2025 Reading Challenge discussion

I just joined the group today.. think this looks like a great first challenge to join.. I think I can do at least 15. Will be back in a bit to see what else I can fit in that Ive read this year so far.. thanks for having me!
Link to my corner: ⭐Barbara's 2019 Challenges

15/15 - **woohoo!!**

1. A novel set in the woods
✔2. A novel involving a creative outlet -- A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
✔3. A novel featuring food you have not tried -- Medium Raw: A Bloody Valentine to the World of Food and the People Who Cook by Anthony Bourdain
4. A novel involving a train ride
✔5. A graphic novel - Deadpool & The Mercs for Money Vol. 1 by Cullen Bunn
✔6. A novel involving ghosts - Stardust by Neil Gaiman
7. A novel featuring a zoo, animal shelter or sanctuary
8. A novel set on a bus
✔9. A novel where a main character seeks self-improvement -- Lessons: My Path to a Meaningful Life by Gisele Bundchen
✔10. A novel featuring a bike ride -- The Postcard Killers by James Patterson
✔11. A novel set in or involving something industrial (factory, etc.) Holy Cow by David Duchovny
✔12. A novel involving a plane ride -- We are okay by Nina LaCour
13. A novel set in a snow land
✔14. A novel set in a country other than your own -- The Donald J. Trump Presidential Twitter Library by The Daily Show with Trevor Noah
15. A novel featuring a garden
16. A novel set in a museum
✔17. A novel set in a hotel - Caraval by Stephanie Garber
18. A novel featuring an instrument you wish you could play
✔19. A novel involving an escape -- Virals by Kathy Reichs
✔20. A novel set underground or underwater -- The Rising Sea by Clive Cussler & Graham Brown
✔21. A novel involving a road trip -- I Don't Know What You Know Me From: Confessions of a Co-Star by Judy Greer
✔22. A novel depicting a sci-fi technology that now exists -- Inconceivable by Carolyn Savage
23. A novel set in a city within 100 km of your own
✔24. Bonus: A novel set in your home town -- Dark Ambition: The Shocking Crime of Dellen Millard & Mark Smich by Ann Brocklehurst

Updated through April 30, 2019

updated message 108
6/24 complete

update msg 4: 9/12

Update msg 14

14/24

February update msg 10: 16/18

13/22

Since Last update:

4. A novel involving a train ride- Gemina by Amie Kaufman. A very important scene takes place on a mag train!
7. A novel featuring a zoo, animal shelter or sanctuary- Fablehaven by Brandon Mull
13. A novel set in a snow land- The Winter of the Witch by Katherine Arden
14. A novel set in a country other than your own- UK and France A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness
15. A novel featuring a garden-In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler's Berlin by Erik Larson Tiergarten
18. A novel featuring an instrument you wish you could play -The Cello Suites: J. S. Bach, Pablo Casals, and the Search for a Baroque Masterpiece by Eric Siblin - I can play, but I wish I could play better. and a billion instruments are mentions in here.

Full List: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Just completed #6 (ghosts) - Thirsty by Mia Hopkins. I really liked that this romance book is told from a latino perspective and one from a lower-income, formerly incarcerated angle at that. Those parts were quite accurate. However, the romance was a bit explicit and a little less romantic for me personally. Interesting viewpoint! 3 stars

12/24

Read & Go Challenge

Read: 0/24

1. A novel set in the woods
2. A novel involving a creative outlet
3. A novel featuring food you have not tried
4. A novel involving a train ride
5. A graphic novel
6. A novel involving ghosts
7. A novel featuring a zoo, animal shelter or sanctuary
8. A novel set on a bus
9. A novel where a main character seeks self-improvement
10. A novel featuring a bike ride
11. A novel set in or involving something industrial (factory, etc.)
12. A novel involving a plane ride
13. A novel set in a snow land
14. A novel set in a country other than your own
15. A novel featuring a garden
16. A novel set in a museum
17. A novel set in a hotel
18. A novel featuring an instrument you wish you could play
19. A novel involving an escape
20. A novel set underground or underwater
21. A novel involving a road trip
22. A novel depicting a sci-fi technology that now exists
23. A novel set in a city within 100 km of your own
24. Bonus: A novel set in your home town

updated message 108

7/24 complete

Updated message 148
Completed 8/20 Books

Updated message 98.
COMPLETED CHALLENGE (with a few extras)
Progress: 14/10

Thanks for the challenge!

Message #26 updated: 9/24

Update to post 211... 12 & 14 added.. thank you!

Updated message 18

Edited post #29.
So far 14/18.

Update msg 4: 10/12

I will also change my goal to 23

update message 83 4/10
6. A novel involving ghosts

Update message #80
Personal Goal 8/6

Edited post #29.
So far 15/18.

Message #26 updated: 10/24

Updated message 81
4/8

update message 83 5/10
12. A novel involving a plane ride

Just completed #22 (sci-fi tech) - Seveneves by Neal Stephenson. While I love Stephenson's writing and his books, I'm now reminded why I wait so long between reading his books. They are massive - in ideas, plot, length, etc. And they take me forever to get through, which is difficult for someone who reads relatively quickly. I have to admit, by the end, I was skimming the science bits. But the concept, from start to finish was fascinating! My only main criticism was the unanswered questions at the end. Definitely worth reading! 4 stars

13/24

March update to msg #3

Progress: 19/20
(as of 16 March 2019)

updated message 108

8/24 complete

Updated #94
9/24

Just completed #20 (underground) - Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer. Entertaining story with interesting characters. I liked the world but it could have used more development. Worth reading, but I'm not sure I'll continue with the series. 3.5 stars

14/24

Update to p3 message 148
Completed 10/20

Updated post 211 10/15
✔5. A graphic novel - Deadpool & The Mercs for Money Vol. 1 by Cullen Bunn
✔22. A novel depicting a sci-fi technology that now exists -- Inconceivable by Carolyn Savage
thanks!

Updated message 28

Progress: 4/24

Update msg 4: 11/23

Message #26 updated: 11/24

Post 211
✔6. A novel involving ghosts - Stardust by Neil Gaiman (added)
thanks!

7/12

14. A novel set in a country other than your own: What the Wind Knows

The list has been updated! Congrats on your progress everyone! :)


Aubrey and TerryJane, congrats on reaching your goal! :)

8/12

19. A novel involving an escape: Where'd You Go, Bernadette

Just completed #14 (set in country not my own - Britain) - Lord John and the Private Matter by Diana Gabaldon. I typically love the Outlander series, so I was a bit surprised when the story for this book didn't grab me. It focuses on Lord John Grey, who is an important character in Outlander. The historical accuracy was present, and I enjoyed the characters, but I just couldn't connect with the discussions of soldiering. Still worth reading for the Outlander canon. 3.5 stars

15/24

update to message 25:
2. A novel involving a creative outlet -The Cake Therapist ~ Finished 3-18-19
4. A novel involving a train ride - Between Shades of Gray ~ Finished 1-27-19
10. A novel featuring a bike ride - Girl in the Blue Coat ~ Finished 2-11-19

Update msg. 13

A novel involving a creative outlet Hunting Annabelle Finished 3/19

Edited post #29.
Goal raised to 21.
So far 18/21.

Hello Ilona!
Please increase my challenge goal to 22. Thank you!

Just finished #17 (hotel) - An American Marriage by Tayari Jones. Wow, what a sucker punch in the emotions, but oh so good! It's beautifully written and crafted, from the thoughtful characters, to the slow extraction of information, to the construction. The care the author takes allows the reader to engage with the subject matter slowly and thoughtfully. All the legal and prison content is accurate. As a criminal defense attorney for 12 years in the south, justice is often never blind or balanced. I appreciate that the author represented the absolute destruction to a person and the families in so many small and major ways. So good and a must read! 5 stars

16/24

Updated post 23

9/10

Message #26 updated: 12/24

#1 #2 #4 #5 #7 #10 #12 #13 #14 #15 #18 #19

16/22

1. A novel set in the woods- Stardust by Neil Gaiman
10. A novel featuring a bike ride- Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett
11. A novel set in or involving something industrial (factory, etc.)- Obsidio by Amie Kaufman- a mining planet

Full list: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

I’m in for 20!

1. A novel set in the woods: My Side of the Mountain
2. A novel involving a creative outlet: Little Fires Everywhere
3. A novel featuring food you have not tried: Blueberry Muffin Murder (not a blueberry muffin)
4. A novel involving a train ride: Murder on the Orient Express
5. A graphic novel
6. A novel involving ghosts:Lincoln in the Bardo
7. A novel featuring a zoo, animal shelter or sanctuary: Bird Box
8. A novel set on a bus
9. A novel where a main character seeks self-improvement: Educated
10. A novel featuring a bike ride: To All the Boys I've Loved Before
11. A novel set in or involving something industrial (factory, etc.)
12. A novel involving a plane ride
13. A novel set in a snow land: The Slippery Slope
14. A novel set in a country other than your own: Fantastic Beasts - The Crimes of Grindelwald: The Original Screenplay
15. A novel featuring a garden: Where the Crawdads Sing
16. A novel set in a museum:
17. A novel set in a hotel:
18. A novel featuring an instrument you wish you could play
19. A novel involving an escape:The Penultimate Peril
20. A novel set underground or underwater: The Grim Grotto
21. A novel involving a road trip:
22. A novel depicting a sci-fi technology that now exists:
23. A novel set in a city within 100 km of your own
24. Bonus: A novel set in your home town

13/20

Update msg 41... 9/24

Post 211 was update with the 2 below bringing my total to 14/15 - so close!
✔10. A novel featuring a bike ride -- The Postcard Killers by James Patterson
✔11. A novel set in or involving something industrial (factory, etc.) Holy Cow by David Duchovny
thanks!

13/22 updated message 115

Update msg 14

18/24