Friday, November 16

Back to History - Reading Choices for 2008


Shannon at Shannon's Reading Log has issued a Back to History Challenge. This is what she says:

HERE WE GO... This is a challenge to sharpen the mind, go back & visit times long since forgotten in this day in age. The Back to History Challenge is designed to encourage readers to stretch themselves in the history genre. I am truly interested in getting people to venture into unfamiliar territories of literature. So...take this challenge and discover what history has to offer you!
A FEW RULES... All participants should try to mix up their reading choices. Please do not have ALL biographies, or ALL memoirs, etc. There is no limit on any sub-category, but remember...this is supposed to be a CHALLENGE. You should be getting out of your comfort zones and finding something new to explore. You should read one historical non-fiction, or historical fiction novel a month. Ultimately...let’s have fun!

You must formally sign up through Mister Linky to participate in the Travel Back to History Challenge Challenge, which will take place during the months of January - December 2008. Mister Linky is providing a place to store all the participants' sites for everybody to peruse. If you choose to join, you must have your final list posted by Dec 30, 2008.

To sign up with Mr. Linky, visit Shannon's site HERE!

Here are my twelve choices, though they may change, according to my reading interests changing or the books being unavailable to me through the local library. I may also change my mind if new books come out that I'm more interested in than the ones I've listed. This is allowed.

1. The Ever-After Bird by Ann Renaldi - a historical fiction of the Underground Railroad.

2. Hidden in Plain View: a Secret Story of Quilts and the Underground Railroad by Jaqueline L. Tobin and Raymond G. Dobard.

3. In the Company of Secrets by Judith Miller - a historical fiction set in Pullman Illionois in the 1880s.

4. Fire by Night by Lynn Austin - Civil War historical fiction.

5. Blood Red Ochre by Kevin Major - a story of Canada's Boethuck native peoples who lived in Newfoundland and are now extinct.

6. Candle in the Darkness by Lynn Austin - Civil War historical fiction.

7. Scajawea by Ann Lee Waldo - historical fiction of the native woman who traveled with Lewis and Clarke.

8. The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom - non fiction of the woman who was a leader of the Dutch Underground during WWII.

9. Buckskin and Broadcloth: A celebration of E. Pauline Johnson by Sheila M.F. Johnston and Raymond R. Skye - non fiction.

10. On the Way Home: The Diary of a Trip from South Dakota to Mansfield, Missouri, in 1894 by Laura Ingalls Wilder and Rose Wilder Lane - historical non-fiction about the Ingalls trip from South Dakota to Missouri taken from Laura's diary.

While searching for titles that interested me (I used Amazon) I found many others that I would love to read as well. Please take up the challenge and join.

15 comments:

  1. Good Afternoon Mary,
    I'm out doing my daily visiting from my blogroll. Wanted to come by and see how you were feeling. I do hope you are feeling better. I have gone through depression myself. I think it was because I had my kids late in life. I was 34 when I had my first one and 36 when I had me second one. I know that doesn't sound too bad because women are having babies at all ages these days. It just wasn't in God's plan for me to have babies earlier. He gave me our girls in his time. You number 10 book looks really interesting. I love Laura Ingalls Wilder. I have a complete set of her books that was given to me for Christmas when I would younger. A couple of years ago I bought my oldest daughter a set also for Christmas. So, we have 2 complete sets in our household. I'm going to go do some more visiting. Take care and have a great Friday and weekend. May God Bless You.

    Hugs,
    Karen H.

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  2. Sounds really interesting, love you my friend.

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  3. Karen,

    Thank you for your thoughfulness. I appreciate you thinking of me. I'm better today and will continue to be better. Depression is devastating and only those who have experienced it can understand. This time it hit fast and furious with very few signs. I appreciate your friendship.

    Blessings,
    Mary

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  4. Now this is an interesting idea! I need to check this out and see if I have time for it. I read several books every month and many of them are history--maybe it's not time I would need but the discipline to CHOOSE 12 books. Can you choose an era to explore more deeply or must you spread your reading around in different time periods?

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  5. Denise,

    I enjoy reading and can leave the world behind between the covers of a good book. This helps my fight with depression, but I am much better today. Thanks for your prayers.

    Blessings,
    Mary

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  6. Willow,

    It looks like we were both posting at the same time.

    You can choose whatever you like. One idea would be to choose an era and then read some fiction and non-fiction books about it. I do hope you join. This is going to be fun and interesting.

    Blessings,
    Mary

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  7. Ah, Mary--so many books, so little time AND so much yarn, so little time. That's why I knit and read at the same time. (I have to read a book on teaching English language learners in the next 3 weeks and take THREE tests in ONE day on the subject! All (well, most) other reading is postponed until I pass those tests. It will be a huge relief to finish the tests and resubmit the TKGA projects.

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  8. Willow,

    Good luck on the tests. I know you will pass with flying colors. Be sure to let me know when the results are in.

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  9. i've signed up for this challenge too. the only book on your list that i've already read is The Hiding Place; it's one of my all-time favorites. happy reading!

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  10. You like historical novels too? I love 'em

    I noticed you had one about the civil war? Have you read "Traveller" by Adams [the one who wrote Watership Down] ---it's an excellent book. Written in first person --and the 'narrator' is Traveller, General Lee's horse! It's tops in fiction for Civil War. I read it three times in the last 30 years and never got rid of it. [it's an older book]

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  11. alison,

    I think I read The Hiding Place many years ago, but am going to read it again. Glad you signed up for the challenge.

    Blessings,
    Mary

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  12. Anni,

    I believe I have read Traveler, but am going to look it up again. After so many years it would be interesting to read it again. My perspective has probably changed. I love reading about the Civil War and the deep South. Those are my favorite stories. Most of the books I read are historical fiction of one kind or another.

    Blessings for a great weekend.
    Mary

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  13. Sound like a lot of fun. I love history, but alas, I don't have time for this challenge. I'll just be content with learning along with my girls right now.

    I have read the Hiding Place. It is *wonderful* but be prepared to cry. :(

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  14. Mommy,

    I think that I read it many years ago, but can't remember. I do know some of the story but that could have been from TV. I love reading, especially anything that has to do with history.

    Thanks for dropping by. I always enjoy visiting with you.

    Blessings,
    Mary

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  15. I have joined this one also. My list is up on my Magic Bookcase blog.

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