Historical Fiction Reading Challenge 2011
Historical Tapestry is hosting the Historical Fiction Reading Challenge 2011.
In 2010 I read six books that for sure should be classified as historical fiction. The challenge simply asks that you read from two to twenty historical novels in 2011 and link back your reviews. I plan in the first quarter of the year to read Ford Madox Ford's trilogy, The Fifth Queen and I am hopeful I will read two more works of historical fiction in 2011. I look forward to all the great posts that this challenge will generate.
Foodie's Reading Challenge
When I saw Margot of Joy Fully Retired was hosting a challenge combining two of my favorite things, food and books, I knew I would sign up for the
Margot has set out four categories of books for the purposes of the challenge.
Cookbooks are defined as books that are primarily collections of recipes.
Fiction for this challenge is any novel in which food is a major part of the story.
Memoirs, Biographie Etc. For this part of the challenge a book qualifies if it is focused around food and is in the form of a memoir, a biography, an autobiography, or a personal essay or narrative.
Non-Fiction is any book focused on a particular food or food in general. It may also be a book about a method of food preparation or about the food industry or a diet guide or whatever. Use your own judgement here.
You can read as little as one book to participate. I have near the top of my TBR list Zola's The Belly of Paris and there is a great cookbook/cultural history book on classic dishes of the Philippines that I want to post on so I will be joining this challenge also.
In 2010 I read 13 Victorian Novels (where this means a novel written any where in the world during the period that Victoria was the queen of England (1837 to 1901). When I saw Bethany of Words, Words, Words was hosting a Victorian Literature Challenge for 2011 I decided to join. Here are the levels of participation:
Sense and Sensibility: 1-4 books.
Great Expectations: 5-9 books.
Hard Times: 10-14 books.
Desperate Remedies: 15+ books.I hope to read in 2011 Middlemarch by George Elliot, at least two Hardy novels I own already, The Belly of Paris by Zola and Portrait of a Lady by Henry James. I will commit now to the Hard Times level.
I thank all of the hosts of these challenges. Reading challenges are a great way to learn about new books, meet new bloggers world wide and if you are interested it can also help you build up your readership.
Mel u
It looks like you're signed up for a lot of great challenges. I'm hoping to read Middlemarch this year too. Good luck and happy new year!
ReplyDeleteThe problem with reading challenges? There are too many good ones!
ReplyDeleteEach of these sounds excellent, and if I may add to the pot a bit, Anna (Diary of an Eccentric) and Serena (Savvy Verse & Wit) are hosting a U.S. Civil War challenge that sounds marvelous as well. :)
Zola's The Belly of Paris is really good. I took a French class last Spring where we read 2 Zola novels in French, and The Belly of Paris was one of them. There were times when I hated it because of all the old French words no longer in use, and there's so much symbolism and imagery! Definitely a book I want to pick up again-I feel like it's the kind of book you get more out of which each read.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your challenges!
Wow! You did 46 challenges last year? That's crazy! These look like great challenges - hope you enjoy the Vic lit one!
ReplyDeleteI am also doing the Victorian Literature one. Good luck with them! Although I'm sure compared to your challenges from last year these will be a piece of cake :)
ReplyDeleteOn the foodie one a British food writer Nigel Slater wrote a book called Toast, which was a book about his experiences growing up & his relationship with certain dishes. The BBC made a drama based on it recently, which you maybe able to still see on BBC iplayer ( web) also it's a kindle book so if you have such a device or their App on phone, computer etc. you can download a free sample.Don't know if it will interest you, but it makes a good read.
ReplyDeleteParrish
Thanks for joining the Foodie's Challenge. I like the sound of the books you are suggesting as well as Parrish. I suspect we are going to discover some wonderful food writing this year. Good luck with all your challenges.
ReplyDeleteThank you joining up for the Historical Fiction challenge! I hope you enjoy your reads!
ReplyDelete+JMJ+
ReplyDeleteI'm doing the Foodie Challenge and the Victorian Challenge as well! =) Good luck!