2025 Reading Challenge discussion

Last year I did the “21 books for 21 years” challenge, and I ended up reading 26 books. This year, I wanted to do something a little different. 2017 will be the first year in over 16 years that I will not be in school. So I am worried about how much time I will have to read, while dealing with major changes in my life. However, I still want to be able to push myself to read more, and read books I normally wouldn’t look at.

For 2017, I will be doing the “Checklist Challenge”, which will push me to read books outside of my comfort zone. I’ve never done something like this, and I don’t know if I will additionally be reading books that spark my interest, but I will try and get this done! Your support, suggestions, and feedback would be greatly appreciated.

For anyone interested in this challenge, which I am making up on the spot, here are the rules.

• Books read can only count for one item on the checklist
• Books can be from friends, library, existing collection, or bought from the store
• Books can be in any format
• Books started must be finished- this rule will help push me outside my comfort zone

And bellow is the listed checklist for 2017…

Checklist Challenge:

• A book from an Author with the Same Initials as me
• A book recommended from Mother
• A book recommended from Friend
• A book from goodreads “Best Book of 2016”
• A book with a movie based off of it
• A book with a green spine
• A book with photos
• A book from the year I was born (either taking place or published)
• A book set in Christmas
• A Classic Book
• A banned book
• A book from a genre I don’t normally read
• A book I have been meaning to read, but never have
• A book from an upcoming author
• A historical book (either fiction or nonfiction)
• A Nonfiction book
• A memoir
• A book from my youth
• A forgotten book in my house
• A book from the “Rory Gilmore Reading Challenge”
• A book recommended by a librarian
• A book published in 2017

I love this challenge! What a fun idea! Going to add this one to my list of things to think about.

Ronda wrote: "I love this challenge! What a fun idea! Going to add this one to my list of things to think about."

I definitely do that, I kept in mind some things I had saw in last years challenges. One that I really enjoyed following was a challenge to read only books in the house; he aimed to not buy any books, or get any books from the library. That way he could clear out the stock pile-- ended up breaking the rules in the first few months due to a pesky coupon that was going to expire. But ALAS! I pester my mom to do that challenge!!!

Cool challenge! I think I will steal some of them for my personal challenge :D

And oh, not going to school for the first time is not as scary as it sounds. When I finished my Bachelor's degree in 2014, it was the first time in seventeen years that I wasn't in school, and I was scared out od my mind. But everything works out! (:

Checking off: A book from goodreads “Best Book of 2016”

Today I went to the library to get some books for an upcoming weekend away (as a breather from Gone with the Wind, which is taking ages)- I finally was able to locate the Graphic Novel "Adulthood is a Myth" collection by Sarah Anderson. After seeing this book as the Graphic Novel & Comics winner on the 2016 Goodread's Best Books, I knew I would be interested. I also knew it would be the perfect book to satisfy my "Goodread's Best Book of 2016" requirement.

The book is only 109 pages, so it is a quick read reminiscent of the comic photos you find on Facebook or Reddit, without actually having any substance (not a full continuing story). The front cover was velvety-which isn't really important, but I liked to stroke it (without thinking of how many other germy hands have touched it). All in all, it was okay- I'd give it a 3.5 star out of 5.

Still Left on the Checklist Challenge...
• A book from an Author with the Same Initials as me
• A book recommended from Mother
• A book recommended from Friend
• A book with a movie based off of it
• A book with a green spine
• A book with photos
• A book from the year I was born (either taking place or published)
• A book set in Christmas
• A Classic Book
• A banned book
• A book from a genre I don’t normally read
• A book I have been meaning to read, but never have
• A book from an upcoming author
• A historical book (either fiction or nonfiction)
• A Nonfiction book
• A memoir
• A book from my youth
• A forgotten book in my house
• A book from the “Rory Gilmore Reading Challenge”
• A book recommended by a librarian
• A book published in 2017
--20 Books to Go--

Checking off: A book recommended from my mother
Book: "Flowers in the Attic" by V.C. Andrews

For some time now my mom had been recommending that I read "Flowers in the Attic" by V.C. Andrews. I had watched the film years ago, but couldn't remember really what happened.

Overall the book was okay. I wasn't in love with it, but it wasn't bad either. I would give it a 3/5. My main problem is that things are left unanswered and unfinished; these may be answered in the following books in the series though. There was also a scene with a mouse that I really didn't like; as it seemed to me that the cycle of life had just repeated itself.

Still Left on the Checklist Challenge...
• A book from an Author with the Same Initials as me
• A book recommended from Friend
• A book with a movie based off of it
• A book with a green spine
• A book with photos
• A book from the year I was born (either taking place or published)
• A book set in Christmas
• A Classic Book
• A banned book
• A book from a genre I don’t normally read
• A book I have been meaning to read, but never have
• A book from an upcoming author
• A historical book (either fiction or nonfiction)
• A Nonfiction book
• A memoir
• A book from my youth
• A forgotten book in my house
• A book from the “Rory Gilmore Reading Challenge”
• A book recommended by a librarian
• A book published in 2017
-- 19 Books to Go --

Checking off: A classic book
Book: "Gone with the Wind" by Margaret Mitchell

Gone with the Wind is my favorite movie. So naturally when I wrote down "Read a Classic book", I knew what book I would choose.

I was surprised at some of the differences between the book and the movie. It was nothing that changed the plot line, it was just something to note. A lot of people have issues with the love story of Gone with the Wind, but I think it has more depth and realness to it than most books today. It isn't the classic "boy meets girl, and there's an instant connection" story, it's one that grows as the girl grows, it's changing, humorous, and at times heartbreaking.

The women in this book show growth, devotion, and bravery at a critical time throughout American history. I love the contrast between the devotions of Melanie and Scarlette, but how Mitchell's ties it together at the end of the book; showing the girls similarities and love (For each other, and the past).

The only problems I have with this book is the difficulty reading the slaves parts (it is something you have to sound out slowly), the physical format I had (I would recommend getting a book split into parts or an eBook version- as the print and girth of the book create tearing and eye strain), and the ending. I like to think that my idea of whether the characters get together is the truth; but as Mitchell stated, it's up to the reader. It's a shame that she passed away before we could have suckered her into writing a sequel.

I highly recommend this book, even though it's a lengthy one. I picked up the sequel (from a different author) "Scarlett", as well as a version that focuses on Rhett; so we will see what happens.
Rating: 5 out of 5 "ASHLEY"'s

Still Left on the Checklist Challenge...
• A book from an Author with the Same Initials as me
• A book recommended from Friend
• A book with a movie based off of it
• A book with a green spine
• A book with photos
• A book from the year I was born (either taking place or published)
• A book set in Christmas
• A banned book
• A book from a genre I don’t normally read
• A book I have been meaning to read, but never have
• A book from an upcoming author
• A historical book (either fiction or nonfiction)
• A Nonfiction book
• A memoir
• A book from my youth
• A forgotten book in my house
• A book from the “Rory Gilmore Reading Challenge”
• A book recommended by a librarian
• A book published in 2017
-- 18 Books to Go --

LOL, 5 outta 5 Ashley's. :-)

Checking off: Book with a Green Spine
Book: "The Peach Keeper" by Margaret Mitchell

This is my first time reading anything by Sarah Addison Allen. I liked the pacing and writing style of this book; it wasn't too short or too long and is a split point of view between two characters (and briefly some minor characters). But I felt like the characters were service level; there wasn't too much exploration of why they were the way they were, or how they came to realizations. A character would just walk into the room and blatantly blurt out things that would normally take someone awhile to realize, process, and share. Overall it was a nice read, but it wasn't anything spectacular or memorable.

Rating: 3/5

Still Left on the Checklist Challenge...
• A book from an Author with the Same Initials as me
• A book recommended from Friend
• A book with a movie based off of it
• A book with photos
• A book from the year I was born (either taking place or published)
• A book set in Christmas
• A banned book
• A book from a genre I don’t normally read
• A book I have been meaning to read, but never have
• A book from an upcoming author
• A historical book (either fiction or nonfiction)
• A Nonfiction book
• A memoir
• A book from my youth
• A forgotten book in my house
• A book from the “Rory Gilmore Reading Challenge”
• A book recommended by a librarian
• A book published in 2017
-- 17 Books to Go --

I've been in a reading funk since my last update. While I have been reading, they have not been books that are required by the checklist. So when I recently went to the library, I picked up some books for fun (continued reading of a few different trilogy series) as well as some to fulfill the checklist. I picked up (from the Library reads section) My Year with Eleanor by Noelle Handcock, checking off my "Memoir" requirement. I thoroughly enjoyed this read despite not being one for memoirs. Noelle kept a pace that was enjoyable; mixing experiences, thoughts, and feelings with thought provoking realizations and insightful glimpses into the life of Eleanor Roosevelt that was fresh and new. I found it hard to put down and found myself endlessly talking to my family and significant other about things going on in the book, thoughts I had about my own life or who I am, or just interesting tidbits from the book itself. If you are someone who is interested in overcoming fear or looking to branch into Memoirs this is one I would highly recommend.

Rating: 4.5/5

Still Left on the Checklist Challenge...
• A book from an Author with the Same Initials as me
• A book recommended from Friend
• A book with a movie based off of it
• A book with photos
• A book from the year I was born (either taking place or published)
• A book set in Christmas
• A banned book
• A book from a genre I don’t normally read
• A book I have been meaning to read, but never have
• A book from an upcoming author
• A historical book (either fiction or nonfiction)
• A Nonfiction book
• A book from my youth
• A forgotten book in my house
• A book from the “Rory Gilmore Reading Challenge”
• A book recommended by a librarian
• A book published in 2017
-- 16 Books to Go --

I began reading a few series outside of the checklist challenge that ended up taking a lot of my time. Also, since my last update, I have started a new job, which while great, means I don't have as much time as I would like to read. That being said, I did read one of the books that met the challenge "A book recommended by a librarian". Out of the Easy was listed in the recommended reading section of my local library, and was recommended by "Susan." I haven't read anything by Ruta Sepetys before, and I am not sure that I will again. The YA novel wasn't bad per say; but where it started strong, it ended much weaker. The story follows Josie, a daughter of a prostitute in the 1950s, through New Orleans as she becomes an adult. There were many plot twists that I didn't like and made me feel like characters never got what was coming to them (both good and bad). By the end, it kind of felt like Sepetys had given up with the plot, characters, and point; leaving the book without a finished bow. That being said, it was an easy read and I don't regret starting it.

Rating: 2.5-3 Prostitutes out of 5 Prostitutes

Still Left on the Checklist Challenge...
• A book from an Author with the Same Initials as me
• A book recommended from Friend
• A book with a movie based off of it
• A book with photos
• A book from the year I was born (either taking place or published)
• A book set in Christmas
• A banned book
• A book from a genre I don’t normally read
• A book I have been meaning to read, but never have
• A book from an upcoming author
• A historical book (either fiction or nonfiction)
• A Nonfiction book
• A book from my youth
• A forgotten book in my house
• A book from the “Rory Gilmore Reading Challenge”
• A book published in 2017
-- 15 Books to Go --

Sarah wrote: "I began reading a few series outside of the checklist challenge that ended up taking a lot of my time. Also, since my last update, I have started a new job, which while great, means I don't have as..."

Lol 2.5 outta 5 prostitutes. 😁👐