Foodies Read Challenge 2013

Another super-exciting challenge for me!

I love books. I love food. How could I possibly not like books about food?

(Also, I'm secretly trying to get my license as a foodie. If I succeed in this challenge, will I be a certified foodie? Only the powers that be can truly know...)

I don't want to go too far overboard with challenges for next year, since I am quite new to book blogging, so I will refrain from committing to the highest level and I'll commit to the "Pastry Chef" level (4-8 books). Since this should easily cross over with a couple other challenges (Nerdy Non-Fiction challenge and Books on France challenge), I don't think that number will be too much of a problem. I'm not going to make an official goal to go beyond 8 books, since like I said, I don't want to overdo it. I'll upgrade to a higher level if I find I can't stop reading food books!

Books Reviewed:

Julie & Julia by Julie Powell
A Homemade Life by Molly Wizenberg
My Life in France by Julia Child
In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto by Michael Pollan
Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver
Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel
The Truth About Food by Jill Fullerton-Smith
Make the Bread, Buy the Butter by Jennifer Reese
Food Rules by Michael Pollan

Nerdy Non-Fiction Challenge 2013

I'm reeeeeeally excited about this challenge! I love non-fiction and I was glad to see a challenge dedicated to it! There have been lots of non-fiction books I've been wanting to read but they keep getting smothered by classics and school stuff. Now they shall have their own lofty place in my TBR pile!

The goal is to read lots of non-fiction in as many different categories as possible. Since I'm such a fan of non-fiction, I'm going to commit to the "Dork" level (7-10 books in at least 4-5 different categories) and try to go for the "Dweeb" level (11-14 books in at least 6-7 different categories). I'd like to reach the "Nerd" level (15+ books in 8+ different categories) but we'll just see how things go.

Here are a few of the books I've been wanting to read:

• Make the Bread, Buy the Butter by Jennifer Reese
• My Life in France by Julia Child
• Julie and Julia by Julie Powell
• How to Build a Dinosaur by Jack Horner

However, my true non-fiction way is to wander the stacks at the library and pick up whatever looks interesting. I'll probably pick up several biographies, maybe some history, and I've been really wanting to read a book about nutrition. I always like self-help and books and relationships. I'll definitely be reading more cookbooks. Travel books are always a must; probably some of them will include books about France for my Books on France challenge. And I can't possibly go a year without reading a few memoirs.

Anyway, this is one of the challenges I'm most excited about!

Books Read (by category):

* Health, Medicine, Fitness, Wellness
--In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto by Michael Pollan
--The Truth About Food by Jill Fullerton-Smith
* History- US, World, European, etc
--Versailles: Biography of a Palace by Tony Spawforth
--Destiny of the Republic by Candice Millard
* Religion, Spirituality, Philosophy
--Help, Thanks, Wow: The Three Essential Prayers by Anne Lamott
* Technology, Engineering, Computers, etc
* Business, Finance, Management
* Sports, Adventure
* Food- Cookbooks, Cooks, Vegan Vegetarianism, etc
--A Homemade Life by Molly Wizenberg
--Make the Bread, Buy the Butter by Jennifer Reese
* Autobiography, Biography, Memoir: 
--Julie & Julia by Julie Powell
--Night by Elie Wiesel
--My Life in France by Julia Child
--Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver
--In Short by Judith Kitchen and Mary Paumier Jones (editors)
--My Lost City: Personal Essays by F. Scott Fitzgerald
* Art, Photography, Architecture
* Music, Film, TV
* Self Improvement, Self Help, How To
--The Jackrabbit Factor by Leslie Householder
* Home, Garden
* Science-Nature, Weather, Biology, Geology
* Anthropology, Archaeology
* Animals-Insects, Mammals, Dinosaurs, etc
* Family, Relationships, Parenting, Dating, Love
* Crime, Law
* Poetry, Theatre
* Politics, Government, Current Affairs
* Literary Criticism/Theory
* Cultural Studies
* Travel
* Crafts

Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge for 2013

Here's my next (and possibly easiest) challenge I'll be participating in for 2013!

The challenge is simple: just read more books in 2013 than I read in 2012!

And even though I'm a new book blogger, I will actually be able to do this, because like some kind of nerd I've been keeping a list of the books I read each year since, I believe, 2010. I usually average between 25 and 30. I know; I shudder to even think such a tiny number. But 2013 will be different!

So, since I'm such a loser with book numbers, I am making a commitment for the "Breaking a sweat" level (11-15 more books) and a goal for the "I'm on fire!" level (16+ more books). I'm looking forward to this challenge! Sometimes with everything else that gets crowded into my life, I just need to read a book--any book, so long as I'm reading!

Books on France Challenge 2013

I have found the first challenge I've decided to commit to for 2013!

This challenge is being hosted by Words and Peace. Basically, you read books that are either:

a) set in France,

b) written by a French author, 

c) written in French (not Canadian French), or

d) about a French theme. 

Now, I'll be honest. Since I took my last required French class over the summer, French and I have not been the best of friends. We just needed some time away from each other. 

But when I saw this, I remembered all the good times. I remembered that deep down inside me, there is a francophile waiting to come out. And I realized that although I need a good long break from structured French classes, I still try to read the washing instructions in French on the tags on my towels, sheets, and clothes. 

Looking for a good challenge...

Before this blog, I felt sort of out of place in the blogosphere, even though I had had a few other blogs and was even keeping one up. I didn't really feel like I could fit in or get to know people.

Well, one of the big reasons for starting this blog in the first place is so I can connect with more people who share my interests. Since I've started the blog, I've really made an effort to reach out and find other people who like the same books I do. I've been sorting through other blogs and finding ones I want to follow. It's been really fun!

But I'll be the first to admit that I'm quite the rookie when it comes to being part of all this. What I really want to get into is...CHALLENGES.

Now, obviously, I've sort of already joined a challenge (The Classics Club). But the Classics Club is a lot more open-ended than regular challenges, and I really want to try something else in addition.

So as the end of the year approaches, I've been looking for challenges for 2013. Finding the perfect challenge, though, is harder than it seems. I want to find something that challenges me to get out of my comfort zone, but will still be fun enough that I can keep it up for the whole year. And I want something that isn't too demanding, since I am, after all, in school. Here are the options I've been considering: