2025 Reading Challenge discussion

2025 Through The Decades
Team: 2

This thread is for members of TEAM 2 to use however you wish in relation to the readathon. Your team: Leader(s): Betty
Teammates: Brianna Raquel, LinaVer, Shari, Blagica, Billie-Jade, Kay-Mika

Here is the link to your team’s spreadsheet, where you’ll be tracking your progress as you go.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...

If you have any questions about the readathon, how to interpret the prompts, how to use the spreadsheet, and so on, ask your Captain or Assistant first. If they don’t know, they can post the question(s) on the Readathon Central thread.

Happy reading! Let’s have a blast during this 10-day readathon!

—--------------------------------
YOUR PROMPTS

Singles

Read a historical fiction novel.
Read a historical nonfiction novel.
Read a memoir by someone born in a different decade than you.
Read a book containing time travel.
Read a book with a timepiece on the cover.
Read a book you haven’t read since you were younger.
Read a book set in two or more time periods.
Read a book published in the year or decade you were born.

Doubles

Read 2 books set in a future decade.
Read 2 books with an older adult main character.
Read 2 books with a day of the week or month in the title.
Read 2 books with a unit of time in the title.
Read 2 books with a year or date in the title.
Read 2 books published or set in the 1900s.
Read 2 books published or set in the 1910s.
Read 2 books published or set in the 1920s.
Read 2 books published or set in the 1930s.

Triples

Read 3 books published or set in the 1940s.
Read 3 books published or set in the 1950s.
Read 3 books published or set in the 1960s.
Read 3 books published or set in the 1970s.
Read 3 books published or set in the 1980s.
Read 3 books published or set in the 1990s.
Read 3 books published or set in the 2000s.
Read 3 books published or set in the 2010s.

Bonus category:

Read books published or set in the 2020s.

Checking in

I can read for
Read a book you haven’t read since you were younger.

Hello Team Two!

Before diving into my plans for our 10-day reading adventure, I thought it’d be great if we started with some quick introductions.

My name is Blagica, and I’m from New Jersey. I work part-time for a Center for Independent Living, where I help people with disabilities apply for county services. When I’m not working, I love to read (but I’m guessing that’s a given here 😄) and color in my spare time.

This month, I’m aiming to read one book a day to catch up on my goal of 100 books for the year—I'm just a bit behind. For the readathon specifically, I’ve picked out about five books, but I’m super flexible and may swap titles as we go. I’ll be sharing my list in this thread and in our team spreadsheet later today.

I’m really looking forward to getting to know all of you! Feel free to add me as a friend if you’d like

Now for the fun part… Team name ideas!
Let’s keep it light and playful with a decades theme—here are a few suggestions to get us started:



Decade Devourers

The Lit Decades

Time Travelers TBR

Rewind & Read

Vintage Volumes

Flashback Fiction

Retro Reads Riot

Readin’ Through the Ages

ChronoReaders

can’t wait to see what we come up with!

Hi Team!!

I’m your team leader, Betty. 🙂

Great to see a couple of you checking in already - welcome! I’m looking forward to a great time of preparing and of course reading 📚

Do we have any first-time readathon participants here? First-time or not, please post any questions or concerns you have.

Introduction:
I’m Betty from Michigan. Today is my 27th wedding anniversary and I have one kid - 22yo. I work part time as a Library Assistant at my local public library - my dream job. I love reading and also enjoy some gaming - currently playing LOTRO.

Blagica wrote: "Now for the fun part… Team name ideas!
Let’s keep it light and playful with a decades theme—here are a few suggestions to get us started:



Decade Devourers

The Lit Decades

Time Travelers TBR

R..."


Love those team name ideas. My favorites are “Rewind and Read” and “Time Travelers TBR”, but I’m good with any of them or other suggestions.

Rewind and Read definitely has my vote

Work in Progress
Helpful Team Resources
Read a historical fiction novel historical fiction

Hi, I'm checking in!

I have messaged the teammates who haven't arrived yet.

Theresa wrote: "I have messaged the teammates who haven't arrived yet."

Thanks Theresa!

Hello everyone! My name is Lina, I'm Lithuanian, currently living in the Netherlands. I think my time zone differs from most of you so I'll probably be finishing my days and checking in at different times. 😊🤷🏼‍♀️ I'm 35 yo, studied Lithuanian language and literature. I've worked as an editor, translator, writer and teacher (my favorite job so far). But had to leave all that behind when I moved countries and my education didn't transfer well. I now work part-time in a sales job and have more free time for reading which I love. I dream of writing my own book one day, haha 😊
I love the prompts for this marathon and will update you with what I can read in a few days.
As for the team name, I like the Lit Decades and Rewind & Read!

Hello everyone. My name is Shari, I'm from Ohio. I do clerical work at an aircraft repair station. I love to read historical fiction especially books about WWII and books having to do with libraries, librarians, book shops, tea shops and bakeries. I also love to read books about the Amish. Papercrafting is my therapy. I like to make cards, do listing and scrapbook. I read every night before bed, it helps me to unwind. Looking forward to this one. This will be my third Readathon. Blagica, we've been on a Readathon team together before! Just so you know, I will not be able to update the spreadsheet during the day, it's blocked on my work computer. I will update in the evenings.

Welcome ladies! yes Shari I remember so nice to see you again. Lina you lead lots of our challenges so nice to see you too!

I can read Delusion in Death for a book set in a future decade.

I also have a Historical Fiction Book I can read, if no one else wants that prompt.

I will go through my books this evening to see if I can fill any other prompts without needing books from the library.

Welcome! We’ve heard from all but one of our team members so let’s get planning 📚

Sounds like the team name preference is Rewind and Read, so if no one objects to that I’ll let Theresa know.

I’ve added three books to the spreadsheet that I am already planning to read for other things but also fit the prompts. I’ll read 6 or 7 total but will wait to fill in more til others have planned and I see where the gaps are.

Please let me know if you need any help filling in the spreadsheet and I can give you tips or even enter things for you if you’d like.

I can change the name if we all agree

Blagica wrote: "I can change the name if we all agree"

That would be great - thanks. Everyone who has chimed in likes it so let’s go for it.

done!

The original publication date can be used after all, whatever edition you read.

Enjoy the readathon!

Excited to be starting our readathon in just a couple days!

Brianna Raquel, LinaVer, & Kay-Mika - please add what you're planning on reading to the team spreadsheet in the planning tab. This will help us figure out what prompts we're short on. If you need help or would like me to enter books in, just let me know. Happy to help.

Books I can read if needed I own everything/Kindle Unlimited but Misery I will be starting with Trip as it is a Triple. I will also add more as I go.

Singles

Read a historical fiction novel.
Read a historical nonfiction novel.
Read a memoir by someone born in a different decade than youMaster of Me: The Secret to Controlling Your Narrative.
Read a book containing time travel.
Read a book with a timepiece on the cover.Boyfriend Material
Read a book you haven’t read since you were younger.
Read a book set in two or more time periods.Dark Matter
Read a book published in the year or decade you were born.Misery

Read 2 books set in a future decade.
Read 2 books with an older adult main character.
Read 2 books with a day of the week or month in the title.Monday's Not Coming
Read 2 books with a unit of time in the title.
Read 2 books with a year or date in the title.
Read 2 books published or set in the 1900s.
Read 2 books published or set in the 1910s.
Read 2 books published or set in the 1920s.
Read 2 books published or set in the 1930s.

Read 3 books published or set in the 1990s.Trip
Read 3 books published or set in the 2000s.-Normal People

Question: Is it possible if we've already started a book, we can finish it during the readathon and count it? Asking because I'm reading a book with a character that is 130 years old and this would work perfect for the Read 2 books with an older adult main character prompt. Just wondering how many pages I need to read for it to count. Thanks!

Shari wrote: "Question: Is it possible if we've already started a book, we can finish it during the readathon and count it? Asking because I'm reading a book with a character that is 130 years old and this would..."

You need to save at least 100 pages to read during the readathon.

Betty wrote: "Shari wrote: "Question: Is it possible if we've already started a book, we can finish it during the readathon and count it? Asking because I'm reading a book with a character that is 130 years old ..."

Great! Thanks Betty! I think I am close to the number now. Will check the book this evening.

Betty wrote: "Excited to be starting our readathon in just a couple days!

Brianna Raquel, LinaVer, & Kay-Mika - please add what you're planning on reading to the team spreadsheet in the planning tab. This will ..."
Entered my book

Blagica wrote: "Books I can read if needed I own everything/Kindle Unlimited but Misery I will be starting with Trip as it is a Triple. I will also add more as I go.

Singles

Read a historical fiction novel.
Rea..."

That looks like a great plan! Could you please add Trip to the planning sheet?

Kay-Mika wrote: "Betty wrote: "Excited to be starting our readathon in just a couple days!

Brianna Raquel, LinaVer, & Kay-Mika - please add what you're planning on reading to the team spreadsheet in the planning t..."

Thanks Kay-Mika :)

Betty wrote: "Excited to be starting our readathon in just a couple days!

Brianna Raquel, LinaVer, & Kay-Mika - please add what you're planning on reading to the team spreadsheet in the planning tab. This will ..."

Hi, just checking in to say I’ll enter the books after tomorrow if that’s alright. I’ve had a busy week both at work and home but tomorrow’s my last day at work and then I start my vacation, so I’ll finally have time to look into the prompts and see where we’re missing books that I could fill in. So sorry for being kind of mia

LinaVer wrote: "Betty wrote: "Excited to be starting our readathon in just a couple days!

Brianna Raquel, LinaVer, & Kay-Mika - please add what you're planning on reading to the team spreadsheet in the planning t..."

No problem - thanks so much for checking in and updating us. Glad your vacation is almost here.

Okay all 7 books have been added.

Hi all, I’m Billie I have done many readathons before and always really enjoy them. I am very excited to get started tomorrow with this one.

Billie-Jade wrote: "Hi all, I’m Billie I have done many readathons before and always really enjoy them. I am very excited to get started tomorrow with this one."

Glad to have you on Team Rewind and Read, Billie!

Currently Reading: Master of Me: The Secret to Controlling Your Narrative
Later Today:Dark Matter

Happy First Day of the Readathon, Team!!!

Please try to update the team spreadsheet for what you're currently reading and completed on the planning tab. When you complete a book, add it under your name on the tracking tab and copy it over to the completed tab.

If you have any questions please ask here. I'll be checking in often.

Hope you all enjoy your reading over the next 10 days!

Hello dear team! I've finally been able to look into my possible books. Here's what I put in the planning for now:

1. The Cardinal - an arc I'm currently reading (more than 100 pages left, so still can be used for the readathon, but it's a maybe, because I'm not sure if it isn't going to be a dnf)
2. Ruin and Rising - current read, more than 100 pages were left as of the start of today, made quite some progress and hoping to finish tonight! ☺️
3. Confessions on the 7:45
4. Fayne - a maybe, because it doesn't fill that many prompts
5. The Handmaid's Tale - fills quite a few prompts but it's also a bit long, so I'm not sure yet
6. Tuesdays with Morrie: An Old Man, a Young Man, and Life's Greatest Lesson - chose this one specifically for "day of the week" prompt, but it suits more prompts

If I dnf or change any of these books, I'll let you all know and I'll also look to see where we're still short on books for specific prompts. I can see that the singles are easily filled by now, so I'll try to focus on doubles and triples, if I change anything.

Blagica wrote: "Welcome ladies! yes Shari I remember so nice to see you again. Lina you lead lots of our challenges so nice to see you too!"

Nice to see you to, Blagica! And nice to see so many other familiar names and profile icons, haha. A lot of people here from the monthly challenges ☺️ I'm very happy to be doing another readathon and so glad we have such a great team with team-mates from different backgrounds and professions but all with a passion for reading.

Also, I am very grateful for the patience you all showed me, waiting for me to check in. I've had busy time, but I'm finally on my vacation and fully in this readathon. 📚 🎉

Also, I have a question because I'm not sure how we're going to go about this. When we finish a book that could possibly work for several different prompts, do we choose a certain prompt ourselves (in the tracking tab) or do we just copy the column from planning to tracking with all suitable prompts still marked, and then someone (group leader) will play with them at the end to see that we cover the most prompts? Last readathon team leader did that and it was quite helpful (at least for me).

LinaVer wrote: "Also, I have a question because I'm not sure how we're going to go about this. When we finish a book that could possibly work for several different prompts, do we choose a certain prompt ourselves ..."

Copying and pasting them in there with all the possible prompts sounds great. I’ll keep an eye on how it’s all going and figure out at the end the best fit for each book.

Completed
Read a memoir by someone born in a different decade than you.Master of Me: The Secret to Controlling Your Narrative

Just a heads up this catagory can only be completed if we finish all the prompts

Bonus category:
Read books published or set in the 2020s.

Completed

Read a book containing time travel. - Secrets of the Sea House
Read 2 books published or set in the 1910s. - The Secret Garden

Currently Reading
Read 2 books published or set in the 1910s. - Peter Pan

Up Next
Read 2 books with an older adult main character. - Grave Talk
Read 2 books published or set in the 1920s. - Passing
Read 3 books published or set in the 2000s. - The Album of Dr. Moreau
Read 3 books published or set in the 1970s. - The Strange Fascinations of Noah Hypnotik
Read 3 books published or set in the 1960s. - Funny Girl
Read 3 books published or set in the 1950s. - Black Girl Dreaming

These are all that I planned so far, but I plan to add more into the categories with 0 potentials. Also, I'll be reading a few non-prompts books as well. I'm doing another challenge.

50% through Dark Matter I have removed Boyfriend Material I just can't get into it sorry so time piece on the cover now needs doing. I replaced it with Jack and Jill Published and set in the 90s

Possible choices for after

Read 3 books published or set in the 1990s.Trip
Read 3 books published or set in the 2000s.-Normal People
Jack & Jill

Blagica wrote: "50% through Dark Matter I have removed Boyfriend Material I just can't get into it sorry so time piece on the cover now needs doing. I replaced it with Jack and Jill..."

Blagica, would you mind if I then read Boyfriend Material? It’s available through my library as an ebook, and it’s been on my tbr for ages. That way we could probably still fill that prompt.

I’ve finished Ruin and Rising yesterday night. Decided to remove The Cardinal and Fayne from readathon, so I can add one, maybe two books. Will look into that later. Reading Confessions on the 7:45 today but it’s going a bit slow, so I might not finish it today.

How do you guys read so fast? Do you switch it up with audiobooks?

I've added Ruin and Rising in the tracking tab as "Read a book with an older adult main character". It can also be used for the "Read 3 books published or set in the 2010s" prompt.

I am not sure if I should add only the pages I've read during readathon (224) or complete count of pages of the book?

LinaVer wrote: "I've added Ruin and Rising in the tracking tab as "Read a book with an older adult main character". It can also be used for the "Read 3 books published or set in the 2010s" prompt.
..."

Just the pages read during the readathon period

LinaVer wrote: "Blagica wrote: "50% through Dark Matter I have removed Boyfriend Material I just can't get into it sorry so time piece on the cover now needs doing. I replaced it wi..."

go ahead!

Dark Matter completed can fit
Read a book set in two or more time periods.
Read 3 books published or set in the 2010s.
Read a book containing time travel.

Completed

Read a book containing time travel. - Secrets of the Sea House
Read 2 books published or set in the 1910s. - The Secret Garden
Read 2 books published or set in the 1910s. - Peter Pan
Read 2 books with an older adult main character. - Grave Talk
Read 2 books published or set in the 1920s. - Passing
Read 3 books published or set in the 2000s. - The Album of Dr. Moreau

Currently Reading
Read 3 books published or set in the 1970s. - The Strange Fascinations of Noah Hypnotik

Up Next
Read 3 books published or set in the 1960s. - Funny Girl
Read 3 books published or set in the 1950s. - Black Girl Dreaming