2026 Reading Challenge discussion

Hello! My name is Jennifer, I am 37 and live in Jacksonville, FL.

I am a cancer survivor and the after effects (chemo brain fog mostly) have made reading harder for me. According to my Granny, I started reading at 4 and haven't stopped since, well except for the years I was in active treatment. I had nothing better to do and was desperate to read but I couldn't retain or even comprehend what I was reading. I still need to go back to re-read Becoming because I read that while I was in the hospital on morphine and that was surprisingly easier than some I read in the two years after.

My goal this year is 52! Back to my old Jennifer reading goals which is fun.

As it's already April I am well into my 2024 reading. I will break down everything by month so that I don't have to make too many more posts to catch up.

I am participating in three reading challenges, two from another GR group and one from my local library, and I am a member of three in-person book clubs, two of which I attend every month and the third I attend when they read something I am already interested in. I will put the details of these groups/challenges in my monthly posts.

Happy Reading!

Welcome to our corner of the world! I commend you for being so active with your reading. There is lots to do in our group. Wishing you all the best with your goal. I also love talking books feel free to reach out and welcome again!

Greetings from deep South Texas, Jennifer. Like you, I am a cancer survivor. Like you, I found that the numerous treatments, plus some strokes, have changed my reading habits, practices, and abilities.
Goodreads can be an awesome "place". Have fun on your adventures.

If anyone would like more details about anything I mention below please ask but I will not be putting links in because I am not sure if that goes against the community guidelines and don't want anyone to feel like I am being pushy.

Book Clubs

My book clubs are in-person (Jacksonville, FL) and one meets both in-person and virtually depending on the host's schedule.

Bookclub #1: Femme Fire Book Club: run by my favorite local indie bookstore Femme Fire Books. The bookstore owner curates the shop to try and give us a view of underrepresented authors and topics. This is also how she picks the monthly book club picks. I have been a member of this one since early last year and it is my absolute favorite monthly social engagement. I have made so many great friends here and feel like I am a part of the community the owner has built.

Bookclub #2: Filipinx (Femme Fire): run by an employee of the above-mentioned bookstore. This one is geared towards reading books written by Filipinx authors. Jacksonville has a huge Filipinx population including our beloved shop owner, employees, and members of our community. It's starting small but I have no doubt it will grow into a huge group soon enough.

Book club #3: Bougie Book Club: run by a local book-tocker. (is that spelled right? lol) The books picked are written by BIPOC authors. The ladies in this club are awesome and even though I have only attended one in-person meeting I already feel like a part of their community. The last few meetings have been virtual but have also conflicted with other things I had scheduled so I've only participated in this one once. I do keep an eye on the books they pick and I hope to be able to participate again soon.

Challenges

I have decided to be judicious in deciding which challenges to take on this year because I don't want to overwhelm myself when I am just getting back into my reading comfort zone.

Challenge #1: Jax Stacks Challenge: I always try to do the local library's Jax Stacks Reading Challenge. At the beginning of each year, the library will come out with a list of 16 challenge items and ask that you complete 12 of them to win the challenge. You win a coupon for the annual Friends of the Library sale and then can choose from a handful of library merch items. I have never actually turned my challenge in for a prize but I like to do this one because they always include things like (item #1 this year) a book by a 2024 Lit Chat Author (their lit chats are awesome too and with some great authors!), (item #10 this year) a book by a local Jacksonville author, and always my favorite, (item #11 this year) a Pulitzer prize-winning book.

Challenge #2: Annual A-Z Book Title Challenge: exactly as it sounds. I am a member of a womans group here on GR that comes up with all kinds of fun annual, semi-annual, quarterly, and monthly reading challenges. It's full of fun snarky women who love to read. I thought this one would be good for me to knock off some of the old items on my TBR. Which takes me to my last challenge.

Challenge #3: Annual TBR Takedown Challenge: this one is a challenge from the same group mentioned above. This one is geared toward crossing off those old af TBR entries and gaining a sense of accomplishment. I have a book buying problem and have some books that have been physically sitting on my bookshelves for 5+ years which to me is crazy. I want to just give them away but I can't bring myself to do so until I've read them. Part of this challenge is also that you can make your own parameters. There is a list of 52 items to cross off but otherwise, you can pick how you do so. You can work on books you own only, physical books only, pick a genre, and stick to that, however, your heart desires is how you can run this challenge. I love that it's helpful to knock off my TBR without being so restrictive because that's when a challenge will lose me. I have chosen to focus on books on my physical bookshelves. I have also been listening to these books on audiobook, as in I own the physical copy but rent the audiobook from the library so that I can multitask and do some dishes while I knock off some TBR books.

I am not opposed to joining more challenges but I don't want to overwhelm myself. I also need to use my read books for all the challenges I do and so I only participate in challenges where the host has said that is ok, or that it is not frowned upon. There was another local challenge I wanted to join but they asked that the books used for their challenge be only used for their challenge and I am unable to commit to 52 books this year that I cannot apply to multiple challenges.

Happy Reading!

I'm impressed with your organizational and communication skills. You must be a very logical and analytical person. I look forward to following your progress.

January 2024
Read 2/52


3.5/5 stars
This was my first YA in a while and it dealt with generational trauma. The writing felt like the author put her heart and soul into this work and probably used some of her personal experiences as inspiration.
*Book Club: Femme Fire Filipinix
*A-Z Challenge: 9. I
* TBR Takedown: 16. Select a book by an author you’ve never read before.


3.5/5 stars
This is a contemporary fiction novel about a Palestinian American woman who is struggling to tell her mom that she is bi. She was raised in America but has very close ties to the Middle East and so travels back and forth. We get to see some of the realities of life in places like the West Bank. Eye opening but I still wanted more than I got out of this one.
*Book Club: Femme Fire BC
*A-Z Challenge: 25. Y
* TBR Takedown: 4. Select a book with a title that starts with O, Q, U, V, X, Y or Z

Blagica wrote: "Welcome to our corner of the world! I commend you for being so active with your reading. There is lots to do in our group. Wishing you all the best with your goal. I also love talking books feel fr..."

Thank you! I am trying to be more active and intentional with my reading so I appreciate that it's apparent. The group looks fun, I am excited to explore more.

Elizabeth wrote: "Greetings from deep South Texas, Jennifer. Like you, I am a cancer survivor. Like you, I found that the numerous treatments, plus some strokes, have changed my reading habits, practices, and abilit..."

Thank you, Elizabeth! I hate that cancer changes our habits so much as to affect reading but it's the reality. I agree, I love GR and have found lots of places on here where I feel like I can talk freely about the books I read and want to read.

Elizabeth wrote: "I'm impressed with your organizational and communication skills. You must be a very logical and analytical person. I look forward to following your progress."

Thank you!! Before cancer, I worked in finance and have always been a stickler for organization. I'm also a spreadsheet nerd and love making charts and lists of my reading. That's why when I saw that each member creates their own topic and tracks their reading here I was excited because I typically do this but have nowhere to use the info.

February 2024
Read 3
Total 5/52


4.5/5 stars
This is a book of short stories. As per the blurb, all about 'women at their breaking point' which in my review I point out is redundant because all women are 'at their breaking point'. These stories range from really fun to ok. I love the one about the women who become cockroach-women hybrids. Sounds fun, I'd be in line to sign up for that. The Cassandra of the title is the one from Greek mythology who rejected Apollo and found out what a scorned man is like (like a terrifying child). A fitting title for these stories as they're mostly about women who, against their will or despite their hard work, end up with the short end of the stick. I will be re-reading this one at some point because my memory is crap and short stories are super easy (and quick) to read.
*A-Z Challenge: 19. S
* TBR Takedown: 1. Select a book from your TBR with a mostly green or blue cover.
* Jax Stacks: 16. A book based on mythology



5/5 stars
Net Galley Read
The second in a series about an author who finds himself in hairy situations and writes about them. The first, Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone, was so fun that I requested this one on NG and was ecstatic when I was approved! My favorite part of these mystery novels is the narrator (and protagonist) Earnest. He's funny and witty and I enjoy reading in his voice. This one involves a murder on a train across the Australian outback, so on top of it being a great character, the setting was also perfect! I love a good mystery on a train ala the great Christie.
*A-Z Challenge: 5. E



4/5 stars
This is a novel set in Victorian London about besties who realize they want more from their relationship. LGBTQ romance is a new genre for me but it was so fun! I am not typically a romance novel person but I trust the judgment of my book club leader and I am happy I did because this was a story of a swoon-worthy friendship turned love. The characters were awesome too. Beth and Gwen are such great characters that I will probably read the sequel just because I want more of them.
*Book Club: Femm Fire BC
*A-Z Challenge: 4. D
* TBR Takedown: 37. Select a book with a mostly purple cover.
* Jax Stacks: 8. A book with an LGBTQIA+ protagonist.

March 2024
Read 6
Total 11/52


4/5 stars
This is a novel about a mixed race black woman 'passing' as white in the twentieth century on the West Coast of the US. She was conceived when her mother was assaulted by the son of her employer. Her mother always tried to teach her what was right and wrong but also showed her how to pass as a little girl. They use this to their advantage and gain access to places like movie theatres they otherwise would have been barred from. She takes this out to Hollywood and we get to see the perilous path she walks. I listened to this one on audiobook and it's a re-read. I read it the year it came out but re-read it for a book club. I love this one and I will re-read it at some point.
* Book Club: Bougie BC
* TBR Takedown: 27. Pick a book that takes place in a country or state you would like to visit.



3.5/5 stars
This one is a sci-fi mystery about a woman who has been resurrected after her murder. Her memories and thoughts have been pieced together into a clone of her body. She is part of a group of women who were picked for this exciting development in science because they were all victims of the same serial killer and so naturally they all formed a support group that enabled them to talk about the weirdness that is being a clone. Meeting with the woman makes our protagonist question her own murder. She feels that it doesn't quite match up with the stories of the other women and so she starts to investigate. I own a copy of this one but rented the audiobook and was able to completely fly through it, so I recommend the audiobook version too.
* A-Z Challenge: 13. M
* TBR Takedown: 51. Select a book by a new to you or debut author.



4.5/5 stars
Ruth Ware is one of those authors that I can mostly auto-buy her books. Sure some are less exciting than others but none have ever been disappointing. This was one I saw at the used bookstore a while back and just hadn't read it yet. I would count this one as my favorite Ware, or at least up there in the top three. This one has so many elements that I love in a creepy thriller, tarot, trains, and a rainy English sea shore. This is a twisty story about a young woman who is incorrectly notified about an inheritance. She is desperate for money though so she takes a chance at tricking the family into thinking she is the Harriet they are looking for. I won't give any more away but I would recommend this one if you're a Ware fan!
* TBR Takedown: 12. Sort your TBR list by date added and read a book you added in your birthday month.



5/5 stars
This one is a re-read for me too. When my bookclub picked Be a Revolution: How Everyday People Are Fighting Oppression and Changing the World--And How You Can, Too I knew the author's name sounded familiar and I was excited when I realized it was the same author as this one! I read this one when it came out, I think it would've been 2018 so that's pre-cancer and everything. I decided to re-read this one before tackling the book club pick to be sure that it was fresh in my mind for our discussion. This is another where I listened to the audiobook (love Libby for library audiobooks) because the first time around I had read it and wanted to experience it a little differently. This is a book that is aimed at discussing some of the topics around race that many people have questions about but are too embarrassed to ask. The author did a really good job of breaking everything down while still holding ignorance accountable. I would absolutely think this is a book everyone could benefit from reading and I loved the audiobook version so I would enthusiastically recommend that version too.
* TBR Takedown: 9. Sort your TBR list by average rating and read a book that falls in the top 10 highest rated books.



4/5 stars
This is a thriller that feels like it's never going to end. And I mean that in a good way. This is a novel about a woman who is staying in a secluded home and writes a not-so-glowing review about a book. Oddly, the author replies to her review and it is not a pleasant conversation, to say the least. She has a dog with her and I want to stop here and say that the dog is ok, even when it seems like it may not be, the doggo survives and is ok in the end. Ok, back to the blurb. I think at about the 30% mark we get started on the action which felt super early and it is. It makes the remaining 70% of the book edge of your seat, can't put it down territory. There are so many twists in this that you will swear there is no possible way there could be more and then BAM, another twist. I would read more from this author, that suspense was insane. Also, one I own but rented the audiobook and the narrator did an excellent job, this was very well read.
* A-Z Challenge: 12. L
* TBR Takedown: 40. Read a book you meant to read in 2023.



5/5 stars
This one was a follow-up on how to make a difference even when it feels insurmountable. I am still trying to formulate a review of this one so I will just say that I love the author's writing style. She is so eloquent while being informative that it's so easy to read this even though it's a very heavy topic.
* Book Club: Femme Fire BC
* A-Z Challenge: 2. B
* TBR Takedown: 20. Sort your TBR list by date added and select the last book that you added.

April 2024
Read 8
Total 19/52
Week 18/52
36% Complete



3.5/5 stars
Dead Eleven is a horror novel about an island in Lake Michigan called Clifford Island. The island residents can be described as odd. They seem to be stuck in the 90s. Their fashion, their music, and even the movies they watch are straight out of 1994. We travel to the island first with Willow, a mother who has lost her child and lost her way. And then Harper, Willow’s brother. Harper is looking for Willow, as he has not heard from her for a while and the island was the last place he could track her. A monster lurks but we question if this monster is real, an urban legend, or just the author’s metaphor for something. I always love a good horror novel and this one fits that description well. My only complaint is that I felt the end was rushed and not well explained. Part of the ending is probably that it’s mysterious but I would have liked a little more than we got.
* TBR Takedown: 10. Choose your favorite number and read the book that corresponds with that number on your list.
* Jax Stacks: 13. A horror or dystopian novel.


3.5/5 stars
Siracusa is a lit fic about two couples who are friends and go on vacation to Sicily together. All of these people are unlikeable. I normally love an unlikeable narrator but these four pushed the limits. They are all bad people and bad partners to each other. I listened to this on audiobook and it was helpful because the narrator helped with keeping the story flowing. I would read more from this author but not anymore about these characters, please no more.
* TBR Takedown: 8. Sort your TBR list by date added and read the oldest book on that TBR.


4/5 stars
Horse Barbie is the memoir of an amazing woman, Geena Rocero. Geena is a model, activist, feminist, role model, and a proud trans woman. She was born and raised in the Philippines, moving to the West Coast of the US in her late teens and finally establishing herself as a rising star in NYC. She has given a TED talk, spoken at the White House, and in front of the Philippine government.
* Book Club: Femme Fire Filipinix
* A-Z Challenge: 8. H
* TBR Takedown: 44. Select a book that you’ve been wanting to read (or that everyone is talking about) and just haven’t had a chance to.


4/5 stars
This is my first graphic novel. I wasn't really into comics or graphic novels as a kid so as an adult I'd never even considered reading anything like this and I am so sad that I've been missing out for so long. I love this style, especially when applied to a memoir. It creates a depth that can be missed in a memoir about a culture so different from your own. Instead of wondering if what I am picturing when things are described is accurate, I am shown exactly what the author wants us to see. Marjane is such an interesting person. She's a true feminist and can see things objectively, even when she was wrong or could have been better. I love the way she describes her Persian culture. You can tell she has a love for it, even if those feelings may be complicated. I don't want to give too much of it away because I don't want to spoil the fun of reading this.
* A-Z Challenge: 16. P
* TBR Takedown: 6. Select a book that was published or set between 2000-2010.
* Jax Stacks: 9. A nonfiction graphic novel or comic book.


2.5/5 stars
Other People's Houses is a novel based on a snippet of the lives of a group of neighbors. There are chapters from each person's perspective and you get to hear all the things they think and say about each other. These people don't like each other very much, even though they seem to call each other friends at times. Another one where the characters were just too unlikeable for the novel to be super enjoyable.
* A-Z Challenge: 15. O
* TBR Takedown: 47. Read a book that has been on your TBR for five or more years.


2.5/5 stars
Chemistry is another lit fic that follows the life of a graduate student. This poor girl is under so much stress and in a bad relationship that you are just hoping she keeps it together by the end of the novel. I enjoyed the author’s writing and would read more from her.
* A-Z Challenge: 3. C
* TBR Takedown: 25. Read a book on your TBR that is currently a potential un haul.


3.5/5 stars
You’d Look Better as a Ghost is a fun novel about a serial killer. Claire is probably an undiagnosed sociopath. You don’t need to do much to slight her and get on her bad side. But yet, shes witty and smart. She’s also fiercely loyal to and protective of her father, which is why, when the nursing home nurse mistreats him she’s got no other choice than to go scorched earth. I love the dark humor of this novel. I would absolutely read more from this author.
* TBR Takedown: 23. Sort your TBR list by author and select a book by an author with the same first name as you or whose name starts with the same letter as your first name.


3.5/5 stars
Book of Goose is about best friends Agnes and Fabienne. Agnes is a child prodigy and writes a best-selling novel when she is in her early teens. This gets her out of her poor French village and all the way to America. The novel is narrated by Agnes later in life once she has heard that her old friend has died in childbirth. Agnes recounts their time together growing up and their relationship. The ending is abrupt and I had to go back to the beginning of the last chapter ( I listened to this one) because I thought I may have missed something. That was the consensus at book club too, most people felt that the ending needed something. I would read more from this author, I really liked her writing style and would even read more about Agenes and her flock of geese that helped name the book.
* Book Club: Femme Fire
* TBR Takedown: 48. Read a book with a white/mostly white cover.
* Jax Stacks: 2. A book with an eye-catching cover.

I've finally gotten a chance to go into the challenges for this group and I will be adding some to my above-mentioned challenges. I will be making one post per challenge and then updating that as I go.

I will be participating in the May - A Bouquet of Lillies Challenge

Pink - On Stage
Pink Cover
by Sierra Greer
by Busy Philipps

Green - Courier
Green cover
by Emilia Hart

Orange - Easy Love
Orange cover
by Janelle Brown
About Easy Love
by Julia Quinn

I will be participating in the Q2 Spring Cleaning Challenge with a goal of 10/20 prompts fufilled

0/20

📗 The thick - a book with more than 500 pages
📗 The thin - a book with less than 200 pages
📗 The pretty - a book with a pretty cover
📗 The ugly - a book with an ugly cover
📗 The unknown - a book with few reviews
📗 The exotic - a book set in an unvisited place
📗 The tough - a book that's a challenging read
📗 The random - a book that you've chosen blindly
📗 The old-timer - a book with more time waiting on your shelf
📗 The ancient - a book written long ago
📗 The sequel - a continuation
📗 The special - a must read
📗 The good - a book with the best ratings
📗 The bad - a book with the worst ratings
📗 The popular - a book with many reviews
📗 The well-connected - a book that someone recommended
📗 The cheap - a reduced-price book
📗 The expensive - a high-priced book
📗 The given - a free book
📗 The new - a new release

I will be participating in the Annual A-Z Title Challenge

16/26

A.
B. Be a Revolution: How Everyday People Are Fighting Oppression and Changing the World--And How You Can, Too by Ijeoma Oluo
C. Chemistry by Weike Wang
D. Don't Want You Like a Best Friend by Emma R. Alban
E. Everyone on This Train Is a Suspect by Benjamin Stevenson
F.
G. The Book of Goose by Yiyun Li
H. Horse Barbie by Geena Rocero
I. I'd Rather Burn Than Bloom by Shannon C.F. Rogers
J.
K. Did You Hear About Kitty Karr? by Crystal Smith Paul
L. The Last Word by Taylor Adams
M. My Murder by Katie Williams
N.
O. Other People's Houses by Abbi Waxman
P. The Complete Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi
Q.
R.
S. Shit Cassandra Saw by Gwen E. Kirby
T. So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo
U.
V.
W. The Death of Mrs. Westaway by Ruth Ware
X.
Y. You Exist Too Much by Zaina Arafat
Z.

I will be participating in the 2024 Annual Let's Turn Pages Challenge with a goal of 15,000 pages

6,178/15,000

January 2024 - 320 pages

I'd Rather Burn Than Bloom by Shannon C.F. Rogers - 320 pages

February 2024 - 1,262 pages

You Exist Too Much by Zaina Arafat - 272 pages
Shit Cassandra Saw by Gwen E. Kirby - 274 pages
Everyone on This Train Is a Suspect by Benjamin Stevenson - 320 pages
Don't Want You Like a Best Friend by Emma R. Alban - 396 pages

March 2024 - 1,932 pages

Did You Hear About Kitty Karr? by Crystal Smith Paul - 416 pages
My Murder by Katie Williams - 304 pages
The Death of Mrs. Westaway by Ruth Ware - 368 pages
So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo - 248 pages
The Last Word by Taylor Adams - 340 pages
Be a Revolution: How Everyday People Are Fighting Oppression and Changing the World--And How You Can, Too by Ijeoma Oluo - 256 pages

April 2024 - 2,664 pages

Dead Eleven by Jimmy Juliano - 439 pages
Siracusa by Delia Ephron - 304 pages
Horse Barbie by Geena Rocero - 320 pages
The Complete Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi - 341 pages
Other People's Houses by Abbi Waxman - 352 pages
Chemistry by Weike Wang - 224 pages
You'd Look Better as a Ghost by Joanna Wallace - 336 pages
The Book of Goose by Yiyun Li - 348 pages

Hey Jen,
I love the way you've set up and organized everything here. 😊 It looks as though you've been having a really good reading year thus far!

Would you recommend Little Rot? I enjoyed The Death of Vivek Oji but didn't really care for You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty so now I'm kind of on the fence about Emezi books.

Wishing you the best on your literary journey. Intrigued to see what else you'll be reading next.
Good luck and happy reading, Jen!