2025 Reading Challenge discussion

This is where I will track all of the challenges that I decide to participate in throughout the year. It will include challenges within this group, in other groups, and any personal challenges or goals I set for myself.

Reviews will not be included here, but you can find them on my personal challenge thread: Steph's 60 Book Challenge of 2023

Note: I'm still deciding on the best layout, so it may take a bit for me to add everything.

Here are the challenges that I am participating in for 2023. Any seasonal, quarterly, and monthly challenges will be added throughout the year.

Goodreads Goal Progress: 13/60 books

Yearly Challenges/Goals:
100 Years of Wonder: 25 books
Clear the Shelves: 40 books
Let's Turn Pages: 20,000 pages (approx. 1,667 pages/month)
Solano Reads 2023: 50 books
TBR Jar: 15 books

Quarterly Challenges/Goals:


Monthly Challenges/Goals:


Seasonal Challenges/Goals:
Dewey's Spring Reading Challenge: 12 books
ATY Spring Seasonal Challenge: 12 books

Misc. Challenges/Goals:

I'm not focusing on a prompt-based challenge this year. Instead I am focusing on clearing my shelves (and stacks, box, and bag) of unread books. However, I am having a hard time just picking a book to read since I am so used to having my reading more or less planned out for a challenge. So, I am going to try doing a monthly relay of books to see if that helps me not feel "lost". We did this in the Dewey's 24 Hour Read-a-Thon group in 2021 and I really enjoyed it.

January Relay

TBR Pile:
moved to February

Finished:
Locust Lane finished 01/02
Cold the Night, Fast the Wolves finished 01/07
Swift the Storm, Fierce the Flame finished 01/13
Cheddar Late Than Dead finished 01/16
House of Earth and Blood finished 01/26
One Month of You finished 01/28


Results:
# of books finished: 6
# of DNF: 0
Total # of pages read: 2,324

February Relay

TBR Pile:
moved to start March

Finished:
It Ends at Midnight finished 02/01
Where the Crawdads Sing finished 02/06
The Renaissance of Gwen Hathaway finished 02/09
Hive finished 02/15
The Ardent Swarm finished 02/20
When I Was You finished 02/25


DNF:
Stopping for Thought by Sarah A. Hoyt DNF 02/28

Results:
# of books finished: 6
# of DNF: 1
Total # of pages read: 1,430

March Relay

TBR Pile:
The City Between the Bridges: 1794 currently reading
Queen Bee
Five First Chances
The Devil's Glove
The Castle Keepers


Finished:
Stars and Smoke finished 03/19

April Relay

TBR Pile:

Finished:

May Relay

TBR Pile:

Finished:

June Relay

TBR Pile:

Finished:

July Relay

TBR Pile:

Finished:

August Relay

TBR Pile:

Finished:

September Relay

TBR Pile:

Finished:

October Relay

TBR Pile:

Finished:

November Relay

TBR Pile:

Finished:

December Relay

TBR Pile:

Finished:

100 Years of Wonder
Duration: January 1 thru December 31, 2023
Challenge: read a book set in or originally published in each year from 1923 thru 2023.

Progress: 5/25

Business Ventures
Complete this section to become Disney CEO

1923: Walt and Roy Disney form the "Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio"
1926: The Disneys change their name to the "Walt Disney Studio"
1930: First Disney book (Mickey Mouse Book)
1947: Disney appears before the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAAC) and chastises the animator's strike for their association with Communist elements
1949: Walt Disney Music Company is formed
1955: Opening of Disneyland park in Anaheim, California
1963: Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room opens at Disneyland, first use of all-new “Audio-Animatronics” technology
1966: Walt Disney dies of lung cancer
1971: Opening of Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida
1972: Disneyland debuts the Main Street Electrical Parade
1977: Roy E Disney, Walt's nephew, resigns and the company suffers for several years
1980: First Home Video titles released
1982: EPCOT Center opens in Orlando, Florida
1983: Tokyo Disneyland opens
1984: Release of first Touchstone film, Splash
1985: Touchstone Television is founded, home to Boy Meets World and Home Improvement
1987: First Disney Store opens, in Glendale, California
1988: "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" is released and nominated for four Academy Awards
2002: Disney releases its first video game, Kingdom Hearts
2004: Disney purchases The Muppets franchise from Jim Henson
2006: Disney purchases Pixar Animation
2009: Disney purchases Marvel Entertainment
2012: Disney purchases LucasFilm from George Lucas
2019: Disney+ streaming service premiers
✔ 2023: Locust Lane year published


Animation Releases
Complete this section to become Master Animator

1927: Disney begins creating Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, which is later distributed through Universal Pictures
1928: Steamboat Willie is released, the first Mickey Mouse cartoon and the first appearance of Minnie Mouse
1932: Release of Flowers and Trees, first full-color cartoon, and first cartoon to win an Academy Award
1934: The Wise Little Hen, first appearance of Donald Duck, is released
1935: The Band Concert, first Mickey Mouse cartoon in color, is released
1940: Release of Fantasia
1941: Release of Dumbo
1942: Release of Bambi
1943: U.S release of Saludos Amigos, featuring four animated segments set in South America
1945: Release of The Three Caballeros
1948: Release of Melody Time
1953: Release of Peter Pan
1955: Release of Lady and the Tramp
1967: Release of The Jungle Book
1970: Release of The Aristocats
1973: Release of Robin Hood
1981: Release of The Fox and the Hound
1986: Release of The Great Mouse Detective
1990: Release of Ducktales: the Movie, Treasure of the Lost Lamp
2000: Release of The Emperor's New Groove
2003: Release of The Incredibles
2007: Release of Ratatouille
2012: Release of Wreck it Ralph
2015: Release of Inside Out
✔ 2017: The Ardent Swarm published


Live-Action Releases
Complete this section to become Executive Director

1946: Release of Song of the South
1952: Release of Robin Hood and His Merry Men
1954: Release of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
1956: Release of Davy Crockett and the River Pirates
1957: First program of the Zorro television series
1960: Release of Swiss Family Robinson
1961: Release of The Parent Trap
1962: Release of In Search of the Castaways
1964: Release of Mary Poppins
1965: Release of That Darn Cat
1968: Release of The Love Bug
✔ 1969: Where the Crawdads Sing partly of the set in
1974: Release of Herbie Rides Again
1975: Release of The Apple Dumpling Gang
1976: Release of The Shaggy D.A.
1978: Release of Return from Witch Mountain
1979: Release of The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again
1993: Release of Hocus Pocus
1997: Release of George of the Jungle
1999: Release of Inspector Gadget
2005: Release of Sky High
2006: Release of High School Musical
2011: Release of The Muppets
2018: Release of Christopher Robin
✔ 2020: House of Earth and Blood year published


Princesses and Leading Ladies
Complete this section to become Disney Royalty

1937: Release of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, first feature-length animated film
1938: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs wins an Academy Honorary Award
1944: Disney is struggling financially, so they re-release Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
1950: Release of Cinderella
1951: Release of Alice in Wonderland
1959: Release of Sleeping Beauty
1989: Release of The Little Mermaid
1991: Release of Beauty and the Beast
1992: Release of Aladdin
1994: Beauty and the Beast is Disney's first Broadway production
1995: Release of Pocahontas
1996: Release of The Hunchback of Notre Dame
1998: Release of Mulan
2001: Release of The Princess Diaries
2002: Release of Lilo and Stitch
2004: Release of The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement
2005: Release of Ice Princess
2008: Release of Tinker Bell
2009: Release of The Princess and the Frog
2010: Release of Tangled
2013: Release of Frozen
2014: Release of Maleficent
2016: Release of Moana
2021: Release of Encanto
✔ 2022: Cold the Night, Fast the Wolves year published

Clear the Shelves
Duration: January 1 thru December 31, 2023
Challenge: read my unread books that I owned prior to January 1, 2023. I will not include ARCs.

Progress: 6/40

1. Cold the Night, Fast the Wolves by Meg Long
2. House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas
3. Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
4. Hive by Jeremiah Ukponrefe
5. The Ardent Swarm by Yamen Manai
6. When I Was You by Minka Kent

Let's Turn Pages
Duration: January 1 thru December 31, 2023

Progress: 3,643/20,000

Locust Lane 152 (started end of 2022)
Cold the Night, Fast the Wolves 362
Swift the Storm, Fierce the Flame 340
Cheddar Late Than Dead 223
House of Earth and Blood 804
One Month of You 269
It Ends at Midnight 239
Where the Crawdads Sing 370
The Renaissance of Gwen Hathaway 226
Hive 182
The Ardent Swarm 195
When I Was You 281

Solano Reads 2023
Duration: January 1 thru December 31, 2023
Challenge: read a book that fits each prompt

This is my county library's challenge for this year. I am not focusing on this challenge and it is not a priority. I am just seeing how many books I happen to read that fit.

Progress: 10/50

1. A book about the past
2. A book about a historical figure
3. A book about a holiday you have never celebrated
4. A book based on a true story
✔ 5. A book from a celebrity book club Where the Crawdads Sing
6. A book set in a school
✔ 7. A book set on the East Coast of the United States Locust Lane
8. A book someone else recommended
✔ 9. A book somewhere you want to visit Cheddar Late Than Dead
10. A book that looks difficult to finish (length or subject)
11. A book that was on display at the library (not normal shelves)
✔ 12. A book that was translated into English The Ardent Swarm
13. A book with a character who works in the library
✔ 14. A book with a number in the title One Month of You
15. A book with a protagonist who has a pet cat
✔ 16. A book with best friends It Ends at Midnight
17. A book written by someone from a different culture than yours
18. A book written by someone who is no longer living
19. A book you selected by closing your eyes and grabbing something random from the shelf
20. A book you've read before
21. A book by an author you love
22. A book that makes you laugh
23. An audiobook
24. A book about food
✔ 25. A book beginning with the first letter of your name Swift the Storm, Fierce the Flame
✔ 26. A book from a genre you don't normally read Hive
27. A book that became a TV show/movie
28. A book that focuses on kindness
29. A book with a cover that is your favorite color
30. A book with a cover you don't like
31. A book with a cover you like
✔ 32. A book with your favorite animal Cold the Night, Fast the Wolves
33. A book written by an Asian American author
34. A graphic novel
35. A horror or paranormal story
36. A book with pictures
37. An author of color
38. An award-winning book
39. An LGBTQ+ author
40. A staff pick
41. A story under 100 pages
42. An author born outside the United States
43. A "popular" book
44. A book a stranger recommends
45. A book about mental health
46. A book about someone you admire
✔ 47. A book about the future House of Earth and Blood
48. A book about time travel
49. A true crime book
50. A book you've been intimidated to read

TBR Jar
Duration: January 1 thru December 31, 2023
Challenge: read my TBR Owned books randomly picked by Goodreads

Progress: 3/15

1. House of Earth and Blood finished January 26
2. The Ardent Swarm finished February 20
3. When I Was You finished February 26

Dewey's Spring Reading Challenge
Duration: January 10 thru April 28, 2023
Challenge: read a book that fits each prompt

1. Read a book mentioned by another Dewey's participant on one of our social media sites.

✔ 2. Read a book set in January, February or March. ARC of Cheddar Late Than Dead finished January 16th

✔ 3. Read a book where one of the characters does some cleaning. House of Earth and Blood finished January 26th

4. Read a nonfiction book.

5. Read a short story collection, book of plays, book of essays, etc.

6. Read 3 books with Spring-colored book covers.


✔ 7. Read a book with flowers on the cover or in the title. ARC of Swift the Storm, Fierce the Flame finished January 13th


8. Read a book set someplace where January-March are summer months.

✔ 9. Read a book with snow in it. One Month of You finished January 28th

10. Read a book published in 1923.

ATY Spring Seasonal Challenge
Duration: March 1 thru May 31, 2023
Challenge: Match books to these phrases in one of three ways:
1. Phrase contains BOTH letters of the author's name (ignore middle initial)
2. Phrase contains the first letter of the title (ignore or include A, An, and The)
3. Phrase is exemplified on the cover (your interpretation)

The Phrases:
1. springtime
2. bloom
3. sun shining
4. baby animals
5. eggs
6. tulips
7. jellybeans
8. rainstorm
9. sprout
10. warming
11. spring break
12. raincoat