Thursday, January 07, 2016

I Need More Nonfiction in My Life--And to Get Moving

I like Lisa's (from Lit and Life) perspective on joining challenges this year, that they are not so much challenges but rather reminders to herself of books she wants to read. There are quite a few nonfiction books collecting dust on my shelves I have yet to read, but would like to. It is time I pull them off the shelf and actually read them. I am not setting my goals high, especially since the first three months of this year I am devoting to the TBR Triple Dog Dare and COYER (although I think I have a few that might qualify), but there are plenty of months after they both end, and by then I will be more than ready to settle into some of my older books.


The Nonfiction Challenge is hosted by Jennifer of The Introverted Reader. Running from January 1st to December 31st, this challenge requires participants to read a certain number of nonfiction books depending on whatever level the reader decides to join in on. I am going for the lowest, the Dilletante Level, and will be reading between 1 and 5 nonfiction books. I read only two this past year, and would like to beat that record if possible.

Some of the Possibilities:
  • Missoula: Rape and the Justice System in a College Town by Jon Krakauer
  • The Devil & Sherlock Holmes: Tales of Murder, Madness & Obsession by David Grann
  • Hyperbole and a Half: Unfortunate Situations, Flawed Coping Mechanisms, Mayhem, and Other Things That Happened by Allie Brosh
  • Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand
  • The Devil's Highway: A True Story by Luis Alberto Urrea
  • The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
  • Viper Pilot: A Memoir of Air Combat by Dan Hampton
  • Pistols and Petticoats: 175 Years of Lady Detectives in Fact and Fiction by Erika Janik
  • A Deadly Wandering: A Tale of Tragedy and Redemption in the Age of Attention by Matt Richtel
  • Mission at Nuremberg: An American Army Chaplain and the Trial of the Nazis by Tim Townsend
  • The Maximum Security Book Club: Reading Literature in a Men's Prison by Mikita Brottman

Are there any nonfiction books you are looking forward to reading this year? Have you read any of my possible choices? If so, what did you think?



Perhaps the most important (to me) challenge I want to join in on this year is FitReaders hosted by Felicia of The Geeky Blogger's Book Blog and Jen from That's What I'm Talking About, in which I make the commitment to be more physically active. I am not a runner, and I do not often take walks other than family strolls. I do not own an actual Fitbit, nor do I plan to get one. And that's okay by the challenge rules, thank goodness. The point is to be more active, to get up and exercise regardless of how I choose to do it, and that's just what I plan to do. There was a time in my life when I was good about exercising regularly. I remember how good I felt when I was exercising, the high it gave me,  and the changes I saw in my body and in my health. I want to feel that again. I want to strive to be healthier, to lose weight, and ease some of these aches and pains.

I am starting out slowly to ease my way back into a regular routine. Leslie Sansone and I are old friends (although she's never actually met me), and it is time we become reacquainted.  By mid-year or thereabouts, I hope to be doing Sansone's 4-mile walk at least once a week (with four days being a variations of the 2 to 3-mile walks). By the end of the year, I would like to have done her 5-mile walk at least twice. Sound reasonable? I think so.

I can use all the morale support I can get with this one! And I am looking forward to joining the great group of readers who will be doing this challenge alongside me. 

Are you ready to get moving with me?


© 2015, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

32 comments:

  1. What a great perspective Lisa has on challenges, I'll be sure to remember this when I'm struggling.

    Interesting list. Pistols and Petticoats sounds like a read I'd enjoy.

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    1. Tracy - I think so too. I'm going to try to remember that as well.

      Doesn't Pistols and Petticoats sound good? I am looking forward to reading it.

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  2. I think your fitness goals are more than reasonable. You will surly be able to get in your 5-mile walk by the end of the year. Good luck!

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    1. Beth F - Thanks, Beth. The five mile workout is pretty intense, and so I imagine it will take some working up to.

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  3. Good luck with both challenges, Wendy. But especially with the 'move more' quest. I forget the good feelings that I get when being a regular 'mover' and then am so annoyed with myself when I begin again and find them. Your goals sound perfect.

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    1. Kay - Thank you! It's easy to forget unfortunately how good working out regularly can make you feel when you aren't doing it as often.

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  4. I'd sort of forgotten about Missoula. I might check that out on Audible.

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    1. Kathy - I thought it was on my wish list, but then I found it on my Kindle. I must have bought Missoula at some point. I've been wanting to read that one since I first heard about it.

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  5. I'm adding Pistols and Petticoats to my list as we speak.

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    1. Stephanie - Doesn't it sound good? I am looking forward to reading it.

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  6. I think your fit goals are good ones--challenging, but still attainable. I have a number of Leslie Sansone videos as well--they are great workouts!

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    1. Melinda - Thank you! Leslie Sansone is about my speed. I enjoy her workouts quite a bit.

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  7. I loved Henrietta Lacks and Unbroken. I love good memoirs and can highly recommend- Wildflower, Drew Barrymore, Troublemaker, Leah remini, the removers, or Smoke gets in Your Eyes, or The End of Your Life Book club, schwalbe

    Congrats on the fitness challenge too.

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    1. Diane - I remember both being quite popular when they first came out. I've seen the movie, Unbroken and am really curious about the book. Thank you for the recommendations!

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  8. I need more non-fiction in my life too! I heard Missoula is a really interesting read. And Pistols and Petticoats sounds awesome! Good luck with the challenge!

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    1. Cyn - Thanks! It's so easy to go straight for the fiction. I enjoy nonfiction when I read it, but sometimes I forget that. I'm excited about reading Missoula and Pistols and Petticoats.

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  9. I love your challenges! Not only do I need to read more nonfiction, I hope I can be more active this year too. I was doing so well until about mid-year last year. You know how it is.... I'm sure you'll do great with your challenges, Wendy! We'll all be cheering you on!

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    1. Iliana - I nearly didn't get any nonfiction read last year. I waited until the end of the year. :-S Thank you for your support!

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  10. I wish I read more nonfiction! Have fun with the challenges and I believe you are able to meet your goals! :)

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    1. Melody - Thank you. I don't imagine nonfiction will overtake my fiction reading--not even close--but I would like to whittle down some of my nonfiction TBR books.

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  11. I'd like to read more non-fiction this year too, though I'm proud of myself for actually reading a handful last year. You should most definitely read "Unbroken" -- it's one of my favorite books ever! Laura Hillenbrand is an amazing writer.

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    1. Lindsay - I was quite proud I read two compared to none the year before. LOL I've heard great things about Unbroken. I look forward to reading it.

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  12. I am excited to hear that you are participating in #FitReaders as well! We shall cheer each other on :) I would really, really like to read more nonfiction as well. Especially as I have been listening to the All the Books podcast and add new nonfiction titles to my TBR list like crazy. I need to try to actually read some this year though!! Good luck with both of these challenges!

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    1. Samantha - I make a good cheerleader. :-) I am glad we are doing this together too. I wish it was easier to pick up nonfiction books to read. I like reading nonfiction, and so you'd think it wouldn't be a problem. Thank you for the good luck wishes!

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  13. Enjoy both challenges! I've heard great things about Unbroken.
    It is best to start slowly and get back into a regular routine. I feel like working out is 50% mental and 50% physical. You will be doing the 5 mile walk before you know it.

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    1. Naida - Thank you! I hope to get a lot out of the challenges. :-)

      I don't want to overdo it too soon in the exercise department, but it's easy for me to get impatient. I want to try to find a happy balance. I agree about it being 50% mental and 50% physical. Sometimes the mental part is more though. :-S

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  14. I definitely want to read more nonfiction as well. I read more last year than in the previous year's so that's a good thing. Definitely need to be more active as well. Like you say, I need to remind myself to do both of these.

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    1. Athira - You did great with nonfiction reading last year. I hope I can do better this year.

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  15. If I didn't already have my own "push" to get moving this year, Fit Reader sounds like a great idea. I think, as readers, we tend to be folks who like to spend their spare time curled up in a chair, not moving. Nothing wrong with that but we do need to remember that we need to get up and move, too. And we can always keep reading while we do that these days!

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    1. Lisa - It is easier to settle down with a book than get up and move. Not to mention I have an office job where I sit at a desk most of the day. Moving is so important, as you said. We weren't made to be sedentary.

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  16. Setting your goals lower is the right idea :) I definitely think the 5 miles is do-able; you've lots of time to prepare yourself for it and 5 miles is a good number.

    I've not read any of the books on your list but by all accounts the Skloot sounds well worth it. I've a couple of non-fiction books I'd like to get to - Jung Chang's Empress Dowager Cixi and the David Cannadine I got after I enjoyed studying his work for a course. I'm still in that really-excited-to-read-them stage, it's just the actual sitting down to start them I'm having trouble with.

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    1. Charlie - It makes things much more manageable and less intimidating to set the low goals leading up to the big.

      The Skloot book has gotten so much praise. I really do need to read that one at some point. Your nonfiction books sound like they will be good too!

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