Thursday, December 31, 2009

451 Challenge


Welcome to the 451 Challenge! This challenge is based on 451 Fridays, a weekly feature hosted at As Usual, We Need More Bookshelves.

451 Fridays is based on an idea from Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. In his novel, a group of people (Bradbury calls them Book People) are trying to keep the ideas found in books alive. Instead of actually saving the books, the Book People each "become" a book - memorizing it, word for word, and passing it down to the next generation.

451 Fridays asks what books you feel passionate about. What book do you think is so important that you would be willing to take on the challenge of "becoming"?

We have compiled an amazing list of books this year in our weekly 451 Fridays posts, and it's time to start reading them! So, the 451 Challenge was born.

Here is how it will work: between January 1, 2010 and November 30, 2010, participants are challenged to read books on the 451 master list. There will be several levels of participation:

Spark - read 1-2 books from the master list
Ember - read 3-4 books from the master list
Flame - read 5-6 books from the master list
Blaze - read 7 or more books from the master list

Re-reading is acceptable, as are crossovers with other challenges. Audio, print, and e-books are all acceptable. Each month, participants will be encouraged to post their reviews on the challenge blog, and each review posted will be an entry into a grand prize drawing for a $25 gift card to the online bookseller of the winner's choice.

This is my first time hosting a challenge, so if I've forgotten something important, please let me know. Let's have fun!!

Sign up using Mr. Linky below - please link to your specific post about the challenge, not just your blog.



70 comments:

  1. I'm in - I'll be joining at the Blaze level.

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  2. I'll definitely be participating, but I haven't written up my entry post yet. This is a great idea, and I LOVE Fahrenheit 451!

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  3. I would love to participate in the 451 challenge. However, I'm not sure how to sign up. Please let me know. You can twewt me at barbaramaller. Thanks.

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  4. I've just signed up at the Ember level. This should be fun! Fahrenheit 451 is one of my favorite books.

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  5. you are such a rockstar blogger!!! :)

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  6. Elizabeth, this is a wonderful idea and I'm definitely in. I'll be back with a post later. And I'm hoping you're going to say that new 451 books nominated between now and the end of the challenge will count too?!

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  7. Natalie - yay! So happy to have you!

    Barbara - I think we will have fun.

    Kylee - welcome! Thanks for joining us.

    Carolynn - *grin* thanks.

    fleurfisher - absolutely! I hope the list will keep growing and growing, and you can add/change the books you want to read at any time!

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  8. Thanks for the warm welcome, Elizabeth.

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  9. Im def going to take part in this one. there are more than a few books on your list that I would like to read and havent, so count me in!

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  10. I can't wait! I just posted my join-up post thingy (I'm tired, sorry!) and I counted -- there are 21 of these books that I haven't yet read that I either have on my shelves at home or at the library where I work (It's a small library with a limited collection), so those are the ones I will be focusing on!

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  11. I'm going to shoot for the Ember level because I can do enough crossovers to hit that easily. But I'd love to hit Flame.

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  12. I'm so not a blogger - great! Can't wait to see what you choose to read.

    Michelle - I did the same thing, and was amazed at how quickly I could find books for this challenge!

    Lisa - feel free to change your commitment level at any time - we're pretty loose with the rules around here. =)

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  13. k, signed up, written a post, now just need to get the books!
    http://thebookclubblog.co.za/?p=370

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  14. Help! Im new to this Mr linky thang and it has come up with my normal blog as opposed to my book blog... so have put myself twice... any way I can delete the imsonotablogger link and just leave the book club one?
    Oh dear, I must sound rather ignorant!

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  15. Robyn - I think I have it fixed. =)

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  16. Oh gosh, I thought I was done signing up for challenges. Then I saw this. Sigh. I'll be posting an announcement post soon -- I'm in for a spark.

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  17. Just posted my link up post! I'm going to read at the Ember Level! Woo hoo! This will be fun!

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  18. great idea! Just posted my signup post - joined at Spark and will try to move up to Ember over the course of the challenge. I know Catch 22 is definitely one of my two books - its been on the TBR shelf for TOO long!

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  19. I would love to join but I don't have a blog yet. Can I still participate? I would love to try for the blaze level. There are so many books on this list that I was already planning on reading. Thanks for hosting the challenge.

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  20. The master list for this challenge is amazing. I'm joining at Blaze. I'm new to the world of book blogging and challenges and this is the second challenge I've joined for 2010. Thanks very much for hosting. I enjoy reading your blog very much.

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  21. I'm in, I think I'll go all out and try for the Blaze level. I see some titles already that I'll be able to cross-over to other challenges. Thanks for hosting this challenge! :)

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  22. Beth - *grin* I know how you feel. Welcome!

    Jenners - yay! Glad to have you.

    Colleen - welcome! So glad you are joining us.

    Kristi - yep, that's no problem. I'll contact you about details..

    Judy - thank you! I'm glad to have you join us.

    Corrine - you're welcome - I think we are going to have lots of fun!

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  23. Kristi - hmmm, don't see a way to contact you. Could you email me? elischulenburg(AT)gmail(DOT)com. Maybe you can just email your reviews to me, and I'll post them here on the site. Sound okay??

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  24. I can see a lot of books on the list that I'd love to read. I'm going to join at the Ember level but will hopefully move up to Flame or Blaze. Thanks for hosting the challenge!

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  25. Helen - welcome! Glad you are joining us. There are definitely a LOT of great books on this list!

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  26. This sounds like fun! I'm in for sure. Once I get my post finished I'll link it up. Yeah! I'm looking forward to this.

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  27. This challenge looks exciting and many of the books are those that I have wanted to read for a long time. Thanks for creating this challenge.

    bstilwell12 at comcast dot net

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  28. Christi - I can't wait to see what you choose.

    Barb - you are welcome. It should be a fun year.

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  29. I'm going to give it a try. Only the second time I've participated in a challenge. I think I will try the Flame level. I had a hard time narrowing down my list!

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  30. I forgot to do the HTML of just the challenge response for the first sign up, so the second one is my real one. I'm going to Blaze through this one. Woohoo!

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  31. Peaceful Reader - I know, narrowing the list is the hardest part!

    Bekah - I can fix that. Glad to have you joining us!

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  32. I'm in, joined at the Blaze level. (:

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  33. Jasmine - I'm so happy to have you. You picked some great books - can't wait to see what you think of them.

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  34. Looks intriguing. I'm going to commit to the Ember level with the hopes of Flame or Blaze

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  35. Elizabeth:

    I somehow put the wrong link in Mr. Linky, Please change it to:

    http://prairieprogressive.com/2009/12/29/finalizing-the-challenge-list/

    Thanx!

    Tim

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  36. What if I don't have a link? I do have a LiveJournal, but I write in it very rarely these days.

    If nothing else, this is a fantastic list of books that I can use for my own reading -- thanks for compiling and sharing!

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  37. Tim - welcome! I'll get that link fixed.

    genealogygirl - you are welcome to read along with us! If you'd like to, you can email your reviews to me, and I will be happy to post them here on the main blog for you -
    elischulenburgATgmailDOTcom.

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  38. Hi
    love the idea ... but just wondering who decided on that list, an interesting selection but it has some peculiar entries and omissions. some of them are already on my 'TBR' list.
    Think I will join and pick a couple that I have never heard of, so that I can address the idea of what makes a book worth saving.
    looking forward to reading people's reviews
    much love Martine

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  39. I'm in. I'm committing to 3 or 4 but hope to do more than that. Happy Reading.

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  40. martine - the list was chosen by the participants of my weekly 451 Fridays feature - if you are wondering how it works, you are welcome to stop by and browse through the past weeks. Each participant gives some pretty compelling reasons why they feel their selections should be saved, and we've also spent time discussing what makes a book "worthy" to be saved.

    Margot - Yay! So glad to have you. =)

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  41. I want to join the challenge but made a mistake. I signed up twice. Please erase me in #38. I am sorry for the inconvenience. Happy New Year!

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  42. I'm really looking forward to this challenge. Thanks for hosting!

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  43. I SO want to participate @ the Blaze level, but I can't get the Linky to work for me. Is it too late to sign up? My post & list are here:

    http://tiny.cc/C2YPl

    TIA.
    Christina

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  44. kiki - no problem!

    kristinemarie - you're welcome - thanks for joining us!

    Christina - I got you signed up - sorry for the Linky trouble.

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  45. Hi everyone! I'm excited to join in at the spark level.

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  46. This is my first reading challenge and I am really excited! I am jumping in at the blaze level! I can't wait to get started.

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  47. I am also jumping in at the blaze level! I love many of the books on the list and can't wait to get started! This is the third challenge I have joined so I can't wait to see if any of the books I am reading for my other challenges will count!

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  48. Karen - welcome!

    Josh'sWife - I'm glad you are joining us! Be careful - once you get started on challenges, you might get addicted. =)

    Carrie - I bet a lot of the books will overlap. Glad you are joining us!

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  49. Hi! Thanks for the challenge - I am doing this one at spark level for now! :)

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  50. Hi, I'm accepting the challenge.

    Blazing Seven Level!

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  51. I'm signing up a little late, but I am totally in! I'm shooting for the Ember Level, but my list of ones I really want to read that I have not yet done would be at the Blaze Level. I guess we will see how it goes! Thanks for hosting this one! It will be fun!

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  52. One of the options is The Complete Works of Sherlock Holmes, if we read one of the collections of his works (I just read the adventures of sherlock holmes which has 12 cases) does that count?

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  53. I'll go for the Spark level, since I'm reading Persuasion :-) I might end up with more, but I know I can get 1 done this year ;-)

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  54. I'm going to go for the blaze level. I think I should be able to get that done. I should probably start my first book though...

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  55. count me in. my post is up already! :D

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  56. Sounds like fun! Count me in :)

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  57. MarthaE - Welcome! Glad to have you join us!

    heathcliff - wonderful! Can't wait to see what you think of the books you choose.

    Kat - Great! Glad to have you.

    Tif - you can always change/adjust your participation level as you go. Glad to have you.

    Vincent - thanks.

    Jules - sure, that counts!

    thekoolaidmom - you can add to your list all year long if you finish more - glad to have you.

    Amanda Leigh - I should probably start mine, too! Glad you are joining us.

    Ms Ulat Buku - So happy to have you join us!

    Black sheep - great - can't wait to see what you read.

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  58. Well, I'm on to a good start. I think I'll definitely be rereading some books that I know I've read, but can't remember well, and these are books that I want to know well enough to talk about with people. On the other hand, I've been meaning to read Maus for years and now I have and I'm on to Maus II.

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  60. So sorry. I meant to say, that list is too tempting... I'm going for FLAME. (face red for double posting!)

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  61. I posted a page with ALL current reading challenges. Let me know if you want me to add any other information to your challenge. I hope it brings even more readers to your challenge!

    Reading Challenges.

    Rachelle (Bibliobabe)

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  62. I just heard about this challenge....and am excited to join it..

    http://look-abooknook.blogspot.com/2010/03/451-challenge.html

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  63. I will post about this later and I know I'm late but I'm aming high!

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  64. I'm moving up to the Ember Level, because I just read my third book from the list, The Little Prince.

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  65. I can't believe I never posted my link when I joined the challenge! I just dropped by to check the reading list and was amazed to see that I hadn't linked up, so I added a link to my original challenge post.

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  66. I didn't do so well on this challenge this year! So bummed to not have completed it!

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  67. This comment has been removed by the author.

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