The 2020 MomAdvice Reading Challenge

Despite the name of this blog, I want to join this one 😀 It has prompts that are up my alley.

Recommended by a favorite online source/podcast- The Friend Zone--Abby Jimenez

Being adapted for film- The Call of the Wild--Jack London

Set in a rural location- The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency--Alexander McCall Smith

A memoir or journal- Pretty in Plaid--Jen Lancaster


One you meant to read in 2019- Just Don't Fall--Josh Sundquist

By Someone Younger Than You- Soul Surfer--Bethany Hamilton

With a beautiful cover- Taking It All--Maya Banks

A 2019 GoodReads selection that did not win- The Unhoneymooners--Christina Lauren

About mental illness- My Lovely Wife in the Psych Ward--Mark Lukach

With a dysfunctional family- Megan Meade's Guide to the McGowan Boys--Kate Brian 

A MomAdvice Book Club pick- Nothing to See Here--Kevin Wilson

A political book- From the Corner of the Oval--Beck Dorey-Stein


Recommended by a Librarian- I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter--Erika L. Sanchez

About music or a musician- Daisy Jones & the Six--Taylor Jenkins Reid

Written by a woman of color-  My Sister, the Serial Killer--Oyinkan Brathwaite

Set around a holiday- 19th Christmas--James Patterson


On addiction- More, Now, Again--Elizabeth Wurtzel (reread)

A novel set during a war- Black Dove, White Raven--Elizabeth Wein

One you haven’t read by a favorite author- Sunset Beach--Mary Kay Andrews

About a religion or culture you are unfamiliar with- A Queer and Pleasant Danger--Kate Bornstein

On an immigrant experience- Ordinary Girls--Jaquira Diaz


One that challenges your own viewpoint- My Fair Lazy--Jen Lancaster

About a news headline topic- I'm Still Here--Austin Channing Brown

About an artist- Maya Lin: Thinking With Her Hands--Susan Goldman Rubin


Challenge completed on August 7

The 2020 European Reading Challenge

Have loved doing this one. Will get as many as I can of next year.

January 1, 2020 to January 31, 2021

WHAT COUNTS AS "EUROPE"?: We stick with the standard list of 50 sovereign states that fall (at least partially) within the geographic territory of the continent of Europe and/or enjoy membership in international European organizations such as the Council of Europe. This list includes the obvious (the UK, France, Germany, and Italy), the really huge Russia, the tiny Vatican City, and the mixed bag of Baltic, Balkan, and former Soviet states.

Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Macedonia, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, and Vatican City.

NOTE: Even with Brexit, the United Kingdom is still one country, in Europe, that includes England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. So one book from any one of these four counts as your one book for the United Kingdom. I'm not a stickler about it because challenges should be about fun not about rules. However, when it comes to winning the Jet Setter prize, only one book from one of the UK countries counts.


My Books:

1. And Then There Were None--Agatha Christie (UK)
2. The Girl With the Red Balloon--Katherine Locke (Germany)
3. Lysistrata--Aristophanes (Greece)
4. An Appetite for Violets--Martine Bailey (Italy)
5. The Guest List--Lucy Foley (Ireland)
6. The Lost Vintage--Ann Mah (France)

Calling challenge completed on December 15

Femibooks' Nonfiction Challenge 2020

Years ago, I had participated in a feminist reading challenge. None have appeared since then, but this one from this Instagram user comes close.

My Books:

1. Professional Development: Girl, Stop Apologizing--Rachel Hollis
2. History: I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings--Maya Angelou
3. Memoir From a Writer Who is Still Alive: Ordinary Girls--Jaquira Diaz
4. Essay Collection: Pretty in Plaid--Jen Lancaster
5. Written by Multiple Women: XYZ Factor--Nancy Lublin & Alyssa Ruderman
6. Popular Science: Rise of the Rocket Girls--Nathalia Holt
7. Feminism: Colonize This!--Daisy Hernandez and Bushra Rehman
8. Politics: From the Corner of the Oval--Beck Dorey-Stein
9. Food: Around the World in 80 Dinners--Cheryl Alters Jamison
10. LGBTQ+: A Queer and Pleasant Danger--Kate Bernstein
11. Health: Soul Surfer--Bethany Hamilton
12. Biology or Nature: Silent Spring--Rachel Carson
13. Graphic Novel: Honor Girl--Maggie Thrash
14. Activism: Make Trouble--Cecile Richards
15. Memoir From a Writer Who Passed Away: More, Now, Again--Elizabeth Wurtzel (reread)
16. Published in 2020: Uncanny Valley--Anna Wiener
17. Prize Winner: The Liars' Club--Mary Karr
18. Religion or Spirituality: I Really Needed This Today--Hoda Kotb
19. Speech: We Should All Be Feminists--Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
20. Longer Than 500 Pages: The Brontes--Juliet Barker
21. From the 20th Century: His Bright Light--Danielle Steel
22. Climate Change: The Story of More--Hope Jahren
23. Short-Listed: The Firebrand and the First Lady--Patricia Bell-Scott
24. Economics: Real Money Answers for Every Woman--Patrice C. Washington

Challenge completed on September 26

2020 Audiobook Challenge

The annual Audiobook Challenge at Hotlistens is now up. I will be getting at last one audio per month.

My Listens:

1. Superfudge--Judy Blume (reread)
2. Kiss and Tell--Fern Michaels
3. Sea Glass Island--Sherryl Woods
4. My Fair Lazy--Jen Lancaster
5. The Poets' Corner--John Lithgow
6. Make Trouble--Cecile Richards
7. Identical--Ellen Hopkins
8. My Sister, the Serial Killer--Oyinkan Brathwaite
9. Red, White & Royal Blue--Casey McQuiston
10. Pure Joy--Danielle Steel
11. I'm Still Here--Austin Channing Brown
12. Then Again, Maybe I Won't--Judy Blume
13. You Are a Bada**--Jen Sincero
14. The One and Only Bob--Katherine Applegate
15. Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret--Judy Blume (reread)
16. Thad, the Ghost and Me--Margaret Peterson Haddix
17. Zombies vs. Unicorns--Holly Black and others
18. Ghost Boys--Jewell Parker Rhodes
19. Lions at Lunchtime--Mary Pope Osborne
20. A Ghost Tale for Christmastime--Mary Pope Osborne

Challenge completed on December 1

Stocking Stuffers for Writers

I haven't hung a stocking since I was a child, but have memories of all the stuff I would find in it. Books, cassettes, candy, toys, jewelry, lip gloss are just some things I can recall finding. What are some of your favorite stocking stuffers as a child?

If any of you writers out there do, what would you like to receive in your stocking? If I still did this, I would like to receive any of the following:

Sounds like fun.

Would love to have more story cube sets.

See above.

Another idea that sounds fun.

And any book of writing prompts will be good. And much more writing stuff I've encountered on Amazon. This is the kind of stuff I'd like to receive, not just pens, pencils, and notebooks.

 Of course, there is no need to have stockings when all of these can be purchased on Amazon or elsewhere. And since I've gotten used to not having large family gatherings with presents, there is no need to make lists like this anymore. That's one of the things about Christmas when you get older. It seems to be less and less about presents. However, you still have the option of getting these items for yourself, so you could call this a "Virtual Christmas Stocking" or list. But these aren't just for Christmas. 

But if you had to give a present to a writer friend, what would you give? And if you still receive presents, what would you be wishing for?

Foggy Pine Books 2020 Reading Challenge

This is one through Foggy Pine Books, an indie bookstore (can't seem to find where, though not near me). I still like the prompts on this one and am joining.

1. Asian Author: The Lost Vintage--Ann Mah
2. 2019 National Book Award Winner: The Yellow House--Sarah M. Broom
3. Written Before 1950: And Then There Were None--Agatha Christie
4. By Two Authors: Windhaven--George R.R. Martin and Lisa Tuttle
5. Romance: The Friend Zone--Abby Jimenez
6. Book of Poetry by a Southern Poet: Taking the Arrow Out of the Heart--Alice Walker
7. Middle Grade Novel: The Planet of Junior Brown--Virginia Hamilton
8. Local Author: Imaginary Animal--Rachelle Linda Escamilla
9. Memoir About Mental Illness: My Lovely Wife in the Psych Ward--Mark Lukach
10. Collection of Essays: Pretty in Plaid--Jen Lancaster
11. About the History of a Part of the World You've Always Wanted to Visit: The Mute Stones Speak: The Story of Archaeology in Italy--Paul MacKendrick
12. A Picture Book: The Day You Begin--Jacqueline Woodson
13. Book With a Red Cover: The Swans of Fifth Avenue--Melanie Benjamin
14. One-Word Title: Cranford--Elizabeth Gaskell
15. "Dark" in the Title: Dark and Deepest Red--Anna-Marie McLemore
16. By a Jewish Author: A Queer and Pleasant Danger--Kate Bornstein
17. Graphic Novel That Doesn't Have Superheroes: Honor Girl--Maggie Thrash
18. Favorite Color in the Title: My Life in Pink and Green--Lisa Greenwald
19. Book on the NPR Concierge List for 2019: Daisy Jones & the Six--Taylor Jenkins Reid
20. Coming-of-Age Story: Black Dove, White Raven--Elizabeth Wein
21. Book About a Family That Doesn't Look Like Yours: I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter--Erika L. Sanchez
22. Book by a Transgender/Nonbinary Author: Trans Like Me--CN Lester
23. Book Set in the Fall: Separation Anxiety--Laura Zigman
24. Historical Fiction: White Fang--Jack London

Challenge completed on November 26

Eva vs. the World #20Readsin2020

This one at this Instagram account.

My Books:

1. Genre You Don't Usually Read: Girl, Stop Apologizing--Rachel Hollis
2. Written in the Past Decade: I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter--Erika L. Sanchez
3. Cover You Like: Wayward Son--Rainbow Rowell
4. Author From Your Home Country: California Girl--T. Jefferson Parker
5. Been on Your Shelf for More Than a Year: Bad Boys With Expensive Toys--Nancy Warren/MaryJanice Davidson/Karen Kelley
6. Book You Got Recently: Taking It All--Maya Banks
7. Coming of Age Story: Black Dove, White Raven--Elizabeth Wein
8. Award-Winning Book: Elijah of Buxton--Christopher Paul Curtis
9. Non-Fiction Book: Ordinary Girls--Jaquira Diaz
10. Deals With Mental Health: My Lovely Wife in the Psych Ward--Mark Lukach
11. Originally Written in Foreign Language: The House of the Spirits--Isabel Allende
12. Book From TBR Stack--Picked Blindfolded: In a German Pension--Katherine Mansfield
13. Chosen For You: The Stand--Stephen King
14. Set in a Country You Want to Visit: The Betrothed--Alessandro Manzoni
15. Beloved Book From Your Childhood: Morning is a Little Child--Joan Walsh Anglund
16. Published in 2020: The Jetsetters--Amanda Eyre Ward 
17. Recommended by a  Celebrity: The Liars' Club--Mary Karr
18. Got Because of Bookstagram: Such a Fun Age--Kiley Reid
19. Author's One and Only Published Book: This Star Won't Go Out--Esther Earl
20. About Friendship: Best Friends Forever--Kimberla Lawson Roby

Challenge completed on September 22