Reading Challenge – 2024

Yep. It’s that time of year again. Time for making a new plan to keep reading all the books. I did not quite finish all the books from last year’s list, but that has not stopped me from making a plan to participate once more in both the Popsugar and the Around the Year in 52 Books reading challenges. Here are my challenge lists for the new year.

Popsugar Reading Challenge:
A book with the word “leap” in the title: One Giant Leap, Ben Gartner
A bildungsroman book: Brown Girl Dreaming, Jacqueline Woodson
A book about a 24-year-old: Such a Fun Age, Kiley Reid
A book about a writer: Just Stay Away, Tony Wirt
A book about K-pop: Gorgeous Gruesome Faces, Linda Cheng
A book about pirates: Seafire, Natalie C. Parker
A book about women’s sports and/or by a woman athlete: Roller Girl, Victoria Jamieson
A book by a blind or visually impaired author: Wicked, Jennifer L. Armentrout
A book by a Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing author: Girl At War, Sara Novic
A book by a self-published author: Angelfall, Susan Ee
A book from a genre you typically avoid: Rust in the Root, by Justina Ireland
A book from an animal’s POV: Redwall, Brian Jacques
A book originally published under a pen name: Fool’s Errand, Robin Hobb
A book recommended by a bookseller: Demon Copperhead, Barbara Kingsolver
A book recommended by a librarian: The Right Swipe, Alisha Rai
A book set 24 years before you were born: The Book of Lost Things, John Connolly
A book set in a travel destination on your bucket list: The Kremlin Conspiracy, Joel C. Rosenburg
A book set in space: Skyward, Brandon Sanderson
A book set in the future: Witch and Wizard, James Patterson
A book set in the snow: Shiver, Maggie Stiefvater
A book that came out in a year that ends with “24”: The Navigator’s Children, Tad Williams
A book that centers on video games: Ready Player Two, Ernest Cline
A book that features dragons: The Tea Dragon Society, Kay O’Neill
A book that takes place over the course of 24 hours: The Midnight Library, Matt Haig
A book that was published 24 years ago: On Writing, Stephen King
A book that was turned into a musical: Les Miserables, Victor Hugo
A book where someone dies in the first chapter: Skyhunter, Marie Lu
A book with a main character who’s 42 years old: Lily and the Octopus, Steven Rowley
A book with a neurodivergent main character: The Secret Service of Tea and Treason, India Holton
A book with a one-word title you had to look up in a dictionary: Piranesi, Susanna Clarke
A book with a title that is a complete sentence: How Long ‘til Black Future Month?, N. K. Jemison
A book with an enemies to lovers plot: The Love Hypothesis, Ali Hazelwood
A book with an unreliable narrator: The Thief, Megan Whalen Turner
A book with at least 3 POVs: Words of Radiance, Brandon Sanderson
A book with magical realism: The Master and Margarita, Mikhail Bulgakov
A book written by an incarcerated or formerly incarcerated person: Don Quixote, Miguel Cervantes
A book written during NaNoWriMo: Trail of Lightning, Rebecca Roanhorse
A cozy fantasy book: A Marvellous Light, Freya Marske
A fiction book by a trans or nonbinary author: The Deep, Rivers Solomon
A horror book by a BIPOC author: The Ballad of Black Tom, Victor LaValle
A memoir that explores queerness: Hijab Butch Blues, Lamya H.
A nonfiction book about Indigenous people: Living Stories of the Cherokee, Barbara R. Duncan
A second-chance romance: The Ex Hex, Erin Sterling
An autobiography by a woman in rock ‘n’ roll: Aretha: From These Roots, Aretha Franklin
An LGBTQ+ romance novel: Witchmark, C. L. Polk
A book in which a character sleeps for more than 24 hours: Project Hail Mary, Andy Weir
A book with 24 letters in the title: A Court of Mist and Fury, Sarah J. Maas
A collection of at least 24 poems: Leaves of Grass, Walt Whitman
The 24th book of an author: Gallant, V. E. Schwab
A book that starts with the letter “X”: The X-Factor, Andre Norton

Around the Year in 52 Books Reading Challenge:
A book with a title that ends in A, T, or Y: Sleeping Late on Judgment Day, Tad Williams
A book connected to something you read in 2023: Yumi and the Nightmare Painter, Brandon Sanderson
A book that fits a suggestion that didn’t make the list – A book with a lock and/or key on the cover: The Starless Sea, Erin Morgenstern
A book related to the lyrics of What a Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong: The Best of All Possible Worlds, Karen Lord
A book set in one of the 25 most beautiful cities in the world: Angels and Demons, Dan Brown
A book with wings on the cover: Rebel Spring, Morgan Rhodes
A book with a pronoun in the title: We, Yevgeny, Zamyatin
A book by an author from Canada, Australia or New Zealand: Tigana, Guy Gavriel Kay
A book with few than 2,024 ratings on Goodreads: Forged by Blood, Ehigbor Okosun
A history or historical fiction book: Up a Road Slowly, Irene Hunt
A book with an X connection: Leviathan Wakes, James S. A. Corey
A book that has been on your TBR for over a year: The Kill Order, James Dashner
A book that is on a Five Books List: Snow Crash, Neal Stephenson
A book with a main character who is BIPOC: Tristan Strong Keeps Punching, Kwame Mbalia
A book whose author’s name includes one of the 4 least used letters in the alphabet (JQXZ): Waste Tide, Quifan Chen
A book related to the phrase “It’s raining cats and dogs”: Necromancing the Stone, Lish McBride
A book involving intelligence: Neuromancer, William Gibson
A book with a botanical cover: Age of Myth, Michael J. Sullivan
A book connected in some way to any of the flavors of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream: Legends and Lattes, Travis Baldree
A book with a single word title: Archenemies, Marissa Meyer
A book with a title containing 6+ words: The Rules of Dating My Best Friend’s Sister, Vi Keeland
A book by an author from an African country: Son of the Storm, Suyi Davies Okungbowa
A book related to Boats, Beaches, Bars, Ballads, or Jimmy Buffett: Steering the Craft, Ursula K. LeGuin
A book with a secondary color on the cover: The 5^th Wave, Rick Yancey
A book involving a crime other than a murder: The Academy, Ridley Pearson
A book by an author known by their initials: Downbelow Station, C. J. Cherryh
A book related to land: Volcano: The Eruption and Healing of Mount Saint Helens, Patricia Lauber
A book related to sea: The Wager, David Grann
A book related to air: The Olympian Affair, Jim Butcher
A book set in a country bordering on the Mediterranean Sea: The Red Tent, Anita Diamant
A book related to “Going for the Gold”: The Jump, Brittney Morris
A book with a number in the title: The Three-Body Problem, Cixin Liu
A book involving travel: The War of Flowers, Tad Williams
A book related to the name of one of Snow White’s seven dwarfs: The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Stephen Chbosky
A science or science fiction book: Touched By an Alien, Gini Koch
A book featuring a character in education: School’s Out—Forever, James Patterson
A book that is part of a series: Oathbringer, Brandon Sanderson
Two books with similar covers: Incendiary, Zoraida Cordova
Two books with similar covers: Lady Midnight, Cassandra Clare
A book involving a wild animal or endangered species: Jaws, Peter Benchley
A book with a chilling atmosphere: Gone, Michael Grant
A book with a sound-related word in the title: Smash Cut, Sandra Brown
A book by an Edgar Award-winning author: One Came Home, Amy Timberlake
A book with a touch of magic: Vita Nostra, Marina Dyachenko
A book that is not a novel: How to Read Literature Like a Professor, Thomas C. Foster
A book related to night: Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore, Matthew J. Sullivan
A book with a two-word title beginning with The: The Appeal, John Grisham
A second book that fits your favorite prompt (A book that fits a suggestion that didn’t make the list – A book related to the theme of a Las Vegas hotel): Caraval, Stephanie Garber
A book with a senior citizen character: The Last Colony, John Scalzi
A book posted in one of the ATY Best Book of the Month threads in 2023 or 2024: Hell Bent, Leigh Bardugo
A book published in 2024: TBD
A cozy mystery: You Better Knot Die, Betty Hechtman

So, here is my plan for 2024. Several new to me authors and many favorites. I’ll be continuing some series I’ve already started as well as beginning one or two new ones. I managed to fit in a couple of classics as well as a handful of Newbery Honor books. Though most of these books were already on my “want to read” list, only about a third are books I actually own.

I relied heavily on prepared lists to choose many of these books, and I have not taken the time to verify whether or not they really fit the prompts. I decided it doesn’t matter that much. The point is to simply keep me reading.

Happy reading, y’all!

2023 Around the Year in 52 Books Reading Challenge

I have participated in this reading challenge only a few times. And so far, my track record is not great for completing it within the year. I have failed two out of the three times I’ve attempted it. Even so, this year I got a lot more involved than I ever have before in the prompt selection process.

The ATY group on Goodreads begins nominating and voting on prompt ideas in July, and by late October or early November, there is a full list of 52 reading prompts. The process is fun and exciting, though at times it could be frustrating and disappointing. I nominated a few ideas and tried to vote in each round. A couple of my ideas even made it to the final list.

At some point early in this process I decided that I wanted to use only books from the Newbery Honors list. I have had the goal of reading all of the books on this list, and this felt like a fun way to read more than the handful I’ve been able to accomplish so far. Though there are more than 400 books on the Newbery Honors list, it is nevertheless a bit restrictive. This is an award given to children’s books published in the United States.

These restrictions heavily influenced the way I voted in the ATY selection process. Books limited to certain lists or awards were automatically out for me because they would not include Newbery books. In the end, there were a handful of prompts selected that I had to stretch just a bit to make them fit, but I did manage to find books from the Newbery Honors list to fill each one.

This list is subject to change, as I am finding some difficulties in getting my hands on some of the oldest titles. In a couple of cases, I’ve already selected an alternate.

Here is my reading list for the 2023 ATY Reading Challenge:

A book set in a location that begins with A, T, or Y – Maniac Magee, by Jerry Spinelli
A book by an author you read in 2022 – Dogsong, by Gary Paulsen
A book that fits a suggestion that didn’t make the 2023 list: A “wild” book – Rascal, by Sterling North
A book with an interracial relationship – Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy, by Gary D. Schmidt
A book with 4 or more colors on the cover – Mr. Popper’s Penguins, by Richard & Florence Atwater
A book where books are important – Figgs & Phantoms, by Ellen Raskin
A book with ONE of the five “W” question words in the title – What Hearts, by Bruce Brooks
An author’s debut book – The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate, by Jacqueline Kelly
A book nominated for an award beginning with W – Lifting As We Climb, by Evette Dionne
A book related to one of the Spice Girls’ “personalities” – Scary Stories for Young Foxes, by Christian McKay Heidicker
A book about a person/character with a disability – Rules, by Cynthia Lord
A book connected to birds, bees, or bunnies – Rabbit Hill, by Robert Lawson
A book that has an object that is repeated on the cover – The View From Saturday, by E. L. Konigsburg
A book with a con, deception, or fake – Bomb: The Race to Build-and Steal-the World’s Most Dangerous Weapon, by Steve Sheinkin
Three books, each of which is set in a different century – Cedric the Forester, by Bernard Marshall
Three books, each of which is set in a different century – Catherine, Called Birdy, by Karen Cushman
Three books, each of which is set in a different century – The Book of Boy, by Catherine Gilbert Murdock
A book related to science – Nansen, by Anna Gertrude Hall, or Volcano: The Eruption and Healing of Mount St. Helens, by Patricia Lauber
A book related to the arts – The Voice That Challenged a Nation, by Russell Freedman
A book with a cover or title that includes a route of travel – The Door in the Wall, by Marguerite de Angeli
A book by an Asian diaspora author – Kira-Kira, by Cynthia Kadohata
A book with a faceless person on the cover – Pictures of Hollis Woods, by Patricia Reilly Giff
A book with a body of water in the title – Olive’s Ocean, by Kevin Henkes
A character that might be called a Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, or Spy – Moon Over Manifest, by Clare Vanderpool
A book with a tropical setting – The Surrender Tree, by Margarita Engle
A book related to pride – The Moved-Outers, by Florence Crannell Means
A book by an author from continental Europe – Breaking Stalin’s Nose, by Eugene Yelchin
A book that is dark – The Dark-Thirty, by Patricia McKissack
A book that is light – A Ring of Endless Light, by Madeleine L’Engle
A book related to a chess piece – Out of the Flame, by Eloise Lownsbery, or The King’s Fifth, by Scott O’Dell
A book found by inputting a favorite author on literature-map.com – The Whipping Boy, by Sid Fleischman
A book set in a UNESCO City of Literature – The Trumpeter of Krakow, by Eric P. Kelly
A book by an author with a first name popular in 1923 – The Witch of Blackbird Pond, by Elizabeth George Speare
A novella – The Great Gilly Hopkins, by Katherine Paterson
A book with a school subject in the title – The Pageant of Chinese History, by Elizabeth Seeger
A book that has been translated from another language – Zlateh the Goat & Other Stories, by Isaac Bashevis Singer
A book with the theme of returning home – Heart of a Samurai, by Margi Preus
A book with the sun, moon, or stars on the cover – Enchantress From the Stars, by Sylvia Endahl
A western – Old Ramon, by Jack Schaefer
A book with a full name in the title – Justin Morgan Had a Horse, by Marguerite Henry
A book from the NPR “Books We Love” lists – Piecing Me Together, by Renee Watson
A book related to a ghost, spirit, phantom, or specter – Doll Bones, by Holly Black
A book that involves a murder – Long Way Down, by Jason Reynolds
A book where the cover design includes text that is not completely horizontal – Flora & Ulysses, by Kate DiCamillo
A book whose author has published more than 7 books – My Side of the Mountain, by Jean Craighead Moore
A title that contains a word often found in a recipe – Thistle and Thyme: Tales and Legends From Scotland, by Sorche Nic Leodhas
A book related to a geometric shape – Dead End in Norvelt, by Jack Gantos
A book with an unusually large version of an animal in the story – The Black Pearl, by Scott O’Dell
A book posted in one of the ATY Best Book of the Month threads in 2022 or 2023 – The Last Cuentista, by Donna Barba Higuera
A second book that fits your favorite prompt, a prompt that didn’t make it: A book involving power or politics – Hope Was Here, by Joan Bauer
A book published in 2023 / 2023 Newbery honor winner – TBD
A book with an unusual or surprising title – Al Capone Does My Shirts, by Gennifer Choldenko

There is a tradition among members of the ATY group that I decided to try this year. That is what they call the “rejects challenge.” In this, members choose to add or replace prompts from those that were nominated but did not get voted in. After the end of my planning process, I discovered I had a few Newbery books on my physical shelves that somehow did not make my list. Though it likely just means more trouble for myself, I went ahead and plugged these books into a sort of “reject challenge” of my own. There are twelve additional books, so only one extra per month.

Here they are:

A book that is unlike what you usually read – New Kid, by Jerry Craft
A book in which someone is captured, taken hostage, trapped or imprisoned – Hello, Universe, by Erin Entrada Kelly
A book from the NPR “Books We Love” lists – Wolf Hollow, by Lauren Wolk
A book that could be used for at least five of the 2023 challenge prompts – A Year Down Yonder, by Richard Peck
A book where the chapters are named – The Wanderer, by Sharon Creech
A book written by an author that is a different race and gender than you – Bud, Not Buddy, by Christopher Paul Curtis
A book about crossing over to another world – The Moorchild, by Eloise McGraw
A book with an animal on cover – Shiloh, by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
A book involving journalism or journalists – Nothing But the Truth, by Avi
A book related to dreams or dreaming – M. C. Higgins the Great, by Virginia Hamilton
A book from a genre that inspired your love of reading – Misty of Chincoteague, by Marguerite Henry
A children’s classic – By the Shores of Silver Lake, by Laura Ingalls Wilder

So, there it is. My Around the Year 2023 plan. Not 52 books, but 64. It’s a good thing children’s books tend to be short. I have a lot of reading to do!

2023 Popsugar Reading Challenge

Here it is, the end of the year again. Time for a new list of books to read. This will be the sixth year I have participated in Popsugar’s reading challenge. They have planned their list this year around the idea of nostalgia. As such, many of the prompts this year are familiar ones. At first, I was put off by the idea of so many repeated prompts, but I decided to run with it regardless. With my own little push against the familiar, however, I have chosen many books by new-to-me authors, such as Vanessa Len, Angeline Boulley and Neal Shusterman. These join other, more comfortably familiar authors like Brandon Sanderson, Tad Williams and Marissa Meyer.

Here’s my list for the 2023 Popsugar Reading Challenge:

A book you meant to read in 2022 – Renegades, by Marissa Meyer
A book you bought from an independent bookstore – Bands of Mourning, by Brandon Sanderson
A book about a vacation – Book Lovers, by Emily Henry
A book by a first-time author – Only a Monster, by Vanessa Len
A book with mythical creatures – His Majesty’s Dragon, by Naomi Novik
A book about a forbidden romance – The Night Circus, by Erin Morgenstern
A book with “Girl” in the title – The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making, by Catherynne M. Valente
A celebrity memoir – The Princess Diarist, by Carrie Fisher
A book with a color in the title – Grey Sister, by Mark Lawrence
A romance with a fat lead – Spoiler Alert, by Olivia Dade
A book about or set in Hollywood – Hidden Hollywood, by Kylie Gilmore
A book published in spring 2023 – TBD
A book published the year you were born – Julie of the Wolves, by Jean Craighead Moore
A modern retelling of a classic – Lost Boy, by J. M. Sullivan
A book with a song lyric as its title – Stars Above, by Marissa Meyer
A book where the main character’s name is in the title – Damia, by Anne McCaffrey
A book with a love triangle – The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins
A book that’s been banned or challenged in any state in 2022 – Dear Martin, by Nic Stone
A book that fulfills your favorite prompt from a past challenge: A book you own, but haven’t read (2015) – Nemesis, by Isaac Asimov
A book becoming a TV series or movie in 2023 – Killers of the Flower Moon, by David Grann
A book set in the decade you were born – The Bourne Identity, by Robert Ludlum
A book with a queer lead – Under the Whispering Door, by T. J. Klune
A book with a map – The Priory of the Orange Tree, by Samantha Shannon
A book with a rabbit on the cover – The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, by Kate DiCamillo
A book with just text on the cover – Process: The Writing Lives of Great Authors, by Sarah Stodola
The shortest book (by pages) on your TBR list – The Hill We Climb, by Amanda Gorman
A #BookTok recommendation – Scythe, by Neal Shusterman
A book you bought secondhand – The Memory of Earth, by Orson Scott Card
A book your friend recommended – Shadows of Self, by Brandon Sanderson
A book that’s on a celebrity book-club list – Firekeeper’s Daughter, by Angeline Boulley
A book about a family – Little House in the Big Woods, by Laura Ingalls Wilder
A book that comes out in the second half of 2023 – TBD
A book about an athlete/sport – Out of the Silence, by Eduardo Strauch
A historical-fiction book – Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck
A book about divorce – A is for Alibi, by Sue Grafton
A book you think your best friend would like – By My Side, by Nora Roberts
A book you should have read in high school – One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, by Ken Kesey
A book you read more than 10 years ago – One For the Money, by Janet Evanovich
A book you wish you could read for the first time again – Six of Crows, by Leigh Bardugo
A book by an author with the same initials as you – The Better Part of Valor, by Tanya Huff
A book written during NaNoWriMo – Volkswagen Summer, by Katie Chance
A book based on a popular movie – The Last Starfighter, by Alan Dean Foster
A book that takes place entirely in one day – Columbine, by Dave Cullen
A book that was self-published – Wool, by Hugh Howey
A book that started out as fan fiction – Point Pleasant, by Jen Archer Wood
A book with a pet character – Hounded, by Kevin Hearne
A book about a holiday that’s not Christmas – The Halloween Tree, by Ray Bradbury
A book that features two languages – The Brothers Karamazov, by Fyodor Dostoevsky
The longest book (by pages) on your TBR list – The Way of Kings, by Brandon Sanderson
A book with alliteration in the title – Happy Hour in Hell, by Tad Williams

I tried to choose first from books I already own, and I think I was fairly successful. Out of the fifty, twenty-eight are on my shelves or in my e-library as of the end of the year. A couple of others I would have purchased eventually anyway.

I also wanted to stretch myself at least a little bit. Some of the prompts do this for me anyway, such as a romance with a fat lead, or a book set in, or about Hollywood. I had a hard time finding anything that sounded interesting to me, and I’m afraid I may have simply “settled” for a good enough book. Hopefully I can still find them enjoyable.

Another stretch I tried to include are the potentially more difficult books. Such as a couple of classics. The Brothers Karamazov, for example, has been on my “I should read this” list for many years. And then there are the nonfiction choices: memoir, poetry, serial killers and school shootings. These won’t necessarily be easy reads, but hopefully, they will be good reads.

I rounded out the list with authors I love and books that I have been excited to read for some time. And this year, there are two highly anticipated new releases that may come out just in time to fit into this challenge.

Here’s to another year of great reading!

What I’m Reading – February 2022

I’m off to a good start with my 2022 Reading Challenge so far. January was a busy reading month and I feel like I’ve accomplished quite a bit. Though I haven’t exactly stuck with my challenge reading, I am somehow still on track to complete it on time.

Finished…
There were six challenge books I planned to read, or at least start, in January. Of those, I finished three, and I have started the others. Besides the books listed on my January list, I also finished six more.

Cherokee Stories of the Turtle Island Liars’ Club, by Christopher B. Teuton, was the first challenge book I finished in the new year. I thoroughly enjoyed this book even though it wasn’t quite what I’d anticipated. I wouldn’t mind having a copy of this book for my own shelves so I could refer to it again.

After finishing this book, I moved on to Brothers of the Wind, by Tad Williams. I read this one next in order to complete the Popsugar challenge prompt “a book whose title begins with the last letter of your previous read.” Tad Williams is one of my favorites authors of all time, and I had to find a place for this book in the challenge. I’m so glad I did. I loved it!

I moved on to other library books after that, several short middle grade novels that were pretty quick reads. I finished The House on Mango Street, by Sandra Cisneros. Not my favorite, but I enjoyed it. She has a beautiful style of writing. I have been revisiting my own childhood favorites, and I continued my journey through the Trixie Belden books, by Julie Campbell, finishing both The Mysterious Visitor and The Mystery Off Glen Road.

I also finished The Eye of the World, by Robert Jordan, book one of the Wheel of Time series. I was drawn right back into this world and I finished reading this book faster than I expected. I also finished season one of the television show adapted from this series. I’m still undecided how I feel about the changes that were made to the storyline.

My eldest son has allowed me to read several of my challenge books with him, and together we finished reading Hatchet, by Gary Paulsen and Holes, by Louis Sachar. Both of these books were a lot of fun. Though, my son has developed a survivalist obsession and now wants to go live in the woods on his own.

Finally, I started and finished my first audiobook for the year, A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens. I have seen movie and cartoon adaptations of this classic story many times, but have never read the original story. I’m glad I chose the audio version of this book, as it lends itself well to the dramatic production.

In Progress…
My “jam jar” read, The Once and Future King, by T. H. White, has proven more difficult to stick with than I thought. I’m enjoying it, but it isn’t holding my attention with all the other books I want to read right now. I will finish it, however. Hopefully soon.

I’m also continuing to read through The Mark of Athena, by Rick Riordan, with my middle child. With only a chapter or two each night, I knew this would be slow going. But we’re nearing the end, and will soon move on to the next book of the series (though that one didn’t managed to make it onto my challenge list). And with my eldest, we have moved on to The One and Only Ivan, by Katherine Applegate.

Finally, I did start The Murmur of Bees, by Sofia Segovia, my first ebook choice for 2022. It took me a while to start because I was hoping to first finish another ebook that I’ve been working on for far too long. In the end, I decided to set that one aside for now so I can work on my challenge books.

Up Next…
And now it is time to set the goal for February reading. Along with what I’m already in the middle of I have my next round of books lined up for this month – everything from angels to zombies.

To start, my middle child has selected The Dirty Streets of Heaven, by Tad Williams, from the jam jar. I am really excited to read this one. As I’ve mentioned, Tad Williams is one of my favorite authors. This series is one I didn’t know about for a long time, and I can’t wait to get into it.

I’m anxious to begin the next Wheel of Time book, The Great Hunt, by Robert Jordan. I need to keep up with what is happening in the lives of my friends Rand al’Thor, Egwene al’Veare, Perrin Aybara, Mat Cauthon and all the others.

From the library, I have three books on hold. I’ve just picked up Dread Nation, by Justine Ireland. Hopefully, my hold for You Should See Me In a Crown, by Leah Johnson, will come available soon. Finally, I’ll continue the Trixie Belden series with The Mystery In Arizona, by Julie Campbell.

Next up on my ebook list is The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet, by Becky Chambers. And if I can squeeze in an audiobook, it will be The Fated Sky, by Mary Robinette Kowal.

So as of the end of January, I am at 3 of 50 for the Popsugar challenge and 6 of 52 for the Around the Year challenge. I’m enjoying my reads so far, some more than others. So many good books still to come!

What are you reading?

What I’m Reading – January 2022

2021 has come to a close, and 2022 is here for real. Now that all the celebrating is over, it’s time to get back to the business of reading. I’ve already posted my list for the reading challenges (two! what craziness is this!) I plan to participate in this year. Now it’s time to choose a book (or four?) and start reading.

Thanks to the Devour Your TBR group I stumbled into on Goodreads a few years ago, I have adopted the “Jam Jar” method of choosing my next book. I’ve got all the titles on slips of paper and tucked away in a jar. In my case, it happens to be a peanut butter jar, but who really cares, right? My boys like to draw the next title out of the jar for me, and my eldest pulled The Once and Future King, by T. H. White out of the jar.

I also have a large number of books on my list that I will have to borrow from the library. Hold times can be a little unpredictable, and so I thought it prudent (okay, so I was just anxious to get started!) to put the first one on hold right away. Cherokee Stories of the Turtle Island Liars’ Club, by Christopher B. Teuton came up quicker than I expected and was in my possession well before the end of December.

This year I have decided to reread the Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan. Yes, this was prompted by the release of the TV series based on the books. There are fourteen books in this series, all of which are 600 or more pages long. Thus it seems like a good idea to begin as soon as possible with book one, The Eye of the World.

Finally, I always like to have an ebook in progress. I don’t have as many ebooks on my list this year as I’ve had in the past, but there are a few. Some time ago, I decided to choose my next ebook based on which one I’ve had the longest since the Kindle can so neatly arrange them that way. Therefore, of the ones on my current challenge list, The Murmur of Bees, by Sofia Segovia has been around the longest.

I should also mention that two of the three books I’m currently reading with my boys are also on my challenge list. I’m reading The Mark of Athena, by Rick Riordan with the middle child and I’ve started Hatchet, by Gary Paulsen with the eldest.

This is an ambitious list, but I don’t doubt that I can get through most of it. I’m looking forward to some excellent reading. What’s on your list?

Reading Challenge 2022

Here it is, the end of December once again. Time to make a new reading plan for the upcoming year ahead. At the time I am writing this post, I am two books away from finishing my challenge list for 2021. I’ve read some very good books this year, and I’m looking forward to what’s coming next.

For 2022, I’ve decided to take on both the Popsugar reading challenge and the Around the Year in 52 Books reading challenge (ATY), for a total of 102 books. Last time I tried to do two challenges at once, I fell so far behind it took another whole year to get caught up again. I hope I don’t come to regret taking on two again. Time will tell.

I worked hard to first choose books from my own shelves, and about half on my list are such. Another dozen or so come from my electronic and audio libraries. I’ve borrowed a handful of books from my son’s shelves, or one of my sisters’, and the rest I will check out from my local library.

I needed quite a bit of help choosing titles for each prompt. I decided to read the Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan, and managed to slot all fourteen books into the two challenges. For many of the other prompts, I relied heavily on the lists created for the categories by the groups on Goodreads. I am thrilled that I managed to include so many books from the Newbery Honors list I’ve been working my way through. And I’m looking forward to a couple of new releases by favorite authors.

I’m excited to begin reading from my new list. And so, without further ado, here is my overly ambitious plan for 2022:

Popsugar Reading Challenge:
A book published in 2022 – TBD (hopefully, Into the Narrowdark, by Tad Williams)
A book set on a plane, train, or cruise ship – The Woman in Cabin 10, by Ruth Ware
A book about or set in a nonpatriarchal society – The Path of Daggers, by Robert Jordan
A book with a tiger on the cover or “tiger” in the title – When You Trap a Tiger, by Tae Keller
A sapphic book – The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet, by Becky Chambers
A book by a Latinx author – The Murmur of Bees, by Sofia Segovia
A book with an onomatopoeia in its title – Honk, the Moose, by Phil Strong
A book with a protagonist who uses a mobility aid – The Cuckoo’s Calling, Robert Galbraith
A book about a “found family” – The Angel Experiment, by James Patterson
An Anisfield-Wolf Book Award winner – The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, by Junot Diaz
A #BookTok recommendation – A Darker Shade of Magic, by V. E. Schwab
A book about the afterlife – The Shining, by Stephen King
A book set in the 1980s – Dear Mr. Henshaw, by Beverly Cleary
A book with cutlery on the cover or in the title – Knife of Dreams, by Robert Jordan
A book by a Pacific Islander author – Pua’s Kiss, by Lehua Parker
A book about witches – Would-Be Witch, by Kimberly Frost
A book becoming a TV series or movie in 2022 – Peter Pan, by J. M. Barrie
A romance novel by a BIPOC author – You Should See Me in a Crown, by Leah Johnson
A book that takes place during your favorite season – TBD20. A book whose title begins with the last letter of your previous read – TBD
A book about a band or musical group – Space Opera, by Catherynne M. Vallente
A book with a character on the ace spectrum – Artificial Condition, by Martha Wells
A book with a recipe in it – The Lost Apothecary, by Sarah Penner
A book you can read in one sitting – The Stonekeeper’s Curse, by Kazu Kibuishi
A book about a secret – The Secret River, by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings
A book with a misleading title – Their Eyes Were Watching God, by Zora Neale Hurston
A Hugo Award winner – Starship Troopers, by Robert A. Heinlein
A book set during a holiday – Trixie Belden and the Mystery in Arizona, by Julie Campbell
A different book by an author you read in 2021 – Towers of Midnight, by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson
A book with the name of a board game in the title – The Maze of Bones, by Rick Riordan (39 Clues #1)
A book featuring a man-made disaster – Thunder Dog, by Michael Hingson
A book with a quote from your favorite author on the cover or Amazon page – The Deceivers, by Kristen Simmons (includes a quote by Amie Kaufman)
A social-horror book – Dread Nation, by Justina Ireland
A book set in Victorian times – A Conjuring of Light, by V. E. Schwab
A book with a constellation on the cover or in the title – The Scorpio Races, by Maggie Stiefvater
A book you know nothing about – TBD
A book about gender identity – The Left Hand of Darkness, by Ursula K. LeGuin
A book featuring a party – Crazy Rich Asians, by Kevin Kwan
An #OwnVoices SFF book – Binti, by Nnedi Okorafor
A book that fulfills your favorite prompt from a past POPSUGAR Reading Challenge:
2015: A book that is more than 500 pages – Winter’s Heart, by Robert Jordan
A book with a reflected image on the cover or “mirror” in the title – Smoke and Mirrors, by Neil Gaiman
A book that features two languages – Inside Out and Back Again, by Thanhha Lai
A book with a palindromic title – The Eye of the World, by Robert Jordan
A duology, part one – Incarceron, by Catherine Fisher
A duology, part two – Sapphique, by Catherine Fisher
A book about someone leading a double life – James Tiptree, Jr: The Double Life of Alice B. Sheldon, by Julie Phillips
A book featuring a parallel reality – A Gathering of Shadows, by V. E. Schwab
A book with two POVs – The Red Pyramid, by Rick Riordan
Two books set in twin towns, aka “sister cities” – Small Favor, by Jim Butcher (Chicago)
Two books set in twin towns, aka “sister cities” – Selected Stories by Franz Kafka, by Franz Kafka (Prague)

ATY Reading Challenge:
A book with a main character whose name starts with A, T, or Y – Ice Run, by Steve Hamilton
A book connected to a book you read in 2021 – A Memory of Light, by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson
A book with 22 or more letters in the title – Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children, by Ransom Riggs
A book that fits your favorite prompt that did not make the list: A book considered a classic of genre fiction – The Once and Future King, by T. H. White
A book by an author with two sets of double letters in their name – The Rowan, by Anne McCaffrey
A book with an image of a source of light on the cover – The Shadow Rising, by Robert Jordan
A book related to psychology, neuroscience or the mind – Dead Until Dark, by Charlaine Harris
3 books set on three different continents – Redemption in Indigo, by Karen Lord (Africa)
3 books set on three different continents – The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini (Asia)
3 books set on three different continents – Mutant Message Down Under, by Marlo Morgan (Australia)
A book from historical fiction genre – Innate Magic, by Shannon Fay
A book related to glass – Throne of Glass, by Sarah J. Maas
A book about a woman in STEM – The Fated Sky, by Mary Robinette Kowal
A book with fewer than 5000 ratings on Goodreads – Legends 3, edited by Robert Silverberg
A book without a person on the cover – Dangerous Women, edited by George R. R. Martin
A book related to Earth Day – Being a Green Mother, by Piers Anthony
A book from NPR’s Book Concierge – Hench, by Natalie Zina Walschots
A book by an Asian or Pacific Islander author – She Who Became the Sun, by Shelley Parker-Chan
A book that involves alternate reality, alternate worlds, or alternate history – Barely Bewitched, by Kimberly Frost
A fiction or nonfiction book that is set during 1900-1951 – The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak
A book with one of the Monopoly tokens on the cover – Wielding a Red Sword, by Piers Anthony
A book with a Jewish character or author – Number the Stars, by Lois Lowry
A book that features loving LGBTQIA+ relationship – The House in the Cerulean Sea, by T. J. Klune
A book related to inclement weather – The Gathering Storm, by Robert Jordan
A book less than 220 pages OR more than 440 pages – Fires of Heaven, by Robert Jordan
2 books with the same word in the title – A Crown of Swords, by Robert Jordan
2 books with the same word in the title – Crown of Midnight, by Sarah J. Maas
A book that won an award from Powell’s list of book awards – Holes, by Lous Sachar
A book set on or near a body of water – Obsession, by Jonathan Kellerman
A book related to mythology – Mark of Athena, by Rick Riordan
A book published at least 10 years ago – Hatchet, by Gary Paulsen
A book where the main character is a female detective/private eye/police officer – Hornet’s Nest, by Patricia Cornwell
The next book in a series – Lord of Chaos, by Robert Jordan
A book with an academic setting or with a teacher that plays an important role – Dehaunting, by J. A. White
2 books related to flora and fauna – The Secret Garden, by Frances Hodgson Burnett
2 books related to flora and fauna – The One and Only Ivan, by Katherine Applegate
A book that uses all five vowels in the title and/or author’s name – Shadow and Bone, by Leigh Bardugo
A book by a Latin American author – The House on Mango Street, by Sandra Cisneros
A book from the TIME list of 100 Best YA Books of All Time – The Westing Game, by Ellen Raskin
A book related to one of the 22 Tarot Major Arcana cards – The Last Juror (I drew the Justice card)
A book with a theme of food or drink – Heartless, by Marissa Meyer
A book with a language or nationality in the title – Cherokee Stories of the Turtle Island Liars’ Club, by Christopher B. Teuton
A book set in a small town or rural area – TBD
A book with gothic elements – The Hound of the Baskervilles, by Arthur Conan Doyle
A book related to a game – The Great Hunt, by Robert Jordan
A book with a non-human as one of the main characters – The Dirty Streets of Heaven, by Tad Williams
A book with handwriting on the cover – Dust to Dust, by Tami Hoag
A book posted in one of the ATY Best Book of the Month threads in 2021 or 2022 – Rosemary and Rue, by Seanan McGuire
A book connected to the phrase “Here (There) Be Dragons” – The Dragon Reborn, by Robert Jordan
A book that involves aging, or a character in their golden years – A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens
A book published in 2022 – TBD (hopefully Witchlands #5!)
A book with a time-related word in the title – Crossroads of Twilight, by Robert Jordan

So there it is. My reading agenda for 2022. There’s a lot of really big books on this list. But I’m hopeful I can accomplish it anyway.

Happy reading!

Have a Tall Day!

A few weeks ago, as I sent my boys off to their classrooms, I waved them off with my love and a heartfelt wish to “have a good day!” Even as I said it, I realized what a bland and boring farewell this is, day after day, always the same.

Thus began my efforts to enliven the start of each school day with a unique send off. A few terrific, fantastic, even beautiful days later, however, my creativity began to feel a bit taxed. Sometimes I’m stretching a little far for a note of positivity.

One morning, thinking quickly so as to not hold up the drop-off line, I snagged the first adjective I could think of and hollered to my boys, “Have a tall day!” Of course, they only looked back at me like I was crazy, saying “I don’t even know what that means.”

There was no time in the moment for any sort of clever come back. The boys went their way, and I went mine. But the idea didn’t leave me. What did it mean to have a tall day?

My first thought was to compare tall and short. Does either attribute make anyone a better or worse person? I myself am a short person, and so I concluded, of course not. A tall person is no braver for being tall. Neither is a short person cowardly. However, I did admit to myself, I feel braver and more confident when I straighten my back and stand my tallest.

I next asked myself what things around me are tall? And what can they tell me about tallness? Trees are tall. In fact, it was likely the trees around my childrens’ school that inspired this internal discussion in the first place. With their branches lifted high to the heavens, trees speak to me of an attitude of praise and gratitude for all their Creator provides for them. I might then be wishing for my children to have a day filled with gratitude.

Cell towers are also tall. They are designed that way intentionally so that they can send and receive clear signals. In wishing for a tall day then, perhaps I wish for my boys to be clear-headed and ready to learn whatever lessons are in store for them.

Lastly, I thought of mountains. Mountains are very tall. Mountains are strong, steadfast and immovable. Maybe “have a tall day” is a wish for my boys to stand firm, to be a solid rock, to not give in to the various pressures they face today.

Sending my children off to face their day is a routine that doesn’t need to be routine. With a little thoughtfulness and mindfulness, even a simple word like tall can become meaningful. So, don’t just have a good day, or even a great day. Have a tall day!

Dewey’s 24-Hour Read-A-Thon, April 2021 – The To-Read Pile

It’s time once again for the twice-annual 24-hour read-a-thon put on by the folks over at Dewey’s Read-A-Thon. I’m a little late in posting this – the event begins in only a few hours – but I thought I’d throw something together anyway. At least I could put together a list of books I hope to work on during the event.

First off, I’ve always got a book going with each of my three boys. Currently, that is The Two Towers, by J. R. R. Tolkien with the eldest, Inkdeath, by Cornelia Funke with the middle, and Spirit Animals: Rise and Fall, by Eliot Schrefer with the youngest. We usually manage anywhere from three to twelve pages a night depending on how long the chapters are, or how tired the boys are. Somehow, my reading magically puts them to sleep.

Next are the books I’m currently reading for myself. From the library, I have 1Q84, by Haruki Murakami. This book is huge! And I’ve sort of stalled on it. But I’m determined to make significant progress on it over the weekend. On Kindle, I’m reading Dawn’s Promise, by A. W. Exley, and on audio, it is The Song of Achilles, by Madeline Miller. Having books in a variety of formats is very helpful during a read-a-thon.

Also helpful is the pile of alternate books in case I finish one, or a book is simply not working for me at that moment. Up next on the Kindle, I have The Sign of Four, by Arthur Conan Doyle. Finally, I have Reading Lolita in Tehran, by Azar Nafisi and Falling Kingdoms, by Morgan Rhodes waiting in the wings just in case I can’t handle any more of the monster library book. And if I’m really stuck, there’s a jar full of book titles I can draw from for inspiration.

Most of all, I just hope to have a little fun with my books, though I won’t make it for the full 24 hours. After all, there are very important family events to attend such as football and soccer games (highly modified due to COVID restrictions, of course). But if anyone’s looking for me, I’ll most likely be lost in an alternate history, some far away place, or even an entirely different world.

Are you participating this weekend? I’d love to hear about the worlds your reading takes you to. Have fun!

2021 Popsugar Reading Challenge

It’s time once again to plan for next year’s reading line-up. The last few years I have participated in the Popsugar Reading Challenge and have enjoyed the various prompts they have provided. While the last two years I haven’t been able to complete the challenge before the end of the year, I keep moving forward and reading anyway.

When the time came around this year for the new list of prompts to be released, I wasn’t quite sure if I would participate again. I got a little caught up in the ATY prompt list decision making process, almost enough to decide to try that one again. In the end, however, I have decided to go with the Popsugar challenge for 2021. It has been useful to me these past few years to expand my reading experience.

Here, then, is my reading list for 2021.

A book published in 2021 – Witchshadow, by Susan Dennard
An Afrofuturist book – Children of Virtue and Vengeance, by Tomi Adeyemi
A book that has a heart, diamond, club or spade on the cover – The Glass Magician, by Charlie N. Holmberg
A book by an author who shares your zodiac sign – All Creatures Great and Small, by James Herriot
A dark academia book – Ninth House, by Leigh Bardugo
A book with a gem, mineral, or rock in the title – Jade Star, by Catherine Coulter
A book where the main character works at your current or dream job – The World According to Garp, by John Irving
A book that has won the Women’s Prize for Fiction – The Song of Achilles, by Madeline Miller
A book with a family tree – The Silmarillion, by J. R. R. Tolkien
A bestseller from the 1990s – The Street Lawyer, by John Grisham
A book about forgetting – The Lost Hero, by Rick Riordan
A book you have seen on someone’s bookshelf (in real life, on a Zoom call, in a TV show, etc.)
A locked-room mystery – The Sign of Four, by Arthur Conan Doyle
A book set in a restaurant – Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant, by Anne Tyler
A book with a black-and-white cover – Code Talker, by Joseph Bruchac
A book by an indigenous author – Race to the Sun, by Rebecca Roanhorse
A book that has the same title as a song – Legend, by Marie Lu
A book about a subject you are passionate about – Praying the Scriptures for Your Children, by Jodie Berndt
A book about body positivity
A book on a Black Lives Matter reading list – Between the World and Me, by Ta-Nehisi Coates
A genre hybrid – The Wolf, by Jean Johnson
A book set mostly or entirely outdoors – Into the Wild, by Erin Hunter
A book with something broken on the cover – Gray, by Lou Cadle
A book by a Muslim American author – The Gauntlet, by Karuna Riazi
A book that was published anonymously – Common Sense, by Thomas Paine
A book with an oxymoron in the title – Wild Justice, by Phillip Margolin
A book about do-overs or fresh starts – The Notebook, by Nicholas Sparks
A magical realism book – One Hundred Years of Solitude, by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
A book set in multiple countries – Knight’s Cross, by Christine Kling
A book set somewhere you’d like to visit in 2021 – Hidden History of Portland, Oregon, by J. D. Chandler
A book by a blogger, vlogger, YouTube video creator, or other online personality – Old Man’s War, by John Scalzi
A book whose title starts with “Q,” “X,” or “Z” – Queen of the Night, by J. A. Jance
A book featuring three generations – The House of Spirits, by Isabel Allende
A book about a social justice issue – The Wrong Enemy, by Carlotta Gall
A book in a different format than what you normally read (audiobooks, ebooks, graphic novels) – The Stonekeeper, by Kazu Kibuishi
A book that has fewer than 1,000 reviews on Amazon or Goodreads – The Blending Time, by Michael Kinch
A book you think your best friend would like – Nightshade, by Andrea Cremer
A book about art or an artist – Shadowshaper, by Daniel Jose Older
A book everyone seems to have read but you – The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Your favorite prompt from a past POPSUGAR Reading Challenge –
2015: A book with antonyms in the title – Morning, Noon and Night, by Sidney Sheldon
2016: A political memoir
2017: Steampunk – A Dawn Most Wicked, by Susan Dennard
2018: A book by two authors – Aurora Rising, by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
2019: A book inspired by myth, legend or folklore – The Son of Neptune, by Rick Riordan
2020: A book with “gold,” “silver,” or “bronze” in the title – The Bronze Key, by Holly Black
The longest book (by pages) on your TBR list – 1Q84, by Haruki Murakami
The shortest book (by pages) on your TBR list – Last Stop on Market Street, by Matt de la Pena
The book on your TBR list with the prettiest cover – Dawn’s Promise, by A. W. Exley
The book on your TBR list with the ugliest cover – Fablehaven, by Brandon Mull
The book that’s been on your TBR list for the longest amount of time – Water for Elephants, by Sara Gruen
A book from your TBR list you meant to read last year but didn’t – Q is for Quarry, by Sue Grafton
A book from your TBR list you associate with a favorite person, place, or thing – Navigator’s Children, by Tad Williams
A book from your TBR list chosen at random – The Invisible Library, by Genevieve Cogman
A DNF book from your TBR list – Serafina and the Black Cloak, by Robert Beatty
A free book from your TBR list (gifted, borrowed, library) – Defiant, by Bobbi Smith

So, there it is, my reading list for 2021. I think it’s a decent mix – a variety of genres, some favorite authors, as well as a lot of new to me authors. I tried to choose as many as possible off my already too large list of books I want to read, but there are still several that I needed to add. I have a few slots that remain unfilled, such as a book about body positivity or a political memoir. I’d welcome any recommendations. Or, share a picture of your bookshelves. I’m sure someone out there has a book on their shelf I’d love to read!

Are you participating in a reading challenge in 2021? If so, which one? I’d love to hear what your reading plans are for the new year.

2020: Failure and Hope

This time last year, my head was full of dreams and goals of all the things I intended to accomplish in 2020. “The Year of Clear Vision,” I called it. And yet, as is so often the case, it turns out, only hindsight is 20/20. There was no anticipating what this year had in store. Even now as it comes to an end, the impact of the year’s events are not fully realized. And may not be for years.

My life personally, has been turned on its head.

Reading:
It took me more than half the year to finally finish the last few books from the 2019 reading challenge. And while I have read more than 150 books, I still haven’t completed my 2020 reading challenge list. Sounds crazy, I know, but a good chunk of that 150 were short audio books I was able to listen to at work, or in the car.

Writing:
I lost my first National Novel Writing Month challenge this year. It would be easy to say, “well, it’s 2020,” and just leave it at that. But if I’m honest with myself, I know that I could have won the challenge if I had exercised a little more self-discipline.

On another writing front, my blog completely fell apart this year. It felt like I was forcing myself to write words I no longer had faith in. Still, I continue to have visitors to the blog. In fact the past two months traffic to the blog has exceeded all other months this past year.

Life in General:
COVID’s biggest impact on me this year would be my employment status. Effective the end of this year, I am resigning a position I’ve held for fifteen years. The longest I’ve ever been with a single employer. But the demands of keeping three elementary aged children engaged in online learning simply became too much to attempt while maintaining a full time job.

If this is the worst 2020 brings me, I will count myself fortunate. Blessed, even. I have read and witnessed story after story of others for whom 2020 has taken a much deeper toll. Hundreds of thousands of people sick and dead from this virus. Countless others jobless, homeless and hungry.

I’d like to say that I’m on my way back to some form of normalcy, but the truth is, I’m not all there yet. There is still a great deal of anxiety and uncertainty. Even so, I hold on to this hope: things will get better. A vaccine is coming. The virus will be brought under control. Children will go back to school. Workplaces will reopen. And while it can never be the same as it was, I have hope we will find our balance again.