Hooked on Books discussion

Ready Player One: A Year-Long Reading Challenge
January 1 - December 31st, 2024


Let's read books and complete tasks related to video games you know and love, and maybe a few that are new to you!


On the 1st and 15th of each month I will post a new video game in the Game Console Thread. You will have four tasks to choose from for each game. You only need to complete one. Participate in as many or as few games as you would like.


You will make your Completion Posts here IN YOUR OWN THREAD. Please use this format. {You are welcome to copy and paste the game tasks into your own thread if you would like.}


Completion Post
Video Game:
Book:
Author:
Date Read:
Task:
How it Fits:


If you have any questions, please post them in the Cheat Codes Q & A Thread.


Challenge Rules:
📘 Standard Rules Apply
📘I will create an individual thread for you prior to the start date.
📘Your first video game will be posted on January 1, 2024.
📘Books must be completed after the video game has been posted.

🕹 Read a book published in or set during the 1970s.
🕹 Read a book where any type of sport is played.
🕹 Read a book with an MPG of Historical or Historical Fiction.
🕹 Read a book where the letters P-O-N-G are found anywhere in the title.

Completion Post:
Video Game: Pong
Book: The Boys of Winter: The Untold Story of a Coach, a Dream, and the 1980 U.S. Olympic Hockey Team
Author: Wayne Coffey
Date Read: 1 Jan
Task: 🕹 Read a book where any type of sport is played.
How it Fits: This book is about the 1980 US Olympic hockey team.

🕹 Read a book published in or set during the 1980s.
🕹 Read a book that has been published under two different names.
🕹 Read a book with huge commercial success. {NYT List, Best-Seller, etc.}
🕹 Read a book where a character eats pizza.

Completion Post
Video Game: Pac-Man
Book: Welcome to the Universe: An Astrophysical Tour
Author: Neil deGrasse Tyson
Date Read: 27 Jan
Task: 🕹 Read a book with huge commercial success.
How it Fits: NYT bestseller

Legend of Zelda

🕹 Read a book with a subtitle.
🕹 Read a book with two authors.
🕹 Read a book with a female MC whose first initial is found in ZELDA.
🕹 Read a book with a male MC whose first initial is found in LINK.

Completion Post
Video Game: Legend of Zelda
Book: Atonement
Author: Ian McEwan
Date Read: 3 Feb
Task: 🕹 Read a book with a female MC whose first initial is found in ZELDA.
How it Fits: Character Emily

Fianl Fantasy

🕹 Read a book from a series with at least 16 distinct works.
🕹 Read a book with an alliterative title.
🕹 Read a book tagged ANTHOLOGY / ANTHOLOGIES.
🕹 Read a book where the author's first AND last initials are found in HIRONOBU SAKAGUCHI.

Completion Post
Video Game: Final Fantasy
Book: Africa Risen: A New Era of Speculative Fiction
Author: Sheree Renée Thomas
Date Read: 16 Feb
Task: 🕹 Read a book tagged ANTHOLOGY / ANTHOLOGIES.
How it Fits: tagged Anthology 50 times

Animal Crossing

🕹 Read a book set on an island.
🕹 Read a book where the MC builds or crafts something.
🕹 Read a book published during the COVID-19 Pandemic {let's go with 2020 - 2023}.
🕹 Read a book where at least two characters are neighbors.

Completion Post
Video Game: Animal Crossing
Book: First of Tomes
Author: Honor Raconteur
Date Read: 9 Mar
Task: 🕹 Read a book where the MC builds or crafts something.
How it Fits: Mei crafts talismans.

Asteroids

🕹 Read a book with a mostly black cover. {Your discretion.}
🕹 Read a book that has between 40,000 and 60,000 ratings on Goodreads.
🕹 Read a book where the MC's first initial is found in ASTEROIDS.
🕹 Read a book where the characters have a meeting of some kind.

Completion Post
Video Game: Asteroids
Book: I Am Half-Sick of Shadows
Author: Alan Bradley
Date Read: 16 Mar
Task: 🕹 Read a book where the MC's first initial is found in ASTEROIDS.
How it Fits: Alan in asteroids

🕹 🎮 👾 Game 7: April 1st ~ Grand Theft Auto 👾 🎮 🕹

🕹 Read a book where a theft occurs.
🕹 Read a book with a character who is in law enforcement.
🕹 Read a book with an adult nature or violent themes.
🕹 Read a book that mentions a well-known rock-n-roll figure or has them as a character.

Completion Post
Video Game: Grand Theft Auto
Book: Undone
Author: Karin Slaughter
Date Read: 1 Apr
Task: 🕹 Read a book with an adult nature or violent themes.
How it Fits: Horrible serial rapist/abductor/killer in the book.

Frogger

To Level Up on this game, complete ONE of the following:

🕹 Read a book with a vehicle on the cover.
🕹 Read a book where characters die in more than one manner.
🕹 Read a book with a title that starts with a letter in SEGA.
🕹 Read a book with a 5 in the page count.

Completion Post
Video Game: Frogger
Book: The Secret Life of Algernon Pendleton
Author: Russell H. Greenan
Date Read: 16 Apr
Task: 🕹Read a book where characters die in more than one manner.
How it Fits: Norbie is shot, and the Turk is bludgeoned.

Call of Duty

🕹 Read a book tagged WAR.
🕹 Read a book with a military or veteran character.
🕹 Read a book that is controversial in some way.
🕹 Read a book with the word OF found in the title/subtitle.

Completion Post
Video Game: Call of Duty
Book: The Forever War
Author: Joe Haldeman
Date Read: 16 May
Task: 🕹 Read a book tagged WAR.
How it Fits: MPG War

Centipede-

To Level Up on this game, complete ONE of the following:

🕹 Read a book where every letter in A-T-A-R-I can be found in the title/subtitle.
🕹 Read a book that has the word FLEA or MUSHROOM in the text.
🕹 Read a book with some type of bug or insect on the cover.
🕹 Read a book by an author who has written more than one series, like Ed Logg has produced more than one video game.

Super Smash Brothers

To Level Up on this game, complete ONE of the following:

🕹 Read a book published in the 1990s.
🕹 Read a book with an abbreviation in the title.
🕹 Read a book where the author's first AND last initials are found in NINTENDO.
🕹 Read a book that is a "crossover," meaning it appears as part of more than one series.

Completion Post
Video Game: Centipede
Book: A Whisper in the Walls
Author: Scott Reintgen
Date Read: 4 June
Task: 🕹 Read a book where every letter in A-T-A-R-I can be found in the title/subtitle.
How it Fits: A whIspeR in The wAlls

Completion Post
Video Game: Super Smash Brothers
Book: I'm Afraid You've Got Dragons
Author: Peter S. Beagle
Date Read: 13 June
Task: 🕹 Read a book with an abbreviation in the title.
How it fits: You've

Halo
To Level Up on this game, complete ONE of the following:

🕹 Read a book with an MPG of SCI-FI / SCIENCE FICTION.
🕹 Read a book where the MC's first initial is NOT found in MICROSOFT.
🕹 Read a book with a one-word title.
🕹 Read a book that has its own line of merchandise, like t-shirts, mugs, etc.

Completion Post
Video Game: Halo
Book: Killing Time
Author: Jodi Taylor
Date Read: 15 June
Task: 🕹 Read a book with an MPG of SCI-FI / SCIENCE FICTION.
How it fits: MPG Science Fiction

Sonic the Hedgehog

To Level Up on this game, complete ONE of the following:

🕹 Read a book set in Japan.
🕹 Read a book where the MC is a scientist.
🕹 Read a book with an animal on the cover.
🕹 Read a book with a title that DOES NOT start with a letter in SONIC.

Completion Post
Video Game: Sonic the Hedgehog
Book: Under Alien Skies: A Sightseer's Guide to the Universe
Author: Philip Plait
Date Read: 3 Jul
Task: 🕹 Read a book with a title that DOES NOT start with a letter in SONIC.
How it fits: Under not in SONIC

Donkey Kong

To Level Up on this game, complete ONE of the following:

🕹 Read a book where you know the MC's first and last name.
🕹 Read a book with a character who has a son, like Donkey Kong, Jr.
🕹 Read a book where the MC runs into obstacles, physically or metaphorically.
🕹 Read a book with an animal character.

Completion Post
Video Game: Donkey Kong
Book: The Book of Doors
Gareth Brown
Date Read: 25 Jul
Task: 🕹Read a book where you know the MC's first and last name.
How it fits: Cassie Andrews is the MC.

The Sims

To Level Up on this game, complete ONE of the following:

🕹 Read a book published in the 2000s {2000 - 2009}.
🕹 Read a book where something is destroyed by fire.
🕹 Read a book where the MC gets married and/or has a baby.
🕹 Read a book where a character's home is described.

Completion Post
Video Game: The Sims
Book: The Poisoner's Ring
Kelley Armstrong
Date Read: 4 Aug
Task: 🕹 Read a book where a character's home is described.
How it fits: Annis' home is described

World of Warcraft

To Level Up on this game, complete ONE of the following:

🕹 Read a book where the MC goes on a quest of some kind. {Be creative.}
🕹 Read a book with opposing factions.
🕹 Read a book where a character belongs to a guild, or a group.
🕹 Read a book with an author who has double letters in either name, like Blizzard does.

Completion Post
Video Game: World of Warcraft
Book: Harrow the Ninth
Tamsyn Muir
Date Read: 25 Aug
Task: 🕹 Read a book where the MC goes on a quest of some kind.
How it fits: Harrow must save the Emperor and find out what happened to her life.

Stardew Valley

To Level Up on this game, complete ONE of the following:

🕹 Read a book published in the 2010s {2010 - 2019}.
🕹 Read a book where a grandparent dies or more than one season is mentioned.
🕹 Read a book set on a farm or in a small town.
🕹 Read a book where the MC fishes, cooks, crafts, or explores.

Completion Post
Video Game: Stardew Valley
Book: The Passage
Justin Cronin
Date Read: 8 Sep
Task: 🕹 Read a book published in the 2010s {2010 - 2019}.
How it fits: Pub June 8, 2010

Space Invaders

To Level Up on this game, complete ONE of the following:

🕹 Read a book set in space.
🕹 Read a book that you think is very influential.
🕹 Read a book where a pop culture icon is mentioned.
🕹 Read a book where an invasion takes place.

Completion Post
Video Game: Space Invaders
Book: The Mercy of Gods
James S.A. Corey
Date Read: 20 Sep
Task: 🕹 Read a book set in space.
Book set on a spaceship and a planet

🕹 🎮 👾 Game 19: October 1st ~ Fortnite 👾 🎮 🕹

To Level Up on this game, complete ONE of the following:

🕹 Read a book with at least 6 different editions listed on Goodreads.
🕹 Read a book that you would describe as EPIC.
🕹 Read a book published in December of any year.
🕹 Read a book that was an instant success.


🕹 🎮 👾 Game 20: October 15th ~ Wii Sports 👾 🎮 🕹

To Level Up on this game, complete ONE of the following:

🕹 Read a book that has a main menu, or Table of Contents.
🕹 Read a book that various ages of readers could enjoy.
🕹 Read a book with AI, or Artificial Intelligence.
🕹 Read a book where a character watches or participates in tennis, baseball, bowling, golf, or boxing.

Completion Post
Video Game: Fortnite
Book: Babel
R.F. Kuang
Date Read: 10 Oct
Task: 🕹 Read a book that you would describe as EPIC.
This is an epic story

Completion Post
Video Game: Wii Sports
Book: Translation State
Ann Leckie
Date Read: Oct 20
Task: 🕹 Read a book with AI, or Artificial Intelligence.
Book contains an AI character, and a lot of AI in the world.

Nov 1st-Minecraft

To Level Up on this game, complete ONE of the following:

🕹 Read a book where the title starts with a letter in MOJANG.
🕹 Read a book that was won more than one award.
🕹 Read a book with either the word HOSTILE or PEACEFUL found in the text.
🕹 Read a book with a character named Steve or Alex.

To Level Up on this game, complete ONE of the following:

🕹 Read a book that features brothers, like Mario and Luigi.
🕹 Read a book where a character is rescued, like Princess Peach.
🕹 Read a book set in a fictional place, like Mushroom Kingdom.
🕹 Read a book with alternating points of view, like when there's a Player Two.

Completion Post
Video Game: Minecraft
Book: A Trail Through Time
Jodi Taylor
Date Read: 7 Nov
Task: 🕹 Read a book where the title starts with a letter in MOJANG.
Starts with A

Completion Post
Video Game: Super Mario Bros
Book: Tomes Apprentice
Honor Raconteur
Date Read: 16 Nov
Task: 🕹 Read a book where a character is rescued, like Princess Peach.
Abe is rescued by Mei Li (and some others)

To Level Up on this game, complete ONE of the following:

🕹 Read a book at least partially set in a jungle.
🕹 Read a book that was based on or influenced by a movie.
🕹 Read a book with a simple design on the cover. {Your discretion.}
🕹 Read a book that quickly became your favorite, since Pitfall! is my favorite game of all time!

Completion Post
Video Game: Pitfall
Book: Ready Player One
Ernest Cline
Date Read: 3 Dec
Task: 🕹 Read a book that quickly became your favorite, since Pitfall! is my favorite game of all time!

In my top ten ever books.

Tetris-

To Level Up on this game, complete ONE of the following:

🕹 Read a book set in Russia.
🕹 Read a book where a character works on any kind of puzzle.
🕹 Read a book with a title that starts with a letter in PASCAL.
🕹 Read a book where the author's first AND last names DO NOT start with a letter in TETRIS.

Completion Post
Video Game: TETRIS
Book: Blood Test: A Comedy
Charles Baxter
Date Read: 24 Dec
Task: 🕹 Read a book where the author's first AND last names DO NOT start with a letter in TETRIS.
Charles Baxter