Before we even get started, I know what you're thinking: "Can't we at least get through Halloween before you start on the Christmas stuff?!?!" Please don't throw your pumpkin spice lattes at me just yet. Because I'm totally with you on this one. September is WAY too early to be getting into the Christmas spirit (even if I have been nibbled on by the holiday book bug). And that's why this challenge is not going to start until Black Friday. However, I am well aware that many bloggers schedule their reading one to two months in advance, so in an attempt to attract as many people as possible, I'm opening the sign-ups now to give everyone plenty of time to plan their reading accordingly. Make sense?
So here's the deal. The past two years I have challenged myself to read and review a Christmas book every day in December, and failed miserably. Even when I stick to short stories and kids books, it's just too much stress with everything else going on around the holidays (and I live like 3,000 miles away from my family, so I don't even have to worry about various family holiday get togethers). But this year, Caroline Andrus - Author & Blogger mentioned doing a twelve days of Christmas review thing, and that sounded a lot more manageable to me. So we got to talking about it with Curly Carla of Celebrity Readers, and the challenge was born.
Sign ups for the challenge will remain open until Christmas Eve because I refuse to be the Scrooge that tells people they can't join the fun at the last minute.
And starting on November 24th (Black Friday) you can submit your review links to the link-up below. In place of the name, please use the title and author of the book you're leaving a review for.
And I think that pretty much covers it. I hope you'll all join me for a fun reading challenge this holiday season. And if you have any questions, please feel free to ask in a comment (it's very possible I've forgotten to mention something.) - Katie
The Rules
This is supposed to be a fun, light-hearted challenge, so the rules will be minimal.
- Tell everybody about the 12 Books of Christmas Challenge (#12BooksOfXmas).
- Build a blog post or create a Goodreads shelf of the books you intend to read for the challenge (you can see mine here.) You can read outside your list, this is just a starting point. Then come back and add your name to the link-up. (Be sure to visit the other bloggers to see what they'll be reading.) Bloggers, please link back to this page so others can find the sign-up if they wish to join.
- Reviews must be posted between November 24 and December 24. The review link-up will open on November 24th. Bookmark this page to add your reviews as you get them posted.
- Any winter holiday themed books count (i.e.: Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa etc.)
- There are four achievement levels for this challenge, so read as few or as many books as you want.
- Have fun!
Achievement Levels
Christmas could not happen without Santa's many elves, so everyone who participates will get Elf Status.
We know all about Dasher, Dancer, Prancer and the other reindeer, and the important job they do, but let's be honest, Santa probably has a couple of back-up reindeer in the stable just in case Rudolph's red nose is a little runny on Christmas eve. That being said, flying the big guy around all night takes stamina, so to achieve Reindeer Status you'll need to power through at least five books.
It takes a truly committed woman to stand by a man with a job as demanding as Santa's. To achieve Mrs. Claus Status, you'll need to commit to reading at least nine books.
The jolly guy in the red suit is tasked with bringing joy to all the boys and girls on Christmas day. To earn Santa Status, you'll need to bring joy to at least twelve authors by reading and reviewing their books this holiday season.
Be sure to post this on your blog so everyone knows you're participating in the challenge.
Be sure to post this on your blog so everyone knows you're participating in the challenge.
Feel free to use any of my graphics in your blog posts, on your Facebook or Twitter, or wherever else, but please link back to this page if you do.
Sign up here to join the 12 Books of Christmas Challenge.
(Linkup closed)
Sign ups for the challenge will remain open until Christmas Eve because I refuse to be the Scrooge that tells people they can't join the fun at the last minute.
And starting on November 24th (Black Friday) you can submit your review links to the link-up below. In place of the name, please use the title and author of the book you're leaving a review for.
And I think that pretty much covers it. I hope you'll all join me for a fun reading challenge this holiday season. And if you have any questions, please feel free to ask in a comment (it's very possible I've forgotten to mention something.) - Katie
Share the links to your challenge reviews here. Please use the title and author of the book you're linking to in the name section of the form.
(Linkup closed)
Ima do this!
ReplyDeleteYay. So happy to have you on board! - Katie
DeleteMine is at the bottom of my reading challenge list...
ReplyDeleteThat makes sense. - Katie
DeleteOoooh. Interesting. I think I'd have to find a few xmas related books before I commit, but I'll start looking!
ReplyDeleteThere are SOOOOO many to choose from, especially if you enjoy romance. I'd love to have you on board! - Katie
DeleteSounds like an interesting challenge. Will try and find some Christmas themed books and may well sign up.
ReplyDeleteWe'd love to have you join us. - Katie
DeleteNot for me, I tend to stay away from challenges, but hope you all have fun and read some fab Christmas books.
ReplyDeleteThat's cool. Challenges aren't for everyone. I should probably stay away from them because I manage to always fail, but they're just so tempting to me. - Katie
DeleteI will do my best - reading and reviewing the books would be the easy part - but I'm among the suckiest of the suckiest when it comes to creative blogging - sigh.
ReplyDeleteI think this challenge would be right up your alley then, because it's all about reading and reviewing...just specifically themed books during a specific time frame (which is what's going to get me I'm sure). The most creative aspect of the challenge is building a blog post with a list of books you intend to read for the challenge, and you are welcome to use any of my graphics for that. I'd love to have you on board. I think you'd do amazing at this challenge. - Katie
DeleteI added my name but didn't comment. Oh well. This should be a lot of fun.
ReplyDeleteI'd noticed. Super happy to have you on board. - Katie
DeleteIt's sounds like fun... just have to wait a little because it makes me feel like Christmas will somehow get here a lot sooner and I'm not ready for the year to almost be over
ReplyDeleteWell the challenge itself doesn't start until Black Friday. I just know some bloggers who plan their reading out 2 full months in advance, and bloggers like that will want to know about this now to sign up and start planning.
DeleteI'm personally still trying to figure out how it's already almost October. I swear it was January just yesterday. - Katie
This looks like a great idea! I am going to bookmark this particular blog so I can know to come back and look at it. I have never read any christmas books, well not since Elementary school.
ReplyDeleteIf you enjoy romance, there are LOADS of Christmas books out there (and from my experience, some of the slightly older ones will go on sale on Amazon for either 99 cents or $1.99 right around Black Friday. I go a little one click crazy every year.) - Katie
DeleteDebating: sounds like fun. Great at the reading part terrible at the reviewing part. One of the reason I haven't been blogging as much.
ReplyDeleteReviews don't have to be long. And maybe joining would encourage you to get them written (I'm hoping it will encourage me to get my reviews written in a timely fashion, which is something I've not been doing well at lately). - Katie
DeleteThis looks like so much fun! And it reminds me that I need to make level buttons for my AtoZ Challenge next year lol. I have been sufficiently bitten by the Christmas bug so I'm in :) I'll get a post up ASAP and link up with you! I'll probably only get a couple read but hey, that's something! I'd love to be an elf lol!
ReplyDeleteSo happy to have you joining us...and I've been eying your AtoZ challenge for a few days (a couple of the bloggers I follow regularly have joined in, tempting me).
DeleteAnd there's a good chance I won't even hit Santa status for my own challenge, but it'll be fun trying. - Katie
I'm in. Aiming for Elf Status but who knows...
ReplyDelete