Amy's year of arts and books (but probably not art books)

Hello! I’m Amy. I live in Washington State (the dry part) with my husband, 4 year-old wildling, a senior cat, and a brand new kitten. I trained as a librarian, but I’m working in a wonderful house museum, just a couple blocks from my home. I’ve always been a voracious reader, but I’ve been struggling for the last few years to find time and energy to read. This year has been the worst. I’ve been obsessively doomscrolling since March. It sucks my energy and eats up too much of my day. This year, I’m making a concerted effort to put down my phone and pick up my books, starting with the pile of TBF books on my nightstand.

That said, I’m going easy on myself. I won’t be posting 100 books. Challenges help keep me accountable, but between work and the child, I’ll be lucky to get through 50.

I was trawling through the Category Challenges already posted, and you all are so creative! My Challenge is heavily and shamelessly influenced by some of the other Challenges I’ve read. I was an Art History major, so I decided to start with art. All my Categories are based on pieces that resonate with me and that I can wring a theme from. I’m looking forward to reading with you all!

Category 1. Sisyphus. Franz von Stuck. 1920

Reading from my TBF and TBR pile. I think this will be an overarching category. I have a few.

1. Black Leopard Red Wolf by Marlon James.

Category 2. Judith Slaying Holofernes. Artemisia Gentileschi. C.1612

Books written by or about bad-ass women who aren't taking any more sh*t.

Femme piquée par un serpent, 2008. Oil on canvas, 102 x 300 inches (259.08 x 762 cm) © Kehinde Wiley Courtesy: Sean Kelly, New York.

Category 3.

Books that subvert gender norms and/or toxic masculinity.

Category 4. Grandmother. TC Cannon.

Books that amplify and celebrate indigenous voices.

Category 5. American Uprising. Kadir Nelson. 2020

Books that are formative or representative of the African Diaspora experience.

1. Caste: Isabel Wilkerson (current)

Category 6. The Giantess. Leonora Carrington. 1947 (estate of Leonora Carrington)

Misfits and witches. Magical Realism and weird sh*t. This might be my favorite category.

Category 7. Breakfast in Bed. Mary Cassatt.

Laying in bed on a Sunday, cozy books.

KITS and CATS

Hold for BingoDOG

Welcome to the challenge, you have a great set up and I am looking forward to following along with your reading.

Welcome and I hope that 2021 is kind to you.

Welcome to the challenge group, I hope 2021 gets you back on the reading bandwagon - And we could all do with a little less doomscroling.
Great selection of images. There's been an exhibition of Artemisia Gentileschi in London that, in normal times, I'd have gone to. But the BBC's been doing half hour programmes from different museums, and that exhibition was one covered. So I got to see it virtually. Not the same, but better than nothing.

I love your categories, and the pictures! So very creative! I hope you have a good reading year, and yes, here's to less doom-scrolling for all of us.

Nice to see you joining in. I'll be interested to see what you chose.

Hi, Amy! I *love* your chosen artwork and your categories, and I wish you a happy reading year! (I'm right there with you on the doom scrolling and the wanting to stop.)

>2 amy.rosenberg: I feel like Sisyphus with my TBR as well!! Welcome to the Category Challenge!

Welcome to the Category Challenge! I hope you have fun here and that 2021 is an excellent reading year. Great choices of pictures -- I agree with Vivienne that the Sisyphus one is particularly apt.

Lovely art work. Good luck with your challenge!

>1 amy.rosenberg: Great category choices and welcome to the group. I hope all the reading helps to keep your mind off 'doomscrolling' as you aptly put it. Many of us have been in the same boat but reading is a great panacea. Your 2021 goal could be: Read More; Scroll Less.

Those are amazing pictures and themes. I hope you enjoy your time filling them with books.

>21 This-n-That: That's it exactly! Thanks!

Thank you for the warm welcome, everyone! I'm looking forward to 2021. The sooner it comes, the better!

Welcome Amy! Reading is a great remedy for a lot of things.

Looking forward to seeing a real diversity of writers here. Happy reading.

>7 amy.rosenberg:

I have been a great fan of Leonora Carrington ever since I read The Hearing Trumpet. I have read her biography and most of her stories.

I love magical realism.

>27 Zozette: She's fascinating. I haven't read her biography, but it's on my list!

Interesting pictures for your categories. Have a good reading year.

Welcome to the challenge. Enjoy your reading.

You've got quite an interesting challenge going here! Here's to more reading.

Nice, I started out thinking I was going to comment on Cat. 2 and 3, but each category is better the previous!

Hello Amy and welcome to the Category Challenge! Great categories and wonderful choices for your category pictures. I am looking forward to following your 2021 reading.

>33 lkernagh: Thank you! Happy reading!

Hi Amy, welcome to the group! I know the doom scrolling, too, and hope to put the phone aside more often than last year. Enjoy your reading!

Hello Amy! Added a star and I get it with the doomscrolling. Mine has been watching too much news in part because I'm afraid to look away!

Love the images you've added to your thread and best of luck with your reading challenges. I look forward to following you.

>35 Chrischi_HH:
>36 threadnsong: Thanks so much!