I have a book problem. I love to read, love to learn and love to own books so I can highlight and write notes in the margins. I also enjoy going at my own pace, sometimes library due-dates stress me out. Nevertheless, book collecting can be a bit expensive, so I try to find a balance. Here is the problem, there are all these books I want to read, and I check them all out from the library before I buy. Even if I buy the book, sometimes my library stash is so large, that I then have trouble getting to the books I actually purchased because they were too good to be without! Crazy, I know!
THENNNN, I saw this reading challenge on my friend Carmen’s blog. At first I just thought, dang, she is SO motivated, so organized and reads way more than me! But then after seeing her list a few times, my wheels started turning. MAYBE, just maybe, putting a list like this together has some benefits for me, here are the 5 I have come up with so far:
1. The list has all sorts of categories, so it will broaden my horizon with topics, stretch my reading-wings if you will. Politics? I am not one to read political materials, let alone the newspaper, but I find I am lacking in certain current event areas and should be a more informed adult (oh right, I am an adult now!). I am willing to try anything once!
2. The list will keep me focused on a group of books and help me stop hopping around from book to book. There are enough subject areas that no matter what I am in the mood for, I have something on my list that I will want to pick up.
3. The list will help me make it through my personal collection and slow down on purchasing something new (although I can’t promise).
4. This list will help keep my library check-out count under control. I will keep a separate list (imagine that, another list!) of books I am interested in reading, but not ready to get to yet. Right now, I tend to use my library request list as my list. Whenever I find an interesting book I would like to look through, I add it to my library account. But then 20 come in at the same time and, well, I already mentioned that scenario.
4. Finally, the list will help challenge me, keep me accountable to 
Now, is this crazy? Probably. It is appealing to me because I like list? Yes! Just putting the list together was fun! Here is a picture of all the books I have, a few I still need to borrow from the library, but this is a majority of them. Look how cool! I can’t wait to dig in!
Now for the list, drum roll……..
Jen’s 4 x 10 Reading Challenge
Green means in process
Young Adult Fiction
1. Behind the Attic Wall by Sylvia Cassedy
2. I’d Tell You I Love You, But Then I’d Have to Kill You by Ally Carter. – keep having to turn it back into the library
3. Mandy by Julie Andrews Edwards
4. Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale
Adult Fiction
1. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
2. The Amethyst Heart by Penelope J. Stokes
3. The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
4. Playing for Pizza by John Grisham
Adult Classics
1. A Glass of Blessings by Barbara Pym – tried, but couldn’t get into it, may pick it up again later
2. Silas Marner by George Eliot
3. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
4. The Pursuit of Love & Love in a Cold Climate by Nancy Mitford
Parenting/Family/Marriage
1. Family Driven Faith by Baucham
2. The Family of Adoption by Joyce Maguire Pavao
3. Family First Dr. Phil
4. Creative Couterpart by Linda Dillow
Education
1. How to Raise a Reader by Elaine K. McEwan
2. The Educated Child by William Bennett
3. The Minds of Boys by Michael Gurian
4. The Way they Learn by Gynthia Ulrich Tobias
Biography
1. Autobiography of George Muller by George Muller
2. Chance to Die, A: The Life and Legacy of Amy Carmichael by Elisabeth Elliot
3. Evidence Not Seen: A Woman's Miraculous Faith in the Jungles of World War II by Darlene Deibler Rose
4. Stepping Heavenward by Elizabeth Prentiss
Politics, Current Events and Religion
1. A Bold Fresh Piece of Humanity by Bill O'Reilly
2. Culture Warrior by Bill O'Reilly
3. ?
4. ?
Improvement/Faith
1. A Woman After God’s Own Heart by Elizabeth George
2. Passionate Housewives Desperate for God by Jennie Chancey
3. The Power of a Woman’s Words by Sharon Jaynes
4. Sacred Parenting: How Raising Children Shapes Our Souls by Gary L. Thomas
Science/Nature
1. Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv
2. Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life by Barabra Kingsolve
3. Living Downstream by Sandra Steingraber
4. Encounters with the Archdruid by John McPhee
Food/Nutrition/Wellness
1. Essential Oils Desk Reference by Essential Science Publishing
2. How to Teach Nutrition to Kids by Connie Liakos Evers
3. Nutrition Fun With Brocc & Roll by Connie Liakos Evers
4. Great Physician's Rx for Children's Health by Jordan Rubin
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