Memorable Memoirs Reading Challenge

1 January 2012 - 31 February 2012

Melissa of the Betty and Boo Chronicles is once again hosting the Memorable Memoirs Reading Challenge.

The challenge is to read memorirs, defined by the challenge host "as a record of events written by a person having intimate knowledge of them and based on personal observation."  Published letters, diaries, journals, autobiographies, non-fiction books on writing memoirs... all but biographies are permissable for this challenge.  Any formats are allowed.

There are 3 levels to choose from:
Diarist - read 1-4 memoirs
Autobiographer - read 5-9 memoirs
Memoirist - read 10+ memoirs

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Though I'm not usually a fan of biographies, I really enjoy reading published letters, diaries and journals.  I'm planning to become an Autobiographer (5 books) with this challenge, though I hope to read more!

As titles are read, they will be added, dated, a link to a review posted, and (finally, since I love to do it!) crossed out.

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Dewey Decimal Challenge

1 January 2012 - 31 December 2012

Jen of The Introverted Reader is hosting a revamped Dewey Decimal Challenge once again.

The challenge is to read any adult/ya non-fiction book, regardless of genre or subject material.

There are 4 levels to choose from:
Dilettante - read 1-5 non-fiction books
Explorer - read 6-10 non-fiction books
Seeker - read 11-15 non-fiction books
Master - read 16-20 non-fiction books

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I've been back and forth for about a month now, wondering if I should create my own general non-fiction challenge.  The few on offer weren't quite what I was looking for (though I have signed up for one or two, ahem ;)  Then I found this at A Novel Challenge!  Sign me up, please!  Master level (20 books), here I come! ;)

As titles are read, they will be added, dated, a link to a review posted, and (finally, since I love to do it!) crossed out.
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Shakespeare Reading Month

1 January 2012 - 31 January 2012

Allie at A Literary Odyssey is hosting the Shakespeare Reading Month in January 2012.

Starting January 1st, read anything Shakespeare: plays, sonnets, biographies, a book about Elizabethan times, or even a play by one of his contemporaries.  Allie will have various posts throughout the month.  Also, each time you finish a work or book, link to the master post and every time you link, you're entered to win a grand prize.  And the prize?  A Penguin Clothbound edition of Shakespeare's Sonnets and A Lover's Complaint.

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I've read Shakespeare throughout high school and university (purely for pleasure - I was a history major), but haven't picked up anything by or about the Bard in recent years (except for annual showings of Shakespeare in Love!).  So here's my chance!  I'll probably read a few of the plays, the sonnets (which are my favourite), and a few non-fiction books about Elizabethan times which I've had my eyes on for some time.

As titles are read, they will be dated, a link to a review posted, and (finally, since I love to do it!) crossed out.
1.  Shakespeare: The World As Stage by Bill Bryson
2.  Elizabeth's London: Everyday Life in Elizabethan London by Liza Picard
3.  Shakespeare's Sonnets
4.  Shakespeare's Wife by Germaine Greer
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Non-Fiction Non-Memoir Reading Challenge

1 January 2012 - 31 December 2012

Julie from My Book Retreat is hosting the Non-Fiction Non-Memoir Reading Challenge.

The challenge is simple: to read adult and YA non-fiction (but not memoirs, autobiographies or journals).  There is also a list of other types of non-fiction that does not count including books that are not read/meant to be read cover to cover (such as reference books, cookbooks, instruction manuals, slef-help, travel guides, how-to books, etc.), single essays and articles.  Re-reads are also not allowed.

There are 4 levels to choose from:
Elementary - read 5 non-fiction books
Diploma - read 10 non-fiction books
Bachelor's Degree - read 15 non-fiction books
Master's Degree - read 25 non-fiction

Julie will also be posting various link-ups for participants, including reviews, quarterly updates and a wrap-up post.  There will also be at least one giveaway.

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Since about half of the adult material I read is non-fiction (the other is genre fiction - I call it my fluff! ;), I am so in for the Master's Degree (25 books)!  I can't wait to start browsing the stacks for my choices! ;)

As titles are read, they will be dated, a link to a review posted, and (finally, since I love to do it!) crossed out.
1.  Mad Mary Lamb: Lunacy and Murder in Literary London by Susan Tyler Hitchcock (literary biography/history)
2.  Publish Your Family History by Susan Yates and Greg Ioannou (genealogy/publishing) (22 January 2012/Review coming)
3.  How to do everything with your genealogy by George G. Morgan (genealogy) (23 January 2012/Review)
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Dewey Decimal Challenge

1 January 2011 - 31 December 2011

Jen at The Introverted Reader is hosting the Dewey Decimal Challenge.

The goal is simple - to read non-fiction.  Any kind of non-fiction, from history to poetry, from memoirs to science.

She has created four levels to choose from, including:
1.  Dilettante - read 1 non-fiction book
2.  Explorer - read 2 non-fiction books
3.  Seeker - read 3 non-fiction books
4.  Master - read 4 non-fiction books

I'm lovin' this challenge!  More non-fiction - yay!  I'm so a Master! ;)

Titles will be stroked out as they are read (or replaced as needed).
1.  Beyond Heaving Bosoms by Sarah Wendall and Candy Tan
2.  Shaking the Family Tree by Buzzy Jackson
3.  Casanova Was a Book Lover by John Maxwell Hamilton
4.  The Poisoner's Handbook by Deborah Blum

Non-Fiction Challenge

17 January 2011 - 31 December 2011

The Broke and the Bookish is hosting the Non-Fiction Challenge (which is kind of self-explanatory).

There are three levels to choose from, including:
1.  Master of Trivial Pursuit (1-3 books from different categories - see below)
2.  Apply For Who Wants To Be a Millionaire (4-6 books from different categories - see below)
3.  Future Jeopardy Champion (7-9 books from different categories - see below).

The categories to choose from include:
1.  Culture (different cultures, religions and/or foreign lands)
2.  Art (art-related - painters, musicians, architecture, photography, dance, literature, film, etc.)
3.  Food (food memoirs, industry, lifestyle)
4.  Medical (memoirs, illness/disease, etc.)
5.  Travel (travelogues, memoirs, guides, etc.)
6.  Memoir/Biography (self-explanatory)
7.  Money (finances, economics, history of money, financial improvements, etc.)
8.  Science/Nature (memoirs, history, etc.)
9.  History (events, biographies, etc.)

I love non-fiction!  So, of course, I'm going to be a Future Jeopardy Champion ;)  I do read a lot of nf, but it's usually from the history (which, mind you, covers a lot of these categories anyway) section, so I'll be broadening my scope with this challenge!

Titles will be stroked out as they are read (or replaced as needed).
1.  Forensic science of CSI by Katherine Ramsland (Science/Nature)
2.  At Home: A Short History of Private Life by Bill Bryson (History)
3.  The Ghost Map by Steve Johnson (Medical)
4.  84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff (Biography/Memoir)
5.  Which Witch is Which? by Patricia Telesco (Culture)
6.  Cod by Mark Kurlansky (Money)
7.  River Monsters by Jeremy Wade (Travel) 
8.  Apples to Oysters by Margaret Webb (Food) (10 December 2011/Review)
9.  First Draft in 30 Days by Karen Wiesner (Art)