Those of you that follow this blog regularly know that I love to make lists of books about a specific point of interest to me. I’ve made lists of books on Turkey, Queen Victoria, and the history of the Middle East just to name a few.

Therefore, it should come as no surprise that I would decide to sign up for the One Two Theme! Challenge. The challenge directs participants to pick at least three themes, with each theme becoming its own ‘block’. The challenge’s rules state that for block one participants need to read one book, for block two, two books and so on, and from block two onwards the list must have at least one each of fiction and non-fiction books.

The challenge runs from January 1 to December 31, 2011. My biggest fear about this challenge is not about being able to finish it, but rather than being able to hold off starting!

Theme #1: Primates

  1. In the Kingdom of Gorillas (Bill Weber & Amy Vedder)

Theme #2: Natural Resources

  1. Blood Diamonds (Greg Campbell)
  2. Bottled and Sold (Peter H. Gleick)

Theme #3: Turkey

(selected from my booklist)

  1. Crescent and Star: Turkey Between Two Worlds (Stephen Kinzer)
  2. The Gendarme (Mark T. Mustian) — fiction
  3. The Museum of Innocence (Orhan Pamuk) — fiction

Theme #4: Queen Victoria

(selected from my booklist)

  1. A Flaw in the Blood (Stephanie Barron) — fiction
  2. Her Little Majesty (Carolly Erickson)
  3. Victorians (John Farman)
  4. Victoria: May Blossom of Britianna (Anna Kirwan) – fiction

This challenge is hosted by Alex of The Sleepless Reader and Joanna of It’s All About Me.