2025 Reading Challenge discussion
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Amber's Challenge of 110
*Amber* wrote: "This year I will be aiming to read 60 books. Current Progress: 3/60
..."
Looks like you're off to a great start Amber!
Wishing you the best of luck with your goal & a very happy New (reading) Year!
Wishing you the best of luck with your goal this year.
Susy wrote: Looks like you're off to a great start Amber!Wishing you the best of luck with your goal & a very happy ..."
Blagica wrote: "Wishing you the best of luck with your goal this year."
Thank you both. I wanted a head start before exams started.
BOOK 1
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll
Date Completed: 02/01
Rating: ★★★
Mini Review: This was even more bizarre than I expected. I have seen a few movie adaptations of this but they have all made some sort of sense and had plot to them. This just seems like a string of scenes and characters that don’t always fit together. I think that is part of the point though as Alice is likely to be dreaming the book’s events. The first book was also a lot shorted than I expected, not even a hundred pages long.
Full Review: Not yet written.
BOOK 2
Red Dragon by Thomas Harris
Date Completed: 02/01
Rating: ★★★
Mini Review: I have mixed feelings about this. It was very descriptive but the description was more factual than anything else (so not metaphorical), which is something that I have never come across before in fiction. The amount of description it went into at times meant that this book is definitely not for the faint of heart. I enjoyed this book but wasn’t engaged in it enough to read it to the end without reading another book in between. I do hope to read the rest of the series though as the character of Hannibal is very interesting (Will Graham is also interesting but apparently he isn’t in the later books).
Full Review: Not yet written.
BOOK 3
Alice by Christina Henry
Date Completed: 04/01
Rating: ★★★★
Mini Review: This book caught my attention because the cover was gorgeous. I then read the blurb and felt it would be right down my alley. It was indeed. Set after her trip to ‘wonderland,’ this book has a very different take on the story we all know, and a whole lot darker. The ending was a little disappointing to me, but the rest of it was great and I am looking forwards to reading the second book as there is so much left to resolve.
Full Review: Not yet written.
*Amber* wrote: "BOOK 3 Alice by Christina Henry
Date Completed: 04/01
Rating: ★★★★
Mini Review: This book caught my attention because the cover was g..."
Sounds good, added to my TBR :)
BOOK 4
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling
Date Completed: 19/01
Rating: ★★★★★
Mini Review: Why did I have to be reading this in public when (view spoiler)? I barely managed to keep myself from crying. I love Harry Potter and I think this is one of the better books in the series. It’s full of adventure and darkness is always hiding on the edges (students being taken out of class to be told their parents are dead). It is also full of hilarious one liners.
Full Review: Not yet written.
BOOK 5
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
Date Completed: 21/01
Rating: ★★★
Mini Review: I don’t really have much to say about this book. This is the second time that I’ve read it and I neither love it nor hate it. I don’t feel I was able to engage in any of the characters but I think that’s because it is only a short book.
Full Review: Not yet written.
BOOK 6
City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
Date Completed: 22/01
Rating: ★★★★
Mini Review: This is the second time I’ve read this book and it was not as good as I remembered it. It was however, still very entertaining and I had a few laugh out loud moments.
Full Review: Not yet written.
BOOK 7
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling
Date Completed: 29/01
Rating: ★★★★★
Mini Review: I’m reading this as part of the Wizarding World Bookclub on Pottermore. Even though I only read this by myself recently, I am still enjoying reading it again. It’s also quite nice to be able to discuss elements on it on Twitter each week. There are a few things that happen in here that are very important to later books, despite seeming insignificant here, and I love this.
Full Review: Not yet written.
BOOK 8
Applied Psychology: Putting Theory Into Practice by Debra Anne Bekerian
Date Completed: 30/01
Rating: ★★★
Mini Review: I found it difficult to engage with this book. If I was tired I was unable to understand the information. It is a nice introduction to the different professional applications for Psychology.
Full Review: Not yet written.
You are doing great keep up the great reads!
BOOK 9
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallowsby J.K. Rowling
Date Completed: 03/02
Rating: ★★★★★
Mini Review: An amazing conclusion to the series. When I first read this book the ending left me feeling numb at the realisation that it was over and there was still a little of that emotion this time I read it.
Full Review: Not yet written.
BOOK 10
Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
Date Completed: 09/01
Rating: ★★★★
Mini Review: It took me a while to get into this book but once I did I found it enjoyable. I think the reason it took me a while to get into the story was because the main character seemed really superficial and spent all her time going on about how awesome she was but not doing anything to back up this claim. Once there started to be some action it picked up but was not amazing. I am torn between 3 and 4 stars for this one.
Full Review: Not yet written.
BOOK 11
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
Date Completed: 13/02
Rating: ★★★★
Mini Review: It’s hard to review audiobooks as I tend to listen to them in order to help me sleep. Overall I enjoyed this but there were a few times I became bored. It is an amusing read/listen and it’s difficult to predict what will happen as it goes from one bizarre situation to another.
Full Review: Not yet written.
Two months down ten to go! I hope March is a success for you. You are doing great!!!!
BOOK 12
Heist Society by Ally Carter
Date Completed: 03/03
Rating: ★★★★
Mini Review: This is the second series I have started by Ally Carter and I am finding that I really enjoy her books. They are not the most believable in the world but they are fun and quick to get through.
Full Review: Not yet written.
BOOK 13
Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
Date Completed: 03/03
Rating: ★★★★
Mini Review: I enjoyed this more than Pride and Prejudice but found myself lost about 1/3 of the way through the book. I think this was because I wasn’t giving the book 100% of my attention and to keep up with it I think you need to. I still don’t like Willoughby.
Full Review: Not yet written.
BOOK 14
The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux
Date Completed: 25/03
Rating: ★★★★
Mini Review: I enjoyed this book more than I expected. There were parts where my interest waned but mostly I found it interesting, especially learning more about Erik than I had done from the other versions I have come across (two movies, the stage play and a simplified children’s version which was pants).
Full Review: Not yet written.
BOOK 15
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling
Date Completed: 26/03
Rating: ★★★★★
Mini Review: Second time reading this year and third time in total. I reread this as part of the Wizarding World Book Club on Pottermore.
Full Review: Not yet written
A book is a dream that you hold in your hand. I hope that April brings you many more five star reads. Do you have a stand out book so far this year?
Blagica wrote: "A book is a dream that you hold in your hand. I hope that April brings you many more five star reads. Do you have a stand out book so far this year?"Oh yes, I recently read Nevernight by Jay Kristoff and it was amazing. I was supposed to be working on uni assignments but they took a back bench to reading this and once I was finished it took me ages to go to sleep because I couldn't stop thinking about it. I'm going to be buying the next in the trilogy for my birthday.
Have you read any stand out books this year?
BOOK 16
Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult
Date Completed: 31/3
Rating: ★★★★★
Mini Review: This book was brilliant, really got me thinking.
Full Review: Not yet written.
April Showers bring May flowers I hope May brings lots of great reads and sunshine!
BOOK 17
City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare
Date Completed: 02/04
Rating: ★★★★
Mini Review: Again, I enjoyed this book but not as much as I enjoyed it the first time I read it.
Full Review: Not yet written
BOOK 18
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien. Read by Rob Inglis
Date Completed: 02/04
Rating: ★★★★
Mini Review: I enjoyed listening to this on audiobook, but Inglis really can’t sing.
Full Review: Not yet written.
BOOK 19
Kitty Cat by May Sage
Date Completed: 04/04
Rating: ★★★
Mini Review: I enjoyed this book and read it really quickly. However, I wouldn’t call it good. I’m also a little disappointed that the next book in the series centres around a different couple.
Full Review: Not yet written
BOOK 20
Nevernight by Jay Kristoff
Date Completed: 07/04
Rating: ★★★★★
Mini Review: This is my favourite book that I have read this year. It was amazing and I can’t wait to read the second one.
Full Review: Not yet written
BOOK 21
Benedict Cumberbatch Reads Sherlock Holmes' Rediscovered Railway Mysteries: Four original short stories by John Taylor
Date Completed: 11/04
Rating: ★★★
Mini Review: I barely remember anything about this.
Full Review: Not yet written
BOOK 22
Good Omens: The BBC Radio 4 dramatisation by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman
Date Completed: 21/05
Rating: ★★★★
Mini Review: This is an entertaining dramatization.
Full Review: Not yet written
BOOK 23
City of Glass by Cassandra Clare
Date Completed: 23/05
Rating: ★★★★
Mini Review: I loved this book as a teenager, though not as much now, and felt it was a good ending to the trilogy. Then I found out that there was more…
Full Review: Not yet written
BOOK 24
Neverwhere: BBC Dramatisation by Neil Gaiman
Date Completed: 29/04
Rating: ★★★★
Mini Review: This had a great cast and was good to listen to. I have the book and listening to this made me want to read it.
Full Review: Not yet written
BOOK 25
City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare
Date Completed: 22/05
Rating: ★★
Mini Review: There’s a reason that when I originally read this series I didn’t get past this book. It was quite dull and I felt that not much really happened. There was an underlying sense of danger which was intriguing but mostly it seemed to be about everyone going about their normal day. The ending got more interesting but I didn’t feel excited to read the next in the series. I will read the next one to see if it can go back to the standards of the first three books which I enjoyed.
Full Review: Not yet written
BOOK 26
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
Date Completed: 22/05
Rating: ★★★★★
Mini Review: Read for the Wizarding World Book Club on Pottermore. Even though I have only recently read this book I enjoyed reading it again and still got emotional. Brilliant ending to a Brilliant series.
Full Review: Not yet written
BOOK 27
Requiem for a Dream by Hubert Selby Jr.
Date Completed: 24/05
Rating: ★★★★
Mini Review: If you want a happy book with a satisfying ending this is not the one for you. This book was tragic and at the end I couldn’t help but feel that the story wasn’t over. What happens to the characters?
Full Review: Not yet written
BOOK 28
A Matter of Security: The Application of Attachment Theory to Forensic Psychiatry and Psychotherapy by Friedemann Pfäfflin
Date Completed: 28/05
Rating: ★★★
Mini Review: I used to have an interest in attachment theory but somewhere between starting and finishing reading this book I lost that interest. Now this might not have been due to the book but due to a disastrous university presentation around attachment theory. There were parts of the book I found interesting, such as the attachment formed between patient and psychologist but overall I wasn’t all that impressed with the book.
Full Review: RTC
BOOK 29
Northern Lights by Philip Pullman
Date Completed: 28/05
Rating: ★★★★
Mini Review: I enjoyed listening to the audiobook version of this, the cast did a great job and it was interesting to see the author narrating his own work.
Full Review: RTC
BOOK 30
The Official Dsa Guide To Driving: The Essential Skills by Driving Standards Agency
Date Completed: 01/06
Rating: ★★★
Mini Review: The information is presented in a simple, manner with plenty of image and colour to keep the attention. The only reason I didn’t give it four stars was because some of the information was outdated and there were a few things that could have been clearer. I’m sure however, that newer versions of this book will be more up to date.
Full Review: RTC.
BOOK 31
The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith
Date Completed: 02/06
Rating: ★★★
Mini Review: I would rate this a 3.5. The start was ok but towards the end it started to pick up and I started to enjoy it a whole lot more.
Full Review: RTC.
BOOK 32
Onyx and Ivory by Mindee Arnett
Date Completed: 03/06
Rating: ★★★★
Mini Review: I enjoyed this and are looking forwards to reading the next one. It was nothing amazing however, and only became four stars towards the end.
Full Review: RTC
BOOK 33
Girls in Tears by Jacqueline Wilson
Date Completed: 04/06
Rating: ★★★
Mini Review: I needed a book that would not take me long to read so I picked this one up. I read this series when I was a child and enjoyed it. As an adult I feel that I have outgrown the book and though it was OK, it was nothing amazing. As a whole I feel that this series is good for its audience, being able to teach them important life lessons. I will be getting rid of this book.
Full Review: RTC.
BOOK 34
City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare
Date Completed: 14/06
Rating: ★★★
Mini Review: After not enjoying the fourth book in this series, I was glad to find that City of Lost Souls was a lot better. I still wasn’t overly impressed but it seemed more structured than the previous book. Currently, I think she should have stopped with the trilogy, but I’ll see what I think of the final book.
Full Review: RTC
BOOK 35
Eragon by Christopher Paolini
Date Completed: 14/06
Rating: ★★★
Mini Review: I really enjoyed this book when I read it as a teenager but reading it now I found it dragged in places and I think that the main characters was poorly created.
Full Review: RTC
BOOK 36
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
Date Completed: 19/06
Rating: ★★★★
Mini Review: I was rather surprised with this book. I had expected to struggle with it as I find most classics are slow going and at times a little dry. This book however, took me little time to read and I found myself hooked almost throughout. I’d seen the film a long time ago so I had a vague idea of the plot but had forgotten some important parts. There were a few times when the book had me laughing out loud or shaking my head or reacting in some sort of way because I was unable to keep my thoughts internal.
Full Review: RTC.
BOOK 37
A Descent into the Maelstrom by Edgar Allan Poe
Date Completed: 22/06
Rating: ★★★
Mini Review: The first time I read this I found it extremely boring. This time it didn't seem too bad but I felt no emotional connection to the story at all. Not that it was an emotional story of course.
Full Review: RTC
BOOK 38
On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King
Date Completed: 22/06
Rating: ★★★★
Mini Review: I usually find information books difficult to get through but this was a breeze. It was interesting to gain some information about King’s life alongside his opinions on writing.
Full Review: RTC
BOOK 39
The Subtle Knife by Philip Pullman
Date Completed: 26/06
Rating: ★★★★
Mini Review: I’m finding that each time I read/listen to this I understand more yet have more questions and I can’t work out whether that is a good or a bad thing.
Full Review: RTC
BOOK 40
The Amber Spyglass by Philip Pullman
Date Completed: 01/07
Rating: ★★★★
Mini Review: A rather bittersweet ending.
Full Review: RTC
2025 Reading Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
Across the Nightingale Floor (other topics)The Tale of Two Horses (other topics)
A Clockwork Orange (other topics)
Grace and Fury (other topics)
Heart of Thorns (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Lian Hearn (other topics)Aimé Tschiffely (other topics)
Hiromu Arakawa (other topics)
Philip Pullman (other topics)
Stephen King (other topics)
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Current Progress: 66/110