The Reading Challenge Group discussion

One of my favorites! This will run all year.
26 Books in one year, each beginning with a different letter of the alphabet. (Not counting articles like "a," "an" or "the") to create your own special Alphabet Soup.

For example:
A- And the Band Played On: Politics, People, and the AIDS Epidemic
B- Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity
C- The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper
Etc.

You may use books that are from other challenges.
You may want to create a post with just the alphabet, then fill in books as you read them. Or create a "master list" of what you plan to read, then check them off as you finish each.

This thread is also the place to come for ideas on titles for letters that are trickier to find.

XXX- see below for new criteria for this letter

I'm changing up the criteria for X this year. You have a choice here:
1) A book title that starts with X
Example: Xingu
2) A title in which X plays a prominent part
Example: The Autobiography of Malcolm X
3) A "number" title
Example: 1984

Template...

Alphabet Soup Template


A-
B-
C-
D-
E-
F-
G-
H-
I-
J-
K-
L-
M-
N-
O-
P-
Q-
R-
S-
T-
U-
V-
W-
X-
Y-
Z-

Reserved for Updates

Yay, X will be much easier! Now to find the elusive "Z"...

i'm in

Paula's Alphabet Soup Challenge 2018

Running total: 19/26

A- Asymmetry by Lisa Halliday (09/01/18)
B- Burmese Days by George Orwell (13/02/18)
C- Cake Tree in the Ruins, The by Akiyuki Nosaka (16/09/18)
D- Disbanded Kingdom by Polis Loizou (13/07/18)
E- Estoril by Dejan Tiago-Stanković (08/02/18)
F- Freedom: Vintage Minis by Margaret Atwood (24/04/18)
G- Great Polar Bear by Carolyn Lesser (25/02/18)
H- Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado (14/01/18)
I- In Search of Lost Books by Giorgio van Straten (01/05/18)
J- Johnny Panic and the Bible of Dreams by Sylvia Plath (22/04/18)
K-
L- Little Book of Feminist Saints, The by Julia Pierpont (04/03/18)
M- Month in the Country, A by J.L. Carr (03/02/18)
N-
O- Only Story, The by Julian Barnes (17/02/18)
P- Private Language? a Dip Into Welsh Literature by Marion Eames (22/06/18)
Q-
R-
S- Second Winter, The by Craig Larsen (24/02/18)
T- Turn a Blind Eye by Vicky Newham (10/03/18)
U- Untouched House, An by Willem Frederik Hermans (27/08/18)
V-
W- Walking Wounded by Sheila Llewellyn (03/01/18)
X-
Y- Year of Magical Thinking, The by Joan Didion (21/11/18)
Z-

This challenge has bested me two years in a row (I was only 3 letters away in 2017). I have a good feeling about 2018!

A-Art Held Hostage: The Battle over the Barnes Collection (2/17)
B-Big Little Lies (2/4)
C-Chasing Lincoln's Killer (2/22)
D-The Diary of Petr Ginz (1/1)
E-Extras (1/20)
F-Four Letter Word: Invented Correspondence from the Edge of Modern Romance (11/3)
G-The Gift of the Magi and Other Short Stories (1/2)
H-How I Killed Pluto and Why It Had It Coming (3/27)
I-I Served the King of England (2/10)
J-
K-
L-The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing (1/26)
M-Mr. Darcy's Diary (6/25)
N-Nine Stories (10/14)
O-Over the Water (7/24)
P-Pretties (1/17)
Q-The Queen of Hearts (12/4)
R-Restoration (7/21)
S-Specials (1/19)
T-Talking as Fast as I Can: From Gilmore Girls to Gilmore Girls, and Everything in Between (1/13)
U-Uglies (1/11)
V-The Vegetarian
W-
X-Xisle (1/9)
Y-You're Never Weird on the Internet (1/5)
Z-The Zookeeper's Wife (1/6)

I agree that this one is a fairly challenging Challenge. There's always a few letters that are hard to fill.

Yes! I always read way more than 26 books per year, but have some letters that get away from me. Before I know it, it's too late!

Im in

A- Amelia By Diana Palmer (1/31)
B-Beastly By Alex Flinn ( 2/08)
C- Country By Danielle Steel ( 1/18)
D- Dance Upon The Air by Nora Roberts (1/30)
E- Exit Strategy By Kelley Armstrong ( 2/11)
F-The Finest Hours: The True Story Of The U.S Guard's Coast Most Daring Sea Rescue. ( 1/11)
G- Grey By E L James (2/15)
H- Heart Of Stone By Diana Palmer (1/25)
I- Impossibly Pregnant by Nicola Marsh (2/24)
J- Justice For Mackenzie By Susan Stoker (3/8)
K- Keeper Of The Heart By Johanna Lindsey (3/15)
L- Little Princes by Conor Grennan ( 1/24)
M- My Blue Suede Shoes By Tracy Price- Thompson (1/14)
N-Now You See M by James Patterson- (4/2)
O- Out Of The Silent Planet by C.S Lewis (1/15)
P- Poppy Done to death By Charlanie Harris ( 1/22)
Q-A Quest of heroes by Morgan Rice ( 4/12)
R- Redeemed by P.C Cast ( 1/11)
S- Speaking in bones by Kathy Riches
T- Tribute by Nora Roberts (4/08)
U- Underneath It All by Kate Cantebary - (4/4)
V-Verity by Clarie Farrell (4/17)
W- Winter Roses by Diana Palmer (1/25)
X- XO by Jeffery Deaver( 4/23)
Y- Year One by Nora Roberts ( 1/7)
Z-Zeus by Kamery Solomon (4/26)

DONE On April 26

I am in!

A- The Adulterous Woman by Albert Camus *Read 14 Mar 18*
B- The Baker Illustrated Guide to the Bible: A Book-By-Book Companion by John A. Beck *Read 3 Aug 18*
C- Charlotte Bronte: A Fiery Heart by Claire Harman *Read 25 Jan 18*
D- David Copperfield by Charles Dickens *Read 14 Jul 18*
E- Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman *Read 10 Feb 18*
F- Fathers and Sons by Ivan Turgenev
G- The Gun by Fuminori Nakamura *Read 11 May 18*
H- The Hidden Lives of Owls: The Science and Spirit of Nature's Most Elusive Birds by Leigh Calvez *Read 28 Feb 18*
I- An Ideal Husband by Oscar Wilde *Read 20 Jan 18*
J- Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë *Read 14 Feb 18*
K- Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami
L- The Lucifer Effect: Understanding How Good People Turn Evil by Philip G. Zimbardo *Read 14 Jan 18*
M- Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur *Read 10 Feb 18*
N- Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen *Read 1 Feb 18*
O- Our Town by Thornton Wilder *Read 22 June 18*
P- Parade by Shūichi Yoshida *Read 7 Apr 18*
Q-
R- Russian Literature: A Very Short Introduction by Catriona Kelly
S- Salvation of a Saint by Keigo Higashino *Read 3/1/18*
T- The Touchstone by Edith Wharton *Read 6/1/18*
U-
V- Voltaire: A Very Short Introduction by Nicholas Cronk
W- Winter of the Gods by Jordanna Max Brodsky *Read 28 Jan 18*
X- 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne *Read 12 Feb 18*
Y-
Z- Zabelle by Nancy Kricorian

I haven't participated much in this group; high time to change that!
Count me in.

Gaijinama's Alphabet Soup Challenge
update 11/3/18


A-Apocalypse by Nancy Springer
B-The Blood of Flowers by Anita Amirezvani
C- The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
D-The Dispossessed by Ursula K. Leguin
E-Emotional Blackmail: When the People in Your Life Use Fear, Obligation, and Guilt to Manipulate You
F-
G-
H-
I-
J-
K-
L-The Last Wife of Henry VIII by Carrolly Erickson
M-
N-
O-
P-Pandora by Anne Rice
Q-The Queen Is Dead by Kate Locke
R-
S-Streets of Laredo by Larry McMurtry 10/6
T-Tam Lin by Pamela Dean 10/30
U-
V- The Vampire Armand by Anne Rice
W-Watership Down
X-
Y-
Z-

This looks like fun: I am in.


Alphabet Soup Challenge
9/26

A-
B-
C-
D-
E- Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine by: Gail Honeyman 1/7/18
F- The First Phone Call from Heaven by Mitch Albom 1/19/18
G-
H-
I- The Ice Cream Queen of Orchard Street by Susan Gilman 1/30/18
J-
K-
L- The Leisure Seeker by Michael Zadoorian -- 1/16/18
M-
N-The New York Idea - (Adapted by David Auburn. From the original by Langdon Mitchell). 1/8/18
O-
P- The Places In Between by Rory Stewart -- 1/13/18
Q- The Queen of Hearts by Kimmery Martin 2/25/18
R-
S- Still Me by Jojo Moyes
T- The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
U- Uncommon Type - some stories by Tom Hanks
V-
W-
X-
Y-
Z-

So glad to see new faces and also many who enjoyed this challenge in past years!

I’m in
A-Amish Sweethearts: Four Amish Novellas
B-The Bear and the Nightingale
C-The Crown's Fate
D-The Dark Man
E- Everless
F-Fangs & Fins
G-The Girl in the Tower
H-Handle with Care
I-Ignite
J- James: Witch-Hunter
K-
L- Lake Silence
M-Monsters of Men
N- Never Look at the Empty Seats: A Memoir
O- The Orphan Queen
P-The Phantom Tree
Q-
R-Ringer
S-The Summer List
T-The Taster
U-Unrivaled (Against All Expectations Collection Book #6): a novel
V-The Vampire Secret
W-A Wrinkle in Time
X-
Y-
Z-

I am definitely in!

Alphabet Soup Challenge


A-
B- Band Nerds Confessions & Confusion by DJ Corchin
C- Charlotte's Web by E.B. White
D- The Dark Prophecy by Rick Riordan
E-
F-
G-
H- The Hidden Oracle by Rick Riordan
I-
J-
K-
L- The Little Book of Giant Puns: Bring Big Laughs Everywhere by Benjamin Branfman
M- The Marching Band Nerds Awards by DJ Corchin
N-
O- One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey
P-
Q-
R-
S-
T- Turtles All the Way Down by John Green
U-
V-
W-
X-
Y-
Z-

Rd 1
A - Apple Turnover Murder by Joanne Fluke
B - (The) Bombay Boomerang by Franklin Dixon
C (The) Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper by Phaedra Patrick
D
E - Éclair and Present Danger by Laura Bradford
F - Full Wolf Moon by Lincoln Child
G
H - Hardcore Twenty-four by Janet Evanovich
I - I could pee on this by Francesco Marciuliano
J
K
L - (The) Little Shop of Murders by Susan Goodwill
M
N
O
P - Paradise Valley by C. J. Box
Q
R - Ricochet Joe by Dean Koontz
S - Scandal in Skibbereen by Shelia Connolly
T - The Painted Queen by Elizabeth Peters and Joan Hess
U
V - Valentine Murder by Leslie Meier
W - (The) Woman in the Window by A. J. Finn
X
Y
Z

I'm in!

A-
B-
C- Casino Royale
D-
E- Excellent Women
F-
G-
H- How to Be an Existentialist: or How to Get Real, Get a Grip and Stop Making Excuses
I-
J-
K-
L-
M-
N-
O-
P- Peter Darling
Q-
R-
S-
T- Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
U-
V-
W-
X-
Y-
Z-

Going to try this one again
A
B
C
D
E - The End Game
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z

Yay, I'm in too!

A-
B- Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear
C-
D-
E- Echoes of the Long War
F-
G-
H- The Hunt for Vulkan
I-
J-
K-
L-
M-
N- Ninefox Gambit
O- Odd & True
P-
Q-
R-
S- Stolen Songbird
T-
U-
V-
W- Watchers in Death
X-
Y- The Year of Less: How I Stopped Shopping, Gave Away My Belongings, and Discovered Life Is Worth More Than Anything You Can Buy in a Store
Z-

I'd like to participate!

Alphabet Soup

TOTAL: 11/26

✔ A - Alice's Adventures In Wonderland
✔ B - The Beauty and the Beast
✔ C - Carry On
_ D - A Darker Shade of Magic / Dorothy Must Die / The Dream Thieves
_ E - Edgar Allan Poe Short Stories
✔ F - Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
✔ G - The Girl on the Train
_ H - Harry Potter Page to Screen: The Complete Filmmaking Journey
✔ I - Irish Fairy and Folk Tales
_ J - Jane Eyre
_ K - The Kind Worth Killing
✔ L - Lill's Travels in Santa Claus Land, and Other Stories
✔ M - The Marquise of O
_ N - The Night Circus
_ O - Obsidio
✔ P - Pé Descalço
_ Q - The Queen of Spades and Other Stories
_ R - The Raven Boys / Room / The Rose & the Dagger
_ S - The Sea of Monsters
✔ T - The Little Prince
✔ U - An Unseen Attraction
_ V - Very Good, Jeeves!
_ W - We Are the Ants / The Wicked Will Rise / The Wrath and the Dawn
_ X - X Marks the Spot, We're All Going to Die!... So What's for Lunch?
_ Y - Yellow Brick War
_ Z - The Zillionaire Vampire Cowboy's Secret Werewolf Babies

The order I've read them in:

I'm Finished!!! 10.20.18

I Love This Challenge!!
2018 Alphabet Soup

A-The Appeal by John Grisham
B-Big Little Lies by Liana Moriarty
C-The Chemist by Stephenie Meyer
D-daughter by asha bandele
E-Everything Everything by Nicola Yoon
F-Future Home of the Living God by Louise Erdrich
G-The Good Daughter by Karin Slaughter/ The Girl with the Seven Names by Hyeonseo Lee
H-The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
I-I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
J-Johnny Tramain by Esther Forbes
K-The Kitchen God's Wife by Amy Tan
L-The Lying Game by Ruth Ware
M-The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto by Mitch Albom
N-Night Film by Marisha Pessl
O-Our Little Secret by Roz Nay
P-The Paperboy by Pete Dexter
Q-The Quiche of Death by M.C. Beaton
R-The Round House by Louise Erdrich
S-The Silent Wife by A.S.A. Harrison/Star Lake Saloon and Housekeeping cottages by Sara Rath/A Spool of Blue Thread by Anne Tyler
T-Turtles all the Way Down by John Green
U-Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
V-Vinegar Girl by Anne Tyler
W-The Whistler by John Grisham/The Women in the Castle by Jessica Shattuck
X-Looking For X by Deborah Ellis
Y-You're Never Weird on the Internet by Felicia Day
Z-Z for Zachariah by Robert C. O'Brien

Me too!

Alphabet Soup

A- After You
B- Beautiful Burn
C-
D- Dangerous Waters
E- Emma's Folly
F- French Women Don't Get Facelifts: The Secret of Aging with Style & Attitude
G-
H- The Hating Game
I- In Farleigh Field
J-
K- Killman Creek
L- Long, Hot Texas Summer
M- Me Talk Pretty One Day
N- The Nemesis Cell
O-
P- Pipe and Pestle: A Sam Archer Novel
Q-
R-
S- The Strawberry Hearts Diner
T- Tangled
U- Ugly Love
V- Violet's Wish
W-
X-
Y-
Z- Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald

I am on my third book starting with the letter F. Not getting very far in this challenge.

Nancy wrote: "I am on my third book starting with the letter F. Not getting very far in this challenge."
I keep reading books that start with A and I’ve read at least 2 that start with U.

Tiffany wrote: "Nancy wrote: "I am on my third book starting with the letter F. Not getting very far in this challenge."
I keep reading books that start with A and I’ve read at least 2 that start with U."
I think it is funny - I like to fill in challenges when I am done with the book --- I am like "Oh Man" another F. my next book starts with a U. I am in the next round.
Have a wonderful day

That’s how I’m doing mine. At least for now, I plan to just read like I normally would. I got my C but am now reading another U (lol)

There we go again, I hope I finish it this time:

A-American Gods
B-
C-Coraline
D-
E-
F-
G-The Grand Design
H-Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
I-
J-
K-
L-
M-
N-
O-On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft
P-
Q-Quidditch Through the Ages
R-
S-Sandman Special #1: The Song of Orpheus
T-
U-
V-
W-
X-
Y-
Z-

I’m up for the challenge! Haven’t done much so far, but I’ll go on break from uni soon!!

May have also taken this one step further and told myself I couldn't read two or more books by the same author. Certainly getting through my want-to-read list with some authors I wouldn't normally go for now.

8/26 as at 8th May

A- A.K.A Fudgepuddle - Fin Ross (8/2)
B- Bridge to Terabithia (8/5)
C-Cruel Beauty - Rosamund Hodge (3/5)
D-
E-the Eye of the World - Robert Jordan (25/2)
F-Forests of Silence - Emily Rodda (30/3)
G-Great Gatsby (26/4)
H-Hurricane Hex - Charmed (11/2)
I-
J-
K-
L-
M-
N-
O-
P-
Q-
R-
S- A Study in Scarlet (16/5)
T-Tempests and Slaughter (18/4)
U-
V-
W-
X- X - Sue Grafton (2/3)
Y-
Z-

Love to Join the challenge and here are the books to go with the alphabets so far :)


A-A Lady In Shadows by Lene Kaaberbol
B-Bound by Flames by Jeaniene Frost
C-
D-Doctor Death by Lene Kaaberbol
E-Everything In Its Time by Dee Davis
F-Flameout by Keri Arthur
G-
H-Hunting Prince Dracula by Kerri Maniscalo
I-Into The Fire by Jeaniene Frost
J-
K-
L-
M-
N-
O-Overbite by Meg Cabot
P-
Q-
R-Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
S-Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalo
T-Twice Tempted by Jeaniene Frost
U-
V-
W-Wicked Embers by Keri Arthur
X-
Y-
Z-

Alphabet Soup Challenge 2018
13/26

_ A - American Fairy Tales by L. Frank Baum
✔ B - Buy a Whisker by Sofie Ryan 3★ 28/4
✔ C - Cat on the Edge by Shirley Rousseau Murphy 1★ 13/8 review
✔ D - Dead Men Don't Crochet by Betty Hechtman 3★ 20/8 review
_ E - Every Breath by Ellie Marney
✔ F - Fat Cat At Large by Janet Cantrell 2★ 28/8 review
✔ G - Going Through the Notions by Cate Price 4★s 6/5 review
_ H - Head Case by Jennifer Oko
_ I - If You've Got It, Haunt It by Rose Pressey
✔ J - As Nature Made Him by John Colapinto 5★ 11/8
✔ K - Knife Skills by Julie Adler 5★ 20/5 review
✔ L - Lending a Paw by Laurie Cass 4★ 13/5 review
✔ M - Mum's the Word by Kate Collins 1★ 1/5 review
_ N - The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson
_ O - Oracle by J.C. Martin
✔ P - Paws and Effect by Sofie Kelly 3★ 2/4
_ Q - The Question of the Missing Head by E.J. Copperman
_ R - Racconti straordinari by Edgar Allan Poe
✔ S - Southern Spirits by Angie Fox 2★ 22/5 review
✔ T - A Tale of Two Kitties by Sofie Kelly 3★ 4/5 review
_ U - The Unsuspecting Mage by Brian S. Pratt
_ V - Velveteen vs. The Junior Super Patriots by Seanan McGuire
✔ W - The Whole Cat and Caboodle by Sofie Ryan 23/4
_ X -
_ Y - Yeast of Eden by Sarah Fox
_ Z -

I filled in some of the titles I may read for this challenge, only the marked ones are finished.

I'm in! I think I have a better chance of completion here than with Bingo! Lol... The good thing is I'm reading...and enjoying it!

A-
B-
C-
D-
E-
F-
G-
H-
I-
J-
K-
L-
M-
N-
O-
P-
Q-
R-
S-
T-
U-
V-
W-
X-
Y-
Z-

That’s one reason we try to offer a variety of challenges. Hopefully, there’s something that fits everyone’s taste, time, or interest level.

Fun challenge! I'm in.

A-Afterlife
B-Birthday Girl
C-Covetous
D-Dollars
E-Embers
F-Fire and Bone
G-Glastronen
H-Hundreds
I-Ibland mår jag inte så bra
J-Ja jag har mens, hurså?
K-Keeping Lily
L-Legacy
M-Millions
N- Neutral
O-Och mörkret föll
P-Pestilence
Q-The Quarter Moon
R-Radiance
S-Silence Breaking
T-Thousands
U-
V-Valerian Empire
W-Wrong
X-Xander's Chance
Y-
Z-Zander

A-
B-
C-
D- Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania by Erik Larson
E-
F- The Fourth Industrial Revolution by Klaus Schwab
G- The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
H- Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis by J.D. Vance
I- Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling
J-
K-
L- Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders
M- The Man from Beijing by Henning Mankell
N-
O-
P-
Q-
R- Rogue Heroes: The History of the SAS, Britain's Secret Special Forces Unit That Sabotaged the Nazis and Changed the Nature of War by Ben Macintyre
S- The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit by Michael Finkel
T-
U-
V- Voices from Chernobyl: The Oral History of a Nuclear Disaster by Svetlana Alexievich
W-
X-
Y-
Z-

You can back-fill letters for books you’ve read in 2018. That might help you get closer to your goal.

A- The Austere Academy
B- Bex Carter 1: Aunt Jeanie's Revenge
- Blue Lily, Lily Blue
- Bill Bryson's Appliance of Science: An Audible Original
C-
D- The Dream Thieves
E- The Ersatz Elevator
F-
G- The Graveyard Book
- Graveyard Shift
H- History Is All You Left Me
- The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
I-
J-
K-
L-
M- A Man Called Ove
- The Miserable Mill
N-
O- Our Man in Havana
P-
Q-
R- Red Sparrow
- The Raven King
- Ready Player One
- The Raven Boys
S- The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle
- Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda
- Steelheart
- The Secret Garden
- The Secret
T- The Three-Body Problem
U-
V-
W-
X-
Y-
Z-

Welcome to the challenge, Stella.

I'm up for this challenge!

21/26 as of 12/27/2018

A- All the Light We Cannot See - 2/10/18
B- The Boys in the Boat - 2/5/2018
C- Cutting for Stone - 6/17/2018
D- Drop the Ball - 12/21/2018
E- Everything I Never Told You - 4/19/2018
F- Forrest Gump - 5/13/2018
G- Gone Girl - 1/7/2018
H- Heart Berries - 7/9/2018
I- The Immortalists - 4/21/2018
J- Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption - 12/23/2018
K- Keeper of Lost Things - 12/27/2018
L- Lilac Girls - 5/8/2018
M- My Name is Lucy Barton - 1/12/2018
N-
O- The Other Woman - 8/5/2018
P- The Power of Habit - 5/15/2018
Q- The Queen: Aretha Franklin - 10/14/2018
R- Read My Pins - 1/4/2018
S- The Son - 2/25/2018
T- To Be Where You Are - 1/28/2018
U-
V- Vox - 9/8/2018
W- A Wrinkle in Time - 3/30/2018
X-
Y-
Z-

Nice! You’re well on your way!

Welcome! You are welcome to backfill your Reads since January. It’s up to you. :)

I completed the ABC Challenge and looking forward to 2019!!

Good for you! 🎃