2025 Reading Challenge discussion

Updated Message 15:
THE MNEMONIC CHALLENGE
Duration: March 1 - 31, 2014
7/8

6. Please excuse my dear Aunt Sally (PEMDAS) is to remember the order of operations in math (parenthesis, exponents, multiplication & division, addition & subtraction). Read a book that has a Goodreads description that includes parentheses. Doctor Ox by Jules Verne

Jaclyn wrote: "Updated to here. Welcome to the challenge, Bobbie! Good job, Daphne, you're almost there! And awesome Megan for continuing to go beyond your goal!"

Thanks for the encouragement Jaclyn, and thanks even more for leading this challenge!

If anyone is looking for a book with a pet penguin, try Death and the Penguin by Andrey Kurkov. It is hilarious.

Update! Am at 1/4 Completed as of yesterday:

6. Please excuse my dear Aunt Sally (PEMDAS) is to remember the order of operations in math (parenthesis, exponents, multiplication & division, addition & subtraction). Read a book that has a Goodreads description that includes parentheses.

Divergent by Veronica Roth - has a Goodreads description including parentheses five times in the first sentence: "In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago world, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue--Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent)."

Conmpleted 2/3

3. Thirty days hath September, April, June, and November. Read a book that has a page number count that includes the digits 3 and 0 (in any order). Heir to the Underworld (310 pages)

4. Wives of Henry VIII: divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived. Read a book in which a character is part of an unhappy marriage When Christ and His Saints Slept (Maude and Geoffrey, Count of Anjou)

Read the review, this book sounds hilarious!

Sylvia wrote: "If anyone is looking for a book with a pet penguin, try Death and the Penguin by Andrey Kurkov. It is hilarious."

2. My Enormous Penguin Bounces Pretty High is to remember the series of alkanes in chemistry. Read a book that features an animal that is not typically kept as a pet (like a penguin).
Read The Jungle Book which features several exotic animals such as wolves, tigers, mongoose etc. Completed 3/13 ****

Updated!

1 more to go, Sarah & Janet!

@Daphne, you're welcome! This is my first time leading, so I'm trying to do a good job :)

3/8

3. Thirty days hath September, April, June, and November. Read a book that has a page number count that includes the digits 3 and 0 (in any order).



4. Wives of Henry VIII: divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived. Read a book in which a character is part of an unhappy marriage.

(Hold on...does it count if the marriage happened in her past?)

5. Mrs. Baker is used to remember the eight common law felonies (murder, rape, sodomy, burglary, arson, kidnapping, escape, robbery). Read a book in a which one of these felonies takes place.

Murder and rape. (No one in their right mind should read this book. It's a waste of time.)

6/7

4. Wives of Henry VIII: divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived. Read a book in which a character is part of an unhappy marriage.
03/13/14

I guess you can make an argument on whether she was really unhappy since she ignored her husbands philandering...but I don't think anyone can truly be happy in that situation.

✿Lilac✿ wrote: "3/8

3. Thirty days hath September, April, June, and November. Read a book that has a page number count that includes the digits 3 and 0 (in any order).

[bookcover:The Introvert Advantage: How to ..."

Welcome to the challenge, ✿Lilac✿! I would think you could count it if the unhappy marriage was a theme of the book, regardless of whether or not it's current or in the past. Like if her past marriage drives what's going on in the book.

All done! Thanks for leading your first challenge Jaclyn. You did awesome :)

THE MNEMONIC CHALLENGE
Duration: March 1 - 31, 2014
COMPLETED 8/8


"Spring forward, fall back" is a mnemonic device to help you remember which way to change your clocks during daylight savings time. A mnemonic is a memory aid. Let's explore other mnemonics in this challenge.

1. My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nachos is used to remember the order of the planets. Read a book that takes place in space. The Day We Found the Universe by Marcia Bartusiak


2. My Enormous Penguin Bounces Pretty High is to remember the series of alkanes in chemistry. Read a book that features an animal that is not typically kept as a pet (like a penguin). Rescuing the Spectacled Bear by Stephen Fry


3. Thirty days hath September, April, June, and November. Read a book that has a page number count that includes the digits 3 and 0 (in any order). DNA USA: A Genetic Biography of America by Bryan Sykes


4. Wives of Henry VIII: divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived. Read a book in which a character is part of an unhappy marriage. The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson


5. Mrs. Baker is used to remember the eight common law felonies (murder, rape, sodomy, burglary, arson, kidnapping, escape, robbery). Read a book in a which one of these felonies takes place. Letters to a Young Contrarian by Christopher Hitchens


6. Please excuse my dear Aunt Sally (PEMDAS) is to remember the order of operations in math (parenthesis, exponents, multiplication & division, addition & subtraction). Read a book that has a Goodreads description that includes parentheses. Doctor Ox by Jules Verne


7. Every good boy does fine is the mnemonic for the notes on the five lines of the treble clef. Read a book that involves music in some way. The Violinist's Thumb: And Other Lost Tales of Love, War, and Genius, as Written by Our Genetic Code by Sam Kean


8. I before E, except after C read a book that has a title containing a word following the mnemonic (e.g., it could contain the word "friend" or "receive"). A Brief History of Witchcraft by Lois Martin

3/4 done.


3. Thirty days hath September, April, June, and November. Read a book that has a page number count that includes the digits 3 and 0 (in any order).
The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America
**Without the notes and sources section this book has 390 pages**

7. Every good boy does fine is the mnemonic for the notes on the five lines of the treble clef. Read a book that involves music in some way.


Finished March 15

2/4

Updated to here! Congrats Daphne on being the first person to finish all 8 of the tasks for your goal!!! You rocked this challenge!

Please update me. I completed number 2 with a wolf as a central animal.
The Wolf Gift

Halfway there, Nancy! :)

I'm 2/3 in this post:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Jaclyn wrote: "Updated!

1 more to go, Sarah & Janet!"

Just my space one left. I'm not a huge fan of space stories. and I'm trying to find one I think I'll enjoy. Any suggestions for space stories, maybe with a YA theme to it. Maybe that'll help me read it.

Sarah wrote: "Jaclyn wrote: "Updated!

1 more to go, Sarah & Janet!"

Just my space one left. I'm not a huge fan of space stories. and I'm trying to find one I think I'll enjoy. Any suggestions for space storie..."

Ah, I'm not really big on Space stories myself, but I did start to read a series a while back that's pretty good. (I still haven't finished it yet, but of what I've read, I've liked it very much.) All the stories, to my knowledge, were compiled into this Book:

You can buy it on Smashwords here: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view...

Hope this helps! <3

Thanks Nicole, I shall defo ahve a look into it =]

Sarah wrote: "Thanks Nicole, I shall defo ahve a look into it =]"

You're welcome! Good luck on completing the Challenge! <3

Just completed #8 (I before E) - Boundaries in Dating by Henry Cloud. Read half of the book while in a relationship and read remainder when I was single. Good advice and really appreciated that the authors did not dictate actions but rather encouraged thought and introspection about important issues. Definitely recommend! 4 stars

6/3

Sarah wrote: Just my space one left. I'm not a huge fan of space stories. and I'm trying to find one I think I'll enjoy. Any suggestions for space storie..."

I have the same problem. That's the only one I couldn't find a book for. Does anyone know if this book takes place in space? One reviewer wrote something about a moon invasion...

Updated to here! :)

I completed number three!
3. Thirty days hath September, April, June, and November. Read a book that has a page number count that includes the digits 3 and 0 (in any order).
Hidden by Catherine McKenzie for a total of 304 pages

Jaclyn wrote: "Sarah wrote: Just my space one left. I'm not a huge fan of space stories. and I'm trying to find one I think I'll enjoy. Any suggestions for space storie..."

I have the same problem. That's the on..."

I read "the Martian" by Andy Weir.

Is it possible to switch books?
When so, I would like to change my #6 into The Gods of Mars, which has (Barsoom #2) in the Goodreads description.
And than I would like to use A Study in Scarlet for my #4, because one of the main characters is forced to marry someone and dies of grief within a year...
When it is not possible I'll see if I can finish another book - still almost 2 weeks left to read in...

When you are looking for books set in space: the Barsoom series by Edgar Rice Burroughs sets on Mars. They are short, free dowloadable and not too bad (I already read 2 of them and ; but rather frustrating: the last one has an open ending, so I'll have to read another one ;)...).

I'm 3 for 3 now :)

3/3

1. My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nachos is used to remember the order of the planets. Read a book that takes place in space. - Legend

2. My Enormous Penguin Bounces Pretty High is to remember the series of alkanes in chemistry. Read a book that features an animal that is not typically kept as a pet (like a penguin). - Water - Galapagos Penguin

3. Thirty days hath September, April, June, and November. Read a book that has a page number count that includes the digits 3 and 0 (in any order). - The Seven Daughters of Eve: The Science That Reveals Our Genetic Ancestry (320 pages)

❖ Updated message 51. 2/5 now :) ❖

7. Every good boy does fine is the mnemonic for the notes on the five lines of the treble clef. Read a book that involves music in some way.
The Pianist by Władysław Szpilman

Jaclyn wrote: "I have the same problem. That's the only one I couldn't find a book for. Does anyone know if this book takes place in space? One reviewer wrote something about a moon invasion..."

I do want to read Cinder, but I don't have it. And I'm not certain exactly what it's about.

The Martian doesn't interest me =[ and I tried to read 'A Princess of Mars' but I got bored so gave up. I loved the film though (John Carter). I'm just not a big space fan =/ I thought I'd pick it to give myself a challenge, but I'm really not sure what to read for it now.

I've found 2 I think.. [bookcover:Beyond|16035496] or

Elsbeth wrote: "Is it possible to switch books?
When so, I would like to change my #6 into The Gods of Mars, which has (Barsoom #2) in the Goodreads description.
And than I would like to use [book:A ..."

Of course!! So to make sure I have you down correctly with the change, how many have you completed?

Sarah wrote: "Jaclyn wrote: "I have the same problem. That's the only one I couldn't find a book for. Does anyone know if this book takes place in space? One reviewer wrote something about a moon invasion..."

I..."

I found out that Cinder is not set in space. The 4th book in the series, which is not released yet, will be set on the moon.

Updated to here!

Congratulations ✿Claire✿ on completing your goal!! :)

Jaclyn wrote: "Elsbeth wrote: "Is it possible to switch books?
When so, I would like to change my #6 into The Gods of Mars, which has (Barsoom #2) in the Goodreads description.
And than I would like..."

Okay, lets see - for:
#1. A Princess of Mars
#2. Precious and the Puggies: Precious Ramotswe's Very First Case
#3. The Great Shadow
#4. A Study in Scarlet
#5. Around The World In 80 Days
#6. The Gods of Mars
#7. Not yet, but almost, finished, but I think I'll use Emma for this, because it has an pianoforte, singing and dancing in it.
#8. After this I will try Mansfield Park.

So that makes 6 finished. And I'll try to make the 8 full. So you can update me to: 6/8.

Jaclyn wrote: "Updated to here!

Congratulations ✿Claire✿ on completing your goal!! :)"

Thank you :) I'm now 4/3 but I'll have to stop there :D

7/7!!

7. Every good boy does fine is the mnemonic for the notes on the five lines of the treble clef. Read a book that involves music in some way.
03/19/14

(The main characters fall in love while writing songs together)

4/4 I will probably do one or two more, will add as I go :)


4. Wives of Henry VIII: divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived. Read a book in which a character is part of an unhappy marriage
Gone Girl

Updated to here.

Congrats Kelsi on reaching your goal!

And a "shout out" to everyone who has increased their goals since beginning the challenge! :)

I just finished Emma for #7, because it has an pianoforte, singing and dancing in it.

So only #8 left for me...

Did you enjoy this book? I chose it for my number 7 read too! Meimei wrote: "❖ Updated message 51. 2/5 now :) ❖

7. Every good boy does fine is the mnemonic for the notes on the five lines of the treble clef. Read a book that involves music in some way.
[book:The Pianist|1..."

Just finished The Zookeeper's Wife by Diane Ackerman for number 2! 1 out of 2 completed so far :)

Heather wrote: "Did you enjoy this book? I chose it for my number 7 read too!

Definitely, it is really amazing book. I think you'll like it :)

@ Meimei Can't wait to start reading! :)

Updated to here. Good work everyone!

4.Mrs. Baker is used to remember the eight common law felonies (murder, rape, sodomy, burglary, arson, kidnapping, escape, robbery). Read a book in a which one of these felonies takes place. - Completed the challenge with One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest on 3/22. I rated it 4 stars. It has murder and escape. (view spoiler)[ Chief Bromden murders(euthanizes)McMurphy and then breaks out and escapes the asylum (hide spoiler)].

❖ Updated message 51. 3/5, so close :) ❖

2. My Enormous Penguin Bounces Pretty High is to remember the series of alkanes in chemistry. Read a book that features an animal that is not typically kept as a pet (like a penguin).
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

❖ Updated message 51. 4/5, one more! :) ❖

6. Please excuse my dear Aunt Sally (PEMDAS) is to remember the order of operations in math (parenthesis, exponents, multiplication & division, addition & subtraction). Read a book that has a Goodreads description that includes parentheses.

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner by Stephenie Meyer

Congrats Janet on completing your goal!!

Almost there Meimei!! One more to go!!

We have just about one more week to finish our goals! Keep reading!! :)