short stories.
	2015 Global Reading Challenge: 1/21 I have committed myself to reading 21 titles, all crime fiction, 3 titles each from 7 "continents". My 7th continent - historical crime fiction. Blog site: 2015 Global Reading Challenge Africa Asia Australasia/Oceania (my modification) - An extra hurdle for Australasia - at least one from New Zealand. I can count separate Australian states Europe - 4.8, ONLY THE INNOCENT, Rachel Abbott  - England North America - South America - 7th Continent: Historical -
USA Fiction Challenge ongoing	USA Fiction Challenge ongoing  This is one I'm hosting on its own site. I'm keeping my own  records on a page on my blog. So here I will just keep a summary of the number of states covered, as well as a list of US crime fiction I've read in 2015. Total so far 19/51 Books read 2015: 0
Golden Vintage - books written before 1960 - no bingos claimed yet  and   Silver Vintage: books written 1960 - 1989 - no bingos claimed yet	Vintage Mystery BINGO 2015: Silver & Gold Edition This is hosted by Bev at My Reader's Block. * All books must be from the mystery category (crime fiction, detective fiction, espionage, etc.).  The mystery/crime must be the primary feature of the book--ghost stories, paranormal, romance, humor, etc are all welcome as ingredients, but must not be the primary category under which these books would be labeled at the library or bookstore. You keep your records on bingo cards.  See my special page for this challenge
British Books Challenge 2015 - mine will be crime fiction	British Books Challenge 2015 hosted by Fluttering Butterflies The aim is to read at least 12 books by British authors. This is really not much of a challenge for me as I read so much British crime fiction, so the challenge is really just a way of keeping my records. Currently: 1/12 4.8, ONLY THE INNOCENT, Rachel Abbott
	The Aussie Author Challenge 2015 is being hosted at Booklover Book Reviews I'm aiming initially at Kangaroo (12 titles) but the reality is that I will read many more than that. - Read and review 12 titles written by Australian Authors of which at least 4 of those authors are female, at least 4 of those authors are male, and at least 4 of those authors are new to you; - At least 6 fiction and at least 2 non-fiction, and at least 3 titles first published in 2014 or 2015.  Currently: 0.
	2015 Australian Women Writers Challenge I will be aiming to read about 20 titles, all crime fiction. They will also count for the Aussie Author Challenge (above) Currently : 0
	2015 Ebook Reading Challenge Here is another that is probably not much of a challenge for me as I read so much on my Kindle. Levels: 1. Bits – 5 ebooks 2. Bytes – 10 ebooks 3. Megabytes – 25 ebooks 4. Gigabytes – 50 ebooks 5. Terabytes – 75 ebooks 6. Empty the Cloud – 100 ebooks   Currently: 0
	This is a personal challenge. I intend to read as many new-to-me authors as I can. Currently: 0 4.8, ONLY THE INNOCENT, Rachel Abbott
Not crime fiction	Not crime fiction Another personal challenge: a reminder to myself that I need occasionally to read outside the crime fiction genre. I find this very hard to do. Currently: 0
	Nordic Reading challenge Another personal challenge: a reminder to myself that I want to keep an eye on Nordic/Scandinavian crime fiction and to keep records of my reading. Currently: 0
New Zealand authors	New Zealand Reading challenge Another personal challenge: a reminder to myself that I want to keep an eye on New Zealand crime fiction and to keep records of my reading. Currently: 0
	Translated crime fiction This will overlap with a number of the other challenges and is really just a record of translated titles that I've read this year. Currently: 0
	It is really is a bit of a variant of the Crime Fiction Alphabet challenge that I have run for the last few years (and I may well do that again some time in 2015) I will count only crime fiction books for this challenge which is being hosted by Samantha Lin You list authors A-Z according to surname. My "official" record page is here.
	Snagged at the Library Hosted here probably not much of a challenge for me because I am a consistent "supporter" of my local library, but it will help me keep a nice record of my borrowed books. Currently: 1 4.8, ONLY THE INNOCENT, Rachel Abbott
nn	mm

End of the month challenge Update, 31 January 2011

I've been thinking about how to record my progress in some of the challenges where I am reading only a small number of books.
I've actually made a start in most of the 2011 challenges which is a good sign.
You will notice some overlap, with many books counting in more than one challenge.

I've decided on a monthly update record to be published at the end of each month.
Challenges will be included on these updates until I have completed them.

	Canadian Book Challenge 2010-2011 Host is John Mutford at The Book Mine Set   I have to read 13 books by Canadian authors by 1 July 2011. I had read 7 by the end of 2010, so I need to read another 6 4.5, MIDNIGHT CAB, James W. Nichol 4.9, THE BRUTAL TELLING, Louise Penny
	2011 Global Reading Challenge: I have committed myself to reading 21 titles, all crime fiction, 3 titles each from 7 "continents". My 7th continent - historical crime fiction.  Africa OF WILD DOGS, Jane Taylor (South Africa) xx xx Asia 4.5, THE HALF-CHILD, Angela Savage (Thailand) xx xx Australasia PRIME CUT, Alan Carter (Australia) xx xx An extra hurdle for Australasia - at least one from New Zealand. I can count separate Australian states. Europe 4.5, DUMB WITNESS, Agatha Christie (England) 4.4, MAIGRET & the MAN on the BOULEVARD, Georges Simeon (France) 4.7, THE MAN WHO WENT UP IN SMOKE, Maj Sjowall & Per Wahloo (Sweden) North America 4.5, MIDNIGHT CAB, James W. Nichol (Canada) xx xx South America xx xx xx 7th Continent: Historical crime fiction RAILWAY TO THE GRAVE, Edward Marston (Britain 1850s)  THE PERICLES COMMISSION, Gary Corby (Ancient Athens) xx
	2011 Vintage Mystery Reading Challenge Get a Clue Level: 7-9 books, must have been written prior to 1960 My extra rule: all need to be by different authors  Progress page on the challenge site 4.5, DUMB WITNESS, Agatha Christie (1937) 4.4, MAIGRET & the MAN on the BOULEVARD, Georges Simenon (1953) 4.4, IN THE TEETH OF THE EVIDENCE, Dorothy L. Sayers (1939)
	Cruisin' thru Cosies Reading Challenge 'll try for Investigator: 7-12 books Definition: most cozies take place in a small town or village, generally considered "gentle" books, and the sleuth is usually an amateur.  4.4, A COTSWOLD KILLING, Rebecca Tope 4.4, THE PERICLES COMMISSION, Gary Corby   4.4, IN THE TEETH OF THE EVIDENCE, Dorothy L. Sayers
	Ireland Reading Challenge 5.0, THE RULE BOOK, Rob Kitchin aiming for Luck o' the Irish level (4 books)
	Agatha Christie Reading Challenge How to join the Agatha Christie Reading Challenge  I'm aiming for my next 12 titles. 4.5, DUMB WITNESS 4.3, DEATH ON THE NILE
	Aussie Author Challenge I'm aiming for True Blue: 12 books 4.4, THE PERICLES COMMISSION, Gary Corby  4.7, PRIME CUT, Alan Carter  4.5, THE HALF-CHILD, Angela Savage
	Nordic Challenge 2011 I'm aiming for Odin 11-20 books 4.7, THE MAN WHO WENT UP IN SMOKE, Maj Sjowall & Per Wahloo (Sweden) 4.9, BAD INTENTIONS, Karin Fossum (Norway)
	e-book challenge I'm aiming for obsessed: 20 books 4.7, THE MAN WHO WENT UP IN SMOKE, Maj Sjowall & Per Wahloo 4.9, BAD INTENTIONS, Karin Fossum  4.7, PRIME CUT, Alan Carter
	British Books Challenge Royal Family level: 12 books by British authors. Extra rules: all different authors, all crime fiction. 4.5, OUR LADY OF PAIN, Elena Forbes 4.5, DUMB WITNESS, Agatha Christie 4.4, A COTSWOLD KILLING, Rebecca Tope  4.5, RAILWAY TO THE GRAVE, Edward Marston
	Historical Fiction Challenge Daring & Curious : 5 books my extra rule: all need to be crime fiction 4.5, RAILWAY TO THE GRAVE, Edward Marston (Britain 1850s)  4.4, THE PERICLES COMMISSION, Gary Corby (Ancient Athens)
something New Zealand	maybe 4-6 books
	This is a personal challenge more than anything else. It will be an overlapping challenge, and I aim to exceed 20 titles which was my total this year. 4.4, MAIGRET & the MAN on the BOULEVARD, Georges Simenon (French) 4.7, THE MAN WHO WENT UP IN SMOKE, Maj Sjowall & Per Wahloo (Sweden) 4.9, BAD INTENTIONS, Karin Fossum (Norway)
	Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge I'm aiming for Out of Breath: 6-10 more books than in 2010 when I read 136 My aim is 142+ and will include all books read in all formats include audio books. You can see how I am going here. Current count: 17
	Again, another personal challenge. In 2010 I read 46 new-to-me authors and I'll be keeping count in 2011 to see if I can exceed that total, even by 1. Current count: 6

Summarising 2013, looking forward to 2014

Well, as my 2013 Reading Challenges Update shows, I had a pretty good reading year in 2013, even though I didn't reach all my reading challenge targets.

The reading challenges do help to give my reading choices some structure although I don't allow them to restrict me.
I ended up reading 137 books, just a little less than in 2012 when I read 140, and certainly less than the 150 I aimed for. 

I read fewer books on my Kindle than I had thought I would, less translated books and fewer Nordic/Scandinavian books.

During the year I ran a Crime Fiction Alphabet challenge, a monthly carnival for the Agatha Christie Reading Challenge, another year of the Global Reading Challenge, a Pick of the Month meme, and a New-to-me authors meme.

There are a couple of things I have let slide, like collecting people's top reads for 2013, but I ahve found I've had to prioritise a bit.

My challenge results:

• Agatha Christie Reading Challenge  - ongoing - 12/12 this year - completed for 2013
• 2013 Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge: aiming for 150 
  actually read: 137
• 2013 e-book challenge : 29
• Nordic Challenge 2013  9
• 2013 Aussie Author Challenge  42/20 - completed
• 2013 Global Reading Challenge  21/21 - completed
• Canadian Book Challenge 2012-2013- 8/13 - not completed
• Canadian Book Challenge 2013-2014 - 1/13
• Vintage Mystery Reading Challenge   8/8 - - completed
• 2013 Historical Fiction Challenge at Historical Tapestry  7 - finished
• British Books Challenge  51 - completed
• Australian Women Writers Challenge   21/10 - Completed

 Personal reading challenges

• American authors:  15/20
• translated,  13 - last year 27
• New Zealand,  2/4
• new to me: currently 59 -  48
• not crime fiction:  9

I've decided that my challenges for 2014 will not be very different.

I am managing the following challenges:

• Agatha Christie Reading Challenge/ Blog Carnival 
• USA Fiction Challenge: State by State in 2014 
• Global Reading Challenge for 2014

And I'll continue to collect

• Pick of the Month
• new-to-me crime fiction authors (quarterly)

Sunday Salon #27 - 28 September 2008

I've been a bit active in my blogging this week - must be the spring weather.

Things to do on Mysteries in Paradise:

• Take a poll: How big is the book you are currently reading? There are 3 days to go.
  
• Tell me what your top 10 crime fiction books published in 2008 are.
• Join the Agatha Christie Reading Challenge:
  Look for the panel in the right hand margin.
  

My posts this week:

• Review: COLD IN HAND, John Harvey
  Charlie Resnick makes his first appearance in 10 years in the latest from John Harvey, master of crime fiction.
• Weekly Geeks # 19: Top 10 books published in 2008
  What are the top 10 books you've read that were published in 2008? Weekly Geeks wants to know.
• Anthony Award nominees 2008
  The shortlists for the Anthony Awards in crime fiction/thrillers. I think they have been known for some time, but it's a good list to look for. You can actually read some of the nominated short stories online.
• Forgotten Books - WHEN IN ROME, Ngaio Marsh
  I've been participating in Pattinase's Friday's Forgotten Books for a few weeks now. It is an interesting project, looking back at some of the writers who have shaped my reading tastes.
• Agatha Christie Reading Challenge - setting up
  I've set up an Agatha Christie Reading Challenge project. My aim is to read my way through the 80 or so Agatha Christie novels, in the order of publication. I think this is going to take years. Join me if you like.
• ACRC: #1 - The Mysterious Affair at Styles
  This is the first novel to read for the challenge.
• Review: ACRC: #1, THE MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR AT STYLES,Agatha Christie
  #1 down in the challenge. Have you read this one? Come in and see if you agree with me. Leave a comment.
• ACRC: #2 The Secret Adversary
  This is the second to look for in the Agatha Christie Reading Challenge.
• What's on Your Nightstand?
  A quirky little meme I found during the week. Nothing hard about this one.
• When Agatha Christie met Dr. Who
  Did you see this episode of Dr. Who?

Breaking News

• Join a Ngaio Marsh challenge
• Google turns 10
• 24 hour international Readathon, October 18
• Tana French's top 10 maverick mysteries
• The Christie Tapes
• October 10, The Magic Pudding turns 90
• No Time for Goodbye tops Richard & Judy reads

Currently reading

• now - SUCKED IN, Shane Maloney
• next - THE YIDDISH POLICEMAN'S UNION, Michael Chabon
• after that - THE SECRET ADVERSARY, Agatha Christie
• audio book - THE SKELETON IN THE CLOSET, M.C. Beaton

ACRC Update - October 2010

My intent in the Agatha Christie Reading Challenge 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. If you look at some of my reviews you will see that I have been able to undertake some of this reflection.

Currently I am managing about a book a month.
I've read 19 books and 11 collections of short stories.

Read & reviewed so far

1. 1920, THE MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR AT STYLES
2. 1922, THE SECRET ADVERSARY
3. 1923, THE MURDER ON THE LINKS
4. 1924, THE MAN IN THE BROWN SUIT
   1924, Poirot Investigates (short stories: eleven in the UK, fourteen in the US)
5. 1925, THE SECRET OF CHIMNEYS
6. 1926, THE MURDER OF ROGER ACKROYD
7. 1927, THE BIG FOUR
8. 1928, THE MYSTERY OF THE BLUE TRAIN
9. 1929, THE SEVEN DIALS MYSTERY
   1929, Partners in Crime (fifteen short stories; featuring Tommy and Tuppence)
10. 1930, THE MURDER AT THE VICARAGE
    1930, The Mysterious Mr. Quin (twelve short stories; introducing Mr. Harley Quin)
11. 1931, THE SITTAFORD MYSTERY (aka MURDER AT HAZELMOOR)
12. 1932, PERIL AT END HOUSE
    1932 The Thirteen Problems (thirteen short stories; featuring Miss Marple, also known as The Tuesday Club Murders in the US)
13. 1933, LORD EDGEWARE DIES (aka THIRTEEN AT DINNER)
    
14. 1934, MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS (aka MURDER IN THE CALAIS COACH)
15. 1934, WHY DIDN'T THEY ASK EVANS? (aka THE BOOMERANG CLUE)
    1991, Problem at Pollensa Bay publ. 1991 (Two of them feature Hercule Poirot, two Mr. Satterthwaite and Mr. Harley Quin, and two Mr Parker Pyne.)
16. 1935, THREE ACT TRAGEDY (aka MURDER IN THREE ACTS)- Hercule Poirot and Mr Satterthwaite.
    1933, The Hound of Death - 12 short stories, UK only
    1934, Parker Pyne Investigates - 12 stories introducing Parker Pyne and Ariadne Oliver
    1934, The Listerdale Mystery - 12 short stories, UK only
17. 1935, DEATH IN THE CLOUDS (aka DEATH IN THE AIR) - Hercule Poirot
18. 1936, THE A.B.C. MURDERS (aka THE ALPHABET MURDERS) - Hercule Poirot
    1947, The Labours of Hercules - Hercule Poirot - 12 short stories
19. 1966, THE THIRD GIRL - Hercule Poirot and Ariadne Oliver
    1997, Miss Marple: complete short stories - Miss Marple - 20 short stories
    1997, While the Light Lasts - 9 short stories - incl. 2 Hercule Poirot
    
    Reading schedule
    
    
20. 1936, MURDER IN MESOPOTAMIA
21. 1936, CARDS ON THE TABLE
22. 1937, DUMB WITNESS (aka POIROT LOSES A CLIENT)
23. 1937, DEATH ON THE NILE
24. 1938, APPOINTMENT WITH DEATH
25. 1938, HERCULE POIROT'S CHRISTMAS (aka MURDER FOR CHRISTMAS, aka A HOLIDAY FOR MURDER)
26. 1939, MURDER IS EASY (aka EASY TO KILL)
27. 1939, TEN LITTLE NIGERS (aka AND THEN THERE WERE NONE; also TEN LITTLE INDIANS)
28. 1940, SAD CYPRESS
29. 1940, ONE, TWO, BUCKLE MY SHOE (aka AN OVERDOSE OF DEATH; also THE PATRIOTIC MURDERS)
    

Check the opening blog post of the Agatha Christie Reading Challenge here.
If you'd like to join the Agatha Christie Reading Challenge click here.

I am using the list at Wikipedia of novels and collections of short stories. I will interlace the short story collections into the list where I can, but may have to read them out of order. I have decided on a method for reporting on the short stories.

Please feel free to join in my challenge, comment on my reviews etc.

I have set up a block over in the right hand column called Agatha Christie Reading Challenge (with the same logo as this post) where I am listing the books I'm currently reading and those I've finished.
The challenge is called ACRC so each review will be preceded by those letters.

If you want to follow my progress through your RSS reader, then the RSS URL is
http://www2.blogger.com/feeds/8273911883856580200/posts/default/-/Agatha%20Christie%20Challenge
Just save that in your bookmarks or RSS reader and you will be notified when I have written a new post.
Alternatively you could subscribe to the feed through FeedMyInbox. Just copy the RSS URL, click on the FeedMyInbox link and paste the URL in there.
You will need to confirm your subscription by email.

Contribute your blog postings about any Agatha Christie novels to the monthly carnival. Make an agreement with yourself that whenever you complete reading an Aggie you will write a blog posting about it and then submit the posting to the carnival.
If you are participating in the Agatha Christie Reading Challenge then write updates like this one and submit them to the Carnival. Let us know what progress you are making.

ACRC Update - 14 August 2010

My intent in the Agatha Christie Reading Challenge 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. If you look at some of my reviews you will see that I have been able to undertake some of this reflection.

Currently I am managing about a book a month.
I've read 19 books and 8 collections of short stories.

Read & reviewed so far

1. 1920, THE MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR AT STYLES
2. 1922, THE SECRET ADVERSARY
3. 1923, THE MURDER ON THE LINKS
4. 1924, THE MAN IN THE BROWN SUIT
   1924, POIROT INVESTIGATES (short stories: eleven in the UK, fourteen in the US)
5. 1925, THE SECRET OF CHIMNEYS
6. 1926, THE MURDER OF ROGER ACKROYD
7. 1927, THE BIG FOUR
8. 1928, THE MYSTERY OF THE BLUE TRAIN
9. 1929, THE SEVEN DIALS MYSTERY
   1929, Partners in Crime (fifteen short stories; featuring Tommy and Tuppence)
10. 1930, THE MURDER AT THE VICARAGE
    1930, The Mysterious Mr. Quin (twelve short stories; introducing Mr. Harley Quin)
11. 1931, THE SITTAFORD MYSTERY (aka MURDER AT HAZELMOOR)
12. 1932, PERIL AT END HOUSE
    1932 The Thirteen Problems (thirteen short stories; featuring Miss Marple, also known as The Tuesday Club Murders in the US)
13. 1933, LORD EDGEWARE DIES (aka THIRTEEN AT DINNER)
    
14. 1934, MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS (aka MURDER IN THE CALAIS COACH)
15. 1934, WHY DIDN'T THEY ASK EVANS? (aka THE BOOMERANG CLUE)
    1991, Problem at Pollensa Bay publ. 1991 (Two of them feature Hercule Poirot, two Mr. Satterthwaite and Mr. Harley Quin, and two Mr Parker Pyne.)
16. 1935, THREE ACT TRAGEDY (aka MURDER IN THREE ACTS)- Hercule Poirot and Mr Satterthwaite.
    1933, The Hound of Death - 12 short stories, UK only
    1934, Parker Pyne Investigates - 12 stories introducing Parker Pyne and Ariadne Oliver
    1934, The Listerdale Mystery - 12 short stories, UK only
17. 1935, DEATH IN THE CLOUDS (aka DEATH IN THE AIR) - Hercule Poirot
18. 1936, THE A.B.C. MURDERS (aka THE ALPHABET MURDERS) - Hercule Poirot
19. 1966, THE THIRD GIRL - Hercule Poirot and Ariadne Oliver
    
    Reading schedule
    
    
20. 1936, MURDER IN MESOPOTAMIA
21. 1936, CARDS ON THE TABLE
22. 1937, DUMB WITNESS (aka POIROT LOSES A CLIENT)
23. 1937, DEATH ON THE NILE
24. 1938, APPOINTMENT WITH DEATH
25. 1938, HERCULE POIROT'S CHRISTMAS (aka MURDER FOR CHRISTMAS, aka A HOLIDAY FOR MURDER)
26. 1939, MURDER IS EASY (aka EASY TO KILL)
27. 1939, TEN LITTLE NIGERS (aka AND THEN THERE WERE NONE; also TEN LITTLE INDIANS)
28. 1940, SAD CYPRESS
29. 1940, ONE, TWO, BUCKLE MY SHOE (aka AN OVERDOSE OF DEATH; also THE PATRIOTIC MURDERS)
    

Check the opening blog post of the Agatha Christie Reading Challenge here.
If you'd like to join the Agatha Christie Reading Challenge click here.

I am using the list at Wikipedia of novels and collections of short stories. I will interlace the short story collections into the list where I can, but may have to read them out of order. I have decided on a method for reporting on the short stories.

Please feel free to join in my challenge, comment on my reviews etc.

I have set up a block over in the right hand column called Agatha Christie Reading Challenge (with the same logo as this post) where I am listing the books I'm currently reading and those I've finished.
The challenge is called ACRC so each review will be preceded by those letters.

If you want to follow my progress through your RSS reader, then the RSS URL is
http://www2.blogger.com/feeds/8273911883856580200/posts/default/-/Agatha%20Christie%20Challenge
Just save that in your bookmarks or RSS reader and you will be notified when I have written a new post.
Alternatively you could subscribe to the feed through FeedMyInbox. Just copy the RSS URL, click on the FeedMyInbox link and paste the URL in there.
You will need to confirm your subscription by email.

Contribute your blog postings about any Agatha Christie novels to the monthly carnival. Make an agreement with yourself that whenever you complete reading an Aggie you will write a blog posting about it and then submit the posting to the carnival.
If you are participating in the Agatha Christie Reading Challenge then write updates like this one and submit them to the Carnival. Let us know what progress you are making.

ACRC Update - 12 June 2010

My intent in the Agatha Christie Reading Challenge 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. If you look at some of my reviews you will see that I have been able to undertake some of this reflection.

Currently I am managing about a book a month.
I've read 18 books and 8 collections of short stories.

Read & reviewed so far

1. 1920, THE MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR AT STYLES
2. 1922, THE SECRET ADVERSARY
3. 1923, THE MURDER ON THE LINKS
4. 1924, THE MAN IN THE BROWN SUIT
   1924, POIROT INVESTIGATES (short stories: eleven in the UK, fourteen in the US)
5. 1925, THE SECRET OF CHIMNEYS
6. 1926, THE MURDER OF ROGER ACKROYD
7. 1927, THE BIG FOUR
8. 1928, THE MYSTERY OF THE BLUE TRAIN
9. 1929, THE SEVEN DIALS MYSTERY
   1929, Partners in Crime (fifteen short stories; featuring Tommy and Tuppence)
10. 1930, THE MURDER AT THE VICARAGE
    1930, The Mysterious Mr. Quin (twelve short stories; introducing Mr. Harley Quin)
11. 1931, THE SITTAFORD MYSTERY (aka MURDER AT HAZELMOOR)
12. 1932, PERIL AT END HOUSE
    1932 The Thirteen Problems (thirteen short stories; featuring Miss Marple, also known as The Tuesday Club Murders in the US)
13. 1933, LORD EDGEWARE DIES (aka THIRTEEN AT DINNER)
    
14. 1934, MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS (aka MURDER IN THE CALAIS COACH)
15. 1934, WHY DIDN'T THEY ASK EVANS? (aka THE BOOMERANG CLUE)
    1991, Problem at Pollensa Bay publ. 1991 (Two of them feature Hercule Poirot, two Mr. Satterthwaite and Mr. Harley Quin, and two Mr Parker Pyne.)
16. 1935, THREE ACT TRAGEDY (aka MURDER IN THREE ACTS)- Hercule Poirot and Mr Satterthwaite.
    1933, The Hound of Death - 12 short stories, UK only
    1934, Parker Pyne Investigates - 12 stories introducing Parker Pyne and Ariadne Oliver
    1934, The Listerdale Mystery - 12 short stories, UK only
17. 1935, DEATH IN THE CLOUDS (aka DEATH IN THE AIR) - Hercule Poirot
18. 1966, THE THIRD GIRL - Hercule Poirot and Ariadne Oliver
    
    Reading schedule
    
    
19. 1936, THE A.B.C. MURDERS (aka THE ALPHABET MURDERS)
20. 1936, MURDER IN MESOPOTAMIA
21. 1936, CARDS ON THE TABLE
22. 1937, DUMB WITNESS (aka POIROT LOSES A CLIENT)
23. 1937, DEATH ON THE NILE
24. 1938, APPOINTMENT WITH DEATH
25. 1938, HERCULE POIROT'S CHRISTMAS (aka MURDER FOR CHRISTMAS, aka A HOLIDAY FOR MURDER)
26. 1939, MURDER IS EASY (aka EASY TO KILL)
27. 1939, TEN LITTLE NIGERS (aka AND THEN THERE WERE NONE; also TEN LITTLE INDIANS)
28. 1940, SAD CYPRESS
29. 1940, ONE, TWO, BUCKLE MY SHOE (aka AN OVERDOSE OF DEATH; also THE PATRIOTIC MURDERS)
    

Check the opening blog post of the Agatha Christie Reading Challenge here.
If you'd like to join the Agatha Christie Reading Challenge click here.

I am using the list at Wikipedia of novels and collections of short stories. I will interlace the short story collections into the list where I can, but may have to read them out of order. I have decided on a method for reporting on the short stories.

Please feel free to join in my challenge, comment on my reviews etc.

I have set up a block over in the right hand column called Agatha Christie Reading Challenge (with the same logo as this post) where I am listing the books I'm currently reading and those I've finished.
The challenge is called ACRC so each review will be preceded by those letters.

If you want to follow my progress through your RSS reader, then the RSS URL is
http://www2.blogger.com/feeds/8273911883856580200/posts/default/-/Agatha%20Christie%20Challenge
Just save that in your bookmarks or RSS reader and you will be notified when I have written a new post.
Alternatively you could subscribe to the feed through FeedMyInbox. Just copy the RSS URL, click on the FeedMyInbox link and paste the URL in there.
You will need to confirm your subscription by email.

Contribute your blog postings about any Agatha Christie novels to the monthly carnival. Make an agreement with yourself that whenever you complete reading an Aggie you will write a blog posting about it and then submit the posting to the carnival.
If you are participating in the Agatha Christie Reading Challenge then write updates like this one and submit them to the Carnival. Let us know what progress you are making.

ACRC Update - 17 May 2010

My intent in the Agatha Christie Reading Challenge 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. If you look at some of my reviews you will see that I have been able to undertake some of this reflection.

Currently I am managing about a book a month.
I've read 17 books and 8 collections of short stories.

Read & reviewed so far

1. 1920, THE MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR AT STYLES
2. 1922, THE SECRET ADVERSARY
3. 1923, THE MURDER ON THE LINKS
4. 1924, THE MAN IN THE BROWN SUIT
   1924, POIROT INVESTIGATES (short stories: eleven in the UK, fourteen in the US)
5. 1925, THE SECRET OF CHIMNEYS
6. 1926, THE MURDER OF ROGER ACKROYD
7. 1927, THE BIG FOUR
8. 1928, THE MYSTERY OF THE BLUE TRAIN
9. 1929, THE SEVEN DIALS MYSTERY
   1929, Partners in Crime (fifteen short stories; featuring Tommy and Tuppence)
10. 1930, THE MURDER AT THE VICARAGE
    1930, The Mysterious Mr. Quin (twelve short stories; introducing Mr. Harley Quin)
11. 1931, THE SITTAFORD MYSTERY (aka MURDER AT HAZELMOOR)
12. 1932, PERIL AT END HOUSE
    1932 The Thirteen Problems (thirteen short stories; featuring Miss Marple, also known as The Tuesday Club Murders in the US)
13. 1933, LORD EDGEWARE DIES (aka THIRTEEN AT DINNER)
    
14. 1934, MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS (aka MURDER IN THE CALAIS COACH)
15. 1934, WHY DIDN'T THEY ASK EVANS? (aka THE BOOMERANG CLUE)
    1991, Problem at Pollensa Bay publ. 1991 (Two of them feature Hercule Poirot, two Mr. Satterthwaite and Mr. Harley Quin, and two Mr Parker Pyne.)
16. 1935, THREE ACT TRAGEDY (aka MURDER IN THREE ACTS)- Hercule Poirot and Mr Satterthwaite.
    1933, The Hound of Death - 12 short stories, UK only
    1934, Parker Pyne Investigates - 12 stories introducing Parker Pyne and Ariadne Oliver
    1934, The Listerdale Mystery - 12 short stories, UK only
17. 1966, THE THIRD GIRL - Hercule Poirot and Ariadne Oliver
    
    Reading schedule
    
    
18. 1935, DEATH IN THE CLOUDS (aka DEATH IN THE AIR)
19. 1936, THE A.B.C. MURDERS (aka THE ALPHABET MURDERS)
20. 1936, MURDER IN MESOPOTAMIA
21. 1936, CARDS ON THE TABLE
22. 1937, DUMB WITNESS (aka POIROT LOSES A CLIENT)
23. 1937, DEATH ON THE NILE
24. 1938, APPOINTMENT WITH DEATH
25. 1938, HERCULE POIROT'S CHRISTMAS (aka MURDER FOR CHRISTMAS, aka A HOLIDAY FOR MURDER)
26. 1939, MURDER IS EASY (aka EASY TO KILL)
27. 1939, TEN LITTLE NIGERS (aka AND THEN THERE WERE NONE; also TEN LITTLE INDIANS)
28. 1940, SAD CYPRESS
29. 1940, ONE, TWO, BUCKLE MY SHOE (aka AN OVERDOSE OF DEATH; also THE PATRIOTIC MURDERS)
    

Check the opening blog post of the Agatha Christie Reading Challenge here.
If you'd like to join the Agatha Christie Reading Challenge click here.

I am using the list at Wikipedia of novels and collections of short stories. I will interlace the short story collections into the list where I can, but may have to read them out of order. I have decided on a method for reporting on the short stories.

Please feel free to join in my challenge, comment on my reviews etc.

I have set up a block over in the right hand column called Agatha Christie Reading Challenge (with the same logo as this post) where I am listing the books I'm currently reading and those I've finished.
The challenge is called ACRC so each review will be preceded by those letters.

If you want to follow my progress through your RSS reader, then the RSS URL is
http://www2.blogger.com/feeds/8273911883856580200/posts/default/-/Agatha%20Christie%20Challenge
Just save that in your bookmarks or RSS reader and you will be notified when I have written a new post.
Alternatively you could subscribe to the feed through FeedMyInbox. Just copy the RSS URL, click on the FeedMyInbox link and paste the URL in there.
You will need to confirm your subscription by email.

Contribute your blog postings about any Agatha Christie novels to the monthly carnival. Make an agreement with yourself that whenever you complete reading an Aggie you will write a blog posting about it and then submit the posting to the carnival.
If you are participating in the Agatha Christie Reading Challenge then write updates like this one and submit them to the Carnival. Let us know what progress you are making.