2025 Reading Challenge discussion

Hi all!

It's already time to vote for October! The theme of October is Folk/Fairy Tales.

Please remember to state a connection to the theme when you nominate. Thank you :)

Here are some short rules for nominating books:

~ Each person can nominate 1 book.

~ Book must be available both as a physical copy and as an ebook.

~ Authors: Please do not nominate your own book.

~ Please include the name of the book and the author or link to the book.

~ Please do not nominate books that are part of a series, unless it is the first book.

~ You can second someone else's nomination, but that will count as your nomination.

~ When nominating, please state a connection to the theme.

~ You cannot nominate a book which has previously been a group read. Past buddy reads are fine. (See Group Reads in the bookshelf)


This thread will be closed by September 25th, and we will choose ten books for the poll. If there are more than ten books nominated, we will choose the ten most nominated. If there is still a tie to get into the top ten, we'll go back to the Goodreads average rating to see which is highest.

Eventhough my first instinct was to choose The Complete Fairy Tales, because... well... obvious.

I would like to nominate The Bear and the Nightingale

I'll second The Bear and the Nightingale!

I'd like to nominate Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman

I'd like to nominate Dracula by Bram Stoker.

Bram Stoker researched a lot of European Folk lore in researching Dracula and the story, while not a normal folk lore tale, has created it's own mythology over the years.

I nominate The Grimm Legacy, because it is a story about a lending library that keeps powerful items straight from the Grimms' Fairy Tales. Doesn't that sound like the coolest library, ever?!

Ilona wrote: "I'd like to nominate Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman"

I'll second Norse Mythology.

I would like to nominate Uprooted by Naomi Novik, there's a classis fairy taile theme: a "Dragon" chooses his maid to serve him...

Melanie wrote: "I'd like to nominate Dracula by Bram Stoker.

Bram Stoker researched a lot of European Folk lore in researching Dracula and the story, while not a normal folk lore tale, ..."

I second Dracula.

I'll second The Grimm Legacy

I second Uprooted! I love that book and it was the first one I thought of for this theme.

Since Dracula is already set as a Buddy Read for October, I'm going to third The Grimm Legacy. :D

I'd like to third Norse Mythology. :-)

Good ones!

Hmm... this one is a tough one. I think I will nominate
(book 1 of the Splintered series) because it is based off of the Alice in Wonderland. I'm not sure if this one will count because Alice in Wonderland is not exactly a folk story or fairy tale, but it is a classic. If it doesn't count, oh well. The other one I was debating was Jane Steele, and that's based off of a classic too. LoL Whatever. I suck at this. :-p

I fourth Norse Mythology

I nominate The 1001 Arabian Nights

I'll third for Uprooted

Padmini wrote: "I nominate The 1001 Arabian Nights"

I think I need another version than this one, it has zero reviews/ ratings. Is there a version in one volume with a rating?

Winter, there are many. Here's one:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9...

I nominate The Robber Bride by Margaret Atwood, based on a tale by the Brothers Grimm. I've always wanted to read it!

I second Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman. amassing book Ann's storytelling.

Carrie B. (Salty Good Reads) wrote: "Good ones!

Hmm... this one is a tough one. I think I will nominate (book 1 of the Splintered series) because it is based off of the Alice in Wonderland. I'm not s..."

Merriam-Webster's got your back, Carrie B.! :D

Definition of "fairy tale":

1 a : a story (as for children) involving fantastic forces and beings (such as fairies, wizards, and goblins) enjoyed the fairy tale “The Little Mermaid” —called also fairy story
b : a story in which improbable events lead to a happy ending

I haven't read Splintered, but I'd argue that Alice in Wonderland certainly contains "fantastic forces and beings." :D

I will add my vote to the Grimm Legacy

katie wrote: "I nominate The Robber Bride by Margaret Atwood, based on a tale by the Brothers Grimm. I've always wanted to read it!"

I second The Robber Bride, it's been on my TBR pile for some times ;)

Eileen wrote: I second The Robber Bride, it's been..."

Thank you, Eileen!

I'd like to nominate Hunted, which came to me highly recommended and is a twist on Beauty and the Beast.

Vernice, that sounds like a good one too! I've already seconded another, but your nomination is on my TBR list as well! :D

I vote for The Bear and the Nightingale

I want to 5th "The Grimm Legacy" I have read it before and have always meant to reread it, IT IS SOOOO GOOD!!!

I would like to nominate Cinder, which is a modern take on Cinderella (it is book one of a series).

Nik wrote: "Winter, there are many. Here's one:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9..."

Thank you :)

I will add another nomination for The Grimm Legacy. Lots of the other books mentioned are good ones, but I've read them already! (This seems to be happening to me every month.)

The Grimm Legacy

Sounds good to me!

I would like to nominate New World Fairy Tales by Cassandra Parkin. This is the description -

In contemporary America, an un-named college student sets out on an obsessive journey of discovery to collect and record the life-stories of total strangers. The interviews that follow have echoes of another, far more famous literary journey, undertaken long ago and in another world.Drawing on the original, unexpurgated tales collected by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, six of their most famous works are re-imagined in the rich and endlessly varied landscapes of contemporary America.From the glass towers of Manhattan to the remoteness of the Blue Ridge mountains; from the swamps of Louisiana to the jaded glamour of Hollywood, New World Fairy Tales reclaims the fairy tale for the modern adult audience. A haunting blend of romance and realism, these stripped-back narratives of human experience are the perfect read for anyone who has read their child a bedtime fairy story, and wondered who ever said these were stories meant for children.

I nominate The Bear and the Nightingale which is a retelling of an old Russian fairy tale

Meg wrote: "I nominate The Bear and the Nightingale which is a retelling of an old Russian fairy tale"

This is already nominated, but you can always second it :)

"The Thief of Always is a fable written that may read like a children's book, but it's just as enjoyable for adults. It deals with temptation, growing up and mortality, and it has a few good helpings of horror" ~

I'd like to nominate The Thief of Always by Clive Barker.

I'll add my vote to Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman.

Hi guys :) I'm soon going to close this nomination. I have been having a lot of trouble with my arm the last few days so everything is a little late this month. Still a short time to get your last nominations in:)

Winter, I hope your arm feels better. I'm usually around and check in at least once a day, so if I can help in any way please let me know.

I'd like to nominate Love in a Fallen City

Nik wrote: "Winter, I hope your arm feels better. I'm usually around and check in at least once a day, so if I can help in any way please let me know."

Thanks a lot Nik! :)

Closing nominations, will get the poll up as soon as I can, realisticly probably thursday.

The poll is open :) https://www.goodreads.com/poll/list/5...