2025 Reading Challenge discussion

Looking forward to a new year of reading!

This year, I'm hoping to read 52 books. I also want to complete the Popsugar Reading Challenge (4th try!) and at least 1 other challenge. I also want to do a better job of making note of DNF, amazing books, and ones that just have stuck with me!

Challenges
1. 51-75 Book Reading Challenge
2. Popsugar Reading Challenge
3. Bibliopoly
4. I Spy


Tops: The Book of Delights: Essays, Trick Mirror, Polysecure: Attachment, Trauma and Consensual Nonmonogamy

DNF: The Method: How the Twentieth Century Learned to Act (p. 81), Black Ink: Literary Legends on the Peril, Power, and Pleasure of Reading and Writing (p. 68)
Pineapple Street, Olga Dies Dreaming (20%), His & Hers, Time Is a Mother

Not My Cuppa: Box Hill

Made a Mark!: The Book of Delights: Essays, Trick Mirror, Polysecure: Attachment, Trauma and Consensual Nonmonogamy

Popsugar Reading Challenge

Update Date: 11/30/2023
Progress: 26/50
Post Number: 725

Standard (22/40):
1. A book you meant to read in 2022: You Don't Know Us Negroes and Other Essays It took longer than I thought to wrap this one up, but I'm glad I finished.
2. A book you bought from an independent bookstore Trick Mirror: Reflections on Self-Delusion Shout out to Chop Suey Books.
3. A book about a vacation
4. A book by a first-time author: Scarred This was Edmondson's first book, but definitely not her last (in my opinion).
5. A book with mythical creatures: Legendborn Demons and mythical creatures galore.
6. A book about a forbidden romance: The Daughters of Madurai The love story between Janani and Sanjay was beautiful, and I honestly wish I heard more of it.
7. A book with "Girl" in the title
8. A celebrity memoir: I'm Glad My Mom Died A child star I grew up with and around, Jennette McCurdy.
9. A book with a color in the title
10. A romance with a fat lead: The Love Con Kenya was that girl, and it was nice to have a fat lead whose worries about her romantic relationship did not stem from her weight or generally not feeling attractive.
11. A book about or set in Hollywood
12. A book published in spring 2023: Divine Rivals This great fantasy novel was published in April.
13. A book published the year you were born: Killing Rage: Ending Racism '96 - a year to remember!
14. A modern retelling of a classic: Eligible: A Modern Retelling of Pride & Prejudice A modern retelling of THEE Pride & Prejudice, just as it states in the title.
15. A book with a song lyric as its title
16. A book where the main character's name is in the title: Fleishman Is in Trouble The Fleishmans are indeed in trouble.
17. A book with a love triangle: The Queen of Hearts It's a love triangle of wild proportions that left me like ????
18. A book that's been banned or challenged in any state in 2022: https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/the-...
19. A book that fulfills your favorite prompt from a past challenge
20. A book becoming a TV series or movie in 2023
21. A book set in the decade you were born: The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois: The whole thing was not, but it spent enough time in there (and was detailed enough) to count.
22. A book with a queer lead: Box Hill The narrator of the book is a gay cisgender man who is primarily describing a significant relationship with a biker named Ray.
23. A book with a map: The Last Anniversary : There's a map of the island where the vast majority of the story takes place.
24. A book with a rabbit on the cover
25. A book with just text on the cover: : I'm a huge fan of the cover of this book. Less so the book itself...
26. The shortest book (by pages) on your TBR list
27. A #BookTok recommendation
28. A book you bought secondhand
29. A book your friend recommended: Polysecure: Attachment, Trauma and Consensual Nonmonogamy Recommended at a perfect time, by a lovely roommate.
30. A book that's on a celebrity book-club list
31. A book about a family: Unspeakable Things A very straightforward and chilling description of a family with tiptoeing around their patriarch.
32. A book that comes out in the second half of 2023
33. A book about an athlete/sport
34. A historical-fiction book: Tuesday Nights in 1980 It's wild to think of something set in 1980 as historical fiction, but it is! 'Twas 40 years ago.
35. A book about divorce
36. A book you think your best friend would like: The Book of Delights: Essays This prompt inspired me to send a copy to one of my friends. I think she'd love it!
37. A book you should have read in high school: Rest Is Resistance: A Manifesto I needed to hear this when I was in high school, grinding myself into oblivion for "college" and a "future" and making some very, very, troublesome self-worth associations.
38. A book you read more than 10 years ago
39. A book you wish you could read for the first time again: The Storyteller It took my breath away!
40. A book by an author with the same initials as you


Advanced (4/10):
41. A book written during NaNoWriMo
42. A book based on a popular movie
43. A book that takes place entirely in one day
44. A book that was self-published
45. A book that started out as fan fiction: Life and Death: Twilight Reimagined : From the depths of 50 Shades of Gray fanfic, Twilight (Reimagined) rises!
46. A book with a pet character: The Midnight Plan of the Repo Man Jake the dog was there throughout, which tracks given this author wrote A Dog's Purpose!
47. A book about a holiday that's not Christmas
48. A book that features two languages: Island Affair This romance novel features English and Spanish set in the beautiful Key West.
49. The longest book (by pages) on your TBR list
50. A book with alliteration in the title Good Grief: On Loving Pets, Here and Hereafter The alliteration is good and true, a nice intro into the group.

Bibliopoly Reading Challenge

Update Date: 12/16/2023
Progress: 26/26-30
Post Number: 836 / Participant #72


🚢 16-20: Strong (20/20): DONE
👢 26-30: Advanced (26/30): DONE


1. Go: Read a book set on two or more continents.
2. Purple: Read a book with a wheelbarrow, garden tool or plant on the cover or in the title. There are beautiful plants and flowers on the cover.
3. Community Chest: Participate in one of our Group Reads. (Which month and book?)
4. Purple: Read a translated book originally written in a language other than your native tongue.: Life Ceremony This book was originally written in Japanese and translated into English.
5. Tax: Read a book with money on the cover or in the title.
6. Reading Railroad: Read a book from a celebrity book club list, such as Oprah, Reese Witherspoon, etc.
7. Blue: Read a book with any type of hat or headwear on the cover or in the title The headwear is from the cosplay which is the center of the book. Though this is not the cosplay they end up choosing...
8. Chance: Read a book from your TBR shelf within the ten highest or lowest number of ratings.
9. Blue: Read a book with an author or character whose sexual orientation is different from your own.
10. Blue: Read a book with any shade of blue on the cover or in the title.: A lovely shade of blue setting up a heart.
11. In Jail: Read a banned or challenged book.
12. Pink: Read a book with any type of dog on the cover or in the title. Featuring Jake the dog who I think is a beagle?? Or a hunting dog?
13. Electric Company: Read a book with a light source on the cover. : Sunny day with a palm tree. A SUN!
14. Pink: Read a book with an author or character whose nationality or birth country is different from your own.: Dele Weds Destiny The main characters are all from Nigeria!
15. Pink: Read a book with any shade of pink on the cover or in the title. <
16. Pennsylvania Railroad: Read a book published under an author’s pen name.
17. Orange: Read a book with a ship or boat on the cover, or involving water travel.: The Glass Hotel Lots of boat travel/talk about shipping.
18. Community Chest: Participate in one of our Readathons. (Which readathon? List one book you read for it.)
19. Orange: Read a book with an author or character whose religious or spiritual beliefs are different from your own.: The Storyteller While there were a range of religious beliefs, this book focused on experiences of Jewish folks in the Holocaust which is not my belief system.
20. Orange: Read a book with any shade of orange on the cover or in the title.
21. Free Parking: Read a book of your choice. Anything goes!: You Don't Know Us Negroes and Other Essays
22. Red: Read a book with a car, truck or bus on the cover, or involving a road trip.: Has a car right on the front!
23. Chance: Read a book from your TBR shelf among the ten oldest or newest additions.:Unspeakable Things I saw it and added it immediately!
24. Red: Read a book with an author or character whose race or ethnicity is different from your own.: The Daughters of Madurai The author and characters are from India, which played a primary role in the story.
25. Red: Read a book with any shade of red on the cover or in the title.: A very cool red shade toO!
26. B&O Railroad: Read a book with an author or title beginning with B or O. (Author’s first or last name; title’s first main word. Omit the, and, of, etc.): The Book of Delights: Essays The BOOK of Delights!
27. Yellow: Read a book with a boot or shoe on the cover, or involving foot travel.
28. Yellow: Read a book with an author or character who has a physical disability or impairment, an emotional or mental disorder, or a neurodivergent condition.: I'm Glad My Mom Died The author Jennette McCurdy speaks quite candidly about the eating disorders she experienced, and her transition throughout treatment.
29. Water Works: Read a book with any form of water on the cover.
30. Yellow: Read a book with any shade of yellow on the cover or in the title.:
31. Go to Jail: Read a crime fiction or true crime book: The Woman in the Library
32. Green: Read a book with a thimble, sewing or craft implement on the cover or in the title.
33. Green: Read a book with an author or character whose gender is different from your own: Fleishman Is in Trouble Toby is a White, Jewish, semi-affluent, cisgender man, and so much about his existence is related to these facts, which differ from my facts.
34. Community Chest: Participate in one of our Buddy Reads or TBR Twins. (Which activity? What book did you and your twin/buddies read?)
35. Green: Read a book with any shade of green on the cover or in the title:
36. Shortline Railroad: Read a book under 200 pages long: Belly of the Beast: The Politics of Anti-Fatness as Anti-Blackness
37. Chance: Read a book from your TBR shelf within the ten highest or lowest average star rating.
38. Dark Blue: Read a book with any type of cat on the cover or in the title: A beautiful kitty.
39. Luxury Tax: Read a book with a gemstone or precious metal on the cover or in the title.: A diamond!
40. Dark Blue: Read a book that won an award. (Which one?): Rosewater : This book won the Nommo Award which is presented by The African Speculative Fiction Society.

I Spy Reading Challenge
761
Update Date: 11/11/2023
Progress: 10/25
Post Number: 557

Primary 25 categories with examples (11/25)

1. Transportation (car, train, skateboard) It's a (tow) truck.
2. Days of the week (Monday, Saturday, Wednesday)
3. A food or drink (carrot, chips, coffee)
4. Type of crime (thievery, murder, robbery)
5. Olympic sport (skiing, basketball, gymnastics)
6. Musical instruments (saxophone, piano, drums)
7. Cat family (tiger, tabby, cheetah): A beautiful kitty.
8. School subject (mathematics, English, chemistry)
9. Type of weather (stormy, rainy, sunny): : Sunny day with a palm tree.
10. City in Europe (Paris, Istanbul, Athens)
11. Celebration (birthday, wedding, Eid): Life Ceremony This book contains a variety of celebrations, but the life ceremony is among the most memorable.
12. Something you sit on (sofa, chair, bed): Box Hill A motorcycle seat!
13. A source of light (sun, lamp, torch)
14. Art or craft (painting, sewing, scrapbooking)
15. A measurement (metres, feet, pounds)
16. Something you hang on the wall (clock, picture, frame): Trick Mirror: Reflections on Self-Delusion A mirror!
17. Something you find at a circus (clown, ringmaster, popcorn)
18. A direction (North, West, East)
19. An accessory (bag, necklace, scarf) The cover features a Nigerian gene and earrings (it's gorgeous)!
20. Name for a road (avenue, street, circuit)
21. Shade of purple (plum, violet, magenta)
22. Something you write (poem, book, essay): The Book of Delights: Essays A book full of essayettes!
23. Something you walk through (tunnel, arch, door)
24. Something you find in a house (picture, kitchen, couch): I'm Glad My Mom Died Urns are in some folks' houses, and this bright pink one would be sure to stick out.
25. A bird (raven, crow, pigeon): Birdies!

Bonus 5 categories with examples (only open for members who have finished reading for all the primary categories): 1/5

26. Something you find on a farm (chicken, tractor, hay)
27. A term of endearment (sweetheart, honey, love)
28. A chess piece (pawn, bishop, knight)
29. Something yellow (corn, daffodil, amber): Yellow pieces!
30. Technology (phone, computer, television)