2026 Reading Challenge discussion

2023 Take a Bite Out of Those Chunksters Challenge
Duration: January 1, 2023- December 31, 2023

Completed: 12/12

1. A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara 816 pages *completed 3/19/23
2. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern 516 pages *completed 10/28/23
3. The Summer Dragon by Todd Lockwood 496 pages *completed 7/31/23
4. Voyager by Diana Gabaldon 870 pages *completed 6/25/23
5. World Without End by Ken Follett 1014 pages *completed 9/24/23
6. The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin 468 pages *completed 2/12/23
7. The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón 487 pages *completed 1/30/23
8. Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo 458 pages *completed 10/15/23
9. Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros 512 pages *completed 6/7/23
10. Watership Down by Richard Adams 476 pages *completed 4/22/23
11. The God of Endings by Jacqueline Holland 480 pages *completed 8/14/23
12. Dracula by Bram Stoker 528 pages *completed 10/18/23

A Mid Year Look Back :)
Feel free to share yours!

What are yours?

1. Best book you’ve read so far:
Without a doubt, The Stone Sky by N.K. Jemisin. I can't stop thinking about it. It's true perfection my friends.

2. Best sequel you've read so far:
Well I could sing some more praises for N.K. Jemisin buuuut I'm actually going to say (even though technically I haven't finished it yet) World Without End by Ken Follett. Bros. It's literally Pillars but with a different cast and I LOVE IT. This is my summertime popcorn blockbuster.

3. New release you haven't read yet, but want to:
New-ish (released March 2023) The God of Endings. I can't really even explain why I want to read this so bad cause I know it will either be really terrible or fantastic. It's been staring at me for weeks! I just need to crack it open already!

4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year:
Easy. The Armour of Light.
Let me explain.
I haven't even thought about starting the 3rd book of the series but knowing that the 4th is on it's way...and with that cover!! I must get my hands on it!!!!
It's like a Tom Cruise movie to me. I already know I'm absolutely going to love it so just take my money.

5. Biggest disappointment:
I was really, really bummed that Certain Dark Things didn't do it for me. I really enjoyed The Daughter of Doctor Moreau and went into CDT with high expectations.

6. Biggest surprise:
Bunny by Mona Awad for sure. What a trip!

7. Favorite new author (debut or new to you):
This is another easy one. T. Kingfisher can do no wrong so far.

8. Newest fictional crush:
VANE of The Vicious Lost Boys series. I mean, The Dark One...come on!! Does a man get much hotter?!

9. Newest favorite character:
Hoa of The Broken Earth Series. OOoh my heart just thinking about him.

10. Book that made you cry:
Without a doubt and for obvious reasons - if you know, you know..... A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara. It would honestly be rude of me to mention another book in this category.

11. Book that made you happy:
Watership Down. Not because it had a happy ending but because reading it again as an adult brought me back to my childhood. I realized that the love I had for this novel over the decades was real and still holds true to this day.

12. Most beautiful book you've bought so far this year (or received):
I have a load of beautiful books I've acquired this year so far but I think The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle takes the cake. I mean look at it!


13. What books do you need to read by the end of the year?
Ok so... I need/want to read too many, haha.
I reeeaalllly want to crack into some Brandon Sanderson before the year ends. I'm thinking Elantris to start because it's not so chonky and I *should* be able to finish it, relatively quick. Aannnd I really want to get into Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell because my copies have been staring at me since last year!

2023 in Review

How many books did you read?
60! And 2 short stories but they were under 100 pages so I did not include them in my challenge total.

Did you reach your goal?
I couldn't believe I went past it! Felt so good to clear space on my shelves, make some donations and create a new "read" shelf.

Which book was your favorite?
Oh this is a tough question. I had many favorites but I think the ones that I may read again this coming year because I loved them so much would be Piranesi and likely The Broken Earth series. Gosh, and maybe I'll read Tiger Lily for a third time, haha.

Which book was your least favorite?
I think I'm most angry at Hooked for sucking so hard and The Great Gatsby for being so goddamn boring!

Which book had your favorite cover?
My copy of The Hollow Places

I had it on display for many months!

How many yearly challenges did you participate in?
Just 2 or 3 I think

How many monthly challenges did you participate in?
A few

How many quarterly challenges did you participate in?
One

What other group activities did you participate in?
I poked into a few threads here and there but really haven't found a group that's engaging or active enough for my taste.

Did you read any new-to-you authors this year? Name one you enjoyed.
Yes! I fell in love with
N.K. Jemisin
T. Kingfisher
Megan Shepherd

What was the biggest surprise for you?
I was truly not expecting to be so deeply in love with the Broken Earth Trilogy.

As a new-ish adult fantasy reader, I didn't know what I was getting into and I was so overwhelmed at the beginning. But once I got it, I GOT IT and I LOVED IT. Just absolutely stupendous.