Current Challenges

External Challenges

These challenges were started by other bloggers. I took them on for a good reason, as described below. Links on this list go to the description below.
Orbis Terrarum Challenge
Black Classics Challenge
Our Mutual Read
Clover, Bee, and Reverie
Scottish Literature Challenge

Personal Challenges

These personal challenges are explained below.

Monthly Project Books
A Year of Classics
Forget-Me-Not Genres
Balanced Reading
JLit Personal Challenge

Ongoing Projects

These are tracked elsewhere on Rebecca Reads. Links will take you to a different page.
1000 Books
A History of Children’s Literature
HTR&W
Pulitzer Project
Read the Nobels
Newbery Award
Caldecott Corner
U.S. Presidential Reading
LDS Presidents
101 Great Books

Ended Projects

Once Upon a Time Challenge
Graphic Novel Challenge
Women Unbound

See other past challenges here. Bold below indicates the book has been read.

Orbis Terrarum Challenge [ends 30/11/10] 3/8.

This challenge is to read authors from around the whole world. Alternatively, one can read authors from various countries in one continent. I may read strictly books by African authors, but I may add some other world authors as well. I haven’t decided yet.

  • Read South America: [Argentina] The Invention of Morel by Aldolfo Bioy Casares
  • Read Africa: [Senegal] God’s Bits of Wood by Ousame Sembene
  • Read Europe: [Norway] Hunger by Knut Hamsun
  • Read Asia: [China] Love in a Fallen City by Eileen Chang; [China] Rickshaw by She Lao
  • Read Oceania: [Australia] Voss by Patrick White;
  • Read North America:

Black Classics Challenge [ends 31/12/10]. 2/3 .
I joined this challenge because I am very unfamiliar with black classics. In researching books for the February 2010 Classics Circuit on the Harlem Renaissance, I became very interested in reading some of the pre-Renaissance classics! I’m joining at the “curious” level, although I will track as many as I read below.

For a list of possible reading options, visit the sign up post.

Our Mutual Read [ends 12/31/2010]. 2/8.

I decided to join this challenge because I have really enjoyed almost every Victorian novel I’ve read thus far! I look forward to reading more and learning even more about the era. For a list of possible reading options, visit the sign up post. (Below, I only list books read specifically for this challenge.)


Clover, Bee, and Reverie [ends 12/31/2010]. 7/14

I decided to join this challenge because I love the idea of specifying my poetry reading into categories. I began counting reads for this challenge in February 2010. Ideas for possible categories: Ancient Greece and Roman, lyrical/romantic poetry, modern poetry.

Scottish Literature Challenge [ends 12/31/2010]. 0/1. I don’t know much about Scottish Lit, so here will be my introduction. I don’t yet know what I’ll read for this.

Personal Challenges


Monthly Project Books. 5/12

Each month, I will select a “project” book to focus on. This will probably be a longer non-fiction book that I have been wanting to read for a long time and yet have always been intimidated by. It will probably be something I own, but it can be a library book. The subject and/or title of the project book will be decided the month before. There are to be no lists to choose from, because this is a project of “whatever I feel like reading this month.” I have plenty of such intimidating books taunting me from my stacks!


A Year of Classics

During 2010, I want to focus on reading the classics. While there is of course a place for modern fiction and modern classics in my reading, I want to gain a better grounding in the Western classics in the coming twelve months. English and American literature is a key interest for me (and may form the basis of my “classics” reading), but European classics also tempt me and I’m completely unfamiliar with them. This year, I also want to have some experiences with a few non-Western classics. Below, I will list all classics read in 2010, whether or not they also count for other challenges.

[I stopped keeping a running list here. Trust me, I’ve been reading lots of classics.]


Forget-Me-Not Genres

I want to remember the “forgotten genres”: short stories, poetry, and drama. My focus in the coming months will be poetry. However, I also want to try to reintroduce short stories into my regular reading, and get some drama read each quarter (especially at least one Shakespeare play each quarter). I will keep track of 2010 posts in each genre below:


Balanced Reading

I will not feel guilty for not reading a modern novels, YA, or other “must read” books. That said, I do hope to read an out-of-my comfort zone book each month. Anything that doesn’t fit a “challenge” or “reading list” on this site is considered a “balance read.”

JLit Personal Challenge

My goal for this personal challenge is to read as much Japanese literature as I can in 2010. I also want to read about the nation in terms of history. I will keep track of what I read below.

Once Upon a Time Challenge [ended 20/06/10]. 3/1 FINISHED!

A challenge to read fantasy, folklore, fairy tales, and mythology. Oh, there are so many books I’d love to read! I’ll list any I read during the challenge dates below. I had fun doing this project!

Women Unbound [ended 30/11/10]. 8/8 FINISHED!

I joined this challenge because it focuses on women in fiction and nonfiction: a subject I am always happy with reading more about! An asterisk below indicates I also counted a read for another challenge or a read-a-long; I’m hoping by the end of the year there are at least 8 books read just for this challenge, in addition to the others! I’ve learned to add lots of women’s lit into my regular reading! More is lined up.

For a list of possible reading options, visit the sign up post.


Graphic Novel Challenge [ends 12/31/2010]. 5/4. FINISHED!

I joined this challenge because I read very few graphic novels and I should give them more of a try. the intermediate level is to read between 3 and 10 graphic novels. I’m aiming for one a quarter, although I’ll list any read in 2010 here. For a list of possible reading options, visit the sign up post. I learned to find graphic novels in all different genres. I enjoy them!

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