2025 Reading Challenge discussion

The first book I read this year was All the Bright Places.
I absolutely loved it although I was in tears the whole time

Welcome to the group, Sara! Best of luck with your reading goals. I hope you continue to discover more amazing books :)

Good luck, Sara!

Thanks for all the support! I've just started my second book yesterday and I'm excited to share my progress soon :)

Happy to announce book 2/6: The Fun Widow’s Book Tour by Zoe Fishman

I won this galley in a Goodreads giveaway and I am so glad I did. It’s not a book I would have chosen for myself, I mean what will a college student understand about being married and then your husband dying and dealing with all that in a pandemic no less? But the novel is inspiring and a wake-up call, although a brutal one, and above all, very raw. Especially in times like now when it is hard to feel truly connected to anyone and a lot of what we see and read is superficial, it was refreshing to have so much humanity and realness in a novel. It might not be a beach read, but it is a good read and one I can take away from.

3/6: Anna Christie by Eugene O’Neil

“Anna Christie” by Eugene O’Neil is an American drama that revolutionized theater. It tackles difficult problems of identity, blame, and society and its standards that are still seen today after so many years.

I enjoyed reading it and getting back into plays.

Book 4/6: Our Town by Thornton Wilder reminded me of one of the most existential parts of our existence, our inability to live while we're alive. Our obsession with the future and the past doesn't not allow us to live in present and yet this is the most alive we'll ever be.

You're doing amazing, Sara :) Keep it up!

Book 5/6: All My Sons by Arthur Miller is a problem play riddled with secrets and desperation for survival. It is emotional, leaving you thinking about moral codes and emotions clouding judgment.

I am so excited to announce book 6/6!!!!
M. Butterfly by David Henry Hwang is an emotional, eye-opening play that calls attention to topics such as the fetishization of the Orient and the intolerance of homosexuality. This play gripped me from the first moment and I loved every second of the crude world I was immersed in. A must-read.

I have had so much fun reading American Dramas and I can't wait to keep reading more this year! I have a few books I won from giveaways shelved so I'm excited to get on them.

Congratulations on already reaching your goal, Sara! Extremely well done :)
Are you planning on raising the bar, or just leaving it as is to see by how much your surpass it by the end of the year?

Hear, hear to at least six, but really many more to come!
Happy reading :)

You've come so far in your literary pursuits this year. Wishing you the best of luck as you continue to explore new genres, discover hidden literary gems, and expand your bookshelf with remarkable tales.

Book 7/6: The Lioness of Lieden

Thank you so much to everyone on this group for your support and motivation. I have decided to not raise the bar but instead see by how much I surpass it. The first book surpassing the bar is the Lioness of Lieden.
I was thrilled to receive an autographed copy of Robert Loewen's novel "The Lioness of Leiden". I won it through one of the Goodreads Giveaways. Now that university classes have ended I finally had a chance to really dive into it and I must confess, I wish I hadn't read it so quickly. I loved every second of it. An incredible story that keeps you on the edge of your seat every moment. There is not a single dull line in the novel. I was heartbroken to find out in the end that this was all based on a true story and I am truly sorry for all the people who lived through that awful time, but I am grateful that their stories have been shared. The book is raw and the emotions are real and I cannot recommend this novel enough.

Way to go on completing your reading goal already!!!!

So glad to hear you enjoyed your latest book. Can't wait to see what you pick up next!

8/6 - I Fell In Love With Hope by Lancali

I read the last half of this book in a day. It’s hard to remember this is her first novel and she’s my age because I Fell in Love with Hope is a masterpiece. I’m going to have to sit for a long time and think about the book and everything I read. A beautifully sad story.

9/6 - The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart
Turton

This novel by Stuart Turton is unlike any other. It is the best of Agatha Christie and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. From the beginning, I put all my efforts into solving the mystery before Aiden Bishop but alas I was unsuccessful. Regardless, the solution and the rest of the book are exquisite. Seamless in how the events fall into place and fit into each other. I can't wait to read another of his books.

Your commitment to reading is evident in your impressive progress. Keep going and you'll conquer your new reading challenge in no time!

10/6 - Animal Farm by George Orwell
I had to take a little two-month break from reading because of classes and finals but I'm back and hoping to get a few books in before the new year. The first of these was Animal farm. Animal Farm is another great cautionary tale from George Orwell about the nature of communism. The setting and imagination of a farm where the animals throw out the humans to have a fairer life is amusing. However, having already read 1984 (in my opinion, the better of the two), after getting 3/4s of the way through Animal Farm, the whole thing starts to become quite repetitive. George Orwell really only has a handful of points he's trying to drive home and if you've read both these books it starts to sound pretty echo-y. All-in-all it was a pleasant and amusing read.

Congrats on crushing your goal! :)

Wow! A student who has time to not only participate in but complete reading goals for pleasure. Your time management skills must be amazing.
My wish for you in 2024 is that you will have an amazing year as both a student and a pleasure reader. May your reading adventures be fun and joyful. May they relax you so that you can return to your studies refreshed and able to concentrate.

11/6 - Under the Dogwood Tree by Kari Wirth
I was extremely excited to receive a copy of Kari Wirth's Under the Dogwood Tree. I zoomed through it, even with finals and holiday madness. What a love story! At the beginning I thought it would be a detective story with some romance, but, if that is what you are expecting, you too are wrong. This is very much a hard-core love story with some detective drama and a bit of suspense sprinkled on the pages. VERY emotional read and there are some difficult questions that I still don't know what I would have done if I were the characters. The ending was very classic, but classic works. Worth the read.

Ilona wrote: "Congrats on crushing your goal! :)"
Thank you!!!

Elizabeth wrote: "Wow! A student who has time to not only participate in but complete reading goals for pleasure. Your time management skills must be amazing.
My wish for you in 2024 is that you will have an amazing..."

Thanks so much! I hope you have a 2024 filled with many great books as well! The time management definitely took some practice but I am so glad I got the chance to read so much this year.

12/6 - The Expectant Detectives by Kat Ailes
What. A. Read. This book is fast-paced, witty, and full of unexpected turns. I was excited when I received the advanced readers' edition in the mail but, honestly, the cover threw me for a loop. I know you aren't supposed to judge and all that but let's be honest, who doesn't? So I was expecting something more childish. But this is far from it. The characters are so REAL. I felt like I knew them. And obviously, Alice is great and I instantly loved her.
A great light read that has no dull moments. Highly recommend!
An awesome book to end the year on.