Around the Year in 52 Books discussion

In 2025, I will try to update my progress regularly. 😃

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POP CHART LAB'S 100 ESSENTIAL NOVELS CHALLENGE


January 1, 2018 - December 31, 2028

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Read the 100 essential novels listed on the chart by the end of 2028.

3/10 TASKS FOR 2025 COMPLETED
57/100 TASKS FOR 2028 COMPLETED

Progress maintained at https://www.listchallenges.com

1. The Crying of Lot 49 by Thomas Pynchon

2. White Noise by Don DeLillo

3. My Ántonia by Willa Cather

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

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***

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2025 BOOK CHALLENGE



#BNReadingChallenge

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Read 52 books that fulfill the prompts listed below.

I love the suggested titles! The link is as follows:
www.barnesandnoble.com/blog/2025-year...

46/52 books ✔ = read

✔ 1. Meditative:
[This book redirected my focus to the natural world and encouraged me to give thought to its wonders.]

World of Wonders by Aimee Nezhukumatathil

✔ 2. Adventurous:
[A historical fiction tale involving the early life of a female Russian spy]

Polostan by Neal Stephenson

✔ 3. Dystopian:

The Forever War by Joe Haldeman

✔ 4. Empowerment:

Heartwood by Amity Gaige

✔ 5. Translated:
[Japanese to English]

Hotel Lucky Seven by Kōtarō Isaka

😞🚫 6. Poetry

✔ 7. Classic:

My Ántonia by Willa Cather

😞🚫8. Banned

✔ 9. Pioneering:

Playground by Richard Powers

✔ 10. Devastating:

The Names by Florence Knapp

✔ 11. Memoir:

On Animals by Susan Orlean

✔ 12. Award Winner:
[Booker Prize]

Time Shelter by Georgi Gospodinov

✔ 13. Avoided:
[This has been on my TBR shelf for 10 yrs. My avoidance was not intentional, but I found that I would skip over in lieu of another book. ]

Don't Point That Thing at Me by Kyril Bonfiglioli

✔ 14. STEM
[Bits of STEM woven into fictional plot.]

The Secret of Secrets by Dan Brown

✔ 15. Historical:
[This tale is based upon the true events that occurred on Malaga Island from the mid-1800s to 1912.]

This Other Eden by Paul Harding

✔16. Young Adult:

The Fork, the Witch, and the Worm by Christopher Paolini

✔ 17. Medieval

The Stone Witch of Florence by Anna Rasche

✔ 18. Investigative:

Head Cases by John McMahon

✔ 19. Fantasy:

Blood Over Bright Haven by M.L. Wang

✔ 20. Humanities:
[captures the cultural aspects of Chicken Hill, PA during the 1930s, including nods to many gifted artists of the time]

The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride

✔ 21. Fierce:
[It tells of many violent encounters and great beasts]

Dragon Rider by Taran Matharu

✔ 22. Contemporary:

Bad Nature by Ariel Courage

✔ 23. Narrative:
[An anonymous narrator recounts the case.]

The Honjin Murders by Seishi Yokomizo

✔24. Massive:
[It is over 500 pages and strains the wrist, so I deem it appropriate 😊]

Grave Empire by Richard Swan

✔ 25. Comic :

How to Age Disgracefullyby Clare Pooley

✔ 26. Beachy:
[A craft-themed, cozy mystery that one could enjoy on the beach]

Crewel World by Monica Ferris

😞🚫27. Prequel

✔ 28. Relaxing:

The Road to Roswell by Connie Willis

✔ 29. Glamorous:
This mystery takes place on the idyllic island of Alderney during a literary festival upon the beautiful estate of one of its wealthy sponsors, Charles le Mesurier.

A Line to Kill by Anthony Horowitz

😞🚫30. Graphic Novel

✔ 31. Romance:

The Palace of Eros by Caro De Robertis

😞🚫32. True Crime

✔ 33. Iconic:
[Iconic piece of postmodern literature]

White Noise by Don DeLillo

✔ 34. Haunting:

Gliff by Ali Smith

✔ 35. Deceitful:

Starter Villain by John Scalzi

✔ 36. Literary
[Postmodern literature]

The Crying of Lot 49 by Thomas Pynchon

✔37. Travel:
Siblings meet each other and travel across the country to catch up with their polygamous, runaway father.]

Run for the Hills by Kevin Wilson

✔ 38. Epic:

The Wolf by Leo Carew

✔ 39. Paranormal:
[One uncle is able to converse with ghosts.]

Mystery Royale by Kaitlyn Cavalancia

✔ 40. Art:
[Salvador Dalí and his painting are featured in this tale]

In the Garden of Monsters by Crystal King

✔ 41. Dark:

How to Kill Your Family by Bella Mackie

✔ 42. Vampire:

The Devils by Joe Abercrombie

✔ 43. Gothic:

Strange Beasts by Susan J. Morris

✔ 44. Thriller:

The Antique Hunter's Guide to Murder by C.L. Miller

✔ 45. Horror:
[Horrific premise: most of the US population turn into homicidal maniacs from which a non-affected family must escape]

Run by Blake Crouch

✔ 46. High Fantasy:

Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros

😞🚫47. Celebrity Bio

✔ 48. Magical Realism:

Water Moon by Samantha Sotto Yambao

✔ 49. Family:

Intermezzo by Sally Rooney

✔ 50. Short Story:
This is a short Gatsby twist.

Don't Sleep with the Dead by Nghi Vo

✔ 51. Timeless:
This is a reimagining of the timeless Snow White tale.]

Hemlock & Silver by T. Kingfisher

✔ 52. Intended:
[This book crossed my radar solely because of another reading challenge.]

Hunter's Moon: A Novel in Stories by Philip Caputo

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***THE FUN HAS BEGUN!***

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MY LIBRARY'S ADULT 2025 WINTER READING CHALLENGE



February 1, 2025 - February 28, 2025

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*******BOOKS*******
8 BOOKS READ

1. Water Moon by Samantha Sotto Yambao
2. How to Age Disgracefully by Clare Pooley
3. Blood Over Bright Haven by M.L. Wang
4. Head Cases by John McMahon
5. Crewel World by Monica Ferris
6. The Crying of Lot 49 by Thomas Pynchon
7. Dragon Rider by Taran Matharu
8. Gliff by Ali Smith


*****TIME SPENT READING*****
10/10 BADGES

1. 30 min
2. 1 hr
3. 1 hr 30 min
4. 2 hr
5. 2 hr 30 min
6. 3 hr
7. 3 hr 30 min
8. 4 hr
9. 4 hr 30 min
10. 5 hr

*****CHALLENGE ACTIVITIES*****
2/2 BADGES EARNED

1. Register for challenge.

2. Complete challenge.


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MY LIBRARY'S ADULT 2025 SUMMER READING CHALLENGE



June 23, 2025 - Aug 16, 2025

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*******BOOKS READ*******
4/4 BADGES EARNED

#1: READ 1 BOOK
1. The Honjin Murders by Seishi Yokomizo

#2: READ 3 BOOKS
2. The Usual Desire to Kill by Camilla Barnes
3. Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall

#3: READ 5 BOOKS
4. The Man Who Was Thursday: A Nightmare by G.K. Chesterton
5. On Animals by Susan Orlean

#4: READ 10 OR MORE BOOKS
6. The Lamb by Lucy Rose
7. Ink Ribbon Red by Alex Pavesi
8. Don't Sleep with the Dead by Nghi Vo
9. The Complete Book of Pickleball: The Ultimate Training Guide for Passionate Players of All Levels by Kurt, Brett, and Mike Brungardt
10.The Fork, the Witch, and the Worm by Christopher Paolini


*****TIME SPENT READING*****
5/5 BADGES

#1: 60 minutes
#2: 120 minutes
#3: 300 minutes
#4: 600 minutes
#5: 800 minutes


*****PAGES READ*****
5/5 BADGES

#1: 60 PAGES
#2: 150 PAGES
#3: 300 PAGES
#4: 500 PAGES
#5: 1000 PAGES


*****CHALLENGE ACTIVITIES*****
6/11 BADGES EARNED

#1: PRIDE BOOKS
Read a book written by an LGBTQ+ author or featuring LGBTQ+ themes.
Don't Sleep with the Dead by Nghi Vo
Vo identifies as queer.

#2 BEACH READ:
Read a book (of ANY genre!) at the beach.

#3: BIPOC VOICES
Read a book by a BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, or Person of Color) author.
The Honjin Murders by Seishi Yokomizo
Yokomizo is Japanese.

#4: CRAFT
Attend one of the library's Teen Craft Fairs.
I attended the craft fair on July 5. There were so many creative items offered, but my eye finally settled upon the terrariums.

#5. GRAPHIC NOVELS:
Check out a comic, graphic novel, or manga from the library.

#6: LISTEN
Listen to a song that reminds you of a book.
I borrowed My Chemical Romance's The Black Parade Album, which has several songs that are relative to the books that I read over the summer as well as some that I have read in the past. "Blood" could pair well with "The Lamb," and "Mama," "Famous Last Words," and many others could be sung by Nick Carraway in a "Don't Sleep with the Dead" musical adaption. "Teenager," of course, immediately brought to mind "Clockwork Orange."

#7: NEW HOBBY
Find a book from our collection and use it to fuel something you've been interested in but never pursued, or something new.
I read a book about training for pickleball and then played.

#8 NOT JUST BOOKS: Check out something from our Library of Things collection.

#9: SEE THE WORLD
Read a book in translation from another country.
I read by The Honjin Murders by Seishi Yokomizo, which was translated from Japanese.

#10 VERSES:
Check out a book of poetry.

#11 YES, CHEF:
Check out a cookbook and cook or bake a new dish

*****REVIEWS*****
1/5 BADGES EARNED

#1: 1 REVIEW
Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall

#2 3 REVIEWS
#3 5 REVIEWS
#4 10 REVIEWS
#5 20 REVIEWS
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While I did not complete all of my goals, I did enjoy the challenges. Happy 2026!