Another Reading Challenge for 2016

I'm putting myself on the hook for another reading challenge for this year: Books and Chocolate's Back to the Classics Challenge.

This one has different levels of participation: I can choose to read six, nine, or twelve books (there are twelve categories to choose from).  I'm going to play it safe and set my sights on six books.  And fortunately, I can cross-over between this challenge and Anne's, so I haven't necessarily committed myself to 18 books.  For this challenge, a classic book is defined as one published or written at least 50 years ago.

I have copied the categories:

1.  A 19th Century Classic - any book published between 1800 and 1899. 

2.  A 20th Century Classic - any book published between 1900 and 1966. Just like last year, all books MUST have been published at least 50 years ago to qualify. The only exception is books written at least 50 years ago, but published later.

3.  A classic by a woman author. 

4.  A classic in translation.  Any book originally written published in a language other than your native language. Feel free to read the book in your language or the original language.

5.  A classic by a non-white author. Can be African-American, Asian, Latino, Native American, etc.

6.  An adventure classic - can be fiction or non-fiction. Children's classics like Treasure Island are acceptable in this category. 

7.  A fantasy, science fiction, or dystopian classic. Dystopian could include classics like 1984, and children's classics like The Hobbit are acceptable in this category also. 

8.  A classic detective novel. It must include a detective, amateur or professional. This list of books from the Golden Age of Detective Fiction is a great starting point if you're looking for ideas.

9.  A classic which includes the name of a place in the title.  It can be the name of a house, a town, a street, etc. Examples include Bleak House, Main Street, The Belly of Paris, or The Vicar of Wakefield.

10. A classic which has been banned or censored. If possible, please mention why this book was banned or censored in your review.

11. Re-read a classic you read in school (high school or college).  If it's a book you loved, does it stand the test of time?  If it's a book you disliked, is it any better a second time around?

12. A volume of classic short stories. This must be one complete volume, at least 8 short stories. It can be an anthology of stories by different authors, or all the stories can be by a single author. Children's stories are acceptable in this category also.

I will be posting reviews of these books as I read them.  I haven't decided which categories I'm definitely going to read yet.  (Aside from the first three--those are no-brainers.)

I am so excited about having guidance the next time I'm looking at my bookshelf wondering what to read!