2025 Reading Challenge discussion

It is time to think about what book we would like to read for our October Group Read. The theme for October is "Fall Back". The theme is completely open to interpretation: as long as you can tell us why you think it should fit the theme, it counts. I am looking forward to seeing what books you nominate!

Please nominate only one book and ensure you either link the book or give the name of the author as well to avoid confusion. Please do not nominate books from a series, unless it is the first book in the series. You can second someone else's nomination, but that will count as your own. Nominations cannot have been chosen for a past group read (past buddy reads are fine).

This thread will be closed by August 22, and we will choose ten books for the poll. If there are more than ten books nominated, we will choose the ten most nominated. If there is still a tie to get into the top ten, we'll go back to the Goodreads average rating to see which is highest.

I nominate Empire Falls by Richard Russo,since the title contains "fall" and it suits our theme and also I have had it on my TBR list for a while :)

I'm going to go the time travel route on this one and nominate The Forever War:

The Earth's leaders have drawn a line in the interstellar sand—despite the fact that the fierce alien enemy that they would oppose is inscrutable, unconquerable, and very far away. A reluctant conscript drafted into an elite Military unit, Private William Mandella has been propelled through space and time to fight in the distant thousand-year conflict; to perform his duties without rancor and even rise up through military ranks. Pvt. Mandella is willing to do whatever it takes to survive the ordeal and return home. But "home" may be even more terrifying than battle, because, thanks to the time dilation caused by space travel, Mandella is aging months while the Earth he left behind is aging centuries.

Ill second Empire Falls. Russo is my favorite author and I have read and re read his books numerous times. Ito been a while since I've read Empire Falls and would happily do it again.

Kara, I'll second your nomination. It sounds fascinating!

I'm going to nominate Angel Falls by Kristin Hannah for the same reason as Mahsa used, it has Fall in the title.

Since 'fall back' can be interpreted as being about changing time, I thought I would find something with a time travel theme. At the moment the only book I can think of to nominate is The Time Machine

Jodi wrote: "It is time to think about what book we would like to read for our October Group Read. The theme for October is "Fall Back". The theme is completely open to interpretation: as long as you can tell u..."

Jodi wrote: "It is time to think about what book we would like to read for our October Group Read. The theme for October is "Fall Back". The theme is completely open to interpretation: as long as you can tell u..."

I'm going to nominate "The Making of a Canadian Sniper" by Jody Mitic, just finished reading it and gave it a 5 star. It is a very well written true story, enjoyed it from the first page.

I'll third The Forever War. I've wanted to read that for quite a while.

I nominate Outlander. I have heard wonderful things about this book, and it was the first thing that came to mind when I saw the theme.

The year is 1945. Claire Randall, a former combat nurse, is just back from the war and reunited with her husband on a second honeymoon when she walks through a standing stone in one of the ancient circles that dot the British Isles. Suddenly she is a Sassenach—an “outlander”—in a Scotland torn by war and raiding border clans in the year of Our Lord...1743.
Hurled back in time by forces she cannot understand, Claire is catapulted into the intrigues of lairds and spies that may threaten her life, and shatter her heart. For here James Fraser, a gallant young Scots warrior, shows her a love so absolute that Claire becomes a woman torn between fidelity and desire—and between two vastly different men in two irreconcilable lives.

Jodi wrote: "It is time to think about what book we would like to read for our October Group Read. The theme for October is "Fall Back". The theme is completely open to interpretation: as long as you can tell u..."

I nominate "Harmony House" by Nic Sheff, and "Ruthless", by Carolyn Lee Adams. These are perfect books because they're kind of Halloween themed, and I think they're thrilled.

I second Outlander what a good idea

Seeing as October is Halloween, I'd like to nominate A Head Full of Ghosts

I second A Head Full of Ghosts; I would like to do that as a group read.

Andrea wrote: "Jodi wrote: "It is time to think about what book we would like to read for our October Group Read. The theme for October is "Fall Back". The theme is completely open to interpretation: as long as y..."


Andrea, you can only nominate one book. Do you have a preference as to which one you nominate? Do they fit the "Fall Back" theme?

Vernice wrote: "Seeing as October is Halloween, I'd like to nominate A Head Full of Ghosts"

Can you explain how "A Head Full of Ghosts" fits the fall back theme? As long as you can give any reason, it can count.

Yes! Absouletly! I'd recommend "Harmony House" as my first, since it's Halloween. And this book just popped into my mind the moment I saw the theme. It has excellent ratings, a good story (which I think many will like), it's a fast book to read, it's spooky, and perfect for the month.

Thank you, (and sorry about the mistakes I made)

I'll second The Forever War

I am going to nominate The Thorn Birds

I feel like this fits the theme because it is written in a different time 1915-1969 period. Also, I remember watching the miniseries when I was little, which is back in time. So that is how I think it fits "fall back".

Second The Thorn Birds

I will interpret the theme as being about seasons, in this case fall or autumn. So I nominate The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet by David Mitchell.

I nominate The Shock of the Fall because it's an award winning book about falling into mental illness.

I'll second The Shock of the Fall - it's been on my list for ages

I'll third Outlander by Diana Gabaldon.

I think we have some great nominations here. I did enjoy Outlander when I read it several years ago.

I would love to have more nominations. Remember as long as you can say why your book matches the theme, it counts.

Fall Back can be about time travel, seasons, it can be a book set in a different time, it can be literally interpreted where someone falls. As long as you can justify the book to the theme, it counts. It is always nice to have lots of nominations or people seconding or thirding books.

Jodi wrote: "Vernice wrote: "Seeing as October is Halloween, I'd like to nominate A Head Full of Ghosts"

Can you explain how "A Head Full of Ghosts" fits the fall back theme? As long as you can..."

Hmmm... A Head Full of Ghosts does have a kind of thinking back to the past section that could be interpreted as fall back... right?

I nominate Lightning by Dean Koontz. It has time travel in it therefore I think it qualifies for the "Fall Back" theme.

I'll second the Thorn Birds.

Vernice wrote: "Jodi wrote: "Vernice wrote: "Seeing as October is Halloween, I'd like to nominate A Head Full of Ghosts"

Can you explain how "A Head Full of Ghosts" fits the fall back theme? As lo..."

That is no problem Vernice. I can see "ghosts" as people from the past.

I second A Head Full of Ghosts! I just looked it up, and it seems really interesting.

Hi Everyone!

This is the last day to get your nominations in. Let's get more books listed!

Hi Everyone,

I have the poll for our October Group Read ready but I wanted to give a couple of people a chance to either nominate a different book or second a book.

Barb: Unflinching: The Making of a Canadian Sniper isn't published yet.

Andrea: Harmony House isn't published yet either. I looked up Ruthless, the other book you had nominated but I don't understand how it fits the "Fall Back" theme. If you want to nominate that book and can explain how it fits the theme then you can do that.

If you both would like to nominate or second another book, the poll is going to open on the 25th of August. If you second a book or nominate a different book, I can edit the poll if needed.

Thanks,

Jodi

Hi Everyone,

The poll for our October Group Read is up and ready for voting. There are some really great books to vote for. Please take the time to vote. Below is a link to take you to the poll.

Thanks,
Jodi

https://www.goodreads.com/poll/list/5...