2025 Reading Challenge discussion

Mine should say 1/5 shouldn't it? (I'm post #48). I read Coraline as my first book.

Ooop, you're right, Rachel! My apologies. :)

Count me in for 2 please

2/2 completed

1 The Story of My Life Helen Keller - amazing courageous for Helen Keller who was deafblind to learn to communicate with others, gain a degree and to stand up for the rights of others
2 The Martian Andy Weir - Mark Watney definitely needed courage to survive on Mars

I'll try for 2 please

Updated #21.

1. Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo ✔

It took an enormous amount of courage and bravery for Kaz and his gang to complete the heist in this story. We also see how each of the characters are courageous in their own way, eg. We learn about Inej escaping from her abuser in the Menagerie and becoming stronger than ever.

Updating message 44, updated count: 1/3

1. Monique and the Mango Rains: Two Years with a Midwife in Mali by Kris Holloway

Monique was a quietly courageous woman, bearing her lot in life and doing everything she could to help her village through her medical position in the community. She spoke out when she could have stayed silent simply to help the women in her village and their children. The Peace Corps volunteer, Fatumata, was also brave in her willingness to speak up for Monique and other women in the village she was assigned, hoping to better their lives. Though the two faced some challenging times, they faced them with a willingness to endure in order to better the lives of others.

Current to post 57. Great picks so far!

Updated message 5. I've completed 1/2.

I read Dark Places by Gillian Flynn. The main character is seven years old when her mother and two sisters are brutally murdered. Dark Places follows her facing up to it, and finally asking questions she's had for years.

i read Sybil: The Classic True Story of a Woman Possessed by Sixteen Personalities think it fits this challenge but not sure

Another one for me: I'll Give You the Sun. I was thinking about it a lot after I finished and debated whether it fit. In the end, I think it does. It's about the courage to discover yourself and be who you are, and to own up to mistakes. Definitely a great book.

Blagica wrote: "i read Sybil: The Classic True Story of a Woman Possessed by Sixteen Personalities think it fits this challenge but not sure"

Disassociative Identity Disorder is so interesting to read about!

Rachel, I haven't read it but from your description, it sounds like it does.

I have everyone to here.

Update: I just finished "Ella Enchanted" which I think counts because it takes courage to stand up to people who would take advantage of you...despite a curse. I am up to 2/5.

Updating message #10 - 2 completed.
I had my goal at 3 but I would like to up it to 5.

I'm currently reading Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption and I plan on reading Row for Freedom: Crossing an Ocean in Search of Hope, so put me down for 2.

So far I have read these for the challenge:

1. Saga, Volume 3
2. Saga, Volume 4
3. Saga, Volume 5

As discussed earlier, this graphic novel series is about the courageous Romeo/Juliet-type journey of an intergalactic cross-species couple caught in the midst of a universal war and an attempt to make a life for their illegal child.
And in case you have forgotten from my previous discussion: this series kicks intergalactic ass!

4. A Child Called "It"
A true recount of Dave Pelzer's traumatic childhood in one of the worst cases of child abuse in US history. young Dave's strength, courage, and personal perseverance is inspiring, admirable, and will leave anyone tearful and awestruck.

5. Helix Episode 1
I received this as an ARC from the author for an honest review. Following the story of a Russian girl thrown in the midst of operative training, dangerous field assignments, and malevolent organisations this girl (and her friends) just keep going. If that isn't courage I don't know what is.

6. The Great Zoo of China
All Matthew Reilly stories are full of action, unbeatable courage, and at least one scene of someone dangling on a cliff/platform edge by their fingertips. In this one, CJ goes from being a simple reptile expert (showing her own day-to-day courage with a severe facial scar) to battling and talking to dragons.


So I'm up to 6/5. I feel like almost all good books have some form of courage in them.

Stephanie (R-A) and Alex, I have you both updated. Destiny, welcome both to the group and the challenge! Enjoy. :)

Woo, you're kicking some behind, Becca! I ended up adding Saga to my tbr. I read A Child Called "It" almost a decade ago for a psychology class and it both broke my heart and gave me hope. David Pelzer's a hell of a writer with a tragic story.

I'm waiting on my copy of A Thousand Naked Strangers: A Paramedic’s Wild Ride to the Edge and Back to get here. In the meantime, I may fit in a different book somewhere.

I've updated message 36. Read 1 out of 3.

Bobbi wrote: "Stephanie (R-A) and Alex, I have you both updated. Destiny, welcome both to the group and the challenge! Enjoy. :)

Woo, you're kicking some behind, Becca! I ended up adding Saga to my tbr. I read ..."

Thanks Bobbi! I've been housesitting for over a week and had minimal hours at work so been reading HEAPS. I've seen A Thousand Naked Strangers: A Paramedic’s Wild Ride to the Edge and Back in my updates a couple of times lately - would love to hear what you think.

Rachel wrote: "I've updated message 36. Read 1 out of 3."

I'm updating it, Rachel, but the only rule is you have to justify how the book you read represents courage to you.

Hi just got into the hobby of reading. So 1 book. As i don't know any books will skim through these comments and pick a book. Any suggestions for an amateur are welcome.

Akshay Krishna wrote: "Hi just got into the hobby of reading. So 1 book. As i don't know any books will skim through these comments and pick a book. Any suggestions for an amateur are welcome."

When I want to find a book on a particular topic I look at either the Listopia lists or the genre lists. Here is a link to the genre list for courage - https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...

Welcome to the challenge, all, updated to 73.

Akshay Krishna wrote: "Hi just got into the hobby of reading. So 1 book. As i don't know any books will skim through these comments and pick a book. Any suggestions for an amateur are welcome."

Janet's list is a great start (I didn't even think to check listopia because I am, apparently, derpy). That said, not knowing where your taste in books lies, the only books that come to mind are The Nightingale, which I am currently reading for another challenge and enjoying, or maybe our group's book of the month I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban. The biggest thing to remember is this is about you having fun and enjoying yourself.

Updated #20

Can I up my goal to 2 please?

1. The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls Completed 9/3/16 Rating 4 stars


1/2

Update: I just finished Stardust by Neil Gaiman. I think this applies to the Courage challenge because it takes a good deal of courage to not only venture into unknown lands on the whim of a lady who doesn't really care for you (even if you don't quite realize it yet), but it takes that much more courage to face down witches in order save someone. It takes more courage still to accept a throne that you are wary of and then rule justly. (By the way, I highly recommend people read this book- good stuff).

I now have 3/5

Update to message 54
1/2
The Story of My Life Helen Keller - amazing courageous for Helen Keller, who was deafblind, to learn to communicate with others, gain a degree and to stand up for the rights of others.

1/1

I just noticed that someone used Pride and Prejudice and Zombies for #2. I think I will use that as well. Read 3-4-16.

Zombie books FTW ^_^

7. Warm Bodies
I didn't think I was going to include this one but fits in really well. R's courage to literally change himself into a different being despite noone or thing thinking it possible is ridiculously courageous. I mean that and standing with a gun to his head to prove a point.

7/5

Updated to 79. Great job everyone!

Update: I finished "The Neverending Story" by Michael Ende. This is a story about a child facing his deepest fears about himself. He has to confront everything he doesn't like about himself through saving Fantastica (I know, right? I thought it was Fantasia, to). He grows incredibly through the book and faces nearly every fear that he has. I can't think of much that is more courageous than that. This brings me to 4/5.

I have updated post 29. I am now 3/3! I realized with the last two books I read that they fit into this category well. I may up this goal depending on what I read the rest of the month.

2/3 done...

1. Deadly Class, Vol. 3: The Snake Pit by Rick Remender (3/1/16) - High school kids in an impossible situation - going up against the most violent people you can imagine. In this volume, the protagonist even has to go against his own friends. This is a graphic novel, emphasis on the graphic!
2. Zlata's Diary: A Child's Life in Wartime Sarajevo by Zlata Filipović - (3/14/16) - A girl goes on with her life in the middle-literally-of bombs falling around her

I will read 1 book that is courageous.

Welcome, Julie! Updated to here for today.

Update: I just finished "The Bell Jar" by Sylvia Plath. Gosh darn it that book is pretty spectacular. It applies because it take an enormous amount of courage to face life again when you have decided that it is over in your mind. This brings me up to 5/5! Go me. I may read more for this challenge and will post them if I find they apply but I finished it!

Message 10 - 5/5; Challenge completed.

I just completed Cry, the Beloved Country. Stephen Kumalo showed courage when he left his small hometown to go the big city of Johannesburg to find his family. Arthur Jarvis showed exceptional courage in standing up for the black man in white dominated South Africa.

1/1

Updated to here.

Completed! Updated Message #3 :)

1. The Supergirls: Fashion, Feminism, Fantasy, and the History of Comic Book Heroines - Book discusses courageous heroines from the comic book world
2. Black-Eyed Susans - Thriller that centers on a female protagonist who has to face her trauma
3. Hot & Heavy: Fierce Fat Girls on Life, Love & Fashion - Strong book on the body positivity movement
4. DC Comics: Bombshells #14 - Series centered on female heroes and villains.
5. The Shining - Story includes courageous acts by Dick Hallorann, Danny Torrance, and Wendy Torrance.

5/5 - COMPLETED!

I just finished I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban - what amazing courage! I've read some others that demonstrate courage as well, but I'll use them to complete the other monthly challenge.

Updated to 91!

Update for Post #48 -- I'm adding two books.

Finished my third book last night: The Ice Cream Girls. It's a bit of a weird fit because it is about two young women accused of murdering someone. Both insist that they are innocent and the other is responsible. However, it fits because it is about a very manipulative, abusive relationship and finding the courage to survive. One of the women especially shows a lot of courage with how she faces her abuser.

The fourth is actually a book I read earlier this month. I didn't include it earlier because I wasn't sure how well it fit the theme of courage, but the more I think about it, the more I think there is a case for it. Where They Found Her is about a journalist who is investigating the case of a dead baby found in the city where she lives. In the process, she also has to overcome personal challenges that could affect her ability to objectively tackle the case. I thought she showed a lot of courage overcoming her past and especially with the events at the end of the book.

Updated to here.

Update: I know I already read my 5, but I just finished "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett and it definitely applies. It is about a group of maids and a white woman who defy societal convention in order to write about how black maids are really treated in the South under Jim Crow. It would take an enormous amount of courage to do that. It is really powerful stuff. So, I guess now I have 6/5 :)

Updated #21.

2. I am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban by Malala Yousafzai ✔

This doesn't need explaining. Malala is one of the most courageous young women I've learnt about in recent years. Such an inspiration to others all over the world.

COMPLETE: 2/2

It's only fair that I update too.

1/4

1. ★★★★★ - This follows two sisters during the German occupation of France in WWII and it represents courageousness because both women find ways to stand up not only for their own families, but their Jewish countrymen at great risk to themselves. I loved it.

Update msg 17
1/2

Update to post #48 -- this one may be a bit of a stretch, but I read The Girls, which was about conjoined twins who are joined at the head. I thought this book showed courage because it talked a bit about how the girls and their family faced negative attitudes from others. It also talked about coping with some extreme stressors (medical problems, illness in the family, etc).

Update to message 54 - completed my 2/2 with The Martian - Mark Watney definitely required courage to survive on Mars

Updating message 44, completed 2/3

2. The Martian by Andy Weir
The Martian is the ultimate survival story - and only someone with true courage could face the events that Mark Watney faced and not just cower in the corner and be done with it. Watney faces each situation logically, as a scientist would, with a dry humor that keeps him, and his readers, going.

Wanda wrote: "I would like to join in this month. I'm going for 5 books. I'll post my choices after I decide. I know I am a little late in getting this info to you."


by Harriet Jacobs

by Bill Elliott

3/5 complete.