2025 & 2026 Reading Challenge discussion

Going to try for a more reasonable 25 this year since I only hit 20 not 40 in 2014. Of course, that left a lot on my TBR list!

early February and I am three books in - much better than expected.
So far, I've completed:

Red Rising
Secrecy
and
No Country for Old Men

What were your thoughts on Red Rising?

I enjoyed it. It was fast paced and the world-building was well done. I thought the author did a good job exploring the ideas of empires and what made and destroyed them. Darrow was a believable reluctant hero. I did see the end coming, but I will definitely read the next one.

I just got it from the library, so I'll let you know how it is:)

Yes, I look forward to hearing what you think.

Good luck with your challenge, Sheryl! What was your favorite book of the three?

Hard to say - they are very different. I think I'd have to go with No Country for Old Men. McCarthy is a gripping story-teller.

Good to know! I've had that one on my to-read list for a really long time.

same here - it is dark but well told.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Two more completed:

Fool by Christopher Moore

And

The Paper Magician by Charlie Holmberg


That makes a total of five completed.

What did you think of The Paper Magician? I recently purchased it for my kindle.

Megan:
I enjoyed it - it's biggest strength was the unique system of magic Holmberg created. It was a quick read and entertaining and I'll read the next book.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Another one down!

The Woodcutter

Completed - Slammerkin

currently 7 of 20 completed.

Just finished another (which also meets one for a quarterly challenge).

Queen Mab by Kate Danley

8/20

Finished #9

My Life as a Fake by Peter Carey

9/20

Just completed the excellent book Running the Rift by Naomi Benaron.

Now at 10 complete.

11 Down

Just completed a ARC of
God Help the Child by Toni Morrison.

I recommend it for when it is available on 21 April.

Just completed

Love Poems by Nikki Giovanni.

that is 12/25

Book 13 completed.

House of Bathory by Linda Lafferty

Book 14 completed

Timebound by Rysa Walker

Book 15 Completed

The Twentieth Wife by Indu Sundaresan

Been a slow month... I'm partway done a couple of books, and managed to finish this one as the second book this month. Depending on how the last few days go, I'm hoping to get one more done.

What did you think of Timebound? I have that one on my Kindle but I haven't read.

It was a decent read. The plot was good, and it does get into some interesting themes - religion and money, the concept of how any one choice can affect so many other things. I found the narrator annoying and somewhat cliched, especially early on, but the other characters were distinct and there were some decent twists. The historical details were well done as well. As an educator, I am sure many of my students would enjoy it.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Awesome! That's great to know.

Book 16 completed:

Ticker by Lisa Mantchev

Sheryl wrote: "Book 16 completed:

Ticker by Lisa Mantchev"

What did you think? I have it on my kindle but haven't read it yet.

Also curious about Ticker.

Megan wrote: "Sheryl wrote: "Book 16 completed:

Ticker by Lisa Mantchev"

What did you think? I have it on my kindle but haven't read it yet."

@Adriana and @Megan -

I picked it up free and for the most part, enjoyed it as a light read. It could have been much better, but for fast paced escapism, it worked.

I posted my review here:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Thanks!

That's good to know! I picked that one up on my kindle, but wasn't quite sure about it.

I've upped' my number for the challenge to 30.
This week I've hit number twenty. I haven't posted lately, so there are a few books to post together here.

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas, completed 16 July 2015

Mozart's Wife by Juliet Waldron Completed 11 August 2015

Beauty's Kingdom by A.N. Roquelaure Completed 22 August 2015

An Untamed State by Roxane Gay Completed 26 August 2015

Book 21!

The Mime Order by Samantha Shannon

Completed Thu. 10 Sept 2015

Book 22

The Martian by Andy Weir

Completed Fri 18 September 2105

Sheryl wrote: "Book 22

The Martian by Andy Weir

Completed Fri 18 September 2105"

This is on my short list because everyone is talking about it-- but should I really read it?

What did you think, Sheryl? I read this book last year and totally agree when it won Science Fiction Choice award last year. I also cannot wait to see the movie!

Megan wrote: "What did you think, Sheryl? I read this book last year and totally agree when it won Science Fiction Choice award last year. I also cannot wait to see the movie!"

I enjoyed it. It kept me laughing even in those tense moments. I loved the narration and the characters. I'm looking forward to the movie and I hope it is as well done.

Jackie B. wrote: "Sheryl wrote: "Book 22

The Martian by Andy Weir

Completed Fri 18 September 2105"

This is on my short list because everyone is ..."

I think it deserves the acclaim and buzz. I enjoyed it and it was a quick read. Good, interesting characters, and made me laugh out loud at numerous points - which is tough to do. Here's my review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I'm not a big reader of Sci-fi or techno-thrillers, but this one really worked.

Sheryl wrote: ""Here's my review:"

What a clearly articulated review! I will need to keep an eye out for your reviews in the future. Thanks for sharing.

Jackie B. wrote: "Sheryl wrote: ""Here's my review:"

What a clearly articulated review! I will need to keep an eye out for your reviews in the future. Thanks for sharing."

Thank you. I think you can follow them...

Book 23 done

Artful by Peter David
completed 26 Sep 2015

Book 24 - finished in a day!

Playing with Fire by Tess Gerritsen.
Completed Saturday, 03 October 2015

Two more down. Books 25 and 26

The Pearl that Broke Its Shell by Nadia Hashimi
Completed Thu 15 October 2015

Holy Sh*t: A Brief History of Swearing by Melissa Mohr
Completed Thu 22 October 2015

Increased my goal to 32

Finished book #27 and #28

Talon by Julie Kagawa Completed on 08 November 2015

and

The Dew Breaker by Edwidge Danticat Completed on 16 November 2015

Two more down - and I plan to get at least 2 more done before the end of the year... but that may go up too...

Books #29 and #30:

The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga Completed Tue 24 Nov 2015

and

The Meursault Investigation by Kamel Daoud Completed Sat 5 December 2015

You're so close to your challenge goal! I'm sure you'll be able to finish by the end of the year, so I'm going to give you an early congratulations. :)

Cassandra wrote: "You're so close to your challenge goal! I'm sure you'll be able to finish by the end of the year, so I'm going to give you an early congratulations. :)"

Thanks - I likely will. Considering that I started the year with a goal of 25 and I've exceeded it, I'm very happy with what I've done this year.

upped goal again - LOL but hey, I've read more than expected so it's all good.

Books 31 and 32

The Memory Painter by Gwendolyn Womack completed 17 Dec 2015

Self-Editing for Fiction Writers: How to Edit Yourself Into Print by Renni Browne completed 27 Dec 2015

FINISHED!! 33 books for the year.

I'm happy I ended up exceeding my original goal of 25.

The final book for the year was
Ms. Marvel, Vol. 1: No Normal by G. Willow Wilson

I fell a bit short on my Read Harder challenge, but managed 20 of the 24. I'll finish at least 2 others in the next week or so, so while they don't count for this year, at least I read them. :-)