Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge discussion

For anyone who has read this book:

Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West

Does this have dragons?

I'm trying to find a spot where I can possibly put this one.

Marlies wrote: "Hey all,

Intermezzo by Sally Rooney is on my TBR, so looking for a prompt that matches it. Any suggestions are welcome.

:)"



I'm halfway through that (I had to quit when my library copy was due back). One of the 2015 categories was "one word title," a 2024 category was "one word title you have to look up in a dictionary," one of the characters (Sylvia) seems to be struggling with chronic pain after a car accident. (It's still a bit mysterious at the halfway point, but I think it qualifies as "chronic pain.")

Ron wrote: "For anyone who has read this book:

Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West

Does this have dragons?

I'm trying to find a spot where I can possibly put this one."

No dragons.

They are kind of politicians. You might like the last line. If you saw the Wizard of Oz, it might remind you of your childhood. It features unlikely friendships. Can you find another book called Wicked?

Dubhease wrote: "Ron wrote: "For anyone who has read this book:

Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West

Does this have dragons?

I'm trying to find a spot where I can possibly put ..."

Thanks. I wasn't a fan of the Wicked movie (don't like musicals) but I've been tempted to give the book a chance.

Remarkably Bright Creatures was so good! It definitely fits the Unlikely Friendship category as well! And maybe found family?

Thanks for adding some of the Goodreads choice award winners! I was wondering where to fit some of those. I may use The Wedding People for the luxury resort one.

Anyone know where Emily Wilde's Encyclopedia of Faeries might fit?

Jamie wrote: "Anyone know where Emily Wilde's Encyclopedia of Faeries might fit?"

It would fit for a book containing magical creatures that aren't dragons, or I used it for the 2024 cozy fantasy prompt so it could be used to repeat a 2024 prompt.

Anyone have tips on where to fit Dawn or Under the Whispering Door?

Nadine in NY wrote: "This is more "just for fun" than "I NEED help" because I'm not actually planning to read all of these books, BUT I noticed that half of the Tournament of Books choices for 2025 fit easily into Pops..."

Any of your choices with "Book" in the title would work for #4: A book with two or more books on the cover or "book" in the title.

Darci wrote: "Nadine in NY wrote: "This is more "just for fun" than "I NEED help" because I'm not actually planning to read all of these books, BUT I noticed that half of the Tournament of Books choices for 2025...


Any of your choices with "Book" in the title would work for #4: A book with two or more books on the cover or "book" in the title."



LOL that seems so obvious and yet I did not see it!! Thanks

hey yall! I just finished Fourth Wing (perfect timing before the new year hehe) and now I NEED to read Iron Flame. Does anyone have any ideas where I can fit it in?

Isabela wrote: "hey yall! I just finished Fourth Wing (perfect timing before the new year hehe) and now I NEED to read Iron Flame. Does anyone have any ideas where I can fit it in?"


Character dealing with chronic pain - that's what I plan to use Onyx Flame for when it comes out (but you could use it as a 2025 anticipated read)

Carolyn wrote: "Hey Deb!

I bet the author of clan of the cave bear is the oldest author on your to be read list (she’s 88!) also the spell shop features magical creatures that aren’t dragons!"

I'm struggling with this prompt - how do I figure out who is the oldest author out of the 1000+ books on my TBR pile? Do they have to be alive?

Miss wrote: "I'm struggling with this prompt - how do I figure out who is the oldest author out of the 1000+ books on my TBR pile? Do they have to be alive?..."



Everyone is approaching this differently. I decided that it was the oldest LIVING author, I did not do an exhaustive search of my complete TBR, I just grabbed a few dozen authors who seemed like they'd been around a while, looked up their ages, sorted by age, and called it a day.

Mexican Gothic….where does it fit?

DeeRae wrote: "Mexican Gothic….where does it fit?"

2024 prompt do over for POC horror

I just got Listen for the Lie on Libby - any thoughts on where this could go? TIA!

Stephanie wrote: "I just got Listen for the Lie on Libby - any thoughts on where this could go? TIA!"



I really liked that book!!! But the only categories I see for it are "a 2015 category" (woman author or thriller) or "a 2024 category" (pub in 2024 or unreliable narrator).

I would be super grateful if someone had suggestions for some of these books from my tbr:

Heartless Hunter
Mortal Follies
Arthur and Teddy Are Coming Out
Sea Change: A Novel
The Marriage Portrait
Elektra and Atalanta
The Paper Palace
The Testaments

Any suggestions are very welcome! :)

Miri wrote: "I would be super grateful if someone had suggestions for some of these books from my tbr..."

This might be a slight spoiler for The Testaments:
(view spoiler)[Dystopia with a happy ending (hide spoiler)]
Could Atwood be the oldest living author on your TBR at 85?

I've not read Sea Change yet but the octopus sounds like it would work for non-verbal character.

Mortal Follies might work for the LGBTQ+ prompt. I can't remember if coming out is part of the story at all.

Miri wrote: "I would be super grateful if someone had suggestions for some of these books from my tbr:

Heartless Hunter
Mortal Follies
Arthur and Teddy Are Coming Out would work for #32, 'an overlooked woman in history'.

Miri wrote: "I would be super grateful if someone had suggestions for some of these books from my tbr: .

Electra would work for #44 'a married couple who don't live together' - Electra's parents.

I think Atalanta could work for #14, 'character with a non-traditional education'. According to the blurb, the MC is raised by bears!

The Marriage Portrait would work for #32 ' a woman overlooked by history'.

9987 wrote: "Anyone have tips on where to fit Dawn or Under the Whispering Door?"

Under The Whispering Door may fit Healing Fiction depending on how you're defining that; it's a cozy fantasy that is about a darker topic (death) but it is heartwarming and uplifting. It also could probably be good for Unlikely Friendship, and LGBTQ+ not about coming out. I believe the author is neurodivergent as well.

As for Dawn, maybe space tourism, though that's probably a good stretch. Otherwise I'd look at 2024 or 2015 prompts to see if one fits that (I read Dawn for a book set in space last year).

Does anyone know where All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot would fit? the show has been my obsession but I wanna read the book now as well LOL

Miri wrote: "I would be super grateful if someone had suggestions for some of these books from my tbr:

..."

I have not read any of those.


Looks like Sea Change is set near a body of water (and non-verbal octopus)


Maybe the married couple live apart for a while in Marriage Portrait? Or her new husband is a politician?

In Elektra, Clytemnestra's husband Agamemnon leaves for the battle of Troy, so it's a married couple living apart for part of the story. From what I know of Cassandra's story, she never gets married, so you could say she is a happily single woman (if you could even say Cassandra was happy, which is a stretch).

Atalanta is raised by wolves, so maybe nontraditional education?

Where could I fit The Housemaid ?

Eddie wrote: "Does anyone know where All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot would fit? the show has been my obsession but I wanna read the book now as well LOL"

I'd say for a lot of people it'd qualify for #39 - A classic you've never read.

Kelly wrote: "9987 wrote: "Anyone have tips on where to fit Dawn or Under the Whispering Door?"

Under The Whispering Door may fit Healing Fiction depending on how you're defining..."

Thanks! Good ideas :)

Allison wrote: "Where could I fit The Housemaid ?"

A book that fills your favorite prompt from the 2015 PS Reading Challenge - mystery or thriller is on the list.

A book where an adult character changes careers

That's kind of silver on the cover - your call if that's enough silver for you.

Could -you’ll never believe what happened to Lacey by amber ruffin and Lacey Lamar be considered interconnected short stories

@Nikki I think that works.

I'm looking to read the Throne of Glass series this year. I've read the first book, but does anyone know where the rest might fit this year?

Crown of Midnight
Heir of Fire
Queen of Shadows
Kingdom of Ash
Empire of Storms
Tower of Dawn
The Assassin's Blade

Hello! I’m planning to read Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty. Can anyone think of a prompt it might fit?

Cindy wrote: "Hello! I’m planning to read Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty. Can anyone think of a prompt it might fit?"



That's on my TBR too and I haven't found any good categories for it, other than using the effective wild cards of any 2015 or 2024 category. 2015 has "written by a woman" and 2024 of course has "published in '24"

Charlotte wrote: "I'm looking to read the Throne of Glass series this year. I've read the first book, but does anyone know where the rest might fit this year?

Crown of Midnight
[book:Heir of Fire|7..."




I'm not a huge fan of this series, someone else can probably help more, BUT ...

the prequel could be seen as an "non traditional education"

one of the books involves travelling by boat ("by a body of water") to another country ("refugee") and then hiding out as a scullery maid or something ("change career"). I think that's all in one book though, Heir of Fire.

Also there are fairies ("magical creatures") and witches and "ilken" and I think some huge birds.

There are a few pairings that could be considered unlikely friendships (Dorian & Chaol? Manon & Aelin? Rowan & Dorian?) and the whole thing can be considered a "found family" story.

Lisa wrote: "I'd really like to read The Ministry of Time this year, and I'm sure it'd fit on the list, but I'm not sure where. An unlikely friendship? an adult character changes careers? Somewhere else? Any su..."

Lisa wrote: "I'd really like to read The Ministry of Time this year, and I'm sure it'd fit on the list, but I'm not sure where. An unlikely friendship? an adult character changes careers? Somewhere else? Any su..."

Nadine in NY wrote: "Meme wrote: "Sorry to ask again, but did i post this question wrong? ( sorry if i did, i have never been a member of a goodread group before ^^)
or is it just that no one have read those books? ( s..."
I thought unlikely friendship was a good idea. I'd love to hear other suggestions.

Just finished North is the Night by Emily Rath. Wondering if I could use it for the “book where nature is the antagonist” prompt. Or if it would fit better somewhere else

Trying to think of where I can place The Hunger Games ...

For the 'Unlikely Friendship' prompt I'm using Catching Fire, and for 'Dystopian book with a happy ending' I'm using Mockingjay, but I'm curious if the first book will fit anywhere.

Ron wrote: "Trying to think of where I can place The Hunger Games ...

For the 'Unlikely Friendship' prompt I'm using Catching Fire, and for 'Dystopian book with a happy ending' I'm using Mockin..."


road trip? it's more of a train ride but close enough right?

unlikely friendship - Katniss & Peeta & Rue were all competing to the death, so it was quite unlikely that they would become friends

any chance it reminds you of your childhood?

It is set in the future so it fills a 2024 category.

or just use the "wild card" category of a 2015 category - written by a woman.

Could I put Murtagh by Christopher Paolini under the chosen family or unlikely friendship categories? I don't want to put it under magical creatures because I already have that spot filled. Struggling to shoehorn all my fantasy tbr's into the prompt list...

Deb wrote: "Here's some of the stuff I wanted to read in 2025 -

- Greenlights
- Kelly Bishop memoir
- The Women
- The Spellshop
- More Grady Hendrix
- Maybe ACOTAR
- Clan of the Cavebear

Do they fit anywhe..."

I'm unsure if it fits the prompt perfectly because it's a little heavy, but I'm reading "The Women" as Healing Fiction. Characters go through traumatic events and heal by finding friendship, community and purpose.

Nadine wrote:

road trip? it's more of a train ride but close enough right?

unlikely friendship - Katniss & Peeta & Rue were all competing to the death, so it was quite unlikely that they would become friends

any chance it reminds you of your childhood?

It is set in the future so it fills a 2024 category.

or just use the "wild card" category of a 2015 category - written by a woman

Thanks. For the 'unlikely friendship' I have Catching Fire already planned. For 'Dystopian with a happy ending' I have Mockingjay

*****

UPDATE:

Okay figured out where to place The Hunger Games.

I'll use it for 'Silver on the cover'. The title is in silver.

I Already read Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors if anyone has any idea where that might fit, I would appreciate it!

where would Slaughter House Five fit ? I've finally got it after being put on hold for months and I'd love to use it for one of the prompts.

Michelle wrote: "where would Slaughter House Five fit ? I've finally got it after being put on hold for months and I'd love to use it for one of the prompts."

Classic you've never read?
It's almost certainly a book mentioned in other books-it's on the 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die list for starters.

thanks Ellie!

Daniela wrote: "I Already read Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors if anyone has any idea where that might fit, I would appreciate it!"

I am half way in this book, the dead sister was suffering with chronic pain which is nr.50 in advanced section.

Nadine in NY wrote: "Marlies wrote: "Hey all,

Intermezzo by Sally Rooney is on my TBR, so looking for a prompt that matches it. Any suggestions are welcome.

:)"



I'm halfway through that (I had to quit when my l..."

I am just after finishing it, your suggestions are correct.It would also fill the chosen family prompt nr.40.

Where can I use Demon Copperhead?

I can't use it for 'a book with a snake on the cover or in the title' because I want to read Sunrise on the Reaping for that.

I have a bit of a domino effect with books I want to read now and other books taking over that space haha

Deb wrote: "Where can I use Demon Copperhead?

I can't use it for 'a book with a snake on the cover or in the title' because I want to read Sunrise on the Reaping for that.

I have a bit of a domino effect wi..."
I think you can argue there are both chosen family or unlikely friendships.

Nadine in NY wrote: "Here's the place to ask for help if you really want to read a certain book but you can't find a challenge category for it."
Where would We Begin at the End fit? Thanks!