2026 Reading Challenge discussion

Mirror, Mirror
Duration September 1, 2016 - September 30, 2016


Mirrors – both real and symbolic – are often used as literary devices to reflect the true nature of events and/or characters to the reader. These reflections can take many forms – physical mirrors, other characters, parallel plots, etc. These devices complement, test and highlight story events or character traits (Remember, a mirror image has the same form and movement but is also opposite and relative! Left is right. Right is left.)

1. Sometimes the mirror is made of glass or water and reflects the character’s true nature to the reader, to other characters and even to the character looking into the mirror. Read a book where a mirror plays a major role. Here is a link to some examples to get ideas. (https://www.theguardian.com/books/201...)

2. The mirror is not always a reflective surface. Sometimes two characters share several qualities that are used to complement and highlight each other’s traits. Read a book where one character mirrors another character in the story.

3. In the same vein, twins quite often mirror each other. They can be identical physically but have completely different personalities. They can look different but be alike in every other way. Read a book that has at least one set of twins as main characters.

4. Sometimes the events in the story itself reflect back on past experiences or incidents. Read a book where the story reflects back on a similar event or events in the past.

5. What do you see when you look in the mirror? Have you seen yourself in a book? Read a book where you see part of yourself in one of the main characters or their experiences.

I will be leading this challenge!

Participants

Amanda | 0/1
Ariel | 4/4 - Completed!
Claire | 0/2
Emma | 0/5
Heather | 5/5 - Completed!
Jessica | 2/2 - Completed!
Laure | 0/5
Lindsay | 1/1 - Completed!
Nicole | 3/1 - Completed+!
Nova | 0/2
Rachel | 2/2 - Completed!
Sam F | 3/3 - Completed!
Sharon | 0/2

Great idea, unfortunatelly I won't be able to manage in September. Perhaps I'll make a go fot it in October - just for me ;-)

=> Already booksmarked :-)))))))

Thanks for the heads up, Agnieszka! Evidently, I only pasted part of the URL! It is corrected and should work now!

Another challenge! I think these are going to be very addictive. :D
Could you please sign me up for this one too? Thanks.

Reading List:

1. Sometimes the mirror is made of glass or water and reflects the character’s true nature to the reader, to other characters and even to the character looking into the mirror. Read a book where a mirror plays a major role. Here is a link to some examples to get ideas. (https://www.theguardian.com/books/201...)

2. The mirror is not always a reflective surface. Sometimes two characters share several qualities that are used to complement and highlight each other’s traits. Read a book where one character mirrors another character in the story.

3. In the same vein, twins quite often mirror each other. They can be identical physically but have completely different personalities. They can look different but be alike in every other way. Read a book that has at least one set of twins as main characters.

4. Sometimes the events in the story itself reflect back on past experiences or incidents. Read a book where the story reflects back on a similar event or events in the past.

5. What do you see when you look in the mirror? Have you seen yourself in a book? Read a book where you see part of yourself in one of the main characters or their experiences.

I already have a lot planned for September but I can't resist so please put me down for 1.

Mirror, Mirror
Duration September 1, 2016 - September 30, 2016


Mirrors – both real and symbolic – are often used as literary devices to reflect the true nature of events and/or characters to the reader. These reflections can take many forms – physical mirrors, other characters, parallel plots, etc. These devices complement, test and highlight story events or character traits (Remember, a mirror image has the same form and movement but is also opposite and relative! Left is right. Right is left.)

1. Sometimes the mirror is made of glass or water and reflects the character’s true nature to the reader, to other characters and even to the character looking into the mirror. Read a book where a mirror plays a major role. Here is a link to some examples to get ideas. (https://www.theguardian.com/books/201...)

2. The mirror is not always a reflective surface. Sometimes two characters share several qualities that are used to complement and highlight each other’s traits. Read a book where one character mirrors another character in the story.

3. In the same vein, twins quite often mirror each other. They can be identical physically but have completely different personalities. They can look different but be alike in every other way. Read a book that has at least one set of twins as main characters. One Step Too Far

4. Sometimes the events in the story itself reflect back on past experiences or incidents. Read a book where the story reflects back on a similar event or events in the past.

5. What do you see when you look in the mirror? Have you seen yourself in a book? Read a book where you see part of yourself in one of the main characters or their experiences.

1/1

2. The mirror is not always a reflective surface. Sometimes two characters share several qualities that are used to complement and highlight each other’s traits. Read a book where one character mirrors another character in the story. The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne

4. Sometimes the events in the story itself reflect back on past experiences or incidents. Read a book where the story reflects back on a similar event or events in the past. - The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson

5. What do you see when you look in the mirror? Have you seen yourself in a book? Read a book where you see part of yourself in one of the main characters or their experiences. Looking for Lovedu: Days and Nights in Africa by Ann Jones

I like this challenge, but Idk how much time or motivation I'll have this month. :(

I'm only in for 1 (for now).

Mirror, Mirror
Duration September 1, 2016 - September 30, 2016

Mirrors – both real and symbolic – are often used as literary devices to reflect the true nature of events and/or characters to the reader. These reflections can take many forms – physical mirrors, other characters, parallel plots, etc. These devices complement, test and highlight story events or character traits (Remember, a mirror image has the same form and movement but is also opposite and relative! Left is right. Right is left.)

1. Sometimes the mirror is made of glass or water and reflects the character’s true nature to the reader, to other characters and even to the character looking into the mirror. Read a book where a mirror plays a major role: Night, specifically referring to the final moment in which Wiesel looks in the mirror.

3. In the same vein, twins quite often mirror each other. They can be identical physically but have completely different personalities. They can look different but be alike in every other way. Read a book that has at least one set of twins as main characters: The Darkest Secret

2/2 - COMPLETED!

Mirror, Mirror
Duration September 1, 2016 - September 30, 2016

Mirrors – both real and symbolic – are often used as literary devices to reflect the true nature of events and/or characters to the reader. These reflections can take many forms – physical mirrors, other characters, parallel plots, etc. These devices complement, test and highlight story events or character traits (Remember, a mirror image has the same form and movement but is also opposite and relative! Left is right. Right is left.)

1. Sometimes the mirror is made of glass or water and reflects the character’s true nature to the reader, to other characters and even to the character looking into the mirror. Read a book where a mirror plays a major role. Here is a link to some examples to get ideas. (https://www.theguardian.com/books/201...)

2. The mirror is not always a reflective surface. Sometimes two characters share several qualities that are used to complement and highlight each other’s traits. Read a book where one character mirrors another character in the story.

3. In the same vein, twins quite often mirror each other. They can be identical physically but have completely different personalities. They can look different but be alike in every other way. Read a book that has at least one set of twins as main characters.
The New You Survival Kit by Daisy Waugh Completed 5/09/16 Rating 2 stars

4. Sometimes the events in the story itself reflect back on past experiences or incidents. Read a book where the story reflects back on a similar event or events in the past.

5. What do you see when you look in the mirror? Have you seen yourself in a book? Read a book where you see part of yourself in one of the main characters or their experiences.

1/1

Challenge completed

2 please.

I'm loving these monthly challenges, I'm in for all 5 please.


1. Read a book where a mirror plays a major role. - The Picture of Dorian Gray

2. Read a book where one character mirrors another character in the story. - Mirror Image

3. Read a book that has at least one set of twins as main characters. - The Ice Twins

4. Read a book where the story reflects back on a similar event or events in the past. - Spanish Journals - The Posthumous Diary of an Expat: Part One - Integration

5. Read a book where you see part of yourself in one of the main characters or their experiences. - Black Butterflies

5/5

This one seems much harder to me than many of the other monthly challenges, I think because there are so few categories. I'll aim for 2.

I'll try for two

I'd like to join in and start with a goal of 4.

Mainly because I can't currently think of any of my planned books for September that include twin main characters but I might be able to sneak an extra book in there if I find something.

[Goal: 4; 4 of 4 read]/Completed

1. Sometimes the mirror is made of glass or water and reflects the character’s true nature to the reader, to other characters and even to the character looking into the mirror. Read a book where a mirror plays a major role.
* Here is a link to some examples to get ideas.

    • Read: The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien; review
    • I kept seeing the palantir as a seeing-glass/mirror. Especially since it translates to "one that sees from afar;" each character that looks into the palantir sees something far from them but their natures are each reflected in the palantir as well.

2. The mirror is not always a reflective surface. Sometimes two characters share several qualities that are used to complement and highlight each other’s traits. Read a book where one character mirrors another character in the story.

    •Read: The Road by Cormac McCarthy; review
    • Father and son have a necessarily codependent relationship in The Road and it's a pretty common mirror. (view spoiler)[The son grows more independent intellectually and morally and the father weakens/becomes sick; the father is hard where the son is still soft - a desperate yearning for kindness and purpose mirrors and highlights bitterness and the grief of someone who feels that kindness has died. (hide spoiler)]

3. In the same vein, twins quite often mirror each other. They can be identical physically but have completely different personalities. They can look different but be alike in every other way. Read a book that has at least one set of twins as main characters.

4. Sometimes the events in the story itself reflect back on past experiences or incidents. Read a book where the story reflects back on a similar event or events in the past.

    •Read: The Wise Man's Fear by Patrick Rothfuss; review
    • Kvothe recounts his past to Chronicler.

5. What do you see when you look in the mirror? Have you seen yourself in a book? Read a book where you see part of yourself in one of the main characters or their experiences.

    •Read: Apprentice in Death by J.D. Robb; review
    • Unfortunately I'm not a badass LT living in the future with Roarke, a fat and happy cat named Galahad, and, yes, even the bony and stony Summerset, but one of the many reasons I love this series is Dallas' backstory and how Robb/Roberts has portrayed her character. Some experiences mirror - some personality traits because of those experiences as well.

id like to try for all 5 please.

I will try 1 & 4

I'm a bit confused about #4. What exactly does it mean that the book reflects back on a similar event in the past? Would that be something like a historical fiction, or a book where the same event is described more than once?

I think I may fail miserably at this challenge - I have tried one Mirror Mirror: Reflections of Fate - unusually I had to stop at 30% as hated it!
Trying another now.....

Rachel wrote: "I'm a bit confused about #4. What exactly does it mean that the book reflects back on a similar event in the past? Would that be something like a historical fiction, or a book where the same event ..."

Hi, Rachel! The original intent with #4 was a book where the events are a repetition of events in the past. For example, a character repeats behavior that his family has a history of doing - willingly or unwillingly, good or bad. Basically, repeating history in some fashion. I think you could also read a book where a character gets a second chance. It is somewhat open to interpretation so if you feel a book fits, I would trust your judgement!

Heather wrote: "I think I may fail miserably at this challenge - I have tried one Mirror Mirror: Reflections of Fate - unusually I had to stop at 30% as hated it!
Trying another now....."

I found a couple of listopias that might help you and others find more interesting reads for this challenge!

https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2...
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/8...
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/3...
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/5...
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/3...
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/8...

There is probably a lot of similarity in these lists but I wanted to provide as many options as possible. (There is a listopia for everything!)

1. Read a book where a mirror plays a major role.

2. Read a book where one character mirrors another character in the story. - Peter Pan. I think you could make a pretty good case for either Peter and Hook or Peter and Wendy as mirrors to each other.

3. Read a book that has at least one set of twins as main characters.

4. Read a book where the story reflects back on a similar event or events in the past.

5. Read a book where you see part of yourself in one of the main characters or their experiences. - Before We Were Strangers. I definitely saw some of myself in the main female character, in certain scenes especially.

Read The Picture of Dorian Gray - long time since I've read a classic - so thank you for helping me do this. I liked it, I didn't love it :)

Read my book that has twins in as main feature - The Ice Twins. A good read

2/5

Update msg 6

has identical twins as the main characters.

1/1

For the book where you see yourself as one of the main characters I have read - Black Butterflies, mainly because of now living in a very similar location and appreciating the surroundings I am now lucky enough to live in.

3/5

Was able to finish 3 so far after all.

Updated Message 7

Update to message 15; 3 of 4 complete.

As of September 15, I reached my goal of 2. I will try and see if I squeeze in any more, but I wouldn't count on it.

For number 2 I read Mirror Image - the twins did indeed mirror each other - - a predictable cliched kind of book but I did enjoy it :)

4/5

That's me done 5/5, finished with a Spanish expat reflecting on the past :)

Completed -- updated message #9 :)

*Update*

2. The mirror is not always a reflective surface. Sometimes two characters share several qualities that are used to complement and highlight each other’s traits. Read a book where one character mirrors another character in the story.= (Ichigo & Hichigo [and also some other pairs tbh, but we'll just leave it at that.)

4. Sometimes the events in the story itself reflect back on past experiences or incidents. Read a book where the story reflects back on a similar event or events in the past.= [bookcover:Attack on Titan: Before the Fall, Vol. 7|25893815]

5. What do you see when you look in the mirror? Have you seen yourself in a book? Read a book where you see part of yourself in one of the main characters or their experiences.= (Armin [except I'm way less rational, strategic, quick-thinking, & intelligent; I just relate to how he's a bookworm, he has an impressive dream, he has a lot of anxiety, he had bullies & for a long time was considered weaker than others- and in some ways, still is, though he has grown a lot and he truly is an asset]. Also, after the revelations of this volume- I think I relate to Shadis.)

Goal Met So Far: 3/1

Update to message 15; 4 of 4/completed.