2026 Reading Challenge discussion

I didn't pay much attention to challenges last year - but now I do need a place to keep track!

Total Books
113 of 105

Yearly Challenges
1. The Listopia Challenge: 5 of 20
2. The Members Challenge: 9 of 17
3. The Every Year Challenge: 16 of 28
4. The Dewey Decimal Challenge: 7 of 7
5. The History challenge: 8 of 15

Quarterly Inspirations
Quarter 1 Spell Out Challenge: 6 of 7 - oops!
Quarter 2 - Zara's Inspired Survival Challenge: 4 of 12 (It turned out to be the Quarter of the Evil Dizzy Reading Slump, instead!)
Quarter 3 - I Spy Challenge: 0 of 10
Quarter 3 - Authors!: 1 of 15


Monthly Challenges
January's New Beginnings: 10 of 10
February - Rights Around the World Challenge: 6 of 5
March - Literary Awards Mini Challenge: 3 out of 3
June - Kelsi's Royalty Challenge: 7 of 7
July's The Definition of a Classic challenge: 1 of 8

The Listopia Challenge
4/10
9/10

Hugo Award Winners
01. Rendezvous With Rama
02. Downbelow Station
03. Dreamsnake
04. Le Guin - The left hand of darkness
05. The Snow Queen
06. Asimov - Foundation's edge
07. Asimov - The gods themselves
08. Brin - Startide rising
09. Zelazny - This immortal
10. Sawyer - Hominids

You Read a Book About What?
01. Rabid: A Cultural History of the World's Most Diabolical Virus
02. Cats Are Not Peas: A Calico History of Genetics
03. Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers
04. Sex at Dawn: The Prehistoric Origins of Modern Sexuality
05. The Professor and the Madman: A Tale of Murder, Insanity and the Making of the Oxford English Dictionary
06. The Emperor of All Maladies
07. Wicked Bugs: The Louse That Conquered Napoleon's Army & Other Diabolical Insects
08. Gulp: Adventures on the Alimentary Canal
09. Parasite Rex (with a New Epilogue): Inside the Bizarre World of Nature's Most Dangerous Creatures
10. Bonk

The Every Year Challenge

24/28

1985:
1986:
1987:
1988: Prelude to Foundation
1989:
1990: The Adventures of Endill Swift
1991: Boy's Life
1992: The Secret History
1993: Forward the Foundation
1994: Finder
1995: Assassin's Apprentice
1996: Cats Are Not Peas: A Calico History of Genetics
1997: Harry Potter y la Piedra Filosofal
1998: Omon Ra
1999: Gardens of the Moon
2000: Parasite Rex : Inside the Bizarre World of Nature's Most Dangerous Creatures
2001: Helter Skelter: The True Story of the Manson Murders
2002: Redemption Ark
2003: Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers
2004: Cloud Atlas
2005: Magic for Beginners
2006: On the Jellicoe Road
2007: The Brain That Changes Itself: Stories of Personal Triumph from the Frontiers of Brain Science
2008: Last Argument of Kings
2009: The Devil's Alphabet
2010: Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void
2011: Historien om Fru Berg
2012: Year Zero
2013: The Gate Thief

The Dewey Decimal Challenge
7/7

150-199: Psychology, Logic, Ethics, Ancient, Medieval & Eastern Philosophy, Modern Western Philosophy

250-299: Christian Orders & Local Church, Christian Social Theology, Christian Church History, Christian Denominations & Sects, Other & Comparative Religions
En gang ble Buddha spist av en tiger ("Once Buddha was eaten by a tiger", a collection of translated stories about Bodhisattva/Buddha, sorted under 294.33 at the library)

300-349: Social Sciences, Sociology, General Statistics, Political Science, Economics, Law
Sex at Dawn: The Prehistoric Origins of Modern Sexuality

350-399: Public Administration, Social Services, Education, Commerce, Customs, Etiquette, Folklore
Helter Skelter: The True Story of the Manson Murders

400-449: Language, Linguistics, English & Old English, German, Romance Languages
Simon Winchester - The Professor and the Madman: A Tale of Murder, Insanity and the Making of the Oxford English Dictionary

550-599: Earth Sciences, Paleontology, Life Sciences, Plants, Zoological Sciences
Parasite Rex : Inside the Bizarre World of Nature's Most Dangerous Creatures

600-649: Technology (Applied Sciences), Medical Sciences, Engineering, Agriculture, Home Economics & Family Living
The Brain That Changes Itself: Stories of Personal Triumph from the Frontiers of Brain Science

800-849: Literature, American Literature, English & Old English Literature, German Literature, Literatures of Romance Languages
On Writing

The History Challenge

20/21

2012: We Possible Apocalypse: Read a book about a post-apocalyptic or dystopian world.
2011: Downbelow Station Protests (Egypt, Libya and Occupy Wall Street): Read a book about people standing up for something they believe in.
2010: Joyland Earthquakes (Haiti, Chile): Read a book where weather takes a toll on a community.
2009: Boy's Life Barak Obama Inaugurated: Read a book where racism plays a role in the character’s lives.
2008: Year Zero Lady Gaga Releases First Album: Read a book about music, monsters or fame.
2007: Halting State iPhone: Read a book about technology, or any science fiction novel.
2006: Rendezvous With Rama Pluto Officially Demoted from Planetary Status: Read a book about space, astronauts, or exploration.
2005: Pirate Cinema YouTube Launches: Read a book about sharing, movies, or entrepreneurs.
2004: Sundiver Samizdat (poetry magazine) Ceases Publication: Read a book about a poet or a collection of poetry.
2003: Osama Amber Alert System Created: Read a book about someone who goes missing or runs/is running away from something.
2002: Neptune's Brood Arthur Anderson/Enron Scandal Convictions: Read a book about business, capitalism, or dishonesty.
2001: Earth Afire 9/11: Read a book about war, soldiers, terror, or conspiracy.
2000: The Stand A New Millennium: Read a book about new beginnings, or a book with over 1000 pages(!).
1999: Battle Royale Columbine: Read a book about school or workplace violence.
1998: The Professor and the Madman: A Tale of Murder, Insanity and the Making of the Oxford English Dictionary Google Founded: Read a book about Google, searching, or learning.
1997: Cloud Atlas Movie “Titanic” Opens: Read a book about the Titanic, shipwreck, or a life at sea.
1996: Parasite Rex : Inside the Bizarre World of Nature's Most Dangerous Creatures Dolly the Cloned Sheep: Read a book about science, genetics, or animals.
1995: Helter Skelter: The True Story of the Manson Murders O.J. Simpson Trial: Read a book about law, courts, or any murder mystery novel.
1994: Rwandan Genocide: Read Shake Hands with the Devil, or another book about Rwanda or genocide (includes books about the Holocaust).
1993: Slaughterhouse-Five SAM Colombia Flight 505 Crashes on Mount Paramo Frontino: Read a book where a crash (plane, train, car) occurs.
1992: The Devil's Alphabet Jay Leno Takes Over The Tonight Show: Read a book where television plays a role in the characters’ lives.

The members challenge
14/17

01. Alexandra's task (career change): The Snow Queen
02. Amy's task (keep meaning to read): Foundation
03. Ashley's task (medicine): The Brain That Changes Itself: Stories of Personal Triumph from the Frontiers of Brain Science
04. Barb's task (music/art): The Drowning Girl
05. Cherise's task (illness in history): Rabid: A Cultural History of the World's Most Diabolical Virus
06. Ellie's task (organizing life):
07. JenniferJ's task (13th in a series):
08. Joanne's task (vampire): White Night
09. Johanna's task (moving/leaving home): Furuset
10. Karina's task (80ies award): Downbelow Station
11. Kelsi's task (enlightening nonfic): The Brain That Changes Itself: Stories of Personal Triumph from the Frontiers of Brain Science
12. Lilac's task (YA/comingofage): Eld (N)
13. Lorelei's task (Germany/"Legend"/shipwreck): Legend
14. Melanie's task (library/librarian): Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore
15. Melissa's task (meaning of your name in title):
16. Sasha's task (translated from japanese/russian): We
17. Toni's task (main character with androgynous name): Finder

QUARTERLY CHALLENGES

Quarter 1 Spell Out Challenge

Favourite movie:

R- Rendezvous With Rama
O- Osama
B- Bone
O- Omon Ra
C-
O- On Writing
P- Parasite Rex : Inside the Bizarre World of Nature's Most Dangerous Creatures



Quarter 2 - Zara's Inspired Survival Challenge

PhD level - minimum 12 books that are either a) difficult to get into, b) mammoth sized, c) have sat on my TBR for a very long time.


01. Memories of Ice (mammoth)
02. Dreamsnake (forever on TBR)
03. The Stand (mammoth)
04. Foundation (forever on TBR)

(I have a few weeks every year where reading focus goes out the window. This was it. This quarter.)


3rd Quarter Challenge: Authors!
Duration: July 1, 2013 - September 30, 2013

13/13

1. Read a book by an author who shares your initials (first and last only, no need to match middle initials).

2. Read a book by an author from your home country.
Torkil Berge - Lykketyvene - Hvordan overkomme depresjon (Norwegian)

3. Read a book written by an author whose first language is different from your own.
Margaret Atwood - MaddAddam
(My first language isn't English)

4. Read a book by a new-to-you author.
David Grann - The Devil & Sherlock Holmes: Tales of Murder, Madness & Obsession

5. Read a book by an author who's known for a genre you don't primarily read.
Donna Tartt - The Secret History

6. Read a book by an author born in your birth month.
John Scalzi - The Human Division
(Scalzi's birthday is in May)

7. Read a book by an author born in the same decade as you. (If you are born in or after 1990, you may read an author born in the 80s.)
Marie Lu - Legend
(Lu was born in 1984)

8. Read a book by an author who has penned an autobiography (you can, but do not have to, read the autobiography itself).
Robert K. Ressler - Whoever Fights Monsters: My Twenty Years Tracking Serial Killers for the FBI
(Maybe a stretch - but it is shelved as 'biography', 'autobiography > memoir', so I suppose it'll do?)


9. Read a book by a self-published author (the book you read does not have to be self-published, but the author must have self-published at some point in his or her career).
Stephen King - Joyland

10. Read a book by a Goodreads author.
Pippa Goldschmidt - The Falling Sky

11. Read a book by a debut author.
Michael Logan, "Apocalypse cow"

12. Read a book by an author who has published more than 15 books by July 1, 2013.
David Mitchell - Cloud Atlas

13. Read a book by an author who has fewer than 25 fans. (See the number of fans on an author's profile.)
Chris Beckett - Dark Eden

14. Read a book by an author who has greater than 1,000 fans.
Madeleine L'Engle - A Wrinkle in Time

15. Read a book by your favorite author.
Mary Roach - Gulp: Adventures on the Alimentary Canal
(I have several favourite authors - Roach has definitely become one of them)

January's New Beginnings Challenge
10/10

1. Read a book by an author new to you: Parasite Rex : Inside the Bizarre World of Nature's Most Dangerous Creatures (by Carl Zimmer)

2. Read a book that was released in the last six months: Furuset (Norwegian)

3. Read a book in a genre that is outside of what you normally read: Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore

4. Read a book where the main character starts out on a new part of his or her life: Harry Potter y la Piedra Filosofal

5. Read a book that was published the same year you embarked on a new part of your life (state what part that was): Helter Skelter: The True Story of the Manson Murders (published in 2001, the year I first moved out and into the city)

6. Should auld acquaintance be forgot: Read an old childhood favorite: Bone (graphic novel)

7. Read a book nominated for the Goodreads Choice Awards: Year Zero

8. “Beginnings” is a song by the group Chicago—read a book whose title shares a main word with the lyrics of the song: Rendezvous With Rama
(The word "with" was the best I could do, apparently!)

9. Read a book that is first in a series: Halting State

10. Read a book by an author whose first or last name starts with the letter A: Last Argument of Kings (by Joe Abercrombie)

February - Rights Around the World Challenge
Aiming to read books by authors from at least 5 of the listed countries.

1. Canada: Steven Erikson - Gardens of the Moon
2. The US: Hugh Howey - I, Zombie
3. Argentina: Adolfo Bioy Casares - The Invention of Morel
4. Russia: Yevgeny Zamyatin -We
5. Norway: Kjersti A. Skomsvold - Monstermenneske (N)
6. The UK: Diana Wynne Jones - Archer's Goon

March: Literary Awards Mini Challenge
3/3

2. Read a book that has won a Goodreads Choice Award.
John Green - The Fault in Our Stars

3. Read a book that has won a Hugo or Nebula award. (If science fiction & fantasy really isn't your thing, choose another type of genre-specific award.)
C.J. Cherryh - Downbelow Station (Hugo award, 1982)

4. Read a book given an award unique to your country.
Ingvild H. Rishøi - Historien om Fru Berg
(The author was awarded "Sultprisen", "The Hunger Award" (A reference to Knut Hamsun's novel "Hunger") - it is an award for young, excellent authorship, and a published work giving the author a "clear profile". Yay, pre-coffee translation work!)

June: Kelsi's Royalty Challenge
7/7

1. Suleimon I of the Ottoman Empire r. 1494-1566 was known for conquering much of the Middle East and for reforming the criminal, tax and education systems. Read a book that is set in the Middle East or includes taxes, education, or criminal delinquency as a major topic.
Isaac Asimov - Forward the Foundation
(Taxation of the empire)

2. James I of England. r. 1603-1625 was a lover of literature and the fine arts. Read a book you deem a great work of literature. (Up for interpretation and based solely on your opinion!)

3. John III of Poland-Lithuania r. 1674-1696 was brilliant both militarily and politically. Read a book where war or politics is central to the plot.
Isaac Asimov - Prelude to Foundation


4. Henry VIII of England r. 1509-1547. There are a plethora of books on this monarch and his six wives. Read a book of fiction or non-fiction that is based on his or his wives’ life OR read a book set in England.
Neil Gaiman - The Ocean at the End of the Lane
(set in England)

5. Louis XIV of France r. 1643-1715 Louis built the palace of Versailles and was all about dancing, parties, and showing his wealth off. He even invented ballet. Read a book that involves a party OR has a main character that is wealthy.
Orson Scott Card - Earth Afire
(Wealthy character)

6. Catherine the Great of Russia 1762-1796 was Russia’s longest ruling female. Read a book with a strong, independent heroine.
Lauren Beukes - The Shining Girls

7. Queen Victoria of England 1837-1901 was Britain’s longest ruling monarch, who expanded English territory to take up a quarter of the world during her reign. The Victorian Era takes its’ name after her. Read a book set in the Victorian Era (1840-1910).

8. Isabella and Ferdinand of Castile and Aragon r. 1474-1504. The Spanish Inquisition ladies and gentlemen! Read a book where religion is closely related to the plot or is the main theme of the book.
Isaac Asimov - Foundation


9. Napoleon Bonaparte of France r. 1804-1814/15 came to rule after the French Revolution and created a French empire. He was either killed by cancer or by stomach poisoning (arsenic). Read a book in which characters revolt OR a death takes place under dubious circumstances.
James S.A. Corey - Abaddon's Gate
(features both revolt and death under dubious circumstances)


10. Julius Caesar of Rome r. 60-44 BCE was a Roman consul who contributed to the fall of the Roman Republic. Numerous biographies were written about him, most notably one by Suetonius. Read a biography on any figure you are interested in.

September's Back to School Challenge
5/5

1. Math. Read a book with three digits for its total page count in which the first two digits added together equal the third. Examples: 134, 257, 178.
Torkil Berge - Lykketyvene - Hvordan overkomme depresjon (314 pages)

3. Art. Read a book whose cover has all three primary colors (red, yellow, blue) on it.
Stephen King - Joyland


5. Chemistry. Read a book whose title contains at least one word with three letters or more that can be spelled with the abbreviations of chemical elements. (Click here for a link to the periodic table.) Examples: A Scanner Darkly (Scanner = S Ca N N Er), Quidditch Through the Ages (Ages = Ag Es)
Mary Roach - Gulp: Adventures on the Alimentary Canal

9. Government. Read a book that is about politics or has a character who participates in politics in some way.
Marie Lu - Legend
(YA dystopia, evil government, blah blah)

10. Recess. Freebie! Read a book of your choice just for fun.
Margaret Atwood - MaddAddam

LOOKING BACK ON 2013 CHALLENGE
Duration: October 1 - December 31, 2013
0/10

January's New Beginnings:
10. Read a book by an author whose first or last name starts with the letter A
something Asimov

February's All About Cupid:
10. A Date with Prince Charming: Read a book that has a place to go on a date in the title (ex. Movies, beach, dinner, etc.) or that has a Knight or Prince as the leading male character.
Pirate Cinema

March's Award Cover Hunt:
12. The Merlin Award is an award given to magicians. Read a book with something you consider magical on its cover.
something Dresden files or something for the WoGF challenge

March's Mini Literary Awards:
3. Read a book that has won a Hugo or Nebula award. (If science fiction & fantasy really isn't your thing, choose another type of genre-specific award.)
the snow queen

April's Word Play:
8. Translations. Read a book originally published in a language that is not your native tongue.
nearly anything will do

May's Mini Decades:
1. Read a book from the decade you were born.
david brin uplift stuff

June's Royalty:
6. Catherine the Great of Russia 1762-1796 was Russia’s longest ruling female. Read a book with a strong, independent heroine.
nagata or zimmer bradley maybe

July's Definition of a Classic:
12. A classic is a work that comes before other classics; but those who have read other classics first immediately recognize its place in the genealogy of classic works. Read a book that's part of a series.
raising steam (discworld #40)

August's Types of Nonfiction:
7. Popular science. Read a science book OR read a science fiction book.
something plague-y, probably

September's Back to School:
8. Creative writing. Read a book you consider to be "creatively" written. Maybe it takes a unique point of view or isn't written in standard prose. This is up to your interpretation, so have fun with it.
unique pov? cranioklepty should do