WWI Reading Challenge 2012
War Through the Generation’s 2012 reading challenge will be World War I. The challenge will run from January 1, 2012, through December 31, 2012.
Rules:
This year you have options when reading your fiction, nonfiction, graphic novels, etc. with the WWI as the primary or secondary theme.
Books can take place before, during, or after the war, so long as the conflicts that led to the war or the war itself are important to the story. Books from other challenges count so long as they meet the above criteria.
Dip: Read 1-3 books in any genre with WWI as a primary or secondary theme.
Wade: Read 4-10 books in any genre with WWI as a primary or secondary theme.
Swim: Read 11 or more books in any genre with WWI as a primary or secondary theme.
Additionally, we’ve decided that since there are so many great movies out there about WWI, you can substitute or add a movie or two to your list this year and have it count toward your totals.
**Note**
*Participants anywhere in the world are eligible for most prizes in the post-challenge drawing!**
*Prize drawings will be for participants finishing the minimum 1-3 books.
*Participants can always read more than their initial goals, and even if you sign up for 11+, but read just 1-3 books, and you’ve officially completed the challenge and are eligible for prizes.
You can decide which books you’d like to read right away, or you can choose them during the course of the challenge. Check out the Recommended Reading: WWI page for suggestions.
***Attention Participants***
We wanted to try something a little different this year, and we thought that it would be fun to do a group review here on War Through the Generations midway through the challenge.
The 2012 book for the read-a-long will be A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway.
How to sign up:
Leave a comment on this page with your reading goal. Please spread the word about the challenge on your blogs. Feel free to do a sign up post and leave a link to your post here.
Everyone who signs up will be listed on the WWI Reading Challenge Participants page.
Sign-ups will be ongoing.
**Once you’ve signed up, please visit the Buttons page to snag some for your blog for use in your sign up post and book reviews! (New WWI Reading Challenge buttons forthcoming)**
Share your reviews with fellow participants:
If you have a blog and have reviewed a book you’re counting toward the challenge, please e-mail the review links to warthroughgenerations AT gmail DOT com. We’d be happy to post the first paragraph (or the first few sentences, depending on paragraph length) and a link to your blog.
If you don’t have a blog but would like to share your thoughts on a book you’ve read for the challenge, please write up a review and e-mail it to warthroughgenerations AT gmail DOT com. Please include the name you wish to be displayed as author of the review.
If you have any questions, please e-mail us at warthroughgenerations AT gmail DOT com. We hope you will join us for a year filled with great books!
***Please follow War Through the Generations in your feed readers and on Twitter @wargenerations and Facebook for updates, giveaways, and more***
198 Comments
Yes! I’ve been waiting for a WWI challenge. I’m signing up at the Wade level. Thanks!
We’ve added you to the participants page! Thanks for joining!
Yea! Glad you’ll be joining us!
Yes I am signing up and going for dip since I want to take it easy
Blodeuedd, we’ve got you on the participants list.
So excited about this! If you’re putting together a list of recommended reading, Anne Perry’s WW I series of mysteries are fantastic (I almost hesitate to call them mysteries, because they’re so much more than that) – first one is No Graves As Yet.
Carrie, I’m so glad that you are excited. I hope that you will be joining us. I did put Perry’s books on the list, though I’m not sure I got them all, so if you see any are missing, please email warthroughgenerations at gmail.
I failed miserably at this year’s challenge, but I am so in for the WWI challenge!
I will sign in for a dip at this stage!
Marg, we’ve signed you up on the participants list; Which blog would you like listed with your name?
Use my blog (http://www.theintrepidreader.com/). I will cross post at Historical Tapestry as well though.
Marg, excellent. I just wanted to make sure. Thanks so much for joining.
Wonderful! I’ve been waiting for this one…I have a stack of WW I books just waiting. THanks so much for your continued great job hosting this — I’m really looking forward to it. And I think the group read-along is a terrific idea.
Tina, excellent, what level would like to sign up for? And I’ll get you on the list.
What a great idea. I will sign up for a dip at this point. Am looking forward to the read-a-long. (http://anglersrest.blogspot.com)
Julie, I got you posted on the participants list.
Thanks Serena, I will add a posting to my blog sometime Tuesday, or I should say later it is the early hours here!
I was hoping for a WW I reading challenge this year. I am definitely participating at the dip level, but hope it ends up at the wade level. I am sorry that the Civil War didn’t engage me as much as the World Wars have, so I didn’t do well with that challenge (but the year isn’t over yet and hope springs eternal)
Alex, not a problem. We’ll get you on the participants page for WWI today. Thanks for joining us.
Serena – I will definitely be participating! I just haven’t written any challenges posts yet. I hope to get to them soon.
Hey Serena and Anna…
I will of course love to join this one. I’ll aim for the Wade (4-10).
Happy Thanksgiving! Wisteria….Bookworms Dinner
Carrie: Glad you’ll be joining us! Just let us know what level after you decide, and we’ll add you to the participants page.
Wisteria: Yea! I’ve added you to the participants list. Happy Thanksgiving to you, too!
Wisteria, thanks for joining us. You are on the participants page.
I think I’ll sign up for the Wade commitment level – but hope to read more.
Excellent, Carrie. I’ll get you on the list now.
I’ll sign up for Wading and hope to find time for more.
I’d love to participate in this – there are lots of WWI books I’d like to read. I’ll sign up for the Wade level. Thanks!
Evana and Helen, you both have been added to the participants list. Thanks for joining us.
I’m signing up for the dip, and if I find myself wanting more, I’ll up the level.
Andrea, thanks for signing up to participate. I’ve got you on the participants list.
I’ve been hoping this theme would come around – please sign me up for the wade level.
FleurFisher, thanks for signing up; you are now on the participants page.
Hi – I’m new to this but follow the blogs of a couple of people who have already signed up and have decided to join in, if that’s ok. I’m up for the wade level.
This is my first time doing this challenge! WWI is a subject I’m very interested in, so I decided to join this year. I’m going to do the Dip level, but hope to read more.
Sue, welcome aboard! Thanks for joining in. Christy, Thanks for joining in as well. Both of you have been added to the participants list.
I would like to join in reading 11 or more books about World War One. Some of them will be children’s books, but I will plan to read at least 11.
Sherry: Thanks for joining us. You’ve been added to the participants page for 2012
Please sign me in for this challenge. I hope to read four books.
Margaret: You’re all signed up!
I’ll start of at the Dip Level and then maybe revise my goal later in the year… This one’s going to be fun!
I’ve signed up – I’ve read so much on WWII, so it’s time to go back a bit further.
Sanskriti, we’ve got you on the participants page. Thanks for joining. Jennifer, you are also on the participants page. Thanks for joining.
Thanks for the running this challenge. I’ll wade in, first with familiar books but I hope to find less frequently read books in the next six months.
Thanks for doing this challenge, I will wade with these
http://buffalosavage.xanga.com/757125027/war-through-the-generations-does-the-great-war/
Matt, thanks for joining us, and we’ve got you on the participants page!
Even though I totally failed with last year’s challenge, I will be joining in on this one.
Oops, will be participating in the DIP level.
Nise, I have 1 more book to read about Civil War before completing the challenge. LOL I will get you on the WWI participants list. Thanks for joining us.
http://ihugmybooks.wordpress.com/2011/11/29/war-through-the-generations-challenge-the-great-war/#comment-608
Count me in : )Can’t wait for the challenge to begin. I’m going to go in the wade level.
Lubylou12, thanks for signing up, we’ll get you on the participants page.
WWI is one of my favorite historical eras so I am really excited about this challenge! I am going to take a dip, reading between 1 and 3 books.
Thank you!
Helen, we’ve got you added to the participants list for 2012. Please feel free to follow the blog, twitter, and facebook, as well as grab a button for the challenge from the buttons page.
I shall give it a go and have a wade, so sign me up please.
Chris, we’ve added you to the participants list. Thanks for joining in.
Please sign me up at the swim level. I don’t have a blog.
An author (mother and son) whose work you might consider adding is Charles Todd.
http://charlestodd.com/
Liz, you are now on the participants list. Feel free to email in your thoughts about the books you read and we will post them for you. I just learned about Charles Todd’s books and plan to add them to the list. Thank you for the recommendation.
You know I’m in! One of my favorite challenges!
I’ll be wading in at least.
Wade with 4-10 books.
Thank you both for hosting this and for your hard work and encouragement to all of us!
Annette
Annette, getting you on the list now. Thanks for continuing to join the challenges!
A useful link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_books_about_World_War_I
Thanks for the link Liz. The list is ever-growing.
Please sign me up! Starting out at the bottom at Dip level, but looking to work my way up to Wade!
Journeythroughwords.blogspot.com
Carrie, I’ve added you to the list. Thanks for joining.
Award for The Sommes Station by Andrew Martin, which is on your list. Must admit, have not read any by Andrew Martin yet.
http://www.criminalelement.com/blogs/2011/12/ellis-peter-award-announced
I’m interested in the readalong of “A Farewell to Arms”, but I’m wondering what time of the year it will take place? Some months would not be so good for me… thanks!
Sign me up at the Wade level please! So excited!
Eibhlin: Generally the read-a-long for A Farewell to Arms would be mid-year, so around June, July.
Camden K we’ve got you on the participants lies
Great idea. I’m signing up for the Swim level. Started a journal of interesting WWI books that I own or can get in the library. Ann Perry’s “No Graves As Yet” renewed my interest in WWI books. Just learning about blogs! Thanks.
Please count me in for this challenge, at “Dip” level. I’ll be joining in the readalong of “A Farewell to Arms”, and reading something on WWI from the Irish perspective. I’ve blogged more about my reasons here: http://margheallaraleim.wordpress.com/2011/12/04/wwi-reading-challenge-2012-war-through-the-generations/
Thanks!
Hi: I would love to participate! This is one of my favourite subjects…and I have so many books I’ve been meaning to read for ages on it. I’ve put up a challenge post at http://jcreadingchallenges.blogspot.com/2011/12/world-war-i-reading-challenge.html and will be “Swimming” along (mostly with Canadian non-fiction). Thanks!
Terrific challenge. Have linked up on my blog. Thanks for hosting this.
http://irregularsilsbee.blogspot.com/p/2012-challenges.html
Oh- and I am going for the “Dip” level (1-3)
Serena, can you verify that I’m signed up? This is my first time communicating on websites and blogs! I have read all the Charles Todd books and absolutely agree with the recommendation.The Maisie Dobbs series by Jacqueline Winspear also deal with post-traumatic stress from the war. Didn’t know about the vets walking aimlessly during the night throughout London.Learned a great deal not often covered by non-fiction books.
Thanks.
Lorraine, Eibhlin, and Jenn, you’ve all been added to the 2012 participants list. Happy reading.
Hey how do I sign up? I will do the 4-10 I think, and I’ve read a lot off the list already. Yey!
Manchester’s Artistic Son, we’ve got you added to the participants list. Thanks for joining.
Goodreads has a WWI group:
http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/3994.Great_War_1914_1918_The_Society_and_Culture_of_the_First_World_War
which I joined after signing up for this challenge, but I’m unsure whether it’s still active as no response even after emailing moderator. But still a useful bookshelf.
Looks like fun. I’m in for a wade.
John, I’ve added you to the participants list. Thanks for joining us.
Awesome! I just found this and I’m excited!
Oh, and I think I’m trying for the Wade level. I’m really pumped about Farewell to Arms as I haven’t read it since my preblogging days but it’s far and away one of my favorite WWI books. Hooray!
iwriteinbooks, we’ve got you on the participants list. I’m glad you’ll be joining us for the Farewell to Arms read-a-long.
Silsbee, we’ve added you to the participants list.
I’m signing up for ‘Dip’. My post is here: http://read-warbler.blogspot.com/2011/12/war-through-generations-challenge-2012.html
Cath: We’ve added you to the participants list. Thanks for signing up.
Hi! Please sign me up for the ‘Dip’ level. Here’s my blog post http://olduvaireads.wordpress.com/2011/12/07/challenges-for-2012-aka-the-overly-ambitious-post/
Olduvai, you’ve been added to the participants list. Thanks for joining us.
Here’s my sign-up
http://www.exurbanis.com/archives/5029
Debbie, you’ve been added to the participants list.
Okay, I’ve decided to join! Here is my sign-up post about this challenge:
http://libraryofcleanreads.blogspot.com/2011/12/war-through-generations-wwi-reading.html
I’ve signed up for the Dip level! Thanks!
http://www.reviewsbymolly.com/2011/11/2012-challenge-sign-ups.html
I’m signing up for the dip level on this one, but you’ll probably see more. Reva
Laura, Molly, Reva: You’ve all been signed up on the WWI participants page. Thanks for joining us in the new year.
I am signing up for the Dip level but might read more. Here’s my post:
http://inkquilletc.blogspot.com/2011/12/reading-challenge-4.html
Thanks.
Neer, you’ve been added to the participants list. Thanks for joining.
I am joining at the ‘wade’ level. Here is my sign up post.
Becky, we’ve added you to the participants list. See you in the new year.
I would like to sign up for the dip level. Looking forward to a great year and many books!
Here is my post:
http://kaptica.blogspot.com/2011/12/2012-challenges-my-first-challenge.html
Will you be revisiting WWII books in the future? My new historical fiction Leaving Lukens is just out now, and is set in 1942.
Synopsis: As friends move from the safe enclave of Lukens that always has been her home, Ella Marie Hutchins struggles with the decision to leave the disappearing coastal town near Oriental. Her choice might be made for her when World War II edges closer to the North Carolina village, but not before a visiting sailor named Griff teaches her how to see anew all the treasures of life both above and below the ocean’s surface. Is Griff really what he appears to be?
Thanks for letting me know,
Laura
K. Austene, we’ve added you to the participants page. I hope you’ll participate in the mid-year read-a-long of A Farewell to Arms.
Laura, we will get back to you soon about your WWII novel, but will definitely add it to the recommended reading list.
Sign me up girls for a dip. Lol. I’ll add it to my post on Sunday or I may have a day free next week to post. I’m looking forward to this one.
I thought I can only sign up, once I’ve set up an introductory post but I can do it already.
I’m signing up for Wade.
Three books will be the first three of my readalong, and two will be read additionally.
I will not join the readalong as I’ve read it not too long ago but I can join the dicussion.
I’ll post about my readalong beginning of next week and a few days later I’ll put up the intro to your challenge including my titles and a few suggestions of books I’ve already read.
Dar and Caroline, you’ve been added to the participants list.
Caroline, I hope you do join in the Farewell to Arms discussion. We’re looking forward to it. Please do feel free to send any book suggestions to the War blog email, and I will get them added to the list.
I’m escited for this challenge – WWI is a favorite historical period. I’m going to start out at Wade level.
Lisa: Excellent. Thanks for joining us in 2012. I’ve got you on the participants list!
I’m in for a dip this year and am looking forward to the readalong!
Shelley, thanks for joining us. I’ve got you on the participants page.
I’m signing up at the Wade level for next year. I’ve already got my book for the readalong, and I’m also planning on reading All Quiet on the Western Front. Don’t know what else yet, but I think this will be the only reading challenge I do for next year (it was also my first).
Hi! I signed up this year… I did a post here: http://myreadingbooks.blogspot.com/2011/12/reading-challenges-for-2012.html
I am going for the Wade level, but hoping to read more.
Figure I’ll go all out and sign up for ‘swim’.
http://books.kolyafloit.com/war-through-the-generations-challenge-wwi/
HI there I am new at these but you can sign me up for dip
Cheryl, Kailana, Kit, and Jerry: we’ve got you on the participants list. We hope you’ll join us for the mid-year read-a-long of A Farewell to Arms!
We will be joining in at our house. I will actually be helping my son, Seth, complete this challenge as part of his home schooling. I’ll read some aloud and he’ll read some to himself. We will be joining you for the read-a-long as well. We are signing up at the Wade level.
Tonya: We’ve got you on the participants list. Thanks for joining us.
I’m in this year. I’m going for the dip level.
Linda: Thanks for joining us. I’ve got you on the participants list.
I am totally in on this challenge and hope I do better than last year’s (hangs head in shame)
Here is my post about it
http://thechildrenswar.blogspot.com/2011/12/omg-another-list-2012-reading.html
Alex, we’ve got you on the participants list, and I can tell you that I may be hanging my head in shame regarding this year’s civil war challenge and I only need to read one more book.
I’m signing up this year!
http://back-to-books.blogspot.com/2011/12/war-through-generations-2012-wwi.html
I am keen to sign up at the swim level; i will blog reviews at my Tumblr – http://one-great-war.tumblr.com. I haven’t made a post about the challenge yet, but i will do as soon as i get home and onto my PC in the new year.
I’m in! I’ve been wanting to read more about WWI so now I will. My post is here.
I’m in! I think I’ll just ‘wade’, so like 4-10 books AND I’ll chuck in some movies. ^.^ my blog – caroleraesramblings.blogspot.com
here’s my mention about this reading challenge:
http://caroleraesramblings.blogspot.com/2011/12/music-monday-war-through-generations.html
I’m signing up for this at the Swim level. I’ve lurked before, but never signed up.
Nicola, Elle, Caitlin, Carole, and Shonna: You are all on the participants’ page. Thanks for joining us!
Signing up for the Wade level.
I’d like to sign up for the wade level. Here’s my sign-up post:
http://sophiasbookblog.blogspot.com/2011/12/war-through-generations-reading.html
CJ and Sophia, I’ve got both of you on the WWI participants page. Happy reading and we hope you’ll join us for the read-a-long
Going for the dip level.
Barbara, I’ve got you on the participants list.
Really enjoyed the 2011 challenge so I’m in again. I don’t have as many books sitting around the house for this one (at least I don’t think so!) so I’m just coming in at the “Dip” level.
I’m signing up at the Wade Level. Here’s my post: http://wildmoobooks.blogspot.com/2011/12/wwi-reading-challenge-hosted-by-war.html
I signed up at the Wade level. Here is my post:
http://hardcoverfeedback.blogspot.com/2011/12/2012-reading-challenges_31.html
I’m signing up for the Swim level.
This is still my favorite reading challenge….so excited about the WWI theme! I’m going for the Wade level, but who knows….we may swim before this is all over and done with.
Here’s a post: http://readersrespite.blogspot.com/2012/01/why-participate-in-reading-challenges.html
Don’t know much about WWI, so here’s my chance to learn. So excited! Going for the Dip level.
I’m in! And I think I’m going to try to do the wade level. Thanks for organizing this!
Lisa, Chris, Megan, Sean, Michele, Jo, we’ve got you on the participants list.
Denise: You’re on the participants page. Thanks for joining us!
I meant to sign up last week for this challenge. I’m looking forward to it and am signing up for the Wade level. I’m also hoping to participate in the group read!
Hi Amy! So glad you’re joining us. You’re on the participants page.
I’ll be signing up for the DIP level of this challenge. Thanks for Hosting.
I plan to read one to three books with a World War I theme. Among them, I hope, will be the two remaining books in Pat Barker’s Regeneration trilogy.
http://richardlecomte.blogspot.com/2012/01/2012-reading-challenges.html
Irene, Richard: You’re both on the participants list. Thanks for joining us!
Can I sign up please. I’m going to go for the Dip level as I think I will easily manage that!
Falaise, thanks for joining the WWI reading challenge. You’ve been added to the participants list.
Count me in again this year! I’m going in for the DIP level as I’m not sure baby girl will allow me the time to read more than that. haha! My blog post will be up tomorrow. http://notenoughbooks.blogspot.com
I am signing up for the challenge this year and am in the mood for some great WWI books and movies. I just saw War Horse and it is a great WWI movie. I am signing up for the wade level.
I’m in for three books. Challenge info found at http://bkwrmjchallenges.blogspot.com/2012/01/war-through-generations-challenge-wwi.html. Reviews to be posted at julesbookreviews.com
Laura, Jules, we’ve got you both on the participants list.
Kris, you’re on the participants’ page!
I’ll sign up for “wade.”
Victoria, we’ve added you to the participants page.
This sounds great! I’ll sign up for a “dip,” please.
Mswyrr: You’re on the participants page!
A little but I’ve decided to Wade in this year
Hi Coffeymuse! Glad you’re joining us! You’re on the participants page now.
You’ve been added to the participants page
You can sign me up for a Wade. Now I have a good excuse to rummage around at the local bookstore!
Zoose, we’ve added you to the participants list.
I am swimming — this will be a good impetus to read some of the war books so carefully stacked on the floor by the shelves!
I’d like to sign up at the Wade level. I’m looking forward to it!
Susan and Brooke, we have you on the participants list. Thanks for joining us.
Sign me up for a Wade, please. Looking forward to it.
Mary: You’re now on the participants page.
I will be signing up for a Dip, but I hope to read more for I love Charles Todds’ books.
Bobbie: you’ve been added to the participants list.
I’m going to ‘wade’ on this one. I LOVE the concept, and I happen to be finishing a book that spans the first world war AND the civil war (And the Ladies of the Club).
Libby, we’ve got you on the participants list.
Please sign me up! Since one of my jobs is teaching American history(main job:librarian) and I once taught a course: WW1 as a turning point, I will do the swim level
Tom
Tom, we’ve added you to the list. Please send any review links or reviews you’d like added to the Reviews page or excerpted on the home page to warthroughgenerations at gmail
I only just found this one! I’ll be joining the Dip level.
http://howlingfrog.blogspot.com/p/world-war-i-challenge.html
dangermom, we’ve added you to the participants list.
I plan to participate at the swim level. Thanks!
http://homeschooling_101.blogspot.com/2012/02/war-through-generations-2012-reading.html
Krista, you’re on the participants page.
Can’t get through, so my first:
http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/5929789-liz-v?shelf=read
What is your email?
Now reading Siberian Prison.
I want to play! Here is my sign up post:
http://lostinkudzu.blogspot.com/2012/02/another-challenge.html
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6093438-a-duty-to-the-dead
Liz, we’ll get your reviews linked and on the site soon. As for the email it is warthroughgenerations AT gmail
ShaReKay, we’ve added you to the participants list.
I’d love to ‘wade’ through 4-10 WWI books this year. Please sign me up!
I am reading The Murder Stone by Charles Todd, and it is a must read. I have a hundred pages left to go, and though I don’t want it to end, I can’t put it down. It’s a book filled mystery and family connections. I think I have it figured out, but knowing Todd he will have a twist at the end. I love how he and his mother make a novel come to life. They are by far my most favorite authors! I am never disappointed by their novels.
Please sign me up, i will read one to four books
Mel, you’ve been added to the participants list.
Hi Caz, thanks for signing up. Will get you on the participants page now.
Read along of A Duty to the Dead: http://www.bookclubgirl.com/book_club_girl/2012/02/book-time-with-bess-join-the-bess-crawford-read-along.html
Liz, yes there is. We’re announcing it here on March 6 or 7….I’ve got announcement for it on Savvy Verse & Wit this weekend as well. I hope you’ll be joining us. I’ll be joining, not sure about Anna and her schedule.
Another mention f read along: http://www.5minutesforbooks.com/22141/on-reading-join-the-bess-crawford-read-along/
Please sign me up in the “wade” category. Thank you.
Jim: You’ve been added to the participants list. feel free to email any reviews or reactions to the books you read and we’ll highlight them on the main page.
Hello! I would like to sign up for the challenge and I would like to be in the “wade” category. I’m very excited! Thanks so much for creating such a thing!
MagyarAndrea: Thanks for joining us! We’ve added you to the participants page.
Have just signed up to your blog, what a great site! I’m not yet sure about participating this year, I’m a very very slow reader! But will def be reading your reviews.
I just thought of a US Civil war book that I didn’t see in your list, I’m not sure if it’s eligible as it’s fiction: The Amalgamation Polka by Stephen Wright (same guy who wrote Meditations in Green). I have yet to read this.
I hope that you’ll consider joining the WWI reading challenge. You could sign up for the 1-3 book level for the entire year. We’ll get the civil war book you mentioned on the list.
I will “swim” with the challenge and knock off 11 or more books in the remainder of the year.
Thanks for this interesting program!
Alan
Hi Alan, Thanks for joining us. We’ll add you to the participants list. Please feel free to e-mail us reviews if you write any and we’ll feature them on the main page.
I am signing up to Wade (4-10 books). Looking forward to reading the books and watching a couple of movies.
Hi TracyK, Thanks for joining us. Will add you to the participants page.
Hi, I would love to join the Reading Challenge. I’d better Wade in.
Great, Gina! We’ve added you to the participants page.