2025 Reading Challenge discussion

Had to change my goal in '22 when it was clear I'd fall pretty short. 100 is a bit of a reach for me, and that's what I need to do- reach! So here's to 100, including:

-10 nonfiction
-3 biography or autobiography- Dear Girls (Ali Wong); Paddle Your Own Canoe (Nick Offerman); Lucky Man (Michael J. Fox)
-5 off the shelves at home- Teacher Man; Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe; A World of Curiosities; On the Trail of Big Foot;
-2 from the first 20 on my TBR list

Here's to a lot of pages in 2023!

United in Reading Challenge

January- Teacher Man (Frank McCourt)- READ
February- The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness (Michelle Alexander)
March- The Water Knife (Paolo Bacigalupi)- READ
April- Rising (Elizabeth Rush)
May- Mother of the Bride Murder, READ while drinking tea 5/21
June- The Displaced: Refugee Writers on Refugee Lives
July- Cry, The Beloved Country (Alan Paton)- READ 8/22
August- There There (Tommy Orange)
September- Still Life (Louise Penny)
October- Dawn (Elie Wiesel)- READ 10/28
November- Walk Two Moons (Sharon Creech)
December- An Unnecessary Woman (Rabih Alameddine)

Popsugar Challenge 2023

1. A book you meant to read in 2022- Paddle Your Own Canoe (Nick Offerman)- READ 7/17/23
2. A book you bought from an independent bookstore- On the Trail Of Bigfoot (Mike Dupler)- READ 1/13/23
3. A book about a vacation- People We Meet On Vacation (Emily Henry)- READ 4/7
4. A book by a first-time author- There There (Tommy Orange)- READ 10/24
5. A celebrity memoir- Dear Girls (Ali Wong)- READ 7/8/23
6. A book with a color in the title-Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe- Fannie Flagg READ 7/19
7. A book about or set in Hollywood- I Know Who You Are (Alice Feeney)- READ 6/9
8. A book published in spring 2023- Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun (Ellie Cosimano)- READ 2/25
9. A book published the year you were born- Ramona the Brave (Beverly Cleary)- READ 11/25/23
10. A book with a song lyric as its title- I'll Take You There (Wally Lamb)- READ 1/21/23
11. A book where the main character's name is in the title- The Banned Bookshop of Maggie Banks (Shauna Robinson)- READ 6/23
12. A book that's been banned or challenged in any state in 2022- The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian (Sherman Alexia)- READ 10/28
13. A book becoming a TV series or movie in 2023- Daisy Jones and the Six (Taylor Jenkins Reid)- READ 12/24
14. A book you bought secondhand- The Secret History (Donna Tartt)- READ 12/31
15. A book your friend recommended- What Lies in the Woods (Kate Alice Marshall)- READ 3/16/23
16. A book that's on a celebrity book-club list- Love Warrior (Glennon Doyle Melton)- Oprah's Book Club- READ 6/24
17. A book about a family- The Palace Papers (Tina Brown)- READ 1/29/23
18. A book that comes out in the second half of 2023- The Last Devil To Die (Richard Osman)- READ 11/25/23
19. A book about an athlete/sport- Murder at Fenway Park (Troy Soos)- READ 2/22
20. A historical-fiction book- The Four Winds (Kristin Hannah)- READ 10/8
21. A book by an author with the same initials as you- Crocodile on the Sandbank (Elizabeth Peters, aka Barbara Mertz)- READ 3/26

Magical Mystery 2023

OUR UNSOLVED CASES

WHO: 7/7
Solve cases featuring a main character (sleuth, perp, victim, or suspect) in one of the below fields.
1. Writer (author, journalist, etc.)- The Hemingway Thief (Shaun Harris)-READ
2. Domestic (maid, nanny, etc.)- Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun (Nanny-Vero)- READ 2/25
3. Finance (accountant, banker, etc.)- The 6:20 Man (David Baldacci)- READ 8/26/23
4. Fashion (designer, model, etc.)- Someone's Mad at the Hatter (Sandra Bretting)- READ 6/14/23
5. Politician (mayor, senator, etc.)- In Peppermint Peril (Joy Avon)- READ 11/25/23
6. Education (teacher, professor, etc.)- Murder, She Wrote: A Time for Murder (Jessica Fletcher and Jon Land)- READ 7/16
7. Sports (coach, player, etc.)- Murder At Fenway Park (Troy Soos)- READ 2/22

WHAT: 7/7
What makes your case distinctive?
1. A significant weather event (flood, blizzard, etc.)- Camino Winds (John Grisham); hurricane- READ 6/4
2. A food or beverage in the title- A Deadly Inside Scoop (Abby Collette)- READ
3. Second or third in a series ('23)- Cheddar Late Than Dead (Linda Reilly)- READ
4. A private investigator- Private India (James Patterson)- READ 7/6
5. A person's name in the title- Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers (Jesse Q. Sutanto)- READ 9/21
6. A paranormal element- The Writing Retreat (Julia Bartz)- READ 3/8
7. Related to a monthly theme (Which one?)- A Catered Costume Party (Isis Crawford); January "This or That": Costume Party or Pool Party?- READ 1/15/23

WHEN: 7/7
When did the dastardly deed take place or get reported?
1. In winter- A Murder at Balmoral (Chris McGeorge)- READ 3/18
2. In the 1900s- 1989 (Val McDermid)- READ 3/2
3. During a holiday- The Christmas Murder Game (Alexandra Benedict)- READ (2/15/23)
4. In the A.M. hours (midnight to 11:59)- Twenty (James Grippando)- READ (1/1/23)
5. During a group event (wedding, reunion, etc.)- The Wedding Guest (Jonathan Kellerman)- READ 8/4
6. Reported (published) in the decade you were born- The Westing Game (Ellen Raskin, p. 1978)- READ 7/26
7. Reported (published) in 2023- What Lies in the Woods (Kate Alice Marshall)- READ 3/16/23

WHERE: 7/7
Where did the dastardly deed take place?
1. A national park or wilderness area- Track of the Cat (Nevada Barr)- READ 3/10
2. A vacation destination- The Paris Apartment (Lucy Foley)- READ 7/2
3. A ship or boat- The Woman in Cabin 10 (Ruth Ware)- READ 5/13
4. A university- The Secret History (Donna Tartt)- READ 12/31
5. A public venue (hotel, restaurant, airport, etc.)- The Sundown Motel (Simone St. James)- READ 7/7
6. On the road (commute, trip, etc.)- 4:50 from Paddington (Agatha Christie)- READ 6/23
7. A tropical climate- Fields' Guide to Dirty Money (Julie Mulhern)- READ 3/6

HOW: 7/7
For this category, each means of murder must be distinctly different.
For example, pistols and rifles are both firearms; knives and daggers are too similar.
1. Three Act Tragedy (Agatha Christie); poison- READ 5/13/23
2. Death Overdue (Mary Lou Kirwin); crushed by bookcase- READ 7/22/23
3. Fear No Evil (James Patterson); shot- READ 6/12/23
4. Murder at the Debutante Ball (C.J. Archer); bludgeoned with a candlestick- READ 2/8
5. Squeeze Me (Carl Hiaasen)- Swallowed by snake- READ 2/4
6. The Housemaid- dehydration- READ 4/30
7. All That Is Mine I Carry With Me- strangled- READ 5/30

WHY: 7/7
What motivated you to choose a particular case?
1. A favorite mystery author or series- A World of Curiosities (Louise Penny)- READ 1/8
2. A favorite mystery subgenre- Mother of the Bride Murder; cozy mystery (Leslie Meier)- READ 5/22
3. A Goodreads listopia (Which one?)- The Maltese Falcon (Dashiell Hammett)- 100 Mysteries and Thrillers to Read in a Lifetime
4. A literary prize winner for crime fiction (Which one?)- Bluebird, Bluebird (Attica Locke); Edgar Award, Best New Novel- READ 7/19
5. A celebrity book club pick (Which one?)- The Last Thing He Told Me (Laura Dave); Reese Witherspoon's Book Club- READ 8/9
6. A cold case (among your TBRs for over a year)- I Know Who You Are (Alice Feeney)- READ 6/9/23
7. Average Goodreads rating of 4 stars or above- Crocodile on the Sandbank (Elizabeth Peters)- 4.0- READ 3/26/23

BONUS CASES: 0/8
Would you like to track down fugitives around the globe? To earn the rank of Interpol Fugitive Investigation Specialist, first complete all 42 standard cases above, then solve a crime committed in each of the eight inhabited regions of the world.
1. Africa
2. Asia
3. Europe
4. Oceania
5. Caribbean
6. North America
7. Central America
8. South America

Clear the Shelves (#45)
10 physical books-
1. The Power of the Dog (Don Winslow)
2. The Cartel (Don Winslow)
3. Angels and Demons (Dan Brown)
4. Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (John Berendt)
5. The Turn of The Key (Ruth Ware)
6. Teacher Man- Frank McCourt- READ 3/19/23
7.
8. On the Trail of Bigfoot (Mike Dupler)- READ 1/13/23
9. Still Me (Jojo Moyes)
10. Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe (Fannie Flagg)- READ 7/19/23

5 Ebooks
1. Thunderstruck (Erik Larson)
2. Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee (Dee Brown)
3. The Bad Mother's Book Club (Keris Stainton)
4. The Border (Don Winslow)
5. I'm Fine and Neither Are You (Camille Pagan)

A-Z Places (Post 59)
A- Arizona: The Water Knife
B- Boston: Murder at Fenway Park
C- Chagrin Falls; A Deadly Inside Scoop
D-
E- Egypt: Crocodile on the Sandbank
F- Florida: Twenty
G- Glasgow: 1989
H-
I- India; Private India
J-
K-
L-Linfield, Ohio (among others); People We Meet on Vacation
M- Mexico: The Hemingway Thief
N- New York City; A Catered Costume Party
O- Ohio: On the Trail of Bigfoot
P- Paris: Mother of the Bride Murder
Q-
R-
S- Scotland; A Murder at Balmoral
T- Three Pines: A World of Curiosities
U- United Kingdom: The Palace Papers
V- Vermont; Cheddar Late Than Dead
W- Washington; What Lies in the Woods
X-
Y-
Z-

Great goals, Barb! Here's to a great reading year in 2023!

Lisa wrote: "Great goals, Barb! Here's to a great reading year in 2023!"

Thanks! I enjoy having different targets to work toward :)

Barb, I hope you've been enjoying some great books this year. Congrats on being almost halfway to your GR goal.

Happy reading!

Clear the Shelves- 37 (2024)
11/12

I'm in for 12 physical books:
1- The Great Gatsby- READ 10/8
2- Spare- READ 7/28
3- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban- READ 6/22
4- The Maid- READ 1/6
5- The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo- READ 7/5
6- Isaac's Storm- READ 6/28
7- Atomic Habits- READ 10/6
8- A Man Called Ove- READ 8/27
9- Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil
10- A Study In Charlotte- READ 1/20
11- Angels and Demons- READ 2/18
12- The Office:The Untold Story of the Greatest Sitcom of the 2000s- READ 12/8

I'm With the Banned- 23 (2024)

D-Demons; Angels & Demons- Dan Brown- READ 2/18
A- Atwood; The Handmaid's Tale- Margaret Atwood
V- von; Gossip Girl- Cecily von Ziesar- READ 1/10
I- I; I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings- Maya Angelou
D- Dimed; Nickle and Dimed- Barbara Ehrenreich

R- Rowling, JK- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban- READ 6/22
O- Orwell; 1984- George Orwell- READ 12/7
S- Scott; The Great Gatsby- F. Scott Fitzgerald- READ 10/8
E- Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close- Jonathan Safran Foer- READ 1/15

Pop Sugar- 42 (2024)

I'm in for 15!

8/15

1. A book with the word "leap" in the title- Death at Lover's Leap (Catherine Coles)- READ 4/10)
2. A bildungsroman- I'm Glad My Mom Died; Jennette McCurdy- READ 1/31
4. A book about a writer- Everyone On This Train Is A Suspect; Benjamin Stevenson- READ 2/12
13. A book originally published under a pen name- 1984; George Orwell
15. A book recommended by a librarian- The Jolliest Bunch; Danny Pellegrino- READ 3/9
25. A book that was published 24 years ago- On Writing; Stephen King
26. A book that was turned into a musical- Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil
27. A book where someone dies in the first chapter- The Murder of Roger Ackroyd; Agatha Christie- READ 1/29
28. A book with a main character who's 42 years old- The Woman in Me (Brittany Spears)- READ 4/5
29. A book with a neurodivergent main character- The Maid (Nita Prose); READ 1/6
36. A book written by an incarcerated or formerly incarcerated person- In Cold Blood; Truman Capote
44. An autobiography by a woman in rock 'n' roll- Talking To My Angels (Melissa Ethridge); READ 3/22

Magical Mystery Tour- 55 (2024)

Who: 2/7
Solve cases featuring a main character (sleuth, perp, victim, or suspect) in one of the below fields.
1. Military (active, veteran, or reserve duty)
2. Plants (landscaper, florist, arborist, etc.)- Gone But Not For Garden (Kate Collins)- READ 4/1
3. First response (EMT, firefighter, deputy, etc.)- Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice (Elle Cosimano)- READ 3/25
4. Security (cybersecurity, night watchmen, bodyguard, etc.)-
5. Travel (train driver, pilot, cruise staff, etc.)
6. Animal Care (zoo, veterinarian, rescue, etc.)
7. Building (carpenter, contractor, electrician, etc.)

What: 2/7
What makes your case distinctive?
1. An orange cover
2. A tree on the cover- A Study in Charlotte; Brittany Cavallaro- READ 1/20
3. A flower on the cover
4. A number in the title
5. A place name in the title (city, state, etc.) Death at Lover's Leap; Catherine Coles- READ 4/10
6. A geographical feature in the title (river, lake, etc.)
7. A season in the title

When: 2/7
When did the dastardly deed take place or get reported?
1. In spring- Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil; John Berendt (May)
2. In the second half of 20th century- The Turn of the Key; Ruth Ware
3. During a trip (business or pleasure)
4. Between noon and midnight- The Murder of Roger Ackroyd (Agatha Christie)-READ 1/29
5. During a romantic celebration (engagement, wedding, anniversary)
6. In the season you were born
7. Published in a Year of the Dragon (2024, 2012, 2000, etc.)- Angels & Demons (Dan Brown, 2000)- READ 2/12

Where: 3/7
Where did the dastardly deed take place?
1. In a small town or village- (Holcomb, Kansas)
2. On a mountain- Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone; Benjamin Stevenson- READ 1/8
3. In a vacation rental (cabin, resort, etc.) The Maid; Nita Prose (hotel)- READ 1/6
4. On an island
5. On a train or plane- Everyone On This Train Is A Suspect; Benjamin Stevenson- READ 2/12
6. Near the equator
7. Above the Arctic Circle

How: 2/7
For this category, each means of murder must be distinctly different.
For example, pistols and rifles are both firearms; knives and daggers are too similar.
1. Just the Nicest Couple (Mary Kubica)- READ 1/28; gun
2. The Teacher (Frieda McFadden)- READ 3/8; head injury/hit in the head
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Why: 2/7
What motivated you to choose a particular case?
1. A favorite mystery author or series
2. A favorite mystery subgenre- Easter Basket Murder (Leslie Meier, cozy mystery)- READ 2/18
3. Appears in a Goodreads listopia (Which one?)- Rebecca; Daphne de Maurier (Best Crime and Mystery Books)
4. Won a literary prize for crime fiction (Which one?)
5. A challenged or banned crime book
6. A cold case (among your TBRs for over a year)
7. Average Goodreads rating of 4 stars or above-Never Lie (Frieda McFadden); 4.12- READ 2/27

Bonus Cases: 0/8
Would you like to track down fugitives around the globe? To earn the rank of Interpol Fugitive Investigation Specialist, first complete all 42 standard cases above, then solve a crime committed in each of the eight inhabited regions of the world.
1. Africa
2. Asia
3. Europe
4. Oceania
5. Caribbean
6. North America
7. Central America
8. South America

* * *

Ranks
When you post a progress update, include your case counts for each category. (See post #2 for format.) The Bonus Rank can only be earned after achieving the rank of Chief of Detectives.
▪ Neighborhood Snoop: Less than 1 case per category
▪ Gumshoe: 1 case per category
▪ Crime Scene Investigator: 2 cases per category
▪ Undercover Operative: 3 cases per category
▪ Forensic Analyst: 4 cases per category
▪ Special Agent in Charge: 5 cases per category
▪ Assistant Chief of Detectives: 6 cases per category
▪ Chief of Detectives: 7 cases per category
▪ BONUS - Interpol Fugitive Investigation Specialist: 7 cases per category + 8 bonus cases

Best of luck with your 2024 book goal! I hope you read some fabulous books!

TerryJane wrote: "Best of luck with your 2024 book goal! I hope you read some fabulous books!

"
Thanks! Same to you!

Happy summer reading! Here's to great books and more time to enjoy them! 😎