Simone’s Comments (group member since Feb 13, 2019)

Simone’s comments from the Around the Year in 52 Books group.

- Title: Where the Blue Sky Begins
- Author: Katie Powner
- Rating: 5
- Format (Print, eBook, Audio): audio & ebook
- Brief reason why it was the best: The characters were hilarious! There was even a Polish chicken named Cinderella. The author did a great job of combining the sad topic of grief and the light-hearted topics of humor and snarkiness. This book made me laugh and cry at the same time.
My detailed review can be found on my blog: https://simmysmusings.com/2024/03/03/...

- Title: Just 18 Summers
- Author: Rene Gutteridge
- Rating: 5
- Format (Print, eBook, Audio): ebook
- Prompt: I used it for a prompt that didn't make the 2024 list: A book by an author born between 1965-1980 (Generation X); the author was born in 1972
- Brief reason why it was the best: The book talks about how precious time is and how fast it flies. While the book follows the parents in 4 families, all types of readers can relate to these characters.

I finished the challenge. This time, I will only do one round. Usually, I do one round for each of the possible ways to fill the prompts.

S - Author last name: Ruth Soukup - Unstuffed: Decluttering Your Home, Mind & Soul
N - Genre: nonfiction - Pivot: The Only Move That Matters is Your Next One
O - One Step Behind
W - Author's first name: William Gibson - The Miracle Worker: A Play
F - Fire Storm
L - Author's last name: C. S. Lewis - The Magician's Nephew
A - Author's first name: Agatha Christie - The Clocks
K - Author's first name: Kateri Akiwenzie-Damm, et al. - This Place: 150 Years Retold
E - Empress of All Seasons
S - Singapore Sapphire

F - Felicity
A - Ace: What Asexuality Reveals About Desire, Society, and the Meaning of Sex
L - Leave the World Behind
L - Author's first name: Laura Thalassa - A Strange Hymn
I - Author's first name: Ibi Zoboi - Pride
N - Genre: nonfiction - The Pretty One: On Life, Pop Culture, Disability, and Other Reasons to Fall in Love With Me
G - Gilded

I found this one a bit late but still made it work for me. I finished it!!

A - Alpha: Dark Lover (the "pack" of shapeshifters has an alpha) - 02/09/2021
B - Bravo: The Brothers Karamazov (title starts with same letter as Bravo) - 01/18/21
C - Charlie: Some Choose Darkness (author's first name is Charlie) - 04/05/21
D - Delta: The Song of Achilles (Delta is a letter of the Greek alphabet - MCs are gods in Greek mythology) - 07/09/21
E - Echo: There There (echo repeats words, word repeated in the title) - 09/10/21
F - Foxtrot: Dance Away with Me - Susan Elizabeth Phillips (Foxtrott is a dance, "dance" in the title) - 01/29/21
G - Golf: Malibu Rising (golf is a type of sport, MC in book are surfers = sport) - 09/06/21
H - Hotel: A Criminal Game (MC is a night manager at a hotel) - 08/12/21
I - India: Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows (set in India) - 07/10/21
J - Juliet: The Odyssey (Romeo and Juliet is a classic and so is The Odyssey) - 01/09/21
K - Kilo: The Girl from Berlin - Kate Hewitt (kilo = metric measurement, used and preferred in Germany; book set in Germany) - 02/27/21
L - Lima: To Selena, With Love (author and wife = Mexican-American; Mexico = Latin America; Lima = capital of Peru; Peru = Latin America) - 12/08/21
M - Mike: Forgotten City (Mike is nickname for Michael; author's first name is Michael) - 01/31/21
N - November: Jurassic Park (first published in November 1990) - 01/05/21
O - Oscar: The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao (Oscar is a word in the title) - 10/23/21
P - Papa: Pride and Premeditation (title starts with same letter as Papa) - 03/09/21
Q - Quebec: Life of Pi (Quebec is in Canada, Martel is a Canadian author) - 08/11/21
R - Romeo: Head Over Heels (Romeo and Juliet were a couple madly in love; book is romance and features a couple) - 02/11/21
S - Sierra: The Bear (Sierra = long jagged mountain chain; book set in the mountains) - 09/07/21
T - Tango: Tuesdays with Morrie - Michel Alborn (title starts with T like tango) - 02/21/21
U - Uniform: Freiheit!: The White Rose Graphic Novel (set in Germany during Nazi time; SS wears uniforms) - 02/05/21
V - Victor: City of Ghosts (female version of Victor is Victoria, Victoria is the author's first name) - 10/13/21
W - Whiskey: The Comic Book Story of Beer: The World's Favorite Beverage from 7000 BC to Today's Craft Brewing Revolution (beer and Hennessey (author's last name) are both alcoholic beverages like whiskey) - 03/30/21
X - X-ray: Active Defense(x-rays are done in hospitals and doctor's offices; MC is a nurse) - 03/28/21
Y - Yankee: A Prayer for Owen Meany (Southerners mostly referred to New Englanders as Yankees during the Civil War; book set in New England) - 05/21/21
Z - Zulu: The Museum Murder (biggest Zulu population is in South Africa; the author duo is South African) - 04/05/21

I completed all three prompts for all months. Here is what I read:

JUNE

1. Start of Summer
a. Read a happy book - Miss Merkel: Mord in der Uckermark
b. Read a book published in June, July, or August. - The Suicide House (July 28, 2020)
c. Read a book from one of the following lists: Beach Read Royalty Recommends Summer Books - Malibu Rising

2. June Birthday: Octavia E. Butler
a. Read book whose main character is a Black woman. - So You Want to Talk About Race
b. Read a science fiction book. - Trail of Lightning
c. Read a winner of the Hugo Award. - The Calculating Stars

3. Pride Month
a. Read a book with at least 5 different colors of the rainbow on the cover. -
b. Read a book featuring an LGBTQIA+ protagonist (not side character). - Boy Erased: A Memoir of Identity, Faith, and Family
c. Read a book written by an author who was nominated for the Lambda Award. - Pizza Girl

4. Set Sail
a. Read a book that starts with a letter in SAILING. - I Remember You
b. Read a book with a boat on the cover.
c. Read a book that takes place completely on an island. - The House in the Cerulean Sea

JULY

1. Halfway there!
a. Read a book with a number in the title. - Twelve Years a Slave
b. Read a book that is divided into multiple parts (rather than, or in addition to, chapters). - The Once and Future Witches
c. Read a book featuring twin characters. - The Lying Game

2. July Birthday: Madeline Miller
a. Read a book whose author's initials are found in MADELINE MILLER. - The Twenty-Ninth Day (by Alex Messenger)
b. Read a retelling of a myth, fable, or fairytale. - Baba Yaga Laid an Egg
c. Read a book nominated for the Women's Prize for Fiction. - Transcendent Kingdom

3. It's Winter Down South
a. Read a romance book. - The Song of Achilles
b. Read a book with snow on the cover. -
c. Read a book whose title starts with a letter in FROSTY THE SNOWMAN. - Tipping the Velvet

4. Take a Dip
a. Read a book whose title starts with a letter in OCEAN. - Autobiography of a Face
b. Read a book whose author initials can be found in TAKE A DIP. - French Quarter Clues - (by Eva Pohler)
c. Read a book featured on one of these lists: 34 of the Best Beach Reads to Help You Escape - One Last Stop

AUGUST

1. Back to School
a. Read a book by an author that is new-to-you. - The Boy Who Drew Auschwitz: A Powerful True Story of Hope and Survival
b. Read a YA book. - Shatter Me
c. Read a book often tested on the AP Literature exam, as found on this list. - The Death of Ivan Ilych and Other Stories

2. August Birthday: John Green
a. Read a contemporary book. - Flights
b. Read a stand-alone novel (not part of a series). - The Queen's Vow: A Novel of Isabella of Castile
c. Read a book nominated for the Printz Award. - Long Way Down

3. Summer Reading
a. Read the newest book by a favorite author. - What You Said to Me (by Olivia Newport)
b. Read the next book in a series you've already started. - Beyond Tuesday Morning (book2 in the series)
c. Read a book published in 2021 that you've been looking forward to. - Murder at the Fair

4. Jump on a Plane
a. Read an adventure book. - The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon
b. Read a book set in a country you've never visited. - The Moon Over Kilmore Quay: An absolutely gripping emotional page-turner with a heartbreaking twist (Ireland)
c. Read a book featuring a character that travels to multiple countries. - The Gown (England, Canada)

I finished my challenge on October 1. For this challenge, I read quite a few good books. Here are my stats:

Format:
Audio: 40x
Ebook: 12x
Print: 0x

Type of book:
Novel: 36x
Graphic novel: 4x
Nonfiction: 10x

Genres:
I selected the genre based on Goodreads main page genres!

Fantasy: 8x
Thriller: 1x
Horror: 2x
Sci-Fi: 9x
Contemporary: 8x
Mystery/suspense: 3x
Autobiography/memoir: 9x
Anthology: 2x
Historical fiction: 8x
Other nonfiction: 2x

Star rating:

5 stars: 28x
4 stars: 21x
3 stars: 2x
2 stars: 1x
1 star: 0x

​Average rating: 4.47 stars

What is interesting for me to see is how my interests in genres has shifted. A few years ago, I preferred nonfiction/personal development books, mystery/suspense, and true crime. I have ventured out of my comfort zone a lot in the last couple of years and I have found out that I also love retellings, sci-fi (in particular dystopian, apocalyptic, post-apocalyptic), and Christian fiction/nonfiction.

Two books I'm really glad I read for this challenge and would otherwise probably have pushed further down on my TBR were Oryx and Crake and Pestilence.

There were some books I had planned to read for the challenge, but either didn't feel in the mood to read for it or even DNFed (which is rare because I had DNFing books). For example, I had added American Gods to my plan because everyone kept raving about it. However, I think I have a love-hate relationship with Neil Gaiman. His books are a hit or miss for me. I did DNF this book. I just couldn't get into it.

Karissa, I didn't enjoy Night Circus as much as I wanted. She has a beautiful way of describing scenery and all, but I just couldn't connect with the MCs. I liked the other characters much better. I will give Starless Sea a try, but I'm not going in with the expectation that I will like it more than Night Circus.

Alison wrote: "If you like the combination of fantasy/romance, I really enjoyed A Court of Thorns and Roses (I flew through the whole series) ..."

I avoided reading it for the longest because I oftentimes don't like hyped books, but the entire ACOTAR series has become one of my favorites. I love Rhysand. I think he is my book crush lol.

Here is my recommendation for you, Alison. I looked at the books on your to-read challenge to find some that I can recommend:

1) Hunting Prince Dracula
This one is great!!! It combines historical fiction, fantasy, retelling, and romance. I loved the entire series!

2) If you are into smutty romance, read Verity
This book kept me at the edge of my seat the entire time and OMG, it gets steamy too ;-) It's contemporary, not historical fiction, but a fantastic read!

3) One of my favorites this year was Aurora Rising It's not historical fiction, but fits your favorites romance and fantasy. I'd recommend listening to the audiobook. They use multiple narrators and that makes the book even better. I can't wait for the sequel!

4) I literally just finished The Storyteller. Not quite as much a tearjerker as The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah or We Were the Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter, but a great dual-timeline book. Jodi Picoult perfectly combines the two timelines. Sometimes the book is a bit predictable, but then there comes a plot twist. It does have a bit of romance in it too.

5) There is one book on your list that has my book boyfriend/crush in it lol. Thorne is the best character in the entire series! So I will add another fantasy semi-romance book to your recs: Cress

I hope you like these as much as I liked them! You should totally read them all. I recommend fitting them into your ATY Winter Challenge. They are such great books!

Kathryn wrote: "Hey Simone, I've compared the books you and I have in common that I'd read, and then I looked at books that I've enjoyed that aren't on your GR TBR list. So I'm giving you some recommendations for ..."
Thaaaaaankkkksss!!! I'm going with J. K. Rowling. I tried reading it this year and I just couldn't get into it, even though I really liked Cormoran's flaws and wit. I will start over again and finish it this time.

Star-rating of books that I read for the ATY Challenge

5 stars: 29/52
4 stars: 19/52
3 stars: 3/52
2 stars: 1/52
1 star: 0/52

My creative twist on a prompt
A book featuring a historical figure - The book I read was a non-fiction in novel format. It featured someone who was breaking news - but not necessarily a historical figure per se; it does also mention other people related this story and/or profession and experts
The Last Dive: A Father and Son's Fatal Descent into the Ocean's Depths

First book read for the challenge:
The Wicked Will Rise
(finished on Jan. 29)

Last book read for the challenge:
Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI
(finished on Sept. 17)

My least favorite prompt
A book related to STEM

A book I might not have read if not for the ATY Challenge (but I’m so glad I did!)

Effi Briest
I had to read this book in highschool and hated it; because of the "published before 1950" prompt, I decided to give it another chance to see if I liked it better as an adult and I did!!

The Girl He Used to Know
I used this book for the dual timeline prompt. It is now on the list of my all-time favorite books. I found out this year that I love neudiverse characters and this book was fantastic.

Heart of Iron
I chose this book simply because of the "iron" in the title (element of the periodic table), the cover, and the GR description. I loved it so much that I'm currently reading the sequel.

No Exit
This book had been on my TBR for a while and I chose it because of the winter setting of the book (for the prompt "related to something cold"). This book kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time and I read it in one sitting.

Verity
Another book that drew me in and wouldn't let me go until the last page was read.

Murder with Collard Greens and Hot Sauce
Even though this is the 3rd book in the series, I read this one first. It is such a funny, suspenseful, delicious story. The author even includes recipes. The MC is the owner of a Soul Food restaurant. Her cousin is hilarious! The recipes are dishes that the MC serves in her restaurant.

A book I might not have read if not for the ATY Challenge (and I wish I hadn’t!)

Well, I hope I won't get tortured for this, but there are a few hyped books loved by many that I have to add to this list.

Alice in Wonderland
I loved the characters (except for Alice), but the language drove me bonkers.

All the Light We Cannot See
I guess The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah and a few other great WW2 books spoiled me because this one didn't draw me in at all. The only time I got excited was when they mentioned a tiny town near my hometown that I have no clue the author knew.

Beneath a Scarlet Sky
I really wanted to love this book! The cover is so gorgeous and the story itself was great! But the author just frustrated me so much! He drew out chapters that I didn't really cared for/didn't need drawing out and cut others short that I really wanted to know more about.

And here comes my biggest disappointment of the ATY challenge in 2019:
Nevernight
I made the huge mistake of listening to the audio of this book. If you have not read this book yet, read the printed or ebook edition. The narrator killed the book for me. This story is a story from the perspective of a 14-year-old girl. The narrator is a grown man. He even tries a high pitch during the parts where the girl speaks. That in itself is not that bad; however, this book is in part sexually explicit and a grown man reading a young girl's part in a high-pitch voice during a sexual encounter is a major turnoff!!!

--------------------------------------------------

I really enjoyed the challenge! Good luck to everyone who is attempting last-minute completion. Happy reading!

1. What genre would you like a recommendation for?
Murder mystery or retellings

2. Is this a genre that’s new to you or one of your favourites?
Both favorites!

3. What genre(s) would you be able to give a recommendation for?
Murder mystery, suspense, historical fiction, Christian fiction, books with neurodiverse characters

4. Is there anything the person recommending a book for you should know about the type of books you like?
I love action-packed books and books where the characters have issues (mental, struggling, etc.). I'm not so much into romance. I don't mind a bit, but it shouldn't be the focal point of the book.

Jette wrote: "Nicole wrote: "From what I understood in the discussion, the "book you are already familiar with..." prompt was meant for you to read a book about a story you are already familiar with.

Maybe you..."
I read a manga version of Les Miserables and it was fantastic.

Read: 0/36

September

1. To Autumn

🍁 Read a book with a title that includes any word of four or more letters that appears in the poem
🍁 Read a book first published in a year that includes at least two of the numbers 1, 8, and 9
🍁 Read a book by an author named John or a reasonable variation

Planning:
Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI
An American Marriage (2018)
The Day of the Triffids

2. Fall Into Autumn

🍁 Read a book by an author whose first or last name starts with A or F
🍁 Read a book that has been published under at least two different titles
🍁 Read a book with a title that includes a word that is spelled differently in British and American English.

Planning:
With the Fire on High
My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry also: My Grandmother Sends Her Regards and Apologises
What Color Is Your Parachute? A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career-Changers (color/colour)

3. Rugby World Cup

🍁 Read a book set in any of the 20 countries who have qualified for the tournament
🍁 Read a book by an author with a three word name
🍁 Read a book where the main character is a professional sportsperson

Planning:
Fangirl
Howl's Moving Castle
The Legend of Bagger Vance: A Novel of Golf and the Game of Life

4. Abbey Road

🍁 Read a book with a cover image that shows four or more people
🍁 Read a book by an author who has the same initials as a member of The Beatles
🍁 Read a book where a secret or hiding place is important to the plot

Planning:
Infected
We Were the Lucky Ones
Angels & Demons (secret society Illuminati)

October

1. Poem in October

🍁 Read a book with a picture of any living thing, setting or object mentioned in the poem on the cover (eg birds, sailing boat, harbour, owls, garden)
🍁 Read a book set in a location that begins with a letter found in the word LAUGHARNE
🍁 Read a book by a Welsh author

Planning:
Mockingjay
The Oath (Hyde River)
Matilda

2. Dictionary Day

🍁 Read a book with the number 1 or 6 in the page count
🍁 Read a book in which one of the most frequently looked up words appears anywhere in the text.
🍁 Read a book with a title or subtitle that includes a word of 10 letters or more.

Planning:
Unnatural Creatures (462 pg)
Catching Fire (President Snow: "Peeta. How is the love of your life?" he asks.)
The Choice (Escaping the Past and Embrace the Possible)

3. The Booker Prize

🍁 Read a book first published in October (of any year)
🍁 Read a book by an author whose initials appear in BOOKER PRIZE
🍁 Read a book that has won or been included in the shortlist for the Booker Prize

Planning:
Allison Shatters the Looking-Glass (Oct. 23, 2018)
Fahrenheit 451
The Handmaid's Tale

4. Halloween

🍁 Read a book where the first letter of every word in the title appears in TRICK OR TREAT
🍁 Read a book with a cover that is mostly orange or black OR that has a a pumpkin, skull or witch on it
🍁 Read a book that appears on one of these lists:
🎃 Goodreads: Best Books to Read for Halloween
🎃 31 Books to put you in the Halloween Spirit
🎃 15 Scary Halloween Books

The Orphan's Tale
The Bone Witch
The Graveyard Book

November

1. No sun, no moon! No morn, no noon ... November!

🍁 Read a book whose title begins with a letter in NOVEMBER (A, An and The may be ignored)
🍁 Read a book set in or first published in the nineteenth century (1800 - 1899 inclusive)
🍁 Read a book of poetry.

Planning:
Wynonna Earp Volume 1: Homecoming
Manga Classics: Great Expectations
Under Milk Wood

2. George Eliot

🍁 Read a book with a repeated number in the page count
🍁 Read a book by an author who has published at least seven novels.
🍁 Read a book published under a pen name or pseudonym

Planning:
Daughter of the Pirate King (311 pg)
DEV1AT3
Eighth Grade Bites (Zac Brewer - Heather Brewer)

3. NaNoWriMo

🍁 Read a book first published in 1999 or later.
🍁 Read a book where the first letter of each word in the title appears in NANOWRIMO
🍁 Read a book that began as a NaNoWriMo novel

Planning:
Cress
Interpreter of Maladies
The Night Circus

4. The Longest Journey

🍁 Read a book in which a main character goes on a long journey
🍁 Read a book where all the letters in ARCTIC TERN can be found in the title and/or subtitle
🍁 Read a book from one of these lists of popular travel books:
🌍 Goodreads: Popular travel books
🌍 Best travel memoirs to inspire Wanderlust
🌍 BookRiot: 30 of the best travel memoirs

Planning:
The Road
Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup
The Hobbit or There and Back Again

Anastasia wrote: "A book about a non-traditional family..."

I second this prompt.

I completed a second round with different prompts (I posted completed round 1 books in post 161 in this thread!

Here are the books read for round 2:

JUNE

☀️ Read a book that appears on one of the Goodreads staff summer reading lists (completed in round one)
☀️ Read a book which appears on this list of best-selling books of all time
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
completed on August 1, 2019

2. June, July, August
☀️ Read a book by an author whose first or last name starts with J or A. (completed in round 1)
☀️ Read a book that was first published in June, July or August of any year.
Pirate Hunters: Treasure, Obsession, and the Search for a Legendary Pirate Ship
completed on July 31, 2019

3. Bloomsday
16 June is Bloomsday, a celebration of the life of James Joyce. His book Ulysses takes place entirely on 16 June.
☀️ Read a book with a main character whose name begins with a letter in LEOPOLD BLOOM (completed in round 1)
☀️ Read a book by an author who has the same first and last initials
A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail
completed on July 12, 2019

4. Beach reads
Who doesn’t love sitting on the beach or by a swimming pool soaking up the sun and enjoying a good book?
☀️ Read a book where the first letter of each word in the title appears in BEACH or SWIMMING POOL (completed in round 1)
☀️ Read a book with the sun, sea or a swimming pool on the cover OR a book with a mostly yellow or blue cover
The Last Dive: A Father and Son's Fatal Descent into the Ocean's Depths
completed on July 31, 2019

JULY

1. Summer in the City
Another famous summer song, this was top of the charts for three weeks in summer 1966.
☀️ Read a book by an author whose first and last initials appear in SUMMER IN THE CITY (completed in round 1)
☀️ Read a book set in a capital city

Neverwhere
completed on July 5, 2019

2. Travel the world
Summer is the perfect time for travelling and exploring new places, or “visiting” new places by reading about them.
☀️Read a book set in a country other than the one you currently live in
Stalking Jack the Ripper
completed on July 26, 2019
☀️ Read a book set in a fictional location (completed in round 1)

3. Nelson Mandela Day
Held on 18 July, this day honours the legacy of Nelson Mandela.
☀️ Read a book with a main character whose name begins with N or M. (completed in round 1)
☀️ Read a book by an African author or a book set in an African country
Children of Blood and Bone
completed on July 29, 2019

4. Winter Wonderland
Let’s not forget readers in the Southern Hemisphere who will be in the middle of winter during this challenge.
❄️ Read a book set in or by an author from a country in the Southern Hemisphere
Lifel1k3
completed on July 3, 2019
❄️ Read a book from one of these winter reading lists:
⛄️ Best books to read when the snow is falling
⛄️ 20 books for the cold dark months
⛄️ TED’s winter reading list
(completed in round 1)

AUGUST

1. Summer Nights
One of the most famous songs from the musical Grease, Summer Nights was a hugely popular song in summer 1978.
☀️ Read a book published in a year that includes any two of the numbers 1, 9, 7, 8 (eg 1955, 2017, 1802, etc) (completed in round 1)
☀️ Read a book where an event that’s important to the plot takes place at night
The Doom of the Haunted Opera
completed on July 16, 2019

2. Summer is too short for bad books
So pick a book you’re pretty sure you’ll enjoy.
☀️ Read a book in a series you enjoy (completed in round 1)
☀️ Read a book by a favourite author
Beartown
completed on July 22, 2019

3. International Beer Day
Held on the first Friday in August, this day encourages people to enjoy a beer with friends and sample new beers from other countries.
☀️ Read a book where the first letter of each word in the title appears in INTERNATIONAL BEER DAY (completed in round 1)
☀️ Read a book where the characters drink beer or visit a bar.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
completed on July 25, 2019

4. Back to school
Summer always goes by so quickly. Before you know it the days are getting shorter, it’s edging towards autumn and for students it’s the start of a new school year.
☀️ Read a book by an author who is new to you
The Surrogate
completed on August 7, 2019
☀️ Read a short book, defined as 200 pages or less. (completed in round 1)

12/12 complete

JUNE

1. In the Summertime
☀️ Read a book that appears on one of the Goodreads staff summer reading lists
The Binding
Completed on June 19, 2019

2. June, July, August
☀️ Read a book by an author whose first or last name starts with J or A.
The Hate U Give
Completed on June 5, 2019

3. Bloomsday
☀️ Read a book with a main character whose name begins with a letter in LEOPOLD BLOOM
Soda Pop Soldier (character's name: PerfectQuestion)
Completed on June 15, 2019

4. Beach reads
☀️ Read a book where the first letter of each word in the title appears in BEACH or SWIMMING POOL
Cinder
Completed on August 5, 2019

JULY

1. Summer in the City
☀️ Read a book by an author whose first and last initials appear in SUMMER IN THE CITY
An Unkindness of Ghosts
Completed on June 20, 2019

2. Travel the world
☀️ Read a book set in a fictional location
The Walking Dead, Compendium 1
Completed on June 4, 2019

3. Nelson Mandela Day
☀️ Read a book with a main character whose name begins with N or M.
Something in the Water (Marc Roberts)
Completed on June 27, 2019

4. Winter Wonderland
⛄️ Best books to read when the snow is falling
Room
Completed on June 8, 2019

AUGUST

1. Summer Nights
☀️ Read a book published in a year that includes any two of the numbers 1, 9, 7, 8 (eg 1955, 2017, 1802, etc)
The Shadow Cipher (published in 2017)
Completed on June 13, 2019

2. Summer is too short for bad books
☀️ Read a book in a series you enjoy
The Walking Dead, Compendium 2
Completed on June 7, 2019

3. International Beer Day
☀️ Read a book where the first letter of each word in the title appears in INTERNATIONAL BEER DAY
Dread Nation
Completed on June 21, 2019

4. Back to school
☀️ Read a short book, defined as 200 pages or less.
Runaways, Vol. 1: Find Your Way Home (136 pages)
Completed on June 10, 2019

12/12 complete

JUNE

1. In the Summertime
☀️ Read a book that appears on one of the Goodreads staff summer reading lists
The Binding
Completed on June 19, 2019

2. June, July, August
☀️ Read a book by an author whose first or last name starts with J or A.
The Hate U Give
Completed on June 5, 2019

3. Bloomsday
☀️ Read a book with a main character whose name begins with a letter in LEOPOLD BLOOM
Soda Pop Soldier (character's name: PerfectQuestion)
Completed on June 15, 2019

4. Beach reads
☀️ Read a book where the first letter of each word in the title appears in BEACH or SWIMMING POOL
Cinder
Completed on August 5, 2019

JULY

1. Summer in the City
☀️ Read a book by an author whose first and last initials appear in SUMMER IN THE CITY
An Unkindness of Ghosts
Completed on June 20, 2019

2. Travel the world
☀️ Read a book set in a fictional location
The Walking Dead, Compendium 1
Completed on June 4, 2019

3. Nelson Mandela Day
☀️ Read a book with a main character whose name begins with N or M.
Something in the Water (Marc Roberts)
Completed on June 27, 2019

4. Winter Wonderland
❄️ Read a book where the first letter of each word in the title appears in WINTER WONDERLAND
❄️ Read a book from one of these winter reading lists:
⛄️ Best books to read when the snow is falling
⛄️ 20 books for the cold dark months
⛄️ TED’s winter reading list
Room
Completed on June 8, 2019

AUGUST

1. Summer Nights
☀️ Read a book published in a year that includes any two of the numbers 1, 9, 7, 8 (eg 1955, 2017, 1802, etc)
The Shadow Cipher (published in 2017)
Completed on June 13, 2019

2. Summer is too short for bad books
☀️ Read a book in a series you enjoy
The Walking Dead, Compendium 2
Completed on June 7, 2019

3. International Beer Day
☀️ Read a book where the first letter of each word in the title appears in INTERNATIONAL BEER DAY
Dread Nation
Completed on June 21, 2019

4. Back to school
☀️ Read a short book, defined as 200 pages or less.
Runaways, Vol. 1: Find Your Way Home (136 pages)
Completed on June 10, 2019

I'm not sure what happened, but it's working now.

The spreadsheet is not working for me today. Is it a problem on my end or is this Google? When I try a different browser, I see the first tab, but the other ones are blank. In Chrome, the spreadsheet won't open at all.

I'll have to revise my column sometime. I'm doing 3 other challenges in addition to this and was reorganizing my books read to better fit certain prompts.