Pop Sugar's Annual Ultimate Reading Challenge discussion

Does the war have to be a real war? because if not it opens up a lot of sci-fy fantasy titles that can fit in this category

It doesn't specify that it has to be a real war. I like you out of the box thinking. I utilized the same concepts last year.

I'm a big out of the box thinker when it comes to this kind of stuff my mother would say its because I don't like to be "told " what to do lol and I always have to do my own thing :)

I'm reading Unbroken as it's been in my book pile forever.

I'm hoping to pick up The Nightingale which was highly recommended by Bonnie and is set in Vichy France.

Caitlin wrote: "I'm hoping to pick up The Nightingale which was highly recommended by Bonnie and is set in Vichy France."

YESSSSSS!!!!!

I was planning to use a fictional war too, especially as I intend to read the novelisation of Rogue One soon. I imagine a lot of Star Wars books would count.

I compiled a list of popular war-time novels. You can find it here: https://bookmouseblog.wordpress.com/2...

I'm planning to read All the Light We Cannot See, which is set during WWII.

The prompt just says set during wartime. So, as long as it is set during a war...whether it be planetary, or within fantasy realms, I think it would fit the wording of the prompt.

In addition, wars of other lands, even non major continents, I think would apply...in case someone found a book that took place during a tribal war on an island. Or perhaps in a continent, but between African tribes. The scope can be as wide, or as narrow as one wishes to make it.

For me, I like to use the prompts to help decrease my TBR pile, so that is where I will search first!

Valerie wrote: "The prompt just says set during wartime. So, as long as it is set during a war...whether it be planetary, or within fantasy realms, I think it would fit the wording of the prompt.

In addition, wa..."

Amen! I'm using the prompts to push me to read the books in my pile I keep passing over for other stuff.

Valerie wrote: "The prompt just says set during wartime. So, as long as it is set during a war...whether it be planetary, or within fantasy realms, I think it would fit the wording of the prompt.

In addition, wa..."

I do the exact same thing !

Does anyone read the challenge differently if the challenge specifies reading a "novel" as opposed to a "book?" For example, would a nonfiction book not qualify for this section?

Audrey wrote: "Does anyone read the challenge differently if the challenge specifies reading a "novel" as opposed to a "book?" For example, would a nonfiction book not qualify for this section?"

novels = fiction so yes, I would not count non-fiction if it specifies novel. Where does it specify that?

Caitlin wrote: "novels = fiction so yes, I would not count non-fiction if it specifies novel. Where does it specify that?"

In the official list, actually. It specifies "novel" twice. Once for the Steampunk challenge, and once for this challenge. All the rest are listed as "A book..."

Not that I can't find a novel set during wartime, but I realised this after I'm halfway through a nonfiction book that I thought was going to fill this requirement. Fortunately, it's early in the year and there's plenty of time to course correct.

Audrey wrote: "Caitlin wrote: "novels = fiction so yes, I would not count non-fiction if it specifies novel. Where does it specify that?"

In the official list, actually. It specifies "novel" twice. Once for the..."

Hopefully, you can fill in a different challenge with this book.

Audrey wrote:

In the official list, actually. It specifies "novel" twice. Once for the..."

Ah, I'm glad you saw that because i was clearly not paying enough attention. I, like Kathryn, how your current book can fit into another category.

Caitlin wrote:
Ah, I'm glad you saw that because i was clearly not paying enough attention. I, like Kathryn, how your c..."

I missed it myself the first few times I went through the list. The brain tends to stop reading the "A book" part as you move down the list.

If all else fails, I'll slap it in as my audiobook and call it a day. Now to find a novel...I suspect this might be a painful one for me. I'm just not that into war stories. Although, like people mentioned above, space ships do make wars go down easier. Or maybe some fantasy...

I recommend The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, or The Book Thief if you haven't read either already. They are older, but both really so good. They made a movie based off of the books already.

Hi, I started late but actually read a book last week that fits this category. The story is kind of ghost/love/historical fiction but turned out to be an interesting mix. It's called In the Shadow of Blackbirds. It's during World War I and the Spanish flu.

Allison wrote: "Hi, I started late but actually read a book last week that fits this category. The story is kind of ghost/love/historical fiction but turned out to be an interesting mix. It's called In the Shadow of Blackbirds"

oh! I've read this one! Good suggestion as the war is definitely part of the narrative, but the plot is dealing with a lot of other things.

If anyone else wants a book set during wartime that has a setting affected by the war but is generally not really about the war, several of Gary D. Schmidt's books occur during the Vietnam war, and are sensitive to the ways the war affected life for grade schoolers and those in the US, but are otherwise devoid of war action.

I know for certain and would count.

Liz wrote: "I'm planning to read All the Light We Cannot See, which is set during WWII."

Just finished it and really enjoyed it. However, I enjoyed The Nightingale better. Both are excellent though.

Caitlin wrote: "Allison wrote: "Hi, I started late but actually read a book last week that fits this category. The story is kind of ghost/love/historical fiction but turned out to be an interesting mix. It's calle..."

OMG. Yessss! I second Caitlin's recommendation of Okay for Now. But, have tissues handy. You'll need them.

I just finished reading American War, and it was honestly one of the best books that I have read in a really long time. I highly recommend it!

I also read The Nightingale for this category. But I also recommend The Chilbury Ladies' Choir by Jennifer Ryan, which I read for the "book of letters" category.

uh oh, I think I accidentally just deleted another comment. My apologies, totally unintentional! :-O