This year I signed up for three challenges. Oh wait, no…I signed up for four, but after a few pages of Sookie, I backed out of the Sookie Stackhouse Challenge. But the other three…those I finished.
Way back in January I signed up for Eva’s World Citizen Challenge. I stated I was going for my major (read five books in three categories). At first, I thought I had totally blown it on this one, but looking back over the books I read this year, I discovered some that actually worked for the challenge (although I might be stretching it a bit). However, my final list looks vastly different from the original list.
What I said I would read:
Politics:
Making War to Keep Peace: Trials and Errors in American Foreign Policy from Kuwait to Baghdad, Jeanne Kirkpatrick
History:
Queen Isabella, Alison Weir
Eleanor of Aquitaine, Alison Weir
Memoir (travel writing):
Shadow of the Silk Road, Colin Thubron
Dark Star Safari: Overland from Cairo to Capetown, Paul Theroux
What I really read:
History:
Eleanor of Aquitaine
The Widow Clicquot
Economics:
Freakonomics
Culture/Sociology:
True Pleasures
Autobiography:
A London Child of the 1870s
Lipstick Jihad
I also committed to Dewey’s Books Challenge, which I plowed right through:
And finally, I participated in Carl’s R.I.P. Challenge, which was so much fun that I ended up reading six books.
- The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
- The Night Villa
- Dracula
- Her Fearful Symmetry
- The Little Stranger
- Frankenstein
In 2010 (yegads, I can’t believe it’s the end of a decade!) I’m looking forward to the Women Unbound Reading Challenge (actually, I’ve already read a few for this one…I love this challenge!) and the South Asian Author Challenge. Two or three challenges is about my limit, so I might join another one at some point, but unlike some of you all, I’m not going challenge crazy. 
I admit it–I do have a tendency to go challenge crazy! I admire your self control
.-= Stephanie´s last blog ..Library Loot =-.
I’m trying to hold back this year with the challenges. We’ll see how that works out.
.-= Literary Feline´s last blog ..Reading Challenges Wrap Up Post =-.
Congrats on finishing your challenges sans the Sookie one. Totally understandable ;p
.-= She´s last blog ..Death Be Not Proud – John Gunther =-.
I guess you and Jill Rhapsody aren’t the same person after all as she is in LOVE with Sookie!
.-= Jenners´s last blog ..10 Best Books I Read This Year =-.
Way to go! I’ve only read one of the Sookie books, and may end up backing out of that one as well.
.-= Kathy´s last blog ..Wondrous Words Wednesday =-.
Dear Fizzy, hello!
I don’t know why we always have to say how we got here, but here goes: I came to your blog whilst looking for ‘A London Child’ -which I like a lot.
Anyway, just wanted to say hello…so..err…hello.
salaams,
b.
.-= Khalid´s last blog ..difficult choices =-.
Congrats on finishing your challenges! I completely failed at the World Citizen challenge, but read almost all of the books I said I would for the Dewey challenge.
.-= Alyce´s last blog ..Snow Day =-.
Good job! I’m glad you gave Sookie a chance, but no worries if the books weren’t for you.
.-= Beth F´s last blog ..Review: Death of a Charming Man by M. C. Beaton =-.
Congratulations on a great success! On to your 2010 challenges
.-= Michelle´s last blog ..An Abundance of Gratitude =-.
Great job on completing your challenges. I sure wish I had your self control when it came to joining new ones.
.-= Darlene´s last blog ..Book Review: Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout =-.
Awesome! I even have a few of these books in house that I didn’t realize you’ve read. uh oh – and here I thought I read your blog everyday. or I forgot. Yep, must be that I just forgot… Happy 2010!
.-= Care´s last blog ..Snowin’ In the New Year =-.
You did a terrific job! You had a great final list. I still haven’t participated in a challenge. Commitment issues? Too much pressure? I guess I don’t have a good excuse, just lazy!
.-= Wrighty´s last blog ..Review: Soulstice by Simon Holt =-.