2025 Reading Challenge discussion

Kszr, I've updated your goal. Updated to here!

Diversity is a fact, but inclusion is a choice we make every day. As leaders, we have to put out the message that we embrace and not just tolerate diversity.
~ Nellie Borrero

Updated msg 14

African-American

The Witchery by S. Isabelle. This is a fantastic ride! For this Florida nerd who always wanted a witch school to seem more accessible, this book contains all that plus great diversity. The author creates a world that isn’t perfect and contains heartache but also equal measures of joy. “History was always labeling women as mad, whether they were witchy or not.” Love the characters, and I really hope this is the start of a series. It’s a debut, so I’m excited to see what the author does next. The creativity and enjoyability are off the charts! Definitely worth reading! 5 stars

53/50

Update to Message #29:

The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

15/25

Due to family circumstances -- my mother dying and my being named executor of her estate -- I have not been able to continue to read for the various challenges I joined earlier in the year. I'm still reading a little bit, but not nearly enough to finish much. So, I'm going to change my goals to match the number of books I've read so far. I will continue to post books as I am able to finish them, but I don't expect that to be very many. I hate to leave anything undone, so I've decided that I will have a personal challenge next year to finish the books I don't get to this time!

So, please change my goal on message #7 to 48.

Carol wrote: "Due to family circumstances -- my mother dying and my being named executor of her estate -- I have not been able to continue to read for the various challenges I joined earlier in the year. I'm sti..."

Will do, Carol. I’m so sorry for your loss.

Updated msg 14

English

The It Girl by Ruth Ware. I really enjoyed this murder mystery. The storytelling method was done well. The author did the setting justice and perfectly captured her characters. Definitely worth reading! 4.5 stars

54/50

Update message 241

Women without men/ Shahrnush Parsipur *****
Iranian author, set in Iran.

Updated msg 14

Canadian

Do Not Say We Have Nothing by Madeline Thien. DNF at 50%. I very rarely DNF a book, but this one was not working for me and started to actively discourage me from reading. It was very confusing, constantly going back and forth in time without separation. The characters were almost presented as set pieces. When I did finally latch on to a character, there was almost an immediate distancing in the story. I find this time period of China during the revolutions fascinating and love classical music, and yet, I still could not find enthusiasm for even learning in this story. Not one I recommend.

55/50

Updated to here! Great job, everyone!

Diversity is being invited to the party; inclusion is being asked to dance.
~ Verna Myers

Updated msg 14

Jewish

One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle. This book made me want to visit Positano so badly! And then I just about shrieked when I realized that this 30 yo woman’s mother was thirty in 1992 - talk about feeling my years! I enjoyed the story overall and the writing was fine. I just had trouble connecting with the main character and the point of the story. Worth reading. 3.5 stars

56/50

Update to Message #29:
The Violin Conspiracy by Brendon Slocumb

16/25

Updated msg 14

African-American

The Monsters We Defy by Leslye Penelope. I really enjoyed the setting, history, and magical realism presented in this book! I did not know about the 1919 riots in DC, and I love learning about new events to explore further. I liked the world created and the incorporation of historical figures. I love that the MC is loosely based on a real person! My only critique is that at times the MC’a reactions seemed out of character with the way she presented. Overall, really interesting! I received this book as a free giveaway in exchange for my honest review. Worth reading! 4 stars

57/50

Update to message 32, 31/20 books

23. The House in the Cerulean Sea
24. Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow
25. The Space Between Worlds
26. Theroux the Keyhole
27. The Transgender Issue: An Argument for Justice
28. Time After Time
29.Drag Queen of Scots: The Dos and Don’ts of a Drag Superstar
30. Infamous
31. Blackout

Update to msg #27: 60/60
Challenge completed!

I'm really enjoying this challenge, Megan, and will continue posting monthly updates until December. I hope that's okay.

Update to msg 264

Just two more to go! 48/50

1. How to be an Anti-Racist (male author)
2. Arsenic and Adobo (Filipino author)
3. Waking Up White (White author)
4. The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue (White lesbian author)
5. The Love Hypothesis (White STEM author)
6. The Unhoneymooners (Two White authors)
7. They Both Die at the End (White gay male author)
8. Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe (Latino gay male author)
9. Clap When You Land (Afro-Latina author)
10. Afterparties (Cambodian gay male author)
11. Oona Out of Order (White Ukrainian author)
12. Beautiful World, Where Are You? (White Irish author)
13. The Spanish Love Deception (White Spanish author)
14. The Worst Best Man (Afro-Latina author)
15. The House on the Cerulean Sea (White gay male author)
16. Living in Color (male author)
17. Don’t You Forget About Me (White Scottish author)
18. Dial A for Aunties (Asian Indonesian author)
19. Black Cake (Multiracial Caribbean author)
20. Skinny Dip (White male author)
21. One Last Stop (White queer author)
22. The Downstairs Girl (Asian-American author)
23. Writers and Lovers (White author)
24. Always Outnumbered, Always Outgunned (Male author)
25. Migrations (White Australian author)
26. Book Lovers (White author)
27. The Cheat Sheet (White author)
28. Black Buck (Jamaican-Iranian male author)
29. The Cactus (White English author)
30. Eyes That Kiss in the Corners (Asian American author)
31. Fry Bread (Seminole male author)
32. Rose Gold (male author)
33. A Promised Land (male author)
34. Hardcore Twenty-Four (White author)
35. Look Alive Twenty-Five (White author)
36. Tokyo Ever After (Japanese-American author)
37. Daisy Jones & the Six (White author)
38. A History of the World in Six Glasses (White male author)
39. The Baby Plan (White author)
40. Shiny Broken Pieces (Indian-American author)
41. Recipe for Persuasion (Indian-American author)
42. Dancing in the Mosque (Afghani Muslim author)
43. The Storyteller (White male author)
44. Furia (Argentine-American author)
45. The No-Show (White British author)
46. The Swimmers (Asian-American author)
47. Love on the Brain (White STEM author)
48. Husband Material (White British queer male author)

Update to message 6: 30 / 36

Update message 241:
21/25

21. Olga Dies Dreaming/ Xochitl Gonzalez *****Puerto Rican experience

Update to Message #29:

The Liar's Dictionary by Eley Williams - LGBTQ+

17/25

Update to Message #29:

Next Year in Havana by Chanel Cleeton - Cuban

18/25

Update to msg 241:
22/25
22. In the Midst of Winter by Isabelle Allende***** Author: Chilean, tales of struggles in Chile and Guatemala.

Updated msg 14

Nigerian-American

Akata Warrior by Nnedi Okorafor. The plot twists and dances with surprise in this book! I love the author’s writing. She has compassion for her characters while also realizing they need flaws. I really like how she’s bringing Sunny’s brothers into the story as well. Definitely worth reading! 5 stars

58/50

Update to no. 35:
Progress so far: 28/40

Update to Message 136: 42/36

Update message 241: 23/25

23. Chess Story / Stefan Zweig **** Austrian

Updated msg 14

Nigerian-American

Akata Woman by Nnedi Okorafor. This author thinks on another level! Good writing and character development are things I expect from the author. I also expect the unexpected, and I was not disappointed. I want to re-read this in the future when my life is less stressful - the images drawn might make more sense then. Whole series is definitely worth reading! 4.5 stars

59/50

update to msg 315

Woo-hoo! I'm done!! 50/50

I also just want to say I love this challenge. We learn so much when we take in perspectives other than our own.

1) How to be an Anti-Racist (male author)
2) Arsenic and Adobo (Filipino author)
3) Waking Up White (White author)
4) The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue (White lesbian author)
5) The Love Hypothesis (White STEM author)
6) The Unhoneymooners (Two White authors)
7) They Both Die at the End (White gay male author)
8 )Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe (Latino gay male author)
9) Clap When You Land (Afro-Latina author)
10) Afterparties (Cambodian gay male author)
11) Oona Out of Order (White Ukrainian author)
12) Beautiful World, Where Are You? (White Irish author)
13) The Spanish Love Deception (White Spanish author)
14) The Worst Best Man (Afro-Latina author)
15) The House on the Cerulean Sea (White gay male author)
16) Living in Color (male author)
17) Don’t You Forget About Me (White Scottish author)
18) Dial A for Aunties (Indonesian author)
19) Black Cake (Multiracial Caribbean author)
20) Skinny Dip (White male author)
21) One Last Stop (White queer author)
22) The Downstairs Girl (Asian-American author)
23) Writers and Lovers (White author)
24) Always Outnumbered, Always Outgunned (Male author)
25) Migrations (White Australian author)
26) Book Lovers (White author)
27) The Cheat Sheet (White author)
28) Black Buck (Jamaican-Iranian male author)
29) The Cactus (White English author)
30) Eyes That Kiss in the Corners (Asian American author)
31) Fry Bread (Seminole male author)
32) Rose Gold (male author)
33) A Promised Land (male author)
34) Hardcore Twenty-Four (White author)
35) Look Alive Twenty-Five (White author)
36) Tokyo Ever After (Japanese-American author)
37) Daisy Jones & the Six (White author)
38) A History of the World in Six Glasses (White male author)
39) The Baby Plan (White author)
40) Shiny Broken Pieces (Indian-American author)
41) Recipe for Persuasion (Indian-American author)
42) Dancing in the Mosque (Afghani Muslim author)
43) The Storyteller (White male author)
44) Furia (Argentine-American author)
45) The No-Show (White British author)
46) The Swimmers (Asian-American author)
47) Love on the Brain (White author)
48) Husband Material (White British queer male author)
49) Sharp Objects (White author)
50) A Different Pond (Asian-American male author)

Congratulations to oshizu (yes, it's completely fine for you to continue adding titles) and ReGina on completing the challenge!!! Updated to here!

We can convince ourselves to do things in conjunction with one another that we wouldn’t have been able to do as an individual.
~ Jordan Peele

Updated msg 14

African-American

Razorblade Tears by S.A. Cosby. It’s going to take me awhile to unpack this book. So good! “It was bad enough being a Black man in the good ol’ US of A and talking to the cops. You always felt like you were on the edge of some imaginary precipice during any interaction with an officer of the law. If you were an ex-con, it felt like the precipice was covered in bacon grease.” The writing is excellent! The characters are complex and making tough choices and going through evolution on the page. Just brilliant! “love is a kind of crazy.” So much truth in this book! Definitely worth reading! 5 stars

60/50

Updated msg 14

Latine-American

What's Mine and Yours by Naima Coster. I appreciate the author’s effort and what she tried to accomplish. I liked that her characters were complex, and that she didn’t seek to fix everything for them. However the alternating timelines and character perspectives was distracting and was not done seamlessly. I guessed the twist well before it happened. I look forward to seeing what the author writes in the future. I received this book as a free giveaway in exchange for my honest review. 3 stars

62/50

Updated msg 14

African-American

Before the Dawn by Beverly Jenkins. Overall, I enjoyed this book. Loved the setting, and as usual with this author, I learned more history and added to my knowledge. The main characters were a harder match in this novel, but the relationship arc was interesting. My only criticism was that perspectives shift often with a few sentences of each other, which sometimes made the through line difficult to maintain. Worth reading! 4 stars

63/50

Update to message 6: 31/ 36

Jewish / born in Sweden / emigrated with his parents (both Holocaust survivors) to the US as a toddler

Maus I: A Survivor's Tale: My Father Bleeds History by Art Spiegelman. Beautifully rendered story of his parents life during the Holocaust. The graphics lend such a strength , power to the words. There is a second book that continues the story.

The author earned a Pulitzer Prize in 1992 for this book and in November of 2022 is set to receive an honorary National Book Award for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters.

Update: MSG #20 6/15

Updated msg 14

African-American

Always and Forever by Beverly Jenkins. It’s Grace and Jackson’s story!! Loved it! I truly appreciate that the author bases her stories in history, but she never writes cookie-cutter characters. Each character is as unique as a real person, with issues, biases, and wonderful traits, which makes her books such a delight. I loved the characters in this book! And the plot was riveting. Definitely worth reading! 5 stars

64/50

Update to Message #29

Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson - Caribbean

19/25

Update to Message 136: 45/36

Updated msg 14

Gay, Neurodivergent, Australian

Ten Steps to Nanette by Hannah Gadsby. Audio read by author and includes clips from the special - produced well! So many important topics covered. However, I had a hard time listening to the end - it was a bit long and also my mindset at the time. Gadsby is brilliant, and I really appreciate her perspective! 4.5 stars

65/50

Update to message 53... 4/30 read

Updated msg 14

English and French

Madam by Phoebe Wynne. Dark academia meets gothic mystery in this well-written story! I really enjoyed the slow-building unease and liked the resolution. The characters weren’t perfect, but that was ok. I wish the main character had been developed a bit more. Really good debut! 4.5 stars

66/50

Updated to here!

An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity.
~ Martin Luther King Jr.

Updated message 10-- 14/15
Indigenous American-- Flight

Updated msg 14

Indian-American

The Emma Project by Sonali Dev. Love this series and how the author can weave heart, humor, and healing into a beautiful story. This one took me a bit to connect with the main characters. But I really appreciated the side love story as well. Definitely read the whole series! 4 stars

67/50

Updated message 10-- 15/15 Challenge Complete

Update to message 52 - 28/40.

Updated msg 14

Indigenous Chicana

Sabrina & Corina by Kali Fajardo-Anstine. These are well-written short stories! I enjoyed the exploration of issues and characters. However, the end of each story left me unsettled and wanting more of a conclusion. Worth reading! 3.5 stars

68/50

Update to Message #29

Black Leopard, Red Wolf by Marlon James - Black/Jamaican Sci Fi/Fantasy

20/25

Updated msg 14

African-American

The Sweetness of Water by Nathan Harris. Overall, I thought this was well-done. I liked some of the characters and the exploration of the post-war time period. I felt that the author was trying so hard, and the writing felt overworked at points. I don’t need everything to be spelled out, but don’t work so hard to not spell it out that it’s obvious. Looking forward to more from this author in the future. Worth reading! 4 stars

69/50

Updated message 10-- 16/15

Update Message #25
Madam by Phoebe Wynne - English author

21/25

Updated msg 14

Black, Canadian, non-binary

Witchmark by C.L. Polk. Overall, I really enjoyed this book! I love the world the author created! However, I did feel dumped in at the beginning and it took me a good quarter to figure out what was going on. Loved the two main characters. Closed door romance. Definitely worth reading! 4 stars

70/50

Update to message 32, 33/20.

32. Even If We Break
33. Moonglow