It seems that a new reading challenge gets posted every week, but I’ve been avoiding joining any because I didn’t want to feel obligated to read certain books, plus the first half of this year has been a bit hectic and I haven’t gotten a whole lot of reading time in. But in an effort to read more of the books I actually own, rather than buying or borrowing more, I think it’s time to join a couple challenges. Plus these particular ones were just too good to resist. So without further ado, here are the challenges I’m undertaking:

Thanks to Maggie for hosting this challenge! I’ve got quite a few books on my shelves by Southern writers, and since the South is now my home, I don’t really think I can pass this one up. Here are my three choices, with the location where the book is set in parentheses:

All Over But the Shoutin’ (Alabama)

Ecology of a Cracker Childhood (Georgia)

Father Melancholy’s Daughter (Virginia)

Bonus/Alternate Title #1: Charms for the Easy Life (North Carolina)

Bonus/Alternate Title #2: Animal, Vegetable, Miracle (Virginia)

Bonus/Alternate Title #3: A Gracious Plenty (Virginia)

Bonus/Alternate Title #4: Confessions of a Failed Southern Lady (Virginia)

By the Decade Reading Challenge is another one I couldn’t resist to help me finally get to some of the unread books I’ve had languishing on my shelves for far too long. Although it’s allowed, I’m not going to count any of the books I’ve read so far this year (most of them are from this decade anyway). I’ve decided to pick a book from each decade that I’ve lived, although if all goes well, I may go further back in time. It was hard to narrow down my selections for this challenge, particularly for the 1990s and 2000s, as I have so many as-yet-unread books from those decades. Anyway, here are the books I’ve chosen for this challenge:

2000s ~ The Night Watch

1990s ~ Behind the Scenes at the Museum

1980s ~ Moon Tiger

1970s ~ Heat and Dust

I’ve discovered in the last few years that I really enjoy reading non-fiction, and have acquired several titles with all good intentions to read them, but just never got around to it. Now’s the time to remedy that, thanks to Joy’s Non-Fiction Five Challenge! Here are my five choices for this one:

Praying for Sheetrock

Suburban Safari

The Devil in the White City

The Glass Castle

Holy Cow: An Indian Adventure

And last but not least, the formidable Chunkster Challenge., hosted by Nancy, AKA Bookfool. I’ve read a few books so far this year that would qualify, but the one I’ve been saving for this challenge is:

Special Topics in Calamity Physics

Edit: I don’t know if I’ll manage to get to it, but I’ve decided to add The Terror to my Chunkster Challenge.

There, that should keep me busy for awhile, don’t you think? And will help me in my resolution to limit the number of new books I bring into the house – I hope! Damn, I’d better get reading …