2025 Reading Challenge discussion

52 books in the year

Tentative challenges from another site, which I may or may not decide to follow through on:
ABC Titles
ABC Authors
at least 12 classics
at least 12 Christian non-fic
finish 3 series
begin 3 new series
at least half (26) books which I already own

Genre mini-challenges from the other site
Classics
Mystery/Thriller
Christian
Fantasy

Challenges from this group
-Title Hunt

Challenges from other GoodReads groups

Title Hunt - this group

1. Color

2. Number Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne

3. Things That Grow

4. 4 Seasons

5. First Name Eragon by Christopher Paolini

6. Places

7. Body Part

8. Weapon

9. Body of Water

10. Form of Water

11. Product of Fire

12. Heavenly Body

13. Architecture

14. 5 Senses

15. Royal Title

16. Family Member

17. 4 Elements

18. Time of Day

19. Metal

20. Emotion/Feeling

21. Animal/Insect

22. Something to Read

23. Gender Identifier The Invisible Man by H.G. Wells

24. Paranormal Being

25. Occupation Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson

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Christian challenge from another site:

Reminder to self: only 14 categories, so leave out 6.

1. Read More Books in 2012 that 2011 (didn't keep track!)

2. NICE TA MEETCHA! Read a CF book that is written by an author you've never read before

3. Knowledge is Power: Read a commentary on either your favorite book of the bible or the book that you have the most trouble trying to understand. Proverbs: God's Guide for Life's Choices

4. AH, THAT NEW-BOOK SMELL Read a new release for 2012

5. Stretch Your Imagination: Read a book by a lesser know publishing house. Chronicles of Righteousness vol1

6. Walk the walk and Talk the Talk: Read a book that will help to encourage you to overcome your fear to go into the world as Jesus
commanded in Matt. 28:19 "Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations" Revolution in Missions

7. Read a Christian Classic: whether fiction or non-fiction Mere Christianity or Spiritual Warfare

8. Did you ever want to be a Cowboy: Read a western and not one just set in the west!

9. Ho, Ho, Ho!!! Read a book that centers around a holiday or celebration His Glory Revealed

10. Does your spirit feel like it needs a lift: Read a book that has the intention of refreshing your soul Come Thirsty

11. Are you an Activist? Read a Legal/Political Thriller The Messiah Code

12. An apple a day keeps the doctor away: Read a fiction book that centers on the medical field

13. He Shall Come as a Thief in the Night: Read a Prophecy/End Times/Apocalyptic Left Behind

14. Faith Comes By Hearing: Listen to an Audio Book, fiction or non-fiction as long as it is Christian

15. Salute to Our Heroes: Read a Military or Police Action book (would also include EMTs and firemen)

16. A Merry Heart Does You Good: Read a comedy and brighten your day (fiction or non)

17. I Feel Pretty: Read a chick-lit

18. Whole, Not in Part: Read a complete series in 2012 (minimum 3 to make a series) Left Behind series

19. You Like me, You Really Like Me: Read a Christy Award or INSPY awards

20. I Can't Believe I Read the Whole Thing: Read a book over 400 pages Acts of the Apostles



Bonus Categories:

Read 10 oldest on your TBR

Gift a friend (you would need their address) with a book from their "wishlist" anonymously. "More blessed to give than to receive"

Post a book review to the review thread for 2012. Others are always interested in hearing if a book is good, especially if it is a new author or from a genre not usually read.

Mystery challenge from another site:

1. THE JEWEL IN THE CROWN: Read a mystery that has a precious or semi-precious gem in the title: ruby, sapphire, emerald, diamond, pearl etc.



2. WAR IS HELL, HISTORICALLY SPEAKING: Read a mystery that is set during any American war through World War II. Revolutionary, Civil, 1812…they all qualify!

The World at Night - Alan Furst

3. PICK A NUMBER: Read a mystery that has a number in the title. The number can be numeric (1, 2, 3…) or written out (four, five, six). Cardinal or ordinal numbers are fine.

1st to Die - James Patterson, 3rd Chance, 4th of July

4. GOIN’ NATIVE: Read a mystery that features any aboriginal peoples of the world. This could include any Native American tribe, First Nations of Canada, Australian Aboriginals etc.



5. DEAD, DEATH, MURDER, MAYHEM: Read any mystery with the word dead, death, murder or mayhem in the title. This one should be easy!

Valentine Murder by Leslie Meier

6. ALL ABOUT ALLITERATION: Read a mystery in which the title contains at least three words with the same initial sound, as in “All About Alliteration”. (Hey, I can’t help it. I’m an English major!)

The Perils of Paella - Nancy Fairbanks (Yeah... it's only got two words... but ALL of my mystery books only have two words! LOL!!)

7. SNUG AS A BUG: Read the next mystery in any cozy series that you have already started. If you don’t read cozies, now is a good time to give one a try! (Everyone should read at least one cozy a year!)

Top O' the Mournin' - Maddy Hunter

8. YOU GONNA EAT THAT? Read a mystery with food or a beverage in the title.

Christmas Cookie Murder - Leslie Meier

9. THE BIG APPLE: Read a mystery that is set primarily in one of the five boroughs New York City (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island).

The Messiah Code - Michael Cordy (Okay this one is pushing it, but it's got settings listed for each chapter and chapter 8 is in Manhattan!)

10. DON’T I KNOW YOU? Read the second book in a series that you have already started. We all have started a series that we’ve been meaning to get back to. Now is your chance!

2nd Chance - James Patterson

11. THE SUN NEVER SETS: Read a mystery that is set anywhere in the British Isles because let’s face it, the empire is much smaller than it used to be!

Alpine for You - Maddy Hunter

12. THE THRILLING SPY WHO LOVED ME: Read a straight up thriller or espionage novel.

A Stranger is Watching - Mary Higgins Clark



BONUSES:

BONUS ONE: See the USA in Your Chevrolet: Read at least five books, each set in a different region of the 48 contiguous United States. We’re in a Chevy and we don’t have a passport. Regions could include: New England, Southeast, Pacific West, Rocky Mountains, Desert Southwest, Great Lakes, Midwest etc. (If you must, Hawaii and Alaska can be added AFTER the first five!)

BONUS TWO: I’d Like to Thank the Academy: Chose any SIX mystery book awards (Agatha, Dagger, Edgar etc.) and read any winner or nominee from the past five years for each award. The SYKM website has all the awards and titles you’ll need!

Classics challenge from another site:

1) a book that changed the world..... Mere Christianity or The Pilgrim's Progress

2) biography/autobiography/memoirs..... Child of the Silent Night

3) wit lit..... Alice's Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking Glass

4) noir (American or otherwise)..... Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde

5) bildungsroman..... Jane Eyre

6) literary award recipient..... All the Pretty Horses (1992 National Book Award)

7) dystopias..... 1984

8) book you consider long..... Gone With the Wind or Islandia

9) book you consider short..... Silas Marner

10) classic sci-fi or fantasy..... The Silmarillon

11) short story collection..... The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes

12) sub for letters..... Great Expectations

13) reader's choice..... King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table

For categories that don't interest you, you may substitute books listed on Modern Library's 100 Best Novels and/or works by classic authors of your choice.



Books I have and want to read but don't see a place for... and please feel free to help me re-arrange. LOL

Wuthering Heights

The Red Badge of Courage

Anne of Avonlea, Anne of the Island

The Mutiny on Board HMS Bounty

Little Women

The Canterbury Tales

Fantasy challenge from another site (which I'll probably scrap...)

Going light... and that means that I only need 5 books from each category, correct? So if there's one or two listed in a category that I know I won't read, it's okay because I can skip those. Yes? I hope so! LOL



PART I
Choose three of the six categories.

Genre in the Mainstream
1. Read a fantasy novel commonly found on high school reading lists..... The Silmarillion
2. Read a World Fantasy Award winner/nominee or a Mythopoeic Award winner/nominee by a non-genre author.
3. Read a fantasy novel that has won/was nominated for the Booker Prize or National Book Award.
4. Read a allegorical novel..... Left Behind
5. Read a postmodern novel.
6. Read a magical realist novel from North America.
7. Read a magical realist novel from South America.
8. Read a magical realist novel from Europe.
9. Read a magical realist novel from Asia.
10. Read a fantasy novel written before 1900.

High Fantasy
1. Read a fantasy set entirely in a secondary world, with no reference to this world.
2. Read a fantasy that begins in this world but quickly moves through a portal of some sort to a secondary world.
3. Read a Heroic Fantasy novel.
4. Read a Kingdom Fantasy novel..... Dragon Wing v1
5. Read a Sword and Sorcery novel.
6. Read a novel set in a world with magic..... From the Two Rivers (Wheel of Time)
7. Read a novel set in a world with no magic..... Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh
8. Read a novel that focuses on an entirely invented religion.
9. Read a novel with a quest plot
10. Read a novel set in a world at a pre-Medieval Europe level of technology.

Science Fantasy
1. Read a novel where a traditional science fiction element is explained fantastically.
2. Read a novel where a traditional fantasy element is explained scientifically.
3. Read a novel where both science fictional elements and fantasy elements are treated as equally factual..... The Lost Colony (Artemis Fowl)
4. Read a Dying Earth novel.
5. Read a Planetary Romance.
6. Read a Sword and Planet novel.
7. Read a novel set in a future with magic.
8. Read a novel with a computer/computers who are treated like gods.
9. Read a novel that involves psi powers.
10. Read a Lost Colony novel where the colony has reverted to a feudal system of some sort.



PART II
Choose one of the three categories

Main Character
1. Read a novel featuring a female protagonist.
2. Read a novel featuring a protagonist of color.
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4. Read a novel featuring a married protagonist.
5. Read a novel featuring a protagonist who is a parent.
6. Read a novel featuring a detective as the protagonist.
7. Read a novel featuring a religious official as the protagonist.
8. Read a novel featuring a magic-user as the protagonist.
9. Read a novel featuring an anti-hero as the protagonist.
10. Read a novel with multiple protagonists..... Percy Jackson series

AHA! Here it is. Knew I'd find it.

Read one for the title hunt finally -

For #5 - First Name:

Eragon by Christopher Paolini

Full review in my Personal Challenge folder.

Read another for the hunt title -

For #23 - Gender Identifier

The Invisible Man by H.G. Wells

Full review in my Personal Challenge folder.

Just realized I hadn't put this update here yet. Not sure if I really need to, but it bugs me to not have it updated. ;)

For the hunt title #25 Occupation

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson


I also updated and formatted a couple of the other challenges above, to include what I've read so far.

Finally realized that 20,000 is a number! LOL Will review in my Personal Challenges folder as is apparently my usual. ;)

For title hunt #2 Numbers

Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne