You know how your mom always said “just because all your friends are doing it doesn’t mean that you have to do it too?” Evidently I haven’t grown out of that urge to play follow the leader. In this case, I think that is a very good thing. Who doesn’t like ‘free?’ I for one am a big fan. I habitually visit Amazon’s free ebook listings just to see what’s there. Unfortunately, a lot of those freebees are still sitting on my Kindle unread. That, my dear readers is a crime. I plan on taking care of some of those in another challenge, but I will inevitably download more. Hopefully with this challenge I will be sure to read them in a more timely manner. One can only hope. What makes this challenge even more tempting is that it is co-hosted by my reading bully … er buddy Kelly at Reading the Paranormal and Missie at The Unread Reader. When I found out that Amanda at On a Book Bender and Hannah at Once Upon a Time were participating I honestly didn’t have a choice.
You’ll find all the details below. If you want to participate and you need more info, just follow the link to Missie’s page. How many books do I plan on reading? I’ll start with 12, which puts me in the Coupon Clipper category and only requires me to read 1 book a month. That, I think is completely doable. I will also probably cross over some of my books into my other challenge and the inevitable read-a-thons that I’m participating in. I’ll be sure to let everyone know as I review, which challenge I’m applying the books to. Since I didn’t keep track of all the books that I read last year, I’m hoping these challenges will help me in more ways than one.
Here is how it works:
- Should you choose to participate in this challenge, your goal is to read at least twelve (12) legally obtained FREE e-books. While twelve is the minimum there is no maximum limit.
- Anyone can join. You don’t have to be a blogger, and you don’t have to live in the United States.
- Any E-Reader will work for this challenge, including: iPad, Kindle, Nook, Kobo, Sony Reader, enTourage.
- Please Note: If you don’t have an e-reading device, you can still join in with Amazon’s Free Kindle Reading Apps which you can download for your iPhone, iPad, Mac, PC, Blackberry and more.
- The challenge runs from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012. You can join at anytime.
- e-books in ANY genre count for this challenge as long as it was FREE at the time that you downloaded it.
- Every month in 2012, I will make a post for the Why Buy the Cow? Reading Challenge 2012 so you can link your reviews. Based on participation, monthly link ups may be combined.
- Those that link their reviews will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win a different prize each month, such as an Amazon or Barnes & Noble Gift Card, a bookmark, or a GelaSkins for your e-Reader.
Challenge Guidelines:
- If you have a blog, create a post announcing your participation in the challenge. Please include a link back to this post.
- Non bloggers: participate by linking up your profile URL from the site you plan to post your reviews on such as Goodreads, Shelfari, LibraryThing, Amazon, or Barnes & Noble.
- When you post your book review, you MUST reveal how you obtained the free & legal download. Please make your source clear.
- You can list your books in advance or list them as you read them.
- Crossovers to other reading challenges is acceptable, but ARCs/galley e-books DO NOT count. Again, this is a Reading Challenge to read as many of the FREE e-books legally offered for your e-reader. To get started, check out the Top 100 Free books on Amazon, or the Free e-books on Barnes & Noble.
- Any linked reviews that do not meet the guidelines will not be entered into the monthly drawing for the prize of the month.
Levels:
Coupon Clipper: 12 Books
Penny Pincher: 24 Books
Super Saver: 30+ Books
Please visit this post to sign up for the challenge: Why Buy the Cow? Reading Challenge 2012!
Places where you can legally grab some free e-books:
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Smashwords
All Romance eBooks: offers random freebie books throughout the year (signing up for the newsletter to get updates)
Pocket After Dark: offers free online reads that change monthly and/or bi-monthly
Sony’s Reader Store: occasionally pops up with free books that aren’t available at Amazon or B&N
Harlequin: offers Freebie Friday
Sourcebooks: offers monthly freebies
Books on the Knob pulls freebies from around the web in different genres for reader consumption
