Are you wondering when I’m going to run out of challenge posts for 2010? Well, I only have one more after this. (That is it … 10 is enough. I swear. I won’t sign up for another one. I really really won’t.)

Anyway, I finally got a chance to pick out my books for my own Take Another Chance Challenge. In some ways, picking out the books is my favorite part of challenges; it is so exciting to see what books I’ll end up reading!  Since I am the hostess for the challenge, I felt obligated to “Gamble It All” and do all 12 challenges.

Challenge 1: Read Your Doppelganger FINISHED
My initials are JP so I’m going to read Julie Powell’s Julie and Julia.

Challenge 2: Blogroll Roulette FINISHED
I used my own blogroll and ended up over at Kerri’s awesome blog, BookEnds. I totally hit the jackpot when I saw she had reviewed Christopher Moore’s A Dirty Job. Because Mr. Moore is my new favorite author, this was my choice. SCORE!

Challenge 3: 100 Best Book FINISHED
I used the romance list and picked Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier.

Challenge 4: Prize Winner Book FINISHED
I have a bunch I could choose from for the Pulitzer. If I run out of time, I’ll “double-dip” and count Middlesex, Empire Falls, or The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay. If I have time, I might try The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz. I went with Empire Falls by Richard Russo.

Challenge 5: Title Word Count FINISHED
I got 2 words. I’m going to go with Bite Me by Christopher Moore. I know reading the latest book by my favorite author isn’t really a challenge but so what!

Challenge 6: Genre Switch-Up FINISHED
I’ve never read a graphic novel ever so I chose this genre. I won a copy of The Impostor’s Daughter by Laurie Sandell earlier this year so I’m going with that one.

Challenge 7: Break A Prejudice FINISHED
Well, Mr. James Patterson, we meet again as I try to read one of your books and convince myself that you can write decently. I’ve already tried two of the Alex Cross books and didn’t like them so I’m going with one of his Women’s Murder Club books, 1st to Die (points off already for the title but hey … I”ll try to keep an open mind.)

Challenge 8: Real and Inspired FINISHED
I’m totally being self-serving on this one and sneaking in another Christopher Moore book! I’ll be reading Mr. Moore’s book Fool, which was inspired by Shakespeare’s King Lear. I’m sure that will be a fun back-to-back read!

Challenge 9: Same Word, Different Book FINISHED
I chose the word “Alice.” I’ll be reading Still Alice by Lisa Genova and About Alice by Calvin Trillin. (If I get real ambitious, I might sneak Alice in Wonderland in there too.)

Challenge 10: Become A Character FINISHED
I’m leaving this one open and will write it when I feel inspired.

Challenge 11: All in the Family FINISHED
I found the next two books on The Book Lady’s Blog and knew I had to read them no matter what. How convenient that they fit neatly into this category. (Coincidence or artfully calculated challenge to benefit myself? I’ll never tell!) Anyway, I’ll be reading Michael Chabon’s Manhood for Amateurs and Ayelet Waldman’s Bad Mother. (Waldman is Chabon’s wife … in case you were wondering about the family connection.)

Challenge 12: Author Anthology Pick FINISHED
For my anthology, I’m going to pick from State by State. Update: I loved the essay by Dave Eggers so I decided to read his book Zeitoun.