2022 Non-Fiction Reading Challenge

Hey readers! I just realized that I forgot to list ALL my reading challenges at the beginning of the year. This one is one I omitted entirely, although I have been tracking it since January. It’s hosted over on Book’d Out and has the following categories:

Categories

1. Social History

2. Popular Science

3.  Language

4. Medical Memoir

5. Climate/Weather

6. Celebrity

7. Reference

8. Geography

9. Companion to a podcast

10. Wild Animals

11. Economics

12. Published in 2022

Also the rules are as follows:

You can select, read and review a book from the categories listed below during the year for a total of up to 12 books; OR select, read and review any nonfiction book. A book may be in print, electronic or audio format. The challenge will run from January 1st to December 31st 2022. Participants may join at any time up until December 1st 2022.

So that’s the official rules. You can do as few as 1 book or as many as you like. Here’s what I’ve got so far.

  1. Social History

In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror and an American Family in Hitler’s Berlin by Erik Larson 3.25 stars

On Juneteenth by Annette Gordon-Reed

Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson 3.5 stars

Wisdom from the Four Agreements by Miguel Ruiz 1.5 stars

In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror and an American Family in Hitler’s Berlin by Erik Larson 3.5 stars

2. Popular Science

Life Ascending: The 10 Great Inventions of Evolution by Nick Lane 4 stars

At the Water’s Edge: Fish with Fingers, Whales with Legs, and How Life Came Ashore but then Went Back to Sea by Carl Zimmer 4 stars

3. Language

The Elements of Style by William Strunk, Jr. 3.5 stars

4. Medical Memoir

Everything Happens for a Reason and Other Lies I’ve Loved by Kate Bowler 3.75 stars

5. Climate/Weather

Ruthless Tide: The Heroes and Villains of the Johnstown Flood, America’s Astonishing Gilded Age Disaster by Al Roker 4 stars

6. Celebrity

Roberto Clemente: Young Baseball Hero by Louis Sabin 3 stars

The Good, Good Pig: The Extraordinary Life of Christopher Hogwood by Sy Montgomery 3.25 stars

7. Reference – none so far

8. Geography

The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt’s Darkest Journey by Candice Millard 4.5 stars

9. Companion to a Podcast – none so far

10. Wild Animals – none so far

11. Economics – none so far

12. Published in 2022 – nothing

Books that didn’t qualify:

Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates 4 stars

Hunting Eichmann: How a Band of Survivors and a Young Spy Agency Chased Down the World’s Most Notorious Nazi by Neal Bascomb 3.5 stars

The Best We Could Do by Thi Bui 4.5 stars


Definitely some good reads in there. I’m currently lazing through another non-fiction, Winter World by Bernd Heinrich. It’s a nature book and I’m enjoying it, but feeling no pressure to hurry and finish. A chapter a night is just about right for me. How’s your non-fiction reading this year? Let me know if you’ve read anything amazing! Happy reading.

Book Club for 2022

Photo by Burst on Pexels.com– Random book club photo

I had a great time at book club last night. I’ve decided we are so hilarious we should totally do a YouTube channel or a podcast. We had a great turn out last night and even though I didn’t finish the book, we had a good discussion. The book was The Midnight Library by Matt Haig. I love the author, but I found the book triggering and had to walk away. Most of the other ladies enjoyed it though.

We also had a book swap, tasty hot drinks, and Trudy’s new baby! And what’s probably more interesting for you, we announced our choices for next year.

Book Club 2022

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini – haven’t read, apprehensive about

A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles – haven’t read, but I own a copy on audio, very excited

The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams – never heard of it, hope it’s fun

Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson – was on my TBR, looking forward to reading this

Starfish by Lisa Fipps – not looking forward to, I don’t like middle grade

Scythe by Neal Shusterman – a reread, I think the only one this year. Can’t wait, I absolutely love this series.

Where the Forest Meets the Stars by Glendy Vanderah – never heard of it

Greenglass House by Kate Milford – DNF’d this one earlier this year, again don’t enjoy MG, but I got it from the library and I’m giving it another chance.

The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman – heard a little, sounds good

A Taste of Honey by Jabari Asim – my pick, very excited

I Found You by Lisa Jewell – lukewarm on this one, but I’ll read it

The Second Christmas by Eric Andreason – local writer, never heard of it, doesn’t sound like my thing


It looks like a good mix. All fiction, a few writers of color, some kids/YA, some longer books, some fluffy, some serious. I feel like there’s something in there for everyone. And plenty are available at the library.

Let me know if you have read any of these and what you thought. Thanks and happy reading!