My Own Private 999

I really enjoyed Michelle's Triple 8 (or 888) Challenge last year - even though I haven't yet finished it (although I do plan to do that). She isn't doing a 999 for 2009, although I understand that there is a group from LibraryThing that is.

Because I love lists and categories - but because I just really can't commit to a huge challenge like that this year - I've created my own private 999, just for me: nine books in each of nine categories, with no more than nine overlaps, for a total of 72 to 81 books. Here are my categories:

• Bee Bonanza (Nine books from the 2009 Beehive Book Nominees. The Beehive Awards are sponsored by the Children's Literature Association of Utah (CLAU) in five categories: Children's Picture Book, Children's Fiction Book, Children's Informational Book, Young Adults' Book, and Children's Poetry Book. Winners are chosen from the nominated books by the children of Utah, who vote for their favorite books. A list of the 2009 nominees can be found here.)


• Books in a Series (Nine books from one of the many series that I'm currently reading - or maybe from a new series.)


• Escapism Reads (Nine books from the genres of mystery/suspense thriller, science fiction, fantasy, chick lit, or maybe even romance.)


• IRL Book Club Picks (Nine books from my in-real-life book club picks. I love my book clubs! I'm currently meeting with one that I've been with since 2002 - although a lot of the people have changed over time - and also with one for my church women's group. My friend Natalie has just started a lunch book club that I hope will be successful too.)


• Midvale Middle School Book Challenge List (Nine books from the "book challenge" at the middle school that my daughter attends. In this challenge, participants are to read 30 of the books on a list of recommended YA books. I want to read some of the current - 2008-2009 school year - recommendations, and if necessary some of those for 2009-2010.)


• My Mom's Book Club Picks (Nine of the books that my mom is reading with her long-time book club. I've got the list on one of my goodreads shelves.)


• My Sisters' Book Clubs Picks (Nine of the books that my sisters Emily and Elicia are reading with their book clubs. Emily and Elicia no longer meet with the same book club I do, and I am curious about what books their groups are reading. I've got their lists on two of my goodreads shelves.)


• Non-Fiction Books (Nine books from the genre of biography/memoir or other non-fiction categories.)


• Salt Lake County Library Reader's Choice (Nine of either the 2009 nominees or past winners of the SLCLS Reader's Choice. Recently published books are chosen twice a year by the Salt Lake County Library staff as books they enjoyed reading and think library patrons will enjoy too. Patrons vote for their favorites.)