2025 Reading Challenge discussion

117/110 - challenge completed!

2017 Books and Movies/TV

Books where I saw the movie first:
- Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by J.K. Rowling - completed January 2017 (the concept is there but the actual faux textbook has some different facts then the movie)
- The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brasheres - completed June 2017 (the movie adaptation was not as good as the book)
- True Grit by Charles Portis - completed September 2017 (the book was excellent, 2010 movie was the closest adaptation)

Movies where I read the book first:
- The Shack by William Paul Young (not a great adaptation - much too preachy without the beautiful philosophy) - watched March 2017
- The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot (decent adaptation) - watched August 2017
- The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
- A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
- All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven
- The Invisible Man by H.G. Wells
- An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
- The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood (excellent series but not the most faithful adaptation, but it is all true to Atwood!) - watching May 2017
- American Gods by Neil Gaiman - completed book January 2017
- A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Bachman (excellent adaptation) - watched April 2017
- Neverwhere by Neil Gaimen - completed August 2017

Books and movies read/watched closely together:
book:
- Max Perkins: Editor of Genius by A. Scott Berg - read July 2017 (watched movie July 2017 - good adaptation!)
- The Zookeeper's Wife: A War Story by Diane Ackerman - read July 2017 (watched movie July 2017 - decent adaptation)
- Miracles from Heaven: A Little Girl, Her Journey to Heaven, and Her Amazing Story of Healing by Christy Beam - read September 2017 (watched September 2017 - decent adaptation)
- The Queen of Katwe: A Story of Life, Chess, and One Extraordinary Girl's Dream of Becoming a Grandmaster by Tim Crothers - read October 2017 (watched October 2017 - decent adaptation)

Books pending movie release:
- I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson (screen rights optioned by Warner Bros in 2014) - completed March 2017
- Little Bee by Chris Cleave (screen rights purchased by BBC) - completed March 2017
- Devil in the Grove: Thurgood Marshall, the Groveland Boys, and the Dawn of a New America by Gilbert King - completed March 2017
- Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor (screen rights purchased by Universal) - completed April 2017
- The North Water by Ian McGuire (TV rights optioned by BBC film company) - completed January 2017
- A House in the Sky by Amanda Lindhout (screen rights optioned by Rooney Mara) - completed February 2017
- Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult (screen rights optioned by Julia Roberts) - completed March 2017
- News of the World by Paulette Jiles (screen rights acquired by Fox 2000) - completed May 2017
- The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon (screen rights acquired by MGM) - completed May 2017
- Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige (screen rights acquired by CW for a TV series) - completed May 2017
- Flawed by Cecelia Ahern (screen rights acquired by Warner Bros) - completed July 2017
- Dark Witch by Nora Roberts (screen rights optioned by Omnifilm) - completed August 2017
- Secret Daughter by Shilpi Somaya Gowda (screen rights adapted by Mehta) - completed August 2017
- Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson (screen rights purchased 2015 and in production) - completed September 2017
- Frog Music by Emma Donoghue (screen rights purchased by Monumental Pictures) - completed October 2017
- The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker (screen rights acquired by AMC) - completed October 2017
- Defending Jacob by William Landay (screen rights acquired by Warner Bros) - completed October 2017
- Commonwealth by Ann Patchett (screen rights acquired 2017) - completed November 2017
- Into the Water by Paula Hawkins (screen rights acquired 2017) - completed November 2017
- The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas (screen rights acquired 2017) - completed November 2017
- The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer (screen rights acquired by Amazon) - completed December 2017

Goodreads Choice 2017

- Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk by Kathleen Rooney - completed May 2017 (5 stars)
- No Barriers: A Blind Man's Journey to Kayak the Grand Canyon by Erik Weihenmayer - completed February 2017 (4.5 stars)
- Into the Water by Paula Hawkins - completed November 2017 (4.5 stars)
- The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas - completed November 2017 (4.5 stars)
- Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor - completed August 2017 (4.5 stars)
- King's Cage by Victoria Aveyard - completed February 2017 (4.5 stars)
- The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane by Lisa See - completed July 2017 (4.5 stars)
- Perfect by Cecelia Ahern - completed September 2017 (4 stars)
- The Fifth Doll by Charlie Holmberg - completed November 2017 (4 stars)
- The Identicals by Elin Hilderbrand - completed November 2017 (4 stars)
- The Sleepwalker by Chris Bohjalian - completed January 2017 (4 stars)
- Last Hope Island: Britain, Occupied Europe, and the Brotherhood That Helped Turn the Tide of War by Lynne Olson - completed September 2017 (4 stars)
- The Shadow Land by Elizabeth Kostova - completed August 2017 (4 stars)
- Starfall by Melissa Landers - completed September 2017 (4 stars)
- The Lost City of the Monkey God: A True Story by Douglas Preston - completed May 2017 (4 stars)
- On Second Thought by Kristin Higgins - completed February 2017 (4 stars)
- A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas - compelted May 2017 (4 stars)
- The Wish Granter by C.J. Redwine - completed June 2017 (4 stars)
- Come Sundown by Nora Roberts - completed November 2017 (3.5 stars)
- A Note Yet Unsung by Tamera Alexander - completed February 2017 (3.5 stars)
- Windwitch by Susan Dennard - completed April 2017 (3.5 stars)
- Lucky Broken Girl by Ruth Behar - completed December 2017 (3.5 stars)
- The Yellow Envelope: One Gift, Three Rules, and a Life-Changing Journey Around the World by Kim Dinan - completed December 2017 (3.5 stars)
- The Dark Prophecy by Rick Riordan - completed November 2017 (3.5 stars)
- A Bridge Across the Ocean by Susan Meissner - completed September 2017 (3.5 stars)
- A Piece of the World by Christina Baker Kline - completed March 2017 (3.5 stars)
- The Women in the Castle by Jessica Shattuck - completed September 2017 (3 star)
- Always by Sarah Jio - completed March 2017 (3 stars)
- Wayfarer by Alexandra Bracken - completed January 2017 (3 stars)
- Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman - completed May 2017 (2.5 stars)
- Wives Of War by Soraya Lane - completed October 2017 (2.5 stars)

- Ginny Moon by Benjamin Ludwig
- The Playbook: 52 Rules to Aim, Shoot, and Score in This Game Called Life by Kwame Alexander

Clear the Shelves 2017 #1

2015:
- Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania by Erik Larson - completed March 2017

2016:
- Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult - completed March 2017

2017:
- On Second Thought by Kristan Higgins - completed February 2017

Audible:
- A Piece of the World by Christina Baker Kline - completed March 2017

Challenge:
- Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte - completed January 2017

Choice Awards 2014:
- I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson - completed March 2017

Choice Awards 2015:
- The Stranger by Harlan Coben - completed January 2017

Choice Awards 2016:
- The North Water by Ian McGuire - completed January 2017

Finalists:
- Devil in the Grove: Thurgood Marshall, the Groveland Boys, and the Dawn of a New America by Gilbert King - completed March 2017

Giveaways:
- The Defense by Steve Cavanagh - completed February 2017

Kindle:
- Always by Sarah Jio - completed March 2017

Library:
- King's Cage by Victoria Aveyard - completed February 2017

Library Audiobooks:
- The Sleepwalker by Chris Bohjalian - completed January 2017

Library Ebooks:
- Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George - completed January 2017

Movie adaptations:
- Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by J.K. Rowling - completed January 2017

Need to read first book:
- An Irish Country Doctor by Patrick Taylor - completed March 2017

New Series:
- Truthwitch by Susan Dennard - completed January 2017

Next in Series:
- A Note Yet Unsung by Tamera Alexander - completed February 2017

Not Library:
- Wayfarer by Alexandra Bracken - completed January 2017

Own:
- Little Bee by Chris Cleave - completed March 2017

PB Library:
- Starflight by Melissa Landers - completed February 2017

Random Word:
- No Barriers: A Blind Man's Journey to Kayak the Grand Canyon by Erik Weihenmayer - completed February 2017

Recommended by Readers:
- A House in the Sky by Amanda Lindhout - completed February 2017

W list: 23/23 - completed!!!

Book Club 2017:

WPB Women's:
January - The North Water by Ian McGuire - completed
February - Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte (re-read) - completed
March - Devil in the Grove: Thurgood Marshall, the Groveland Boys, and the Dawn of a New America by Gilbert King - completed
April - Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll - read last year
May - Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult - completed March 2017
June - News of the World by Paulette Jiles - completed May 2017
July - A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Bachman - read last year
August - Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman - completed August 2017
September - True Grit by Charles Portis - completed September 2017
October - The Women in the Castle by Jessica Shattuck - completed September 2017
November - Defending Jacob by William Landay - completed October 2017
December - The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood - completed December 2017
January - Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk by Kathleen Rooney - read earlier this year
February - The Sellout by Paul Beatty
March - The Life We Bury by Allen Eskins
April - Dodgers by Bill Beverly
May - The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon
June - Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate

2017 Popsugar Challenge:

1. Book recommended by librarian - Max Perkins: Editor of Genius by A. Scott Berg - completed July 2017
2. Book that's been on TBR for way too long - Caribou Island by David Vann - completed May 2017
3. A book of letters - The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brasheres - completed June 2017
4. An audiobook - Snowbound by Blake Crouch - completed April 2017
5. A book by a person of color - The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon - completed May 2017
6. A book with one of the four seasons in the title - The Summer Before the War by Helen Simonson - completed December 2017
7. A book that is a story within a story - Always by Sarah Jio - completed March 2017
8. A book with multiple authors - A House in the Sky by Amanda Lindhout and Sara Corbett - completed February 2017
9. An espionage thriller - The Stranger by Harlan Coben - completed January 2017
10. A book with a cat on the cover - The Dark Prophecy by Rick Riordan - completed November 2017
11. A book by an author who uses a pseudonym - The Pleasure Palace by Kate Emerson - completed April 2017
12. A bestseller from a genre you don't normally read - Morning Star by Pierce Brown - completed June 2017
13. A book by or about a person who has a disability - The Sleepwalker by Chris Bohjalian - completed January 2017
14. A book involving travel - Starflight by Melissa Landers - completed February 2017
15. A book with a subtitle - Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania by Erik Larson - completed March 2017
16. A book that's published in 2017 - A Note Yet Unsung by Tamera Alexander - completed February 2017
17. A book involving a mythical creature - Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by J.K. Rowling - completed January 2017
18. A book you've read before that never fails to make you smile
19. A book about food - The Wish Granter by C.J. Redwine - completed June 2017
20. A book with career advice - The Defense by Steve Cavanagh - completed February 2017
21. A book from a nonhuman perspective - Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor - completed April 2017
22. A steampunk novel - Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman - completed August 2017
23. A book with a red spine - Sisi: Empress on Her Own by Allison Pataki - completed July 2017
24. A book set in the wilderness - The North Water by Ian McGuire - completed January 2017
25. A book you loved as a child - The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood - completed December 2017
26. A book by an author from a country you've never visited - An Irish Country Doctor by Patrick Taylor - completed March 2017
27. A book with a title that's a character's name - Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige - completed May 2017
28. A novel set during wartime - King's Cage by Victoria Aveyard - completed February 2017
29. A book with an unreliable narrator - I'll See You in Paris by Michelle Gable - completed June 2017
30. A book with pictures - Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George - completed January 2017
31. A book where the main character is a different ethnicity than you - Devil in the Grove: Thurgood Marshall, the Groveland Boys, and the Dawn of a New America by Gilbert King - completed March 2017
32. A book about an interesting woman - On Second Thought by Kristan Higgins - completed February 2017
33. A book set in two different time periods - Wayfarer by Alexandra Bracken - completed January 2017
34. A book with a month or day of the week in the title - November 9 by Colleen Hoover - completed April 2017
35. A book set in a hotel - The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton - completed January 2017
36. A book written by someone you admire - All American Boys by Jason Reynolds - completed April 2017
37. A book that's becoming a movie in 2017 - The Zookeeper's Wife: A War Story by Diane Ackerman - completed July 2017
38. A book set around a holiday other than Christmas - Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk by Kathleen Rooney - completed May 2017
39. The first book in a series you haven't read before - Truthwitch by Susan Dennard - completed January 2017
40. A book you bought on a trip - Cane River by Lalita Tademy - completed December 2017
41. A book recommended by an author you love - American Gods by Neil Gaiman - completed January 2017
42. A bestseller from 2016 - Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult - completed March 2017
43. A book with a family-member term in the title - The Restaurant Critic's Wife by Elizabeth LaBan - completed September 2017
44. A book that takes place over a character's life span - Somewhere Out There by Amy Hatvany - completed June 2017
45. A book about an immigrant or refugee - Little Bee by Chris Cleave - completed March 2017
46. A book from a genre/subgenre you've never heard of - No Barriers: A Blind Man's Journey to Kayak the Grand Canyon by Erik Weihenmayer - completed February 2017
47. A book with an eccentric character - I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson - completed March 2017
48. A book that's more than 800 pages
49. A book you got from a used book sale - Frog Music by Emma Donoghue - completed October 2017
50. A book that's been mentioned in another book - Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte - completed January 2017
51. A book about a difficult topic - Glory over Everything: Beyond The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom - completed July 2017
52. A book based on mythology - Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman - completed May 2017

50/30 - challenge completed!!!

MY FAVORITE THINGS
Duration January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2017

Thank you Ariel for the fantastic idea!

For this challenge, you will fill in the blanks with your favorite things and find "new to you" books that match each category. You can either find a book that has the same same words in the title, is about the same subject, has a picture of your favorite thing on the cover, is written by the same author, or is the next in a series. The choice is yours as long as you have never read the book before!

Here are your categories...

1. My favorite fiction book is: ___Jane Eyre___ - Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor - completed April 2017
2. My favorite non-fiction is: ___Luke___ - American Gods by Neil Gaiman - completed January 2017
3. My favorite author is: ___Kristan Higgins___ - On Second Thought - completed February 2017
4. My favorite genre is: ___Historical fiction___ - Little Bee by Chris Cleave - completed March 2017
5. My favorite fairy/folk tale is: ___Beauty and the Beast___ - The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton - completed January 2017
6. My favorite male book character is: ___Jamie from Outlander___ - Wayfarer by Alexandra Bracken - completed January 2017
7. My favorite female book character is: ___Jane Eyre___ - Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George - completed January 2017
8. My favorite song is: ___Joy to the World___ - A Note Yet Unsung by Tamera Alexander - completed February 2017
9. My favorite movie is: ___Casablanca___ - Always by Sarah Jio - completed March 2017
10. My favorite television show is: ___West Wing___ - Devil in the Grove: Thurgood Marshall, the Groveland Boys, and the Dawn of a New America by Gilbert King - completed March 2017
11. My favorite color is: ___Purple___ - King's Cage by Victoria Aveyard - completed February 2017
12. My favorite real animal is: ___Dolphin___ - No Barriers: A Blind Man's Journey to Kayak the Grand Canyon by Erik Weihenmayer - completed February 2017
13. My favorite talking animal is: ___Babe___ - Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by J.K. Rowling - completed January 2017
14. My favorite number is: ___15___ - Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania by Erik Larson - completed March 2017
15. My favorite food is: ___Chocolate___ - The Sleepwalker by Chris Bohjalian - completed January 2017
16. My favorite real place to visit is: ___New Orleans___ - The Quaker Café by Brenda Bevan Remmes - completed August 2017
17. My favorite book land to visit is: ___Tudor England___ - The Pleasure Palace by Kate Emerson - completed April 2017
18. My favorite month is: ___December___ - White Teeth by Zadie Smith - completed April 2017
19. My favorite quote is: ___"All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent." - Edmund Burke___ - A House in the Sky by Amanda Lindhout - completed February 2017
20. My favorite non-book hobby is: ___Kickboxing___ - The Shadow Queen by CJ Redwine - completed April 2017

20/10 - challenge completed!!!

SERIAL READER CHALLENGE
Duration January 1, 2017 – December 31, 2017

We definitely have some serious series readers in our group! As series readers tend to be in it for the long haul, we thought a full year would provide more flexibility in a series challenge. Readers can choose series with longer books, long or short series, be able to move between series, etc. Here’s how it will work!

Fill in the following blanks to determine how many books you will read for this challenge. You can fill in one, two, three or all four blanks to come up with the total number of books you will read. Post your responses here!

I will finish 2 series I have started before this year. (5/2 books)
Belmont Mansion by Tamera Alexander:
- A Note Yet Unsung by Tamera Alexander - completed February 2017

Belle Meade Plantation by Tamera Alexander:
- To Win Her Favor by Tamera Alexander - completed May 2017

The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey:
- The Last Star - completed September 2017

Charlotte Kramer by Nicholle Wallace (3/3):
- It's Classified - completed June 2017
- Madam President - completed July 2017

Red Rising by Pierce Brown:
- Morning Star by Pierce Brown - completed June 2017

I will start 5 series this year. (12/5 books)
- Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George - completed January 2017 (not continuing the series)

- Irish Country by Patrick Taylor (3/11)
- An Irish Country Doctor - completed March 2017
- An Irish Country Village - completed April 2017
- An Irish Country Christmas - completed June 2017

- The Witchlands by Susan Dennard (2/2 of a 4 part series)
- Truthwitch - completed January 2017
- Windwitch - completed April 2017

- The Defense by Steve Cavanagh - completed February 2017 (not continuing the series)

Secrets of the Tudor Court by Kate Emerson:
- The Pleasure Palace by Kate Emerson - completed April 2017 (not continuing the series)

- Ravenspire by C.J. Redwine (2/2 of a four part series):
- The Shadow Queen - completed April 2017
- The Wish Granter - completed June 2017

- Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brasheres (1/5):
- The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants - completed June 2017

- The Trials of Apollo by Rick Riordan (2/2 of a five part series):
- The Hidden Oracle - completed September 2017
- The Dark Prophecy - completed November 2017

- Charles Lennox Mysteries by Charles Finch (0/10):
- A Beautiful Blue Death

I will read 1 series from start to finish this year. (10/3 books)
- Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige (4/4):
- Dorothy Must Die - completed May 2017
- The Wicked Will Rise - completed June 2017
- Yellow Brick War - completed June 2017
- The End of Oz - completed August 2017

- Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor (3/3 - series completed):
- Daughter of Smoke & Bone - completed April 2017
- Days of Blood & Starlight - completed April 2017
- Dreams of Gods & Monsters - completed April 2017

- the Cousins O'Dwyer Trilogy by Nora Roberts (3/3):
- Dark Witch - completed August 2017
- Shadow Spell - completed August 2017
- Blood Magick - completed August 2017

I will read 2 number of books that are part of a series. (2/2 books)
- King's Cage by Victoria Aveyard - completed February 2017
- A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas - completed May 2017

My total number of books is 31/15 - Challenge completed!!!

Clear the Shelves 2017 #2

2015:
- November 9 by Colleen Hoover - completed April 2017

2016:
- The Midnight Watch: A Novel of the Titanic and the Californian by David Dyer - completed June 2017

2017:
- Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman - completed May 2017

Audible:
- Snowbound by Blake Crouch - completed April 2017

Challenge:
- The Pleasure Palace by Kate Emerson - completed April 2017

Choice Awards 2014:
- Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Page - completed May 2017

Choice Awards 2015:
- The Sound of Glass by Karen White - completed July 2017

Choice Awards 2016:
- News of the World by Paulette Jiles - completed May 2017

Finalists:
- American Gods by Neil Gaiman - completed January 2017

Giveaways:
- Somewhere Out There by Amy Hatvany - completed June 2017

Kindle:
- Caribou Island by David Vann - completed May 2017

Library:
- Glory over Everything: Beyond The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom - completed July 2017

Library Audiobooks:
- The Lost City of the Monkey God: A True Story by Douglas Preston - completed May 2017

Library Ebooks:
- Morning Star by PIerce Brown - completed June 2017

Movie adaptations:
- Max Perkins: Editor of Genius by A. Scott Berg - completed July 2017

Need to read first book:
- It's Classified by Nicolle Wallace - completed June 2017

New Series:
- The Shadow Queen by C.J. Redwine - completed April 2017

Next in Series:
- Sisi: Empress on Her Own by Allison Pataki - completed July 2017

Not Library:
- Flawed by Cecelia Ahern - completed July 2017

Own:
- I'll See You in Paris by Michelle Gable - completed June 2017

PB Library:
- Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk by Kathleen Rooney - completed May 2017

Random Word:
- Windwitch by Susan Dennard - completed April 2017

Recommended by Readers:
- Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor - completed April 2017

V list: 23/23 - completed!!!

COLOR CHALLENGE
Duration: January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2017

1. Read a book with "White" or any shade of white in the cover (ivory, cream, bone, etc...).
- Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craig Georgehead - completed January 2017
- Flawed by Cecelia Ahern - completed July 2017
- Tender by Brenda McKeon - completed September 2017
- Come Sundown by Nora Roberts - completed November 2017

2. Read a book with "Pink" or any shade of pink in the cover (rose, magenta, salmon, etc...).
- Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult - completed March 2017
- Sisi: Empress on Her Own by Allison Pataki - completed July 2017
- Starfall by Melissa Landers - completed September 2017
- Lucky Broken Girl by Ruth Behar - completed December 2017

3. Read a book with "Red" or any shade of red in the cover (maroon, brick, scarlet, etc...).
- Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by J.K. Rowling - completed January 2017
- Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk by Kathleen Rooney - completed May 2017
- The Regional Office Is Under Attack! by Manuel Gonzales - completed October 2017
- The Summer Before the War by Helen Simonson - completed December 2017

4. Read a book with "Orange" or any shade of orange in the cover (apricot, ginger, carrot, etc...).
- Little Bee by Chris Cleave - completed March 2017
- It's Classified by Nicolle Wallace - completed June 2017
- The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane by Lisa See - completed July 2017
- The Crossover by Kwame Alexander - completed December 2017

5. Read a book with "Yellow" or any shade of yellow in the cover (blond, chartreuse, canary, etc...).
- The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton - completed January 2017
- Glory over Everything: Beyond The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom - completed July 2017
- Frog Music by Emma Donoghue - completed October 2017
- The Identicals by Elin Hilderbrand - completed November 2017

6. Read a book with "Green" or any shade of green in the cover (sage, lime, jade, etc...).
- An Irish Country Doctor by Patrick Taylor - completed March 2017
- An Irish Country Village by Patrick Taylor - completed April 2017
- The Zookeeper's Wife: A War Story by Diane Ackerman - completed July 2017
- The Memory of Lost Senses by Judith Kinghorn - completed December 2017

7. Read a book with "Light Blue" or any shade of light blue in the cover (teal, sky, cerulean, etc...).
- The North Water by Ian McGuire - completed January 2017
- The Pleasure Palace by Kate Emerson - completed April 2017
- A Bridge Across the Ocean by Susan Meissner - completed September 2017
- Quiet Meg by Sherry Lynn Ferguson - completed November 2017

8. Read a book with "Dark Blue" or any shade of dark blue in the cover (indigo, denim, navy, etc...).
- The Stranger by Harlan Coben - completed January 2017
- The Midnight Watch: A Novel of the Titanic and the Californian by David Dyer - completed June 2017
- The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker - completed October 2017
- Into the Water by Paula Hawkins - completed November 2017

9. Read a book with "Purple" or any shade of purple in the cover (lavender, plum, orchid, etc...).
- On Second Thought by Kristan Higgins - completed February 2017
- Somewhere Out There by Amy Hatvany - completed June 2017
- My Name Is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout - completed August 2017
- Ghost Gifts by Laura Spinelli - completed December 2017

10. Read a book with "Brown" or any shade of brown in the cover (tan, mahogany, coffee, etc...).
- A Note Yet Unsung by Tamera Alexander - completed February 2017
- The Lost City of the Monkey God: A True Story by Douglas Preston - completed May 2017
- The Last Star by Rick Yancey - completed September 2017
- Cane River by Lalita Tademy - completed December 2017

11. Read a book with "Black" or any shade of black in the cover (grey, slate, coal, etc...).
- Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania by Erik Larson - completed March 2017
- The Wish Granter by C.J. Redwine - completed June 2017
- Signs Preceding the End of the World by Yuri Herrera - completed September 2017
- Wilde Lake by Laura Lippman - completed December 2017

12. Read a book with a Metallic color in the cover (gold, silver, bronze, etc...).
- A House in the Sky by Amanda Lindhout - completed February 2017
- Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman - completed May 2017
- Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor - completed August 2017
- The Fifth Doll by Charlie Holmberg - completed November 2017

13. Read a book with at least 5 colors on the cover.
- I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson - completed March 2017
- Windwitch by Susan Dennard - completed April 2017
- The Women in the Castle by Jessica Shattuck - completed September 2017
- The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer - completed December 2017

14. Read a book with a color in the title of the book.
- White Teeth by Zadie Smith - completed April 2017
- Yellow Brick War by Danielle Paige - completed June 2017
- A Beautiful Blue Death by Charles Finch - completed October 2017
- The Yellow Envelope: One Gift, Three Rules, and a Life-Changing Journey Around the World by Kim Dinan - completed December 2017

15. Read a book with a word describing colors in the title (rainbow, stripes, polka dots, ect...).
- The Shadow Queen by C.J. Redwine - completed April 2017
- Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor - completed April 2017
- Dark Witch by Nora Roberts - completed August 2017
- The Dark Prophecy by Rick Riordan - completed November 2017

15/15 - Round 1 completed!!!; 15/15 - Round 2 completed!!!; 15/15 - Round 3 completed!!!; 15/15 - Round 4 completed!!!

Looking good so far! :)

Clear the Shelves 2017 #3

2015:
- Miracles from Heaven: A Little Girl, Her Journey to Heaven, and Her Amazing Story of Healing by Christy Beam - completed September 2017

2016:
- Georgia: A Novel of Georgia O'Keeffe by Dawn Tripp - completed May 2017

2017:
- The Women in the Castle by Jessica Shattuck - completed September 2017

Audible:
- To Win Her Favor by Tamera Alexander - completed May 2017

Challenge:
- A Bridge Across the Ocean by Susan Meissner - completed September 2017

Choice Awards 2014:
- Frog Music by Emma Donoghue - completed October 2017

Choice Awards 2015:
- Signs Preceding the End of the World by Yuri Herrera - completed September 2017

Choice Awards 2016:
- The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon - completed May 2017

Finalists:
- White Teeth by Zadie Smith - completed April 2017

Giveaways:
- The Regional Office Is Under Attack! by Manuel Gonsalves - completed October 2017

Kindle:
- Starfall by Melissa Landers - completed September 2017

Library:
- My Name Is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout - completed August 2017

Library Audiobooks:
- The Zookeeper's Wife by Diane Ackerman - completed July 2017

Library Ebooks:
- The Age of Miracles by Karen Walker - completed October 2017

Movie adaptations:
- The Queen of Katwe: A Story of Life, Chess, and One Extraordinary Girl's Dream of Becoming a Grandmaster by Tim Crothers - completed October 2017

Need to read first book:
- A Beautiful Blue Death by Charles Finch - completed October 2017

New Series:
- The Hidden Oracle by Rick Riordan - completed September 2017

Next in Series:
- The Last Star by Rick Yancey - completed September 2017

Not Library:
- Last Hope Island: How Nazi-Occupied Europe Joined Forces with Britain to Help Win World War II by Lynne Olson - completed September 2017

Own:
- Tender by Belinda McKeon - completed September 2017

PB Library:
- The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane by Lisa See - completed July 2017

Random Word:
- Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor - completed August 2017

Recommended by Readers:
- Dark Witch by Nora Roberts - completed August 2017

U list: 23/23 - completed!!!

Clear the Shelves 2017 #4

2015:
- The Quaker Café by Brenda Remmes - completed August 2017

2016:
- Yellow Brick War by Danielle Paige - completed June 2017

2017:
- Lucky Broken Girl by Ruth Behar - completed December 2017

Audible:
- Island Girls by Nancy Thayer - completed June 2017

Challenge:
- The Yellow Envelope: One Gift, Three Rules, and a Life-Changing Journey Around the World by Kim Dinan - completed December 2017

Choice Awards 2014:
- The Crossover by Kwame Alexander - completed December 2017

Choice Awards 2015:
- The Dead Duke, His Secret Wife, and the Missing Corpse: An Extraordinary Edwardian Case of Deception and Intrigue by Piu Marie Eatwell

Choice Awards 2016:
- The Summer Before the War by Helen Simonson - completed December 2017

Finalists:
- All American Boys by Jason Reynolds - completed April 2017

Giveaways:
- Ginny Moon by Benjamin Ludwig

Kindle:
- Quiet Meg by Sherry Lynn Ferguson - completed November 2017

Library:
- Come Sundown by Nora Roberts - completed November 2017

Library Audiobooks:
- Wilde Lake by Laura Lippman - completed December 2017

Library Ebooks:
- The Identicals by Elin Hilderbrand - completed November 2017

Movie adaptations:
- The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer - completed December 2017

Need to read first book:
- The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brasheres - completed June 2017

New Series:
- The Eight by Katherine Neville

Next in Series:
- A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas-
completed May 2017

Not Library:
- The Memory of Lost Senses by Judith Kinghorn - completed December 2017

Own:
- Cane River by Lalita Tademy - completed December 2017

PB Library:
- The Shadow Land by Elizabeth Kostova - completed August 2017

Random Word:
- Into the Water by Paula Hawkins - completed November 2017

Recommended by Readers:
- The Playbook: 52 Rules to Aim, Shoot, and Score in This Game Called Life by Kwame Alexander

T list: 19/23

Clear the Shelves 2017 #5

2015:
- Modern Romance by Aziz Ansari

2016:
- Fool Me Once by Harlan Coben

2017:
- The Freemason's Daughter by Shelley Sackier

2018:
- The Chalk Man by C.J. Tudor

Audible:
- Guilty Wives by James Patterson

Bookclub:
- The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood - completed December 2017

Challenge:
- Given to the Sea by Mindy McGinnis

Checked out:
- Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson - completed September 2017

Choice Awards 2014:
- The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen

Choice Awards 2015:
- Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Choice Awards 2016:
- Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race by Margot Lee Shetterly

Choice Awards 2017:
- Sleeping Beauties by Stephen King

Finalists:
- Dreams of Gods & Monsters by Laini Taylor - completed April 2017

Giveaways:
- A Crown for Cold Silver by Alex Marshall

Juvenile Bookclub:
- The Sellout by Paul Beatty

Kindle:
- Before the Fall by Noah Hawley

Library:
- An Irish Country Village by Patrick Taylor - completed April 2017

Library Audiobooks:
- Eligible: A Modern Retelling of Pride and Prejudice by Curtis Sittinfield

Library Ebooks:
- Two Nights by Kathy Reichs

Movie adaptations:
- Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

Need to read first book:
- Something Old by Diahanne Cristner

New Series:
- The Glittering Court by Richelle Mead

Next in Series:
- An Irish Country Christmas by Patrick Taylor - completed June 2017

Not Library:
- Rebel of the Sands by Alwyn Hamilton

Own:
- The Last Girls by Lee Smith

PB Library:
- Hunger: A Memoir of (My) Body by Roxane Gay

Random Word:
- The Boy on the Bridge by M.R. Carey

Recommended by Readers:
- Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah

S list: 5/23

Clear the Shelves 2017 #6

2015:
- The Wicked Will Rise by Danielle Paige - completed June 2017

2016:
- Seduced By The Heart Surgeon by Carol Marinelli

2017:
- Once and for All by Sarah Dessen

2018:
- The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks

Audible:
- Secret Daughter by Shilipa Gowda - completed August 2017

Bookclub:
- The Life We Bury by Allen Eskens

Challenge:
- Brother’s Ruin by Emma Newman

Checked out:
- Ordinary Injustice: How America Holds Court by Amy Bach - completed November 2017

Choice Awards 2014:
- Falling into Place by Amy Zhang

Choice Awards 2015:
- The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh

Choice Awards 2016:
- The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena

Choice Awards 2017:
- The Marriage Lie by Kimberly Belle

Finalists:
- The Cat's Table by Michael Ondaatje

Giveaways:
- White Oleander by Janet Finch

Juvenile Bookclub:
- The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas - completed November 2017

Kindle:
- The Breakdown by B.A. Paris

Library:
- Lucky in Love by Jill Shalvis

Library Audiobooks:
- Final Girls by Riley Sager

Library Ebooks:
- The Last Magician by Lisa Maxwell

Movie adaptations:
- True Grit by Charles Portis - completed September 2017

Need to read first book:
- Blood Magick by Nora Roberts - completed August 2017

New Series:
- Wicked Like a Wildfire by Lana Popovic

Next in Series:
- The Wish Granter by CJ Redwine - completed June 2017

Not Library:
- The Simplicity of Cider by Amy Reichert

Own:
- Heavyweight by M.B. Mulhall

PB Library:
- Exit West by Mohsin Hamad

Random Word:
- The Lying Game by Ruth Ware

Recommended by Readers:
- Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman - completed August 2017

R list: 8/23

Janaury group monthly read - American Gods by Neil Gaiman - completed!!!

MYTHS FROM AROUND THE WORLD
Duration: January 1 - January 31, 2017

1. Janus - Roman god of beginnings and transitions. Read a book set in Italy, or a book with a character that starts out on a fresh beginning. - Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George - completed

2. Fenghuang - Chinese bird, also known as the Chinese Phoenix, is a mythical bird that signifies high virtue and grace. Read a book set in China, or a book featuring a character full of grace and virtue. - The Sleepwalker by Chris Bohjalian - completed

3. Brownie - Scottish mythical creature that inhabits houses and aids in tasks. Read a book set in Scotland, or a book featuring a character that does work that is unseen. - The Stranger by Harlan Coben - completed

4. Enenra - Japanese smoke creature. It inhabits bonfires and legend says can only be seen by the pure of heart. Read a book set in Japan, or a book with a pure-hearted character. - Wayfarer by Alexandra Bracken - completed

5. Cyclops - Greek mythical one-eyed giants. Read a book based on a Greek tragedy or a book featuring a short-sighted character. - Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte - completed

6. Lang suir - Malaysian ghost of a woman who died in childbirth. Read a book from Oceania, or a book featuring a character who dies from a broken heart. - The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton - completed

7. Finnish water spirit who will capture unmindful children. Read a book set in Scandinavia, or a book about a captured child. - American Gods by Neil Gaiman - completed

8. Hippogriff - European medieval beast that is half eagle and half horse, known for being extremely fast and able to fly long distances. Read a book about medieval Europe, or a book featuring a character who flies. - Truthwitch by Susan Dennard - completed

9. Wandjina - Australian aboriginal wind and cloud spirits. Read a book set in Australia, or a book featuring an important weather event. - The North Water by Ian McGuire - completed

10. Jumbee - Caribbean malevolent entities. Read a book set in the Caribbean, or a book featuring a malevolent character. - Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by J.K. Rowling - completed

10/5 - challenge completed!

BOOKS YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED LAST YEAR
Duration: January 1 - March 31, 2016

First and foremost, congratulations to everyone for participating in the Goodreads Reading Challenge! Whether you completed your challenge for 2016 or didn't quite make it, as any lover of books, we are sure most of you have a pile of TBR books you would have loved to have squeezed in.

For this 2017 1st Quarter Challenge, we are offering you a chance to catch up on some of those books. Did you not quite finish the PopSugar Challenge? Did you want to read a few more books for the Listopia Challenge? How about the Every Year Challenge? Were you able to read that book that was written when you were 5? Here is a way to start this year's challenge while finishing up some of last year's.

Just choose the number of books you would have liked to have read (that will be the number of books for this challenge), and take advantage of this time to catch up!

I'll Spy:
- Signs Preceding the End of the World by Yuri Herrera - completed September 2017
- Quiet Meg by Sherry Lynn Ferguson - completed November 2017
- Somewhere Out There by Amy Hatvany - completed June 2017
- Caribou Island by David Vann - completed May 2017
- The Quaker Café by Brenda Remmes - completed August 2017

Goodreads Choice:
- Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult - completed March 2017
- The North Water by Ian McGuire - completed January 2017
- The Midnight Watch: A Novel of the Titanic and the Californian by David Dyer - completed June 2017
- Glory over Everything: Beyond The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom - completed July 2017
- Truthwitch by Susan Dennard - completed January 2017
- Starflight by Melissa Landers - completed February 2017

4/9 - didn't quite make it, oh well, they are all on my list to read this year still

SPANNING THE GLOBE
Duration: February 1 - February 28, 2017

In keeping with our Around the World theme, let's travel through books! Set a goal for the number of miles or kilometers you plan to travel. With every book you read, choose the setting (or settings) and calculate how many miles there are between that point and the previous point using this calculator.

Rules:
- Only books based on this world count--sorry, no traveling to different galaxies. :)
- Use each setting in each book once; even if the characters travel back and forth, you can only count the setting for that book one time
- You may revisit the same setting in different books (for example, you may read two books that both take place in New York City)
- Use your best judgment on which settings in each book should be included; you should only be using primary settings
Goal - 30,000 miles
Starting point - West Palm Beach, FL, USA
First book - A House in the Sky by Amanda Lindhout (completed):
- Alberta, Canada: 4197 miles
- Caracas, Venezuela: 6455 miles
- Bangladesh: 15500 miles
- Pakistan: 2208 miles
- Kabul, Afghanistan: 461 miles
- Addis Adabi, Ethiopia: 4207 miles
- Baghdad, Iraq: 2770 miles
- Mogadishu, Somalia: 3483 miles
- Nairobi, Kenya: 1018 miles
- Total thus far: 40,300 miles

40,300/30,000 miles

THE WOMAN IN THE BOOK CHALLENGE
Duration: March 1 - March 31, 2017

This month's theme is Women, and several members suggested challenges with prompts to read different kinds of books by and about women - this is a hybrid of those suggestions. There are a wide range of topics to help us broaden our horizons!

1. Read a book written by a female author that is new to you. - I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson - completed March 2017
2. Read a book written by a female of color.
3. Read a nonfiction book written by a female author.
4. Read a biography (not a memoir) about a woman.
5. Read a book that is classified as “feminist.” (Can be fiction) - Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult - completed
6. Read a book where a woman disguises herself as man.
7. Read a book where the woman in the story does not conform to gender norms. - A Piece of the World by Christina Baker Kline - completed
8. Read a book about a woman/women during a time of war. - Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania by Erik Larson - completed
9. Read a book where the antagonist is a female. - Devil in the Grove: Thurgood Marshall, the Groveland Boys, and the Dawn of a New America by Gilbert King - completed
10. Read a book with a woman's name in the title. - Little Bee by Chris Cleave - completed

6/5 - challenge completed!!!

April group read - White Teeth by Zadie Smith - completed

CLEAR ALL YOUR BOOKSHELVES CHALLENGE
DURATION: APRIL 1, 2017 to JUNE 30, 2017

This challenge is a way to clean out all of bookshelves: your physical, your electric, and your audible ones! The books you read for this challenge are books you that are already in your possession. Whatever you do for this challenge, you are not allowed to read a book obtained after April 1, 2017.

Here are some ideas on how to choose your books:

1. Read a book that you borrowed from a friend and want to return when finished.
2. Read a book that you have had for two+ years and haven't started.
3. Read a book you have started, set aside for awhile, and now want to finish.
4. Read a book that you own that will help towards a yearly challenge.
5. Read a book from your shelf then donate it to your local Little Free Library, church, shelters, Goodwill, etc.

List the number of
Physical Books:
- An Irish Country Village by Patrick Taylor - completed April 2017
- Somewhere Out There by Amy Hatvany - completed June 2017
- I'll See You in Paris by Michelle Gable - completed June 2017
- All American Boys by Jason Reynolds - completed April 2017
Ebooks:
- November 9 by Colleen Hoover - completed April 2017
- Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor - completed April 2017
- Windwitch by Susan Dennard - completed April 2017
- Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige - completed May 2017
- The Shadow Queen by CJ Redwine - completed April 2017
Audible Books:
- Snowbound by Blake Crouch - completed April 2017
- To Win Her Favor by Tamera Alexander - completed May 2017
- Island Girls by Nancy Thayer - completed June 2017

12/10 - challenge completed!!!

May Group Read - The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon - completed May 2017

Clear the Shelves 2017 #7

2015:
- Madam President by Nicolle Wallace - completed July 2017

2016:
- Marry Your Billionaire by C.J. Anaya - completed September 2017

2017:
- The Good Daughter by Karin Slaughter

2018:
- Iron Gold by Pierce Brown

Audible:
- The Restaurant Critic's Wife by Elizabeth LaBan - completed September 2017

Bookclub:
- Defending Jacob by William Landay - completed October 2017

Challenges:
- It's Bigger Than Hip Hop: The Rise of the Post-Hip-Hop Generation by M.K. Asante - completed July 2017

Checked Out:

Choice Award 2014:
- Tigerman by Nick Harkaway

Choice Award 2015:
- Seveneves by Neal Stephenson

Choice Award 2016:
- Underground Airlines by Ben H. Winters

Choice Award 2017:
- The Cooking Gene: A Journey Through African American Culinary History in the Old South by Michael Twitty

Finalists:
- Some Kind of Happiness by Claire Legrand

Giveaways:
- Dead Certain by Adam Mitzner

Juvenile Bookclub:

Kindle:
- The Fifth Doll by Charlie Holmberg - completed November 2017

Library:
- The Second Summer of the Sisterhood by Ann Brasheres

Library Audiobooks:
- Days of Blood & Starlight by Laini Taylor - completed April 2017

Library Ebooks:
- The End of Oz by Danielle Paige - completed August 2017

Movie adaptation:
- The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics by Daniel James Brown

Need to read first book:
- On What Grounds by Cleo Coyle

New Series:
- Beastly by Alex Finn

Next in Series:
- To Wager Her Heart by Tamera Alexander

Not Library:
- The League of American Traitors by Matthew Landis

Own:
- These Days Are Ours by Michelle Haimouff

PB Library:
- See What I Have Done by Sarah Schmidt

Random Word:
- The Bourbon Kings by J.R. Ward

Recommended by Readers:
- Night by Elie Wiesel

Q List: 8/23

JUNE CHALLENGE: SUMMER CELEBRATIONS
Duration: June 1, 2017 to June 30, 2017

Our theme for June is summer celebrations. Please join us in celebrating summer all around the world!

1. Naadam (Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia). A festival that involves three sports--Mongolian wrestling, horse racing, and archery--that was traditionally competed by men, but now includes women and girls for the latter two sports. Read a book that involves any of these sports or the breaking of gender barriers. - It's Classified by Nicolle Wallace - completed

2. Tango Festival (Buenos Aires). A festival that includes the Tango Dance World Championship. Tango is believed to have originated in Argentina, and is listed on UNESCO's list of Intangible Cultural Heritage. Read a book about dancing, a world championship, or that takes place in Argentina.

3. Wife-Carrying World Championships (Sonkajarvi, Finland). Competitors carry their wives/partners on their back while completing an obstacle course. Winners receive a supply of beer equal to his wife's weight. Read a book that involves a couple overcoming obstacles together or a book about beer. - Yellow Brick War by Danielle Paige - completed June 2017

4. World Bodypainting Festival (Seeboden, Austria). People's bodies are the artist's canvases for this festival. Read a book about positive body image or artistic expression. - The Wish Granter by C.J. Redwine - completed June 2017

5. White Nights of Summer (St. Petersburg, Russia). A celebration of the sun-filled nights of summer, which involves special concerts, ballets, operas, festivals, and late-night hours at restaurants. Read a book that features a concert, ballet, or opera (or a performer of one of these musical arts).

6. Aomori Nebuta Matsuri Festival (Aomori, Japan). According to tradition, 'Nebuta' means 'being sleepy' and Aomori citizens originated this event to put away the drowsiness that plagued them on hot summer days. Read a book about sleep or sleepiness or the hot days of summer. - Island Girls by Nancy Thayer - completed

7. Golowan Festival (Cornwall, England). It’s a tradition to elect a Mock Mayor as part of the celebrations, and let him give a bunch of cheeky public speeches right in front of the real Mayor. Read a satire or a book that mocks someone. - I'll See You in Paris by Michelle Gable - completed

8. Picnic Day (Northern Australia). A commemoration of the emancipation of Chinese railway workers and a celebration of cultural diversity and social progress. Read a book about emancipation, diversity, or fighting for rights. - The Wicked Will Rise by Danielle Paige - completed

9. Krishna Janmashtami (India). A celebration of the Hindu god, Krishna, in which participants work together to form a human pyramid with the aim of breaking a suspended pot of buttermilk, which symbolizes the spreading of good luck. Read a book in which people work together for the common good, or a book about luck. - An Irish Country Christmas by Patrick Taylor - completed

10. Bloomsday (Dublin, Ireland). A celebration of the author James Joyce in which people dress in old-fashion clothing and read passages of Joyce's work. Read a book by James Joyce, or a book about an author. - The Midnight Watch: A Novel of the Titanic and the Californian by David Dyer - completed

8/5 - challenge completed!!!

June Group Read - The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brasheres - Completed!

JULY CHALLENGE: WAR AND PEACE
Duration: July 1, 2017 to July 31, 2017

Many of us will have heard of the classic novel by Leo Tolstoy: War and Peace. But do you know the following facts?

1. War and Peace is perhaps best known as one of the longest novels ever written, and spans the period 1805 to 1820. Read a book that has more than 500 pages or one takes place over a span of 15 or more years. - Max Perkins: Editor of Genius by A. Scott Berg - completed

2. The book is set during the French invasion of Russia and chronicles the impact of the Napoleonic era on Tsarist society through the stories of five aristocratic Russian families. Read a book about aristocrats or one that is told from different perspectives. - The Sound of Glass by Karen White - completed

3. Tolstoy said War and Peace is "not a novel, even less is it a poem, and still less a historical chronicle". Large sections, especially the later chapters, are a philosophical discussion rather than narrative. Read a book that fits different genres or one that contains philosophical considerations. - It's Bigger Than Hip Hop: The Rise of the Post-Hip-Hop Generation by M.K. Asante Jr - completed

4. Tolstoy also said that the best Russian literature does not conform to standards and hence hesitated to call War and Peace a novel. Instead, he regarded Anna Karenina as his first true novel. Read a debut novel or one that has a link with Anna Katerina.

5. The central character, Count Pyotr Kirillovich (Pierre) Bezukhov, is the socially awkward illegitimate son of Count Kirill Vladimirovich Bezukhov, and is based on Tolstoy himself. Read a book about a socially awkward person or one that you can identify with. - The Zookeeper's Wife: A War Story by Diane Ackerman - completed

6. The narrative mentions 559 different characters, of which about 200 are historical figures. Tolstoy tried to get everyone into his novel: emperors, generals, nobility, peasants, soldiers, all with their own mannerisms and speech patterns. Read a book that is based on historical figures or one that includes multiple layers of society. - Flawed by Cecelia Ahern - completed

7. Portions of an earlier version, titled The Year 1805, were serialized in The Russian Messenger from 1865 to 1867. The novel was first published in its entirety in 1869. Read a book that has been published under different titles or one that is part of a series. - Madam President by Nicolle Wallace - completed

8. The Russian novel has been translated to English eleven times, the first translation by the American Nathan Haskell Dole in 1899. Read a book that was originally written in a language other than English or one that is set before 1899. - Glory over Everything: Beyond The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom - completed

9. There are three films and five television adaptations of the story. The four-part and 431-minutes long Russian film took six years to shoot and has won an Oscar for Best Foreign Language film. Read a book that contains a competition or one about bilingual characters. - The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane by Lisa See - completed

10. English progressive rock band Yes's song "The Gates of Delirium" from their 1974 album Relayer was inspired by War and Peace. Read a book about music or a delirious character. - Sisi: Empress on Her Own by Allison Pataki - completed

9/5 - challenge completed!!!

Clear the Shelves #8

2015:
- The Relic Master by Christopher Buckley

2016:
- Dodgers by Bill Beverly

2017:
- The Ministry of Utmost Happiness by Arundhati Roy

2018:
- The Family Next Door by Sally Hepworth

Audible:
- The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden

Bookclub:
- Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate

Challenge:
- The Favored Daughter: One Woman's Fight to Lead Afghanistan into the Future by Fawzia Koofi

Checked out:
- Untitled A Court of Thorns and Roses #3.5 by Sarah J. Maas

Choice Award 2014:
- My Name Is Resolute by Nancy E. Turner

Choice Award 2015:
- Girl at War by Sara Novic

Choice Award 2016:
- Paper Princess by Erin Watt

Choice Award 2017:

Finalists:
- The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon

Giveaways:
- The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne

Juvenile bookclub:

Kindle:
- This is How It Always Is by Laurie Frankel

Library:
- Priestdaddy: A Memoir by Patricia Lockwood

Library Ebooks:
- The Weight of Ink by Rachel Kadish

Library Audiobooks:
- Beartown by Fredrik Backman

Movie adaptation:

Need to read first book:
- Lord John and the Private Matter by Diana Gabaldon

New Series:
- The Good Earth by Pearl Buck

Next in Series:
- Perfect by Cecelia Ahern - completed September 2017

Not Library:
- Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann

Own:
- Revisions of Goodloe Byron by Goodloe Byron

PB Library:
- Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders

Random Word:
- Courting Trouble by Deanne Gist

Recommended by Readers:
- The Yellow Birds by Kevin Powers

P List: 1/23

WONDERS OF THE WORLD
Duration July 1, 2017 to September 30, 2017

Nowadays there are so many things to see do, it’s so hard to fit it all in, but for this challenge, we are going to squeeze as many of the Wonders of the World as possible in the 3rd Quarter:

1. Travel to the only remaining wonder of the ancient world, the Pyramids at Giza by reading a book that takes place in Egypt or the ancient world. - The Hidden Oracle by Rick Riordan - completed September 2017

2. Take a walk along the Great Wall of China by reading a book that takes place in China or where someone takes are really long walk. - Glory over Everything: Beyond The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom - completed July 2017

3. Get lost roaming around the ruins in Petra by reading a book that takes place in the Middle East or where the characters do a lot of moving around. - Madam President by Nicolle Wallace - completed July 2017

4. Imagine yourself viewing a show from the great Colosseum in Rome by reading a book that takes place in Italy or about a great battle or warrior. - Dark Witch by Nora Roberts - completed August 2017

5. Be dazzled by the mythological statues of Chichen Itza by reading a book that takes place in Mexico/Central America or about mythological creatures. - Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman - completed August 2017

6. Take in the sun as you climb the mountains to visit the palace of MachuPicchu by reading a book about Peru/South America or about an emperor. - Sisi: Empress on Her Own by Allison Pataki - completed July 2017

7. Stand under the white marble domes of the Taj Mahal by read a book that takes place in India or about a suffering a great loss. - The Sound of Glass by Karen White - completed July 2017

8. Be amazed at the global engineering that went into the design of Christ the Redeemer by reading a book that takes place in Brazil or about a scientific achievement. - Miracles from Heaven: A Little Girl, Her Journey to Heaven, and Her Amazing Story of Healing by Christy Wilson Beam - completed September 2017

9. Explore The Acropolis of Athens for the Parthenon by reading a book that takes place in Greece or about the gods. - Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor - completed August 2017

10. Revel in the Moorish architecture of the Alhambra by reading a book that takes place in Spain/Northern Africa about several periods of history. - Max Perkins: Editor of Genius by A. Scott Berg - completed July 2017

11. Take your time exploring the largest temple in the world at ANgkor Wat by reading a book about Cambodia/far east Asia or about colonialism. - Starfall by Melissa Landers - completed September 2017

12. Fall in love with the lights of the Eiffel Tower by reading a book that takes place in France or that took place during the industrial revolution. - Last Hope Island: Britain, Occupied Europe, and the Brotherhood That Helped Turn the Tide of War by Lynne Olson - completed September 2017

13. Choose which faith to follow as you enter the halls of the Hagia Sophia by reading a book that takes place in Turkey/Persia or about religion. - The Zookeeper's Wife: A War Story by Diane Ackerman - completed July 2017

14. Search for the waterfall located inside the Buddhist temple of Kiyomizu-dera by reading a book that takes place in Japan or about a great love story. - Blood Magick by Nora Roberts - completed August 2017

15. Travel out to Eastern Island to see the statues of the Moai by reading a book that takes place on an Island or about someone with a big head. - The Shadow Land by Elizabeth Kostova - completed August 2017

16. Basque in the luxury of the Neuschwanstein Castle by reading a book that takes place in Germany or a book inspired by a fairy tale. - The Women in the Castle by Jessica Shattuck - completed September 2017

17. View many of Moscow’s important historical sights in the Red Square by reading a book that takes place in Russia or about life under communism. - The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane by Lisa See - completed July 2017

18. Say hello to the welcoming lady of the Statue of Liberty by reading a book that takes place in the U.S.A or about immigration. - It's Bigger Than Hip Hop: The Rise of the Post-Hip-Hop Generation by M.K. Asante Jr - completed July 2017

19. Ponder who placed all those giant rocks in Stonehenge by reading a book that takes place in England/United Kingdom or about the outer space. - Shadow Spell by Nora Roberts - completed August 2017

20. Travel down under to enjoy the many performances of the Sydney Opera House by reading a book that takes place in Australia or about performing in a show. - A Bridge Across the Ocean by Susan Meissner - completed September 2017

21. Remember that sometimes wonders due cease by visiting the remains of Timbuktu by reading a that takes place in Western Africa or about a character on a decline. - The End of Oz by Danielle Paige - completed August 2017

21/10 - challenge completed!!!

AUGUST - FAMOUS TV NEIGHBORS
Duration: August 1, 2017 to August 31, 2017

Thanks to television, we have some of our favorite neighbors, so we will use those to guide us through the books...

1. Mr. Feeny from Boy Meets World: Not just a neighbor but also the principal at the local school - talk about a teenager's nightmare! Choose a book about a teacher's or principal's life outside of school.

2. Wilson Wilson from Home Improvement: The neighbor who only ever revealed his eyes, but always gave sage advice. Choose a book with either a wise character or a character who hides from others. - Blood Magick by Nora Roberts - completed

3. Cosmo Kramer from Seinfeld: The crazy neighbor with the awesome entrance. Choose a book about a unique character or with a character who makes an unusual entrance into the story. - The End of Oz by Danielle Paige - completed

4. Winnie Cooper from The Wonder Years: The proverbial girl next door. Choose a book about a teen romance or a love story involving the girl next door. - Shadow Spell by Nora Roberts - completed

5. Ethel Mertz from I Love Lucy: Lucy's partner in crime. Choose a book about a friend who joins in on adventures. - Dark Witch by Nora Roberts - completed

6. Friends: The group of young adults who inexplicably rented expensive apartments next to each other without having the amazing jobs to afford those apartments. Choose a book about a group of young adults trying to find themselves preferably in a big city. - Secret Daughter by Shilpi Somaya Gowda - completed August 2017

7. Mr. Rogers: This man taught millions of children to be good neighbors. Choose a book that has a character that is a caring neighbor. - Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor - completed

8. Desperate Housewives: The fictional housewives who behaved badly and sought to find happiness in their seemingly perfect suburban neighborhood. Choose a book where reality is very different from the image portrayed. - Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman - completed

9. Ned Flanders from The Simpsons: The well-meaning neighbor whom everyone makes fun of. Choose a book about a well-meaning character. - The Shadow Land by Elizabeth Kostova - completed

8/5 - challenge completed!!!

Clear the Shelves #9:

2015:
- Crow Hollow by Michael Wallace

2016:
- The Longest Night by Andria Williams

2017:
- The House by the River by Lena Manta

2018:
- Everything Here is Beautiful by Mira Lee

Audible:
- Wives Of War by Soraya Lane - completed October 2017

Bookclub:

Challenge:
- War Storm by Victoria Aveyard

Checked-Out:
- Those Who Save Us by Jenna Blum

Choice Award 2014:

Choice Award 2015:

Choice Award 2016:
- Commonwealth by Ann Patchett - completed November 2017

Choice Award 2017:

Finalists:

Giveaways:
- The Company of Demons by Michael Jordan

Juvenile Bookclub:

Kindle:
- The Naturalist by Andrew Mayne

Library:
- Falling Together by Marisa de los Santos

Library audiobooks:

Library E-books:
- Shadow Spell by Nora Roberts - completed August 2017

Movie adaptation:

Need to read first book:
- An Irish Country Girl by Patrick Taylor

New series:
- The Last Girl by Joe Hart

Next in series:
- The September Society by Charles Finch

Own:
- Bones: Brothers, Horses, Cartels, and the Borderland Dream by Joe Tone

PB Library:
- The Dark Prophecy by Rick Riordan - completed November 2017

Random word:

Recommended by readers:

O List: 4/24

Challenge - Books I Voted For Group Read (that didn't win):
- February: The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck
- March: Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race by Margot Lee Shetterly
- April: Seveneves by Neal Stephenson
- May: The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh
- June: The Summer Before the War by Helen Simonson
- July: Girl at War by Sara Novic
- August: The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena
- September: Night by Elie Wiesel
- October: The Bear and the Nightingale: A Novel by Katherine Arden
- November: Falling Together by Marisa de los Santos
- December: The Longest Night by Andria Williams
- January: The Sellout by Paul Beatty
- February: The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics by Daniel James Brown

SEPTEMBER: BACK TO SCHOOL
Duration: September 1, 2017 to September 30, 2017

It's already September! I hope you all had a great summer and are ready for the next academic year. Good luck!

1) First day of classes: Read a book where someone is starting something new or otherwise involves a new beginning. - Last Hope Island: Britain, Occupied Europe, and the Brotherhood That Helped Turn the Tide of War by Lynne Olson - completed

2) New notebooks: Read a book that involves writing or publishing in some form (character writing poems or a novel, tips for writers, character writes a letter, etc.). - True Grit by Charles Portis - completed

3) Mathematics: Read a book with a number in the title.

4) History: Read a book by an author who was born before 1900.

5) Time for recess! Read a book where characters spend time in the outdoors, have a party, or play games for enjoyment. - Perfect by Cecelia Ahern - completed

6) English: Reread a book that you had to study at school.

7) Science: Read a book with a green cover. - Miracles from Heaven: A Little Girl, Her Journey to Heaven, and Her Amazing Story of Healing by Christy Wilson Beam - completed

8) Go team! Read a book where there's a sporting event or cheerleading. - Starfall by Melissa Landers - completed

9) Marching band: Read a book where music or musicians are involved. - The Hidden Oracle by Rick Riordan - completed

10) Studying: Read a book where one of the characters is in school or is trying to learn a new skill. - The Women in the Castle by Jessica Shattuck - completed

7/5 - challenge completed!

SEPTEMBER: THE LEARNING CHALLENGE
Duration: September 1, 2017 to September 30, 2017

Who says you should stop learning after you’ve finished school? For this challenge, we like you to read books that teach you something. It can be anything, history, science, language, how to cook an egg, the power of friendship, anything. As long as it is something new for you. This doesn’t necessarily have to be non-fiction, there are plenty of books in other genres that contain valuable lessons.

- Last Hope Island: Britain, Occupied Europe, and the Brotherhood That Helped Turn the Tide of War by Lynne Olson - completed
- The Hidden Oracle by Rick Riordan - completed
- Perfect by Cecelia Ahern - completed
- True Grit by Charles Portis - completed
- The Women in the Castle by Jessica Shattuck - completed
- Signs Preceding the End of the World by Yuri Herrera - completed
- Miracles from Heaven: A Little Girl, Her Journey to Heaven, and Her Amazing Story of Healing by Christy Wilson Beam - completed
- A Bridge Across the Ocean by Susan Meissner - completed
- The Restaurant Critic's Wife by Elizabeth LaBan - completed

9/5 - challenge completed!!!

OCTOBER CHALLENGE: FOLKLORE
Duration: October 1, 2017 to October 31, 2017

Ballads A ballad is a traditional poem or folk song that tells a story, be it about true love, a heroic adventure, a scandalous interlude, or a tragic death, to name but a few possible topics. Read a book about true love, a heroic adventure, a scandalous interlude or a tragic death. - Frog Music by Emma Donoghue - completed

Fairy Tales Fairy tales are traditional stories, intended primarily for children, which recount human encounters with supernatural beings such as fairies, witches, ogres, and the like, most often conveying a cautionary message. Read a fairy tale or another story with supernatural elements. - The Regional Office Is Under Attack! by Manuel Gonzales - completed

Folk Art As distinct from fine art, folk art comprises a range of artistic productions and handicrafts. These include paintings, sculptures, quilts, pottery, and furniture using traditional styles and methods, and often employing imagery or symbolism from local mythology. Read a book about art or a book about an artist.

Folk Dance A folk dance (also sometimes called ethnic dance) is any dance that originated with the common people of a region or cultural group and has been handed down by tradition. They were usually held at social gatherings by people who learned the dances informally. Read a book that include social gatherings or regional traditions. - A Beautiful Blue Death by Charles Finch - completed

Jokes A joke is a humorous story or anecdote meant to provoke laughter through irony, wordplay, the thwarting of expectations, the juxtaposition of images, and other long-practiced techniques. Read a funny book, or one with a funny character.

Legends A legend is a traditional historical tale or collection of related tales popularly regarded as true but usually containing a mixture of fact and fiction. They may explain an event or have a moral lesson. Read a historical or historical fiction book, or a book containing a moral lesson.

Myths A myth is a traditional sacred story, usually featuring gods and heroes, which purports to give a cosmic explanation of a natural phenomenon or cultural practice. It is part of the cultural fabric, conveying essential (if not literal) truth and meshing with other stories and beliefs in the society. Read a story involving a hero or a natural phenomenon. - The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker - completed

Riddles A riddle is a linguistic puzzle posed in the form of a question containing clues to its solution. It's a form of verbal play and popular with children. Read a book that contains riddles or other verbal play.

Superstitions A superstition is an irrational belief (i.e., one held in spite of evidence to the contrary), usually involving supernatural forces and associated with rituals. A superstition may conflict with a person's religious beliefs, or lack thereof, but still be held and practiced. Read a book involving religion, rituals or supernatural forces. - The Queen of Katwe: A Story of Life, Chess, and One Extraordinary Girl's Dream of Becoming a Grandmaster by Tim Crothers - completed

Urban Legends An urban legend is a humorous or horrific story or piece of information circulated as though true, especially one purporting to involve someone vaguely related or known to the teller. Read a book that contains a story within the story or one that involves horrific elements. - Wives Of War by Soraya Lane - completed

6/5 - Challenge completed!!!

November group read - Commonwealth by Ann Patchett - completed!!!

NOVEMBER CHALLENGE - TOGETHERNESS IN HOLIDAYS!
Duration November 1, 2017 to November 30, 2017

In America, November generally means Thanksgiving. However, there are many countries that celebrate other important holidays during this month. This month’s challenge is to read a book that meets goes with each of the holidays below:

1. All Saints Day, November 1 - Mostly associated with Christian belief, this holiday celebrates the lives of those who died for the faith. Each Christian denomination defines saint a bit differently. Read a book that features a saint or a dispute among the faiths. Bonus points if you finish it on November 1! - The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas - completed

2. Culture Day of Bunka no Hi, Japan, November 3 - This event celebrates the Japanese Constitution and Culture. It is a day to celebrate peace, freedom, and prosperity. Read a book that has to do with Japanese culture or has something to do with prosperity. Bonus points if you finish it on November 3!

3. Guy Fawkes Day, United Kingdom, November 5 - This is a holiday to celebrate the botched assassination of King James I by, you guessed it, Guy Fawkes. Bonfires are routinely part of the celebration. Read a book that is set in the United Kingdom or features a fire. Bonus points if you finish it on November 5! - Commonwealth by Ann Patchett - completed

4. Martinmas, St. Martin and Germany, November 11 - This holiday is named for St. Martin of Tours. The celebration includes many ancient pagan customs that celebrated the harvest, such as the slaughtering of cattle and the harvesting of the crops. Read a book set in either St. Martin or in Germany or set during the harvest. Bonus points if you finish on November 11!

5. Armistice Day, Western Europe and the United States, November 11 - This holiday marks the end of World War I on the western front with the signing of the armistice by the Allies and Germany at Compiegne, France “on the 11th hour of the 11 day on the 11th month.” It is also called Remembrance Day and Veterans’ Day. Read a book about World War I or about a soldier returning home from war. Bonus points if you finish on November 11!

6. Revolution Day, Mexico, November 20 - This holiday celebrates the beginning of Mexico's decade-long struggle for independence. There are numerous parades throughout Mexico on their Dia de la Revolucion. Read a book set in Mexico or featuring a struggle for independence. Bonus points if you finish on November 20! - Ordinary Injustice: How America Holds Court by Amy Bach - completed

7. Teacher's Day, Costa Rica, November 22 - This holiday celebrates teachers and the education system in Costa Rica. Students often stage plays to celebrate their studies. Read a book set in Costa Rica or featuring a teacher. Bonus points if you finish on November 22! - Into the Water by Paula Hawkins - completed

8. Guru Tegh Bahadur's Martyrdom Day, Sikh and India, November 24 - This day of remembrance celebrates the life and death of Guru Tegh Bahadur, the ninth Guru of the Sikh religion. He was beheaded in 1675 when he refused to convert. Read a book featuring a Sikh or about someone who stands for his or her faith. Bonus points if you finish it on November 24! - The Dark Prophecy by Rick Riordan - completed

9. Orange Day: International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, November 25 - Declared by the UN, this day begins a 16 day campaign to bring awareness to and end gender-based violence. Read a book written by a female author or someone fighting to end violence against women. Bonus points if you finish it on November 25! - Come Sundown by Nora Roberts - completed

10. And there is Thanksgiving in the United States, the Third Thursday in November. - This is the holiday in the United States that celebrates the Pilgrims coming together with the Natives (this is contested, so no debates please). It is also the holiday that officially kicks of the holiday shopping season around the world. Read a book written about the indigenous people on North America or about materialism. Bonus points if you finish it on Black Friday! - The Identicals by Elin Hilderbrand - completed

7/5 - Challenge completed!!!

Clear the Shelves #9:

2015:
- The Rumor by Elin Hilderbrand

2018:
- The Burning Maze by Rick Riordan

Kindle:
- The Unkillable Kitty O'Kane: A Novel by Colin Falconer

Next in Series:
- Bloodwitch by Susan Dennard

Not Library:
- The Traitor Prince by C.J. Redwine

N List: 0/23

DECEMBER: THE LONG CHALLENGE
Duration: December 1, 2017 to December 31, 2017

December in the north means long nights which gives us plenty of time to snuggle up and read! Let’s find a cozy chair, a blanket, a cup hot tea, a yummy snack, and of course a great book!

For this challenge, you will read books that fit one of these criteria:
--A book with over 500 pages.
--A book that has more than 5 words in the title
--A book that has been on your TBR list longer than a year

1. Quiet Meg by Sherry Lynn Ferguson - longer than a year - completed
2. The Summer Before the War by Helen Simonson - longer than a year - completed
3. Cane River by Lalita Tademy - longer than 500 pages and longer than a year - completed
4. Wilde Lake by Laura Lippman - longer than a year - completed
5. The Yellow Envelope: One Gift, Three Rules, and a Life-Changing Journey Around the World by Kim Dinan - completed
6. The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer - completed December 2017

6/5 - challenge completed!!!