Travel the Globe Sub-Resolution = COMPLETE

In February, I added a sub-resolution to my Travel the Globe resolution that would take me to more regions in the world than six specific countries. So I resolved to read books set in geographical and/or cultural regions. Here is my original sub-resolution (not including the sub-sub-resolution, in which I also resolved to read books set in American regions, which I failed):

::EDIT (February 21, 2011)::
I’ve decided to expand this resolution. While I will still follow the above resolution, I’m just going to add a bit to it. In order to see even more of the world in 2011 (via books, of course), I want to read at least one book located in each of these “geographic regions”. (I was going to go with continents, but there are many more “geographic regions”, such as Central America and the Middle East.) And, note this: the books read for the original resolution may still be counted towards my greater “worldly reading” addition.

North America – Honolulu by Alan Brennert (up-and-coming Honolulu)
Central America – The Last Flight of the Scarlet Macaw by Bruce Barcott (Belize)
South America – In Praise of the Stepmother by Maria Vargas Llosa (Peru)
the Caribbean – The Polished Hoe by Austin Clarke (Barbados)
—–(I did not end up finishing this book, but I took in more than half and I feel that I got a pretty good picture of the country and time)
Western Europe – The Mysterious Flame of Queen Loana by Umberto Eco (Italy)
Eastern Europe – The Free World by David Bezmozgis (about half of this book takes place through memories in Soviet-occupied Latvia)
Northern Asia – Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress by Dai Sijie (China)
Southern Asia – The Disappeared by Kim Echlin (Cambodia)
Oceania – Potiki by Patricia Grace (New Zealand)
the Middle East – Bliss by OZ Livaneli (Turkey)
Africa – Tiny Sunbirds, Far Away by Christie Watson (Nigeria)

In an effort to keep this more relevant to expanding my worldly reading, I’m trying to read books published in the last 50 years ago. More relevant to today, that way 

Obviously, the books I read for each region are included in that list, along with links to my reviews. I’m glad I finally accomplished this sub-resolution.

Memoir/Biography Resolution – COMPLETE

As of November 3rd, I’ve completed my fourth (of five) resolution for 2011. (That isn’t including my two sub-resolutions for my over-arching Travel the Globe Resolution.)

Memoir/Biography Resolution

Read at least FIVE memoirs, biographies, autobiographies, diaries, etc. in 2011. Here is the link to my original post about this resolution:  fiction vs. non-fiction.

1. Warriors Don’t Cry: A Searing Memoir of the Battle to Integrate Little Rock’s Central High by Melba Pattillo Beals
2. Maus I: My Father Bleeds History & Maus II: And Here My Troubles Began by Art Spiegelman
3. Home: A Memoir of My Early Years by Julie Andrews
4. The Early Years by Leona H—–
5. My Lucky Life In and Out of Show Business by Dick Van Dyke

Readers Imbibing in Peril VI Wrap-Up

As it is October 31st–also Halloween–it is the end of RIP VI.

The RIP VI challenge is to read books of a spooky nature, running from September 1st to October 31st. Hosted by Stainless Steel Droppings. I have signed up for Peril the Second, in which I must read TWO spooky books.

1. Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
2. Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

      

Non-Fiction Resolution 2011 = COMPLETED :o)

I’ve finished my 4th challenge/resolution for the year 2011. (That is 50% of all my resolutions/challenges for the year.) 😀

Read at least FIVE non-fiction books (that don’t count towards the memoir/biography resolution) in 2011. Here is the link to my original post about this resolution: fiction vs. non-fiction.

1. SeinLanguage by Jerry Seinfeld
2. Lost States by Michael J Trinklein
3. The Elegant Universe by Brian Greene
4. In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror and an American Family in Hitler’s Berlin by Erik Larson
5. Wheels of Change–How Women Rode the Bicycle to Freedom (With a Few Flat Tires Along the Way) by Sue Macy

                     

Victorian Lit Challenge & Personal Collection Resolution = COMPLETED!!

Victorian Literature Challenge

Hosted by words, words, words, the Victorian Literature Challenge is to read a certain number of books published during the reign of Queen Victoria, between the years 1837-1901. Here is a link to the original post for the challenge. There are four levels of commitment to this challenge:

• Sense and Sensibility: 1-4 books.
• Great Expectations: 5-9 books.
• Hard Times: 10-14 books.
• Desperate Remedies: 15+ books.

I have committed to the Sense & Sensibility level, requiring me to read 1-4 books of the Victorian age.

1) The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte (1848)
2) Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne (1873)
3) American Fairy Tales by L Frank Baum (1901)
4) Tevye the Diaryman by Sholem Aleichem (various dates between 1894 and 1916)

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Personal Collection Resolution

This resolution is particularly meant to overlap with all other resolutions I formulate or challenges I participate in. Essentially, I want to read at least TEN books from my own collection of books. I have many books in my personal collection that qualify for my Memoir/Biography Resolution and Non-Fiction Resolution, so this resolution really encourages I finally read books that I have had on my shelves for years!

1. Warriors Don’t Cry: A Searing Memoir of the Battle to Integrate Little Rock’s Central High by Melba Pattillo Beals (had since May 26, 2010)
2. The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte (had since January 12, 2011)
3. Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne (had since October 28, 2010)
4. SeinLanguage by Jerry Seinfeld (had since late 2009)
5. Potiki by Patricia Grace (had since December 13, 2010)
6. The Orchid Affair by Lauren Willig (had since January 20, 2011)
7. Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister by Gregory Maguire (had since sometime in 2004)
8. The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown (had since May 26, 2010)
9. Maus I: My Father Bleeds History & Maus II: And Here My Troubles Began by Art Spiegelman (had since early 2011)
10. The Odyssey by Homer (had hard copy since 2002, but read a free Kindle edition)
* 11. The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood

Published in 2011 Resolution = COMPLETED!

One of my resolutions for my reading life in 2011 was to read at least five books published in 2011. I tend to read older books–I love classics–so when I did the same resolution for 2010, I was glad that it made me read some of the great new releases that could be classics many years from now.

Well, believe it or not but I have already successfully completed this challenge! 🙂

Here is a link to my original post about this resolution: Plans for 2011: 5 Resolutions, 1 Challenge…so far

And the actual resolution:

This resolution is basically a repeat of one of my 2010 Resolutions: Read at least FIVE books that are newly published in 2011. Once again, I will attempt to not use the books I read to fulfill this resolution in any of my other resolutions, except my Personal Collection Resolution, which allows this because it’s so general.

Below is the list of books I read for the resolution. And since I’m anxiously awaiting other 2011 publications, I’ll add them to the list on my 2011: Books Read & Challenges/Resolutions page.

1. The Orchid Affair by Lauren Willig (published Jan. 20th; finished Feb. 27th)
2. Across the Universe by Beth Revis (published Jan. 11th; finished March 21st)
3. The Weird Sisters by Eleanor Brown (published Jan. 20th; finished March 28th)
4. The Free World by David Bezmozgis (published March 29th; finished April 9th)
5. Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Septeys (published March 29th; finished April 26th)

“technically” vs. “in reality”

Technically, I have fulfilled all requirements for the challenges/resolutions I’m doing this year 😀 Those are the Aussie Author Challenge, Canadian Author Challenge, and Historical Fiction Challenge and also reading 5 books published in 2010.

In reality, I don’t think I can say I fulfilled the challenges and be happy with it 😕 This is because I have used multiple books in more than one challenge/resolution.

Here is what is on my 2010: Books Read & Challenges page:

Historical Fiction Challenge
*Fascinated Level = read 6 Historical Fiction novels
1. Shanghai Girls by Lisa See
2. Betrayal of the Blood Lily by Lauren Willig
3. Remarkable Creatures by Tracy Chevalier
4. Wench by Dolen Perkins-Valdez
5. Island Beneath the Sea by Isabel Allende
6. The Secret River by Kate Grenville

Canadian Author Challenge
*Level 1 = read 3 novels written by Canadian authors
1. Life of Pi by Yann Martel
2. The View from Castle Rock by Alice Munro
3. The Year of the Flood by Margaret Atwood

Aussie Author Challenge
*Tourist Level = read 3 novels written by Australian authors
1. Jennifer Government by Max Barry
2. The Secret River by Kate Grenville
3. People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks

2010 Resolutions
*read at least 5 books published in 2010
1. Betrayal of the Blood Lily by Lauren Willig
2. Remarkable Creatures by Tracy Chevalier
3. The Swan Thieves by Elizabeth Kostova
4. Wench by Dolen Perkins-Valdez
5. Changeless by Gail Carriger

So, the books in red I’m using in multiple challenges. These are the ones it is now my goal to replace so there is no red at all. The Canadian Author Challenge is the only challenge I have totally completed, in reality 🙂 (It should be fairly easy, as I really only have to read four more books and then replace one book in one category)

Canadian Author Challenge: FINITO!

This year, I participated in a Canadian Author Challenge hosted by Jennifer @ Mrs. Q: Book Addict. I chose the lowest commitment level of reading: 3- Les Liseurs. I realize this might seem a little lazy, but I have two other challenges and another New Year’s Resolution for reading this year.

I HAVE COMPLETED THIS CHALLENGE!!

These are the books I’ve read:

1. Life of Pi by Yann Martel (post about this here)
2. The View from Castle Rock by Alice Munro (two posts about this: first post, second post)
3. The Year of the Flood by Margaret Atwood (post about this here)

I’ve had a lot of fun with this challenge. Only The View from Castle Rock really gave me a picture of Canada, though. The other two didn’t have much to do with Canada. 😕 (Since I live very near Canada in the US, I already pretty much know Canada, but still…)

Unfortunately, The Virgin Cure by Ami McKay was one of the books I wanted to read for this challenge–but its publication date got pushed back so I have to wait until 2011 😦 But I have really been wanting to read another Anne book by LM Montgomery lately–I’ve read the first two already.