Hey Readers!  We are completely through the first quarter of the 2012.  How has the Challenge gone for you so far? Have you started?  Have you finished?  Are you cycling through the challenge for a second time?  This is the place to tell us how you are doing!

I finished the challenge this week and I'm doing it a second time.

Just picked up a new to me that will fit the "war" category This Dame for Hire book one by Sandra Scoppettone.  Takes places in New York in 1943.  Fun so far.

I have 7 of 12 categories complete, and regions in bonus USA category. Haven't done anthng for award winners yet.

Alice

I've read 11 of the 12 categories.  I have Going Native yet to finish.  I've finished 4 of the 5 regional categories and 3 of the 6 award categories. 

edited for typo

I haven't been reading very much and most of what I have read has been historical fiction. If I read anything that fits the challenge I will post it,otherwise I think the challenge is going to be a bust for me this year. I'm okay with that--there's always next year!

Geri--congratulations to you! At this rate you will be able to finish the challenge four times!

You ladies keep on reading cause I still love to hear about what everyone else is reading! 

I've finished 10 of the 12 categories - just 'Dead, Death, Murder & Mayhem' and 'Are You Going to Eat That?" to go. I've never really gotten into mysteries featuring food, so I'm not sure what I'll read for that last category.

I've read two for the award winners, and I have another checked out of the library right now. I've only read one regional so far, but I have plenty of books on my TBR shelves that can be counted in that category!

I didn't finish the challenge last year, but I think I will this year - and maybe even get through the categories twice. We'll see...

I suppose I should reply.  I have completed 6 of 12 of the main challenge and I am currently reading the 7th.  I've read 4 of 6 in the first bonus and 3 of 6 of the second bonus.  I'm not burning through them as fast as I did last year but I'm just over halfway through and we still have nine months to go so I think I'm in good shape to finish.

I've finished four of the twelve categories and should have a fifth (The Big Apple category) finished tonight or tomorrow.  I've also read three books for the "See the USA in your Chevy category" and have read one book for the award category. 

I have finished five six out of 12 for the main challenge and none for the bonus yet. I am in other challenges and I am trying to alternate through them. THough, I didnt get a lot read in March. Hopefully will get more done in April.

ETA: because I read another book today.

I have three left to complete.  I love reading about the books everyone is reading as well.  Always looking out for good books and NTM authors. 

I've completed it once, and am about 1/2 - 3/4 through it the second time. There are a couple of categories I'll have to check to see what others have read (and enjoyed!) for the second go round.

Finished 7 books in the main category; 3 for the Awards category and 1 for USA category. I'm doing better in this challenge than any of the others - including the one I'm sponsoring in the HF forum!

I have finished it all - except - for the alliteration category! I have ordered some of the suggestions that others have offered, but so far - nada! Now, If I can just get one! I did read the first Inspector Singh book. Would that one be considered alliterative?     Blessings to all - and many, many thanks for all the prayers! Every day is a day nearer a solution - it's in His very capable hands!!!! I'm able to be out and about a little more, for which I'm ever so grateful!      M'ann

Of the 22 categories, I have read 12 books.  They are scattered thru two of the sections.  I think I have only one more Award Winner to read, but have read none of my "Travel" books just yet.  I feel sure I will complete the Challege, but all you speed readers doing two and three times continue to amaze me!!!!

Percentage wise, I think I'm reading mystery books more slowly than books for any of my other challenges, I'm in the mode of trying to finish the harder challenges first. But I have no worries about finishing.  What will give me the most trouble is the USA part--I've always preferred British mysteries, and the in the last several years I'm branching out into a lot of other countries.  But I had NO IDEA how resistant I am to reading anything set in the US!  I keep choosing books and rejecting them!  Luckily, there are a few American cozy series that I'm still reading so I'm going to use those.  And I'm in the middle of a book by Nevada Barr (set in Arizona) that I didn't mind reading because it's set in a cave.  I'm really enjoying it--I'm fascinated by caves, bats, etc., BUT I'm claustrophobic, so I almost had to stop reading a few times during the really claustrophobic parts.  Anyway, the USA part IS truly a challenge, I hope I can find enough books that I want to read for it!

Diane

I finished the challenge a while back and really enjoyed. Mysteries have always been my favorite genre since my mom started me on Nancy Drew in 3rd grade. I've read tons of mysteries since I finished the challenge and may do it again.

Mary M.C. --- YIPPEE for you!!!! 

I had to go look, I haven't been actively pursuing it. I have 5 of the main categories done and one of the regional bonus books.

Congrats to those who have already finished!

Cheryl

I've completed 6 of the main categories and non of the challenges.  I haven't been in a mystery reading mood, but I know I'll get back to them.  I started out pretty good, but have slacked off recently.  i've been on a historical fiction and romance kick lately   i've also been trying to limit my computer time, so I don't check in here nearly as often as I should.

Finished it...have posted some 2nd books in a couple of categories.  Not really read for the challenge, but they fit!!  Guess I could go back and add some others I've read since I finished it.

So far I have read a total of six for the challenge!  Lots more to go.  Have been working on my other challenges.  Finished one - biographies, etc., that required a minimun of eight books.

I have finished 6 of the 12 main categories and 1 bonus selection.  My favorite so far was the mystery I read for the War is Hell challenge.  It was The Danger Within by Michael Gilbert.  I like older mysteries and this is set in a prison camp in Italy during WWII.  The author was actuallly a prisoner of war at one point so the book had an authentic feel to it.  I do love these mystery challenges: every year I find at least one new author I doubt I would have stumbled on otherwise!

I guess I am the "slo poke" for the challenges this year. Last week end I got out my lists and started placing books in categories. SO, I have been reading whatever I choose and will then put the ones that apply into categories. Then I can determine the voids that exist and start reading to fill those. This is backwards to some of you, but this year's reading has been hampered because of work. A co-worker is on sick leave with recurring cancer and I am doing 2 jobs until he returns. He has been living with CA for 24 years and he is only 32. We all need to be thankful for our blessings that we are not dealing with such a horrible situation. This last surgery they removed his bladder, prostate, and lymph nodes. YIKES what a survivor.

After seeing my Mother this afternoon, I am going to pool and start on book lists. I did take annual leave on Friday and finished ONE STEP BEHIND, by Henning Mankell.  WONDERFUL BOOK. Now I am looking for his next FIREWALL. The  one I started on Friday should fit somewhere. It is CAROUSEL by J. Robert Janes. It is a Jean-Louis St-Cyr and Hermann Kohler Investigation. That team of St-Cyr of the Surete and Kohler of the Gestapo must find the killer who may be a member of the Resistance. For those of you who have not read any of this series, Janes masterfully creates the bleak world of France under Nazi occupation.

Mary S

WOW Mary --- there are a lot of those St. Cyr books!!!!  I think I will put the first one, which is the one you read, on my wishlist.  The topic sounds really interesting to me.  Thanks and "no" thanks for adding to the TBR!!!  Sorry you are having to work two jobs --- how sad to think that young man has had cancer since he was just a child.  You are so correct --- we really do need to be thankful for our blessings, good health being a very important one.

I'm trying to do four challenges this year, and I have to admit that I've finished the most books in this one, surprising myself a bit.  I've read 7 of the 12 categories, all of the See the USA bonus category and 5 of the 6 books for the award bonus category.  Only six more books and I'm done!  I should start looking at some of those other challenges I thought to try...