Here are the books I plan of reading for the challenge:

Book by an author of the opposite gender.
The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett

Book by a living author.
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

DONE! Book by deceased author.
Where Angels Fear To Tread by E.M. Forster

Book which was originally written in a language other than English.
Tao Te Ching, 25th-Anniversary Edition (Mandarin_chinese Edition) by Laozi

DONE! Book which is non-fiction.
The Wordy Shipmates by Sarah VowellA little slow to begin with but it picks up as you go along. I'm not sure if its wordy Winthrop quotes or references to Abu Ghraib that make it drag initially. Treatment of the Pequot War and Anne Hutchinson are quintessential Vowell.

DONE! Genre book.
Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

Work of literary fiction.
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë

Book classified as "Young Adult"
The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin

Short story collection or anthology.
We Could Be Like That Couple by Sarah Steinberg

Poetry collection, poetry anthology, or an epic poem.
The Dream Songs by John Berryman

Graphic novel.
Blankets by Craig Thompson

Banned book.
A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway
The Bookseller of KabulI switched to this book because it is required reading for my son in HS but it has stirred up quite a bit of hoopla.

Another way to expand this would be to also read 6 books where each author is from a different continent, and for the continent where you live, pick a book by an author of a different country.

I thought I'd tack on some suggestions made by others within this thread.

These are all books I have read in 2009:

Read one book by an author of the opposite gender. A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
Read one book by a living author. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame Smith
Read one book by deceased author. The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton
Read one book which was originally written in a language other than English. (Translated or not, your choice) The Stranger by Albert Camus
Read one book which is non-fiction. Eat, Love, Pray by Elizabeth Gilbert
Read one genre book. (Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Mystery, Western, Romance, Horror)
Fantasy - Harry Potter books 1-4
Sci-Fi - The Time Machine by H.G. Wells
Mystery - The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown
Western - A Thousand White Women by Jim Fergus
Romance - A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks
Horror - Devil in the White City by Erik Larsson
Read one work of literary fiction. Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
Read one book classified as "Young Adult" Twilight Series by Stephenie Meyer
Read a short story collection or anthology. Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri
Read a poetry collection, poetry anthology, or an epic poem. Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam
Read a graphic novel. (Plan to read Watchmen by Alan Moore)
Read a banned book. The Awakening by Kate Chopin
Play. Amadeus by Peter Schaffer
Book made into a movie. Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo.
Biography/Autobiography. The Glass Castle by Jeannete Walls.
Read a book picked by random from bookstore. The Beast in the Jungle and other Stories by Henry James (a 10 cent selection).
Author I have never read before. God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy.

These are all books I have read in 2009:

Read one book by an author of the opposite gender. A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
Read one book by a living author. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame Smith
Read one book by deceased author. The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton
Read one book which was originally written in a language other than English. (Translated or not, your choice) The Stranger by Albert Camus
Read one book which is non-fiction. Eat, Love, Pray by Elizabeth Gilbert
Read one genre book. (Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Mystery, Western, Romance, Horror)
Fantasy - (Plan to read The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley)
Sci-Fi - The Time Machine by H.G. Wells
Mystery - The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown
Western - (Plan to read All the Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy)
Romance - A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks
Horror - Devil in the White City by Erik Larsson
Read one work of literary fiction. Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
Read one book classified as "Young Adult" Twilight Series by Stephenie Meyer
Read a short story collection or anthology. Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri
Read a poetry collection, poetry anthology, or an epic poem. (Plan to read The Road Not Taken and Other Poems by Robert Frost)
Read a graphic novel. (Plan to read Watchmen by Alan Moore)
Read a banned book. The Awakening by Kate Chopin

Wow, I don't think I have ever read a Western book!

I am in! Here goes!

one book by an author of the opposite gender.
John Scalzi - Old Mans War

Read one book by a living author. Pattern recognician - william gibson

Read one book by deceased author.
So Long and Thanks for all the Fish - Douglas Adams

Read one book which was originally written in a language other than English. (Translated or not, your choice)

Read one book which is non-fiction.
Look me in the Eye- John Elder Robinson

Read one genre book. (Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Mystery, Western, Romance, Horror)
Sci-Fi - The Ghost Briggade - John Scalzi
Fantasy -
Mystery -
Western -
Romance -
Horror - alien - Allen Dean Foster

Read one work of literary fiction.
The mermaids chair - Sue Monk Kidd

Read one book classified as "Young Adult"
Naughts and Crosses - Malorie Blackman

Read a short story collection or anthology.

Read a poetry collection, poetry anthology, or an epic poem.

Read a graphic novel.

Read a banned book.

The books I plan to read and their status:

Read one book by an author of the opposite gender.
The Hose of the Seven Gables, Nathaniel Hawthorne (pending)

Read one book by a living author.
We'll Always Have Parrots, Donna Andrews

Read one book by deceased author.
Next, Michael Crichton (pending. You have no idea how it pains me that he is now a deceased author)

Read one book which was originally written in a language other than English. (Translated or not, your choice)
Anna Karenina, Leo Tolstoy (pending)

Read one book which is non-fiction.
How the Irish Saved Civilization, Thomas Cahill (pending)

Read one genre book. (Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Mystery, Western, Romance, Horror)
Fantasy- God Stalk, P.C. Hodgell
Sci-Fi-Nylon Angel, Marrienne de'Pierres
Mystery- The Da Vinci Code, Dan Brown (pending)
Western- Commanche Moon, Larry McMurty (pending)
Romance- The Star Witch, Linda Winstead Jones (pending)
Horror- Heart Shaped Box, Joe Hill

Read one work of literary fiction.
Chronicle of a Death Foretold, Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Read one book classified as "Young Adult"
The Amulet of Samarkand, Jonathan Stroud

Read a short story collection or anthology.
The Complete works of H.P. Lovecraft (In progress)

Read a poetry collection, poetry anthology, or an epic poem.
The Illiad (Pending)

Read a graphic novel.
Rapunzel's Revenge, Shannon Hale (Pending)

Read a banned book.
The Handmaid's Tale, Margaret Atwood (pending)

Here are my plans.

Rules:
1. Each book can only satisfy one requirement.
2. Only one book per author. The idea is to branch out after all.

Read one book by an author of the opposite gender. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey.
Read one book by a living author. Lisey's Story by Stephen King
Read one book by deceased author. Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens
Read one book which was originally written in a language other than English. (Translated or not, your choice) Kallocain by Karin Boye (Swedish)
Read one book which is non-fiction. Gomorrah by Roberto Saviano
Read one genre book
-Fantasy:Magician by Raymond E. Feist
- Sci-Fi: Douglas Adams - The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy
- Mystery: Simon Beckett - Written In Bone
- Western: Laura Ingalls Wilder - The Golden Years
- Romance: Danielle Steel - Dating Game
- Horror: Dean Koontz - Midnight
Read one work of literary fiction. The Remains of The Day by Kazuo Ishiguero
Read one book classified as "Young Adult" Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K Rowling
Read a short story collection or anthology. The Fall of the House of Usher and other writings by Edgar Allan Poe.
Read a poetry collection, poetry anthology, or an epic poem.Selected Poems by Emily Dickinson
Read a graphic novel.
Read a banned book. George Orwell - 1984

What a great way to expand! Here's my list:

Read one book by an author of the opposite gender. Swan Song by Robert McCammon
Read one book by a living author. The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenbegger
Read one book by deceased author. Murder on a Girl’s Night Out by Anne Carroll George
Read one book which was originally written in a language other than English. (Translated or not, your choice) The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon, translated from Spanish
Read one book which is non-fiction. A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson
Read one genre book. (Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Mystery, Western, Romance, Horror) The Darkest Evening of the Year by Dean Koontz
Read one work of literary fiction. The March: A Novel by E. L. Doctorow
Read one book classified as "Young Adult" The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collinx
Read a short story collection or anthology. Sweet Tea and Jesus Shoes by various authors
Read a poetry collection, poetry anthology, or an epic poem. Bright Scarves of Hours by Diane Tucker
Read a graphic novel. The Arrival by Shaun Tan
Read a banned book. Sylvester and the Magic Pebble by William Steig

And

Adding biography/autobiography for a baker‘s dozen. A Love Observed by Lyle W. Dorsett

I LOVE this challenge idea, Grey!! Very inspired!

Eek! I shall do my best. *cross fingers*

Read one book by an author of the opposite gender.
Where Angels Fear to Tread by E.M. Forster 2/26/09

Read one book by a living author.
Dead Babies by Martin Amis 2/21/09

Read one book by deceased author.
One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich by Aleksandr I. Solzhenitsyn; Translated from the Russian by Ralph Parker (Solzhenitsyn just passed away last year...sad) 2/19/09

Read one book which was originally written in a language other than English. (Translated or not, your choice)
The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky; Translated from the Russian by Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky 1/27/09

Read one book which is non-fiction.
Rumspringa: To Be or Not to Be Amish by Tom Shachtman 1/5/09

Read one genre book. (Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Mystery, Western, Romance, Horror)
Fantasy: Watership Down by Richard Adams 4/24/09
Sci-fi: The Midwich Cuckoos by John Wyndham 1/7/09
Mystery: The Postman Always Rings Twice by James M. Cain 3/8/09
Western:
Romance: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen 3/11/09
Horror: Misery by Stephen King 1/29/09

Read one work of literary fiction.
From Here to Eternity by James Jones 1/16/09

Read one book classified as "Young Adult"
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie 11/7/09

Read a short story collection or anthology.
Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri 6/24/09

Read a poetry collection, poetry anthology, or an epic poem.
The Complete Poetry of Edgar Allan Poe by Edgar Allan Poe 3/2/09

Read a graphic novel.
Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood by Marjane Satrapi; Translated from the French by Mattias Ripa 11/1/09 (I assume this still counts even though it is an illustrated memoir rather than a novel.)

Read a banned book.
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley 1/17/09


Not too shabby. I shall work on completing the other tasks, then I might start from scratch. It will be interesting to see if I can complete it more than once this year.

Read one book by an author of the opposite gender.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Read one book by a living author.

Bones of Faerie by Janni Lee Simner

Read one book by deceased author.

Breaskfast at Tiffany's by Truman Capote

Read one book which was originally written in a language other than English. (Translated or not, your choice)

The Royal Physician's Visit: A Novel by Per Olov Enquist (Translated from Swedish)

Read one book which is non-fiction.

A Piece of Cake by Cupcake Brown

Read one genre book. (Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Mystery, Western, Romance, Horror)

Sleeping with the Fishes by MaryJanice Davidson

Read one work of literary fiction.

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

Read one book classified as "Young Adult"

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares

Read a short story collection or anthology.

Pretty Monsters by Kelly Link

Read a poetry collection, poetry anthology, or an epic poem.

Falling Hard by Betsy Franco

Read a graphic novel.

Kin by Holly Black

Read a banned book.

An American Tragedy by Theodore Dreiser

I'll give it a shot!

Read one book by an author of the opposite gender.
Living Dead in Dallas by Charlaine Harris
Read one book by a living author.
Kane and Abel by Jeffrey Archer
Read one book by deceased author.
One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich by Alexsandr Solzhenitsyn.
Read one book which was originally written in a language other than English. (Translated or not, your choice)
War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
Read one book which is non-fiction.
A Rumor of War by Philip Caputo
Read one genre book. (Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Mystery, Western, Romance, Horror)
Bucking the Sun by Ivan Doig (historical fiction)
Read one work of literary fiction.
Still Life With Woodpecker by Tom Robbins (according to Random House it's fiction-literary?)
Read one book classified as "Young Adult"
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Read a short story collection or anthology.
Read a poetry collection, poetry anthology, or an epic poem.
Read a graphic novel.
Read a banned book.
Lady Chatterley's Lover by D.H. Lawrence

Great challenge! I'm in... I will update the list as I go along!

Read one book by an author of the opposite gender.
Read one book by a living author.
Read one book by deceased author.
Read one book which was originally written in a language other than English. (Translated or not, your choice)
Read one book which is non-fiction.
Read one genre book. (Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Mystery, Western, Romance, Horror)
Read one work of literary fiction.
Read one book classified as "Young Adult"
Read a short story collection or anthology.
Read a poetry collection, poetry anthology, or an epic poem.
Read a graphic novel.
Read a banned book.

Just Finished Where the Side walk Ends by Shel Silverstein for the Poetry Collection book.

Going to join in with this starting from the beginning of the year.

Read one book by an author of the opposite gender.
How to talk to a widower / Jonathan Tropper READ

Read one book by a living author.
Sepulchre - Kate Moss (on shelf)

Read one book by deceased author.
Little Women - Louisa May Alcott reading

Read one book which was originally written in a language other than English. (Translated or not, your choice)

Read one book which is non-fiction.


Read one genre book. (Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Mystery, Western, Romance, Horror)
sci-fi - Adams, Douglas The Hitchiker's guide to the galaxy

Fantasy -
Mystery -
Western -
Romance -
Horror -

Read one work of literary fiction.
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

Read one book classified as "Young Adult"
John Boyne - The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

Read a short story collection or anthology.
Glasgow Tales - Rachel Hazelwood (on shelf)

Read a poetry collection, poetry anthology, or an epic poem.

Read a graphic novel.

Read a banned book.
Margaret Atwood The Handmaid's Tale READ

Read a comic

Read a biography

1. Read one book by an author of the opposite gender. - Refiner's fire by Mark Helprin
2. Read one book by a living author. - Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
3. Read one book by deceased author. - Anne of Avonlea by L.M. Mongomery
4. Read one book which was originally written in a language other than English. - Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez (Currently Reading
5. Read one book which is non-fiction. - The Obsessive Compulsive Trap by Dr. Mark Crawford (2/5/2009)
6. Read one genre book.(Romance) - Romanian Rhapsody by Darlene Franklin
7. Read one work of literary fiction.
8. Read one book classified as "Young Adult" - Daria Solves a Mystery by Norma Jean Lutz
9. Read a short story collection. - Great Dream of Heaven by Sam Shepard (2/3/2009)
10. Read a poetry collection. - Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein (2/11/2009)
11. Read a graphic novel. Maus
12. Read a banned book. - Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

Great- have fun, can't wait to see the titles as you finish them.

I'm a sucker for a challenge
I'll fill in as I go along:

Read one book by an author of the opposite gender.
Read one book by a living author.
Read one book by deceased author.
Read one book which was originally written in a language other than English. (Translated or not, your choice)
Read one book which is non-fiction.
Read one genre book. (Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Mystery, Western, Romance, Horror)
Read one work of literary fiction.
Read one book classified as "Young Adult"
Read a short story collection or anthology.
Read a poetry collection, poetry anthology, or an epic poem.
Read a graphic novel.
Read a banned book.

Great graphic novels are Maus or Persepolis and they are in paperback!

OK, I'm in. I have most of these on my Mt. TBR so this should move at least a few out. I'm going to have to find a graphic novel though.

-Read one book by an author of the opposite gender. - Dog on It A Chet and Bernie Mystery by Spencer Quinn

-Read one book by a living author. - Hounded to Death A Novel by Rita Mae Brown

-Read one book by deceased author.

-Read one book which was originally written in a language other than English. (Translated or not, your choice)

-Read one book which is non-fiction. - A Trip to the Beach: Living on Island Time in the Caribbean by Melinda Blanchard & Robert Blanchard.

-Read one genre book. (Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Mystery, Western, Romance, Horror) - State of the Onion by Julie Hyzy.

-Read one work of literary fiction. - The Heroines A Novel by Eileen Favorite.

-Read one book classified as "Young Adult" - The Boyfriend List by E. Lockhart

-Read a short story collection or anthology. - Tapping the Dream Tree (A Newford Collection) by Charles deLint.

-Read a poetry collection, poetry anthology, or an epic poem.

-Read a graphic novel. - Hamlet by William Shakespeare except that it isn't really Hamlet and it isn't really by Shakespeare as it is a graphic novelization...

-Read a banned book.

Have fun!

I'm going to give this a try this year.


Read one book by an author of the opposite gender.
Digital Fortress by Dan Brown - 01/13/09

Read one book by a living author.
Bloodsucking Fiends by Christopher Moore - 01/15/09

Read one book by deceased author.

Read one book which was originally written in a language other than English.
Let the Right One In by John Ajvide Lindqvist - 04/04/09

Read one book which is non-fiction.

Read one genre book.
Industrial Magic by Kelley Armstrong - 01/10/09

Read one work of literary fiction.

Read one book classified as "Young Adult"
Lord of Misrule by Rachel Caine - 01/10/09

Read a short story collection or anthology.

Read a poetry collection, poetry anthology, or an epic poem.
Howl by Allen Ginsberg - 01/08/09

Read a graphic novel.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer The Long Way Home by Joss Whedon - 01/31/09

Read a banned book.
The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood - 01/07/09

I like this challenge, I'm in.
You can view the dates on my 2009 challenge

Read one book by an author of the opposite gender - The Elephant Keeper by Christopher Nicholson
Read one book by a living author - Tirza by Anton Grunberg
Read one book by deceased author - Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
Read one book which was originally written in a language other than English - Harlekino by Tessa de Loo
Read one book which is non-fiction
Read one genre book - Lirael Daughter of the Clayr by Garth Nix
Read one work of literary fiction
Read one book classified as "Young Adult" - New Moon by Stephenie Meyer
Read a short story collection or anthology - Kruis of Munt by Belcampo
Read a poetry collection, poetry anthology, or an epic poem - Sonnets by William Shakespeare
Read a graphic novel
Read a banned book

Great idea for a challenge. Here we go... editing post as I complete each task.

Read one book by an author of the opposite gender. Looking for Alaska by John Green (01/03/09)

Read one book by a living author. Chasing Harry Winston: A Novel by Lauren Weisberger (01/11/09)

Read one book by deceased author.

Read one book which was originally written in a language other than English.

Read one book which is non-fiction.

Read one genre book. Unwind by Neal Shusterman (05/24/09)

Read one work of literary fiction.

Read one book classified as Young Adult. Boy Girl Boy by Ron Koertge (01/05/09)

Read a short story collection or anthology. grl2grl Short fictions by Julie Anne Peters (03/10/09)

Read a poetry collection, poetry anthology, or an epic poem.

Read a graphic novel. American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang (02/20/09)

Read a banned book.

Greyweather wrote: ""Our Book Club is taking this on for the year. I will post our selections as we make them."

Cool!

How are you doing the gender challenge with a group? Are there no men in the club?"

Although the club is open to everyone at work, we have yet to have any men join us!

"Our Book Club is taking this on for the year. I will post our selections as we make them."

Cool!

How are you doing the gender challenge with a group? Are there no men in the club?

BJ Neary---Variety Challenge updated AGAIN.
Genre book- Mystery- Shock Point by April Henry (finished Oct 20, 2008)
I will read Poison one of these days!
So into 2009--I still have to read a translation, book by a deceased author and
a short story collection and finally
a banned book----so on we go into 2009.....

BJ Neary’s Variety is the Spice of Life Challenge
As of the end of 2008----
Read one book by an author of the opposite gender. –Boot Camp by Todd Strasser (finished 10/8/08)
Read one book by a living author. – Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen (finished 12/25/08)
Read one book by deceased author. – The Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald
Read one book which was originally written in a language other than English. (Translated or not, your choice)-- Real World by Natsuo Kirino translated by Phillip Gabriel
Read one book which is non-fiction.--Tweak by Nic Sheff (finished Dec 28, 2008)
Read one genre book. (Fantasy)-- Poison by Chris Wooding
Read one work of literary fiction. – The Story Of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski (finished Sept 30, 2008)
Read one book classified as "Young Adult" –Paranoid Park by Blake Nelson (finished 11/24/08)
Read a short story collection or anthology. 145 Street- Short Stories by Walter Dean Myers
Read a poetry collection, poetry anthology, or an epic poem. I am going to read a novel in verse – One Night by Maragret Wild (finished 12/11/08)
Read a graphic novel. –-Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer & Andrew Donkin (finished 10/18/08)
Read a banned book. Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

Update: DONE! Finished this up in April but forgot about it until June, so I underestimated the time it would take me by a month, but I'm still pretty pleased with how fast this challenge went by.

Original post: I'm betting this is gonna be a piece of cake, so here we go... in fact, I think I can finish this in three months.

Keeping track:

Read one book by an author of the opposite gender: The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford by Ron Hansen

Read one book by a living author: Flight by Sherman Alexie

Read one book by a deceased author: Journey to the Centre of the Earth by Jules Verne

Read one book which was originally written in a language other than English. (Translated or not, your choice): Kitchen by Banana Yoshimoto

Read one nonfiction book: The Magician's Book A Skeptic's Adventures in Narnia by Laura Miller

Read one genre book (fantasy, science fiction, mystery, western, romance, horror): The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

Read one work of literary fiction: A History of the World in 10 1/2 Chapters by Julian Barnes

Read one young adult book: Down the Rabbit Hole by Peter Abrahams

Read a short story collection or anthology: Tales from Outer Suburbia by Shaun Tan

Read a poetry collection, poetry anthology, or an epic poem: In the Pines by Alice Notley

Read a graphic novel: What It Is by Lynda Barry

Read a banned book: The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier

Our Book Club is taking this on for the year. I will post our selections as we make them.

Read one book by an author born outside the US. (We aren't doing the "opposite gender" since we are a mixed group)
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho (May)

Read one book by a living author.
Sula by Toni Morrison (November)

Read one book by deceased author.
In the Beauty of the Lilies by John Updike (July)

Read one book which was originally written in a language other than English. (Translated or not, your choice)
The Post Office Girl by Stefan Zweig (June)

Read one book which is non-fiction.
The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell (March)

Read one genre book. (Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Mystery, Western, Romance, Horror)
The Gunslinger (The Dark Tower, Book 1) by Stephen King (October)

Read one work of literary fiction.
Atlas Shrugged (January)

Read one book classified as "Young Adult"
The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Age 13-3/4 (April)

Read a short story collection or anthology.
Complete Stories of Dorothy Parker (February)

Read a poetry collection, poetry anthology, or an epic poem.
101 Great American Poems (September)

Read a graphic novel.
The Discworld Graphic Novels: The Colour of Magic and The Light Fantastic by Terry Pratchett December

Read a banned book.
The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy (August)

A banned book is one that has been removed from the shelves of a library or classroom because of its controversial content. (You would be amazed at what some consider to be controversial) There are a great many websites dedicated to the topic which provide lists, so google for them if you're having trouble.

Literary fiction has a number of different definitions. In general it means fiction that would be considered neither "genre fiction" nor "popular fiction". If you ask yourself, "Is this a book my high school English teacher would have made me read?" and you answer "yes," then you probably have an example of literary fiction.

An easy way to narrow the field is to look at books which have been nominated for one of the various literary awards like the Pulitzer.

ok will someone please tell me what a banned book is? it's on the list and i have no clue
oh, what qualifies a book as literary fiction?

This particular challenge made me join this group. I'm excited.

I'll edit as I finish books for requirement:

Read one book by an author of the opposite gender.
Read one book by a living author. What Was Lost by Catherine O'Flynn.
Read one book by deceased author. The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton.
Read one book which was originally written in a language other than English. (Translated or not, your choice) Snow by Orhan Pamuk.
Read one book which is non-fiction. (I'm assuming memoirs count as non-fiction. Right?) A Piece of Cake by Cupcake Brown.
Read one genre book. (Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Mystery, Western, Romance, Horror)
Read one work of literary fiction. Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens.
Read one book classified as "Young Adult" Uglies by Scott Westerfeld.
Read a short story collection or anthology.
Read a poetry collection, poetry anthology, or an epic poem.
Read a graphic novel.
Read a banned book.

Read one book by an author of the opposite gender. The Magicians and Mrs. Quent - Galen Beckett
Read one book by a living author. Darksong - Isobelle Carmody
Read one book by deceased author. Jane Eyre - Charlotee Bronte
Read one book which was originally written in a language other than English. (Translated or not, your choice) Das fliegende Klassenzimmer - Erich Kaestner
Read one book which is non-fiction. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream - Hunter S. Thompson
Read one genre book. (Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Mystery, Western, Romance, Horror) Riddle-Master - Patricia McKillip
Read one work of literary fiction. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time Mark Haddon
Read one book classified as "Young Adult" The Song of the Lioness - Tamora Pierce
Read a short story collection or anthology. Aesop's Fables - Aesop
Read a poetry collection, poetry anthology, or an epic poem. Complete Tales & Poems - Edgar Allan Poe
Read a graphic novel. Naruto, Volume One - Masashi Kishimoto
Read a banned book. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland - Lews Carroll

radical, i'm in.

I'm joining in.

Read one book by an author of the opposite gender. “Blood Rites” by Jim Butcher 2009/01/14
Read one book by a living author. “The Graveyard Book” by Neil Gaiman 2009/04/03
Read one book by deceased author. “Emma” by Jane Austen 2009/06/20
Read one book which was originally written in a language other than English.
Read one book which is non-fiction.
Read one genre book. “The Shining” by Stephen King 2009/02/23
Read one work of literary fiction.
Read one book classified as "Young Adult" “Breaking Dawn” by Stephenie Meyer - 2008/12/16
Read a short story collection or anthology. "20th Century Ghosts" by Joe Hill - 2009/02/??
Read a poetry collection, poetry anthology, or an epic poem.
Read a graphic novel. “Blacksad vol.1” by Juan Diaz Canales & Juanjo Guarnido 2009/06/??
Read a banned book. "Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus" by Mary Shelley - 09/07/10 (Banned in South Africa in 1955)

Edit: So I failed to do this in one year... I'm going to try to finish this as quickly as I can. I still have left: non-fiction, literary fiction, poetry and one book not originally written in English (or in Finnish, I decided, since I am Finnish but mostly read English books).

I will be updating with the book title when I complete a book.

Read one book by an author of the opposite gender. A Christmas Carol: Eine Weihnachtsgeschichte
Read one book by a living author.
Read one book by deceased author.
Read one book which was originally written in a language other than English. (Translated or not, your choice)
Read one book which is non-fiction.
Read one genre book. (Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Mystery, Western, Romance, Horror)
Read one work of literary fiction.
Read one book classified as "Young Adult"
Read a short story collection or anthology.
Read a poetry collection, poetry anthology, or an epic poem.
Read a graphic novel.
Read a banned book.

Male author: I Am America (And So Can You!) - Stephen Colbert (11/27/08)
Living author: America (the Book) - Jon Stewart (11/24/08)
Deceased author: Little Women - Louisa May Alcott
Translated: In Our Strange Gardens - Michel Quint (11/23/08)
Non-fiction: African Gifts of the Spirit - David Maxwell (11/22/08)
Genre: Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade - Diana Gabaldon (11/3/08)
Literary fiction: Mansfield Park - Jane Austen
"Young Adult": Found - Margaret Peterson Haddix (11/30/08)
Short story collection/anthology: When You Are Engulfed in Flames - David Sedaris (11/10/08)
Poetry collection/anthology/epic: The Complete Poems of - Emily Dickinson
Graphic novel: The Middleman - Javier Grillo-Marxuach
Banned book: Fahrenheit 451 - Ray Bradbury

Also...
Author I've never read before: Good Omens - Terry Pratchett & Neil Gaiman (haven't read either of them before) (11/17/08)
Random book from bookstore/library: A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius - Dave Eggers
Book made into a movie/mini-series: Stardust - Neil Gaiman AND Empire Falls - Richard Russo

Count me in!!! Will be starting afresh and using books I already have. Hopefully this will get me through all of these books quicker before they take over every free space I have!!! :-)

Read one book by an author of the opposite gender - "Dreams From My Father" by Barack Obama
Read one book by a living author.
Read one book by deceased author.
Read one book which was originally written in a language other than English. (Translated or not, your choice)
Read one book which is non-fiction.
Read one genre book. (Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Mystery, Western, Romance, Horror)
Read one book classified as "Young Adult" - "Twilight" by Stephenie Meyer
Read a short story collection or anthology.
Read a poetry collection, poetry anthology, or an epic poem.
Read a graphic novel.
Read a banned book.

Well okay, then I won't go back over my reading history, but just start with what I've read this year and then add from there:

Deceased author: House of Seven Gables by Hawthorne
Living author: The Cider House Rules by J. Irving (currently reading)
Literary fiction: The House of Mirth
Genre book: Twilight
Opposite gender: A Farewell to Arms by Hemingway
Young adult: The Giver & Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry
Non-fiction: Odd Girl Out by Rachel Simmons
Banned book: Catcher in the Rye
Translation:
Graphic novel:
Poetry collection/Epic:
Short story collection:

To my list I think I will add two more categories:
Biography or Autobiography
A Play
I'm thinking of reading Malcolm X next year anyway, so there's my bio. (as well as my "X"! for the A to Z list!)

Well the idea was to start fresh, but do whatever you prefer.

Are we supposed to start fresh with these categories, or can we fill the list with books we've already read? Cuz I thought I would just see how many of the categories I've already got covered rather than starting from scratch.

I'll give this one a go :) Greyweather posted the challenge on 9/24/08 so I've given that my start date. Here's where I'm at:

Read one book by an author of the opposite gender. Hold Tight,coben, harlan

Read one book by a living author. 6th Target, Patterson, James

Read one book by deceased author. Charlotte's Web, E.B. White

Read a banned book.Slaughterhouse-Five, Vonnegut

Also from my post up there, I've finished so far:

Read one book by a living author.
Crying Lot of 49 -- Thomas Pynchon

Read one book which was originally written in a language other than English. (Translated or not, your choice)
The Loser -- Thomas Bernhard (translated from German)

Read a short story collection or anthology.
Fictions - Jorge Luis Borges


and I'm going to start this next week:

Read one book by deceased author.
Infinite Jest -- David Foster Wallace

Read one genre book. (Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Mystery, Western, Romance, Horror)
Venus in Furs -- Leopold von Sacher-Masoch


I gave up on this after 20 pages, I could tell it wasn't something I'd like.

Instead I'm going to read: The Killer Inside Me by Jim Thompson.

BJ Variety is the Spice of Life Challenge
Finished one genre (mystery)book: Shock Point by April Henry (Oct 17,2008)
Finished Graphic Novel - Artemis Fowl by E. Colfer & A. Donkin (Oct 13, 2008)

Below is my list for what I have read this year. I've come close to reading every category on the list, and every book listed is a new read for me this year. =)


Read one book by an author of the opposite gender.
Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov

Read one book by a living author.
The Road - Cormac McCarthy

Read one book by deceased author.
War of the Worlds - H.G. Wells

Read one book which was originally written in a language other than English.
Blindness - Jose Saramago

Read one book which is non-fiction.
Death Be Not Proud - John Gunther (TBR)

Read one genre book. (Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Mystery, Western, Romance, Horror)
The Exorcist - William Peter Blatty

Read one work of literary fiction.
Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen

Read one book classified as "Young Adult"
The Devil's Arithmetic - Jane Yolen

Read a short story collection or anthology.
100 Malicious Little Mysteries - Collected by Isaac Asimov

Read a poetry collection, poetry anthology, or an epic poem.
Paradise Lost - John Milton (TBR)

Read a graphic novel.
Dark Tower: The Gunslinger Born - Stephen King & Robin Furth

Read a banned book.
Fahrenheit 451 - Ray Bradbury

"I considered the "Read a book you pick at random at the bookstore/library" category but dropped it due to Sturgeon's Law."

I don't know, Greyweather...maybe you could randomly grab something that is in the other 10%...it could happen :0)

This seems like a fun challenge! I'll give it a shot! I don't think I'm going to plan ahead however. I'd like to see what falls in my lap. I'll fill them in as I complete them or discover them.

Read one book by an author of the opposite gender- Odd Hours by Dean Koontz
Read one book by a living author.- Deadly Night by Heather Graham
Read one book by deceased author.
Read one book which was originally written in a language other than English. (Translated or not, your choice)- Zig Zag by Jose Carlos Somoza (translated from Spanish)
Read one book which is non-fiction- House of Evil by John Dean
Read one genre book. (Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Mystery, Western, Romance, Horror)- Quicksand by Iris Johansen
Read one work of literary fiction.
Read one book classified as "Young Adult"- Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer
Read a short story collection or anthology.
Read a poetry collection, poetry anthology, or an epic poem.
Read a graphic novel.
Read a banned book.

I am adding autobiography to mine- If Chins Could Kill by Bruce Campbell

BJ Neary’s Variety is the Spice of Life Challenge topic started by Greyweather
I have decided to use some of the books on my “to read” list to make me get to them faster to finish this challenge! These are the titles I want to try and I hope to finish before the end of 2008
Read one book by an author of the opposite gender. –Boot Camp by Todd Strasser (finished 10/8/08)
Read one book by a living author. – Chanda’s Wars by Allan Stratton
Read one book by deceased author. – The Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald
Read one book which was originally written in a language other than English. (Translated or not, your choice)-- Real World by Natsuo Kirino translated by Phillip Gabriel
Read one book which is non-fiction.--Girl Soldier by Faith JH McDonnell & Grace Akallo
Read one genre book. (Fantasy)-- Poison by Chris Wooding
Read one work of literary fiction. – The Story Of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski (finished Sept 30, 2008)
Read one book classified as "Young Adult" –Paranoid Park by Blake Nelson
Read a short story collection or anthology. 145 Street- Short Stories by Walter Dean Myers
Read a poetry collection, poetry anthology, or an epic poem. I am going to read a novel in verse – By the River by Steven Herrick
Read a graphic novel. –Notes For a War Story by Gipi OR Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer & Andrew Donkin
Read a banned book. Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
Thanks Greyweather for this challenge!

Anyone is of course welcome to make the challenge harder by adding more categories or restrictions. For the original thirteen I wanted a core set that was easy enough so as not to intimidate anyone, but that still encouraged experimentation.

I considered the "Read a book you pick at random at the bookstore/library" category but dropped it due to Sturgeon's Law.