2025 Reading Challenge discussion

This space is where I'm going to keep track of my reading challenges and other miscellaneous reading things (whatever they may be).

My goal is to read 110 books in 2015.

Happy reading in 2015!

Yearly Challenge #1:
THE COMPLETE WORKS CHALLENGE - 2015
January 1st - December 31st, 2015

Do you have authors you like but haven't had the chance to explore his or her writing fully? Here's your chance! For this challenge, pick an author (or two or three) that you enjoy. Look him or her up on Goodreads, and read every book he or she has written (not every version, don't worry, just every unique work). You do NOT need to count short stories or books your author has merely contributed to, introduced, edited or translated.

I am message 6 on the challenge discussion thread.

I've chosen Ann Patchett. Since I just read "This is the Story of a Happy Marriage" last month, I am not including it in the challenge. This books I will read are:

✓ 1. Bel Canto read 2/18/2015
✓ 2. State of Wonder read 8/4/2015
✓ 3. Run read 1/12/2015
✓ 4. Truth and Beauty read 10/1/2015
✓ 5. The Magician's Assistant read 4/8/2015
✓ 6. Patron Saint of Liars read 2/12/2015
✓ 7. Taft read 2/9/2015
✓ 8. What now? read 1/10/2015
✓ 9. The Getaway Car: A Practical Memoir About Writing and Life read 4/16/2015

Challenge completed!

Yearly Challenge #2:
NONFICTION BINGO CHALLENGE
Duration: January 1, 2015 - December 31, 2015

Let's play bingo! For this challenge, read nonfiction books to make as many "bingos" as possible (five squares in a line - can be horizontal, vertical, or diagonal).

I am message 26 on the challenge discussion thread.

My bingo card:



✓ Art and Photography - The Monuments Men: Allied Heroes, Nazi Thieves, and the Greatest Treasure Hunt in History read 9/24/2015
✓ Autobiography and Biography - Steve Jobs read 4/21/2015
✓ Diary and Memoirs - Son of a Gun: A Memoir read 2/19/2015
✓ Business and Finance - Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking read 2/4/2015
✓ Food and Lifestyle - A Pig in Provence: Good Food and Simple Pleasures in the South of France read 1/13/2015
✓ Cultural and Social Issues - behind the beautiful forevers: Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity 3/17/2015
✓ Gift Book or Coffee Table Book - Sh*t My Dad Says read 12/9/2015
✓ Health and Medical - Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness read 1/9/2015
✓ Home Decorating and Design - Room Rescues: Decorating Solutions For Awkward Spaces read 12/4/2015
✓ How To - Gardening For Dummies read 12/13/2015
✓ Humor - Carsick: John Waters Hitchhikes Across America read 4/18/2015
✓ Journalism - Rosewater: A Family's Story of Love, Captivity, and Survival read 1/27/2015
✓ Military - Soldier Girls: The Battles of Three Women at Home and at War read 4/14/2015
✓ Music and Entertainment - Good Rockin' Tonight: Sun Records and the Birth of Rock 'N' Roll read 1/24/2015)
✓ Outdoor Adventuring - Dirt Work: An Education in the Woods read 6/28/2015
✓ Pop Culture and Celebrity - As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride read 3/2/2015
✓ Psychology - Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking read 2/23/2015
✓ Science and Technology - A Short History of Nearly Everything read 3/10/2015
✓ Self-Help - Married to Distraction: Restoring Intimacy and Strengthening Your Marriage in an Age of Interruption read 2/1/2015
✓ Sports - Friday Night Lights: A Town, a Team, and a Dream read 2/25/2015
✓ Travel - Mastering the Art of French Eating: Lessons in Food and Love from a Year in Paris read 9/7/2015
✓ True Adventure - Tales of a Female Nomad: Living at Large in the World read 11/22/2015
✓ True Crime - Cold Storage read 1/2/2015
✓ Women’s Issues - Kabul Beauty School: An American Woman Goes Behind the Veil read 7/16/2015

24/24
12 Bingos - BLACKOUT!
Challenge completed!

Yearly Challenge #3:
THE TBR RANDOMISER CHALLENGE
Duration: January 1st - December 31st 2015

Sometimes it can be tough to choose what to read next. Instead, let this challenge decide for you!

I am message 30 on the challenge discussion thread.

I'm in for 20 books for this challenge. Here are the numbers and the books that go with them:

Increased goal from 20 to 40 (5/5/2015)

✓ 356 - The Good Muslim read 11/29/2015
✓ 238 - Starvation Lake read 3/23/2015
✓ 239 - Sell the Pig read 2/16/2015
✓ 378 - The Weight of Blood read 4/6/2015
✓ 225 - Man in the Woods read 2/18/2015
✓ 99 - Social Blunders read 1/5/2015
✓ 49 - The Middlesteins read 1/10/2015
✓ 204 - Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter read 1/19/2015
✓ 55 - Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln read 1/25/2015
✓ 337 - Vintage read 2/17/2015
✓ 282 - The Good Luck of Right Now read 4/29/2015
✓ 189 - We Have Always Lived in the Castle read 5/4/2015
✓ 158 - Dance of the Winnebagos 3/15/2015
✓ 121 - Son of a Gun: A Memoir read 2/19/2015
✓ 417 - Cold Storage read 1/2/2015
✓ 330 - I Loved You More read 7/28/2015
✓ 129 - NW read 6/22/2015
✓ 93 - Because of You read 6/15/2015
✓ 69 - Love Walked In read 6/12/2015
✓ 350 - Dead Politician Society: A Clare Vengel Undercover Novel read 3/1/2015

Second set of 20
✓ 234 - Beautiful Fools: The Last Affair of Zelda and Scott Fitzgerald read 6/11/2015
✓ 411 - Our Endless Numbered Days 6/13/2015
✓ 192 - Half a Life read 9/11/2015
✓ 153 - The Red Leather Diary: Reclaiming a Life Through the Pages of a Lost Journal read 11/1/2015
✓ 391 - Bridge of Sighs read 7/12/2015
✓ 106 - Making Marriage Simple: Ten Truths for Changing the Relationship You Have into the One You Want read 12/14/2015
✓ 346 - Tiger Shrimp Tango read 10/26/2015
✓ 332 - Adultery read 6/8/2015
✓ 298 - Cooking the Books read 10/23/2015
✓ 133 - Where'd You Go, Bernadette read 9/12/2015
✓ 148 - Mastering the Art of French Eating: Lessons in Food and Love from a Year in Paris read 9/7/2015
✓ 99 - Very Recent History: An Entirely Factual Account of a Year (c. AD 2009) in a Large City read 12/17/2015
✓ 37 - The Liars' Club read 8/7/2015
✓ 220 - Dearie: The Remarkable Life of Julia Child read 6/21/2015
✓ 288 - Zoli read 11/19/2015
✓ 52 - Schroder read 11/22/2015
✓ 355 - Bird Cloud read 9/30/2015
✓ 29 - Ciao, America!: An Italian Discovers the U.S. read 7/18/2015
✓ 207 - Take Good Care of the Garden and the Dogs: Family, Friendships, and Faith in Small-Town Alaska read 7/20/2015
✓ 356 - Elizabeth Street: A novel based on true events read 12/6/2015

40/40
Challenge completed!

Yearly Challenge #4:
THE DEBUT NOVEL CHALLENGE
Duration: January 1st, 2015 - December 31st, 2015

A debut novel is the first novel an author has written. A lot of blood, sweat, and tears go into an author's first novel. And sometimes, an author's first novel is very different from the rest of that author's body of work because she is still trying to find her voice. Or maybe an author started out in a different genre than he ended up in.

In this challenge, decide how many debut novels you would like to read. Short stories that are part of a larger collection (not completely by the author) do not count. Standalone novellas can count if you would like them to.

You can find an author's debut novel by going to his or her author page and looking at publication years. For authors with large bodies of work, click on "Author's Name's Books" (directly above the list of books), then sort by original publication year (which will show the oldest book LAST).

I am message 20 on the challenge discussion thread.

I'm going to start with 5 for this challenge.
Increased my goal from 5 to 10 (3/14/2015)
Increased my goal from 10 to 20 (4/22/2015)

1. The Martian read 1/8/2015
2. Still Alice read 1/30/2015
3. Patron Saint of Liars read 2/12/2015
4. The Homecoming of Samuel Lake read 2/26/2015
5. Dead Politician Society read 3/1/2015
6. Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity 3/17/2015
7. Early Decision: Based on a True Frenzy read 3/17/2015
8. The School of Essential Ingredients read 3/19/2015
9. Heart-Shaped Box read 4/4/2015
10. The Weight of Blood read 4/6/2015
11. Shakespeare Saved My Life: Ten Years in Solitary with the Bard read 4/6/2015
12. Stolen: A Letter to My Captor read 4/13/2015
13. Cold Comfort Farm read 5/10/2015
14. The Art of Fielding read 6/2/2015
15. Love Walked In read 6/12/2015
16. Our Endless Numbered Days read 6/13/2015
17. Dirt Work: An Education in the Woods read 6/28/2015
18. The Girl on the Train read 7/5/2015
19. Kabul Beauty School: An American Woman Goes Behind the Veil read 7/16/2015
20. The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared read 8/26/2015

Challenge completed!

Yearly Challenge #5:
THE LISTOPIA CHALLENGE
Duration: January 1st 2015 - December 31st 2015

It's back! After popular demand, the Listopia challenge is returning for another year! Feel free to carry on your goal from 2014, or to update with new goals and new lists. :)

Goodreads features a number of user created lists which can be found here: Listopia.

Besides the featured and popular lists on the main page you can see lists your friends have voted on as well as search for lists with topics that interest you.

The number of lists you choose and the number of books you read from each is entirely up to you. One person might choose to read the Top 100 books from one list, another person may choose to read the Top 5 books from 10 lists. You decide and mix it up any way you like.

I am message 42 on the challenge discussion thread.

I'm going to read 12 books - 3 from each of the following lists:

40+ Main Characters
✓ 1 - The Remains of the Day read 4/26/2015
✓ 2 - The History of Love read 2/22/2015
✓ 3 - Bel Canto read 2/18/2015

Best Books of the Decade: 2000s
✓ 1 - Daughter of Fortune read 11/25/2015
✓ 2 - A Short History of Nearly Everything 3/10/2015
✓ 3 - Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking read 2/4/2015

Books that Exceeded your Expectations
✓ 1 - The Bell Jar read 3/25/2015
✓ 2 - Atonement read 10/12/2015
✓ 3 - The Shack: Where Tragedy Confronts Eternity 7/31/2015

Best Strange and Twisted Memoirs
✓ 1 - Let's Pretend This Never Happened: A Mostly True Memoir read 10/29/2015
✓ 2 - Take This Man: A Memoir read 10/7/2015
✓ 3 - Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness read 1/9/2015

Challenge completed!

Yearly Challenge #6
LET'S TURN PAGES CHALLENGE
Duration: January 1, 2015 – December 31, 2015

We are always making goals about how many books we want to read in a year. How about we make a goal for number of pages we want to read?

1. Make a goal of number of pages you would like to read.
2. Read as many pages as you can in one year.
3. Since you probably don’t know what you want to read for the entire year, make your list as you go. (Be sure to post the number of pages in your book!)

If your edition doesn't have page numbers (such as an audiobook), use the most popular edition of the book (that's not an audiobook) to determine what the number of pages should be. Rereads will count for this challenge, but you have to read the entire book…no skimming!

I am message 17 on the challenge discussion thread.

I'm in for 40,000 pages.


1. Montana 1948 read 1/1/2015, 169 pages
2. We Were Liars read 1/2/2015 228 pages
3. Cold Storage read 1/2/2015 400 pages
4. Sorrow Floats read 1/4/2015 399 pages
5. Social Blunders read 1/5/2015 278 pages
6. The Rosie Effect read 1/6/2015 352 pages
7. The Martian read 1/8/2015 369 pages
8. Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness read 1/9/2015 250 pages
9. The Girls from Ames: A Story of Women and a Forty-Year Friendship read 1/10/2015 339 pages
10. What now? read 1/10/2015 45 pages
11. The Middlesteins read 1/10/2015 201 pages
12. My Accidental Jihad read 1/11/2015 304 pages
13. Run read 1/12/2014 304 pages
14. A Pig in Provence: Good Food and Simple Pleasures in the South of France read 1/13/2015 228 pages
15. A Wedding in December read 1/14/2015 325 pages
16. The Pecan Man read 1/16/2015 144 pages
17. White Dog Fell from the Sky read 1/18/2015 368 pages
18. Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter read 1/19/2015 292 pages
19. Good Rockin' Tonight: Sun Records and the Birth of Rock 'N' Roll read 1/24/2015 242 pages
20. Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln read 1/25/2015 757 pages
21. Rosewater: A Family's Story of Love, Captivity, and Survival read 1/27/2015 299 pages
22. All the Light We Cannot See read 1/30/2015 544 pages
23. Still Alice read 1/30/2015 293 pages
24. Married to Distraction: Restoring Intimacy and Strengthening Your Marriage in an Age of Interruption read 2/1/2015 222 pages
25. The Time of My Life read 2/2/2015 310 pages
26. Landline read 2/3/2015 320 pages
27. Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking read 2/4/2015 254 pages
28. Taft read 2/9/2015 320 pages
29. Lost Lake read 2/10/2015 296 pages
30. Patron Saint of Liars read 2/12/2015 290 pages
31. Merle's Door: Lessons from a Freethinking Dog read 2/15/2015 302 pages
32. Divergent read 2/16/2015 284 pages
33. Sell the Pig read 2/16/2015 295 pages
34. Vintage read 2/17/2015 310 pages
35. Bel Canto read 2/18/2015 352 pages
36. Man in the Woods read 2/18/2015 320 pages
37. Son of a Gun: A Memoir read 2/19/2015 272 pages
38. Snow Flower and the Secret Fan read 2/19/2015 258 pages
39. The Amish Bride read 2/20/2015 352 pages
40. The History of Love read 2/22/2015 260 pages
41. Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking read 2/23/2015 264 pages
42. Insurgent read 2/24/2015 302 pages
43. Friday Night Lights: A Town, a Team, and a Dream read 2/25/2015 366 pages
44. The Homecoming of Samuel Lake read 2/26/2015 334 pages
45. Dead Politician Society read 3/1/2015 273 pages
46. As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride read 3/2/2015 230 pages
47. A Short History of Nearly Everything read 3/10/2015 514 pages
48. We Need New Names read 3/13/2015 304 pages
49. Allegiant read 3/14/2014 323 pages
50. Painter of Silence read 3/14/2015 314 pages
51. Dance of the Winnebagos read 3/14/2015 392 pages
52. Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity read 3/17/2015 290 pages
53. Early Decision: Based on a True Frenzy read 3t/17/2015 294 pages
54. The School of Essential Ingredients read 3/19/2015 240 pages
55. Starvation Lake read 3/23/2015 384 pages
56. The Bell Jar read 3/25/2015 288 pages
57. Back When We Were Grownups read 3/30/2015 336 pages
58. The Cabinet of Curiosities read 3/30/2015 656 pages
59. Sweet Tooth read 4/4/2015 261 pages
60. Heart-Shaped Box read 4/4/2015 376 pages
61. The Weight of Blood read 4/6/2015 243 pages
62. Shakespeare Saved My Life: Ten Years in Solitary with the Bard read 4/6/2015 251 pages
63. The Magician's Assistant read 4/8/2015 262 pages
64. Chocolat read 4/11/2015 246 pages
65. Stolen: A Letter to My Captor read 4/13/2015 232 pages
66. Soldier Girls: The Battles of Three Women at Home and at War read 4/14/2015 364 pages
67. Get What's Yours: The Secrets to Maxing Out Your Social Security read 4/16/2015 257 pages
68. The Getaway Car: A Practical Memoir About Writing and Life read 4/16/2015 47 pages
69. Carsick: John Waters Hitchhikes Across America read 4/18/2015 230 pages
70. Sybil Exposed: The Extraordinary Story Behind the Famous Multiple Personality Case read 4/19/2015 297 pages
71. Steve Jobs read 4/21/2015 574 pages
72. The Remains of the Day read 4/26/2015 183 pages
73. The Invention of Hugo Cabret read 4/27/2015 (not counting pages since book is mostly drawings)
74. The Good Luck of Right Now read 4/30/2015 336 pages
75. We Have Always Lived in the Castle read 5/4/2015 146 pages
76. The Secret Garden read 5/6/2015 247 pages
77. Cold Comfort Farm read 5/10/2015 233 pages
78. The Expats read 5/11/2015 350 pages
79. The Daughter of Time read 5/12/2015 206 pages
80. Watership Down read 5/22/2015 426 pages
81. Middlemarch read 5/29/2015 725 pages
82. All the Summer Girls read 5/30/2015 198 pages
83. The Art of Fielding read 6/2/2015 438 pages
84. Heading Out to Wonderful read 6/6/2015 239 pages
85. Adultery read 6/8/2015 194 pages
86. Beautiful Fools: The Last Affair of Zelda and Scott Fitzgerald read 6/11/2015 366 pages
87. Love Walked In read 6/12/2015 307 pages
88. Our Endless Numbered Days read 6/13/2015 386 pages
89. The Impossible Lives of Greta Wells read 6/14/2015 289 pages
90. Because of You read 6/15/2015 238 pages
91. The House on Mango Street read 6/15/2015 88 pages
92. Dearie: The Remarkable Life of Julia Child read 6/21/2015 526 pages
93. The Lost Boy read 6/21/2015 158 pages
94. NW read 6/22/2015 401 pages
95. Dirt Work: An Education in the Woods read 6/28/2015 229 pages
96. Knives at Dawn: America's Quest for Culinary Glory at the Legendary Bocuse d'Or Competition read 7/4/2015 304 pages
97. The Girl on the Train read 7/5/2015 269 pages
98. Bridge of Sighs read 7/12/2015 642 pages
99. A Town Like Alice read 7/13/2015 289 pages
100. Too Bright to Hear Too Loud to See read 7/15/2015 247 pages
101. Kabul Beauty School: An American Woman Goes Behind the Veil read 7/16/2015 211 pages
102. Ciao, America!: An Italian Discovers the U.S. read 7/18/2015 242 pages
103. Take Good Care of the Garden and the Dogs: A True Story of Bad Breaks and Small Miracles read 7/20/2015 220 pages
104. The Nightingale read 7/25/2015 438 pages
105. I Loved You More read 7/28/2015 370 pages
106. The Shack read 7/31/2015 252 pages
107. Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption read 8/3/2015 406 pages
108. State of Wonder read 8/4/2015 276 pages
109. The Silver Star read 8/5/2015 216 pages
110. The Liars' Club read 8/7/2015 280 pages
111. The Bookseller of Kabul read 8/17/2015 288 pages
112. The Orphan Master's Son read 8/24/2015 445 pages
113. The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared read 8/26/2015 384 pages
114. Go Set a Watchman read 8/27/2015 191 pages
115. The Widower's Tale read 8/31/2015 402 pages
116. Mastering the Art of French Eating: Lessons in Food and Love from a Year in Paris read 9/7/2015 218 pages
117. The Tennis Partner read 9/8/2015 342 pages
118. The Water is Wide: A Memoir read 9/10/2015 254 pages
119. Half a Life read 9/11/2015 205 pages
120. Where'd You Go, Bernadette 326 pages
121. Paris Letters read 9/13/2015 214 pages
122. Left Neglected read 9/14/2015 324 pages
123. A Moveable Feast read 9/17/2015 211 pages
124. Heidi read 9/18/2015 244 pages
125. Fumbling the Future: How Xerox Invented, Then Ignored, the First Personal Computer read 9/20/2015 258 pages
126. The Monuments Men: Allied Heroes, Nazi Thieves, and the Greatest Treasure Hunt in History read 9/24/2015 452 pages
127. The Perks of Being a Wallflower read 9/24/2015 172 pages
128. The Apartment read 9/28/2015 130 pages
129. Bird Cloud read 9/30/2015 234 pages
130. Truth and Beauty read 10/1/2015 272 pages
131. The Sky is Everywhere read 10/3/2015 288 pages
132. Take This Man: A Memoir read 10/7/2015 225 pages
133. Atonement read 10/12/2015 300 pages
134. The Blessings read 10/13/2015 191 pages
135. You Saved Me, Too: What a Holocaust Survivor Taught Me about Living, Dying, Fighting, Loving, and Swearing in Yiddish read 10/14/2015 201 pages
136. Catch Me If You Can: The True Story of a Real Fake read 10/16/2015 222 pages ***
137. Dear Life : Stories read 10/17/2015 221 pages
138. Yellow Crocus read 10/19/2015 242 pages
139. Cooking the Books read 10/23/2015 304 pages
140. Flowers for Algernon read 10/25/2015 286 pages
141. Tiger Shrimp Tango read 10/26/2015 306 pages
142. One Plus One read 10/27/2015 329 pages
143. Let's Pretend This Never Happened: A Mostly True Memoir read 10/29/2015 318 pages
144. P.S. I Love You read 10/31/2015 384 pages
145. The Red Leather Diary: Reclaiming a Life Through the Pages of a Lost Journal read 11/1/2015 320 pages
145. Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith read 11/6/2015 343 pages


Finished 43,254/40,000 pages
Challenge completed!

Yearly Challenge #7
A-Z CHALLENGE
Duration: January 1, 2015 - December 31, 2015

Read a book for each letter of the alphabet. You can use ANY of the first letters of the main words in a title of a book (don't use words like "a", "an", "the", or "of") or the initials of its authors.

I am message 11 on the challenge discussion thread.

✓ A - My Accidental Jihad read 1/11/2014
✓ B - Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness read 1/9/2015
✓ C - Cold Storage read 1/2/2015
✓ D - A Wedding in December read 1/14/2015
✓ E - The Rosie Effect read 1/6/2015
✓ F - Sorrow Floats read 1/4/2015
✓ G - The Girls from Ames: A Story of Women and a Forty-Year Friendship read 1/10/2015
✓ H - The History of Love read 2/22/2015
✓ I - Insurgent read 2/24/2015
✓ J - Steve Jobs read 4/21/2015
✓ K - Knives at Dawn: America's Quest for Culinary Glory at the Legendary Bocuse d'Or Competition read 7/4/2015
✓ L - We Were Liars read 1/2/2015
✓ M - Montana 1948 read 1/1/2015
✓ N - We Need New Names read 3/13/2015
✓ O - The Orphan Master's Son read 8/24/2015
✓ P - A Pig in Provence: Good Food and Simple Pleasures in the South of France read 1/13/2015
✓ Q - Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking read 2/23/2015
✓ R - Run read 1/12/2015
✓ S - Social Blunders read 1/5/2015
✓ T - Good Rockin' Tonight: Sun Records and the Birth of Rock 'N' Roll read 1/24/2015
✓ U - Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity read 3/17/2015
✓ V - Vintage read 2/17/2015
✓ W - All the Light We Cannot See read 1/30/2015
✓ X - Fumbling the Future: How Xerox Invented, Then Ignored, the First Personal Computer read 9/20/2015
✓ Y - Because of You read 6/15/2015
✓ Z - Beautiful Fools: The Last Affair of Zelda and Scott Fitzgerald read 6/11/2015

Challenge completed!

Yearly Challenge #8
I SPY CHALLENGE
Duration: January 1, 2015 - December 31, 2015

Read a book that contains a word in the title that fits each of the 25 categories below. If you're having trouble with a particular category, ask other members what they are reading for it. You may also use the name of the series for up to three categories.

Here are the 25 categories with examples. The examples are just to get you started - any word that fits the category is fair game.

I am message 42 on the challenge discussion thread.

✓ 1. Color - White Dog Fell from the Sky read 1/18/2015
✓ 2. Number - Montana 1948 read 1/1/2015
✓ 3. Things That Grow - Man in the Woods 2/18/2015
✓ 4. Seasons - All the Summer Girls read 5/30/2015
✓ 5. First Name - The Rosie Effect read 1/6/2015
✓ 6. Places - Carsick: John Waters Hitchhikes Across America read 4/18/2015
✓ 7. Body Part - Sweet Tooth read 4/4/2015
✓ 8. Weapon - Son of a Gun: A Memoir read 2/19/2015
✓ 9. Body of Water - Lost Lake read 2/10/2015
✓ 10. Form of Water - Snow Flower and the Secret Fan read 2/19/2015
✓ 11. Product of Fire - All the Light We Cannot See read 1/30/2015
✓ 12. Celestial Body - Good Rockin' Tonight: Sun Records and the Birth of Rock 'N' Roll read 1/24/2015
✓ 13. Architecture - Merle's Door: Lessons from a Freethinking Dog read 2/15/2015
✓ 14. Senses - Too Bright to Hear Too Loud to See read 7/15/2015
✓ 15. Royal Title - As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride 3/2/2015
✓ 16. Family Member - The Daughter of Time read 5/12/2015
✓ 17. Elements - Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness read 1/9/2015
✓ 18. Time of Day - Knives at Dawn: America's Quest for Culinary Glory at the Legendary Bocuse d'Or Competition read 7/4/2015
✓ 19. Metal - The Silver Star read 8/4/2015
✓ 20. Emotion/Feeling - Sorrow Floats read 1/4/2015
✓ 21. Animal/Insect - A Pig in Provence: Good Food and Simple Pleasures in the South of France 1/13/2015
✓ 22. Something to Read - Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter read 1/19/2015
✓ 23. Gender Identifier - The Girls from Ames: A Story of Women and a Forty-Year Friendship read 1/10/2015
✓ 24. Paranormal Being - Patron Saint of Liars read 2/12/2015
✓ 25. Occupation - Dead Politician Society read 3/1/2015

25/25 Challenge complete!

Yearly Challenge #9
#READWOMEN2015
Duration: January 1, 2015 - December 31, 2015

#readwomen2015 is a movement started by Joanna Walsh who was tired of the status quo. In her own words, this is what the movement is all about:

It’s a truth universally acknowledged, and confirmed by VIDA, that, though women read more books than men, and female authors are published in comparable numbers, they are more easily overlooked: a smaller presence in literary journals both as reviewers, and the reviewed, they also account for fewer literary translations.

It’s not whether women are published (because they are) but how they are published. Are men more likely to write what’s considered ‘important’ literary fiction, or could it be that more are regarded that way? I’ve heard female writer friends grouse when their books are given flowery covers though their writing’s not, when reviews, even press-releases, describe their work as “delicate” when it is forthright, “playful” when it is experimental, “delightful” when it is satirical, “carving a niche” when it is staking a claim (none of these examples is made up).


For this challenge, decide how many new-to-you female authors you would like to read. Once your goal is set, read! And come back and tell us who your favorites were to get great female authors more exposure. Each author can only count once.

I am message 33 on the challenge discussion thread.

I'm going to do 10 for this challenge, since I've gone a little overboard on all the other challenges...

Increasing my goal to 25, since I've read 11 so far :-)

1. We Were Liars E. Lockhart read 1/2/2015
2. Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness Susannah Cahalan read 1/9/2015
3. The Middlesteins Jami Attenberg read 1/10/2015
4. My Accidental Jihad Krista Bremerread 1/11/2015
5. The Pecan Man Cassie Dandridge Selleck read 1/16/2015
6. Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln Doris Kearns Goodwin read 1/25/2015
7. Still Alice Lisa Genova read 1/30/2015
8. Landline Rainbow Rowell read 2/3/2015
9. Lost Lake Sarah Addison Allen read 2/10/2015
10. Divergent Veronica Roth 2/16/2015
11. Snow Flower and the Secret Fan Lisa See read 2/19/2015
12. The History of Love Nicole Krauss read 2/22/2015
13. Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking Susan Cain read 2/23/2015
14. The Homecoming of Samuel Lake Jenny Wingfield read 2/26/2015
15. Dead Politician Society Robin Spano read 3/1/2015
16. We Need New Names NoViolet Bulawayo read 3/13/2015
17. Painter of Silence Georgina Harding read 3/14/2015
18. Dance of the Winnebagos Ann Charles read 3/15/2015
19. Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity Katherine Boo read 3/17/2015
20. Early Decision: Based on a True Frenzy Lacy Crawford read 3/17/2015
21. The Bell Jar Sylvia Plath read 3/25/2015
22. The Weight of Blood Laura McHugh read 4/6/2015
23. Shakespeare Saved My Life: Ten Years in Solitary with the Bard Laura Bates read 4/6/2015
24. Chocolat Joanne Harris read 4/11/2015
25. Stolen: A Letter to My Captor Lucy Christopher read 4/13/2015
26. Soldier Girls: The Battles of Three Women at Home and at War Helen Thorpe read 4/14/2015
27. Sybil Exposed: The Extraordinary Story Behind the Famous Multiple Personality Case Debbie Nathan read 4/19/2015
28. We Have Always Lived in the Castle Shirley Jackson 5/4/2015
29. The Secret Garden Frances Hodgson Burnett read 5/6/2015
30. Cold Comfort Farm Stella Gibbons read 5/10/2015
31. The Daughter of Time Josephine Tey read 5/11/2015
32. Love Walked In Marisa de los Santos read 6/12/2015
33. Our Endless Numbered Days Claire Fuller read 6/13/2015
34. Dirt Work: An Education in the Woods Christine Byl read 6/28/2015
35.

Challenge completed!

FIRST QUARTER CHALLENGE: ONE, TWO, BUCKLE MY SHOE
Duration: January 1 - March 31, 2015

This challenge turns to a beloved nursery rhyme for reading inspiration.

✓ 1. One, two,
Buckle my shoe;
finish a series
Social Blunders read 1/5/2015 (last book of the GroVont Trilogy)

✓ 2. Three, four,
Open the door;
read a new genre or author (or both for those who are game)
Montana 1948 Larry Watson (new author) read 1/1/2015

✓ 3.Five, six,
Pick up sticks;
finish a previously unfinished book
Dead Politician Society read 3/1/2015

✓ 4. Seven, eight,
Lay them straight;
read a trilogy or small series (at least 4 books) in order
Divergent read 2/16/2015
Insurgent read 2/24/2015
Allegiant read 3/14/2015

5. Nine, ten,
A big, fat hen;
read the thickest book on your TBR World Without End

6. Eleven, twelve,
Dig and delve;
read an old favorite Almost Paradise

✓ 7. Thirteen, fourteen,
Maids a-courting;
read a romance novel
The Rosie Effect read 1/6/2015

✓ 8. Fifteen, sixteen,
Maids in the kitchen;
read a book that takes place in a prairie or has food on its cover
The School of Essential Ingredients read 3/19/2015

9. Seventeen, eighteen,
Maids a-waiting;
read a book you've been waiting to read

✓ 10. Nineteen, twenty,
My plate's empty.
read the last book on your tbr list
A Wedding in December read 1/14/2015

I am number 13 on the challenge discussion thread.

I'm in - going for 7.

7/7 completed
Challenge completed!

JANUARY CHALLENGE: GOODREADS CHOICE AWARDS 2014 WINNERS
Duration: January 1 - January 31, 2015

Let's celebrate the best books of 2014, Goodreads style! This challenge is based around the Goodreads Choice Award Winners of 2014, found here: 2014 Award Winners

Read the winner in as many categories as you can.


Fiction Landline on hold
Mystery / Thriller Mr. Mercedes Stephen King
✓ Historical Fiction All the Light We Cannot See read 1/30/2015
Fantasy The Book of Life Deborah Harkness not interested
Romance Written in My Own Heart's Blood Diana Gabaldon
✓ Science Fiction The Martian Andy Weir read 1/8/2015
Horror Prince Lestat Anne Rice
Humor Yes Please Amy Poehler
Non-Fiction The Opposite of Loneliness: Essays and Stories Marina Keegan
Memoir / Autobiography This Star Won't Go Out: The Life and Words of Esther Grace Earl Esther Earl
History / Biography The Romanov Sisters: The Lost Lives of the Daughters of Nicholas and Alexandra Helen Rappaport
Business #GIRLBOSS Sophia Amoruso not interested
Food / Cookbook Make It Ahead: A Barefoot Contessa Cookbook Ina Garten
Graphic Novel / Comics Serenity: Leaves on the Wind Zack Whedon
Poetry Lullabies Lang Leav
Debut Red Rising Pierce Brown
✓ YA Fiction We Were Liars E. Lockhart read 1/2/2015
YA Fantasy / Science Fiction City of Heavenly Fire Cassandra Clare
Middle Grade / Children The Blood of Olympus Rick Riordan
Picture Book The Pigeon Needs a Bath!

I am message 6 on the challenge discussion board

I'm also going to attempt three for this challenge.

Challenge complete!

February Challenge: Theme Saints

1. St. Dominic Savio: Dominic is the patron saint of choir boys and of the falsely accused. The latter title was given to Dominic after two boys filled the school stove full of garbage and snow and falsely blamed Dominic. Dominic was punished in front of the entire class but he did not tell on the two boys. Read a book about music, or someone who is falsely accused of something.

2. St. Francis of Assisi: Early in his life Francis lead a crowd of young people who spent their lives in wild parties, giving into their vices and surrounding themselves with evil. When he was 25, God came to him in a dream and he turned over a new leaf. Francis became a lover of nature, where he felt all of nature and the animals in it were part of his brotherhood. Read a book where the main characters give into their vices or evil or read a book where nature or animals is an important part of the story.
✓ Merle's Door: Lessons from a Freethinking Dog read 2/15/2015

3. St. Michael the Archangel: In the New Testament Michael leads God's armies against Statan's forces, where during the war in heaven, he defeats Satan. Read a book about a fierce battle or war.

4. St. Patrick of Ireland is one of the world's most popular saints. At 14 Patrick was captured and taken to Ireland as a slave to herd and tend sheep. At the age of 20, he escaped captivity and returned to Britain to reunite with his family. Read a book about slavery or read a book that takes place in Ireland.
✓ The Time of My Life read 2/2/2015

5. St. Therese of Lisieux: Therese had always wanted to be a saint but when she compared herself to all of the other saints, she felt the differences between them were so great. She believed that God wouldn't make her wish for something impossible, so she decided to accept herself and all of her faults. Read a story where the main character struggles with and overcomes his or her own faults, whether they be physical, emotional, personality or other faults.

6. St. Cecilia: She was a virgin given in marriage to a youth named Valerian. She wore sackcloth, fasted and invoked the saints and angels to protect her virginity. Four hundred people, including her husband were baptized because they wanted to see the angel protecting her. Cecilia was sentenced to death for preaching and converting people. Read a book where there is an angel or other paranormal being or read a book where someone is sentenced to death.

7. St. Joseph: Joseph was the husband of Mary and foster father to Jesus. Joseph was a working man, with humble work (a carpenter) and humble means. He wasn't a rich man but he came from royal lineage. Read a book where people live a simple life and do not have a luxurious lifestyle or read a book about royalty.
✓ The Amish Bride read 2/20/2015

8. St. Lucy: Lucy's mother tried to arrange a marriage for her to a pagan. Lucy rejected her mother's choice and thought Christ was a better partner for life. The rejected bridegroom betrayed Lucy to the governor as a Christian. The governor tried to send Lucy into prostitution. Read a book about an arranged marriage or read a book about prostitution.
✓ Snow Flower and the Secret Fan read 2/19/2015

9. St. Clare: Clare was a beautiful Italian woman of nobility. After hearing St Francis preach, Clare wanted to imitate Francis. She ran away from home and gave herself to God. She cut off her hair and wore a rough brown habit, tied with a plain cord around her waist. Read a book about a character who runs away, or read a book where someone drastically changes his or her appearance.

10. St. Rose of Lima: St. Rose of Lima is the patroness of Latin America and the Philippines. Rose had many temptations from the devil and there were times she suffered terrible feelings of loneliness, sadness and in the end a painful sickness. Many miracles followed her death. Read a book about some kind of suffering or read a book that contains a miracle.
✓ Son of a Gun: A Memoir read 2/19/2015

I am message 13 on the challenge discussion board.

I'm going to try for 4.

5/4

Challenge complete!

MARCH CHALLENGE: SPRING BREAK SPELL OUT
Duration: March 1 - March 31, 2015

Spring Break is coming soon for students and teachers everywhere. This is the spring break spell out challenge. I love a spell out challenge. For this challenge choose a word that relates to spring break and spell out that word with books. You can use ANY of the first letters of the main words in a title of a book (don't use words like "a", "an", "the", or "of") or the initials of its authors.

I am message 2 on the challenge discussion board.

My word is:

✓ B As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride read 3/2/2015
✓ E Early Decision: Based on a True Frenzy read 3/17/2015
✓ A Allegiant read 3/14/2015
✓ C The Cabinet of Curiosities read 3/30/2015
✓ H A Short History of Nearly Everything read 3/10/2015

5/5
Challenge completed!

MARCH CHALLENGE: THE OSCARS
Duration: March 1, 2015 - March 31, 2015

1. The three movies that won the most Oscars were Lord of the Rings: Return of the King, Titanic and Ben-Hur with 11 statuettes each.
Read a book that has won multiple literary awards or a book in which a competition plays an important part.
Atonement

2. The individual who was awarded the most total Oscars in their lifetime was Walt Disney, who walked away with 22 wins and 4 honorary ones.
Read a book spanning a character's lifetime or read a book that has inspired a Walt Disney film.

✓ 3. There are three Best Picture winners with running times longer than three and a half hours - Gone With the Wind, Lawrence of Arabia and Ben-Hur
Read a book over 500 pages or read a classic.
A Short History of Nearly Everything read 3/10/2015

✓ 4. The youngest ever actress to win an Oscar was Tatum O'Neal who was 10 years old when she won the Best Supporting Actress award for Paper Moon
Read a book with a child protagonist or read a book where a character's wildest dream comes true.
We Need New Names read 3/13/2015

✓ 5. There are only two sequels that have won best picture - The Godfather Part 2 and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
Read a book that is part of a series or read a book by an author you've read before
Allegiant read 3/14/2015

✓ 6. The first posthumous Oscar winner was Sidney Howard, the 1939 winner for the screenplay of Gone with the Wind
Read a book by an author that is dead or in which the main character deals with death.
The Bell Jar 3/25/2015

7. The most Oscar-nominated family is the Newmans with 88 nominations between them.
Read a book about family or read a book whose author is related to another writer.
The Secret Garden

✓ 8. The very first Academy Awards Ceremony was held in 1929.
Read a book set in the 1920s or read an author's debut novel.
The School of Essential Ingredients read 3/19/2015

I am message 43 on the challenge discussion board.

5/4

2ND QUARTER CHALLENGE: SHARON'S SPRING CHALLENGE
Duration: April 1 - June 30, 2015


SPRING

✓ 1. Spring Ahead! The phrase "Spring forward, Fall back" helps people remember how Daylight Saving Time affects their clocks. At 2 a.m. on the second Sunday in March, we set our clocks forward one hour ahead of Standard Time. Read a book about time travel.
The Impossible Lives of Greta Wells read 6/14/2015

✓ 2. Spring into action - to suddenly begin moving or doing something. Read a book where a character makes an impetuous decision.
The Weight of Blood read 4/6/2015

✓ 3. Spring is a Season! Spring is one of the four conventional temperate seasons following winter and preceding summer. There are various technical definitions of spring, but local usage of the term varies according to local climate, cultures and customs. When it is spring in the Northern Hemisphere, it will be autumn in the Southern Hemisphere.
Read a book that takes place in the Spring.
Chocolat read 4/11/2015

✓ 4.A spring is a natural source of water – read a book with water on the cover or that takes place on the water.
All the Summer Girls read 5/29/2015

✓ 5. Spring, a mechanical device that stores energy. Read a steampunk book - Steampunk is a subgenre of speculative fiction, usually set in an anachronistic Victorian or quasi-Victorian alternate history setting. It could be described by the slogan "What the past would look like if the future had happened sooner." It includes fiction with science fiction, fantasy or horror themes. Most steampunk books have mechanical devices in them.
The Invention of Hugo Cabret read 4/27/2015

6. Spring Cleaning. Spring cleaning is the practice of thoroughly cleaning a house in the springtime. The practice of spring cleaning is especially prevalent in climates with a cold winter. The most common usage of spring cleaning refers to the yearly act of cleaning a house from top to bottom which would take place in the first warm days of the year typically in spring, hence the name. However it has also come to be synonymous with any kind of heavy duty cleaning or organizing enterprise. A person who gets their affairs in order before an audit or inspection could be said to be doing some spring cleaning. Read a book that has been on your TBR list the longest.

✓ 7. Spring Break is a vacation period in early spring at universities and schools in various countries in the northern hemisphere. Read a book that takes place at a college or during spring break.
The Art of Fielding read 6/2/2015

8. Spring goes in like a lion and out like a lamb. With March being such a changeable month, in which we can see warm spring-like temperatures or late-season snowstorms, you can understand how this saying might hold true in some instances. We can only hope that if March starts off cold and stormy it will end warm and sunny, but the key word is hope. Read a book where weather plays an important part to the plot.

9. She’s/He’s no Spring Chicken. New England chicken farmers discovered that chickens born in the Spring bought better prices, rather than old birds that had gone through the winter etc. Sometimes farmers tried to sell the old birds as a new spring born chicken. Smart buyers often complained that a tough fowl was "no spring chicken" and so the term now is used to represent birds (and even people) past their plump and tender years. Read an old favorite or a book you have been putting off reading.

10. Hope Springs Eternal is from a poem An Essay on Man by Alexander Pope – people always hope for the best, even in the face of adversity. Will continue to hope even though they have evidence that things cannot possible turn out the way they want. Read a book of poetry or a book about a poet.
Zoli

✓ 11. Spring to mind - to appear suddenly or immediately in your thoughts. Read a book that was released in 2015 or the newest book on your TBR list.
Our Endless Numbered Days read 6/13/2015

12. Spring in his step If you walk with or have a spring in your step, you walk energetically in a way that shows you are feeling happy and confident. Read a book that has a character who exhibits these characteristics or an action genre book.

7/6 completed
Challenge completed!

I am message 56 on the challenge message board

CHOCOLATE CHALLENGE
Duration: April 1, 2015 - April 30, 2015

April's theme is chocolate, so this challenge is based on the many kinds of chocolate. All facts from http://facts-about-chocolate.com/type...

1. Cacao: This is the healthiest form of chocolate but it can be very bitter. Read a book with a character who is bitter or resentful.

2. Chocolate Liquor: This is the basis for all chocolate and it does not contain any alcohol. Read a book that explores a misconception. This could include a character fighting a stereotype or a bad reputation or even a non fiction book setting the record straight on some topic.


3. Cocoa Butter: This is what makes chocolate taste like we expect it to taste - sweet and smooth. If you like chocolate, read a book by an author you like or something you enjoy. If you dislike chocolate, read a book you wouldn't normally read.

✓ 4. Unsweetened Chocolate: Bakers often prefer this type of chocolate because they can control the flavor. Read a book with a controlling character.
Stolen: A Letter to My Captor read 4/13/2015

✓ 5. Bittersweet Chocolate: Dark chocolate and Bittersweet chocolate are the same thing. Read a book where a character goes by different names or has multiple personalities.
Sybil Exposed: The Extraordinary Story Behind the Famous Multiple Personality Case read 4/19/2015

6. White Chocolate: White chocolate isn't really chocolate because it doesn't contain chocolate liquor. Read a book about fraud or stolen identity.

✓ 7. Cocoa: Cocoa is made by removing fat from chocolate liquor and is often used in low-fat recipes. Read a short story or book with less than 100 pages.
The Getaway Car: A Practical Memoir About Writing and Life read 4/16/2015

✓ 8. Chocolate Coating: Chocolate Coating has a vegetable fat base so it's not real chocolate even though it is often used to make chocolate decorations. Read a book about things that are not quite as they seem.
Sweet Tooth read 4/4/2015

9. Couverture: Couverture is dark chocolate with extra cocoa butter. It's great for chocolate fountains. Read a book with a celebration or party.

10. Gianduja: This is chocolate made with toasted hazelnuts. Both the Swiss and the Italians claim to have invented it. Read a book set in Europe or that contains a conflict.
NW

✓ 11. Single Bean Chocolate: Selectivity makes this type of chocolate high quality. Read with a character who is rich or extremely picky.
Steve Jobs read 4/21/2015

✓ 12. Chocolate Oil: There is no such thing as chocolate oil. Read a book with a ghost or mythological creature.
Heart-Shaped Box read 4/4/2015

6/4

I am message 40 on the challenge discussion board
Challenge completed!

CLASSICS CHALLENGE
Duration: May 1 - May 31, 2015

Most of us have plenty of classic books on our to-read lists for longer than we'd like to admit. May's theme is "classics," so it's the perfect time to check some of those books off of our lists! If you're interested, simply sign up with the number of classic books you plan to read this month.

1. We Have Always Lived in the Castle read 5/4/2015
2. The Secret Garden read 5/6/2015
3. Cold Comfort Farm read 5/10/2015
4. The Daughter of Time read 5/11/2015

4/4
Challenge completed!

I'm message 5 on the challenge discussion board

ALISSA'S MAY CLASSICS MINI CHALLENGE
Duration: May 1 - May 31, 2015

✓ 1. May is full of important literary births and deaths. Both Dante Alighieri and Walt Whitman were born in May. Maya Angelou and Maurice Sendak both passed away in May. Read a classic book by an author who either was born or died in May.
Watership Down read 5/22/2014

✓ 2. When you adjust prices to consider inflation, Gone With the Wind was the highest grossing film of all time. The Phantom of the Opera is the second highest grossing Broadway production of all time. Both were based on popular works of classic literature. Read a classic book or play that was adapted into a movie or Broadway production.
The Secret Garden read 5/6/2015

✓ 3. Some of the most influential and important female authors in classic literature wrote their works under male pseudonyms to avoid harsh, unjust criticism. Read a book written by a female author using a male pseudonym.
Middlemarch read 5/29/2015

4. "Love, whose month is ever May," was written by Shakespeare in Love's Labour's Lost. Read either a play by Shakespeare or classic love story.
Wuthering Heights

3/4

I am message 23 on the challenge discussion board

JUNE CHALLENGE: MIDSUMMER FESTIVALS
Duration: June 1 - June 30, 2015

The theme for June is the longest day, and this is also right around the time that midsummer festivals occur.

Midsummer festivals have different names in different countries. For this challenge, you have two options:
(1) Either pick a name to spell out (using one letter from each book by picking the first letter of a word in the title or one of the author's initials)
(2) Choose a number of countries and read a book that takes place in that country

Brazil - Festa Junina
Bulgaria - Nestinarstvo
Canada - St. Johns day
Denmark - sankthans
Estonia - Jaanipäev
Faroe Islands - jóansøka
Finland - Ukon juhla
France - Fête de la Saint-Jean
Germany - Sommersonnenwende
Greece - Klidonas
Hungary - Szentiván-éj
Iran - Tiregān
Italy - Ferragosto
Latvia -Jāņi
Lithuania - Joninės
Norway - Jonsok
Poland - Noc Świętojańska
Romania - Drăgaica
Ukrain/Russia - Ivan Kupala
Scotland - Beltane
Serbia - Igritelj
Spain - San Juan
Sweden - Midsommarafton
Wales - Gŵyl Ifan

I'm in! I'm spelling out the festival in Wales


✓ G The Impossible Lives of Greta Wells read 6/14/2015
✓ ŵ Heading Out to Wonderful read 6/6/2015
✓ y Because of You read 6/15/2015
✓ l Beautiful Fools: The Last Affair of Zelda and Scott Fitzgerald read 6/11/2015

✓ I Love Walked In 6/12/2015
✓ f The Art of Fielding read 6/2/2015
✓ a Adultery read 6/8/2015
✓ n Our Endless Numbered Days 6/13/2015

8/8 completed
Challenge completed

I am message 32 on the challenge discussion board

THIRD QUARTER CHALLENGE: CLEAR THE SHELVES
Duration: July 1 - September 30, 2015

As we move into the second half of the year, it's time to clear our shelves! Many of us (myself included) have shelves full of books that we haven't read. In my case I buy cheap books at secondhand stores or yard sales so my entire top shelf of my bookcase is full of unread books. Others don't buy books, but have to-read lists that are getting out of control.

Either way, pick a goal and try to clear those many books off your shelves!

Feel free to make this your own - you can add extra requirements, like using a random number generator to select books like our randomizer challenge. You could limit the challenge to books you actually own, or tackle the books that have been on your to-read list the longest.

I'm in! Since I like nice, round numbers (and I need to make sure I will also have time to read books for the monthly challenges), I'm going for 6 books for this challenge.

My additional requirement is that I will read books I own for this challenge.

✓ 1. Bridge of Sighs read 7/12/2015
✓ 2. The Shack read 7/31/2015
✓ 3. Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption read 8/3/2015
✓ 4. The Bookseller of Kabul read 8/17/2015
✓ 5. The Tennis Partner read 9/8/2015
✓ 6. Left Neglected read 9/13/2015


6/6
Challenge Completed!

I am message 15 on the challenge discussion board.

JULY CHALLENGE: STAR SPANGLED BANNER
Duration: July 1 - 31, 2015

✓ Oh, say can you see by the dawn’s early light: Read a book where someone loses their eyesight, or a book where characters meet at dawn.
Knives at Dawn: America's Quest for Culinary Glory at the Legendary Bocuse d'Or Competition read 7/4/2015

✓ What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming? Read a book where a character learns how to find pride in themselves, or a book where the characters have reached the twilight of their lives.
Bridge of Sighs read 7/12/2015

✓ Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight, Read a book where a character earns stripes in the military, or a book where a character gets in a nasty fight.
The Girl on the Train read 7/5/2015

O’er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming? Read a book with a fortress (rampart) or a book with someone doing something brave (gallant).
The Nightingale read 7/25/2015

And the rocket’s red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Read a book with a character that rockets into space or a book that has a character that deals with bombs going off around him/her.

Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there. Read a book where a character has to prove something, or a book about early America.

Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave Read a book with the word star in the title, or read a book with the American flag on the the cover.

O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave? Read a book where a character migrates to the US, or a book about Native Americans.

I think I'll go for three on this one.

4/3

I am message 10 on the challenge discussion board.

THE TRAVEL CHALLENGE
Duration: August 1 - August 31, 2015

August's theme is holidays abroad, so let's travel through books! Set a goal for the number of miles or kilometers you plan to travel. With every book you read, choose the setting (or settings) and calculate how many miles there are between that point and the previous point using this calculator.

Rules:
- Only books based on this world count--sorry, no traveling to different galaxies. :)
- Use each setting in each book once; even if the characters travel back and forth, you can only count the setting for that book one time
- You may revisit the same setting in different books (for example, you may read two books that both take place in New York City)
- Use your best judgment on which settings in each book should be included; you should only be using primary settings

Example:
My goal is 20,000 miles

Starting point: Kalamazoo, MI, USA
First book: Americanah
- Lagos, Nigeria (5876.0) to
- London, England, UK (3123.0) to
- Princeton, NJ, USA (3507.8)
Total miles traveled: 12,506.0

From Princeton, NJ, USA
Second book: Pride and Prejudice
- England, UK (3470.5)
Total miles traveled: 15,976.5

From England, UK
Third book: Memoirs of a Geisha
- Kyoto, Japan (5882.6)
Total miles traveled: 21,859.1

The total follows this path: Kalamazoo -> Lagos -> London -> Princeton -> England -> Kyoto

I am message 14 on the challenge discussion board.

Starting point: Decatur, GA
First book: Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption read 8/3/2015
- Torrance, CA (2,199) to
- Berlin, Germany (5,807) to
- Oahu, HI (7,320) to
- Marshall Islands (2,272) to
- Naoetsu, Japan (2,888)
Miles traveled: 20,486

From Naoetsu, Japan
Second book: State of Wonder read 8/4/2015
- Minneapolis, MN (5,978) to
- Manaus, Brazil (3,907)
Miles traveled: 9,885

From Manaus, Brazil
Third book: The Silver Star read 8/5/2015
- Lost Lake, CA (4,725) to
- Byler, VA (2,269)
Miles traveled: 6,994

From Byler, VA
Fourth book: The Liars' Club read 8/7/2015
- Leechfield, TX (1,317) to
- Cascade, CO (558)
Miles traveled: 1,875

From Cascade, CO
Fifth book: The Bookseller of Kabul read 8/17/2015
- Kabul, Afghanistan (7,355)
Miles traveled: 7,355

From Kabul, Afghanistan
Sixth book: The Orphan Master's Son read 8/24/2015
- Chongjin, North Korea (3,259)
- Japan (598)
- Texas (6,417)
- Pyongyang, North Korea (6,730)
Miles traveled: 17,004

63,599/60,000
8/5/2015 - changed my goal from 20,000 to 60,000
Challenge completed!

BACK TO SCHOOL CHALLENGE
Duration: September 1 - September 30, 2015

Fall means that it is time for children and some of us to go back to school. It's time to open up books and learn something new.

1. Get supplies: before we start school we need to buy our notebooks and pencils, and stores love to offer us deals to get our business. Read a book about economics or a book written about running a business.

2. Find out your schedule: one of the first things we get when we start back at school is our daily schedules. Read a book about time management or a book about someone who is learning how to get control over their busy schedule.

3. Time to study: it is always important to be prepared to learn and work hard when we go to school. Read a book about American education or about a character starting school.

4. Reading: becoming literate is why we go to school. Read a book about your favorite subject in school or from your favorite genre.

5. Writing: Learning how to write starts from Kindergarten and goes till the 12th grade. Read a memoir or a book about an author. The Water is Wide: A Memoir read 9/10/2015

✓ 6. Arithmetic: adding, subtracting, multiplication and division are all about numbers, so why did they add so many letters? Read a book about mathematics or a book with a number in the title. Half a Life 9/11/2015

✓ 7. Time for homework: the best days are the ones when you don’t have any, but that almost never happens. Read a book about subject you did not enjoy in school or a book you should have read in school. A Moveable Feast read 9/17/2015

8. So did we learn anything? there are many reasons why people go to school: to get a job, to become smarter, or to make our parents happy. Read a book about psychology or a book about someone trying to achieve something. The Tennis Partner read 9/8/2015

4/3

I am message 11 on the challenge discussion board

BANNED BOOKS
Duration: October 1 - December 31, 2015

This year, banned books week runs September 27 until October 3rd and "celebrates the freedom to read" by encouraging readers to focus on books that have been challenged or banned in schools, libraries, or bookstores in the United States.

It is important to read controversial books to decide for ourselves what we think about them, and that's exactly what banned books week hopes to accomplish. There are so many great books on the list - many are classics - that one week is just not enough.

For this challenge, simply set a goal for the number of banned (or challenged) books to read this quarter.

I'm in for six books.

1. Flowers for Algernon read 10/25/2015
2. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings read 11/11/2015
3. Looking for Alaska read 11/14/2015
4. The Giver read 11/20/2015
5. Forever read 11/28/2015
6. In the Time of the Butterflies read 11/30/2015

6/6

I am message 2 on the challenge discussion board

Potential books:
The Color Purple
In Cold Blood
Peyton Place

FALL BACK CHALLENGE
Duration: October 1 - October 31, 2015

“Fall Back” is not simply a saying for daylight savings time! We start many sentences with those two words and each has a different meaning.

✓ 1. Fall Back in Time – Like to reminisce about the past or get lost in your memories? Read a book about travelling back in time, a historical fiction novel or a non-fiction history book. Yellow Crocus read 10/19/2015

2. Fall Back to Sleep – Is there anything better than falling back to sleep when you are still tired? Read a book where a character realizes big dreams or where a character’s dreams haunt or otherwise affect their waking hours.

3. Fall Back in Love – There is nothing like having love return after a dry spell! Read a love story where the characters are taking a second chance on love – successfully or unsuccessfully!

✓ 4. Fall Back on Family – No matter what your definition of family is, there is nothing like being able to count on them! Read a book about a family’s togetherness or a family’s dysfunctionality. The Blessings read 10/13/2015

5. Fall Back on Good Friends – Many are the experiences we share with good friends! Read a book about an amazing or difficult experience shared by friends.

✓ 6. Fall Back on Strength – Sometimes we have to reach deep within ourselves or rely on the strength of others to overcome obstacles. Read a book where the main character finds the strength (internal or external) to overcome difficulties they face. You Saved Me, Too: What A Holocaust Survivor Taught Me About Living, Dying, Fighting, Loving, And Swearing In Yiddish read 10/14/2015

7. Fall Back – Sometimes we must retreat or give ground in order to achieve our goals and/or find peace. Read a book where the character(s) must go back before they can move forward.

8. Fall Back! –Sometimes you just need to let someone know they need to calm down and back off. Read a book where the main character is able to overcome another character who tries to block their success.

9. Fall Back on Old Habits – Our routines can help us or keep us from growing. Read a book where the main character struggles to change his/her ways or where his/her habits help to solve problems for him/her or for others.

10. Fall Back, Spring Ahead – This daylight savings time adage helps us to remember which direction to set our clocks. Read a book about time travel, that takes place in the fall or spring, or that has fall or spring in the title.

I'm number 7 on the challenge discussion board
3/3
Challenge completed!

Hi Susan, I see you are a big fan of the monthly challenges. I wrote two of them, July and September's and I was just looking for some feedback, how did you like them?

Kadijah Michelle wrote: "Hi Susan, I see you are a big fan of the monthly challenges. I wrote two of them, July and September's and I was just looking for some feedback, how did you like them?"

I really enjoyed both of those challenges. My unofficial reading goal for 2015 was to reduce the size of my TBR, and I enjoy matching my TBR books to the challenge requirements. I'm so glad that people like you are able to come up with clever and interesting challenges for people like me :-)

FROM THE PAGE TO THE SCREEN
Duration: October 1 - December 31, 2015

With the holidays coming up, it's the most popular time for movie releases. Several of the upcoming movies are based off of popular books. From Frankenstein to The Martian, our beloved books are getting some time on the big screen. Many favorites have been made into films over the years, and it's always interesting to see how the movie compares to the book.

For this challenge, simply choose a number of books that have movie adaptations to read during the quarter. Bonus points if you watch the movie - and if you do, tell us what you think of the differences (mark your spoilers, of course).

I'm in for 3 books.

I'm message 7 on the challenge discussion board.

✓ 1. Atonement read 10/12/2015
✓ 2. Catch Me If You Can: The True Story of a Real Fake read 10/16/20151.
✓ 3. P.S. I Love You read 10/31/2015

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Potential books:

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
The Color Purple

Remembrance Challenge
Duration: November 1 - November 30, 2015

Many societies, cultures, and countries take time out of their year for remembrance holidays. This November, let us remember these important moments with them:

1. Ash Wednesday, the start of Lent (Christian faiths): This holiday celebrates the 40 days Jesus fasted in the desert, where he resisted temptation by Satan. Read a book about giving up something, or about resisting temptation.

2. March 9th, Baron Bliss Day (Belize): A day to remember the fourth Barron Bliss of Portugal, who died off the coast of Belize and left the country 2 million dollars in a trust fund. His money established libraries, museums, health clinics, and the water supply system, making him the greatest benefactor of the country. Read a book about the establishment of a charity or public works project, or a book which features a great benefactor.

3. 15th day after the Spring Equinox, Qingming Festival (China/Taiwan): A celebration for the equivalent of "spring cleaning" for the columbarium, graves, and burial grounds of ancestors while honoring their ancestors. Read a book which takes place at a gravesite, or which features paying homage.

4. 27th of Nisan, Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day (Israel/Jewish faith): An observation of Israel's day of commemoration for the ~6 million Jews who perished in the Holocaust. Read a book about the Holocaust, or which features World War II.

5. May 4th, Remembrance of the Dead (Netherlands): This national holiday is immediately followed by Liberation Day on May 5th, constituting one remembrance for both victims and liberation. Read a book about a liberation, or a book prominently featuring holidays.

6. May 9th, Europe Day (European Union): A celebration of the commemoration of the Schuman Declaration, proposing the principle founding ideas of the European Union. Read a book featuring the unification of groups of people, or which features a council working to defend democracy or the rule of law.

7. Last Monday in May, Memorial Day (USA): A day to remember the people who died while serving in the country's armed forces. Read a book which remembers a war hero, or tells a story of a group of people surviving against all odds. Zoli read 11/19/2015

8. 15th day of the 7th lunar month, Obon Festival (Japan/Buddhist faith): The origin of this festival from a story in which a disciple of Buddha uses supernatural powers to see his deceased mother suffering in her after-life. Buddha encourages his disciple to make offerings and witness his mother's release. The disciple danced with joy, making dancing and offerings central to this family reunion holiday. Read a book about a family reunion or a book which highlights a form of dancing. Seduction and Snacks, Astonish Me

9. August 15th, India Independence Day (India): The celebration of independence from the British Empire. Read a book set in India, or read a book about a country achieving independence.

10. September 11th, Anniversary of the Twin Towers Collapsing (USA): A day to remember a series of four coordinated terrorist attacks by the terrorist group al-Qaeda on the United States. Read a book involving a terrorist plot, or a book set during the collapse of the Twin Towers.

11. October 31-November 2, Dia de Muertos, Day of the Dead (Mexico): A gathering of family and friends to pray for and remember family members who have died, and support their spiritual journey. Read a book about a spiritual journey, or a book which celebrates the deceased. Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith read 11/6/2015

12. November 11th, Poppy Day/Armistice Day (Commonwealth of Nations): The First World War remembrance day celebrated by the Commonwealth of Nations. Read a book set during the First World War, or a book which features the fall of an empire.

I am message 6 on the challenge discussion board

2/2

LET'S TURN PAGES CHALLENGE (continued)


146. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings read 11/11/2015 229 pages
147. Looking for Alaska read 11/14/2015 187 pages
148. Zoli read 11/19/2015 224 pages
149. The Giver read 11/20/2015 132 pages
150. Tales of a Female Nomad: Living at Large in the World read 11/22/2015 318 pages
151. Schroder read 11/22/2015 217 pages
152. Daughter of Fortune read 11/25/2015 399 pages
153. Cop Town read 11/27/2015 347 pages
154. Forever read 11/28/2015 146 pages
155. The Good Muslim read 11/29/2015 240 pages
156. In the Time of the Butterflies read 11/30/2015 303 pages
157. What's the Matter with Kansas? How Conservatives Won the Heart of America read 12/2/2015 251 pages
158. Christmas on Ladybug Farm read 12/2/2015 86 pages
159. Palisades Park read 12/3/2015 421 pages
160. Room Rescues: Decorating Solutions For Awkward Spaces read 12/4/2015 123 pages
161. Elizabeth Street: A novel based on true events read 12/6/2015 377 pages
162. Sh*t My Dad Says read 12/9/2015 120 pages
163. Gardening For Dummies read 12/13/2015 316 pages
164. Making Marriage Simple: Ten Truths for Changing the Relationship You Have into the One You Want read 12/14/2015 197 pages
165. The Importance of Being Earnest read 12/15/2015 76 pages
166. Very Recent History: An Entirely Factual Account of a Year (c. AD 2009) in a Large City read 12/17/2015 255 pages
167. Bad Monkey read 12/23/2015 336 pages
168. The Interestings read 12/26/2015 420 pages
169. Leaving Time read 12/27/2015 477 pages
170. My Life with Stephen read 12/31/2015 460 pages

Finished 49,941/40,000 pages
Challenge completed!

As of yesterday, I have finished all of my official group challenges for 2015! I have not yet updated the official challenge threads with the last few books I have read because I'm out of town and having to use the app, rather than the website, so I will make it official when I get home next week.

Now, my challenge for the rest of 2015 is to find books on my TBR list that don't meet the criteria for any of the 2016 challenges I've signed up for :-)