2025 & 2026 Reading Challenge discussion

PLOT TWISTS & PLAYLISTS
Duration: January 1 - December 31, 2026

Love books? Love music? With this challenge, enjoy them both all year long!

For this challenge, choose some of your favorite music and read books that somehow relate to your all time favorite songs!

This is YOUR challenge so the books you choose can relate to the songs in whatever way works for you. It could be the release dates, words in the titles, or even a personal experience the song makes you think of.

Some examples:

Book: One True Loves (The husband in the book is named Jesse.)
Song: "Jessie's Girl," by Rick Springfield

Book: Heart on a Leash (A dog on the cover appears to have a smile on its face.)
Song: "Smile," by Uncle Kracker

Book: The BFG - published in 1982
Song: “Africa” by Toto – released in 1982

Book: Stay
Song: “Stay,” by Sugarland (Title in common)

How to Participate:

1. Post here telling the challenge leader how many books you plan to read.
You may choose your books at the beginning, or add them as you go. You may join any time during the year, and may change your goal whenever needed.

2. When you finish books for the challenge, edit your original post or member’s corner thread to add them.
Instructions are in the how-to link below.

3. To have your progress updated, post a new comment here to let the challenge leader know.
Every time you post an update, be sure to include your original (sign-up) message number, the number of books you have completed, and your goal. We use your original message number to identify you, since multiple members may have the same profile name.
Example:
Update to message 32: 2/25 books read!

For more information about how our challenges work, visit this how-to thread or ask your challenge leader.

P.S. Please do not delete posts! It changes the message numbers, complicating the update process for both leaders and participants. If you wish to leave the challenge, simply post a comment here to let us know. You may edit your original post to say {deleted}. Thank you!

Participants:

Reserved by backup moderator

Sign me up for 20 books. Thanks.
Love this idea!

Plot Twists & Playlists

1. Book: Eight Perfect Murders (Eight)
... Song: "Eight Days a Week" by The Beatles

2. Book: A Man Called Otto (Song was used in the trailer for A Man Called Otto.)
... Song: "End of the Line" by Traveling Wilburys

3. Book: ... (black and white cover)
... Song: "Ebony and Ivory" by Paul McCartney & Stevie Wonder

4. Book: ... (a murder mystery)
... Song: "Another One Bites the Dust" by Queen

5. Book: Children of Ruin (The need for help.)
... Song: "Gimme Shelter" by The Rolling Stones

6. Book:
... Song: "The Dark Side of the Moon" by Pink Floyd

7. Book: ... (time travel or time piece on cover)
... Song: "Time Is On My Side" by The Rolling Stones

8. Book: ... (young protagonist) (lyrics: "They say we're young, and we don't know...")
... Song: "I Got You Babe" by Sonny and Cher

9. Book: Airport by Arthur Hailey
... Song: "Leaving On a Jet Plane" by John Denver

10. Book: A Is for Alibi (publication/release 1982)
..... Song: "Don't Stop Believing" by Journey

11. Book: Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing (Theme song for TV show Friends)
.... Song: "I'll Be There for You" by Rembrandts

12. Book: (set in hotel)
.... Song: "Hotel California" by The Eagles

13. Book: The White Album (song is on The White Album.)
.... Song: "Back in the U.S.S.R." by The Beatles

14. Book: The Devil's Advocate (devil)
.... Song: "Sympathy for the Devil" by The Rolling Stones

15. Book: Somewhere Beyond the Sea (title and lyrics)
.... Song: "Beyond the Sea" by Bobby Darin

16. Book: The Castaways (theme)
.... Song: "The Ballad of Gilligan’s Isle” by Sherwood Schwartz and George Wyle

17. Book: ... (Star Trek book) (theme song from TV show Star Trek)
.... Song: "Where No Man Has Gone Before” by Alexander Courage

18. Book: Heat Wave (title)
.... Song: "Heat Wave" by Holland–Dozier–Holland

19. Book: ... (Oz retelling) (Wizard of Oz)
.... Song: "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" by Elton John

I am going to do 24 songs (2 per month)

1. With or Without You by U2
2. One Tree Hill by U2

3. Time After Time by Cyndi Lauper
4. Flowers by Miley Cyrus

5. Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen
6. You Want it Darker by Leonard Cohen

7. (Sitting On) The Dock of the Bay by Otis Redding
8. Vampire by Olivia Rodrigo

9. Long Live by Taylor Swift
10. Anti-Hero by Taylor Swift

11. You're So Vain by Carly Simon
12. A Bar Song (Tipsy) by Shaboozey

13. Ahead by a Century by the Tragically Hip
14. 50 Mission Cap by the Tragically Hip

15. Dancing with Myself by Billy Idol
16. Rebel Yell by Billy Idol

17. Dani California by the Red Hot Chili Peppers
18. Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd

19. Science Fiction Double Feature (from the Rocky Horror Picture Show)
20. Time Warp (from the Rocky Horror Picture Show)

21. Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen
22. White Rabbit by Jefferson Airplane

23. I Believe in Father Christmas by Greg Lake
24. Fairytale of New York by the Pogues