2025 & 2026 Reading Challenge discussion

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

Kadijah Michelle is the creator and leader of this challenge. Thank you, Kadijah!

I'll join in for three!

1. Loses eyesight - The Courtesan by Susan Carroll - completed

2. Find pride in themselves - In the Land of the Long White Cloud by Sarah Lark - completed

3. Nasty Fight - Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire - completed

4. Character doing something brave - Song of the Spirits by Sarah Lark - completed

5. Bombs - Call of the Kiwi by Sarah Lark - completed

6. Character to prove something - A Spool of Blue Thread by Anne Tyler - completed

6/3 - challenge completed!

I'm changing my goal to 5

5/5 CHALLENGE COMPLETE!!!

1. Read a book where someone loses their eyesight or a book where characters meet at dawn.
A Dance with Dragons by George R. R. Martin (view spoiler)[(Arya loses her eyesight as a test (hide spoiler)] - 9/7/15

2. Read a book with a fortress (rampart) or a book with someone doing something brave (gallant). -
Ghost Girl by Torey Hayden (Jadie told the police what happened to her) - 22/7/15

3. Read a book where a character has to prove something, or a book about early America.
Gorillas in the Mist by Dian Fossey - 1/7/15 (The silverbacks are always trying to prove how big and strong they are lol)

4. Read a book with the word star in the title or read a book with the American Flag on the front cover.
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green - 22/7/15

5. Read a book where a character earns stripes in the military, or a book where a character gets in a nasty fight.
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen - 12/7/15

I'll join for 3.

0/3

Read a book where a character learns how to find pride in themselves The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Malcolm X

Earn stripes in the military The Forever War by Joe Haldeman

Read a book where a character migrates to the US - Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

I'd like to try for all 8 please.

Count me in for 2!

Great challenge! I'm going to aim for 4.

1. Read a book where someone loses their eyesight, or a book where characters meet at dawn.

2. 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.
Only Ever Yours - 7/19

3. Read a book where a character earns stripes in the military, or a book where a character gets in a nasty fight.

4. Read a book with a fortress (rampart) or a book with someone doing something brave (gallant).
Homecoming - 7/25

5. 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.
You Had Me At Hello - 7/11

6. Read a book where a character has to prove something, or a book about early America.
Broken Harbor - 7/24

7. Read a book with the word star in the title, or read a book with the American flag on the the cover.

8. Read a book where a character migrates to the US, or a book about Native Americans.
Looking for Alaska - 7/31

5/4

I've been looking for a new challenge. I will try for all eight. Completed

Oh, say can you see by the dawn’s early light: Percy Jackson's Greek Gods read 7/15
(view spoiler)[Orion loses his sight and Zeus meets lots of women at dawn. (hide spoiler)]

What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming? Louisiana Longshot read 7/1
(view spoiler)[The Geritol Mafia is made up of 60+ spinsters who were spies in the Vietnam War. (hide spoiler)]

Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight, Always read 7/1
(view spoiler)[Cam gets in a nasty bar fight and kills a man. (hide spoiler)]

O’er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming? Neverwhere read 7/13
(view spoiler)[Richard stands up to his new world, despite being utterly afraid. (hide spoiler)]

And the rocket’s red glare, the bombs bursting in air, The Dawn: The Bombs Fall read 7/27
(view spoiler)[Nuclear war forces all the citizens underground. (hide spoiler)]

Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there. Tempted by Her Billionaire Boss read 7/1
(view spoiler)[Harrison spends the book buying multiple companies to prove her can ruin the man that killed his father. (hide spoiler)]

Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave Getting Lucky with the Rock Star read 7/28
(view spoiler)[One star in the title, one star in the review. (hide spoiler)]

O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave? Cold River Resurrection read 7/29
(view spoiler)[Set in a Native American reservation in Oregon, the main protagonists are Native American law enforcement officers. (hide spoiler)]

Hmm, this one has some very specific characteristics to look for so I'm going to play it safe and try for five books that fit these categories.

FYI: If anyone is looking for a great book that would fit for some of these categories, I totally recommend The Moor's Account (a novel based on the life of the first African man to come to North America) or 1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus (a non-fiction book about pre-Columbus North & South America). Both were excellent and "1491" is one of the best books I read last year.


Updated: July 27th

(6/5)

1. Read a book where someone loses their eyesight, or a book where characters meet at dawn.

2. 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.


3. Read a book where a character earns stripes in the military, or a book where a character gets in a nasty fight.


4. Read a book with a fortress (rampart) or a book with someone doing something brave (gallant).


5. 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. (both)


6. Read a book where a character has to prove something, or a book about early America.


7. Read a book with the word star in the title, or read a book with the American flag on the the cover.

8. Read a book where a character migrates to the US, or a book about Native Americans. (both)

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


✓ 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

✓ 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

✓ 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

Read a book with a fortress (rampart) or a book with someone doing something brave (gallant).

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.

Read a book where a character has to prove something, or a book about early America.

Read a book with the word star in the title, or read a book with the American flag on the the cover.

Read a book where a character migrates to the US, or a book about Native Americans.

3/3
Challenge completed!

Great challenge, Kadijah. :)

I think I'll go for all eight on this. Looking forward to it!

Total Read [8 of 8] - COMPLETED!


1. 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.

►Cress by Marissa Meyer (view spoiler)[ Captain Thorne loses his eyesight. (hide spoiler)]

2. 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.

► R is for Ricochet by Sue Grafton (a book where characters have reached the twilight of their lives). It's kind of interesting really (view spoiler)[you have characters like Henry and his family that are in their 80s and 90s and they're active and fun, full of life really. Then you have the father of one of the main characters who is ailing and struggling to hang in there for the sake of his daughter. So they're twilights feel vastly different and provide a unique juxtaposition in the story. (hide spoiler)]

3. 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.

►Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen (a book where a character gets in a nasty fight). Honestly, there's a lot of fighting in this book but the nastiest fight and the one I'm counting is the one between (view spoiler)[Jacob and August when August accuses Jacob and Marlena of having an affair. (hide spoiler)]

4. 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 Book of Lost Things by John Connolly; (view spoiler)[counts for both having a rampart and someone doing something brave. (hide spoiler)]

5. 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.

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs;(view spoiler)[ read a book that has a character that deals with bombs going off around him/her. (hide spoiler)]

6. 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.

► The Hours by Michael Cunningham (a book where a character has to prove something); (view spoiler)[ Cunningham's Virginia Woolf has to prove that she's well enough to go back to London after a period of eight years in the suburbs that was, supposedly, to cure her mental/emotional and physical ails. This does coincide with Woolf's actual circumstances and was very interesting to read. (hide spoiler)]

7. 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.

► Stardust by Neil Gaiman which obviously includes "star" in the title. However, I also learned that "stardust" refers to a mass/cluster of far off stars. Which was interesting bc I've never read it in that context before.

8. 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.

We Need New Names by NoViolet Bulawayo; read a book where a character migrates to the US.

I'm in for 2 to start this sounds like fun!

Im in for 2.

1/3 Read a book where a character learns how to find pride in themselves The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Malcolm X - Malcolm found pride in himself once he became a muslim.

Read 8/8

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. Blind by Rachel DeWoskin

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. - The Extra Ordinary Life of Frank Derrick, Age 81 by J.B. Morrison

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. Water for ElephantsbybSara Gruen

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). - When the Elephants Dance by Tess Uriza Holthe

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. A Hundred And One Daysby Åsne Seierstad

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.Austerlitz by W.G. Sebald. Characters recount of how he found out about his past and proved to himself where he came from.

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. Starseeker by Tim Bowler

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. Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

I've changed my goal from 4 to 5.



3. Read a book where a character has to prove something, or a book about early America. - Gorillas in the Mist by Dian Fossey (Gorillas are always trying to prove that they are big and strong lol)

Completed: 1/5

Count me in for 5

[4 of 8]

1. Read a book where someone loses their eyesight, or a book where characters meet at dawn.
The Iron Wyrm Affair 7/31/15

2. 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.

3. Read a book where a character earns stripes in the military, or a book where a character gets in a nasty fight.
Romulus Buckle & the City of the Founders 7/25/15

4. Read a book with a fortress (rampart) or a book with someone doing something brave (gallant).
The Bone House 7/13/15

5. 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.
Violins of Hope: Violins of the Holocaust--Instruments of Hope and Liberation in Mankind's Darkest Hour 7/22/15

6. Read a book where a character has to prove something, or a book about early America.

7. Read a book with the word star in the title, or read a book with the American flag on the the cover.

8. Read a book where a character migrates to the US, or a book about Native Americans.

Update, please. Message 11.

Count me in for two please! ( Might be more if some of the other books I am reading fit but I won't really know until I read them!) :)

I'm in for 4!~

Interesting one. I'm in for four.

I'm in for three.

Currently working on:
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. Hollow City

I'm here, I'm here! I'm sorry for being so late getting this organized, it's just been nuts for me.

Welcome to the Star Spangled Challenge. I'm very happy to be leading this group challenge. I had a lot of fun making this one up.

The Participants are:

Annie 0/2
Ariel 8/8 Completed!
Blagica 4/4 Completed!
Chris P 5/5 Completed!
Caro 0/3
Delta 8/8 Completed!
Emma 8/8 Completed!
Joanne 5/5 Completed!
Kathleen 1/3
Mary Pat 2/2 Completed!
Maria 3/3 Completed!
Megan 6/3 Completed!
Megan 5/4 Completed!
Merja 0/2
Nicole 4/8
ScarlettMi 0/5
Scott 4/3 Completed!
Sherry 4/4 Completed!
Susan 3/3 Completed!
Traci 0/2
Veronica 3/4

And me 2/2 Completed!

Thanks, and let me know how it's going:)

Just finished Water for Elephants and counted it for #3 (a character gets in a nasty fight).

Please update [2 of 8] for Message 11, thanks!

I had a question from a member about how to find books for some of the more specific tasks. If anyone has good recommendations for any of the tasks, please suggest them!

Hi, Kadijah!

Thanks for leading this challenge! FYI, you have me down for a goal of four but it should be two.

Thanks!

Mary Pat

Mary Pat wrote: "Hi, Kadijah!

Thanks for leading this challenge! FYI, you have me down for a goal of four but it should be two.

Thanks!

Mary Pat"

Fixed! Sorry about that!

I'll be honest. When I get stuck on finding a book for a challenge, I usually Google it and either a Goodreads Listopia comes up or Amazon offers me plenty of suggestions.

Kadijah Michelle wrote: "Mary Pat wrote: "Hi, Kadijah!

Thanks for leading this challenge! FYI, you have me down for a goal of four but it should be two.

Thanks!

Mary Pat"

Fixed! Sorry about that!"

Not a problem! Just didn't want overkill given what I have committed to for the quarterly challenges! :)

Thanks!

Mary Pat

Kadijah Michelle wrote: "I'll be honest. When I get stuck on finding a book for a challenge, I usually Google it and either a Goodreads Listopia comes up or Amazon offers me plenty of suggestions."

I do that too sometimes :)

Google or goodreads are probably the best bets. You can also wait and see what others use. I think it also helps to have a big tbr list and just scroll through it and find something that works.

Scott wrote: "Google or goodreads are probably the best bets. You can also wait and see what others use. I think it also helps to have a big tbr list and just scroll through it and find something that works."

If I can't find a list on goodreads and google isn't very helpful, that's when I see what others are reading, like you. Going through my TBR list usually takes me ages lol.

Scott wrote: "Google or goodreads are probably the best bets. You can also wait and see what others use. I think it also helps to have a big tbr list and just scroll through it and find something that works."

That's usually what I end up sticking with. I usually dig through my shelves when there's a new challenge and pull out anything that might work and then google becomes my best friend for the rest lol.

Such a short month... Such a great challenge.... Too bad it last only a month... But put me down for three....Will inform once I am done with each of the books.... Which the challenge last longer to have more time to read...

Just completed #3 (nasty fight) - Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire. At first I enjoyed this book as the roiling emotions reminded me so of college and how in those years, every little word and gesture seemed to have great portent on the future. I believed the book was going in the direction of teaching discretion in dealing with those often incorrect, hormone-driven emotions. Instead, I was quite saddened and then angered when the book endorsed running with those emotions. It was Twilight without the vampires. Overall, I was quite disappointed. 2 stars

1/3

UPDATE:

1/2 - 1 to go

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. - This Star Won't Go Out: The Life and Words of Esther Grace Earl

2/3 Earn stripes in the military Catch-22 by Joesph Heller

Just completed #2 (find pride in themselves) - In the Land of the Long White Cloud by Sarah Lark. Really interesting book about a period of history that I did not know well. The characters were fascinating and complex! I cannot wait to read the next book! 4.5 stars

2/3

I'm just getting started with this group! I'll join for two:
- Read a book where someone *loses their eyesight*, or a book where characters meet at dawn. All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
- 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*. Life After Life by Kate Atkinson

Looking forward to a fun month ahead!

UPDATE: CHALLENGE COMPLETE!


2/2 - 0 to go

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. - This Star Won't Go Out: The Life and Words of Esther Grace Earl

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. - All the Light We Cannot See

Please update [3 of 8] for Message 11, thanks!

Update message #3


1. Read a book where someone loses their eyesight
A Dance with Dragons by George R. R. Martin.

Finally, I finished the 5th book!

2/5 complete

[2/4] completed

Hey, Veronica here.

#1 A book where the characters find pride in themselves or reach the twilight of their lives - Call Of The Wild by Jack London

#2 A book where the characters do something brave - Paper Towns by John Green (I believe one has to be very brave to do what Margo Roth did)

[1/3] completed.


COMPLETE: 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.


CURRENTLY READING: 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).

Check in time. Everyone is updated to the best of my knowledge. Welcome Annie, we are glad to have you. I finally started reading my first book of the month. Firestarter

3/4 completed

1.Read a book with a fortress (rampart) or a book with someone doing something brave (gallant).

I think that every Journey the main character takes is brave.

2. 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.


this was a group read and i loved it. there is more then one fight in this book to make it fit this challenge. I have would like to raise my goal to 4 please

3 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.
The Fault in Our Stars

okay I have a question is it okay if we do both options in number 3 i started a book with a flag on the cover and would like it to count?

Please update [4 of 8] for Message 11, thanks!

Updated message #3



Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight
Read a book where a character gets in a nasty fight.
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

Completed 3/5