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 eligble, see this google sheet:

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

It's time to nominate for September the theme is Wildlife.

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 July 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.

The Overstory by Richard Powers

This book was recommended to me by my daughter. As far as I heard, trees play a big part in it. So now I'm intrigued...

New to the group, thought I would suggest one of my long time TBR books...fits right into the wildlife theme.

Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mount Everest Disaster
by Jon Krakauer

I'll nominate Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

Because elephants are wildlife.

I'd like to nominate Wilding by Isabella Tree.
It's a memoir about turning a failed farm into a wildlife sanctuary.

I would like to nominate The Elephant Whisperer. This book is about living with and saving wild elephants. One of the best books about wildlife I've ever read! I read it 8 years ago and would welcome an opportunity for a reread! It was an indescribably awesome experience the first time around!

Lynn wrote: "I would like to nominate The Elephant Whisperer. This book is about living with and saving wild elephants. One of the best books about wildlife I've ever read! I read it 8 years ago ..."

As a South African, I am so proud to see this nomination. I have read both The Elephant Whisperer and There's an Elephant in My Kitchen (by Lawrence's wife) and definitely support this nomination. These books are truly heart warming and a must-read!!

I second The Overstory.

Lynn wrote: "I would like to nominate The Elephant Whisperer. This book is about living with and saving wild elephants. One of the best books about wildlife I've ever read! I read it 8 years ago ..."

I third The Elephant Whisperer! 🐘

I'd like to nominate We Bought a Zoo

My connection being in the summary off Goodreads: In the tradition of "Marley & Me" comes an unforgettable memoir about the mysteries of the animal kingdom, the power of family, and the triumph of hope over tragedy in this chronicle of the Mee family's purchase of the Dartmoor Wildlife Park, a dilapidated zoo in the English countryside.

I would like to nominate ‘The Bees’ by Laline Paull - the protagonist is a bee (in fact I’m fairly sure all of the characters are bees), and the blurb looks intriguing!

I suggest Planetwalker: 22 Years of Walking. 17 Years of Silence by John Francis.
In this book Francis' experiences with nature, with wildlife, are explored and shown. This book is an interesting read - it is introspective and while the events took place in the 70's the points made are relevant to this day: Pollution, climate change, oil spillage and how that affects wildlife.

This book is about John Francis and his life as a silent protester of America's oil / environment politics. He protested silently - and by not using motorised transport anymore. He was an interesting African-American who's journey isn't talked about enough.

Joseph wrote: "New to the group, thought I would suggest one of my long time TBR books...fits right into the wildlife theme.

Into T..."

Welcome to the group! ^^ Thank you for your nomination!

I'm nominating my favorite book of all time: Set in a time before machines there are certainly a lot of wildlife!

Winter wrote: "I'm nominating my favorite book of all time: Set in a time before machines there are certainly a lot of wildlife!"

I second this book!

Megan wrote: "Winter wrote: "I'm nominating my favorite book of all time: Set in a time before machines there are certainly a lot of wildlife!"

I second this book!"

Me too! Would love to re-read it :)

I would agree with suggestions of either The Elephant Whisperer or An Elephant in My Kitchen: What the Herd Taught Me About Love, Courage and Survival

Hi all. New here... *waves*

I'll nominate one of my very favorite books: Watership Down by Richard Adams. I have read it several times and just love it.

Holly wrote: "Hi all. New here... *waves*

I'll nominate one of my very favorite books: Watership Down by Richard Adams. I have read it several times and just love it."

Welcome! Oh that's a lovely suggestion!! A special book for sure.

Lisanne wrote: "Lynn wrote: "I would like to nominate The Elephant Whisperer. This book is about living with and saving wild elephants. One of the best books about wildlife I've ever read! I read it..."

Hi everyone, I'm very new here but after reading both this thread and the info page, I would LOVE to read this book!! Consider this my nomination!! - Molly

Martha wrote: "I suggest Planetwalker: 22 Years of Walking. 17 Years of Silence by John Francis.
In this book Francis' experiences with nature, with wildlife, are explored and shown. This book is..."

Thanks for posting about this book. I have added it to my TBR listing.

As a zookeeper celebrating National Zookeeper Week, I'd like to nominate The Rhino with Glue-On Shoes: And Other Surprising True Stories of Zoo Vets and their Patients . I've been wanting to read it but I've been on a fantasy kick.

Molly wrote: "Lisanne wrote: "Lynn wrote: "I would like to nominate The Elephant Whisperer. This book is about living with and saving wild elephants. One of the best books about wildlife I've ever..."

Noted :) To make sure this book has the best chance to win make sure to vote on it. If there's a lot of books nominated for a month even seconded books might not make it into a poll, but I think that's not the case this month so make sure to vote when the poll is up! :) Also welcome! ^^

Closing nominations in two days :)

Closing nominations. Poll should be up tomorrow! :)

Poll is up! Go vote on the book you want to read in September! ^^

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