2025 Reading Challenge discussion

Updated msg 23

Just completed #14 (red cover) - Man Called Horse: John Horse and the Black Seminole Underground Railroad by Glennette Tilley Turner. This is a lovely, easy history of the Black Seminoles and John Horse. Glossy pages and lots of pictures would make it accessible for young readers. Honestly, this history needs to be taught more! Highly recommend! 4 stars

3/10

2/15! Updated my original post

Update to message #9 - 1/6

Update to message #13

Progress: 2/8

1. 1902 - Le Voyage dans la Lune, the first space movie: Read a book set in the 20th century or a book involving movies.
Apartment in Athens Set in 1943 Greece

6. 1976 - Viking I is first to successfully land on Mars: Read a book featuring travel or a book with a ship on the cover
A Significant Year - travelogue about road trip around Morocco in 2007

Updated message #20

1/8

Updated!
Way to go, Ana, Margie and Chalmation! :)

Message 12 Updated
Progress: 2/15

Updated msg 23

Just completed #4 (photography) - What Lies in the Woods by Kate Alice Marshall. This is a creepy, thrilling book that slowly builds. I really liked the main character; she was flawed and while I didn’t always understand her choices, that made sense in the context of her backstory. The plot kept me guessing, and while I had theories that proved to be correct, they were not sure things as we went along. Writing is good too! I received this book as a free giveaway in exchange for my honest review. Definitely worth reading! 4.5 stars

4/10

Update to message #6: 2/5

Message 43. After really thinking about how I want my reading to go this year, I’ve decided to drop all challenges and just read. Sorry for being fickle!

Regina wrote: "Message 43. After really thinking about how I want my reading to go this year, I’ve decided to drop all challenges and just read. Sorry for being fickle!"

Never apologize for doing what works best for you ;)
Have fun just reading, Regina!

Update to #26

1/6

1902 - Le Voyage dans la Lune, the first space movie: Read a book set in the 20th century or a book involving movies - Truly Devious

Parts of this book are set in the 1930s

My goal for this challenge is 5

Ashleigh wrote: "Update to #26

1/6

1902 - Le Voyage dans la Lune, the first space movie: Read a book set in the 20th century or a book involving movies - Truly Devious

Parts of this book are set ..."

Nice work finishing your first book for the challenge, Ashleigh! What will you be reading next?

Gretchen wrote: "My goal for this challenge is 5"

Welcome Gretchen! I've added you to the list :)
I hope you get to read some fantastic books.

Update to message 25.... 3/15 read

Message 12 Updated
Progress: 3/15

Update to #26

2/6

2021 - first helicopter on Mars: Read a book featuring air travel or a book with a red cover - United as One

My copy of the book was red (the characters also flew on ships haha)

Hi Lisa...I completely forgot to join this challenge! I would like to read 8 books for this challenge! Thank you 😊

4/8 books read

1. 1902 - Le Voyage dans la Lune, the first space movie: Read a book set in the 20th century or a book involving movies.

2. 1961 - Yuri Gagarin, the first person in space: Read a book featuring a competitive race or a book involving Russian history

3. 1963 - Valentina Tereshkova, the first woman in space: Read a book with a female character breaking barriers or a book about gender issues

4. 1966 - first full-earth photo from moon's orbit: Read a book with the earth on the cover or a book featuring photography

✔️ 5. 1969 - first person on the moon: Read a book about an explorer or a book with the moon on the cover -

6. 1976 - Viking I is first to successfully land on Mars: Read a book featuring travel or a book with a ship on the cover -

7. 1980 - Arnaldo Tamayo Mendez, first person of color in space: Read a book about fighting racism or a book written by a BIPOC author

8. 1984 - Bruce McCandless, first untethered space walk: Read a book where a character is alone or book about a person who ventures into the unknown

9. 1990 - Hubble, first space telescope: Read a book about the stars and planets or a science fiction book

✔️ 10. 2000 - first international space station crew: Read a book where people from different nations work together or a book written by an author from a country different from where you are from - Hidden in Snow...the author is Swedish

✔️ 11. 2001 - Dennis Tito, first space tourist: Read a book set during a vacation or a book about someone with a lot of money - Green Kills

12. 2003 - first marriage in space: Read a book featuring a wedding or a book about marriage

✔️ 13. 2015 - first successful Pluto mission: Read a book with a dog on the cover or a book set far away from where you live - In Cold Pursuit: A Mystery from the Last Continent...set in Antarctica

14. 2021 - first helicopter on Mars: Read a book featuring air travel or a book with a red cover -

15. 2022 - DART, first man-made intentional asteroid impact to change asteroid's motion in space: Read a book featuring a crash of some kind or a book where a character changes course -

Updated message 33-- 1/15

Update to message #8

1/2

I readFinding Gobi: The True Story of a Little Dog and an Incredible Journey by Dion Leonard for prompt #10, a book by an author from a different country than me. Dion Leonard is from Australia and I'm American

Welcome Alison! I've added you to the participants list and updated everyone else's progress!

Question to all of you who've read at least one book for this challenge, so far:

What's the best book you've read?
Any new favorites?

Have a great day!

Updated message 19

4/5

Update to Message #24: 5/15

FOR ALL HUMANKIND
January 1, 2023-March 31, 2023

Humans have been dreaming about space for centuries. And a few intrepid explorers have dared to boldly go into the unknown, for all humankind. This quarter we are reading books inspired by some famous space firsts!

9/15 as of January 14!

1. 1902 - Le Voyage dans la Lune, the first space movie: Read a book set in the 20th century or a book involving movies.
Grey Mask (Miss Silver #1) by Patricia Wentworth
January 8 ✶✶✶✶✶

2. 1961 - Yuri Gagarin, the first person in space: Read a book featuring a competitive race or a book involving Russian history

3. 1963 - Valentina Tereshkova, the first woman in space: Read a book with a female character breaking barriers or a book about gender issues
Bye-Bye, Black Sheep (Mommy-Track Mystery #7) by Ayelet Waldman
January 11 ✶✶✶✶✶

4. 1966 - first full-earth photo from moon's orbit: Read a book with the earth on the cover or a book featuring photography

5. 1969 - first person on the moon: Read a book about an explorer or a book with the moon on the cover

6. 1976 - Viking I is first to successfully land on Mars: Read a book featuring travel or a book with a ship on the cover
Starring Sally J. Freedman as Herself by Judy Blume
January 8 ✶✶✶✶✶

7. 1980 - Arnaldo Tamayo Mendez, first person of color in space: Read a book about fighting racism or a book written by a BIPOC author (both)
Are Prisons Obsolete? by Angela Y. Davis
January 14 ✶✶✶✶✶

8. 1984 - Bruce McCandless, first untethered space walk: Read a book where a character is alone or book about a person who ventures into the unknown
Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky (Tristan Strong #1) by Kwame Mbalia
January 1 ✶✶✶✶✶

9. 1990 - Hubble, first space telescope: Read a book about the stars and planets or a science fiction book

10. 2000 - first international space station crew: Read a book where people from different nations work together or a book written by an author from a country different from where you are from
Miss Marple: The Complete Short Stories by Agatha Christie
January 14 ✶✶✶✶✶

11. 2001 - Dennis Tito, first space tourist: Read a book set during a vacation or a book about someone with a lot of money
One Two Three by Laurie Frankel
January 4 ✶✶✶✶✶

12. 2003 - first marriage in space: Read a book featuring a wedding or a book about marriage

13. 2015 - first successful Pluto mission: Read a book with a dog on the cover or a book set far away from where you live

14. 2021 - first helicopter on Mars: Read a book featuring air travel or a book with a red cover
Five Days at Memorial: Life and Death in a Storm-Ravaged Hospital by Sheri Fink
January 7 ✶✶✶✶✶

15. 2022 - DART, first man-made intentional asteroid impact to change asteroid's motion in space: Read a book featuring a crash of some kind or a book where a character changes course.
The London House by Katherine Reay
January 13 ✶✶✶✶✶

6/15 with The Kitchen House - 1/14/23

Update to #26

3/6

2000 - first international space station crew: Read a book where people from different nations work together or a book written by an author from a country different from where you are from

Things We Do in the Dark - the author is Canadian, I am Australian

Updated message 33-- 2/15

Update to message #9 - 2/6

Updated msg 23

Just completed #10 (different country - UK) - The Key to My Heart by Lia Louis. I really enjoyed this heart-warming book! Received as part of my authentic book subscription, the book and the box were both winners! It was a touch slow to get started, but after that I enjoyed it! Do not be misled by the illustrated cocer - it’s not a comedy. The explorations of grief are well done, and I appreciated the honesty of the feelings experienced by the characters. Ending felt a touch fast but that’s probably because I didn’t want it to end! Definitely worth reading! 4.5 stars

5/10

Updated message 33-- 3/15

Updated msg 23

Just completed #15 (involves crash of some kind) - Run Rose Run by Dolly Parton and James Patterson. The good things - audiobook with Dolly Parton and Kelsea Ballerini’s voice. But other than that, this book is incredibly repetitive. The idea of the armed carjacking of a semi was completely unrealistic - that would never happen nor would she get away with it. And that was just the first unbelievable scene in this book. It could have been edited down a lot too. The audio kept me company on my commute, so that bumped it up a bit. 3 stars

6/10

0/15

1. 1902 - Le Voyage dans la Lune, the first space movie: Read a book set in the 20th century or a book involving movies.

2. 1961 - Yuri Gagarin, the first person in space: Read a book featuring a competitive race or a book involving Russian history

3. 1963 - Valentina Tereshkova, the first woman in space: Read a book with a female character breaking barriers or a book about gender issues

4. 1966 - first full-earth photo from moon's orbit: Read a book with the earth on the cover or a book featuring photography

5. 1969 - first person on the moon: Read a book about an explorer or a book with the moon on the cover

6. 1976 - Viking I is first to successfully land on Mars: Read a book featuring travel or a book with a ship on the cover

7. 1980 - Arnaldo Tamayo Mendez, first person of color in space: Read a book about fighting racism or a book written by a BIPOC author

8. 1984 - Bruce McCandless, first untethered space walk: Read a book where a character is alone or book about a person who ventures into the unknown

9. 1990 - Hubble, first space telescope: Read a book about the stars and planets or a science fiction book

10. 2000 - first international space station crew: Read a book where people from different nations work together or a book written by an author from a country different from where you are from

11. 2001 - Dennis Tito, first space tourist: Read a book set during a vacation or a book about someone with a lot of money

12. 2003 - first marriage in space: Read a book featuring a wedding or a book about marriage

13. 2015 - first successful Pluto mission: Read a book with a dog on the cover or a book set far away from where you live

14. 2021 - first helicopter on Mars: Read a book featuring air travel or a book with a red cover

15. 2022 - DART, first man-made intentional asteroid impact to change asteroid's motion in space: Read a book featuring a crash of some kind or a book where a character changes course.

Sheila from NC. Not sure if I have a number, but I will post the first 5 for 5/9.

1. Involving movies- Tea at Five. https://www.goodreads.com/work/197995... pop
2. Russian history-the Kitchen Boy. https://www.goodreads.com/work/best_b...
3. Female breaking barriers- Thirst. https://www.goodreads.com/work/866867...
4. Earth or photography- Me and Banksy. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...
5. Moon-The Girl Who Drank the Moon. https://www.goodreads.com/work/481189...

Update to #26

4/6

1984 - Bruce McCandless, first untethered space walk: Read a book where a character is alone or book about a person who ventures into the unknown - The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle

Updating message 19

increased goal of 10 books
6/10

Message 22 updated. Progress: 2/6

Update to message #8

2/2 - Completed 1/21/2023

I read The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead for prompt #7, a book by a BIPOC author

Updated msg 23

Just completed #3 (woman breaking barriers) - A Spy in the House by Y. S. Lee. I enjoyed this book much more than the first time I read it! I really enjoyed the setup for the series. Nice characters too. I enjoyed learning about the lascars and their history in England. Worth reading! 4 stars

7/10

Emily wrote: "Update to message #8

2/2 - Completed 1/21/2023

I read The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead for prompt #7, a book by a BIPOC author"

Congratulations on reaching your goal, Emily! :)
Will you continue counting books for the remainder of this challenge? There are afterall two more months to run on.

What did you think of The Underground Railroad?

Karin wrote: "Updating message 19

increased goal of 10 books
6/10"

Nice work on reaching your first goal, Karin! I've raised your goal :)

Sheila wrote: "Sheila from NC. Not sure if I have a number, but I will post the first 5 for 5/9.

1. Involving movies- Tea at Five. https://www.goodreads.com/work/197995... pop
2. Russian history-the Ki..."

Hey Sheila,
You're doing great!
Your original message is #15, linked down below :)
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Nathalia wrote: "0/15"

Welcome to the challenge, Nathalia! I hope you have fun and find some great books :)

Everything is now up-to-date!
Have a great Sunday :)

Update to message #11 - 1/5

Update on msg. 10. Completed!

Read: 7/7

Updated message 33-- 4/15

Updated msg 23

Just completed #9 (sci-fi book) - A Closed and Common Orbit by Becky Chambers. Love this series! The way the author weaves together the timelines, using the narrative to explain, and then enhancing the characters s brilliant! I love the discussions of autonomy, sentience, and being too. Definitely worth reading! 5 stars

8/10

Bobbi wrote: "Update on msg. 10. Completed!

Read: 7/7"

Congratulations on finishing your challenge, Bobbi :) Thanks for joining! I hope you had fun.