Tuesday, November 30, 2021

Book Challenge by Erin 16.0

 


Book Challenge by Erin 16.0 – Categories

• 5 points: Freebie – Read a book that is at least 200 pages: The Mockingbirds--Daisy Whitney

• 10 points: Read a book that’s first word starts with the letter C (the articles A, An, or The are allowed): Castle Rackrent and The Absentee--Maria Edgeworth

• 10 points: Read a book published in 2020 or 2021; these two years have been tough on many of us, but let’s celebrate books that were introduced to us these years: Several People Are Typing--Calvin Kasulke

• 15 points: Read a book with the word one of the following words in the title: you, your, you’re, you’ll, you’ve, yourself: When It Happens to You--Molly Ringwald

• 20 points: Read a book set on an island: Moloka'i--Alan Brennert

• 20 points: Read a book from an indigenous or First Nations author; helpful link: You Don't Have to Say You Love Me--Sherman Alexie

• 25 points: (selected by Nancy) – Read a memoir, biography, or autobiography: Kitchen Confidential--Anthony Bourdain
• 30 points: (selected by Vinay) – Read a book with one of these words in the title: Ace, King, Queen, Jack, or Joker; plural or possessive is okay (i.e. Aces or Ace’s) but variant of the word is not (i.e. can’t be kingdom or hijack); also, the word must be in the title of the book, not the author’s name (i.e. can’t be Jack Kerouac or Stephen King): The Red Queen--Philippa Gregory

• 30 points: (selected by Carly) – Read a book of poetry or a book written in verse: Glass--Ellen Hopkins

• 35 points: (selected by Kara Jo) – Read a book by Jane Austen, inspired by Jane Austen or a Jane Austen re-telling: Pride and Premeditation--Tirzah Price
 

Challenge completed on January 21

Friday, November 26, 2021

2022 Monthly Key Word Reading Challenge

 Another of my favorites, also at GirlXOXO, is now up.




JAN – Last, Kingdom, Girl, Dark, When, Winter, Light, Window: When It Happens to You--Molly Ringwald

FEB – Midnight, Never, Into, Sun, Love, Good, Spell, Search: Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil--John Berendt

MAR – End, Fall, Loud, Queen, Woods, Nine, Beautiful, Crown: Guenevere Queen of the Summer Country--Rosalind Miles

APR – Race, Now, Chose, While, Stop, Burn, Red, One: How to Be an Antiracist--Ibram X. Kendi

MAY – Thorn, Catch, Black, Under, City, Cloud, Sing, LegacyThe Wyndham Legacy--Catherine Coulter 

JUN – Sea, You, Hate, Perfect, Shade, Until, Beach, Little: A Crack in the Sea--H.M. Bouwman

JUL – Star, Next, Infinity, Iron, Word, People, Rise, Clear: People We Meet on Vacation--Emily Henry

AUG – Breath, Case, Hundred, Day, Happy, Language, Stay, Lie: The Lies That Bind--Emily Giffin

SEP – Bright, Here, Out, Life, Strange, Rule, Story, Salt: The Book of Salt--Monique Truong

OCT – House, Bone, Haunt, Body, Blood, Witch, Murder, Mystery: The Mermaid, the Witch and the Sea--Maggie Tokuda-Hall

NOV – Many, Boy, River, Fever, Down, Gold, Jade, Hill: The Burgess Boys--Elizabeth Strout

DEC – Still, Cabin, Cafe, Night, Lake, By, Holiday, Fire: Little Fires Everywhere--Celeste Ng

Challenge completed on December 9

2022 Monthly Motif Reading Challenge

 Another of my favorites, at GirlXOXO, is now up for next year.





JANUARY-  New To You. Celebrate the New Year with something new to you- a new genre, a new author, a new book series, a new book purchase, etc: Castle Rackrent and The Absentee--Maria Edgeworth

FEBRUARY- Girl Power. Highlighting Women! Female Authors, Fierce female characters, feminism, female body positivity, females in science/government, etc: Lean In--Sheryl Sandberg

MARCH- Buzzed About Books. Read a book you saw buzzed about a lot in 2021 but haven’t gotten around to reading it yet: The Midnight Library--Matt Haig

APRIL- Books to Screen. Read a book that has a movie or TV adaptation made based on it. For an extra challenge, watch the show after reading the book: Station Eleven--Emily St. John Mandel

MAY- Book Lovers Unite. Read a book set in a library or bookstore; with a librarian, author, or book loving character; OR a book with the word ‘BOOK’ in the title: The Little Paris Bookshop--Nina George

JUNE- Supporting PRIDE through books. Read a book by an author who is a member of the LGBTQIA+ community or a book featuring LGBTQIA+ character(s): The Summer of Jordi Perez--Amy Spalding

JULY- Summer Lovin’ – Having a Blast. This month it’s all about the beach reads, rom coms,  and/or love stories. Pick something fun and light-hearted: People We Meet on Vacation--Emily Henry

AUGUST- Quick Lit. Novellas, Graphic Novels, Poetry Collections, books under 200 pages, one sitting reads: The Adventures of Robin Hood--Philip Edwards

SEPTEMBER- Title Play. Read a book with a clever title that uses a play on words, a pun, a joke, or titles that have double meanings: The Hating Game--Sally Thorne

OCTOBER- Murder or Magic. Read a murder mystery book or a magical realism book: Mexican Gothic--Silvia Moreno-Garcia

NOVEMBER- Books in Translation. Read any book that wasn’t originally written in your native language but has since been translated to it: In the Midst of Winter--Isabel Allende

DECEMBER- The Fire is So Delightful. Read a book that has a fire, flames, candles, smoke, or burning in the title or on the cover: Little Fires Everywhere--Celeste Ng


Challenge completed on December 9

Tuesday, November 23, 2021

2022 Four Moon Reading Challenge

 Here is a new one, just started this year at Four Moon Reviews:



1. A book about or involving a lie: The Rivals--Daisy Whitney

2. A book with a moon or stars on the cover: Twice in a Blue Moon--Christina Lauren

3. A book chosen by a child (this could be literally any book. Children's books, comic books etc.): The Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Treasure Hunt--Megan McDonald

4. A book out of season (literally any book that takes place in a season you aren't in when you read it): The Brightest Star--Fern Michaels

5. A book with less than 1000 ratings on GoodReads: My Patients and Other Animals--Suzy Finchman-Gray

6. A book with a beautiful cover: Moloka'i--Alan Brennert

7. A book with an insect on the cover: Dragonfly in Amber--Diana Gabaldon

8. A book that looks like another book you've read (just a book that has a visual similarity to another book you've read at some point in time): Would Like to Meet--Rachel Winters

9. Read the first book in a trilogy (does not have to be the same trilogy as prompts 10 & 11): A Curse So Dark and Lonely--Brigid Kemmerer

10. Read the second book in a trilogy (does not have to be the same trilogy as prompts 9 & 11): A Heart So Fierce and Broken--Brigid Kemmerer

11. Read the third book in a trilogy (does not have to be the same trilogy as prompts 9 & 10): A Vow So Bold and Deadly--Brigid Kemmerer

12. Has less than 3 colors on the cover: Unfriended--Rachel Vail

13. Newest book on your TBR shelf (the newest book you acquired as a gift  bought yourself or borrowed from the library): Call Us What We Carry--Amanda Gorman

14. On your bookshelf or TBR for 2+ years: Sleeping With Anemone--Kate Collins

15. A book involving a family (could involve any family dynamic): The Red Queen--Philippa Gregory

16. Written by an author you love: The Fixer Upper--Mary Kay Andrews

17. Written by an author you've never read before: Castle Rackrent and The Absentee--Maria Edgeworth

18. A book with a textured cover (where the cover has parts on it that are raised so you can feel them): Listen to Your Heart--Kasie West

19. Flip a Coin (choose two books then flip a coin to see which one to read): The Cactus--Sarah Haywood

20. Has a number in the title: Punk 57--Penelope Douglas

21. Has your favorite fictitious character in it (could be anything nonhuman that doesn't actually exist in the real world): Unicorn on a Roll--Dana Simpson

22. Read a book about adoption: The Quiet Little Woman--Louisa May Alcott

23. Has your favorite color on the cover: Queenie--Candice Carty-Williams

24. Has an interesting title (any book where the title intrigues you): Cat Me If You Can--Miranda James

25. Read a book then leave a review (literally any book where you leave a review, the review can be as long or as short as you want): Retro Rhythms--Francesca Damkar

26. A book that fits a prompt for another reading challenge: Hunger--Roxane Gay

27. A book featuring music: Music is History--Questlove

28. A book on a sensitive subject (this is any topic you believe is a sensitive subject, do not read something that is going to trigger you, this is just a reading challenge to try and help broaden your reading): How to Be an Antiracist--Ibram X. Kendi

29. A book that has won the GoodReads Choice Awards (any year, any topic): The Anthropocene Reviewed--John Green


31. A book released 5+ years ago: The Mockingbirds--Daisy Whitney

32. Read a middle grade book: Silverworld--Diana Abu-Jaber

33. A book with an even number of pages: The Little Paris Bookshop--Nina George

34. A book you bought because of social media: Arsenic and Adobo--Mia P. Manansala

35. A book about or involving cooking: Kitchen Confidential--Anthony Bourdain

36. A book with all the colors of the rainbow on the cover (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple): Black Buck--Mateo Askaripour

37. A book with a 40+ year old main character: The Switch--Beth O'Leary

38. A book that has pictures: The Radium Girls--Kate Moore

39. Has one of the four elements on the cover (earth, air, wind, fire; the sky would work for the air element): Beach House for Rent--Mary Alice Monroe

40. A nonfiction book on a person or subject you know nothing about: Visionary Women--Andrea Barnet

Challenge completed on September 6

Sunday, November 21, 2021

Staying Home for Thanksgiving

Once again, I will not be doing much for Thanksgiving this year. Even before COVID, my family began doing less and less on this holiday. The good thing is that there will be no leftovers. 

I always dread running out of food or other essentials just before Thanksgiving Day, as I fear the crowds in the stores of people getting food for the holiday the day before. And I don't plan on on going to stores for Black Friday, something that I have always avoided. No big plans for Christmas either, another holiday that my family has done less for in the past years, again even before COVID.

Whatever you have planned for this coming week, have a safe and happy holiday.

Thursday, November 18, 2021

While I Was Reading 2022 Challenge

 Doing this one again at Ramonamead.com


  1. A book with a question in the title: Where To, Little Wombat?--Charles Fuge
  2. A book of non-violent true crime: Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil--John Berendt
  3. A book with a cover you don’t like: Miss Herbert (The Suburban Wife)--Christina Stead
  4. A historical fiction novel not set in Europe: The Power of One--Bryce Courtenay
  5. A book with a character’s name in the title: Martin Eden--Jack London
  6. A book featuring paranormal activity (fiction or non.): The Girl Who Drank the Moon--Kelly Barnhill
  7. A book with a number in the title: Punk 57--Penelope Douglas
  8. A food-related memoir: Kitchen Confidential--Anthony Bourdain
  9. A book that’s won an award: When You Trap a Tiger--Tae Keller
  10. A middle grade novel: Out of My Mind--Sharon M. Draper
  11. A book by an author who shares your zodiac sign: Dragonfly in Amber--Diana Gabaldon
  12. A book that’s a combination of genres: Timeless--Gail Carriger


Challenge completed on September 22

Tuesday, November 16, 2021

Booklist Queen’s 2022 Reading Challenge

 Another of my favorites.


  1. By an author you love: The Fixer Upper--Mary Kay Andrews
  2. Goodreads Winner in 2021: The Anthropocene Reviewed--John Green
  3. Becoming a movie in 2022: Conversations With Friends--Sally Rooney
  4. Book with a twist: Apples Never Fall--Liane Moriarty
  5. Speculative fiction: The Midnight Library--Matt Haig
  6. Bird on the cover: Smoke and Mirrors--K.D. Halbrook
  7. About a difficult choice: The Last Chance Library--Freya Sampson
  8. Published in 2012: When It Happens to You--Molly Ringwald
  9. Name in the title: Martin Eden--Jack London
  10. Local author: Retro Rhythms--Francesca Damkar
  11. Discussion-worthy book club book: Half a Yellow Sun--Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
  12. 2021 Bestseller: The Guncle--Steven Rowley
  13. Genre you usually don't read: High Lonesome--Louis L'Amour
  14. Shakesperean play: The Merchant of Venice
  15. With a two-word title: Black Buck--Mateo Aksaripour
  16. About a Muslim protagonist: Here to Stay--Sara Farizan
  17. Set in the 1980s: Tell the Wolves I'm Home--Carol Rifka Brunt
  18. Asian American & Pacific Islander author: I'll Be the One--Lyla Lee
  19. Bottom of TBR: Girl Online On Tour--Zoe Sugg
  20. Literary fiction: Station Eleven--Emily St. John Mandel
  21. Recommended on Instagram: Lessons in Chemistry--Bonnie Garmus
  22. LGBTQ+ Book: Jay's Gay Agenda--Jason June
  23. Book everyone is talking about: The Midnight Library--Matt Haig
  24. Pulitzer Prize winner: The Night Watchman--Louise Erdrich
  25. Blue cover: Twice in a Blue Moon--Christina Lauren
  26. Author with your initials: Jemima J--Jane Green
  27. Epic adventure: We Came, We Saw, We Left--Charles Wheelan
  28. Guilty pleasure read: Miss Herbert (The Suburban Wife)--Christina Stead
  29. Audiobook: Die, Snow White! Die, You D*** Fool!--Yuri Rasovsky
  30. Catchy title: Easy Crafts for the Insane--Kelly Williams Brown
  31. About nature: Visionary Women--Andrea Barnet
  32. Two books by the same author: The Mockingbirds--Daisy Whitney
  33. Two books by the same author: The Rivals--Daisy Whitney
  34. YA fantasy: A Song Below Water--Bethany C. Morrow
  35. Purchased at a bookstore: The Emperor's Children--Claire Messud 
  36. Family Drama: Bridgerton: The Duke and I--Julia Quinn
  37. Classic you have avoided: Native Son--Richard Wright
  38. Set in Africa: The Power of One--Bryce Courtenay
  39. Recommended by a librarian: American Road Trip--Patrick Flores-Scott
  40. British author: The Switch--Beth O'Leary
  41. Reread a favorite: By the Shores of Silver Lake--Laura Ingalls Wilder
  42. Under 300 Pages: Angel of Greenwood--Randi Pink
  43. Spooky read: The Last Kids on Earth--Max Brallier
  44. Nonfiction bestseller: Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil--John Berendt
  45. Book about life: Gone to the Woods: Surviving a Lost Childhood--Gary Paulsen
  46. Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick: The Cactus--Sarah Haywood
  47. Makes you laugh: Meet Me at Emotional Baggage Claim--Lisa Scottoline and Francesca Serritella
  48. Historical novel: Code Name Verity--Elizabeth Wein
  49. 2022 new release: This Woven Kingdom--Tahereh Mafi
  50. Inspring memoir: The Rainbow Comes and Goes--Anderson Cooper & Gloria Vanderbilt
  51. Cozy mystery: Cat Me If You Can--Miranda James
  52. Own but haven't read: Eight Hundred Grapes--Laura Dave
Challenge completed on December 5

Monday, November 15, 2021

The Nerdy Bookworm 50 Books a Year Reading Challenge 2022

 Here is a new one at Emily the Nerdy Bookworm.




THE CHALLENGES:

1.  2022 New Release: This Woven Kingdom--Tahereh Mafi

2.  A Reese Witherspoon BOTM pick (because Reese is my favorite actress): The Cactus--Sarah Haywood

3.  A romance book with enemies to lovers trope: She Drives Me Crazy--Kelly Quindlen 

4.  Read a memoir: Kitchen Confidential--Anthony Bourdain

5.  Read a book based on a tv series or movie adaptation: Coco: Miguel's Guitar--RJ. Cregg

6.  Read a book that was recommended to you: Finding Me--Viola Davis

7.  Thriller novel: While Justice Sleeps--Stacey Abrams

8.  Book with two authors or more: Twice in a Blue Moon--Christina Lauren

9.  Graphic Novel: Dancing at the Pity Party--Tyler Feder

10. Hyped book that everyone is talking about: The Midnight Library--Matt Haig

11. Book that has been on your TBR list a very long time: Sleeping With Anemone--Kate Collins

12. Goodreads 2021 Winner or Nominee: The Guncle--Steven Rowley

13. Book with less than 200 pages: Retro Rhythms--Francesca Damkar

14. Listen to an audiobook: Martina the Beautiful Cockroach--Carmen Agra Deedy

15. New-to-you author: A Song Below Water--Bethany C. Morrow

16. 2022 Bestseller: Book Lovers--Emily Henry

17. A book that makes you think and contemplate life: Visionary Women--Andrea Barnet

18. Highly anticipated read: Lessons in Chemistry--Bonnie Garmus

19. Summer vibes/summer read: Beach House for Rent--Mary Alice Monroe

20.  Library book: Glass--Ellen Hopkins

21. A book where the cover caught your eye: Silverworld--Diana Abu-Jaber

22. A book by an auto-buy author of yours: The Homewreckers--Mary Kay Andrews

23. Physical book on your bookshelf: Here to Stay--Sara Farizan

24. New York Times Nonfiction Bestseller: Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil--John Berendt

25. Read a holiday romance: Coming Home For Christmas--RaeAnne Thyne

26. Read a book that gives you fall and/or creepy vibes: The Last Kids on Earth--Max Brallier

27. Read an office romance novel: Would Like to Meet--Rachel Winters

28. Read a YA book: Angel of Greenwood--Randi Pink

29. Read a book with a summer romance: People We Meet on Vacation--Emily Henry

30. Read a book that has the friends to lovers trope: The Summer of Jordi Perez--Amy Spalding

31. Read a book that has paranormal elements in it (witches, ghosts, vampires, etc.): The Girl Who Drank the Moon--Kelly Barnhill

32. A book with the color pink on the cover: Queenie--Candice Carty-Williams

33. A book that has a cover you love: The Summer Deal--Jill Shalvis

34. A book that is written in text messages, emails, or different forms of text: Meet Cute--Jennifer L. Armentrout & others

35. A book that has mental health aspects to it: Out of My Mind--Sharon M. Draper

36. A book that has a place in the title imaginary or real (example Malibu Rising, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, Beaches): The Little Paris Bookshop--Nina George

37. A coming of age story where the characters are in school: The Mockingbirds--Daisy Whitney

38. Dual timeline book: The Island of Sea Women--Lisa See

39. Book about family: Eight Hundred Grapes--Laura Dave

40. Read a romance with a single parent in it: The Bride Test--Helen Hoang

41. A book you bought from a bookstore: Castle Rackrent and The Absentee--Maria Edgeworth

42. Read a contemporary novel: Summer on Blossom Street--Debbie Macomber

43. Read a Young Adult Romance: Jay's Gay Agenda--Jason June

44. A funny book: Meet Me at Emotional Baggage Claim--Lisa Scottoline and Francesca Serritella

45.  A book with an animal in it: My Patients and Other Animals--Suzy Finchman-Gray

46. Book you meant to read last year but didn't: Dirty Rotten Tendrils--Kate Collins

47. Book with a winter scene on the cover: The Brightest Star--Fern Michaels

48.  Read a classic: Martin Eden--Jack London

49.  Read any book from a series: Game On--Janet Evanovich

50.  Free space/pick any book: Arsenic and Adobo--Mia P. Manansala

Challenge complied on December 15

Friday, November 12, 2021

What An Animal Reading Challenge 2022

 Another I have been doing. At Socrates's Book Reviews.

Welcome to the 2022 What an Animal Reading Challenge. I began hosting this challenge in 2010, when I took it over from Kristi at Passion for the Page. I love reading books that feature animals and am going to host this one again. I hope you will join me. 



The challenge will begin on January 1, 2022 and end on December 31, 2022.

The rules are really simple. I am changing it up a little bit, though...read on...

1. Any book read for this challenge has to have an animal that plays a major role in the book (which could be fiction or non-fiction.) It also counts if a main character is (or turns into) an animal (define that however you'd like). In the past, books would qualify if an animal is in the title or on the cover, but that alone no longer qualifies. This challenge is for books related to animals and just because they are in the title or on the cover, doesn't mean it's about an animal. 

These are the levels.

Level 1 - Read 6 books

Level 2 - Read 7-12

Level 3 - Read 13-20 

Level 4 - Read 21 or more

2. The animal can be any type of animal (real or fictitious)--dog, cat, monkey, wolf, snake, insect, hedgehog, aardvark...dragon, mermaid, centaur, vampire, werewolf...you get the idea...

3. Books can be fiction or nonfiction.

4. You may make a list of books at the beginning of the challenge or you can just list them as you find them.

My Books:

  1. The Twin Princes--Tedd Arnold
  2. When You Trap a Tiger--Tae Keller
  3. Martina the Beautiful Cockroach--Carmen Agra Deedy
  4. My Patients and Other Animals--Suzy Finchman-Gray
  5. Afternoon on the Amazon--Mary Pope Osborne
  6. Unicorn on a Roll--Dana Simpson
  7. Cat Me If You Can--Miranda James
  8. Dogs in the Dead of Night--Mary Pope Osborne
  9. A Cat Story--Ursula Murray Husted
  10. Unicorn Princess--Shannon Gilligan
  11. Thump, Quack, Moo--Doreen Cronin
  12. Where To, Little Wombat?--Charles Fuge
  13. Vivi Loves Science: Sink or Float--Kimberly Derting
  14. I Am a Witch's Cat--Harriet Muncaster
  15. Omar's Halloween--Maryann Kovalski
  16. Panda's Christmas Gifts--Tara Jaye Morrow
  17. Christmas--Dorothy Goeller
  18. Silent Bite--David Rosenfelt
Calling challenge complete on December 26