2025 Reading Challenge discussion

Hi everyone!

2020 has been a strange year and a tough one for many. I'm excited to be finally opening nominations for 2021! The theme for January is Hope. I think we all hope for a better year.


~Please remember to state a connection to the theme when you nominate.

~Books we have read less than three years ago are not eligble. To see which books are not eligble, see this google sheet:

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

~ 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 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.


This thread will be closed by November 26th, and we will choose ten books for the poll. If there are more than ten books nominated, we will choose "seconded" books first. 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'm going to nominate The Lightest Object in the Universe.

This is a post-apocalyptic book that focuses on rebuilding instead of the destruction, which is why it's on my radar, even though I haven't read it yet. I also liked paragraphs from the description

"The Lightest Object in the Universe is a story about reliance and adaptation, a testament to the power of community and a chronicle of moving on after catastrophic loss, illustrating that even in the worst of times, our best traits, borne of necessity, can begin to emerge."

I really like post-apocalyptic, but they don't all seem hopeful, so I like this idea that, even if the worst happens, life will go on and rebuilding will happen.

I would like to nominate Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami.

In her TedTalk, Simple hacks for life with Parkinson’s, Mileha Soneji had this to say about Kafka on the Shore:

This novel, written by a Japanese author, is a complete work of fantasy, but it succeeds in transporting you to a world that makes you believe in prophecies. It also exudes hope as its characters display so much immense kindness, a quality I believe is much needed now to strengthen humanity.

Fifty Words for Rain by Asha Lemmie

Y Thủy wrote: "Fifty Words for Rain by Asha Lemmie"

Y Thủy, please state a connection to the theme when you nominate a book.

I would like to nominate: The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind: Creating Currents of Electricity and Hope

Autobiographical book by William Kamkwamba, it's the remarkable story about human inventiveness and its power to overcome crippling adversity, that will inspire anyone who doubts the power of one individual's ability to change his community and better the lives of those around him.

I'd like to nominate We Are Okay.

This was recommended to me when I asked some friends for an idea around a book that reflected 'hope'. They read it and said it made them feel hopeful :)

I second Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami

I nominate Water for Elephants :)

Bibliophile wrote: "I nominate Water for Elephants :)"

Bibliophile, please state a connection to the theme when you nominate a book.

Ashleigh wrote: "I'd like to nominate We Are Okay.

This was recommended to me when I asked some friends for an idea around a book that reflected 'hope'. They read it and said it made them feel hope..."

I'd like to second We Are Okay

Ilona wrote: "Bibliophile wrote: "I nominate Water for Elephants :)"

Bibliophile, please state a connection to the theme when you nominate a book."

Water for Elephants is all about hope and love.
An atmospheric, gritty, and compelling novel of star-crossed lovers, set in the circus world circa 1932.

When Jacob Jankowski, recently orphaned and suddenly adrift, jumps onto a passing train, he enters a world of freaks, drifters, and misfits, a second-rate circus struggling to survive during the Great Depression, making one-night stands in town after endless town. A veterinary student who almost earned his degree, Jacob is put in charge of caring for the circus menagerie. It is there that he meets Marlena, the beautiful young star of the equestrian act, who is married to August, the charismatic but twisted animal trainer. He also meets Rosie, an elephant who seems untrainable until he discovers a way to reach her.

Water for Elephants is illuminated by a wonderful sense of time and place. It tells a story of a love between two people that overcomes incredible odds in a world in which even love is a luxury that few can afford.

Apologies for not noticing this immediately, but Water for Elephants was actually the group read in September this year and is therfore not eligible.

No worries. Then I shall nominate All the Light We Cannot See
This is about a simple truth - No matter what, there would be people trying to be good to others.
Do check if this has been in any group read this year, and if not, I think this deserves to be here :)

You are choosing very popular books, All the Light We Cannot See was the group read in January. Please have a look at the spreadsheet that is linked in the first post to see which books are not eligible.

Ilona wrote: "Apologies for not noticing this immediately, but Water for Elephants was actually the group read in September this year and is therfore not eligible."

BUT I just noticed that The Nightingale was a group read for BOTH April and November 2019! ??How? By that logic we can consider Water for Elephants esp that it's atleast a new year 2021 and not the same year.

The Nightingale was only a group read in November 2019 (I participated in it). Before We Were Yours was the group read in April 2019!

If you look at the spreadsheet all the books listed are books that are NOT eligible, which I find super duper helpful when choosing haha!

hehe ok will look at that sheet :) i think i might've looked at another poll where Nightingale won for April and Nov :) might've been confused!

Ashleigh wrote: "I'd like to nominate We Are Okay.


I would like to second this. I am hopeful to also be okay. :)

Ashleigh wrote: "I'd like to nominate We Are Okay.

This was recommended to me when I asked some friends for an idea around a book that reflected 'hope'. They read it and said it made them feel hope..."

I found this book to be a powerful read. (I am not seconding it, just wanted to comment on it...)

Sunshine wrote: "I've been puzzling over what to nominate for this theme & finally came up with:

Mr. Churchill's Secretary by Susan Elia MacNeal -- The lead character's last name is..."

I'll second Mr. Churchill's Secretary since I own it and have yet to read it! :)

I will name Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson. I've read this book first time about 15 years ago (as a teenager), and after that couple times as an adult as well. When I was trying to think of a book that fits best for this theme, this came to my mind first. It might be a hard read for some, but I think it's also really important book to read :)

Haven't read Speak, but having looked at the synopsis, I'd ask for a TW if this one gets chosen. I have PTSD and can attest that it would be a hard one, even if the ending is more hopeful. I know it is popular and so appeals to many.

Should books nominated be fiction or is nonfiction ever read?

I will nominate Overstory by Richard Powers on the recommendation of friends as a hopeful and uplifting novel, poetic in language and a Pulitzer prizewinner a couple of years ago. It is a series of interconnected stories of trees and people that winds thru history and touches on themes of environmentalism and our interconnection with nature.

Christy wrote: "Haven't read Speak, but having looked at the synopsis, I'd ask for a TW if this one gets chosen. I have PTSD and can attest that it would be a hard one, even if the ending is more hopeful. I know i..."

you are absolutely right, and I totally understand if it's too much, especially for people who have traumas that have something to do with the subject! so maybe not the best choice in the end for everyone.

I will third Kafka on the Shore as it was my first Murakami and my second best....that was years ago....January is also for magical realism so it fits..

Sarah wrote: "I would like to nominate - One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest by Ken Kesey/Joe Sacco

I am very interested in dark psychological books, and added this to my reading list to see the similarities to the..."

Hi, Sarah! Would you please provide how the nominated book is related to January's theme of "Hope"?

I would like to nominate The Lightest Object in the Universe by Kimi Eisele.

I think this book is perfect for bringing out hope in people at times of the ongoing pandemic. In this case, the electrical grid goes down–and this book about a neighborhood that works together to rebuild their lives.

Nusha wrote: "I would like to nominate The Lightest Object in the Universe by Kimi Eisele.

I think this book is perfect for bringing out hope in people at times of the ongoing ..."

I second this one!

Nusha wrote: "I would like to nominate The Lightest Object in the Universe by Kimi Eisele.

I think this book is perfect for bringing out hope in people at times of the ongoing ..."

I also second this book!

I nominate The Cay by Theodore Taylor. It's about a boy and a man who escaped on a raft from being attacked on their voyage to America. The boy, Philip then goes blind, and the two of them are stranded on an island.

Julia wrote: "I nominate The Cay by Theodore Taylor. It's about a boy and a man who escaped on a raft from being attacked on their voyage to America. The boy, Philip then goes blind, ..."

Oh, my gosh! That is such an excellent book! Though I already seconded a nomination, so this is simply a comment!

I nominate Station Eleven .
I feel it's very well suited for today's times and need of Hope.
In times of crisis, the practicalities of survival overtake everything. As someone who writes about books, how appropriate is it to continue doing so when people are filled with fear? Mandel addresses this in her fantastic book set in the aftermath of a pandemic. Her characters are still struggling to survive, but a traveling troupe of performers bring art, hope, and entertainment to an otherwise grim world.

Julia wrote: "I nominate The Cay by Theodore Taylor. It's about a boy and a man who escaped on a raft from being attacked on their voyage to America. The boy, Philip then goes blind, ..."

My fifth grade class read this back in the 90s, and I always remember that this is where I first learned the word "gangrene." I think I was a bit horrified. XD

Bibliophile wrote: "I nominate Station Eleven .
I feel it's very well suited for today's times and need of Hope.
In times of crisis, the practicalities of survival overtake everything. As someone who..."

I read this one earlier this year & really enjoyed it! It had such a dark, creepy feeling because of its relevance, which really added to the whole tone of the book.

I second Station Eleven! Have wanted to read it for a while. And closing nominations :)

Poll is up!! :D

https://www.goodreads.com/poll/list/5...