This is a fun challenge that I joined on the Historical Fashionistas Good Reads group last year. I didn't read much for it, but I would love to complete the challenge this year. :-)
Here is the summary for the challenge, taken from the discussion post of the challenge:
Historical Fictionista University - Jan - Dec 2014
OVERVIEW:
We all share a passion
for reading and historical fiction and reaching personal challenge. The
Historical Fictionista University (HFU) – 2013 was an overwhelming
success and we have gotten many requests to continue with the program.
This
will be a task-based challenge where you can work your way through a
“historical” education by earning degrees (based on the US education
system); the degrees are a BA, Masters and PhD. Each participant can
choose the level of degree they would like to achieve. This challenge
will NOT use points or a scoreboard, but there will be monthly
announcements on how people are doing against their goals.
General Requirements:
History: Complete 3 tasks (Not required of me since I'm a history major)
• Read non-fiction book with a genre of history
•
Read a book that has a dual storyline with one of the stories being set
in the present and one at least 50 years prior to today
• Read a HF book which features a spy or traitor
• Read a HF book which is part of a series (can be anywhere in the series)
• Read biography or memoir
• Read a HF book with a castle on the cover
• Read a HF book a noble title in the title
• Read a HF which was first published in 2013 or 2014
• Read a HF book which features a main character who is in a guild (craftsman, merchant, doctor, lawyer)
• Read a HF fiction book that has been a group read in Historical Fictionistas. https://www.goodreads.com/group/books...
Language, Arts and Athletics – Complete 3 tasks (2 more to go)
•
Read two books that have been translated that were originally written
in the same language (does not have to be the same author or translator)
• Read a book where language plays a major role in the plot
• Read a non-fiction book about language, art or athletics
• Read a biography about an artist, musician or actor
• Read a non-fiction work about an artistic pursuit (hobby where you create something)
• Read a book where piece of art (painting, sculpture, music, film) is on the cover
• Read a book where a main character is an athlete "Last Days of Summer" - Steve Kluger
• Read a book which has a sport-related word in the title (ball, half-time, field, etc)
Literature: Complete 3 tasks (not required of me since I'm a literature major)
•
Re-read a classic that you had to read at high school or university
(this might be a chance to actually finish one that you may have
skimmed)
• Read a play or a book of poetry
• Read an epistolary novel (series of letters/diary entries, etc)
• Read a book with a genre that you do not normally read
• Read a book with a genre tag of bookclub
• Read a book about books (fiction or non-fiction)
• Read a book with some type of writing instrument on the cover
• Read a book that has won a literary award (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_...)
Science & Mathematics: – Complete 3 tasks: (2 more to go)
• Read a book with a number in the title or subtitle (not related to the number in a series)"Four" - Veronica Roth
• Read a book which takes place in outer space or has characters that are astronauts
• Read a book has a title that contains a word related to weather (storm, wind, hurricane, etc)
• Read a book with an animal on the cover
• Read a book where a character uses math as part of their job (accounting, banker, finance)
• Read a book which features a scientific expedition
• Read a book where the internet or computers play a central role in the plot
• Read a book where a main character is a doctor or a nurse
• Read a non-fiction book related to a science or math topic
Social Sciences: – Complete 3 tasks
• Read a biography of a 18th century world leader (president, prime minister, royalty)
• Read a book with a term related to education in the title (school, teach, learn, etc)
• Read a book about a relationship with people from different cultures
• Read a book which features a religious leader (fiction – main character or non-fiction)
• Read a book which has characters from different classes (examples: nobility and servants both as main characters)
• Read a book featuring a trial (criminal or civil)
• Read a book featuring some form of communication on the cover (letter, phone, etc)
My majors: History and Literature :-) but I will try to complete at least one major!
History Majors: Complete ALL tasks (8 more to go)
• Read 2 non-fiction books with a genre of history "Life Along the Silk Road" - Susan Whitfield
• Read a HF book set the following geographic locations:
- North America "A Change of Fortune" - Jen Turano
- South America
- Europe "Marie Antoinette: Princess of Versailles, Austria - France, 1769
(The Royal Diaries)" - Kathryn Lasky
- Africa
- Asia
• Pick 3 - Time Period Coverage: Read a HF book set in the following time periods
- Ancient: BC – 4th century
- Medieval: 5th century – 13th century
- Renaissance: 14 century – 16th century
- Early Modern: 17th century – 18th century
- Modern: 19th century – 1960 "Diamonds and Deceit" - Leila Rasheed
•
Read a book with strong historical basis but which features either 1)
time travel, 2) alternate history or 3) historical fantasy
• Read a HF fiction book that has been a
group read in Historical Fictionistas.
Literature Majors: Complete ALL tasks (7 more to go)
• Read a chunkster – a novel with more than 500 pages "Allegiant" - Veronica Roth
• Read 4 books each with a unique form from the following list:
- Read a play (Can read 2 books for a total of 200 pages) "As You Like It" - Shakespeare
- Read an anthology of short stories (at least 4 stories, different authors similar subject)
- Read a short story collection (at least 4 stories, same author)
- Read a graphic novel (Can read 2 books for a total of 200 pages).
- Read an experimental novel
- Read a work of non-fiction "The Furrow" - Josemaria Escriva
• Read 3 books with a unique genre. Select from this list:
- Science Fiction
- Historical Fiction
- Contemporary
- Thriller
- Gothic
- Young Adult "Deadly" - Sara Shepard
• Read 2 books that has won a
literary award
"The Fault in Our Stars" - John Green
