2026 Reading Challenge discussion

RUST & RUIN
Duration: August 1 - August 31, 2026

This month, we will focus on the theme of rust. Rust is a flaky reddish-brown iron oxide that forms when iron or iron alloys like steel react with oxygen and water. Salts, acids, and physical damage like scratches will accelerate the rusting process. Other metals such as aluminum, brass, bronze, copper, and titanium do not rust. Instead, they corrode or oxidize to protect the metal, like when a green patina forms on copper. Read as few or as many books as you wish to satisfy the rusty prompts below.

To join, post a message telling the challenge leader how many books you plan to read. If you are new to our group and/or our group challenges, take a moment to check out the Yearly, Quarterly, Monthly Challenges - Start Here thread for more information on how our challenges are run.

1. The Color: Read a book with a red, brown, or orange cover.
2. The Reactants: Read a book with all three components required for rust formation in its cover art – iron (any metal is allowed), oxygen (air), and water (any form).
3. The Accelerants: Read a book with a word or cover image that invokes salt (shaker, sea), acid (lemon), or damage (broken, decay).
4. The Word: Read a book with rust in the title. It may be hidden within a word such as crusted or trust, but the letters must be in correct order.
5. The Name: Read a book with an author or character who has red hair; or who is named or nicknamed Rusty, Russ, Russell, or a similar variation.
6. The Video Game: Read a book told in first-person POV; where characters band together; or a survival or adventure book.
7. The Movie: Read a book about someone in show business; with a firearm on the cover; or a book from the western or legal genres.
8. The Programming Language: Read a book about someone in a technical field; set in a real or fictitious tech company; or a book that’s available in digital format.
9. The Song by Mon Rovîa: Read a book by or about a musician; a book from the war, romance, or religious genres; or a book that includes an adoption.
10. The Collapse: Read an apocalyptic or dystopian book that explores the collapse of society, ecological ruin, or other type of decay; or a book set in a bleak setting such as a crumbling mansion, a dying city, the dust bowl, etc.

Badges
Badges are optional. If you wish to save yours, follow these steps: (view spoiler)[
▪ create a badge tracking thread in your Member's Corner
▪ right-click on the badge
▪ select "copy image link"
▪ paste the link into your tracking thread using the below html format
▪ [img src=LINK]
▪ change [ ] to < > (hide spoiler)]

Earn these badges for challenge participation and/or completion!



Marielle has kindly volunteered to lead this challenge. Thank you so much!

RUST & RUIN
Duration: August 1 - August 31, 2026

Apart from everything already named, Rust and Ruin is a band from the 70's and a booktitle, but here we focus on the materials for these rusty prompts!

📚 To sign up, please post a comment below and include the number of books you plan to read for this challenge! 📚

To have your challenge updated on the participants list, please post an update comment. Be sure to include both your original message number and progress:.
Example: Updated msg #10: 2/8

If you decide to drop out of the challenge, please don’t delete your original sign-up post. Just update and let me know

Thanks and good luck with your challenges

"Rust and ruin" is an idiomatic phrase used to describe the inevitable decay, neglect, and total destruction of objects, places, or even plans

Rust: Represents slow, quiet decay. Ruin: Represents total collapse or destruction.

Participantslist

Amy (# 25) - 5/10
Arx (# 49) - 3/3 Completed!
Caraina (# 11) - 5/5 Completed!
Carolyn (# 13) - 2/10
Carrie (# 20) - 0/10
chloe (# 22) - 1/3
Ciara (# 30) - 0/10
Frankie (# 6) - 7/7 Completed!
Janine (# 33) - 4/4 Completed!
JennH (# 10) - 6/3 Completed! ✨
Jill (# 34) - 0/3
JouJou (# 23) - 0/5
Kristina (# 7) - 7/5 Completed! ✨
LoDo (# 5) - 2/3
Marielle (# 4) - 5/5 Completed!
Melissa (# 37) - 10/10 Completed!
Odette (# 21) - 4/4 Completed!
Sarah (# 18) - 10/10 Completed!
Shari (# 17) - 3/5
Susan (# 14) - 4/4 Completed!
Susan (games&events) (# 12) - 3/3 Completed!
Susanna (# 15) - 4/4 Completed!
Suzanne (# 38) - 0/10
TerryJane (# 24) - 10/10 Completed!
Whitney (# 8) - 5/5 Completed!

And a little sparkle for exceeding a goal ✨

STATS
Participants: 25
Books Read: 102
Book Goal: 151
Completed: 15

Updated on September 1, 2026 .

RUST & RUIN
Duration: August 1 - August 31, 2026

Progress 5/5

1. The Color: Read a book with a red, brown, or orange cover.
✅2. The Reactants: Read a book with all three components required for rust formation in its cover art – iron (any metal is allowed), oxygen (air), and water (any form). Metal Slinger
3. The Accelerants: Read a book with a word or cover image that invokes salt (shaker, sea), acid (lemon), or damage (broken, decay).
4. The Word: Read a book with rust in the title. It may be hidden within a word such as crusted or trust, but the letters must be in correct order.
✅5. The Name: Read a book with an author or character who has red hair; or who is named or nicknamed Rusty, Russ, Russell, or a similar variation. My Name Is Emilia del Valle
✅6. The Video Game: Read a book told in first-person POV; where characters band together; or a survival or adventure book. Light Wielder
7. The Movie: Read a book about someone in show business; with a firearm on the cover; or a book from the western or legal genres.
✅8. The Programming Language: Read a book about someone in a technical field; set in a real or fictitious tech company; or a book that’s available in digital format. All the Colors of the Dark
9. The Song by Mon Rovîa: Read a book by or about a musician; a book from the war, romance, or religious genres; or a book that includes an adoption.
✅10. The Collapse: Read an apocalyptic or dystopian book that explores the collapse of society, ecological ruin, or other type of decay; or a book set in a bleak setting such as a crumbling mansion, a dying city, the dust bowl, etc. Gebroken engelen

Sign me up for 3 please! 😊

Progress: 3/3 (COMPLETED)

1. The Color: Read a book with a red, brown, or orange cover.
📖 The Great Alone - Kristin Hannah | 📆 Finished: 8/8/26

2. The Reactants: Read a book with all three components required for rust formation in its cover art – iron (any metal is allowed), oxygen (air), and water (any form).
📖 With a Vengeance - Riley Sager

3. The Accelerants: Read a book with a word or cover image that invokes salt (shaker, sea), acid (lemon), or damage (broken, decay).
📖 Habits of the Sea - Shea Ernshaw | 📆 Finished: 14/8/26

4. The Word: Read a book with rust in the title. It may be hidden within a word such as crusted or trust, but the letters must be in correct order.
📖 Trust - Hernan Diaz

5. The Name: Read a book with an author or character who has red hair; or who is named or nicknamed Rusty, Russ, Russell, or a similar variation.
📖 Dark Places - Gillian Flynn | 📆 Finished: 26/8/26

RUST & RUIN
Duration: August 1 - August 31, 2026

7/7 Completed. Finish

1. The Color: Read a book with a red, brown, or orange cover.
Instant Karma-Kay Bratt 8/05/26


2. The Reactants: Read a book with all three components required for rust formation in its cover art – iron (any metal is allowed), oxygen (air), and water (any form).

3. The Accelerants: Read a book with a word or cover image that invokes salt (shaker, sea), acid (lemon), or damage (broken, decay).
Lemon Yellow Lies-Emily Oberton 8/23/26

4. The Word: Read a book with rust in the title. It may be hidden within a word such as crusted or trust, but the letters must be in correct order.

5. The Name: Read a book with an author or character who has red hair
Slow Burn-Autumn Jones Lake 8/21/26

6. The Video Game: Read a book where characters band together
Be The Full Problem-Lani Lynn Vale 8/07/26

7. The Movie: Read a book from the western or legal genres.
(Western)
Fever Dream-Elsie Silver 8/20/26

8. The Programming Language: Read a book that’s available in digital format.
The Forgotten Girls-Elle Gray 8/11/26

9. The Song by Mon Rovîa: Read a book from the war, romance, or religious genres
(Romance)
Only For Her-Natasha Madison 8/06/26

10. The Collapse: Read an apocalyptic or dystopian book that explores the collapse of society, ecological ruin, or other type of decay; or a book set in a bleak setting such as a crumbling mansion, a dying city, the dust bowl, etc

RUST & RUIN
August 1 - 31, 2026
Progress: 7/5

Sign me up for 5!

✅ 1. The Color: Read a book with a red, brown, or orange cover: Don't Fear the Reaper by Stephen Graham Jones
✅ 3. The Accelerants: Read a book with a word or cover image that invokes salt (shaker, sea), acid (lemon), or damage (broken, decay): The Adventure Zone Vol. 3: Petals to the Metal by Clint McElroy
✅ 6. The Video Game: Read a book told in first-person POV; where characters band together; or a survival or adventure book: Circe by Madeline Miller
✅ 7. The Movie: Read a book about someone in show business; with a firearm on the cover; or a book from the western or legal genres: The Adventure Zone, Vol. 5: The Eleventh Hour by Clint McElroy
✅ 8. The Programming Language: Read a book about someone in a technical field; set in a real or fictitious tech company; or a book that’s available in digital format: Tokyo Ueno Station by Yū Miri
✅ 9. The Song by Mon Rovîa: Read a book by or about a musician; a book from the war, romance, or religious genres; or a book that includes an adoption: How to Fake It in Society by K.J. Charles
✅ 10. The Collapse: Read an apocalyptic or dystopian book that explores the collapse of society, ecological ruin, or other type of decay; or a book set in a bleak setting such as a crumbling mansion, a dying city, the dust bowl, etc: Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah

I'm in for 5!

Progress: 5/5

1. The Color: Read a book with a red, brown, or orange cover.
Drunk on Love by Jasmine Guillory (Completed 8/3/26)


3. The Accelerants: Read a book with a word or cover image that invokes salt (shaker, sea), acid (lemon), or damage (broken, decay).
It's Not Summer Without You by Jenny Han (Completed 8/9/26)
Cover shows seashells and coral.


5. The Name: Read a book with an author or character who has red hair; or who is named or nicknamed Rusty, Russ, Russell, or a similar variation.
Jagged by Lauren Dane (Completed 8/16/26)

6. The Video Game: Read a book told in first-person POV; where characters band together; or a survival or adventure book.
Look Me in the Eye: My Life With Asperger's by John Elder Robison (Completed 8/22/26)

7. The Movie: Read a book about someone in show business; with a firearm on the cover; or a book from the western or legal genres.
While We Were Dating by Jasmine Guillory (Completed 8/30/26)
Main character is an actress.

Welcome Lodo, Frankie, Kristina and Whitney to this challenge!

So nice to see all your planned books and I'm also inspired. On my TBR I have Clear and The Way of Kings, so maybe I will also read these this month! And looking at my bookcase I see a very orange bookcover sticking out: Dissection of a Murder

I will post regular updates, at least once a week, but I will strive to every 3 days.

Please sign me up for 3.

RUST & RUIN
Duration: August 1 - August 31, 2026

6/3

1. The Color: Read a book with a red, brown, or orange cover.
If Books Could Kill by Kate Eberle 8/18

2. The Reactants: Read a book with all three components required for rust formation in its cover art – iron (any metal is allowed), oxygen (air), and water (any form).
Hidden Beneath: Maine Clambake Mystery, Book 11 by Barbara Ross 8/30
3. The Accelerants: Read a book with a word or cover image that invokes salt (shaker, sea), acid (lemon), or damage (broken, decay).
4. The Word: Read a book with rust in the title. It may be hidden within a word such as crusted or trust, but the letters must be in correct order.
5. The Name: Read a book with an author or character who has red hair; or who is named or nicknamed Rusty, Russ, Russell, or a similar variation.
The Watchmaker’s Hand by Jeffery Deaver 8/3
6. The Video Game: Read a book told in first-person POV; where characters band together; or a survival or adventure book.
The Unteachables: A Hilarious Novel About a Class of Misfits and Mayhem for Children by Gordon Korman 8/21
7. The Movie: Read a book about someone in show business; with a firearm on the cover; or a book from the western or legal genres.
8. The Programming Language: Read a book about someone in a technical field; set in a real or fictitious tech company; or a book that’s available in digital format.
Unsolved by James Patterson 8/16
9. The Song by Mon Rovîa: Read a book by or about a musician; a book from the war, romance, or religious genres; or a book that includes an adoption.
The Scum Villain's Self-Saving System: Ren Zha Fanpai Zijiu Xitong, Vol. 1 by Mò Xiāng Tóng Xiù 8/14
10. The Collapse: Read an apocalyptic or dystopian book that explores the collapse of society, ecological ruin, or other type of decay; or a book set in a bleak setting such as a crumbling mansion, a dying city, the dust bowl, etc.

RUST & RUIN
Duration: August 1, 2026 - August 31, 2026

Completed: 5/5

1. The Color: Read a book with a red, brown, or orange cover. Mad Honey - Jodi Picoult 8/17/26
2. The Reactants: Read a book with all three components required for rust formation in its cover art – iron (any metal is allowed), oxygen (air), and water (any form).
3. The Accelerants: Read a book with a word or cover image that invokes salt (shaker, sea), acid (lemon), or damage (broken, decay).
4. The Word: Read a book with rust in the title. It may be hidden within a word such as crusted or trust, but the letters must be in correct order.
5. The Name: Read a book with an author or character who has red hair; or who is named or nicknamed Rusty, Russ, Russell, or a similar variation. The Marriage Portrait - Maggie O'Farrell 8/30/26
6. The Video Game: Read a book told in first-person POV; where characters band together; or a survival or adventure book.
7. The Movie: Read a book about someone in show business; with a firearm on the cover; or a book from the western or legal genres. No Place to Run - Maya Banks 8/7/26
8. The Programming Language: Read a book about someone in a technical field; set in a real or fictitious tech company; or a book that’s available in digital format. Practical Magic - Alice Hoffman 8/8/26
9. The Song by Mon Rovîa: Read a book by or about a musician; a book from the war, romance, or religious genres; or a book that includes an adoption. Hopeless - Elsie Silver 8/27/26
10. The Collapse: Read an apocalyptic or dystopian book that explores the collapse of society, ecological ruin, or other type of decay; or a book set in a bleak setting such as a crumbling mansion, a dying city, the dust bowl, etc.

RUST & RUIN
Duration: August 1 - August 31, 2026

Progress: 3/3

1. The Color: Read a book with a red, brown, or orange cover.
- Finished 8/6/26

2. The Reactants: Read a book with all three components required for rust formation in its cover art – iron (any metal is allowed), oxygen (air), and water (any form).
Summer of Love by Kerri Maher - Finished 8/12/26

10. The Collapse: Read an apocalyptic or dystopian book that explores the collapse of society, ecological ruin, or other type of decay; or a book set in a bleak setting such as a crumbling mansion, a dying city, the dust bowl, etc.
The Measure by Nikki Erlick (Dystopia) - Finished 8/18/26

RUST & RUIN Duration: August 1 - August 31

2/10

1. The Colour: Read a book with a red, brown, or orange cover. The Lotus Shoes Jane Yang 11 August

2. The Reactants: Read a book with all three components required for rust formation in its cover art – iron (any metal is allowed), oxygen (air), and water (any form).Little Blue Box Frances Dall'Alba 5 August

3. The Accelerants: Read a book with a word or cover image that invokes salt (shaker, sea. [[book:One Golden Summer|217245639] Carley Fortune 6 August

4. The Word: Read a book with rust in the title. It may be hidden within a word such as crusted or trust, but the letters must be in correct order. Trusting Forever

5. The Name: Read a book with an author who has red hair. Jane Harper

6. The Video Game: Read a book told in first-person POV; where characters band together. The Strawberry Patch Pancake House Laurie Gilmore 4 August

7. The Movie: Read a book from the western or legal genres. The Orphan (1908): [book:The Orphan (1908): Clarence E. Mulford Restoration Series — Hopalong Cassidy Origins

8. The Programming Language: Read a book that’s available in digital format. The Bone Shard Daughter 12 August

9. The Song by Mon Rovîa: Read a book from the war. The Bookbinder of Jericho Pip Williams 21 August

10. The Collapse: Read an apocalyptic or dystopian book that explores the collapse of society. The Day of the Triffids John Wyndham 21 August

I'll sign up for 4

goal 0/4

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

🌞✨🌞Welcome Jenn H,, Caraina, Susan (Games & Events), Carolyn, Susan and Susanna to this challenge! ✨🌞✨

📚📚Nice to see your reading plans. For those of you still figuring it out: have fun finding the books you wanna read and be inspired by the other participants 📚📚

Please sign me up for 5 books.

RUST & RUIN
Duration: August 1 - August 31, 2026

Progress: 4 / 5


🚨1. The Color: Read a book with a red, brown, or orange cover.
2. The Reactants: Read a book with all three components required for rust formation in its cover art – iron (any metal is allowed), oxygen (air), and water (any form).
3. The Accelerants: Read a book with a word or cover image that invokes salt (shaker, sea), acid (lemon), or damage (broken, decay).
4. The Word: Read a book with rust in the title. It may be hidden within a word such as crusted or trust, but the letters must be in correct order.
🚨 5. The Name: Read a book with an author or character who has red hair; or who is named or nicknamed Rusty, Russ, Russell, or a similar variation. The Book of Lost Hours
🚨 6. The Video Game: Read a book told in first-person POV; where characters band together; or a survival or adventure book. My Friends
7. The Movie: Read a book about someone in show business; with a firearm on the cover; or a book from the western or legal genres.
8. The Programming Language: Read a book about someone in a technical field; set in a real or fictitious tech company; or a book that’s available in digital format.
🚨9. The Song by Mon Rovîa: Read a book by or about a musician; a book from the war, romance, or religious genres; or a book that includes an adoption. The Piano Shop on the Left Bank: Discovering a Forgotten Passion in a Paris Atelier
10. The Collapse: Read an apocalyptic or dystopian book that explores the collapse of society, ecological ruin, or other type of decay; or a book set in a bleak setting such as a crumbling mansion, a dying city, the dust bowl, etc.

Sign me up for 10 books

10/10 - COMPLETED

✅1. The Color: Read a book with a red, brown, or orange cover.
Street Smart (2/8/26)

✅2. The Reactants: Read a book with all three components required for rust formation in its cover art - iron (any metal is allowed), oxygen (air), and water (any form).
The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi (22/8/26)

✅3. The Accelerants Read a book with a word or cover image that invokes salt (shaker, sea), acid (lemon), or damage (broken, decay).
Broken (23/8/26)

✅4. The Word: Read a book with rust in the title. It may be hidden with a word such as crusted or trust, but the letters must be in the correct order.
American Rust (18/8/26)

✅5. The Name: Read a book with an author or character who has red hair; or who is named or nicknamed Rusty, Russ, Russell, or a similar variation.
Nimona (14/8/26)

✅6. The Video Game: Read a book told in first-person POV; where characters band together; or a survival or adventure book.
Two Can Play (30/8/26)

✅7. The Movie: Read a book about someone in show business; with a firearm on the cover; or a book from the western or legal genres.
Something to Talk About (18/8/26)

✅8. The Programming Language: Read a book about someone in a technical field; set in a real or fictitious tech company; or a book that’s available in digital format.
The Kiosk (1/8/26)

✅9. The Song by Mon Rovîa: Read a book by or about a musician; a book from the war, romance, or religious genres; or a book that includes an adoption.
Girl in a Band (15/8/26)

✅10. The Collapse: Read an apocalyptic or dystopian book that explores the collapse of society, ecological ruin, or other type of decay; or a book set in a bleak setting such as a crumbling mansion, a dying city, the dust bowl, etc.
The Sisterhood (29/8/26)

Tomorrow this challenge officially start!

🌞✨🌞Welcome Shari and Sarah to this challenge✨🌞✨

At the start of this challenge I will post an update on the stats (how many people joined, how may books pledged. For now I really like the books you all plan to read. My TBR keeps growing 😃🥰

Sign me up for 10 please!

⚙️RUST & RUIN⚙️
Duration: Aug 1 - Aug 31, 2026
🎉Completed: 10/10 books


✔️1. The Color: Read a book with a red, brown, or orange cover.
Sooley 8/15/2026

✔️2. The Reactants: Read a book with all three components required for rust formation in its cover art – iron (any metal is allowed), oxygen (air), and water (any form).
Metal Slinger 8/10/2026

✔️3. The Accelerants: Read a book with a word or cover image that invokes salt (shaker, sea), acid (lemon), or damage (broken, decay).
The Reformatory 8/13/2026

✔️4. The Word: Read a book with rust in the title. It may be hidden within a word such as crusted or trust, but the letters must be in correct order.
Sea of Rust 8/18/2026

✔️5. The Name: Read a book with an author or character who has red hair; or who is named or nicknamed Rusty, Russ, Russell, or a similar variation.
The Kitchen House 8/6/2026

✔️6. The Video Game: Read a book told in first-person POV; where characters band together; or a survival or adventure book.
The Summer House 8/2/2026

✔️7. The Movie: Read a book about someone in show business; with a firearm on the cover; or a book from the western or legal genres.
The Gunslinger 8/8/2026

✔️8. The Programming Language: Read a book about someone in a technical field; set in a real or fictitious tech company; or a book that’s available in digital format.
The Rose Code 8/28/2026

✔️9. The Song by Mon Rovîa: Read a book by or about a musician; a book from the war, romance, or religious genres; or a book that includes an adoption.
The Bright Years 8/25/2026

✔️10. The Collapse: Read an apocalyptic or dystopian book that explores the collapse of society, ecological ruin, or other type of decay; or a book set in a bleak setting such as a crumbling mansion, a dying city, the dust bowl, etc.
Lord of the Flies

RUST & RUIN
Duration: August 1 - August 31, 2026
Progress: 4/4

1. The Reactants: Read a book with all three components required for rust formation in its cover art.
The Invitation by Belinda Alexandra - Read 15 Aug

Metal in the buidings, oxygen in the air, and water in the river.

2. The Accelerants: Read a book with a word or cover image that invokes salt (shaker, sea), acid (lemon), or damage (broken, decay).
The Seachangers by Meredith Appleyard - Read 21 Aug


3. The Word: Read a book with rust in the title. It may be hidden within a word such as crusted or trust, but the letters must be in correct order.
You Can Trust Me by Miranda Rijks - Read 8 Aug


4. The Name: Read a book with an author or character who has red hair; or who is named or nicknamed Rusty, Russ, Russell, or a similar variation.
Land by Maggie O'Farrell
- Read 12 Aug
(author has red hair)

Hello, sign me up for 3 please!

Completed: 1/3

1. The Color: Read a book with a red, brown, or orange cover.
Boring Asian Female by Canwen Xu

This looks great! I just joined and love challenges.

Sign me up for 5
0/5

I'll choose as I go through my reading month.

1. The Color: Read a book with a red, brown, or orange cover.
2. The Reactants: Read a book with all three components required for rust formation in its cover art – iron (any metal is allowed), oxygen (air), and water (any form).
3. The Accelerants: Read a book with a word or cover image that invokes salt (shaker, sea), acid (lemon), or damage (broken, decay).
4. The Word: Read a book with rust in the title. It may be hidden within a word such as crusted or trust, but the letters must be in correct order.
5. The Name: Read a book with an author or character who has red hair; or who is named or nicknamed Rusty, Russ, Russell, or a similar variation.
6. The Video Game: Read a book told in first-person POV; where characters band together; or a survival or adventure book.
7. The Movie: Read a book about someone in show business; with a firearm on the cover; or a book from the western or legal genres.
8. The Programming Language: Read a book about someone in a technical field; set in a real or fictitious tech company; or a book that’s available in digital format.
9. The Song by Mon Rovîa: Read a book by or about a musician; a book from the war, romance, or religious genres; or a book that includes an adoption.
10. The Collapse: Read an apocalyptic or dystopian book that explores the collapse of society, ecological ruin, or other type of decay; or a book set in a bleak setting such as a crumbling mansion, a dying city, the dust bowl, etc.

🔶 RUST & RUIN - Monthly Challenge
Duration: August 1 - August 31, 2026
Progress: 10/10

🔶 1. The Color: Read a book with a red, brown, or orange cover.
The First Time I Saw Him
2. The Reactants: Read a book with all three components required for rust formation in its cover art – iron (any metal is allowed), oxygen (air), and water (any form).
The Shampoo Effect
🔶 3. The Accelerants: Read a book with a word or cover image that invokes salt (shaker, sea), acid (lemon), or damage (broken, decay).
Four Treasures of the Sky
🔶 4. The Word: Read a book with rust in the title. It may be hidden within a word such as crusted or trust, but the letters must be in correct order.
The House of Rust
🔶 5. The Name: Read a book with an author or character who has red hair; or who is named or nicknamed Rusty, Russ, Russell, or a similar variation.
The Cove
🔶 6. The Video Game: Read a book told in first-person POV; where characters band together; or a survival or adventure book.
Beyond Mulberry Glen
🔶 7. The Movie: Read a book about someone in show business; with a firearm on the cover; or a book from the western or legal genres.
A Deadly Episode
🔶 8. The Programming Language: Read a book about someone in a technical field; set in a real or fictitious tech company; or a book that’s available in digital format.
You’ve Got Murder
🔶 9. The Song by Mon Rovîa: Read a book by or about a musician; a book from the war, romance, or religious genres; or a book that includes an adoption.
The Piano Teacher
🔶 10. The Collapse: Read an apocalyptic or dystopian book that explores the collapse of society, ecological ruin, or other type of decay; or a book set in a bleak setting such as a crumbling mansion, a dying city, the dust bowl, etc.
American Rust

I will attempt all 10!
5/10

1. The Color: Read a book with a red, brown, or orange cover: Daughters of Sparta

2. The Reactants: Read a book with all three components required for rust formation in its cover art – iron (any metal is allowed), oxygen (air), and water (any form):

3. The Accelerants: Read a book with a word or cover image that invokes salt (shaker, sea), acid (lemon), or damage (broken, decay):

4. The Word: Read a book with rust in the title. It may be hidden within a word such as crusted or trust, but the letters must be in correct order: The Boardwalk Trust

5. The Name: Read a book with an author or character who has red hair; or who is named or nicknamed Rusty, Russ, Russell, or a similar variation:

6. The Video Game: Read a book told in first-person POV; where characters band together; or a survival or adventure book: Dial A for Aunties

7. The Movie: Read a book from the legal genre: Beginnings

8. The Programming Language: Read a book a book that’s available in digital format: Gulf Coast Secrets

9. The Song by Mon Rovîa: Read a book by or about a musician; a book from the war, romance, or religious genres; or a book that includes an adoption:

10. The Collapse: Read an apocalyptic or dystopian book that explores the collapse of society, ecological ruin, or other type of decay; or a book set in a bleak setting such as a crumbling mansion, a dying city, the dust bowl, etc:

Updated message 25-- 2/10

AUGUST
GOAL 1/4

RUST & RUIN
Duration: August 1 - August 31, 2026
MSG #15

And we are off to a flying start!

17 people joined this challenge
✨🌞✨Welcome to Carrie, Odette, chloe, JouJou, TerryJane and Amy!✨🌞✨

📚📚Well done Amy, Susanna and chloe, you finished the first books already. 📚📚

STATS
Participants: 17
Books Read: 4
Book Goal: 96
Completed: 0

chloe wrote: "Hello, sign me up for 3 please!

Completed: 1/3

1. The Color: Read a book with a red, brown, or orange cover.
Boring Asian Female by Canwen Xu"
Hi Chloe, great that you finished your first book already. Could you post an update message for the next books you finish? That makes it easier for me to track progress.

Late to the party, but I will try to read to all ten prompts! Thanks!

Updated messae 25-- 3/10

Update to Message #8: 1/5

Please sign me up for 4!

I’ll try for 3 books.2/3
8. The programming language Flapper: A Madcap Story of Sex, Style, Celebrity, and the Women Who Made America Modern
6. The Video Game Bigger Living, Smaller Space: Resizing for a Clean & Cozy Home

📚📚Welcome Ciara, Janine and Jill! I added you and your goal to the participantsmessage. And Ciara: you are never late for this party 📚📚

✨Amy and Whitney, looks like your reading is going strong. ✨

The stats are currently:
Participants: 20
Books Read: 6
Book Goal: 113
Completed: 0

Enjoy your reading!

RUST & RUIN Duration: August 1 - August 31

2/10 finished

1. The Colour: Read a book with a red, brown, or orange cover. Boudicca's Daughter *

2. The Reactants: Read a book with all three components required for rust formation in its cover art – iron (any metal is allowed), oxygen (air), and water (any form). Little Blue Box Frances Dall'Alba 5 August

3. The Accelerants: Read a book with a word or cover image that invokes salt (shaker, sea). One Golden Summer, Carly Fortune

4. The Word: Read a book with rust in the title. It may be hidden within a word such as crusted or trust, but the letters must be in correct order. Trusting Forever

5. The Name: Read a book with an author who has red hair. Last One Out, Jane Harper

6. The Video Game: Read a book told in first-person POV; where characters band together. The Strawberry Patch Pancake House Laurie Gilmore 3 August

7. The Movie: Read a book from the western or legal genres. The Orphan, Clarence E. Mulford *

8. The Programming Language: Read a book that’s available in digital format. The Bone Shard Daughter, Andrea Stewart

9. The Song by Mon Rovîa: Read a book from the war. Schindler’s List

10. The Collapse: Read an apocalyptic or dystopian book that explores the collapse of society. The Grapes of Wrath

Completed! 10/10

XX 1. The Color: Read a book with a red, brown, or orange cover. Abundance
XX 2. The Reactants: Read a book with all three components required for rust formation in its cover art – iron (any metal is allowed), oxygen (air), and water (any form). The Three Graces of Pearl Street (chrome teapot, wine in glass, and air in room)
XX 3. The Accelerants: Read a book with a word or cover image that invokes salt (shaker, sea), acid (lemon), or damage (broken, decay). Plain Tales from the Raj (decayed black and white photo on cover)
XX 4. The Word: Read a book with rust in the title. It may be hidden within a word such as crusted or trust, but the letters must be in correct order. The Making of the African Queen or How I Went to Africa with BogaRt, Bacall and HUSTon and Almost Lost My Mind
XX 5. The Name: Read a book with an author or character who has red hair; or who is named or nicknamed Rusty, Russ, Russell, or a similar variation. Heart of Darkness (red haired character pilgrim character)
XX 6. The Video Game: Read a book told in first-person POV; where characters band together; or a survival or adventure book. King Leopold's Ghost (survival/adventure book, sort of)
XX 7. The Movie: Read a book about someone in show business; with a firearm on the cover; or a book from the western or legal genres. Operation Bounce House (firearm on cover)
XX 8. The Programming Language: Read a book about someone in a technical field; set in a real or fictitious tech company; or a book that’s available in digital format. The Tainted Cup (crime scene investigation/technical field, available in digital format)
XX 9. The Song by Mon Rovîa: Read a book by or about a musician; a book from the war, romance, or religious genres; or a book that includes an adoption. This Inevitable Ruin (war)
XX 10. The Collapse: Read an apocalyptic or dystopian book that explores the collapse of society, ecological ruin, or other type of decay; or a book set in a bleak setting such as a crumbling mansion, a dying city, the dust bowl, etc. A Trade in Blood (ecological collapse, ruined vanished civilization)

2026 Reading Challenge
August - Rust & Ruin
Duration: August 1 - August 31, 2026

Progress: 5 out of 10

This month, we will focus on the theme of rust. Rust is a flaky reddish-brown iron oxide that forms when iron or iron alloys like steel react with oxygen and water. Salts, acids, and physical damage like scratches will accelerate the rusting process. Other metals such as aluminum, brass, bronze, copper, and titanium do not rust. Instead, they corrode or oxidize to protect the metal, like when a green patina forms on copper. Read as few or as many books as you wish to satisfy the rusty prompts below.

1. The Color: Read a book with a red, brown, or orange cover.
Cash by Jessica Peterson - ***** - 8/10/2026 - 432 Pages

2. The Reactants: Read a book with all three components required for rust formation in its cover art – iron (any metal is allowed), oxygen (air), and water (any form):

3. The Accelerants: Read a book with a word or cover image that invokes salt (shaker, sea), acid (lemon), or damage (broken, decay).

4. The Word: Read a book with rust in the title. It may be hidden within a word such as crusted or trust, but the letters must be in correct order.

5. The Name: Read a book with an author or character who has red hair; or who is named or nicknamed Rusty, Russ, Russell, or a similar variation.
Bourbon & Lies by Victoria Wilder - **** - 8/31/2026 - 450 Pages

6. The Video Game: Read a book told in first-person POV; where characters band together; or a survival or adventure book.
Wayward Saint: Mission 1 by J.S. Morin - ***** - 9/3/2026 - 183 Pages - Adventure

7. The Movie: Read a book about someone in show business; with a firearm on the cover; or a book from the western or legal genres.

8. The Programming Language: Read a book about someone in a technical field; set in a real or fictitious tech company; or a book that’s available in digital format.
Sky Daddy by Kate Folk - **** - 9/2/2026 - 368 Pages - Fictious tech company

9. The Song by Mon Rovîa: Read a book by or about a musician; a book from the war, romance, or religious genres; or a book that includes an adoption.
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller - ***** - 8/12/2026 - 408 Pages - War genre

10. The Collapse: Read an apocalyptic or dystopian book that explores the collapse of society, ecological ruin, or other type of decay; or a book set in a bleak setting such as a crumbling mansion, a dying city, the dust bowl, etc.

Update message #12

Progress: 1/3

Update #5: 1/3 😊

AUGUST
GOAL 2/4

RUST & RUIN
Duration: August 1 - August 31, 2026
MSG #15

Update message #21

Progress 1/3

Updated message 25-- 4/10

Update to Message #8: 2/5

The first weekend of Rust and Ruin has passed.

✨✨There are new participants: Welcome Melissa and Suzanne! ✨✨
📚📚And the stats are updated for books pledged and read 📚📚

STATS
Participants: 22
Books Read: 16
Book Goal: 133
Completed: 0

📚Enjoy your reading! 📚

Update message #12

Progress: 2/3

Update message #21

Progress 2/4

Marielle, I have changed number of books to read to 4. I have read 2 and not half-way through month!

Update to message #37: 7/10 completed, 3 in progress (but I'll likely need to find something else for #7, I doubt I'll finish A Parade of Horribles by the end of the month)

I would like to sign up for 3 books, but have already completed one of them three days ago, so I'd be at 1/3 if that counts :)

These are the three prompts I'll go for:
1. The Colour - Saturnine by Dan Abnett
3. The Accelerants - The Lost and the Damned by Guy Haley (completed)
10. The Collapse - Mortis by John French

AUGUST
GOAL 3/4
Duration: August 1 - August 31, 2026
MSG #15
RUST & RUIN