Friday, 27 March 2009

Non-fiction Five challenge

Reading-wise, one thing I'm very remiss about is reading enough non-fiction. It's silly because I actually enjoy non-fiction quite a lot, but I always automatically gravitate towards fiction when I'm choosing my next book. To encourage myself I'm going to join a new challenge for the summer - The Non-fiction Five challenge which is being hosted by Trish at Trish's Reading Nook.



The Rules: (unchanged from previous years)

1. Read 5 non-fiction books during the months of May - September, 2009 (please link your reviews on Mister Linky each month; Mister Linky can be found each month on this blog)

2. Read at least one non-fiction book that is different from your other choices (i.e.: 4 memoirs and 1 self-help)

My list... though this will no doubt change:

1. Birds, Beasts and Relatives - Gerald Durrell (memoirs, natural-history)
2. Solomon Time - Will Randall (travel)
3. Trains and Buttered Toast - John Betjeman (essays)
4. Underground London - Stephen Smith (history)
5. Anything Goes - John Barrowman (memoirs)
6. On Hitler's Mountain - Irmgard Hunt - (memoirs, history)
7. The Cruellest Journey - Kira Salak (travel)

As you can see, I can't count.

Anyway, looking forward to this challenge immensely. Anything that makes me read more non-fiction has got to be a good thing.

8 comments:

DesLily said...

i'm pretty sure my non-fiction tends to all be biographies or autobiographies!

Ana S. said...

I'm the same...I need that extra bit of encouragement to read more non-fiction, but when I do I quite enjoy it.

Danielle said...

I'm really in the mood to read some nonfiction right now--probably because I'm enjoying (and more importantly--reading quickly) a biography of Georgette Heyer at the moment. I also have On Hitler's Mountain, and Underground London sounds really interesting (so I hope you post about that one eventually!).

Kailana said...

I think I might join this challenge!

Cath said...

Hi Pat. My non-fiction reading - what there is of it - tends to be travel or autobiographical. Fact is, I haven't read one non-fiction this year so I need to stir myself.

Nymeth: I'm really bad at picking up non-fiction to read... though oddly enough I don't seem to have a problem buying it. ;-) Hopefully this challenge will be the impetus I need.

Danielle: I'm really looking forward to hearing about that Georgette Heyer biography. I'm still looking for the Daphne Du Maurier in the library, I'll find it one day... but they do have the GH I notice. I seriously plan to read both Underground London and On Hitler's Mountain for this challenge. Both have been on my tbr mountain far too long.

Kailana: I hope you do decide to join this one... I'll check your blog in a minute to see if you have.

Susan said...

ooh, the John Barrowman bio! Oh please, pick him! Pick him! Let us know what he's really like! Even my daughter recognizes him on Torchwood, and when we can catch Sarah Jane Adventures (he was on last week).....

Trish @ Love, Laughter, Insanity said...

I used to be terrified of non-fiction until I started reading it. Now it seems like one slips in every month. Thanks for signing up for the challenge--hope you enjoy!

Cath said...

Susan, the John Barrowman will definitely be read, rest assured! I had the book out of the library and then bought my own copy when I saw it was out in paperback in Waterstones. There's some nice stuff about him on YouTube. Let me know if you want some links.

Trish: my pleasure. I know this is one challenge I'm really going to enjoy. Can't wait to start!