2025 Reading Challenge discussion
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2nd Quarter Challenge: Clear the Shelves
This is genius! My goal for the summer is as many as possible! (I start my graduate level classes again in the fall and end up having little personal reading time once school is back in session)For now I will say 10 books is my goal, but I will add if needed. This "clearing" is a mixture of just books on my To Read shelf as well as books I own and never read.
Here is the list:
1. Wonder by RJ Palacio
2. Summer Sisters by Judy Blume
3. We Were Liars by E Lockhart
4. A Window Opens by Elizabeth Egan
5. Wake Up Happy by Michael Strahan
6. the Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty
Note- I MAY not stick to this list exactly.. I tend to change direction a lot (I follow my moods) but I will certainly update as it progresses
Since this started in April, I have completed the following thus far:
1. What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty
2. Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty
3. 13 Ways of looking at a Fat Girl by Mona Awad
4. The Help by Kathryn Stockett
5. Room by Emma Donoghue
Just completed another book off my Need to Read First shelf - A Lasting Impression by Tamera Alexander. This was a sweet, simple story. I appreciated the description of the Belmont mansion and the historical figures. The plot had some unconvincing details and could have had some portions edited. Overall, it was an enjoyable read. Worth reading. 3.5 stars24/20
I got side tracked into other things the past couple of months and so I've barely been reading. I won't finish this challenge, but I'll continue with the aim of clearing the books I listed here and others from my physical bookshelf in the coming months. (original message: #35)
I have completed my challenge of 12 books Clearing the Shelves.
Cleared another book off the Not Library shelf - Mary Boleyn: The True Story of Henry VIII's Favourite Mistress by Josephine Wilkinson. While I appreciate the author's efforts at focusing on the lesser-known Boleyn and understand it is difficult to interpret in light of few original sources, that doesn't excuse the fact that the writing was repetitive. The author filled in the lack of information with more details about Anne and Henry, when the subject matter was intended to be Mary. Finally, the author seemed intent upon confirming every person's pedigree without really explaining why that information was important to her subject. Overall, a decent effort but not my favorite Tudor book. 2.5 stars25/20
12/25 Unthinkable: The Shocking Scandal of Britain's Trafficked ChildrenWill be reading something a bit lighter now.
Update to original message 130 - completed 7/87. Cat Tales: Classic Stories From Favorite Writers - this book was included in a set of books that my friend gave me last year when she was moving, it was a nice collection of short stories from some great authors
Just cleared a book from my Giveaways shelf - The Bridges of Madison County by Robert James Waller. I am impressed that in the short span of pages, the author was able to beautifully express this love affair. Any more detail would have been too much, any less might have been welcome for some of the mystical talk was a bit over the top for me. Other than that, it was a beautiful story. Definitely worth reading! 4 starsP.S. I received this book as a giveaway.
26/20
Updated #5710. De kraai by Kader Abdolah Completed 5/06/16 Rating 4 stars
11. The Glass Room by Simon Mawer Completed 15/06/16 Rating 3 stars
11/15
I've now read 14/18 (message 93).Hopefully I will meet my target - I have 3 kindle books that I hope to finish by the end of June so I just have to squeeze in a paperback too!
Thanks, Amanda P
Updating message 130 - challenge complete (8/8)8. Troublemaker by Janet & Alex Evanovich
Thanks for the fun challenge.
CHALLENGE COMPLETE! :) I have cleared 15 books from my shelves this quarter :)
Updated message 89total is 8/8 - GOAL ACHIEVED
Thanks for making this challenge! It was a nice motivator for me to clear my shelves :D
Kiki wrote: "Updated message 89total is 8/8 - GOAL ACHIEVED
Thanks for making this challenge! It was a nice motivator for me to clear my shelves :D"
Congratulations!
Update msg 12Completed 17/15
Updated message 22
Completed 30/30
Completed 30/30
I had to find short books from myselves but I did it. At least I know now that I seem to finish Kindle books faster so I should prefer buying them too.1. Melkein geisha
2. The Cloud Collector's Handbook
3. The Night of Morningstar
4. Doctor Who: Apollo 23
5. Appointment with Death
6. Moominpappa at Sea
7. Sunbathing In The Rain: A Cheerful Book About Depression
8. The Phantom of Venice
9. My Mother Never Dies
10. Pride and Prejudice
10/10 **DONE
update:SECOND QUARTER CHALLENGE: CLEAR THE SHELVES
Duration: April 1 - June 30, 2016
Goal: 10 / 10 owned books
1. Fifty Shades Darker by E.L. James
2. O intamplare ciudata cu un caine la miezul noptii by Mark Haddon
3. Fifty Shades Freed by E.L. James
4. Orasul de Cenusa by Cassandra Clare
5. En mann ved navn Ove by Fredrik Backman
6. All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
7. På ferie med pappa by Dora Heldt
8. I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban by Malala Yousafzai
9. Oraşul de Sticla by Cassandra Clare
10. Sotia calatorului in timp by Audrey Niffenegger
Finished 17th book to date: Beautiful Boy: A Father's Journey Through His Son's Addiction by David Sheff17/25 completed
Just cleared a book off my 2015 shelf - The Girl with Seven Names: A North Korean Defector’s Story by Hyeonseo Lee. I really enjoyed this book! I don't know much about North Korea, besides the obvious, so the author's childhood was fascinating, and then her life became incredibly sad. My only critiques would be during the early parts of the book, if she had explained all of the lies she was told by juxtaposing it with the truth it would have helped for those not versed in Korean history (even in a footnote) and the ending seemed abrupt. Other than that, truly fascinating and definitely worth reading! 4 stars27/20
Just cleared a book off my choice awards 2014 shelf - Fighting Redemption by Kate McCarthy. While I found this book easy to read and liked the information about the Australian special forces, the relationship described was unrealistic. It kept me entertained and was good for a traveling weekend, but not necessarily a book I would recommend. 3 stars28/20
Completed
18/15
Update msg 11
Just cleared another off my 2016 shelf - The Nest by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney. The last 80 pages of this book were the redeeming factor for me and made the whole book worth reading. I had difficulty with the characters, who were all mired in their own mistakes and inevitably hurt those around them. The book is well-written, and overall, I appreciated it. Worth reading. 4 stars29/20
Goal: 6 Books1. The Fall of the Amazing Zalindas (4/14/16) 3 Stars
2. Armada (4/16/16) 4.75 Stars
3. The Silence of Six (4/19/16) 5 Stars
4. Blue is for Nightmares (4/22/16) 1 Star
5. Storm (5/2/16) 4 Stars
6. The Hunchback Assignments (5/4/2016) 4 Stars
New Goal: 10 Books
7. Days of Blood & Starlight (5/14/16) 5 Stars
8. We Are the Ants (6/2/16) 5 Stars
9. The Eye of Minds (6/9/16) 4 Stars
10. One Man Guy (6/17/16) 3 Stars
11. Tell the Wolves I'm Home (6/26/16) 2 Stars
Here is my last update. I read 11/10 books.
Update to message #227.
26. The English Roses by Madonna ★☆☆☆☆ Read on June 09, 2016
27. The Angel of the Odd by Edgar Allan Poe ★★☆☆☆ Read on June 09, 2016
28. Апокалипсис Welcome by Zотов ★★☆☆☆ Read from June 02 to 12, 2016
29. Henry V by William Shakespeare ★★★★★ Read from June 09 to 15, 2016
30. "Thou Art the Man" by Edgar Allan Poe ★★★★☆ Read from June 15 to 16, 2016
31. The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov ★★★☆☆ Read from June 12 to 18, 2016
32. Other Shores by Vladimir Nabokov ★★☆☆☆ Read from June 18 to 21, 2016
33. A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare ★★★★★ Read from June 16 to 22, 2016
34. Dersu the Trapper by Vladimir Arsenyev ★☆☆☆☆ Read from June 21 to 22, 2016
35. The Oblong Box by Edgar Allan Poe ★★★★☆ Read on June 22, 2016
36. Emma by Jane Austen ★★★★☆ Read from June 22 to 25, 2016
37. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien ★★★★☆ Read from June 25 to 28, 2016
37/25
★☆☆☆☆ - 2 books
★★☆☆☆ - 6 books
★★★☆☆ - 6 books
★★★★☆ - 13 books
★★★★★ - 10 books
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!!!
26. The English Roses by Madonna ★☆☆☆☆ Read on June 09, 2016
27. The Angel of the Odd by Edgar Allan Poe ★★☆☆☆ Read on June 09, 2016
28. Апокалипсис Welcome by Zотов ★★☆☆☆ Read from June 02 to 12, 2016
29. Henry V by William Shakespeare ★★★★★ Read from June 09 to 15, 2016
30. "Thou Art the Man" by Edgar Allan Poe ★★★★☆ Read from June 15 to 16, 2016
31. The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov ★★★☆☆ Read from June 12 to 18, 2016
32. Other Shores by Vladimir Nabokov ★★☆☆☆ Read from June 18 to 21, 2016
33. A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare ★★★★★ Read from June 16 to 22, 2016
34. Dersu the Trapper by Vladimir Arsenyev ★☆☆☆☆ Read from June 21 to 22, 2016
35. The Oblong Box by Edgar Allan Poe ★★★★☆ Read on June 22, 2016
36. Emma by Jane Austen ★★★★☆ Read from June 22 to 25, 2016
37. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien ★★★★☆ Read from June 25 to 28, 2016
37/25
★☆☆☆☆ - 2 books
★★☆☆☆ - 6 books
★★★☆☆ - 6 books
★★★★☆ - 13 books
★★★★★ - 10 books
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!!!
2025 Reading Challenge
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