When I first met Joanna, the conversation turned into the topics we liked (or would like) to read about. She mentioned Atlantis and I told her I even had a small list of “Things to know more about” in my agenda that included, among other things, bees and life in a harem. So the next time we met, we agreed it would be fun to co-organizing a Reading Challenge that would get us to read by themes. This was the start of One, Two, Theme! which will run from January to December 2011. Since it’s ran by the two of us, we’ve created a dedicated blog for it: www.onetwotheme.blogspot.com.
The rules are simple: you chose how many topics you want to explore, and then rank them by levels of interest, with a minimum of 3 themes/levels. For theme/level 1 you only need to read 1 book, for theme/level 2, you read 2 books, etc. The only thing we ask is that after level 1 you include at least one fiction and one non-fiction. The themes can be anything under the sky, anything that has ever sparked your curiosity.
For my list I chose 6 themes, 6 levels (21 books). I still don’t know exactly what to read for each, but it was already half the fun to make this selection. I think I started out with 12 levels and decided to drop things like the Silk Road and black holes (maybe next year?). Here are the final 6:
4. Byzantium/Constantinople/Istanbul
3. Art business & restoration
2. Bees/honey
1. Olive oil
Any recommendations?
To allow people to explore what interests others, we’ve created a page where we list all themes. You’ll be able to see what other people go for and maybe find common interests.
So if you’re into Reading Challenges and this one already got you thinking about what themes to explore, come on over and join us!
14 comments
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November 19, 2010 at 4:40 pm
Joanna
Yay! It’s real now! 🙂
I wonder how many books you’re going to find about olive oil… 😉
November 19, 2010 at 4:41 pm
Alex
You’d be surprised! Just go over to the wishlist page and see them!
November 19, 2010 at 5:03 pm
T
For bees/honey totally Robin McKinley s Chalice.
Istambul/Constantinople/Byzantium, Orhan Pamuk obviously. Or a ton of historical fiction. what have you read about it so far? Dunnett I know.
About the Medici, they are secondary characters on the Niccolo series.
November 23, 2010 at 9:57 am
Alex
I have “My Name is Red” in my draft list and will likely count one or more of Niccolo for the Medici-fiction. Any recommendations for the Art part?
November 19, 2010 at 7:01 pm
Eva
I want to see what you come up with on Istanbul! 🙂
I have a couple books about bees and honey on my science lists….let’s see if I can go find them….yep! Queen Must Die: and Other Affairs of Bees and Men by William Longgood and Sweetness and Light: The Mysterious History of the Honeybee by Hattie Ellis. Also, while it’s not really about bees, if you haven’t read Laurie King’s The Beekeeper’s Apprentice, it is the start of one of my favourite series ever.
November 23, 2010 at 9:55 am
Alex
The Beekeeper’s Apprentice is actually on my rough list! I’m definitely note down the others, many thanks!
November 21, 2010 at 1:14 am
Sandra
Funny enough, I’ve always kept lists of subjects that interest me that I am always looking for-in fiction now as I’ve read most of the non fiction that I want to. Beekeeping is a favourite of mine too-I have several novels on the shelves that contain this element so I really should do this challenge and write up a post. I’ll get to it as soon as I can.
November 21, 2010 at 1:06 pm
Alex
Hi Sandra, yes, join us! We can compare notes of bee books! Any recommendations from the ones you’re read so far?
November 22, 2010 at 3:34 pm
Jenn
I’m so in on this challenge! I also am studying bees as one of my themes–planning on reading Honeybee: Lessons from An Accidental Beekeeper as my NF and Secret Life of Bees as my F. Let the fun begin!
November 22, 2010 at 4:02 pm
Alex
Wow! Who know that bees would be so popular? I thought I’d be the only bee-loving person in book blogging 😀
I’ll take a look at that book as well, when I do my final list.
November 24, 2010 at 6:23 pm
Ash
I utterly fail at challenges, but I’m tempted by this one since I get more choice in what I’m reading about. I’ll keep it in mind.
November 28, 2010 at 4:12 pm
rikkiscraps
As for the Medici, I’d definitely read a biography of Caterina de Medici.
November 28, 2010 at 9:47 pm
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November 28, 2010 at 10:16 pm
Tiina
Great themes! I’m tempted to join in this challenge, but I have to think of my themes a bit first. You really should read Secret Life of Bees for your bee theme. Another “bee novel” that I enjoyed is Tell it to the Bees by Fiona Shaw. Here’s my post about it: http://abookblogofonesown.blogspot.com/2010/10/tell-it-to-bees.html
Greetings,
Tiina