Last night I woke up in the middle of the night (1:30am) and couldn’t fall back asleep. It’s amazing what you start to think about at 1:30 in the morning (and how hungry you can get, but that’s a different story).
Somewhere around 2am I came up with my first ever reading (and a little bit more) challenge…The New York Challenge.
Since BEA and the Book Blogger Convention are on a lot of people’s minds right now, I thought New York needed its own reading challenge. Many readers like to read about places they will be visiting, so this will give the BEA attendees a chance to start thinking about NY (like we need an excuse). And if you can’t make it to BEA 
this will give you a chance to still have some NY fun.
The reading portion of the challenge will be super easy. All you have to do is read one book set in New York City. The rest of the challenge is optional, and devoted to fun New York stuff. Over the next few months I’ll be asking you to write posts about New York…memories, travel tips, lists, trivia…you get the picture. Then, during the week of BEA I’ll feature a few wrap-up posts, highlighting everyone’s posts (and New York!). And yes, there might even be a few prizes along the way…I’ll have to hunt down a few NY-themed goodies.
The rules:
1. The challenge runs from February 1st through May 15th, 2010.
2. Between now and May 15th, read 1 (one) book set in New York City and post your review. You can certainly read more, if you’re the overachieving type, but I’m trying to get maximum participation. 
The book can be non-fiction or fiction, poetry or prose, graphic novel or audio book…whatever floats your boat. It can even be a guidebook. It just has to have New York City as its primary setting. And no fair using a book you’ve already read. I’m considering this bad boy.
3. I will create a separate post with a Mr Linky for everyone to post their reviews. Look for that soon.
4. Each month I will also post a sort of mini-challenge asking people to write a post about New York. You do not have to participate in any of these, but I certainly hope you will. My goal is to have a fun collection of posts by the time BEA arrives. Each mini-challenge will have a New York themed prize for one of the participants. The February mini-challenge will be posted tomorrow.
5. One last rule – have fun!
So whaddya say? Are you ready to take your blog on a trip to New York?
Count me in!
.-= Kathy´s last blog ..Our Life in France – banking, money and numbers =-.
Sounds like a great idea. I will have to check my TBR for any NY books. I just got a new Paul Auster novel, and his books are often taking place in NY, but I saw on the front flap that it also takes place in Paris and other places, so I’d rather find another one
Great initiative 
.-= Louise´s last blog ..Tender Graces by Kathryn Magendie =-.
This looks fun! I’m supposed to read The Nanny Diaries sometime for my sister’s book club, so maybe this will be good motivation to actually do it
.-= Kim (Sophisticated Dorkiness)´s last blog ..Meet My Cat, Hannah! =-.
Great idea! Must see what I have that fits the bill.
.-= Nicole´s last blog ..Blogging BLOB: Or Linus’s Quest To Be The Biggest Loser of Books =-.
I’m going to NYC in June and again in August, but if I have anything in the short-term TBR that’s set in New York, I’ll go there sooner (via book)!
Congrats on hosting your first challenge – it looks like fun!
.-= Florinda´s last blog ..There goes my girl: Gypsy, 1997(?) – 2010 =-.
Jeez … your mind works pretty good late at night!!! I would have ended up with some unintelligible scribbles or something.
.-= Jenners´s last blog ..Show Me 5 Saturday: "Black Out" by Lisa Unger =-.
Not really a challenge person, but I have the perfect non-fiction book for this: Luc Sante’s Low Life: Lures and Snares of Old New York. Yay social history!
.-= EL Fay´s last blog ..Prague Peasant =-.
I am in! I certainly have to have something in the TBR that is New York related
.-= Sheila (Bookjourney)´s last blog ..Beguiled by Deeanne Gits and J Lark Betrand =-.
A reading challenge with only one book required! I am SO in.
.-= Carrie K.´s last blog ..The Sunday Salon – January 31, 2010 (the “January reading wrap-up” edition) =-.
Let me see if I have books set in NY! But this sounds like fun! and I have never been to NY yet! Someday maybe we will!
I will let you know soon!
.-= veens´s last blog ..A Perfect Day for Bananafish by J. D. Salinger =-.
YOUR BUTTONS are SO Awesome!
.-= veens´s last blog ..A Perfect Day for Bananafish by J. D. Salinger =-.
Oooh I wanna join because of your buttons! They’re super cute! But I’m not going to BEA, I never visit New York nor do I have any particular feeling for it. So mmm… lemme see if I can find something.
.-= mee´s last blog ..Japanese Season Has Ended, For Now =-.
Since I just signed up for the convention I’m all about this challenge! woohoo!
.-= Heather J´s last blog ..Robin Maxwell on Juliet and Romeo =-.
This sounds like a really fun challenge. I’m actually in NY, but I’m not yet sure if I’ll be able to make BEA. Still, since I have “Let the Great World Spin,” which I’ve been planning to read for some time, you can count me in!
I want to join in too. I shall write a post and then pop back to join.
.-= vivienne´s last blog ..The Pride and Prejudice Read A Long =-.
NYC is one of my favorite places to visit. I’m in!
.-= Lynne´s last blog ..ONE MORE CHALLENGE =-.
This sounds like a lot of fun, even if there is no way I’ll be getting to BEA this year. I’ve only been to NY once but I loved it.
I love NYC and have several books in my collection that fit your criteria. Among them are, Tea and Sympathy, Kissing in Manhattan and Gone to New York. Thanks for hosting this and please sign me up too. (Unfortunately, my trip to NYC in May ends two weeks before BEA; wish I could extend!).
Aloha from Rob
.-= Rob´s last blog ..Musing Mondays: Random Book and Free Naked Roommate =-.
Well obviously I need to sign up since I live there!
.-= Kari´s last blog ..Chunkster: Dodgy history =-.
What a great challenge!! I looooove NYC and I’ll be at the book blogger convention too! Definitely read that book! I’m reading it right now… it’s going slow but only because I’ve got sooo many other things to do as well as other review books to read. But I sort of like that I’m reading it slow because I can enjoy the writing and history and I don’t just fly through 400 years, lol!
.-= Jenny´s last blog ..Alice in Wonderland Challenge January 2010 =-.
I want in on this one. I am new to reading challenges, and think I may be joining too many, but hey this one only requires 1 book! I can do it! I just googled ” fiction books set in New York”, and have decided I will read Catcher In the Rye by JD Salinger.
I saw Kathy’s post about this at Bermuda Onion today and decided I just had to join in. It looks like a lot of fun! Count me in.
.-= Sharla´s last blog ..Mid East Women Writers =-.
I saw this on Bermudaonion’s blog (Kathy) and I knew I had to take part in this one. Sounds like alot of fun.
http://cindysloveofbooks.blogspot.com/2010/02/new-york-challenge.html
That is the write up and the Feb mini challenge as well.
.-= Cindy (cindysloveofbooks)´s last blog ..The New York Challenge =-.
I am so there. Here is my post.
http://serendipityteacher.blogspot.com/2010/02/new-york-challenge.html
.-= vivienne´s last blog ..New York Challenge =-.
I’m in. My post is here: http://zenleaf.blogspot.com/2010/02/new-york-challenge.html
How fun! I have a lot of books set in NY, and a lot of fun/scary/silly/mundane experiences there … not all at once (usually not, anway).
.-= Dawn – She is Too Fond of Books´s last blog ..Book Review: *So Easy* by Ellie Krieger =-.
This is an AWESOME idea for a challenge! I’m excited to participate–this is my first one! As a native New Yorker, I couldn’t pass this up.
Just started a book when it dawned on me that it is set in NY!!! So, guess I’m in for your challenge.
.-= Care´s last blog ..Benny & Shrimp =-.
I’m really looking forward to the Book Bloggers Convention in May. For this challenge, I’m going to read “Let the Great World Spin”. Here’s my post:
http://restlessreader.com/?p=1962
.-= Molly (Restless Reader)´s last blog ..Book Blogger Convention =-.
I couldnt ‘t find Mr Linky, so I am signing up here. NO idea what I am reading yet.
.-= Lindy´s last blog ..Books and Reveiws =-.
Can’t be in NYC for BEA, but I’m definitely signing up for the challenge – I’ll get a post up right away. Thanks so much for coming up with the idea and hosting!
.-= JLS Hall (Joy’s Blog)´s last blog ..A-Z Wednesday: "C" =-.
I love New York city. thanks for an interesting challenge.
I’m late to the party – but I’m joining. Here is my post.
.-= Wendy´s last blog ..Classics Challenge 2010 =-.
I posted a page with ALL current reading challenges. Let me know if you want me to add any other information about yours. I hope it brings even more readers to your challenge!
Reading Challenges.
Rachelle (Bibliobabe)
I thought I had signed up for this. Put a post on my blog and everything. Actually finished the book last week. But I can’t find a comment anywhere. Hmmm……
.-= Julie´s last blog .. =-.
Okay, found my review listed on McLinky on your separate review page for this challenge. Thanks!
.-= Julie´s last blog .. =-.
Late the party per usual, but I’m signing up anyway.
.-= Kristen´s last blog ..New York Challenge =-.
Finished the challenge and posted the wrap-up on my blog today (May 25).
.-= Lynne´s last blog ..COMPLETED CHALLENGES 2010 =-.