Thursday, January 08, 2009

The Art History Reading Challenge

I think I said in my year in review post that I don't join challenges because I don't want to commit to reading certain books; I like to go with the flow. Well, I did find one challenge that I think I can actually commit to and finish by the end of the year: The Art History Reading Challenge.

All you have to do is read six books within the year, fiction or nonfiction in any genre from historical fiction to graphic novels. And I already have five books here at home that would fit the bill. It's been way too long since I've engaged the art historian side of me. So this year I'll knock some books off my TBR stack and maybe, possibly finish a challenge!

Here's my list:
From my current TBR pile
1. Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliet (YA Fiction)
2. The Lost Painting by Jonathan Harr (Nonfiction)
3. The Art Thief by (Fiction)
4. The Shadow Catcher by Wiggins (Historical Fiction)
5. Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier (Historical Fiction)
Borrowed from the library
6. The Forger's Spell: A True Story of Vermeer, Nazis, and the Greatest Art Hoax of the Twentieth Century by Edward Dolnick (Nonfiction)

Others that I might swap for or just add to the list:
--The Gardner Heist: The True Story of the World's Largest Unsolved Art Theft by Ulrich Boser (Nonfiction)
--Glacial Period by Nicolas De Crecy (Graphic Novel)
--Museum Vaults: Excerpts from the Journal of an Expert by Marc-Antoine Mathieu (Graphic Novel)

3 comments:

Kelly said...

I requested The Gardner Heist too. It sounds really good. Hope we both get lucky. (I've never got one yet from HC First Look though,so I'm not optimistic about that!)

Holly said...

I haven't ever received a First Look book either. So I'm not holding my breath on that one. But I plan to read this one regardless when it comes out. Sounds so interesting to me!

allisonmariecat said...

I was selected to receive a First Look book once, but I never received it :(

Your challenge sounds great! I see bloggers participating in 15 different challenges, and the thought makes my head hurt. But this one sounds perfect for you :)