2025 Reading Challenge discussion

Hi everyone!

We now allow books the group has read for more than three years ago to be nominated again. To see which books are not eligible, see this google sheet:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...

It's time to nominate for August the theme is Music.

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.


This thread will be closed by June 26th, 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.

I’d like for August to nominate the book Tears and Trombones by Nanci Lee Woody. It got a 4.3 star rating on Goodreads and is based on a true story. The trombone player on the cover relates to the theme of Music for the month.

I'd like to nominate Doctor Faustus by Thomas Mann.

The connection to music: It's the story of a composer who sells his soul for 24 years of musical success.

I would like to nominate The Clockwork Three. One of the MC plays a violin and there is a song that connects all three of the characters. Although it is somewhat in the background of the story, music plays an important part in the whole and the plot couldn't have happened without it.

I woukd like to nominate Carnegie's Maid by Marie Benedict.

From the author of The Other Einstein comes the mesmerizing story of love, power, and the woman who inspired an American dynasty

Historical fiction.

The connection to the theme:

Carnegie Hall is named after Andrew Carnegie, who funded its construction. It was intended as a venue for the Oratorio Society of New York and the New York Symphony Society, on whose boards Carnegie served.

I would like to nominate Me: Elton John Official Autobiography.

Connection to music: If you've not heard of Elton John, you must not be of this world! :) This is his "official autobiography" and I am rather fascinated by this man who has faced down so many demons in his life to come out on top. That, and his support of Leon Russell (another of my favorite musicians) in the last years of his life by recording and releasing a collaborative album with him which is one of my favorites.

I nominate The Sound of Broken Absolutes by Peter Orullian. It is a fantasy set in a world where the magic system revolves around music and here, a special viola needs to be fixed.

I nominate A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan.

From the book's description:
A Visit from the Goon Squad is a book about the interplay of time and music, about survival, about the stirrings and transformations set inexorably in motion by even the most passing conjunction of our fates. In a breathtaking array of styles and tones ranging from tragedy to satire to PowerPoint, Egan captures the undertow of self-destruction that we all must either master or succumb to; the basic human hunger for redemption; and the universal tendency to reach for both—and escape the merciless progress of time—in the transporting realms of art and music. Sly, startling, exhilarating work from one of our boldest writers.
Pulitzer Prize for Fiction (2011)

I would like to nominate The Music Shop, the connection being the title. It is set in the 80s, about a music shop owner and a customer and the healing power of music.

I'd like to nominate The Cellist of Sarajevo by Steven Galloway. It is set in the 1990s during the Siege of Sarajevo and music is one of it's major themes.

I would like to nominate The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux. Music is a main theme due to its setting in an opera house and the Phantom's obsession with Christine Daae's singing voice.

I second Jennifer's nomination of The Phantom of the Opera.

Great nominations, everyone! :)

Lynn wrote: "I would like to nominate Me: Elton John Official Autobiography.

Connection to music: If you've not heard of Elton John, you must not be of this world! :) This is his "official aut..."

I'll second Me: Elton John Official Autobiography

Ilona wrote: "Lynn wrote: "I would like to nominate Me: Elton John Official Autobiography.

Connection to music: If you've not heard of Elton John, you must not be of this world! :) This is his ..."

I’ll third this one

Jennifer wrote: "I would like to nominate The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux. Music is a main theme due to its setting in an opera house and the Phantom's obsession with Christine Daae's singing voice."

I second this too! Been in my TBR for as long as I can remember.

Jennifer wrote: "I would like to nominate The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux. Music is a main theme due to its setting in an opera house and the Phantom's obsession with Christine Daae's singing voice."

I will second this as well!

Jennifer wrote: "I would like to nominate The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux. Music is a main theme due to its setting in an opera house and the Phantom's obsession with Christine Daae's singing voice."

I'll fourth this!!

D.L. wrote: "Jennifer wrote: "I would like to nominate The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux. Music is a main theme due to its setting in an opera house and the Phantom's obsession with Christine Daae's sin..."

I think I can predict a winner....

I would like to nominate

White Line Fever: The Autobiography

A truly interesting read of one of the legends of the British music scene - Lemmy Kilmister. The amount of things Lemmy got up to was unbelievable and this book captures it all.

I would like to nominate On the Come Up by Angie Thomas (author of The Hate U Give). It's the story of Bri, a sixteen year old girl that comes from a poor to working class black family and her dream to be one of the greatest rappers ever. She is also one of the very few students from her neighborhood who attends an art school. It becomes more than a dream when her mother loses her job and they’re barely surviving — this could be their ticket out.

I second Sara's nomination of "On the Come Up" by Angie Thomas. It sounds very biographical while also being YAy.

We Sold Our Souls by Grady Hendrix

The book is about a 90s heavy metal band whose lead singer rose to fame and left them behind. Twenty years later the band members find out the only reason he might have become famous is by selling their souls so they go on a cross country adventure to confront him. Its about a band and they end up at a music festival so its very connected to music.

Thank you everyone! Lots of good nominations! ^^

Sara wrote: "I would like to nominate On the Come Up by Angie Thomas (author of The Hate U Give). It's the story of Bri, a sixteen year old girl that comes from..."

I second this!!

I would like to nominate The Kingdom of Back by Marie Lu.

From the book description:
The book is a YA historical fantasy about the Mozart siblings: Wolfgang and his older, lesser known, sister Nannerl. She's a young gifted composer and musician, but the fact she is a woman in 18th century Europe means that composing is forbidden to her.
Her tyrannical father only allows her to perform until she reaches a marriageable age and meanwhile the talents of her younger brother Wolfgang only seem to shine brighter. That's until a mysterious stranger from a magical land appears with an offer: he has the power to make her wish come true - but there's obviously a catch that may cost her everything.

I would like to nominate by Chuck Wendig.

This is a sci-fi post apocalyptic novel epidemic , so more like for the times we are living in....and a lot of sleepwalking...

Themes of suspense, violence and terror...

Fadi wrote: "I would like to nominate by Chuck Wendig.

This is a sci-fi post apocalyptic novel epidemic , so more like for the times we are living in....and a lot of sleepwalking..."

Fadi, how does this nomination link to the August theme of music?

Hi,
I definitely missed the part that said there is a theme, music this time...my apologies.

Well mine can be taken out of the list...

Hello, I would like to also vote for On the Come Up by Angie Thomas, as I see people already have above. Looking forward to participating!

Closing a bit late this month and putting up the poll now. Sorry it's a bit delayed.

Poll is up! I accedentally added A Clockwork Princess without meaning to. It's not a part of the poll.

https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/2...