Dare to Dream discussion

Please post all questions/updates/comments regarding the Winter 2019/2020 Reading Challenge in this thread. :)

The Winter Challenge will begin December 7th and end February 28th.

Rules of the challenge:

Read 3 books (or more)
Complete 3 tasks (or more)
All genres okay
Rereads okay

So this winter, complete 3 (or more) of the following :

1. Several authors have birthdays in the winter.

SO THIS WINTER,

READ A BOOK BY ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:

Bill Bryson (Dec. 8th)
Philip K. Dick (Dec. 16th)
Zora Neale Hurston (Jan. 7th)
Chuck Palahniuk (Feb. 21st)

2. The 2019 Goodreads Choice Award Winners will be announced December 10th.

SO THIS WINTER,

READ ONE OF THIS YEARS WINNERS .

3. The movie 1917 will be released in theaters this winter. It’s about 2 soldiers racing against time to prevent an ambush during WWI. If they fail their mission, many will likely lose their lives including the brother of one of the soldiers.

SO THIS WINTER,
COMPLETE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:

READ A BOOK (SET AT LEAST IN PART) DURING WWI.
or
READ A BOOK IN WHICH TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE.
or
READ A BOOK IN WHICH THE MAJORITY OF THE STORY TAKES PLACE OVER THE COURSE OF A SINGLE DAY.
or
READ A BOOK ABOUT THE BOND BETWEEN SIBLINGS.

4. Library Shelfie Day is January 29th. Post a picture of your favorite book or library shelf to promote books and reading.

SO THIS WINTER,

READ A BOOK WITH THE WORD “LIBRARY” IN THE TITLE/SUBTITLE.

5. The movie Groundhog Day was originally released in theaters on February 12th, 1993. The main character keeps reliving the same day over and over again.

SO THIS WINTER,

READ A BOOK IN WHICH THE MAIN CHARACTER KEEPS RELIVING THE SAME DAY/EVENT/ OR LIFE OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

6. IHOP NATIONAL PANCAKE DAY is February 25th.

SO THIS WINTER,

READ A BOOK WITH THE LETTERS I-H-O-P IN THE TITLE/SUBTLE.

7. Random task-This task counts towards the challenge but isn’t inspired by the season.
Oprah has brought her book club to Apple TV.

SO THIS WINTER,

READ ONE OF OPRAH’S BOOK CLUB PICKS (PAST OR PRESENT).

WISHING YOU ALL GOOD HEALTH & HAPPINESS IN 2020. :D

HAPPY WINTER, EVERYONE! :)

Yay for the new challenge. Thank you!

Christine wrote: "Yay for the new challenge. Thank you!"

You’re welcome-Glad you like it. :D

Thank you for a new challenge! I’m making my book list!

Danell wrote: "Thank you for a new challenge! I’m making my book list!"

You’re welcome! Looking forward to seeing what everyone reads. :D

Thanks for brightening our Winter :-) Looking forward to the Winter Challenge.

Dustin Crazy little brown owl wrote: "Thanks for brightening our Winter :-) Looking forward to the Winter Challenge."

You’re welcome! Glad you like it. :D

That’s a perfect way to say it, “brightening our winter” with the challenge. We are in our darkest days in the PNW, going to work in the dark and coming home in it! Not too much longer and we start going toward lighter days!!!!!

Brightening our winter is perfect! We received 18 inches of snow in a little over a day last week. Several lost power during a snow storm four days prior to the 18 inch storm. I don’t mind snow,like Christine said, it’s the darkness that stinks.

I think the sun is very important to emotional, mental and physical health. I've found that I am energized by the sunshine.

Well, Rachel, it looks like we'll have a good participating group for this particular challenge because like all the holidays thrown into the Winter, we need good books to get us through these darker days.

Today is the first official day of the Winter Reading Challenge. Time for new books, new literary adventures.

The first book I'm reading is The Shape of Night by Tess Gerritsen. This book has the letters I-H-O-P in the title and is a paranormal romantic suspense novel. Basically there is a haunted house and the main character has a relationship with a ghost.

Dustin Crazy little brown owl wrote: "I think the sun is very important to emotional, mental and physical health. I've found that I am energized by the sunshine.

Well, Rachel, it looks like we'll have a good participating group for t..."

Thanks for the update, Dustin! :) Look forward to hearing your thoughts about this story-I pretty much want to read all of Tess Gerritsen’s books.

I agree with all of you about the dark-glad this challenge helps to brighten the winter. :)

Rachel wrote: "Thanks for the update, Dustin! :) Look forward to hearing your thoughts about this story-I pretty much want to read all of Tess Gerritsen’s books.."

Well this one is a throw back to the days when Tess was writing Romantic Suspense Novels. She hasn't written anything like this since before the Rizzoli & Isles series started, so it's very interesting to see a combination of her old genre and decades of writing experience.

Looks like you're following my reviews so you'll definitely learn my final opinion :-)

I listened to Barracoon by Zora Neale Hurston which works for 1. Read, Escape From Mr. Lemoncello’s Library, which works for #4.

Was excited to see the winners of the Goodreads best books announced. Not sure which book I’m going to choose.

Thanks for the update, Danell! :D

Danell wrote: "Was excited to see the winners of the Goodreads best books announced. Not sure which book I’m going to choose."

Looking forward to seeing which book you choose-I decided to read -it’s interesting so far and I like the author’s sense of humor. Reminds me of Mary Roach.

I look forward to your review Rachel! Looks like an interesting book!

I listened to Maisie Dobbs which works for #3. It was ok.

Danell wrote: "I listened to Maisie Dobbs which works for #3. It was ok."

Thanks for the update, Danell! Hope your next book is more enjoyable. :)

Hi everyone I wanted to wish all of you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!!

The same goes from me too! Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and Happy New Year! I hope everyone has a holiday full of laughter and love and lots of good books!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS, EVERYONE! :D

I listened to The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper, which works for the I-H-O-P part of the challenge. Cute, charming, happy read

Happy Holidays!

Finished Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs? Big Questions from Tiny Mortals About Death for task 2. Fun book.

Danell wrote: "I listened to The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper, which works for the I-H-O-P part of the challenge. Cute, charming, happy read"

Thanks for the update, Danell! :D

What was everyone’s favorite book of 2019?

Rachel wrote: "What was everyone’s favorite book of 2019?"

Too hard for me to choose just one :-) Here are my top five Favorites that I read in 2019:

Dustin Crazy little brown owl wrote: "Rachel wrote: "What was everyone’s favorite book of 2019?"

Too hard for me to choose just one :-) Here are my top five Favorites that I read in 2019:
[bookcover:The Death of Mrs. Westaway|36373481..."



I need to give Recursion another try. I’ve also been meaning to read The Winter People for a long time.

My 2019 favorites:

, ,

My favorite book published this year:

Wow! I'm impressed with everyone's favorites this year. Its so hard to chose just one. The top books for me this year are:



A favorite re-read this year:

Did anyone get any great books for Christmas? I got

Christine wrote: "Wow! I'm impressed with everyone's favorites this year. Its so hard to chose just one. The top books for me this year are:

[bookcover:Where the Crawdads Sing|36..."


I really liked Miracle Creek too. The other books are on my tbr. :)

I got a fun little book about the show The Golden Girls (loved that show:)

I’ve heard good things about Brandon Sanderson. Hope you enjoy!

Just finished decorating a page in my bookworm planner for this challenge! Hope I am posting this in the right area (my 1st challenge here).

I read Ohio by Stephen Markley for #3: IN WHICH THE MAJORITY OF THE STORY TAKES PLACE OVER THE COURSE OF A SINGLE DAY. It was also my favorite book of 2019

I plan on reading Stephen King's The Institute for my 2019 Goodreads Choice Award Winner

I do have a question, though...I understand the reading part of the challenge, but am not quite sure about the tasks. I only see two? posting a shelfie on the 29th (my bday, btw) and read an Oprah book....are there more to chose from that I'm not seeing?

This is going to be fun!

Janet wrote: "Just finished decorating a page in my bookworm planner for this challenge! Hope I am posting this in the right area (my 1st challenge here).

I read Ohio by Stephen Markley for #3: IN WHICH THE MAJ..."

You are posting in the right place-Welcome! :D

All the tasks are just reading a book related to the event/holiday. Of course you can post a picture on library shelfie day if you’d like. :) Sorry for the confusion.

Task 1 is read one of the authors listed.
Task 2 is read a goodreads 2019 award winner.
Task 3 is related to the movie 1917.
Task 4 is read a book with the word “library” in the title/subtitle
Task 5 is related to the movie Groundhog Day
Task 6 is read a book with the letters I-H-O-P in the title/subtitle
Task 7 is read a book from Oprah’s book club

Hope this helps. Happy New Year! :)
If you have any other questions please don’t hesitate to ask. :)

Janet wrote: "Just finished decorating a page in my bookworm planner for this challenge! Hope I am posting this in the right area (my 1st challenge here).

I read Ohio by Stephen Markley for #3: IN WHICH THE MAJ..."

Also, thanks for the update, Janet! I’ll have to check out Ohio
Hope you enjoy The Institute

Happy New Year, Everyone!
Wishing you all a happy and healthy 2020! :)

Rachel wrote: "Janet wrote: "Just finished decorating a page in my bookworm planner for this challenge! Hope I am posting this in the right area (my 1st challenge here).

I read Ohio by Stephen Markley for #3: IN..."

Rachel wrote: "Janet wrote: "Just finished decorating a page in my bookworm planner for this challenge! Hope I am posting this in the right area (my 1st challenge here).

I read Ohio by Stephen Markley for #3: IN..."

Thanks for the clarification!!! Oh, I KNOW I will enjoy The Institute....King is my all time favorite! I've been "saving it" for just the right time to read it.

Janet wrote: "Just finished decorating a page in my bookworm planner for this challenge! Hope I am posting this in the right area (my 1st challenge here).

I read Ohio by Stephen Markley for #3: IN WHICH THE MAJ..."

Welcome Janet! Thanks for joining us for the Winter Reading Challenge :-)

I have read my second book (or in this instance - short story) for the challenge.


This short story meets the task of taking place in the course of one day. It's the third time I've read this introduction to a full-length novel which I'm preparing to re-read this month.

I am currently reading a sci-fi novel from the 70's in which time is of the essence. There is time travel involved and also some time variables as to how long each trip is lasting.


This book is by Octavia Butler. I was introduced to this author by participating in a previous season group read in this group.

Thanks for the updates, Dustin! :D

Another book I'm currently reading is The Last Anniversary by Liane Moriarty. I was of course introduced to this author last year through a previous seasonal challenge featured in this group. This book features a bond between two siblings.

I finished The Silent Patient, which works for #2

Danell wrote: "I finished The Silent Patient, which works for #2"

I just put a hold on that book at the library a few minutes ago. Might be a while before I get it since it's so popular. I also requested The Night House ( Fantasy Winner).

I've decided to read Chuck Palahniuk again since he's on this challenge. He's the same astrological sign as myself. I've only read 2 books previously by him but I remember him as being interesting and somewhat weird. The one I decided to go with this time is Survivor.

It was a good book. I had to renew it because I didn’t get around to reading it as soon as I should have. Was busy finishing books before the new year. Except The Institute, still working on that, and another one.

I'm still reading The Institute as well. Waiting for the printed book available from the library again, but I have been listening to the audiobook in the meantime.