A List of Nonfiction Classics

We talked last month about books that could be considered to be preeminent nonfiction classics here, and many members offered suggestions in the comments. I'm a list maker, and I decided to compile a nice long list of nonfiction classics from books listed in our Big Book List and from suggestions made in the comments …

Nonfiction Classics

We've spoke here a lot about the idea of a classic. What makes a book a classic? We most recently revisited this topic in early April here, and we have also spoken to this question in 2018 here, and, if you take a look at the comments, you will quickly see that many of us …

What is Coming This Fall?

It's a time of a pandemic. There are not a lot of events going on in the world this fall. The usual fall festivals and book fairs are postponed or have been placed online. (Take a look here for a list of online book festivals.) But there are some wonderful online book events that are …

The Summer Reverse Readathon

Dewey's 24-Hour Readathon was begun in 2007, and it has continued on, twice a year, in the spring and the fall (US seasons) every year since it was first created. Last year a new tradition was started, Dewey's 24-Hour Reverse Readathon. The Reverse Readathon was designed to be a laid-back readathon that would take place …

Book Festivals

One of the (many) things I love about being a reader is attending huge book celebrations of one sort or another. Over the years, I've visited the Printers Row Lit Fest in Chicago; BookExpo in Chicago and New York City; the Texas Library Association Conference in Austin, San Antonio, Dallas, and Houston; the American Library …

Summer Reading Challenges: #bookaday and #bigbooksummer and #20booksofsummer20

Having a goal, having a focus centers me, especially during difficult times. You may be different, and that's perfectly okay. But if you'd like some focus for your reading life during this summer, I encourage you to join me in a couple of summer reading challenges. Every summer for over ten years, the Book Whisperer, …

Personal Canon of Books

An idea: A personal canon of books. Ruth, at A Great Book Study, writes: Every avid reader has a particular and unique way of composing a personal canon.  The list is characteristic of who you are.  It says, "These are my books." What sorts of books are in one's personal canon? Again, from Ruth: Some of these …

24in48 Presents: The Social Distancing Readathon

From the 24in48 Readathon: And as more and more countries are implementing social distancing recommendations (if not actual quarantines), we decided it was time to find comfort in books and the community that loves them. Which brings us to the Social Distancing Readathon. Stay home. Wash your hands. Read books. March 21 & 22.  It’s that simple. …

The Begorrathon and Dewithon: A Month to Celebrate Irish and Welsh Writing

Join Cathy at 746 Books to celebrate Irish writing during the month of March. Ireland Month, or The Begorrathon as it is affectionately called, will feature book reviews, poems, plays, songs, giveaways and much more.  You might like to join in by reading an Irish classic. Or two. Or three. Here are some you might consider. …