Dare to Dream discussion

Please post all questions/comments/updates about the challenge in this thread. :D

The Spring 2026 Reading Challenge will start March 5th and end May 31st.

Rules of the challenge:
Read 3 books (or more)
Complete 3 prompts (or more)
All genres okay
Rereads okay

This spring, complete 3 (or more) of the following:

1. Many talented writers have birthdays this season.

So this spring,

READ A BOOK FROM ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:

Oyinkan Braithwaite
Robert Frost
Annie Hartnett
Jon Krakauer
Jodi Picoult
Mary Roach

2. The 2026 Audies Gala is March 2nd. The Audie Awards is an awards program in the USA recognizing distinction in audiobooks and spoken word entertainment.

So this spring,

READ A BOOK THAT HAS WON AN AUDIE AWARD (ANY YEAR).

3. Hoppers will be released in theaters on March 6th. Mabel, an animal lover, seizes the opportunity to use new technology to ‘hop’ her consciousness into a life-like robotic animal:an adorable beaver.Several talented actors, including Meryl Streep, provide their voices for the characters.

So this spring,

READ A BOOK IN WHICH SHARED CONSCIOUSNESS IS PART OF THE STORY.

OR

READ A BOOK THAT HAS BEEN ADAPTED FOR THE SCREEN STARRING MERYL STREEP.

4. World Rat Day is April 4th. Its purpose is to celebrate and promote rats as good pets and dispel negative stigmas.

So this spring,

READ A BOOK WITH THE LETTERS R-A-T IN THE TITLE/SUBTITLE (THESE LETTERS DO NOT HAVE TO BE IN ORDER).

5. Widow’s Bay is a comedy horror series premiering on Apple TV on April 29th.
A New England mayor trying to boost tourism on his island must navigate strange events suggesting it might be cursed.

So this spring,

READ A BOOK IN WHICH A CURSE IS PART OF THE STORY.

OR

READ A BOOK SET, AT LEAST IN PART, IN NEW ENGLAND (CONNECTICUT, MAINE, MASSACHUSETTS, NEW HAMPSHIRE, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT).

6. I like including group reads in the challenge and there are a bunch of interesting books being released this season. I decided on 2 titles from authors we’ve enjoyed in the past:

Python's Kiss by Louise Erdrich March 24th.

How To Be Okay When Nothing Is Okay: Tips and Tricks That Kept Me Alive, Happy and Creative In Spite Of Myself by Jenny Lawson. March 31st.

So this spring,

READ ONE OR BOTH OF THE GROUP READS.

7. Random-This counts towards the challenge but isn’t inspired by the season. I’m a huge fan of Rob Reiner so wanted to use the random to do a mini tribute inspired by some of the movies he directed.

Complete one of the following:

When Harry Met Sally-classic rom com.
So this spring,
READ A FRIENDS TO LOVERS ROMANCE
OR READ A BOOK WITH A CHARACTER NAMED HARRY OR SALLY.

Stand by me-Coming of age drama focusing on 4 young friends.
So this spring,
READ A BOOK IN WHICH CHILDHOOD FRIENDSHIP IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE STORY.

The Princess Bride- A fairytale type story with romance, humor and heart.
So this spring,
READ OR REREAD THE PRINCESS BRIDE
OR READ AS YOU WISH: INCONCEIVABLE TALES FROM THE MAKING OF THE PRINCESS BRIDE.

A Few Good Men-It’s about the trial of 2 marines charged with killing one of their peers.
So this spring,
READ A BOOK IN WHICH A TRIAL IS PART OF THE STORY.

WISHING YOU ALL A HAPPY SPRING! :D

I will definitely be going through a multitude of Rat titles this spring!

Looks like another fantastic challenge!

Well it’s working! Sorry to have missed the end of the winter challenge. I felt as if I was punished and shut out.

Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl wrote: "I will definitely be going through a multitude of Rat titles this spring!"

I thought you’d like that one! :D

Danell wrote: "Looks like another fantastic challenge!"

Glad you like it, Danell! :D

Danell wrote: "Well it’s working! Sorry to have missed the end of the winter challenge. I felt as if I was punished and shut out."

I’m so relieved it’s working. Goodreads has been glitching like crazy.

I chose to re-read WE ARE THE LIGHT by Matthew Quick as my first RAT title. The first of many Rats!

I live for these reading challenges! I'm planning to read Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer, Rabbit Cake by Annie Hartnett,
and a whole bunch of Mary Roach. For a New England setting, I'm planning to re-read The Winter People by Jennifer McMahon.

I'm going to re-read Project Hail Mary, it was the Audie Audiobook of the Year in 2022. Major motion picture adaptation in theaters later this month!

Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl wrote: "I live for these reading challenges! I'm planning to read Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer, Rabbit Cake by Annie Hartnett,
and a whole bunch of Mary Roach. For a New England setting, I'm ..."

Thanks for all of the updates, Dustin! :)
I haven’t read Rabbit Cake but really enjoyed Annie Hartnet’s other 2 books-Unlikely Animals and The Road to Tender Hearts. It’s been a while since I’ve read Mary Roach-I really liked Stiff.
Glad you’re still enjoying the challenges. :)

PLEASE NOTE I’M GOING TO ADD ANOTHER BOOK TO THE RANDOM

I can’t believe I forgot to add As You Wish: Inconceivable tales about the making of the Princess Bride. If you love the movie, I can’t recommend this audiobook enough.

I listened to The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones which works for
R-A-T, I thought the book was ok

I read At The End of The World, Turn Left by Zhanna Slor, which works for
R-A-T. I thought the book was ok.

Danell wrote: "I read At The End of The World, Turn Left by Zhanna Slor, which works for
R-A-T. I thought the book was ok."

Thanks for the updates, Danell! Hope your next book is more enjoyable. :)

Yeah, I didn't love The Buffalo Hunter when I read it either.
Will add As You Wish to my Spring reading list. The library doesn't have an unabridged audiobook of The Princess Bride, so not sure if I'll tackle reading that one or not. They do have As You Wish, so easy choice there, glad you decided to add it.

I have finally gotten around to re-reading the Chaos Walking Trilogy. I have been intending to re-read these for over a year. I've kept giving other books a priority because the book size looked intimidating. However, after reading several Outlander books, Chaos Walking just flies by.
I finished book one, Chaos Walking: The Knife of Letting Go during that time between Winter and Spring so it didn't count on either challenge.
Book two, Chaos Walking,: The Ask and the Answer is my second RAT
Book three, Chaos Walking: Monsters of men features Shared Conciousness prominently.
I'm going to be reading more Patrick Ness soon, I'll discover that some of them can work for the challenge. Ness is a great author - highly recommend Chaos Walking.
When I was searching for more Patrick Ness from the library, I discovered that he is releasing a new book this year, revisiting The New World he created for the Chaos Walking Trilogy. I am incredibly surprised and intrigued - now if only there could be an audiobook in a format I can access, that would be perfect! We'll see.

The Spring 2026 Reading Challenge
DURATION March 5th and end May 31st.

Read 3 books (or more)
Complete 3 prompts (or more)

1. Many talented writers have birthdays this season.
READ A BOOK FROM ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:

Oyinkan Braithwaite
Robert Frost
Annie Hartnett
Jon Krakauer
Jodi Picoult
Mary Roach

2. READ A BOOK THAT HAS WON AN AUDIE AWARD (ANY YEAR).

3. READ A BOOK IN WHICH SHARED CONSCIOUSNESS IS PART OF THE STORY.

OR

READ A BOOK THAT HAS BEEN ADAPTED FOR THE SCREEN STARRING MERYL STREEP.

4. READ A BOOK WITH THE LETTERS R-A-T IN THE TITLE/SUBTITLE (THESE LETTERS DO NOT HAVE TO BE IN ORDER).

5. READ A BOOK IN WHICH A CURSE IS PART OF THE STORY.

OR

READ A BOOK SET, AT LEAST IN PART, IN NEW ENGLAND (CONNECTICUT, MAINE, MASSACHUSETTS, NEW HAMPSHIRE, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT).

6. READ ONE OR BOTH OF THE GROUP READS.

Python's Kiss by Louise Erdrich
How To Be Okay When Nothing Is Okay by Jenny Lawson

7. READ A FRIENDS TO LOVERS ROMANCE
OR READ A BOOK WITH A CHARACTER NAMED HARRY OR SALLY.

READ A BOOK IN WHICH CHILDHOOD FRIENDSHIP IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE STORY.

READ OR REREAD THE PRINCESS BRIDE
OR READ AS YOU WISH: INCONCEIVABLE TALES FROM THE MAKING OF THE PRINCESS BRIDE.

READ A BOOK IN WHICH A TRIAL IS PART OF THE STORY.

Counting RATS!
I'm going to use this comment to specifically keep count of my multitude of RATS read this Spring. Will edit/add books as I read them or am currently reading.

1. We Are the Light
2. The Ask and the Answer
3. The Picture of Dorian Gray
4. More Than This
5. The Martian
6. Gentle Reminders: Simple Truths for a Meaningful Life
7. Across the Universe
8. Shades of Earth
9. Watch Me Throw the Ball!
10. The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse
11. Let's Go for a Drive!
12. Higher Authority
13. In the Garden of Thoughts: Be Your Best Self
14. The Program
15. Await Your Reply
16. The Christmas Doll of Hope: Inspired by the true story of Thomas Cottam and the miracle of 1863
17. The Running Man
18. Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore
19. The Anthropocene Reviewed: Essays on a Human-Centered Planet
20. Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead
21. The Greatest Secret
22. The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry
23. The Cost of Living: A Working Autobiography
24. Critical Conditions
25. Atlas of the Heart: Mapping Meaningful Connection and the Language of Human Experience
26. Leaving the Saints: How I Lost the Mormons and Found My Faith

Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl wrote: "Yeah, I didn't love The Buffalo Hunter when I read it either.
Will add As You Wish to my Spring reading list. The library doesn't have an unabridged audiobook of The Princess Bride, so not sure if..."

I loved that audiobook. Rob Reiner and most of the cast share stories about their time together making the movie. Cary Elwes also just goes through the film giving a behind the scenes look about how it was made. I smiled like an idiot the entire time I listened to it lol. I should probably pick it up again. Hope you enjoy it. :)

Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl wrote: "I have finally gotten around to re-reading the Chaos Walking Trilogy. I have been intending to re-read these for over a year. I've kept giving other books a priority because the book size looked in..."

Thanks for the update, Dustin! :)

Vanessa wrote: "The Spring 2026 Reading Challenge
DURATION March 5th and end May 31st.

Read 3 books (or more)
Complete 3 prompts (or more)

1. Many talented writers have birthdays this season.
READ A BOOK FROM ON..."

Look forward to seeing what you choose for the challenge, Vanessa! :D

I'm currently reading The Picture of Dorian Gray.
This book has the letters RAT in title and also a character named Harry.

Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl wrote: "I'm currently reading The Picture of Dorian Gray.
This book has the letters RAT in title and also a character named Harry.
"

Thanks for the update, Dustin! :D
Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on it. I’ve always meant to read it.

I'm getting one more John Steinbeck book read. To A God Unknown - while the majority of the story takes
place in California, it opens in Vermont. Currently reading.

I read Glitz, Glam and a Damn Good Time by Jennifer Wright, it has a character named Harry. I thought the book was ok.

Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl wrote: "I'm getting one more John Steinbeck book read. To A God Unknown - while the majority of the story takes
place in California, it opens in Vermont. Currently reading."

Thanks for the update, Dustin! :D

Danell wrote: "I read Glitz, Glam and a Damn Good Time by Jennifer Wright, it has a character named Harry. I thought the book was ok."

Thanks for the update, Danell! :D

I am currently reading GRUNT: The Curious Science of Humans at War by Mary Roach.
So far, way too much information on genitals.

Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl wrote: "I am currently reading GRUNT: The Curious Science of Humans at War by Mary Roach.
So far, way too much information on genitals.

"

Thanks for the update, Dustin! :D
I would’ve thought she covered that info in Bonk, lol.

I’m reading her book Replaceable You: Adventures in Human Anatomy

Rachel wrote: "I would’ve thought she covered that info in Bonk, lol."

In Grunt, it was mainly dealing with genital reconstruction. From there, diarrhea and excrement was covered, followed by maggots.

Grunt will probably be my least favorite Mary Roach book ( I'm not a fan of war), so at least that's out of the way. I'm just going with whatever the library had available.

I'm currently reading My Planet, it's a collection of Roach's entries in Reader's Digest. I'm liking it much better than Grunt.

Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl wrote: "Rachel wrote: "I would’ve thought she covered that info in Bonk, lol."

In Grunt, it was mainly dealing with genital reconstruction. From there, diarrhea and excrement was covered, followed by magg..."

Thanks for the update, Dustin! :)
Glad you’re finding My Planet more enjoyable. Look forward to your comments on it.

I finished Replaceable You: Adventures in Human Anatomy by Mary Roach. Some of the chapters were more interesting than others but overall I thought it was good.

I'm going to read SPOOK. Unless it really impresses me, that'll be it for my Spring Mary Roach Reading. Didn't love Grunt or Fuzz. My favorites are Stiff and My Planet.

Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl wrote: "I'm going to read SPOOK. Unless it really impresses me, that'll be it for my Spring Mary Roach Reading. Didn't love Grunt or Fuzz. My favorites are Stiff and My Planet."

Thanks for the update, Dustin! :)

To meet the prompt for a book that won an Audie award, I listened to Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto, which won in the mystery category in 2024. Books I plan to read for other prompts include My Life as a Rat by Joyce Carol Oates, The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden for the prompt of a book in which a curse is part of the story; for the "author birthday" prompt, I'll probably choose between Jodi Picoult and Mary Roach. For the random prompt, I'll probably choose a book that involves a trial. I've identified several titles of interest but am not ready to choose one yet.

Nancy wrote: "To meet the prompt for a book that won an Audie award, I listened to Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto, which won in the mystery category in 2024. Books I plan to rea..."

Thanks for the update, Nancy! :D
Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on them.

Rachel wrote: "Nancy wrote: "To meet the prompt for a book that won an Audie award, I listened to Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto, which won in the mystery category in 2024. Books..."

I really enjoyed Vera Wong. The author and series (a second book was published last year; I don't know if there will be others) were both new to me. That's the good thing about these challenges, discovering great new books!

Great to see you again Nancy. Happy Reading!

Nancy wrote: "Rachel wrote: "Nancy wrote: "To meet the prompt for a book that won an Audie award, I listened to Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto, which won in the mystery category..."

Glad to hear more good things about Vera Wong. I really have to move that up on my tbr list.

I listened to Rabbit Cake by Annie Hartnett and really enjoyed it. I have two of her books on hold at the library and am looking forward to reading them

Good to hear about Rabbit Cake, I'm planning on reading that book soon!

I'm currently reading As You Wish about filming The Princess Bride. I will read The Princess Bride in April. It's time to rewatch the movie!

I read Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez which works for
R-A-T, I thought it was ok.

I have to confess I’ve never seen The Princess Bride movie, or read the book. I look forward to what you think about Rabbit Cake because I was thinking of you and how you like quirky characters and stories and you came to mind while reading it.

Danell wrote: "I listened to Rabbit Cake by Annie Hartnett and really enjoyed it. I have two of her books on hold at the library and am looking forward to reading them"

Thanks for the updates, Danell! :)
I’m so glad you enjoyed Annie Hartnet’s writing. I just read her for the first time last year. Hope you enjoy Unlikely Animals and The Road to Tender Hearts. Look forward to hearing what you think of them.

Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl wrote: "Good to hear about Rabbit Cake, I'm planning on reading that book soon!

I'm currently reading As You Wish about filming The Princess Bride. I will read The Princess Bride in April. It's time to re..."

Thanks for the update, Dustin! :)
That’s one of my favorites. Hope you are enjoying it!

Danell wrote: "I have to confess I’ve never seen The Princess Bride movie, or read the book. I look forward to what you think about Rabbit Cake because I was thinking of you and how you like quirky characters and..."

I think the book is good but the movie is better in my opinion. Then again I just love that movie.
If you watch it, let us know what you think.

Rachel wrote: "I think the book is good but the movie is better in my opinion. Then again I just love that movie.
If you watch it, let us know what you think."

I agree. The Princess Bride is one of those rare cases where the movie is better than the book.

I finished As You Wish last night. I don't read much non-fiction, so As You Wish has a good chance of making my list of favorite non-fiction.

Danell wrote: "I look forward to what you think about Rabbit Cake because I was thinking of you and how you like quirky characters and stories and you came to mind while reading it."

You know me well after all these years :-)
Thanks for the compliment! I love Quirky!