Join the challenge!
Did you participate in the By the Decade Challenge last year? Would you like to again? Or, if you didn’t take part in 2007, are you interested in doing so?
The rules are simple:
1. Read a minimum of 8 books in 8 consecutive decades in ‘08.
2. Books published in the 2000’s do not count.
3. Titles may be cross-posted with any other challenge.
4. You may change your list at any time.
5. Peruse the eligible book lists and reviews from last year. Any book from that decade is eligible; it doesn’t have to be on the list to qualify. Another good source to find out when books were published is wikipedia. For example if you follow this link, you will see how easy it is to search books by a particular decade. Another resource is fantasticfiction.co.uk.
6. If you participated in By the Decade ‘07 and I didn’t put your review up, please let me know in the comments for the appropriate decade and I’ll include it in the space before the Mr. Linky. Please don’t post ‘07 reviews in the Mr. Linky–that’s for the ‘08 reviews.
7. Sign up through Mr. Linky below. Please use the url of your specific post for this challenge rather than just your blog url.
8. Come back and post your reviews in the appropriate Mr. Linky (I’ll have them up after January 1). You are encouraged to post all the books you’ve read for that decade if you’re participating in Decades ‘08.
9. Prizes: One credit or in-stock book each will be given away to 8 individuals through paperbackswap or bookmooch. International is okay. The grand prize winner will get 8 credits or in-stock books! If you complete 8 decades, that is one entry for the prize. For each additional decade you complete consecutively, that is an additional entry. So, if you complete 12 consecutive decades, that would be 5 entries for the prize.
10. Have fun reading!
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65 Responses to “Join the challenge!”
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Rules
Read at least 8 books in 8 consecutive decades in '08. You may cross-post with other challenges and/or change your list at any time. The only restriction is that books in the 2000's do not count!
You have done an absolutely fabulous job with this site for the challenge!!! I want you to know that all your hard work is appreciated and it has encouraged me to seriously consider rejoining for this coming year. Thank you, 3M!
Thought you’d never ask! I also have a site I can post which has publications listed since 1589!
Jan
Thank you so much, Joy, and I really hope you participate!
Jan, I’ll list the site you posted on anovelchallenge group. Glad you’re joining!
I’m in but just one questions. For the extra books over and above the 8, do they have to be from other decades not already read from or could you read a second book from a decade already covered?
I am so in on this one for it is a great help with my ongoing 20th Century challenge. Will join up officially nearer the time.
Fantastic blog you’ve set up also. Well done and thanks for all your efforts.
Callista–so glad you’re joining! Yes, for the prizes, you have to choose books from the decades not already read yet.
Lizzy–welcome to the challenge and thanks!
[…] is repeating the Decades Challenge in 2008. I have to do this as it dovetails with my personal 20th Century challenge. So I will […]
Forget the waiting - I’ve joined officially!
G’day
I am going to give it a whirl next year. 8 books is manageable especially as I can combine the challenges.
Is it the date the issue was first published or the date the edition I am reading was published? eg Little house in the prairie has been re-printed just about every decade - do I take 1st published - or the date of my issue?
Hi Sally, so glad you’ve joined.
Yes, the year used should be the year it was first published.
I’m in. My list is posted here and I will be reviewing the books on my main blog.
I’m not a member of either bookmooch or paperbackswap but the challenge still sounds like fun.
As you see, Michelle - I caved in
This is a great challenge - many of these books dovetail nicely with my other reading challenges and book groups. Thanks for hosting again 
I missed out this year, and was really hoping there was going to be a 2008 version! (I think I’ve even convinced my husband to come up with a list and join in, too.)
Thank you so much for hosting this!
I think I can read eight books. I’ll look through those 1001 books to read before I die. See you all soon.
Argh, I messed up on Mr. Linky as I linked to my blog main page and not my choices list. Here’s the link to my tentative list.
Thanks for doing this again!! I missed out on the first one and I’m excited to get to do this one!!
[…] blbooks 8:10 pm Michele (3M) is hosting a By The Decades reading challenge for 2008. I didn’t participate in the 2007 challenge, but I was hoping that […]
This was a favorite challenge from last year. I felt so bold, joining in with you when I didn’t really know anybody. And you seemed so wonderfully organized - which you are.
Yoou’ve got some doosy’s on your list - War and Peace, Middlemarch, wow.
I read a book this year, Restless, that referred to The Magnificent Ambersons continually. The main character was teaching English using that book, so I’ve been intrigued.
I’m in!
Joy, raidergirl3, Kristina, Athena, Debi, Wendy, Pussreboots–So glad you all joined!
Raidergirl, yes, I have some long ones. That may change later! I really enjoyed this challenge in 2007 also.
Kristina, glad you get to join in this year!
Athena, I corrected the Mr. Linky.
Wendy, so glad you’re participating!
Pussreboots, you don’t have to be a member of either to get the prize. I’ll send you the books through my accounts.
Thanks but I have another question. Can my extra books be from any other decade or do they still have to be consecutive? For example if my 8 are 1910-1990 can my extra be from the 1500’s? Or must it be 1900 and lower?
Callista, yes it still has to be consecutive. So you would have to start at 1900 and then go to 1890, etc.
The only exception would be if you had a separate 8 altogether such as 1710-1780. Then there would be 8 extras to go along with the other 8.
I missed the 2007 challenge, but I think I might be up for this one! Let me get a tentative list together, and I’ll be back to do it all “official”.
Thanks for hosting it again; it sounds like a lot of good reading!
Count me in! I don’t blog but hopefully I can join through this comment here.
how am i ever going to finish all my challenges if new ones keep popping up?!
it seems that with cross-listing, this would be doable - so i’ll get thinking about some books and let you know. thanks!
[…] blbooks 4:13 pm Michele (3M) is hosting a By The Decades reading challenge for 2008. I didn’t participate in the 2007 challenge, but I was hoping that there’d be another […]
What a great idea! I just signed up and my list is on my website. Thanks for starting this! I’m very excited to have motivation to actually finish some books on my pile.
I’ve never done a reading challenge before and this’ll be my first. But it’s super exciting! My list will be up on my website. I’m going to that that right now.
This is my first reading challenge and also my first blog. I’m very excited to participate and am looking forward to it. I’ll get working on my list and have it up as soon as possible.
This is the first time I’m entering a reading challenge, but it seems like a lot of fun. I almost wish January 1st were tomorrow! ;D
I am very excited about this challenge. Just like
Susan this is my first reading challenge and my first blog. My list is on my blog. Check it out.
This is a fascinating idea! Here’s to your turn-out and your achievements being strong on this concept.
Thanks for such an awesome challenge! I look forward to it immensely!
Great idea! It makes us think about ways to balance our reading and broaden our literary experiences.
Count me in!
I am rather new to the book blogs and reading challenges and the like, but I’d like to join if I can. This sounds fun!
My Final list - I am ready for January
(1920’s) Winnie the Poo by AA Milne (1926)
(1930’s) Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingels Wilder (1932)
(1940’s) Five go to Smuggler’s Top by Enid Blyton (1947)
(1950’s) Charlotte’s Web by EB White (1952)
(1960’s) Chocky by John Wyndham (1968)
(1970’s) The Princess Bride by William Goldman (1973)
(1980’s) Golden Witchbreed by Mary Gentle (1984)
(1990’s) Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by JK Rowling (1997)
This is going to be a great challenge. I can’t wait until January 1st. Here’s my tenative list:
1860s-Little Women
1870s-Black Beauty
1880s-Washington Square (I think)
1890s-The Awakening
1900s-Anne of Green Gables
1910s-My Antonia
1920s-The Great Gatsby
1930s-Rebecca
Some of these books I have wanted to read for a very long time. Now I’ve have the perfect reason from them to move up on my TBR list!
Kathy
I’d like to do it too! Give some books I wouldn’t normally read a try.
I’m in - didn’t participate in 2007, but I’m looking forward to the 2008 version. I’ve got my probable list posted (may have to take advantage of that Rule #4
Did last year without signing up so am looking forward to being official this year. ::grin::
I would love to join this challenge. I am not a member of either the swap or bookmooch but still want to participate - this is my first year of challenges and I am signing up for a few. I am glad we can cross-post to other challenges.
Thanks for hosting a great challenge.
My list is at the moment consisting of far too many books, but I shall narrow it down when, well, I get the time. I am very much looking forward to this challenge!
it is fun to discover I have already read something from every decade. Now I can start gonig through again! I am going to be combining this with some other challenges. I will be concentrating on 1800 - 1900 as that is what I will be teaching in the 2008 calendar year. I’m excited!
I was trying to limit challenges to just two at a time, but I couldn’t resist this one. Sounds like fun!
I’m in, though I haven’t the foggiest yet what I’ll be reading!!
I’ve just signed up but my list is still ongoing… I’ll surely make some changes along the way. There are so many book I’d love to read. Thanks for the nice challenge!
Do rereads count for this challenge? Or must they be new reads?
Thanks!
Lisa L
Just finalized my list and posted it on my blog:
http://lisalit.blogspot.com/2007/12/decades-challenge.html
Can’t wait to begin!
I just joined the challenge. I’m really excited about it!
One question, though, do the books have to be read in chronological order, or does it matter?
Thank you for hosting this. I’m new to blogging and looking forward to being part of the challenge this year.
Please add me to the list of participants! I have had a lot of fun checking out different challenges. This one will really encourage me to read outside my *rut*! Thank you 3M for all your hard work on this page-it definitely helped me decide that I could join this challenge and have a chance at being successful in completing it.
I look forward to reading everyone’s reviews as they come in!
*smiles*
Kim
My list is up. I twiddled about and didn’t join in on 2007’s, but I’m looking forward to this one!
Better late than never, right?
I’m terribly new at all of this, but I’m jumping in. I’m sure the water is fine!
Looking forward to all the fun!
Lezlie
I’m joining in as well, but I signed up with Mr Linky before I blogged about the challenge, so can you change my link to the correct one:
http://foreigncircuslibrary.blogspot.com/2008/01/decades-08.html
Now I’m off to build a list…
I’m sorry to be so bothersome, but since I signed up for the challenge, my blog has moved. The correct URL to my challenge list is http://www.straytalk.net/challenges/decades-08-the-list/
It would be ever so kind of you if you could change to that one in the list of participants.
Thank you. =)
I have my first review ready: Nine Stories.
My first three reviews are up (if I can manage the HTML for the links…)
Little Jarvis (1890)
Second Year of the Look-about Club (1889)
Six Little Cooks (1877)
They’re all substitutions: the decades were on my original list, but not these titles. (I’m exploring the world of obscure children’s books…)
Hi there I’m participating in this challenge but have changed my blog address. I no longer have a blog at girlplusdirt.blogspot.com. The link to my challenge post is at : http://randomfieldnotes.blogspot.com/2007/12/by-decade-challenge.html Thanks!
I realize I may be insane to start this now but I have been thinking about it for a while and this looks like so much fun, I figured I should at least try! Thanks for hosting this!
[…] the Decades Challenge 2008 Posted on January 10, 2008 by blbooks Michele (3M) is hosting a By The Decades reading challenge for 2008. I didn’t participate in the 2007 challenge, but I was hoping that […]
Oops! I was too eager (as I see others have been) and I linked before doing an actual decades post to link to. If possible, please change my link to http://weartheoldcoat.blogspot.com/2008/02/decades-challenge.html
Thanks — and sorry!
This is a great idea!
I just joined the book challenge a couple days ago. I also just started a new book blog, and I just changed the URL (I promise that this is the first and only time that will happen), so the URL in the link above no longer works. The correct URL is:
http://bookmews.blogspot.com/2008/02/decades-08-challenge.html
Sorry about that!
What a great challenge! This is actually the first reading challenge I have ever participated in. I can’t believe I haven’t done this before!I can’t wait to dig in to some of the “Classics” to complete this challenge. Thanks for hosting this.
I am starting in late, I know. I just joined A Novel Challenge last week, and I saw your challenge. I will try my best. Judy