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Yearly Challenge 2THE LISTOPIA CHALLENGE
Duration: January 1, 2017 - December 31, 2017
Our most open-ended challenge is back for another year! Feel free to carry on your goal from the previous years, or to start fresh with new goals and new lists.
Goodreads features a number of user-created lists which can be found here.
In addition to the featured and popular lists on the main page, you can see lists your friends have voted on or search for lists with topics that interest you.
The number of lists you choose and the number of books you read from each is entirely up to you. One person might choose to read the Top 100 books from one list, another person may choose to read the Top 5 books from 10 lists. You can mix it up any way you like.
I would like to join for 12
I will begin with these lists
The Complete Rory Gilmore Reading Challenge
1) The House of the Spirits #58
2) The Great Gatsby #4
3) Jane Eyre #8
The Best Science Fiction and Fantasy Books
1) American Gods #78
2) Anansi Boys #1175
3) The Final Empire #144
4) The Handmaid's Tale #23
5) City of Bones #306
6) Insurgent #521
7) The Restaurant at the End of the Universe #528
8) Allegiant #875
9) Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children #1102
10) The Well of Ascension #506
11) The Hero of Ages #482
12) Life, the Universe and Everything #861
Yearly Challenge 3THE DEWEY DECIMAL CHALLENGE (non-fiction)
Duration: January 1, 2017 – December 1, 2017
The Dewey Decimal System is the way libraries organize their non-fiction books. It was created in 1876 by Melvil Dewey and has been changed much throughout the years.
The goal of this challenge is to read as many books with different (general) Dewey decimal classes as possible. For the purpose of this challenge, we’ll split the Dewey Decimal System into 100s, for a total of 10 larger categories. More in depth information on classes of the Dewey Decimal System can be found here: List of Dewey Decimal Classes.
If you're unsure which category a book falls into, you can use this website or ask.
Categories:
000-099: Computer Science, Bibliographies, Library Sciences, Encyclopedias & Books of Facts, Associations, Organizations & Museums, News Media, Journalism & Publishing, General Collections, Manuscripts & Rare Books
100-199: Philosophy, Metaphysics, Epistemology, Parapsychology & Occultism, Philosophical Schools of Thought, Psychology, Logic, Ethics, Ancient, Medieval & Eastern Philosophy, Modern Western Philosophy
200-299: Religion, Natural Theology, Bible, Christian Theology, Christian Moral & Devotional Theology, Christian Orders & Local Church, Christian Social Theology, Christian Church History, Christian Denominations & Sects, Other & Comparative Religions
300-399: Social Sciences, Sociology, General Statistics, Political Science, Economics, Law, Public Administration, Social Services, Education, Commerce, Customs, Etiquette, Folklore
400-499: Language, Linguistics, English & Old English, German, Romance Languages, Italian, Romanian, Spanish, Portuguese, Italic, Latin, Hellenic, Classical Greek, Other
500-599: Sciences, Mathematics, Astronomy, Physics, Chemistry, Earth Sciences, Paleontology, Life Sciences, Plants, Zoological Sciences
600-699: Technology (Applied Sciences), Medical Sciences, Engineering, Agriculture, Home Economics & Family Living, Management, Chemical Engineering, Manufacturing, Buildings
700-799: Arts, Civic and Landscape Art, Architecture, Plastic Arts and Sculpture, Drawing & Decorative Arts, Painting, Graphic Arts, Photography, Music, Recreational & Performing Arts
800-899: Literature, American Literature, English & Old English Literature, German Literature, Literatures of Romance Languages, Italian, Romanian, Spanish, Portuguese, Italic, Latin, Hellenic, Classical Greek
900-999: History, Geography/Travel, Ancient History, General History of Europe, General History of Asia, Far East, Africa, North America, South America, Other.
I haven't read much non fiction this year but I do have 30 non-fiction books waiting to be read.
I will aim for 7 initially.
These are the contenders from my tbr list.
000-099
100-199
The Life-Changing Magic of Not Giving a F*ck: How to Stop Spending Time You Don't Have with People You Don't Like Doing Things You Don't Want to Do
200-299
300-399
Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything
Confessions of a Holiday Rep: My Hideous and Hilarious Stories of Sun, Sea, Sand and Sex
Carstairs: Hospital for Horrors
400-499
500-599
Wesley the Owl: The Remarkable Love Story of an Owl and His Girl
600-699
635.092
648.5Recipe for Life
The Branded Gentry: How a New Era of Entrepreneurs Made Their Names
Work Rules!: Insights from Inside Google That Will Transform How You Live and Lead
Where Memories Go
Chosen by a Horse
700-799
Pulling Myself Together
Autobiography
The Fry Chronicles
No Tears for the Clown
The Secret Olympian: The inside story of the Olympic experience
My Mother Was Nuts
Daria Klimentova - My Life in Dance
792.8092
746.46043800-899
Me Talk Pretty One Day
900-999
The Girl on the Wall: One Life's Rich Tapestry
How to Survive the Titanic: or, The Sinking of J. Bruce Ismay
Voices from the Titanic: The Epic Story of the Tragedy from the People Who Were There
Londoners: The Days and Nights of London Now—As Told by Those Who Love It, Hate It, Live It, Left It, and Long for It
The Story of Scotland
Head Over Heel: Seduced by Southern Italy
It's All About Treo
Road to Rouen
8/7 Complete 4th November
Yearly Challenge 4LET'S TURN PAGES CHALLENGE
Duration: January 1 – December 31, 2016
Back for another year, Let's Turn Pages! We are always making goals about how many books we want to read in a year. How about we make a goal for number of pages we want to read?
1. Make a goal of number of pages you would like to read.
2. Read as many pages as you can in one year.
3. Since you probably don’t know what you want to read for the entire year, make your list as you go. (Be sure to post the number of pages in your book!)
If your edition doesn't have page numbers (such as an audiobook), use the most popular edition of the book (that's not an audiobook) to determine what the number of pages should be. Rereads will count for this challenge, but you have to read the entire book…no skimming!
Have fun with this challenge--let's turn a bunch of pages this year!
----
Example
Ready Player One - 347 pages
1984 - 328 pages
Total number of pages read so far: 675 pages – Just keep adding as you go!
Target - 31,000 pages
January = 3208
The Restaurant at the End of the Universe 255
Running with Scissors 319
An Untamed State 384
American Gods 635
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children 384
Strange Weather in Tokyo 192
Bone Quill 338
The Perfect Location 403
The Secret Lives of the Amir Sisters 298
February = 3399
City of Bones 510
Be Frank with Me 287
Anansi Boys 337
In the Shadow of a Badge: How I Discovered the Angels of 9/11 While Working with the FBI 163
The Keeper of Lost Things 302
The Monarch of the Glen 128
Insurgent 545
Black Dog 96
Hollow City 398
The Final Empire 633
March = 3603
Ramona and Her Mother 224
Babette's Feast 54
You Said Forever 358
The Handmaid's Tale 296
Indie Girl 208
Once We Were Sisters: A Memoir 242
Ramona and Her Father 192
ZIGGY - THE DOG and his AMAZING MAGIC ADVENTURES 36
Allegiant 545
Library of Souls 465
The Girl with a Clock for a Heart 304
Hidden Figures: The Untold Story of the African American Women Who Helped Win the Space Race 384
Swimming Lessons 295
April = 3808
Stay With Me 304
The Well of Ascension 804
First Love 169
The House of the Spirits 491
The Mare 441
The Woman Next Door 278
Defending Jacob 421
Apple Tree Yard 358
White Teeth 542
May = 2911
The Lonely Hearts Hotel 400
Short Stories from Hogwarts of Heroism, Hardship and Dangerous Hobbies 68
Ivy Lane: Spring: Part 1 90
The Sun Is Also a Star 384
Short Stories from Hogwarts of Power, Politics and Pesky Poltergeists 63
No Place Like Oz 132
Rivers of London: Body Work 128
The Emergence of Judy Taylor 241
Bloodshot Monochrome 66
Rivers of London 400
City of Ashes 415
Under the Udala Trees 336
The Little Prince 109
Hogwarts: An Incomplete and Unreliable Guide 79
June = 2856
The Best of Adam Sharp 320
The Hero of Ages 772
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 336
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children: The Graphic Novel 272
Kitchen 150
The Summer Book 176
The Great Gatsby 189
Ivy Lane: Summer: Part 2 97
Minding My Peas and Cucumbers: Quirky Tales of Allotment Life 208
The Alloy of Law 336
July = 2379
The Girl on the Train 336
The Sunshine Sisters 445
City of Glass 592
Shadows of Self 384
Scarlet 464
Persuasion 158
August = 1517
The Bands of Mourning 448
Slaughterhouse-Five 285
City of Fallen Angels 480
A Man Called Ove 304
September = 2025
Cress 550
A Shameful Consequence 187
Autumn 100
The Hill of the Red Fox 265
Fairest 256
Who Killed Harlowe Thrombey? 122
City of Lost Souls 545
October = 1444
Life, the Universe and Everything 199
Cold Comfort Farm 338
The Maddie Diaries: My Story 240
Night School 486
When You are with Me 161
November = 1482
Believe in Me 303
The Other Side of You: Quick Reads 100
The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying: A simple, effective way to banish clutter forever 256
So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish 167
Kaffe Fassett's V & A Quilts: 23 Beautiful Patchworks Inspired by the Victoria & Albert Museum 160
The Shoemaker's Wife 496
December = 2924
Jane Eyre 696
Quilts in the Sun 144
Monday 257
A Modern Family 220
Head Over Heels in France: Falling in Love in the Lot320
Aiblins: New Scottish Political Poetry 130
Mostly Harmless 230
I Will Love You 166
Love Lives On 166
5 Ingredients – Quick Easy Food 320
And Another Thing... 275
Running Total = 31,792
Yearly Challenge 5AROUND THE WORLD THROUGH LANGUAGE
Duration: January 1, 2017 - December 31, 2017
Read books originally published in languages other than your own. You can use listopias such as Foreign Books Translated to English, Translated Speculative Fiction, and Favorite Translated Literature to get ideas.
Examples:
Japanese: Norwegian Wood
Chinese: The Three-Body Problem
Russian: Anna Karenina
Swedish: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
These are the contenders in my tbr pile.
Swedish
The Stranger
A Man Called Ove ☑️
The Hypnotist
The Summer Book ☑️
Norwegian
Burned
Danish
The Hanging
Fairy Tales of Hans Christian Andersen
Babette's Feast ☑️
Finnish
Purge
Spanish
The Scent of Lemon Leaves
See How Much I Love You
The House of the Spirits ☑️
French
Delicacy
A Palace in the Old Village
The Little Prince ☑️
Japanese
Strange Weather in Tokyo ☑️
Kitchen ☑️
The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying: A simple, effective way to banish clutter forever ☑️
I will aim for 7 for this challenge.
8/7
Yearly Challenge 6POPSUGAR 2017 READING CHALLENGE
Duration January 1, 2017 - December 31, 2017
This year, Popsugar is back with its Reading Challenge for 2017. We know that a lot of our members had fun with last year's challenge, so we decided to bring it back this year.
The goal is to check off all of the 40 tasks in a year, but if that's too much, feel free to set a smaller goal. If it's not enough, Popsugar has added 12 extra tasks this year for the "hardcore" reader!
Feel free to adjust tasks as you see fit for your country or language.
1. A book recommended by a librarian
The Sunshine Sisters
2. A book that's been on your TBR list for way too long
Apple Tree Yard purchased 03/05/14
3. A book of letters
Swimming Lessons
4. An audiobook
The Girl with a Clock for a Heart
5. A book by a person of color
Stay With Me
6. A book with one of the four seasons in the title
Ivy Lane: Spring: Part 1
7. A book that is a story within a story
The Keeper of Lost Things
8. A book with multiple authors
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children: The Graphic Novel Ransom Riggs & Cassandra Jean
9. An espionage thriller
The Hill of the Red Fox
10. A book with a cat on the cover
A Man Called Ove
11. A book with an author who uses a pseudonym
Babette's Feast by Isak Dinesen (Karen Blixen)
12. A bestseller from a genre you don't normally read
Ramona and Her Mother
13. A book by or about a person who has a disability
The Woman Next Door
14. A book involving travel
The Restaurant at the End of the Universe
15. A book with a subtitle
In the Shadow of a Badge: How I Discovered the Angels of 9/11 While Working with the FBI
16. A book that's published in 2017
You Said Forever
17. A book involving a mythical creature
Anansi Boys
18. A book you've read before that never fails to make you smile
Rivers of London
19. A book about food
Minding My Peas and Cucumbers: Quirky Tales of Allotment Life
20. A book with career advice
Indie Girl
21. A book from a nonhuman perspective
Cress
22. A steampunk novel
The Alloy of Law
23. A book with a red spine
The Other Side of You: Quick Reads
24. A book set in the wilderness
Jane Eyre
25. A book you loved as a child
Who Killed Harlowe Thrombey?
26. A book by an author from a country you've never visited
The Perfect Location - Kate Forster - Australia
27. A book with a title that's a character's name
Be Frank with Me
28. A novel set during wartime
Under the Udala Trees
29. A book with an unreliable narrator
The Handmaid's Tale
30. A book with pictures
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children
31. A book where the main character is a different ethnicity than you
Strange Weather in Tokyo
32. A book about an interesting woman
The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying: A simple, effective way to banish clutter forever
33. A book set in two different time periods
Bone Quill
34. A book with a month or day of the week in the title
Monday
35. A book set in a hotel
The Monarch of the Glen
36. A book written by someone you admire
Short Stories from Hogwarts of Heroism, Hardship and Dangerous Hobbies
37. A book that's becoming a movie in 2017
Hidden Figures: The Untold Story of the African American Women Who Helped Win the Space Race
38. A book set around a holiday other than Christmas
Ramona and Her Father
39. The first book in a series you haven't read before
City of Bones
40. A book you bought on a trip
City of Ashes
Advanced
41. A book recommended by an author you love
Cold Comfort Farm from Marian Keyes desert island books
42. A bestseller from 2016
The Girl on the Train
43. A book with a family-member term in the title
The Secret Lives of the Amir Sisters
44. A book that takes place over a character's life span
Once We Were Sisters: A Memoir
45. A book about an immigrant or refugee
The Mare
46. A book from a genre/subgenre you've never heard of
The House of the Spirits - Magical Realism
47. A book with an eccentric character
Running with Scissors
48. A book that's more than 800 pages
The Well of Ascension
49. A book you got from a used book sale
And Another Thing...
50. A book that's been mentioned in another book
The Great Gatsby mentioned in The Catcher in the Rye
51. A book about a difficult topic
An Untamed State
52. A book based on mythology
American Gods
Yearly Challenge 7SERIAL READER CHALLENGE
Duration January 1, 2017 – December 31, 2017
We definitely have some serious series readers in our group! As series readers tend to be in it for the long haul, we thought a full year would provide more flexibility in a series challenge. Readers can choose series with longer books, long or short series, be able to move between series, etc. Here’s how it will work!
Fill in the following blanks to determine how many books you will read for this challenge. You can fill in one, two, three or all four blanks to come up with the total number of books you will read. Post your responses here!
I will finish 6 series I have started before this year. (19 books)
I will start 4 series this year. (4 books)
I will read 2 series from start to finish this year. (6 books)
I will read 4 books that are part of a series. (4 books)
My total number of books is 33
We will track your progress in the normal fashion. We also thought we would have some fun and try a tiered tracker as well! The tiers will be Series Dabbler (reads 1-6 books), Shelf Stacker (reads 7-12 books), Under the Covers Reader (reads 12-24 books), and Serial Reader (reads 24+ books).
1) The Restaurant at the End of the Universe
2) American Gods
3) Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children
4) Bone Quill
5) City of Bones
6) Anansi Boys
7) The Monarch of the Glen
8) Insurgent
9) Black Dog
10) Hollow City
11) The Final Empire
12) Allegiant
13) Library of Souls
14) The Well of Ascension
15) Short Stories from Hogwarts of Heroism, Hardship and Dangerous Hobbies
16) Short Stories from Hogwarts of Power, Politics and Pesky Poltergeists
17) No Place Like Oz
18) Rivers of London: Body Work
19) Rivers of London
20) City of Ashes
21) Hogwarts: An Incomplete and Unreliable Guide
22) The Hero of Ages
23) The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants
24) The Alloy of Law
25) City of Glass
26) Shadows of Self
27) Scarlet
28) The Bands of Mourning
29) City of Fallen Angels
30) Cress
31) Fairest
32) City of Lost Souls
33) Life, the Universe and Everything
34) Night School
35) When You are with Me
36) Believe in Me
37) So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish
38) Mostly Harmless
39) I Will Love You
40) Love Lives On
41) And Another Thing...
Yearly Challenge 8MY FAVOURITE THINGS
Duration January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2017
For this challenge, you will fill in the blanks with your favorite things and find "new to you" books that match each category. You can either find a book that has the same same words in the title, is about the same subject, has a picture of your favorite thing on the cover, is written by the same author, or is the next in a series. The choice is yours as long as you have never read the book before!
Here are your categories...
✅1. My favorite fiction book is Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore - City of Glass
✅2. My favorite non-fiction is The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks - Hidden Figures: The Untold Story of the African American Women Who Helped Win the Space Race
✅3. My favorite author is: JK Rowling Short Stories from Hogwarts of Power, Politics and Pesky Poltergeists
✅4. My favorite genre is action - Night School
✅5. My favorite fairy/folk tale is Rapunzel - Cress
✅6. My favorite male book character is Albus Dumbledore - Rivers of London (Peter Grant is a trainee wizard)
✅7. My favorite female book character is Minerva McGonagall - Hogwarts: An Incomplete and Unreliable Guide
✅8. My favorite song is This Summer - The Summer Book
✅9. My favorite movie is International Velvet - The Mare
✅10. My favorite television show is The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency - The Woman Next Door
✅11. My favorite color is black Bloodshot Monochrome
✅✅12. My favorite real animal is Ziggy and Indie - Indie Girl/ZIGGY - THE DOG and his AMAZING MAGIC ADVENTURES
✅13. My favorite talking animal is the cowardly lion - No Place Like Oz
✅14. My favorite number is 42 - Life, the Universe and Everything
✅15. My favorite food is strawberries - Minding My Peas and Cucumbers: Quirky Tales of Allotment Life
✅16. My favorite real place to visit is London- Rivers of London: Body Work
✅17. My favorite book land to visit is Hogwarts Short Stories from Hogwarts of Heroism, Hardship and Dangerous Hobbies
✅18. My favorite month is August (Fringe) - The Emergence of Judy Taylor
✅19. My favorite quote is Trevor and Simon's "swing your pants" - The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants
✅20. My favorite non-book hobby is music The Best of Adam Sharp
Yearly Challenge 9THE TBR RANDOMISER CHALLENGE
Duration: January 1st - December 31st 2017
Brought back for another year because we know that sometimes it can be tough to choose what to read next.
Let Goodreads decide for you!
Step 1: Select the number of books you want to read for this challenge.
Step 2: Go to the “My Books” tab on the top of the Goodreads Page.
Step 3: Bring up your “To-Read” shelf.
Step 4: On the bottom of the page in the middle, go to the “sort” field and select “Random.”
Step 5: Goodreads will generate a random list of books for you.
Post your list of books to read here by counting down from the top of your “Random” List.
1) Defending Jacob ✅
2)The Other Side of You: Quick Reads✅
3) So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish✅
4) The Shoemaker's Wife✅
5) Jane Eyre✅
6) Monday ✅
7) Aiblins: New Scottish Political Poetry ✅
8) Head Over Heels in France: Falling in Love in the Lot✅
9) A Modern Family ✅
10) And Another Thing... ✅
Yearly Challenge 10TOP TEN FAVES
Duration: January 1 - December 31, 2017
Last year during our 10K Member Celebration, we made a brand new Listopia for our group. The Top 10 for the Reading Challengers Listopia is available for each member of our group, so please check it out and let us know what your Top Ten Faves are. Note: if a book is not the first in a series and requires that one read the previous book(s) first, please do not add it to the list.
For this challenge, set a goal for how many of these books you would like to read. You know they'll be good because your fellow Reading Challengers have already made them their favorites!
I will join for 10. I have chosen my 10 although some may change.
Ready Player One
Fahrenheit 451
Gone with the Wind
The Nightingale
Outlander
The Perks Of Being A Wallflower
The Ocean at the End of the Lane
The Hill of the Red Fox
Inferno
Moon Over Soho
The Restaurant at the End of the Universe ✅ #141
American Gods ✅ #231
The Handmaid's Tale ✅ #8
The Final Empire ✅ #156
City of Bones ✅ #311
White Teeth ✅ #527
Rivers of London ✅ #375
The Little Prince ✅ #141
City of Glass ✅ #343
Persuasion ✅ #379
The Hill of the Red Fox ✅
10/10
Yearly Challenge 11COLOR CHALLENGE
Duration: January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2017
1. Read a book with "White" or any shade of white in the cover (ivory, cream, bone, etc...).
2. Read a book with "Pink" or any shade of pink in the cover (rose, magenta, salmon, etc...).
3. Read a book with "Red" or any shade of red in the cover (maroon, brick, scarlet, etc...).
4. Read a book with "Orange" or any shade of orange in the cover (apricot, ginger, carrot, etc...).
5. Read a book with "Yellow" or any shade of yellow in the cover (blond, chartreuse, canary, etc...).
6. Read a book with "Green" or any shade of green in the cover (sage, lime, jade, etc...).
7. Read a book with "Light Blue" or any shade of light blue in the cover (teal, sky, cerulean, etc...).
8. Read a book with "Dark Blue" or any shade of dark blue in the cover (indigo, denim, navy, etc...).
9. Read a book with "Purple" or any shade of purple in the cover (lavender, plum, orchid, etc...).
10. Read a book with "Brown" or any shade of brown in the cover (tan, mahogany, coffee, etc...).
11. Read a book with "Black" or any shade of black in the cover (grey, slate, coal, etc...).
12. Read a book with a Metallic color in the cover (gold, silver, bronze, etc...).
13. Read a book with at least 5 colors on the cover.
14. Read a book with a color in the title of the book.
15. Read a book with a word describing colors in the title (rainbow, stripes, polka dots, etc.)
Yearly Challenge 12A TO Z CHALLENGE -- LOCATION EDITION
Duration: January 1, through December 31, 2017.
This year we are doing a new twist on the A to Z Challenge. To go with our "Around the World Theme," we have decided to do a Location Edition! For this challenge you will read books with cities, states, provinces, countries, and worlds that fit for each letter of the alphabet. You may only use one location per book, and you may use fictional locations for this challenge.
For some examples, see below:
A: Alaska from Into the Wild
B: Blefuscu from Gulivers Travels
C: Chicago from The Jungle
D: Dune from Dune
E: England from Pride and Prejudice
A - Auchinmurn Island - Bone Quill
B - Bel Air - Be Frank with Me
C - Cairnholm - Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children
D - Devil's Acre - Library of Souls
E - Earth - The Restaurant at the End of the Universe
F - Florida - Anansi Boys
G - Glenwood School - Ramona and Her Mother
H - Holstep Garrison- The Final Empire
I - Ife - Stay With Me
J - Johannesburg- Once We Were Sisters: A Memoir
K - Kesterly - You Said Forever
L - Lakeside - American Gods
M - Milan - Indie Girl
N - Northampton- Running with Scissors
O - Old Bailey - Apple Tree Yard
P - Port au Prince - An Untamed State
Q - Queens - The Sunshine Sisters
R - Republic of Gilead - The Handmaid's Tale
S - Shanksville - In the Shadow of a Badge: How I Discovered the Angels of 9/11 While Working with the FBI
T - Tochigi - Strange Weather in Tokyo
U - Urteau - The Hero of Ages
V - Venice - The Perfect Location
W - Wyvernage - The Secret Lives of the Amir Sisters
X - Xanos - A Shameful Consequence
Y - Yorkshire - Ivy Lane: Spring: Part 1
Z - Zurich - Night School
26/26
Yearly Challenge 13BOOK RIOT'S READ HARDER CHALLENGE 2017
Duration: January 1st - December 31st 2017
We have brought back the Book Riot Challenge again for 2017! The link to the challenge is here, but we have also copied down all the tasks below. The goal is to do all 24 tasks, but if that's a stretch for you, please feel free to set your own goal.
1. Read a book about sports.
Life, the Universe and Everything
2. Read a debut novel.
Be Frank with Me
3. Read a book about books.
Swimming Lessons
4. Read a book set in Central or South America, written by a Central or South American author.
The House of the Spirits
5. Read a book by an immigrant or with a central immigration narrative.
The Mare
6. Read an all-ages comic.
Rivers of London: Body Work
7. Read a book published between 1900 and 1950.
The Little Prince originally published 1943
8. Read a travel memoir.
Head Over Heels in France: Falling in Love in the Lot
9. Read a book you’ve read before.
Rivers of London
10. Read a book that is set within 100 miles of your location.
The Emergence of Judy Taylor - Edinburgh
11. Read a book that is set more than 5000 miles from your location.
The Perfect Location 5133 miles from here to LA
12. Read a fantasy novel.
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children
13. Read a nonfiction book about technology.
Hidden Figures: The Untold Story of the African American Women Who Helped Win the Space Race
14. Read a book about war.
American Gods
15. Read a YA or middle grade novel by an author who identifies as LGBTQ+.
Bone Quill
16. Read a book that has been banned or frequently challenged in your country.
The Handmaid's Tale
17. Read a classic by an author of color.
White Teeth
18. Read a superhero comic with a female lead.
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children: The Graphic Novel
19. Read a book in which a character of color goes on a spiritual journey (From Daniel José Older, author of Salsa Nocturna, the Bone Street Rumba urban fantasy series, and YA novel Shadowshaper)
The Secret Lives of the Amir Sisters
20. Read an LGBTQ+ romance novel (From Sarah MacLean, author of ten bestselling historical romance novels)
Under the Udala Trees
21. Read a book published by a micropress. (From Roxane Gay, bestselling author of Ayiti, An Untamed State, Bad Feminist, Marvel’s World of Wakanda, and the forthcoming Hunger and Difficult Women)
A Modern Family
22. Read a collection of stories by a woman. (From Celeste Ng, author Everything I Never Told You and the forthcoming Little Fires Everywhere)
Kitchen
23. Read a collection of poetry in translation on a theme other than love. (From Ausma Zehanat Khan, author of the Esa Khattak/Rachel Getty mystery series, including The Unquiet Dead, The Language of Secrets, and the forthcoming Among the Ruins)
Aiblins: New Scottish Political Poetry
24. Read a book wherein all point-of-view characters are people of color. (From Jacqueline Koyanagi, author of sci-fi novel Ascension)
Strange Weather in Tokyo
24/24 Completed 12/12/17
Yearly Challenge 14MODERN MRS: DARCY CHALLENGE 2017
Duration: January 1st - December 31st 2017
Reading for fun
1. A book you chose for the cover
Strange Weather in Tokyo
2. A book with reputation for being un-put-down-able
Defending Jacob
3. A book set somewhere you've never been but would like to visit
The Perfect Location Venice/New York
4. A book you've already read
Rivers of London
5. A juicy memoir
Running with Scissors
6. A book about books or reading
Swimming Lessons
7. A book in a genre you usually avoid
The Girl with a Clock for a Heart
8. A book you don't want to admit you're dying to read
The Secret Lives of the Amir Sisters
9. A book in the backlist of a new favorite author
Anansi Boys
10. A book recommended by someone with great taste
An Untamed State
11. A book you were excited to buy or borrow, but haven't read yet
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children
12. A book about a topic or subject you already love
The Emergence of Judy Taylor Edfringe
Reading for growth
1. A Newbery award winner or Honor book
Ramona and Her Father
2. A book in translation
The House of the Spirits
3. A book that's more than 600 pages
American Gods
4. A book of poetry, a play or an essay collection
Bloodshot Monochrome
5. A book of any genre that addresses current events
The Handmaid's Tale
6. An immigrant story
The Mare
7. A book published before you were born
Babette's Feast
8. Three books by the same author
Short Stories from Hogwarts of Heroism, Hardship and Dangerous Hobbies Short Stories from Hogwarts of Power, Politics and Pesky Poltergeists Hogwarts: An Incomplete and Unreliable Guide
9. A book by an #ownvoices or #diversebooks author
Under the Udala Trees
10. A book with an unreliable narrator or ambiguous ending
Bone Quill
11. A book nominated for an award in 2017
Stay With Me
12. A Pulitzer Prize or National Book Award winner
Ramona and Her Mother
24/24 28/05/17
Quarter 2 ChallengeCLEAR ALL YOUR BOOKSHELVES CHALLENGE
DURATION: APRIL 1, 2017 to JUNE 30, 2017
This challenge is a way to clean out all of bookshelves: your physical, your electric, and your audible ones! The books you read for this challenge are books you that are already in your possession. Whatever you do for this challenge, you are not allowed to read a book obtained after April 1, 2017.
Here are some ideas on how to choose your books:
1. Read a book that you borrowed from a friend and want to return when finished.
2. Read a book that you have had for two+ years and haven't started.
3. Read a book you have started, set aside for awhile, and now want to finish.
4. Read a book that you own that will help towards a yearly challenge.
5. Read a book from your shelf then donate it to your local Little Free Library, church, shelters, Goodwill, etc.
List the number of
Physical Books:
Ebooks:
Audible Books:
you want to read (listen to).
EBooks
1) The Well of Ascension purchased 1st January 2017
2) Apple Tree Yard purchased 3rd May 2014
3) White Teeth purchased 24th March 2017
4) Short Stories from Hogwarts of Heroism, Hardship and Dangerous Hobbies purchased 6th September 2016
5) Ivy Lane: Spring: Part 1 purchased 30th May 2015
6) Short Stories from Hogwarts of Power, Politics and Pesky Poltergeists purchased 6th September 2016
7) No Place Like Oz purchased 10th September 2016
8) The Emergence of Judy Taylor purchased 30th July 2013
9) The Little Prince purchased 28th March 2017
10) Hogwarts: An Incomplete and Unreliable Guide purchased 6th September 2016
11) The Hero of Ages purchased 1st January 2017
12) The Summer Book purchased 25th December 2016
13) The Great Gatsby purchased 17th December 2013
14) The Alloy of Law purchased 10th January 2017
Library book
1) The House of the Spirits I've had this since February
2) The Mare I've had this since March
3) The Woman Next Door I've had this since March
4) Defending Jacob I've had this since March
5) The Lonely Hearts Hotel I've had this since March
6) Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children: The Graphic Novel I've been on the waitlist for this since 6th January
Physical book
1) City of Ashes purchased November 2016
2) Kitchen purchased 28th March 2017
Quarter 2 ChallengeCLASSICS AROUND THE WORLD CHALLENGE
Duration: April 1, 2017 - June 30, 2017
With our yearly theme of Around the World we though it might be fun to have a challenge focused around reading classics. American and British classics are pretty well known, but there’s lots of gems out there waiting to be discovered from all the world! I have provided some links to give some inspiration. Feel free to use them :)
French Literature
The Little Prince
German/Austrian Literature
Nordic Literature
The Summer Book
Japanese Literature
Kitchen
Latino/Latina Literature
The House of the Spirits
Slavic Literature
Asian Literature
4/4. 24/06/17
Quarter 3 ChallengeWONDERS OF THE WORLD
Duration July 1, 2017 to September 30, 2017
Nowadays there are so many things to see do, it’s so hard to fit it all in, but for this challenge, we are going to squeeze as many of the Wonders of the World as possible in the 3rd Quarter:
1. Travel to the only remaining wonder of the ancient world, the Pyramids at Giza by reading a book that takes place in Egypt or the ancient world.
2. Take a walk along the Great Wall of China by reading a book that takes place in China or where someone takes are really long walk.
3. Get lost roaming around the ruins in Petra by reading a book that takes place in the Middle East or where the characters do a lot of moving around.
Slaughterhouse-Five
4. Imagine yourself viewing a show from the great Colosseum in Rome by reading a book that takes place in Italy or about a great battle or warrior.
City of Glass
5. Be dazzled by the mythological statues of Chichen Itza by reading a book that takes place in Mexico/Central America or about mythological creatures.
City of Fallen Angels
6. Take in the sun as you climb the mountains to visit the palace of MachuPicchu by reading a book about Peru/South America or about an emperor.
Cress
7. Stand under the white marble domes of the Taj Mahal by read a book that takes place in India or about a suffering a great loss.
A Man Called Ove
8. Be amazed at the global engineering that went into the design of Christ the Redeemer by reading a book that takes place in Brazil or about a scientific achievement.
9. Explore The Acropolis of Athens for the Parthenon by reading a book that takes place in Greece or about the gods.
The Bands of Mourning
10. Revel in the Moorish architecture of the Alhambra by reading a book that takes place in Spain/Northern Africa or about multiple periods of history.
11. Take your time exploring the largest temple in the world at ANgkor Wat by reading a book about Cambodia/far east Asia or about colonialism.
12. Fall in love with the lights of the Eiffel Tower by reading a book that takes place in France or that took place during the industrial revolution.
Scarlet
13. Choose which faith to follow as you enter the halls of the Hagia Sophia by reading a book that takes place in Turkey/Persia or about religion.
Shadows of Self
14. Search for the waterfall located inside the Buddhist temple of Kiyomizu-dera by reading a book that takes place in Japan or about a great love story.
Persuasion
15. Travel out to Eastern Island to see the statues of the Moai by reading a book that takes place on an Island or about someone with a big head.
A Shameful Consequence
16. Basque in the luxury of the Neuschwanstein Castle by reading a book that takes place in Germany or a book inspired by a fairy tale.
17. View many of Moscow’s important historical sights in the Red Square by reading a book that takes place in Russia or about life under communism.
18. Say hello to the welcoming lady of the Statue of Liberty by reading a book that takes place in the U.S.A or about immigration.
The Sunshine Sisters
19. Ponder who placed all those giant rocks in Stonehenge by reading a book that takes place in England/United Kingdom or about the outer space.
The Girl on the Train
20. Travel down under to enjoy the many performances of the Sydney Opera House by reading a book that takes place in Australia or about performing in a show.
21. Remember that sometimes wonders due cease by visiting the remains of Timbuktu by reading a that takes place in Western Africa or about a character on a decline.
This is a large list created from https://new7wonders.com/
Have fun! Go travel, select the number of books you would like to read, and send us a postcard along the way (We mean an update of course!).
Quarter 3TRIATHLON CHALLENGE
Duration: July 1, 2017 to September 30, 2017
We are trying something new for the 3rd Quarter. Due to the popularity of the Marathon Challenge, we are going to extend it to a Triathlon Challenge! That’s right! Three months of speeding through the books!
For July, you will dive in and take a swim around all those books that have been piling up on your bookshelf, sitting in your e-reader, or waiting at the library for you check out! Wherever those books are waiting for you to read, stretch your muscles, grab your goggles and jump in because July is the month to get your feet wet!
For August, you will really start to speed up as you jump on your bike to start this long summer or winter month (depending on where you live). This may be the month that you finally reach for that 1000 page novel that will take some time to cycle through, or maybe you might want take on a new series that will make great sounds in your spokes. It’s your choice, so grab your reading helmet and a book!
For September, you will finish off with the classic marathon. Still have a nice long Penguin Classic waiting to be read or still want to reach for that pile of graphic novels? Whatever you do, just give yourself over to reading because this month you are going all out! So grab those running shoes and throw them to the side because you are staying home and spending September in the books!
For this challenge, we want you to pick the number of books or pages you want to read in the 3rd Quarter, and list them below. The goal is to read as much as you can in these three months because that is what a Triathlon is, a race! Just think, you have already done all the training, now all you have to do is try!
Ready, Set, Read!
July
1) The Girl on the Train I may be the last person in the world to read this!
2) The Sunshine Sisters
3) City of Glass
4) Shadows of Self
5) Scarlet
6) Persuasion
August
7) The Bands of Mourning
8) Slaughterhouse-Five
9) City of Fallen Angels
10) A Man Called Ove
September
11) Cress
12) A Shameful Consequence
Quarter 4 Challenge
Quarter 4 Challenge
January ChallengeMYTHS FROM AROUND THE WORLD
Duration: January 1 - January 31, 2017
1. Janus - Roman god of beginnings and transitions. Read a book set in Italy, or a book with a character that starts out on a fresh beginning.
The Perfect Location
2. Fenghuang - Chinese bird, also known as the Chinese Phoenix, is a mythical bird that signifies high virtue and grace. Read a book set in China, or a book featuring a character full of grace and virtue.
3. Brownie - Scottish mythical creature that inhabits houses and aids in tasks. Read a book set in Scotland, or a book featuring a character that does work that is unseen.
Bone Quill
4. Enenra - Japanese smoke creature. It inhabits bonfires and legend says can only be seen by the pure of heart. Read a book set in Japan, or a book with a pure-hearted character.
Strange Weather in Tokyo
5. Cyclops - Greek mythical one-eyed giants. Read a book based on a Greek tragedy or a book featuring a short-sighted character.
6. Lang suir - Malaysian ghost of a woman who died in childbirth. Read a book from Oceania, or a book featuring a character who dies from a broken heart.
7. Nakki - Finnish water spirit who will capture unmindful children. Read a book set in Scandinavia, or a book about a captured child.
8. Hippogriff - European medieval beast that is half eagle and half horse, known for being extremely fast and able to fly long distances. Read a book about medieval Europe, or a book featuring a character who flies.
9. Wandjina - Australian aboriginal wind and cloud spirits. Read a book set in Australia, or a book featuring an important weather event.
10. Jumbee - Caribbean malevolent entities. Read a book set in the Caribbean, or a book featuring a malevolent character.
An Untamed State
4/4
January ChallengeMARATHON CHALLENGE
Duration: January 1 - January 31, 2017
This was such a hit last year, that we are thought we would kick off the year again running! How often is our New Year's Resolution to read more books? How many of us set goals higher that we did last year? How many of us want to read that super long classic that has been sitting on our book shelf, or spend a winter day curled up on the couch with a pile of graphic novels? Let's start this 2017 with a marathon of reading!
With long holiday breaks coming, pick a pile of books you feel you could snuggle up with. A nice long over 500 page book, a group of books under 100 pages, that book that has been on your TBR waiting to read for way too long, or anything else you choose for yourself.
This is not a sprint, but a way to spend January in the pages! Pick the number of pages or books you would like to read in January and post them below. The goal is to get the New Year started fast! Who would have thought that by hurrying up and sitting with a book, that you could do a marathon?
1) The Restaurant at the End of the Universe
2) Running with Scissors
3) An Untamed State
4) American Gods
5) Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children
6) Strange Weather in Tokyo
7) Bone Quill
8) The Perfect Location
9) The Secret Lives of the Amir Sisters
February ChallengeSPANNING THE GLOBE
Duration: February 1 - February 28, 2017
In keeping with our Around the World theme, let's travel through books! Set a goal for the number of miles or kilometers you plan to travel. With every book you read, choose the setting (or settings) and calculate how many miles there are between that point and the previous point using this calculator.
Rules:
- Only books based on this world count--sorry, no traveling to different galaxies. :)
- Use each setting in each book once; even if the characters travel back and forth, you can only count the setting for that book one time
- You may revisit the same setting in different books (for example, you may read two books that both take place in New York City)
- Use your best judgment on which settings in each book should be included; you should only be using primary settings
Example:
My goal is 20,000 miles
Starting point: Kalamazoo, MI, USA
First book: Americanah
- Lagos, Nigeria (5876.0) to
- London, England, UK (3123.0) to
- Princeton, NJ, USA (3507.8)
Total miles traveled: 12,506.0
From Princeton, NJ, USA
Second book: Pride and Prejudice
- England, UK (3470.5)
Total miles traveled: 15,976.5
From England, UK
Third book: Memoirs of a Geisha
- Kyoto, Japan (5882.6)
Total miles traveled: 21,859.1
The total follows this path: Kalamazoo -> Lagos -> London -> Princeton -> England -> Kyoto
Starting Fife, Scotland
Book 1 City of Bones
New York City
3254 miles
Book 2 Be Frank with Me
Bel Air
6061 miles
Book 3 Anansi Boys
London
5441 = 11502
Florida
4386 = 15888
Book 4 In the Shadow of a Badge: How I Discovered the Angels of 9/11 While Working with the FBI
Shanksville
1075 = 16963
Book 5 The Keeper of Lost Things
London
3688 = 20651
Brighton
53 = 20704
Book 6 The Monarch of the Glen
Thurso
725 = 21429
Book 7 Insurgent
Chicago
3621 = 25050
Book8 Hollow City
London
3945 = 28995
March ChallengeTHE WOMAN IN THE BOOK CHALLENGE
Duration: March 1 - March 31, 2017
This month's theme is Women, and several members suggested challenges with prompts to read different kinds of books by and about women - this is a hybrid of those suggestions. There are a wide range of topics to help us broaden our horizons!
1. Read a book written by a female author that is new to you.
Hidden Figures: The Untold Story of the African American Women Who Helped Win the Space Race
2. Read a book written by a female of color.
Indie Girl Kavita Daswani
3. Read a nonfiction book written by a female author.
Once We Were Sisters: A Memoir
4. Read a biography (not a memoir) about a woman.
5. Read a book that is classified as “feminist.” (Can be fiction)
The Handmaid's Tale
6. Read a book where a woman disguises herself as man.
Babette's Feast
7. Read a book where the woman in the story does not conform to gender norms.
You Said Forever
8. Read a book about a woman/women during a time of war.
Allegiant
9. Read a book where the antagonist is a female
The Girl with a Clock for a Heart
10. Read a book with a woman's name in the title
Ramona and Her Father
9/6
March ChallengeTITLE IX* CHALLENGE (Because Women in the Title Make Great Books)
Duration: March 1 - March 31, 2017
* Title IX is an American law that prohibits sexual discrimination in education.
To honor the women in our lives, let's read books that feature women in the title. Since women fill so many different roles, there are tons of possibilities! Some examples of words include woman, girl, Miss, Mrs., lady, a woman's name, or even women-specific job titles such as waitress or actress.
Choose the number of books you want to read for this challenge and post that here.
1) Ramona and Her Mother
2) Babette's Feast
3) The Handmaid's Tale
4) Indie Girl
5) Once We Were Sisters: A Memoir
6) Ramona and Her Father
7) The Girl with a Clock for a Heart
8) Hidden Figures: The Untold Story of the African American Women Who Helped Win the Space Race
April ChallengeWORLD RELIGION CHALLENGE
Duration April 1, 2017 to April 30, 2017
Our April Theme is World Religions. This challenge is designed to explore some of the religions you have questions about. Here are some suggestions on how to pick out the books to read:
1. Pick a book regarding any of the major religions of the world (e.g. Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism.)
White Teeth
2. Choose a book about another religion not mentioned above.
The Well of Ascension
3. Read a book about someone practicing their religion.
Stay With Me
4. Read a book that deals with what happens in the afterlife according to a religion.
5. Read a book about a spiritual / religious leader in history.
April ChallengeAPRIL CHALLENGE - LINKS
Duration April 1, 2017 to April 30, 2017
Let's have a little fun linking up our books! Each task requires 2 books instead of 1.
1) TITLE TWINS: Read two books with that share a word in the title. Link is in the title.
2) REFLECTIONS: Read two books on the same subject, one fiction and one non-fiction. Link is the topic.
3) TWO SIDES OF THE SAME COIN: Two different perspectives on the same topic. For example a male and female's view of marriage OR a liberal and a conservative view on poverty OR a young person and an older person's view on friendship. Link is the topic.
Stay With Me The Mare The Woman Next Door
4) BACKLIST: Read an author's most recent publication, followed by an earlier publication, and then an even earlier publication, etc. Link is the author her- or himself.
5)GOODREADS RECOMMENDATION: Read a book and then choose a book that Goodreads lists as being similar or recommended. Link is Goodreads.
6)GLOBETROTTER: Read a book in which the character travels from one place to another. Find a book that begins where the last book left off (Does not need to be exact location, but should be close.) Link is the location.
May ChallengeSPELL SUNRISES
Duration May 1, 2017 to May 31, 2017
For the month of May, we are going to bring back a very simple challenge. We noticed that SUNRISES had 8 letters, and we thought that would be perfect for a spell out challenge. So for this challenge, all you have to do is find books that will spell out:
S: Short Stories from Hogwarts of Heroism, Hardship and Dangerous Hobbies
U: Under the Udala Trees
N: No Place Like Oz
R: Rivers of London: Body Work
I: Ivy Lane: Spring: Part 1
S: The Sun Is Also a Star
E: The Emergence of Judy Taylor
S: Short Stories from Hogwarts of Power, Politics and Pesky Poltergeists
May ChallengeMAY CHALLENGE: SUN SONGS
Duration May 1, 2017 to May 31, 2017
For May, we would love to have a challenge based on songs with the word “SUN” in the title because there are just so many of these great songs.
Just a note: We went with songs primarily in English because that is the language of this group, but if you have a song in your language or any other song for that matter, please feel free to use it!
1)YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE (written by Davis and Mitchell): Read a book in which a character feels unconditional love or has an unrequited love.
City of Ashes
2)HOUSE OF THE RISING SUN (American Folk Song performed by the Animals): Read a book in which a character becomes imprisoned (metaphorically or literally) by his/her poor choices, or a book that takes place in New Orleans.
Under the Udala Trees
3)SUNRISE (written by Norah Jones and Lee Alexander): Read a book that takes place over the course of one day or ends with a sunrise.
The Sun Is Also a Star
4)WALKIN’ ON THE SUN (written by Greg Camp for Smash Mouth): Read a story that follows a child (or children) from a young age to adulthood, or a book about education.
5)HERE COME THE SUN (written by George Harrison for the Beatles): Read a book about someone that finds themselves or is a generally happy person or group.
The Emergence of Judy Taylor
6) WALKING ON SUNSHINE (written by Kimberley Rew for Katrina & the Waves): Read a book in which two characters fall in love, or a book that takes place in the 80s!
7) SUNSHINE OF YOUR LOVE (written by Cream): Read an epic love story, a story in which a character goes on an incredible journey.
8) AIN'T NO SUNSHINE (written by Bill Withers): Read a story about a some that has been left by someone they love, or a book where some really knows something (Bill Withers says “I know” 27 times in the 1971 version of the song).
9) BLISTER IN THE SUN (written by Gordon Gano for the Violent Femmes): Read a book in which the character gets burned (in any sense of the word) or has a drug problem.
The Lonely Hearts Hotel
10) SOAK UP THE SUN (written by Sheryl Crow and Jeff Trott):
Read a story where a character learns to learns to move past difficult circumstances, or a book where one character thinks they are better than all the others
No Place Like Oz
June ChallengeSUMMER CELEBRATIONS
Duration: June 1, 2017 to June 30, 2017
Our theme for June is summer celebrations. Please join us in celebrating summer all around the world!
1. Naadam (Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia). A festival that involves three sports--Mongolian wrestling, horse racing, and archery--that was traditionally competed by men, but now includes women and girls for the latter two sports. Read a book that involves any of these sports or the breaking of gender barriers.
Minding My Peas and Cucumbers: Quirky Tales of Allotment Life
2. Tango Festival (Buenos Aires). A festival that includes the Tango Dance World Championship. Tango is believed to have originated in Argentina, and is listed on UNESCO's list of Intangible Cultural Heritage. Read a book about dancing, a world championship, or that takes place in Argentina.
3. Wife-Carrying World Championships (Sonkajarvi, Finland). Competitors carry their wives/partners on their back while completing an obstacle course. Winners receive a supply of beer equal to his wife's weight. Read a book that involves a couple overcoming obstacles together or a book about beer.
The Best of Adam Sharp
4. World Bodypainting Festival (Seeboden, Austria). People's bodies are the artist's canvases for this festival. Read a book about positive body image or artistic expression.
5. White Nights of Summer (St. Petersburg, Russia). A celebration of the sun-filled nights of summer, which involves special concerts, ballets, operas, festivals, and late-night hours at restaurants. Read a book that features a concert, ballet, or opera (or a performer of one of these musical arts).
6. Aomori Nebuta Matsuri Festival (Aomori, Japan). According to tradition, 'Nebuta' means 'being sleepy' and Aomori citizens originated this event to put away the drowsiness that plagued them on hot summer days. Read a book about sleep or sleepiness or the hot days of summer.
The Summer Book
7. Golowan Festival (Cornwall, England). It’s a tradition to elect a Mock Mayor as part of the celebrations, and let him give a bunch of cheeky public speeches right in front of the real Mayor. Read a satire or a book that mocks someone.
8. Picnic Day (Northern Australia). A commemoration of the emancipation of Chinese railway workers and a celebration of cultural diversity and social progress. Read a book about emancipation, diversity, or fighting for rights.
The Alloy of Law
9. Krishna Janmashtami (India). A celebration of the Hindu god, Krishna, in which participants work together to form a human pyramid with the aim of breaking a suspended pot of buttermilk, which symbolizes the spreading of good luck. Read a book in which people work together for the common good, or a book about luck.
The Hero of Ages
10. Bloomsday (Dublin, Ireland). A celebration of the author James Joyce in which people dress in old-fashion clothing and read passages of Joyce's work. Read a book by James Joyce, or a book about an author.
June ChallengeFROM FICTION TO REALITY
Duration: June 1 - June 30, 2017
We thought it'd be cool to learn more about the people, places, or time period in the fictional books we read, and to bring this challenge back in compact fun sized (monthly)! This challenge lets your fictional reading inspire you to read nonfiction books or vice versa.
You'll read books in pairs. Read any fiction book. Then, read a nonfiction book about any part of that fictional work. Or read a nonfiction book, then find a fictional work that's related to it.
If you were to read Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, your nonfiction book could be about witches, boarding schools, alchemy, or anything else related to the world of Harry Potter.
If you were to read Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania, you could read a fictional book that includes a submarine, takes place during WWII, or is about a ship that sinks.
Ivy Lane: Summer: Part 2
Minding My Peas and Cucumbers: Quirky Tales of Allotment Life
2/2
July ChallengeWAR AND PEACE
Duration: July 1, 2017 to July 31, 2017
Many of us will have heard of the classic novel by Leo Tolstoy: War and Peace. But do you know the following facts?
1. War and Peace is perhaps best known as one of the longest novels ever written, and spans the period 1805 to 1820. Read a book that has more than 500 pages or one takes place over a span of 15 or more years.
The Sunshine Sisters
2. The book is set during the French invasion of Russia and chronicles the impact of the Napoleonic era on Tsarist society through the stories of five aristocratic Russian families. Read a book about aristocrats or one that is told from different perspectives.
The Girl on the Train
3. Tolstoy said War and Peace is "not a novel, even less is it a poem, and still less a historical chronicle". Large sections, especially the later chapters, are a philosophical discussion rather than narrative. Read a book that fits different genres or one that contains philosophical considerations.
4. Tolstoy also said that the best Russian literature does not conform to standards and hence hesitated to call War and Peace a novel. Instead, he regarded Anna Karenina as his first true novel. Read a debut novel or one that has a link with Anna Katerina.
5. The central character, Count Pyotr Kirillovich (Pierre) Bezukhov, is the socially awkward illegitimate son of Count Kirill Vladimirovich Bezukhov, and is based on Tolstoy himself. Read a book about a socially awkward person or one that you can identify with.
6. The narrative mentions 559 different characters, of which about 200 are historical figures. Tolstoy tried to get everyone into his novel: emperors, generals, nobility, peasants, soldiers, all with their own mannerisms and speech patterns. Read a book that is based on historical figures or one that includes multiple layers of society.
Shadows of Self
7. Portions of an earlier version, titled The Year 1805, were serialized in The Russian Messenger from 1865 to 1867. The novel was first published in its entirety in 1869. Read a book that has been published under different titles or one that is part of a series.
City of Glass
8. The Russian novel has been translated to English eleven times, the first translation by the American Nathan Haskell Dole in 1899. Read a book that was originally written in a language other than English or one that is set before 1899.
Persuasion
9. There are three films and five television adaptations of the story. The four-part and 431-minutes long Russian film took six years to shoot and has won an Oscar for Best Foreign Language film. Read a book that contains a competition or one about bilingual characters.
10. English progressive rock band Yes's song "The Gates of Delirium" from their 1974 album Relayer was inspired by War and Peace. Read a book about music or a delirious character.
Group ReadsAmerican Gods January ☑️
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Recently read
The Handmaid's Tale March ☑️
White Teeth April ☑️
The Sun Is Also a Star May ☑️
Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants June ☑️
Slaughterhouse-Five July ☑️
A Man Called Ove August ☑️
Buddy ReadsAn Untamed State January ☑️
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children January ☑️
Be Frank with Me February ☑️
Anansi Boys February ☑️
Insurgent February ☑️
Hollow City February ☑️
The Final Empire February ☑️
The Well of Ascension March ☑️
Library of Souls March ☑️
Allegiant March ☑️
Hidden Figures: The Untold Story of the African American Women Who Helped Win the Space Race March ☑️
The Hero of Ages April ☑️Finished June
City of Ashes May ☑️
The Alloy of Law May ☑️Finished June
City of Glass June ☑️ Finished July
The Great Gatsby June ☑️
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2025 & 2026 Reading Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
And Another Thing... (other topics)And Another Thing... (other topics)
And Another Thing... (other topics)
5 Ingredients – Quick & Easy Food (other topics)
Love Lives On (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Ransom Riggs (other topics)Cassandra Jean (other topics)
Kavita Daswani (other topics)
Isak Dinesen (other topics)
Karen Blixen (other topics)
25/25 Complete 19/10/17
A1 Memoir - Running with Scissors
A2 Science Fiction - The Restaurant at the End of the Universe
A3 Urban Fantasy - Rivers of London: Body Work
A4 Animals - The Mare
A5 Fantasy - Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children
B1 Thriller - Apple Tree Yard
B2 Romance - The Sun Is Also a Star
B3 Food and Drink - Minding My Peas and Cucumbers: Quirky Tales of Allotment Life
B4 Chick Lit - The Perfect Location
B5 Contemporary - Be Frank with Me
C1 Biography - The Maddie Diaries: My Story
C2 Mythology - American Gods
C3 Magical Realism - The House of the Spirits
C4 Crime - Defending Jacob
C5 Non-fiction - In the Shadow of a Badge: How I Discovered the Angels of 9/11 While Working with the FBI
D1 Literary Fiction - An Untamed State
D2 Paranormal - City of Bones
D3 Dystopian - Insurgent
D4 Mystery - The Girl with a Clock for a Heart
D5 Cultural - Strange Weather in Tokyo
E1 YA - Indie Girl
E2 Children's - Bone Quill
E3 Classics - Babette's Feast
E4 Historical Fiction - Stay With Me
E5 Adventure - The Hill of the Red Fox