Book Challenge by Erin 18.0

 

Book Challenge by Erin 18.0 – Categories

• 5 points: Freebie – Read a book that is at least 200 pages: This is Where We Live--Janelle Brown

• 10 points: Read a book set in Australia or by an Australian author: Lost Autumn--Mary-Rose MacColl 

• 10 points: Read a book whose author goes by three names (ex: Jonathan Safran Foer, Taylor Jenkins Reid, Laurie Halse Anderson, Bret Easton Ellis); initials don't count: Beach House Reunion--Mary Alice Monroe

• 15 points: Read a book with "black" or "white" in the title: Back in Black--Lori Foster

• 20 points: Read a GoodReads award winner from any year; please list what year and what category the book won; this will be a big help to admins as well as potentially introduce other readers to your choice: The Office BFFs--Jenna Fischer & Angela Kinsey (2022 Humor)

• 20 points: (selected by Karen S.) – Read a book set in a small town or rural area: Tending Roses--Lisa Wingate

• 25 points: (selected by Julia) – Read a book with "heart" or "love" in the title: The Love Hypothesis--Ali Hazelwood

• 30 points: (selected by Olga) – Read a book that starts with the first letter of your first name: Jackie & Me--Louis Bayard

• 30 points: (selected by Carly) – Read a book with an unusual narrator (examples: a child, animal, ghost): Remarkably Bright Creatures--Shelby Van Pelt

• 35 points: (selected by Vinay) – Read a book with a prime number under 1000 in the title, either as numerical or words, but not the words prime or number(s) itself: Three Sisters, Three Queens--Philippa Gregory

 

Challenge completed on January 20

Christmas Movies

Now that I have a smart TV, I have discovered the joy of watching Christmas/holiday movies whenever I want, on Hulu. It has been fun so far.  

Even though I try to avoid Christmas stuff before Thanksgiving, I did watch two such movies in the days before that day, including one on Thanksgiving Eve, after stumbling on to several I had not previously know about. One was a three-movie series from Lifetime that I found last Saturday. I liked this one so much that I could not wait to see the others in the series, and now I do not have to wait for such a thing. This was the closest I have come to binge-watching as of yet, as I have rarely ever watched more than one movie on the same night. I watched yet another Christmas movie this afternoon, one from BET+. 

I do not yet know haw many more of these movies I will be watching this season. It's not even December yet. And I don't know if I will watch more than one on the same day and/or night. But getting to watch TV this way has been fun, even though I do not watch TV much. 

The three-movie series I watched last Saturday is the "Merry Liddle Christmas" movie series. It's a very fun series of movies and worth checking out, if you're looking for something new and different to watch this holiday season. 

Unabridged Podcast Reading Challenge 2023

 Will be taking part in this one for for the second time.

1. Book From an Awards List:
2. Short Story, Essay, or Poetry Collection:
3. Recommended by a Friend:
4. By an Indigenous Author:
5. YA Retelling:
6. Memoir:
7. LGBTQ+ Romance: They Both Die at the End--Adam Silvera
8. Mystery Novel or Collection: Matchup--Lee Child (ed.)
9. Classic by a BIPOC Author:
10. Work of Speculative Fiction:
11. Book About Food:
12. Book Set in a country you want to visit written by Someone from that country:

The 2023 Children's Books Reading Challenge -- for Adults

 Dong this one again.

What books qualify? That one's simple: it's up to you! Anything you think could be found in the children's section of a library or bookstore is applicable, as well as timeless classics that the whole family would enjoy. Here is a list I made from Wikipedia that I'll be working from.

I can't wait to see what everyone is reading!

My Books:

1. Snow White and the Seven Robots--Stewart Ross
2. The Green Ember--S.D. Smith
3. The Twelve Dancing Princesses--Jane Werner Watson

Shopping

Even though I avoided going out to stores early on Friday morning, I got a little brave to go out lateral after lunch. I was sure the crowds would have thinned down by then. Only few parking spaces left in the new shopping center but the stores were not too crowded. I saw that Boot Barn and TJ Maxx had both opened early that morning, according to the holidays hours posted on the glass doors. Don't remember about Ross, though, and didn't go to Famous Footwear or Ulta Beauty that day. And I did not bother trying to go to Target then, but did go today to get toilet paper.  

In honor of Small Business Saturday, I chose to visit a local shop that was giving drawings for different discounts. I found a fridge magnet that I got for 20% off. The shop has been open for a while, but I have never been inside until yesterday. The store carries home decor, gifts and food. 

Now I've already begun looking for Cyber Monday deals. Not sure if I'm going to get anything. 

Black Friday

The Land of Whatever blog posted the following music video today:

In case you have forgotten, it is today. It's now nearly 8AM in California, and as in the past, I have avoided the idea of shopping on this date. Well, maybe not completely. Three years ago on my blog, I wrote that I did go to Kmart later in the day after the crowds had thinned out (this was in 2019; Kmart closed in early 2020, before the start of the pandemic). Going after the crowds have thinned down is something I may do today. Having stayed home all day yesterday, I am feeling a need a need to get out, probably to get to the Goodwill Blue Friday sale this afternoon.

Several new stores have recently opened in my town, including Ross, TJ Maxx, Boot Barn, Famous Footwear, and Ulta Beauty. I don't know if any of them opened early today, but I can guess that TJ Maxx didn't open at 3AM. They are owned by the same company as Home Goods, where I used to work, and we never opened early on the day after Thanksgiving. I usually had that day off. And I now wondering how Target was today.

Something else I noted the blog post linked above:

I always say I won't go to any stores on the Friday after Thanksgiving. Well, certainly not to fight crowds at 3AM over a flatscreen TV (have one already). ...

Well, two weeks ago, I did get a new flat screen TV, my first-ever smart TV. On Veterans' Day, after a dentist appointment, my mom and I each went to Best Buy to look for new TVs, to get with our California Middle Class Refund debit cards. I was glad to have gotten them then, because I fear that today they would have all been sold out by 3AM.  So far I have watched some Christmas movies, though I always try to avoid Christmas stuff before Thanksgiving (but enough on that for now) as well as The Bob's Burgers movie.

Again, I am hesitant about shopping today, but if I choose to, it will be later in the day. And since I have a desire to get out, I may just go have lunch at McDonald's or Subway or something. Decisions to be made....

More Thanksgiving Fun

 

Thanksgiving Humor

2023 Gaia/Nature

 Joining this one again.

There are no strict rules to the challenge. Pledge to read as many or as few nature-themed books as you would like, just one qualifies for the challenge. The titles you choose can be either fiction or non-fiction they just have to have nature, climate or environment as an issue or theme. Share your reading via comments on Gumtrees and Galaxies, links are welcome and encouraged.

The challenge will officially start on the 1st of January 2023 and run until the 31st of December 2023. You can sign up now via the comments on this post. It is optional if you want to pledge to read particular titles but I would love to know what others are reading.

My Books:

1. Snow White and the Seven Robots--Stewart Ross
2. Beach House Reunion--Mary Alice Monroe
3. The Love Hypothesis--Ali Hazelwood
4. Remarkably Bright Creatures--Shelby Van Pelt
5. Parable of the Talents--Octavia E. Butler
6. The Green Ember--S.D. Smith

Winter 2023 Reading Challenge: It’s Snow Awesome!

Another seasonal challenge at Beyond the Bookends. Thought it says winter 2023, it starts on December 1 and runs until February 28.

Book Set During a Holiday: In a Holidaze--Christina Lauren

Family Drama or Saga: Last in a Long Line of Rebels--Lisa Lewis Tyre

Book About the Holocaust: What Was the Holocaust?--Gail Herman

Goodreads Choice Award Nominee: Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow--Gabrielle Zevin

Book Becoming a Movie: White Noise--Don DeLillo

Book Set at the Beach: The Summer of Lost and Found--Mary Alice Monroe

Feel-Good Read: Coming Home For Christmas--RaeAnne Thyne

Historical Romance: A Wallflower Christmas--Lisa Kleypas

Isolation Book: The Mapmaker's Wife--Robert Whitaker

Challenge completed on December 20

2023 Nonfiction Reader Challenge

 Another I have been doing is now up.

The aim of the Nonfiction Reader Challenge is to encourage you to make nonfiction part of your reading experience during the year.

HOW IT WORKS

You can select, read and review a book from the categories listed below during the year for a total of up to 12 books; OR select, read and review any nonfiction book. A book may be in print, electronic or audio format.

Choose a goal:

Nonfiction Nipper: Read & review 3 books, from any 3 listed categories

Nonfiction Nibbler: Read & review 6 books, from any 6 listed categories

Nonfiction Nosher: Read & review 12 books, one for each category

Nonfiction Grazer: Read & review any nonfiction book. Set your own goal

Categories:

1. History:
2. Memoir/Biography:
3. Crime & Punishment:
4. Science:
5. Health:
6. Travel:
7. Food:
8. Social Media: The Office BFFs--Jenna Fischer & Angela Kinsey
9. Sport:
10. Relationships:
11. The Arts:
12. Published in 2023:

The 52 Book Club’s 2023 Reading Challenge

 Another favorite is now up.

1. Book with a subtitle:

2. Featuring an inheritance:

3. Title starting with the letter "G": The Green Ember--S.D. Smith

4. Title starting with the letter "H":

5. Title starting with the letter "I":

6. Under 200 pages:

7. A city or country name in the title:

8. Dystopian fiction:

9. A book with a dedication:

10. Takes place during the Roaring Twenties:

11. A book about secrets:

12. High fantasy:

13. Published posthumously:

14. A survival story:

15. Set in Australia: Lost Autumn--Mary-Rose MacColl 

16. Featuring one of the 7 deadly sins:

17. By a Caribbean author:

18. Set during a war other than WWI or WWII:

19. Typographic cover:

20. A book about siblings: Three Sisters, Three Queens--Philippa Gregory

21. A second-hand book:

22. A body-positive message:

23. An alliterative title:

24. Nordic noir:

25. A fashionable character:

26. Has an epilogue:

27. Newbery Medal winner:

28. Includes a funeral:

29. Sends you down a rabbit hole:

30. An author with the same name as you:

31. Set in a workplace:

32. Published by Macmillan:

33. A banned book:

34. Featuring mythology:

35. A book you meant to read last year: This is Where We Live--Janelle Brown

36. Chapters have cliffhangers:

37. Written in the present tense: The Ex Talk--Rachel Lynn Solomon

38. An enemies-to-lovers plot:

39. The final book in a series:

40. Written by a comedian:

41. A character who is a refugee:

42. Time in the title:

43. A book "everyone" has read:

44. A contemporary setting:

45. First word in the book is "The":

46. Script font on the spine:

47. Set in the city of Dublin:

48. A book by Octavia E. Butler: Parable of the Talents

49. Books on the cover:

50. Related to the word "murder":

51. Doesn't fit any of the other 51 prompts:

52. Published in 2023:

2023 Romance Book Reading Challenge with She Reads Romance Books

One I am joining for the first time.

January – Romantic Comedy: The Love Hypothesis--Ali Hazelwood

February – Steamy Romance

March – New Adult Romance

April – Back Title on Your TBR List

May – Historical Romance

June – LGBTQ+ Romance

July – Contemporary Romance

August – A New Author to You

September – Sports Romance

October – Reread a Favorite Book!

November – Award Nominee

December – Your Favorite Trope

Booklist Queen’s 2023 Reading Challenge

 Another favorite up now. 

1. Winter Read:
2. Goodreads Winner in 2022:
3. By a Black Author:
4. More Than 500 Pages:
5. Published in Your Birth Year:
6. Famous Author You've Avoided:
7. Character with a Disability:
8. Fiction and Nonfiction Pairing:
9. Fiction and Nonfiction Pairing:
10. By a Local Author:
11. Western:
12. Own But Haven't Read: Back in Black--Lori Foster
13. Animal on the Cover: The Green Ember--S.D. Smith
14. Recommended by a Librarian:
15. Newbery Award Winner:
16. About Royalty:
17. Written Before 1850:
18. Dual Timelines: Lost Autumn--Mary-Rose MacColl
19. Dewey Decimal System: 300s:
20. Mother-Daughter Story:
21. Empowering Read:
22. World War I Book:
23. Domestic Thriller: This is Where We Live--Janelle Brown
24. 2023 New Release:
25. Read With Jenna Book Club Pick: Remarkably Bright Creatures--Shelby Van Pelt
26. A Book Everyone is Talking About:
27. Book Becoming a Movie in 2023:
28. About Complicated Relationships:
29. Recommended on TikTok:
30. Audiobook: Anxiety Disorder--Lisa Fletcher
31. Set in the 1930s:
32. Contemporary Fiction Bestseller:
33. About Adoption:
34. Genre You Usually Don't Read:
35. Title Starts with "A": Almost American Girl--Robin Ha
36. Set in South America:
37. Detective Story:
38. About Power:
39. 2022 Bestseller:
40. By an Author You Love:
41. With a Long Title: Bless the Daughter Raised by a Voice in Her Head: Poems--Warsan Shire
42. Five-Star Read:
43. YA Historical Fiction:
44. About Magic:
45. Book That Makes You Happy:
46. Award-Winning Nonfiction:
47. Modern Classic:
48. Borrowed From a Friend:
49. Red Cover:
50. Reread a Favorite:
51. Bottom of TBR:
52. Holiday Romance:

2022 Yuletide Spirit Reading Challenge and Readathon

 The annual challenge has a new blog with a  new name. I will get as many books as possible.

The holidays are upon us again! Time to sign up for the Yuletide Spirit Reading Challenge and Readathon co-event! (Yes, the site, and event, title have had a minor makeover)

Dates: November 21, 2022 through January 6, 2023

Three ways to participate:

1. Challenge - Pick a level
2. Readathon - read as much (or as little) as you want
3. Participate in both!

Regarding the reading of Christmas books, for the readathon, you do not have to read only Christmas books. I am always reading regular genres along with Christmas books during the season. Please do try to read at least one though. 🎄

For the reading challenge, these must be Christmas novels, books about Christmas lore, a book of Christmas short stories or poems, books about Christmas crafts, children's books (we even have a level for them!), etc.

Reading Challenge Levels:
--Candy Cane: read 1 book
--Mistletoe: read 2-4 books
--Christmas Tree: read 5 or 6 books, or more (this is the fanatic level!)

Additional levels:

--Fa La La La Films: watch a bunch or a few Christmas movies...it's up to you!
--Visions of Sugar Plums: read books with your children this season and share what you read

*the additional levels are optional, you still must complete one of the main reading levels above

My Books:

1. Maccabee!--Tilda Balsley
2. Panda's Christmas Gifts--Tara Jaye Morrow
3. Christmas--Dorothy Goeller
4. The Nutcracker--Jan Brett
5. A Wallflower Christmas--Lisa Kleypas
6. Kwanzaa--Martin Hintz 
7. The Christmas Coat--Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve
8. Miss Mary's Christmas Mittens--Trinka Hakes Noble
9. The Oxford Treasury of Christmas Poems--Michael Harrison
10. Coming Home For Christmas--RaeAnne Thyne
11. Silent Bite--David Rosenfelt
12. The Christmas Pearl--Dorothea Benton Frank
13. Mr. Miracle--Debbie Macomber
14. In a Holidaze--Christina Lauren
15. The Christmas Wedding Guest--Susan Mallery
16. Dreidels on the Brain--Joel Ben Izzy
17. Candy Slain Murder--Maddie Day

Challenge completed on December 25

Alphabet Soup Reading Challenge 2023

 Doing this one again.

My Books:

A  Almost American Girl--Robin Ha

B  Back in Black--Lori Foster

C 

D

E

F

G  The Green Ember--S.D. Smith

H

I

J  Jackie & Me--Louis Bayard

K

L  The Love Hypothesis--Ali Hazelwood

M My Name is Asher Lev--Chaim Potok

N

O  The Office BFFs--Jenna Fischer & Angela Kinsey

P  Parable of the Talents--Octavia E. Butler

Q

R Remarkably Bright Creatures--Shelby Van Pelt

S

T  This is Where We Live--Janelle Brown

U 

V

W White Women--Regina Jackson

X  The Ex Talk--Rachel Lynn Solomon

Y

Z

What An Animal Reading Challenge 2023

Another favorite, at Socrates' Book Reviews.

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

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...

My Books:

1. Remarkably Bright Creatures--Shelby Van Pelt
2. The Green Ember--S.D. Smith

 

Cruisin' thru the Cozies Reading Challenge 2023

 Another I have been doing for many years now.

Welcome to the 13th annual Cruisin' thru the Cozies Reading Challenge! Can you believe it's been 13 years?  I can't!  Once again, I'm giving challengers two options - one is to read only sub-genres and the other is to read cozy mysteries of your choice.

To find out exactly what a cozy mystery is, check out Cozy-Mystery.com. This site is dedicated to cozy mysteries and does a great job of defining them as well as giving a list of cozy mysteries. This challenge is NOT restricted to what is on their list, it's just to be used as a guideline in case you need some hints on what to read.

This year's cozy mystery reading challenge has two ways to participate and you can choose whichever suits you the best:

A) Read only cozy mysteries of your choice.

My Books:

1. Matchup--Lee Child (ed.)

2023 Diversity Reading Challenge

 Doing this one again.

I’m not going to make any categories or levels for this challenge, as I want it to be a bit flexible. Read as many books as you feel like reading and yes, it can be children’s books, graphic novels, e-books, non-fiction, audio books, poetry and you-name-it. As it is a diversity reading challenge, it would be mean to exclude some types of reading materials, right?

Now, what is diversity you might ask? What I mean by diversity is, but not limited to;

• People of colour/non-caucasian characters/authors
• Native Americans and other indigenous people
• LGBTQIA+
• Authors/characters defining themselves as trans, intersex, genderfluid or similar
• Refugees
• Religious minorities
• Mental illnesses/disorders
• Neurodiversity (like ADHD and autism)
• Feminist themes/issues
• Physical/mental disabilities
• Characters/authors with chronic health issues
• Characters/authors in wheelchairs
• Characters/authors with cerebral palsy, ME, MS, etc.
• Characters/authors with a learning disability

My Books:

1. Anxiety Disorder--Lisa Fletcher
2. The Love Hypothesis--Ali Hazelwood
3. Almost American Girl--Robin Ha
4. They Both Die at the End--Adam Silvera
5. Tokyo Dreaming--Emiko Jean
6. The Ex Talk--Rachel Lynn Solomon
7. White Women--Regina Jackson
8. Bless the Daughter Raised by a Voice in Her Head: Poems--Warsan Shire
9. My Name is Asher Lev--Chaim Potok

Time Change

 As always, I dread the change of time.

I wish I could tell this to the cats.

2023 Diversify Your Reading Challenge

 Doing this one again. 

The 2023 Diversify Your Reading Challenge (DYRC) features a swing genre in October where you can choose your preference of Fiction or Non-Fiction. Based on your pick, the 2023 challenge will include 3-4 Non-Fiction genres and 8-9 Fiction genres. We’re also bringing back one of my favorite non-fiction genres: Self-Help. This is such a broad genre that you can choose something most relevant to your circumstances – I think that reading a self-help book is a great way to kick off the year and set you up for a <brilliant/productive/inspiring/insert adjective of choice> 2023!

Now, here we go…the 2023 Diversify Your Reading Challenge genres:

• January: Self-Help: Anxiety Disorder--Lisa Fletcher
• February: Romance
• March: Literary Fiction
• April: Memoir
• May: Young Adult
• June: Thriller
• July: Non-Fiction
• August: Contemporary Fiction
• September: Fantasy
• October: True Crime/Mystery
• November: Historical Fiction
• December: Science Fiction