Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge discussion

Really want to read a certain book in 2022, but can't seem to figure out if it will fit into a Challenge category? Get help here!

Most of these probably will not fit, but I'm going to post them anyways and maybe I'll be surprised. These are my current books I own and have not read. I need to read them in 2022 or I'm donating them! :)

Operation Joktan
No God but One: Allah or Jesus?: A Former Muslim Investigates the Evidence for Islam and Christianity
How to Find Love in a Bookshop
Crime and Punishment
Start with Amen: How I Learned to Surrender by Keeping the End in Mind
Still Me
The Fellowship of the Ring
The Two Towers
The Return of the King
The Silmarillion
The Children of Húrin
Unfinished Tales of Númenor and Middle-Earth
Smith of Wootton Major & Farmer Giles of Ham
The Lightning Thief
The Sea of Monsters
The Titan's Curse
Villette
Paradise Lost
The Wasteland, Prufrock and Other Poems
The Wind in the Willows
The Golden Tower
Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes: Cultural Studies in the Gospels
The Last Letter from Your Lover
The Sacred Shore
Catch-22
Hollow City
Library of Souls
Midnight Sun
Goldenhand
To Hold the Bridge
Having a Mary Spirit: Allowing God to Change Us from the Inside Out
The Picture of Dorian Gray
Out of the Silent Planet
Josephus: Thrones of Blood
The Sword of Truth
P.S. I Still Love You

There's so many 😭🤣

Jamie wrote: "Most of these probably will not fit, but I'm going to post them anyways and maybe I'll be surprised. These are my current books I own and have not read. I need to read them in 2022 or I'm donating ..."



That's a long list!

Two titles jump out at me:
Villette was written during (and, therefore, set during) the Victorian era
P.S. I Still Love You is a romance written by a BIPOC author

Dorian Grey is Victorian

Midnight Sun could be about the afterlife (vampires are technically dead)

You might be able to stretch LoTR or Percy Jackson to found family

The one, Operation Joktan, has a board game in the title.

Fellowship of the Ring starts with a party

Oh my goodness I can't believe I didn't notice these! haha THANK YOU!

Based on the descriptions I'm reading, Sword of Truth does not appear to have any swords in it, so I'd lean towards it being a Misleading Title. I'm potentially wrong, though.

I'm really surprised to see something like Smith of Wootton Major & Farmer Giles of Ham on your list when you have not read the Lord of the Rings trilogy. I'm guessing either a gift or great faith in the author after reading The Hobbit?

Anyway, probably any of Tolkien's books could be said to feature two languages (or more) since philology was his thing.

Did you read anything by one of those authors in 2021? If so, that is a different book by the same author for 2022.

Jamie wrote: "Most of these probably will not fit, but I'm going to post them anyways and maybe I'll be surprised. These are my current books I own and have not read. I need to read them in 2022 or I'm donating ..."

P.S. I Still Love You can fit a book with a recipe in it, i think? i remember the mc liked to cook

Dorian Grey can also fit a book about a secret/Victorian

The Lightning Thief can fit (all of them can actually) found family, kinda man-made disaster? and two languages

The Titan's Curse can fit the featuring a party prompt

Brandon wrote: "I'm really surprised to see something like Smith of Wootton Major & Farmer Giles of Ham on your list when you have not read the Lord of the Rings trilogy. I'm guessing either a gift or..."
My husband is a Tolkien Fan so that's why we have all of those. I've read parts of the Lord of the Rings and just never finished them and have been meaning to forever. I'm kind of embarrassed actually lol. It's harder for me now, since I have a toddler, reading is harder to do, but I set the goals anyways.

I'm not sure how much chatter is allowed on this thread, but thanks again to people making suggestions. I need to check if there is a recipe in P.S. I Still Love You! (also one I started last year and didn't finish T_T)

Some for me I’m interesting in working in:
Educated
Long Bright River
Death in the Family by Tessa Wegert
We keep the dead close

M wrote: "Based on the descriptions I'm reading, Sword of Truth does not appear to have any swords in it, so I'd lean towards it being a Misleading Title. I'm potentially wrong, though."

I've read it forever ago, but I do remember there being an actual sword of truth in it. Sorry :(

Mary wrote: "Some for me I’m interesting in working in:
Educated
Long Bright River
Death in the Family by Tessa Wegert
We keep the dead close"


Long Bright River is set in Philadelphia, whose sister city is Florence. There are LOTS of books set in Florence! Take a look at that, maybe you'll find something you want to read.
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/4...

Or, you could decide it's a misleading title. The titular river in question is not the Delaware (which isn't particularly long, and not very bright, anyway), it's the veins on your inner arm, & later used to describe the river of souls of people who have died while using the drug: friends, neighbors, cousins, siblings, parents.

9987 wrote: "M wrote: "Based on the descriptions I'm reading, Sword of Truth does not appear to have any swords in it, so I'd lean towards it being a Misleading Title. I'm potentially wrong, though."

I've read..."

I thought it was referencing The Bible, so if it is an actual sword then it is misleading - at least for me! I'm gonna count it. :)

The Lord of the Rings could fit into a second language, or whatever that prompt is. I saw that on another place and will be finishing up this trilogy this year by doing that.

Nadine wrote: "Mary wrote: "Some for me I’m interesting in working in:
Educated
Long Bright River
Death in the Family by Tessa Wegert
We keep the dead close"


Long Bright River is set in Philadelphia, whose si..."

I love the idea of using it as a misleading title!

Would Hour of the Witch be considered a social-horror?

Dread Nation - Justina Ireland

Jane wrote: "Dread Nation - Justina Ireland"

* Social Horror
* Character is Ace
* Duology if you read the second book. (If you read the second book but don't want to use it for duology, there is a Sapphic relationship in the second book.)
* OwnVoices SFF

Jamie wrote: "Most of these probably will not fit, but I'm going to post them anyways and maybe I'll be surprised. These are my current books I own and have not read. I need to read them in 2022 or I'm donating ..."

Midnight Sun - I'm willing to bet it's been recommended on #BookTok and Edward is definitely leading a double life (advanced prompt)

Just off the top of my head...

Operation Joktan - Prompt 41 Reflected Image

No God but One: Allah or Jesus?: A Former Muslim Investigates the Evidence for Islam and Christianity - Prompt 12 A book about the Afterlife. Maybe it could be shoehorned in there?

How to Find Love in a Bookshop - Prompt 9 "Found Family"

Crime and Punishment - Prompt 25 book about a secret OR 46 - Double life

Villette - Prompt 34 Victorian era

I can only fit 4 of my planned reads to the prompts so far. Looking to fill as many as i can. Heres my list! https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Books i hope to find places for (note I will read unplanned books throughout the year so am happy to leave any that dont fit):

Children of Earth and Sky
Fearless Magic
Paper and Fire
Ash and Quill
The Master of Whitestorm
Smoke and Iron
Sword and Pen
Empress
The Riven Kingdom
Hammer of God
The Actual Star

Any help would be appreciated!

Books currently on my TBR shelf:
It Ends With Us - Colleen Hoover
Everything We Didn’t Say - Nicole Baart
The Maidens - Alex Michaelides
The Two Lives of Lydia Bird - Josie Silver
The Nightingale - Kristin Hannah
The Great Alone - Kristin Hannah
The Collective - Allison Gaylin
Uncommon Type - Tom Hanks
The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot
A Man Called Ove - Fredrik Backman
A Flicker in the Dark - Stacy Willingham

Knowing nothing about The Two Lives of Lydia Bird, I'd say possibly could fit the leading a double life prompt, and if not, then definitely a misleading title.

@Jamie

So There wasn’t a recipe laid out in P.S. I still Love you but I’m pretty sure Laura Jean makes something for a bake sale and teaches Peter how so you could stretch it.

Goldenhand could be put in the afterlife category because Liriael is an abhorsen in training going in and out of death to send spirits onward.

Rachel wrote: "Books currently on my TBR shelf:
It Ends With Us - Colleen Hoover
Everything We Didn’t Say - Nicole Baart
The Maidens - Alex Michaelides
The Two Lives of Lydia Bird - Josie Silver
The Nightingale ..."

The Maidens - Book about a secret, Book that features two languages, and Book about someone leading a double life (there's a murderer and the reader doesn't know who it is)

Anyone have any suggestions as to where Long Way Down might fit?

9987 wrote: "Anyone have any suggestions as to where Long Way Down might fit?"


you could read it in one sitting, and there are ghosts so you could slot it in "afterlife."

Ashleigh wrote: "I can only fit 4 of my planned reads to the prompts so far. Looking to fill as many as i can. Heres my list! https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/......"

I don't know if people just don't have an answer or if it got missed but if anyone has any suggestions for any of these books listed above I'd be very grateful!

Ashleigh wrote: "Ashleigh wrote: "I can only fit 4 of my planned reads to the prompts so far. Looking to fill as many as i can. Heres my list! https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/......"


I haven't read any of them, so I can't help!

I found matches for some books I previously listed. Any ideas for the rest would be greatly appreciated!
A Man Called Ove
Everything We Didn't Say
The Great Alone
Uncommon Type
A Flicker in the Dark

Rachel wrote: "I found matches for some books I previously listed. Any ideas for the rest would be greatly appreciated!
A Man Called Ove
Everything We Didn't Say
[book:The Great Al..."


I bet a few of those were BookTok recommendations.

Rachel wrote: "Books currently on my TBR shelf:
It Ends With Us - Colleen Hoover
Everything We Didn’t Say - Nicole Baart
The Maidens - Alex Michaelides
The Two Lives of Lydia Bird - Josie Silver
The Nightingale ..."

It Ends With Us is a TikTok recommendation.

I have a few trilogies and series hanging out on my shelves I’ve been meaning to get to, any ideas would be great!

A Court of thorns and roses series and throne of glass series by Sarah J. Maas

The Daevabad trilogy by S.A. Chakraborty

The Cinder series by Marissa Meyer

The Grishaverse series by Leigh Bardugo

Truly Devious series by Maureen Johnson

A Court of Thorns and Roses is a #booktok recommendation.

Jennifer wrote: "I have a few trilogies and series hanging out on my shelves I’ve been meaning to get to, any ideas would be great!

A Court of thorns and roses series and throne of glass series by [author:Sarah J...."

If you like Veronica Roth, Rick Riordan, or Cinda Williams Chima, they've all blurbed the first book of the Grisha Verse, Shadow & Bone. I know there's a party in Shadow & Bone too.

A Man Called Ove
Is a perfect fit for found family.
I think the secret prompt works well too.
I’m not sure when the Tom Hanks movie will come out maybe this year.
Christmas happens/is celebrated during the book

Btw I loved this book.

A court of thorns and roses, after book 1, could work for “found family”

Grishaverse has a tv show with a second season coming next year.

Daevabad, book 2, is set during a holiday, Navasatem

Jennifer wrote: "I have a few trilogies and series hanging out on my shelves I’ve been meaning to get to, any ideas would be great!

A Court of thorns and roses series and throne of glass series by [author:Sarah J...."

Several--if not all--of the books in the Cinder series would work for "found family". Cinder works for a book featuring a party.

I'm wanting to read "The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell" any ideas where it will fit?

Cinder specifically works for mc who uses a mobility aid.

Erica wrote: "A Man Called Ove
Is a perfect fit for found family.
I think the secret prompt works well too.
I’m not sure when the Tom Hanks movie will come out maybe this year.
Christmas happens/is celebrated du..."

Thank you, super helpful!

Anna wrote: "I'm wanting to read "The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell" any ideas where it will fit?"

I know nothing about this book, but it does have the name of a board game in the title!

Anybody know if Bring Up the Bodies fits in with the secret prompt?

Any ideas about where could I fit "The Night She Disappeared" by Lisa Jewell? Thanks in advance!

Julie wrote: "Any ideas about where could I fit "The Night She Disappeared" by Lisa Jewell? Thanks in advance!"

I just finished this today! It could be a book about a secret, or a sapphic relationship.

I have some new releases that I won in giveaways I'd like to fit. I really need to read and review them and like the pressure of fitting them to a prompt! Any help with:

Holdout
Crossroads
American Made: What Happens to People When Work Disappears
O Beautiful

Thanks!

Hi All,

Where would you place Bewilderment by Richard Powers? I already have Termination Shock by Neal Stephenson as a past prompt. So if I move Bewilderment there then I need a prompt for Termination Shock!

TIA
Ali

Alexandra wrote: "Hi All,

Where would you place Bewilderment by Richard Powers? I already have Termination Shock by Neal Stephenson as a past prompt. So if I move Bewilderment there then I need a prompt for Termina..."

The US cover shows the night sky so could have a constellation on it.

I'm hoping to try both Popsugar and the Book Riot Read Harder challenges this year, so am looking to see where I can find overlap! I have quite a bit, but here's some things I've identified for Book Riot and/or want to read regardless and hope could fit somewhere for Popsugar.

Weather Maybe a man-made disaster? Climate change seems a bit too broad.
The Sentence (or other books set in a bookstore that might fit Popsugar).
So Long a Letter and/or Efuru
I'm With the Bears: Short Stories from a Damaged Planet and/or American Earth: Environmental Writing Since Thoreau
Autobiography of Red or another queer retelling

I think I already have "past year's prompt" covered, but know that some of these could count for that otherwise. Thanks for the help!!

Ashleigh wrote: "I can only fit 4 of my planned reads to the prompts so far. Looking to fill as many as i can. Heres my list! https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/......"

I haven't read any of them, but just by looking at the titles and some of the descriptions, are any of them about witches? found family? have a misleading title? featured on BookTok? About a nonpatriarchal society? a sapphic book? by a Latinx author?

Those are some of the prompts I'd check.