Hooked on Books discussion

Ready Player One: A Year-Long Reading Challenge
January 1 - December 31st, 2024


Let's read books and complete tasks related to video games you know and love, and maybe a few that are new to you!


On the 1st and 15th of each month I will post a new video game in the Game Console Thread. You will have four tasks to choose from for each game. You only need to complete one. Participate in as many or as few games as you would like.


You will make your Completion Posts here IN YOUR OWN THREAD. Please use this format. {You are welcome to copy and paste the game tasks into your own thread if you would like.}


Completion Post
Video Game:
Book:
Author:
Date Read:
Task:
How it Fits:


If you have any questions, please post them in the Cheat Codes Q & A Thread.


Challenge Rules:
📘 Standard Rules Apply
📘I will create an individual thread for you prior to the start date.
📘Your first video game will be posted on January 1, 2024.
📘Books must be completed after the video game has been posted.

🕹 🎮 👾 Game 1: January 1st ~ Pong 👾 🎮 🕹



To Level Up on this game, complete ONE of the following:

🕹 Read a book published in or set during the 1970s.
🕹 Read a book where any type of sport is played.
🕹 Read a book with an MPG of Historical or Historical Fiction.
🕹 Read a book where the letters P-O-N-G are found anywhere in the title.

Completion Post:

Video Game: Pong
Book/Author: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling
Date Read: 01/01/24
Task: Read a book where any type of sport is played.
How it Fits: Quidditch is the official sport at Hogwarts.

🕹 🎮 👾 Game 2: January 15th ~ Pac-Man 👾 🎮 🕹



To Level Up on this game, complete ONE of the following:

🕹 Read a book published in or set during the 1980s.
🕹 Read a book that has been published under two different names.
🕹 Read a book with huge commercial success. {NYT List, Best-Seller, etc.}
🕹 Read a book where a character eats pizza.

Completion Post:

Video Game: Pac-Man
Book/Author: Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
Date Read: 01/15/24
Task: Read a book with huge commercial success. {NYT List, Best-Seller, etc.}
How it Fits: It has been in the NYT Bestsellers Fiction List for 32 weeks and counting.

🕹 🎮 👾 Game 3: February 1st ~ The Legend of Zelda 👾 🎮 🕹



To Level Up on this game, complete ONE of the following:

🕹 Read a book with a subtitle.
🕹 Read a book with two authors.
🕹 Read a book with a female MC whose first initial is found in ZELDA.
🕹 Read a book with a male MC whose first initial is found in LINK.

Completion Post:

Video Game: The Legend of Zelda
Book/Author: Last Girl Gone by J.G. Hetherton
Date Read: 02/04/24
Task: Read a book with a female MC whose first initial is found in ZELDA.
How it Fits: FMC's name is Laura.

🕹 🎮 👾 Game 4: February 15th ~ Final Fantasy 👾 🎮 🕹



To Level Up on this game, complete ONE of the following:

🕹 Read a book from a series with at least 16 distinct works.
🕹 Read a book with an alliterative title.
🕹 Read a book tagged ANTHOLOGY / ANTHOLOGIES.
🕹 Read a book where the author's first AND last initials are found in HIRONOBU SAKAGUCHI.

Completion Post:

Video Game: Final Fantasy
Book/Author: A Different Kind of Gone by Catherine Ryan Hyde
Date Read: 02/21/24
Task: Read a book where the author's first AND last initials are found in HIRONOBU SAKAGUCHI.
How it Fits: Author's initials are 'C', 'R', and 'H'.

🕹 🎮 👾 Game 5: March 1st ~ Animal Crossing 👾 🎮 🕹



To Level Up on this game, complete ONE of the following:

🕹 Read a book set on an island.
🕹 Read a book where the MC builds or crafts something.
🕹 Read a book published during the COVID-19 Pandemic {let's go with 2020 - 2023}.
🕹 Read a book where at least two characters are neighbors.

Completion Post:

Video Game: Animal Crossing
Book/Author: Yellowface by R.F. Kuang
Date Read: 03/06/24
Task: Read a book published during the COVID-19 Pandemic {let's go with 2020 - 2023}.
How it Fits: Published in July 1, 2023.

🕹 🎮 👾 Game 6: March 15th ~ Asteroids 👾 🎮 🕹



To Level Up on this game, complete ONE of the following:

🕹 Read a book with a mostly black cover. {Your discretion.}
🕹 Read a book that has between 40,000 and 60,000 ratings on Goodreads.
🕹 Read a book where the MC's first initial is found in ASTEROIDS.
🕹 Read a book where the characters have a meeting of some kind.

Completion Post:

Video Game: Asteroids
Book/Author: Fall by Kristen Callihan
Date Read: 03/15/24
Task: Read a book where the MC's first initial is found in ASTEROIDS.
How it Fits: FMC's name is Stella.

🕹 🎮 👾 Game 7: April 1st ~ Grand Theft Auto 👾 🎮 🕹



To Level Up on this game, complete ONE of the following:

🕹 Read a book where a theft occurs.
🕹 Read a book with a character who is in law enforcement.
🕹 Read a book with an adult nature or violent themes.
🕹 Read a book that mentions a well-known rock-n-roll figure or has them as a character.

Completion Post:

Video Game: Grand Theft Auto
Book/Author: Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld
Date Read: 04/01/24
Task: Read a book that mentions a well-known rock-n-roll figure or has them as a character.
How it Fits: Pg. 291: “Just to be boringly predictable, mostly musicians. Jimi Hendrix, The Velvet Underground, the cover of Nirvana’s Nevermind album.

🕹 🎮 👾 Game 8: April 15th ~ Frogger 👾 🎮 🕹



To Level Up on this game, complete ONE of the following:

🕹 Read a book with a vehicle on the cover.
🕹 Read a book where characters die in more than one manner.
🕹 Read a book with a title that starts with a letter in SEGA.
🕹 Read a book with a 5 in the page count.

Completion Post:

Video Game: Frogger
Book/Author: The Reappearance of Rachel Price by Holly Jackson
Date Read: 04/20/24
Task: Read a book with a 5 in the page count.
How it Fits: 454 pages

🕹 🎮 👾 Game 9: May 1st ~ Call of Duty 👾 🎮 🕹



To Level Up on this game, complete ONE of the following:

🕹 Read a book tagged WAR.
🕹 Read a book with a military or veteran character.
🕹 Read a book that is controversial in some way.
🕹 Read a book with the word OF found in the title/subtitle.

Completion Post:

Video Game: Call of Duty
Book/Author: Leslie F*cking Jones by Leslie Jones
Date Read: 05/02/24
Task: Read a book with a military or veteran character.
How it Fits: The author's dad was an Army veteran.

🕹 🎮 👾 Game 10: May 15th ~ Centipede 👾 🎮 🕹



To Level Up on this game, complete ONE of the following:

🕹 Read a book where every letter in A-T-A-R-I can be found in the title/subtitle.
🕹 Read a book that has the word FLEA or MUSHROOM in the text.
🕹 Read a book with some type of bug or insect on the cover.
🕹 Read a book by an author who has written more than one series, like Ed Logg has produced more than one video game.

Completion Post:

Video Game: Centipede
Book/Author: Funny Story by Emily Henry
Date Read: 05/15/24
Task: Read a book that has the word FLEA or MUSHROOM in the text.
How it Fits: Pg. 153: “You need to scrape that roadkill off your face,” she says, beelining toward the fridge. “I think I just got fleas.”

🕹 🎮 👾 Game 11: June 1st ~ Super Smash Bros. 👾 🎮 🕹



To Level Up on this game, complete ONE of the following:

🕹 Read a book published in the 1990s.
🕹 Read a book with an abbreviation in the title.
🕹 Read a book where the author's first AND last initials are found in NINTENDO.
🕹 Read a book that is a "crossover," meaning it appears as part of more than one series.

Completion Post:

Video Game: Super Smash Bros.
Book/Author: Slappy Birthday to You by R.L. Stine
Date Read: 06/02/24
Task: Read a book that is a "crossover," meaning it appears as part of more than one series.
How it Fits: This book belongs to two series namely Goosebumps SlappyWorld (#1) and Night of the Living Dummy (#9).

🕹 🎮 👾 Game 12: Game 12: June 15th ~ Halo 👾 🎮 🕹



To Level Up on this game, complete ONE of the following:

🕹 Read a book with an MPG of SCI-FI / SCIENCE FICTION.
🕹 Read a book where the MC's first initial is NOT found in MICROSOFT.
🕹 Read a book with a one-word title.
🕹 Read a book that has its own line of merchandise, like t-shirts, mugs, etc.

Completion Post:

Video Game: Halo
Book/Author: Changing Course by Aly Martinez
Date Read: 06/16/24
Task: Read a book where the MC's first initial is NOT found in MICROSOFT.
How it Fits: MMC's name is Brett.

🕹 🎮 👾 Game 13: July 1st ~ Sonic the Hedgehog 👾 🎮 🕹



To Level Up on this game, complete ONE of the following:

🕹 Read a book set in Japan.
🕹 Read a book where the MC is a scientist.
🕹 Read a book with an animal on the cover.
🕹 Read a book with a title that DOES NOT start with a letter in SONIC.

Completion Post:

Video Game: Sonic the Hedgehog
Book/Author: Perfectly Nice Neighbors by Kia Abdullah
Date Read: 07/01/24
Task: Read a book with a title that DOES NOT start with a letter in SONIC.
How it Fits: Title starts with 'P'.

🕹 🎮 👾 Game 14: July 15th ~ Donkey Kong 👾 🎮 🕹



To Level Up on this game, complete ONE of the following:

🕹 Read a book where you know the MC's first and last name.
🕹 Read a book with a character who has a son, like Donkey Kong, Jr.
🕹 Read a book where the MC runs into obstacles, physically or metaphorically.
🕹 Read a book with an animal character.

Completion Post:

Video Game: Donkey Kong
Book/Author: Still Me by Jojo Moyes
Date Read: 07/17/24
Task: Read a book where you know the MC's first and last name.
How it Fits: FMC's name is Louisa Elizabeth Clark.

🕹 🎮 👾Game 15: August 1st ~ The Sims 👾 🎮 🕹



To Level Up on this game, complete ONE of the following:

🕹 Read a book published in the 2000s {2000 - 2009}.
🕹 Read a book where something is destroyed by fire.
🕹 Read a book where the MC gets married and/or has a baby.
🕹 Read a book where a character's home is described.

Completion Post:

Video Game: Sims
Book/Author: Wait for You by J. Lynn
Date Read: 08/01/24
Task: Read a book where a character's home is described.
How it Fits: Describing the Hamilton's kitchen: We stayed in the spacious kitchen, at the scuffed oak table that was just the right size to seat four or five people, drinking the coffee Cam’s mother had made.

🕹 🎮 👾Game 16: August 15th ~ World of Warcraft 👾 🎮 🕹



To Level Up on this game, complete ONE of the following:

🕹 Read a book where the MC goes on a quest of some kind. {Be creative.}
🕹 Read a book with opposing factions.
🕹 Read a book where a character belongs to a guild, or a group.
🕹 Read a book with an author who has double letters in either name, like Blizzard does.

Completion Post:

Video Game: World of Warcraft
Book/Author: The Housemaid Is Watching by Freida McFadden
Date Read: 08/15/24
Task: Read a book with an author who has double letters in either name, like Blizzard does.
How it Fits: Freida McFadden

🕹 🎮 👾Game 17: September 1st ~ Stardew Valley 👾 🎮 🕹


To Level Up on this game, complete ONE of the following:

🕹 Read a book published in the 2010s {2010 - 2019}.
🕹 Read a book where a grandparent dies or more than one season is mentioned.
🕹 Read a book set on a farm or in a small town.
🕹 Read a book where the MC fishes, cooks, crafts, or explores.

Completion Post:

Video Game: Stardew Valley
Book/Author: Defending Jacob by William Landay
Date Read: 09/07/24
Task: Read a book published in the 2010s {2010 - 2019}.
How it Fits: Published on September 3, 2013.

🕹 🎮 👾Game 18: September 15th ~ Space Invaders 👾 🎮 🕹


To Level Up on this game, complete ONE of the following:

🕹 Read a book set in space.
🕹 Read a book that you think is very influential.
🕹 Read a book where a pop culture icon is mentioned.
🕹 Read a book where an invasion takes place.

Completion Post:

Video Game: Space Invaders
Book/Author: Crossroads by Devney Perry
Date Read: 09/15/24
Task: Read a book where a pop culture icon is mentioned.
How it Fits: Pg. 256: “What’s that song?” He listened for a moment. “Sounds like ‘Here Comes the Sun.’” He was right. That was it. “Dad loved the Beatles.”

🕹 🎮 👾Game 19: October 1st ~ Fortnite 👾 🎮 🕹


To Level Up on this game, complete ONE of the following:

🕹 Read a book with at least 6 different editions listed on Goodreads.
🕹 Read a book that you would describe as EPIC.
🕹 Read a book published in December of any year.
🕹 Read a book that was an instant success.

Completion Post:

Video Game: Fortnite
Book/Author: Planes, Trains, and All the Feels by Livy Hart
Date Read: 10/01/24
Task: Read a book with at least 6 different editions listed on Goodreads.
How it Fits: https://www.goodreads.com/work/editio...

🕹 🎮 👾Game 20: October 15th ~ Wii Sports 👾 🎮 🕹


To Level Up on this game, complete ONE of the following:

🕹 Read a book that has a main menu, or Table of Contents.
🕹 Read a book that various ages of readers could enjoy.
🕹 Read a book with AI, or Artificial Intelligence.
🕹 Read a book where a character watches or participates in tennis, baseball, bowling, golf, or boxing.

Completion Post:

Video Game: Wii Sports
Book/Author: Influencer by Adam Cesare
Date Read: 10/15/24
Task: Read a book that has a main menu, or Table of Contents.
How it Fits: This book has table of contents.

🕹 🎮 👾Game 21: November 1st ~ Minecraft 👾 🎮 🕹


To Level Up on this game, complete ONE of the following:

🕹 Read a book where the title starts with a letter in MOJANG.
🕹 Read a book that was won more than one award.
🕹 Read a book with either the word HOSTILE or PEACEFUL found in the text.
🕹 Read a book with a character named Steve or Alex.

Completion Post:

Video Game: Minecraft
Book/Author: One of Us Is Dead by Jeneva Rose
Date Read: 11/03/24
Task: Read a book where the title starts with a letter in MOJANG.
How it Fits: O title.

🕹 🎮 👾Game 22: November 15th ~ Super Mario Bros. 👾 🎮 🕹


To Level Up on this game, complete ONE of the following:

🕹 Read a book that features brothers, like Mario and Luigi.
🕹 Read a book where a character is rescued, like Princess Peach.
🕹 Read a book set in a fictional place, like Mushroom Kingdom.
🕹 Read a book with alternating points of view, like when there's a Player Two.

Completion Post:

Video Game: Super Mario
Book/Author: Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult
Date Read: 11/15/24
Task: Read a book set in a fictional place, like Mushroom Kingdom.
How it Fits: Set in Sterling, New Hampshire.

🕹 🎮 👾Game 23: December 1st ~ Pitfall! 👾 🎮 🕹



To Level Up on this game, complete ONE of the following:

🕹 Read a book at least partially set in a jungle.
🕹 Read a book that was based on or influenced by a movie.
🕹 Read a book with a simple design on the cover. {Your discretion.}
🕹 Read a book that quickly became your favorite, since Pitfall! is my favorite game of all time!

Completion Post:

Video Game: Pitfall!
Book/Author: The Serial Killer’s Daughter by Alice Hunter
Date Read: 12/02/24
Task: Read a book with a simple design on the cover. {Your discretion.}
How it Fits:

🕹 🎮 👾Game 24: December 15th ~ Tetris 👾 🎮 🕹



To Level Up on this game, complete ONE of the following:

🕹 Read a book set in Russia.
🕹 Read a book where a character works on any kind of puzzle.
🕹 Read a book with a title that starts with a letter in PASCAL.
🕹 Read a book where the author's first AND last names DO NOT start with a letter in TETRIS.

Completion Post:

Video Game: Tetris
Book/Author: Fear Is Just a Word: A Missing Daughter, a Violent Cartel, and a Mother's Quest for Vengeance by Azam Ahmed
Date Read: 12/16/24
Task: Read a book where the author's first AND last names DO NOT start with a letter in TETRIS.
How it Fits: Azam Ahmed