2025 Reading Challenge discussion

I've tried to do the reading challenge several times. And white I do end up reading several new books a years, I would like to actually finish the challenge. Plus it's nice to read things that aren't about biochemistry every once in a while.

I admit that I started out the year with a little head start. I was reading "Warm Bodies" before the end of the new year. But it was counted for this year. I may add another book at the end year. Anyway's "Warm Bodies" is my book under the prompt of a book with a two word title.
For some reason it took me a while to read, probably due to all the studying I've been doing lately. Reading text books 6 hours a day can make one need a break. Despite the amount of time it took, I did enjoy it.
Next I read Mindy Kaling's book "Why Not Me", which satisfied a book with a question in the title. That is a much quicker read and was very enjoyable and had a great message in the end.
I just finished "The Red Tent" which is my favorite so far. The was a book inspired by mythology, legend or folklore. A story of a previously voiceless woman from a bloody section of the Old Testament.
To lighten things up I am reading "Crazy Rich Asians". This is my book about a family.

Warm Bodies
Why Not Me?
The Red Tent
Crazy Rich Asians

So I finished the Crazy Rich Asian’s trilogy. These books are fun. I’m heading to Singapore next week, and I’m looking forward to trying all the foods they described. Even we hoi polloi can relate to the crazy family antics in some ways.
I also read Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. I often enjoy a good rewrite of a classic. The juxtaposition of the Austen era decorum and zombie beheadings was amusing. So for my book written by an author from Asia, Africa, or South America I read “China Rich Girlfriend”, a book that includes a wedding: “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies” and a book by an author whose first and last name start with the same letter: “Rich People Problems”.

Hope your reading is going well.

Unfortunately some studying got in the way. But back on track.

Just finished “Headhunters” by Jo Nesbø. That’s my Scandinavian book. I saw the movie a while ago and have read a few of his miser mysteries. There was one particularly graphic scene that made me crack up. Mostly because the main character is sick a tool for most of the book.
I also read “Snowflower and the Secret Fan” for my flower/plant on the cover book. The description of foot-binding really brings home how horrible it is. Not just physically. It turns your feet into shackles. I’d take a corset over that time. At least you can that off at night.

“Read the best books first, or you may not have a chance to read them at all.” I hope the last month has found you some best books.

Well, I read a book that was nominated for a Pulitzer , which was to fulfill a book with a previous prompt. I read "The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay", which I hated. It started out okay, but I am so over the whole female muse character. You know, the one who has no purpose other than to provide support for the insufferable protagonist. The author is also guilty of a major "men writing women" passage in which he not only describes her breast using several SAT words, but also uses the adjective capacious to describe her hips. He clearly had a thesaurus and was not afraid to use it.
The next book I read was "Rashomon". It's my book from different points of view. Rashomon is only one of the stories and is the only one that is from several points of view. I really liked the movie, or at least that's how I remember it (ba dum dum). Anyways, the stories are very well written and range from strange to funny to tragic. There is a pretty funny bit from one story where a girl has a framed picture of Beethoven on her wall, but it's not Beethoven. It's Woodrow Wilson. Made me laugh a bit because they are nothing alike. Also, Ryunosuke Akutagawa writes significantly better female characters than Michael Chabon.
"Lethal White" was my book set in the season I was reading it in. I stretched that a bit. I really like JK Rowling's mystery books. And I really wanted to know what was happening with Robin and her dirt-bag husband. Lethal White
Rashōmon and Seventeen Other Stories
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay

Every time I stop by here I add more books to my reading list you are doing awesome!

:)