Hooked on Books discussion
2026: Time Traveler's Challenge
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The Temporal Trekkers
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Earn bonus years to accelerate your team's progress through the timeline! There are 8 possible bonuses per book (max), across several categories.
📅 Monthly Theme Bonuses (2 per month)
• Each month will have 2 Main Page Genre (MPG).
• Complete a task with a book from the monthly bonus genres to earn the bonus.
• These change monthly — check the HOMEBASE thread or your Team SS!
🗺️ Geographic & Temporal Collection Bonuses
• Unique Country Bonus: Earn a bonus for each new country (book setting ONLY) your TEAM reads from.
• Unique Publication Year Bonus: Earn a bonus for each new publication year your TEAM reads.
• Important: Uniqueness is tracked per team, not individually. Coordinate with your crew to maximize collection!
🌍 Diversity Reading Bonus
• Earn a bonus for reading a book by an author from an underrepresented group. (Updated from Book Quest: this is now author-related only, not based on genre or content.)
Underrepresented groups include: BIPOC authors, LGBTQ+ authors, authors with disabilities, neurodivergent authors, authors from marginalized religious groups, authors from developing nations, and indigenous authors.⭐ Personal Badges
• Each month features unique personal badge challenges.
• These will be revealed when monthly tasks are posted.
🏺 Team Artifacts (Collective Bonuses)
These require entire team participation!
Team Read 📚
All team members read the same book and participate in an approved Buddy Read discussion thread.
Thematic Treasure Hunt 🔍
Your team finds books from your individual reading that share a common theme, motif, or symbol (like "fire," "moon," "rebirth," "keys," "mirrors"). Submit a combined "catalog" with quotes/examples showing the connection in your thread.
📝 Bonus Submission Notes:
• Claim bonuses on your team spreadsheet.
• For Diversity Bonus: Select the author's identity from the dropdown when claiming.
• For Unique Country/Year: Your team tracker will show your growing collection via a map.
• Team Artifacts require special submission in the thread!
Remember: Each bonus earned = +2 years on your timeline! Strategic bonus hunting can accelerate your journey dramatically. ⏱️✨
🌀 TEMPORAL ANOMALIES (Special Limited-Time Bonus)
• Watch for surprise bonus tasks with specific time-limited windows.
• A fun way to earn a quick burst of years — stay alert!
Hi all, excited to do this challenge with you. I made sure to check the notify to keep up to date.
Hey Trekkers!This looks like so much fun. I've never done a longer team challenge like this, so if I mess something up let me know! I'm loving the idea of tracking locations on a map.
Hello everyone :)I love a long challenges but this is my first one with a team!
Hello everyone. I did similar this year so looking forward to this one with yous.
I am curious if there are any books you all are looking forward to reading that we may want to do as a team read once the challenge starts.
RachelG. wrote: "I am curious if there are any books you all are looking forward to reading that we may want to do as a team read once the challenge starts."I haven't finished my January TBR plan yet, but I’m always down for a buddy read. I'll post it here when I narrow it down.
I’ve got a few on my list. What does everyone like genre wise?
Kat wrote: "I’ve got a few on my list. What does everyone like genre wise?"I'm not super picky, honestly. I'll read fiction/non-fiction, most genres. I just am not crazy about political fiction or spy thrillers. Or Mafia books.
I tend to read mysteries and fantasy the most. Typically on the cozy side. I will have to look at my December reading list to see if there is anything to suggest.
I read a lot of thrillers, horror and fantasy. A little bit of romance as well but I'm starting to be really picky about them.
These are some books I am already planning on reading in January:Witch Slap
Greywalker
The Phoenix Unchained
Dragons of Deceit
God's Junk Drawer
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Urgh.. goodreads is getting on my nerves these days. I have a very clear memory of clicking the notification checkbox at the bottom of this thread but apparently GR decided to unclick it for me ☹️ Luckily I checked this thread to re-read the rules just now and saw that you had all posted
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Okay, the ones I have planned so far are:
I would be interested in Murder at the Vicarage for sure Sarah. It's been several years since I read it. I need to check availability on a couple of the others I have my eye on.
I should also say that the books I listed are buddy reads for another group and figured I would just throw them out there as I do plan to read them. I started thinking that perhaps we want to wait to see what the monthly tasks are before we settle on one or more. I realized I might be jumping the gun.
I usually make a list of 20 books (or series) I want to read next year so I made one a little bit earlier this time. Maybe one of them would sound good for team read :) There might be a few new realeases as well :)
Aneta wrote: "I usually make a list of 20 books (or series) I want to read next year so I made one a little bit earlier this time. Maybe one of them would sound good for team read :) There might be a few new rea..."I'm on this exact book for Wayward Children. Also interested in Empress, A Door in the Dark, and The Fifth Season. I'm on book 3 in Thursday Murder Club, when you get there.
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In January I'll be reading On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous. Let me know if you'd be interested in reading it. And I think I'll also read the main formal buddy read book (Rules of Civility)
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I agree, I think it might be a good idea to wait until we get the monthly tasks and genres that gives bonus points until we decide on books 😊
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Time Traveler’s Challenge — January 2026Era: Prehistoric Times
Welcome, adventurers. Dust off your cave tools, shake the mammoth hair off your reading chair, and let’s kick off this challenge properly.
We’re starting at the very beginning — before calendars, before written stories, before Goodreads existed to judge our choices.
January drops us straight into Prehistoric Times, where your priorities are simple: don’t die, find fire, and read good books.
Grab a chair and lock in — this first one will be a long one (just like the era itself).
Main Tasks
Here’s what you’ll be tackling this January — each task ties directly to the raw, dangerous, no-internet reality of early humanity.
1. Read a book with a BROWN cover.
Brown = earth tones, hide, dirt, stone… basically the entire prehistoric aesthetic.
2. Read a book with the word "Prehistoric" or "Times" (no variation) in the Title or Text.
A direct line to the era — we’re anchoring the month with something explicitly referencing it.
3. Read a book that features a large, awe-inspiring animal or creature central to the story.
Mammoths, saber-toothed cats, giant birds — the world back then was full of creatures that could kill you or feed you, sometimes both.
4. Read a book featuring a natural disaster.
Before modern tech or infrastructure, nature was the ultimate threat. Storms, quakes, floods, eruptions — take your pick.
5. Read a book where survival against nature drives the entire story.
This era was literally one long "man vs. nature" arc. No cushions, no conveniences, just grit.
6. Read a book that uses vivid imagery to bring a harsh, natural environment to life.
Prehistoric landscapes were extreme — burning sun, frozen plains, dense forests. This task dives straight into that atmosphere.
7. Read a book that involves caves, underground worlds, or hidden places.
Caves = shelter, mystery, art, danger. They’re one of the most iconic parts of prehistoric living and storytelling.
8. Read a book where fire is featured heavily.
Fire was the game-changing technology of the era: warmth, safety, cooking, community. If fire matters in the story, it fits here.
9. Read a book related to "animism" or reverence for natural elements.
Early spiritual belief systems were rooted in the sun, moon, animals, rivers — nature itself as sacred. This taps directly into that worldview.
10. Read a book where a character invents, discovers, or learns something that changes their way of life.
Prehistoric times were one long innovation runway: tools, hunting strategies, language, fire, art. A discovery that transforms life is right on theme.
📅 Monthly Theme Bonuses (MPG)
For January, the two MPG bonus genres are:
🏕️ Adventure
🧭 Survival
Read any January task in one of these genres for an extra bonus.
🏅 Personal Era Badges
To earn these bonuses, you'll need to personally accomplish one of the following "tasks". This means that whatever book you are trying to gain the bonus for, should not only fit a regular monthly task, but also be related to the badge.
🔥 Firestarter
A book that sparks a group discussion — controversial, emotional, divisive, or just plain chaotic.
🎨 Cave Painter
Create or share something visual inspired by your book: moodboard, sketch, collage, digital art, cave scratchings… whatever your medium, show it off.
🪶 Hunter-Gatherer
A book someone on your team has already finished. Yes, you’re “gathering” from others’ finds. Yes, that’s the point.
📜Recommendation List Pick: This will be an ongoing badge for the entire challenge, so here's a little info to start you off.
Every participant may submit up to 12 recommended books by the end of January. After that, the list locks for the rest of the challenge. You can read anyone else’s rec (not your own!) for a bonus.
How to submit your list: Post your list in your team thread and tag/link to the Homebase thread. I’ll add it to the Index.
🏺 Team Artifacts (Permanent Collective Bonuses)
These require team-wide participation every time you attempt them:
📚 Team Read
Everyone reads the same book + joins the buddy-read discussion thread.
🔍 Thematic Treasure Hunt
As a team, compile a mini-catalog of shared themes/motifs found across your individual reads: fire, moons, wings, mirrors, rebirth, keys — whatever pops up. Include quotes or receipts.
How to submit your list: Post your "catalog" in your team thread and tag/link here.
🌍 Geographic & Temporal Collection Bonuses
New this year! Your team earns bonuses for:
• Unique Country Settings
• Unique Publication Years
These are team-level, not individual — coordinate, so you’re not all reading 2022 USA books and screaming later because you can only claim one bonus.
🌈 Diversity Author Bonus
Back from last year! Earn a bonus for reading a book by an author from an underrepresented group. This is author identity only (not content-based), and includes:
BIPOC, LGBTQ+, disabled, neurodivergent, marginalized religious groups, developing nations, Indigenous authors.
🌀 Temporal Anomaly Bonus (Jan 1–31 Only!)
Start the year easy:
Read a book with a BLACK cover.
Bonus Genres (unchanging all year):
• Speculative
• Epistolary
(Tag 5+ counts — doesn’t need to be MPG.)
🏅 Personal Temporal Anomalties Badges (unchanging all year):
Perspective Shift 🔄 – Highlight a moment in your book where the narrator or POV tricks you, surprises you, or changes your understanding.
Causal Loop 🔁 – A book you discovered because of another member's post or discussion in the challenge.
Time Dilatation ⌛ – Get completely lost in a book, reading for so long you lose track of time.
Recommendation List Pick 📜 – See above!
If you have questions, put them in the Q&A thread (to keep this thread semi-tidy for New Sign Ups and Challenge Updates!
So sharpen your flint, gather your kindling, and let’s light this challenge on fire. Happy January, Travelers!
I'm going to add my possible reads into the spreadsheet so I don't forget about them 😄 Let's get planning started!We can make some recommendations! I can't wait to see what is everyone recommending.
Sounds good! I have some possible plans but I often change books based on my mood.What does the Archive Log mean on the spreadsheet?
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I'm sharing duties with Benedicte! We will coordinate our efforts throughout the duration of the challenge.
I'm a full-time student with a full-time job so my reading has gone down significantly since the last couple of years. I just figured it was time for me to pursuit a degree so that I can be more employable and potentially, to work in a field that I'm more passionate about. I am currently pursuing an Associates (2-year degree) in Interdisciplinary Studies, which is a mix of all the core curriculum and a variety of electives, and then it should be transferable to a lot of 4-year-degrees. I'm potentially going into social work, but we'll see. The program I'd love to transfer to is all in person and my job does not allow for that, so I need to find something online, but that's a "for later" task. I just began college this fall semester so it's a new adventure! My goal is to read at LEAST one book per month, but am hoping to squeeze in at least two! I can do audio books at work, so anything over 2 is a bonus.
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However, that being said, I'd be willing to try the Agatha Christie book (Murder at the Vicarage) if I'm able to squeeze it into my January reading because it's probably a quick, easy read.
I'm an extremely moody reader and I don't usually stick with a reading plan.
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What does the Archive Log mean on the spreadsheet?"
I'll ask in the Q&A because I'm wondering the same
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"Prehistoric/Times" is one I could probably find in just about any book.
My book club book might work for Read a book where a character invents, discovers, or learns something that changes their way of life. (but won't know till I read it)
But if I had to choose only one that I'd really like -- "Read a book where survival against nature drives the entire story". (That's
for the curious). (I hoped it fit MPG Survival or Adventure but it doesn't, which is irksome, lol).
Aneta wrote: "I'm going to add my possible reads into the spreadsheet so I don't forget about them 😄 Let's get planning started!We can make some recommendations! I can't wait to see what is everyone recommending."
I'm going to try to pick recommendations that aren't super popular or well-known so that you all are less likely to have read them. Also, I'm a librarian so if anyone is stumped on a task let me know. I actually get paid to research books. ☺️
I have a brown cover and natural disaster and times in title Any interest in any these books for a buddy read?
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That's alright! I'll probably be able to join a team read every month, and since we are playing as one player it will count as the whole team reading the book 😊
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I've been so busy this week that I haven't started thinking about what I want to read in January. You can put your book(s) wherever you want and then I'll plan my January reads so they can fit other tasks
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I grabbed
,
and
and could team read any of those. Other books I am currently thinking about for January:
None of Rachel’s and anyone else’s aren’t on my tbr I’m happy to not do a buddy read every month as we are more relaxed group
I was also starting to think that there are likely some classics that would work. I tend to avoid abuse stories, especially involving kids and animals so no White Fang for me. I don't like books where kids and animals die.
Hooked on Books
Books mentioned in this topic
Across the Green Grass Fields (other topics)Greywalker (other topics)
Night Watch (other topics)
Flood City (other topics)
Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants (other topics)
More...
Duration: January 2026 to December 2026
Welcome, temporal navigators! This thread is your crew's headquarters for the year-long journey through history. Use this space to coordinate reading plans, share era-specific book recommendations, discuss your adventures through time, and celebrate your progress on both your Personal Timeline and our Shared Timeline!
🚀 Crew Manifest
• Kat
• RachelG.
• Sarah M
• Aneta
• Benedicte + Teresa
🧭 Our Mission
- Personal Timeline: Advance your crew from Prehistoric Times (Year 1) to Timeless Classics (Year 6000) by earning years through reading!
- Shared Timeline: Contribute to our community's collective journey. Every year you earn helps move everyone forward through history.
📜 Earning Years
- Base Years: every 100 pages = ~1 year
- Bonus Years: 2 years per completed bonus
- Monthly Era Champion: Winning crew earns a +30 year boost!
Example: A 280-page book with 4 bonuses earns: ROUND(280*0.01)=3 base years + (4*2)=8 bonus years = 11 Total Years
📊 Crew Log (Spreadsheet)
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...
🎯 Check-Ins
We'll post monthly reminders and tasks here! And please, post in your team thread at least weekly — Let's support each other to keep our timeline advancing!